Chapter Twelve: Skin Deep.

The sun was just setting over the horizon, giving the sky an orange glow, a small castle was near the edge of the ocean. Sir Maurice was looking over at the map of the battlefield between their castle and the ogres, he was trying to find a way to sneak one over on the ogres. A Military Advisor walked in and stood a foot away from Sir Maurice, clearing his throat to get his attention. "Sir, there is news from the battlefield," said the Military Advisor. "Avonlea has fallen," he said.

"Oh, my gods!" Sir Maurice said, looking at the Military Advisor.

"If only he had come," said Gaston.

"Well, he didn't, did he?" Sir Maurice yelled at Gaston angrily. He walked pasted Gaston, not saying anything for a moment. "Ogres are not men." He sat down in a tall chair, not looking at anyone.

"We have to do something," Gaston said. "We have to stop them."

Belle—Sir Maurice's daughter—came to his side, getting down on her knees while he looked past Gaston and everyone in the room. "They are unstoppable," said Sir Maurice said.

"He could be on his way right now, Papa," said Belle, trying to reassure her father and squeezing his hand.

"It's too late, my girl. It's just too late," he said dreadfully.

All of a sudden the door started banging loudly, everyone jumped and turned to look at the door, the guards, Gaston, and the Military Advisor took out their swords, and slowly walked toward the door.

"It's him! It has to be him," Belle said, hoping that it was him.

Belle and Sir Maurice got up and started walking toward the door as well. "How could he get past the walls?" Sir Maurice asked, getting closer to the door and waving his arm at the two guards. "Open it," he demanded.

The two guards took off the wood that was blocking the door, they took it off the door and set it against the wall, Gaston was still holding his sword out. When the doors were opened, no one was standing out the door. They were all staring down the hallway, confused at who or what could be banging on the doors.

"Well, that was a bit of a letdown," said Rumplestiltskin—who was sitting on Sir Maurice's chair. They all turned around to look at the Dark One. "You sent me a message." Gaston took a few steps forward. "Something about, 'Help, help! We're dying. Can you save us?'" Rumplestiltskin straightened up. "Now, the answer is," he stood up tall, "yes, I can," he slapped Gaston's sword down. He threw an apple at one of the people in the room and walked past Gaston. "Yes, I can protect your little town for a price," he said, pointing to Sir Maurice.

"We sent you a promise of gold," Sir Maurice reminded him, walking toward him.

"Ah! Now you see, I make gold," Rumplestiltskin said like they should know that he makes gold. "What I want is something a bit more special. My price is her." He pointed at Belle.

Gaston puts an arm in front of her body, trying to shield her. "No," he simply said. "The young lady is engaged to me."

Rumplestiltskin walked past Gaston and Belle. "I wasn't asking if she was engaged. I'm not looking for love. I'm looking for a caretaker," he turned to look at them, "for my rather large estate. It's her or no deal."

"Get out," Sir Maurice said in a low threatening voice. "Leave!" he boomed out, pointing to the open door. Gaston pushed Belle behind him as Rumplestiltskin passed them.

"As you wish," Rumplestiltskin said, passing them.

Belle watched him. She was thinking about whether or not she should make this deal or not. She had to think fast or else her village would be dead. "No, wait—" Belle called out, making him stop in his tracks with a smirk on his face and slowly turning around to face them. Belle looked up at Gaston and patted his arm gently, wanting to know that she was going to be okay. She walked in front of Rumplestiltskin and took a breath in before speaking to him. "I will go with him," Rumplestiltskin exclaimed in delight at her decision.

"I forbid it!" Sir Maurice said.

"No!" Gaston shouted.

"No one decides my fate but me," Belle said, turning around to face them both. "I shall go."

"It's forever, dearie," Rumplestiltskin reminded her.

"My family, my friends, they will all live?" she asked.

"You have my word," Rumplestiltskin promised.

Belle nodded once. "Then you have mine. I will go with you forever."

"Deal," Rumplestiltskin murmured while giggling.

"Belle," Sir Maurice said softly. "Belle, you cannot do this." Belle turned around and walked to her father, taking his hands into hers. "Belle, please, you can't go with this beast."

Rumplestiltskin gasped in mockery, placing his hand over his heart.

"Father, Gaston," Belle looked at them both, "it's been decided."

Rumplestiltskin took a few steps behind Belle. "You know, she's right," he said. "The deal is struck." He paused for a moment to let it sink in. "Oh. Congratulations on your little war," he said loudly while he giggled.

Belle and Rumplestiltskin turned around and walked out of the doors and into the way, walking out of the castle completely.

A flower truck named Game of Thorns has a red rose in the middle of the truck, and Moe French was getting a pot of red roses out of the back of the truck, and handing it to one of his workers. Mr. Gold and one of his bodyguards were there standing on the sidewalk.

"Well, this is just perfect," said Mr. Gold. "I've been looking for you, Mr. French."

"I'll have your money next week," Moe said.

"Terms of the loan were fairly specific," Mr. Gold reminded Moe, turning his head slightly to his bodyguard. "Take the van."

The bodyguard nodded once as he got into the driver's side. Moe looked between the two of them. "Wait! No!" Moe said, walking in front of his own truck and then looking over at Gold. "Tomorrow's Valentine's Day! It's the biggest day of...," he started saying before he slammed his hand on the hood of the truck. "I've got a grand in roses in the back!" Then the engine started and Moe put his hands up, looking at the guy in the truck. "Stop!" he yelled then looked at Gold. "You gotta let me sell them!"

"I'm gonna allow you two to continue this conversation," Mr. Gold said while walking away from the situation.

"This is no way to do business, Gold," Moe shouted at Mr. Gold. The bodyguard stepped on the gas and then the brakes as he looked at Mr. Gold. "You are the lowest!" The brakes screeched once again. "People aren't going to put up with this!" he yelled once again before the truck fully went forward and Moe got out of the way before he got hit.

Regina was standing in front of a building named: Modern Fashions, waiting for Mr. Gold. She needed to talk to him about something important and she wasn't going to wait either. Mr. Gold took his time walking to Regina with a smile on his face. "Mr. Gold. Was quite a show back there," she complimented him.

"Well, Mr. French is just having a bad day. It happens to the best of us," Mr. Gold simply said.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about something...," Regina started to say before she got interrupted.

"Yeah, and the moment you have something I want to discuss, we'll have that little chat," Mr. Gold said with a smile.

Mr. Gold took a step forward then Regina stood in front of him. "No, we're gonna do this now," Regina said firmly. "It'll only take a moment."

"Is there something eating you, dear?" Mr. Gold asked. "Something you need to get out in the open? Because it's gonna have to wait." Regina opened her mouth before Mr. Gold leaned in. "Please," he whispered. He walked past Regina with a satisfied smile on his face.

Ruby got a pot of coffee and served it to a customer, Mary Margaret and David Nolan were at Granny's Diner and they were separated by the tables. Mary Margaret looked over and saw that David was reading a book. "Oh, you got the book," she commented.

David looked over at her with a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, just started it," he said, nodding. "It's great. Can't wait to see how it ends."

Ruby came between them and poured coffee into Mary Margaret's cup. "I can push the tables together if you guys...," Ruby said to them both.

"Oh, no, we're not together," Mary Margaret said quickly.

"No, no, it's...," David started saying.

Ruby walked away just when Emma walked in, seeing Mary Margaret and David looking at each other. "Hey, David," Emma said as he looked over at her.

"Hey," he greeted her.

"Mary Margaret," Emma greeted her as she sat down across from her friend. "So, how's your day doing?" she asked while taking a bite from her toast.

"Henry's fine," Mary Margaret said simply.

Emma tilted her head slightly. "That's not what I asked you," she said. "You sure?"

"Really. He's his normal self," Mary Margaret agreed. "Regina won't keep you separated forever. When people are supposed to be together, they find a way." She looked over at David, making eye contact with him.

"Yeah," Emma agreed. "So, he's his normal self. He's fine, he's happy?" she asked.

"Yes," Mary Margaret answered, Emma pouted slightly at her, and Mary Margaret's eyes widened slightly. "No! He misses you. A lot. Trust me, I'm with him, like six hours a day."

Ashley and her newborn baby came in, Granny took baby Alexandra from Ashley's arms, turning her head toward Mary Margaret and Emma. "Six hours? Do you take newborns? 'Cause I would love six hours off."

"Ashley! I didn't even recognize you," Mary Margaret said, surprised.

Ashley grabbed a nearby chair and brought it to the table, sighing. "Baby on the outside?" she joked.

"How's it going?" Emma asked, watching her.

Ashley sat down in the chair. "It's, uh—it's, uh—," she couldn't find the words. "I mean, the baby's great." Mary Margaret peeked over at David and blushed while David peeked over at her. "But we really haven't had any time to do the whole getting married thing. So that's been rough, and Sean's been working double shifts at the cannery."

"Well, he has to work," Mary Margaret said.

"On Valentine's Day? Yeah." Ashley said bitterly. "He couldn't get out of it."

"I'm sorry, that sucks," Emma said, frowning.

Ruby came over and set a cup of coffee next to her plate of food. "It doesn't have to," she said to the three women. "Come out with me. Let's have a girls' night," she suggested to them. "We can all go, Mary Margaret. Emma, too, if you leave the badge at home."

"I'm not really in the party mood. But you guys can all go and have fun," Emma said with a smile.

Mary Margaret scoffed at Emma and looked at her with wide eyes then Emma's phone started buzzing next to her. She picked it up and looked at the message on the phone.

"What's that?" Mary Margaret asked.

"It's the station," Emma answered. "Something's up." She got up from the table and out of the diner, leaving Mary Margaret and Ashley at the table.

Mr. Gold was walking up the steps of his home, his house is tan, and a deep-sea blue edging around the housing. The door was opened just a jar, pushing the door open further and entering the house slowly. He walked to a small desk drawer that was against the wall, pulled out the drawer, and took out a small pistol as he looked around for a second. He walked into his reading room and took a look around the room, walking in further as he heard the floor creak, and turned around quickly to see Emma Swan in his house. They were both pointing their guns at each other, their hearts racing quickly.

"Sheriff Swan," Mr. Gold whispered with relief.

"Your neighbors saw your front door open. They called it in," Emma explained.

"It appears I've been robbed," Mr. Gold told her.

"Funny how that keeps happening to you," Emma said, not surprised.

"Yeah, well, I'm a difficult man to love," said Mr. Gold, lowering his gun.

Belle was following him through the dining room, looking around the room. "Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"Let's call it your room," Rumplestiltskin answered.

When they arrived at her "room", he opened it with a wave of his hand and she gasped when she peered into it. "My room?" Belle asked in disbelief.

"Well, it sounds a lot nicer than the dungeon," Rumplestiltskin admitted.

Belle whimpered when Rumplestiltskin pushed her in and giggled at the whole situation, he closed the dungeon door and locked it as he started cackling to himself. He turned away from the door and walked away from Belle.

"You can't just leave me in here!" Belle yelled through the door as she started banging on the dungeon door. "Hello? Hello?" she yelled through the door.

Belle entered the dining room, carrying a tray of tea cups and teapots, walking toward Rumplestiltskin and setting the tray down. Rumplestiltskin sat at the end of the table as he watched her enter. "You will serve me my meals and you will clean the Dark Castle," Rumplestiltskin said, explaining it to Belle.

"I understand," Belle nodded while preparing his tea.

"You will dust my collection and launder my clothing," he continued.

"Yes," Belle said, pouring the tea into the teacup.

"You will fetch me fresh straw when I'm spinning at the wheel," he said.

Belle looked up at him and nodded once. "Got it," she murmured to herself.

"Oh," he exclaimed, Belle had a cup of tea in her hands. "And you will skin the children I hunt, for their pelts."

Belle gasped in fear and dropped the teacup that was in her hand. Skin the children he hunts? Belle thought to herself. He has to be kidding right? He has to be joking, he wouldn't do that to the children or to her? Right?

"That one was a quip," Rumplestiltskin said. "Not serious."

Belle sighed in relief as she smiled more to herself than to him. "Right," she whispered to herself, bending down to get the cup off the ground. "Oh my," she whispered to herself again as she noticed a chip on the teacup. "I'm so sorry, but it's chipped." She showed him the chipped tea cup. "You can hardly see it," she stammered.

"Well, it's just a cup," he said, not really caring about a simple teacup.

Belle smiled lightly before standing up and started remaking the tea, glancing over at Rumplestiltskin.

"Sheriff Swan, you can go now," Mr. Gold told Emma while Emma was dialing something on her phone. "I know exactly what was taken, and who did it." Emma looked over at him knowing what he was going to say before he even said it. "I've got it from here."

"No, you don't," Emma said. "This was a robbery. A public menace. And if you don't tell me what you know, I will have to arrest you for obstruction of justice." Mr. Gold looked away. "I have a feeling you don't want to be behind bars."

"Indeed not," Mr. Gold agreed. They both looked at each other for a few seconds, not saying a word. "All right, his name is Moe French, he sells flowers. He recently defaulted on a loan. A short time ago, we had a little disagreement over collateral."

"Okay. I'll go get him, check him out," Emma promised, she started walking toward the front door.

"I'm sure you will. Assuming I don't find him...," Mr. Gold said, chuckling to himself. "Let's just say, bad things tend to happen to bad people."

"Is that a threat?" Emma asked, smirking to herself.

"Observation," he commented. Emma put on her beanie as she walked to the door and turned to look at him. "Good luck," he murmured as she walked out of Mr. Gold's house.

Belle was in the dining room, she was up on the ladder trying to pull the curtain but it wouldn't budge. Rumplestiltskin was in the corner with his spinning wheel and he was obviously spinning his straw and turning them into gold.

Belle looked over and watched him spin, curious about why he spun. "Why do you spin so much?" she asked. He stopped spinning and turned to look at Belle but didn't say anything as he turned back to his spinning wheel. "Sorry, it's just, that you've spun straw into more gold than you could ever spend."

"I like to watch the wheel," Rumplestiltskin muttered. "Helps me forget."

"Forget what?" she asked.

Rumplestiltskin tilted his head to the side slightly, trying to remember. "I guess it worked," he said while giggling, turning around to face her.

Belle laughed along with him then she turned to keep working on the curtain while Rumplestiltskin got up from his stool and turned to her. He started walking towards her, curious about what she was doing. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Opening these. It's almost spring, we should let some light in," Belle answered, still trying to open the curtains. She grunted and tugged on the curtains—she was getting frustrated. She turned to face him and jokingly said, "What did you do, nail them down?"

"Yeah," Rumplestiltskin said seriously, nodding his head once.

Belle turned with a smile on her face as she tugged once more before falling down along with the curtains and the rod, falling into Rumplestiltskin's arms. They both looked at each other for the longest moment ever. Belle felt her heart racing from the fall and from being in his arms. Rumplestiltskin on the other hand was looking all over the place and not wanting to look her in the eyes.

"Thank you," Belle said gently.

Rumplestiltskin grunts and lets her go onto her feet.

Belle stumbled onto her feet, looking at him. "Thank you," she repeated.

"It was no matter," Rumplestiltskin said, taking a few steps toward his spinning wheel.

"I'll put the curtains back up," Belle said, smiling.

Rumplestiltskin took a step forward and then turned around. "Uh...," he sighed. "There's no need," he said, shaking his index finger at her. "I'll get used to it." He turned and walked away from her, thinking about why he was being nice to someone and not being an evil manipulator toward his new maid. Belle watched him and thought that he was slowly changing and becoming a new person.

Emma ripped off the cloth from her desk, it revealed a bunch of items that were stolen from Mr. Gold's house. It was a bunch of little knickknacks that he had stolen from his house. "You're welcome," Emma said to him while he looked at all of the items, to make sure that everything was there. "You were right, your man Moe ripped you off. It was all still at his place." She balled up the cloth and set it down on the floor next to her chair as she sat down in the chair.

"And the man himself?" Mr. Gold asked.

"Closing in on him," Emma answered.

"So, job well half-done, then," Mr. Gold complimented her.

"In less than a day, I got everything back," Emma said defensively. "Is something wrong?"

"You've recovered nothing," Mr. Gold bitterly. "There's something missing." He walked away from the items and Emma.

"I'll get it when I find him," Emma called out after him.

Mr. Gold stopped in his tracks. "Not if I find him first," he threatened.

Rumplestiltskin and Belle were in the dining room with the curtains open, the light was spilling into the dining room. He was making a cup of tea when he looked up and stared out of the window, mesmerized by the sight. Belle looked over at him with a smile on her lips. Rumplestiltskin was walking away when Belle was getting closer. Belle sat on the edge of the table and Rumple turned around with a teacup in his hands. "Oh," he muttered.

Belle looked at him, she was wondering about something and hoping that he would give her a straight answer. "Why did you want me here?" she asked.

Rumplestiltskin scrunched up his nose. "The place was filthy," he answered, taking a sip of the tea.

Belle tilted her head slightly. "I think you were lonely," she answered. "I mean, any man would be lonely."

Pulling the teacup away from his lips and looking down at the floor. "Well, I'm not a man," he said softly, sitting next to her on the table.

"So I've had a couple of months to look around, you know?" Belle said. "And, uh, upstairs, there's clothing. Small, as if for a child?" she paused for a second. "Was it yours or was there a son?" she asked him gently.

Rumplestiltskin didn't answer, he was lost in thought and he was thinking about his own son and what had happened to him when they last saw each other. His bottom lip trembled at the last moments then he looked over at Belle and decided to tell her the truth. "There was," he admitted. "There was a son. I lost him. As I did his mother."

Belle looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry," she said gently. They both sat in silence for a few seconds, she looked over at him. "So you were a man once. An ordinary man." She leaned in slightly. "If I'm never going to know, another person in my whole life, can't I at least know you?"

Rumplestiltskin got up and turned to look at Belle. "Perhaps," he said, setting his teacup down on the table, "perhaps you just want to learn the monster's weaknesses. No, no, no."

"You're not a monster," Belle said. "You think you're uglier than you are. That's why you cover all the mirrors up, isn't it? Hmm?" she asked, waiting for his answer.

Before he could answer there was banging on the Dark Castle doors, the doors opened up and Gaston was at the doors. "I am Sir Gaston," Gaston announced to Rumplestiltskin while holding his sword. "And you, Beast, have taken...," he didn't get to finish his threat before Rumplestiltskin snapped his fingers and turned him into a beautiful red rose.

Belle was waiting for Rumplestiltskin to come back and the doors opened, she turned to look at him and walked toward him. "Who was that?" she asked.

"Just an old woman selling flowers," Rumplestiltskin lied to Belle.

Belle nodded once and he brought out the red rose, handing it to her and Belle gasped. "Here," he murmured as Belle smiled at the thought. "If you'll have it."

Belle took the red rose from his hand with a smile. "Why, thank you," she said softly, she bowed slightly and so did Rumplestiltskin, she chuckled softly. She sniffed the flower as she walked away from him to pick something up off the ground.

"You had a life, Belle, before this," Rumplestiltskin said, waving his hand around at the castle. "Friends and family." Belle got up, looked at him, and then walked off to find a vase for the flower. "What made you choose to come here with me?"

Belle stopped in her tracks while Rumplestiltskin sat down in the chair. "Heroism," she simply said. "Sacrifice. You know," she continued and unlocked the doors to the bookcase and took out a small gold vase, "there aren't a lot of opportunities for women in this land to show what they can do." She looked over at him and closed the doors of the bookcase. "To see the world, to be heroes. So when you arrived, that was my chance. I always wanted to be brave." She walked toward the table and set the gold vase down on the table, cut the rose's stem, and put the flower in the vase. "I figured, do the brave thing and bravery would follow."

"And is it everything you hoped?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

Belle laughed as she walked closer to him and set the rose in the middle of the table. "Well, uh... I did want to see the world," she answered, sitting on the table as she cleared her throat. "That part didn't really work out. But um...," she sighed, "I did save my village."

"And what about your, uh, betrothed?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"It was an arranged marriage," Belle answered, shrugging. "Honestly, I never really cared much for Gaston. No. To me, love is layered. Love is a mystery to be uncovered. You know, I could never truly give my heart to someone as superficial as he." Belle smiled to herself as they both sat in silence.

Rumplestiltskin sat in his chair thinking about what Belle had said, thinking about his relationship with his wife that he had, and questioning everything. He was also thinking about Belle, what if he could love her? What if he could change just for her? But everyone truly believed that Rumplestiltskin couldn't love.

"But you were going to tell me about your son," Belle said, reminding him.

"I'll tell you what. I'll make you a deal. Go to town and fetch me some straw. When you return, I'll share my tale," Rumplestiltskin promised her.

"But, you... Town?" Belle asked, nodding once. "You trust me to come back?"

"Oh, no," Rumplestiltskin said. "I expect I'll never see you again."

Ashley and Ruby took a shot at a club in Storybrooke while Mary Margaret watched them while taking a sip of her red alcoholic drink, Ashley and Ruby squealed at how the alcohol tasted.

"Pace yourself, Ashley," Mary Margaret said sternly in her motherly voice.

"I am," Ashley said with a smile on her face. "This is the first night out since I've had the baby. I am making up for lost time." She downed another shot while Ruby took a sip of her drink as she stared at a few guys across from the bar.

"Mmm. Ash, check out those guys," Ruby murmured to her friend.

"Honey, I'm still with Sean," Ashley reminded her.

"You're not married. And he's not here," Ruby said.

"He's working," Ashley said, frowning.

"He's always working," Ruby reminded her. "Have fun moping." She got up, took her drink with her, and walked over to the guys. Ashley and Mary Margaret watched her, Ruby started giggling when she approached.

"She's right," Ashley said to Mary Margaret. "He is always working." She sighed, looking down for a moment then looked over at Mary Margaret. "I thought love would be different."

Mary Margaret looked at her shocked then picked up her drink. "Me, too," she agreed, taking a sip of her drink.

David Nolan was in Mr. Clark's shop—the very same one about the two twins stole candy from—he got two Valentine's cards and he got in line not noticing who was in front of him.

"Two valentines?" Mr. Gold asked, David, looked up briefly and then looked back down at the cards. "Sounds like a complicated life."

"Oh, no. I just couldn't decide," David said, flashing him the two cards with a small laugh.

One of the cards was yellow with a dog holding a pencil in his hand along with three red hearts and below the dog it said: I Woof You! and the other card had two women with a castle behind them, one of the women was putting a crown on top of the other girls head and beneath them, it said: Happy Valentine's Day!

"These are both for the same woman?" Mr. Gold asked.

"Well, they're both so 'us'," David said.

"I see," Mr. Gold murmured. "Well, you're fortunate you have someone that loves you." He walked forward and set his things down on the counter—which were duct tape and rope.

"I really am," David said more to himself than to Mr. Gold.

"Love, it's like a delicate flame. And once it's gone, it's gone forever. Best of luck to you," Mr. Gold said with a smile, as he walked out of the shop.

"Thanks," David said, returning the smile. Mr. Clark sneezed into his white cloth. "Bless you."

"Thank you," Mr. Clark said, sniffling.

Mr. Gold was in the Game of Thorns van, Moe French was in the van—tied up and duct tape over the mouth—he was yelling but it was muffled. He finally found him and he was going to pay for what he did and what he took from his shop.

They finally arrived at a wooden cabin, he got out of the van and opened up the back of the van, thunder was erupting in the sky. He got out his gun and pointed it at Moe, "Walk," Mr. Gold demanded. Moe stood up with the help of the van's wall and jumped out. Moe looked around at the place and Mr. Gold cocked his gun at him, Moe turned around to face him as he looked at the gun in his hand. "You see, here's the thing. I don't normally let people get away," he said, slamming the door shut.

Belle was on the dirt road, wearing her usual blue dress and a green hood over her dress, horse started neighing from behind her. She stopped in her tracks and turned around hearing the carriage approaching. She hurriedly went to the side as the carriage passed by. The black carriage stopped in front of Belle and Regina opened the door and peered out of it.

"Did my carriage splash you?" Regina asked.

Belle looked down at her dress, shaking her head and looking up at Regina. "Oh, no. I'm fine," she answered. Belle was about to walk away from her when she spoke.

"You know, I'm tired of riding," Regina said. Belle stopped in her tracks and looked over at Regina. "Let me stretch my legs and walk with you for a spell."

Regina got out of the carriage along with her black umbrella and started walking with Belle. "You carry very little," Regina commented.

"I don't want to be slowed down," Belle answered.

"Oh, you're running from someone," Regina said, chuckling. "The question is, master or lover?" Belle looked over at Regina, not saying a word. "Oh. Master and lover."

Belle opened her mouth but closed it, she stopped and turned to face Regina. "I might take a rest. You go on ahead," Belle said, trying not to continue this conversation.

"So if I'm right," Regina said while putting an arm around Belle's shoulders as they continued walking, "you love your employer, but you're leaving him."

"I might love him," Belle admitted. "I mean, I could," she paused for a moment before continuing, "except something evil has taken root in him."

"It sounds like a curse to me," Regina commented. "And all curses can be broken. A kiss born of true love would do it." She smiled at her then Belle widened her eyes and Regina laughed. "Oh, child, no. I would never suggest a young woman kiss a man who held her captive. What kind of message is that?"

"Right," Belle said, dismissing the idea.

"Besides, if he loves you, he would have let you go. And if he doesn't love you, well, then the kiss won't even work," Regina suggested.

"Well, he did let me go," Belle exclaimed while stopping to look at Regina.

"Yes, but no kiss happened," Regina reminded her.

"And a kiss is enough?" Belle questioned. "He would be a man again?"

Regina leaned down and smiled at Belle. "An ordinary man," she said. "True love's kiss will break any curse."

Belle smiled at the thought. She was going back to the Dark Castle and going to do what Regina had said but it was also risky for her to do that because she knew that Rumplestiltskin was a tough guy to get close to.

Rumplestiltskin was standing at the window in the Dark Castle, peering out of it with it open—watching and waiting to see if Belle would return or not. A small smile came to his lips as he turned and ran down the steps Belle walked through the door to the dining room, carrying a load of straw that she got from the village in town.

"Oh, you're back already!" Rumplestiltskin said, sitting at the spinning wheel. "Good. Good thing. I'm nearly out of straw."

"Hmm," Belle smiled, walking toward Rumplestiltskin with determination in her step, setting the basket of straw next to the spinning wheel. "Come on, you're happy that I'm back."

"I'm not unhappy," he said.

Belle chuckled softly, she stood behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "And you promised me a story," she reminded him.

"Did I?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Mmm-hmm," Belle hummed, taking the straw out of his hand and sitting next to him on a different stool.

"Oh," he whispered.

"Tell me about your son," Belle said softly, leaning in.

"Uh...," he looked at the spinning wheel for a moment, trying to think of how to start the story. "I lost him. There's nothing more to tell, really."

"And since then, you've loved no one. And no one has loved you," Belle guessed.

Rumplestiltskin leaned in close. "Why did you come back?" he asked, suspiciously.

"I wasn't going to," Belle answered, looking into his eyes. "But then something changed my mind." Belle leaned in and so did Rumplestiltskin, they shared a kiss. They pulled apart and Belle looked at him with a smile on her lips.

Rumplestiltskin could feel the change, he was changing back into the man he used to be. "What's happening?" he asked.

"Kiss me again. It's working." Belle exclaimed, placing her hands on his neck.

"What is?" he asked, confused.

"Any curse can be broken," she said excitedly.

Rumplestiltskin got up quickly and pushed the stool away from him, quickly backing up and he was changing back to being the Dark One again. "Who told you that?" he asked, angrily. "Who knows that?"

Belle shook her head and looked down at the floor. "I don't know. She...," she stuttered.

Rumplestiltskin turned his back to her. "She...," he said simply. He started walking towards the mirror that was covered, tugging the cloth down on the floor. "You evil soul," he stated to the mirror, knowing that Regina was watching and listening to them. "This was you!" He pointed to the mirror. "You turned her against me! You think you can make me weak?" he yelled at the mirror and Belle got up and walked toward him. She was confused about why he was yelling at the mirror and what the hell was going on. "You think you can defeat me?"

"Who are you talking to?" Belle asked.

"The Queen! Your friend, the Queen," he answered, turning to Belle. "How did she get to you?"

"The Queen? I don't...," Belle said, she was completely confused about what he was talking about.

"I knew this was a trick," he said, walking toward her and pointing his finger at her. "I knew you could never care for me. Oh, yeah. You're working for her. Or is this all you?" He paused for a moment. "Is this you being the hero and killing the beast?"

"It was working—" Belle started to say, taking his hand into hers.

"Shut up!" Rumplestiltskin said through his teeth, yanking his hands away from hers.

"This means it's true love!" Belle yelled.

"Shut the hell up!" he yelled back.

"Why won't you believe me?" she cried out.

"Because no one, nobody could ever, ever love me!" he yelled while shaking her.

Rumplestiltskin grabbed her upper arm and dragged her back to her dungeon, and she fell to her hands and knees and grunted when she hit the floor. He looked at her with disgust and couldn't believe that he trusted her, he wanted nothing to do with her and she didn't care what happened to her.

Belle was breathing heavily and was looking ahead of her and thinking that she couldn't believe that this was happening. She didn't want him to distrust her like that. She really started to fall in love with him and now she knows that he was just an ugly beast.

Moe was sitting in a wooden chair while Mr. Gold went to the window, looking out of it. "Let me explain. Okay?" Moe said, trying to reason with him. Mr. Gold set the gun down on the sill of the window. "Let me explain," he pleaded to the other as he panted.

"Oh," Mr. Gold breathed out while grabbing a chair and setting it in front of Moe, sitting in the chair. "Well, that is fascinating. Truly fascinating." He puts his cane up to Moe's throat, choking him. "I'm gonna let you breathe in a second. And you're gonna say two sentences. The first is gonna tell me where it is. The second is gonna tell me who told you to take it." He pressed down on his throat a bit. "Do you understand the rules?" he asked Moe.

"Yeah," Moe choked.

"Good. Let's begin," Mr. Gold said, taking his cane off of Moe's throat.

Moe was gasping and groaning—thankful for the air. "I needed that van," he said.

Mr. Gold interrupted Moe, smiling as he looked out the window. "Now, you see, that is not a good first sentence!" He smacked Moe with his cane hard.

Moe screamed in pain. "Gold, listen," he cried out.

"Tell me where it is!" Mr. Gold threatened, hitting Moe with his cane again.

"Stop!" Moe cried out.

"Tell me where it is!" Mr. Gold yelled, hitting him with his cane again.

"No! Stop!" Moe yelled in pain. "It wasn't my fault."

"My fault?" Mr. Gold echoed. "What are you talking about, my fault? You shut her out. You had her love, and you shut her out!" He hit Moe again with his cane. "She's gone. She's gone forever. She's not coming back, and it's your fault!" He hit Moe again. "Not mine!" Moe screamed in pain as he got hit again. "You are her father!" He kept hitting him over and over again with his cane. "Yours! It's your..."

Rumplestiltskin grabbed a long, metal bar and started smashing the glass of his bookshelf that was built into the walls. He was angry. He felt humiliated. He was hurt. He felt all of those emotions. He wished he didn't feel anything at all. How could he be so stupid to trust her? How could he feel this way? He didn't mean to fall in love with Belle. He wanted this feeling out of him. He let the metal fall from his hands as all the glass was into tiny sherds of glass.

"It's your fault! It's your fault!" Mr. Gold yelled as he kept hitting Moe French with his cane.

Emma came and grabbed Mr. Gold's arm back from hitting Moe with the cane again. "Stop!" she said, firmly.

Rumplestiltskin grabbed a long, metal bar and started smashing the glass of his bookshelf that was built into the walls. He was angry. He felt humiliated. He was hurt. He felt all of those emotions. He wished he didn't feel anything at all. How could he be so stupid to trust her? How could he feel this way? He didn't mean to fall in love with Belle. He wanted this feeling out of him. He let the metal fall from his hands as all the glass was into tiny shreds of glass.

Rumplestiltskin was over by the dining table and he picked up one of the tea cups and threw it against the wall and the cup shatters. And he picked up another and did the same thing to that. Another one. And another one. He picked up one of the tea cups that had the chip in it—the same one that Belle broke—he set it down on the table and walked away from the rest of the tea set.

Ashley was sitting at the table, messing with the light that was in the middle of the table. She was bummed that her boyfriend wasn't with her and spending time with her on Valentine's Day. Mary Margaret came over and sat down next to Ashley, saying, "Girls' night's really working out for you."

"I thought it would make me feel better," Ashley said, taking in a breath. "But the truth is I need a 'be with my guy' night. But he's never around. And I'm at home with the baby all day. I mean, what's the point in being together if we're not together?"

Mary Margaret thought about David and how Ashley was right. She knew that she and David could never be together and that she sneaked around behind Kathryn's back. "I get it," she said. "Loving someone you can't be with, it's a terrible, terrible burden."

Ashley looked at Mary Margaret when she spoke those words, she felt bad for whoever broke her heart. She instantly knew that the girls' night out was a bad idea. "This was a bad idea. I should go home," she said while shaking her head.

As she was about to get up, Sean was behind her. "Ashley," he called out to her.

"Sean?" Ashley sounded confused, stood up, and looked at Sean.

"Hey," Sean said, holding a bouquet of red roses in his hands.

"I thought that you were working tonight," Ashley said, taking a few steps toward Sean.

"I am," Sean said. "It's my break. And I had to see you." He gave Ashley the roses and in return, she smiled and gasped at the thought. While all this was happening Ruby stood next to Mary Margaret and they both watched. "And ask you something." Sean got down on one knee and pulled out a small ring box—everyone stopped what they were doing and started watching Ashley and Sean—Ashley gasped and watched him. "Will you marry me?" he asked, opening the box. She stood there shocked, she didn't know what to say or even think, she was thrilled, of course. "I only have a 20-minute break, so, any time now."

Ashley nodded. "Yes!" she exclaimed while laughing.

Everyone started clapping their hands, happy and excited for the newly engaged couple. Sean slid the ring into her left hand and they both hugged. They finally pulled apart and they looked at each other, smiling at each other.

"My truck's outside if you wanna take a ride before I head back to work," Sean suggested. "It's not much of a date—"

Ashley shook her head with a smile on her face. "It's the best date," she said softly, she leaned in and kissed him.

"Then your carriage awaits," Sean said.

Ashley looked back at her two friends, chuckling to herself, and then walked out of the club with Sean, Ruby walked away with a smile on her lips and Mary Margaret was happy for Ashley but she felt an ache inside of her chest. Wishing that she could have what Ashley and Sean have. Mary Margaret grabbed her purse and jacket and walked out of the club.

Sean's truck was in front of Storybrooke Hardware store and opened the passenger side door for Ashley to get in and Sean went to the driver's side, they both laughed as they both pulled away down the street. Mary Margaret watched them on the other side of the street. She was jealous that she couldn't have that with the guy she had intense feelings for.

"How was girls' night?" David asked who was a couple of feet away from Mary Margaret.

"David?" Mary Margaret called out, surprised to see him there, she walked to him and stood in front of him. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I knew you would be here," David answered. "And I wanted to give you your Valentine's Day card." He took the Valentine's Day card out of his jacket pocket with a smile on his face.

Mary Margaret smiled and took the card. "Check up on me?" she asked, pulling out the card.

"Maybe a little," David admitted. "I didn't want you to find somebody else."

Mary Margaret looked down at the card and then back up at him with a smile. "Like you?" she asked. "'Kathryn, I woof you.'"

David took the card from her, Mary Margaret's face was hurt and heartbroken all over again. "No," he whispered. "So sorry." He took out another card in a red envelope. "I meant this one."

Mary Margaret didn't take the Valentine's Day card right away then after a few long seconds she took the card and looked down at it. "I always thought that if two people were supposed to be together, they would find a way. But, David, if this is our way, I think we should have another one," Mary Margaret said.

"Mary Margaret...," David whispered, taking her hands into his own.

"I think you should go home to Kathryn," Mary Margaret said suddenly, pulling her hands away from his.

"I know," David said gently. "You're right. It doesn't mean I'm gonna give up. We'll find that way."

"I hope so," Mary Margaret said.

David looked over at the building and shook his head with a soft chuckle. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said.

Mary Margaret chuckled as well, looking over at the side. "Happy Valentine's Day," she said to him. They both left without saying another word to each other, they didn't even glance back at each other. This was the worst Valentine's Day ever for both of them.

Emma and Mr. Gold were outside in the cabin, an ambulance was there to take Moe French to the hospital. "So, I heard you managed not to break anything he needs," Emma commented to Mr. Gold. "You're lucky, Mr. Gold."

"You got a funny definition of lucky," Mr. Gold said, watching Moe get into the ambulance on the gurney.

"You have a funny definition of justice. What did he really do?" Emma asked.

Mr. Gold leaned in close to Emma. "He stole," he reminded her.

"That reaction was about more than taking a few trinkets. You said something about how he hurt her, what happened to her? Who was that? What did he do? If someone needs help, maybe I can help," Emma said, trying to help Gold.

"No. I'm sorry, Sheriff, I think you heard that wrong," Mr. Gold said dismissively.

"You really don't want to cooperate," Emma said, observing.

"Look, we're done here," Mr. Gold said, trying to turn away.

"Actually," Emma said, grabbing at his arm, "we're not. You're under arrest." She pulled out her handcuffs and handcuffed him.

Belle was leaning up against the brick wall of the dungeon, staring into space and not touching the tea that Rumplestiltskin had left for her. The door opens with the wave of Rumplestiltskin's hand and he enters the room, standing in front of Belle.

"So, what are you going to do to me?" Belle asked.

Rumplestiltskin pointed to the open door. "Go," he simply said. He turned his back to her.

"Go?" Belle echoed.

"I don't want you anymore, dearie," he said.

Belle was hesitant about getting up and walking out but she got up and started walking toward the opening, a foot or two she stopped in her tracks and turned around as she walked back into the dungeon, standing in front of Rumplestiltskin. "You know, you were freeing yourself. You could've had happiness if you just believed that someone could want you. But you couldn't take the chance."

"That's a lie," Rumplestiltskin said softly.

Belle took a step closer to him. "You are a coward, Rumplestiltskin," she said firmly. "And no matter how thick you make your skin, that doesn't change."

"I'm not a coward, dearie," Rumplestiltskin said matter-of-factly. "It's quite simple, really. My power means more to me than you."

"No," Belle said, shaking her head slightly. "No, it doesn't. You just don't think I can love you. Now you've made your choice. And you're going to regret it. Forever. And all you'll have is an empty heart and a chipped cup." She turned and walked out quickly, she wasn't going to cry in front of him, she would not shed a single tear for this monster. For this coward.

Rumplestiltskin stood there as he listened to her feet walking away from him. He closed his eyes, holding back tears and emotions that he had been hiding for a very long time. He was not going to shed a single emotion for Belle.

Emma was sitting in her own little office with the door open, seeing Mr. Gold in the cell. "Pastrami. You want half?" she asked Mr. Gold, taking a bite from the sandwich. "You know, I still owe you that favor. Nice, fatty pastrami, delicious way to clear the books."

"I don't need a reminder that you owe me a favor," Mr. Gold said nastily. "And when the day comes that I make my request, it'll be for more than half a sandwich."

Upon hearing footsteps in the police station, Regina and Henry walked in and looked through the windows. "Sheriff Swan," Regina said. "I'm letting you have 30 minutes with Henry." Emma walked to the door and stood in front of the two. "Take him out, buy him ice cream." Regina looked over at Mr. Gold, taking her hands off Henry's shoulders.

"You want me to leave you alone with a prisoner?" Emma asked.

Regina wasn't paying attention to Emma, she stood in place and did not look at Emma or Henry. "Twenty-nine and a half minutes," she simply said.

Emma glared at Regina while Henry looked up at Emma with a smile, "Hi, Emma," Henry said.

Emma smiled. "Hey," she greeted him then looking at Regina and then at Gold.

"Bring me back a cone," Mr. Gold said.

"Just this once," Emma said to Regina. She turned and grabbed her jacket off of the coat rack, looking at Henry. "Come on, let's go." Henry and Emma turned to go out of the police station with smiles on their faces, leaving Regina and Mr. Gold alone.

"Well, you really wanted that little chat, didn't you?" Mr. Gold said.

"Apparently, this is the only way I could do it," Regina said with a smile on her face, walking toward Mr. Gold.

"Please, sit," Mr. Gold said, pointing to the nearest chair Regina's face went hard, and sat down in the chair. "Now, when two people both want something the other has, a deal can always be struck. Do you have what I want?"

Regina smiled smugly before answering, "Yes."

Mr. Gold looked down as he started to shake slightly. "So, you did put him up to it, then," Mr. Gold figured out.

"I merely suggested that strong men take what they need," Regina said, a hint of arrogance in her voice.

"Oh, yeah, and you told him just exactly what to take, didn't you?" Mr. Gold asked.

"We used to know each other so well, Mr. Gold. Has it really come down to this?" Regina asked.

"It seems it has, yeah," Mr. Gold said, bitterly. "But you know what I want. What is it you want?"

"I want you to answer one question. And answer it simply. What's your name?" Regina asked, waiting for him to answer.

"It's Mr. Gold," he said simply.

Regina's face was hard, staring at him. "Your real name," she said.

"Every moment I've spent on this Earth, that's been my name," Mr. Gold explained.

Regina leaned in. "But what about moments spent elsewhere?" she questioned.

Mr. Gold was confused and hesitant to answer her. "What are you asking me?" he asked.

"I think you know," Regina said, not playing dumb. "If you want me to return what's yours, tell me your name."

Mr. Gold looked at her, a smile came to his lips as he chuckled. "Rumplestiltskin," he said through his teeth. He stood up, gripped the bars, and leaned in. "Now give me what I want."

"Such hostility...," Regina said.

"Oh, yeah," he agreed, nodding once.

Regina took a strap of her purse off of her shoulder and took out a chipped teacup, showing him it. "Over this?" she questioned. She teased him throw the bars before he finally took the chipped tea cup. "Such a sentimental little keepsake."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Mr. Gold—Rumplestiltskin— said through his teeth. He sat back down on the bed while looking and fiddling with the teacup. "So, now that we're being honest with each other, let's remember how things used to be, shall we? And don't let these bars fool you, dear. I'm the one with the power around here. I'm gonna be out of here in no time. And nothing between us will change."

Regina got up, placed her hands on the bars, and leaned in close with a smile. "We shall see," she said softly. She walked away with a smug smile on her lips, leaving Mr. Gold in the jail cell all alone with his chipped teacup in his hands.

Mr. Gold looked down at the chipped tea cup, thinking that he was going to find her and hoping that she was fine and not dead. Wishing that his Belle was safe and not hurt.

Rumplestiltskin was at his spinning wheel and was spinning slowly and the doors opened, revealing Regina aka The Evil Queen. "Flimsy locks," she said, chuckling. "I have a deal to discuss. A certain mermaid." She stopped and looked down at the tea set that was on the table, messing with the set.

"I'm not dealing today," Rumplestiltskin said lowly.

"Are you angry with me?" Regina asked, looking over at him. "What is it this time?" she looked down as she poured herself a cup of tea.

"Your little deception failed. You'll never be more powerful than me." He looked over at her. "You can keep trying, dearie, but you're never gonna beat me."

"Oh," Regina said, clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "Is this about that girl I met on the road? Mmm?" she asked in a teasing tone, she chuckled softly to herself. "What was her name?" She went back to the tea. "Margie? Verna?"

Rumplestiltskin went back to spinning his wheel. "Belle," he said softly.

Regina looked over at him with a look of disgust, rolling her eyes. "Right," she muttered. "Well, you can rest assured I had nothing to do with that tragedy."

Rumplestiltskin stopped spinning, got off his stool, and started walking over to Regina. Regina looked up and over at Rumplestiltskin with a teacup and spoon in hand, putting the spoon in her mouth as she licked off the tea and sugar. "What tragedy?" he asked.

"You don't know?" Regina asked, chuckling to herself as she set the spoon down. "Well, after she got home, her fiance had gone missing. And after her stay here, her association with you," she walked around the long dining table, "no one would want her, of course. Her father shunned her, cut her off, shut her out."

"So she needs a home?" he asked.

Regina took in a breath with a cruel smile. "He was cruel to her. He locked her in a tower and sent in clerics to cleanse her soul with scourges and flaying," she explained, walking closer to him. "After a while, she threw herself off the tower. She died."

Rumplestiltskin looked at her with hatred in his eyes. "You're lying," he said through his teeth.

"Am I?" Regina challenged.

Rumplestiltskin tried not to show any emotion but it was failing, his lips were quivering and his eyes showed him sadness. "We're done," he whispered. He waved his hand to open the door, walking toward the door.

Regina sighed, setting the teacup on the table. "Fine. I have other calls to make," she said, walking toward the door but not just before wiping the table with her finger. "Hmm. The place is looking dusty, Rumple." She stood in front of him. "You should get a new girl," she taunted him then she walked out of the dining room, the door closed once she walked out.

Rumplestiltskin stood there while the doors closed themselves, thinking about what Regina had told him, wondering if it was really true or not. He walked over to the bookshelves and opened the doors, taking out the chipped tea cup and putting it on one of the pedestals but not before taking a gold cup off of it.

He started sobbing just thinking about Belle and wishing that he didn't have to make her leave, his heart was shattered into a million pieces. He hated himself more than he ever did before. He wished he could change back time and let her change him into a real man and not some coward, just like she said.

Regina was at the hospital and was walking toward the ward at the lower level, she punched the code into a small keypad as she looked around before the buzz and walked into the room. She was holding a red rose when she walked down the stairs with a smile on her lips, the nurse noticed Regina and stood up.

Regina handed the red rose to the nurse. "Pretty," the nurse commented.

"Well, I know how hard you work," Regina said with a smile. "Has anyone been to see her?"

"No, ma'am," she answered. "Not today, not ever."

Regina walked away with a pleased smile on her face while the nurse sniffed the rose. She walked down the dark hallway where the lights were flickering and the janitor was mopping up the hallway—and he was kind of creepy—she kept walking and not paying any mind to him. She stood in front of the door and took a few steps in front of it, opening the little plate for Regina to peer into.

And it was revealing a woman inside, was looking down and not paying much attention to Regina. The room was padded and there was a small bed with a pillow and blanket. And nobody would have guessed who it was that was in the room—it was Belle, Moe French's daughter. She finally looked up and over at Regina.

She was wondering why Regina was there and who she was because she had never seen her before. She was scared and she wanted to get out of this place. She didn't remember how long she had been in that room but all she knew was that she wanted to get out of that dusty, small room.