IV

***Hellfire! Anything but Pink, Dearie!***

"What do you think of this one?"

Rumpelstiltskin's head popped up in alarm, realizing just how close he'd been to nuzzling his little maid's neck. He should never have agreed to allow her to move from her seat across from him in the carriage. Her close proximity was doing things to him which weren't appropriate … at the moment. He barely refrained from banging his head on the window. The things he had in mind would never be appropriate, and it was time for him to stop deluding himself.

He looked at the fashion plates she had scattered on the lap blanket spread over their legs, and made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat. Her thigh pressed so tightly to his, burning through the leather of his trousers, was more than a little distracting. "I don't like the line of the skirt."

She looked at it a moment longer before discarding it for another. "This one?"

"The décolletage is all wrong. I won't have half the males of the kingdom ogling your bosom every time you curtsy," he grumbled.

Belle blushed prettily and cast him a coy smile. "As long as they don't touch, you shouldn't mind if they admire what belongs to you," she murmured softly.

He growled low in his throat, shifting in discomfort. Her softly uttered approval of his possession going straight to his groin. To distract her from the tension building steadily between them, he picked up one of the plates with a neckline which would draw attention to her ivory shoulders rather than her breasts. "I like this bodice."

She wrinkled her nose. "My neck isn't long enough for that bodice. I'll look frumpy," she argued.

"There is nothing wrong with your neck, dearie," he hissed passionately, searing her with the heat in his eyes. He fit his hand around the ivory column of her throat, his thumb caressing the smooth line of her jaw. "See how perfectly the width of my hand fits between your jaw and collarbone without forcing your chin up?" She nodded, her breath fanning over his lips in a delightful huff as he pulled her in closer. "It's … beautiful. Perfectly formed to lure in the man of your choosing, Belle. Never think you're less than you are."

"Is this the … um, bodice you'd really like?" she stammered as he released her and sat back against the seat. She wondered if he was as affected as she by his intimate touch. Knowing him, he'd probably poof out of the carriage if she tossed the carriage blanket aside and climbed onto his lap as was her want.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and asked himself what the hell he thought to accomplish by playing with his little dearie. "It will be lovely. Now choose a skirt so we know what I will need to purchase from Mrs Reddington."

"Beg pardon?"

His gaze swung back to meet hers. "Fabric, ribbons, lace … what I will need to make your dress."

Belle gaped at him as the carriage stopped in the square and he bounded down to help her alight. His hands lingered at her waist a moment longer than necessary before he offered his arm. She tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and followed his lead. "You're making my gown? I thought you would have it made … or more likely just …" she waved her hand about in a perfect imitation of one of his many flourishing gestures. "Conjure it."

"Not going to trust … shoddy stitches … inferior workmanship …" were just some of the things she was able to catch as he mumbled under his breath.

She pulled him to a stop on the snow-covered walkway, tilting her head to the side as she smiled tentatively. "You sew as well as spin? Then why do you make me repair the embroidery stitches on your cuffs when they fray?"

"In another lifetime I did. No reason why I can't make your ball gown myself," he admitted sheepishly. "And I make you attend my clothes because it is your job, dearie," he snarked with an imperious toss of his head. To cover his awkwardness, he adjusted the collar of her cloak. "Now let us go inside before you catch your death."

Belle refused to budge, however. Instead she took a step closer to him and fiddled with the trailing ends of his lacy scarf. "If I didn't know better, master … I'd think you were attempting to court me."

The Dark One's mouth fell open and the golden tint of his cheeks darkened. "What?! Um … I … "

She turned on her heel and pushed open the door to the dressmaker's establishment, calling over her shoulder, "Just so you know, I would more than welcome your suit."

Snow collected in his hair, and he garnered more than one curious stare before he finally snapped out of his disbelieving stupor to follow her inside. Mrs Reddington already had Belle well in hand, browsing through the various bolts of cloth at the back of the shop. It gave him added time to bring his heart back under his own control. He now knew what it felt like to be on the wrong end of crushing a heart.

Whatever could be wrong with that girl? Is she addled? Or perhaps she just has an affinity for beasts, the demon whispered in his ear. He promptly ignored it. Nothing was permitted to dispel the first stirrings of happiness in his chest. His Belle wasn't opposed to his attentions. How delightful! Now if he could manage a little wooing without fucking it up.

Rumpelstiltskin paced through the rows of fabric, nothing seeming to catch his eye.

"Master!" she called loudly. "What of this one?"

He rounded the aisle and glowered at the bolt of pale pink satin in her arms. "Not pink!"

"But it's lovely, don't you think?" she asked hopefully.

Ignoring the dressmaker who was glaring daggers at him as if daring him to disapprove, he shook his head. "It's ghastly, Belle. And will probably be worn by every other simpering tart in the kingdom." He lifted the bolt from her arms and tossed it carelessly back on the shelf before steering her away. "You are a rare diamond amidst the coal. You deserve a gown which will enhance your beauty."

"I think she would look incredibly beautiful in pink," the dressmaker remarked boldly.

Rumpelstiltskin turned to glare at her through narrowed eyes. "I think you'd do well to mind your business, dearie," he fairly snarled.

"Master, she's just trying to help," Belle whispered.

"She's trying to sell gaudy pink fabric which no one else is willing to buy, is what she's doing," he returned.

Mrs Reddington made a 'humphing' sound and marched back to the front of the shop. Belle pursed her lips in displeasure. "Would it hurt you to be nice once in a while?"

"Yes!" he snapped. He moved off to inspect several bolts in various shades of blue, a triumphant giggle bursting forth from his thin lips as he found the perfect shade to match her eyes. It was striped in two shades, cerulean and robin's egg blue. The first to match when she was in high dudgeon and the second to remind him of when she was happy. "Oh, yes … this is perfect."

"It's blue. I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb."

His face fell. "You don't like it?"

"I love it … I just don't think it's appropriate for the queen's ball, master," she protested, hoping she hadn't hurt his feelings. He was trying so hard, and it had been so long since they'd gotten on so well. She didn't want to ruin the moment.

"Please stop calling me that," he demanded, drawing her up short. "I released you from our deal long ago, Belle, and even when you were bound to me, I never insisted you call me that."

"I know, Rumpel," she demurred, her lips curving into a seductive smile. "But I like to watch your mouth soften when I use that title." Her smile widened as she watched his pupils blow wide. She turned to peruse the fabric clutched tightly in his hands. "Are you sure about this fabric? We could always get the pink."

He nearly swallowed his tongue, thankful for her abrupt subject change. "We're getting the blue. NO PINK!"

The sorcerer dragged her through the aisles, choosing lace, ribbon and notions he'd need for her gown, needing to be quit of the place and once again back out into the frigid temperatures. Anything to help him gain control over his traitorous libido. Gods, she was going to be the death of him!

A/N: So apparently Rumpel has an aversion to pink :D And dear Belle is leading him on a merry chase. Did you like it? I'd love to know what you think. Next time we'll see interruptions and an unwanted visitor. Thanks so much for reading!