AN/ First of all just wow! The response I've received for this story has been staggering. All you Rumbellers are just so lovely! The Plan is to make this story three chapters long and to have an epilogue so it won't be too long but I hope you enjoy it all the same.
On another note some people have been talking about the rating. I don't plan on this going any higher than teen simply because I've never written smut before and I think if I tried it would come out a bit forced and awkward. So no outright smut but a little bit of naughtiness implied maybe in time… As always thanks for your support and let me know what you're thinking! Enjoy dearies!
Chapter Two
Belle knocked cautiously on the door. "If you're one of my sophomores it'll be better for all of us if you just go away." Came the Scottish brogue.
She giggled and pushed the door open. "Are their essays really that bad?" she asked.
Mr Gold looked up and Belle felt immediate satisfaction in seeing his eyes light up and his lips twitch into a smile. "I despair of the whole lot of them, Miss French."
"I brought you the book. It's already checked out for you and everything."
"Thank you that's really very kind. Did you enjoy it?" Belle's brow furrowed slightly. "You didn't agree with his conclusion did you?" he asked.
"No. Not really. I thought it was oversimplified and pandering." She said bluntly.
Mr Gold let out a bark of laughter. "Would you like a cup of tea, Miss French?" he asked gesturing towards the padded leather chairs in front of his desk.
Belle suddenly noticed the vintage looking tea set on his huge oak desk. She nodded and sank into the chair placing his book on the desk. She looked around her eyes taking in the piles of essays and books stacked up against the walls. One wall had a window letting in the pale autumn sunlight the one opposite was covered in shelves holding various objects. She could see an old fashioned oil lamp, an ornate compass, a shining metal goblet, an art deco lamp and a traditional cash register, the kind that dinged loudly when the drawer opened. But no photos of family or friends. "Your office is like a museum." She said slightly awed.
"I do like to collect things. Milk or sugar?"
"Just sugar please." Belle took the cup and saucer and sipped appreciatively. "Thank you very much for this. It's a lovely way to start the morning."
"The cup of tea I assume, not the spending time in an old monster's lair." He joked lightly.
"You're not an old monster." She said vehemently.
"I'm afraid you'd find yourself in the minority there, dearie."
"Perhaps I like the minority."
Mr Gold tilted his head making Belle feel as though he was studying her intensely. She held his gaze and took another sip of tea. "How are you settling in?" he asked politely steering the conversation back to safer waters.
"Well, I think. I enjoy my work and I've made some lovely friends."
"You've been here around two months correct?" Belle nodded. "Ah, well you should prepare yourself for Regina's customary chat in her office. The two month mark is her favourite time to strike."
"No love lost there." Belle said carefully.
Mr Gold smiled again, this time coldly, "I'm a difficult man to love."
Belle didn't know how to respond so she drained the last dregs of her tea and went to set the cup down on his desk. As she reached forwards however the bell rang for homeroom and the sudden sound made her jump in surprise. The tea cup tottered on its saucer then tipped onto the floor. Belle dropped to the floor. "Oh no! Oh I'm so, so sorry!" she picked it up and ran the pad of her thumb over the rim. "Oh. It's chipped."
Mr Gold looked down almost amused to see her looking close to tears, "It's just a cup dearie." Belle smiled apologetically. "I've got to sit through a class of sophomores now who all seem to think that James the Sixth of Scotland and James the First of England were two different people."
"You're going to make one of them cry aren't you?" Belle joked.
Mr Gold frowned, "I'd hoped you had a higher opinion of me than that Miss French. I'm aiming for three minimum."
Mary Margaret was reading through the script with their cast. They had whittled down the forty plus hopefuls to a double cast. Each cast would put on two performances each allowing for doubles in case of any illness. Belle was enjoying herself immensely. She'd offered those students who hadn't been able to get an acting part a place on the backstage crew meaning that they had half a dozen students learning sound and lighting from Miss Swan, making props with Miss Boyd or otherwise helping out so that, so far at least, their production was running smoothly. Belle stood carefully on a tall ladder hanging the backdrop on the stage.
"Should I prepare myself for you to fall into my arms, Miss French?"
Belle laughed and looked down to see Mr Gold's upturned face. "If you want to be useful you can hold this ladder steady while I come down." She hooked the last catch into place and stepped carefully down thankful that because of the sudden dip in temperature that day she'd chosen to wear tailored black trousers with a cream floral peasant shirt that day rather than her usual dresses or full skirts. "There. Perfect." She admired her handiwork.
"Quite." Mr Gold said.
Mary Margaret made her way over to them, "I've sent the kids home. I think we'll be ready for dress rehearsals in a fortnight." She said excitedly. "Hello Mr Gold. Have you come to help?"
"Just spying Miss Blanchard." He said easily and gave them each a little bow. Belle watched him leave.
Mary Margaret turned her eyes onto her. "What?" Belle asked folding away the ladder.
"He was flirting with you!" She said incredulously.
"Oh come off it."
"'Fall into my arms'? What was that if not flirting?"
"It was a joke. I did quite literally throw myself at him when we first met." Mary Margaret looked unconvinced but Belle managed to escape relatively unscathed. Outside it was already getting dark this late into winter. Belle wrapped her scarf more tightly around her neck as she unlocked her bicycle. Then, with perfectly terrible timing, the heavens opened and icy sheets of rain filled the air. Belle swore softly. She'd have to push her bike home, weather like this was far too dangerous to even attempt cycling in.
The raindrops abruptly stopped pounding into her skin. She turned around to see Mr Gold leaning on his cane and carefully holding a large black umbrella over her. She took a step closer so that is covered both of them. "Well dearie, you're in something of a pickle." Belle pushed back a few curls which had escaped her low ponytail and were sticking wetly across her cheeks. "Can I offer you a lift?" he held out his arm for her to take.
Belle smiled in surprise, "Who would have pegged you as the knight in shining armour type?" she joked as she took his proffered arm gratefully feeling soft cashmere underneath her fingers.
"Not me. I rather think of myself as the dragon innocent damsels have to be rescued from." Mr Gold said a little ruefully.
"Well that is a relief. I've always found the dragons more exciting." Belle mentally chided herself. No matter what Mary Margaret thought of Mr Gold's actions there was no doubt that she was flirting with him. Mr Gold opened the passenger door for her making sure she was safely inside before shutting it neatly and hurrying around his car. He slid into the driver seat, shaking raindrops from his sleeves. "This is really very kind of you, Mr Gold." Belle said suddenly feeling awkward in the close confines of the vehicle. She smoothed the material over her thighs and played with hem of her scarf.
"Don't tell anyone eh?" he said jokingly as he pulled out of the car park. "I've a reputation to uphold."
The rest of the drive passed in slightly uncomfortable silence Belle really only speaking when he asked her directions to her home. All too soon and not nearly soon enough they were pulling up outside her building where Belle rented a small, but comfortable loft apartment. "Thank you." Belle said again as she reached for the handle.
"How will you get back to school in the morning?" Mr Gold asked her suddenly.
Belle pulled her hand back, "I… uh… I hadn't thought. I guess I'll just walk it. Or get the bus. I shouldn't have to leave too much earlier…"
"I only live five minutes away." Mr Gold said casually. "I'll give you a lift in. See you at eight?"
Belle paused for a moment and she saw a flicker of hurt pass through his eyes. "Yes." She said hurriedly. "Sorry I wasn't… it's not that I don't want… I just… I don't want to put you out." She said finally.
"It's no trouble." He said as though he offered lifts to his colleagues all the time. Which he didn't. Never had. Never wanted to but… with Belle…
"Thank you so much Mr Gold." Belle smiled warmly and skipped from the road to her door quickly dancing around the puddles of rain. She let herself in and turned to wave but Mr Gold's rear lights were already turning the corner.
Belle wasn't quite sure how it happened but now every morning she got a lift into school with Mr Gold. He came up to the library and they sat quietly over a cup of tea whilst he finished any marking he had and she ran through her morning tasks and then the bell went and he would go off to teach with a quiet, "Have a good day, Miss French." She would rarely see him at all during the day until he came to give her a ride home. He never spoke about their arrangement and only once did she question him. "Why do you wait for me?" she had asked one Tuesday afternoon as she exited the building after rehearsals finished an hour after school did.
"Does it bother you?" he's asked lightly arching a brow.
"No." she slipped her arm through his as was her habit now as they walked to his dark car. "I just don't want to trouble you."
"No trouble." He'd said easily and she hadn't questioned him again.
They didn't always talk but after the first few painful days Belle found that just sitting with him was almost peaceful. It was kind of nice sometimes to be with someone who demanded nothing from you. Not that they didn't talk. They did. Belle found him easy to talk to about books and history and the school. He shared her slightly dark sense of humour. They never broached family though. They never cut too close to home and sometimes Belle was grateful. Her difficult relationship with her father was a sore point but she couldn't help feeling that she wouldn't mind talking to Mr Gold about it.
Normally Belle's work was fairly relaxed. She had time to do everything she needed to do methodically and well the way she liked it. Today however it seemed that the work of four days had decided to band together and ambush her. The company she ordered books from sent the wrong edition. The seniors on their frees were particularly high spirited. Dr Hopper had set an assignment that was due that week meaning that her psychology section was a total mess and probably needed therapy. And to top it all off the computer system crashed meaning she was calling Emma periodically but always missing her because she had a full day of classes. It was only half eleven and she already felt ready to sink into a hot bath and never, ever leave it. With a muffled scream Belle flopped forwards resting her head on her crossed arms. "Bad time, Miss French?"
Belle looked up and felt her face flush, "Oh. Ms. Mills. Hello… Um… one of those days." The Headmistress looked unimpressed. "Was there something I could help you with?"
"I was hoping that we could have a quick chat in my office. Just to see how you're settling in."
Belle bit her lip casting a glance at the still futzing screen and the pile of books waiting to be shelved. "Of course, Ms. Mills."
"Lovely." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Lunchtime? I'll see you there." Her high heels clacked loudly on the wooden floors and she swept out.
Belle sat awkwardly in one of the highly fashionable, extremely uncomfortable high backed chairs as Regina shuffled papers around on her desk. She felt like a teenager again being pulled into the head teacher's office for some petty misdeed. Belle tried to pull herself together, she was a fully grown woman with a steady job and she had not stuck gum underneath any desks. "So, Miss French, how are you feeling?"
"Honestly, a bit like a naughty kid again." Belle chuckled nervously.
Regina smiled that cold smile of hers. "Don't worry I'm not the evil witch everyone makes me out to be. Are you fitting in with the rest of the staff?"
"I think so." Belle said slowly, "Yes I would say so. Mary Margaret has been extremely welcoming."
She though she caught a flicker of fury behind Regina's icy mask but it was smothered too quickly for her to be certain. "As yes, everyone does so love Miss Blanchard." Belle remained silent. "I thought I'd just give you a friendly piece of advice." Ms Mills changed tack and Belle raised a brow trying to organise her features into a face of polite interest. "I've noticed that you've been spending time with Mr Gold."
"He's been giving me a lift into work." Belle said firmly. "I normally cycle but the winter weather…"
"Oh yes of course. I'm not suggesting anything untoward." Regina leaned forwards and patted Belle's hand in a mothering gesture that didn't suit her. "Just that it could be seen in the wrong way and I'm sure you're aware that the school does have a policy regarding relationships amongst the staff."
"Yes." Belle said shortly fighting her instinct to pull away.
"Well, Mr Gold… he's not exactly to be trusted."
"I do trust him." Belle felt the words leave her mouth before she could question their wisdom.
Regina let out a short bark of laughter, "You're a sweet girl, Miss French. Let me just spell it out for you."
"Yes, perhaps you should."
"If any questions were to be raised about your relationship with Mr Gold you stand alone. He has been at this school far longer than you have and don't think for one moment he wouldn't throw you under the car if he thought it would help his own agenda."
Belle stood up suddenly. "Thank you Ms Mills for being so clear on the matter. However as I did say before there is nothing going on between me and Mr Gold." Belle walked to the door but came to a sudden stop when Regina called out once more.
"Before you leave I need some extra staff members to chaperone the Winter Ball. It's next Friday. You don't mind pitching in do you?"
Belle turned around and smiled tightly. "Not at all. I'm sure it will be fun."
"Thank you Miss French. I'm so pleased you're adapting to Storybrooke."
Belle shut the door behind her and let out a long low breath. "You alright?" She looked up to see Emma peering at her through Graham's door.
"Yes." She nodded. "Um when you've got a moment could you come and check out the library computer. It's being hormonal again. Thanks."
Mr Gold noticed her mood that evening when he drove then home. He broke the silence. "You seem a bit out of sorts, dearie."
"I had my chat with Ms Mills today."
"Ah." He didn't elaborate.
"She basically accused me of sleeping with you." That got his attention he spluttered wordlessly and for a moment Belle almost felt herself laughing at the normally so suave Mr Gold. "She reminded me not so subtly of the policy on staff relationships."
"That ridiculous thing. She is constantly bringing that one up. Never brings up the fact that she is outright flouting it though. Screwing her deputy like that."
"What!" Belle turned to him. "But… Graham and Emma… they…."
"Oh I've no doubt Miss Swan would find her happily ever after with Mr Hunt but not until he finds it in his heart to dump his boss. You can see the complications."
Belle remained silent all the way to her house. Before she could let herself out of the car Mr Gold reached out a hand and squeezed hers gently. "Don't let her get you down, dearie."
Belle tore her gaze away from his fingers over hers and found herself gazing into his deep, dark eyes. Slowly she felt herself lean in towards him, being inexorably pulled into his gaze. They were close enough now that she could feel his breath light against her skin. It scared her how much she wanted to kiss him. More than she'd ever wanted her ex-fiancé. More than she'd ever wanted anything. Mr Gold pulled suddenly back and Belle felt as though he'd physically hit her. "I'll see you Monday morning at eight, Miss French."
"Yes. Good night Mr Gold." Belle said trying to keep her voice crisp and even. She made it all the way into her apartment, through her living room tossing her coat and bag to one side and to sitting on her bed before the tears began.