It had been a few days and for the life of him, Rumplestiltskin could not block Belle from his mind. He just kept thinking about her: her eyes, her smile, the light catching in her hair. It was keeping him up at night. Damn it, he had to see her again, but why? He sighed and he managed to find his way into town one afternoon without being seen, but how was he going to find her?
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Belle was at a lost for what to do. She had sworn to try and change the Dark One's mind about coming to the party-and deep down she knew she really meant to change his mind about Christmas-but how was she going to do such a thing when she held so many doubts herself?
So, she did what she always did best and found herself in the library, searching for any and every book she could find that was related to Christmas.
Rumple hurried through town with the mask on again. Why was he even here, what would he even say to her? He then saw her in the library window as he passed by, and for some reason his heart leapt when he saw her. He snuck into the library and went up behind her, whispering in her ear. "You never came back to convince me, I was worried you'd given up…"
Belle jumped and had to catch herself from falling out of the chair when she heard a voice in her ear. She had been concentrating on her book so she didn't even realize there was anyone else in the library with her besides the librarian who was well across the room. Most people were out shopping and doing other holiday activities, not occupying themselves with hobbies.
Turning her head she glanced up to see someone standing there with the strangest of masks on. Belle squinted her eyes at him. "Rumplestiltskin?" she asked softly to make sure it was truly he.
"Aye, it's me," he said. "Who else wears a mask like this?"
"I don't know…you could have been a teen trying to play a prank." They did that sometimes. "And that mask is pretty generic…"
He sighed and looked around, making sure no one was watching before he lifted his mask enough to show her it was him. "There, satisfied?" he asked.
Belle giggled quietly. "I know it's you now," she said. "You didn't have to prove it…although I do prefer to see your face over that hideous mask…"
She actually felt privileged. How many people in town could say they had seen the Dark One? Certainly there were few, if any, who also knew his real name.
He glanced around. There was no one near them. He slowly took off his mask and placed it on the table. He was still nervous about being down in town without anything to hide who he was…
She could tell that he was nervous, but she didn't feel he needed to be. However, she understood. She had learned that he always hid behind a mask, so this had to be difficult for him.
Reaching over, she placed her hand over his on the table and squeezed it gently. "I don't think anyone will bother us in here. I usually have the library all to myself, especially this time of year."
He nodded. "Alright," he said and glanced around at her giant pile of books on the table. "So what are you doing?"
Belle's hand lingered on his for a brief moment before she went to pick up one of her books. She couldn't help but note his skin wasn't as rough as it looked.
"Well I was doing research to build an argument before I returned to visit you…"
She looked at him curiously. "What are you doing here?" She suspected he was out for more pranks like the day at the post office.
"Uh…. I don't know…." he said, looking a little lost.
"You don't know?" Belle repeated. Her face clearly showed she did not believe that poor excuse. He was the Dark One and clearly he liked his solitude. He would not come to town without a reason.
He shook his head. "I have no idea why I'm here… Why I wanted to see you…" he said, looking down at his hands.
Belle paused and tilted her head. "Wait…" She said slowly and disbelievingly. "You came here to see me?"
He looked up at her for a few moments. "…Yes…" he said. But why had he wanted to see her in the first place? "I don't know why…"
Belle began to fiddle with her light pink skirt nervously now. He wanted to see her? That surprised and scared her at the same time, yet part of her was also happy about it. "Did you perhaps change your mind about the party?" she suggested. That would certainly take some work away from her.
He shook his head. "No of course not," he said. "I'm not going to that stupid party."
Yes, it wasn't that simple… Perhaps he was fawning over her because she was beautiful. She was accustomed to that: men desperately trying to date her. But it was only because she was beautiful. Once they got to know her a little more they wouldn't want to have anything to do with her. She was odd as they put it.
Gaston was about the only one who didn't care-or seem to care-but she could never see herself with the likes of that selfish man.
"Um…well…maybe you just wanted someone to talk to…I mean I know you have Max, but he can't really carry on the best of conversations." She chuckled.
He half smiled. "Max is some of the best company I have," he said. But perhaps she was right; he did need someone to talk to… "But ah… I guess talking would be nice."
Belle nodded and smiled. "Then perhaps we should go somewhere else. The library isn't really a place to talk…"
Rumple swallowed. "Alright…" he said. "Where are we going?"
Belle thought for a moment and briefly forgot whom she was talking to. "Are you hungry? We could go to Granny's…she makes the best hamburgers."
"I don't think it's a good idea for me to be seen," he said shaking his head. "But I am hungry…"
"Oh…I'm sorry. I didn't think of that. Umm.." She placed a finger on her mouth as she pondered an alternate solution. "We could go back to my house…both my father and my roommate are at work now." It was a little out of the ordinary to invite him to her home, but she had been alone with him deep in the mountains. If he was going to try something he already had the perfect opportunity. Besides, she didn't know where else to go where there would be no people besides a park. However, the snow was coming down pretty heavy and it was a bit too cold.
Her house? Oh god… "If… If you're alright with that," he said.
"Well…I'm not sure where to go where there will be no people. There's the park, but it's too cold outside and it is snowing…"
"Your house is fine," he agreed. "Let's go." He grabbed the mask and pulled it back on.
"Have you ever had a hamburger from Granny's," she asked as she gathered her books. "I could go by and pick them up for us if you'd like."
"Hamburgers sound good," he said. "I haven't had one in a long time…"
"Great!" Belle said, glad he was being agreeable. "Let me check these out, then I'll run over to Granny's and meet you outside the diner?"
Rumple nodded. "OK, I'll wait for you outside," he said and he headed out the back door without being seen.
Belle finished gathering her things and slipped on her wool coat before going to the librarian. After everything was taken care of, she slung her purse on her shoulder and carried her books in both hands as she headed out the front of the library and toward Granny's Diner.
Rumple noticed as she left and he followed a few feet behind her. And he also watched as a tall man with dark hair, dressed in a red coat and thick leather boots walked up to Belle and draped an arm around her shoulders. "Hello there Belle," the man said.
Belle inwardly groaned. Gaston again. Why couldn't he understand she didn't want anything to do with him? "Good afternoon, Gaston," she said, ducking under his arm and stepping away from him. She picked up her pace to try and hurry to Granny's. "I'm quite busy today, now if you'll excuse me…"
Rumple's fists clenched as he watched what was going on.
"Wait, where are you going?" Gaston smiled, roughly pulling her back to his side. "What's your rush?"
"I have an appointment," she said, making up an excuse. "I'm meeting with someone and I'm already late."
It wasn't a complete lie…
"I'm sure they can wait." Gaston smirked and he took the books out of her arms, tossing them to the ground and turning Belle to face him. Rumple was fuming, and suddenly Gaston was flat on his face.
"Gaston, what," Belle said unable to stop him from taking her books. She gasped and stumbled backwards then when Gaston suddenly fell forward right into a slushy mud puddle.
It was tempting to leave him there, but being the compassionate person she was she couldn't no matter how much she despised him. So she knelt down and gently, but barely tapped his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Gaston groaned and started sitting up. Rumple hurried and gathered her books before he grabbed Belle's arm. "Let's go," he said, starting to lead her away before Gaston could reply.
Belle barely even registered what was going on until she realized that she being dragged away by Rumplestiltskin. "Wait…did you do that?" she asked him as she caught up to his pace. She glanced back to make sure Gaston hadn't seen them and was following along behind.
"He has no right to do that to you," he muttered, pulling her along. They reached the diner. "Now go get the food, I'll make sure he doesn't follow us."
Belle ripped her arm away from him angrily. No man was going to tell her what to do and right now Rumple was acting just like Gaston. "No he doesn't, you're right. But you also have no right to throw him on the ground like that, or to tell me what to do. I can fight my own battles." She looked at him firmly and angrily.
"He was going to hurt you!" Rumple objected with a snappy voice. "I was protecting you, I think a thank you is in order!"
"No he wouldn't," Belle objected. "Gaston has always been like that and I always find a way to dodge him."
"Belle, I could see it in his eyes!" he said. "He wasn't going to take no for an answer this time!"
Belle crossed her arms in front of her, feeling uncomfortable. "You…you don't know that for sure…you've never even met him." She didn't want to believe Rumplestiltskin, not even when it came to Gaston.
"Belle, trust me, he was going to hurt you this time," he said. "Now please, either get the food or let's just go."
Belle took a deep breath. "Alright. I'll go get the food. I'll be back in just a moment." She turned away from him and walked into the front entrance of Granny's, needing a moment alone only to be greeted by Ruby.
"Belle! Hey girl," Ruby smiled. "What are you doing here?"
Belle had taken a few deep breaths to calm down and hopefully she didn't look too disheveled. She smiled at her friend. "I came to pick up lunch," she told her.
"OK, hamburger and ice tea to go?" Ruby smiled.
"Yes…but actually, can you make it two hamburgers?" she requested casually. Hopefully her friend would not ask too many questions about that either. She was not in the mood to answer any. "I'm meeting a friend."
"Ooooh, what friend?" Ruby smiled, looking suspicious and giving her a cheeky look. "Is he cute?"
"What?" Belle's mouth fell open. "I'm not meeting a guy," she quickly said, "No I mean, I am, but he's just a friend, this is not a date!"
"Suuuuure," Ruby smiled and winked. She got the two burgers and gave her the boxes.
"Thank you," Belle said as she took the food. "And it's not a date…he's just a friend. I promise."
Ruby smiled and nodded.
Thank the gods Ruby was not pushing this. Of course she knew that was probably because she was at work and once she was home she would drill her with fifty questions. How the hell was she going to break it to her friend that she had befriended the Dark One? She had never told her of the encounter at the post office or her trip up the mountain.
Rumple was standing outside in the shadows pretending to read a book as he waited for her.
"I'm ready," she said to Rumplestiltskin once she was outside.
Rumple looked at her and he nodded. He walked away with her. "So where's your house?" he asked. He was a lot calmer now.
"Not too far from here…" She replied, leading the way, "just a few blocks over. It's not much, but it's all we can afford right now." It was also covered in a ridiculous amount of Christmas lights.
He nodded. They arrived and he had to cover his eyes from all the bright lights. "Why the hell is it so bright?"
"I'm sorry." She half smiled. "It's my roommate. I tried to tell her it was too much, but she wouldn't listen. She wants to win a contest."
"Contest of what? Being able to be seen from space contest?" he asked.
Belle burst out laughing, covering her mouth so it wasn't as loud. "No…but she'd probably win one if it existed wouldn't she?"
He chuckled and they headed inside. He looked around the house. He had a grand home on the mountain but this felt different… This felt warm and inviting and… homey…
Belle led him through the living room and into the dining room. Luckily the inside wasn't as hideously decorated as the outside and it was very clean. There was just a small Christmas tree next to the fireplace and a few candles and wreaths throughout the house. "I'm sorry…like I said it's not that big…nothing like you're used to…" she said as she placed the food down on the tiny dining room table that barely sat two. She felt a little embarrassed now. He lived in basically a castle and she had invited him to her home, which was more like a shack.
Rumple shook his head as he wandered around a bit. "No, no…" he said. "I rather like it…"
"Really?" Belle questioned, smiling as she set the table. "But your home is so grand-with all those wonderful things…" She had been drawn to practically everything in his home, wished she had had more time to look around.
"It's more of a house than a home though…" he said. "Yours is a home…"
"Oh…" Belle said understanding what he meant now. "I suppose…" He was lonely…that had to be why he was seeking out her company. "Well perhaps there's something you could do to make it more of a home?"
She placed the hamburgers down and took a seat in her chair motioning for him to sit as well.
He looked over at her and he sat down with her. "I don't know, I've never really had a home," he told her.
"You haven't?" She asked, both intrigued and concerned. "You don't consider where you live a home or where you grew up?"
Where did he grow up? Was he from Storybrooke originally? Or somewhere else? Or perhaps he had always lived up on the mountain. She suddenly realized she didn't know much about the lore of the Dark One.
"…No, the place I live isn't a home, it's just a house," he explained. "And I may have lived in town for a while but it's not my home either."
So he had lived in town…that's certainly a rumor-well a truth-that she had never heard before. "What about your family?"
Rumple shook his head. "None, except Max," he said. He looked at the burger and he began to eat. His eyes widened and he smiled. "This is delicious!"
No family and no friends…no wonder he was so lonely. She really wanted to ask him more but they had only just met and she didn't want to scare him off.
"Yes, I love Granny's burgers!" Belle replied as she sunk her teeth into her own food.
Rumple smiled and continued eating. "So… What do you do?" he asked.
"Oh well…I work at the post office as you may already know…" She grinned at him teasingly before averting her eyes shyly. That was where they had met after all. "But in the summers I help my father with his flower shop as well."
Rumple chuckled at the mention of the post office. "Well sounds like you have a busy life," he said.
Belle shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose…there's really not much to my life but work…"
He looked at her. "So what do you do for fun then?"
"Well…I love to read…" She glanced lovingly at the pile of books on the coffee table. Hopefully, he wouldn't think to poorly of her for liking books-most people did-but she wasn't going to lie about it or change who she was.
He glanced over at the books. "Yeah? I do as well, I have a whole library in my home."
Belle's gaze turned back to Rumple and she nearly dropped her burger as her eyes went wide with excitement. "You do?" His house was so big that he had his own personal library? Well she supposed he did live inside a mountain…
He nodded. "I do," he said. "Maybe I'll show you."
Belle's eyes lit up even brighter. "Really?" she asked for confirmation, hoping that this was not a cruel joke of his.
He shrugged and nodded. "Why not?" he said, seemingly serious.
Belle bit her bottom lip, still not convinced. "S…so it doesn't bother you…that I like to read," she asked meekly.
He looked at her. "Why would that bother me, hell, I helped you get your books back when Gaston tossed them."
"I…I know you helped me, but I just thought you did it to be nice."
She sighed heavily, trying not to look too depressed. "Most people-not just Gaston-think I'm odd because of my love for books. I ignore it mostly, but I still hear the townspeople talk…"
"I don't see why that would be odd," he said. "You like reading, so what? If anything is odd, it's me."
She wasn't really going to argue with him about him being odd. If fact she probably agreed with him, but she didn't think it was a bad thing he was different. "Well…most people say it isn't right for a woman to read…"
She sighed again and forced a smile, trying not to think about this. "But I don't care how others feel about me. If I'm odd, then so be it. I will not change who I am to please others."
He looked at her. He could tell she didn't really feel that way. "…You're not that odd to me," he said.
Belle smiled a little brighter, but there was still a hint of sadness behind it. "You're sweet…but you hardly know me."
"Well you seem like a nice person, and you must be something special to get past all of the illusions and Max on my mountain."
Belle smiled with a blush and looked down at her lap. "It wasn't that difficult…" She smiled up at him teasingly. "I think I just have knack for seeing past masks…"
It was obvious she wasn't just referring to the incidents on the mountain, but to Rumplestiltskin himself.
He looked at her and shook his head. "Maybe, maybe not…"
Belle took the last bite of her burger and smiled at him knowingly when she was finished. "Tell me Rumplestiltskin…am I the only one you've ever removed the mask for?"
In this instance she was referring to the plastic Halloween mask to reveal his face.
Rumple hesitated before he nodded. "…Yes," he said. "But don't take it too seriously."
But Belle did take it seriously. However, she didn't say anything else on the matter. She knew the post office incident had been an accident, but since then he had removed his mask for her twice in public, and that had to be a very big deal to him, especially if he had never done that before. Perhaps if they became friends he would even open up to her…
Standing she picked up her empty plate and looked to him, "Finished?" she asked offering to take his dishes to the kitchen.
He nodded and he handed her his plate. "Thank you."
Belle nodded and took the plate before walking into the kitchen. Instead of placing the dishes directly in the sink, she went ahead and washed them and then put them away.
She stepped back in the dining room when she was done and motioned toward the couch in the living area, right next to the fireplace and Christmas tree. "Would you like to go in there where it's more comfortable?" she offered.
He looked at her and he slowly nodded, getting up and going over. "You're sure no one will come home and surprise us?" he asked. He didn't wish to be found…
Belle glanced up at the clock. "No…my father is at work for a few more hours and Ruby is working the night shift."
Rumple nodded and sighed. "Sorry I just.. I don't like to be seen."
"I understand," Belle said, knowing this already. "I can lock the door," she offered. "I case someone were to come home early at least we would have some warning."
He nodded. "Sounds like a good idea."
Belle smiled and walked over to the front door, locking both the knob and the dead bolt. She turned around to face Rumple, waiting for him to sit first.
"Please make yourself comfortable," she told him. "It's a little chilly so I'm going to run out back to gather some wood for a fire."
"There's no need for that," he said and with the wave of his hand the fire was built and burning strong.
Belle jumped slightly as the fire suddenly roared in the hearth. For several moments she just stared at it as if it wasn't real. She knew magic existed and she also knew that Rumplestiltskin possessed it, but so few in the world did anymore and most had never witnessed it.
"I've only ever read about magic in my books," she told Rumplestiltskin.
"It's not that impressive once you get used to it," he said, shrugging it off.
"I don't know…I'm not sure I could ever grow used to being able to light a fire with a flick of the wrist or…" she paused and thought about what she was trying to say. "Or…well…what else can you do?"
She was very intrigued by this whole thing.
"Just about anything," he said. "I can heal, I can conjure anything you can think of, I can turn straw into gold, one of my favorites."
Belle cocked her head at him, looking at him with wonder. "Straw into gold? Why straw?" she asked. If he could turn something into gold, why not anything?
He shrugged. "It has a good consistency," he said. "And you don't run out."
Belle giggled, "That's true." She glanced over at the couch again. "Did you not want to sit down?"
He cleared his throat nervously and finally sat down as she suggested. He was not accustomed to this. "So what now?"
Belle walked over and sat next to him, but left a bit of space in between them. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable, well more so than he already was. "Well…you wanted to talk, what do you want to talk about?"
He shrugged. "Honestly I don't know," he said. "I'm not much of a talker."
"Oh," Belle replied and began to bite her bottom lip as she tried to think of something to talk about. "Ok…well why don't you tell me more about yourself?"
"Ah there's not much to tell," he said. "I'd like it if we talked about you."
She blushed again. "Oh I'm sure that's not true…" She thought for a minute more, trying to come up with a compromise. "How about this…I tell you something about myself and then you tell me something about you?"
"Sounds like a fair trade," he said. "You first."
"Alright, we'll start with something easy. My favorite color is blue," she told him.
He chuckled. "Ahhh, well my favorite colors are red and purple."
Belle nodded. "Yes those colors suit you and they look very good on you as well," she said, complementing his red cloak.
He smiled and looked at his cloak. "You think so?" he asked. "Because blue suits you as well."
Belle blushed yet again. That day she was wearing a white blouse and pink skirt, but she had been wearing blue on the day at the post office. "Thank you," she replied softly.
He nodded. "Then its your turn again."
"Yes…" Hmm what else could she tell him? He already knew she liked to read. "My favorite books are by Jules Vern."
He half smiled. "I'm partial to Victor Hugo myself, " he said.
"Oh I do like his books as well…particularly the Hunchback of Notre Dame…" The dreamiest look crossed Belle's face as she thought about books.
"I like Les Miserables," he said. "I guess I like the suffering, I don't know…"
He liked the suffering? She had a feeling this stemmed deeper than just a like for the book. "Les Miserables is a good book. I haven't read it in a long time though…"
"Well maybe I'll let you borrow a copy," he offered.
"I would like that," Belle replied. What she really would like though would be to have a chance to go through his library, but she wasn't going to be rude and ask. He had offered though… She took a deep breath and dared to ask, "So does this mean you plan to see me again?"
He looked at her and he stopped. "….I… I guess so…" he said. He would like to see her again if he could. "After all, you said you were trying to convince me to go to the Christmas party. And I am no where near agreeing to go."
Belle giggled. Slipping her heels off, she tucked her feet up under her, making herself more comfortable. "I do still have some work to do on that. As you may have noticed I'm still building my argument." She pointed to the stack of books he carried home for her.
He looked over at the books. "What are they anyway?"
"Just books on the history of Christmas," she explained.
"Why would I need to know this history of Christmas?" he asked, skeptical.
"Oh…um…I don't know…" In all honesty, she had no idea how to go about convincing him, but she didn't want to admit that. "I just thought I could find something helpful in one of them…"
He shook his head. "Ridiculous," he scoffed.
Belle furrowed her brow at him. "Ridiculous?" she repeated with a hint of agitation. Perhaps he did think her weird for her love of books. "I always turn to my books when a problem needs solving." She held her head high, proud of her choice.
"Yes but why should you turn to history to convince me?"
Belle bit her lip nervously, debating whether to tell him the truth or not. She averted her eyes down to her lap and twiddled with her skirt.
"Because I honestly don't know how to convince you…I thought it was a good starting point," she admitted in a very soft voice.
He looked at her. He wanted to laugh, he really did, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. "Well I guess you'll have to keep working at that then," he said. It wasn't to tease her, or to mock her.
He wanted her to continue? Was he joking? It didn't appear that way… She smiled just a little. "I will…" She then looked at him sternly, but playfully. "However you can't question my methods-at least before I have a chance to argue my point."
He rolled his eyes a bit but he smiled. "Fine," he said. "I promise I won't."
"Good," Belle replied as she settled back against the couch. She continued to twirl her skirt in her hands and she briefly looked up at him through her lashes with a smile. "You know you could just save me all the trouble and just agree to go…"
"Now why would I do that?" he smirked. "It's more fun this way."
"To make it easier for me of course…" She narrowed her eyes at him. "You must like watching me struggle and beg…"
"It has a certain appeal," he said with a sneer.
Belle looked at him defiantly. "Well, when you finally change your mind, I suppose it will all be worth it."
"Good luck trying," he said, rolling his eyes.
"Well…perhaps you could just tell me what I could do to change your mind?" she asked.
"Because I honestly don't know what you can do to change my mind," he said with a smile.
Belle nodded, not certain if she believed him or not. He seemed to be toying with her. There was something, she knew it, she just had to figure out what. "Very well…I'll keep working…in the meantime, I believe it is my turn."
He nodded. "Go ahead. What else are we talking about?"
Belle took a deep breath and thought of something else she could tell him so that they could get to know each other. "Hmm…well I've always wanted to travel…to see the world…" She began to get another dreamy look on her face. "There's so many places in my books I've always wanted to visit…France…Italy…London…China…"
He smiled softly. "An adventurer, eh?" he said. "I've never really been one for travel, I like my home."
Belle nodded, not surprised. He didn't like to be seen by anyone, why would he care to go places?
She smiled weakly. "It doesn't matter I guess…I doubt I'll ever make it outside Storybrooke's town line. I can dream though…"
He looked at her. "Why do you think that?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
She glanced around her home, in a manner to get him to open his eyes. "It's fairly obvious that we don't have any money…we barely make the bills each month, living check to check. And even if you don't care to travel, you should know it takes money-a good bit of it. But money aside…" She sighed and glanced down at her lap. "I couldn't leave my father either. Ever since mother died he has not been the same. He acts like everything is fine, but at times I can see it in his eyes or hear it in his voice…" She could feel some tears threatening to form thinking about her mom, but she managed to hold them back.
He watched her as she spoke. She had lost her mom… Before he knew what he was doing, he took her hands in his. "…I'm sorry," he said softly. "Even with my magic, I can't bring back the dead…."
Belle was slightly startled by his action, but she did not pull away. Looking up into his eyes, she forced herself to smile at his kind gesture. "Oh no…I didn't mean to make you think I was asking for something like that. I may not know much about magic, but I've never read about the dead being brought back to life."
"But I am sorry," he said and hesitated, thinking about what happened with his father many years ago, something he usually refused to do. Under no circumstances did he want to bring that up though. "I ah… I don't actually have any parents or anything so I don't know how it feels to lose them, but I'm still sorry."
Belle looked at him curiously. "You don't remember either of your parents?" she asked softly.
"I didn't have any in the first place," he said. "I don't have anyone."
Belle was so confused. "But you had to come from somewhere…everyone has parents…"
She understood that he didn't have anyone now, but she didn't understand what he meant about never having parents.
He shook his head. "No, I was made with magic," he lied in a manner where it was almost impossible to tell. It was easy to do so when he truly believed it himself. "An element of darkness. I wasn't born."
Belle's mouth fell open in shock. "Oh…" She understood now and she felt horrible for him. She looked at him sadly. "I'm so sorry…" To never have parents or a family…he had to be lonelier than she thought.
He shook his head. "Honestly I think it's better," he said. "So I don't have to be held back by someone."
"Is that why you like being alone?" she asked not even realizing she might be stepping over the line. She just found she wanted to know so much more about the Dark One. He intrigued her so much. "Why you don't want anyone to see you or make any friends?"
He cleared his throat as he became very uncomfortable. The past was not something he liked to remember and definitely not discuss. "….I think that's enough questions for now…"
"Oh…" Belle was disappointed and realizing they were still holding hands, she slowly pulled away.
Belle didn't want to give up on him now though, and she opened her mouth to say something else. However, she was interrupted by the sound of the lock clicking at the front door.
"Belle?" Called a manly voice, confused.
Belle gasped, "My father!"
Rumplestiltskin's eyes widened and he glanced behind him. "I'll see you another day," Rumple whispered before he suddenly disappeared from the room.
Belle's eyes widened as she watched him disappear right before her eyes. It was shocking to see something like that and she just stared blankly at the spot the Dark One had just been sitting as her father stepped into the room.