The man Belle saw yesterday in the mansion was the man she had always known Rumplestiltskin was, deep down. Perhaps Killian was right, and the dark spirit that had taken hold of him really had left.

However, that didn't change the fact that even if he wasn't that man anymore, he'd still don't those things. Belle missed him more than anything, but could she forgive what he'd done, simply because he no longer had the power to do those things? She wasn't sure.

Will had known he'd been different too, and had been understanding when Belle told him she needed to go talk to him.

It wasn't a rare occurrence that Belle tried to talk to him. She'd usually try at least once a week to go down to the pawn shop, where he hid, and have a conversation about everything. Usually, she'd only make it halfway across the street between the library and the shop before turning around. The few times that she worked up enough confidence to actually walk into the shop, she'd left promptly after entering without saying a word.

But after seeing him yesterday, and how he wanted to help, no deals, no strings attached, she knew they needed to have a conversation.

It was strange, really, how there was a simple street between the pawn shop and the library. Two lanes of traffic, was all. However, as she left the library, she felt as if she was going into unknown territory, somewhere she wasn't welcome.

She knew it was ridiculous. For two months before Emma's disappearance, Belle had run the shop alone. She'd become familiar with all its secrets, but it was as if its biggest and most complicated secret now lived there. And he clearly didn't like visitors, always locking the shop.

Today, Belle was going to talk to him. She wasn't going to leave again without saying a word, or scowl and look at him in disappointment. She was going to talk to him and they'd have a civil conversation, if not as a married couple facing problems, then as two people who still love each other and who want to mend the broken mess that their relationship has become. Belle knew it was still possible and she knew she still loved Rumple. Dare she say it, Will was simply a rebound. She'd known that from the beginning.

She took a deep breath before crossing the street and unlocking the shop with the key she'd kept. Rumple sat at the front desk, his head in his hands, but looked up when he heard the chimes, signifying the door opening.

He sighed, likely not expecting her to say anything, which was precisely why she did.

"So, I figured we should talk," she stood in front of him, hands on her hips.

"You don't want to talk to me. The things I've done cannot be forgiven. You shouldn't waste your time with a man like me. Will can offer you so much more than I can, Belle," Rumple said, a sad look in his eyes.

"Rumple, you can't sit in this shop forever. Eventually, you're going to have to go out and interact with people again. Me being one of them. You can't keep going on your midnight grocery runs, or your 2:30am walks by the docks. Eventually, you'll have to stop. You're going to have to face everyone. Why can't you at least face me right now?" Belle asked.

"After the things I've done? I'd be better off staying here," Rumple sighed.

"No. If the spell you gave to Killian and Regina to get Emma back works, then people will forgive you. They forgave Regina and Killian, they're in the process of forgiving Zelena... Rumple you need to realize that this," she gestured around the shop, "can't be your life."

Rumple sighed. Belle knew she was right. Rumple knew she was right.

Belle held out her hand.

"Take a chance?" She said, a hopeful expression lighting up her face.

Rumple silently took her hand, nodding.
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Sorry this took so long! Next chapter is Killian. Did he really find Emma? Stay tuned!

~Emily