Rumpelstiltskin had been told there would be a ball that night, the day before, in honour of Belle and her betrothed. It was just now dawning on him that that meant him, too. He smiled to himself as he let people go in and out of his room as they pleased to help him prepare for the night.
He was perhaps least surprised to see his betrothed steal away into his room. "Dearest, what are you doing?" Rumpelstiltskin asks in amusement. "I wanted to see you." Belle says, as if that explains everything instead of adding more questions. She reached up and pecked his stubbly cheek. "You need to shave." Belle comments, laughing. "It's prickly."
"I'm quite sure that someone is bound to notice I need a shave other than you, dear," Rumpel said with a grin. "Unless, of course, her royal highness would prefer to shave me herself." he jokes. And then he sees Belle's eyes light up. "Really? You'd let me?" She squeaks.
"Of course. I trust you explicitly, Belle." Rumpelstiltskin says gently, tugging her down for a proper kiss. "I'll go get the knife." Belle says cheerfully, pulling away from his lingering lips, to his dismay. He laughs, and nods. "Go. I want you back in two minutes." he jokes.
Belle cheerfully ran off, laughing as she felt his eyes on her. It felt so good to be loved so completely.
When she returned, Rumpelstiltskin was gone.
"Rumpel?" She calls, nervous.
"In here, dear. Just a moment." His voice answers her, and she immediately calms.
Still, she was tense until she saw her betrothed come out. And wow, did he always look that nice? She giggles a little, and walks over to him, her arms going about his neck and accidentally nicking a lock of his hair with the knife.
"You're out to kill me, are you?" Rumpel asks in amusement, kissing her fingers.
"Drat, you've seen through my masterplan." Belle jokes in reply.
"You'd make a horrible murderess." Rumpelstiltskin says thoughtfully, as if he's actually considering it. She giggles.
"Then it's a good thing I'm only here to shave you." she kissed his nose.
She went to work on his chin then, and he dutifully stayed still for her.
"There." Belle pets his cheek, giggling softly. "Much smoother." She sighs in contentment.
"Thank you, dearest." Rumpelstiltskin swooped up to kiss her again. "You didn't have to do that, I could have gotten a handmaid to." he tells her sweetly.
" I'll be the only one who gets to caress you, thank you." Belle snarks back.
"Well, well, well." Rumpel laughs, pulling her closer. "It would seem the princess has a jealous streak."
Belle plops into his lap, grinning softly. "What, me? Of course not." she jokes, kissing his chin. "I just happen to like what's mine being mine."
"I am yours." Rumpel said, his arms going about her waist. "Forever and ever, ever and ever." he trailed kisses down her face. "As you are mine." he tells her with a smile.
"Yours." Belle agrees, wrapping around him more tightly. "I love you, Rumpelstiltskin." She whispers in his ear.
"I love you too, Belle." Rumpel replies, kissing her gently on the cheek.
Belle's part in this ball was minimal, despite being one of the honoured people. She had to dress the part, and act it, but mostly she was left alone. Unless it was by her betrothed. He hardly lets her out of his sight, and Belle loves it.
She doesn't want to be without him, or to see him dancing with other girls, but that's something she sadly has to deal with. Luckily though, he always returns to her side after a dance. For every dance he gives someone else, his future wife receives one.
Belle is delighted by the attention he lavishes on her. She feels cherished, and she can't help but sigh happily as she leans her head on his shoulder at the meal.
"Something wrong, love?" Rumpel whispers, kissing her head. "No," she says in response, looking up at him adoringly. "Everything's wonderful."
"Are you up for another dance?" Rumpelstiltskin asks her hopefully, and she nods eagerly. "I love being in your arms." She admits as they walk onto the floor. He grins, and sweeps her off her feet as he twirls her around.
"Rumpel!" She's giggling."Put me down!" Rumpel shakes his head, laughing. "Never!" he twirls her around again.
She gives in, laughing as she clutches his head tightly in her arms. "You're going to make it come off." Rumpel complains.
"Then you should let me down." Belle argues back, laughing.
"Nah. I'll take the risk of losing my head." Rumpel grins broadly at her.
Belle grins back at him, and finally pushes him away as she gets dizzy. "I'm dizzy," she says. "Leave me alone."
"It's time to eat anyway. Spinning you around is a lot of hard work." Rumpelstiltskin jokes, kissing her hand as he leads her to the table.
The seating is like this. Maurice is at the head of the table, the seat across from him is empty, as that's where the queen used to sit. Belle is at the right of him, Gaston at the left, and Rumpel sits beside his future wife. Beside Gaston is a girl about Belle's age, with brown hair and eyes that are far too sharp for Rumpelstiltskin's taste.
"May I present the lady Milah?" Gaston introduces the girl to Belle and Rumpel. Belle smiles at her, taking Rumpelstiltskin's hand over the table as if she needs to lay her claim. "It's lovely to meet you, Lady Milah. I am Princess Belle, and this is my future husband, Rumpelstiltskin." She says.
"We've met." Lady Milah responds, and Rumpelstiltskin tips his head to one side in curiosity. "Have we?" he asks in surprise. "Indeed." Milah answers with a sly smile, and Belle decides then and there that she hates the woman with all she has.
Rumpelstiltskin squeezes Belle's hand, and brings it to his lips to get her attention. "I love you." he mouths, and her worries fade as she leans her head against his shoulder. "I love you too, husband." she promises softly.
Rumpelstiltskin smiles, kissing her head and feeding her a bit of meat before she straightens and smiles over at Milah. "So, Lady Milah," she begins tautly. "How did you meet my husband to be?"
"A ball, a few seasons ago." Lady Milah says, looking bored at the memory. Belle is torn between not being able to believe the woman could look back at the meeting of Rumpelstiltskin without a smile and being glad, because that means she's not interested.
"How interesting," Belle says softly, looking over at Rumpelstiltskin with an awed look. "I met him when he became an official Knight, about three years ago." She said sweetly, reaching over to cup his cheek with her hand.
"And I loved her in the first moment I met her." Rumpelstiltskin says lowly, but he knew that Milah would have heard.
"As I loved you." Belle giggles, and kisses him. Maurice clears his throat, and they separate with a giggle.
"As I was saying," Maurice began again, giving his daughter an amused look. "I wanted to offer a toast, in honour of Rumpelstiltskin." Belle sits up straighter, beaming as she looks at the awed surprise on Rumpel's face.
"He has managed to win the hand of my daughter, which I assure you all, is no easy feat." The dinner table laughs all around at that, and Belle hides her face in the crook of Rumpel's neck. "Not only does the man win her, he woos her. And for that alone I'm inclined in his favour."
Rumpelstiltskin blushes at the king's words, but does not contradict. He only looks at Belle in amusement. Belle giggles, and nods, confirming the words.
"To Rumpelstiltskin," Maurice says, and the table echoes him, Belle's voice the loudest. "To my husband." She says instead, though.