Belle awoke early the next morning. The sun was just starting to rise, as an orange hue began to fill the room. She smiled as she felt Will against her back and she thought about their dinner the night before.
"You know you could order more than that. I might not have a ton of money, but I know how to treat a lady."
Belle smiled at his kind gesture. "Thank you Will, but I've had so many hamburgers the past few years, I feel it is time for a change."
Will laughed. "Considering how gorgeous you are, I know you don't need to watch your figure."
She blushed. "It's been awhile since I've heard something like that."
He admitted, "I know it's something you don't like to talk about, but, I just have to say, Rumplestiltskin was a fool to ever love something more than he loved you."
Embarrassed by her mistake, she replied, "He really had me fooled."
"Love, he fooled everyone. What I like most about you is the fact that you always try to see the best in people. Don't change that about yourself because what he did to you." he gently requested.
"Easier said than done. How do you not put walls up after being hurt like that?" she replied sheepishly.
"Oh, you do. And you will." he admitted. "But I'm going to make it my job to make sure that if you put them up, I take them down. Or at least turn any brick wall into one made of straw."
She giggled. "You don't know me all that well and you're going to take it upon yourself to take down any wall that I put up?"
"Belle, you and I are a lot more alike than you think. I loved a woman once who wasn't much different than Rumpelstiltskin. She loved power almost as much as he does. I know it won't be easy, but you have to let yourself love again. You owe that to yourself. Besides, I wouldn't be here today if I didn't believe that."
Belle was shocked about how open he was with her. "This is new for me, Will. I've never had someone be so open and honest with me."
"Well, my lady, I'm an open book. I will always tell you how I feel and what I'm thinking. Some people don't like that about me"
She smiled and confessed, "But that's what I like most about you."
He tenderly replied, "I figured after everything you went through, that honesty is always the best policy, even if you don't want to hear it. Besides, you deserve that. No one should be lied to in a relationship, especially with someone they love or care about."
Granny came over with their drinks. She placed an ice tea on the table in front of Belle and a Coke in front of Will. "Your meals with be out shortly."
Belle thanked her for the drinks Granny smiled and walked away from them and went back behind the counter. Will then took a flask out of his inner jacket pocket and began pouring some of the liquor into his Coke.
"Do you always carry that around with you?" Belle asked.
Shocked by her question, he replied, "What? I love rum and Cokes."
"You just love the rum." she joked.
He put the flask back in his jacket pocket. "I do love rum, but I can put it away, if it bothers you."
"Oh, it's alright. I just noticed that you seem to always have booze with you. I mean, Rumple had his power, you have your alcohol..."
Will quickly cut her off, "No. It's not the same thing. Rumplestiltskin is obsessed with his power. I just enjoy a good drink. I'm not an addicted to this."
"I wasn't saying that you were. I was just simply pointing out that I've observed."
At that moment, Granny came back with their food. "A chicken cesar salad for Belle and a turkey sandwich for Will. Can I get you two anything else?"
Will quickly responded, "Could I please have another Coke, Granny?"
"Coming right up." Granny left them and went back into the kitchen.
"Will, it's alright. You don't have to do that."
"No, I do. If you brought it up, you either don't like it or it bothers you. So, I won't drink tonight. Besides, you should get to know sober me. Maybe, you won't like me after all."
"That depends. Are you lying about a dagger being able to control you?"
He shook his head. "Of course not."
She smiled. "Then, you have nothing to worry about."
Will laughed, "At least you haven't lost your sense of humor."
"Well, he couldn't take everything from me."
"Since we're being so open and honest, tell me more about you."
"I was married to the Dark One..."
Will cut her off. "That's not what I meant. Tell me about Belle. I want to know you. Your hopes, dreams...your desires."
Belle chuckled, "My desires?"
"Yes. What does Belle French desire?"
"You'll laugh when I tell you."
"I won't laugh." he promised.
Belle leaned over the table and Will met her in the middle. She whispered in his ear and Will began to chuckle, but then quickly cut himself off. "I'm sorry. I just never thought you would say something like that."
"Well, it's true. He the only man I have ever known in that way. Do you blame me for wanting something different? Someone closer to my own age."
Overhearing their conversation, Ruby came over with Will's Coke. "Of course you'd want something different. Your ex is like a few hundred years old. I'm sure Will could show you a better time." She winked at Will as Belle's face became red as a tomato with embarrassment.
Will reached across the table and gently touched her hand. "Belle, it's alright. She didn't mean anything by it. But to be honest, she isn't wrong about me."
Belle managed to smile slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I don't want to gloat, but I could show you a good time...only if you want. I'm not trying to put any pressure on you or anything. I'm mean...I'm just trying to be…"
Belle cut him off, "Honest."
"Um, yeah, I guess."
"And, if I'm being honest, I could really use some wine."
Will laughed, "As you wish, my lady."
As Belle laid quietly in bed, trying not to disturb Will, she saw what she thought was a shadowy figure in the corner of the room. She slightly gasped, as for a moment, she could have sworn that she saw Rumple standing there looking completely devastated. Belle blinked and the shadow disappeared. She shook her head, trying to get over what she just saw. Clearly, he wasn't there, her mind was tricking her. Maybe she missed him more than she thought. For weeks, she had been suppressing any feeling that she might have yet for him, but, possibly, it was time to finally face those feelings. She decided that she would call Dr. Hopper later that day to see if she could make an appointment to talk with him. She couldn't hold these feelings in any longer. She needed to talk to someone.
Down in the library, Rumplestiltskin sat in the chair behind the circulation desk when Ursula joined him. "Heartbroken, love?"
"Not, now dearie."
"I don't know why you're doing this to yourself. After everything that has happened, you knew that she might move on."
"She hasn't moved on. She's just confused." he snapped.
"I don't think what happened falls under the confused category."
He sternly replied, "You didn't see her face when she saw me. It was like, deep down, she felt guilty. If she was truly over me, she wouldn't feel guilty."
"So, what's your plan?"
He got up out of the chair, and walked around the desk to her. "I'm not sure yet. All I know is that I'm getting my wife back."