Fairytale land, summer (I need suggestions on what to call their realm of their previous lives…and ideas?)

Belle rose up in the middle of the night. Strangely, she felt wide awake. But dread and paranoia filled her heart. She quickly put on her robes and ran to Rumpel's room. She softly knocked on it.

"My lord…are you awake?" She heard him cough a few times.

"Yes, come in dearie." That was odd, usually he told her never come near his room, but Belle never knocked on his door either. This time was an exception.

Rumpel looked up, as if a angel came through the room, to his bed, and looked down at him. Belle observed he was not his usual self. He always looked grim and washed out, but he was looked worse than over.

"Are you alright Rumpel…" He let out a sigh.

"Not sure dearie, I think I'm ill." Belle put her cool hand on his hot forehead. It was relief to him.

"Oh my…your burning up, I will be back with some water, and-" she took off his first quilt. She continued.

It will not be comfortable , but you need to cool off, alright?" Rumpel looked off into the distance.

"Allright," he agreed. He watched her leave and closed his eyes. He smiled knowing he was getting attention from a pretty, sweet girl, such as herself.

Belle returned quickly, gasping, handing him a tall mug of cold water.

"I will go out with a lantern and see if I can get some erbs and create a medicinal tea for you." She moved a loose strand of curly hair on his forehead and tucked it behind his air. How she loved his hair. She envied how a man could have such desirable curls a women always wanted. Belle let go and tried to turn around. Rumpel grabbed her wrist.

"no, no,no, Dearie, stay here, with me, until I fall back asleep. I am the great, powerful, rumplesliltskin, I make medicine to heal others, I will do it for myself in the morning. Belle's face was full of confusion and concern when he looked at her.

"But…you are so ill," she argued. He shushed her, like a child. Bell pursed her lips out of frustration.

"Can I at least bring the ingredients and supply's to you to help?"

"No…you mustn't even know the supplies of my curse's and remedy's…" he looked at her, deeper this time, and raised a brow.

"Why do you want to help me so much anyway?"

"Well, it's my job to be a caretaker, your part of it. I cannot watch someone fall ill, it's my nature to help." She smiled.

"Now…get some sleep Rumplestiltskin, it is late, about three in the morn." She tried to tuck him in, like a child, and quickly kissed him on the forehead. He was quite shocked. Why was she being so sweet and motherly…did she have something up her sleeve…she's only been here for a month. That girl is out of her mind…

Belle returned with a book. She propped herself, sitting up against the wall on the other side of his bed. He was so nervous with her on his bed, with him in it. She opened the book and started to read with one hand, her other hand stroking his hair. He looked up at her, like a frightened child. She yawned and looked back down at him and giggled.

"What is the matter Rumpel, go to sleep, relax, I am trying to help." He slowly closed his eyes and drifted off. He was starting to think, maybe he can choose to cure himself, and just die like this, with a pretty woman on his side, playing with his hair.

She studied him. As rough as his skin was, drenched in sweat, his sharp crinkles on the corners of his eyes, and his low, muffled snoring, he was such a helpless man, like a child. Belle grew fonder of him day by day. Secretly, she was happy she got into this situation. She became to know the real Rumpelstiltskin, as powerful and fearing he was…at the end, he was only a sad, hurt man.

Belle returned to her bed.

Morning rose, Rumpelstiltstkin created a cure, a felt like a new evil being…within minutes. He looked at his pocket watch…11:30, where was Belle, it wasn't like her to sleep so late. In his mind, he was wondering if she caught his temporary illness.

He crept upstairs. He heard her beautiful voice humming a old tune. Her door was cracked abit.

She carefully got out of her bath. Rumpel wanted to look away. But it was so long since he saw a beautiful women, let alone…nude. He noted the curviness of her body. What he would give to just touch her, to feel like a human again, showing his love to her. Belle turned around to pick up her undergarments. With her hair covering her bare chest, she looked like a beautiful goddess, emerging out of water, a beautiful work of art. He tried to take a quiet breath, so she couldn't hear him. He watched her put on her clothes, ever so gracefully. He checked his clock…11:52. Goodness, it sure took her time to get ready, are all women like this? After he realized she was decent, he was about to knock on the door, but Belle beat him to it. She jumped back seeing him standing there. Blushing, she wondered how long he was standing there. She got close to him looked at his face.

"Rumpel, you look so much better. I'm sorry about waking up so late, I was tired from taking care of you earlier." Rumpel wanted to smile, hearing her say "taking care of you." He laughed.

"That's ok dearie…I am hungry. I came to get my cook." Belle smiled at him and curtsied as he gestured for her to pass.

MODERN DAY

Belle woke up. It was still late. It was morning. She was angry knowing she slept through dinner last night, and missed out on going to the bookstore. All she remembered doing when she got home, was just planning to relax for twenty minutes. I should have used the alarm… Looking at the clock on her phone, she had three hours before helping Mr. Gold. She smiled knowing she would visit that crazy, sweet man.

She sat there for a moment, thinking of her dream…who was that crazy miserable man with her? He reminded her of somebody. Then she had a crazy idea…Mr. Gold! But why? Why would he be in her dreams. Maybe it's because she saw him and his image was embedded into her mind.

After a shower and breakfast, she realized she still had time to get to the book shop before Mr. Gold's.

"Dad, i'm going out for a few hours…"

"Ok, have fun, bring me a treat." Belle nodded her head, that's her father, loving his treats.

"Love you pa, good-bye!" Belle left.

It was a nice day at the bookstore. A place were Gaston never inhabited, only filled with people who had one thing in common with her…enjoying to read. It was her sanctuary.

Belle placed her selections on the table. She went to the autosection to get a manual for her crappy car. The idea of it boiled her blood. She skimmed along the spines…Chevy Camaro…caprice…cavalier! She had the oddest impulse to grab the one for the Camaro. On the cover was a bright white, t-top Camaro. A work of art…she started to wonder, did she even want to fix that dump on wheels? Belle decided, instead of buying a repair manual…she was going to get a newspaper, for it's classifieds and use her savings to buy a Camaro. Excitement fluttered in her stomach. She looked at her watch. She should get going.

Belle paid for her things and walked over to Mr. Golds.