Like many others, I am writing this to express my frustration at what the writers of Once Upon A Time are doing lately regarding Rumple and Belle. I get that he did some pretty bad things, but Belle is his True Love, for heaven's sake. And after so many people have already left him-his father, Milah, Cora, Bae (though that one was his own fault)-it seems to me like he's really suffered enough. And it seems like he was doing so well in the beginning of season 3, so this is doubly frustrating. Even a poor spinner is entitled to some happiness. Okay, enough ranting; on to the angst!

Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin/whatever he was supposed to call himself now slipped into his office. It was the night after he had seen Belle kissing that-that skinhead, and his blood still boiled to think of it. But he supposed it was just as well that she was moving on; she deserved to love someone worthy of it.

He shook his head, trying to snap out of wallowing in self-pity. Maybe turning Emma evil, and then finding the Author would make it all better somehow. But for now, he had something to find. Something very important that he wanted back. Something he still viewed as his, if nothing else in this shop was anymore.

It was right where he'd left it, in the cabinet. Gold slid the item out, cradling it in his hands. Just as he was about to slip out again, there was the sound of heavy feet, and a voice saying, "I'll just look back here for it, shall I?" And into the office came the aforementioned skinhead.

He barely had time to begin looking startled by the older man's presence before Gold flung a spell at him, freezing him in place. With a nod of satisfaction, he closed the cabinet door, and then, curious, he took a few steps towards the man who was vying for the affections of his wife.

This could be a perfect opportunity, the voice in the back of his head whispered. Take his heart, and get him to stay away from Belle, even help with your and the Queens' plan. Or just crush it altogether, and eliminate the problem that way.

But this time he was able to answer with a firm, No.

There were many reasons why that was a bad idea at this time: it would interfere with the plan, because it might blow his cover, etc. But one that seemed ultimately important at the moment was that this man made Belle happy. Even though Gold hated the idea, the vestiges of his conscience were able to override the wrathful impulses of his curse, and stay his hand from the skinhead's chest. So instead, he did something almost as satisfying: setting his prize down on the desk, he curled back his fist, and then punched the other man dead in the face.

Because he was frozen, he was unable to resist, and was knocked flat to the floor. Flexing his now-stinging hand, Gold scooped up his prize, and hurriedly left the office, just as he heard Belle calling, "Will? Will, are you okay?" and the soft thumps of her heels on the floorboards meaning that she was coming to investigate the noise.

"Goodbye, Belle," he whispered, continuing to cradle their-his, now-chipped tea cup in his hand. Since it was probably all he had left of their relationship, he would fight to the death to keep it, and heaven help anyone who tried to take it from him; unlike with Moe French, this time he wouldn't hold back, because he would have no reason to.

It wasn't until he was two blocks down that he realized, with a bitter laugh, that he hadn't even thought to look for his dagger.

I wrote this late at night, so it's definitely not perfect. But if you have criticism, please make it constructive. If you like it-well, I don't want to nag you to review, but I do strongly encourage it. It's meant to be a one-shot, and yes, I know it's also very angsty. That was rather the point.