A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. I got a new job and holy cow has it been crazy. But I have managed to finish a couple of chapters so I wanted to go ahead and post them. They may not be the best I've ever created, but I really needed the stress relief of writing. Hope you guys enjoy and remember I'm totally accepting prompts! Waffle Bear kind of prompted this one, but I have something more in mind for Jefferson and Victor down the road.

Generally speaking, this wasn't the type of thing Rumpelstiltskin usually allowed himself to get involved in. Truthfully, he loved Christmas and everything that went along with the holiday. However, he typically stayed away from any social obligations the holiday brought forth. Aside from the annual Christmas feast at the castle, the solitary young man tried to keep to himself as much as possible during the respite from the normal hustle and bustle of the castle.

All of that changed since he met Belle.

Which is how Rumpelstiltskin found himself sitting in the Ravenclaw common room late Christmas Eve night. The worst part of it being the six other people sitting around the fire along with him and his best friend. Belle had been the brains behind calling this little gathering, even going so far as to get students from other houses permission to spend Christmas Eve in the Ravenclaw tower. The bright-eyed bookworm was a persuasive little vixen when the mood struck her.

"So now that Rumpelstiltskin has graced us with his presence, can we get on with it?" Jefferson asked obnoxiously from his position leaning against Victor's armchair closest to the fire.

Sticking her tongue out at the anxious offender, Belle answered with all the grace she could muster. "Pipe down, Jeff. It's not like you've got some pressing matter to attend."

Providing his friend with a hardy nudge, Victor threw in his own two cents. "Yeah, no one in their right mind would choose to spend Christmas with a git like you."

"And yet here you are," Jefferson countered.

"I said right mind."

"It's okay boys, you're both pretty," Regina (who'd decided against going home to her mother for Christmas) interjected with a snarky smirk. "Now listen to the bookworm."

Belle provided Regina with a warm smile as the former slid into the seat next to Rumpelstiltskin. With a large bowl of popcorn in her lap and several spools of thread at her feet, Belle welcomed everyone. "I figured that since none of us can spend time with our families, we could spend tonight together."

The circle of people surrounding them contained no one that Rumpelstiltskin would ever have personally chosen to spend such a significant night with. In fact, he'd really hoped for a night alone with Belle, but this was what she wanted. And he was finding that he couldn't really deny her anything.

Belle continued speaking, pulling Rumple from his thoughts. "Anyway, I thought it might be fun to participate in a little Christmas tradition."

Rumpelstiltskin couldn't help the quiet swear that passed from his lips making all faces turn to him. Cheeks burning slightly, he placed his comment firmly before the group. "Please tell me this isn't another silly American tradition like the one you forced us to suffer through last month."

Smirks from Tilly, Emma, and Neal helped the timid young man realize that he wasn't alone in that particular fear. Belle's pout though almost undid his mock ire.

"You loved Thanksgiving," Belle reminded him and the others. "You ate more food then, than I've ever seen you eat before. And no this isn't like that. Loads of people do this all over the world… Not just in America at least." The last was said with a sheepish grin that brought a snort from even Regina.

"So, you just pull the string through the popcorn?" Neal asked picking up a spool of the thread.

Belle nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, almost just like needlework."

"I've never been taken with needlework," Regina's Slytherin friend Mal piped in for the first time.

"It's easy as-" Belle started but was cut off by an excited Jefferson.

"Oh, come now Mal," the infuriatingly handsome fourth year crooned. "It's not that difficult. With a little cunning I'm sure you can handle it."

"With a little wit, I'm sure you could actually handle being useful for once. Unfortunately, we are what we are," Mal snipped back.

With a feigned hurt cascading across his features Jefferson started to launch into one of his, certainly interesting, diatribes about the values of his own intelligence. Luckily for those gathered, Victor wasn't having it. "For once in your life Jeff, shut up and listen to someone else talk."

"But I so enjoy hearing a sane person speak," the other pouted.

"Then it's a good thing Belle is talking."

Taking that as her cue, the bookworm jumped back in. "Anyway, what I was saying is that it's a simple matter really. You just thread the needle through a soft spot in the kernel and then pull. We can put needles on both ends of the string and everyone can work with a partner."

"Then what do we do with them?" a thoroughly interested Emma asked.

Shocking even himself it was Rumpelstiltskin who answered the girl. "We'll put it on the tree."

"Question," Jefferson called with his hand in the air.

Belle barely contained her eyeroll as she looked over at him. "Yes?"

"Are we allowed to eat the popcorn?"

Rumpelstiltskin chuckled at the surprise that momentarily cut Jefferson off as he the whole group responded, "NO!"

As everyone got to work on their strands of popcorn, Belle grabbed a wireless radio and found a Christmas station. Settling back in next to Rumpelstiltskin she placed a hand on his knee. Leaning in the beauty lowered her voice until only he could hear her. "Thank you for doing this Rumple. It means a lot and I know it's not easy for you."

Hands well practiced with a needle and thread stuttered at the intimate contact and kind words. Looking up he found himself lost in the deep blue seas of Belle's eyes. "If it makes you happy, I'm happy."

"You're sweet. Don't forget that."

Tucking her knees up under her, Belle snuggled in close to him as she grabbed the other end of their popcorn string. Surrounded by the chaos of Jefferson, Tilly, and Neal chucking popcorn at one another, Regina and Mal sneaking a piece to eat every other kernel, and Emma and Victor's studious work Rumpelstiltskin felt something odd settle in his chest. With Belle pressed against him solid, warm, and constant that feeling began to grow.

For just a moment, Rumpelstiltskin allowed himself to relax around these people. Within the safety of his Hogwarts common room malicious wizards, bastard fathers, troublesome bullies, and the worries of the world seemed far away. For once in his life, he felt safe and wanted. Next to Belle Rumpelstiltskin felt like he was home.

A/N: Thanks for reading and I hope you had as much fun reading as I did writing!