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A Love Worth Fighting For	By : RosinaMarie Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time Views: 2839 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT, nor the characters. Nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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“I apologize for the clutter,” he states as we cross the threshold into his house. “It’s not often that I have guests.” Looking around, I can’t help but let out a small chuckle… he’s right, it is a bit of a mess. I remember when I first entered the Dark Castle and how it looked like the floors had never been swept nor had anything been dusted since he had moved in. It didn’t take me long to realize that he did in fact need a caretaker… desperately. This new house looks just the same.
“Come, I’ll show you around.” He places his hand on my lower back as he begins leading me. First, we enter the room to our left, which consists of a few armchairs, a setee, a fireplace with a large mirror above it, and several round tables with more clutter thrown on top of them. “This is the main living room,” he says as we pass through. I think he’s a bit nervous… which is rather endearing.
The next room we come to is the kitchen which has double doors leading out onto a patio. “Uh, this is obviously the kitchen,” he states. I nod in reply and I notice a stack of dishes sitting in the sink waiting to be washed, along with many contraptions that I do not recognize sitting on the counter top. “And through there is the dining area,” he motions to our right.
Making our way through the dining room, we reach the staircase. At the top is a long hall to the right, but he motions toward the single doorway to the left. “That is my room,” he states before steering me off to the right. “There are three guest bedrooms, and here is the bathroom,” he motions to the only doorway on the right side of the hall.
“Uh, I’m sure you’re dying for a bath,” he states as he opens the door. This bathroom is almost as grand as his old one… with a large claw-foot tub along the wall.
“What do I smell bad?” I tease.
“No, not at all,” he replies in a rush shaking his head. “I just remember how much you loved bathing, and figured it’s been awhile… and you should relax a bit.”
I reach out and rub my hand up his arm as I let out a laugh. “It’s okay, I was just playing. And yes, a bath sounds absolutely lovely. Thank you.”
I notice him take a deep breath before stating, “The knob on the right is the hot, and the one on the left is the cold. I’ll, uh… lie out some clothes for you in the room across the hall.” His nervousness is adorable and I can’t hide my grin any longer. “In the mean time, I’ll make us something to eat. Meet me in the kitchen when you’re done.” He suddenly turns and walks back down the hallway.
I shut the bathroom door before kicking off my shoes and slipping out of my dress. Crossing to the tub, I put the stopper in the drain and turn on the right knob all the way. As I wait for the water to fill up, I rifle through the cabinets to find a washrag, shampoo, and soap.
Once the tub is full and a healthy steam is billowing from the hot water, I ease myself in. I lay my head back and sigh as the water eases my aching limbs. This is the most relaxed I’ve felt in a long time and I close my eyes and feel myself drifting off to sleep. Shaking my head to wake myself up, I begin to wash the buildup of grime out of my hair and off my body.
Wrapping myself in a white fluffy towel, I cross the hall and find that he has laid a pair of cotton trousers and a black tee shirt for me to wear on the bed. I find that I am somewhat glad that he doesn’t have women’s nightclothes in his house. After dressing, I sit down at the vanity and begin to brush my hair. When I am done I put it in a simple braid and rise to head back downstairs to see what he has prepared for dinner.
Looking into the kitchen from the bottom of the stairs my heart stops, and I take in a deep breath. He is bent over the kitchen sink… arms rigid with his hands grasping the counter top. His head is lowered and his body is shaking with sobs. My heart clenches in my chest seeing him in such pain. He doesn’t realize that I’m here so I walk over and slip my arms around his waist and rest my head against his back. “What’s wrong?” I murmur against his shirt.
He turns around as if my words broke him out of his thoughts. His eyes are bloodshot, and his cheeks are streaked with tears. “Me,” he chokes. “I’m wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask as he wraps his arms around my waist and lowers his head to rest on my shoulder as the sobs continue to wrack his body. I rub his back in soothing circles as I wait for him to explain further.
“It’s all my fault… I’m so sorry, Belle.” He is holding me so tight that I think he might crack my ribs. Grabbing at his arms, I coax him to loosen his grip and grab his face in my hands urging him to look at me as he continues.
“I never should have sent you away. You were right… I am a coward. The biggest coward… I’ve been hurt so many times in the past that I couldn’t believe that you could truly love me. When you kissed me I was so terrified of losing my powers, that the only thing I could think of was that you were trying to destroy me. And then you left and were captured because I loved you.”
My heart is breaking as I look upon his pain-ridden face. “Shh, please don’t cry,” I say as I pull him tighter to me. “It’s not your fault… If you want to blame anyone, blame Regina. And, hey, I’m here now and I’m fine… we’re together.” I let him cry out his feelings, wetting the shirt that he let me borrow.
“So… what did you make me for supper?” I ask after a moment, hoping to lighten the mood.
“A frozen pizza… it’s all I had,” he states with a huff. I have no idea what frozen pizza is so I just rub my hand up and down his arm in a comforting reply. “I promise I will go to the store tomorrow and buy groceries.”
He leads me to the dining table where there are two plates set out with a couple pieces of triangular food upon them. I sit down and stare at the toasted bread covered with sauce and cheese. It smells appetizing, so I pick it up and take a bite.
“Wow, Rumple, this is really delicious,” I gush after tasting the strange food. It’s a relief to eat something that isn’t bland or stale for once.
“I’m glad you like it,” he replies with a small smile.
I reach over and lay my hand on top of his. “You look like there’s something on your mind,” I say noticing the look in his eyes that tell me he’s dying to say something.
“You wanted adventure and to see the world… I could have, I should have shown you everything you wanted, and now if we never get to go back home you will never see it.” His eyes are looking at his plate as he says this.
“Rumple, I got to see plenty after leaving your castle. I went on an adventure and even became a hero.”
“You did? I thought you were abducted right after you left?”
“No, not for a few months after,” I say shaking my head. “I ended up joining a band of men on a mission to kill a Yagoui.”
“A Yagoui?” he sputters. “They are very dangerous, you could have been killed.”
I can’t help myself from laughing a bit as I remember that the creature wasn’t a bit dangerous, just misunderstood.
“He wasn’t dangerous,” I say. “It turns out that he was actually a man who was cursed by an evil witch. I ended up freeing him from his curse with fairy dust that I procured from a dwarf.”
“Wow, that sounds like quite the tale,” he says with awe. “I’m glad that you got an adventure.”
“Me too,” I tell him wishing that I could have had adventures with him instead.
“Belle,” he says after I’ve finished my meal. “We can leave Storybrooke now that the curse is broken. Would you come with me to explore this world?”
“Really?” I ask. “I would love to.” It doesn’t matter what world I’m in, I will go anywhere with this man.
He smiles as he rises and takes our dishes into the kitchen. I stand up to follow him and notice that he just drops them into the sink… not bothering to clean them. Shaking my head, I walk over and turn the water on start cleaning.
“Stop,” he says reaching for my arm. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind, it needs done… and by the looks of it, your entire home needs a good cleaning.”
“You’re not my maid any more. I don’t want you doing that.”
“If I’m going to be staying here, I will clean,” I tell him with a smile. I really don’t mind living in a clean house, but I decide to heed his words for tonight… tomorrow will be a different story.
“You should retire for the night,” he says after I fail to stifle a yawn. He’s right, I am very tired and sleeping in a real bed sounds amazing.
He walks me upstairs to the room I was in earlier. I would rather spend the night with him. I really don’t want to be alone, but I know it would be too untoward of me to ask to sleep in his bed.
“Goodnight, Belle,” he says to me as he strokes his hand down my cheek.
“Goodnight, Rumplestiltskin, and thank you… for everything,” I reply, leaning up to kiss him before walking into the room. I shut the door and practically run over and jump into the big bed. Sinking down into the soft down comforter, I feel myself having trouble staying awake. I slip beneath the covers and sigh, feeling as if the events of the past thirty-some years hadn’t happened.
“Belle, Belle!” I hear someone yelling as I am being shaken awake out of a terrifying nightmare. “Waken up, Belle.” My eyes snap open, and as I stare up into the face of the man I love, I am overcome with a strong feeling of nausea. My head feels like its being cleaved in two and I am freezing, though my body is soaked with sweat.
“You were having a nightmare,” he states with a worried expression. Yes I was, but it is the least of my worries as I now feel like I’m going to die.
“Rumple,” I moan reaching out to grab his arm. “I don’t feel well.”
“You don’t look well… you were having a fit and you’re all clammy.” He climbs into the bed next to me and lays his hand upon my forehead “You’re burning up.”
Oh, no I feel my stomach churn and bile rise up my throat. “I’m gonna be sick,” I groan feeling myself growing dizzy. I sit up against the headboard and before I lose the contents of my stomach, he shoves a conjured bucket in my lap. I vomit up everything I ate for dinner and I’m still gagging as he vanishes the contents of the bucket. “Thank you,” I reply as I lean back and close my eyes. He slips his arm around my back, causing me to rest my head upon his shoulder.
“What’s wrong,” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I reply. “I had a very vivid nightmare… more like a memory. I was back in Regina’s tower, where she kept me after I was taken. Rumple, it was like I was back there it seemed so real. I called out for you but you didn’t come… you never came.” I let out a whimper into his shirt as he tightens his grip on me.
“I didn’t know… I never heard you,” he replies in a rush.
“I know. There were markings… symbols on the walls. I assumed they were there to shield me from you,” I say as I begin to shake as my whole body is wracked with pain.
“I hurt everywhere.” The room is spinning and I feel myself about to vomit again. Moving away from him, I start gagging into the bucket but nothing comes out. “Help me, please,” I beg.
“Lean back.” I do as he says and close my eyes. He puts his right hand over my heart and I feel warmth spreading out and along my body as he heals whatever is wrong with me. Even though I am apprehensive about him using magic on me, I instantly feel better. But not a minute later the pain is back and I can’t hold in my scream as I sit up. I grab my head and choke on more bile.
“It didn’t work. I’m going to die,” I cry rocking back and forth.
Looking over, I see that his eyes are as wide as saucers and he’s shaking. “Rumple, what’s happening to me?” I ask him hoping for an answer.
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” he cries. “That should have healed you but magic is different here, I’m not a fraction of how powerful I used to be.” Tears are welling in his eyes and I can tell he’s just as terrified as I am.
My whole body is shaking now and I really think I’m dying.
“When you were in the asylum… did they give you anything?” He asks shaking his hands. “Injections or pills?”
“Yes,” I say realizing what he’s thinking. “They would come in twice a day and inject me with something. I don’t know what.”
“Damn it,” he curses as he flies to the opposite side of the bed and reaches for the telephone on the small table.
“What are you doing?” I ask him, missing his warmth already.
“Calling Victor,” he replies as he begins to punch in random numbers on the device.
“Who?”
“Doctor Whale, he runs the hospital. I don’t know what they’ve been drugging you with in that place… you’re obviously going through some sort of withdrawal.”
“No,” I screech reaching for his arm and knocking the telephone out of his hand. “Please, Rumple no doctors. They’ll take me back there… I can’t go back there.” I’m terrified.
“Belle, I don’t know what else to do. My magic can’t cure you… I can’t lose you again,” he cries on the verge of hysterics. “I promise I will not let anything happen to you. Whale will know what they’ve been giving you. He will help.”
“No, please no,” I beg but I know I am losing the battle as he reaches down to pick the phone up off the floor. Letting out a deep breath, I lie back down and I am almost in a complete haze as I hear him speaking with the doctor.
When I open my eyes, I realize that I must have fallen asleep because the doctor is here now. He is standing just inside the doorway speaking with Rumple in hushed tones. I don’t recognize him, which makes me feel a little better. If one of the doctors that I saw in the hospital came, I wouldn’t be able to go through with this.
“I’ve looked over her file,” I hear him say. “And it seems that she’s been given a large dose of Clozapine twice a day since she’s been in the asylum.”
“What is that?” Rumple asks, looking murderous.
“Well, it’s a drug used to treat severe schizophrenia. It’s a very dangerous drug and can cause an array of side effects. Was her cursed-self mentally ill? Or did Regina just stick her in there for no reason?”
“The latter I believe,” is his reply. “Why do you think Regina is the cause for her being there?”
“It’s obvious, considering the only contact information held in her file belongs to our dear mayor.”
I can feel his wrath from across the room, and decide to make myself known. “I don’t think I had a cursed-self,” I say barely loud enough for the two men to hear as I sit up. “My mind was just… blank. All I knew were those four white walls.
In a second, Rumple is back on the bed next to me. I see him glare at the doctor as he throws his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side.
“What are your symptoms, Belle?” The doctor asks as he walks to my side.
“Nausea, fever, pain… incredible pain,” I tell him as I close my eyes and lean heavily on Rumple.
“It sounds like you’re going through withdrawal symptoms, which isn’t uncommon with this medication. The safest thing to do is to be weaned off the drug. I’m going to give you a smaller dose than you’ve been getting now to start you off. I will get you a prescription and you will have to continue to take the pills until they are gone.” I nod my head in reply. I don’t want any more of that stuff, but I understand what he’s saying.
Rumple grabs my hand and holds it tight, I’m sure he can feel my anxiety rolling off me in waves. “I’m right here,” he says reminding me that he’s not going anywhere as he presses his lips to my temple.
“First, I’m going to draw some blood,” the doctor says as he holds out my left arm. I remember them doing that to me in the asylum every once in a while… I did not enjoy it then and really don’t want it now.
“Why?” Rumple asks demanding clarification for everything he’s doing to me.
“I need to run tests, this drug can cause serious adverse reactions… it can be fatal.”
“I’m gonna die?” I look over to Rumple and his eyes are nearly black as he tries to reel in his anger.
“No dear, I won’t let that happen,” he replies, glaring daggers at the good doctor.
“She’s had prior blood tests, and they came out fine,” the doctor reassures us. “This is merely precautionary.”
I turn my head into Rumple’s shirt as I feel the doctor begin to draw blood from the inside of my left elbow.
“I’m done,” he states and I turn back toward him. “I’m going to now give you an injection of the same drug you were on, but in a smaller dose,” he reiterates before pulling out a syringe from his bag. I close my eyes and return my face to Rumple’s shirt as he proceeds… I’ve come to the realization that I really hate needles.
“I’m going to go run the blood tests and see if everything is okay and I will return in the morning,” he states when he is finished with everything. “I also suggest that you make an appointment with Doctor Hopper,” he says looking over at Rumple. “She’s been through a traumatic experience and would do her good to speak to him.”
“Another doctor?” I ask. I don’t want any more doctors… one was too much.
“We’ll talk about it later.” I feel Rumple kiss the side of my head again as he rises from the bed to show the doctor out. “Thank you, Victor,” I hear him say before they descend the stairs.
I hear the clicking of his cane on the hardwood floor as he makes his way back into the bedroom. I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open, already feeling better and so very tired. I feel him sink down into the bed beside me and wrap his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him.
“How do you feel now?” he asks.
“Sleepy,” I reply with a yawn. “But I don’t want to go to sleep. I don’t want to have another nightmare.”
“Just think of a happy memory… it will help you have a happy dream,” he states with a warm smile.
“Will you stay with me?” I ask, hoping that he will. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“Yes, I’ll stay with you,” he whispers as he settles himself further into the bed. “I’ll stay with you forever.”
I look up at him and can’t help the smile that crosses my face. He asked me to think of a happy memory, and even though the words he just spoke will be filed with the most wonderful things in my life, my mind drifts back to another time that I was truly happy.
“What are you thinking of?” he asks.
“The moment, I believe, that I realized I was falling in love with you.”
“When was that?” he asks.
“My Rumple,” I sigh as I reach up to run my fingers through his hair. I don’t answer his question as my mind is quickly drifting off to a time long ago in a land far far away…
~Fairy Tale Land That Was~
The grounds surrounding the Dark Castle were blanketed in a fresh powdering of snow as I strolled along the perimeter of the keep. I had just served Rumplestiltskin his afternoon tea and couldn’t wait any longer to immerse myself in the majesty of the mountain range. Sitting down on the stone bench next to the pond, I took in the sights. The view was more beautiful than any painting I had ever seen as the sun’s rays streamed through the wispy clouds in the blue sky and struck the white peaks of the mountains.
It was then that I realized that the pond was completely frozen over, and I was reliving memories of my mother teaching me to ice skate. Rising to my feet, I turned and ran back towards the castle and up the long staircase to my bedroom. Dropping to the floor, I dug under the bed and pulled out a pair of worn leather skates that I found a few days prior. Exchanging my heavy cloak for a warm wool cardigan, I ran back outside for a bit of excitement.
Upon reaching the bench, I quickly rid myself of my boots and put on the skates that were slightly too large for my feet. I tied the laces as tight as possible with hope that I wouldn’t be too hindered by the size. Stepping onto the ice, a large smile graced my face and I threw my arms out to steady myself. It had been years since I had done this, and I tried to remember everything I was taught. It took a few minutes for me to get the hang of it again, and in no time I was twirling around like not a day had passed since I was with my mother.
“What in the blazes are you doing, girl?” I fell straight on my butt as I was jarred out of my memories and happiness by my enigmatic master’s yell. Jumping back to my feet, I looked over to find Rumplestiltskin standing on the ice a few feet in front of me. His arms were crossed over his chest and he had a furious look in his dark eyes.
“Ice skating,” I said matter-of-factly, gliding over and circling around his lithe form. Most people would be scared out of their minds if that look was directed at them, but I’d found out over the few weeks that I’d been there that I had no need to fear him.
“Well, stop it this instant,” he growled, baring his teeth.
“Why?” I asked, wondering why he was so ill-tempered all the time.
“Because the ice will break, you will fall into the water, get hypothermia… and die. Then I will have to find a new caretaker… and as I’ve said before good help is hard to find.” My smile grew as I watched him waving his arms around for emphasis during his tirade.
“Aw, are you worried about me, Rumple?” I asked sweetly coming to a stop in front of him.
“No, I’m worried about not getting my dinner,” he huffed in reply.
“Hmm,” I thought as I skated around him once more, as he spun around in a circle to keep his eyes on me. “How about I make you a deal,” I said coming to a stop back in front of him.
I could tell he was annoyed with me, yet he raised his left eyebrow in consideration of my audacity. “You come and skate with me and I will make you blueberry crème brulee for dessert,” I said wiggling my eyebrows at him. I had made the treat for him a few days after I arrived hoping to get on his good side, and I believed it was certainly a factor into his changed behavior toward me. “And that way, you can make sure that I don’t die.”
I could tell he was considering the offer as his eyes drifted over the snow-capped peaks in the distance.
“Deal,” he said before vanishing.
Letting out a huff, I spun around searching for him… I hated when he would disappear on me. I was about to call out for him but before I was able to open my mouth I felt his hands come around my waist as he turned me around to face him. He let out a giggle at my startled expression and immediately sped off to the far side of the pond. I noticed that he had donned a pair of skates and looked every bit as confident as if he were walking on solid ground. I was about to make my way over to him, but he was back in front of me in a flash.
“I have but one question for you, dearie,” he said raising his right index finger in the air. “Where did you find the skates?” He pointed down at my feet with both hands.
“In the west tower,” I replied with a shrug.
“Hmm…” was all he said before skating in a circle around me. “And what were you doing in the west tower?”
“I was cleaning… it’s my job don’t you know,” I teased.
“Well then why are you out here enjoying the weather when you should be doing your job?” he asked with a playful glimmer in his eyes.
I skated backwards away from him. “Well, my vicious master would have me scrubbing the grime off the floors all day,” I replied with a grin, “but I decided I could endure his wrath in exchange for a little free time.”
“I’m vicious now, am I?” he asked throwing his hand over his heart and opening his mouth in a show of mock exasperation.
“You are The Dark One, are you not?” I replied with my eyebrows raised.
“Ah, that I am… therefore you, dearie, should fear my wrath,” he said before darting at me.
Letting out a little scream, I spun and skated as fast as I could away from him. I circled the pond three times before I felt my feet going in the opposite direction of my body and I landed hard on the ice. Not realizing he was mere inches away from me when I tripped, he ended up falling right on top of me. His arms came out to brace himself on either side of my body, keeping him from crushing me with his weight.
Time seemed to stand still as I looked up at his shocked expression, his eyes changing color from black to a warm brown. My breath caught as my heart began pounding inside my chest and the feeling of butterflies assaulted my stomach. My eyes drifted from his down to his mouth and I felt a strange new desire to lean up and press my lips to his. Before I could contemplate this not entirely unwanted emotion, he was gone… vanished back to his castle.
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A Love Worth Fighting For