T. G. I. F
Chapter 7
That week Rumple was not needed for any deals. So although he was able to get some well needed spinning done, he grew bored. His fingers twitched whenever he was away from his wheel, but he wanted entertainment. Since Maurice hadn't been taking care of Belle, Rumple decided he'd have a little fun with him. So he transported himself to their house. In the corner of his eye he saw something red. When he looked at it closer he realized it was the rose he had given Belle.
'So she wasn't lying when she told me she had placed it on her windowsill.' He thought with a smirk.
In his thought he didn't realize the front door was opening, so he quickly transformed into a bat. It was Belle who was emerging from the cottage holding a basket of bread loaves. When she saw Rumple as a bat she at first jumped back a little, but then she simply exhaled and walked past him.
'Of course she doesn't know it's me. I'm a bat. I'm surprised she didn't scream; most girls would lose their minds and run away if they saw a bat. This is Belle though, the brave and perhaps fearless Belle.' He thought as he flapped his wings back and forth. Shortly after Belle left Maurice walked out and screamed.
"Bat! Go away!" Maurice yelled as he ran back into the house.
'Really?' Rumple thought before he transformed back into his normal form.
"Your daughter is tougher than you are." He said out loud to himself before knocking on the front door.
"Hello? Who is it? Is that bat still out there?" Maurice yelled from what sounded like the far back room.
"It's the Dark One. And no, you sissy, it's not." Rumple said with a giggle.
It took Maurice a while to get to the door, but when he did he hid his body behind the door.
"Are you sure it's gone?"
Rumple shook his head. "This is ridiculous. I was the bat you fool."
"You...you were the bat? Why?" Maurice asked, opening the door more widely.
"I was bored, and because you're not taking care of Belle I thought I'd mess around with you. Apparently I've already scared you. So I know where your scare level is." Rumple said with a wicked smile on his face.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about? Belle is happy with the way it is here. She hasn't complained, ever."
"Oh if only you knew." Rumple said seriously while shaking his head.
Maurice slammed the door shut. He snickered thinking he wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. But once he turned around Rumple was there with a big wicked smile on his face.
"Now you're not getting out of it that easy dearie. What are you most scared of?"
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Alright I'll take a guess. Rats, snakes…bears?"
Once Maurice heard the word bear his face emitted fear.
"Bear it is." Rumple held out his hand and a baby bear appeared in his hand. "This bear will attack you whenever you do not treat Belle right…or basically whenever you're alone with it."
"That little thing? It could barely hurt a fly. I'll just kill it."
"Oh well you see, this little guy won't die until I do. So that means never. And he himself won't attack you. He'll just make illusions that will attack you."
Rumple placed the young cub down on the ground and giggled.
"Have fun with that." Rumple walked out of the cottage and closed the door. He could see Belle walking his way before he heard Maurice scream. Belle then came running towards him.
When she reached him she asked, "Rumple? What are you doing here? Was that my father screaming just now?"
"Indeed, a bat flew in through your window and he must've seen it." Rumple said calmly.
"I should check on him." Belle tried walking inside but Rumple held out his arm.
"No need dearie. He can handle a little bat."
"Okay, what are you doing here? It's only Wednesday." Belle asked curiously.
"I know. I just…I was just bored at my castle, and I just can't wait till Friday to give you something."
"Give me something? What?"
"Well come with me and I'll show you."
"But my father…"
"He won't even know you're gone. It'll be real quick. Besides he thinks you're delivering bread."
Belle hesitated a little. He held out his hand, a moment later she took hold of it with a sly smile.
They transported back to the Dark Castle.
"So, what's this something that you're so eager to give me?" Belle asked while placing her basket on the table.
"Oh you'll see. Come this way dearie." Rumple said while making a come-hither motion with his finger.
Rumple walked out of the great hall and up the main steps. They took the right set of stairs and went up a flight. Then they went down a long hallway until they were at the very end. Once they were in front of the door on the right Rumple stopped and turned around to face her.
"Before we go in, I'd like to tell you that whenever you come over you can just take one of these home with you during the week and return it when you deliver on Fridays."
"Now I'm curious. What are you talking about?"
"You're about to see." Rumple opened the door and walked in. Belle followed him in. There were some wooden stairs that went up in a spiral. When they reached the top and Belle could see the shelves filled to the brim with books she simply couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Oh my…Rumple. Is this a?" Belle couldn't finish her question from the shock she was feeling.
"A library? Yes." Rumple answered while humored at her reaction.
"I've never been in one." She says as she picks up an old, dusty book from the small circular table in the center of the room.
"Well…now it's yours. I hardly use it anyway. I thought it could go to better use, with someone who'll actually appreciate it."
Belle skims through the pages and smiles. Nobody had ever encouraged her hobby of reading. Everybody who saw her read in her village thought she was odd. Apparently it wasn't right for a woman to read, especially a non-royal one. Yet here was Rumple, The Dark One, the most feared being in all the lands, and he was giving her a library. Her eyes began to swell up with happy tears.
"Thank you so much Rumple." She said before lunging forward and hugging him tightly.
Rumple was surprised…well not really; he sort of expected it a little. He knew she'd love it.
"Umm Rumple." She pulled her head away but still held the hug, "I'm sorry to say it but, this has just surpassed the rose you gave me as the nicest gift anyone has ever given me."
He giggled, "So you like it then?" he asked, knowing perfectly well that she did.
"Like it? I love it! It's the most generous and thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me."
Belle went back to hugging him; laying her head on his chest. His heart rate started to increase. He so wanted to get out the long embrace, yet he wanted it to never end. When he came up with the idea he knew she'd probably hug him. But he thought it'd be a quick one and then she'd go read. Instead she just kept holding onto him. It felt like an eternity before she laughed spontaneously.
"I just keep hugging you. I don't know if it's because I'm happy and appreciative or for a different reason. You must get hugs like this all the time when you do your deals or when someone receives one of your lovely gifts."
"Oh no, it's quite the contrary when it comes to making deals. Usually people try to kill me or capture me afterwards. And I don't give people gifts."
She pulled away, "But you've given me so many in the few months that we've known each other."
"Yes, well. You are the exception."
"And why is that?"
"You're not a spoiled brat like some of these youngsters I deal with. You're very polite and kind to this old beast. You're the most beautiful, self-less, and caring person I know. So the least I could do is give you a gift or two here and there."
"You really believe that?" she asked with a huge, glowing smile.
"No, I know it." He said giving her a reassuring smile.
Belle couldn't help but hug him again, and Rumple even wrapped his arms around her this time. He looked down at her as she leaned against his chest. Her eyes were closed. She was really enjoying this hug. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was enjoying it to. It had been a long while since he had been given a hug this nice.
After a good twenty seconds Belle adjusted her head so she could look up at Rumple. When their eyes met something is him clicked and without thinking he kissed her forehead. It was a delicate kiss, as if she were made of marble or fine china. When the kiss ended Belle looked at him with her mouth slightly open, almost like she was confused. He realized he had made a mistake; he didn't want to further her confusion any more than he already had. In a millisecond his arms were unwrapped and he was making his way downstairs.
"Wait." Belle called out to him.
Rumple pays no mind to her request; he has to keep his distance from her, or else she might get the wrong idea about him.
Belle slams the book on the center table and runs after him. After going down the stairs she hurries to the great hall where he is usually found. When he is not at his wheel or sitting at the table she is moments from giving up her search; until she sees two brown leather boots behind the curtain closest to her.
'An embarrassed Rumple?' she thinks to herself before smiling.
"Oh how will I get home, now that Rumpelstiltskin is gone? I guess I'll just have to walk home then."
Before she can walk out of the great hall Rumple calls out, still from behind the curtains, "I'll send you."
Belle plays along, asking "Where is that voice coming from?"
Rumple hesitantly walks out from behind the curtain and does a dramatic motion with his hands.
"Ah, there you are. I couldn't find you." Belle says innocently.
"You knew perfectly well I was there. That's another thing about you, you're observant and intelligent."
Belle blushed a little. "Why did you run off like that?"
Rumple's stomach churned thinking about what he'd tell her. "Belle…You were there. I kissed you."
"What? That's why you ran away? I don't get why." Belle placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Yes, I..I didn't want you to get the wrong impression of me." Rumple looked down to the floor.
"Wrong impression? You kissed me on the forehead, my dad does that sometimes. It just means you care for me; at least that's what my dad said it means. Besides, I've kissed your cheek. So in a way we're even." She said with a confident smile.
'She's so innocent. She doesn't even have a clue.' Rumple thought while shaking his head.
"Alright. We're even." He said with a half-smile. "Now let me send you home." A blue-covered book appeared in his right hand.
"You know, I kinda knew." Belle said while biting her bottom lip.
"Knew what?" Rumple asked concerned.
"That you cared about me." She said while slowly swinging her arms back and forth. "Especially after you gave me your library."
"You mean a library. It was never mine, but it is your library now." He said as he handed her the book and her bread basket.
Belle smiled, "Well I'll be sure to read this before I see you on Friday."
"There's no rush dearie, all those books are yours forever. You can take your time when reading them."
"Alright, I will." Belle began to wave, "Thank you so much Rumple."
"You are welcome dearie. Oh and when you return home, you'll have a new pet that will protect you."
"What?" Belle asked as Rumple waved his hand and she disappeared.
"I'll see you soon, Belle." Rumple said to himself as he lowered his hand.
