Chapter Three

Belle wasn't sure when they got onto the bedroom as the morning light started to wake her in which she tossed her to the other side only to find it empty but the blanket and pillow was still warm to Rumpelstiltskin's touch. She grabbed the pillow from his side on the bed and buried her face onto it hoping to still have her sleep as the door opened followed by a light tap on her shoulder. Belle turned to a find tray onto the nightstand consisting of eggs, croissants, hash browns and bacon in the shape of a face, a bowl of cut strawberries and a glass of orange juice. Next to food lay a glass vase with a single red rose followed by a handwritten note which did get her attention.

Come outside when you finish eating and getting ready. Bundle up though

Love Rumpel 3

She began to giggle at the thoughts of what Rumpelstiltskin was planning on doing for them for this weekend. They both knew there would be some sort of trouble arriving to ruin the happy endings but taking it one day at a time was the best cure in overcoming the trails which could lay ahead. Belle decided not to think about them and focus on the both enjoying one another's company until they arrived home or until the Charmings barged in demanding their help again, whichever came first. Deciding to follow the instructions, Belle ate her breakfast although was a bit sadden she was alone wondering where her boyfriend had disappeared to this morning. Quickly showering and getting dress in jeans, a black turtleneck, boots which the heels where wider than her usual attire, black leather jacket and putting on the light blue knitted bonnet Rumpelstiltskin made for her birthday Belle made it outside the bedroom to finding everything almost the same as she had seen it the previous night. The only different had been the fire was not on but the cabin felt warm enough in which Belle contemplated taking her jacket off because it was getting close to the levels of a hothouse.

"Rumpel…where are you?" The cabin itself was not large so he might have been outside, to Belle's shock however she looked up across the window to find the entire area around completely covered in snow. She read the weather reports prior to leaving stating it would mild cold temperature but nothing to indicate snow, she even was told from Henry that it would not arrive for another month but it did explain what Rumpel meant in his note. She went outside realizing her jacket was not enough until she turned around finding Rumpel standing by the door covered in casual black rather than his suits holding a light blue parka with white fur on the hood towards her direction. He started giggling in the matter as he use to during his time in the Enchanted Forest in which Belle took a second look at her surroundings. "What the hell did you do?" confronting as she took the parka putting it to her surprise it fit her like a glove and the fur being incredibly soft she wanted to nuzzle her head into it.

"Since the plan is for us to be alone, I made sure most of this area is closed off similar to the way the curse had gone with the outside world. Someone can walk in but all they see is nothing but forest although the snow might have been a fluke. Shall I transform us a beach instead?"

"No..no..no" stopping Rumpelstiltskin before he recited an incantation. "The snow is fine just took me by surprise that's all." She started walking around happy to have seen snow for the first time in nearly three decades, she remembered the last time she enjoyed it was back in the castle where just before the Winter Solstice celebrations. Rumpelstiltskin had said he needed help in picking certain types of flowers for some ingredients in which her expertise was needed. He knew her skills in botany were poor at best but she still went along with it as they spent the afternoon in the gardens making snowmen after supposedly Rumpel gave up in finding the items he needed with Belle suggesting he needed to take a break every once in a while. Although if Belle remembered correctly she was making snowmen while Rumpelstiltskin spent the time finding some way her creatures would be ruined and she would start over once again only stopping because it had begun to get dark. When they had got back inside, the rooms were filled up with Solstice decorations and a grand feast which the explanation for had been to make sure she was not totally homesick to be motivated towards working the higher level rooms she had not yet started on. Belle then felt something wet in the back of her head as little drops of snow came out of her parka causing her to turn around thinking Rumpelstiltskin was behind her to her surprise there was nothing expect the cabin.

"Lost something dearie?" Belle turned around finding Rumpelstiltskin up on a tree looking down at her with a snowball placed on his hand. He looked at her with a cheeky grin that made Belle want to see him get taken down a notch, she grabbed a bit of snow throwing it back at him as he threw his towards her.

Both had missed.

"Is that all you got O great and powerful Dark One!" Shouting at him seeing him disappear with a few snowballs being thrown at her in an angle towards several directions. "Hey that's cheating!" Belle grabbed a bit of snow running to the direction of echo of the giggling blindly throwing snow in every direction.

"Run run run dearie…..there's nowhere I can't find you"

Belle then found a rock hiding in the back as she tried to rearrange her strategy. Rumpelstiltskin morphed back into visibility now surprised Belle disappeared. In his effort for being one step up, he had forgotten to keep a closer eye on her and now ready to throw another snow ball caused one to be thrown at him in a close range looking behind him to find Belle laughing as she threw another one actually aiming for his face landing between his eyes and nose. If there was score tab, Belle had been sure she won their little battle getting up to throw another snowball finding Rumpelstiltskin ready to throw another one at her. This time however, the pair was close together staring each other straight in the eye not moving a budge.

"Are you going to draw?" he said trying to get a nerve at her

"Are you?" she proclaimed doing the same

A few more seconds of budging each trying to see a place of movement between them, Rumpelstiltskin was impressed by her by her cool demeanor. Probably something she picked up from the Lucas girl or Jefferson but more surprise at her posture when he realized Belle was wearing shows that appeared to be easier to walk on. Immediately he thought by scaring her she would be of her guard and have the last snowball thrown at her causing him to be proclaimed the victor. Although the downside it meant he would need to see Belle scared which meant she would get mad at him but Rumpelstiltskin would admit to being competitive first and foremost.

One…

Two…

Three…

"BOO!"

Their shouting causing the pair to lose the snowballs and footing with neither entirely sure whose hands were being grabbed as they fell onto the ground. Rolling around in the snow, laughing and wrestling with their arms clinging onto one another; Rumpelstiltskin broke their movement by pinning Belle to the ground as she waved her arms around in an effort to grab his face.

"Will you admit defeat?" this time his tone changing more to his regular voice still keeping a playful expression holding her wrists

"Never! You cheated so I win" with a bit of strength, Belle lifted her head up to giving Rumpel a light kiss on the nose surprising him as he loosened her wrists causing her to get back up leaving Rumpel sitting on the ground

"Now whose is calling who a cheater?' Belle went down this time pinning his wrists to the ground with the both breathing a bit heavier due to the exertion. The activity caused Belle to have a glow on her skin even giving her color to her cheeks as she preferred the pale make up that at times made her skin snow white. He honestly thought she looked more beautiful like this.

As he raised his head up to kiss her, Belle loosened her right arm putting two fingers towards his lips placing her forehead to meet his whispering. "Still you honey" slanting her lips over his, each savoring their time together before it turned dark.