Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Once Upon A Time Characters.

Thank you RoseRed for you reviews! :) They have been such an encouragement for me to keep on writing. Belle is unaware that Rumple is in a tower in the castle. Thank you for asking. I will try to be more clear this time. Love you guys!

Gamble of Will

It was a very dreary evening. Belle had just written another letter, although, it was getting a bit repetitive. It seemed, no matter how hard she tried, he kept trying to push her away. She was going to be ten in a couple of weeks, and she was disappointed that Rumple wouldn't be their. Her father demanded a birthday ball so that all the young men could come and see her. The earliest she could wed was fifteen, the latest was twenty. Apparently, Gaston was supposed to be her first choice since he was the strongest, most well known hunter in the land. She knew him for his stupidity more then anything else.

The dove flies back in. It had been coming faster recently, which was something she couldn't explain. At most, it took it a half hour to arrive. This time, it had taken fifteen minutes. She was currently secluded to her room since she had failed her last sewing test so they had been writing all day. In some ways, she was glad her father was so harsh. I mean, if he hadn't secluded her to her room today, then she wouldn't have had time to write Rumple.

Dearie, you can't answer the rainbow. That is made up of many colors. I demand that you pick one color and it can't be black, gold, or blue because those are my favorite colors. The limit is three.

She sighs. Her name wasn't dearie, as she had told him many times before and she couldn't chose just three colors. She was starting to regret the ten questions game, as he was making it very difficult.

Rumpelstiltskin, if I must choose three colors then they would be purple, gold, and silver. And yes, I do like gold because my mother used to wear that color all the time. Be content with that because I am not changing my answer again. And, why blue? I mean, I never would have guessed that that was one of your favorite colors. It is a very nice color though, like the sky.

&/&

The bird arrives at his window with this look of defeat. It had already made twenty trips back and forth today. He wondered why he was even wasting his time discussing colors with her. She was quite the enthusiast though, choosing several at a time. The fact that she was writing so often today, meant she was grounded. That didn't bother him, for he had demanded to know of her whereabouts. She was good about telling him about everything, even to the smallest detail of what she had for lunch. She did make it clear though, that she wasn't an object to be watched, and if he started behaving like Gaston, she would never speak to him again. Her independent nature clashed with his at times, but they got along.

Dearie, that is a much clearer answer, although I specified that you couldn't use gold. If you insist on it though, perhaps I will allow it this one time. The reason I like blue is because your eyes are that color. It may be reaching a year since I saw you last, but your eyes are something I could never forget, dearie.

About the ball, if you don't want to dance with someone, don't. If they insist, then just dance terribly. If I was their, I would scare all of them away for you; bring you back to my castle, and give you what you truly deserve. Now, for the last question. Are you interested in any of the young men who may be at the ball?

He didn't know why that mattered. Perhaps it was just to ensure her safety. He brushes away the thought and sends it, right as the maid walks in.

"If you want I can just bring the desperate girl up here. It won't be long before she discovers you anyways. She has been mapping the secret passages in the castle since she found them. She has come nearly meters away from your door." He turns around sharply.

"Don't test my patience, dearie. Why would I want to see her? These letters are a mere distraction from my current position with the king. He makes me kill children like her on a yearly basis, and I fear he will make me do the same to her." He walks closer to her, and fear flashes in her eyes. "I am a troubled beast, dearie. I don't need magic to crush your skull." She quickly puts the plates down and leaves. Perhaps to warn Belle. Another letter pops through the window.

Okay Rumple, that is a really awkward question. But to put you at ease the answer is no. I am not interested in any of the princes or knights. Satisfied now? And I just happened to watch that bird fly away this time since I am bored to tears. And I would like to have you know, that you can't hide from me any longer. You should be ashamed for hiding from me like that. If you want me to be brave and adventurous, don't be a coward yourself. You are my best friend, and you can't use a tower to change that.

Belle.

The words sting like salt to a fresh wound. Again, he was a coward. He sits down, and spins. There would be no more letters today.

&/&

Three weeks. Three weeks of searching and she had finally found the door that led to Rumple's room. She loved the back pathways and halls. As long as she carried a torch, she could always see them. The problem was, he probably didn't want to see her. They hadn't written at all since she had gotten angry with him. However, today was her birthday, which might be an exception. She listens in the room and hears him spinning something. Surely her father hadn't trapped him to spin. They had plenty of maids that would do that. She creaks open the door and slowly comes in. She hears him stop as she stands their quietly, waiting for him to scold her.

"Rumple?" she whispers. He stands up quickly, nearly knocking down the wheel.

"Isabelle," he growls, turning to face her. She looks down, wringing her hands. Silence continues between them. "Why did you come back?" he chokes out.

"Because I missed you. You are my only friend," she whispers. She looks up at him, her eyes glossy with tears. It had been just over a year since they had seen each other. He brushes a lock of hair out of her face.

"Are you happy to see me?" she asks. He turns away, sitting down at his spinning wheel.

"I'm not unhappy," he replies. She giggles under her breath and walks up to him. She had lost the childishness she had had before.

"I will get you out Rumple. I promise," she says. He shakes his head.

"You will someday, but not soon. It will take time, dearie." She stares out the window as he continues to spin behind her.

"You have been watching me." He sits their, silently. "It must have been hard. Perhaps if I would have looked up instead of at my books, I would have seen you." With those words he gets up, and stands behind her.

"Ah, but then, you wouldn't have been able to find me. The books have given you the intellect to find such tunnels." She turns around and wraps her arms around his waist. He falls into her embrace. It had been a very long time. He wondered how she could love such a monster. Afterward, they are silent for a bit as she coils his gold into little balls and he spins it. "Belle, you need to leave soon. People are going to be looking for you." She frowns a bit, setting a coil to the side.

"Rumple, that is what I am trying to get away from. People are always looking for me." He sighs, stopping his work. She does to, and stands up to meet his gaze. He pulls a golden spun crown out of his drawer. It has rubies in the center, while the bottom is lined with diamonds. She gapes at its beauty. He sets it on her forehead, minding his sharp claws.

"Only for a princess, my dear."

"I..I don't know what to say. Its the most precious crown anyone has ever given me. It's beyond words. Thank you." She smiles and hugs him, laying her head on his chest. "I shall come again tomorrow, and tell you all about the ball."

"Perhaps one day, I shall join you dearie. It would be an honor to dance with princess such as you." She looks at him.

"It would be truly wonderful. And, it would be an honor for me to, you see. Because I would be dancing with the person who gave me the world." She leaves at that, and he stands their, dazed. He didn't know what to do with her. It was truly a gamble of wills. What was more important. Power, or her.