Adult Desires

By: RosexKnight

Anon Prompted: Spinner!verse: Belle sees Rumple with a little girl. (He is *not* making making a deal to take her)

It was not often that Rumpelstiltskin accompanied Belle into town. Usually her partner was Baelfire, eager to play with the children. Sometimes she went alone, happy that the townspeople no longer flinched when she approached their stalls. Honestly was being maid or…whatever she was to The Dark one really so terrifying?

Now, though, they accepted her. Or seemed to. Some even playfully bartered with her before going back to the same price they always offered things to her for. When The Dark One himself was with her, though, they were all on edge.

"I'll leave you to it." He told her as he slipped his usual pouch of coins into the basket she carried before slipping away.

He never ventured too far, liking to keep her or Baelfire in his sight. However judging by how easily the people were talking to her he must not have been as close as usual. Odd…

She'd just finished shopping for little things. Soaps, parchment and ink for Baelfire's lessons, ribbons for her hair. The food would be next, but Belle wanted to stretch her legs and enjoy some time to herself for a bit. After all, she had a lot to think about lately.

Belle had acquired a lot of things when she'd came to live with Rumpelstiltskin. She'd traded an uninterested husband and overbearing father for a castle and the ability to control the magic within it to an extent. Of course, she liked to do most things herself, but it was nice to have fired never go out and water never get cold and books she wanted simply appear beside her. She'd acquired another horse until Rumpelstiltskin deemed Baelfire was old enough, and it seemed even the townspeople saw her as their lady now despite nothing being formalized. Then there was Rumpelstiltskin and his son themselves. She'd traded one family for another and fit in effortlessly. Her spinner was different but the same, and Baelfire was on the cusp of manhood. Somehow it seems she'd acquired a son without even marrying his father.

And now Baelfire wanted a little sister. And she couldn't decide how she felt about all that. She loved Rumpelstiltskin, or could if he let her. She had known that ever since she'd say at his table and flirted with him that night all those years ago. But it was Impossible to read the reasons behind the fear that flickered in his eyes. The way he froze at her touch. The way he avoided things. Before, she thought it because she was a princess and he a spinner. But now he was The Dark One and she was a Lady maybe but not officially. Not anymore. What reason did he have to be scared of her? Of his princess as he'd called.

He knew her feelings. So then why…?

Belle's thoughts were cut short at the sound of the twig snapping under her foot. Seems her feet had wandered just as much as her feet. She found herself in the woods that circled the town, a few outskirt houses stood, but the wood mostly stood as a barrier. Coming inside it meant you were in the lands of The Dark One. It was enough to keep enemies out.

A cry pierced the air. A high-pitched wail of a child in pain. Belle followed without thinking, the cries becoming louder then quieter. She found herself in a clearing with a large oak tree in the middle. The figures at its base, though, made her stomach lurch.

Rumpelstiltskin kneeled by a small girl, eyes red and puffy and full of fear. A boy not much older than Baelfire seemed to be talking with him, sheer fear in his eyes. He was older than Baelfire. Surely old enough to have a trade.

Old enough to make deals with.

Belle felt as if she would be sick as her blood became ice in her veins. No. He wouldn't.

The girl sniffled and cried again and the spinner turned to her. The princess found her feet moving, words slipping out before she could stop them.

"Rumple don—"

It took Belle only a moment to realize the cries faded into laughter. Joyous laughter filled with gleeful relief. They hadn't noticed her, somehow, and for a moment Belle saw a much different sight. It was indeed her spinner before her. All walking staff and courageous fear. Comforting a little girl after some traumatic experience while the proud older brother, but perhaps not all by blood, stood and watched.

The pieces fit together then. He was her spinner. She was her princess. And oh how she wanted this.

"Belle?"

Rumpelstiltskin's voice broke through her haze and she blinked. The vision suddenly rightened itself and she was back in reality.

"I…" Belle stammered, unable to think for a moment.

"Lady Belle!" The girl beside Rumpelstiltskin said happily, jumping up and running over to Belle, holding out her foot. "Look! The master fixed my leg!"

Belle blinked, immediately kneeling down to her level, glancing to Rumpelstiltskin who looked almost shy. "Fixed your leg?"

"She fell." Her brother said, approaching her. His voice held nothing but guilt. "She was climbing and fell. I…I couldn't catch her."

The boy's voice cracked, and Belle patted his head. "Hey. It's not your fault. And look. No harm done."

He returned Belle, smile, and soon his sister was tugging on his arm. "Come on! Let's go get some sweet buns."

"Wait…" The boy said, turning to the spinner. He never did anything for free. That was always how the stories went. "Y-your price master? For healing her."

Rumpelstiltskin didn't seem to hear them, and Belle found he was looking at her with the same look shed given him when he saw them with the children. He, too, was in the same trance.

"Rumple?"

He blinked at her words, clearing his throat as he approached them.

"A simple promise, dearie." He told the boy, holding a hand out to shake. "Promise to always look after your sister and that'll settle it."

The siblings were beaming in an instant, and the boy shook his hand gratefully. "I promise sir!" He managed before being pulled off by his sister.

Belle stood, and for a moment they said nothing, just watched the children disappear from the clearing. It was Rumpelstiltskin who finally broke the silence.

"You…Did you think…?"

Belle's face burned with shame. She'd never doubt him again. "I'm sorry."

"Belle." The looked to him, and he was her spinner again, searching her gaze with his odd eyes as he wrung his hands. "You know I wouldn't…don't you?"

"Yes." Belle said with a smile, putting a hand on his to ease his fidgets. He went immobile under her touch just as before. "Yes I do."

He nodded then, stiffly, though his shoulders were relaxed. "Let's…let's go get supper."

Belle nodded, and the two walked through the forest back to the village.

"I suppose magic comes in handy in times like that." She said.

"Very."

"You know…I can see why Bae wants a little sister."

He made a sort of choked noise of surprise but eventually words came back to him. "I…Me too."