Alternate Title: Champagne Flutes and Roses
Rating: K+
One-Shot
Author's Note: I had planned on keeping these one shots of different pairings as I had a few ideas but it seems the masses want more Rumbelle. That in turn gave me a couple plot bunnies, so Rumbelle it is. They're one of my favorites too. Thank you to those that reviewed and those that choose to stay anonymous but still read. Always encouraging :) Please note that they probably won't be in any particular order and titles more than likely make no sense. And please excuse any misuse of slang terms, I did my best.
Part 1
Lionel Gold had never met anyone quite like, Isabelle (Belle) French. She was a curious thing with her nose always buried in a book every free chance she got and the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. It was remarkable the things this woman could make him do with just a small or a touch of her hand on his. He could give her the world and that still would not be enough for him. It baffled him why someone as dazzling as Belle would want to go out with a man twice her age and an injured leg, that often made them forgo previous plans for the evening.
It certainly wasn't for the money. No Belle was no gold digger (no pun intended). She wouldn't let him spend his money on her willingly, which was a new one for him. He thought most woman enjoyed jewlery and flowers. But not Belle. His lady was happy with a new book and a chance to hold his arm as they walked through the park. She wasn't ashamed to let the world know they were going steady. Was that even the proper term anymore for someone his age?
Belle was an odd one. She would happily scold him and pick up around his cluttered home but he knew from the get go that she didn't plan on being just a house frau. She had dreams of reopening and running the old library. Lionel was more than happy to help her with this if would put a smile on her face. But his Belle was a stubborn one and wouldn't take the money just like that. At some point Lionel would figure out a way to get her to let him help without making her mad but for the time being, he let the matter rest.
His Belle wasn't the best cook, and she certainly wasn't the worse. She had a habit of starting out with the right recipe, ingredients but then she'd get and either put too much of something or just forget what she was doing altogether. These were mainly the days when something was bothering her but she wouldn't say what. On days like this, Lionel would kiss her on the nose and shoo her out of the kitchen to go read. He didn't mind doing a little of the cooking and dish washing every now and then. It made him feel almost like they were already married.
And it was then that Lionel Gold realized he wanted to marry this beautiful woman sitting on his tan chesterfield sofa with her nose stuck in a book. This cat was real gone.
Part 2
"Lionel, tell Victor to get bent."
"Lionel, tell Jefferson to admit he's scheming on Alice."
"The girl is eighteen and still pretty mad about her last steady. I doubt she's on the make."
"See! What did I tell you?"
"Both of you cut it out," Gold interrupted. "You're like a couple of kids I can't understand half the time. I am not even sure why I asked you two for help."
"What are we looking for daddy-o?"
"Jefferson, I swear I will slap you."
"Fine, fine. But what are we looking for?" He asked again.
"I am looking for a ring to give Belle," Lionel replied, "I just don't know which one."
"Ah, planning on getting her virgin pin I see," Victor commented.
"That better not be something dirty or I am kicking you both out."
"Oh, look, this one's pretty," Victor said holding up a random ring.
"Don't get grumpy Lionel and just tell us what your lady likes."
Gold thought for a minute while his companions looked through the display. Their Lionel was all grown up now!
"She doesn't like me getting her gifts. Books are the only thing Belle willingly accepts and flowers seemed a bit redundant when her family owns a flower shop. But she does like roses."
"So, something simple then. Can't go wrong with that." Jefferson replied, "How about this?"
Lionel looked over to see him holding out a ring with a plain silver band and round blue stone. It was almost the same blue as his Belle's eyes. It was perfect! There was even room enough to engrave the inside.
Part 3
"So, where is Lionel taking you tonight?" Mary Margaret asked as she sat on Belle's bed helping her get ready for her date. Ruby was currently in the closet going through dresses, circle skirts and cardigans to help pick out an outfit.
"He won't tell me," Belle responded her seat in front of the mirror as she tried to pin her hair back. "He's been kind of...secrety lately."
"Oh that's never good," Ruby said poking her head out from the closet.
"Nonesense, don't listen to her Belle," Mary Margaret replied while tossing a pillow at her raven haired girl on the other side of the room. "I am sure he has something real special planned for tonight."
"Oh! What is he's going to pop the question?" Ruby exclaimed tossing the pillow back on the bed.
At this, Belle turned around in her seat to look at her friends. She hadn't thought of that possibility...in reference to tonight in any case. Belle would be lying if she hadn't often imagined a couple of floofy haired children running about the salmon colored house when she cleaned. But she had never been sure if Lionel thought the same. She knew his previous wife had died after running off with a sailor years ago and the relationship with him and his son, Bailey, had been a bit strained ever since. Did Lionel even want more children? There was certainly a lot that they hadn't discussed yet.
"Well, whatever happens tonight, you're going to look stunning baby," Ruby said holding out a blue sleeveless dress with a circle skirt and a pair of red peep toed kitten heels.
Part 3
Belle kept fidgeting with her curly hair as she made her way up the steps to Lionel's house. Normally he would pick her up at her place but this time he had asked her to meet her at his house. This wasn't unusual right? As Belle raised her hand to knock on the door she saw it creak open before she even knocked and for the first time, noticed that the house was dark. She warily pushed it open enough to poke her head in.
"Lionel?"
"Come inside, Belle. I am in the dining room."
"But why is it so dark?"
She saw the soft glow of candlelight coming from the open dining room and white rose petals on the floor near the entrance.
"Lionel?" She said again as she eyed the bouquet of red roses laying across the place she usually sat at the table. What was he up to?
As she got closer she noticed a small dark blue box nestled between the roses. Belle picked it up just as Lionel came into the dining room from the kitchen with two champagne classes in hand.
"Well, go on. Open it."
"What is it, Lionel?" She asked, unhooking the clasp at the front. She stood stunned staring at the pretty blue stone at the center of the silver band.
Lionel took the ring from the box and placed it on her finger. "I know it's a little more customary to get on one knee but my old injury makes it a little difficult. I hope this is okay."
Belle couldn't stop staring at the ring on her finger until Lionel took her hand in his and made her turn to look at him.
"I know I may not look like much and my hairs a little more grey than I would like, but I do love you so much Belle. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
Belle took her hand out of his and for a second, Lionel feared she was going to say no. She slowly lifted her hand the side of his face and stroked his cheek with her thumb.
"You are a lot more handsome than you think, Lionel and I love you too."
"So is that a yes?" He asked warily.
"Yes, of course I will marry you," She replied before placing her other hand on the side of his face and pulling him down for a kiss.
This was one of the happiest days in Lionel Gold's life.
