A.N. Thank you again for the comments and for following. I'm glad people are enjoying the story.
Chapter Two
Belle turned the tap and jumped back when steaming water poured out of it. She watched the tub began to fill, entranced as steam hit her face. She sat there for a minute or so, enjoying the sensation. When her eyes opened, she noticed several bottles on the side: 'Bubble Bath.' Some potion could create bubbles in a bath? She screwed off the cap of the bottle and inhaled: roses. She looked to the bottle, 'rose scent' was written in smaller letters on the bottle. She smiled to herself. Rumpelstilskin really had thought of everything. He must have arranged it as she slept. Slowly she tipped the bottle and beheld the thick liquid slowly pour into the tub. To her delight, bubbles instantly appeared. She looked at them in awe. Was this magic? Or natural in this world? She could not distinguish between the two, for, unlike the other inhabitants of Storybrooke, her fake memories were of being an insane woman living in a cell her whole life. That had been her only experience of this world.
Everything had just stood still for years and years, until one night, months ago, with a jolt, she felt time move. The stillness went away, but then she was only greeted with darkness as the ticking seconds of time nearly drove her mad. She had first sought escape in sleep, but there was no relief. Nightmares came. Horrific, unspeakable, demonic dreams: she made a decision to 'return'—she knew not where, to somebody she did not know. All compelled her to go back to him at any cost, force him, beg, scream like a banshee, do anything so that he would allow her to stay with him. He merely released a shrill giggle and opened his mouth to show sharp teeth snarling like an animal as he chased her away. "I don't want you," he repeated over and over. She ran and ran until she reached a gate and slammed it behind her, only to hear shrieks of joy. "She's gone! She's gone forever!" He jumped up and down like an imp and clapped his hands in glee. Belle then opened her mouth and howled, tearing out her hair in great clumps. Screaming and screaming and screaming.
That was the best of the dreams.
The others ended with him doing to her what her father and her whole village thought he had.
Locked away. She did this to you, Rumpelstilskin had said. She. The Queen. What would he do to the witch now that he knew what she had inflicted on Belle? Belle had never been naïve and knew of what Rumpelstilskin was capable. He would take revenge on the Queen and it would be merciless.
And Belle was not sure that she wanted to stop him.
She shook her head. These were thoughts for another time. After she had rested, slept, and had time to think. She gingerly put a toe in the bath, which she withdrew with a hiss. She looked at the tap and saw 'C.' For cold? She turned the knob and ice-cold water streamed out. Satisfied that the mix was complete, she stepped in and luxuriated in the bath. Dirt appeared to melt away from her as she took a bright cake of soap and scrubbed. Running her fingers through her hair convinced her of a greater need than relaxation. She began to lather the pink cake of soap in her hair when she spotted a note sitting on top of the towels which awaited her: Use Conditioner, R. Belle frowned and looked around, until she spotted a bottle with the correct label. She lathered it on her hair, and let it set as the instructions said. Taking a large toothed comb-had Rumpelstilskin been to the town market while she slept?—she straightened the snarls out of her hair.
Belle must have stayed in the tub for an hour, adding hot water as it cooled. She had never known such luxury and she was raised a princess! Reluctantly she exited, being careful not to slip on the floor. She picked up the towels and wrapped the largest around her. The smaller one she used to rub her now clean and tidy hair.
With a sigh she opened the door and stepped out, only to gasp when she saw a stranger in the room.
"Please, my lady," a woman held out a large robe. Automatically Belle allowed her to put it on her and seat her by the vanity.
The lady was very tall with blond, short cropped hair. She pulled out a contraption, more combs, and scissors.
"No!" Belle protested, as she began to cut.
"Just the split ends, if you please," the woman replied.
Belle nodded and finally asked the question she should have asked when she first saw this stranger in her room. "Who are you?"
"My name is Rapunzel," the lady replied. "I was a hairdresser here in Storybrooke. Rumpelstilskin procured my services for you."
"Procured?" Belle felt her heart sink.
Rapunzel sighed and began to cut, "Just a few minutes ago. My husband insisted we make a deal with him to keep me away from what was happening in town."
"And you were the price?" Belle asked, more than a little disconcerted.
"It was generous. Rumpelstilskin said I would be safe so long as I would agree to be your maid."
Belle's head turned, "Maid?"
Rapunzel automatically turned Belle's head so that it was facing forward again. "Please don't move."
"I'm sorry," Belle apologized, "but I don't want a maid."
"That's not my business," she replied. "I agreed to be at your beck and call, to give you anything you wanted." She finished cutting, then a roar filled Belle's ears as something blew hot air all about her. Belle turned in alarm, but the lady gently turned her head again with the air of a professional. Belle allowed her to finish.
"Up or down?" Rapunzel asked.
"Em. . . Up?"
"Half or full?"
Belle thought about her hair as she liked to wear it at the Dark Castle, and told Rapunzel how to do it.
"And what would you like to wear?"
"You choose," Belle replied. "Rapunzel," the lady turned with an outfit in her hands, "What is happening in town?"
Rapunzel avoided her eyes and walked over to Belle, with a casual cotton tunic and pants.
"Please?" Belle said.
Rapunzel nodded and began. "After the purple smoke swarmed through town, something happened at the Mayor's, excuse me, the Queen's mansion."
"What was it?" Belle asked.
"I'm not certain," was the reply. "But shouts of the Queen doing magic went about, and there was some panic . . . I didn't see much. My husband grabbed me and we raced into Granny's. That was where we met King James and Queen Snow White. He took control rather quickly, and we pledged fealty to him. We spent the night there, hearing some occasional . . . disturbances. Then in the morning the King led us out. We saw the Evil Queen's Mansion swirling with black smoke."
"The dark power," Belle said.
Rapunzel nodded. "Before I could see more, my husband took me by the arm and led me the other way saying we were going to see Rumpelstilskin." She gave a wry smile, "So now I'm here, at your service," she bowed her head.
"Please," Belle asked, "you don't need to . . . " Act afraid?
"You are the lady of Rumpelstilskin," Rapunzel stated, answering what Belle did not say.
The impact of what she would seem to all in Storybrooke hit Belle. The last thing that occurred to her was that people would react to her the same way they did to Rumpelstilskin. That they would be afraid of her. And why should they not? What did they know of her?
"Thank you," Belle said. "I'll get dressed on my own." Rapunzel nodded, and left her.
…
Belle cautiously walked down the stairs, and saw Rumpelstilskin take a signed paper and gracefully bid a young family goodbye.
He saw Belle, smiled, and locked the door. "Business is over for the day." He walked to Belle and took her hand, "Take a turn in the garden?"
Belle walked outside with him and was surprised to see how late it was. The Sun was setting and the crickets were beginning to chirp.
He led her to a bench, and they both sat down. His arm drew her to him, and she laid her head on his shoulder. Suddenly all was well. She was sitting with the man she loved in a garden on a beautiful night.
"I see Rapunzel is doing her work admirably," he said as he leaned down to inhale the scent from her hair, but, Belle noticed, careful to not let his lips touch her head.
"Rapunzel. About her. I don't need a maid!" She sat up and looked at him. "I do my own work. The 'lady's maid,' well, that was my old life. I don't want that."
Rumpelstilskin shrugged, "The deal was to do whatever you wanted. If what you want is for her to go away, then by all means, release her."
"Really?" Belle's forehead wrinkled. She had expected some dissent.
As though reading her mind, he took both her hands in his and said, "I will give you whatever you want, Belle. Anything to make you happy."
Anything but a kiss.
Belle knew better than to say that.
"With the way business is going, I may need a secretary," he remarked.
"Will we be here that long?" Belle asked. "I thought we would leave to seek Baelfire as soon as possible."
"Yes, well, circumstances have changed."
"Circumstances?" Belle fought to keep her voice even.
"You! In case you do not recall, you came back into my life yesterday." His hand tightened on hers. "That changes things."
Belle frowned, "But why?"
"Why?" Rumpelstilskin asked. "I have some . . . new work to do concerning a certain former mayor of Storybrooke."
The revenge. She shivered. "Can't we deal with her after we find your son?"
He shook his head, "No, I'm afraid, my dear, that what must be done needs to be done soon. Magic here," he looked to the stars now beginning to appear, "can be, let's just say, unpredictable. There is much to do to ensure that I don't leave her a loophole. I had not anticipated your return when I made my plans."
Unpredictable.
He touched her face, "Don't worry, love. I have made certain that I have more power than she can ever yield. A drop of my True Love potion brought Emma, who took the harpy down hours after she got a clue. I used a whole flask yesterday. Yes, it was to bring back the magic. I needed that to leave town and find Bae. But it was also to ensure that those who have true love will prevail in the Final Battle. Regina will never have true love."
"So the good people will survive?" Belle asked, relieved.
He gave a half smirk that stopped her heart for a second. The Beast slipped into his eyes for a moment, "I didn't say that, dearie. I just said they would prevail."
Belle looked down at their hands, still entwined to gather the courage to ask the next question, "And us?"
Rumpelstilskin touched her face, "No worries there. We will always be together."
He held her eyes and leaned in, his forehead touching hers, their faces close, everything touching except their lips.
"Always," he whispered.
Belle let him hold her and they sat on that bench for hours it seemed, only shifting now and then to get closer.
"I love you," she whispered. He replied by tightening his arms around her. Belle had never felt so completely at peace and all doubts, for this night at least, evaporated.