Rumpelstiltskin found her lying there an hour later. He had waited for his supper at the same time as usual. Six o'clock had come around and she had not shown up with his meal. Extremely curious, Rumpelstiltskin had gone to the kitchens but did not find his serving maid there either. Worry was beginning to well up into his stomach like a flourish of butterflies. He swallowed as he raced to the stairs.

Why should you be worried, fool? He barked at himself. After all, she was a mere maid and he could only find another one. I don't want another one, he allowed himself to confess to his inner mind, I just want her. He shook his head at the stupid thought before knocking twice on the door to her new bedroom.

There was no reply. "Belle?" He asked as he turned the knob and opened the door. "Belle? Are you in here?" He did not know why he whispered the words, but then he saw her laying there. The lamps had been turned on by their magic and seemed to illuminate her peaceful figure. He looked to the floor and carefully began to shuffle his feet to where she lay. Her hair lay in unkempt strands, a tiny droplet of drool ran down her cheek, her dress was wrinkled. Yet, Rumpelstiltskin saw something in her countenance that he did not see when she walked about his castle. It was absolute peace, reliance in the safety she felt in her very own room. Something about such a thing made him feel warm with happiness. Surely, she had never slept so well locked in a dungeon. He had helped her. Why did this give him such satisfaction? It should make you sick, weakling, the Dark One rebuked, but he buried the voice within and allowed himself a small smile.

Should he wake her? Or should he just let her sleep? His thoughts were broken as he heard a muffled sound uttered from her throat. It was a small, but definitely not delicate, snore. He chuckled under his breath. Well, the beauty did snore. And now since you know that, you can sleep at night, the Dark One retorted, annoyed, and Rumpelstiltskin growled.

"I'll let her sleep." He pointed a finger at the back of a nearby chair. Well, not at the chair itself but at the blanket that lay upon its back. Ever so slowly, his tendrils of magic reached for the blanket and sent it floating across the air and into his hands. Rumpelstiltskin unfolded the woolen covering and gently placed it over Belle's small body. He curled his fingers around its edge and pulled it up under chin. He allowed his fingertips the sweet ecstasy of brushing across the soft skin of her chin before kneeling down and lowering his mouth to her ear. "Goodnight, Belle." He then hesitated for a mere moment before laying a small peck to her pulse point right beneath her ear. It seemed the right thing to do, and she would never know of the small moment weakness he had allowed himself. "Sleep well."

He then crept out of the room and shut the door behind him. To his surprise, he was not the least bit hungry. He decided to retire to bed early, and he slept very well. Better than he had in years.

XxxxXXxxXXxxXXxx

She woke up that morning and the first thing that she felt was her heart constricting in her chest. Dinner! How could she have been so stupid to forget. Belle slapped herself on her forehead and groaned. She turned her body to the window and saw that the sun was shining brightly from its place high up in the sky. Foolish girl. Just because you've been given a room in this castle, doesn't mean you are a guest to sleep until noon. She noticed that she was breathing hard from fear and she forced herself to calm down and say a silent prayer that her master would at least be in a decent mood. The last thing she would need is him screaming at her. No. We don't need that at all, Belle.

She hurriedly ran to her wardrobe and grabbed a crisp dress from it. Funny how he should have so many nice things when he lives all by himself. The dress did smell like mothballs but she hoped that it would not be too overpowering as she placed it over her shoulders. Trying her very best, she buttoned the back of the light yellow dress and struggled in tying the satin sash around her waist. Her hair was a little messy but she just combed her fingers through her curls, and then slipped her flats onto her cold feet.

Breathing a sigh of relief that she had been able to get ready within five or so minutes she went to her bed to make it up, but then realized she had not slept under the covers. She straightened the comforter and then grabbed for the blanket that had mysteriously found its way over her body somewhere in the middle of the night. A small, knowing smile graced her lips as Belle folded the blanket and placed it on the corner of the bed. How sweet of him...

Wait! That meant he came up here last night to see about dinner! He had come upon me sleeping...Oh, I am in for it today... her cheeks turned red at the thought of the scolding he would give her and she somewhat reluctantly left her room and headed to the Great Hall.

Her feet suddenly came to a halt as she burst through the doors only to see her master sitting at the one end of the long table. A bowl of soup was set before him and he gathered some into his spoon and sipped it delicately. He looked up slowly as he saw the young maiden rush through the door and he smirked as she just stared at him.

"It is nice to see you finally up, dearie." He grinned at her but she stood there with he mouth open.

"You—you made your lunch?" She breathed, forgetting all decorum.

"Yes, well," he sniggered, "I am quite capable of preparing a meal without you."

She saw the twinkle in his eye and knew he was teasing her. She would have laughed if she did not feel shame flow within her, "I am sorry that you did not eat dinner, that I did not come down to breakfast or lunch." She bowed her head in meekness and he just looked at her.

He then motioned to the seat beside him, "You were tired, dear. No harm done. Now why don't you sit and eat, and then you may begin your chores."

Belle's cheeks were still flushed with guilt and she hesitated before taking her seat to the right of him. A tray of food appeared magically before her, a meal that she should have prepared herself. She picked up her spoon but did not lift the steaming liquid to her mouth.

"Something troubles you, dearie?" He asked her with a raise of his eyebrow.

"It's just..." she licked her lips and forced herself to look at him, "For the first time in the four months I have been here, I have disobeyed you. I expected you to be...well...angry."

He giggled then and the imp in him spoke, "I suppose I should be angry, but it was just this time, wasn't it?" She smiled just a bit and he added in a deeper tone, "You work hard, Belle. Perhaps too hard. A little bit of rest has done you well." He looked at her and knew his words were true. Her eyes were lively and sparkled. There were no dark circles beneath her eyelashes. Her cheeks were rosy, her posture was straight. She looked to be in better health than she had been down in the dungeon.

Looking at him curiously, Belle slowly turned her lips into a smile and took a sip of her soup. "Why can't you call me that more often?" She asked gently and he was confused by her question.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean, dearie."

"See." She continued, "A moment ago you called me 'Belle'. Normally, its 'dearie'. Why?"

He stared at her, perplexed by her odd question, "I call everyone 'dearie'."

"Yes, but my name is really Belle. I prefer Belle to dearie."

"Is that what you would prefer I call you?" He raised an eyebrow at her odd request. No one ever cared what he called them.

Belle nodded emphatically. "I do live here now, Rumpelstiltskin. I believe my first name should be quite sufficient."

He was silent for a moment before he nodded. Belle didn't know if that was an agreement, but she did not want to push the conversation further, and just took another sip of soup.

They remained like that for many moments until he had finished and pushed his chair back so that he could sit more comfortably. To Belle's surprise, she realized that he was waiting for her to finish. She looked at him and noticed that his eyes were closed and his hands were resting behind his head.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" His eyes opened and looked at her, "Is there something you wanted?"

"Why, no, dea—Belle." She smiled as he remembered her true name. He then frowned slightly and made to stand up, "Would you prefer I not sit here while you finish your meal?"

"No." Belle said rather abruptly and felt her cheeks redden, "I just figured you would have other things to do then wait for your servant to finish eating."

He grinned and showed the whites of his teeth. "Perhaps I do." He then said no more and just looked at her.

Belle took a moment to find his hidden meaning and sipped her soup to hide her growing smile. He had things to do but he was choosing to stay with her. He enjoyed her company, he relished the split seconds of it before he was left in loneliness once again. Why should that make her so happy, or cause a lump to rise in her throat? She honestly did not know.

"What is it you would have me do today, master?" He raised an eyebrow at the title she had given him but answered her.

"Since you slept the day away," his tone was teasing and made her blush. Why does she continue to blush at what I say? "I would like for you to begin cleaning the rooms upstairs. On the east wing, mind you. Do not touch the west wing. You shall find all that you will need in the room to the right of yours."

Belle nodded as she savored the last taste of her soup. She stood to get up and reach for his bowl but he stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it." A puff of smoke and then the dishes were gone. All that remained was the chipped cup. He smirked at her, "But before you go, if you could pour me a cup of tea." He stood up and began to walk to his spinning wheel. As he did, a slight movement caught his eyes and he turned to Belle who had gone to the fireplace where the tea kettle hung. The sash of her dress was sliding lower and would soon land on the floor.

Don't do it, you fool, that irritating voice commanded him, but he found his feet moving unbidden towards her and then his lips moving to form words. At least, the imp's high-pitched squeal was there in his voice. "Can't seem to tie your sash, dearie?" He winced as he used the name she hated but he walked towards her.

Before Belle could do so much as answer him, she felt his hands clutching at her sash. He clucked his teeth, "Tsk, tsk. A woman who can't dress herself. Whatever shall we do with you?" He was teasing her, certainly he was teasing her. Why then did his voice sound so deep and husky, as if he were whispering sweet nothings into her ear.

Belle, you're imagining things. Her body was so close to him now that she could feel his chest against her back. His fingers lingered on her waist as they unconsciously stroked her hip. Belle felt warm. It must be from the fire, she tried to reason with herself as she felt herself involuntarily begin to close her eyes.

And then the moment, the split second, was over and Rumpelstiltskin pulled his hands abruptly away from her as if he had been burned. He walked a bit too fast to his spinning wheel. Then, Belle's hands were shaking as she poured the tea and set it on the table for him to drink later. She was trying to keep calm, but she thought that it must have looked more as if she was fleeing the room, fleeing him. His presence. She knew that, try as she might to make herself think so, it had not been the fire that had set her body aflame. Somehow, his soft, gentle, barely-there touch had been able to spark something within her and it was not just her imagination. How could it be her imagination that his fingers had remained on her waist for a moment more than they should have? And how, she thought, Could he have such an affect on me?

I liked writing that chapter, but I just don't know if I'm moving too fast with their slowly-blossoming relationship. Please let me know if I'm getting to AUish. I want to stay true to their story and their characters, hence the friendly conversation in the beginning. If I ever stray from the correct path, please tell me! I would very much appreciate it, along with any constructive criticism you may ever have. Thank you!