Hope. ( because it certainly wasn't said enough, she'll say it once more. her skin prickles with little goosebumps under his touch the same way that it always does.

gently, she shakes her head against his palm ) I know what you are and what sort of trouble follows you, but still I love you.

( lifting a hand of her own, she places it upon his against her cheek and steps in closer to him, closing what little gap remains between them both )

Everybody gets hurt from time to time, Rumpelstiltskin, I can handle a little bit of it every now and again. You fret too much of me.