Blueberries
"Rumple, are there any berry bushes on the grounds?" Belle asked one morning while she was picking up the dishes from breakfast.
"Why yes dearie, I have a few gardens spread about. What kind of berry are you looking for?"
"Well, I was thinking of making a tart to go with our tea later. What kind do you like? Strawberry? Cherry? Blueberry perhaps?"
"Well I am rather fond of blueberries. You're in luck, my dear as they should be about ready for picking."
"Wonderful, blueberries it is." Belle said as she finished clearing the dishes and took them to the kitchen. Once she had finished the dishes and made sure they had all the other items she needed for the tarts she went to seek out Rumple. Knowing he would be sitting at his wheel spinning like he always was. She was surprised when she got to the room it was empty. Curious, she thought, where could he have gone?
She decided he must have gone up to his tower to work or left for a bit to make a deal. "I'll just go find the bushes myself, how hard could that be?" She thought to herself as she walked to the back of the castle.
She stopped short as she rounded the corner the sight in front of her taking her breathe away for a moment.
"Are you ready dearie?" He asked holding up a wicker basket. It took her a moment to respond, her eyes sweeping over him, realizing she had never seen him so comfortably dressed. He didn't have his high collared vest on and he had on more reasonable boots for being outdoors. What really caught her attention though was the top two buttons on his shirt were undone showing a glint of that golden skin underneath.
"Huh?" She asks finally coming around, knowing that's not the most eloquent she has ever sounded.
"The berries, dearie. I figured I could come help you out. Don't want you to get lost. This is a rather large estate after all." He said while grinning mischievously at her. Belle just rolled her eyes and grabbed the basket, "well let's get going then."
It wasn't nearly as far as she thought it would be. Once they arrived she began plucking the berries off the bushes tasting a few as she went.
"Better save some of those for the tart, dearie." He said teasingly.
"Oh, hush and come help him if that's what you're here for." She said as she looked back at him with eyes as blue as the berries in her hand. Before he could move to start picking, she held one up for him to taste.
"Here," she said, "they're perfect. We came at a good time to pick them." She gently placed the berry up to his lips feeling his warm breath on her hand. He bite into the berry, teeth brushing along her fingers.
"What do you think?" She asked as she licked the juice off of her fingers. "Good, huh?"
"Delicious." He said something dark in his voice as she looked into his clouded eyes. "I do love blueberries."