XXIII

Belle's Birthday (Part II)

Maurice caught her up in another embrace as the Dark One left them alone. "I still can't believe he allowed you to visit. I'm so happy to see you. I don't want to waste a moment, so tell me … what would you like to do today?"

Belle beamed at him. "I want to be outside. I've missed the smell of the salt in the air from the ocean mixed with my roses in the garden. Do you mind terribly?"

"That sounds lovely. We'll have a nice luncheon and catch up." He paused briefly to instruct a servant to bring tea and a light repast out to the garden before leading her outside. Once they were enjoying a stroll along the paths with the sun shining its warmth on them, he voiced his fears he hadn't been able to bear writing of in his letters. "Belle, how are you … really? Does he treat you well?"

"Papa, I've been truthful in my correspondence with you. Rumpelstiltskin has been very kind to me. He doesn't treat me as a servant at all. More as a companion than anything."

The king groaned, not missing the wistful tone of her voice or the little secret smile upon her lips. He'd wanted to ignore the soft look she'd given the imp in the council room, but it was glaringly evident now. "Oh, gods, you've fallen in love with him!" He dropped heavily upon a stone bench and ran a hand over his pale face. "This is all my fault. I never should have let you barter yourself away for the sake of the kingdom. What kind of father am I to have let this happen?"

Belle sat beside him and rubbed his back. "You're a good father and a better monarch, Papa. Besides … I took the matter out of your hands. It was my duty to the kingdom, my sacrifice."

"I don't hear you denying your feelings for him."

She took a deep breath, her heart fluttering madly as she finally admitted it to herself. If her father could see it, how could she continue to deny it. "I do love him."

"Belle!"

"Oh, Papa, stop," she admonished. "I do. How can I not when he's been nothing but wonderful to me? Even in the beginning I could see past his frightening façade. He reluctantly became my friend, and … I don't know, I just … I love him." She ignored his pained groan.

"This is not what I wanted for you, Belle. All I desire is your happiness, a husband and children," Maurice said, his mouth twisted into a grimace. "I can just see the little imps toddling about!"

She stifled a laugh. "Papa, it isn't like that between us."

"Yet! I've failed you."

Belle bit her lip thoughtfully as she tried to find a way to put her feelings into words he'd accept. "Papa, please … isn't that what I have? If I'd married Gaston as you wished, I would have allied the kingdom, but I never would have known a moment of true happiness. Though I'm not Rumpel's wife, he shows me every day how much I matter to him. Being with him makes me happy." And she was sure he could see the evidence of her joy in her eyes. "Look what he did for me today by bringing me to see you."

The king sighed mournfully. "How does he feel about you? Does he love you?"

Her smile faded a bit. "Sometimes I think he might, but he has an uncanny ability to hide himself from me. In a lot of ways, we're still getting to know one another."

"Have you told him?"

She shook her head. "No … I don't want to push. I don't know what happened to him in the past, but he doesn't hold himself in high esteem. I don't think he believes anyone can love him as he is," she murmured sadly. "I wish he could see himself as I do."

Maurice looped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a comforting embrace. "You are so like your mother, always able to see the good in those around you."

Belle shook off her father's arm and rose to her feet to take his hand and lead him towards the pavilion where their luncheon had been served. "Come, Papa. Enough about my master. Let's have tea and you can fill me in on what I've missed."

*.*.*

Rumpelstiltskin returned to fetch his little maid, anxious to see her. It had been over nine hours since he'd seen her, for the sake of the gods! He was finally directed to the king's private salon. The servant who pointed him in the right direction had been quaking with so much fear Rumpelstiltskin had barely been able to understand his gibberish. Maybe he should have glamoured himself again, he mused. Finding the correct corridor, he glared at the guard standing on sentry duty until the man opened the door and allowed him entrance.

He felt the tightness ease in his chest as he located her in the vast room, having tea with her father over a heated hand of Gin Rummy. He watched them unobserved for a moment, amused with their banter. It made him think of all the time he'd lost with his Baelfire. It also made him wonder if he should allow Belle to visit more often. At the time Maurice had called upon him to save Avonlea, he hadn't been impressed with the king, but seeing him with Belle now … well, perhaps he'd been hasty in his judgment. She was radiant in her happiness, and he wanted to see her like this more often.

The mage tucked the package he'd brought beneath his arm and cleared his throat just as she called Gin and hooted her victory. Her eyes immediately sought him out, softening as they came to rest upon him. "Rumpelstiltskin!"

"Hello, dearie … Your majesty."

Maurice smiled sadly, hating to see the time with his daughter come to an end. "Rumpelstiltskin, I want to thank you for allowing Belle to spend the day with me. I think it was more a gift for me than her."

"No matter," he answered, holding out the package to Belle. Her eyes lit with pleasure. "I … ah … I thought you might like to give it to him in person."

"You've just thought of everything today, haven't you, Master?" she teased, taking the package and handing it to her father. At the king's questioning look, she explained. "Your Yuletide gift, Papa. I won't be able to be with you, but I wanted you to have a gift to let you know I would be thinking of you."

He pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her brow. "Thank you, my darling." His eyes met Rumpelstiltskin's over her head, silently pleading with the Dark One to guard her heart. The mage must have taken his meaning clearly, for he responded with a nod. "Off you go now. I don't want to keep you any longer than …" his voice broke upon his unshed tears, his goodbye choking him.

Belle clasped her father's hands in her own and pressed her brow to his. "I will see you again, Papa. I love you."

"I love you, Belle."

With one more kiss to his cheek, she stepped into Rumpelstiltskin's arms and allowed him to pull her through the void. When the smoke cleared, he frowned down at her, brushing her tears away with the pad of his thumb. "This visit was supposed to make you happy, yet here you stand in tears. If I had known –"

She pressed her fingers to his lips to cut him off. "They're happy tears, Master. This was the best gift I've ever received. Thank you," she murmured, reaching up to brush her lips to his weathered cheek.

He stepped back, the breath catching in his throat at the touch of her lips, his eyes downcast at the floor. "Birthdays are meant to be spent with loved ones," he evaded, reaching out to take her cloak and hang it with his own.

Belle fell into step with him as they made their way to the Great Hall together. "I would have been just as happy to spend the day with you, Rumpelstiltskin. If you haven't noticed … I quite enjoy your company," she remarked coyly. Yet, all hint of teasing vanished as she spied the cake sitting on the long dining table next to a small wrapped package. She hurried over, the heavenly smell of chocolate assailing her nose as she breathed deeply. "Oh, Master! What did you do?"

Rumpelstiltskin waved a dismissive hand, fighting against the smile which wanted to spread over his face. "Don't get excited, dearie. I simply had a yen for chocolate."

She arched a dubious brow. "And the gift?"

"A bauble I had lying around."

Belle laughed. "You just have an answer for everything, don't you? I don't know how I'll ever top this when your birthday rolls around." She frowned when his face fell, and he backed away from the table, his eyes troubled. "What is it? Did I say something wrong?"

He shook his head. "No," he sighed. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Enjoy the rest of your birthday, Belle."

"Don't go!"

"Save me a piece of cake, won't you?" He didn't wait, using his magic to transport himself up to his tower.

Belle slumped down into her master's chair, her heart breaking for the sadness she'd witnessed in his eyes. Another mystery surrounding the man she loved, one she was determined to uncover. She wouldn't allow him to hide from her this time, however. She cut two pieces of cake and tucked the wrapped gift into her pocket to take up to the library where she was sure she could tease and cajole him out of his melancholy. Her birthday had been full of surprises and joy … and that was how it would end.