For such a grand estate that it was, the home of Rumpelstiltskin held prominently the sweet scent of fresh straw, bringing to mind the defining characteristics of a stable. At the current time however, the Master of the household found that his nostrils were being filled with the stench of a woman. He forced his focus on the spindle before him, though not for the first time since her arrival did he find himself cocking his head to the side to look at her.

She stood at the top of a ladder, examining the velvet drapes which prevented any sunlight from coming in through the large picturesque windows. It was just as he was beginning to lean forward a bit to get a better look that she turned her head and their eyes met. He dropped his gaze within seconds and went on as if nothing had happened.

"Why do you spin so much?" As he looked up to her she cleared her throat. "I mean, you've spun more gold than you could ever spend."

"I like watching the wheel," he muttered, shrugging his shoulders. "it helps me to forget." He was caught off guard by his careless choice of words and was not at all surprised when they were accompanied by a curious "Forget what?"

There was a brief silence between the two of them, she trying to remain patient while he pursed his lips together and tried to form a proper answer that would give away nothing and yet also bring an end to her questions.

"I guess it worked." he decided, punctuating his statement with a wistful giggle. Her accompanying laughter caught him off guard and he was grateful when she was the first to break their gaze. Belle's attention went back to the drapes and for once Rumpelstiltskin found that there was something that had caught his interest over spinning more gold.

"What are you doing?" he asked, standing and walking towards her.

"Opening these, it's almost spring! We should let some light in!" she answered, giving a determined tug. "What did you do?" she grunting, giving another futile yank. "Nail them down?"

"Yes." he answered, only half serious.

She shook her head and laughed, amusement in her eyes. Turning her head she furrowed her brow and gave two more yanks to the drapes before they came apart in her hands and she found that she was falling.

It was only a snap judgment that had made him do what he did, he would later tell himself. As she lost her balance a top the ladder he reached and caught her, fortunate enough to have been in ideal position to save her. His breath caught in his throat as her body shuddered with unsteady breathing and then felt the intensity of her deep blue eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.

A groan caught in his throat as he tried to remember the last time a woman had made any sound towards him other than one of disgust. Unable to trust his deceitful tongue he nodded his head and placed her down, putting distance between them immediately.

"No matter," he mumbled, nodding his head as she thanked him once more. His body was giving off foreign emotions that he hadn't entertained in years and in many ways he was both embarrassed and ashamed to feel so… human.

"I'll, uh, put the curtains back up." Belle added quietly, leaning down to gather them in her arms.

"T-there's no need," he interjected, turning to catch her eyes. " I'll, uh, learned to get used to it." Not trusting himself any longer he dismissed her, though not before catching sight of the smile on her lips, perhaps a secret that he hadn't been meant to see.

His fingers trembled as he left the drawing room, not used to the warmth that he had cradled only minutes ago. "What's happening?" Was it possible that he was catching cold? He would have to ask Belle to prepare him a cup of tea later.