Curse Broken

Rumpelstiltskin & Princess Belle

         It’s strange, not remembering anything significant. It’s as if all my life ever was included me being trapped by this Regina. That couldn’t have been all I ever was. For as long as I can remember I was trapped in that room. That damned room. I couldn’t even remember my name, if I even had one.

         Mr. Gold was still leading me through the woods. I didn’t know him but I felt as if I could trust him. When he first saw me when I came into his shop he seemed to know me quite well. Jefferson must have been right when he said that Mr. Gold would protect me. As we continued to trudge uphill, I knew I was lagging well behind him. I was most certainly slowing him down but he didn’t seem to mind too much. Or maybe he just didn’t want to be rude. After all those years having no exercise and a less than healthy diet, I was struggling to keep up. We continued the long walk and Mr. Gold was getting increasingly farther ahead of me.

         “Hey, slow down,” I called after him. He didn’t answer but I didn't think he was intentionally ignoring me.

         Suddenly something stopped me in my tracks. It was like light some sort of energy was going straight through me. I shook it off and continued to walk, slower now. It seemed Mr. Gold was starting to walk faster.

         “Wait!” I nearly shouted at him. I didn’t mean for it to sound as harsh as it did. I was walking so slow that I might as well not be moving at all. Something was wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on it but something was stirring inside me. I’m not sure I liked it.

         That’s when  my entire world began to crash around me. Memories flashed in the back of my mind and suddenly I could remember everything. My life was more than that room. I did have a name. Belle. I was a princess. My kingdom was in poverty. I sacrificed myself so Rumplestiltskin would help my people. I became his servant. I broke his teacup. He was kind to me. He let me know him. I let him know me. I loved Rumplestiltskin. When we kissed it began to break the curse. He didn’t think everyone could love him. He through me out. I went back to my kingdom. I was sent to the dungeon by my own father. They tortured me. I threw myself off the building. The evil queen saved me. Then we were all sent here. Most importantly, the man in front of my was the men I loved. He was Rumplestiltskin.

         I didn’t know whether to cry or grin at my new found memories.

         “Rumplestiltskin! Wait,” I cried out. He froze before slowly turning around.

         I ran towards him, stopping not even a foot away from his body. I looked up at him. He wasn’t traditionally handsome but he was his own kind of beautiful. It’s a shame he still didn’t know it. He still didn’t see the good in him, the man I fell in love with.

         “I remember,” I whispered.

         “Belle,” he said in an equally soft voice. He flashed a small smile, a true smile, something that only rarely happened. I could see hesitance and uncertainty in his eyes but I also saw love and longing.

         “Rumple,” I said back to him, using the nickname that he let only me get away with calling him.

         I could see his eye start to tear up and I could feel mine do the same. He reached up and held my face in his hands and looked at me as if he was making sure that I really remembered. The thought widened my smile. Finding what he was looking for in my gaze, he pulled my body into his in a strong hug. I could feel myself shaking slightly as we pulled each other impossibly close.

         “I love you,” I told him, a bit afraid that he’d react as he did last time.

         He didn’t say anything for a long time but eventually whispered, “Yes, I know. And I love you.”

         I sighed contently as our bodies pressed even closer together. After a few moments Rumple pulled my head back from where it was resting on his shoulder. We stared into each other's eyes. It all seemed so unreal. I could hardly believe that he said he loved me. His eyes flickered to my lips and then back to my eyes, asking if it was okay. I just barely nodded before he crashed his lips into mine. The kiss was different than the first one that we’d shared and even more magical. Our bodies were still pressed together as I began to kiss him back just as passionately. The kiss was was desperate but content, unbelievable but we were completely in the moment. It was truly was true love's kiss.

         We pulled back, smiling stupidly at one another. I don’t know exactly what changed today and I’m not sure what happened or what changed today, but it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what what commotion was probably taking place back in town. It didn’t matter what broke the curse.Not yet at least. For right now it was just us. The beauty and the beast.