A/N: Sorry I had lost my muse for a while, but now it's back, so here is chapter three, which is fluffy. We get a preview of Belle's past. I also three new stories I'm working on that I hope you'll like, and one has already been posted. Don't worry I will return to Love Heals and The Dark One's Apprentice soon.

Chapter Three: Bonding

Belle's new life as caretaker and housekeeper to Rumplestiltskin and his son was pleasant and she felt safe. The safety she had felt back home had been destroyed when her mother told her of the life she was destined for as a Librarian. She would never be at peace and know more than she would want to be aware of in this world…..

Flashback: Belle Aydelotte wasn't supposed to be getting her new pea green dress dirty but she despised wearing the frilly ensemble, so it didn't matter to her whether it was caked with mud, grass, or dirt stains. Once she returned home Emmeline would not be happy about her daughter's state of dress. Normally, Emmeline wouldn't mind so much because, as her husband Maurice would remind her, Belle was a child and that's what children did, but today Lady Verlaine would be visiting with her nephew, Gaston, a little boy the age of 12. He was two years older than Belle, and Lady Verlaine wanted them to become playmates until they were old enough to join in a union of marriage.

Belle brandished her stick, which she was using as her sword, at her friend with the shaggy black hair. "You'll never get away with this mighty portal jumper," Belle declared.

"It's too late Princess," he said chuckling, despite being on the ground with a 'sword' pointed at him.

"Belle, come on he's going to pull you through a portal," her red haired friend, Jiminy, protested. Belle looked at him for a moment and the other boy grabbed at her waist tackling her to the ground getting her even dirtier.

"Hey," Belle protested, and before she could escape both boys tackled her. The tickled her making Belle giggle madly as she tried to get out the words 'please stop'.

"I surrender, Jeff and Jiminy," she cried still giggling.

Both boys finally stopped tickling Belle and helped her up. "Jiminy, you were supposed to be on my side," she said glaring at her friend, who held a mischievous grin.

"Sorry Belle, but Jeff offered to take me to one of the other worlds," Jiminy admitted, shrugging.

"That's cheating! Bribing other players," Belle protested, hands on her hips with her glared redirected at the other boy.

Jefferson rolled his eyes. "I work with what I got. Besides, you're pretty and Jiminy is a sucker for pretty girls, but he's also a sucker for adventure."

Jiminy's cheeks were as red as hair. He shoved his hands in his pocket and looked down at his feet, but surprising him Belle kissed one of his red cheeks and a huge grin appeared on his face.

"I like you too Jiminy and I think you're very handsome," she said making Jeff roll his eyes again.

"Stop being gross," Jeff protested, grimacing and making gagging sounds as he pointed his finger inside his mouth.

Belle smiled mischievously and wrapped her arms around Jefferson's waist kissing him before he could escape. "I like you as well Jeff."

He glared at Belle's smiling face, but he couldn't help, but blush too.

"There you are Miss Belle," said a woman, with grey flyaway hair said as she came upon the group, "what have you done to your dress young lady? Your mother will not be pleased." Mrs. Potts, Belle's nanny, shook her head.

"Sorry Mrs. Potts. I was just playing with my friends, Jiminy and Jefferson," Belle apologized looking sheepishly at her feet.

"I know sweetie, but you know Lady Verlaine is coming with her nephew and you must look your best," the older woman reminded Belle, "why don't you boys head home and you can come and play tomorrow."

The both nodded. "See you tomorrow Belle," they said and waved goodbye.

~Page Break~

Belle's replacement dress was made out of the same lace material, but it was yellow. Her mother frowned when Belle came downstairs, but was forced to accept what her daughter was wearing. She positioned Belle, so she stood there like a proper young lady while they waited for Lady Verlaine and her nephew to arrive.

Emmeline wore a long peach colored dress with frilly sleeves, and her husband, Maurice, a shabby brown coat that was the only nice coat he owned. They stood outside of their cottage when a black carriage pulled up. A wrinkled hand incased in purple fabric emerged from the carriage, and a woman with hair as white as sheep's wool covered by an ostentatious hat stepped down from the carriage.

She stood tall and denied the help of her footman. "I'm not an old woman Fredrick," she insisted glowering at the footman, "Gaston! You move like a snail!" A boy two years older than Belle with black, greasy, hair stepped out of the carriage with the same smug expression as his aunt.

"Lady Verlaine, welcome to our home," Maurice approached the older woman cupping her hand in his shaking it enthusiastically. Lady Verlaine looked down in disgust at the gesture and Emmeline cringed. As much as she thought her husband's enthusiasm was sweet she knew her mother's friend wouldn't find it as such.

Maurice stepped back. "You know my wife Emmeline, and this is our daughter, Belle," he introduced Belle easing her forward, and she curtsied as she was taught.

Lady Verlaine pushed Gaston forward. "Gaston don't be rude," she said, "This is my nephew, Master Gaston." The boy stumbling slightly, stepped forward and bowed.

He looked Belle up and down frowning at the sight of the little girl before. "Auntie she has brown hair and she smells." He held his nose to prove it. Belle glared and stuck her tongue at the older boy. Jefferson is nicer than you are, she thought.

That night at dinner Belle was forced to sit across from Gaston and stare at his face while she ate. Her friends from school would talk about how cute he was and lucky she was, but Belle had to disagree finding him repulsive and looked like bird with no feathers.

Lefou was their pet hound and he would often come around to Belle's side of table and she would slip scraps to him under the table.

As she gave him the more fatty pieces of veal Gaston cried out. "Madame Adyelotte, your daughter is feeding the dog under the table!"

"Belle," her mother exclaimed, "you know we don't feed the dog from under the table."

"He was hungry and it was only the fatty pieces," Belle protested.

"It doesn't matter. The dog is not human and it doesn't eat people feed," Emmeline told her daughter. Lady Verlaine gave Emmeline a somewhat approving nod that she at least lectured the child on not doing something very distasteful.

Belle crossed her arms over her chest glaring at Gaston once again, but the boy responded with an eye roll finding her behavior childish. Belle didn't like this boy and hoped she wouldn't see him again. Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed, and this would be the beginning of many painful visits.

Lady Verlaine and her nephew stayed for two weeks, so it was two weeks of having to tolerate Gaston's arrogance and judgments that Belle found hurtful and cruel. He berated her for not riding side saddle, Belle had overheard him complain that she wasn't pretty enough, often calling her stupid. Her parents told her to ignore Gaston, not to retaliate, and that she had to get along with him. During one of his visits she was playing with Jeff and Jiminy again when Gaston approached the group.

"What are you three playing?" Gaston inquired playing.

"An adventure game where I'm an evil sorcerer and Belle must rescue her friend Jiminy from my clutches," Jefferson explained studying the Aydelotte's new house guest. Something about him bothered Jefferson.

"Belle is rescuing him?!" Gaston asked smirking

"Yes its part of the game Gaston," she said defensively.

"Isn't that a bit insulting that some stupid girl saves your life?" He asked looking pointedly at Jiminy.

"It's just a game. It doesn't matter if she saves me or not, but if she saved me in real life I would be proud of her," Jiminy replied putting his arm protectively around Belle.

"I think it's stupid that a girl is playing the hero. The girl is supposed to be the damsel in distress," Gaston said.

"Like I said it's just a game." Jiminy's irritation was beginning to seep out through his tone, but he knew anger didn't solve anything. Gaston was just an arrogant idiot anyway.

"If you don't want to play Gaston then you can leave," Belle snapped as her fists started to ball up at her sides."

"I don't like being left out of games Belle, and I think I should be the one to save you if were playing hero games," he sneered.

"What do you mean supposed to be?" Jefferson asked standing behind his two friends like a towering protective shadow.

"Well she's a girl," he said, as if they didn't know that.

Jefferson overdramatically gasped as he looked down at his female friend. "Really?! Jiminy, did you not know Belle was a girl."

Jiminy shook his head. "I had no idea." He smirked.

Gaston ignored their sarcasm and said, "Girls are supposed to be princess' needing to be rescued and then they become mothers. It's how it works! She can't be the one to save you."

"She can save me if she wants to," Jiminy said.

"Yeah it's not like a rule or anything," Jefferson added.

"You just don't like that I'm a girl," Belle said, gently removing her friend's arm.

She put her hands on her hips narrowing her eyes at Gaston, but he didn't like the gesture. It was an act of defiance, and he was told never to let a girl defy him, and in annoyance, Gaston knocked Belle to the ground. When she tried to get up he pushed her down into the mud enjoying the tears that streaked her cheeks, but Belle still glared at him so he chose to slam his boot on her hand as it still lie pressed on the ground. Her bones cracked, and her hand was throbbing. Jiminy and Jefferson jumped and tackled Gaston, but his muscles gave him more strength knocking the boys on the ground. Belle pulled herself back up after seeing her friends get knocked down charging at Gaston. She tried to tackle him like her friends did, but Gaston threw Belle down again.

"How dare you! You stupid girl," he said grabbing her again by the arms. He slapped her face, "You brat, how dare you attack me!" She began to whimper as he held her down. Her friends were coming to defend her when Belle lifted her knee up and hit him right in the crouch. While clutching his crouch she got out from under him and grabbing her friends by the hands leading them away from the manor.

"Belle, are you okay?" Jiminy asked as his female friend took him and Jefferson to a secret cave she found in the forest beyond the grounds of the Aydelotte Manor.

"Belle?" Jefferson asked, uncertain about his friend. Gaston was pretty rough with her, and as tough as she was he was still worried about her, just like Jiminy.

"I'm fine," she said, "I just want to stay here for a bit."

"Um, okay," Jefferson replied.

"Yeah sure, but you'll have to go back before it gets too dark, or your mama and papa are gonna worry," Jiminy added.

"I know," she snapped, not liking that they were telling her something she already knew. She was just wanted to be herself, escape for a little bit. Further into the cave there was a sound of rushing water and Belle followed the sound with Jefferson and Jiminy trying to catch up.

Five minutes later, the three friends found the waterfall that filled a steep pit, creating a small pool that got deeper as the pool went farther into the cave. The water in the pool was so blue you could see the bottom until the darkness of the cave loomed over it. Belle's face reflected inside the water as she stared down into its depths. Crystals resided on the bottom creating a rainbow on the surface of the water, but something else had caught her eye.

"What is that?" She asked out loud staring curiously at the object at the bottom. She positioned herself ready to slide down into the water.

"Belle, what are you doing?" Jefferson and Archie asked at the same time.

"There's something down there," she said still staring at the pool.

"I'm sure there are a lot of things down, but not something worth jumping in for," Jefferson said.

"He's right. It's dangerous and you could hurt yourself," Archie insisted.

"I just want to know what's down there. It could be something important," she said getting down on her knees to get a closer look.

"Belle, don't," Jefferson protested, "You're going to fall in."

Just as him and Jiminy reached Belle and was about to slip, some force rose up, throwing Belle back causing her to hit the wall knocking her unconscious, and knocking Jefferson and Jiminy down the rock made steps. A few minutes later the boys woke up, both delirious from what just happened, and confused by the occurrence.

"Where's Belle?" Archie asked rubbing his head.

"I think she just fell back so she should still be there," Jefferson replied. With Jefferson in the lead both wobbled back up the stone steps, and found Belle lying unconscious on the stone floor. At her feet was a completely dry leather bound book. Ignoring the book, both boys went to check on their friend. Jiminy put his ear to her mouth hearing the steady sound of Belle releasing air from her mouth and lungs while Jefferson put his ear to her chest where her heart was.

"She's still breathing," Jiminy said.

"Her heart beat is still steady," Jefferson added.

Just as Jiminy was checking to see if she had a bump on the back of her head, Belle opened her eyes. Sitting up, she rubbed the back of her head wincing at the subtle pain she felt there.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Some kind of force had hit us," Jiminy explained, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. What's that?" She asked glancing down at her feet,

"We don't know," Jefferson admitted.

Belle reached forward at her feet and picked up the book. She ran her hand across the leather finding it smooth and dry. Balancing it in her hands the book felt heavy and as she flipped through the pages, they felt thick beneath her fingers.

She read squinting her eyes as it flashed across the cover, "The Book of Knowledge of the Lost World's"

"Huh, where do you see that?" Jefferson asked looking over Belle's shoulder.

"You can't read that?" Belle asked.

Jefferson shook his head. "No."

Belle shrugged. "I'm taking it with me."

"Why it's just an old book?" He asked.

"It feels like it belongs to me," she replied and setting it down she let the boys pull her up. Once she was up, she clutched the book with a smile on her lips that wasn't there when she first got here.

~Page Break~

Present: Belle had hid her special book beneath the mattress of the bed Rumple had made up for her while she lived with them. As she tried not to think about the book and why she was running in smooth, swift movements as if she were dancing, she dusted the floor of the cottage. Rumple and Bae were still asleep and she chose not wake them.

As a thank you for taking her in, she started to prepare breakfast for them, which she had cooking on the stove while she was dusting. Rumple tended to do the cooking, but this time she had risen early to make it herself. Every five minutes she would check on it to make sure she stirred it and it didn't burn. As she picked up dust with the broom, Belle started to hum a song her mother use to sing to her when she was sad. She sang often and getting caught up in the melodious words that she had not noticed had her singing had enchanted her host.

"That's beautiful dearie," he said once she stopped singing.

The broom slipped from her grasp with a clatter.

"Oh you scared me," she confessed as she faced him, clutching her chest where her beating heart resided.

"Forgive me dearie. I dinna mean to startle you. I probably should have said something, but I enjoyed your singing," Rumple replied

"I do too," Bae exclaimed who was peering over the edge. "It's pretty."

"Baelfire, come down before you fall and hurt yourself," Rumple urged. He was about to pulling himself up, but Belle got to the boy first.

"Bae, please don't lean over the edge like that," Belle scolded, forgetting she wasn't his mother, but during her first couple weeks she felt like she had become, at least, an older sister.

"Sorry, Belle, I didn't mean to scare you and papa," Baelfire apologized wrapping his arms around her neck and giving Belle a kiss on the cheek.

"It's okay, just be careful little prince," she said, calling him the nickname she dubbed him a few days ago.

Rumple sighed with relief that Belle had caught Bae before he leaned over to far. He was going to have to make a bed for Bae downstairs so he wouldn't risk his son falling off the ladder. He liked having Belle around, but he knew she wouldn't stay forever, but at least for now it was pleasant to have another to help him raise Baelfire.

There was a reason she had showed up at the cottage in the middle of the night with that book as if she were running from one someone, but he wouldn't pry or rush it. It was her business, not his, but he was worried and to help her. At least he could give her a place to live where she would be safe from robbers and brigands, who would steal her possessions and rape her. The thought of Belle being hurt like that gave him a bitter taste in his mouth, and if she left he was tempted to follow her. Unfortunately, traveling on the road with Baelfire wouldn't be as easy, and he would be putting his son in as much danger as he would if he let Belle off on her own. For now, though, he would worry about that when the time came, and he hoped that time wouldn't be too soon.

~Page Break~

After a breakfast of oatmeal with mixed with fruit, a recipe Belle's mother came up with, the father and son, along with Belle, went into town to sell wool at the market. Baelfire would often grow bored sitting at his papa's booth all morning while waiting for Morraine, but when Belle came to live with she would use the opportunity to teach Baelfire how to read. They had first started their lessons when Bae saw the Belle reading book during her second trip to the market with them. Rumple had been afraid to leave her alone at the cottage, and asked her to come with them. Wanting to explore the village, Belle eagerly agreed to come with them.

"Watcha ya reading?" Baelfire asked as he lifted his head up from trying to read the title.

"It's called Arabian Nights. It's about a boy who goes great adventures with his genie friend and woos the beautiful princess," Belle explained watching as Bae's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"I bet she's not as pretty as you," Bae said.

Belle's cheeks flushed as she said replied, "Thank you Bae. That was very sweet of you. I bet you have a lot of girls that find you very sweet."

"I'm only friends with Morraine. All the other girls don't like me," Bae said sadly.

"Oh I'm sure that's not true," Belle said frowning. She rubbed his back soothingly.

"But it's true. No one, 'cept Morraine, wants to be friends with the son of a whore and coward," Bae said.

Belle covered her mouth to stifle the gasp as she heard the word slip from his lips.

"Baelfire, I told you not to say that word," Rumple lectured.

"But papa that's what the other kids called her," Bae protested, defending his repeating the word.

"If the other kids crossed the troll bridge would you?" Rumple asked.

Bae shook his head. "No because that would be stupid."

"You also don't use words you don't understand the meaning of, do we? Now, since I don't have any soap, I want you to sit in the corner and don't speak for five minutes, so you can think about how you shouldn't say words like that you don't understand."

"But papa," Bae protested. He wasn't sure what was worse having to be quiet for fives or having to taste the nasty soap for five minutes.

"No buts," Rumple said pointing to the corner that faced the tree. Bae's lip protruded, but Rumple shook his head pointing to the spot. He was about to plead for Belle to help him out, but Rumple gave him a look that said don't even think about. With his fist clenched at his side, his lip still protruding, Bae stalked over to the corner facing the tree.

Belle admired Rumple for being able to be both a disciplinary and a loving father, which was hard task to manage on your own. Some parents would either be too rough or too soft, and Belle thought Rumple had a good balance of not being too hard or too soft on his son. If she had children she hoped she and her husband, whoever he may be, would be good at that.

Bae was jumping up and down when his papa said his five minutes were up, but before he could run off to find Morraine, Rumple said, "Bae I want you to know what the bad word means before you go off and play."

He reluctantly lingered while Rumple talked. "That is a very rude word for a woman who spends too much with men, whom she isn't married too, and she stays the night with them."

"Isn't that was mama did?" Bae asked, angrily.

"Yes, but it isn't a word you should call a woman, whether it's true or not," Rumple said.

"But why? I thought you weren't supposed to lie," Bae asked.

"Because sometimes people do lie when they're calling a female that or it did happen, but she was forced to. Not all boys are as sweet and kind as you and your papa," Belle said.

She added, "Bae I would like to meet your friend Morraine, and maybe you two can take me to the bookshop." She had heard there was a bookshop in town and she hadn't gotten a chance to see.

~Page Break~

Belle walked with Baelfire, holding his hand, through the market finding his friend Morraine looking through the window at hand-woven dolls. Her eyes stared at the display of dolls with longing, her hands pressed against the glass, to have a doll to play with and hold when she was lonely.

"Morraine, hey," Bae greeted her excitedly.

"Bae," she cried turning to face her friend and went to hug him enthusiastically.

"Morraine, this mine and papa's new friend Belle," Bae said.

The little girl casted her eyes downward finding her shoes fascinating.

"It's nice to meet you Morraine. I like your dress it's very pretty," Belle complimented.

Morraine slowly lifted her head and a small smile appeared. "Thank you ma'am, my mama made it for me."

"You can call me Belle," Belle replied, "and she did a lovely job. Do you like dolls?"

Morraine nodded.

"I do too," Belle said smiling.

"I can't get one though, because I don't have enough coins," the little girl admitted staring at the golden haired doll she wanted.

Belle frowned, not liking the idea of girl not being able to have her first doll. She went searching through her pouch until she found the right amount of coins. "C'mon why don't I get it for you," she suggested, holding out her hand for Morraine to take.

"Really?!" Morraine exclaimed putting her hand inside Belle's

Baelfire followed the two females as they entered the shop staying close to Belle, even though he was bored with looking at the girl toys, because his papa always taught him to stay close to the grownup he was with. He also was pleased to see his best friend happy and getting her first doll with Belle's help.

Morraine pointed to the doll she wanted. The doll had yellow hair made out of yarn and was wearing a red dress. Belle gave the old man the right amount of coins to pay for the doll, and Morraine hugged her new doll to her chest.

"Thank you Belle," Morraine said and hugged her.

"You're very welcome. I know how important it is for a little girl to have her first doll," Belle said, "now, would you like to accompany me and Bae to the bookshop?"

She nodded excitedly at going with them.

"Do you need to tell your mama and papa?" Belle asked.

"Uh yeah, I'll go tell them," she said.

"Well why don't I go with you and meet them," Belle suggested. She and Baelfire followed the little girl to the booth where her parents sold baked good. Morraine's mama had a talent for making clothes, but her best skills were in baking sweet treats.

"Mama, papa, this is Bae and Rumple's friend Belle. She wanted us to show her the book shop," Morraine spoke excitedly as she tugged on her mama's apron.

"Oh, you must be Rumple's house guest," Morraine's mama said as she took a rag to wipe off the flour that covered her hands. "Rumple has told us about you. He enjoys your company very much.

"I'm Christine and that's my husband, Richard." She reached out her hand for Belle to shake, and she accepted Christine's handshake.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Belle," Belle said introducing herself to the older woman. The older woman had long blonde hair that just touched her shoulders with baby blue eyes, and her daughter was the spitting image of her mother.

"How do you like our village?" Christine inquired, pleased to take a break from kneading dough.

"I love it actually. I'm never lived in such a place as this and I find it wonderful," Belle replied.

"It is a pleasant place to live, but there are a few rotten apples," Christine said grimacing at the thought. "What was it like where you used to live?"

"It was alright, but things changed when we received unkind houseguests when I was a child," Belle confessed.

"Oh," Christine said, curiously.

"Yes, a friend of my grandmother's came with her nephew. At the time, I didn't understand why the wanted us to be friends, but as I grew older I realized they were hoping we would fall in love," Belle explained sighing as she thought back to all those unwelcome summer visits from Gaston and Lady Verlaine.

"I would hate that too. The idea of being forced to love someone. I was lucky with my husband, and both of us swore we would never do that to our daughter," Christine said running her fingers through her daughter's hair as the little girl played with her new doll.

"I was hoping Baelfire would show me the bookshop. Would you and you're daughter like to accompany us?" Belle inquired, not wanting her new friend to think she was going to steal the children once they were alone with her.

Actually, that sounds like fun. Why don't we let the men run the booths for a while and you and I take the children to the bookshop," Christine agreed

"That sounds like a good plan," Belle agreed.

~Page Break~

The gentlemen stayed behind at the booths while Belle and Christine with the children leading the way, left for the bookshop. The shop was a small little place with only enough room among the shelves for three people to stand in the aisles. Her eyes gleaming with delight, Belle brushed the spines with careful grace, tracing the lettering of these rare treasures that stood before her on the shelves.

"You must really love to read it's a very rare skill that mostly nobles have acquired, but many of our children have been required to learn in our village. Our school has recently obtained a new teacher that understands the value of reading. He says reading is just as important as knowing mathematics," Christine said still watching as Belle examined the books.

"My parents taught me when I was little," Belle explained, "and I have had quite a passion for words and knowledge." A distance in her eyes implied there was more to tell than she was willing to share, but Christine knew it wasn't her place to ask.

Morraine returned from the other side already clutching a book that she hoped to buy. She jumped up and down holding the book out to her mama, showing off the cover. "Mama, is it alright if I get this one?" She held up a book with a drawing of a beautiful princess that had a long braid that trailed along the ground.

"If it's not too expensive," her mama told.

Morraine bit her lip frowning. "I don't know how much it is," she whispered her cheeks turning bright red.

"It's alright honey, let me see the book," Christine said and Morraine handed it to her mama. Christine turned the book over, but couldn't find where it shared the cost and then opened the book. In black calligraphy was written the price of the book.

"Well, that's not too much. I think we can purchase it. I'm going to take her up to pay for this," Christine told Belle and escorted Morraine over to the counter.

Belle glanced about her to find Baelfire had disappeared, frowning she searched the aisles only to find boy in last section squinting at the spine of one of the books. He scratched his head, lip protruding and scrunching up his face as he opened his mouth shaping it to form words, but sounds didn't come out.

"Baelfire what's the matter?" Belle asked, not liking how frustrated the boy's expression was and she was concerned.

He looked up for a second and then glanced down at his feet with cheeks turning bright red. "Um, I can't read."

"Oh, well would like to learn?" she asked bending down so she was looking him in the eye.

"I don't know if I can," Baelfire admitted shyly.

"Anyone can learn to read it just takes time to learn. Everyone learns at different speeds and I will teach you, if you want," Belle promised ruffling his fluffy brown hair.

He nodded and wrapped his arms around Belle hugging her tightly.

"Thank you," he said.

She hugged him back smiling proudly. "I'm glad to help," she said kissing him on top of the head.

It was something she could do using her gift without feeling the pressure and danger of her gift as a Librarian.

"Why don't you pick a book for us to start with?"

"Okay," he said eagerness in his voice. He searched the shelves pulling random ones out that looked easy or at least had a neat cover. Ten minutes later he returned and handed Belle the book he picked. "Is this a good book?"

"Hmmm, let me see it," she replied accepting the book from him. She flipped through the pages, reading the first few pages. "I think this would be a good one to start with," she said after previewing the book for a moment.

An hour later the foursome were walking out of the little shop, three of them carrying sacks of books. Belle hadn't been able to resist the urge to buy books for herself as well, two fiction and one non-fiction that would keep her distracted, and she would be reading them pleasure, not for responsibility as a Librarian.