I do not own any characters found within.
His heels clicking against the vast stone floor, Jefferson strode into the Dark Castle, a small velvet bag in his hand. On the other side of him trailed a young girl, a single braid folded into her hair, like a headband. Her wide eyes were innocent and filled with a mix or wonder, and terror as the couple furthered into the castle. It was clear that the rumors of the castle, had been weighing heavily against her. She was, in short, afraid. Afraid of the strange wooden dolls, of the thick curtains that were draped over the mirrors, afraid of the spinning wheel, and most of all…afraid of the man sitting there.
"You're late." He spoke, not looking up from his work.
"I know I was-"
"I didn't ask for excuses, dearie."
Turning around finally, Rumplestiltskin's eyes fell upon the young girl, hidden slightly behind her father's jacket. She was a little younger than Bae, the last time he saw him. In her hands was a battered, patched up, stuffed rabbit.
"Belle!" The imp called out, in a little sing-song sort of voice. A beautiful woman entered, her long brown locks curling about her delicate face. Looking at him expectantly, she waited whatever orders that he was going to give her. Which, consequently, was merely to take the little girl into the other room, whilst he and her father completed whatever transaction had to deal with the velvet bag in the other man's hand. Nodding, she gestured for the little girl to follow her, and she looked all too grateful to be out of the Dark One's presence.
"He's not all bad." Belle told the little girl sweetly, as they exited the hall.
Some time had passed, and they were allowed back into the room, the little girl warmed up to Belle in no-time. Holding her hand as they came back into the room, she exclaimed, "Poppa! Belle has invited us to stay for tea!" Belle was looking at Rumplestiltskin for his reaction. There wasn't much of one, he simply went back to his wheel to spin. Grace ran to her father, and tugged him to a chair excitedly. "I've never had a tea party in a castle before." Placing the rabbit on the other side of her, she settled in a chair inbetween her father and the toy. Belle smiled warmly and brought out a tray of tea cups and a steaming pot.
Pouring enough tea for all of them, she looked over to her master.
"Rumple?"
"No I… I've got work to do."
Giving him a look, she held up a cup to him. A special cup. Maybe it wasn't special to him, but it certainly was to her. Chipped in the brim, it was like him. Something beautiful… jaded and imperfect. Never whole again, but still beautiful, if you knew how to see it. Seeing the new tactic, he stared at her for a moment, his eyes flickering to the father and daughter, already sipping on their own tea, oblivious to the battle of wills going on at the moment. Belle raised her eyebrow, and Rumplestiltskin gave her a rare smile. Making his way over to the table, he took the cup from her, wondering if it was the tea, or her skin that made his own hands so warm.
"Just this once." He said, wrinkling his noise in an impish grin.
"Of course." Belle said, with a knowing smile.