They sat at the floor of the cell, Belle's head tucked under his chin and her fingers playing with the cords of his shirt. She seemed quiet and very concentrated.

"A coin for your thoughts?" Rumpelstiltskin enquired, ticking her ear with the fluffy end of her braid. "Or perhaps you'd prefer a bag of gold?"

Belle sighed. "I was just thinking, would it be a lot different if we were not kept here?"

He had nothing to say to that. He was drawn to her, but he would probably not approach her if they met someplace in the Enchanted Forest. She was both pretty and intelligent, those two qualities so rarely combined in one person, but what did he have to offer her? Gold and gifts would not buy her, it never occurred to her to ask for bigger favors than being clean, so physical comfort and material objects were of little interest to her. He couldn't see them having a conversation or taking a walk together out there in the bright sun, that was just too surreal and… normal.

Rumpelstiltskin was a bit of a pack rat, being raised in poverty and often failing to provide for his family. After becoming the Dark One and gaining the ability to reach out and claim nearly anything he wanted, collecting rare things and spending hours admiring his trinkets had become his favorite leisure, but Belle was not a thing. Yet he failed to see how she would ever choose to stay with him, unless held by force against her will.

"Do you want to get out, then?" He finally replied, immediately realizing how ridiculous he sounded. Of course she wanted to escape. The dungeon was cold and miserable, there was nothing to do and she was pretty much starving, only magic making up for the lack of proper nutrition. Belle said she liked reading, so sitting around idly went against her zealous nature.

Escaping the dungeon was not hard at all, but Rumpelstiltskin had no reason to do it previously. He did require assistance - for the wooden bars were magic-proof and needed to be opened by someone else, but that could be easily achieved with a bit of plotting. Yet he was somewhat curious to see how Snow and Charming would act. They didn't plan to keep him down there forever and surely someone would soon come to ask for a deal. Magic wasn't scarce in the land, but very few warlocks or witches were as agreeable as Rumpelstiltskin.

But was he ready to let Belle go? After all the worries and doubts he finally began to grow accustomed to the idea that he could have her. Freeing her would mean he would lose her for once she was out; she'd not offer him even a spare glance. She'd return back to her family, banishing all the thoughts of their short time together like it was a bad dream. He felt suddenly angry with this thought, as if he were a big child whose favorite toy was about to be taken away.

He had to think of something, quick. What could bind her to him, make her stay longer? Rumpelstiltskin recalled the girl asking to be taught magic. While in his heart he believed she'd never make a good witch, she was too kind and gentle for dark magic, he could show her how to make healing concoctions and pass on bits and pieces of his knowledge.

"I'll say what, dearie. How about a deal? If I help you escape, you will come with me to my castle." Rumpelstiltskin propositioned.

Belle lifted her face to look up at him, her expression puzzled.

"For a year," he added reluctantly.

"And what would I do at your castle?"

"You did say you wanted to learn magic, and I could accept you as my apprentice. Or, perhaps, I could teach you other…things," he said suggestively, lowering his voice as if he were confessing some dark secret. He smirked seeing the blush creep up Belle's face as she caught his innuendo. Apparently, the idea didn't seem to be as horrifying to her as it would have been to anybody else. "So, do we have a deal?"

"Where do I sign?" she asked humorously. "Do I need to do it with blood?"

"How barbaric," Rumpelstiltskin scowled. "Your word will suffice."

He knew he shouldn't ask but he couldn't hold back his curiosity.

"Aren't you going to ask for the details, dearie? You realize you leave so much room for me to twist this. I could lock you in my own dungeon or use you for potion ingredients," he said, not entirely joking.

"I trust you."

Those three words shook him more than they should have. I trust you. It was an impossible, most unlikely notion bordering on the verge of foolishness. How could she trust him? He'd seldom done anything good, even those actions being for his own benefit, but she trusted him. Belle sincerely believed he'd not hurt her, abuse her or force her to do anything. He thought he should warn her against trusting him, for it was a mistake that could cost her greatly.

"Then the deal is struck." He said simply instead, proud that his voice didn't crack with emotion. "We should seal it with a kiss," he prompted.

"You've just made it up," Belle wrinkled her nose.

"Maybe I did," Rumpelstiltskin confessed, chuckling.

She made a theatrical sigh and tilted her face back, her lips moist and parted expectantly. Her breath was sweet and her lips deliciously soft and Rumpelstiltskin wondered if he was getting addicted to those kisses. She was so responsive to his caresses, eager to learn the joys her body could bring her and always caring for his pleasure in turn. And the reason he wanted her wasn't entirely for sex – he enjoyed spending time with her, hearing her sweet voice and delicate laughter or merely looking at her.

He already knew she was too good for him.

He would never be able to give her up and release her from his greedy hands, not in a year, not ever.