"Are you sure you need to leave?" Fiona asked.

"I would love to stay-"

"But we can't dearie. We need to get back to our home because I have other business I need to attend to." Rumple interrupted.

"Rumple, I do believe you agreed we still stay for a week."

"Yes but you see dearie, that was when I had business. My business here is done and so are we." He told his maid.

"Very well. It was great meeting you Fiona and thank you again for letting us attend your ball." Belle smiled.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Good luck back home." Belle tried to pretend she didn't notice the hint the princess gave her but it wasn't easy. Especially when Fiona was widely grinning.

Before Rumple could drag his maid into the carriage, King Harold walked up to him and held out his hand.

"I wanted to thank you for your help. I should have trusted you and I am sorry for all the trouble."

"No worries," Rumple shook back. "Everything is the way it should be."

The king left the wizard to stand by his wife while Shrek, who was glad to be an ogre again, also walked up to the wizard to give his thanks. Giant green hand shook green scaled hand and the two supposably monsters both grinned.

"Thank you too. You know, for uh, all the help and all."

"You're very welcome. If every you need me again dearie...try not to."

After all the goodbyes were said, Rumple and Belle hopped in the carriage and magic began taking them back home. Although Belle loved the visit, even if it was only a whole day, she was excited to head back home. Back to the Dark Castle and its master.

The ride back home had been more quiet than Rumple preferred. In fact, he had expected Belle to once again talk his ears off but than he realized that the previous day had been so eventful and they had danced all night, she was tired. She had spent the entire ride back home to rest.

The next day when they arrived back to the Dark Castle, Rumple helped Belle carry her suitcase with her new dresses up to her room.

"I hope you enjoyed the travel."

"Yes I did." She smiled. "And thank you for the new dresses."

"You're welcome dearie."

He turned to leave her room and let her be until she stopped him.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

He looked at her questionably. He didn't think so. Everyone was back to the way they should be, the ogres were ogres again and the donkey was a donkey. The Blue Fairy was out of their hairs for a while and he had let Belle shop like he promised. To his knowledge, he didn't forget anything.

"Our deal?" Belle asked.

Except that.

"Oh."

"I believe you now have to go a whole week without calling yourself a monster?"

"Or is it you must go a whole week away from the library." He giggled.

"I won." Belle proudly smiled.

"Did you now?"

"Yes." She walked up to stand in front of him, inches away from his face. "The ogre was not a beast, not really."

"How do you say so?"

"He is a husband who cares deeply for his wife and will do anything to make her happy. That is not the makings of a beast."

Rumple smiled at her. Then he blushed when he realized how close he was. The trip was definitely eventful and one of those events was that he admitted that he loved Belle. To himself.

He was still afraid and a coward that, despite the perfect opportunity, he wouldn't confess it to her. He cleared his throat and took a step back.

"You are right Belle. Congratulations." He smiled.

He turned around to exit to only be stopped by her again. This time, instead of her speaking, she grabbed his hand and turned him around to face her.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"For what?"

"For saving my life."

He took a pause to look in her eyes, not wanting to remember that moment when he almost lost her.

"Well, good help..." He began.

"Is so hard to find these days." She finished.

Yay! I'm glad many people enjoyed it and I'm glad I came up with the idea. Thanks for reading my fellow followers. :)

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