RSS 2014

Written for rosexknight on tumblr

Prompt: Interrupted hamburger dates

Word Count: 10,171 (Total)

Hamburgers, Fluff, and Roses

"Belle," Rumple called, opening the door that led to the sitting room in the back of the shop.

"Yes?" She asked, lifting her eyes from the book she had been reading to meet his.

"I... I uh…" He moved closer to the couch she was seated on, his cane tapping on the shined wood floor with each step. "I don't believe we ever finished our meal the other day, thanks to interruptions by Regina."

"Don't forget Granny," Belle added,

"Yes, and Granny." He sat down beside her, his hand rolling through her hair. "What do you say we finish what we started? How would you like to go to lunch now?"

"Now?" Belle asked, unable to hide her surprise, "Yeah… I just,"

"We don't have to if you don't want." He assured, sensing the apprehension in her tone,

"No, of course I want to. I just need to get around, I'm a mess." She motioned at herself-wrinkled skirt and grey blouse to match with her hair a mess and no makeup on."

"You look beautiful," He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. Belle could feel herself blush as she touched his cheek kiss and rose to her feet.

"I'll be back in ten minutes." She smiled, setting the book she had been reading on the side table beside the couch. Rumple watched as she walked away, smiling to himself, she's such an angel, how did she ever fall for me?

Rumple was polishing one of the brass antiques behind the glass counter in the shop when Belle stepped back in. "Are you ready?" She asked, almost shyly.

"Of course." He placed the object he'd been polishing back in the case, and grabbed his and Belle's coats off of a hanger. His own jacket was in the crook of his forearm as he adorned Belle's coat about her.

"Thank you, Mr. Gold." She said in a manner than was a partial tease and a partial flirt due to the way her eyes danced and her smile flashed.

"What do you want, Gold?" Granny asked a bit abruptly as the couple entered the shop.

"Well, a meal would be nice." His accent highlighted his snarl.

"Have a seat over here." Ruby called from the back, the couple followed her instructions, "I'll be back in a minute to take your orders."

"Let's see if we can make it through a date without being interrupted," Rumple joked, but his tone was gruffer than he had intended it to be.

"Oh, stop." Belle soothed, "Just because it happened before doesn't mean it'll happen again." His lips cracked upward, he was drinking her in- hair flowing loose about her shoulder and the bright red lipstick and brown shimmery eye shadow along with the mascara atop her already luscious lashes made her face look as delicate as a porcelain doll. Ruby came back with their drinks-two ice teas- and took their orders-two hamburgers with everything on them- and left again. Rumple's head was tilted slightly, watching Belle sip on her drink, "What?" She asked once she'd noticed how he'd been watching her. "Did I smear my lipstick?" She grabbed for a napkin, but Rumple's hand stopped her. She glanced at her hand-now interwoven with Rumple's.

"I was just thinking," he found himself becoming hypnotized in her eyes,

"About?" She pulled her hair back with her free hand,

"How lucky I am to have you in my life. I can't for anything, sweetheart, understand how or why you love me… I'm glad that you do, though. I love you, my beautiful Belle." He raised her hand to his lips and planted a gentle kiss on it. No matter how many times he called her that, it still made her cheeks go rosy and her face crease from her smile.

"Enjoy your meal; let me know if you need anything else." Ruby said as she served the burgers. Belle nodded to her before she walked away, and then her eyes shifted to Rumple,

"Here we go again," She tried to joke, picking up the burger-Rumple doing the same- "Cheers?"

"Cheers," Rumple agreed, raising his burger to Belle's. They were just about to take a bite when,

"Gold, we need to talk!"

"Oh, not again." He mumbled under his breath, Regina approaching him. "I need something!"

"I'd imagine, dearie, people usually don't just find me because they want to have a nice chat." His tone had a slight hiss in it, more from annoyance than anything else.

"Rumple…" Belle's voice sounded much like a mother warning her child against something.

"I need to go to your shop." Regina stood with her arms crossed.

"Alright, come back when I'm… Oh I don't know, actually there!" He spat back, "Can't you tell I'm a little occupied right now?"

"Yes, I do. Can't you see that I really don't care? I need it ASAP!" Rumple sighed, under normal circumstances he would've put up more of a disagreement-but not with Belle there.

"Excuse me, Belle, I'm sorry to leave like this. I didn't know I'd have business while on a date. I'll be back in fifteen minutes- maximum." He got out of the booth, kissed Belle's cheek, and began to leave before Belle called,

"I have to be at the library in ten minutes." Her voice had a tinge of sadness, "Can it wait, Regina?"

"Can either of you hear? No, it can't!"

"I'm sorry, Belle." Rumple took her hand and kissed it again, "We'll do this again, I promise." He reached within his pocket, "Here's my wallet to pay for lunch, you can give it back to me tonight." Once Belle had put his wallet in her skirt pocket, Rumple stormed off behind Regina.

Rumple was behind the counter of the shop that night when Belle got home from the library. "Hey, sweetheart, you decided to come home." He crossed the room to wrap her- obviously tired due to her sunken face and the loss of brightness in her features- in a hug. "Rough day?" He asked, kissing her on the top of her head.

"Mhm." She muttered into his chest. He was running his hands through her hair, occasionally getting stuck in some of her curls.

"I'm sorry about Regina earlier; you know I wouldn't have left unless-"

"It's fine, Rumple, truly." She smiled-only for a moment- and Rumple was glad to see her at least do that much.

"How about I make it up to you?" He asked, "Say tomorrow for lunch? We can go back to Granny's and get a hamburger without being disturbed? Would you like that, my lady?"

"I'd love it!" Belle exclaimed despite the tiredness in her voice. She hugged Rumple longer than what was necessary-not that either of them would complain about it. "I'm going to go to sleep now." She leaned back a little, creating space between their stomachs, and gazed into his eyes in a way that couldn't be described in any way other than piercing. "Goodnight, Rumple." She smiled, biting her lip ever so slightly. He pulled her closer to him once more and shyly kissed her forehead and then the top of her nose,

"Goodnight, Belle." Once again, he admired her as she walked toward her bedroom. "Goodnight." He whispered again, unsure of exactly why, and then focused his attention to closing up the shop and following Belle's lead. She'd be up in the morning earlier than he cared to think of.

As he tried to get comfortable in his bedroom that night, he couldn't restrain himself from listening to Belle on the other side of the wall. I've known her well over thirty years, you'd think I'd of gotten used to hearing her giggles gasps at the books she reads before bed. He closed his eyes, taking in the sound. Laughter wasn't a very common sound in his life and to hear it-especially from Belle- it made his heart swell with warmth and happiness that hadn't truly occupied it for so long.