Fandom: Once Upon a time.

Pairing: Rumplestiltskin/Belle

Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.

Summary: When it came to Belle and Rumple, breakfast was rarely normal. So an unexpected vistor coming at an unexpected time, should've been expected. . .

NA:/ Next Shortfic. of Missing moments and quotidian things series. I wasn't going to post it but, let's consider it a present for the new season. It's a sequel of Rippedhearts; Wells, hugs and encounters; Falling in the shower; Easiest Target.


A Toasty Incident

Chapter 1

Belle admired the fluffy square of bread she held as she turned it, checking if all parts were equal in softness. After one turn, she concluded that the brown edge was the hardest part of the food.

She observed the rest of the squares she had scattered across the table and frowned. What had Rumplestiltskin done to make those soft pieces turn into crispy, tasty bread? He hadn't used magic, and even if he had, she possessed no such skills. She could've asked him, but she wanted the satisfaction of discovering it on her own.

She looked around the kitchen, trying to discover what she could toast the bread with. She saw the modernized oven and knew it would brown the bread, but it would take extra time. He'd done it in minutes; therefore, it wasn't the right gadget.

Her gaze fell onto a large rectangular box and she walked over to it, holding one slice of bread in each of her hands. Rumple had spent time in this area of the kitchen the previous morning. She looked down at the box, saw two holes, and ventured to put the slices of bread into it. She sank the teeth, which the object had at the end of its tail, into what Rumple called an electrical socket, before pressing the lever on the side of the box to make the bread go down into the contraption. She crouched and watched as its organs turned red. It appeared the toaster would end up immolating itself from within if it weren't for the bread taking the heat.

While that was doing its special kind of magic, she looked for a teapot and cups to make tea. When she found the objects she was seeking, she filled the kettle with water and put it on the fire circle thing on the stove to warm. She turned the knob on the "stove" to four, just as Rumplestiltskin told her to do.

She was proud to be useful and not a burden for the people who cared about her. But the most wonderful thing was that she was beginning to feel loved again. She had been forgotten, had felt dead, but now with the help and the support from Rumplestiltskin, she felt alive once more. She took a deep breath, expecting fresh air, but instead her nostrils caught the odor of burnt food.

She jerked around to look for the source of the smell and the smoke she'd just realized was there. When she saw it was coming from the thing of toasting, she ran towards it.

She clenched her teeth and took action. She grabbed a rag to pick up the slices so she wouldn't burn her skin, but when she tried to pull, the monster didn't release the bread from its jaws. With an exasperated growl, she threw the cloth aside, grabbed the toaster in her hands, and shook it. Black smoke spewed from its mouth and stained the curtains and tiles in its path. Seeing that her actions didn't work, she slammed the object on the marble countertop. As if it feared further violence, the beast spat the toasts, which were now dark as cinders.

She grabbed the toasts with the cloth, but they crumbled in her hands. She glared at the package of bread slices and reached out with the intention of strangling the plastic but instead took a deep breath.

They had not yet won the war, and she wouldn't give up without a fight.

-/-/-

Rumplestiltskin was half-asleep when he heard thumps and crashes coming from the floor below. He grunted and turned so he could hug his beloved closer, but when he reached out, he found an empty bed.

His body stiffened and his eyes shot open. He looked around for a sign of her presence; a sign that the past week hadn't been a dream his mind used to manipulate his feelings. He covered his face with his hands for a few seconds, trying to regain control of his emotions. He breathed deeply and closed his eyes; then, he heard a thud similar to the one that awakened him.

Belle was downstairs. He cracked a smile when he heard her make a frustrated sound. She was probably satisfying her curiosity with the things that were still new to her.

He moved his legs from their place under the sheets and sat on the edge of the bed. He grabbed his cane, got to his feet, and felt the twinge in his knee: a pain little new to him. He reached down to massage his knee and looked at the clock before standing and making his way down the stairs.

He stopped at the half-opened kitchen door. With his free hand, he pushed it open and saw Belle. He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and watched as she leaned on her arms, pressing against something on the wooden table. With each movement she made, a white powder flew into the air and then settled onto the furniture and floor.

Rumplestiltskin cocked his head and inched closer to see what she was doing. A smile appeared on his lips when he saw what she had under her hands. She stopped her movements and turned her face towards his, staring into his eyes without fear. Something very few could do.

"Bread, dear?" He leaned his cane against the table. He slid his hands across the delicate blue silk covering her stomach and twined his arms around her waist.

She growled and returned to kneading the bread. "It's much better than those slices."

"I don't deny that, but you don't have to bother doing these things. Belle, you're not a servant anymore." Rumplestiltskin rested his chin on her shoulder and watched as she continued torturing the dough.

"That bread is not good. And since I had to learn to do it in your castle, I won't waste my talent now." She punched the dough, the gesture making his chin bounce a couple of times against her shoulder.

He groaned with displeasure and settled his face at the curvature of her tempting neck. He inhaled her scent and figured something had happened while he was asleep to put her in such a state.

"Belle, what happened with the loaf of bread?"

She stopped her frenzied actions for a few seconds and muttered with a voice that reminded him of when she dropped their chipped cup, but not loud enough for him to make out her words. He frowned when she continued with her work, showing no intentions to speak in a way he could hear her.

"What did you-?" She turned around, interrupting his question and his comfortable position. He took a step back.

"I've burned it." She pointed to the toaster, which was now covered with black soot. "That creature with the fire intestines has charred all the bread. I tried to prepare breakfast. I don't know how to cook now with all these doohickeys."

He adored her when she got frustrated. The way she wrinkled her nose and the lilt of her voice was endearing. He laughed and she scolded him.

"Don't laugh. This is serious. I can't go around burning or smashing every object I attempt to work." She placed her hand on her hips and leveled her gaze at him.

"The last time you tried to work something it didn't break. The toaster is still intact."

"The shower attacked me though."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead, delighting in the feel of skin under his lips. "It liked you," he said, teasing her.

Belle huffed and he grinned. He'd expected a retort but not the one she chose. She tossed a handful of flour at his face and giggled. Even though he hadn't expected it, he'd closed his eyes: a reflex action. Still laughing, Belle rushed forward and grabbed his face with her dough-covered hands.

Upon hearing her little laugh, Rumplestiltskin opened his eyes and couldn't help but mimic her smile as she spread her happiness to him. She contained her giggles and gave him a chaste kiss. He took her in his arms and rubbed his cheek against hers, sharing the white powder with which she marked him before.

"Belle," he said, growing serious for a moment. "I don't care if you burn or break everything. The thing that worries me most is that you'll hurt yourself in the process."

She placed her hands on either side of his neck, tangling her fingers in his now whitish hair. "I know there are many new things in this world and it will take me a while to adapt, but it's normal for me to take some scratches along the way." He grumbled and she continued her words. "Rumplestiltskin, I'm not made of crystal."

"There are many dangers in the world. Besides, you know that I . . . I couldn't bear to lose you again." He hugged her, ensuring his words and support. "I will make sure you're protected. I don't care if it's against a stupid shower or against a toaster. I will make sure things and people don't hurt you."

Belle let out a short laugh and kissed his cheek. "I don't know how much fear you'll exalt when you look like a snowy tree."

"Oh, what a charmer you are," he replied with feigned sarcasm while he stealthily prepared his next move. She widened her smile, unaware of his movement behind her. "You think it's more ridiculous that I'm covered in flour than with green skin?"

"You aren't ridiculous. You look adorable. Charming."

"Then you won't mind if I share the charm, right?" he whispered in her ear.

She turned her head, rubbing her cheek against his, and then sought a kiss. He smiled against her lips as he sprinkled the flour in his fist onto his beloved's hair.

When she noticed the small particles falling on her, she jerked away and hit his arm. His hand opened, letting the flour in his grasp fall all at once. "Rumplestiltskin!" She shook her hair with her hand to remove as much flour as possible while he let out a chuckle reminiscent of their time in the dark castle. "I just washed my hair too."

"Then you shouldn't have attacked first." He brought his lips to her neck, eliciting a moan from her. She laughed as he guided her to the wooden table.

"You're an opportunist. You shouldn't have been in here until I finished breakfast."

"And miss being able to enjoy this? I think not."

"But it was you who said we would have time for everything." She undid the top buttons of his red pajama shirt. "I assumed it meant this as well."

He smirked and placed his hands on her hips. "So that means I have to ignore you?"

"I would be offended if you did."

She attacked his lips and he accepted the kiss as he turned their bodies. With his arm, he raked the flour and dough off the table and onto the clean floor, causing puffs of flour to ascend into the air.

She hopped upon the table as soon as the dough hit the floor and grabbed the hem of his unbuttoned shirt to bring him closer. He smirked and pressed himself against her. When her fingers stroked the bare skin of his chest, he could not keep a dull groan quenched inside his throat any longer.

He caught her lips with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding herself against him as he pushed her to rest flat on the flour-covered table. Her chest heaved from the effects of a small laugh as he slid his lips over her collarbone.

"We're going to end up looking like two sheep," she muttered, then moaned as he bit her skin. He raised his head and with the tip of his finger, stroked the edge of her chin.

"Are you uncomfortable with this?" He would stop if she asked.

"Not at all." She wrapped her legs around his hips, making her nightgown expose more of her upper thighs. The view was modest but more than anyone else would ever see. Those parts of her body were only for his eyes.

As his hands moved up her legs, his mind unhinged desires and feelings he still wasn't accustomed to after all these years alone. She arched her body against his, surrendering to the sensations invading her. "Rumplestiltskin…I…"

A knock against the kitchen door invaded the room. They froze and turned their heads toward the door to see who would be calling on them so early in the morning, but the dark red curtains blocked their view.

"H-hello? Belle?" Her eyes widened, shocked to hear that particular voice.

"It-It's me. I'm not sure if I should have come but . . . Um . . . Here I am."

"By the gods," she whispered. Rumplestiltskin shrugged and, after kissing his astonished lady, withdrew his body from its position atop hers. He reached out his hand to help her sit up, and then picked up his cane. She buttoned his shirt and hopped off the table to fix her nightgown so it better covered her. She grabbed a silk robe, which he'd just noticed draped over one of the chairs, and slipped it over her shoulders. It too was covered in flour, making quite a funny sight and doing little good to hide the results of their playfulness.

She tried to groom her disheveled hair, but a coating of flour remained no matter how much she shook the tresses.

Belle walked to the door, with her chin rose as if she was dressed for a ball, and placed her hand on the doorknob. He lowered his head so he could hide a smile.

This was going to be interesting.

To be continued...


NA/ Well, hope you enjoyed it and if you have time leave your toughts here. This will have a second chapter so, stay tunned ;)

PS: This fic was totally inspired by the movie: Marilyn Hotchkiss. He just killed me in feelings with that movie ^_^