Skin Deep: Part Seven

A/AN: Well this is the final installment to our tale. I thank you all for staying for the ride, but I'm afraid this one is coming to a close. Will Belle and Rumple get a happy ending? Read on and find out...Please let me know what you think at the end.

Nearly three centuries had passed in the glade, but Goldie hadn't realized this. She was too busy studying to be the best fairy she could. She was working towards her goal of being a family guardian's fairy. It was the highest rank a fairy could receive before they could achieve godmother status. Goldie waited patiently as the other fairies were assigned their ranks. Reul Ghorm stopped in front of her, a sweet smile settling on her face.

"My sweet Goldie I would like to bestow upon you the honor of becoming a guardian fairy to a family that live in the North Kingdom. The kingdom is known as Arendelle, and you would be overseeing the royal family. I feel like this is an appropriate assignment for you. You've earned it." smiled the fairy queen appreciatively.

Goldie could barely contain her excitement as she received her honored position. Leaving the glade had been her lifelong dream though part of her felt like she'd lived another life before though she couldn't recall it. Sometimes she would dream of a handsome boy with straw colored hair and kind brown eyes. She felt like she knew him from another life but that was impossible. She'd lived in the glade her entire existence.

She was supposed to go straight to Arendelle and not make any side stops, but Goldie felt like she was entitled to explore her surroundings a little bit. She had been cooped up in that glade for nearly three centuries and after she became a guardian fairy, she'd never be permitted to leave her post. She would serve her family as long as they needed her which could extend into many lifetimes.

She passed over several kingdoms but there was one that pulled her in. She wasn't sure why she'd been drawn to it but it kept calling out to her. She stopped in front of the palace gates, reaching out her hands but pulling back when a zap of power sent her flying backwards. The darkest of magic infiltrated this entire kingdom. It had been cursed, but she knew curses could be broken. She was aware that fairy's had the power to break certain curses.

She took a deep breath, surrounding herself in extensive light magic as she broke through the barrier. She reverted to her human size, keeping her wand handy in case she came in the presence of any fearsome creatures. The place seemed hauntingly familiar like she'd visited it in a dream. She surveyed the area but didn't sense anything out of the ordinary. She took a deep breath as she made her way into the castle. She was surprised to see hundreds of people sleeping in all sorts of positions all over the castle. It was like they'd all fallen asleep where they stood, and she could sense that they'd been in this state for many years.

Goldie ignored the sleeping citizens, stepping over their slumbering bodies with care. She made her way into the heart of the castle, the darkened hallways lit by glowing green torches. She stopped, stepping in front of a familiar room. She opened the doors, peering inside. She gasped when she noticed the expansive library. She had always been drawn to books. She marveled at the titanic collection of tomes. She stepped in front of a rickety step ladder. She stared at it for a second, her head beginning to ache like a lost memory was trying to come out. She closed her eyes trying to focus on the memory. The same boy with straw colored hair appeared in her mind. He was standing in front of the ladder holding her in his arms like he'd caught her after an unexpected fall. She felt her breath hitch in her throat when she turned to see a large portrait of that same boy, several years older staring back at her. She walked towards the painting with an urge to touch it. She placed it upon the man's left cheek, memories flooding her subconscious. She remembered light kisses and easy conversation. She remembered a band of wolves and an ugly scar that marred her right cheek. She remembered being locked away in isolation and a man coming to rescue her, bringing her to this place. She remembered everything.

"Rumplestiltskin..." she muttered his name on her lips like a long lost memory. She felt tears stream down her cheeks as other memories that weren't hers surfaced. She seen flashes of a broken man sending his men off to war. She seen the lives he'd taken and the kingdoms he'd conquered. She seen the curse he'd taken on to extend his life to ensure her return. She watched him give up his humanity for her.

She longed to cry for the countless years they'd spent apart, but she couldn't. She hid behind a nearby shelf when she heard the library door slam shut. A string of curses followed the slam, and she dared a glance. She barely recognized the man she'd fallen in love with. He looked nothing like the man in the portrait with his large talons and gold gray skin. She knew it was him because of the distinct color of his eyes. She took a shuttering breath as he turned countless shelves over angrily. She had no idea how he would react when she unveiled her presence, but she had to. He might very well rip out her heart and crush it but it was a risk she was willing to take. It belonged to him after all.

"Rumplestiltskin please stop!" she commanded, stepping from behind the shelf adorned in a golden pixie style gown that bared her shoulders. He stared at her for a long moment with his beastly eyes like he was looking upon an apparition. He approached her cautiously. She stood frozen in place as he reached up to gently stroke her face with one of his talons.

"Belle..." he whispered her name reverently. His voice was so soft that she wasn't sure if he'd really spoken or not.

"Yes Rumplestiltskin...I'm here." she smiled clutching his beastly hand to her face, tears falling in rivets from her eyes. She wasn't sure if he would ever look like the man he once did, but she could still love him in this form. All that mattered was that they were together again.

"I searched for you for so many years...I went down so many paths, but I always came up empty. I've made many wrong choices, but I knew it would all be worth it if I could see you again." he revealed causing her to shake her head, the tears falling harder now.

"My life has been built upon nothing but lies. I was kidnapped when I was but a babe from the fairy glade by my father. I was used to win his wars and to strengthen his trading endeavors. The only real thing in my life was you. You truly loved me for who I was and now I'm going to set you free Rumple." Belle respired stepping closer to him.

"I'm cursed Belle...Nothing can break-" but she cut him off placing a finger to his lips.

"True love can break any curse and our love is true Rumple no matter how tainted our pasts are." she smiled, cupping his cheeks gently before pressing her lips firmly against his own in a kiss that was long overdue. There was magic in the motion, an inevitability stronger than the both of them. They were both terrified yet relieved but most of all, they were in love. Power whooshed out of him, but Belle clung to him tentatively. A golden light surrounded them, rattling the walls as she held onto him tightly. A sonic boom could be heard as a surge of raw power swallowed up the curse, freeing its occupants. The kingdom would soon awaken, unaware that they'd been sleeping for nearly three hundred years.

Rumplestiltskin stood in front of her. She ran her fingers over his features lovingly, happy to see the reflection of the man she once loved. They weren't the same people anymore but their love was suspended in timelessness. It was all they needed as they let go of who they used to be.

"You're a fairy...What are we supposed to do about that?" he inquired, entranced by her ethereal beauty.

"This..." she respired, taking her wand in her hands and breaking it in half. Belle felt all her magic leave her body, the wings that clung to her back, wilting like lifeless flowers until they crumbled around her. The dress she was wearing turned gray, and the scar that once marred her face reappeared. She touched her face habitually trying to hide her defect, but he quickly tore her hand away.

"I love all of you even your scars." he reassured her placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

"I love you to Rumple...I don't want to waste another moment...Let's get married." she breathed about to engage his lips in another hungry kiss until a blue light appeared. They both stared at the light, the blue fairy materializing in front of them.

Reul Ghorm gave them both distasteful looks but her eyes trained themselves on Belle. "Goldie I'm very disappointed in you. You gave up everything for-" but Belle cut the pompous regal off.

"The names Belle, and I gave up my magic for true love." she proclaimed boldly. Rumplestiltskin wrapped a protective arm around her waist as he watched their heated exchange.

"Goldie you're a disgrace to fairy s everywhere and to think I seen great potential in you... Such a waste of talent." she scoffed before disappearing in a cloud of blue smoke.

Belle snorted at her remark turning around to face Rumplestiltskin, "Where were we?" she continued tracing lazy circles on his chest.

"Here I believe..." he supplied before capturing her mouth in another heated kiss that was long overdue.

In the days that followed Rumplestiltskin and Belle were wed in a beautiful ceremony. The kingdom continued on unaware that it had been frozen in time for three hundred years. Their reign was celebrated, and Belle governed their people with nobility. Belle knew that her husband still struggled with the darkness in his heart, and he regretted his previous actions, but she always there to light his path. She made him stronger, and he turned from his past tyranny. They had three children: Baelfire, Rose, and Colette.

He passed away first, and they buried him in the garden behind the castle grounds. Belle took flowers to his grave every day for three years until one day their three grown children found her lying peacefully against his tombstone. She was smiling with a crown of white lilies in her hair. They buried her next to him and every year after that lilies bloomed where they lay.

Many Years Later...

A little girl with a crown of chestnut hair stared at the headstone of two royals who had passed long ago. She tried her best to pronounce the name but it was quite a mouthful for a six year old.

"Rumplshiltstin." she muttered, her tongue tying in knots. She turned around when she heard someone guffawing loudly behind her. She turned around to meet a boy with chocolate brown eyes smirking at her.

"Who are you?" she inquired, placing her hands on her hips for good measure.

"I'm Prince Henry." he smirked, bowing reverently to the scowling girl.

"What's your name?" he inquired to the fierce beauty with her hands perched on her hips.

"I'm princess Lacey...What brings you to my kingdom?" she inquired giving the prince a hard look.

"I'm here because my father wishes to make an alliance with yours...I'm sorry for laughing at you. Who were they anyway?" he inquired gesturing towards the tombstones.

"He's told me the story so many times...He likes to call it Skin Deep. Would you like to hear it?" she inquired before pointing to a stone bench settled within the garden.

"Yes as long as you don't butcher their names." the boy teased causing the girl to scowl.

"Do you want to hear it or not?" she growled pointing towards the bench.

"Yes I'm sorry." he supplied clearing his throat uncomfortably. He settled down beside her as he listened to her retell the story of her ancestors.

"Long ago there was a princess fair...She was brave and strong. She heroically saved the prince from a bunch of wolves which cost her beauty, but the prince couldn't have thought her more beautiful without the scar, a reminder that she'd saved his life, and he owed her everything..." she continued, entrancing the young prince with her tale unaware that they were writing a love story of their own.

A/AN: Yes that ending was very unexpected but that's where my muse took me! I hope you all have enjoyed this tale as much as I have. Merry Christmas everyone!