A/N: Hey hey guys! Sorry its taken a while for this to come out, classes and work all killed me and made me unable to have the time to actually sit down and work on my stories. I'm going to attempt to write a few chapters on my stories before I go back to class. I might even sit down and binge write to schedule chapters to come out over next semester. I dunno, we'll see what I do.

And without further adieu, here is the next chapter.

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Chapter 3:

While Belle knew Rumplestiltskin wasn't happy with the idea of her working, she was glad he was accepting it. She'd never really worked before in her life, most of her work was inside the home, taking care of her house, of her husband. The most she usually did for money was mending things for some of the other people in the village. Before she had her own child she'd help the other mothers in the village with their mending and letting out clothes as children grew.

But now, now she had a job at the tavern in the middle of town. It was really the only big thing in town, the only real big business. Most villagers ran their businesses from their homes like Rumplestiltskin did, there were no storefronts, no shops, no merchants. If one wanted to sell their wares outside the village they had to go into the bigger town. Most of the village men did do that, too. Rumplestiltskin used to do two trips a month to the big town to sell his wares in the summer, and one trip a month in the winter, weather permitted.

So she was a bit nervous to start work. All afternoon Rumplestiltskin had been huffing and puffing about her leaving, and she thought it was rather cute. Though she knew why he was upset. It hurt his male ego to have to make his wife go out to work because he couldn't support them right then with his injury. She'd made sure to get all her chores done around the house, and she fed Baelfire before she bundled him up in the home made bassinet, smiling down to him.

"Mommy loves you baby boy." she said, leaning to kiss his forehead before she stood straight. Fixing her top a little, making sure she wasn't spilling out anymore before she turned towards the fire.

Walking over, she took the pot from the fire carefully, using her apron around her waist to ensure her hands didn't burn. Resting the pot down on the counter and stirring it, filling a bowl slowly before walking towards Rumplestiltskin sitting in his chair by the fire.

"Here you are, love. There is more stew if you'd like, if not leave it and I'll clean it when I get home." she said as she handed him the bowl, leaning down to kiss him slowly.

When she leaned back, she smiled to him, shaking her head. "Rumple, please, it'll be fine. I'll be fine and I'll be home before you know it." she said, brushing his hair behind his ear as she knelt at the side of his seat, looking up at him.

He nodded a little, glancing down at her as he took the bowl. His other hand moved to rest over hers, bringing it to rest on the arm of his chair. "I know, my Belle. You be careful, understand me? Men in taverns can get quite rowdy." he said slowly. Indeed, he did hate having to send his wife out to work.

She gave him a sweet smile, leaning up and kissing him slowly, moving her hands to rest on the sides of his neck. Gently leaning back from the kiss, she brushed her nose against his. "I will my love. Enjoy your dinner. Baelfire should behave for quite a while. There is nothing to worry about, Rumple." she said.

Slowly moving to stand up, untying her apron and laying it across her own chair. Walking to the door, she took her cloak and pulled it on, glancing back at them and giving Rumplestiltskin a sweet smile before she started to walk outside.

Pulling her cloak a bit more closed as she hugged herself as she started to walk towards the tavern. It was getting dark out, and it was getting chilly. Of course she had to work the later shift, she was new and it was the busy shift. It was a tavern after all, men gathered there after work and such.

Walking along the pathway until she saw the buildings get closer together. They lived more on the edge of town rather than in the center, and as you got closer you saw more and more homes stacked together. When the building of the tavern came into view, she took in a deep breath and walked inside, glancing around.

It was just starting to get crowded within the building, people were gathering around tables, a few waitresses were already there serving drinks, giggling and generally flirting with the men they served. She did hope they didn't expect her to flirt, she was a married woman after all.

Looking towards the bar at the woman behind it, she walked up towards the bar, swallowing a bit. "Hello...I'm Belle...I'm here for my shift that starts tonight."

The woman looked up at her and nodded. "Aye, come around the bar and into the back. One of the girls will show you the way." she said, making a motion towards the door just behind the bar.

Nodding slowly, she walked around as the woman asked. Walking in through the door, her heart dropped when she saw one of the women back there was none other than Milah, the last woman in the world she wanted to see. "Milah..." she muttered.

Looking up, the other woman grinned a bit. "Ahh, its Belle, you're the new girl..well, just as well. I'm surprised the coward you're married to allowed you to work here. Though, I suppose a coward cannot control his wife..." she wondered out loud, which made Belle roll her eyes.

"Just...can we stop? I need this job, Milah. Rumplestiltskin is not happy with me working it, but I need this job. Please...we were friends once."

"No no, little Belle, we weren't." Milah replied, crossing the room towards her and reaching to unhook Belle's cloak. "But now, I am to train you, so I shall. Step in and lets get you ready." she said.

Hanging her cloak up, Milah looked at her and sighed, shaking her head. "Come, you'll never get tips that way.." she said, taking Belle's wrist and bringing her back towards the back end of the room where she'd put her things that afternoon.

Belle blinked as she walked with her. "What way?"

"Take off your corset." Milah instructed, looking through her bag.

But Belle blushed, hugging herself and shaking her head. "W-what? Why?"

"Its entirely too conservative. You want to make money or not?" she asked, looking back at her.

Reluctantly Belle nodded with a blush, slowly starting to untie her blue corset. The corset was a different part of the dress, so her skirt would at least stay on. Once it was off, Milah took it from her when she turned around. Stepping up to her, Milah took a blue corset and pulled it around Belle's waist. This corset was a bit darker blue and stopped just underneath Belle's breasts, almost pushing them up a little. Tying the corset before Milah took the sleeves of Belle's under shirt, pulling them so they rested off her shoulders, showing a bit of cleavage as well.

"W-What is this?" Belle asked, looking down at herself, bringing her arms to try and cover herself a little. "I-I am a married woman! I cannot go out there dressed like this!"

"If you want tips, you can. Look, I'll be honest with you. Men don't come here to watch uppity married women prance around. They come to watch the bar maids flaunt around, flirt, carry drinks. They like thinking they have a chance. Working here, thats what you give them." Milah answered, crossing her arms across her chest. "Now. Are you game, or no?"

Swallowing a bit, Belle looked down at herself, blushing as she bit her bottom lip. "I..I suppose..." she said slowly. At least her husband did not frequent the tavern, Rumplestiltskin never had even before the wars. Her husband preferred to stay at home with her on nights, drinking tea and reading the few books they owned. She longed for the comfortable cozy nights curled up by the fire with her husband, tea and a good book. And Graham did just give her a new book. She mildly wondered if they'd ever be able to afford more than two or three books in their home. Books weren't cheap, and food was much more important.

Milah nodded. "Alright then. You'll take an apron and a tray and attend to the tables. Quite self explanatory if I do say so myself." she said, pointing towards the aprons hanging on the wall. "Your shift ends when the bar closes, about two. I need to get to my own shift. Have fun, sweet Belle." she said, almost mockingly towards the end as she walked away.

Sighing a bit, shaking her head as Belle took in a breath. Walking to take one of the aprons, pulling it around herself and tying it around her waist.

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Starting her shift was pretty difficult. She was used to serving her husband, and maybe her brother when he'd come to visit, but not a room full of rowdy men. It didn't help that she felt like she was falling out of her dress every time she leaned over with how Milah had helped her change.

Her husband also didn't hoot and hollar at her when she'd serve him something to drink. These men did, though. She was naturally stubborn, and she wanted to tell the men off, tell them she was a married woman. Though she did still wear her simple wedding band around her ring finger. It wasn't anything flashy, Rumplestiltskin couldn't afford flashy even when they'd first married, but money wasn't everything. She loved her modest silver wedding band.

Moving about the tavern, she quickly got the hang of it, taking orders, placing drinks on her tray, taking them to tables and distributing them.

One group of soldiers had come in about an hour before closing, and she had to wait on them. They already seemed pretty drunk as she'd taken their orders. Putting each drink on the tray and walking over to the table, passing them out, placing each drink in front of the men.

"Oi, bar wench." one man said as he looked up at her, his blue eyes moving over her skin in a way that made it crawl, as if he were appraising her.

Looking towards him as she finished placing drinks down, holding her tray against her chest a little. "Its Belle. How can I help you?" she asked.

He chuckled at her words and took a long drink from the goblet of ale she'd placed in front of him before resting it down onto the tabletop, looking up at her. "You could come and keep me company, Belle." he said, almost mocking her for insisting on her own name.

Shaking her head, she gave him a soft smile. "I've got work to do. If you need any more drinks or food let me know." she responded, attempting to brush him off softly.

As she turned to leave, she felt an arm snake around her, yanking her down onto a lap. Letting out a soft yelp as she fell onto the mans lap, turning her head to look at him, shaking her head. "I beg your pardon! Release me this instant, sir!" she demanded.

He gave a small grin as he held her, taking her tray from her and placing it on the table before shifting her on his lap. "Oh, you might call me Gaston, Belle. I insist. You must have been on your feat all day, baby, let me help you relax." he said, leaning to start placing a few small kisses on the side of her neck.

And with that, her skin crawled, shuddering and squirming a little, attempting to stand up. "N-No, no I'm fine."

"Why? Do you have some place special to be? You know, the tavern closes in an hour...I'm renting a room just upstairs. I'd love to have you accompany me.." he asked.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself to stand up, unraveling herself from his arms, looking back at him, shaking her head. "No thank you, I'm a married woman."

Sitting back, he looked up at her with an amused look, chuckling a bit. "Married? What man would allow his wife to work as a bar wench?" he asked. Reaching to take her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb slowly. "I could show you a very good time you know."

She pulled her hand back, picking her tray up and shaking her head. "No thank you." she said, turning and walking quickly to the bar, letting out a sigh as she walked around the bar. Leaning against it, shaking her head a little bit. That man was going to get on her nerves, she could just tell.

Frankly, she hoped he finished and left soon. The tavern would close soon, and she wanted to clean up and get home to her husband, her feet were killing her. And, it had been the longest she'd been away from her son since he was born. She was worrying obsessively, hoping Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire were alright. She wondered if Rumple had gotten enough dinner, if she'd left enough tea for him, if he was alright with Baelfire, if Baelfire was being a good baby for his daddy.

Sighing a little, she couldn't figure out if they were alright, but she could assume they'd be just fine. After all, she could be worrying herself to death for nothing.

Deciding to get to work on the clean up that Milah had said they'd have to do, she went towards the tub with the dishes, taking the bucket of water and pouring some in, starting to work on cleaning each mug and dish. People were chattering away around the bars, women talking to men, women talking amongst themselves, a few men talking to each other. It wasn't quite as packed as it'd been earlier, people making their ways out and going home, but there were still people. And Belle couldn't help overhear a conversation two waitresses were having that didn't have any customers to wait on.

"Didn't you hear? The new girl is the cowards wife."

"No! Oh poor girl, a coward for a husband?"

"Right!" giggle "What kind of man could he be? Poor Belle, stuck with an invalid to care for."

"At least she still has her husband...I wonder if he'll go back to work once his foot heals..."

"Oh no, I'd much rather have a husband die in honor than live in cowardice. Who will buy his wears? Certainly not myself. Tis bad enough the man is nearly twice her age, but now an invalid? And imagine, she has to have sex with him. If I were her, I'd get a nice looking man from the tavern here."

Belle's fingers gripped the mug as she heard their words. Idle gossip hurt, especially when it was towards her and her family. Slamming the clean mug down, she turned her head to the two women. "You know, I am standing right here, yet you speak as if I do not exist. For your information, I thank the gods my husband returned to me safe and sound. My son needs a father. He is not an invalid, neither! He will return to his spinning work once his injury heals. And our sex life is perfectly fine, thank you very much." she said in a huff.

Both girls looked up at her, astonished she'd say a word. One rolled her eyes. "Honey, your son will have a coward for a father. Your whole families reputation is ruined. No one will buy his wears. Listen to me, you're a young pretty thing, you could start over. That one guy over there is very nice looking. A knight in the kings army too, I hear. Gaston I believe his name is."

"Gaston? He's vile. I love my husband. If I'd wanted to marry a man with no brains in his head, I'd have done so the first time. Our family is not ruined, I will not let it be so. My husband is not a coward. He is a good man, and I'll not have ill will of him spoken." she replied, turning her head and moving back to cleaning.

"Suit yourself. You're committing that boy of yours to a lifetime of being a cowards son." the second girl said before both moved away, chattering together.

Looking down, Belle's hands gripped the edge of the bucket, shaking her head. She would not cry, she would not give those two women the satisfaction of making her cry. She knew her husband was not a coward, but she also knew the entire village would think so. Those girls were right on one thing, they were ruined in this town.

"Wench!" she heard one of the men from Gastons table yell. Taking in a breath, wiping her hands on her apron and then her eyes a bit before she turned to walk back to her job. She needed this job, and she needed it for her family.

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Walking home that night was chilly and exhausting. She'd changed back into her regular corset so Rumplestiltskin wouldn't think anything were up. Slowly she walked along the path, bringing her cloak around her a bit tighter, feeling the cold night air whipping around her.

As their small cottage came into view, she could see the fire still lit, illuminating the window, and she wondered if her husband were still up waiting for her.

Stepping up to the house, she opened the door and took a step inside. Shuddering a bit and letting out a calming breath as the warm air enveloped her as soon as she stepped into the small place. Unhooking her cloak, she slid it off and hung it up before turning around.

And there they were, the two men in her life. Rumplestiltskin had fallen asleep in the chair with Baelfire on his chest, also fast asleep. Rumples arm was protectively around their son as he slumbered, and it was the most adorable sight she'd ever seen.

She stared at the two people who meant the most to her in the world for a while before stepping forward. Rumplestiltskin would have a horrid back problem come morning if she let him sleep like that. So, she slid out their bed, set it up before taking a home made bassinet, putting a blanket in it for Baelfire. Gently sitting it close to the fire, but not too close before she stepped to the chair.

Carefully she unwrapped Rumplestiltskins arm from their son, taking the baby gently as not to wake him. Baelfire stirred, whining a bit at being disturbed, but settled into his mothers arms in a moment. Belle stepped towards the bassinet, laying him in it and tucking him in, leaning to kiss his forehead. "Goodnight my love. Sweet dreams." she whispered to him.

Standing up straight, she brushed off her skirt before walking to the chair, moving behind it and resting her hands on Rumple's shoulders. Rubbing them slowly, she leaned down to kiss the rim of his ear. "Come on, love, lets go to bed." she whispered softly into his ear.

At feeling her hands, Rumplestiltskin opened his eyes halfway, letting out a small happy groan as her fingers worked his muscles. Opening his eyes a bit more, he smiled as he looked back to her. "Ah, you're home." he said, reaching one hand to take hers, leaning and kissing her palm slowly. "How was your day?"

"Oh it was interesting. I made some good tips. It's bedtime though, and I've missed you terribly." she said. Rubbing his shoulder before stepping in front of him, taking his hands to help him up.

He took her hands, standing up and leaning on her a bit rather than taking his cane. Actually letting her help him the few steps to the bed before he sat down on it. Yawning and moving out of his shoes before moving to lay back, bringing the sheets over him but leaving a bit open for her.

Once he was in bed, she reached and unhooked the money pouch from her waist, resting it on the table and then she undid her corset. Starting to undress down to her shift, laying each piece of clothing over the chair. A smile crossed her lips as she could almost feel Rumple's eyes watching her oh so intently as she undressed. Once she was down to her shift, she shivered a bit with the slight bit of cold as she stepped towards the bed. Sitting down and laying back next to her husband, she smiled as she looked towards him.

Leaning close to him, she shifted to lay on her side, resting her head on his shoulder and feeling his arm move securely around her. Looking up at his face, she smiled, slipping her fingers along his chest. "I did miss you, ya know.." she whispered.

Looking down at her, he gave her a gentle smile and leaned to kiss the tip of her nose. "As I missed you, my love. I still don't know what I've done to deserve you...but I pray I keep doing it."

Giggling softly, she shook her head, leaning to kiss him softly. "Well you shall have me, until death do us part, remember?" she asked.

Running her fingers along his chest, she blushed a bit as she looked down, watching her fingers. She did miss him, and the idea that she missed him in more ways than one, ways that just the night before he'd admitted he was not ready for, made her blush.

Leaning up a bit onto her elbows, looking at him and smiling a bit. "I love you...no matter what happens. You...you know that, right?" she asked.

He opened his eyes a bit, looking up at her and nodding slowly, his hand moving up and down her arm to rub it slowly. "I know. I won't lie, times will be tough, my Belle. I want to give you so much more than I can right now..." he said, squeezing her arm a little before looking down.

Lightly she shook her head, kissing the tip of his nose gently. "I don't care what you can or cannot give me. I care that you love me, love our family. We can get through anything together. We'll make it, I know we will. Sure money will be tight, but we'll get by."

"One day.." he said, rubbing her arm slowly again, looking up into her eyes. "One day I wish to give you all that you desire. And I will do my best, know that I'll always do my best."

"I know." she said with a smile, resting her head on his shoulder and looking up at his face. "Times are tough for everyone though with the war going on. I do hope this war will end soon." she said, letting her eyes fall closed and yawning softly as she cuddled into his side.

Nodding a bit, he kissed the top of her head. "As do I, love." he said, gripping her a little. "Now sleep. You must be tired."

She nodded slightly. "Uh-huh..." she whispered as she started to drift off into a light sleep, a small smile on her lips as she cuddled up to him.

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A/N: Fin! Again, sorry its taken me a while to post this chapter. I'm hoping to do an update to a lot of my stories lol. As always, read and review!