A/N: Hello dearies. Here is a little seasonal two parter for you. It's not intended to be canon and is a shameless excuse for fluff but I hope you enjoy it all the same. Part two will put in an appearance on Christmas Eve.

Belle peered out of the carriage as the horses drew them along the treacherous mountain pass, keeping true to the safest path even without a driver to guide them. She looked across to the mage sat on the opposite bench and knew it was his magic alone that kept the horses from throwing them into the ravine. Rumpelstiltskin, the Dark One and her master for the past eight weeks, the man she could not fathom despite trying daily to do so. They had not had a happy beginning after she had pledged herself to his service to save her homeland from the ogres, his temper and her stubbornness preventing them from finding much in the way of common ground but Belle was happy in the thought that it was slowly changing.

Ever since he had shown her his humanity in sparing Robin Hood's life and they had found their mutual love of books when he had welcomed her to his library the tension that had existed between them had begun to thaw. He was still mercurial and prone to bouts of fiery temper, usually when she mentioned family though she was yet to find out why, but they became fewer and farther between and the silences that had once filled the castle now became conversations. She allowed herself a small smile as she regarded him, his eyes on the scenery outside the window allowing her to do so at her leisure. He was wrapped against the winter chill in a long, caped jacket of red velvet, the material rich and warm and Belle had already given in the urge to touch it as she had removed the imaginary lint from his shoulder before they had left he castle. The material she wore was similar but in a deep midnight blue, the dress and fur lined cape far finer than the usual linen dress she wore to tend her chores in the castle.

Despite the fact that she was slowly developing a friendship with her master, Belle had always remained within the walls of the castle, the sorcerer having enchanted the wards around the castle grounds to prevent her from leaving. The only exception being when he had taken her out in pursuit of Robin Hood with a view of punishing her for releasing the thief and instead allowing him a sight of the humanity that still lived beneath the façade of the beast. It had been a shock therefore when she had found the heavy velvet dress set at the end of her bed when she had woken that morning, still not used to the room itself even after it being over a month since he had liberated her from the dungeon and given her chambers of her own. A note had been pinned to the dress, instructing her that she was to dress swiftly in her warmest clothes and to meet her master in the entrance hall. She had done so and had beaten him to their rendezvous point, his shock at seeing her there when he arrived allowing her to see his gaze flick in appreciation over the dress she wore before he had thrown up the mask of the imp once more.

He had quickly shoved a basket into her hands and informed her that she was to accompany him to the village below, business taking him there to speak with the mayor while she would be required to make a round of the shops to replenish the stocks in the castle. She knew he could do so as easily with magic but she didn't question him, instead taking his arm when he offered it and letting him lead her to the coach already pulled up to the steps by the door. The snow was thick and heavy on the ground but the roads remained clear, another boon of his magic, but Belle had still been worried when they had reached the narrow paths down the mountainside. The gloved hand that had closed briefly over her own as she stared worriedly out of the window had both surprised and comforted her and she had relaxed back against the plush seat to watch the scenery roll by, convinced that her master would not let them fall.

She turned her eyes away from the study of the sorcerer before her as he turned back to face her, his wild eyes and green-gold skin no longer startling her but she had no desire to be caught staring. She felt his eyes on her as she kept her own trained on the snow covered terrain, the feeling a familiar one after weeks of him watching her through the spokes of his spinning wheel first in distrust and then in a way neither of them was yet ready to confront. She gave him no indication that she knew he was watching her and it was only when the coach bumped onto the road that led them to the village that she felt his gaze leave her.

The carriage rumbled along for a few more minutes before it came to a halt, the silence of the mountainside replaced with the sounds of the village around them. Rumpel was the first to step out of the carriage, turning and offering her a hand to help her out. She was glad for the warm boots he had provided her with as the snow crunched beneath them, the winters deeply cold and heavy in this region of the world. The villagers that had noticed the arrival of the carriage were watching them warily, none of them happy to see the appearance of their dark liege lord despite the young woman accompanying him. The reputation of the Dark One was formidable throughout the Enchanted Forest but Belle couldn't help but bristle as she heard the mutterings of the people around them, knowing from Rumpel himself that the village flourished because of the patronage of the Dark Castle, the mage purchasing everything he could from the trades and artisans who lived there and his magic ensuring they never suffered from plagues or failed crops. Gratitude however seemed a distant hope and Belle wished they could see the gentleness she was slowly growing used to.

"I will be several hours dearie," came the familiar voice by her ear, "If you are finished with your tasks before then you may instruct the carriage to take you back to the castle."

Belle nodded, "Don't you want me to wait for you?" she said.

"No point in you freezing and taking ill waiting for me," he said, "I have no use for my maid to be keeping to her bed for the entire season because she caught a cold. Get on with you now and if you have any bother just call my name."

"I'm sure I'll be fine," said Belle, reaching out on instinct and grasping his sleeve as he made to walk away, "Take care."

A small half smile twitched at his lips, the softened look of his eyes making her smile in return.

"You too dearie," he said before he headed off, the crowd that had slowly gathered swiftly parting as he headed into the village.

Belle reached into the carriage and retrieved her basket, tucking it under her arm before she followed the path Rumpel had taken, though the crowd didn't part as easily for her though the looks she received made her believe she was almost as feared as the Dark One himself. She moved from shop to stall, hating the look of fear from every trader she met that only melded into distrust as she spoke kindly to them. They were happy enough to take the coin Rumpel had given her to procure the goods he had sent her for though; quite content with his spun gold even if they hated the magic that created it.

She was soon laden down with her burdens; enough food to sustain them both for a few weeks and some strange herbs and potions Rumpel had claimed a need for but had neglected to mention what they would be used in. Belle chose not to entertain the thought, preferring to separate the thought of her master from the dark deal maker he was to everyone else. She walked round to the far side of the carriage, placing her burdens inside and making sure they were secure beneath the seat. She was about to step inside and give the command to take her home when something slammed into the carriage from the other side, rocking it and almost making her lose her footing. She quickly regained her feet, hurrying to comfort the two black stallions that stamped and steamed at the sudden fright. The horses calmed beneath her touch as she peered round to the side of the carriage, seeing a group of adolescent boys not far from the carriage congratulating one of their party on their successful assault on an inanimate object.

She shook her head in amusement as they continued to tease one another, one of them daring to whistle as they realised she was standing there but quickly shrinking away as one of his friends said something about 'the Dark One's woman'. Belle felt a strange twist in her chest at the boy's words, concentrating again on the horses as she prayed the blush that she felt on her cheeks was not bright enough to show. Her attention was drawn to them once more as an older feminine voice joined the youthful whoops and teasing from the boys.

"He'll turn the lot of you into snails if you bother that young girl," said the matronly woman as she cuffed one of the older boys smartly round the ear, "Don't go messing with the Dark One's things."

"But mama…"

"But mama nothing young man," she admonished, "If you want to live to see the solstice you'd best just leave well enough alone."

The boys quickly dispersed but Belle paid them little mind, one word of the mother's speech hanging in her mind. Solstice. It had been easy to lose track of time since she had become Rumpel's maid, days merging into weeks and then into months, making festivals easy to forget. The solstice was one she had wished she had not been reminded off, the feast day nothing but misery for several years since her mother's death. Before she had been killed Belle had enjoyed many years of the celebration from the moment she was able to let loose her mother's skirts and participate in the day. It had been the year they had visited Avonlea before the feast day that had begun the tradition, Belle had seen a poor mother desperately bartering with a market vendor for a doll for her young child. The doll was no more than a few pieces of material stitched together with a painted on face but Belle, clutching her porcelain faced doll to her chest, had understood the wants of the poor child when the mother failed to procure the doll. She had cried long into the night, not understanding why she had many dolls and the little girl couldn't have one and in the morning her mother had found her wrapping each and every one she owned in a wish to gift them to the children of Avonlea for the solstice.

Her mother had stilled her daughter's actions with a promise and for the next week they had fashioned handmade dolls for all the young children in the city before they had gone out amongst the people and given their gifts to the joy of their charges. Belle had even been able to give the doll she had taken most time over to the little girl she had seen in the marketplace. It had become an annual tradition until her mother had died and when Belle had tried to take on the task alone the following year her father had forbidden it, calling the practice childish and locking her away in her gilded cage that it took a deal with the Dark One to free herself from.

Belle looked back into the village, the scene not all that different from Avonlea, and she wondered at the idea that sprung to her mind. She reached into the small purse she carried, bypassing the gold that Rumpel had given her and pulling forth the few coins she had brought with her from Avonlea and heading back into the village.

xxxx

It was several days later when Rumpelstiltskin began to notice a change in his young maid, the once effervescent personality he had come to enjoy seeming dulled and her sweet face bore the signs of ill rest. She was more forgetful than normal and more than once he had walked into a room she had been working in to find her quickly shooting up from a seat she had been dozing in as he walked through the door. He tried to put it down to homesickness, goodness only knew she had cried enough in her first few days in the castle but that malady had seemed to have passed once he had begun treating her like a person rather than a work horse and he had begun to hope that his presence was adequate companionship for her. Once he had dispelled the thought of her being homesick a more crushing idea came to him.

Her malady had appeared not long after they had gone down to the village. He had taken her not because he had needed her but because he had wanted her to enjoy a day outside of the castle walls and give her a little more freedom than he had first granted her. She had seemed fine when he returned to the castle and she had greeted him warmly, hoping that he had not had a tedious journey back up the mountain after she had left with the carriage. She had seemed happy and talkative as she had prepared tea for them, rattling on about all she had seen and even regaling him with her amusement over the young boys who had dared one another to touch the carriage. She had not seemed at all worried by their visit but he began to wonder if something more sinister had occurred. He wasn't well liked in the village but everyone kept their distance and their tongues in his presence but had Belle been an easy target for the ire they wished to direct at him? So concerned did he become that harm had befallen her he could not help but confront her on it when she brought in the tea tray that evening.

"You haven't been sleeping Belle," he said bluntly as she set the tray on the long table, "Is something the matter dearie?"

Belle looked up at him, forcing a smile to her pale face, "Nothing is wrong," she said, fixing his tea with a practiced ease and setting it before him, "I've just had a little trouble sleeping, that's all. It will pass soon."

With a wave of his hand a chair caught the back of his maid's legs, forcing her to sit down at the table beside him where usually she would have fixed her own tea and disappeared to the fireside with her book.

"You would tell me wouldn't you Belle, if something was bothering you?" he said, "I am your master and responsible for your care."

Belle's smile was more genuine this time as she took the tea he handed her, "I promise I am quite well," she said, "And if it will sate your curiosity I have found myself a little project to do but I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew and I'm struggling to finish by my deadline."

Rumpel cocked an eyebrow in question, "Now you have me intrigued dearie," he said, "Come now, indulge an old man and tell me what you're doing, or is it some great plot to effect your escape and toddle back off into the arms of that insipid betrothed of yours."

"Goodness no!" giggled Belle, "You saved me quite the torment there I'll grant you. Gaston's view of a good woman is someone who could praise his charms and bear his sons, not my view of a good match at all; I never know why Papa chose him for me. I have no plans to affect any kind of escape either, I gave you my word Rumpelstiltskin and I am not so fickle as to break it. Besides, I find myself quite content here with you."

"You do?" came the surprised response.

Belle looked up from her cup to see an increasingly familiar softening of his weathered features as the fingers not holding his tea up worried his thumb as they always did when he was nervous or discomforted. She reached out and covered the busy hand with her own, squeezing his fingers.

"Of course I do, silly man," she said softly, "You have your moments but you've been kind to me and you don't treat me like my only use in life is to be pretty."

"And I never intend to," he said honestly before he let the mask of the imp fall back into the place, "Now then you are avoiding the subject. I want to know what has my little maid looking as though she has not slept for the past week."

"You'll think me foolish," said Belle, frowning as he leant back in his chair, his fingers steepled before him as he waited for her explanation, "I'm making gifts for the children in the village, for the solstice. Its something my mother and I used to do but I forgot that I spent entire days at the task, with my mother to help me. I'm never going to get them finished."

Rumpel frowned, "You're making gifts for that lot down there?" he said, "You do realise that as a resident of this castle they will never appreciate anything you do for them."

"Its not about reward Rumpel," she said, "It's about doing something to make this dark season a little brighter for people. I don't expect them to say thank you, I imagine many may even be left on our doorstep for fear that they're enchanted but I want to do it all the same. Now if that's all I should fetch your supper. If you don't mind I'd like to take mine in my room so I can work on some more dolls."

Rumpel offered her a small smile, "Not at all dearie," he said, "Leave mine in the kitchen, I may spin for a while before I eat anything. Try to get some sleep though; I don't want to catch you dozing in the pantry again."

Belle got to her feet, "I'll have my candle out by midnight," she said, "Goodnight Rumpelstiltskin."

"Goodnight Belle," came the reply after a moment as she headed to the door, turning back briefly to see him staring into the flames of the fireplace.

xxxx

Midnight came and went but Belle knew her master would not know if she was awake or asleep as she continued to sew by candlelight in her room. She had tried to sleep as promised but the scraps of material and needle glinting in the firelight had taunted her from her work table and she had pulled on her dressing robe, setting herself back to work. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't hear the light tap on her door nor the sound of it opening; it was only her master's concerned voice that finally roused her from her frantic sewing.

"I recall a promise from you that your candle would be out by midnight."

Belle jumped, the doll and the needle falling to the rug at her feet as she looked up in alarm, "You frightened me," she admonished, her hand coming up to cover her racing heart, "And its not far passed midnight."

"Its gone three dearie," said Rumpel, as he hovered in the doorway, "Belle, I do not want you to take ill. Please get some sleep."

"But I wanted to finish this, I needed to…" Belle trailed off, hating the sound of her voice as tears sprung to her eyes, "Papa always stopped me even though it was all I had left of my mother. I'm sorry, I know you hate crying, I'll be quiet."

Silence was her answer before his voice rang out once more, softer and far more human than she had ever heard it, "You cry if you want to dearie," he said, finally stepping into the room, "And I don't want to stop you if this means that much to you. Perhaps we can reach a compromise."

"What do you have in mind?" said Belle, managing a watery smile as he conjured a handkerchief from thin air and pressed it into her hand.

"Forget this for tonight," he said, waving a hand over the wide array of half finished rag dolls, "Sleep until noon and then tomorrow afternoon you forget about your chores and you work on these in the daylight in the great hall. You are going to hurt your eyes sewing by candlelight; I speak from vast experience there my dear."

"But I have work to do in the castle, the laundry and the…"

"The laundry can wait a day or two," said Rumpel, taking her hands and raising her to her feet, "And you forget that I am over three hundred years old and have lived alone for the vast majority of that time, I can manage my own tea for a day. Now abed with you and should I see this candle burning at any point for the rest of the night I shall cast a charm that renders every flame useless. Am I understood?"

Belle nodded, enjoying the playful tone of his voice as well as the feel of his warm calloused hands in hers. Her breath caught in her throat as he pressed a fleeting kiss to her forehead before he turned her to her bed. She climbed into it, turning once she was settled to bid him goodnight only to find the space he had been occupying empty, the only evidence of his presence the remnants of red tinged smoke in the air, smoke that had not even had a moment to dissipate before sleep claimed her for its own.

xxxx

Despite her master's instruction to sleep until noon, Belle rose by ten and was surprised to find another fine, warm dress laid across her ottoman, this one in an emerald hue with a square cut neckline and tight sleeves that ended just above her wrist. Matching slippers were set beside her dresser and jewel encrusted combs upon it and she fashioned her hair with them, realising she had had nothing as fine since her last birthday ball in Avonlea. She wondered at her master's intentions in treating her so well, a world away from the fearsome creature he had tried to convince her he was when she had first arrived but she chose in the end not to question it and instead simply enjoy their strange yet wonderful friendship.

She hurried down the stairs, the thought of breakfast propelling her onwards as she caught the aroma of bacon permeating the air. She reached the great hall and stopped dead in the doorway at the sight before her. It was not the breakfast laid out elegantly on the table that gave her pause, though the small feast would have been enough on any other day, but the sight of many brightly coloured packages that all but obscured the far end of the table from view. Scraps of material littered the floor, as did several newly made dolls with spools of thread only adding to the mess. In the midst of it all, sat cross legged like some odd little tailor, was her master, his lithe fingers quick with the needle as he finished off another rag doll.

"Rumpel?" she said, barely keeping the giggle from her voice, "What are you doing?"

His shoulders stiffened before he looked over his shoulder at her, "I thought I told you to stay in bed till noon."

Belle smiled, catching her bottom lip beneath her teeth, "Well I woke early and I was lonely on my own," she said, "I thought I might catch you for tea but I didn't expect to find this."

"You were too far behind to get everything completed by the solstice," said Rumpel, with a dismissive wave of his hand as he turned from her once more, "It would take you three solid days of work when you have but one, and the castle would be filthy by then and you would be wailing that everything was unfinished and late and I would never get a moment's peace. I'm merely hurrying things along to save my eardrums."

"You have magic," said Belle, crossing the room, kneeling down beside him and taking up one of the finished rag dolls, "You could have conjured all we needed in seconds."

"And have you whining that you wanted to do them by hand?" said Rumpel, swiftly tapping the back of her hand as she reached for a needle, "Ah! Breakfast first. I refuse to conjure up an entire new wardrobe for you because you wish to waste away from malnourishment; it is a waste of my time and magic."

"I would hate to be a burden," said Belle, pausing a moment to question herself before she swiftly kissed his cheek and got to her feet, "The dress is beautiful by the way, thank you."

"It is enhanced by the wearer," came the muttered response at her back as she headed to the table.

Belle felt her cheeks heat, daring to look back at him only to find his back to her once more as he worked away. She said nothing, turning her attention to the food set out on the table, swiftly sating her hunger before she returned to his side. They worked the day away, most of it spent in companionable silence as they fashioned the little dolls that would soon be gifts for the children in the village below.

As night fell the last of the dolls were finished and wrapped in brightly coloured paper, the table littered with the pretty little packages and the floor with the remnants of their craft. Belle stretched her arms over her head, moaning as her spine popped before she flopped down on her back on the rug they sat on.

"Thank goodness that's done," she said, "I thought we'd never finish. Will you come with me to the village tomorrow to deliver them, you worked so hard today I don't want to take all the credit?"

"Oh no my dear," came the response from the mage as he reached over and plucked an errant thread of cotton from her hair, "You are quite welcome to the credit. They are no doubt going to chuck them back at your feet for fear they're jinxed but if I am with you they'll be aiming for our heads."

Belle caught his hand before he could pull it away entirely, amazed by her own boldness but keeping hold of it all the same, "I wish they could see you as I do," she said honestly.

"I doubt there's anyone who sees me as you do, my odd little maid," said the imp but the gentleness of his voice took any sting from his words, "I have an idea how you may deliver your gifts without them immediately being flung back at you though."

Belle brightened at his words, "How?"

A wiggle of the fingers on his free hand told her all she needed to know and she nodded her acquiescence to the use of magic, trusting that it would be nothing dark or sinister after the care he had shown in the making of the gifts.

"We'll have to wait until it's near midnight for this to work," he said, "If you want to rest a while I can fetch you when its time."

Belle shook her head, pretending not to notice that the hand she held had moved until their fingers were laced together between them, "I've slept enough today. Let me make us supper. We can pass the time until then someway, I'm sure you've missed your spinning wheel today and I have a book I need to finish."

Rumpel smiled, using their joined hands to help her rise to her feet, "If that is what you wish dearie," he said, "I have a few things to prepare for our evening."

"I'll call you when supper is ready," said Belle, offering him an elegant curtsey in response to his gallant bow before a cloud of red magic obscured him from view.

xxxx

Midnight found Belle wrapped up once more in her fur lined cape, her basket full to bursting with the colourful packages despite the charm Rumpel had woven over it to make it capable of holding far greater loads than its size naturally dictated. She was still none the wiser as to what the mage had planned but she was willing to follow his lead. She took his outstretched hand, lacing her fingers with his as he tugged her close to his side. With a wave of his hand he removed the heavy cover from the large mirror they stood in front of and Belle gasped to see nothing but the great hall stretching out in the image before them. She looked down at herself and then at the imp beside her before she gave a little squeal of delight.

"We're invisible?" she said.

"A necessary spell if we are to achieve our goal tonight," said Rumpel, returning the cover to the mirror, "Keep hold of my hand and don't speak. Break either of those rules and we come straight back here."

"Alright," said Belle, bouncing on her toes, "Can we go?"

Rumpel nodded, a wave of his hand conjuring a familiar smoke that revealed an unfamiliar room when it dispersed. Belle's eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room she found herself in, the small house barely more than one room with its owners slumbering in the bed nearby to where they stood. She suppressed a gasp as she turned to Rumpel, seeing the small half smile on his face at her reaction before he reached into the basket she carried, retrieving one of the wrapped packages and placing it on the table to be found when the occupants woke.

Keeping her word not to speak, Belle raised herself up on her toes and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek, thanking him without words as his magic transported them to their next port of call. For the next few hours they magicked themselves from house to house, leaving gifts as they went, their invisibility proving useful on occasion when someone blinked to wakefulness at the rustle of paper or the soft tread of their boots but no one cried out in alarm or shock, merely putting the sound down to a dream and turning back to their pillows.

By the time they had delivered the last of their parcels Belle felt the day begin to catch her, her grip on Rumpel's hand all but holding her up as he finally transported them back to the castle. She stifled a yawn with her hand as Rumpel released his grip on her, taking the basket from her and setting it on the table before he reached for the clasp of her cloak. He did not get a chance to set it on the table though, instead letting it fall to the floor as Belle wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face into his neck with a sigh.

"Thank you so much," she said softly, "I've had a wonderful time."

"You're very welcome," said Rumpel, shaking off his hesitation and returning her embrace, "Belle, with it being the feast day tomorrow, I don't mind amending our deal somewhat."

"Mmm?" murmured Belle sleepily against his throat, "How so?"

"I could take you back to Avonlea and you could visit with your father for a few hours."

Belle moved back until she could see his face, her hand coming up to his cheek to prevent him turning away from her, "As tempting as that offer is I will have to decline," she said, "My father will be happily surrounded by courtiers and simpering yes men who will bow to his whim and fill his glass on demand. You said yourself you have spent many years and therefore many feast days alone but this year won't be one of them."

Belle took advantage of the stunned silence of the mage before her, pressing a kiss to his cheek before she stepped back fully from him, "Get some sleep Rumpelstiltskin," she said, "I expect to see you for breakfast in the morning. Good night."

It was only when she was halfway to the stairs that she heard his voice follow her and she smiled at his words.

"Good night dearest."

When morning dawned the villagers below the Dark Castle were at a loss to explain the appearance of such exquisitely made dolls that had been left for every child but the occupants of the castle above paid little mind to their troubles, content in a small party of two as they welcomed the feast day as friends.