Chapter 3

Rumplestiltskin stood beside his Cadillac waiting for Lacey to come down. He had texted her that he'd arrived. Less than a minute later the door clicked open.

He smiled. Who was eager now?

When he saw that she was wearing the outfit he sent, his smile broadened. Black sparkling dress, short, but only just above the knees, heels high, but not too high, and… His breath hitched. Belle's necklace.

He had planned to surprise her, a special Christmas gift. In one of those strange coincidences, it only showed up in his shop after the curse was broken. Belle had cried when she opened the box and saw what it contained, still sniffing as he put it around her neck. Placed a kiss where the chain met flesh, tears in his eyes too and…

"Well?" Lacey's voice rudely interrupted his reverie. Her arms were spread wide, "I'm wearing it."

Rumplestiltskin composed himself. She hadn't even noticed. "And you look lovely," he kissed her cheek, opened the door for her, drove to the one restaurant in town that came close to his tastes.

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"I'll admit it. You were right about the wine," Lacey commented as she looked up with him, searching.

After dinner Rumplestiltskin had taken her to the only spot in Storybrooke that afforded a view of the sky without light pollution.

"A pity the restaurant didn't have a better vintage," Rumplestiltskin remarked, squinting. "Sorry, dearie. I can take you away from the light, but I cannot control the clouds."

"Can't you?" Her mouth opened wide in a silly grin, her eyes dancing. Trying to tease him.

He didn't answer. Instead he reached, and pulled a hair pin.

"What the …" Lacey backed away. " What are you doing to my hair?" He only reached for another. "I'll have you know it took more than an hour to fix it like this!" she protested.

"Like that," he corrected. "Past tense." His smile almost lit up his eyes, "I like it down." He pulled another pin. "An hour, just for your hair." He wound a curl around his finger, "For me?"

She glowered. "I thought we'd already covered this." Her accent thickened as she held out her syllable. "You know I'm interested, all riiiight?" Her head set, defiantly.

Rumplestiltskin chuckled, "All right, dearie." He fluffed out her hair.

"All right," she whispered.

He kissed her for quite a while. Slow, chaste . . . closed, but she sighed and held him closer with each kiss. He did too. Belle could always wrap him around her little finger, from the very beginning. It felt good to have her back in his arms, Lacey or not. But then if he kept this up, she would take control. He stopped, but her eyes stayed closed and she leaned forward with another sigh, and rested her forehead beneath his chin. Uncomfortable for him, awkward, but he didn't move. Caught his breath.

"Now dearie," Rumplestiltskin spoke in her ear, "isn't that better than acting like an animal in the alley?"

Lacey was too relaxed to rise to the bait, disappointing him. Just nodded, and lifted her lips to his for more, then tucked her head fully on his shoulder, swaying a little.

They were by the well and he had just promised to not kill Regina, and she smiled at him, her hands in his hair as she leaned into him…

"I'm a little dizzy," Lacey's voice breathed into his neck.

"Good," He buried his hands in her curls and moved with her.

"Is this how it was with Belle?" she murmured.

Rumplestiltskin paused only a moment, "Yes." He lifted her chin and kissed her once more, "Yes."

He felt her smile, "And only this?" she asked.

That made him stiffen. She stood fully stretching as though she'd just had a good night's sleep. Then fixed her eyes on him. "Well?" she demanded.

"I think you know the answer," he replied.

She gave a feline smile, "Because I'm Belle."

"You're catching on," Rumplestiltskin observed. He was regaining the upper hand.

She shook her head, "But I say Belle is Lacey."

"Then what does Lacey think?"

She considered, "I think…" She paused. Frowning.

"What?" Rumplestiltskin's hands were on her shoulders, eager again. Damn.

"I think, she would…she would like to sit next to you, but not on a chair. She'd sit on the table."

Now he straightened like a slap, "Why did you say that?"

Lacey frowned, "I ...just," she shook her head, "I just thought that."

Rumplestiltskin touched her chin and peered into her face, looking. But not finding. Stumbled.

Lacey reached out to help, "I'm sorry. We've been standing quite a while." She moved to the Cadillac. He retrieved the cane he had let fall to the ground and opened the door for her.

Within minutes they were again at the library door. The drive helped to compose him. A little.

"Come upstairs for a night-cap?" Lacey's eyes were a little wide, trying to be seductive but instead vulnerable.

Gods he almost said yes.

"Do you have anything worth drinking?" he asked instead.

She smirked, "No."

"Goodnight Lacey."

She leaned forward waiting for the kiss. He did not give it. Good. It ended as he wished.

Once home though Rumplestiltskin poured himself a Talisker.

A double.