a/n: Thanks everybody for all the lovely reviews! I do enjoy reading them :)
Belle sat and stared at the door long and hard, watching, waiting to see if Rumplestiltskin was going to come back, even though he just told her he would be out most of the day. She just preferred to make sure he was gone before she let her guard down. But the door remained unmoving; he wasn't coming back right now.
"See, I told you Papa wouldn't be that bad," Baelfire noted, bringing Belle attention to him.
Belle looked over at the boy and smiled slightly. He was very optimistic. "Yes, he was…calm." That was really the best word she could come up with. No, he didn't scream and shout at her, but he had threatened her in a way. He had basically told her she would be his prisoner for life. She wasn't quite sure the description "not bad" suited Rumplestiltskin.
Still, he his demeanor, personality, temper and looks were entirely different than what she had encountered the day before. It raised a ton of questions that were begging to be answered. "Why is your father…" She paused, trying to think of the best way to word it. She didn't want to offend Baelfire. "I don't understand, what is going on? Why was he so different?"
Bae frowned and averted his gaze. "I…it's a long story and very complicated…"
Belle looked at him pleadingly, desperately wanting to know. "You can tell me. Perhaps if understood him better…"
"You might become friends?" Bae interrupted.
Belle thought it was a joke at first, but when she glanced up at the boy he looked hopeful. "Oh…Bae…I don't think we could ever be friends. After what he's done…"
Bae sighed and looked down at his plate. He seemed a little down heartened, but his tone still had some optimism in it. "I know he may seem horrible at first…but that's not really him. Deep down my father is kind, caring…he would never hurt anybody."
Belle frowned, feeling sympathy for the boy. He had such faith in his father, but she just couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe there was a man behind the monster. Or could she? Right before he left she had gotten a glimpse of one… But there was no way Rumplestiltskin could ever be the way Baelfire described.
She was about to ask Baelfire to elaborate on his father when the doorbell rang.
"Oh! Customers!" Baelfire exclaimed, jumping up from the table and almost knocking his plate to the floor. Belle was just thankful it wasn't Rumplestiltskin, but then again he wouldn't use the doorbell.
Bae motioned for Belle to get up too and follow him. "Quick, let me show you where all the supplies are so we both can get to work!"
Belle sighed as she took her napkin out of her lap and put it on top of her plate. The conversation about Rumplestiltskin would just have to wait. Well, it wasn't like she didn't have all the time in the world…
Belle stood and took her plate along with Baelfire's to the kitchen even though there was no room left for them remotely near the sink. Gods how was she ever going to get this place clean? Where would she even start? It was all so overwhelming.
After quickly showing her the supply closet, Bae bid Belle good day-with promises to meet up with her later-and ran off to tend to the customers.
Belle groaned as she looked in the closet. The inch of dust and spider webs alone that covered everything: the brooms, mops, buckets, etc., told her this stuff hadn't been touched in a very long time-if ever. She was shocked they actually had a cleaning supply closet. Well…at least she knew where to start. She couldn't clean any of the other rooms until the cleaning supplies were in order.
Getting right to it, she worked diligently for about an hour until everything in the closet was spotless and ready to be used. For that short period of time, she had been so focused, so concentrated, that she almost was able to forget everything that had just happened to her. Almost.
As she was wiping away the last bit of grime on the broom handle, she out of nowhere fell to her knees and burst out in tears. This was to be her life. This. The maid of some insane wizard who would treat her poorly and had probably never picked anything up a day in his life. She would never get her memories back; it was obvious he wasn't going to help her. When he admitted he believed her-about losing them in the first place-he had made no mention of helping her, nor was she ever going to ask him. She was doomed. There was no hope. Unless she found a way to escape she would be here forever. And since he was a powerful wizard-she had no idea how long forever could be. For all she knew he could keep her from aging, keep her from ever dying. There would be no out.
But she was going to have to pull herself together and make the most of it. Somehow she could find some happiness here-maybe. She tried to think of all the positives. At least she wouldn't be alone. She would have Baelfire as company and he was a sweet boy. Again, how could he possibly be that monster's son? And then there was Lumiere… he seemed friendly enough. There was a roof over her head…clothes…well she didn't know about that. All she had brought with her was the bluedress she was wearing and a cape. Would he provide her with more? She certainly couldn't keep wearing the same dress everyday. After a while, especially cleaning this mess, it would be ruined until it eventually became rags.
Then there was food…she would be well fed…as long as she ate with Rumplestiltskin. That wasn't really a positive. She didn't want to be anywhere near him. Yet, she had already agreed to it. She just hoped he would hold up to his promise.
Finally calming down, she wiped away the messy tears, stood, and brushed herself off. She decided to make a vow to herself then. She was not going to waste away wallowing in fear of this beast. If he confronted her again she would stand up to him. What more could she lose? She would find a way to have some kind of happiness here-if only a little-and she would never give up trying to find a way to get her memories back. Besides…she still had a little hope. There was her deal with Lumiere. Maybe he would come through, but that was only if she was able to break the curse on him. And she didn't even know where to begin doing that. She had no knowledge of magic, but she wasn't going to lose hope.
The rest of the day Belle focused on the kitchen. If she was going to have to cook every meal then she would need a decent and sanitary place to do it in. However, as she looked it over, she knew she wasn't going to be able to get it all done in one day, despite the fact that she could work at a fast pace. So, the only thing she could do for now was to get it where she could move around in it; take it one step at a time.
By the time it came time to cook dinner, Belle had managed to clean out the oven so she could use it. The mountain of dishes had been washed and set aside, but not put away. She would have to find places for them later. She wasn't going to stick them in dirty cupboards.
By the end of it, however, the dishes weren't the only thing to get washed. Her dress, her undergarments, and even her hair were completely drenched. Not only that, but she had nothing else to change into. Yet, she was not going to ask Rumplestiltskin for anything, so she was just going to suffer through it. Wringing out her skirts the best she could, she began to cook dinner, trying to ignore how cold she was and how much her feet still ached.
Once dinner was prepared, she collected all the hot steamy food on one large tray and made her way to the Main Hall where they had dined in earlier. She had planned on cleaning that room next, but given the state of the kitchen she had not had a chance. Oh well…it would be the next room on her list after she finally finished the kitchen.
As she approached the Main Hall, she could hear voices. Rumplestiltskin was home. She felt a little dissapointed, having hoped that perhaps he would get stuck out late so she wouldn't have to deal with him.
With her hands full of food, she partially pushed the door open ready to enter, but paused when she heard Bae and Rumple's conversation. They were arguing. Now was not an opportune time to enter, despite how much her arms screamed at her to put the tray down.
Belle briefly tried to decide what to do…she didn't want to eavesdrop although her curiosity was getting the best of her. Afraid to let the door close because they might hear it, she decided to take a peek and see what they were arguing about.
Rumple was standing there looking at his son painfully. He still looked like an ordinary man, which flooded Belle with relief, but it was clear he was still upset.
"How could you forget to tell me, son?" Rumple asked, shaking a sheet of paper in front of him.
"I'm sorry Papa! I really am! I just forgot!" Bae's voice was pleading.
"You have to stop being so careless! They came again today and took me by surprise…luckily I was able to talk them into coming back tomorrow…"
They? Who were they? What was Rumple talking about? Belle had thought he was angry-and he was-but it was more of an 'I'm frightened' kind of angry. She was intrigued and wanted to know more. Unfortunately as Rumple started his next sentence, a glare from Belle's tray caught the dim light flashing on his face and grabbing his attention.
"If they find out about you…" Rumple's eyes shot up and his expression softened. "Belle…"
She smiled weakly and pushed the door all the way open. Was he going to be upset with her about eavesdropping? It didn't look like it. "Dinner's ready," she said holding up the tray, her arms burning in agony.
"Please, come in," Rumple offered, smiling. He glanced over at Bae as he tucked the paper into his jacket pocket. "We'll finish this discussion later. Go wash up."
Bae nodded and ran off to the other room to obey his father, flashing Belle a look as he went by to show her he was relieved she had entered when she did.
Belle hesitantly took steps toward the table, trying not to keep her head down. She was determined not to be frightened of Rumplestiltskin-although she knew she should be-so she was going to look him in the eye whenever possible.
His clothes were still as immaculate as when he left that morning. No wrinkle in sight, no hair on his head out of place. And despite what she just witnessed he seemed to be in good spirits and even acting as if he was happy to see her. No that couldn't be… She walked closer toward the table, which was still partly cleaned off-thank goodness.
As she neared him, he started to say something but halted when he got a good look at her soaking wet dress and her hair that was plastered to her head.
"Belle! What have you been doing?" he exclaimed.
Belle set the tray down and rolled her eyes. "Washing dishes," she replied curtly.
He examined her closely, seeing how drenched she really was, "Were you washing them or joining them for a soak in the tub?"
Belle wasn't sure if that was a real question, or if he was just mocking her abilities. "For your information, I was washing them." She stood up straight and turned to go collect the utensils to set the table with. "And if you didn't have a years worth of dirty dishes, then perhaps I wouldn't be in this condition. Do you just buy a new set every time you eat a meal?" She could ask deriding questions too.
He didn't answer her question however, but continued to focus the state she was in. "Why didn't you change once you were through?"
Really? He was asking her that? For some reason that question rubbed her the wrong way. Swirling back around on him, she threw her hands up in exasperation. "Because I don't have any more clothes!" she exclaimed, blowing up at him just a little. It would probably come back on her, but in that moment she didn't care. "Or didn't you know that?" It wasn't like she brought a giant suitcase with her. She just had one little brown bag-where was that by the way? Hopefully it was still where she left it.
There was a moment of silence between them and Belle stood there trying to calm herself as she continued to stare at Rumple challengingly. To her surprise, he broke eye contact first, looking down at the floor as he held his cane between both hands. He looked ashamed. "I'm sorry," he said, so softly she almost didn't hear him.
It caused her to take a step back, not because of fear but astonishment. He apologized. What was happening? Before she could think more on it, she noticed his hand move just slightly and suddenly she didn't feel so cold or bogged down by extra weight.
Glancing down, she realized why. Magic. He must've used magic to dry her. Her dress looked fresh and almost brand new. Reaching up, she ran her hands through her hair, feeling it was dry too.
She looked over at him slack jawed, unable to believe what just happened and there it was again…that thing glistening in his eyes. That thing she didn't recognize.
"Th…thank you," she stuttered out bringing a small smile to his face.
He looked so much younger when he smiled, so much handsomer. There was that word again. Gods why did she keep thinking that? Yes, he looked very handsome, but the same couldn't be said for what was on the inside.
Bae came bursting back in the room, causing the two to break eye contact.
"Mmmm, what did you make Belle?" Bae asked eagerly as he ran over to the table. "It smells delicious."
"Chicken, potatoes, and vegetables, I hope that's alright," she answered, locking eyes with Rumple again.
There was a twinkle in his eye and he looked hopeful. Had she done something to make him feel that way? It was just a simple meal. She didn't know what they liked, so she stuck with something easy. Over time she knew she would learn what were their favorites and what they hated.
"It's perfect," Rumple replied.
Belle nodded. "I'll go grab the plates so we can eat before it gets cold."
She hurried off to the kitchen to do just that, confused about the little flutters she was feeling in her stomach. Why did he look at her like that? Like…like…oh she didn't even know how to explain it because she didn't know what it was. And he dried her clothes. Why was he acting so different? So nice? Like he cared about her well being?
Not wanting to keep them waiting, she grabbed the plates and utensils and returned to the Main Hall where the three of them had dinner together. It was pleasant and quiet, much more so than breakfast. If it was like this all the time, then Belle knew she wouldn't have an issue eating with him every night.
Once finished, Belle collected everybody's plates and took them back to the kitchen. There she immediately washed them, not wanting the kitchen to get anywhere near the state it had been in before.
When Belle returned to the Main Hall, she saw Rumple was sitting in his wingback chair next to the fireplace. Baelfire was nowhere to be seen.
"Please, join me," Rumple called from the other side of the room without turning to see her. Somehow he could sense she was there.
Belle hesitated at first, but even though he said please, she assumed it was an order. Meandering over to him, she clenched her hands in her skirts nervously. He looked up at her and smiled softly. "Sit," he commanded.
Belle inhaled a shaky breath and glanced around seeing there were no other chairs. Where did he want her to sit? The floor was her only option. Well she didn't really mind, so she took a seat in front of the fire keeping her distance from Rumplestiltskin.
"Good evening, madomioselle," came an all too familiar French accent.
Belle turned to see Lumiere's face in the fire and she smiled. She hadn't spoken to him since Rumplestiltskin's outburst. "Good evening Lumiere."
"I trust you are finding your way around the castle?"
"Well…I haven't had a chance to explore yet. Maybe I will soon…" She shot a glance over to Rumplestiltskin wondering if he minded that she was engaging in conversation with Lumiere, but he didn't seem to care.
And she couldn't help but stare once her eyes landed on him. The firelight danced off his features just right making him looked distinguished and even more attractive than he already was. He was deep in thought-she could tell by the way his eyes were scrunched up and how his gaze was engrossed in the fire. There were a few deep wrinkles in his face; he must do this a lot. She wondered again how old he was. He looked to be about in his late forties, but then again it could just be a disguise. The legends of Rumplestiltskin were much older than forty or fifty years.
"I could give you a tour…" Lumiere continued, taking Belle away from her thoughts of Rumplestiltskin. "I know everything there is to know about the castle."
Belle smiled warmly at Lumiere. "That would be lovely." She wasn't exactly sure how he was going to give her a tour since he was nothing more than a fire, but she wasn't going to ask-not now at least.
"What made you choose what you prepared for dinner?" Rumplestiltskin asked out of nowhere.
It took Belle aback a little, thinking that was such an odd question. "Um, I just…I didn't know what you liked, so I chose something easy that I knew most people would eat…" There really wasn't much more to it than that.
He nodded looking sad again. "What memories do you have?"
Another question out of nowhere and it was an abrupt change of subject. She felt a little awkward talking about it and her gaze fell the floor. The question made all her feelings of being lost and alone surface. "None…I mean I remember how to do things like cook…but I don't know who I am, where I came from, who my friends or family is…anything…"
"And how did you come to use the name Belle?"
"I…uh…I heard it and just thought it was nice. I needed to go by something," she lied. Well it wasn't a total lie. She just did not want to tell him what really happened. How she woke up in a girl named Belle's house and escaped before she was caught. Maybe she should have chosen a different name…
He was deep in thought again, but this time he was staring at her and she was doing well to hold her own under his scrutinizing gaze. Her cheeks were flushing-why were they flushing?
Finally his gaze fell away from her and he turned serious. "Well, if you're going to stay here my dear, first things first…you will keep no secrets from me."
Secrets? He thought she had secrets? How could she have secrets when she didn't even know who she was?! Oh gods…did he know she didn't tell him everything about the name? "I don't have any secrets," she told him sternly and crossed her arms over her chest. What was the big deal about the name anyway?
He leaned down toward her and smirked as if he knew she wasn't telling the truth, that he knew something she didn't. "Then what's that in your pocket?"
Belle cocked an eyebrow at him. What was he talking about? She didn't have anything in her pocket and even if she did how would he know? Instinctively, Belle reached down just to make sure and gasped when she felt that there was indeed something there. "What's this? I don't remember…" she started to say as she slowly pulled a red piece of folded up paper out of her pocket.
"Give it me," Rumple demanded and Belle didn't hesitate to oblige.
When he reached out to grab the paper from her, as soon as his fingers touched it, sparks shot out causing both of them to release their hold on it. The paper flittered to the floor, opening up as it fell. When it landed Belle could see an odd drawing on it, one that burned itself into the wood within seconds. The paper slowly disintegrated, leaving only a charred picture on the floor and a tiny fume of black smoke that dissipated in the blink of an eye as the mark cooled.
Belle leaned over to get a better look. It didn't resemble anything-just a bunch of circles and lines.
"Scorch marks, master," Lumiere said observing from the fireplace. "Can you read them?"
Rumple nodded and his face was serious. "It's a form of ancient magic, but I can read it just fine. You should know better than to mess with me. If I can't have you no one will. You're heart shall soon belong to me." He sighed heavily and leaned back a little. "It's from the Evil Queen."
"The Evil Queen? Who is she?" Belle asked wanting to know. More importantly she wanted to know how this Queen put something in her pocket…but like with everything else she couldn't remember.
"No one you need to worry about," Rumple replied. He bent down towards her and for some odd reason Belle thought he was doing it to be closer to her, but then his eyes fell to the floor where the scorch mark was.
Belle watched as he wiped his hand over the mark making it ignite again. It flared up with smoke and Belle just assumed it was ruining the floorboard only more, but when he removed his hand it was completely gone. There was no sign it had ever even been there.
"Wow…it…it's gone," Belle noted in awe at watching him perform magic.
Rumplestiltskin shook his head and sat all the way back in his chair. "The mark may be gone, but the spell is still there."
Belle wanted to ask more questions, to know more about it, but Rumple's next statement told her she wasn't going to learn anymore tonight.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to take care of," Rumple told her, dismissing her for the night. He looked more forlorn than she had seen him look yet. That message must've shaken him more than what met the eye. It was obvious especially when he glanced down at her with a hopeless look on his face, like he was at a lost for what to do. But just as soon as she saw the emotion it was gone, his expression turning stoic as he stood from his chair. "But first, let me show you to your room."
Belle's head shot up in surprise. "My room?" she confirmed, furrowing her brow.
A playful smirk formed on his face. "You'd prefer to return to the dungeon?"
"No," Belle replied without hesitation. She never wanted to see that dungeon again.
"Then follow me." To her surprise, he held out his hand to help her up.
She looked between his hand and him, trying to determine if he would get angry if she denied his assistance. She had done worse that day and he still hadn't yelled at her, so she didn't think it would rouse any reaction out of him.
Choosing to deny his offer, Belle nodded and stood to her feet all on her own, ready to follow him. She was weary about touching him, even though it was just a gentlemanly act. But she just couldn't push the memory out of her mind at the last time those hands touched her when he grabbed her by the arm and drug her down to the dungeon.
Contrary to her assumption, however, her action did arouse a reaction from Rumple, but it wasn't one she suspected. A flash of sadness and hurt crossed Rumple's face, before he looked at the floor deep in thought again. His hand lingered in the air briefly, until he placed it a top his other hand on his cane. It momentarily made Belle fell guilty. Maybe she should have just taken his assistance.
Rumple didn't turn around to leave immediately. Instead he spoke, but it wasn't to her. "Lumiere, move the castle sixty miles to the west and have some hot water prepared before I return from showing Belle to her room."
"Yes, master. It shall be done," Lumiere replied obediently.
Rumple gave Lumiere a curt nod before turning and beckoning Belle to follow him.