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Belle goes shopping with (your choice of character) and is persuided to try on a wedding dress for fun. Bonus points if Rumple sees!

Belle opened the window in their room, greeting the warm breeze with a wide grin. The murky weather had finally seemed to lift. This place, Maine, always seemed so gloomy and chilly out, but to finally have some warmth was a very welcome thing for Belle.

She glanced back to Rumplestiltskin, who was still sleeping soundly in their bed. He was still catching up on the sleep he'd lost during her time as Lacey. She felt a bitter taste rising in her throat at the thought of her alter ego, keeping him stuck in the Rabbit Hole with her until the wee hours of the morning.

She heard a sharp intake of breath from him, looking to see him sitting up with wide eyes. "Belle," he croaked out, reaching for her with a relieved breath. She was at his side in a moment, clutching his hands in hers.

"I'm here, Rumple," she soothed, removing her hands to run them through his hair. "I was thinking of going out to shop with Ruby if that's all right with you…I figured you could spend some time with Bae, maybe have breakfast with him?" she suggested. She'd been aching to better explore the town a bit with Red. Rumplestiltskin had ordered her clothing en mass the last time, giving her little choice in the matter, but Belle never once reflected upon that with a frown.

Rumplestiltskin had done a superb job of finding her clothing that she felt comfortable in. She flushed as she realized how very well he knew her.

"Of course, of course," he replied, moving to cup her cheek in his calloused hand. "Have fun dearie and stay out of trouble. I suppose I'll call Baelfire and see if he'd like to eat at Granny's."

Belle smiled, leaning in to brush her lips against his. "Thank you," she breathed, closing her eyes and resting her forehead to his for a moment before bouncing off to get ready to go out.

She texted Ruby before heading out, giving Rumple a quick kiss as he pulled on his suit jacket, already having called Baelfire.

Belle was quite pleased at the boutiques Ruby introduced her to, not quite expecting such diversity in the small town. She assumed most of the women wore the same outfits due to the lack of stores, but the stores they found had quite the selections.

Belle internally sighed as Ruby darted off, surely on a mission to find her either some "sexy" outfits for Gold or something of the sort for herself. Belle shook her head, grinning as she quickly paced after the woman.

"So…how're things? I mean, no offense, but when you were Lacey…just woah," Ruby grinned at her as she held a red skirt to her hips, frowning at what she saw.

"They're as normal as can be," Belle sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "We talked things out though…he apologized," her eyes fell to the ground, their argument running through her head.

"You fell so easily, Rumple. I'd been so confident that you could avoid that path, but as soon as you feared I'd slip through your fingers…you went right back to it. What do you think Baelfire would think?"

"I can't lose you again, Belle! I would kill each and every person in this town if it meant keeping you safe!"

"Hey, hey," Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning down to peer up into Belle's blue eyes. "Everything's gonna be fine, Belle, don't worry. It's not your fault, anyway, it's that bitch queen's fault. If he wants to get angry at anyone, it should be her."

Belle bit her lip, nodding slowly.

"Look at that!" Ruby suddenly screeched, pointing off at the tiniest little dress Belle had ever seen.

She shook her head, laughing. Ruby had told her how appalled she was at her Storybrooke persona's taste, and yet she still had traces of that same persona within her even now.

Belle hesitated, making herself look at the risque dress. Well, Lacey, are you still in here? She stared at the dress, trying to see if her mind would react towards it.

Belle grinned as her mind remained disgusted with the thing.

The two left, bags in hand and chatting happily. Belle was listening to Red chatter on about the time Pongo chased after one of Storybrooke's fashionistas, Cruella, when she stopped in her tracks.

"And then Pongo…Belle?"

Everything about the dress in the window called to her. The purity of it, the daydreams it offered that left her mouth hanging open.

It was the design that had her eyes wide. It was as if the fates had created the dress for her.

It was a pure white gown that reached the ground. The bodice had a silver lining about it with a few gems and the sleeves hung off of the shoulders of the mannequin.

It was her dress from so long ago, the dress she wore when she met him the first time. Rumplestiltskin.

Not only that, but it was also a wedding gown.

"Oh my god, Belle! You have to try it on!" Red cried, grabbing her friend by the arm and bolting across the street, dragging Belle along with her.

Belle flushed as they entered, Ruby demanding that she be allowed to try the dress on.

The old seamstress that owned the shop was more than happy to do so, whisking Belle away into the changing room.

Belle was flushing a rosy red as she stepped out in the gown, holding her skirts up about her. It was then that she realized how much she missed her old dresses. The wedding gown just felt right to her. Everything about it felt right.

Ruby teared up immediately, covering her mouth with a hand. Even the seamstress gave a snuffle.

"God, Gold better propose ASAP because he's got the prettiest girl in town on his arm!" Ruby huffed, ushering Belle over to look at herself in the mirror.

Belle gave a soft gasp at her reflection, looking beyond anything she ever imagined. It was perfect. Her heart ached as she realized that she wasn't really trying the dress on with the expectations to be married. They hadn't even spoken of it.

She failed to notice the man in the window, leaning heavily on his cane from the sight of his beauty, dressed in white.

Dressed to be wed.

His breath caught in his throat, eyes gleaming as he looked upon Belle in her dress, almost the same dress she wore when he first met her.

His mind was set.

He briskly headed to his pawnshop, rifling through his back cabinet for the ring he'd always kept from selling.

It served as a petty daydream back so long ago, when he still believed that she was dead.

He always imagined that she would walk in one day. He'd propose right then. He never did though. Even when she remembered.

He would be fixing that mistake tonight.

Thanks for reading, dearie! Review if you wish to do so!