Jefferson awoke the next morning to find what looked like the entire Kingdom blanketed in glistening white snow. A rather large grin on his face made he seem more boy than man as he gazed out the large window, He was overjoyed at the prospect of Belle being stuck here for sometime. When it snowed at this altitude, sometimes it took months for it to dissipate.
Rumpelstiltskin was, on the other hand not as giddy about the white stuff. He sat staring out the window of his tower, peering out over the land, his face unreadable. Snowy days like this reminded him of Bae. his son loved the snow, the cold, anything that had to do with winter Bae loved. Frost built up on the colored pains of glass as Rumpel drew a line through the icy build-up on the glass with his finger, remembering the days with his son with fondness. They were the only thing that kept him from slipping over the precipice of sanity into something dark and bottomless.
He sat there gazing out over the vast land for a while before heading back to his cot. He didn't much feel like anything today, except drawing. He sat on his makeshift bed and using only his long unkept nails, he dug out a likeness of his son on the wall. Curls of softened rock lay scattered around his legs as he sketched out the likeness before stopping and staring at it for a while, running the smooth part of his fingers over it as if in a way he could touch his true son.
His ears began to ring in his head, he felt tired, worn out, even though it seldom happened when it did it positively drained the Dark One. Perhaps it was his power recharging or maybe he was just weary in his soul, that's even if he still had one he thought as he abandoned his art for stretching out on his little bed. He closed his eyes for a while and since it was still early and frost still hung to the windows before the sun melting it away Rum got comfortable and slept a while.
The next time his eyes opened, the sun was high . Rumpel turned over on his side, facing the wall. His eyes roamed what was in his sight, his handy work. A sigh escaped the Dark One's lips as his mind tensed up at the thought of Bae and where he might be, all alone without his papa, without anyone, left to his own devices in a world that was not his own. Jefferson had tried to get him to this land, but to no avail. This land was without magic and all of Jefferson's realm of territory was magical lands, which kind of rendered him useless for the most part, but he just ended up staying on one day and never left and so eventually Rumpel just got used to having him around.
His sinewy hand reached out to a bare spot on the wall. It was directly across from his vision, but there it was, a blank canvas right in front of him, so he began with a few scratches, but as he continued it was not the profile of a boy or the start of an eye or mouth to signify a larger portrait, but a dress.
Belle stretched out in her warm bed. When she sat up and saw the white that blanketed the ground a frown spread on her features, now what would she do? Probably freeze to death out there in the cruel elements. Rumpel had more or less had said she could stay, and she had to admit that she desired to stay, perhaps she should get on with being useful, let them see what she could accomplish.
She entered the main dinning hall to find Jefferson still staring out the window, "Beautiful, isn't it?" Jefferson turned to her suddenly as if she had startled him. "Very" he answered her before smiling and walking over. "I was thinking about fixing gravy this morning." Jefferson's ears perked up at the sound of Belle's cooking. "Maybe if you'd like I could show you a few things before we get started. Belle's eyes lite up with curiosity, "Of course Jefferson, oh is it your hats? I've been anxious to see them."
Jefferson took by the hand and led her to a room filled with every kind of sewing Belle coud possibly imagine. Hats of every sort lay everywhere. Belle ran her hand over a few made of a velvet. "These are lovely Jefferson." He puffed up with pride. "Pick one" Belle gasped, "really? Oh I couldn't possibly, they are too, exquisite, really." Jefferson glanced around before choosing a small blue one, the same color as the dress she had acquired from Rumpelstiltskin. "This one was obviously made for you Belle, go ahead try it on and see if you like it." Belle took the offered hat, examining it before sitting it on top of her head, "Do you have a mirror so I can see?" Jefferson frowned, "Rumpel doesn't allow them in the castle." Belle looked puzzled, "Why ever not?" He shrugged his shoulders, "Thinks they are full of magic, the Evil Queen uses them for her dark spells." Belle tried to understand, "So there is no looking-glass anywhere in the castle? Anywhere?" Jefferson shook his head, " Sorry, but take my word dear, you look lovely." Belle ducked her head to hide her blush. The sight of her innocent blush was almost too much for the enamored Hatter as he drew closer to her.
Belle could feel the hitch in her breathing as he stared at her with impossible Blue eyes full of hope, she didn't pull away when he dipped his head down and placed a soft tender kiss on Belle's lips. Her face felt flushed as she drew back from him. She didn't know what to feel, she had never been kissed before, it felt nice, but she didn't want to give Jefferson the wrong idea, she was not here to have some kind of liaison, she just got done running from an attachment, she was in no hurry to attach herself to a man, or in this case some man attaching himself to her. "Jefferson...I.."
Jefferson smiled, "Let's go have that breakfast, shall we? I'm famished." Belle almost breathed a sigh of relief as he offered her his arm like a gentleman , leading her down the corridor on their way to the kitchens..
High above Belle and the hatter was a very disgruntled Rumpelstiltskin, crouched on a rafter looking down on them. His thoughts ranged from indifference to thoughts of strangling the Hatter, back to pretending he didn't care one bit. Why should he? He had only just met the girl, why would she have such an impact on him, he needed no one, especially not this slip of a runaway Princess who obviously had something going on with Jefferson and would never be caught dead with someone as hideous as the likes of him, who was he kidding, he didn't care what either of them did, it was only the fact that it had been ages since he had even layed eyes on a woman, and centuries since one was as fearless to touch him on the shoulder, it was curiosity and nothing more. Rumpel gave a "HUMPH" of feigned indifference before going back to his potions. A puff of purple smoke was the only evidence that the sorcerer had been out of his tower at all.
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'Why am I so nervous, calm yourself Belle' Taking the stairs up to the top of the tower slowly Belle carried her tray for the Dark One, 'he had to eat, didn't he?
Again she tapped on the door, to find no one answering it. Would he ever answer or did he enjoy sneaking up on her. Belle, quietly as she could placed the clinking tray down before looking around for Rumpel. She called out in a sing-song voice, but received no answer.
Her eyes were drawn back to the photos of the boy as she walked the few feet from where she stood to the room Rumpel occupied. Belle walked in and took a long look at the many sketches all over the walls of the room. Each one different. Belle reached out and ran her finger over one, feeling the texture beneath it. "Who are you?" Belle whispered to the drawing of the boy. "Never you mind dearie." Belle gasped when he forced her around roughly by the shoulder, holding her against the wall with his fingers around her throat. His face was only inches from hers. She didn't have the strength to meet those haunting, fierce eyes of his, boring into her, Belle closed her eyes fighting with her self to remain calm.
"Your snooping again, conduct unbecoming to a Princess you know," He smiled when he felt Belle swallow hard. "I was bringing you breakfast, as our promise. Rumpel enjoyed the hold he had on her more than he thought, his found his body flush against hers, "I remember no promise of you climbing the stairs to my to my tower every time you had a whim dearie" he growled at her, Belle's breathing became labored as she tried to melt into the wall behind her, Rumpel enjoyed making people squirm, he briefly thought about what else he would like to do to make Belle squirm in particular. "Please, remove your hand, I mean you no harm." Rumpel snorted, "You think I thought you would harm me?" He shook his head at her, his long wavey unkept hair brushing against her face lightly as he gave a soft chuckle, releasing her. Belle's hand soothed her neck as he stepped back, staring at her intensely.
It was the first time he had touched her and it almost burned with intensity. Her skin tingled where his fingers had lightly gripped her. He spoke forcefully to her with a clenched jaw, "I don't want to find you up here again little Princess or I may not be responsible for what happens, am I making myself clear?"
Belle nodded without saying a word, she turned to leave but Rumpel stopped her with a hand around her arm, "He's my son. there that should satisfy your undying curiosity." Belle nodded once more not daring a chance of glancing up and seeing his face distorted in anger, but he raised more questions with the one he tried to answer Belle thought as she closed the door, leaving Rumpelstiltskin behind.