Full Title: U is for Uncharacteristic, Unexpected, Unprecedented, Unbelievable and Umbrella
"You're not gonna believe this," Neal announced as he walked into the kitchen where his wife, Emma, was sitting at the counter reading the morning paper.
"What?" she asked without looking up.
"Something very uncharacteristic, unexpected and unprecedented just happened." He smirked as he said it, knowing that his words would get her attention.
"What?" she raised her head as he'd predicted. "You just learned three new multi-syllable words that begin with 'U'?
Neal snickered. "Even more unbelievable than that."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm stumped."
"My father texted me. Twice within the last 15 minutes."
"What!?" she asked for the third time that morning. "I thought he didn't text and didn't want to learn how. He's been so stubborn about it. Plus I'm not even sure you can text with that old flip-phone of his."
"Yeah, I know. Said something about lessons with the town librarian."
"That poor person. Can you imagine teaching a class with your father in it?" Emma shuddered.
Neal chuckled. "I can't picture him taking a class. He probably rigged some deal to get private lessons - either the librarian taught him to text or he would refuse to pay his overdue fines." He laughed at his own joke.
Emma laughed in spite of herself. She didn't want to tell him, but she saw more of his father in him everyday.
Gold looked at his watch and groaned. Where had the day gone? He'd had every intention of stopping by the library to see Belle, but what with the time spent amending and finalizing the contract he'd negotiated the previous week, and the sudden onslaught of tourists that always seemed to end up in his shop when it rained, the day had gotten away from him. It was now 7:00 PM and the library would be closed.
Belle… Just the thought of her brought a smile to his face. He'd wanted to tell her that he'd texted Bae that morning and share a laugh with her about how shocked his son had been. He could picture how she'd smile and how proud she would be of his progress.
Well, now it would have to wait until tomorrow. It was late and he was exhausted. His lack of sleep the previous night had caught up with him. He'd stop by the diner to get a take-out order of Granny's chicken noodle soup to take home. It was a comfort food that he craved on this damp rainy day. And maybe, after he'd had his dinner, he'd send Belle another text just to say hello.
He retrieved his over-sized umbrella, locked up the shop, and walked the short distance to the diner. His leg was killing him from the dampness, but walking was easier than getting in and out of the car in the rain.
When Gold opened the restaurant door, he was surprised to see that it was filled to capacity. He stepped inside and the loud din that had greeted him muted to a whisper. Gold grinned to himself. Evidently his reputation was still intact. He placed his umbrella in the receptacle that was located next to the door. He scanned the room, congratulating himself on how everyone was pretending to be too absorbed in their food to make eye contact with him. He finally turned to the counter, noting how the noise level began to increase behind him.
"Rum!" Her voice took his breath away even before he saw her. She was sitting on the end stool holding an iced tea in her hand.
"Belle… I, uh, I was going to stop by the library today, but the time got away from me."
"Really?" A look of hope appeared on her face.
"You're just in time, Gold," Ruby interrupted as she passed by them with an armful of plates. "Belle forgot her umbrella and needs someone to walk her home. She's been trying to wait out the rain, but it doesn't look like it's stopping."
"Ruby!" Belle shot her friend a warning look.
Ruby smiled widely. "No need for either of you to thank me." She turned to Gold. "A bowl of the chicken noodle to go?"
Gold debated changing his order just to prove her wrong, but he wanted that soup and hated to deny himself. "Yes," he answered through gritted teeth. "With bread instead of crackers," he added just to throw her off.
Belle's giggle brought his attention back to her. The tension in his body subsided as they smiled at one another. "I'd be honored to walk you back to the library, Belle. We can both fit very comfortably under my umbrella."
"Thank you, Rum. I appreciate it. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get soaked." She paused to look deeply into his eyes. "You were going to stop by to see me today?"
Gold was so lost in her eyes that he almost had to shake himself to answer. "Y-yes. I wanted to tell you something."
"Here you go." Ruby held the bag with his order out to him.
"Thank you, Miss Lucas."
While Gold settled the bill, Belle got down from her stool and stood waiting for him. It wasn't until they said their good-byes to Ruby and were standing by the door together, that Gold realized that the diner had gone silent again. His heart stopped. They were all watching him and Belle. Well, there was no reason for anyone to think they were leaving together. It could all be purely coincidental.
Belle, however, evidently had no such qualms. "Let me carry the bag for you. This way we can hold onto the umbrella together," she suggested while they were still standing inside the diner where the nearby patrons could hear her.
Gold's heart stopped again. Could this be another telltale sign? Belle didn't seem to mind that most of the townsfolk were witnessing her being very familiar with the town monster. Not that she had ever seemed to care. It's just that they'd been practically alone the other times they'd been in public together. He didn't have time to think too long on it before they were out the door and snuggled against each other under the umbrella with their hands clasped together on the handle.
"This is nice. I always liked walking in the rain." Belle's words calmed his nerves. "You were starting to tell me something when we were in the diner," she reminded him.
Gold forced himself to breathe. "Yes, I was." He immediately felt better as his thoughts turned to his son. "I texted Bae this morning." He paused to watch her reaction.
"You did? That's wonderful, Rum! I'm so proud of you!" she gushed.
A warmth enveloped him at her words. He allowed himself to enjoy it a second before continuing. "Needless to say, he was shocked."
Belle laughed and Gold laughed with her. "I told him that I'd had lessons from the town librarian." He smiled at her.
Belle's heart skipped a beat. Rum had mentioned her to his son. "He must have had a bunch of questions for you," she commented nervously.
"Most definitely. He's calling me tomorrow so that we can talk. It would take me all day to correspond via text." He laughed at himself.
Belle giggled as she thought back to Gold's method of texting combined with the limitations of his phone. "I'll have to agree with you on that."
"Oh, really? I thought I was your prize pupil." He pretended to be offended.
"Oh, you are. I promise." She felt happy and content even with her heart all aflutter.
They walked along silently for a short distance, reaching the covered entrance to the library much too soon. Belle reluctantly removed her hand from his and moved away from his side.
"Thank you, kind sir, for escorting me back home through the storm." She curtsied to him as she had when he'd given her the rose.
"It was my pleasure, my lady." He attempted to bow, but the umbrella got in the way causing them both to laugh.
"There's something I wanted to ask you." Gold lowered the umbrella and turned to face her. "It's about the text you sent me last night. I recognized the smiley face, my favorite," he teased her, "but I couldn't decipher the other one."
Belle's cheeks flushed. She'd been expecting his question, but now that they were face to face, she felt herself wavering.
"It was a smiley face blowing a kiss." She said it while looking directly into his eyes and her courage returned.
"Oh." Gold was not prepared for her answer. His mind turned blank as he searched for a response. A thought popped into his brain. It was a risk, but he knew he had to take it. "Do the brave thing," he repeated to himself.
"Well, then, l was remiss not to reply." His hand shook as he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips, grazing her knuckles with the gentlest of kisses.