Starting Over

By RosexKnight

Belle has an unexpected meeting in the Storybrooke grocery store…

Chapter Three ~ Wine

All she could think about was how this wasn't how a girl was supposed to spend her Christmas Eve. The brunette found herself in the frozen food aisle unable to focus, realizing that she had forgotten the reason for being there. Ice cream maybe? She decided it was ice cream.

Her mind wandered back to The Enchanted Forest. What she'd be doing right now. It was cold. Show would be on the ground there as well. Probably reading next to the fire as he spun. They didn't have Christmas there, but they did have a winter holiday. A time to be with friends and family. Not that they had ever celebrated it. Still, it was nice to have the company. Now, in Storybrooke, with the spell newly broken she was with her family. With her father who she hadn't seen in years. Working at her own library. Going on dates with her former fiancé.

Though, even though she was surrounded by her rightful family, everyone scrambling to make heads or tails of this new world, sort out new memories with the old, she felt incredibly empty.

Her eyes swept over the many cartons of ice cream, and she willed her mind to think of the possibilities of a night at home, sneaking into her own room with ice cream to curl up with a good book and a corny Christmas special. She'd have to avoid her family entirely until the morning. And she would definitely not seek out the man she hadn't seen since that day. Not think about how she left. Not think about him. Nope. Just ice cream and books.

A hand appeared on her shoulder, and she went rigid. Her pulse immediately leapt, startled by the sudden contact from the supposedly-deserted grocery store. Had Gaston followed her? Come back to fetch her back home? She didn't have the energy for this…

"You're real." A voice breathed from behind her, the hand loosening its grip, as if suddenly realizing the touch may not be welcome.

Belle turned, coming face to face with a man wearing a black suit and tie. His expression seemed to be a mixture of shock, relief, guilt, and another emotion that she could only describe as love.

At first she didn't recognize him. After all it wasn't as if she'd seen him as a man before. Well, not her at least. But then there was something in his eyes, and she immediately made the connection.

"Rumpelstiltskin?"

Her voice was just as hoarse as his, and it wasn't a moment after he'd nodded that she moved, going to hug him. The contents of her purse dropped, spilling over the floor as Belle held him tightly, breathing a shaky yet joyous sigh, unable to help the tear that fell down her cheek.

"Oh Belle…" His voice held no restraints as his cane clattered to the floor to hold her with both hands.

She held him tight, trying to quell the tears that were already falling. The embrace was perfect. Safe. Something Belle hadn't felt in a while. But Rumpelstiltskin pulled away, his mind racing with too many questions. So many apologies. Things she needed to know.

"Hey. There will be time for that." His words were a promise as he brushed the wetness from her cheek. "What are you doing here on Christmas Eve?"

"Getting icecream." She said sheepishly. The answer didn't seem to please him, so she changed the subject before he could question any further. "You?"

"Wine." He relplied.

It dawned on Belle that they were in the same situation, and her heart gave a squeeze. "Well…" She said, bending down to pick up the contents of her purse and retrieve his cane. Oh…he had to use a cane in this world? "I uh…suppose we could shop together?"

A rare smile spread across The Dark One's face. "I'd like that."

As they shopped, the rest of the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them. She told him what had happened when she left, how she'd wound up at the dwarf tavern. How the Evil Queen had abducted her and made her work as a maid until she released her right before the curse fell. How Lacey worked in The Rabbit Hole and never took any paths that would lead to their meeting aside from brief glances. He told her of the pawn shop and bringing magic back to Storybrooke and his mission to find Balefire. By the time the items were finally totaled up and bagged they were lost in the dragging conversation.

"I suppose you want to be getting back to your father, Dearie." He said as they approached his Cadillac.

Snow was still falling, a little harder now. Belle hesitated, turning the way she'd go if she wanted to walk back to the flower shop. No. She so didn't want to go back. Not after what happened. Not after seeing him. She bit her lip. "Well…"

Her words were cut off by the passenger door opening for her. Rumpelstiltskin gave her an almost shy smile as she gracefully climbed into the car. It was as if he were able to read her mind. But she supposed he was also grateful for the company as well. He had always hated being lonely.

The ride was smooth, and Belle tried not to think too hard on what would happen if her dad found out she'd seen him. She only focused on the man sitting beside her, and the hand that was on hers.

"I'm sorry, Belle." He said, cutting through the silence as they neared his house. "For…what I said that day. For driving you away. I really am."

"I know." She said, and just like that, a weight was taken off his shoulders.

It wasn't long at all before the two of them were sitting by the fire as they sipped the wine he poured. His house reminded her of The Dark Castle. Large. Cluttered with knick-knacks and things he loved. Or rather wanted to. Yes. A pawn shop suited him nicely.

"So, why were you in a grocery store on Christmas Eve?"

Rumpelstiltskin gave her a look that indicated the ice cream answer would not suffice, and she sighed. "Let's just say…the family night didn't go quite as planned."

"I see…" He took a small sip of the liquid, trying hard not to stare at her, "He must have given you a rubbish gift."

"Gaston proposed."

Rumple coughed, nearly choking on his wine, and Belle had to stifle a laugh at seeing him so flustered. Like a simple schoolboy.

"I take it the Grocery Store was an escape."

"I didn't know where else to go. And it was open…" She paused. "After the curse broke…I wanted to find you."

"Why didn't you look?" He asked.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted me…"

"Oh Belle." He said, tone sprinkled in regret, "Of course I did. But Regina…I thought you were dead."

"Well…I suppose all that matters is that we're together. I love you."

The words had tumbled out, and she gave him a look that the spinner could have sworn held a hint of fear. It cut him, but it didn't stop the warmth that swelled in his chest and he took her into his arms, kissing her hair. "And I love you too."

Relief ran through her, and she snuggled closer to him. "I'm not supposed to see you." She admitted carefully. "My father he…Well he wouldn't be happy knowing I ran away here."

Rumpelstiltskin gave a chuckle. "As if a flourist and his attack dog could keep me away from you."

"Rumple."

"I wouldn't hurt him." He scoffed, "Just the thought of it."

"Rumple." Belle rolled her eyes, "He thinks I'm at Ruby's. I think it's best if I get her to cover for me."

"If you must." With the wave of his hand his cellphone appeared, and Belle bit her lip as she dialed the number Ruby had made her memorize.

Not surprisingly, her voice mail answered "Ruby. It's Belle. Look, my father thinks I came to your house tonight. I'll explain but could you cover for me? Tell him and Gaston I don't wanna see them? I'll be over tomorrow afternoon. Thanks. Merry Christmas."

She hung up, leaning back against the loveseat. A silence stretched between them.

"Gaston must not be happy about the rejection." Rumple said, a small grin on his lips, trying to lighten the mood.

"I told you I couldn't give my heart to someone like him." Something caught her eye then. On the mantle, front and center, was a very familiar cup. Belle stood, taking the delicate porcelain in her hand, running her fingers over the chipped rim. "You…you kept it."

Rumple appeared by her side, tapping the cup. "Out of all the items in my possession, this is the only one I truly cherish."

"So…" Her voice trailed off, the words tumbling out before she realized what her lips were doing. "I um…I don't suppose you'll be needing a…caretaker?"

Rumple stiffened, giving her a confused look. "What?"

"Well it's just. I have the library but it's really only a part-time thing, and the flower shop is so suffocating so…Well I'm sure some of these trinkets of yours have dust, and your pawn shop needs sorting."

"I know where everything in my shop is."

"Yes but still there's the matter of the dust…" There wasn't, of course. Even in the light of the fire Belle knew that house was no doubt spotless. Still, it was Christmas, and she couldn't bear the thought of being away from him any longer. "I just…I'm tired of only seeing glances of you. I want us to be together, Rumple."

He pulled her into a tender kiss, and it wasn't until she tasted the salty-sweetness did Belle realize she was crying.

"I promise you, we will be."