Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Dinner at the Dark Castle was an unusual affair. Rumpelstiltskin sat in his usual place at the head of the table while Belle served him before she took a place at his right. Draco, who was now as long and as high as the table on all fours, sat to his left with his own dish. Occasionally, the dragon would nuzzle his master's leg, and Rumpelstiltskin would then reach down and pet him. One day, he comments of Draco's size aloud.

"Draco's gotten bigger, wouldn't you say Belle?"

Belle looked up from her plate."He has grown. Pretty soon he'll be so big we can ride him."

"That'll be a sight, but first he's got to get used to the larger set of wings. Usually, the mother dragon teaches her young to fly at this age, but that's not an option at the moment."

"I wonder why,"she said innocently.

"I didn't know he was in the bloody egg,"Rumpel mumbled."Besides, I know someone who can train him for us."

"There are people who train dragons?"

"There aren't any exactly, but I have special connections."

Part of Belle didn't like the sly grin that formed on his face.

The next day Rumpelstiltskin revealed his plan. His old friend turned out to be the sorceress, Maleficent. Next to him and the Queen, she was one of the most powerful wielders of magic, and unlike the Queen, she didn't mind Rumpelstiltskin too much.

"Mal! How have you been? It's been ages since we talked."

Maleficent looked at the imp with a small smile."Too long, Rumpel. I see that the rumors are true,"she said, looking at Belle.

"Some of them are, but that's not why I am here. I'm cashing in that favor you owe me in exchange for your help."

"Ah, yes. That sleeping spell you gave me. What is it that you need?"

Rumpelstiltskin stepped aside and let Maleficent see Draco."I need you to teach him to fly."

The sorceress stood from her throne and came to examine Draco. Surprisingly, he didn't growl at her as he'd done with the Queen."Isn't he the cutest thing? What is he, eight months old?"

"Nine as of last week,"Belle answered.

"Good. I can start immediately. Give me a week with him, and he'll be flying like a bird."

"Excellent!"Rumpel gave a small bow."Consider your debt erased."

Maleficent nodded before disappearing from view. Belle knelt down and rubbed Draco's head. He whined at the thought of leaving them for a week, but she comforted him. As she and Rumpelstiltskin made their way out, Belle looked at him."How is she going to teach Draco to fly?"

Rumpel stopped."Wait for it."There was a deafening roar, and they both turned around. In front of Draco stood a huge black dragon."Mal is the best shapeshifter I know. Being a dragon is second nature to her, so Draco is in good hands."

"Are you sure he's alright, Rum?"Belle asks him a few days later.

"I'm sure he's fine, dearie. Maleficent has a pet unicorn of her own, so she knows how to take care of even the strangest of pets. She's very compassionate towards beasts of all kinds."

"That would explain why she can stand you."

Rumpelstiltskin looked up from the bottles and potions on the table with a smile."Very funny, Belle. Keep talking like that, and I'll show just how much of a 'beast' I can be."

Belle laughed and marked the place in her book."You don't have the heart. Deep down, you're just a harmless puppy."

All she heard was his growl before he had her pinned against the settee. Both her wrists were held above her head by one of his hands as he grinned down at her."Scared?"

"Of you? Never!"She the began struggling against him.

"Brave Belle."He ran his free hand down the underside of her arm and watched her squirm."Lets see how brave you are when I'm done."He then snapped his fingers, and her hands were locked in place. Now able to use both hands, Rumpelstiltskin preceded to tickle here until tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Rum! This isn't funny!"She shrieked between her laughter.

"Than why are you laughing, dearie?"he said before laughing harder himself.

Eventually, he stopped and fell back on the other end of the settee before releasing Belle's hands. Once her hands were free, she grabbed the pillow between them and began beating him over the head with it.

"You jerk!"Rumpelstiltskin began laughing once more and caught her around the waist. He easily pulled her down, and she soon stopped struggling and relaxed against him."I hate you."

He smiled into her hair and hugged her tighter."No you don't."

Belle hugged him right back."Yes, I do. I'm going to leave you and go marry Gaston."

He chuckled and closed his eyes."I hope you don't mind thorns then."

She laughed with him. Her eyes then snapped open when she realized what he'd said."Thorns? Rumpel you didn't?"

"He's fine. The spell keeps him from wilting, but you might have amputated his legs."

"Change him back!"

Rumpel finally opened his eyes."Why should I? The little whelp came here demanding I release you. He should have known better. He's lucky I didn't turn him into something worse."

Alright, change of plans. Belle threaded her fingers through his hair and watched his eyes fall closed again. Deep down he was a harmless puppy, and puppies loved being petted. He growled lazily and dropped his head to the crook of her shoulder. Rumpelstiltskin knew what she was doing but was momentarily powerless. She smelled took damn good for him to move.

"Please, Rum. Just reverse the spell and send him home. My father's probably thinks you roasted him alive and ate his brain or something."

"He obviously doesn't have that much of a brain if he came here, so there's nothing for me to eat,"he mumbled.

She tugged his hair sharply."Rum!"

Rumpelstiltskin sighed."Fine."He waved his hand without letting her go."There. Happy now?"

"Yes."Belle rolled over in his arms and settled against him once again."Thank you."

He merely grumbled but stopped when she kissed his cheek. Belle knew that he'd only done what he did to Gaston for the same reason he'd tickled her minutes before. He did things like that just to make her happy. Yep, he was just a harmless puppy on the inside, and dagger or no dagger, she had trained him well.

TBC