T. G. I. F

Chapter 10

"Rumpel-stilt-skin" Belle said while yawning. She had just woken up half an hour ago and had changed into a light purple dress, deciding to skip breakfast so she could have it with Rumple. Right after she said his name purple smoke slowly began to revolve around her. He's home. Before she was completly covered by the smoke her father came into her room and froze when he saw her. In an instant, she was gone. The next second she was in the great hall in front of him. He was smiling at her. She couldn't help but smile back.

"Hello Belle."

"Hello Rumple. Did your deal go good?"

"Well you could say it went, without a chase." Rumple said before he giggled.

Belle didn't understand his little joke, but she was in a good mood so she decided to not ask about it. As she walked towards him her stomach growled.

Rumple looked down at her, "Hungry?"

"Yes, actually. I thought I'd wait to have breakfast with you." she said with a smile.

"Aww, how considerate. Come, sit." Rumple pulled Belle's chair out for her.

Once she sat in it he pushed her towards the table. "Thank you Rumple."

"My pleasure dearie. Now," he sat down, "what are you in the mood for?"

"Oh, something simple like oatmeal or toast."

"Very well." with a wave of his hand food appeared in front of them. "Eat up."

After they finished their breakfast, Belle made them both tea; making his in the chipped cup. She often wondered why he used this cup when there were plenty of other non-chipped ones. But she wouldn't question his ways. When she handed him his cup she remembered about her father seeing her leave.

"Rumple?" Belle asked concerned.

"What is it dearie?" he asked before taking a sip.

"I believe my father saw me leave...in the cloud of smoke." Belle looked at him worried.

Rumple had never thought Maurice would catch her so soon. But Maurice would never be able to do anything about it except maybe give Belle a time to return or be home. "It's no matter dearie."

"He might be mad at you or me." Belle wasn't as worried about herself getting in trouble, but she certainly was for Rumple. Her father would probably yell at him for taking her on a non-Friday. What if father got so mad that he forbide me to visit Rumple? That would be devastating for the both of us..wouldn't it? "What if I am not allowed to visit you?" Belle asked sadly.

Rumple hadn't thought all of this would happen so fast. It was suppost to be a nice, care-free day together, but now it had become a stressful one. He saw the worry and sadness in Belle's eyes and he did not like it one bit. "Belle, do you want to visit me on days besides Fridays?"

"Yes, I would like that."

"Then it shall happen, no matter what. Even if you are baracaded in your room by your father and I am forbidden to see you. We will...see each other, as frequently and as long as you want."

Belle smiled from his reassurance, "Thank you Rumple. So I guess I'll be saying your name a lot more often now."

"Indeed," he took the last sip from his cup, "perhaps you'll finally be able to actually pronounce it correctly."

Belle laughed, "Yes, practice makes perfect."

Rumple suddenly thought of a compliment. "Speaking of perfect, thank you for the wonderful tea. You make it better than I do dearie."

That earned him a smile and blush from Belle. "Your quit welcome Rumple. Do you mind if I grab a book from the library?"

"I don't mind, as long as you return to keep me company while I spin."

"Of course. I'll be back in a few minutes."

3 hours later

The two of them had sat in silent content except for the sound of the wheel spinning, but it did not bother Belle, in fact it was rather soothing. She had finished an adventure book already and was now reading a book of poems that were rather boring. So after reading twenty or so she started looking around the large great hall. There were many things in it: tapestries, swords, a fireplace with a white rug in front of it, the large wooden table, a large mirror in the corner that was covered up, a large glass cabinent with other small treasures, a small table that held a candleabra and clock, as well as two creepy looking puppets. Last but not least, Rumple's giant spinning wheel which she was seated next to.

Rumple noticed Belle's wandering eye and smiled at her. "What is it dearie? Boring book?"

"Yes," Belle kept looking around with her eyes before she stood up to go to her seat at the table, "Hey Rumple?"

"Yes Belle?"

"What's your favorite color?" Belle asked curiously.

What a random question. "Isn't it obvious dearie?" Rumple said as he pointed to the basket next to his wheel.

Gold, "Oh, well that makes sense." Belle said before sitting down.

"What brought about that question? Was it your wandering eyes?" Rumple asked as he started spinning again.

"Its just that...I know so little about you." She heard him stop spinning, "Just looking around this room alone I feel so confused and curious, I wonder what I'd feel while looking at the rest of the castle."

"I would think more confused and curious." Rumple joked.

Belle chuckled, "Probably. I just want to ask you so many questions and know about you're past."

Belle couldn't see but she heard him grip the wheel tightly because it creeked.

"You don't want to do that dearie. You might not think of me in the same light."

"It can't possibly be that bad." Belle turned to look over her shoulder.

He turned around so she could see him fully, "Oh, you have no idea."

There was a look in his eyes that Belle had never seen before and it frightened her, so she looked away from him. He noticed her avoiding eyes and stood up.

"So...What about yours?" He asked which made Belle give him a questioning look.

"What is your favorite color?" Rumple asked in a lighter tone as he walked to the table and sat in his chair at the end.

"Blue. The color of the ocean." Belle said with a small smile.

That was quickly becoming his second favorite after looking at her eyes so often.

Belle continued, "Even though I've never actually seen it."

Rumple couldn't believe she had never seen it before. Well he had seen it only because he traveled to different lands so often for deals. Now that he thought about it, he had never really looked at it properly when he was around it; just noticed it. He looked at Belle and realized she may never get a chance to see it since her town was landlocked and she was too poor to travel very far. An idea struck him.

"Tell you what. Let's make a deal. If you keep me company every day til your next birthday, I'll take you to see the ocean." Rumple said with his fingers interlocked.

Belle was shocked to say the least. For her to be able to see the ocean on her next birthday. And all she had to do was spend every day with the Dark One, who's company she enjoyed very much. This was a dream come true.

"Re-Really?" Belle asked with a growing smile.

Rumple couldn't help but smile a little at her happiness. "Really dearie."

"Seems like a one-sided deal to me." Belle said with a smirk.

He raised an brow, "One-sided?"

"Yes, well I get to see the ocean and I get to spend everyday with you. Makes me feel pretty lucky."

"Lucky? No dearie, there is no luck when it comes to me. I'm no leprechaun." he giggled, "Besides, I also get to spend everyday with you, and I consider that eqivalent to...a good half century's worth of deals."

Belle smiles then stands up and puts her right hand out, waiting for him to take it. "I guess it's NOT one-sided. But I want to add to this deal. Since I'm visiting every day, I want to get to know you better, so I get to ask at least one question about your past each day, and if you don't like it I can ask another. Deal?"

Rumple looked at her hand, then up at her. She actually wants to get to know me? Including my dark past and inner struggles. This woman really is brave. He gave her a quick smirk before taking ahold of her hand and gently shaking it. "Deal."

There was a loud knock at the door. Belle looked at Rumple questionably.

"Did you have a visitor planned for today?"

"No; no one except you." Rumple lowered his hand but still held onto hers.

"I'll go see who it is." Belle said while turning to go to the door.

When their hands seperated Rumple felt a ping of emptyness. He missed her touch. Suddenly he realized that the person at the door could be one of his enemies that might hurt Belle to get to him, so he quickly followed behind her to the door. As Belle opened the door, Rumple was turning the corner from the great hall, and saw it was none other than...her father.

"Belle? What on Earth are you doing here? Its not a Friday." Maurice asked angrily.

"Oh umm..." Belle was lost for words due to being scared and shocked from seeing her father there. To be honest Belle didn't think her father cared about her that much to come all this way to the Dark Castle, but now she saw he did.

"Hello Maurice." Rumple swooped in towards the two of them, "Your daughter was just here asking for my evaluation." He had thought of a lie at the top of his head. Deceiving people had become second nature to him.

"Evaluation?" Maurice looked completly lost.

"Of your bread of course." He giggled, "Whether it is too hard, soft, crunchy, etc. I said it was fine just the way it was, and she was actually about to leave." Rumple began pushing on Belle's back softly and she stumbled out of the door towards her father.

Before Rumple closed the door, Belle looked at him and he winked with a smirk on his face, knowing she'd be back tomorrow. She smiled lightly before she chased after her father.