Chapter Four: A Night on the Town

Life, it was out there, ready for Belle to take on. The technicolor lights twirled in the air around the dance floor, sending the colors behind the bar. Countless bodies surrounded the group of girls, not for the claustrophobic. Ruby was the best dressed, with a short red and black dress on, she was ready to flirt with the guys tonight.

The music almost raged through her ears, with all the strange instruments she'd never heard before, but she didn't find it frightening. She walked through the bar, staying close to Emma for comfort.

There were many couples here, dancing on the floor, and there were even more singles! Belle sat at the bar with Emma and Snow, while Ashley and Ruby grabbed a quick shot glass. Then, the two were dancing on the floor already. Emma was refraining from her job tonight, knowing that only if the situation was dire would she ever step in as sheriff.

Snow ordered a glass of champaign, asking Belle what she wanted tonight. Belle had never had champaign before, so she played it safe ordering some red wine, something she hoped hadn't changed too much with time.

Emma ordered a beer, and the three sat around the bar, trying to talk over the crowd. Belle was in the middle of Emma and Snow. She sipped on the wine, wondering if she should go out to the dance floor.

Ashley came back, saying Ruby was out with the men now, and she didn't want to be a part of that since she was going to get married soon to Shawn. Belle asked if Emma wanted to go up with her and dance.

"Oh...if you want me to, sure," Emma said. "Not really much of a dancer though, I gotta warn you."

"That's okay," Belle replied, and she pulled on her wrists to come out. Emma followed, leaving her drink behind to go out on the dance floor with Belle.

Emma took both of Belle's hands and they twisted back and forth, just worrying about having fun. They made up their own steps, no matter how ridiculous they were, no one cared. Belle felt herself loosening up the more she moved to the music. Emma noticed she was feeling the beat.

"Do you know this song?" Emma yelled.

"No!" Belle yelled in reply, smiling. She was having a lot of fun.

Ruby watched from afar with the guy she'd been flirting with currently, relieved the girl was finally living.

A few hours later however, Belle was still Belle. She asked Emma if she could take her home, for she was getting tired and wished to return to Rumpelstiltskin's arms. Emma gladly obliged, and the two bid farewell for now to the rest of the group.

Emma hadn't had one too many, in fact she only had that one beer. Belle sat in the passengers seat.

"Did you have fun?" Emma asked.

"Yes, I did," Belle confessed. "More than what I thought. Don't know how well Rumpelstiltskin will like that."

"You were out with us, so you were safe. You seem fine, you didn't have too much to drink, I saw you. He'll be okay," Emma said. Belle then started to laugh.

"I still can't get over his face when we walked out of the shop," she said, then straightening herself. "I think he'll forgive him. He didn't want me to get out, but I fight him sometimes."

"You fight because you care," Emma said, and that made Belle think for a few moments.

"Hey, you're right!" Belle exclaimed. "Thanks Emma. You've been a great help to me." Emma pulled up in front of Mr. Gold's house, and Belle looked a little nervous.

"You want me to go with you?" Emma said, but Belle shook her head quickly.

"I'll be fine."

"If anything happens, stop by Snow's. You're always welcome."

"Thank you. Bye Emma, and thank you for tonight," Belle said, grabbing her book and walking back up the porch steps. Emma drove away.

Belle walked into the house, closing the door softly behind her and hanging up her coat. She found Mr. Gold sitting on the couch by the fireplace, his cane off to the side. Belle was a little nervous.

"Rumpelstiltskin..." Belle said. "I'm sorry for going off. I know you said-"

"Did you have a good time?" Mr. Gold said, turning to her, but she knew that look in his eyes.

His eyes nearly swelled with tears, she knew one was bound to fall eventually. Rumpel knew he'd have to let Belle out eventually, he just wasn't ready for it to be tonight.

"Yes," Belle replied simply.

Mr. Gold stood up and Belle walked over to him, giving him a hug because she wanted one just as bad. He embraced her with both hands, not really needing the cane anymore since the magic. He'd just been so used to keeping it with him, he didn't go anywhere without it.

"But hey, I love you," Belle said. "I just feel like I should get out with the girls sometimes."

"I understand, but Belle, please understand, if anythin' happened to you-" the tears began in his eyes. Belle released him.

"I wish I could kiss you," she confessed. Mr. Gold knew that his power prevented that from ever happening.

"One day you will, I promise. There's just something I have to do," Mr. Gold told her. "I'd like to kiss you too...believe me, Belle, I would."

Belle didn't quite understand, but she tried to persuade him to try because he resisted last time but still enjoyed himself.

"Belle, I can't keep resisting you," Mr. Gold confessed. "I love you too much."

Belle kissed as close as she could to his lips softly, sighing, wishing, dreaming she could just kiss him like Snow and Charming, Ashley and Shawn, and as Emma and Graham probably did. She'd kissed him once, and it was one of their best moments. They both wanted that again.

Rumpelstiltskin gave into her, telling her they could kiss only once tonight. Belle wanted to make sure it was perfect, so she leaned in close, went up on the balls of her feet, and kissed him as she always wanted to. Rumpel returned her favor, wishing he could settle himself above her on the couch at that very moment; but, as soon as he felt his face alter, he pulled away, grudgingly. His face returned to the Dark One.

"See? You can do it," Belle reassured him.

"Just not for too long. That was very hard Belle," Rumpelstiltskin told her, shaking his head. "But, I am not unhappy." She smirked, wrapping her arms around him.

Belle yawned, saying she was tired and that she was going up to her room to sleep for the rest of the night. It was almost one in the morning, after all, so Rumpelstiltskin decided to follow her. Just as she reached the guest room where she was residing, he reached out and touched her shoulder, making her turn around.

"Why don't you come with me tonight?" he offered, gesturing to his doorway where a king-sized bed took its place along the far wall. She could already see the gold, egyptian cotton sheets that lay folded neatly over the rose red bedding with golden thread to match the sheets.

Belle smiled. "I'd be happy to...did you spin that thread yourself?"

Rumpel smiled in return.

"Why yes I did. Took a few hours to convince the tailor it wasn't real but yes, that is my thread," he explained. They entered the room, and Belle thought to change first. She couldn't go to sleep in her heavy sweatshirt, so when she returned from her room, she wore a simple dark blue nightgown that extended to the floor. At first, he mistook it for a dress, but then he realized there was no tight corset attached to it.

He himself was fully clothed with a very light shirt that was brown in color with matching pants. Belle laughed softly, wondering something as she saw him standing there, showing a little of his gold-dusted skin on his chest.

"What is so funny, dearie?" he asked, pulling back his side of the covers.

"Well, I was just wondering if maybe-" she didn't want to finish the sentence.

"If maybe what?" He laid himself into bed and sat up, turning on a lamp. Belle hit the main light switch before she joined him.

"If maybe you still had all your other clothing..." then she laughed a little more.

"Why do you ask such a thing?"

"Just wondering if you kept the leather and the crocodile-skinned jacket," Belle said quietly, then laughing to herself.

"But of course I kept it! That jacket was my very best. How else was I supposed to use Captain Hook's request?" Rumpelstiltskin asked. Belle shook her head, coming in closer so she could lean against her beast.

He wrapped one arm around her, turning out the light, but the moon shone into the bedroom. Rumpelstiltskin could still see her figure, and he held her so she could rest her head on his left shoulder.

"I love you." She said in the darkness, bringing about that light she always had.

"I love you too, Belle," he told her, grasping her closer to him. "And I will never let you go again."