Author's Note: I know this chapter is wicked short, forgive me. I've had a really busy and stressful weekend, but I wanted to leave this chapter with a cliffhanger. I'll be back at it within the next few days. Promise :)

The light breeze blew through Belle's hair as she knelt, her hands moving in a graceful, circular motion around a small, wilted flower. Her unblinking eyes were focused on the plant. She had been sitting there, doing the same motion for about eight minutes and was becoming frustrated. Rumplestiltskin stood behind her, watching her movements carefully, inspecting them. He had taught her a healing spell a week ago and Belle was determined to put it into action. He advised her to start small; he even broke a spider's leg for her to practice on, but she insisted on healing a plant first. Always the ambitious one, she was. He could tell from the level of intensity upon which she was staring at this plant that she would not leave until it had been restored. Her shoulders were tense and fixed. He could sense her energy and it was draining the longer she sat there. Healing spells had never been something Rumplestiltskin was especially good at, being that it was good magic. Good magic was not exactly his forte as the Dark One. In fact, he himself had difficulty with healing spells and had only been able to properly cast one once in all his years. It was an annoying setback.

He sighed. He knew Belle was trying, but nothing was happening; the flower showed no signs of life.

"Why don't we take a break for right now, Belle?" he suggested, his eyes scanning the scenery.

"No, I'm so close, I can feel it." she snapped, still staring at the flower. Rumplestiltskin leaned over and put his hand on her shoulder. She whipped her head around fiercely, her blue eyes looking strangely dark and savage. He drew back; the look in her eyes, the shift in their color indicated that some force was at work within her. He looked over her at the flower, which was slowly beginning to stand up straight, its stem growing thicker and stronger. He smirked; so, frustration was her magical trigger.

"Really? I don't think you do, dearie. We've been here for hours, I'm surprised the sun is still up." he teased. Belle pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Look, I can do it; I will, it just takes time and patience and-" she began, her voice tense.
"Aggravation, apparently." he interrupted with a wry smile. Belle looked at him strangely, a confused look on her face. Rumplestiltskin watched as her eyes lightened, their shade returning to their original azure tint. He motioned over her shoulder at the flower. Belle turned back and saw a sunflower in full bloom standing straight and tall. It even grew an inch before her. Belle beamed and clapped her hands excitedly. She leaped up at once and hugged Rumplestiltskin.
"We did it! We did it!" she exclaimed, smiling ear to ear.
"You did it, dearest. I simply observed." he replied, returning her embrace. She pulled back to look at him, giving him a suspicious look.
"You didn't do anything, did you?" He gave her a coy look.
"Besides annoy you enough to get the final squeeze of magical potential out? I did nothing else." He answered, putting his hands up and looking innocent.
"Well, alright, if you say so..." Belle replied, hardly looking satisfied, "I think I'm going to practice more. I doubt I'll be able to do it without you 'annoying' me again though." she sneered at him.

Rumplestiltskin laughed. Even when she tried to be mean or sarcastic, she looked like a stunning fish out of water. He began to walk back to the entrance to the Dark Castle.

"Take pride in yourself, love." he said loudly over his shoulder. Suddenly, he stopped, realizing what he had called her. He turned around slowly to see if she had reacted to it. Belle was facing his direction, her eyes sparkling in the light of the afternoon sun. Her eyebrows were arched, but not in a surprised way; rather, she looked quite pleased with herself, the corners of her mouth turned upward. Their eyes met and she bit her lip shyly. Rumplestiltskin gave her a little bow, his hands clasped behind his back as he made his way up the stairs and into the castle, the smile still painted on his face.

Three Weeks Later

Belle was progressing faster than Rumplestiltskin expected. He knew she was determined and able, but he never thought she would be learning and using spells this quickly. He entered the main parlor, stretching his arms over his head. He had overslept that morning after staying up late, trying to determine the final ingredients needed to complete a potion to slow the symptoms of aging; not that he needed it, but he suspected it would be useful for the purpose of others. Belle sat on the table, leaning back on her elbows as a book hovered in front of her, turning its pages as she motioned toward it with her head. She was so engrossed in both her book and her enchanting that she didn't notice Rumplestiltskin sneak around the table behind her. He stealthily climbed up onto the table directly behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and whispered, "Good morning" directly in her ear. Belle shrieked, the book falling into her arms as she fell over on her side, breathing fast and heavily. Rumplestiltskin began laughing crazily, collapsing next to her on the table. Recovering from her initial shock, Belle started laughing too as she playfully swatted him with her arm.

"That! That was not funny, Rumplestiltskin! You nearly scared me half to death, I thought you were asleep!" she cried, trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard. She hit him again, this time smacking his chest. He laughed harder, grabbing her hand as she tried to slap him again. Belle's fingers interlaced with his gently, the playfulness evaporating as their hands locked together on the table between them. Their heads turned to one another simultaneously and it seemed that, for a moment, the entire room, the entire Dark Castle, the entire universe disappeared. Their eyes met, like they always did so intensely, and time seemed to have stopped. The only audible sound was the sound of their breathing; inhale and exhale in perfect harmony. Belle moved closer to him, and he to her. They were centimeters from each other, close to enough to feel each other breathing when Rumplestiltskin sat straight up on the table, his heart beating quickly as he sensed a disturbance in the realm, less than a mile away.

"They're coming."