A/N: I just wanted to say THANK YOU! To everyone who responded to the first chapter. I intended for it to be only a one-shot, but I'm giving into the urge to write more about Rumpelstiltsken. So, I hope this next chapter is as intriguing as the first one. I won't make any promises, though. I might disappoint some people with the direction I think I'm going to take with this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of its characters. I just use the fanfiction. If I did own them, a certain Queen would get slapped.

So, enjoy!

Emma watched as Gold turned toward Belle and smiled. The woman went into his arms willingly. The scene made her feel happy inside but also resentful. She never knew what it was to have feelings like that, but she wouldn't let herself feel them. She couldn't afford feelings as deep as love to ruin her life. Experiencing love was an exquisite torture, but the beginning stages were the most wonderful for anyone to experience. Emma knew that deeply, but she knew the wounds from heartbreak were even harder to cure.

The couple drew apart and Gold put his jacket on. He nodded to Emma and grinned at Belle. She gave a small nod and he left. Emma watched him waltz out into the street and heard him whistling. Belle turned to Emma and flushed. Emma rolled her eyes and nodded for Belle to follow her.

"I need your information and then I'll be able to process you through and get you back to your home," Emma stated and started looking for paperwork. Belle's hand shot out to Emma's. She shook her head slightly.

"I don't have anywhere to go," Belle admitted. "My father disowned me and I don't know anyone in this town."

"Yes, you do," a voice called out from behind them. Emma's eyebrows raised and Belle's face broke out into a smile. Leroy stood in the entrance and came in hesitatingly. Emma watched as he approached Belle slowly. She gave another small nod and the two hugged again.

"I missed you," Belle murmured to Leroy. Leroy nodded and then let go of Belle. He came forward to Emma and Emma saw tears in his eyes. Belle quickly put a cloth over the mirror. Leroy then hugged Emma tightly. She winced at his strength, but slightly returned the hug.

"I am sorry, child," Leroy muttered. "I couldn't protect you that night. I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked quietly. Leroy shook his head and wiped the tears from his eyes. They heard a laugh from behind them. Leroy leered at another man standing in the doorway who was silently laughing at them. Emma watched him look at Leroy. The man came in and five others followed suit. Emma saw a doctor she had seen in the hospital, a young man who looked a little ditzy, a man blushing, Walter and Mr. Clark come into the room. Leroy went from her to them. They all nodded at the same time.

Belle clapped her hands together. The seven men's attention went to Belle and they all grinned at her. "Do you…?"

"We do indeed, Miss Belle," the doctor's voice boomed. He grinned at her and then his gaze grew somber as he gazed at Emma. He drew in a quick breath and swallowed a couple of times before he spoke again. "You have grown up, m'dear."

"She has, hasn't she?" the happy man asked quickly. Walter nodded and yawned in the same movement. The bashful man blushed even harder. The ditzy one smiled lopsidedly and gave a quick nod. Emma looked at them like they were insane. The doctor came over to her and took her hand to examine her palm.

"You have your mother's humility and your father's determination," he said gently. He looked at her wrist and then looked at her wrist. "You are strong, but you need to revitalize your belief."

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked. The doctor grinned and bowed to her.

"You can call me Doc," he murmured. Emma watched him raise a hand to the rest of the group. "You know Sneezy and Sleepy. These two men are Happy and Bashful. Dopey is in the corner yonder. And…"

"Grumpy," Leroy muttered. Emma's eyebrow rose and Leroy shook his head at her. "I know it seems like it's crazy, but let us tell you it has been too long since we've known who we truly were. Tell her, Belle."

"They are correct," Belle answered with a confidant tone. "They rescued me from the Evil Queen."

"Regina," Emma muttered and looked back toward the covered mirror. She recalled all the times her son had warned her. She winced at her ignorant remarks to him and then took a calming breath in. "She took Graham's heart, didn't she?"

"Yes," Doc answered. Emma nodded and then stalked out of the room. The seven men and one lady followed her. Emma put a hand up and pointed to Belle. The men grumbled but separated again. Leroy followed her, though. Emma watched as he stubbornly trailed along with them.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight again," Leroy told her angrily. He looked at her and gave a short nod. "I don't want to answer to your mother's wrath, anyways."

Emma laughed at the realization that came to her mind and just shook her head ironically. "She doesn't remember, Leroy."

"That's all right, Emma," Leroy stated. Emma looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "You have a more powerful ally on your side, anyways."

"I don't need protection, Leroy," Emma muttered. Belle smiled and they went into the diner. Ruby grinned at Emma and then looked at Belle quietly. Belle smiled tentatively and gave a small nod. Ruby relaxed and nodded. Emma pulled them into a booth, the women on one side and Leroy on the other side. She ordered food for her and Belle. Leroy ordered something other than alcohol and Ruby's eyebrows went up in surprise.

"I'm not in the mood to drink," Leroy stated gruffly. Ruby shrugged and walked off toward the kitchen. Leroy muttered something under his breath and then gazed back at Emma. "We're going to need a good defensive plan, Emma. She'll strike you somewhere deep next. Gold's weakness is in your protection, but we have to know what yours is."

"My weakness… has always been apparent, Leroy," Emma muttered. Belle looked at her questioningly. "She wouldn't do anything to him because she would hold him over me before she would terminate him. She took Graham, Leroy. She can't destroy my son's life as well. He is my biggest weakness."

"You are your parents' weaknesses, Emma," Leroy stated. Emma shook her head in disbelief and saw David Nolan come into the diner. Leroy started to raise himself out of the booth, but Emma held his hand firmly. Leroy sat back down agitatedly. Emma shook her head at his silent question. "They aren't married in here, Leroy."

"Why do you suddenly believe?" Belle asked suddenly. Emma leaned back into her seat and watched David out of the corner of her eye. She heard the door open and felt Mary Margaret's presence before she could see the woman. Emma smiled sadly as she saw the two approach each other and then back away out of common courtesy and distance.

"I still have a problem believing that they're my age," Emma admitted. She looked at Belle and smiled. "It was you, actually. When I saw him go through those bars, I knew. Something deep inside woke up and I knew I needed to rescue the people I cared about. At whatever cost, I will get them back together."

"It's horrible," Leroy muttered. He watched Mary Margaret come toward the table and then she paused as she gazed at Belle. Belle smiled. Mary Margaret was thrown off by Belle and looked at Emma with a silent question. She then looked at Leroy and she smiled. He nodded and she sat down beside him.

"I found a hidden ward in the hospital. This woman was being held in it… and I took her into my own custody," Emma stated. Mary Margaret gazed at Emma silently for a minute. She gave a small sigh and then turned to smile at Belle. Belle smiled in return. "This is Belle. Belle, this is my roommate, Mary Margaret. Anyways, she was in the hospital ward. And I would rather have her in a comfortable area until I can put the pieces of this case together. The first one to solve is the reason why she was in the ward."

"I was there because I have no one," Belle stated quietly. Mary Margaret gasped and Leroy growled. "I was important to someone… and I left him. I didn't have my memories for a long time… and when I remember, she took me in and offered me a home, at least that's what she said it was."

"You can stay with us for as long as you need," Mary Margaret instantly said. Leroy chuckled as Mary Margaret grasped Belle's hand. "I'll make sure everything will be okay with my landlord."

"Who is the landlord?" Emma asked quietly. Mary Margaret paled and then twirled her ring on her finger. Emma raised an eyebrow at her.

"Mr. Gold," Mary Margaret said quietly. Emma almost laughed at the irony, but managed a nod. Belle grinned at Emma's expression but quickly put a blank expression on.

"Who is Mr. Gold?" Belle asked. Leroy lowered his voice as he answered.

"The man who owns the town," Leroy whispered. "Some say he is scarier than the mayor is."

"Evil Queen," Emma muttered darkly. Mary Margaret looked at her confusedly before Emma blushed. "Henry's nickname sort of stuck."

"Are you going to have to arrest her?" Mary Margaret asked. Emma deliberately shrugged her shoulders. The diner door opened and a cane clicked on the floor of the diner. Emma held Belle down as the cane came closer. Mary Margaret rose out of the booth and came face to face with the cane's bearer.

"Mr. Gold, I need a moment of your time," Mary Margaret said quickly. Emma heard a sigh of agitation, but she knew it wasn't what he meant at all. Mary Margaret quickly pointed to Belle and then to Emma. "This is Belle. Emma is making a case against the hospital and the mayor right now for unlawful imprisonment and I was wondering…"

"If the woman could stay with you?" Gold asked quietly. Mary Margaret nodded quickly. Gold looked at Emma, who had turned her head to gaze at him, and a silent message was sent between them. Protect her at all costs. Emma gave a slight nod and he gave a sigh of relief. "It is fine by me, Miss Blanchard. I won't add any fees to your rental agreement. Just make sure she stays safe to become a valuable witness."

Mary Margaret thanked him profusely. He walked by them and gave a slight nod to Leroy. No one except Emma noticed that is pinkie finger and Belle's hooked up quickly and then separated. Emma smiled and saw Ruby approach.

"Here's your food," Ruby stated and handed everyone his or her dishes. Belle looked at her food with a confused look and Emma took her burger and brought it to her mouth. Belle sent silent thanks and copied Emma.

"So, what are we going to do today, Mary Margaret?" Emma asked when the meal was finished. Mary Margaret gazed at Belle and then grinned at Emma.

"We need a shopping date," she stated firmly. Mary Margaret pulled Belle out of the booth with her. Emma sighed and laid down a couple of bills on the table. Ruby came and collected them silently and gave her a smile. Emma nodded and then went out of the diner. She didn't fail to notice David's gaze at Mary Margaret through the window. Leroy conveniently walked over to David and sighed into the chair across from him. Gold watched the scene with avid interest.

Grinning, Gold watched Emma leave the diner. She was growing into her skin more quickly than he thought she would have. He felt the shiver of cold run down his spine and noticed Regina gazing at Belle. Narrowing his eyes, he hissed internally. The woman didn't know her boundaries. However, he knew how she thought. And she wouldn't get her chance to strike. Grinning, he gingerly walked out of the diner and approached her. Regina raised an eyebrow at his state of freedom and then looked at Emma.

"You love to play with fire, don't you, Mr. Gold?" she asked coldly. He looked at Emma and Belle. Emma turned her head slightly and ushered Belle into the shop. Mary Margaret was in the shop enthusiastically pointing at the items. Gold smiled at Regina.

"I don't play with a fire that wasn't started by myself, Madame Mayor," he replied quietly. His gaze turned coldly toward her. "I wanted to rip your throat out for what you did to her. I saw the scars, your majesty. I won't let you take advantage of her anymore."

"Too bad," Regina stated. She smiled at him and then started to walk toward her office. "Miss Swan won't win this case. She won't be able to prove anything. She's a useless child, after all. She is an innocent of this world, not ours. She can't play by our standards, Rumpelstiltsken."

She walked away from him and it was all he could do to contain his laughter. She would willingly want to think her plans were going according to plan and that gave him time to continue his counter strategy. The next stage would be to secure the boy from her grasp completely and allow Emma time to grow into her power. Then, he would unleash the brighter side of the power and his own would become free.

After all, the curse was the key to the freedom they would fight for. No one understood its design better than he.

A/N: I'm updating this author's note and the summary. This story will remain a two chapter story. Since I have not updated it in a long time, it will be easier to end it here rather than continue on.

I'm sorry to some who wanted to read on, but I've lost inspiration with this story. A new one shot will hopefully be up soon.

Thank you so much!

Until next time,

DarkBelieverAnge