It was a terrible storm, and Rumple's rather large estate felt alive in the strangest ways. The furniture seemed to move in the darkness and the noises left Belle feeling uneasy.
She hadn't been here for many nights, but this, she was sure, was the worst of them.
But you are brave, she told herself.
She had spent most of the day ignoring the storm in the library. There, among the many books, she at least seemed at home.
But soon she felt the need to leave when he came creeping in.
"Going so soon are ya', Dearie?" he had asked.
"Yes well," she said, putting aside a book. "I was going to read this. It's my very favorite, but I'm afraid the pages are so very old and torn that it's no longer legible."
She regretfully left it—the dark green, earthy book that she loved so dearly—on the counter and removed herself from his presence as quickly as possible.
She spent the next few hours in her room. But thunder made her anxious, so she crossed the living room and peered out the window. And there, she realized with horror, was a package near the gate that was being attacked by rain and wind. Belle bit down on her lower lip nervously. It was her duty to collect all of Rumple's mail each day, and this morning she had forgotten.
Belle had no desire to leave the comfort of the house. But what if for disobeying him, the beast locked her in the dungeons again? Surely, on a night like this, she would die down there in the cold.
She pulled on her heaviest shawl and pushed the door open. Instantly, the icy weather seemed to seep deep into her as she pushed forward.
She took a series of quick steps until she reached the gate. The wind whistled, blowing her hair and obstructing her view. But she was thankful when she reached the package, and shivering, she picked it up and held it in her arms.
She ran back to the door. She had to angle the package under her chin in order to free a hand to reach for the handle. But oh, she realized with distress, the door had locked behind her.
She dropped the package into the puddle near her feet. This yard offered not even a canopy to protect her from the storm; her body shook, and she was sure she would freeze.
The rain poured down on her for what seemed like centuries. She pounded on the door, screamed as loud as she could. Finally, with fingers that would barely curl into a fist, Belle thought to go around to the library and knocked on the large window.
She saw his figure through the splashed class. She wondered how mad he would be at the interruption, but before he moved an inch, Belle felt faint. She fell onto the soaking grass.
When she opened her eyes again, his face was close to hers. And through her daze, she noticed not the green skin or the yellowness of his wicked smile. She saw only his intriguing set of large, human eyes. And they were concerned…for her?
He scooped her up off the floor. And despite the storm, his touch was soft and warm. She felt herself curling into his chest. He smelt of ink, parchment, and even of cinnamon candles.
And soon they were in the house again. She heard the door slam closed behind them.
He placed her on the nearest couch. With magic speed, he made a fire roar in the nearby fire place and summoned tea and blankets.
He removed the outer layers of her shawl and dress and replaced them with the warm blankets. Belle watched the flames dance as his arms curled the sheets around her.
"You silly thing, whatever were you doing out there?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "The package…"
His eyebrows rose. "You went out there, for a mere package? You nearly died of frostbite."
His tone sounded almost protective. Regaining herself a bit, Belle sat up.
"And then what? The little deal you made with my father would have left you un-benefited?"
"Well precisely," he said, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to her. "I didn't fend off a herd of ogres for you to go running off into a hurricane now did I?"
She took a sip and was sure it was the best tea she'd ever tasted.
Rumple poured a cup for himself and sat in the armchair nearest her.
"There's nothing else you need, I assume?" he asked. "Because I can fetch it for you."
"No, I'm okay," said Belle.
A silence stretched between them, and Belle began to feel well again. Finally, when her cup was nearly empty, she looked at him and said, "Thank you, Rumplestilskin."
"Yes well… don't you go out there again."
"What was in the package, anyway?"
Having forgotten about the mail, he left to retrieve it from his doorstep. When he opened the package, she heard him laughing to himself. It was his unique laugh, a shrill, bark-like madness that so often escaped him.
"What?" she said, "what is it?"
"I do hope this is a good read," he said, dropping the green leather novel onto the couch beside her, "because you risked your life for it."
"Oh, but how did you…"
"Let's just say," he said, beaming, "I had struck a deal with a certain book store owner in town. A small deed, as it was, but I knew a favor from him would come in handy eventually."
Belle, though her lips still felt cold and chap, granted him a smile. "That was a very kind thought. If you find the time to read this, I'm sure we can have a lovely discussion over it."
"Oh I'll be looking forward to that, Dearie," he said. "Now if you don't mind, I'll be leaving now. Please refrain from killing yourself in my absence."
Hey. Tell me what you think of all rumple/belle chapters that don't include their storybrooke other halves. Good? Too fluffy? I just have so much fluff in my brain that I want to let out! Haha Well as always, I'm up for suggestions or comments of any kind. Thanks for reading.
P.s. The show's getting super good, huh? I sure hope that Katherine is still alive, locked away like Belle. And then, since he's now teamed up with Emma, Gold might wonder down there looking for Katherine and find Belle and… well, I'll let your imaginations take it from there ;)
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