Stainless steel was supposed to be a good thing.

It was supposed to magically solve all your problems, but when Belle took it upon herself to try out the stove, it caused nothing but chaos. She was toiling as she had in the Dark Castle, grunting and muttering angrily, covered in all types of sauce, her hair tangled, but her eyes were bright and he laughed at her.

Granted, they were probably bright with anger, or frustration, or annoyance, but they shone with all the glory of someone who hadn't been locked away in dark places for almost half a lifetime. She blew a stray strand of dark hair out of her face and gave him a level look, one eyebrow higher than the other, as if daring him to say anything, and he turned on his heel and walked right out.

The dinner was horrendous, of course, reminding him of Belle's first meal at his castle, but he ate all he could, going for seconds as she stared at him from him across the table, an incredulous look on her face.

He chewed the burnt food with a satisfied smile and if anyone ever said Rumplestiltskin was a bad liar, they were dead wrong.

If anyone ever said Rumplestiltskin was a bad true love, they were just dead. He would never let those false words reach Belle's precious ears.

Please R&R! ;)