She was dusting the bookshelf, moving swiftly. And although she was facing the other direction, she must have heard him enter. "You have so many books," she noted.

Gold took a seat at his desk. He searched through papers, trying to appear busy (when in reality, he had only entered the office to be near her). "Words are beautiful things," he replied.

Belle stopped dusting and took a step back to admire her work.

"And books just look beautiful sometimes, you know? They're always so simple, so welcoming."

Gold's eyes swept over Belle's thin figure. "Extremely beautiful," he said.

She turned, looking at him for the first time. "Busy?" she asked.

"Not too much," he said, adjusting his paperwork.

"Going to the shop today?"

In truth, he had been neglecting his beloved pawn shop. But how could anyone expect him to stay there among dusty old antiques when Belle, so sprightly and stunning, was here?

"In a while," he answered, and then added, "Oh, do feel free to borrow any of the books from the shelf."

Her eyes light up a little. She turned her attention back to the books, perusing them. "I'll take… this one."

And from the shelf, she selected a small, green book. Her book.

And at recognizing the irony of her choice, Gold could not contain himself. He let out a laugh that, to Belle, was highly unlike him—a high pitched squeal of a sound that contagiously made her laugh as well.

"What was that?" asked Belle.

Gold, thinking of the book and teacup, swept a tear from the corner of his eye. He didn't know what to say, and he was starting to feel embarrassed over his Rumple-like noises.

"I've never heard anyone with such a cackle!" Belle went on.

Gold stood up. "and you won't tell a soul about mine!" he commanded.

"Oh, come now. I think it's endearing."

He snorted and reached for his cane.

"Oh, don't leave on account of one laugh. I like it. I swear. You should do it again!"

"Not in this life time," he sneered. But Belle was rapidly approaching him.

"I bet I can make you laugh," she said.

He looked down at her. "With what, my dear, silly faces and knock-knock jokes?"

And as a reply, her hands came flying up. Soon she was reaching under his open suit and tickling him. "If you think…" he said, but he could barely keep from laughing and squirming.

She continued until he felt short of breath. And then, giggling, her hands proceeded to wrap around his torso and into a hug.

Gold was so surprised that his cane clattered to the floor. It was brief, her body pressing against his, the smell of her skin like grass and spring…

She backed away, blushing. Hell, he thought, did she look beautiful when she blushed.

"If you're buttering me up for more hours off… " he began joking.

"I'd rather you tell me your first name," she admitted.

Gold smirked. "How about a hint?"

"Yes, please!" Belle said excitedly.

"It begins with an R…"

….

Belle had found herself at the diner later that week. Normally, she'd have work at this time, but Regina had arrived to speak to Gold. Gold, thankfully, allowed Belle to leave the presence of that nightmare of a woman.

So she entered the diner. Ruby met her eyes and smiled brilliantly. She turned, murmured something to her grandmother who nodded reluctantly at her.

Belle took a seat in a booth. Instantly, Ruby waltz over and sat across from her.

"Belle," she said, beaming, "I've got something to tell you. I was downtown the other day when, well my grandma's only giving me fifteen minutes off so I'll cut to the point—I've found you a date."

"What?"

"I know, I know. Blind dates are a little middle-school-ish, but I promise this guy's super hot."

Belle crossed her arms over the table. "Why don't you date him then?"

"Because I've talked to him a million times. There's nothing between us. I mean, I have this vision in my head of someone who makes my pulse quicken, someone who'll come to my window and bring me flowers. I don't know why, but I feel like I know what love should be like: dizzying, confusing, comforting…"

Belle listened dreamily to Ruby's words, forcing a certain someone not to resurface in her thoughts.

"Anyway, Alan and you would be perfect. Oh that's his name, Alan Barnes. Cute, right?"

"I don't know," said Belle. "I—"

"There isn't anyone else you've got in mind, is there?" asked Ruby, raising her eyebrows.

"What, of course not!"

"Well," said Ruby, "why not give him a shot then?"

Belle made no reply. So Ruby pulled a pen from her pocket and scribbled a number onto a napkin. "Well here is his number. Give him a call."

…

"You look nice," Gold noted shyly as she walked across the living room. She was wearing a casual, yellow dress with a jean jacket pulled over. With her hair half pulled back, she deserved adjectives like 'radiant' or 'striking', but 'nice' was all his courage would allow.

She grinned. "Thank you."

"Going out with Emma?" he asked.

He had been flipping through papers on the couch. Allows doing paperwork, she thought. But she said nothing.

"I, uh, actually have a date."

Something flashed across his eyes, something Belle pretended not to notice. "Met someone so soon?" he asked coolly.

"A friend of a friend," she answered. "His name's Alan Barnes."

He opened his mouth to speak, closed it again. Alan Barnes, he thought, the man who'd been Gaston…

"Well," he finally said. "I hope you have a nice evening."

"You too," she said.

The door opened, closed. She was gone.