Rumbelle secret Santa 2014. Written for no-more-pawn on tumblr

Prompt: Something goes terribly wrong

Word Count: 15,713 (Total)

Rating- T for mentions of nudity.

A Little Adventure

"Belle, I'd really feel more comfortable if you did something else to help me out other than look through and mix the potions." Rumple protested, his voice quivering a bit and his eyes watching the every move of Belle's fingers as they picked up, poured, and came in contact with his collection of shimmering and glowing bottles of liquid. "Perhaps you'd enjoy checking the inventory of the shop more? Maybe you'd like to make sure the shop stays clean and dust free, I know you have hatred for all the dust." His voice was nothing short of a beg by this point.

"I'm fine in here, Rumple, truly. I can read all these," She pointed to a label on the cork of the potion she had in her hands at present, "plus I'm being very careful. You could use all the assistance you can get with these things."

"As that may be, sweetheart, I don't want that assistance to be from you. Some of these are very dangerous, and I don't want to risk anything happening to you."

"You're a sweet man, Rumpelstiltskin." Belle stood on the tips of her toes to give him a quick peck on the cheek. Rumple blushed,

"That's not something I hear every day." He brushed a straggling hair behind his ears, his cheeks flushing with a flattered kind of embarrassment.

"I suppose that's because you don't let many people in to who you really are." She could still feel his eyes on her hands as she poured a sparkling light pink potion into a purple one. "I don't mind that though, I might have some serious competition if they did."

"Oh, Belle, you'd never have competition with anyone. You blow everybody out of the water in every aspect of you."

"What are all these potions anyway? Is there anything specific they do?"

"They all do something specific, dearie. The blues," He blew some dust off the cork of the bottle in his hand, "Like this one; they are usually potions that have to do with feelings other than love. The pinks and purples are shape shifting usually-love is a darker shade of purple." He rattled off a few more, Is she truly interested in all of this or is she just trying to make me forget how much I don't want her being exposed to all of this? The thought ran through his mind at least a thousand times as he spoke.

"Interesting," Belle concluded after hearing him finish his explanations, "It's funny that I've known you so long and this is one of your favorite hobbies, yet you've never asked me to join you in preparing spells or anything."

"If you'd listen to me, dearie, you'd understand why- I don't want to chance you getting harmed." Apprehension had turned to pure fear and frustration, and Belle patted him lightly on the arm to attempt to calm him down.

"If it means that much to you, I'll go away and read or cook us some lunch or something." She suggested, finally realizing just how serious Rumple's trepidation of her working with his portions was.

"Thank you. "His words came out more in a sigh of relief.

"You're welcome, what do you say I go fix us some something small for lunch? Then I'll make meat pies for supper." She smiled and headed toward the door. Her hand on the doorknob, she pivoted around to face toward him once more, "Rumple," he looked up at her, capping a bottle in his hands.

"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, I know you don't like me in here and it wasn't right that I tried to stay despite that."

"Its fine, I just don't want anything to happen to you." His eyes lisped downward as he spoke, and his hands skillfully continued to work with the bottles and boxes spread out in front of him.

"I know." She nodded, biting her lip a bit, unsure exactly what to say, "You better be careful too, though, I don't want you putting yourself in danger either." He nodded, touched by slight gesture she was making of being concerned for his well being.

Belle went to open the door and leave the room, when she accidentally lost her footing, "Belle!" Rumple shouted, practically jumping over the desk in front of him-causing several bottles to shatter and many different colors of liquids to seep together and mix on the floor. "No, Belle!" He watched in horror as Belle's body shifted into that of ladybug and then shrunk down to the size of one. The potions fell off my desk? How'd they touch her? He quickly looked over the scene, and saw that an end table near the door had potion bottles that had broken when Belle had tripped. She must've bumped into that when she tripped and caused these to fall and break. Oh what am I going to do? I can't let anything happen to her! His fears were silent, but had anyone seen the deep wrinkles formed on his forehead , the pure look of terror and sorrow in his features, and the sweat perspiring off of him at every part of his body, would've known that something was terribly wrong. He took a deep breath, sticking his pointer finger out toward the ladybug-taking extreme caution to be as gentle as he could. The bug seemed to leap backwards, and take flight in the air for a moment, before crashing back on the floor covered in an ocean of liquids. Rumple forced himself to be calm for a moment and think things through. She's probably frightened, and she might not know that I know it's her.

"Here," He offered the bug his right pointer finger once again, his left hand in the 'stop' signal as he spoke, he was careful to keep his voice especially warm and loving, "It's okay, Belle, I know it's you. There's nothing to be afraid of, get… get on my finger and I'll protect you until I find out how to turn you back. It'll be oaky." He forced a smile, but his eyes still had the look of worry in them. He suddenly felt extremely self-conscious, staring at the ladybug, and like a giant. When the bug perched itself on his finger, Rumple's smile turned genuine for a moment. "That's right, sweetheart, I've got you. Don't be frightened, I won't let anything happen to you." He looked back at the mess that was covering the floor, and wondered how he had somehow managed to avoid getting any of the potions on himself. He waved his hand, and soon enough he and ladybug Belle were in the doorway, guarded from the massive spill. "Can you get off me a moment, dearie, I don't want this magic to touch you?" He saw Belle attempt to fly, and then fall back on his hands. "Okay that's fine," He bent and set her on the wooden floor of the hallway that would lead to the shop. "This will only take a moment," He explained, crouched down, as close to Belle's level as he could get. He stood up again, the awkward giant feeling coming back to him, glancing down at the ladybug once more as if to make sure it wouldn't run away, with a snap of his fingers, the blending pond of gurgling and sparkling different potions was gone- the floor was spotless and all potions were back inside their unbroken bottles. Rumple put his hand back on the floor, and the ladybug climbed back on. "If I had caste the spell with you touching me, there would've been a chance I could've made you disappear too." He explained, keeping his eyes on the bug the entire time. "Now let's go look through my books, don't worry my dear, you'll be human again before you know it."

At the front desk of the shop, Rumple let the ladybug free on the counter, as her pulled out at least five thick spell books with probably over a thousand pages each. He placed them all on the counter, "If I have to go through every last page, I will, Belle." He opened the first of the books, and his eyes immediately started searching the pages for something that could be useful to them. The ladybug climbed on Rumple's hand and stayed there. "Are you there because you want to be by me or the book?" He teased. This was Belle, even if it appeared to be a ladybug, he was still going to talk with her and try to make her feel safe and comfortable until he could turn her back to her human self.

After at least a couple of hours, Rumple closed his eyes, and massaged his temples with the free hand. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart, my eyes hurt so much. I can't even read straight because everything is blurring together." He was so caught up in his own problems that he didn't hear when the shop door opened, and he kept talking to Belle. "I'll find it today, I promise." The ladybug seemed to pace around his hand-annoyed and impatient. "Well, I'm sorry, dearie, but not all of read a hundred at a time." He retorted in jest. It made him smile that Belle was trying to communicate with him as best she could.

"Are you talking to a bug, Mr. Gold?" Henry asked, approaching the counter hesitantly.

"It's no bug…" He responded wearily, "It's Belle, she was trying to help me organize my potions and some spilled on her." He made the story simpler than it had actually been.

"Oh." Henry seemed confused by the event. "Is there anything I can do to help turn her back into a human?"

"No, Henry, I'm trying to figure that out. Thank you, though." He was trying to be polite to the boy, but he really wanted him to get out of his hair at the moment. "What do you need?"

"Oh, I was just coming in here to ask Belle to open up the library… I guess that's a no." He smiled,

"Yes, she's a wee bit occupied at the moment." Rumple agreed,

"Good luck, Mr. Gold, and if you need anything I'll be here as soon as I can." Henry said, exiting the shop. Rumple was relieved, and shifted his attention back to the books.

"I guess I had my break from reading." He sighed, and the bug made a motion on his hand, "Alright, Belle, I'll stop complaining.

Another twenty minutes had passed, and still Rumple had found nothing that he needed, when Grumpy walked into the shop. "Gold, the dwarves need your magic."

"Yeah, well so does someone else." He peered at the ladybug-Belle had gotten bored and was now pacing the top of the desk.

"We need it now." Grumpy demanded,

"So does the other person." He replied, not looking up from the book "Why don't you go ask one of those pesky fairies?"

"It has to be dark magic!" Grumpy almost screamed, lifting his hand over the counter. Rumple knew Grumpy's habits too well, and knew that hand would smash down on the counter top soon. Rumple's eyes darted to Belle-right beneath where Grumpy's hand would hit. Before he knew it, Rumple had jumped over the desk-managing to swipe up Belle in the process- and found himself on the floor beside Grumpy.

"What was all that for?!" Grumpy yelled in irritation, glaring at Rumple- who hadn't bothered to get up yet. Rumple was too busy, staring at the ladybug in his hand, his heart racing, and just thankful he'd been able to save her.

"You almost killed her, you idiot!" Rumple screamed, getting back on his feet.

"Killed who?" Grumpy was thoroughly confused, and peered at Rumple's hand nonchalantly. "A bug?" He made a face that implied he thought Rumple had gone crazy.

"Yes!" He screamed, "Well, no, it's not a bug! This is Belle." Grumpy's face was unchanging. "We had a little accident with magic and I'm trying to turn her back, therefore I'm too busy to deal with whatever it is you need. Now run along and go find someone else to save you or whatever it is you need." He barked harshly, and Grumpy just turned and left. "Finally." Rumple sighed, determined to find the remedy quickly more than ever before.

"Human!" Rumple slammed his hand on the side of the desk in delight, and fell backwards off his stool and onto the ground. He pulled himself up quickly, and laid his head up the tabletop-breathing deeply and full of relief. "Oh, Belle, the weight of the world has just been taken from my shoulders!" He paused a moment, then grinned to himself before continuing, "I suppose you'd-I know I would- prefer me turn you back into a human instead of babbling on about how I can turn you back." He offered the insect his finger again, and she made her way onto it.

Rumple was cautious as he opened the door to his room full of potions, spell book under her arm. He went to his workbench and bent over the book-setting the ladybug on the table. "Let's see, sweetheart, it says I need a shape shifting potion." He waved his hand and a neon green liquid appeared. He picked it up and poured some in a bottle-it's consistency that of sputum. "Next it says a growth potion," Another potion appeared and he poured it in the bottle with the former-the yellow and green mixing to form a putrid shade. After a few more tonics had been mixed in, Rumple admired his work. "It's been awhile since I've actually made a potion by hand." He shifted his eyes toward the ladybug, "Belle, this may be cold. Um…"What do I even say? I've never been in her situation; I don't know what it'll feel like… I can't not say anything about it, though. "It says here that smaller things may feel a drowning sensation… Belle, you'll be okay, don't be afraid." He referenced a line in the spell book. "Are you ready? Move when you're ready for me to dump this on you." The apprehension in his voice made no effort to disguise itself. He saw the ladybug move across the table, and his heart started to palpitate. "Okay, here it goes, Belle." He dumped the potion quickly over top the bug. He watched closely, unaware of what was actually happening. My Belle could be in pain-feeling like she's drowning right now- and there's nothing I can do to stop it. How am I supposed to just sit here and wait? What if it doesn't work, then what? Rumple's thoughts, anxieties, and-for once- doubts were causing sweat to form on his body and his feet to shake. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if it would ease his mind.