Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoys this! I will put a summary and a list of the characters involved at the beginning of each chapter so you can tell if it's something that will interest you. Also, I know this one is pretty short, but most are a little longer.
Summary:Gold doesn't decorate the shop or outside of his house for the holidays, trying to keep up his intimidating persona. Belle decides that should change.
Characters: Rumpelstiltskin and Belle
Gold walked back to his house, ready to see Belle after working all day in the shop. However, he froze as soon as he reached the door, eyes glued onto the door. There, hanging as if it had always belonged there, was a simple-looking wreath. He yanked the wreath off the door and stomped into the house. "Belle!" he yelled. Puzzled and concerned by the anger in his voice, Belle came running out of the library.
"Rumple, what is it?"
"Regina is trying to make me look like an idiot, or the Charmings think I need more 'Christmas cheer.'" He said Christmas cheer in his traditional Dark One voice, and Belle struggled not to giggle at him.
"Or your wife thinks the wreath looks lovely on the door," Belle countered. Gold looked at her in shock, the wreath drooping in his hand.
"You put it there?" he asked, and then a giggle finally did escape from Belle.
"Yes, silly. I know you want to be intimidating, but honestly, there are more Christmas decorations in this house than in Santa's workshop. I thought we could at least have a few on the outside as well."
Gold walked closer to her, setting the wreath down on a table. "Well, if that's what you want, I can put up with being made fun of for an entire month," he assented, smiling broadly at his beautiful wife.
"You will not be made fun of," she asserted, and when he gave her an incredulous look, she clarified. "No one would be brave enough to make fun of the Dark One."
That got a chuckle out of him, and he leaned in closer to her, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "No, not when they know you will chase after them with a broom if they dare to insult me." She pulled him in close for a Christmas kiss then, to show that he was right; she'd do anything for him, including chase people around with a broom.