The rock hitting the window was a much less welcome sound to Ruby than it had been prior to her meeting with the doctor at Granny's. She groaned and glanced at her clock. 2:37. Couldn't Dr. Whale just call her after his shift like a normal person?
"I was sleeping," she growled at the frazzled man who stood before her on the sidewalk. "You should thank your lucky stars it's not a full moon."

"Ruby, I'm sorry, for everything...but that's not why I'm here."

"Of course it's not," Ruby mumbled, just low enough so her companion couldn't hear. What did she expect, a prince? She didn't see any Charmings in her future. At least, not from the man whose prime hobby used to be wooing woman while blasting The Best of Sting in his cheap apartment.

She immediately scolded herself for thinking such vile thoughts. She knew that, even though she tried to push it down, justify his unthoughtful actions, she had a fairly schoolgirl-like crush on Dr. Whale.

"Mr. Gold came to me yesterday, told me he wanted to collect our payment. Ruby, he wants your cloak."

"What?" she choked, disbelieving.

"Yes, he played us. He wanted us to get it for him so he wouldn't have to do the dirty work."
"Rumpelstiltskin!" she hissed, cursing his name. "He's not getting it. I'm not giving it up, not after all I've been through to get it. What did you tell him?" Ruby asked, putting their relationship issues to the side for the moment.

"I said it was unfair, and that we weren't going to give it to him."

"Did he say anything else?"

"Oh, yeah, he also said I was lovestruck." Dr. Whale waited less than a second before he continued. "Well, I better get going. I have an early shift tomorrow. Nice to see you, we'll have to do this again, to, you know, discuss the deal. G'night!" With that he was gone into the night, leaving Ruby's head reeling.

"Rumple!" Belle called from the living room. She had just hung up with a very upset Ruby, who had informed her all about Mr. Gold's unfair deal, and asked the listener if she could help. Belle had promised her friend she would do all she could, which lead her to calling her boyfriend's name in a much distressed state.

"Yes, dearie?" he asked as he appeared in the doorway. He casually leaned against his cane, looking at Belle pleasantly.

"Ruby told me everything, about your deal. Why are you doing this, Rumple?" She sighed and stood up, walked to the counter and rested on her elbows. "I thought you'd changed."

"And I have!" Mr. Gold cried. "In my claim that I wished to have her cloak I was not entirely truthful. See, your friend has taken a particular liking to Dr. Whale, and the feeling is mutual." Belle opened her mouth in surprise, showing she was unaware such events were taking place.

"Really? She never told me so."

"It's true, and I know it. But they've hit a bump in their relationship, and I was afraid it might permanently damage their future if I didn't give them some incentive to work together. Their future firstborn will be a very helpful child...I just need to make sure he is born!"
"Rumpelstiltskin! You sneaky man!" Belle cried, smiling at her boyfriend. He let out a chuckle as the thought crossed his mind how adorable she was.
"Indeed. You can't tell Ruby anything, though. It will ruin my plan."

"Alright, I promise."

"Thanks, dear," he chimed, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Anytime, dearie," she responded, mocking the nickname Mr. Gold tended to give everyone. He smiled.

"How about we go into town and get some lunch?"

"Sounds good to me! Granny's?" It only took her a second to figure out what was wrong. "Um, nevermind. How about The Rabbit Hole?"

"Alright, as long as you don't decide to start working there and calling yourself Lacey," Mr. Gold joked, referencing their earlier experience, in which Belle forgot her identity and decided she was a less-than-classy barmaid named Lacey.

"Don't worry, I'll always be your Belle."

Rumbelle is just so cute...3 Anyway, Dr. Whale is being a bit more frank about his feelings now...who knows what might happen next? Well, I do, but I'm the author, so I would hope I know what's going on in my own story. Moving on, did anyone catch my Singlebrooke reference? Listening to The Best of Sting? If you haven't seen that video, look it up-it's a must see for all Oncers.

Anyway, thanks for reading!