Rumple looked down, thoughts going at a million miles per hour. Belle reached up to cup his face, his hands shot up and grabbed her wrists. There was a sudden fury in his eyes and it scared Belle. "Rumple...I'm sorry...I thought-"
"You stupid girl!" Rumple spat, his grip tightening around her wrists. "You are my maid. Nothing more nothing less. I had needs that needed to be taken care of and you did your job dearie!" He watched her eyes fill with tears at his words. He wasn't surprised, he'd practically referred to her as his own personal prostitute. "Don't you have other jobs to be doing?" He hissed as he released her wrists and grabbed her arm. Belle bowed her head and he dragged her out of his office, slamming the door in her face. Rumple slid down the door as he heard Belle run across the hallway sobbing. He didn't know what was worse. The fact he had crossed the line when he should have had more strength. Or the fact he had insulted her, told her he used her and hurt her physically and emotionally. Part of him was screaming run after her. Fix it and tell her how you really feel. The other part was telling him it was the right thing to do and nothing good would come from screwing around with his maid.
***
Belle was curled up on her bed when she heard the door slowly open. "Don't let him get to you darling. He means well." Belle snorted at the idea of Rumple meaning well. She turned to face Mrs Potts who had now entered her room and closed the door. She sat on her bed and placed a hand on her legs. "You know who he is. He battles with the voices in his head and sometimes…" Mrs Potts sighed "Sometimes they bring out the worst in him." She gave a small smile at Belle, she started to wonder how much Mrs Potts actually knew. Had she heard them in Rumple's office? Or did she just assume Rumple had shouted at her for something? "The man he is..was..is in there. And that's the man who gave you a library. Who lets you eat with him. Belle, I've lived here many, many years. Serving Mr Gold his meals, caring for him and he's never done any of that for me. He cares about you a lot. He wants you to be happy here." Belle gave a small smile and sat up wiping her tear stained face with her apron. "I don't know what happened for him to shout at you but take it with a pinch of salt. Do you want to take him his lunch? He's requested it in his office." Belle nodded. Mrs Potts pulled her into a hug as she gathered her composure.
Rumple sighed. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, he just wanted to make sure Belle was okay. He was sure Mrs Potts would give him an earful later for making Belle cry. He was confident that the most she heard was muffled yelling followed by a slamming door and Belle crying, so he wasn't expecting a lecture about his actions before hand. Hearing Belle and Mrs Potts walk towards the door Rumple waved his hand and vanished.
Back in his office he fixed his jacket and sat at his desk. Belle knocked at the door. "Yes?" Rumple called. Belle opened the door with her free hand, holding a tray in the other. "You're lunch Mr Gold." Rumple sat back in his chair and motioned for Belle to place the tray on his desk. He watched her as she set it down with shaky hands. Belle picked up a china cup from the tray. "Hurry up dearie!" Belle jumped at his voice dropping the cup. "Oh!" She picked the cup up off the floor noticing the chip. Anticipating him yelling at her again she showed him the cup. "I'm so sorry. It's chipped."
"It's just a cup." Rumple mused waving his hand. He waited for her to finish serving him his lunch and watched her start to leave. She paused at the office door, turning back to him. "Will I be joining you for dinner this evening, Mr Gold?" Belle asked nervously. Rumple looked down at his hands thinking about his response. "That's hardly appropriate Miss French." Miss French? He had never called her that, he had always called her Belle. Saddened by his words and his tone Belle nodded and left the office, slamming the huge oak door behind her.
***
Rumple had to fix this. Belle had pretty much hid in her library all day away from him. He pushed the food round his plate as he sat in his dining room alone. It wasn't the same without Belle sat chatting away to him. "I see you've managed to scare her off." Mrs Potts broke the silence. "I'd hardly call it scaring her off. I did what had to be done. She mistook my kindness and the relationship was growing inappropriate." Rumple could tell Mrs Potts saw through his bullshit excuse. "What had to be done? You mean yelling at her then continuing to be as blunt as possible with her? What happened? She was bringing out the best in you." Rumple looked down ashamed of how he had treated Belle. Trying his best to push the voices aside telling him to tell Mrs Potts to mind her own business. "Nothing happened. I stopped her before anything could." LAIR! The voices seethed. Mrs Potts could tell he didn't want to talk about it anymore and left him to wallow in his self pity but not before telling him he was an idiot.
***
Rumple was pacing outside the library trying to gather enough strength to face Belle. Ignoring everything in him that said this was a bad idea he opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind him. "What can I help you with Mr Gold?" Belle asked in a polite tone but Rumple could sense her anger. "I thought I'd come and see what you've been doing in here all day. It looks nice, although you've missed a bit up there." He teased pointing to a corner above Belles head. Belle rolled her eyes. Unbelieveable. "I see what's going on here. You want me to climb up there, give you a nice view and then what? Take care of you?" She spat as she gestured towards his crotch. He looked down and sighed. "Belle, that's not why I'm here. I came to apologize-"
"For what exactly? Practically calling me you're own personal whore? Or for taking advantage of your position? Lets not forget, you gave me this uniform, you said I have to wear it while working. You clearly wanted something from me!" He flinched at her words. She was right. He abused his position, he did insinuate that she was his personal whore. "Belle, I am so sorry. You're right, I shouldn't have said what I did and I shouldn't have done what I did. And that includes giving you the wrong idea." Belle gave a soft smile and walked towards Rumple. "Thank you Rumple." Belle spoke softly taking his hand in hers. He watched her face meeting her gaze. "I'll see you at breakfast Belle." And he vanished. He had to be so careful now. He couldn't get caught watching her, he couldn't lapse like he did today. He just couldn't.