Snow White was humming to herself, busily setting the table for dinner. She was a lovely girl with long curly black hair, lips as red as a rose, and skin as white as snow. She was known to be the fairest of them all, which was one reason Queen Regina hated her so much. Snow could never fathom why that meant she had to die, but she knew there had to be other reasons behind the queen's motives.

It had been a couple months since her Prince Charming, Prince James, had returned to her and broken the spell that caused her to forget him. They had found a way to be together, and she was happy. Yet, Snow could not come out of hiding just yet. Regina had recently discovered Snow's death was a fake, and she was doing everything in her power to find her.

Despite her recent happiness with Prince James, Snow learned of Belle's escape from Avonlea. She was extremely worried for her friend. She only hoped Belle had listened to her, and would seek her out. The rumors about the Dark One accompanying her were unreliable. She really did not know if Rumplestiltskin had escaped with Belle, but she had an inkling he did. She remembered the look in Belle's eyes when she spoke of him and insisted she would never leave without him.

Snow could not understand how her best friend could fall in love with someone like him, but she didn't think any less of Belle. She had known Belle for a long time, and if her friend saw something good in him, then Snow knew it was there, even if it was buried deep. She only wished for her friend's sake that he returned her love. She didn't want to see Belle get hurt.

The seven dwarfs burst through the door and interrupted Snow's thoughts. Snow glanced up confused by their hasty appearance, "Is something wrong?"

Grumpy marched up to her, "We found a girl camped out in the forest, says she knows you. Says her name is Belle from some kingdom called Avonlea."

Snow's face lit up, "Belle! Tell me where she is. I must go to her!" She swiftly threw on some shoes and a cloak.

Grumpy grabbed the eager Snow by the arm, "Wait Snow, I don't think you should go."

Her face fell, looking confused, "Why not?"

"Because she's accompanied by Rumplestiltskin, and we all know the trouble that comes with associating with that monster."

Snow smiled to herself and turned her gaze to the floor deep in thought, "So they escaped together."

"What?"

"Oh nothing, I'm not afraid. It will be alright."

"Well if you go your not going alone. I'm coming with you."

"That's really not necessary."

"She's with one of the most powerful wizards in all the lands; yeah I think it is." Without another word of protest, Grumpy followed Snow out the door.

It was about an hour before Snow White returned to Belle and Rumplestiltskin with Grumpy in tow. When Belle saw her friend approaching she immediately jumped up and rushed to embrace her in a tight hug.

"Belle, I'm so glad you're alright. I've seen the wanted posters and I was worried," Snow said.

Belle pulled back from her friend, "I know, and you're in a similar situation with Regina and all. I only hoped I'd still find you here. I was afraid you moved on for safety."

"No the queen doesn't know where I am. I'm safe here for now." Snow glanced up and saw Rumplestiltskin standing behind Belle, keeping his distance from them. "Rumplestiltskin."

Rum took a bow with his arms outstretched, "At your service dearie."

"I see both of you managed to escape."

"Quite obvious isn't it?" he teased.

Belle stifled a giggle. Snow managed a smile, then turned back to Belle, "Well all that matters is you're safe. However, it's late. Come, you can stay with us at the cottage. It's much safer than the woods."

Belle smiled at her friend, "Thank you, that's very kind." She gathered her things, grabbed Rumplestiltskin's hand, and motioned to follow Snow.

Suddenly Grumpy stepped forward, "No, he's not welcome in our home!" he exclaimed pointing at Rumplestiltskin.

Snow cocked her head to the side and frowned, "Grumpy…"

Belle placed a hand on her friends arm, "No Snow, it's alright. I don't want to cause any trouble."

"No Belle, it's no trouble," Snow turned her attention to Grumpy, "Grumpy, Belle trusts Rumplestiltskin, and if she does that means I do too. You know how dangerous these woods are at night, I don't want anything to happen to Belle."

"I doubt anyone would attack her with Rumplestiltskin around," he scoffed.

"Yes, but still, I wouldn't feel right to leave her out here."

Grumpy glanced between the three of them before coming to a decision, "He can stay in the barn, but that's it."

Snow looked at Belle to gauge her reaction. Belle did not seem displeased. She smiled at Grumpy and Snow, "That's more than ok. We'd rather not crowd you anyway."

Snow felt it wasn't good enough, "Oh, Belle you don't have to stay in the barn, dear."

"No, it's fine. I want to. Besides, I don't want to leave Rum all alone."

"If that is what you wish, but if you change your mind…"

"No really, it's fine."

Rumplestiltskin and Belle followed Snow and Grumpy quietly back to the cottage. Halfway there when Snow was not paying attention, Grumpy paused and lifted a finger at Rumplestiltskin's face. He spoke softly but forcefully, "If you try anything, anything, you will answer to me personally."

Rumplestiltskin opened his mouth to retort, but Belle, having heard Grumpy's threat, tugged him away before he was able cause an argument.

Before sending Rum and Belle off to the barn for the night, Snow ran inside and brought them a few extra blankets, "Here, let me know if you need anything else. I'll have breakfast ready first thing in the morning and we can catch up."

Belle thanked her friend, and then headed into the barn with Rum. She saw a couple of horses in the stalls when she entered. She walked up to each of them, "Hello there," she said as she gently stroked their heads, "I'm Belle and this is Rumplestiltskin. I hope you don't mind us sharing your stables tonight." The horses seemed to neigh in approval. Rumplestiltskin never said anything; he just watched her curiously. Belle was constantly surprising him in a good way.

Belle made herself comfortable on a pile of hay in the corner. Rumplestiltskin joined her. They both lay back, and she rested her head in the crook of his arm, "Goodnight Rum, I love you."

He pulled the blanket up over her and whispered in her ear, "I love you, pleasant dreams."

The sun had barely even broken the horizon when Rumplestiltskin woke the next morning. It was too early for anyone to be awake yet and he couldn't sleep. He had slept more in the month since their escape than he was use to. He rarely slept, but it was hard to find an alternative when Belle needed her rest. He lay there and watched Belle sleep next to him. He couldn't help notice how peaceful and happy she looked. Even in her sleep she had a huge smile on her face and it brought a smile to his.

He bent down and placed a small kiss to her lips. She stirred but didn't wake. Still he found himself unable to pull away from her. Rumplestiltskin moved his lips from her mouth and trailed them down her cheek and neck.

Belle stirred a bit more until her eyes popped open. "What time is it?" she asked groggily.

Rumplestiltskin took a break from kissing her only long enough to answer, "Very early…"

Belle closed her eyes, not to fall back asleep, but to bask in his affections. He continued showering her with kisses. As he did so he used his hands to slowly undo the ties in the front of her dress. Belle moaned in approval and pulled him closer.

"Snow asked me to…" Grumpy stepped into the barn about to relay some information when he was cut short.

Belle and Rumplestiltskin were startled, and they distanced themselves from one another. They hadn't gotten that far, but it was unmistakable what was going to happen. Belle fixed the front of her dress to make sure nothing would be revealed.

Grumpy gasped at the sight that lay before him. "See! I knew you were trouble!" Grumpy grabbed a pitchfork and lunged toward Rumplestiltskin, "You keep your dirty hands off of her."

Rumplestiltskin waved his hand and the pitchfork disappeared out of Grumpy's hands. Grumpy was taken aback by the event. "Now I suggest you leave before you find yourself turned into a rodent," Rumplestiltskin threatened.

"And leave you to take advantage of that poor girl?! No, I'm not going anywhere!"

Belle intervened by jumping between the feuding pair holding her hands up in the air, "Grumpy please, he wasn't taking advantage of me. He's my true love; I love him."

Grumpy wasn't sure what to think about Belle's words. The anger still did not leave his face as he looked back and forth from Rumplestiltskin to Belle. Finally, without another word he stormed out of the barn.

Belle sighed and turned to Rumplestiltskin, "We should go talk to him."

"My presence will only cause more damage. I believe this is a task for you and you alone."

Belle looked at him as if she might object, but she decided he was right. She slipped out of the barn to find Grumpy.

When she found him, he was sitting on a pond bank chucking rocks into the water. She slowly walked over and sat next to him. The bank was high enough where her feet could dangle without touching the water.

"Do you need something?" Grumpy snapped.

"I just wanted to talk," Belle said softly.

"Yeah, what about?" His attitude was horrendous.

"Why you seem to be so angry with me."

"Well if you haven't noticed my name is Grumpy."

Belle was hurt by his abrasiveness and it wasn't hard for Grumpy to notice. Grumpy sighed and talked with less of attitude, "I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you. I've just had other things on my mind, and to see that creature with some sort of happiness doesn't help."

Belle's face became downcast and she averted her gaze, "Please don't call him that. I know he's different from us, but he's still a man. He's made some bad choices in the past, but he's trying to do better. Everyone deserves happiness."

Grumpy huffed, "Not me apparently."

Belle glanced back up. Curiosity could be heard in her voice, "What do you mean?"

"I'm a dwarf. My duty is to harvest diamonds from the mines to make fairy dust. I'm not meant to fall in love."

Belle suddenly understood Grumpy's excessive bad mood. While she knew he didn't like Rum, that could not be the sole reason he was taking it out on them. 'He must be in love with someone, and for some reason they can't be together,' she thought. She expressed her understanding, "But you did fall in love."

Grumpy ceased throwing rocks into the pond and glanced down at his lap, "Yes. Her name is Nova."

Belle knew she was crossing into dangerous territory, but she also knew Grumpy needed to talk about it, "What happened?"

"We can't be together. She's a fairy and I'm a dwarf. We have responsibilities that we would have to abandon if we were to be together."

Belle remembered how she ran away from her responsibilities to be with her Rum, "You know we're not much different, you and I."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. The only way for Rum and I to be together was for me to run away. My father was going to force me to marry someone I didn't love because I had to fulfill my duties as a princess. I tried to convince him to let me live my own life, but he wouldn't have it."

"What made you decide to finally run?"

Belle giggled lightening the mood, "Besides the fact I was madly in love with Rumplestiltskin?"

Grumpy let out a small chuckle, "Yeah."

"The prince I was supposed to marry was not a nice guy at all. He tried to hurt me; he was a real monster. But there were other reasons too."

Grumpy paused before expressing what was on his mind, "So do you think I should run away with Nova?"

"Only the two of you can answer that. No one should choose your fate but you."

"I'm not entirely sure she would even want to run away with me. I don't want to take away her dream of becoming a fairy godmother."

"Then you have to ask her. Her dream of being with you may outweigh everything else, but you'll never know until you ask."

Grumpy seemed to perk up, "Thank you for the advice, Belle."

Belle smiled, "Your welcome, I'm glad I could help."

They sat in silence and watched as the sun made it's full appearance causing a brilliant display on the still water. Grumpy broke the silence with an awkward question, "So Rumplestiltskin huh? If you don't mind me asking, how'd that happen?"

Belle's smile brightened as she thought about her loved one, "Our story is a long one, but he's not so bad once you get to know him. I did just that and over time we both realized we had feelings for one another."

"But he's a powerful sorcerer, how do you know he's not got you under some kind of spell?"

Belle thought of the dagger she had holstered to her waist under her dress, "We've been through a lot together. When we first met I don't think he really wanted anything to do with me, much less anything to do with love. There were certain circumstances that kept him from casting a spell like that on me. He wouldn't even admit his love for me for the longest time. But you know love itself is it's own kind of magic. Love is hope, it fuels our dreams, it's the most amazing thing in the world."

"And you're sure he feels the same about you?"

"There's no doubt in my mind."

Grumpy nodded. Grumpy stood and held his hand out for Belle, "We should probably head back. Snow will be wondering where we are. She was preparing breakfast when I left."

Belle took his hand. She brushed the grass from her dress.

"Look I'm sorry for acting the way I did, it was just surprising that's all. I'll try to be more understanding."

"I would appreciate that, and all is forgiven."

The two continued to chitchat as they made their way back to meet Snow and the others for breakfast.

a/n no cliffy on his one, sometimes you just need a cliffy break :) especially after Sunday, Thanks for reading!