The gossip and general town fodder increased tenfold when Gaston was released the next day. Instead of Gold just being considered a terrible future-home-wrecking beast, Belle was cast in a negative light as well. Many people considered her a "teasing tramp" who had simply strung Gaston along. Others believed the latter along with adding she was only with Gold for his money.
Of course neither of them knew of any of this "breaking news." Emma had come by and been nothing but professional while Belle signed paperwork, and once she left they spent the next three days wrapped in a bubble of private bliss. They ran into a rude awakening when Belle got ready to leave and found her car spray-painted "GOLD Digger" in what looked like the same red paint that had been on Mary-Margaret's car just a few months prior. She took a breath and walked back inside to get cleaning supplies, hoping that Robert wouldn't wake up, but it was all for naught.
He walked outside just as she was getting the last of it off and dropped his morning tea. He didn't bother to acknowledge the sopping mess at his feet when he spat out, "What the hell did they write and why didn't you wake me up?"
She scrubbed the last "r" off and sighed, "Oh something they, no doubt, thought was incredibly witty and clever. And I didn't wake you up for this very reason." She walked over and crouched down to pick up the pieces of the white and blue cup. "Well that's a good cup wasted. I was kind of fond of this one."
She walked back inside and he followed her in, closing the door behind him, "Forget the cup Belle! What was painted on your car?"
After tossing the pieces in the trash she turned to him and smirked, "'Gold digger' with an emphasis on the 'gold.' Honestly, I'd have been more impressed if they'd done it with gold paint too. Might have even left it on my car." She chuckled, but stopped when he kept up his scowl. "Oh come on! Don't be angry!"
"Why shouldn't I be?" he exclaimed with dark thoughts of raising hell in Granny's gossip-hole. "It hasn't even been a week and you've already got graffiti on your car. Mary-Margaret and David had a month at least."
Belle smiled and cupped his face with her hand, "Robert calm down, I cannot even begin to fathom why you let the town affect you like this. It's gossip."
"But it's not," he growled and abruptly turned away from her.
"Oh so you think I'm a gold-digger?" she replied to his back. "The past half a year and a ruined relationship have all been a plot for your money?"
He rolled his eyes and faced her raised eyebrows, "Of course not, but I am a relationship wrecker and the town hermit who took you away from your knight in shining armor."
"Now you're just being an idiot," she chided. "Really? My knight in shining armor? People can believe what they want, but you need to listen to me when I say I did not end my relationship with that asshat because of my feelings for you."
"Fine…" he grumbled midst a bunch of other non-audible things.
Belle kissed his temple, "Alright, you can keep grumbling, but I'm going home. So you need to get dressed and go to work and NOT go stamping into Granny's to make a scene about how terrible and fearsome you are. We should have dinner later tonight and maybe go away for the weekend?"
He groaned, "God Belle, can we not give the rumor mill more fuel?"
"I thought we had established a mutual town gossip ignorance just 30 seconds ago?" she turned to walk out the door again.
"Okay, okay," he consented and pulled her into his arms. "But you'll have to let me borrow those rose-tinted glasses of yours."
"Only if I get to keep your sweater," she kissed his nose.
He kissed her lips, "We have a deal dearie."
"Brilliant! I'll be back here around 6:30ish. Close your dusty old pawnshop early and stay away from Granny's?"
"Will do," he replied with a mock salute.
She kissed him chastely again and flitted out the door. He leaned on the door frame as he watched her drive down the street.
He awoke from a fantastic nap in their tiny cottage's garden when something was chucked at him. He looked down at the object in his lap and laughed. "You actually bought rose-tinted glasses."
Belle came out from behind a vine-covered corner of the small yard, "Of course. I couldn't just steal your sweatshirt. A deal's a deal."
"That it is," he replied while putting the glasses on with a flourish. "Well what do you think?"
"Much better than your hippie ones," she smiled, sat down on his chair's arm, and wrapped an arm around him.
He titled his head down and looked at her over the glasses, "I take a lot of offense to that. I love those glasses."
"Aren't you supposed to be positive when you're viewing the world with rose tinted glasses?" she teased.
He pulled her down into his lap, "Who says anything in that statement wasn't positive? You're the one being negative about my accessories."
She placed a kiss on his neck, "Alright, alright. I'm sorry for mocking your sunglasses."
"I'll accept it if you cash in that favor you owe me tonight."
She tapped a finger to her chin, "Always making deals aren't you? How would it be cashed in?"
"Oh," he smirked. "You'll see."
Short and sweet. And entirely out of character for both of them. Ending on yet another cliche that most likely won't lead anywhere that you have in mind. I'm sorry. I hate when people do that too, but feel free to put your own spin on how that favor would be cashed in. I'd be flattered.
On another note, I have a love-hate relationship with those Valentine's Day glasses. I do appreciate the one's Robert Carlyle recently wore on set with Emilie de Ravin though.