A/N: Yes, I have just finished Once Upon a Time and fell in love with it. My OTP is definitely Rumbelle, they are just so adorable. But anyway, I went to read some Rumbelle fanfiction and found that all of the top reviewed, followed, and favorited ones were AUs. There's nothing wrong with AUs, but personally, I like to stick to the story and read stories that could have actually happened. I don't know, a pet peeve I guess. But anyway, enjoy! =)
Belle stretched her sore muscles and yawned. Another stiff back. Another day in the castle.
She stood and stretched some more, noting for the umpteenth time how dim and dark her "room" was. Yet, it had come to be some kind of home for her. A place she loved, in a way.
There was an array of gowns hanging on the opposite wall by a series of metal hooks. Belle examined them and noticed a new one that hadn't been there yesterday. This happened often, as she had only started with a single dress, but every time she had asked Rumplestiltskin about it, he had written it off, changed the subject, or made some sort of joke.
But Belle was good at reading; not only words, but people. She had grown accustomed to her master's various looks and expressions. And in those moments, she could see straight through him. He knew where the gowns had come from. He knew very well.
She chose the new one to humor him, as she often did. It was a light, almost turquoise blue, and it seemed to light up the dull gray walls on its own. Belle smiled and changed into it, prepared to face the day's mysteries. With Rumplestiltskin, she never knew what was coming.