Disclaimer: I do no t own any of the once upon a time characters
Thank you everyone for reading this Story! I am such a huge fan of Rumpbelle and am having loads of fun writing this story. Please review if you can. I would love to here what you think and am open to any improvements I need to make. This is my first fanfiction story so its great to here from ya'll. :)
Belle Finds Snow
"Rumpelstiltskin, why do you treasure that chipped cup? I remember a lot of things that we did together but I can't quite place that cup," Belle says. Rumpelstiltskin was certainly enjoying her company again. Usually, she had run off to the bar as soon as her shift was over but now that she had her memories, she had chosen to stay with him instead.
"Out of everything you could have forgotten Belle, this memory is one of the most important ones. You see, this is when I started to fall for you. Although, I spent more time denying it then anything else."
"Well, can you tell me?" she asks, leaning harder into his shoulder on the couch.
"Of course dearie," he pauses, finding a place to start. "You were serving me dinner a few days after I had brought you to the castle. You were looking particularly gorgeous that night with your hair down instead of in a ponytail. And I noticed, but brushed the thought off quickly. I remember that for some reason, whenever you served me dinner you always changed into your golden dress. I didn't understand why but I wasn't going to correct you for it. Because you were so beautiful," he says. Belle interrupts.
"I might have been looking nice that night but the cup is the theme, Ok?" she teases. "You weren't the only one brushing off thoughts on those nights." He grins.
"I suppose so dearie. Anyways, I decided to personally give you some chores. The castle was already a lot better without my intervention; however, I couldn't have you thinking that you could roam around doing whatever you wanted. So I told you to dust my chambers and polish my boots," he pauses. "Actually, I gave you a bunch of things to do. Its a wonder you remembered them all. You seemed a bit dazed as you poured me my tea so I added on one last chore."
"And what was that?" she asks, curious.
"I said you had to skin the children I brought for their pelts." Belle nearly falls off the couch. It was funny how she reacted, even though it was so many years later. He smiles. She glares at him.
"I did not see that coming. Ok, you can continue."
"Well dearie, it was just a quip. But you didn't know that at the time and dropped the cup on the floor. After I told you I was joking you bent down and picked it up. You looked at me, terrified and tried to convince me not to be angry. I let you go on for a bit, until you started tearing up and I couldn't handle that type of thing. So,-" she interrupt him.
"You told me it was just a cup. And then you poured tea in the chipped one and I was so confused I just tried to focus on the windows. But I could see your reflection and noticed you staring at me," she pauses. "That was awkward. I guess after that day I figured you didn't mind if we were in the same room so I started working in your spinning room in the afternoon so I could be with you."
"Well dearie, like I said before, you were beautiful." She smiles.
"Thank you. You were quite charming yourself, even if your quips scared the living tar out of me. I do remember now." She touches the edge of the cup. "Our symbol of love. Why did you keep drinking out of that cup? We weren't even friends at that point."
"I suppose not. But after being alone for so long I guess it just made me feel better to drink out of something as broken as I." Belle looks out the window and notices something white falling. She walks up, feeling the chill.
"Is that.." she stutters. "is that snow?"
"Of course Belle. Didn't you have snow in your kingdom?"
"No. The first time I saw it was the one time in the Dark Castle. But I was so busy reading I hardly noticed." She had never seen, felt, or other wise been in snow before? Wow, she had a lot to learn.
"Its getting late, Belle," he says.
"Ya. I suppose we should head to bed. Thank you for not giving up on me when my memories were wrong. I know I treated you cruelly at times."
"Well Belle, if anything I certainly got to know you better. I didn't know you had a single hard bone on your body before I tried to hold your hand. Or that idiot in the bar. That was hilarious."
"Ya, well, I will try to calm down a bit. The memories still linger and I feel on edge a lot more often."
"Actually, I think of it as an upgrade. I mean, we went from the Belle that thought everyone deserved a chance; to the more reasonable one that gives people chances on her time."
"I am going to try to ignore that comment," she says. Her face was faced towards the window, hiding the smile she held. It was a little entertaining being able to defend herself. He laughs, limping to his bedroom. The cold weather was causing his knee to hurt quite a bit. Now that he was human, he took painkillers ever eight hours or so. He couldn't wait to see Belle in the morning and give her the experience of a lifetime.
Blinding light shines through the windows, making Belle put a pillow over her head. Usually she was a morning person but today was an exception. Under the darkness of her pillow she turns on her phone. It was nine o' clock. Since it was Saturday she didn't have to worry about going to work, but seriously? To lazy to get up she puts the comforter over her head and rolls over. She hears her door creak open and freezes.
"Good morning beauty! Have you looked outside yet?"
"Not yet Rumple," she mumbles. And she wasn't planning to any time soon either. She was warm and cozy in her little cocoon. She hears the familiar click of his can on the floor. Why did he have to be a morning person today? He opens the top of her cocoon, revealing her face and also, letting cold air in. She curls up in a tighter ball.
"Its to cold," she whines teasingly. He giggles. She was adorable.
"It's colder outside dearie. Actually, I have quite the surprise for you." She rolls over, looking him in the eyes.
"If you expect me to dust your shop today I am getting a no," she says.
"Well, considering the fact that you never let dust even collect their I don't think that's a problem," he replies. "I do miss my dust collection though. I loved how it made the place so... Dark." He smiles down at her.
"You know what you can do with that?" she replies. He laughs, getting off her bed before she can push him off.
"At least your awake. I will have to start calling you sleeping beauty. Suites you better then Maleficent's girl."
"Just get out so I can get dressed," she says, rolling her eyes. She was having trouble coming up with her usual smart alack retorts.
"As you wish, sleeping beauty," he says, walking out.
"Its Belle!" she says, loud enough for him to hear. When most couples got back together they got all crazy about each other and couldn't let their partner out of their sight. But Belle and Rumpelstiltskin had quite an unusual relationship. They were fine going back to making each others lives as miserable as possible. She laughed at the thought. With his magic he got her way more often then she was able to give. But when she got the chance, he might as well have been dead. Finding a popping red sweater with jeans she gets dressed hastily. Looking in the closet for something to cover her ears she finds a white beanie to match with the sweater and white gloves. The thermometer reads 20 degrees and she wanted to be dressed appropriately. She walks out.
"Hey Rumple, does this look okay?" He turns around and gasps. Uh, duh. She looked stunning.
"Yes, my Belle. You look absolutely beautiful. But you are missing something. He uses magic to conjure up some a gold necklace and bracelet. Then, he makes her some white boots to go with the gloves and beanie. She gapes, looking down.
"Thank you. I love them." He comes over and puts the necklace on her and bracelet. She was so beautiful.
"Come to my room. I have a big mirror in their so you can see yourself."
"I should have guessed. You wear a suit almost every day."
"Sorry, I can't help it. I am simply to good looking to go without a mirror these days." She laughs.
"Well, I certainly never minded your form in the enchanted forest. Especially when you wore that red leather outfit. It brought out your eyes ...like rubies." He leads her to the mirror and she smiles.
"I like these new clothes. I actually feel like I can do something more with myself then marry and have kids."
"Belle, you were always meant to do something more then that. You changed a monsters heart and kept an entire castle clean." She turns around slowly.
"You are not a monster," she says. Standing up on her toes she kisses him. "Now, what about breakfast?"
"You read my mind," he replies. They warm up some toast and scrambled eggs and chow down.
"Rumple, why are all the blinds closed?" He takes her hand and leads her to the door. Putting a coat on her he opens it. She stands there, speechless. It was amazing! A huge blanket of snow lay as far as her eyes could see. She had read about it several times but never actually experienced it. This went beyond her wildest imagination. Like diamonds, the sun reflected off the little snow crystals, lighting up the entire town. It was pure. It was beautiful.
"Rumple...I don't know what to say. Its incredible." He stood in awe as she stared across the land. He had never particularly liked the snow. It made it harder to deal and people were always so grouchy in the winter. Always calling on him and then complaining about his offer. But she took anything he showed her and made it into something unimaginable. She was such a grateful person while he took everything for granted. He never deserved her.
"Well, why don't we go to the park dearie. I always enjoyed watching the children play in the snow." It reminded him of Bae. Even in the dark castle he admired the careless children. A few had even dared throwing a snow ball at him but being the dark one, he ruined their game and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. He looks over and finds Belle down at the car, waiting. He uses magic to transport himself there, blowing up a cloud of snow. She laughs.
"Taking the easy way out now are we?" He grimaces.
"Simply using my resources, that's all. Do not underestimate me," he warns teasingly. They drive to the park. Several children shuffle about, tall mounds of snow on each corner of the playground. Belle jumps out, eager to learn their little game.
"Hey guys! Get over here!" she yells. The kids run over, proud that an adult would join them. "Can you teach me how to play? This is my first time in the snow," she confesses, shyly. Three of the groups go back to their snow mounds while a bunch of girls drag her over to theirs. They explain quickly.
"Its boys against girls. All you have to do is throw snowballs at them. If you get hit three times, your out. Got it?" She nods her head. This sounded fun. In a furry snowballs fly through the air. Soon, half of the girls are out leaving the boys in the lead. She crawls out of the mound, running quickly to Rumpelstiltskin who is enjoying watching by the bench.
"You know the boys are cheating, right Belle?" he says. She rolls her eyes.
"I came to you for help. Can you conjure up something to help our team? The girls are working as hard as they can." She looks behind her to find the five remaining girls walking towards her. They had called time out. The boys also arrive, mocking their efforts. One of the older teen boys comes up and smacks Belle right in front of him.
"What's the cute girl doing on the losers team eh? Come on our side and we will give you something to be proud of," he says. This makes Rumple angry. Belle shoots him a warning look as he approaches the boy. He needed to learn a lesson, and Belle wasn't going to stop him.
"Is that how you treat a lady, boy?" he asks in a firm tone. Nobody touched his Belle. The boy looks him right in the eye, challenging him.
"Mind your own business Grandpa before you get hurt," he says. Oh...this boy was going to feel some pain. Belle grabs his shoulder and takes over.
"When you address my boyfriend, its a sir, got it?" she says. She glares at him sharply as he stares at her.
"You don't boss me around cutey. Now back off." She looks at Rumple, who is gripping his cane like his life depends on it.
"I will give you one last warning before I hand you off to Mr. Gold," she says. "You will treat us with respect, or he will have show you how. I don't think that's what you want so you better back off, or go somewhere else. This behavior won't be tolerated." He just stares. Finally Gold had had enough.
He would have to get creative because Belle wouldn't want the boy to suffer but he would manage.
He takes the boys wrist and forces him to the bench, using magic to hold him there. He still kept most of the strength he had back at the dark castle. The limp was the only physical change. The boy tries to move but finds that he can't. Entertained at last, Rumple sits at the other side of the bench, considering his options.
"Your going to have to stay their for a little while dearie," he says. Belle goes back to the game. It was so amazing to see her smile. But it was almost lunchtime and they would need to head back. He looks over at the boy and approaches him. He smiles at the terror on his face. Reaching down he takes his wallet, phone, and car keys.
"Those are mine. You can't take them by law."
"By law dearie? They won't care if a teenager goes a few days without his most prized possessions. I am afraid you have made the wrong person angry today. Back before I lived here, I would skin the people who treated us as such. But that isn't aloud here so..." he puts the wallet and keys and phone in Belles purse. "This will have to suffice. Anyways, when you want them back you will come to us in a respectful manner, and ask politely like the good little boy you are." Belle returns, concerned about what Rumpelstiltskin was doing with the boy. He takes her arm and leads her to the car, releasing the spell as they hopped in. She glares at him.
"What did you do? He looked terrified when I came over." Rumple leans over and grabs her purse, pulling out the items.
"With every ounce of restraint I decided to take away some of his prized objects. Don't worry, he will come back for them. They always come back dearie," he says.
"And when do I give them back?" she asks.
"Oh. You don't give them back. I do. He challenged my power and even worse, my beauty and he gets to come back, sulking, just like all the silly boys do." She sits back. She couldn't always correct him. So to keep the peace she just nodded her head. They arrive home and they both get out. Passing under a tree Belle "accidentally" pushes a branch, causing snow to fall on him. She dies laughing. He was so surprised. Wiping away tears she sees him throw a snowball at her. She tries to dodge it but he never missed. Many snowball's later and an absolutely hysterical Belle he stops, walking up to her. She brings her leg out, making him fall beside her.
"Gotcha," she giggles smiling.
"Never," he replies. Suddenly she is covered in even more snow, making it hard to move. After a few minutes of struggling she gives up.
"Ok. I can't get out."
"That is not the magic word dearie," he says, teasing her. She sighs. She loved him more then ever but he knew exactly what to say to irritate her and it drove her crazy.
"I surrender," she mumbles under her breath. He acts as if he doesn't hear her and lays their, staring at the sky.
"OK Rumple! I give up!" She says. It was getting cold and she was beginning to shiver. He looks over and notices her chilled body. Immediately he transports them into the house.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were getting cold. Go get a shower and I will have lunch ready when your out. That should warm you up," he says. She complies, starving and exhausted. It had been a long day and it was only one o'clock. She had a lot to learn about earth.