Mr. Gold

Rescued

Sunlight began to peak through the curtains within the bedroom, a sure sign that daylight had finally arrived. And after some time, Belle finally began to wake. She wore a soft smile on her features as she came to, stretching out her legs and reaching her arm over to his side while muttering a ‘good morning’ to he husband. Except when she reached over to touch him, she felt only the sheets. A now empty spot that had been occupied by Rumple only hours ago when she had first fallen asleep. She even remembered him being there during the night while she slept because she shifted closer to his warmth every now and then, but obviously at some point during her slumber, he slipped away. A slumber that had been incredibly relaxing and peaceful for Belle, uninterrupted and nightmare free, and all of that she attributed to Rumple being there with her. For the past few days she had been unable to sleep and if she had, it was for no more than an hour or so and it was plagued with nightmares - nightmares of never seeing Rumple again, nightmares of her dying in the castle, or once again being confined for years, etc. But for the first time in days she actually managed to sleep, all because he was with her - holding her in his arms, keeping her safe, protected and warm - Just like he always had, but now he was gone and she wasn’t sure why - nor did she know when he slipped away; clearly, she slept so heavily she hadn’t even felt him leave the bed. With a frown, she lifted her head from the pillow while rubbing the blurriness and sleep from her eyes so she could better look around the room for him.

“Rumple?” Belle softly called out as she looked towards the direction of the bathroom in case he was in there, but she received no answer. The sudden realization and maybe the Evil Queen captured her again made Belle spring up into a sitting position, fear settling into her heart and mind. What if she was back at the Queen’s castle and this was some sort of trick? Or worse, what if /Rumple/ had been captured? The thought devastated Belle and after a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, she moved her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. At first she was a bit wobbly, thanks to the exhaustion and soreness she was still feeling, although it could be much worse had Rumple not healed her, but after a few moments, she steadied herself and left out of the room. She was met with the long hallway and thought over which way to go first, but after a moment of debating, she decided she would try the main floor first. Perhaps he was spinning in the dining room like the old days or he could even be up in the library but if not in either of those places, she had other rooms she could search in - the mansion was huge, after all, there were many places in which he could be and she just hoped, she prayed, that he was somewhere in this mansion.

She made her way down the stairs, still occasionally calling out for him on the off chance he’s hear her, but the silence was deafening and that only made the worry and fear within her grow with each passing second. What if he had gone out on an errand and had been captured? What if he went out for revenge, despite his promise, and had been captured? No. He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t lie to her, not again. They were beyond keeping secrets from one another, they were beyond lying to each other - Belle trusted him. She believed his promise to her, but that didn’t stop her from worrying. The castle was eerily quiet, no sign of Rumple anywhere, and she was starting to panic. Maybe instead of capturing her again, the Evil Queen somehow took Rumple instead and wanted to watch the bookworm panic as she searched all over the castle for him. No. No, she couldn’t have taken him! Please no.

Belle!

Suddenly Belle froze, wondering if she heard right. Did someone call her name?

Belle!

She heard it again! Clearer this time and it sounded like…

“Rumple!?” Belle called out in response, looking around the large room in a panic to try and figure out just where his voice was coming from. She hurried for the kitchen, only to stop when she heard it yet again but this time it was more distant! It couldn’t be…surely the voice wasn’t coming from outside was it?

She turned away from the kitchen and hurried over to the window, gazing outside in an attempt to try and see him. Or anything for that matter. Belle! Hurry!

The voice sounded in distress now, panicked even - almost as much as her own. Something was no doubt wrong - something had happened to him and he needed help. She didn’t even bother to stop and think that this could just be some kind of trick or question just why he would be outside. Why would she? It was his voice, she was sure of it, and he sounded like he was in great danger, and even pain, and it was filling her heart with fear and worry. As well as determination to get out there and help him.

Without waiting another moment, Belle ran to the large cabinet at the back of the spacious room and opened the doors, immediately grabbing the sword that was still inside of it from those many years ago. If he was in danger, then she needed a weapon to fight with and she wasn’t a stranger with swords. Although it had been a while since she last used one, but that wasn’t going to stop her - nothing would. She hurried to entrance of his castle and opened the doors, wasting no time in stepping outside and hurrying down the long pathway towards the forest.

@malevolentimp

alannasroleplaymemes-moved

Rumple had lay with Belle all night, wanting to keep her close and to keep n eye on her. He himself didn’t sleep because he was so concerned about her and their son, wanting to be sure that nothing could make them feel unwell. After the ordeal she had been through the last thing he wanted was to give her anything else to feel pain in any way, shape or form. But at the daylight began to break and light began to filter in through the curtains he knew that when she woke h wanted her to wake to a breakfast to take in bed. Anything to keep her resting for the next few days.

So with careful movements, ensuring that he didn’t disturb her in her slumber, Rumple slipped from the bed to make his way to the kitchen of the castle. Though he could whip up a feast with a wave of his hand his time in Storybrooke had taught him the joy of cooking and that, combined with knowing Belle would appreciate a home cooked breakfast rather than magically produced had him setting his sights on doing just that. So he cooked eggs and sausages, meats and breads, porridge and pancakes with fruit, all to give her the optimum selection to dine on.

Once he had done - and stolen a few bites of each himself to test it - he placed each item on to a tray along with a single rose (admittedly conjured by magic) to take to her. Expecting to see his love curled up in bed still slumbering peacefully had left him entirely unprepared for the empty bed he found in their bedchambers. So he rested the tray down on to the table by the bed and called out her name, looking between rooms for her. Partially expecting her to be in the bathroom or on the balcony to enjoy the view he found himself beginning to panic. Not worry, panic.

“Belle! Belle!” He called, racing through the castle as he simultaneously tried to test the strength of the wards around. He hadn’t felt them being breached, he hadn’t heard a sound he shouldn’t so surely nothing had happened to her. The Queen hadn’t found a way to take her back, to steal back the woman he loved only to harm her further. He skidded when he saw the cabinet in the grand hallway open and a solitary item missing; a sword.

No. No, if the sword was missing and Belle too then she surely was in danger! His pulse quickened , his heart pounded and with a swift turn on his heels and race towards the castle doors he saw them opened wide. She had clearly left, it had to be by force and he simply had to find her.

“I’m coming for you, love...” he muttered as he raced out of the castle, caring not for anything else going on around him. All that mattered was finding the woman he loved. “Belle, Belle!” He shouted as he caught sight of footprints on the ground. A solitary, dainty set that simply had to belong to her. “Belle!” He shouted once more, following each step religiously, desperate to find her.

#para: rescued

Cooking Sentence Starters

“Wow! I didn’t know you could cook.” “This tastes amazing!” “Did you follow a recipe?” “Do you need a taste tester?” “Can I have some of that?” “Wait, wait. You made this for me?” “This is really delicious.” “Can I get some of the leftovers? Please?” “Why haven’t you opened your own restaurant?” “Could I get the recipe?” “You’ve got to tell me how to make this!” “Can I get seconds?” “Yeah! More, please!” “I kinda feel bad for eating it. It’s like art!” “Wait, this needs to go on Instagram!” “Oh man. I couldn’t eat another bite!” “My compliments to the chef~” “This is the best meal I’ve ever had!” “These flavors blend perfectly together!” “Mm, I love savory / sweet / spicy / etc. dishes!” “I wish I could have your cooking every day.” “This is way to sweet / sour / bitter / spicy / etc.!” “Hrm… I think it needs more salt/sugar/spice/etc..” “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you, but I’m allergic to ____.” “No, it’s fine! Just a little burnt on the bottom, that’s all.” “It’s definitely an…interesting texture.” “Oh, I already ate.” “What do you mean? It’s…it’s great! Really!” “I’m sorry, I really can’t eat this…” “It’s inedible, frankly.” “Hey, don’t worry! You’ll do better next time.” “Please follow the recipe next time.” “Yeah, no, baking is not your thing.” “Just stick to using the microwave, okay?” “I mean it’s not the worst thing I’ve had…” “Whoa! This is seriously undercooked!” “If I get salmonella from this or something…”

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Belle’s green hues filled with sadness while he continued to explain the voices he heard in his head since becoming The Dark One. Not just hearing them, but seeing them, too? Belle could only imagine the kind of torment that brought him and it crushed her heart. Having voices in your head, taunting you, berating you, trying to influence your choices and make you go down a dark path? She shuddered at the thought and her hold on him tightened a little bit. “You’ve been fighting for so long, Rumple…ever since you became the Dark One…” She stated sadly, her eyes still on his. “But…in the end you gave in to the darkness and accepted the power?” She had known some about his life before he was the Dark One, and during it, but not near as much as she wanted to know. “But you continue to fight, I can see it in your eyes. The battles, the struggles, you’ve endured…” Her hand moved to gingerly rest upon his cheek, her thumb lovingly stroking his cool skin. “And you, uh, you mentioned silencing them? Does that mean they aren’t in your head anymore?” She hoped she wasn’t asking too many question, but she was curious, intrigued even, and she had always wanted to know more about him - as much as she could.

Then came his words about ‘breaking this’ and Belle wondered if he meant the dark curse he was under - being the Dark One. If so, it meant he was truly ready to let go of his darkness and power and she couldn’t help but feel proud of him for that. And she would always help him fight whatever battles he needed to fight and help him through whatever struggles he was dealing with - she always would and that wouldn’t change and the way she was stroking his cheek silently conveyed that. She’d been about to say something, but then, once more, he called her a hero. Something that never failed to make Belle’s heart melt - especially when he called her as such. She had always wanted to be a hero, ever since she was a little girl, and to hear Rumple call her such meant everything to her, but was she really? “Thank you, Rumple, but I…” She paused, her lips still smiling. “I’m just someone who truly loves you. Who…knows the struggles you’ve gone through in your life and who knows how strong you really are because you are strong. Look at all you’ve endured in your life, look at all you’ve fought against. You have to give yourself credit, too.” She stated, her eyes never moving away from his. “And I will always be here to help you, Rumple.” Her words held no doubt of hesitance within them - only honesty and sincerity. She meant everything she said.

She had wanted to kiss him again, to feel his lips on hers once more, but she knew they couldn’t do so and he was right, they needed to rest. So, with a softy sigh, Belle pressed her lips tenderly to his cheek before sliding down the bed a little bit so her head was on his chest. She could hear the gentle sound of his heart beat - a truly comforting sound that relaxed Belle to the point of closing her eyes and within minutes, exhaustion from the day over took her body and allowed her to drift off into, what hopefully would be, a peaceful and comfortable sleep.

He nodded, clearly feeling some sense of shame over the fact that he had given in to that darkness. For the longest time he’d fought it and tried to be a good man, the whole reason he took the darkness to be a good man that protected his son. But in time it had become too much and he’d given in, soon actively enjoying a lot of the darkness within him. “In time, I did. They’re still there, but I fight them. They don’t affect me anymore, I don’t see them. You learn to tune a lot of it out as time goes on.” And he was stronger than that now. He was the ultimate Dark One after taking it back and the power he had was power he could control now. He was stronger than it in a lot of ways but it did mean that he was constantly fighting to make sure he didn’t slip. Did he make mistakes? Many . Would he continue to? Most definitely. But he was trying.

At the same time he knew that as long as he had the darkness within him he wouldn’t ever be the man she deserved. Because he would always have that temptation and he would always have the potential to be something darker. He would always be at risk of slipping and losing control to that darkness. If he took that away he had a fighting chance which meant they had a fighting chance.

Her words certainly were wonderful and made him smile briefly, even if part of him would hold on to the fear she would leave him again for quite some time. He’d been left by everyone he had ever loved, including Belle and it left a mark on him. Perhaps it was why he was so eager to lose the darkness, because he was sure that if he did, he wouldn’t push her away and she wouldn’t leave again. “And I love you, Belle. Now rest.” He encouraged softly.

With her lips to his cheek he pressed his own to the top of her head. He himself doubted he could rest - he had too much work to do - but he would lay there and hold her for as long as Belle rested. With his fingertips lightly stroking her hair he fell in to silence, just resting and allowing her to use him as her own personal pillow.

bellefrenchroleplays

I love you more. (inspo)

#belle

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Her eyes remained on Rumple as he spoke about being the Dark One and what it entailed - what it did to him. Her eyes filled with sorrow and her heart ached for him. Belle always knew that being the Dark One did have an influence on the things he did and the choices he made, but she never completely understood the extent of all of that - exactly what all it did to him. Such as having all previous Dark Ones inside of his head, trying to influence his decisions and even his heart. “All of the Dark Ones? They’re…in your head?” She could only imagine what that was like - the pain and discomfort it caused him all of these years while being the Dark One. The things they said to him, the things they probably tried to convince him to do - it was a terrifying thought, really, and she hated that he had to go through such struggles. “I’m sorry,” Came her sorrowful and sincere apology, her eyes downcast. “I never…fully understood just what being the Dark One did to you…the struggles you’ve faced…” Struggles she wished she could have helped more with, like the voices inside of his head. If she knew, perhaps she could have done more to help? “I’m sorry, Rumple.”

Though, through their years together, Belle had forgiven him for many things - for many of the dark things he had done because she knew the darkness within him helped to influence some of the choices he’s made. The anxiety, the fear of losing everything, she knew and understood that, but not as much as she could have. Not as much as she should have. Still, she never gave up on him because deep down, she knew that he was a good man - she saw the good in him, she always saw the light, no matter how dark things seemed. And she knew he struggled with the paranoia and anxiety, and that being the Dark One only added to that thus why she always wanted to stay by his side and fight with him - to remind him that he was a good man - that he wasn’t weak. He was strong. “Now knowing more than I had, I believe now more than ever that you can fight this. You can fight those voices in your head, you’ve been doing so for all of these years and you’re strong because of it.” Belle reassured him, eyes on his. “You truly are one of the strongest people I’ve ever known,” And she meant it. She meant those words with all of her heart. He always saw himself as weak, but Belle? She saw him as strong - she always had and now more so than ever,

Then their lips met and it felt like time stopped. The kiss was so tender, so sweet and so pure, that any fears and worries Belle had were pushed to the back of her mind. That she forgot, for this moment, they were stuck in a curse. All she could think about at this moment was how wonderful his lips felt against hers - how perfect they felt. It as if she were kissing him for the first time again - her heart was in a delightful frenzy and she could feel her body melting into his. Until she felt that light tingle on his lips which prompted her to very hesitantly pull back - her heart telling her to kiss him again, but she knew she couldn’t. The kiss had started to break him of his curse. She was breathless and she had opened her mouth as if to say something, but then he frowned.

She’d been about to ask what was wrong until he started to speak and she furrowed her brows in confusion. As he went on, she came to understand what he meant. He was right. True Love’s Kiss could break any curse and it started to break him free of the Dark One, but why didn’t it destroy the Evil Queen’s curse? At his apology, Belle shook her head and finally spoke, her daze broken. “No, it’s…it’s fine, Rumple. You’re right.” Belle murmured, her eyes sad. “It didn’t do anything to her curse and, as you said, we’re restricted…” She murmured sadly, a soft sigh falling from her lips, and her head falling gently to his shoulder. “We have to learn more about this curse..”

“Yes, they are. When you first become the Dark One you sometimes see them. Or rather the one before you. Taunting you, telling you what to do and how to do it. It’s difficult to ignore them, especially when you don’t need to sleep. It took me a very long time to learn how to silence them enough to do that. It depends on how hard you fight them...” eventually he’d stopped, and given in to the ensuing darkness before of it. It had helped him find Bae in the end, after all, just as it had told him it would. But he knew Belle couldn’t possibly have known that, which meant she couldn’t possibly know just how much of a challenge it was to be who he was.

He nodded though, accepting that she thought him strong. He thought that of her, not himself. He’d given in to the darkness too many times and each time felt weak for it. Because he wasn’t supposed to be this man. He was supposed to break the curse, as it were. Be nothing like his dark and wasteful parents. Yet he had become a culmination of both with Bae mercifully being the one to break it. His son had been brave and a good man, not him. “Only with your help, can I break this. You know more than you ever give yourself credit for.” Which was true. Belle didn’t see herself as a hero and though he was loathe to use that term - heroes tended to be hypocrites - he knew how important it was to Belle. “I’ve told you before that you’re my hero and you are.”

The kiss had left his lips tingling and him feeling more than a little lightheaded. Not a surprise, considering how it was breaking his dark one curse. But he had to snap back to reality, which was that they were stuck in a curse he didn’t understand. “We must. But first, please Belle, rest?”

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Belle didn’t know the consequences of their kiss, thus why she pulled back just before their lips touched. Had she actually kissed him, he could have lost his powers - lost all of his magic and she knew he wasn’t ready for that. True Love’s Kiss could break any spell, any curse, and that had nearly happened those many years ago when Belle was first living in this castle with him. Granted, what with this being a new curse and all, it didn’t mean that’s what would happen this time, but she didn’t want to risk it either. They were still in this realm, so there was a possibility of that happening.

Her cheeks were flushed now and she buried her face into his shoulder after apologizing, but at his words, Belle pulled back to look at him - a surprised look on her face. He actually wanted to try? Even with knowing what could possibly happen? She remained silent as he spoke, listening closely to every word he was saying - words that were melting her heart. Was he actually saying that he was ready to give up this magic? That he would be willing to give up his dark power? It…truly surprised Belle, but it made her smile. Was he truly ready for that? His words did sound true, and the look on his face mirrored that, but it wasn’t the magic or dark powers that had bothered Belle in the past.

With a soft smile, Belle moved her hand to his cheek, gingerly cupping it in her hand. “Rumple,” She began, her voice soft and sincere. “You being the Dark One? That doesn’t mean you’re not the man that I want or…or the man that I need,” She paused. “And it also doesn’t mean that you’re not a good man,” She stated, shifting a little bit so she was sitting up a little more, easier to look at him. “It’s not about…what you are or the powers that you have, Rumple. It’s about what you choose to do with them. It’s about the choices you choose to make,” She explained to him, her eyes gazing deeply into his and her hand not daring to leave his cheek. “You are a good man, you’re the man that I love and I love you as you are.” Belle reassured him, her thumb lovingly stroking his skin. “And I truly believe that you can use your dark powers for good, you have shown it before, but you’ve also used them for…other things, not so good choices, and that’s what I had issues with.” She further explained, hoping he understood what she was saying. She loved him, all of him, but it was about the things he chose to do or how he chose to go about them that had caused issues in the past, though it never stopped her from believing in him. Because she truly did see good in him. She always had. And given the situation they were in, the curse they were stuck in, he would need his magic to help undo this curse - she didn’t want to take that away from him.

But even then, even knowing the consequences he still asked her to kiss him. Her heart fluttered at his request, one he gave her the choice of, so she thought about it for a few moments while looking into his eyes - he didn’t seem to have any doubts about asking her, even with the possible outcome. But they wouldn’t know unless they tried. Her eyes flickered down to his lips and she started to lean in again, slowly, in case he changed his mind. After another second or two, their lips touched. The contact sent a powerful jolt through Belle’s body, a wonderful sensation to be sure, and it set off fireworks within her heart. It felt like their first kiss and in some ways, it was just like it. The eye contact, the tension, the closeness - it was wonderful and Belle’s stomach flipped delightfully at the sensation of kissing him again. Her eyes had closed, but only for a brief second until she felt something happen. Her eyes opened and it was then she saw the color of his face change, as well as the texture, and Belle knew what was happening. Slowly, and hesitantly, she pulled her lips from his before the change could completely take place and she just gazed into his dark eyes - speechless and in awe from how absolutely amazing and breathtaking that kiss was - even though it lasted only a mere few seconds. It truly felt like it lasted much longer and the fact that he did start to change told them that they were in fact, still True Love.

Rumple listened and he did truly understand what Belle was saying. But in order to have his powers he had to content with voices constantly trying to push him in to doing the nefarious. He’d managed to control the darkness exceptionally well over the years and if anyone needed to know the struggle of doing that, all they needed to do was look at how ‘well’ Miss. Swan had managed being The Dark One. But it did occur to him that he hadn’t ever, in these years, actually explained that to Belle. He’d simply left her to see it as something more black and white, rather than the grey in between and perhaps now was the time to change that.

“It’s not as simple as that. I understand, I do. But being The Dark One comes with... challenges that you can only know if you experience them yourself. All the Dark Ones before me are in here. Encouraging me to take the wrong turn, trying to poison my mind. Adding to any paranoia or anxiety. It’s more a murmur now, after all these years of controlling it, but it’s still there. I know the right and the wrong, and I cannot blame all of my wrong choices on these things because that would be an untruth but sometimes it’s less ‘right and wrong’ and more ‘this option feeds a greater good’.” That was how he saw the world and how he acted within it. For him he was always planning ahead, always trying to be one step ahead of everyone else. That meant that sometimes the more nefarious action seemed to most logical when trying to go down the right route.

“It would be easier to have it gone than have to fight. I come from a magical family, I’d be able to cast spells and protect you and our son if need be. But it would eliminate the more negative aspects. At least, I’d hope so.” Without the voices and the very essence of being the Dark One, he would hopefully have a stronger control and a strength in his decision making that wouldn’t be impacted by the darkness.

With her lips meeting his he was pressing back in to it with tenderness. With a hand touching her neck and his other on the bed for support he too began to slowly close his eyes. He could feel something bubbling in the kiss, a tingle to his lips and just as Belle was pulling back, he was too. Slower than her, less sure of doing so but still aware that he needed to. Because he knew that it was working, that they were sharing true love’s kiss. He was torn; it was a good thing that they were sharing such an all powerful kiss but at the same time it meant they wouldn’t be able to kiss like that for as long as they were there.

Another thought hit him too and he frowned, though his lips twitched as he tried to make sure she knew the frown was not because of the kiss. Quite the opposite. “The curse, she’s done something to it. It’s convoluted and complex beyond anything cast before. True Love’s kiss should break it and it isn’t doing. Only mine. I mean, the Charming’s wouldn’t be kept apart from sharing a kiss. If ours didn’t break the curse theirs would but it’s not happening. It’s not. There’s so much I need to do to understand what she’s cast...” he trailed off then and shook his head once more, his hand lingering on the side of her neck. “Sorry I-- my first thought shouldn’t have been that. It wasn’t. We.. are restricted as long as we’re here. I’m sorry, my love.”

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Though Belle knew she needed to sleep, a big part of her didn’t want to. She wanted to stay awake with him and just cherish the moment they were having - a moment they almost didn’t have had Belle not escaped the castle and it saddened her to think about. Her hold on him tightened a bit more at the thought of having almost lost Rumple for good thanks to this dreadful curse, and though they were safe in his castle, they were still stuck in this curse so just how safe were they? If they stepped outside the barrier, would the Evil Queen know right away and come for them? Would she try to rip them apart once more? The thought frightened Belle, yet at the same time fueled her desire to protect Rumple just as he wanted to protect her and it fueled her dedication to help break this curse. The question was: how long would that take?

With a sigh, Belle snuggled further into his body, her fingers stroking the rough skin of his hand that she had slipped her own inside of. Her body felt warm and comfortable against his, a feeling that had missed dearly during their time apart. Granted it was only a few days, but it had felt like so much longer and it could have been a lot longer. She nestled her face into his chest, the way they were holding one another speaking volumes, but she broke the comfortable silence in favor of verbally expressing her love for him - something she never tired of doing. She wanted him to know that she still truly loved him and she knew just how much it meant to him to hear those words - to hear her remind him that she loved him.

And his response made her smile again, her heart doing that wonderful flutter again. She pulled her head back just a little bit so she could tilt it upwards to look at him, her eyes connecting with his. She felt herself becoming lost within them, just like many other times before, and she found herself leaning closer to him - a gravitational pull. It was so natural, really, and she had found herself wanting to kiss him, needing to kiss him and their lips were growing closer and closer, but then she stopped when she realized something. They were back in the Enchanted Forest, and he was back in his Imp form which meant a kiss would possibly break him away from being the dark one. So, she hesitated, her eyes filling with worry as she glanced down at his lips for a brief moment. “I’m, um, I’m sorry…” She whispered, feeling slightly ashamed for having almost forgotten what could happen if she had kissed him. Then again, with this being the Queen’s curse, would it actually take away the darkness and magic from within Rumple? With flushed cheeks, Belle looked away and moved to return her head to his chest.

Rumple found it impossible to do anything but focus on how it felt to hold Belle. After fearing that they would be torn away from each other for so long again he didn’t want to even entertain the thought that it could indeed be possible. Now he needed to ensure she recovered from her ordeal and needed to find Henry whilst working out how to crack this curse. As things stood, he knew Belle loved him deeply but he didn’t want to bring their son in to a world where he looked like this. Children feared monsters, after all.

He watched intently and began to realise what exactly it was that she was about to do. Though in the back of his mind there was a voice screaming at him that if they kissed he could lose his magic, there was a much louder voice at the front that told him to take that risk, to see if this curse allowed a touch of lips or not. After fearing he wouldn’t see her for the longest time he felt a need to be as close to her as he could be.

“No, no don’t be. I-- we can always try?” He offered tentatively, before he made a decision, a confession as it were. “I need my powers to find Henry and break the curse but-- well, when we.... return home I-- if there’s a way, I want you to be without doubt that I choose you over this. Over what I am. I’m sure I could still cast magic if need be but to break the curse and be the man you need I-- I would be willing. If we kiss and the curse begins to break then we simply kiss before we leave and I’m the man you need. That I want to be for you and our son.” He had wands and an understanding of magic, as well as was of fairy descent so didn’t doubt he would be able to cast some form of magic if he were no longer the dark one. But if the dark one curse was destroyed and the Evil Queen too then he expected his family to be safe.

“Kiss me?” He requested, wanting to offer her the opportunity to say no. Not only because of the risk of breaking his curse but because he was back to being the beast. For however much she loved him he couldn’t imagine wanting to kiss a man that looked as he did.

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Belle’s smile widened when he agreed to stay with her while she rested, scooting aside just a tad to allow him room on the bed. It wasn’t just her that needed the rest, that needed to relax, he needed it, too. Or so that’s what Belle thought, anyway. After what the two of them had been through, the dangers they had faced, rest was imperative. It would allow them some time for their bodies and minds to re-energize, to refresh, and then afterwards, they would be able to work on locating Henry and hopefully take down the Evil Queen and this curse of hers.

“Thank you,” She murmured softly, moving backwards to sit with him, against his body. The moment his arm went around her shoulders, her body melted into his - her shoulders slumped, her head moved to lay on his chest and her own arm stretched over his abdomen in favor of slipping her hand into his all while hugging onto him like he was doing to her. Whatever pain she was feeling was pushed to the back of her mind in this moment - she was so relaxed, so content with this moment - being with Rumple like this - that her eyes even started to close. For the first time in days she felt truly happy and safe - like nothing could harm her or take her away from her husband again and just the thought made her eyes well with tears again.

It was sweet, intimate moments like this that Belle truly cherished. Moments where words weren’t needed because actions spoke just as loud and the way they were holding one another spoke volumes. The fact that her body was practically a puddle against his, the fact that she was able to feel as relaxed and as happy that she did right now - with a content smile on her face - and the fact that she was holding onto him as protectively as he was holding onto her. It all spoke volumes about how they felt for one another. Even now with them being back in the Enchanted Forest and Rumple in his old form, it hadn’t changed anything. And though the actions were more than enough to convey their feelings, Belle still wanted to verbally express it - to make sure he knew. “I love you.”

Her warmth against him was much welcomed and had been missed terribly. Though it hadn’t been long in the grand scheme of things it had felt like a lifetime without her. The fear of not being able to save her had been exhausting and draining, emotionally, physically and mentally. He’d felt desperate but forced focus, ultimately not even the one to save her. Belle saved herself - albeit with the compass he had given her - and it only further enforced for him his belief in her capabilities.

He tilted his head to get a better look at her face, wanting to ensure that she was indeed falling asleep. He wanted her to rest above all and was satisfied from both her expression and the relaxing of her shoulders that she would indeed do so. He would have used magic had she needed it to ease her to sleep but thankfully it wasn’t necessary.

Though he felt unattractive and like his outsides once more reflected the darkness inside he still smiled at the words she spoke to him. Regardless of how many times he’d heard her declare her love for him, it would never cease being the one sentence he favoured most from her rose coloured lips. Her love for him was awe inspiring. Somehow she still loved him, despite everything they had been through. That alone was enough to leave him dumbfounded.

“And I, you.” He responded softly. Would he rest? Most likely not as he was too concerned for Belle and wanted to keep an eye on her to make sure she rested as much as possible. Plus, he was admittedly afraid that if he fell asleep that he would wake and this proved to be some cruel dream and Belle wasn’t actually back in his arms.

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

She went silent at his pleading and nodded in response. It was only fair - she didn’t want him going out there and he didn’t want her to do so either. Granted, they would at least be together, but still, it would be dangerous, regardless. Inside of the castle, they were protected by his spell, but once they set foot outside of the barrier, who knows what the Evil Queen would do. Possibly capture them, or perhaps just Belle again or even Rumple. Belle couldn’t stand the thought of that happening and now they had a child to think about. They couldn’t put him at risk more than he already was. “We’ll stay here,” Belle murmured, her thumb gently stroking his hand.

She just wanted this curse to end - she wanted them to be out of danger and it was worse not knowing just how long they would be stuck in this curse. As much as she missed the Enchanted Forest, as much as she missed this castle, she wanted be back in Storybrooke curse free. Granted Belle was happy to be back in his castle, but not if it meant being stuck in the Evil Queen’s curse. “Then we can start with locating him. Wherever he is, I just hope he’s safe…I hope all of them are.” She wondered if the Queen had imprisoned them as well; if not in the castle, then possibly elsewhere - no doubt separated just as she and Rumple had been. Hopefully soon, they would all be reunited.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be of much help right now - the exhaustion had finally taken it’s toll on Belle’s body - it was craving rest now. She watched as he conjured the crystal ball and she couldn’t help but feel a little…saddened. “Stay with me?” She asked gently, her hands moving to rest over his. “Rest with me, Rumple.” She quietly pleaded, her eyes looking at him with love and longing. They had been separated for days and all Belle wanted to do was be with him - to attempt to relax with him and just be grateful that they had managed to find each other. She gently tugged on his hand, hoping to convince him to stay with her, maybe at least until she fell asleep. She wanted to be held by him, to fall asleep in his arms like she had many times before - even more so at this moment because of them having almost lost one another. All she wanted was to be with him right now and her voice, as well as her eyes, conveyed that.

There was nothing but relief that he felt at her agreeing that they would indeed stay in the castle. In their castle. No longer was it simply the home of the Dark One but it was the home of he and his family. His wife, his son. The two people he needed to protect above all else, and to ensure the Queen could not harm any further. They were his life and he would do anything to protect them. Revenge would wait - he would have revenge - but first of all he needed to ensure the safety of those he loved and a way to break the curse.

He hummed absently in agreement. Though honestly he only cared to save Henry he knew that the whole Charming clan - and town for that matter - came as part of some package deal he was unable to opt out of. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to save them all but hardly his priority. ”I’ll make sure he is.” He’d locate Henry, work from there and if able to would bring him directly to the castle. At least then he’d be entirely safe and under his Grandfather’s watchful eye. Though it did occur to him that Henry had probably never even seen him in this particular form. He could only hope that it didn’t prove too disturbing for the boy when the time came.

He was perplexed a moment at how she didn’t seem pleased with the crystal ball but soon understood. Though he had work to do and would usually surge on to do it he knew that after everything they had been through and she had specifically, he needed to be more of a unit than a solitary player. So he was slowly nodding and moving himself on the bed so he was settling in next to her. With an arm wrapping around her shoulders he urged her to more with him to rest. “I’ll stay, Belle. I promise.”

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Belle wasn’t surprised that he disagreed with her suggestion to find the others and she really didn’t blame him for it either. It was incredibly risky to leave the castle, it would endanger all of them, but how else would they be able to find the others? How else would they be able to break this curse? “I know leaving would be dangerous, but at least we would be together and staying here won’t allow us to learn more about this curse unless it…it happens to be in a book or someone else happens to stumble upon your castle…” He was right, though. Leaving the castle would put them at risk, including their son, and the thought worried her. Her free hand rested over her swollen belly protectively, uneasy at the thought of something happening to their child. He was right.

Belle’s eyes narrowed and she stared at him with a curious look on her face when he paused - was he going to tell her just what that way of communication was? She gave his hand a squeeze of reassurance, letting him know that he could tell her. That he should tell her. They were in this together and that meant WORKING together - telling one another everything. No secrets, no lies. Communication, honesty and trust was key in their relationship, for both of them, including Belle and she wanted this to work between them. She wanted them to be together, to last for as long as possible and raise their child - to be a family.

Finally, he continued, and Belle could hear the honesty in his voice as he spoke. She knew what globe he was speaking of - it had been used to locate Baelfire back in Storybrooke as well as Henry when he had been taken to Neverland, so perhaps that would help them once again. “That’s if the Queen didn’t separate them like she did with us. I doubt she would have left Henry with Emma or Regina…which means he might be alone.” Belle murmured, hoping that somehow, someway, not everyone had been separated, but there was a good chance they were. This was the Queen’s curse, after all.

With a sigh, Belle’s eyes closed as if to think over the plan, thinking of other things that might be able to help, but doing so made a wave of exhaustion fall over the young woman, causing her to lean back a little bit which then jolted her back awake. When her eyes closed, it was if her body had been hoping for some sleep, for some much needed rest and even begging her for it, thus the sudden droopiness followed by her jolting awake. “I-I’m sorry…” Belle quietly apologized, grabbing the plate off of the bed and moving it onto the tray next to her so she wouldn’t knock it off.

Shaking his head in response to Belle he wanted it making clear that if she didn’t want him to leave the castle for safety then there was absolutely not a chance that he would want her to do so either. It wasn’t just a case of protecting just Belle now, but also protecting their son. So if he wasn’t to leave and he was far more equipped to protect himself due to his magic then there wasn’t a chance of it with Belle. “No, no you’re not going out there until she’s stopped. Please, Belle.” He added his please so she knew he wouldn’t make her stay but he wanted her to.

Thinking of Henry being alone, he did nod slowly but that didn’t change the fact that even if Henry were alone or even with the Queen, he was the one person he could communicate with without leaving the castle, should he be able to find his globe. “Regardless as to whomever Henry is with, if anyone, if I have the globe here he’s the one person I can locate without leaving the castle. Then depending on where he is, I can form a way of communicating with him.” It depended on where he was as to how Rumple would proceed but first and foremost he needed to locate the boy. If Henry was alone then he needed to find him more urgently; he was his grandson, after all.

He was quickly trying to take hold of the plate and things she held, moving so that he could aid her in moving them to the tray. “Don’t be apologetic, love. You’ve gone through a lot and need your rest. Now you’ve eaten and drunk, healed too, it’s time for you to sleep.” He paused a moment then before he was giving a little wave of his hand, in which a small crystal ball appeared. “If you wake and I’m not here, speak my name in to this and you’ll be able to speak to me. I’ll either be in the library or somewhere in the castle. But the moment I hear you I’ll be back by your side. Okay?” He wouldn’t leave and he wouldn’t be far. He wanted her to know she was safe there, safe enough to sleep just as she needed.

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Seeing Rumple agree with her made Belle visibly relax; her shoulders fell and the concern in her eyes faded somewhat. It was still there, but she was just glad he saw it her way. Until they knew more about this curse, until they knew just how much power and control the Queen had, going after her wouldn’t be smart - it would be incredibly dangerous. They had to learn more about this curse and exactly what the Queen was capable of. Until then, they needed to play it safe.

Though she was relieved, she could see the uneasiness within him from having to agree - from having to hold back his rage and temptation to go after the queen. Her hand lovingly caressed his cheek, as if silently telling him it would be okay and that they would get through this together, because they would. They always did and despite this being a new curse, one they knew little about, it wouldn’t be any different - as long as they had each other, they would be okay. They would fight together, they would survive together. Belle was sure of that.

But finding the others would prove helpful, too. Perhaps they knew a little more about this curse, or perhaps they were also trapped somewhere, just like she had been. She was worried about her friends, so she voiced her concerns, and her thoughts, to her husband. “I know, but we can go together. Once I’ve rested enough, we can properly prepare ourselves and go look for them and it may also allow us to learn more about this curse, I’m sure.” Belle stated, nodding solemnly to his words about Regina. “I was worried about that, but we should at least find her. She might know more about the Queen’s curse or perhaps even Emma knows.” Belle didn’t know for sure if they had any more knowledge about the curse, but it was worth a try, wasn’t it? If they wanted to learn more and break this curse, then staying within the castle wouldn’t do much for them unless she were to search the whole library, but even then, she was doubtful a book would provide her information about this new curse. “We have to try, Rumple…” Trust Belle to never give up when it came to fighting for something or someone and to never give up hope. Even at her weakest, she was always ready to fight for those she loved. And she would always fight for Rumple and their son.

It made Rumple pause at Belle’s suggestion and he shook his head, gripping on to her hand as he tried his hardest to put his thoughts together in a way that seemed logical. “No, no you have to stay in the castle until I know how to stop her. We can’t leave if we’re a package deal in that instance. I won’t have you at risk.” He felt firm on that point, not prepared to do anything that would take Belle out of the protection of the castle walls. He didn’t want to imprison her at all, take away her choice, no. But he wanted to protect her and ensure nothing could possibly happen to her or their son.

“I can attempt to use magic to communicate with them. There’s one way that may work. I can only hope it came over the curse...” trailing off a moment, he knew that Belle deserved to know what he had in mind and, if they were truly to be on the right page of their relationship, he needed to keep her in the light when it came to his activities.

“The globe. I can use it to find Henry. Wherever he is I expect Miss. Swan or Regina to be close by. From there onwards there are a number of spells I can use to communicate. But they only work if I’m aware of locations. The only downside is that it potentially will lead me directly to the Queen and not any others but at this point it’s a risk that should be taken.” As opposed to Belle leaving the castle with him on a quest to find the others he would risk wasting his time and being led to the Queen.

andhungry

the last five years lyrics sentence starters.

❝ i’m still hurting. ❞

❝ ____ is probably feeling just fine. ❞

❝ what about lies? what about things that you swore to be true? ❞

❝ run away, like it’s simple, like it’s right. ❞

❝ maybe i’d see how you could be so certain that we had no chance at all. ❞

❝ i’m breaking my mother’s heart. the longer i stand looking at you the more i hear it splinter and crack from ninety miles away. ❞

❝ i’ve been waiting for someone like you. ❞

❝ the minute i first met you i could barely catch my breath. ❞

❝ well yeah, nobody’s perfect! it’s tragic but it’s true. ❞

❝ you are the story i should write. ❞

❝ i think that i could be in love with someone like you. ❞

❝ i guess i can’t believe you really came. ❞

❝ see, i’m smiling. that means i’m happy that you’re here. ❞

❝ i mean we’ll have to try a little harder, to make this love as special as it was five years ago. ❞

❝ and you’re mine. ❞

❝ with all we’ve had to go through we’ll end up twice as strong. ❞

❝ you know what makes me crazy? i’m sorry, can i say this? you know what makes me nuts? ❞

❝ you could be here with me or be there with them — as usual, guess which you pick! ❞

❝ and i know in your soul it must drive you crazy that you won’t get to play with your little girlfriends! ❞

❝ i swear to god i’ll never understand how you can stand there straight and tall and see i’m crying and not do anything at all. ❞

❝ i’ve got a singular impression things are moving too fast. ❞

❝ maybe i can’t follow through — but oh, what else am i supposed to do? ❞

❝ i’m a part of that. ❞

❝ and it’s true i tend to follow in his stride. instead of side by side, i take his cue. ❞

❝ i said i’d stick it out and follow through. ❞

❝ and then he smiles, and nothing else makes sense. ❞

❝ first, a story. ❞

❝ then the clock upon the wall began to glow… ❞

❝ i’ve got to make due with the time i’ve got. ❞

❝ don’t you think now’s a good time to be the ambitious freak you are? ❞

❝ have i mentioned today how lucky i am to be in love with you? ❞

❝ he wants me, he wants me, but he ain’t gonna get me! ❞

❝ i’ve found my guiding light, i tell the stars each night. ❞

❝ son of a bitch, i guess i’m doing something right! ❞

❝ so hurry up schmuck, get unstuck and get on the scene! ❞

❝ have you been inside the museum? we should go meet the dinosaurs. ❞

❝ will you share your life with me for the next ten minutes? ❞

❝ there are so many lives i want to share with you. i will never be complete until i do. ❞

❝ i don’t know how anybody survives in this life without someone like you. ❞

❝ i want to die knowing i had a long, full life in your arms. ❞

❝ will you share your life with me for the next ten lifetimes? ❞

❝ i do. ❞

❝ you can not touch them. in fact, you can’t even look at them! ❞

❝ but it’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine — i mean, i’m happy! ❞

❝ it’s not a problem, just a challenge. it’s a challenge! to resist temptation. ❞

❝ i shouldn’t care what she thinks since i can’t fuck her anyways! ❞

❝ when you come home to me i’ll wear a sweeter smile and hope that for a while you’ll stay. ❞

❝ i am a good person. i’m an attractive person. i am a talented person. ❞

❝ jesus christ, i suck, i suck, i suck! ❞

❝ i will not be the girl who gets asked how it feels to be trotting along at the genius’ heels! ❞

❝ can we please, for a minute, stop blaming and say what you feel? ❞

❝ if i didn’t believe in you, we’d never have gotten this far. ❞

❝ if i didn’t believe in you, we wouldn’t be having this fight. ❞

❝ don’t we get to be happy? ❞

❝ no one can give you courage. no one can thicken your skin. ❞

❝ if i didn’t believe in you, i couldn’t have stood before all of our friends and said ‘this is the life i choose. this is the thing i can’t bear to lose.’ ❞

❝ this is the life i choose. this is the thing i can’t bear to lose. ❞

❝ if i didn’t believe in you, i wouldn’t have loved you at all. ❞

❝ i thought, i can do better than that. ❞

❝ you don’t have to change a thing, just stay with me. ❞

❝ i want you, you, and nothing but you. miles and piles of you. ❞

❝ say you’ll move in with me. ❞

❝ nobody needs to know. ❞

❝ hold on, don’t cry yet. ❞

❝ since i need to be in love with someone, maybe i could be in love with someone like you. ❞

❝ don’t kiss me goodbye again. ❞

❝ you want the last word, you want me to laugh, but leave it for now. ❞

❝ goodbye until tomorrow. goodbye until the next time you call. ❞

❝ i have been waiting for you. ❞

❝ it’s not about another shrink. it’s not about another compromise. ❞

❝ i’m not the only one who’s hurting here. ❞

❝ i could never rescue you, no matter how i tried. ❞

❝ all i could do was love you hard and let you go. ❞

❝ god, i loved you so. ❞

❝ so we could fight, or we could wait, or i could go. ❞

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

The path of revenge was something Belle didn’t want Rumple to go down - not again. When he wanted revenge, he became obsessed with it and she didn’t want that to happen to him again. Yes, the Queen was still a threat, but she was an even bigger threat because they were in HER curse and that was the biggest problem of all. She clearly had some control - she put all of this together, but Belle did have her doubts about just how much control the Evil Queen had seeing as Belle did manage to escape. She and Rumple DID reunite and if the Queen wanted to stop her, if she had all of the control in this curse, then wouldn’t she be able to? Belle was unsure of a lot of things right now, but either way, she worried about the danger Rumple would bring to himself if he tried something.

“As long as we remain together, as long as I’m with you, she can’t harm me. You said you put a barrier around this castle that prevents her from coming in here, so we’re safe right now. But you?“ She paused, eyes gazing deeply into his - desperately wanting to get through to him. “If you go out there, if you try to hunt her down, you’ll be putting yourself in danger. I know you’re powerful, I know you have powerful magic, but she created this curse, so who knows what she is capable of. Who knows what she might do to you.” Belle frowned, shaking her head. “She might even be expecting that from you…” They had finally gotten back together, sooner than both probably expected, and she couldn’t stand the thought of losing Rumple again. It broke her.

Her hands then reached out for his, fingers curling around his scaly hands - no hesitance whatsoever. Just because he was different, just because he had this look again, it didn’t change anything for Belle. He was still the same Rumplestiltskin she fell in love with - the same Rumplestiltskin she was STILL in love with. Her thumbs lovingly caressed his skin, touching him just as she would back in Storybrooke. “Stay here. Do not put yourself at risk for revenge, Rumple.” Belle murmured, eyes filled with worry and love. “We can find a way to break this curse and to stop the Evil Queen, but we do it together.” She stated firmly, emphasizing on that word. They needed to be in this together - they always fought together, side by side, and it couldn’t change now. Her eyes fell to their hands for a moment. “But I also think…we should find the others, too.” She added, eyes meeting his again. “We need to make sure that they’re all okay. If we can find them, then perhaps we can come up with something to break this curse and get us back home?” She wanted to know if her friends were alright, too, and it would probably take everyone to break this curse the Queen enacted. But she wouldn’t do this without Rumple - she refused to be away from him again.

She had a compelling argument and though he was desperate for revenge he knew she had logic on her side too. Until he understood the curse and the power the Queen had, he would be one step behind her. He liked to pride himself on playing a long game, on always being on up on others but on this occasion she had defeated him. She had managed to cast a curse that he didn’t quite know enough about just yet. He expected that she had used the one he had first given her but evidently with alterations. Alterations he needed to discover and undo before he could exact his revenge.

Her touch was surprising but not at the same time. He saw himself as a beast and had been reminded of that when not in this form enough times recently to see that this truly was his worst side. This darkness made him a monster that he couldn’t understand anyone, much less Belle, loving. Still she held on to his hand, emphasis that they would do this together and he knew that if he went on a quest for revenge now it would hurt her and entirely possibly, himself.

So though he was reluctant to do so he nodded, just once, the look in his eyes he hoped saying that he was agreeing to what she said. He would discover more about the curse first and when the time was right he would punish the Queen. He couldn’t kill her just yet, but he’d find a way. He always found the loophole and she would be no different.

But as she continued he shook his head, not seeing the logic behind it even if she did. “In order to help them I’d have to leave the castle. For one, Regina wouldn’t be able to enter here. As much as I can make this in to a fortress the Evil Queen cannot enter, that goes for Regina too. I can’t create a spell to block one and not the other from entrance.”

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

“You already have been taking care of me, Rumple. You’ve done all of this for me,” She gestured to the entire room, her lips still holding that appreciative smile. “You brought me to our room, checked on our son, healed me and have conjured this…wonderful buffet of food,” She laughed softly as she took another look at the food before them, her heart filled with gratitude and love for this man. “So, let me take care of you in return. That’s how we work, remember?” Belle murmured, reaching out to gently move some of the curly locks away from his face, her eyes gazing into his - her touch loving.

She took a moment to have another bite of food, enjoying the fresh taste of everything. It was doing wonders for her - restoring some of her lost energy and starting to satisfy her hunger and hopefully providing the same for their child, as well. Going almost three days without food was incredibly dangerous for their child - had she not found those berries and that river on her way to his castle, who knows what condition her child would have been in. It terrified her to think about so she replaced it with the positive thoughts - the ones where their child really was okay and so was Rumple. They all were fine and back together again and that’s all that mattered.

But then came her question - the one she had been wanting to ask him. The question she knew would have a worrying answer. And she was right. “Rumple…” Belle murmured, shaking her head as if disagreeing with him. And she was. He couldn’t leave the castle, he couldn’t go after her. “No, you can’t. You /can’t/ go after her. Don’t go down that path again.” Belle argued, her eyes filling with concern and fear - fear for something horrible happening to him. Yes, he was The Dark One, he was powerful - more so than the Queen, but there was one problem: this was her curse. “What if something happens to you? This is /her/ curse, Rumple. If you go after her, who knows what she might do…” Her voice was starting to crack, heart breaking at the thought of him getting hurt…or even worse. “We just found each other…please, don’t leave and go after her. I can’t lose you. /We/ can’t lose you…” She gently took his hand in hers, eyes gazing deeply into his as she brought it to her stomach, emphasizing on ‘we’ for a reason. Her eyes filled with tears as she pleaded with him, her hand squeezing his as if to physically plead with him and to convey her fear not just through words, but through physical means, as well.

He felt like there was so much more he could and should be doing for Belle and their son right now. If he hadn’t missed the signs with the Evil Queen then maybe she wouldn’t have cast this curse. Maybe she wouldn’t have taken Belle and hurt her out of - what he expected - to be furious jealousy. Now he was aware of the fact she truly was attracted to him it all made sense. Hurting Belle 30 years ago, hurting her now. It was his fault and he didn’t want to hurt her again. He’d done enough of that so these gestures now barely felt - to him - like they were scratching the surface. So as she moved his hair back from before his eyes he offered her a smile that didn’t quite make them sparkle. He felt guilty but he was trying to not make it obvious. That was the last thing she needed to worry about now.

“It is, yes.” He responded finally, before distracting himself with a few bites of food. He did however keep his gaze on her for the most part, as if reading to be sure nothing happened to her. He wanted to be sure she didn’t feel ill at all or end up in pain. Her comfort was what mattered to him above all.

It wasn’t a surprise to him that she didn’t want him to go down the path of revenge and her argument was compelling. But there was a part of him that couldn’t resist the need, couldn’t find a rationale behind not hurting the Queen and stopping her from ever causing pain again. “Belle I-- I understand. I do but as long as she’s breathing, she’s a threat. To you, to our son. I can’t allow her to harm you again.” He didn’t say no though or yes to his revenge mission. He wanted her to understand his need for it and the reasons behind it but at the same time the way she looked at him was utterly heartbreaking for him.

“Belle,” he continued quietly, looking down at their hands. He wanted to get back to Storybrooke, to be less of the monster that he currently was. Golden skin, rotten teeth; he was a monster and the longer they remained there the most likely Belle was to see that he wasn’t worthy of her. “I don’t know what to do.” He added softly. He was at a crossroads; would he go for revenge as he craved and felt was necessary or try to be a bigger man and resist for Belle’s sake? He needed her to guide him, to tell him what to do.

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed

lxve-conquers:

Years ago before the first curse hit the Enchanted Forest, Belle had sometimes envisioned herself as more than just some maid. During the time she and Rumple grew close, during the time she felt herself falling for him, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to actually /be/ with him - what it would be like for them to be in love and be…together. But those wonders came and went due to the fact that he seemed so adamant about refusing to love and being so adamant about his belief that he couldn’t be loved. By anyone. But she knew better - she knew he could be loved and she knew HE was capable of loving, too. And she turned out to be right. She never gave up.

Now knowing that their son was okay, alive and well, made Belle emotional. She had been so afraid of losing her child, so afraid that she the chance she took would prove to be…fatal for their child. From the escape, to the fighting, to the long travel - she had been terrified of the danger that would cause their unborn child, but what choice did she have? If she didn’t try, she would have died inside of the castle. She would have starved and died a slow, painful death and she just could not accept that. She had to try - she was not the type of person to just give up. That wasn’t who she was - that wasn’t what she did. She tried and tried until she absolutely could not anymore and thankfully, she had been successful. With great help from Rumple, himself. Because of the enchanted compass he gave to her.

His words of praise meant SO much to her. They became imprinted on her mind, and on her heart. Hearing Rumple praise her and tell her how proud he was of her truly meant everything to her - it always did. “I couldn’t let anything happen to our son…and I needed to find you again.” Her hand found it’s way on his cheek again, her touch ever so gentle and loving. “And it wasn’t just me. You helped save us. Your compass, the one you gave to me and enchanted, led me out of that castle and to you, to safety. If it hadn’t been for you we…may not have even escaped.” She wanted him to know just how much he helped them, as well. It wasn’t just Belle, it wasn’t just her bravery and determination to escape - it was him, as well. His desire to protect her, his compassion, his love. All of it and more. She owed so much to him and their true love once again brought them back together. She truly believed it always would.

She nodded when he agreed to eat with her, so she then scooted to the edge of the bed and grabbed two plates, one for both of them before setting a few different types of food on there. A slice or two of ham, some fruit, some vegetables and she poured them each a glass of ice tea. “Here,” She offered him the plate, drink and utensils, waiting to make sure he would keep his word and once she did, she took a bite, too. It felt incredible to have food again, to have something thick that would actually satisfy her hunger and more importantly provide nutrients and sustenance to their child. “This is delicious, thank you.” She could feel the energy and strength coming back into her body, but not near enough to move around again - she knew she needed rest to REALLY feel refreshed and energized again.

At his words about a protection spell, her eyes landed on him again and they filled with relief. She hadn’t even thought about that - she had just been so overjoyed to be back with Rumple she hadn’t even though about the Queen finding them. The fear of that entered back into her mind, but the protection spell provided her with some reassurance. But she needed to make sure of something. “So as long as we’re here, right?” She questioned softly. “You’re not going to go anywhere, are you?” She was speaking about revenge because she knew that was burning within him, but she didn’t want him to go anywhere - she didn’t want him to go down that path again because it would only lead to darkness and with this curse being HER curse, it terrified her more.

Belle’s words were everything he’d needed to hear in these dark days, fearing her to be lost because of the Evil Queen. He’d played along with her for too long and thought himself to be the one with the upper hand when in reality she had it all along. She’d been the one manipulating him, letting him think he knew her plans and had a sort of control over her. In the end, his nativity had nearly cost Belle and their son their lives. Never again.

“I’m beyond relieved that I managed to be of some help.” He’d been terrified but together, even when apart, they made a formidable team. Now he simply needed to ensure she remained safe with him, and that no further hiccups risked her life, or that of their son.

Watching her organise the food for them, there was the smallest of smiles crossing his golden features. It lingered with the plate in his lap and he paused a moment, reaching out to touch at her hand. “Belle, I’m supposed to be the one taking care of you.” His words, gentle in tone, were also spoken with awe. Even after everything she had been through and the exhaustion she felt she was like a mother hen, taking care of him. She was remarkable and even now had the ability to surprise him.

He did pause again, this time with his lips pushing together, smile vanishing. He knew she wouldn’t want him to obtain revenge but this time it was necessary. Not just because he was angry but because he knew that as long as the Queen were alive, his family would be at risk. “You know I have to, Belle. If I don’t you and our son will never be safe to leave this castle.” His hand lingered still atop her own and it was then that he gave it the softest of squeezes. He knew she wouldn’t be happy and would most likely try to talk him out of it but as his mind currently was, he wanted that revenge.

All Roads Lead To True Love - Closed