Rumplestiltskin is in his study when a crash startles him. He is out of the seat at once, moving ungracefully without his cane to the kitchen, where the sound occurred.

Belle is there, clutching her left hand in her right, staring in confusion at what appears to be tomato soup on the floor. The microwave door is open. Rumple curses quietly to himself when he sees her eyes flood with tears, and moves to her quickly, putting her left arm around her as his right seeks out her hand. It is bright red, but fading. It has been only a day since he got her back, and he is quickly realizing how much she doesn't know (and, he keeps to himself, re-discovering his lovely companion's inherent clumsiness.)

"I am so sorry," she says, voice tremulous. "I was hungry, and I did everything you told me, but I didn't realize that it would be so hot when it finished, and I just grabbed it, and-"

"It's okay," he says. "Shh, Belle, it's fine. It's an adjustment. It's just soup."

Already she's trying to pull away from him, to go to clean it up, but he holds her tighter. He tells himself it's not because he's afraid of what else she'll do.

"I don't understand this place," she says. Her voice is so quiet; it's nothing like the Belle he remembers. "People go places in giant metal boxes and science ovens cook foods for you and nothing is where it should be."

The part of him that is Rumplestiltskin agrees, but Mr. Gold is frustrated. So much is happening, and he wants her to be safe, but he also can't spare as much time as she needs to watch her and teach her.

"Sit down," he says, and she does, at one of the bar stools. Her hand is a normal peach now, and he is glad the burn was only superficial. He grabs a roll of paper towels, and she watches him clean.

"What are those?"

"Paper towels."

"Why would anyone want towels made of paper?" she asks, wrinkling her nose.

"Because, dearie," he says, straightening to dump the pale red clump in the trash, "people in this world are lazy, and they don't want to have to clean regular towels. Not any more than they have to, at least. Paper towels save money and time."

"But people must use an awful lot of them, then?" she asks. His Belle, always so curious.

"Yes. It's a big environmental problem, actually."

She looks baffled by this, and he supposes that's really the only proper reaction, anyway. Putting the paper towels back, he checks to make sure she is watching, so she knows where they are later. Then he pulls a large saucepan out of the lower cabinet, and a blue box from the cupboard above. She leans forward as he fills the pan with water, curiosity making her blue eyes shine.

"Kraft?" she reads, looking at up him.

Rumplestiltskin grins darkly. "Belle," he says, "I am about to blow your mind."


A/N: That's scene 1! I already know where I am going with scene 2. If you have any particular modern-day hurdles you would like to see poor Belle try to jump through, please feel free to suggest them! I have a list but I am sure there are many I won't think of on my own.