Mr. Gold's luxury sedan rolled to a crunching halt up to the sprawling home of Regina Mills' residence some time after nine o'clock. The home glowed vivaciously with bright light illuminating through gauzy gold curtains in every window and the gentle tune of expertly plucked harps drifted out from the dwelling in delicate harmony along the tranquil night air.
Parking his sleek car on the opposite side of the street, Rumpelstiltskin let the vehicle run for a few minutes longer to gather himself. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment and focused on his strengths to lend him aid. It would not do him any favors looking like some dull witted peasant unable to take his eyes of the beauty of his Belle.
Appearances were essential for the pawn broker in all his dealings. Too many people wished to see him brought to ruin or perhaps do it themselves. To seem aloof and in control was imperitive.
The mayor's house was an austerely trim, ivory and black Victorian mansions sitting akin to some regal queen along the long row of beautiful houses. Columns flanked either sides of the red door and wound all about the home like an ancient roman villa. The tall, black rod iron fence surrounding the harpy's manse was covered in thick, dark green ivy leaving only the gates unmarred from its impenetrable entanglement.
"Such a large place." Belle commented softly in awe. Creeping shadows battled with the street lights and the glow from the house upon her face as she stared wide eyes at the white colonnaded dwelling. Laying her palm upon the cool glass, pity laced her sweet voice. "She must be terribly lonely living there by herself."
To be in such a grand dwelling with not another soul had to be difficult to bear day in and day out for all eternity. How could one person live like that for long without going raving mad?
Gold snorted derisively towards her kindly observance. Even though his Belle was wary of the Madame Mayor, she still felt compassion for a woman who treated her as though she were nothing more than the dirt under her feet. "All magic has a price, my Belle, hers could be loneliness."
"What a horrible burden." The beauty remarked lowly as she opened the door to the car. Who could bear to live a life of forever with no one to enjoy it with? Even the Dark One had a companion, though one obtained from unscrupulous means.
The summer air possessed a faint bit of chill from a storm approaching the quaint shire making Belle shiver pleasantly in the darkness and the open atmosphere. Honeysuckle and lavender drifted fragrantly upon the wind, making the currents alive with the summer night. Above them all in the satin firmament, glimmering stars twinkling merrily like frolicking fireflies dancing through the ebony fields.
"We all have our burdens to bear, Dearie. Some are not as bad as others, while there are those that make us ask was the price worth what we gained in return." Ray murmured in a coarse grunt as he slowly maneuvered his aching leg out of the car.
He should know, Gold grimaced inwardly at the thought. His burden was worse than most for his cumbersome load was also his power. The price of magic was one he could have lifted from his back that long night ago in forest with Bae, but instead he'd only added on to the fathomless weight continuously until he was smothered under it; until he was a slave to the darkness festering in his heart.
Shaking the thought away, the fiend smiled wryly and limped to the curb. "Like your burden of selling yourself to a monster." He explained dryly.
At that, Belle pulled her mouth to one side playfully, her eyes shining mischievously upon her date. "You forget, my master, there are burdens some of us gladly carry."
"Indeed." Rumpelstiltskin allowed something akin to a half smile nervously grace his thin lips in retort. True, her words were most likely in jest, but his back-flipping heart did not seem to construe them as such. Surely she could not look at her indentured servitude as a price gladly paid.
Why could she tamper with his heart so, he pondered curiously and with more than a small inkling of worry as he helpped her across the deserted stretch of asphalt. Was he sincerely that fond of her, or was this world making him soft?
Awkwardness enshrouded them like the summers night, making the pair wish to look off in separate directions of the voided darkness. Silence reigned betwixt them for what seemed like eternity till the Dark One coughed nervously into his fist. "Well we might as well get this over with." He hefted his cane and pointed insecurely to the front door of the large manse regally displayed before them.
"Of course, Ru…Ray." Belle corrected timidly with a small dip of her head. "Forgive me, I'm still so used to calling you Rumpel."
"None of that now, Belle." Mr. Gold admonished gently as he sidled closer to her.
Her delicate feature crinkled furtively at his meaning, unable to understand exactly what he was referring to. None of what?
Sighing, Ray allowed a small, indulging grin to twitch upon his lips. Light from the home glinted merrily in his chestnut orbs as he looked forward but spoke to her. "You do not seem to understand the power you wield even for a mere servant." He gently pulled her to the side of the curb hidden behind the leaves of ivy to explain out of sight from curious eyes. "You are closer to me than anyone else in Storybrooke. Those in that party will give you due respect because of who you are and your affiliation with me."
"But to them I'm just a house keeper." Came Belle's retort laced with insecurity. Worry hinted at the fringes of her voice as she nibbled the side of her bottom lip.
Gold chuckled heartily, endearment creeping up upon him once more like a master thief. "The difference is that you are not simply a care taker of small renown." On a whim he touched the side of her cheek only to feel warmth spring to her flesh. "You are mine." Taking up her arm in a gentlemanly fashion he straitened his midnight black suit one last time and adjusted his choking tie. "If you're with me you must appear confident as well you should. No shyness, no timidity; confidence. "
"Confident." Belle repeated as though it were a foreign word, dedicating it to her soul, as they walked to the imposing gates. Curling her free hand up into a fist, she inhaled the warmth of night and smiled at her master. "Got it. Anything else?"
Standing at the black gate, the Dark One involuntarily patted her on the arm. "Enjoy yourself."
Tilting her head down, the beauty was thankful the shadows hid the fierce blush that surged upon her cheeks. Rumpelstiltskin for all his snarling and snapping and coarse beastliness could always successfully make heat flood her flesh with his unexpected kindness or tenderness though she had no logical idea why only he could coax such a reaction from her.
Mystery enshrouded the man who thought himself a monster; mysteries that went beyond his secrets and cunning.
With one smooth motion, the Dark One opened the gate. The hinges barely made a ear spitting creak as the Ray Gold and proffered his hand inside.
~8~8~
Regina could not suppress a wide, victorious grin creeping upon her glossy lips as her eyes pinpointed the limping form of Mr. Gold and his little slave girl enter quietly into her monolithic mansions.
The pair subtly slid their way along the wall, trying to remain unnoticed like roaches. Oh but that would have been utterly impossible, the mayor retorted inwardly to her cunning. Her plans were far too ingenious for them not to have attended.
All it took was a little prod by innocently suggesting to Guy Stone to perhaps invite Miss French. Now Rumpelstiltskin, the terror of the known realms, was traipsing through her white and black décor home in his normal surly manner with the girl on his arm.
Swirling the crystalline wine glass in her grip, she took a sparing sip whilst her glassy eyes never once left their forms for further observation. He kept his free hand always lightly curled about her upper arm. Every now and again he would pull her back just a fraction or squeeze her arm lightly in some sort of warning or perhaps nervousness.
The Dark One was extremely possessive of his things, Regina noted with another demure sip of her champagne. His fierce possessiveness was excellent for what she had in mind.
~8~8~
The home of Regina Mills was as lovely on the inside as it was in the out. Ebony and alabaster were the main colors for the extravagant rooms, giving it a rather unctuous feel. Golden chandeliers hung above the pleasant gathering showering the rooms with a near blinding radiance as though all under their beams were basking in Regina's glory.
In any other instance, Belle would have enjoyed herself immensely in such a strange new expanse different from the Dark One's mansion, but one particular disturbance destroyed what little gaiety she possessed.
"Regina's been staring at us since we walked in." Belle informed the frowning Gold as they stood tucked into a small corner of the grand ball room located on the bottom floor of Regina's estate.
The beauty leaned lightly against an ivory column a small beaker of un-alcoholic punch lying forgotten in her grip.
His deep frown lessened slightly as he flicked his gaze in boredom over towards the Madame Mayor who did not even attempt to veil the fact her eyes were stapled upon them even while some short fellow was jabbering about right in front of her.
"You noticed as well, I see." He huffed and rapped his wiry fingers upon the golden hilt of his cane in unsuppressed agitation.
The beauty toyed with the glass cup in her hands before chancing a true look over Regina's way.
Amused, at the servant girls brazenness, the hostess dipped her head slightly towards the pair, and continued to stare like a vulture waiting for a sick animal to finally perish.
Slimy shivers trailed up Belle's spine at the cold, corrupted glare, but she forced herself to square her shoulders and offer a small pleasant nod in return. She was to act as something belonging to the notorious Rumpelstiltskin's, the beauty reminded herself; confident, unafraid.
Pleasantly, Belle returned the gesture much more demurely, her graceful form crackling with the nobility of ages past having lain unused and unwanted for nearly a year. Finesse lined every trace of her peach tones skin, making her seem far more genteel that the witch.
A frown pierced the Madame Mayors pallid, striking features at such boldness making Belle wish to cheer. Instead, she turned away coolly as though the former queen were not worth her time and forced her lips not to shift into a proud smile.
"Do you have any idea why she's been staring at us all evening?" She queried to the Dark One.
"I have a few guesses." Gold admitted in a heaving sigh, his shoulders slumping. His lips twisted into a distasteful grimace as though he had just eaten something rotten. "I'll find out in a moment."
Leaning his back against a column, the fiend surveyed the beauty doing the exact same. Just to see her all dressed in finery, her face bright and cheerful and curious, made it worth letting Regina have her little moment.
Truly at ease with the entire thought, the Dark One, nudged his head to the milling throngs all chatting in low murmurs and lurid voices. "Off with you. I've been your shadow long enough for the evening. I think you'll find people more willing to be friendly instead of merely polite if I was not dogging your every step."
Belle's faced brightened even more so, taken off guard by the trust he deemed display. "Thank you. I'll not go far."
"I'm allowing myself to trust you." Ray stated abruptly, not certain why the words blurted from his mouth. Perhaps to simply let her know he was stepping out of his comfort zone of relying on her to keep her word.
Should she decide to flee, he couldn't very well stop her in the middle of a room filled with those who would stop him no matter his reputation.
"And I thank you for that trust." She smiled softly up to him.
Caught in the radiance of her happiness, Gold allowed a large grin to crease his face before rising to bite the bullet and let Regina gloat.
Before he could move an inch the form of Sidney Glass appeared before them both with a large, black camera slung about his neck. "Picture for the Daily Mirror." He revealed all in one quick phrase before snapping a photo of the pair caught smiling endearingly at one another.
Mr. Gold blinked as the light flashed unexpectedly in his eyes, leaving blue and black dots spotting in his vision. Annoyed, the fiend forced a dark growl between a flagrantly false smile. "Mr. Glass if you would be so kind as to not take pictures of me I would be much obliged. Other wise that camera of yours might become… inoperable."
Glass blanched as he lowered his camera, his sunken eyes wide with sudden fear. He knew a threat when he heard it, especially from Mr. Gold. "Okay, no problem. Oh, sorry about that."
Ignoring the writer for the town's paper, the beast snarled and shoved past him to limp towards Regina.
"Oh well, at least I can say I got him on film before big foot." Glass joked lamely to the beauty.
Belle attempted a small smile at the quip, but it withered quicker than it came, much like the jest. For a split second they stood there in awkward silence, with Belle staring at her crimson reflection her the cup, before the camera beeped off and began to echo the sound of whirling gears.
Of course, Belle knew what a camera was precisely, but it was interesting to see such a marvelous contraption at work for the first time.
Sidney hummed a little ditty absently as he tinkered with the camera until something began to poke from the base. "Ah, here's what I was waiting for." Glass smiled and took the appearing picture from the bottom of the camera. Flapping it briskly for a few seconds he handed it to the beauty primly. "Souvenir." He explained before stalking off for more photos.
Belle stared at the photo in surprised pleasure. The picture was simply in black and white and caught them staring at one another and smiling just at the perfect moment. Rum's face was etched with the rare grin she liked to fancy he saved only for her, and there it was caught forever in her hand.
A gentle smile tugged upon her features as she tapered her fingers across the still warm image of the Dark One. It was much more than a souvenir, it was something precious; a priceless treasure. Rumpelstiltskin possessed many trinkets and curios and treasures, now, she thought proudly, unable to keep happiness from swimming through her form, she had one of her very own.
"I hope that one goes in the paper." A voice suddenly stated in a light, nervous laugh, interrupting Belle's wandering thoughts of her master.
Perching her head up to the speaker, Belle was greeted with a well built man with short brown hair wearing a slightly crinkled suit. "Others should see how pretty you are." He finished with a dazzling grin.
Belle smiled widely at the compliment, unsure what to say. What could she say to a man that was obviously hitting on her?
"I'm Whale by the way." He stuck out his hand and added not so nonchalantly. "Doctor Whale." As though his title would give him more appeal.
Before Belle could make acquaintances another voice entered the fray. "He likes telling people that." The other voice laughed and walked in from the left. "I'm Sheriff Graham."
The beauty began to open her mouth to greet them both and yet another walked up just as dashing as the next, and behind him another making his move…
~8~8~
"Mr. Gold, how fortunate you could make it." Regina chuckled lowly as the fiend approached in his limping gait.
The Dark One shrugged in tactful carelessness, letting the words run off him as a sword blow to a shield. "I just thought I'd swing by and show my support for our police department and our eternally elected mayor."
Satisfied beyond all reason, the monarch coyly circled her painted fingertips around the thin rim of her glass. It was simply delicious to see the tongues of black flame behind his eyes flare with every moment. Him trying to down play his loss only made it better.
"So tell me, how did Guy Stone take to finding out you were accompanying Miss French?" She mocked innocently, unable to resist the poisoned barb.
A low, vile laugh pulsed from the mayor's full lips upon seeing the anger rush to the fiends aged face like flames upon a dry haystack. Taunting the Dark One was never wise, but when she could get away with it, it was the sweetest of victories.
"Don't try to tell me otherwise, Gold." She spoke plainly and clucked her tongue. Only looking at him with a few knowing glances she watched the bubble rise and fall in her drink absently as though they mattered more than he ever would.
He snarled angrily through thin drawn lips. "Tell you what, Regina?"
"That you don't care for her, of course. " The sorceress laughed in a low timbre. Her eyes narrowed slyly as she tapped the side of her chin with a finger. "Admit it, you've got a soft spot for her and as we both know soft spots are a weakness. Isn't that what you always told your apprentice?"
Leaning her head to the side, she perched an eyebrow, her lips twisted in devious amusement. "Speaking of that little slave girl, my, what a crowd she's drawn in so little time."
On instinct the Dark One turned about to see his Belle surrounded by a horde of bachelors from Storybrooke. He could barely make out scraps of her golden gown from between the bodies of fine suits.
Swamped in men trying to vie for her attention seemed to be her current state.
"Doesn't it simply infuriate you, Gold?" Regina taunted coquettishly. "To see all those young, strapping bachelors trying to flirt and woo her."
A black curse spewed quietly from between Rumpelstiltskin clenched teeth. Anger flared within his dark heart. He had made a stupid error, he knew. Instead of keeping his Belle closer, he for prides sake, allowed the most eligible men of Storybrooke to wait for his departure and pounce upon her like a pack of rabid wolves over a wounded doe.
Belle's name did not mean beauty for irony's sake. She was aptly name in that regard for every reason both inside and out.
Rage wished to fly from him and charge toward her and knock over every male in his path like ninepins, but he stifled the urge and turned back to Regina. Quelling his roiling emotions, her determined to focus on the foe in front instead of the woman behind.
He forced a shallow smirk. "I don't see why. In the end I know whose bed she'll be frequenting."
"By how ardently they look to be trying to win her impression, you might have to share your toy soon should one come out the victor." The harpy laughed cruelly causing the fiend's black blood to heat perniciously.
At that, the Dark One could not take the knowledge half the most eligible men on Storybrooke were trying to flirt with his Belle, and potentially succeeding. Enraged, he swiveled away from Regina, feeling the searing heat of her triumphant smile branding the back of his neck like iron and flame.
Helplessness swarmed Belle's senses drowning her under the press of smiling faces and gentlemanly greetings. Never in all her life had so many men been congregated about her. In her fathers castle many men sought to pander for her hand in marriage, but it was all so different in their old realm.
She couldn't keep up with the smiling faces nor the names that belonged to them. Confidence dwindled from her every second, making her wish to run into the arms of the Dark One.
"Miss French, a moment please." Mr. Gold's low, dangerous voice echoed out like thunder over the waves of men.
It seemed almost within a blink of an eye the throngs cleared and drifted away like smoke upon the air. His dark tone was akin to a dragons roar bellowing over the baying of wolves. If they were wolves then he was a dragon, commanding respect by his mere voice. While they would have liked to continue vying for the beauty's attention, having the Dark One hovering over them was not a fanciful prospect.
His face was marred in a dark frown as he limped stoically towards his Belle. Regina was no doubt looking at them and his actions were only proving her right; he did have a certain soft spot for the beauty.
Casting a small glance over the receding men, he turned back to her, his brown eyes flashing with the leftovers of his fury. "Was I interrupting something." He asked coolly, his tone a sliver of pure, blood chilling ice.
To his surprise Belle shook her head and swipes a stray tendril of hair from her face in relief. "Thankfully yes. You saved me from that morass of horrid pick-up lines and awkward flirting."
"Glad I could be of service." He quipped wryly, making a giggle tumble from Belle's lips.
He was the only one who could ever bring laughter so quickly bubbling from her heart, or make a grin so suddenly play upon her lips. That fact was not lost upon the beauty who withstood a barrage of men without once giggling or a genuine smile.
Her laughter made the annoyance weaken in his heart and almost made him forget of the grinning Regina…almost. Smiling slightly he let his eyes trail down her lithe figure once more
A thrill coursed down his spine simply knowing with satisfaction she belonged to him. Beauty half the most eligible men in Storybrooke sought would depart home with him. "Are you ready to leave?" He inquired with one more look around the dull get together.
The part was not much save the little clusters of people like the town DA and a few more notables who controlled wealth in the town.
"Quite." She grabbed his arm, not caring who saw and sidled close to him as though he were her shield to keep back the hungry stares of those who sought to win her besotted affection. "You know I think I've had enough of Storybrooke's elite. It's nice and all, but I'd rather just be in a sweater and jeans and be in the living room with you."
Surprised by her words, uttered so sincerely and honest as though she were telling the truth, the Dark One did not even notice Regina's gleaming stare as they left the party and began the drive home.
The entire trip, while not very long, was a silent one, as both contended tenaciously with their thoughts like battling a foe. But not even a car ride in stony quiet could beat back the thoughts of one another; not when the other was so close, they could hear their breaths.
As they arrived home, Rumpelstiltskin, the perfect gentleman, walked her arm and arm to the door as though he were leaving her there after a date. A smile valiantly tried to bloom upon his features at the thought, but he supressed it staunchly.
One porch light remained on out side the darkened home like a beacon in a sea of blackness. Moths danced entranced around their glass and bulb idol as the Dark One and his Belle stood outside the door.
Both knew what would occur once he unlocked the door and they stepped inside the dim manse.
She would be his slave.
He would be her master.
The spell of their 'date night' would be broken into un-mending pieces like and enchantment by a fairy godmother. What little tenderness and feeling they had deemed to display would once again be locked up behind the walls of their hearts leaving a gaping whole where something was missing, but they dared not fill it.
Rumpelstiltskin looked about the darkness nervously before he spoke sagely. "I hope you enjoyed the evening."
"I did." Belle nodded bashfully. "It was generous of you to take me."
Gold allowed a small chuckle to escape his lips. "I am afraid not much of me qualifies being labeled generous."
"Oh it does." Protested Belle. Tapping her finger against his suit she grinned kindly all the while forcing herself not to run her hand up the expensive fibers of his suit and wrap her arms about her neck. "You just can't see it."
Simply staring down at the only woman who had never wrenched her lips in a sneer of him, the Dark One felt regret of a wasted night run through his heart. Coward that he was, if he had made it an official date with her, dared to be bold and brazen, he probably would have kissed her at that moment.
Instead he unlocked the door and the spell was shattered...
Belle was only too happy to abandon her dress by the time she entered her room on the second floor of Rumpelstiltskin's home. Folding it away carefully into her small closet, she slipped into a comfortable pair of blue pajamas that clung nicely to her figure.
Before she retired for the night however, she sat upon the wide bed and stared fondly at the picture of her and the Dark One taken by the newspaper reporter.
Sighing with frightening new emotions she felt for her master, the beauty placed the picture upon her night stand before she crawled tiredly under the thick covers. With one quick flip, she turned off the light and closed her eyes, determining herself on the morrow to find a frame for the one special instance of the night.