Belle went back to her room and found a vase to put her rose in. She set it on the table next to the fireplace. She sighed and smiled to herself. 'Rum is finally warming up to me a bit.'
Belle wanted to go back to Rum's room and visit more, but she thought it best to go outside for a while. She didn't want her father getting suspicious after she told him she was going to spend the day reading in the gardens. She grabbed her book and left. Settling in one of her favorite spots under a large oak tree, she began reading.
After a few chapters her eyes wandered up to the castle. She realized for the first time she could see Rumplestiltskin's window from where she sat. She could have sworn he was standing at his window watching her, but if he was there, he disappeared quickly when he noticed she was looking that direction. She smiled to herself and went back to reading.
Belle ended up spending most of the day with her nose stuck in the book. She could never just stop in the middle of a story; she always had to finish it in one sitting. Every once in a blue moon she would glace back up toward Rum's window and see his silhouette. She didn't mind at all that he was watching her. It actually made butterflies form in her stomach.
Before she knew it the sun was going down and she was getting rather chilly. She realized she had read straight through dinner. She hoped her father wouldn't be mad. He knew how she was with books. She stood up and made her way back into the castle and went to the kitchen to find Mrs. Potts.
"Oh there you are dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Potts as Belle entered, "I almost wondered if you disappeared, missing dinner and all."
"I'm sorry. You know how I get when I read. I couldn't put it down."
Mrs. Potts giggled, "Yes I know dear. But, winters fast approaching. Pay more attention to the time, I wouldn't want you to catch your death."
"Yes, ma'am. I will next time."
"Would you like me to bring dinner up to your room?"
"Oh that would be wonderful!"
"I'll be up in a few minutes then."
"Ok, thank you!" Belle retreated back to her room. She really wanted to visit Rum again but it was getting late. She cursed herself, probably for the first time ever, for reading too much.
Mrs. Potts came promptly with Belle's dinner and tea. She went to set it down on the table by the fireplace but found the rose blocking the way, "My, my. Where ever did you get such a pretty rose this time of year?"
Belle blushed forgetting the rose was sitting over there, "I uh…Rum gave it to me."
Mrs. Potts smiled and gave Belle a knowing look, "You fancy him my dear."
Belle gasped, "What?! No!"
"Dear, you've had many a suitor come to court you, and not once have you ever given them so much as a second glance. Then this green skinned man comes along, as your father's prisoner no less, and you can't stop thinking about him and won't leave him alone."
"We're just friends that's all…well I want to be friends, but I don't think he trusts me just yet."
"Give it time dear, he'll come around. You must be patient. He's lost his freedom, everything he had all in one day."
Belle nodded. She knew Mrs. Potts was right.
"Now, do you plan on visiting him again today, or are you waiting till tomorrow?"
"Wait how did you…"
"Oh come come my dear. The scent of your perfume filled his room, I'd be more careful if I were you. One day it'll be your father walking in and not me."
Belle nodded, "I'll make sure to lighten up on the perfume then."
Mrs. Potts smiled and went to leave the room.
Belle stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder, "Thank you for being so understanding."
"Your welcome my dear. Now, have a good evening."
"You too."
To Belle's disappointment she was not able to get away the next day to visit Rumplestiltskin. Her father had awoken her bright and early. He required her to run errands with him. She was the princess and her presence was always required when he asked her of it. She hated her duties as a princess. They mostly dealt with politics and politics bored her. She would much rather be reading her books…or visiting Rum.
A few days later, to her relief, she was free to do as she pleased. After breakfast, she knew the first place she would be going. She could hardly contain her excitement. Mrs. Potts giggled at Belle, understanding where her excitement stemmed from, "You finish your breakfast dear, while I run this food upstairs."
Rumplestiltskin was spinning at the wheel as usual when Mrs. Potts walked in with his breakfast and tea. "Good morning!" she exclaimed.
Rumplestiltskin glanced over at her but said nothing.
"Still not going to speak to me? I won't bite you know."
Rumple still remained silent.
"Suit yourself." Mrs. Potts began to leave but was interrupted by a voice.
"Two teacups? Why did you bring two?"
Mrs. Potts smiled and turned back towards him. He was standing at the table with the tea set, "Just in case you break one dear."
Rumplestiltskin looked at her questionably but she said nothing else and left. He wondered if she knew about Belle visiting him. 'Surely not,' he thought, 'the girl doesn't want her father to find out, and telling others could cause her secret to surface…Unless they're both spies. That must be it. But the girl hasn't visited me in several days. Perhaps I'll never see her again.' As much as Rumplestiltskin didn't want to admit it, he saddened at that idea. Even though he thought she was her father's spy, he still enjoyed her company. He had spent most of his life being alone, and her presence seemed to make the loneliness disappear.
He went back to spinning, feeling down that he'd probably never see the girl again, but relieved. He would no longer have to be on his guard or wonder what she really wanted if she never visited again. Just when he was drifting back into his world of spinning to forget all his woes he heard a noise in the corner, looked up, and there she was. He used all his energy to hold back a smile, "Well, dearie, I thought you finally came to your senses and decided to stay away from the beast."
Belle smiled at him, "I'm sorry, I was busy and couldn't get away."
"Well it's no matter, I was doing fine without you."
"Oh come on, you're happy I'm back."
Rumplestiltskin peered up at her from the side and smiled showing his rotted, yellow teeth, "I'm not unhappy."
Belle was smug. She walked toward him, but noticed the tea set on the table. There were two cups and she knew it was Mrs. Pott's doing. She poured herself some. Rumplestiltskin came over and joined her.
"Mrs. Potts must've realized I visit you today so she brought two cups," Belle commented.
"I thought no one else knew of your visits."
Belle blushed, "Well she kindda figured it out. She smelled my perfume the other day. But don't worry! She won't tell. She's like a mother to me and she trusts my decisions. She wouldn't betray us to my father."
"Perhaps, perhaps she's in on your little deception to find out the monster's weaknesses!" He sneered at her pointing a finger in her face as he said it.
She just smiled and cocked her head to the side, "How many times do I have to tell you you're not a monster?"
"I don't know dearie, probably as many as it takes until you realize I am one."
"Or until you realize you're not."
Rumplestiltskin had no comeback. He just stood there scrutinizing her. Belle turned her gaze to her tea, "I…I saw you watching me the other day…from the window."
"And that made you uncomfortable, to know the beast was watching?"
Belle shot him a slightly angry glance for calling himself a beast again, "No, I'm just glad you're warming up to me."
"Maybe that's what I want you to believe, so I can gain your trust then skin you for your pelt!"
Belle gasped and her teacup tumbled from her grip.
Rumple smiled, "Just a quip, dearie, not serious."
Belle let out a sigh of relief and bent down to pick up the cup, "Oh no it's chipped! Mrs. Potts will be sore with me."
Rumplestiltskin gently took the cup from her hand and examined it, "I'm sure she'll understand, it's just a cup."
"Yes, you're right, I won't fret over it."
Rumplestiltskin set the cup down on the table, "I must return to work. Your father requires I make a certain amount of gold a day."
Belle's smile disappeared, "Do you want me to leave?"
"Do as you wish," he wanted her to stay, but he wasn't going to tell her that.
Belle chose to stay. She took her seat on the floor next Rumple and helped him bundle the gold. They didn't say much to each other, but instead enjoyed each other's company. Belle stayed through dinnertime, hiding when Mrs. Potts came to bring in food.
"I thought she knew of your visits dearie!" Rumplestiltskin said, trying to get Belle to admit to something.
"She does, but if someone else came in with her, then there would be trouble for all of us."
"You could leave me be and not ever have to worry about it," he said playfully trying to show he didn't really want her to stop coming, without actually having to say it.
She understood, "Now what would be the fun in that? I really must be going however. My father will be wondering where I am."
"Just tell him you've spent the day in the beast's lair, he'll be overjoyed." Rumplestiltskin clasped his hands together in glee.
Belle giggled, "I'll be sure to do that." She managed to convince Rumple not to look as she went through the secret door. With some reluctance he eventually complied. The smile on her face didn't disappear through the rest of the night, and she couldn't wait until morning came when she could visit again. Rum was feeling the same way.
