T. G. I. F
Chapter 7.5
Belle hadn't been answered before Rumple sent her back home. He had told her that when she got home she would have a pet that would protect her.
'What in the world did he mean by that?' she thought to herself as she walked inside her house. Belle was a bit hungry, so she went to the kitchen. What she found in there was shocking. Her father was huddled in the corner shaking like a wet child.
"Father?" she asked as she walked slowly over to him.
"Belle? Is that you? Or are you another illusion?"
"Illusion? What are you talking about?"
"The Dark One, he was here earlier, and he released a beast in the house."
"What? Why would he do that?"
"He thinks I don't treat you right. So this beast sends illusions at me that touch me and act as if they're going to attack. Luckily I trapped it in my room a couple minutes ago."
"Your room?" Belle asked before turning and walking towards her father's room.
"Belle, don't go in there! It's a monster." Maurice yelled from his corner.
Hesitantly, she opened the door and looked inside. There was nothing there until she saw eyes underneath the bed. Before Belle could yell the little bear crawled out from under the bed and plumply sat on the floor. The little cub looked at Belle and to her it seemed like he was smiling at her.
"Awww, hello there little guy. What's your name?"
Without missing a beat the little bear roared his little roar.
"Awww, roar? Is that your name?"
She kneeled down to her knees and the cub walked towards her. While he walked towards her, she opened her arms up and he walked into them.
"Your name can't be roar, how about…Rory. It's close to roar, plus it's cute, just like you."
After she said that he licked her cheek. Belle wasn't sure if she would be able to pick him up, but when she did he didn't squirm around, and he was actually lighter then she thought.
"You're not a monster. You're just adorable, that's what you are." She said as she walked back into the kitchen while holding Rory.
As soon as Maurice caught site of the cub he yelled, "Get that thing away from me!"
"But papa, he's harmless."
"That's what you think. That little mongrel will attack you when you're not expecting it."
Belle looked down at Rory and he nudged his nose under her chin.
"Papa, if it's true what you said. That Rumpelstiltskin brought him here, then it is probably for a good reason. So I think I should keep him."
"Belle, are you mad? That thing will kill you in your sleep. I won't allow you to keep that…thing." Maurice said as he stood up.
Rory growled at him, which made Maurice tremble. While growling, Rory's eyes turned blood red.
"Oh no, the illusions, they're back. Belle, take that thing outside or away from me, please."
An idea came to her. "I'll take him to my room if you promise we can keep him."
"What? No."
Rory growled again and Maurice crouched down to the corner again. "Alright, alright. You can keep him."
Belle tapped Rory on the nose and his eyes changed back to their normal brown color.
"Come on Rory, I'll show you the room we'll be sharing." Belle said as she left the kitchen and went to her room.
When she was in there she put Rory down and closed the door.
'So Rumple has this bear as a form of protection for me. He really does care.' She thought before turning around and lifting Rory to her bed and sitting next to him.
"Let's see. You are obviously a brown bear, what do brown bears eat? Or are you like all bears that eat meat?"
Rory nodded and she smiled.
"So you really do understand me. I thought it was just coincidental. Well little guy, I'm sad to tell you this but this household doesn't really eat meat; mostly bread, soup, cheese, and tea."
Rory turned his head to the far wall, indicating Maurice.
"No little one, you can't eat my father."
Rory lowered his head in sadness.
"You know, we have a forest behind our house. So you could go back there and get berries and whatever else you want to eat during the day or whenever you're hungry."
He looked up with his eyes now wide, showing he liked that plan.
"Now, I believe an unspoken part of me and my father's agreement is that you have to remain in my room. So if you ever want to leave to go eat or use the bathroom, you just hop in or out of my window, it's always open. And on the rare occurrence that it is closed, all you have to do is push it open." Belle said with a smile.
Rory leaped up and licked her cheek. She patted his head and laid-back on her bed.
"Alright Rory, now I have to read because I told Rumple that I'd have this book finished by Friday. So I only have two days to finish it. I've never read The Hunchback of Notre-Dame before."
Rory laid down next to her and yawned as Belle began reading her new book.