A/N: Sorry if the split between the chapters was rather awkward. I didn't know where to cut it off to where it would look perfect. I didn't want to make this story one giant page.

Chapter Two

Belle had to be honest with herself. She really did love him, but tonight, she'd done everything in hopes that he would acknowledge the things she's done for him, and he had done that. However, Belle found herself wishing he would have done more. Not necessarily reward her, but she wanted him to kiss her at least, afraid that if she pursued him he'd refuse. The last time, at the well, he'd been the one to initiate it all and that might have been out of pure lust, not love. He'd told her he loved her...but there was a part of her she didn't like that was doubting his words. Not that she blamed her instincts about that.

Meanwhile, Rumpelstiltskin knew what he had done to her in the past was wrong. Everything with Belle seemed to be like something he could never control, and he didn't like that feeling; but, there was no controlling that woman. Not knowing what to do, he left her to the dishes as he went into the other room to think things over. There was absolutely no way in his mind that he could lose Belle, especially not to a distance like this.

She sighed as he left, returning to her work, trying to get her mind off of everything. After the dishes had been finished, she walked into the living room where he stood up.

"I was just um-going to get ready for bed," she informed him.

"No," he replied calmly, looking straight into her eyes. "You cleaned the house, you cooked a wonderful dinner, you made tea, and you-you look beautiful tonight." He noticed a flicker of light flash itself into her eyes and reflect a starry night through her ocean blue eyes.

He walked closer to her.

"I haven't been fair to you, I never was," he told her as he came within a few inches from her face. Taking his left hand, he felt her soft skin against his own and stared at her. He could hear her taking a sharp breath as he did so, and he took his own opportunity.

He leaned in and simply kissed her, and instantly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. This was a sign to her that he wanted to be with her and that she was welcome to cross a line that was before otherwise unacceptable. He backed her up against the wall, keeping his lips entwined with hers, enjoying the feeling it brought him. Belle, to him, seemed to want this as if this was her last day alive.

When they release, each was out of breath.

"Well, well, well, dearie," he said. "Someone's been rather impatient."

She gave him a look.

"I don't think it's me," she replied, testing him by freeing herself from the wall. Of course, she wanted him to come after her and he did. She made her way up the stairs, and he asked where she was going.

"I just remembered I think I may have missed a spot...in your room," she replied smoothly, giving off her sly smile before taking off up the rest of the stairs.

There was a rush through every vain in his body as he made his way up the spiral staircase. When he reached his room, he found her already changed into pajamas, keeping her hair and lip color the same. He took off his suit jacket and tie, revealing the blood red shirt beneath. He set it aside, sitting on the bed and taking off his shoes. Belle came up behind him.

"There's something I've noticed," she said.

"Oh? And what's that?" he asked as he laid on the bed next to her.

"You never wear leather pants anymore," she said, as if to sigh after the phrase.

"Would it make you happy if I did?"

"I wouldn't be unhappy," she replied, smiling at him, and he recognized that phrase before. He kissed her again, feeling more comfortable this time with his leg not so in the way. He couldn't help but put an arm around her waist.

"Belle, sweetheart," he began.

"Yes?" she asked, listening attentively.

"I am going to make sure I prove to you-no no, don't say anything...I want to prove to you how much you mean to me. Ever since-forever," Rumpel stuttered.

Before she could say anything, he kissed her again, remembering how sweet she tasted against him 28 years ago. Before he assumed the queen had everything to do with it...just how she melted with him.

Belle still returned his kiss, and Rumpelstiltskin could never ask for more than that. As she allowed herself to think everything was all right, that she was safe, and that he would truly protect her, he held her tighter against him.

Just as she allowed herself to relax, Rumpelstiltskin had moved on of his hands to her back, gracing over an extremely sensitive spot. A sharp inhale caught him off guard and he held her in front of him at once.

"Sorry-" Belle said.

"What's wrong?" he asked. She shook her head, saying it was nothing, just a sensitive spot.

"May I-" he asked cautiously. She nodded, hiding a grave pain inside of her. Rumpelstiltskin lifted her shirt to find multiple black bruised spots. As she read his face, she knew he'd thought he'd seen it all.

"Belle, what happened?" he asked quickly. She stood up and rolled up her pant leg to reveal more spots, even a scar along her left leg. "You told me it was a lie."

"I told you I wasn't beaten by clerks," Belle replied. "She did it herself most of the time."

As she turned back around, she saw him trying to process the information. Rumpelstiltskin picked her back up and laid her on the bed, crawling on top of her. There, he kissed her over and over, down her neck and back to her lips.

"You're with me now, she'll never get to you again," he told her. "I'll be careful, sweetheart. I promise."

Belle kissed him, wanting to forget about the past for now, and he responded, running his fingers through her silk brown hair and feeling her close to him. Their relationship was a work in progress, and both knew that. Right now, they both knew they had missed each other, and as long as both of them agreed with what was going on, they pursued further.

"I don't remember us being this close," Belle said as he kissed her neck.

"We never were, are you all right?" Rumpel asked.

"It feels...very nice," she whispered.

"This is what I should have been doing," he confessed. "It's what I wanted to do."

"I like this," Belle said, smiling.

"Well good, 'cuz it'll be happening a lot the next few days," he replied.

A small laugh came from her mouth as he continued to kiss her. This was a side to Rumpelstiltskin Belle never got to see. He really did love her. Rumpel couldn't forget the past, but Belle right now was doing a pretty good job to see he did. Since he didn't want to rush things and both of them had some heal to do, he came off of her to lie next to her instead.

There was no complaint on her end, seeing as she just came closer and leaned her head on his chest. Rumpelstiltskin set her head gently against the pillow as he got up to take off his shirt, turning back to her.

"Would you feel more comfortable if I left pants on?" he asked. She opened her eyes a smiled.

"For now, yes," she replied. He wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but he found a pair of sweatpants, changed into them and then came back to her. Belle resumed her position upon him, and he wrapped an arm around her.

"Your leg okay?" she mumbled.

"It's fine," he replied, for she wasn't even on that side of the bed. Nothing could go wrong with that tonight.

"Rumpel," she said sleepily as she ran her hand up his chest to cup her hand around his right shoulder.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"I love you."

"And I love you too." He kissed the top of her head, wanting her to stay there forever.