There isn't much activity in this one but it is interesting. Especially at the end. Ah ah! Don't look!

Song is this chapter is House Carpenter sung by Nickel Creek.

Chapter 7:

"Any questions, Dearie?"

Rumpelstiltskin had just given her instructions for all the cleaning.

Rapunzel couldn't help but have her mouth drop open. He really meant her cleaning the entire place.

"What if I get lost?" She knew it was a possibility.

"I have a remedy for that." Rumpelstiltskin said before pulling something from his pants pocket. He revealed an Opal necklace. The most beautiful necklace Rapunzel had ever laid eyes on.

Her breath caught in her throat and she stared at him in question.

"Take this and wear it. Wherever you are, if you're lost. I can find you by it." Rumpelstiltskin handed it to her.

Rapunzel took it gingerly and tried putting it on though she failed. She tried again but couldn't. She sheepishly looked at Rumpelstiltskin out of the corner of her eye. Secretly wishing he would help her.

She cleared her throat slightly as she noticed him staring at her with a strange expression.

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head slightly as if to rid himself of something. He then noticed her trying to put on the necklace.

"Ah, Dearie, any help?" his voice sounded a little strange.

"Please?" Rapunzel asked, not expecting him to follow through. Before she knew it she felt Rumpelstiltskin shift her braid away from her back. He took the chain from her hands and hooked it slowly and gently around her neck.

"There," he removed his hands quickly as if he had burned himself.

An almost loud silence followed his actions.

"Thank you, sir," Rapunzel smiled, not knowing what else to say. She had to do something to break the silence.

Rumpelstiltskin nodded before walking away, leaving the girl to clean.

Rapunzel crinkled her nose, not knowing where she should begin first. Everything had an inch of dust on it. She decided to just start at where she was and work her way around to each room.

Thus began scrubbing the floor, dusting, polishing, and more scrubbing.

Once she was in the parlor she was working so hard she hadn't heard the footsteps from behind her.

Rapunzel picked up the vase and started rubbing it with the dust cloth and began singing a little tune.

"Well met, well met, said an old true love.

Well met, well met, said he.

I have just returned from the salt, salt sea.

And it's all for the love of thee.

Come in, come in, my own true love,

And have a seat by me.

It's been three-fourths of a long, long year,

Since together, we have been." Rapunzel sang in a clear sweet voice.

"How is the cleaning going?"

Rapunzel jumped in surprise juggling the vase in her hands before she dropped it.

Rumpelstiltskin grabbed it quickly and sat it in its formal position. "You should be more careful, Dearie."

"You frightened me," Rapunzel started cleaning another object.

"My apologizes, go ahead and continue your song, please. It's quite interesting." Rumpelstiltskin said.

Rapunzel didn't know what to think having to sing in front of somebody besides Mother Gothel. She didn't really know if she could even sing well.

"I can't come in and I can't sit down,

For I've only a moment's time.

They say you're married to a house carpenter,

And your heart will never be mine.

I could have married a King's daughter, fair,

And she would have married me,

But I have forsaken her crowns of gold,

And it's all for the love of thee.

Now you forsake your house carpenter,

And go along with me.

I'll take you where the grass grows green.

On the banks of the deep blue sea.

Then she picked up a darlin' little babe,

And kisses, she gave it three.

Saying "Stay right here, my darlin' little baby.

And keep your papa company.

They had not been on the ship two weeks,

I'm sure it was not three,

Till his true love began to weep and to mourn.

And she wept most bitterly.

Sayin': "Are you weepin' for my silver and my gold."

Sayin': "Are you weepin' for my store?

"Or are you weepin' for your house carpenter,

"Whose face you'll see no more?"

"A curse, a curse to the sailer," she cried.

"A curse, a curse," she swore.

"You robbed me of my darlin' little babe,

"That I shall never see no more."

They had not been on the ship three weeks,

I'm sure it was not four,

When came a leak in the bottom of the ship,

And sank them for to rise no more.

"Well met, well met, said an old true love.

"Well met, well met, said he.

"I have just returned from the salt, salt sea.

"And it's all for the love of thee." The song was then over and she looked up at him to see his face.

Rumpelstiltskin looked like he was in deep though before he looked at her. "That is quite a sad song. Why that one?"

"I don't know any happy songs," Rapunzel was being truthful on this.

"What a shame, I was thinking of asking you to sing something more uplifting." Rumpelstiltskin tssked.

Rapunzel's lips twitched slightly. "I am sorry for that."

"Very well, I will let you get back to cleaning," Rumpelstiltskin looked around approvingly before going out of the room.

~R~

She refused to stop until all the cleaning was done. She scrubbed so hard her fingers began to bleed. Her back ached horribly from being bent.

She had almost done the entire lower floor. Only she was lost again.

She couldn't pick her way through the many halls. She was lost deep inside the mansion.

Rapunzel gripped the necklace as if it would help her find her way.

"Rumpelstiltskin," she whispered into the air.

"Lost are we?" Rumpelstiltskin appeared in minutes.

Rapunzel turned a rather unattractive shade of red. "I'm sorry. I have no sense of location."

Rumpelstiltskin chuckled and then frowned when he saw her bloodied torn hands. "I think that is enough cleaning for one day." He took her hands in his.

She wasn't prepared for his next action.

Rumpelstiltskin tenderly pressed his lips to her hands in a chaste kiss. It sent tingles through Rapunzel and she fought a shiver. It wasn't a disgusted shiver. It was one of delight.

Rapunzel's eyes fluttered shut at the feeling.

She was surprised by her reaction and her blush deepened. She didn't remove her hands.

He let her hands go then, slowly. Her hands were healed

Rapunzel stared at her perfect hands. His kiss had healed them?

What do you think the almost if you can call it that, tender moment?

Ideas welcome for moments similar to this. :p

Review if you want an update!