I Could Have Danced All Night: Epilogue

Once Upon a Time: I Could Have Danced All Night

Epilogue

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Belle had never felt so much pain in her life as she lay on her cot in the dungeon. It wasn't a physical pain she felt. Oh no, that would have been too easy.

Her pain came from a broken heart.

Rumpelstiltskin hadn't believed her when she had told him of her everlasting love. The look in the Dark One's eyes had been absolutely horrifying, but Belle hadn't been afraid of him. She could never fear him, not when she felt the way that she did.

"Why won't he believe me?" Belle wondered as she cried silent tears into her thin blanket. "Why did he think it was a trick? Why doesn't he love me as much as I love him?"

Belle didn't know how long she had been crying, or how long she had even been in the dungeon, but finally the fatigue caught up with her.

The beautiful girl fell asleep within several more minutes, with her favorite memory replaying in her dreams like it almost every night.

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Belle felt silly as she said the first thing to come to her mind. "Dance with me."

The creature cocked its head to the side, an eyebrow raised, "Pardon?"

"Dance. With. Me." Belle said enunciating every word so there was no way he could possibly misunderstand her again.

The creature seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment before a giggle escaped his grayish lips. "What's in it for you dearie?"

Belle shrugged, "I haven't had a partner all night."

She couldn't help but smile as moment the Imp slowly placed his hand on her waist and began to lead her steps with subtle commands. The two waltzed around the cobbled palace garden, staring into each other's eyes. It was a magical moment that both would always treasure. And if the truth were known, it was that one moment that they truly fell in love.

There was no music to sway back and forth to, but it didn't matter. They danced to the beating of their hearts and the melody only they could hear. Belle had never been happier in her life, and by the butterflies in her stomach, she would never would.

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Belle awoke with a heavy heart.

Though she hadn't known who the imp was at the time, when she had shared that special dance with him, she had loved him. Since the first moment she had seen him walking through the crowded ball room at Cinderella's Wedding, she had loved him.

Belle was about to try to go back to sleep, when she heard footsteps outside the door. She held her breath as she watched the door swing open.

Rumpelstiltskin entered the room and he looked like hell. His usually bright, eager eyes were now red rimmed and dark circles underlined them in a horrifying manner. But his face gave away no emotion as he stood before her, purposefully not meeting her gaze.

"So," the girl asked aloud after several uncomfortable seconds. "What are you going to do to me?"

He answered with one word. One simple word that made Belle's heart sink so low she thought she would pass out from the ache.

"Go."

"Go?"

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

Belle felt as if a knife had been jammed into her chest. She had never felt so desolate. Why couldn't he just admit that he loved her? Why couldn't he see that she loved him in return?

"Do you really want me to go, Rumpelstiltskin?"

The imp seemed taken aback by the question, but almost instantly his collected mask returned. "I wouldn't have said it, if I didn't mean it."

Belle stood up from her cot and walked over so that she was standing directly in front of him. She studied him for several agonizing seconds before she was satisfied.

"Before I go . . ." Belle fought to keep her voice calm as she submitted to her defeat. "Before I go, would you do me a favor?"

Rumpelstiltskin looked at her, but didn't agree. Belle used all the courage she had as she uttered her request.

Slowly the girl dipped into a curtsy as she had been taught, though her eyes never left his. "May I have this dance?"

Rumpelstiltskin drew in a harsh breath, his eyes saying more than he ever could. He didn't move from where he stood.

Belle stood up from her curtsy and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his middle, bringing him into a hug. She swayed slowly to a non-existent song, tears sliding down her pink cheeks.

At first he was still, his hands clenched at his sides as if he wanted to strike something. But then he wrapped his arms around her and returned the hug fiercely tears running down his grayish cheeks. "Belle. . ."

The girl looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears too, "Hmm?"

"Please. . ." he choked on the word, looking away from her.

Belle reached up and lifted his chin up so that he was looking at her again. "What is it?"

"Please . . . tell me . . . that you truly love me. . . Please. . ."

"I will always love you, Rumpelstiltskin." Belle whispered as she buried her face in his leather clad chest.

The two continued to embrace, holding onto one another as if the other one would disappear. Then Rumpelstiltskin whispered the words that Belle had waited her whole life to hear.

"I love you, Belle."

Gently, ever so gently, Rumpelstiltskin laced one of his hands in her long chestnut hair and angled her head so that their noses were only several inches apart. Belle looked into his eyes and knew that he truly did love her. In that moment the two made a silent promise to one-another. They would forever love each other, no matter what happened they would always love each other.

With this unspoken promise in the air, Rumpelstiltskin ever so slowly lowered his lips to hers. Just as he was about to plant his lips on hers, Belle closed the distance and her lips met his cheek in a chaste kiss. She nuzzled him tenderly and whispered, "I won't kiss you again until you want me to Rumpelstiltskin. I don't. . . I don't want to hurt you."

Rumpelstiltskin nuzzled her back and whispered, "It'll be a long wait, dearie. Are you sure you want this?"

"I don't mind waiting, as long as we're together."

Rumpelstiltskin kissed her forehead as they continued to rock to their own melody. "I'll never let you leave my side again, Belle. Never. . ."

With this vow, the two continued to dance, knowing that they would never stop.

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Mr. Gold cried as he held his beloved close to him, his years of sorrow seeming to melt away into nothing in a heartbeat. Belle was with him, and she remembered.

"Belle," he whispered lovingly as they hugged, "My Belle."

"Rumpelstiltskin . . ." Belle murmured from where she currently was resting on his chest.

"Yes, dear?"

"I love you."

Mr. Gold's heart broke at those simple words and he did something he had wanted to do for what seemed like an eternity.

Cupping her heart shaped face in his calloused hands; the man brought his lips crashing down on hers. The world seemed to disappear as they held onto each other, sharing the kiss both of them had craved since that fateful day in the dungeon. Oh how perfect it was!

As Gold pulled away from the kiss he smiled jovially and asked in his Scottish lilt, "May I have this dance, my love?"

Belle giggled as she dipped into a curtsy, her eyes sparkling with pure adoration. "Rumpelstiltskin, you may have every dance."

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