XXV

Yuletide (Part II)

"Are you expecting guests, Master?" she asked, and he couldn't help but notice the breathless quality of her voice. Apparently, she'd been just as affected as him from their almost kiss. He should be down on his knees thanking the gods for the interruption, yet his heart ached to have been denied the pleasure of her lips.

"I was about to ask the same thing of you, dearie."

She shook her head. "No. I'm well aware of your aversion to visitors, and who would I invite other than my papa?" she asked, arching a brow in his direction. "Which I didn't!" She began to fidget as another knock sounded and still, he hadn't moved to answer the door. "Aren't you going to see who it is?"

"I know who it is," he grumbled under his breath as he made his way across the foyer. "Interlopers!" He'd worked himself into a simmering rage by the time he reached the door and pulled it open. "I should have bloody well known."

The two idiots were grinning like loons from the castle steps. "Rumpelstiltskin!" the hatter chortled, holding up a bottle of goblin-made fire whiskey as a peace offering.

Viktor snickered, he, too, looking as though he'd already partaken of several glasses of the brew. "Jefferson convinced me to join him. No one deserves to spend the holiday alone. Might we come in?"

Jefferson peered over the imp's shoulder, his eyes widening as he caught a glimpse of Belle. "Oh, ho! It seems our Dark One friend has company after all. How intriguing." Before Rumpelstiltskin could bar the man's way into his home, Jefferson slinked past him and eyed the beauty with his warm gray gaze. "And who might you be, my darling girl?" he asked, brushing a gallant kiss to the back of her hand.

Belle gathered the voluminous skirt of her crimson velvet gown in her free hand and dipped a quick curtsey. "Hello, I'm Belle."

"Charmed, Lady Belle," he replied smoothly.

"Stop slobbering all over my maid, hatter!" the mage growled, shutting the door once the doctor had slipped inside.

Jefferson shot his friend a Cheshire-like grin. He'd never known the man to get so upset over a piece of fluff before. Instead of heeding the warning, he offered Belle his arm and steered her towards the hall, leaving his companion and host to follow behind them. "And how did such a lovely young woman, such as yourself, come to be employed by the Dark One?"

Rumpelstiltskin gnashed his teeth together, scowling at the hatter. Friend though he may be, it didn't give the man leave to fawn over his Belle … er, caretaker … BLAST! And, of course, she had to be her usual charming and hospitable self, pouring a cup of egg nog for each of his friends. What had happened to the evening he'd been anticipating? He'd been thinking of nothing else all day but curling up on the settee in front of the fire, enjoying a light supper and presenting her with the gifts he'd bought for her which were piled discreetly towards the back of the tree. Now it was ruined.

Viktor tipped a healthy measure of whiskey into one of the cups of egg nog and brought it over to the Dark One. "You look as though you could use it," he grinned. "Don't let Jefferson get to you, Rumpelstiltskin. You know what a flirt he is. Anyone with eyes can see the girl is taken only with you."

His gaze bored into his little dearie, catching her eye as she turned. She appeared to be listening to Jefferson with only half an ear, a rosy blush creeping into the apples of her cheeks. His breath caught, remembering the kiss they'd nearly shared under the mistletoe.

Belle excused herself and made her way over to him. "Are you hungry, Master?" she queried, laying a hand upon his sleeve. Her touch burned him in the most delightful way, and again he wished for privacy.

"I suppose I could eat. You've gone to so much trouble, and it would be a waste not to enjoy your efforts."

She beamed at him, her joy apparent. "Then come," she beckoned, taking his hand and leading him to the table.

His Belle had set everything on the table buffet style, and he found himself filling a plate and joining them around the fire. Food and drink and making merry were not his norm, and he was surprised to be enjoying himself. He could lose himself for hours watching the girl charm his friends with her easy banter and sharp wit. They were enchanted by her.

It was nearing the midnight hour when their guests departed, thanking them for their warm hospitality and wishing them a Happy Yuletide. Rumpelstiltskin, though he'd finally relaxed enough to stop scowling, was glad to see them go.

"Your friends are very nice, Master … but they can be a bit much," she chuckled. "It was lovely to have them here for the evening." It warmed her heart they hadn't wanted him to spend the holiday alone, but she was happy to have him to herself once again.

Rumpelstiltskin allowed her to twine her fingers with his as they made their way back to the Great Hall. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

Her eyes sparkled with happiness and no small measure of excitement. "Now it's time for presents!" she gushed, rushing ahead of him to dig fervently under the tree. He paused, standing at the edge of the rug in the shadows, his fingers rubbing anxiously against his thumb as he watched her. She frowned, puzzled at his hesitation. "Sit down, Rumpel. Join me!"

The Dark One sneered at the warmth spreading through his host's body, not at all happy with the merrymaking of the evening, and downright angry at the love swirling about Rumpelstiltskin's heart as he gazed upon the girl.

Having no clue as to his inner turmoil, she set a small package on his lap. He trailed one dark nail over the crimson paper and gold ribbon, his querulous gaze lifting to meet hers. "You … got me a gift?" he asked, stunned to the very depths of his soul. "After I took you from your home, and –"

Belle pressed a finger to his lips. "Stop it. Open your present," she commanded gently. She would not allow his self-loathing to have a place in their celebration.

No one had ever given him a Yuletide gift before. When he'd been human, there had never been extra money to spend on such frivolous things, and when Baelfire had been small, his happiness was tantamount. Any extra coins he could earn bought his boy the few toys he could find. He slid his nail under the paper, tearing it open, a genuine smile teasing at his lips at the silk handkerchief it revealed, an intricate R and what could seemingly pass for a spinning wheel embroidered in the corner.

"Do you like it? I was never much for embroidery, but I wanted to make something special for you," she explained, nervously fidgeting with a loose thread on the carpet beneath them.

"It's lovely, Belle. Thank you."

Her smile was radiant, but she didn't waste another second before she'd plopped another gift into his lap. This one, a lacey beige scarf. "I found this one at the market. It wasn't easy to distract you long enough to purchase it," she laughed merrily. "It's a rather artsy piece and will go well with your flair for style, I think."

Rumpelstiltskin nodded, rising to his knees to reach for one of the gifts he'd chosen for her. Yet, before he could, she laid a restraining hand on his arm and scooted closer with one more of her own. "Belle …"

"One more!"

His throat constricted as he stared down at the small box she placed in his hands, overwhelmed with feelings he wasn't equipped to handle. He was seconds away from making a fool of himself in front of her, and he didn't think he could bear it to have her see him cry. Instead, he focused his gaze on the box, flipping the lid up slowly and savoring the moment. He couldn't allow himself to believe there would ever be another Yuletide as special as their first together. Inside was a pocket watch, a spinning wheel engraved upon it. He chanced a peek at her to find her hands clasped beneath her chin as she observed him silently, a sweet smile upon her lips.

"Open it, Master," she breathed. "There's an inscription inside."

"Love is strength," he read aloud.

"Just in case you need a reminder." She emitted a rather undignified squeak as he pulled her onto his lap and buried his head against her shoulder. His entire body trembled at the contact. Belle wrapped an arm around his shoulders as her hand smoothed over his cheek. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad. I just wanted you to see how much you've come to mean to me."

Rumpelstiltskin's voice was low and warm as it ghosted over the ivory column of her throat, causing her to shiver and press a bit closer to his chest. "I've never known anyone like you before, Belle … someone so willing to give from her heart."

"Then perhaps you just haven't been associating with the right people," she said lightly, not wanting to spoil the moment and have him pull away from her.

He chuffed a short laugh. "Perhaps not." Reluctant to part from her, he flourished his wrist, bringing her presents out from under the tree with a wisp of magic to place at her side. "Your turn."

"Master!" she exclaimed, seeing the boxes piled high atop one another. "This is too much."

It will never be enough in return for what you've given me, dearest, he thought to himself. He waved a dismissive hand as he reached for one to set on her lap. "I could take them back," he teased.

But she was already tearing through the wrappings. When she was done, she'd acquired three new dresses completely unsuitable to wear while doing her chores, a pair of fur-lined boots, two nightdresses which would keep her warm and toasty in the drafty castle, a pair of combs for her hair inlaid with tanzanite stones, a new duster which her master had given her as a joke, and a dragon pendant to match the bracelet he'd given her for her birthday.

When she was done, and he'd magicked away the mess of paper and ribbons, she nestled her head against his shoulder with no intention of leaving his lap anytime soon. He seemed just as content to sit there with her with the sweet smell of pine and spices surrounding them.

"Did you make your traditional Yuletide wish, dearie?" he asked, his voice a low murmur in the peaceful confines of the hall.

She hummed happily. "I don't need to make a wish, Master. I have everything I've ever wanted."

Love, happiness … and her Rumpel to share it with.

A/n: Merry Christmas, my darlings! (If I hadn't have been stuck in the hospital, this chapter would have been posted Christmas day) I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I hope this second part makes up for the tease yesterday :D Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! That's the best Yuletide gift of all to any writer.