Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine.

"And what is it that I can do for you today?" Rumple asked David as he strode into the shop. "Can I give you a trinket? Would you care to make a deal?"

"Actually, I came because I'm worried about you," David said, leaning against the counter. "I know you and your wife are working on getting divorced and I heard she just hired a really ruthless divorce lawyer. One that's notorious for taking people for all they have."

"Thank you for your concern," Rumple told him. "But my wife doesn't scare me. Not anymore. I have my magic, I have my wealth, what can she possibly do to frighten me?"

But then the phone rang. Rumple answered it, talked for a little bit, then threw the phone back down as he felt something like an electric shock go through his body. He was also standing in an empty shop, and no matter what Rumple tried to do with his magic, it didn't work.

"What happened?" David asked.

"Nothing," Rumple told him curtly. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Now if you're not going to buy anything, go on your merry way, would you? I'd like to be alone."

"All right," David nodded, even though Rumple's tone told him that the last thing he should be was alone. He left and instead of going back to the police station, headed straight to Archie's.

Once Rumple was left alone, he tried one more time to do magic and then, with a grunt of frustration, began hitting what he could with his cane. Soon, windows and doors were broken, glass shards were everywhere, and the checkout counter had deep cracks in it.

"My god," David said when he opened the door, his jaw dropping. "What happened here?"

"They…they took everything," Rumple replied, collapsing. "My magic, my things…I have nothing! Anything that showed my power over others has disappeared, thanks to my shrew wife and her horrible divorce lawyer who want to make me as powerless as possible." He put his head in his hands on the counter. "What am I going to do?" He began to sob in earnest and both David and Archie looked at one another, trying to decide who would approach the broken man first.

Archie won (or lost, depending on how you looked at it) and he came and put a hand on Rumple's shoulder. "Would you like to come to my office and talk about it?" He asked. "I'm sure we can work something out for you. Don't give up hope yet."

"And why not?" Rumple demanded. "What is there left for me to hope for? I have nothing. I can't expect any sort of help from anyone to rebuild my life. If anyone found out, they would probably all laugh behind my back, which is exactly what my wife and that lawyer of hers, Zelena, were hoping would happen when they did this!"

"Now, now," Archie told him. "It doesn't help to assume things. I'm sure that if we explained the situation, people would be more than happy to help you out. Let's just try. Can we do that, please?"

"Oh, all right," Rumple sighed irritably. "But when all we're met with is rejection, don't say I didn't warn you."

Much to Rumple's surprise (and annoyance, cause he hated to see Archie be proven right), people did help him. Apparently, he was not the only one Zelena and her ways had victimized and that made people sympathize with him.

He even got a room at Granny's, although the woman was reluctant to give it to him, he could tell.

"Don't mind her," Ruby comforted him as she brought him sheets for the bed. "She's still a little sore about how high you made the rent, but she'll get over it." She opened the door to the closet and the drawers of the dresser. "There are clothes in here too," she informed him. "Not the suits you're used to, but trying a new look can be good sometimes."

"T-thank you," Rumple got out as he sat down on the bed. "Thank you for your help. And tell your grandmother too, please. I'm sure she would think me insincere if I said anything."

"You're welcome," Ruby said with a smile. "And it won't be forever. Things will get better, you know."

She left and Rumple lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling of the little room until a knock on his door made him sit up.

"Who is it?" He called.

The door opened without answer and Rumple sat up as Leroy and a few of the other dwarfs came into the room. "We heard you've fallen on bad times," Leroy told him.

"If I have, what's it to you?" Rumple wanted to know. "Have you come to gloat?"

"No," Leroy shook his head. "We were actually wondering if you wanted to come downstairs with us for a drink. You look like you need it."

"All right," Rumple nodded. "I suppose a glass or two of something wouldn't hurt."

They went down to have a few drinks and when he got back, he'd just shut the door behind him when he heard a knock again. "Who is it?" Rumple grumbled.

"It's David," David called from the other side of the door. "May I come in? I have more good news for you."

"More good news?" Rumple asked. "That would mean I had good news to start out with, but I don't know if that's what you'd call this. Come in anyway, though."

"I came to tell you that I found a job for you," David said as he sat down next to Rumple on the bed. "It won't make you the sort of money you had when you could spin gold, but…at least you'll have income."

Rumple sighed. "What's the job?" He asked, running his fingers through his dark hair. "You're not going to make me pursue evil with you, are you? Because honestly, that's really not my area of expertise."

"No," David shook his head. "I think it would be easier on both of us if you stayed away from my area, although of course I am willing to help you in other ways. No, the job offer has come from Miss French at the library. I, of course, would not dream of answering for you, but…would you like to take her up on it? I would. No one has put forth any other offers."

"You're not lying to me, are you?" Rumple asked. He and Belle had talked for a while, but he'd never been brave enough to make a move. "Did…did Belle really request my help at the library?"

"She did," David nodded. "Can I tell her that you accept?"

"Yes, please," Rumple nodded. "I just need to freshen up and I'll be around to meet her soon."

"All right," David nodded. "I'll let her know." He paused. "And I heard that you were downstairs drinking with the dwarfs. Is that true? I'm glad you're making friends."

"I wouldn't say we're friends," Rumple corrected as he grabbed a towel and opened the door to the bath. "But I would never turn down a drink. When you see Belle, give her my regards, will you?"

"Yes," David nodded. "I will."

Rumple felt somewhat self-conscious as he headed into the library. Although he was clean and well-groomed, instead of his usual suits, he wore jeans, scruffy white tennis shoes, and a loose white button-down shirt that had the sleeves rolled up to the bend in his arm. He cast hunted glances around as people stared at him, and when he made it to the circulation desk, he let out a breath he was holding and leaned against the counter as he rang the small silver bell to call for Miss French and let her know that he'd come.

A few minutes later, she emerged from the back room, smiling when she saw him. "I'm so glad you came!" She said, and, to his surprise, gave him a hug. "I was hoping you would."

"You were?" Rumple asked as she pulled away and gave her a small grin. "Well, that's very kind, thank you. Now, what is it that you'd like me to do here?"

Belle shrugged. "Whatever I can think of. But I think it will mostly be checking out books and giving people library cards. Not exactly the most exciting work, I know, but it'll give you something to do besides sitting in your room at Granny's and being sad."

Rumple said, "Oh, you underestimate yourself, Belle. I'm sure I'll have plenty of exciting times here."

"Good," Belle smiled. "I'm very glad to hear that." She then handed him a bag of books that he put over the arm that didn't hold his cane. "Come with me and I'll show you how to shelve those."

"All right," Rumple smiled. He was unsure of how well he could do this job, but if Belle believed he could, he wouldn't disappoint her.

He put the books down by the shelves and started to take one out before confessing to Belle, "I don't know if I can do this. My cane, you see…my foot…"

"Oh, I know about that," Belle assured him. "Trust me, we'll make it work."

So Rumple took a book out and reached for its spot on the shelf, surprised to feel Belle's grip around his waist. "There," she said with a smile. "Now you won't fall down. I've got you, Rumplestiltskin."

"Thank you," Rumple told her and gave a small laugh. "Thank you, Belle."

After the books were shelved, Belle showed Rumple the circulation desk and how to check out books and issue library cards.

"I like this better," Rumple smiled as he spun around in his chair.

"Do you want me to be here for your first couple of checkouts?" Belle asked. "Or do you feel you're prepared?"

"I can do it," Rumple assured her. "You can go about doing your other work."

"All right," Belle smiled. "Good luck."

But only half an hour later, he was passionately wishing he would have taken Belle up on her offer to stay.

"You can't seriously be thinking of reading this!" He yelled at Robin Hood who came to check out a copy of Moby Dick. "That's way too long for you! And when did you learn to read when you were living in the forest?"

And when Victor came in with a late book, Rumple came out from behind the desk and whacked him with his cane. "Do you not have any respect for the dates inside of these books?" He yelled. "They say when you're supposed to return them. They are not negotiable! Do you understand?"

"Rumple!" Belle yelled, coming to put a hand on his shoulder as Victor twitched and bled on the floor. "You have to stop that now. What's going on?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Belle," Rumple apologized. "You just work so hard to make sure these people are well-read and they can't even remember to return their books on time. That infuriates me!"

"That's what fines are for," Belle told him and led him away from the circulation desk. "Maybe we shouldn't have you work at the desk until you've had more time to recover from what you've been through. Would you like me to take you home so you can lie down?"

"Y-yes," Rumple nodded, his breathing hard. "That might be best."

So Belle walked him home and they sat on his bed for a bit.

"I don't know if I'm going to be all right," he said. "All this…this change, it's a bit of a shock."

"You'll do just fine," Belle told him. "We'll get you some new curtains, put some records on, and then everything will be good as new."

"Maybe," Rumple nodded. "Would you…would you come and visit me sometime? I think that would help."

"Of course," Belle replied. Then she stood up. "I-I probably should be getting back to work. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?"

"No, thank you, Belle," Rumple shook his head. "You've done quite enough for me already. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Belle replied. "Will I still see you at the library tomorrow?"

"If you still want me after my outburst, of course you will," Rumple nodded.

She then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and said, "It's going to be all right, you know."

"Yes," Rumple nodded. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

After she left, he decided to make a call to Archie.

"I was wondering if you would call me," Archie replied. "I heard about the incident at the library. Are you all right?"

"I'm better than Whale is at the moment," Rumple replied. "But I suppose you'd like to come over and lecture me about how that's not the right way to behave."

"I'm sure you know that by now so there's no need for me to tell you again," Archie told him. "You're going through a difficult time of change and there will be stress. You're having to learn to live your life all over again without the things that have defined it for so many years: your power and your wealth. I know it will be hard for you, especially with your past, but I really think you can do it if you try. Don't give up because that won't help you at all. That will just make things worse. All you have to do is find something to hold onto. A bright spot a goal. Can you do that on your own, or do we need to talk about it in session?"

"No, I have an idea of what to do," Rumple assured him as visions of Belle floated in front of his eyes. "Thank you, Dr. Hopper."

"You're welcome," Archie replied. "And if you need anything else, you know my number."

Rumple then hung up and thought to himself that he really did feel much better. What Milah and Zelena had done had been a shock, but it wasn't the end of the world. It was just the steep price he paid for being married to a woman that cared nothing for him, only for his power and money. Now, without it, he would be able to be with Belle, someone who cared for him: his good parts and his bad parts. And as he worked on picking up the pieces of his life again, she would help him know what it was truly like to be loved.

Feeling a sudden burst of energy, he did what he could to fix up his tiny apartment. He put some music on as Belle suggested and cleaned the best he could. He was in the middle of dusting when there was a knock at the door. He opened it and there stood Belle with a bag and beverage caddie in hand that held two cups of iced tea.

"I was just getting off of work and I wondered…I wondered if you'd like to have dinner," she said. "I know I just invited myself, so if you're busy, I'll go, but…"

"No, no!" Rumple shook his head. "Come in, please. The dusting can wait."

They sat down on the sofa and she passed him a burger and a tea. "I hope you like these," she said. "I love them."

"I do too," Rumple replied going to find a napkin for his lap even though he didn't think grease stains would make his jeans any worse.

"I see you did some redecorating," she said when he came back. "This place looks very nice."

"I'm glad you like it," Rumple told her and then took a bite of his burger and a swig of his tea. "It looked awful before. And thanks for the dinner. This is much nicer than sitting downstairs at a table by myself and being stared at."

"You're welcome," Belle smiled. "We can do it every night if you want. I wouldn't mind."

Rumple smiled. "I wouldn't mind either." He put his burger down and went to open the window so they could watch the sunset from the sofa, and as they did so, Belle let him put his arm around her while she rested her head on his shoulder and he began to think that yes, this definitely wouldn't be so bad after all.

more to come!