Author's note; Ah go on. I just couldn't help myself...
Belle's favourite hobby at present was crying. She'd tried her previous hobbies to see if one could lift her mood. All to no avail. She found it difficult to read. Anything she read took her mind back to where her heart was lying in shards on the floor of her dungeon, and his words that his power meant more to him than she did burned through her once again. Her books were a painful reminder of the nights sitting in the great hall whilst Rumplestiltskin spun, feigning reluctance to listen to her read to him, yet complaining when she stopped. The fire casting shadows along the walls, and Rumplestiltskin casting glances in her direction when he thought she wasn't looking. Those glances of his always warmed her more than the fire did. Yes, books were out for now.
So she tried walking in the grounds of Maurice's castle instead. And thought back to when, after a few months, Rumplestiltskin had finally realised that his caretaker needed fresh air, and granted her full access to the grounds of the Dark Castle. Of course, he'd regretted this when on returning from one of his deals he found his castle had seemingly been redecorated by an unhinged florist with an unhealthy attachment to roses. And then there had been the incident of the snowball fight. He'd been bested four out of five times. His ego was taking a battering. The fifth time he'd used magic. Belle found herself picking icicles off her hair and eyelashes for hours afterwards in front of the fire. Snow infused with magic did not melt as quickly as unmagicked snow.
Sword fighting was also not a good idea. That just reminded her of shooing Rumplestiltskin out of her kitchens when he was in one of his more mischievous moods with the rather large chopping knife she usually reserved for culinary challenges. Besides, the way she was feeling she was just as likely to run someone through as just parry.
Maybe food would help pondered Belle. Her stomach growled in response. It was breakfast so reluctantly she made her way to the dining room. Perhaps King Maurice had already dined so she would not need to sit through him planning her life again.
The Mad Hatter arrived in the grounds of the Dark Castle somewhat flustered. He needed a cup of tea. Badly. His favourite hobby was terrorizing the villagers and he'd been unashamedly indulging this passion. Again. And had narrowly missed his body being separated from his head. Again. However this time he had to extricate himself from the rather uncomfortable predicament of being suspended over a rather large pot of boiling oil. Rumplestiltskin had not come to his rescue. Extricating himself was a first. Jefferson was perhaps Rumplestiltskin's only friend. Or more accurately the only person who came close to being Rumplestiltskin's only friend. The Hatter was annoyed. Rumplestiltskin always, albeit at the last possible second, came to Jefferson's rescue. Usually only a hairs breadth away from a burning torch and sharp pitchfork making contact with my precious hat Jefferson thought as he trudged through the grounds. The grounds were as well tended as ever. He knew that Belle did little more than a little light pruning now and again. Rumplestiltskin had always managed the upkeep of his castle perfectly well through magic. With the exception of cooking and dusting around the finer antiques in his collection. Hence large parts of the castle being besieged by layers of dust and the kitchens spotless through lack of use. Jefferson had become accustomed to refusing food offered by Rumplestiltskin, and his tea left much to be desired. Jefferson was greatly surprised at coming across Belle during one of his visits to Rumplestiltskin, and despite the Dark One's initial protestations that he needed a caretaker for his large estate felt it was more likely that Rumplestiltskin wanted a permanent companion. Indeed over the months of Belle living there, Rumplestiltskin's repeated denials of harbouring feelings for his 'caretaker' became increasingly feeble. Rather a strange way of going about getting companionship, Jefferson thought, but then if you were convinced that the only way you could get someone to stay with you was through one of those 'deals'...
Jefferson had taken an immediate liking to Belle. She was lively and chatty and seemed thoroughly unconcerned with Rumplestiltskin's reputation. Aside from Jefferson she was the only person who did not view Rumplestiltskin with fear and distrust. She happily stood up to him, and if anything she seemed positively happy to live with him and in turn Rumplestiltskin had started to accommodate her. At Belle's behest the drapes covering the windows had come down. Ostensibly to prevent further possible injury to Belle as she had fallen the first time she'd tried taking them down. Owing to Rumplestiltskin's eyes following Belle's every move he caught her just before she hit the floor. Jefferson suspected that Rumplestiltskin readily agreed to Belle's request simply because she had asked. And that further close proximity to Belle might just send his friend into overdrive. Tea and meals were served leisurely in the great hall rather than Rumplestiltskin hurriedly bolting down food before rushing back to his workrooms. The great hall now contained comfortable furniture, rather than just Rumplestiltskin's spinning wheel. Belle also served the best tea Jefferson had ever tasted and his mouth was beginning to water at the prospect of this. On the whole the Dark Castle seemed almost a cheerful abode. Jefferson would have to say that Belle was the best deal Rumplestiltskin had made in a long time.
Jefferson continued up the path winding towards the doors, and paused. Although the wards protecting the Dark Castle still held, the doors were open. Rumplestiltskin usually left nothing to chance. Queen Regina was constantly looking for ways to take him down. Somewhat confused, Jefferson passed through and entered the impressive entrance hall. The candles were all out, there was no light save the half light of dusk filtering through the windows. Through the gloom he could make out the doors leading off from the entrance hall to the other parts of the castle, which now lay in silence. There were no muffled sounds coming from the kitchens, nor loud bangs followed by even louder screams emanating from Rumplestiltskin's workrooms. Perhaps Rumplestiltskin has finally confessed his feelings to Belle and left the castle unsecured in a fit of passion Jefferson thought, which would also go some way to explain his not assisting my escape. Reluctantly pondering interrupting his rather fractious friend he decided against this course of action and continued on through to the great hall. There were some things he would never want to see, and once seen could never be unseen. Rumplestiltskin could usually be found in the great hall at this time, making excuses to spin whilst he watched Belle read, but in their absence he'd wait in the great hall for the Enchanted Forest's most unlikely lovers to resurface.