Rumpelstiltskin didn't withdraw immediatelyand she made no move either, except for running her finger across the shape of his fingernails. They felt sharp but he never once hurt her with them. The nails were longer than hers and she wondered if he preferred them this way or he simply didn't care enough to trim them. Belle caught herself rambling and giggled; truly, after the previous two days' events and being together in bed with his arms around her, the only thinking her mind produced was about fingernails.

"What's so funny?" His body stiffened as if he decided the merriment was at his expense.

"Nothing, I was just…Never mind." If she felt silly for her own thoughts, what would Rumpelstiltskin make of them?

She imagined she'd be exhausted and that her body would demand rest, but now she did not feel sleepy at all. She kept tracing the contour of his fingers leisurely, circling the rougher patches of skin on his knuckles, listening to his breathing becoming even once more. It must have been close to sunrise, the darkness of the room becoming less dense, shifting from inky black to deep grey. Belle usually let the shutters open, welcoming the morning sun into the room. Not that she actually saw it, waking up in his chambers during the last week.

"Rumpelstiltskin? Will you promise me something?"

"What is it, dear?" He spoke carefully, tensing up again.

"I…" she swallowed, not sure how he'd react to her request. "Please tell me you will not seek vengeance. That you will not come after Regina." "What?" His voice came out too loud against her ear and he shifted, sitting upwards and draping the corner of the sheet around his shoulders. Belle sat up as well, making sure she was decently covered before leaning against the headboard. She could almost make out his features in the light of dawn – his large eyes, the faint glow of his skin and his wild hair sticking out in every direction possible.

"Why are you saying that?"

"Because I don't like the way she influences you," Belle said simply. "She brings out the worst in you and…" she made a gesture in the air, looking for the right words. "She makes you evil."

He actually laughed at that – high-pitched unnerving giggle that made her skin break into goose bumps.

"Aren't you forgetting something, dearie?" Oh, there was that scornful dearie again. "I am the Dark One, I am evil."

"No, you're not!" She protested stubbornly. "In your heart you're a good man."

Rumpelstiltskin snorted; he had the déjà vu felling – they'd had this conversation before.

"Are we back to that again?" he drawled. "You damn well knew what I was like but it never prevented you from anything."

"Please, no need to be like that."

"I am not a dog to be trained and I definitely will not tolerate being told what to do," he said through gritted teeth. Belle winced. She should have expected him to take her words the wrong way. She placed her hand on his forearm, regretting the fact that she had even begun this conversation.

"I am not telling you what to do, I am asking you. It would just ruin our time together if you keep plotting revenge. I know you have kindness and the ability to forgive in you and…"

"Why are you protecting her?" He shook her hand off and it hurt more than when he returned to calling her dearie. "Are you forgetting who we're talking about? Or did Regina manage to make you into her ally in such a short time, hmm?"

"I am not protecting anyone, it's just…"

"No," he snapped before she could finish the sentence.

"Rumpelst…"

"Enough! I will not make a promise I do not intend to keep and I don't want to discuss it anymore!" He squinted his eyes at her, arms crossed in front of him defensively. "She ordered for you to be kidnapped! And why did it happen, dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin wiggled a finger at her accusingly. "Because you were too careless to keep the bloody ring on!"

"It was stupid, I know but it was an accident! I'm sorry, alright?"

He didn't answer but snapped his fingers. Rumpelstiltskin grasped her hand firmly yet he was mindful not to squeeze too hard and slid the ring on, the metal cold on her skin.

"I've enchanted it so that no one except for me can take it off. Need to make sure my instructions are followed, whether you remember them or not."

Belle sighed at that; she knew he had her best interests in mind but he didn't have to be so difficult. It was her fault, she should have worn the ring and avoided the whole situation. Why couldn't he just accept her apology and let it rest? There was no need to fight over what had been done. She was fine and safe now; they could go back to a normal life. She didn't want the thoughts of revenge to occupy his mind and really, he was better than that.

"Why are you being like that?"

"Like what?" He asked defensively.

"Afraid to let people see the better of you."

"Because there's nothing to see."

"It's not true!" She argued.

"Belle, no matter how hard you want to see the man in me, an ordinary person with simple values who distinguishes the world into black and white with no greys, it'll never happen. You know what I am and it'll never change. Please, can we just let it rest?"

She sighed but said nothing. He considered himself something that he wasn't and seemed to turn deaf to her reasoning.

"Do you even realise what I had to go through?" His voice was a bit calmer now, but still angered. "I thought you abandoned me!"

He never intended to reveal that he was afraid she had left him but Belle paid no mind to the confession that slipped from his tongue.

"What you had to go through?" Her voice rose dangerously, indicating it could break into a shout in no time. "Do I have to remind you that it was me who was bound? And all you care about is how you felt?"

"Well it's not that easy to start thinking about somebody else after those years of solitude!"

"If you're so comfortable with being on your own, why don't I just let you live in perfect harmony with yourself?!"

She clasped her hand over her mouth, realising what she had just said. Oh gods, what had she done? She was stressed and the lack of proper sleep was catching up with her but there was no excuse for blurting out something like that. Belle said it because she was angry, her mind shaping the exact words that could hurt him. It was unworthy, targeting him for his insecurities and she hated herself for uttering those words. Rumpelstiltskin was out of bed and fully dressed in a blink of an eye.

"No, no, wait! I didn't mean it like that!" He headed towards the door and the girl rushed after him, tripping over the sheet and clasping the back of his shirt with both hands. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I said it! Please look at me."

Rumpelstiltskin turned but his features were hard and impassive. She cupped his face in her hands, trying to erase that mask, to let her words get to the true him.

"I do not regret anything," she whispered, as if quietly spoke words would make him understand better. "I am grateful you saved me, and I'm happy to be back here with you."

He seemed to shut all emotions out, regarding her with polite interest and Belle's eyes began filling with tears. "You make me happy and I'm glad you allow me to be near. I was serious about what I said earlier – you will not lose me and I will not leave you as long as you want me near." She could feel a tear rolling down her cheek but she didn't take her hands off his face. If only she could take those cruel words back or make him see how she truly felt about him. His eyes were unmoving, just fixed on her face.

"Please say something," she whispered uncertainly, no longer being able to bear the silence and his piercing glare.

"Are you done dearie?" He cupped her hands and for a moment she believed he would forgive her, but Rumpelstiltskin just pried her hands off his face and let them drop along her sides. "Well, if you are, I'll excuse myself. I've got better things to do."

He turned and walked out of the room briskly. Belle sat on the bed, hiding her face in her palms. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why did she even open her mouth? Because I didn't want him to kill anyone, because I want him to be good even if he despises it and thinks it makes him weak.

If her intentions were pure, why did it feel so much like shattering everything they've achieved?