Belle's duties were light enough that she had time free after a day's work. With Baelfire's fast learning, he was getting quite far into Harry Potter. She was proud of the little imp, but something held her back from putting her whole heart into the boy.
She knew exactly what was keeping her, as well. It was the father, Rumpelstiltskin. She couldn't help it; the man - for that's what he was, Belle was adamant of this fact - was so nervous around her, around Bae even. That made her even more sure of the fact that Rumpelstiltskin was just a man. He was even a good man, and Belle felt her heart clench every time she was around him.
She tried to ignore that bit, though. For what use did he have of her, if not Bae's almost-mama? Surely he did not see her in the same light, however favorably she tried to appear in his eyes. Still, Belle couldn't help pushing herself forward whenever Rumpelstiltskin was in need of some help.
Such as the time with the curtains. The Dark Castle may be named aptly, but damned if Belle didn't want to add a little light into - at least - Baelfire's life. She had climbed upon a great big ladder, and was attempting to pull down the curtains when Rumpelstiltskin walked in.
She came falling down, with a nervous yelp. But she needn't have been scared, because Rumpelstiltskin caught her. In his own two arms. She blushed, her mouth suddenly going dry as she looked at his lips, then his eyes. She tried to focus on his eyes as she wrapped one of her arms around his neck to help hold her in place.
"Uh," she murmured. "Thank you. I'd be splat in the hall if not for you." She blushed a little as he preened just a bit from her praise. "It's uhm, no matter." Rumpelstiltskin assured her, and then as if he'd just remembered he was holding her still, he let her down, tipping her over onto her feet. Belle instantly mourned the loss, but smiled at him anyway.
"Really though, I'm forever grateful." she whispered, and against her better judgement, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. She smiled at his eyes, wide with surprise, and pulled away. Rumpelstiltskin blushed, and nodded. "It's no matter." he repeated, this time a bit more strongly.
For the most part, things continued on the same after that day. Belle would greet Rumpelstiltskin happily, and he'd return it in a daze. Some things were different, though, such as Belle would be much more affectionate with him. She would kiss his cheek before she went off with Baelfire for the night, and she would sometimes take his hand when she was talking to him earnestly about something.
And mostly, Baelfire didn't notice the signs. But sometimes he would give Belle a sideways glance, which she always shook her head at. She was shy, but she did feel things for her master. He was just- He was kind to Belle and that meant the world to her.
On one such day, Belle was just finishing up a lesson with Baelfire, on the seventh chapter of Harry Potter, when Rumpelstiltskin poofed into the room. "Rumpel? What's wrong?" she asked worriedly, looking at his disheveled state. "Papa?" Baelfire added anxiously, not used to seeing him look so ragged after a deal.
"I'm fine!" Rumpelstiltskin croaked out. "Belle, please, some tea." he requested. Belle nodded, shutting the book and gliding gracefully towards the kitchen. Baelfire stepped closer to his father. "Papa, what's wrong?" he demanded.
"Just a bit of a deal gone wrong, son, it's okay." Rumpelstiltskin tried to console his son. The boy helped his father over to an easy chair, and Rumpelstiltskin fell heavily into it. Belle returned shortly with the tea.
"I chose a chamomile and chai blend, sir, I thought it would calm you best." Belle commented nervously, handing the tea to Rumpelstiltskin. "That was right, thank you Belle." Rumpelstiltskin said, taking a sip of the tea and shuddering visibly.
"Papa, what happened? At the deal?" Baelfire asked hesitantly, pulling himself into Belle's comforting arms. Belle ran her hands up and down Bae's arms gently, kissing his head. "Yes, Rumpel, won't you tell us? So we can help you?" Belle requested hopefully.
Rumpelstiltskin debated internally for a moment before nodding. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you to know." he said at length. Belle smiled, and Bae squealed with excitement as they waited. "There was a fairy," he said at last. "She was called upon before I came. They wanted to trap the dark one in a bottle," he rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows that's for genies."
"Not everyone," Belle giggled, and earned herself a smirk from Rumpelstiltskin. "What? I didn't. Go on. Genies and bottles, not Rumpelstiltskin's." she smirked encouragingly. Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes. "They wanted to take my power," he admitted. "To free you both, I suppose. I don't know." he sighed loudly.
Belle narrowed her eyes. "Was it someone my father put up to this?" Belle asked with a sigh. Rumpelstiltskin shrugged. "Either way, I'm in no need of a rescue." she added, murmured mostly for Baelfire's benefit.
"Neither am I." Bae puffed his chest out from his perch on Belle's lap. "We love being here, both of us. Don't we Belle?" Belle nodded, smiling a little at Rumpelstiltskin. "I'm never bored here, that's for sure." she said with a proper grin.
Rumpelstiltskin snorted. "Either way, I managed to make it back here. I think we're all safe." he promised, ruffling Baelfire's hair. "Good," Belle asserted, smiling at the imp. "I know you'll keep us both safe, don't you Bae?" she soothed the boy before anything could even happen.
"Yes'm. Papa always keeps me safe, and now you too." he smiled, pleased. He loved his father and his Belle. Baelfire smiled brightly at Belle and his father, then bent back over his book, which he had brought with him when he came to sit with Belle in the easy chair.
Rumpelstiltskin blushed, the red hue blending into the grey-green so neatly that Belle almost didn't notice it. But she did, and she smiled, ducking her head to hide her amusement. By then, it was after dinner time, and so the trio went to eat.
Over the meal, they spoke little, preferring to shove their faces full of food. After they ate all they could, Belle hung back to let the father and son say goodnight. Once that was done, she smiled and led Bae down their shared hallway. Belle ducked into his room, and they spoke together softly for a few minutes before Belle bid him goodnight. "Good dreams, Bae." she smiled as she kissed his brow.
"Good dreams, Belle." Baelfire returned, letting out a yawn as he curled up into a ball. Belle smiled and kissed him a final time before getting up and leaving, shutting his door just a little, leaving it open a crack so that she'd hear him if the boy called out for her. Belle went into her own room then, sighing softly as she closed the door partially behind her.
Belle went to her dresser, a beautiful maroon thing, and selected a night dress for herself. It was grey and plain, but Belle didn't particularly care for showy dress. Once she'd changed, Belle began to brush out her hair. It was getting long, and often she kept it in a braid.
Tonight, she did it up nicely in a bun. After she was done preparing for her sleep, Belle laid down on the bed, curling up under the blue covers, and sighed. She was quite happy with her life at the Dark Castle, it was truly lovely. But Belle longed for just a bit more than a tutor's position…. As much as she was loathe to admit, Belle had fallen for Rumpelstiltskin.
She hadn't meant to do that at all. Belle didn't ever, as a child, envision any great romance in her future. As a teenager, even less- especially after she'd become engaged to Gaston upon reaching her majority at eighteen. And yet… Rumpelstiltskin was exactly what Belle had always thought as a perfect match for her. He was smart(devastatingly so) and was kind, and Gods, he was so handsome. Even grey-green, the man had appeal to her.
Belle was screwed, in plain.