Wow, already more positive feedback than I expected for this story! Don't expect quick updates like this all the time - I'm just on a roll today. :)

I do not own 'Once Upon a Time.'

Chapter 2

The next morning, Belle's alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. She didn't want to be late with Mr. Gold's breakfast; he didn't seem like the type that would tolerate that sort of thing. After much crying over her situation the night prior, she resigned herself to accept it. After all, it might seem like it was going to be forever, but she knew it wouldn't be. And as Emma told her – she was being a hero. She had read so many stories about heroics over the years; but she never thought she'd be one herself. For that alone, she supposed she could tolerate this miserable man, Mr. Whatever-his-name-is Gold. She showered and dressed in one of the maid uniforms – she chose the yellow one for that day, as they came in multiple colors, something that surprised her given that the rest of the castle was so – dark. Although the outside WAS pink – er, salmon as Emma had corrected her. For a man as mysterious as Mr. Gold, at least he had a bit of color in his life, however limited.

Belle glanced through the notes that his former housekeeper left. They were very detailed, with notes on everything from where the cleaning supplies were located to how Mr. Gold took his tea and coffee. She also left a precise list of what to purchase on her shopping runs. Belle may have been brought up in luxury but she was fully capable of taking care of herself. She had managed since she moved out of her father's house twelve years prior. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Mr. Gold was waiting at the dining room table at 7:30 a.m. sharp when Belle entered with his breakfast. She set it down in front of him, and he looked it over. "Well this looks fine, Princess."

"Be right back with the coffee." Belle said, and she went back into the kitchen and got the coffee pot. She poured it into his coffee cup, then left the room. Belle came back a few minutes later with her own plate, then sat down next to him at the table.

"What are you doing?" Gold asked incredulously.

"Eating breakfast." Belle said.

"Here? At my dining room table?" Gold asked.

"Where am I supposed to eat it?" Belle asked.

"Mrs. Potts always took her meals in her quarters. That is where you should take yours." Gold said.

"Downstairs? But the table is right here, why should I have to traipse down the stairs with a tray when I can just sit here with you? Besides – it's nice to have some company. Someone to chat with." Belle said.

"I don't chat, dearie. And I don't like company." Gold said.

"You don't ever have friends come to visit?" Belle asked.

"Anyone that comes here does so for business purposes only." Gold said.

"So you don't have friends. What about family?" Belle asked.

Gold looked up and glared at her, then continued to eat his breakfast.

"Girlfriend then?" Belle asked. Gold ignored her. "Boyfriend?" Gold scowled at her.

"Your job description, Princess, does NOT include playing Twenty Questions with me. It is to cook, to clean, and to shop for my daily needs. If I wanted to engage in pointless chatter I would get a parrot." Gold said.

"My name is BELLE. And there's no need to be rude. I was trying to be polite; something you're clearly incapable of. If I bother you so much then fine, I'll take my breakfast downstairs, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is Gold." Belle said angrily. She picked up her plate and stood up, and turned to walk away.

"Sit down, dearie." Gold said. Belle looked at him with surprise, and sat back down. "If you wish to have your breakfast here with me, then fine. But let's make a deal – if I feel like talking, I will start a conversation with you. Otherwise – we eat in silence."

"And what if I feel like talking? Then what?" Belle asked.

"Aren't you a librarian? Aren't librarians supposed to be quiet people? I agreed to let you stay here because that was my assumption but – apparently I assumed wrong." Gold said.

"Well you know what they say happens when you assume, don't you?" Belle asked, and she took another bite of her food.

"Quite mouthy too, aren't you Princess? No wonder you're still single at your age." Gold said. Fuming, Belle picked up her plate once again and stomped off, not once looking back at him. Gold finished the rest of his breakfast in silence. Which was exactly what he wanted in the first place.

Belle performed her household duties in silence for the rest of the day. Today was Friday – according to the work agenda left by Mrs. Potts, on Fridays she was to clean the foyer and the living room. She found the cleaning supplies and got to work. She brought Mr. Gold his lunch in his office as per instructions, and didn't say one word to him. That evening, after she had finished cleaning, she prepared his dinner. She was instructed that he took his dinner promptly at 6:30, and, right on time, he was waiting at the dining room table for it. Belle brought his plate out and set it in front of him.

"Thank you." Gold said, to her surprise. Belle did not respond, and turned to walk away. "Not going to speak to me then?" he asked.

"Thought you didn't want me to." Belle replied.

"Well, I don't but – it seems out of character for you now, especially after this morning. You may join me if you like." Gold said. "This time."

"Not interested." Belle replied, and she turned to walk away.

"That wasn't a request, Princess." Gold said.

"My name is BELLE." she spat at him. "It's not Lacey and it's not Princess, it's BELLE. I didn't ask for this to happen. I'm doing this job because I'm trying to help people, and for that I think I deserve respect at the very least. I don't have to put up with your attitude and your condescension toward me. You don't get to make judgments about me, Mr. Gold, because you know nothing about me at all. I certainly didn't judge you when I walked into this home and given its state and your obvious reclusiveness I had every right to. But I tried not to presume anything and I tried to be nice. Clearly, that's not something you want. And now all of a sudden you'll have my company as long as you order it? You can order me to do my work but not to keep company with you – as you made clear this morning, that's not part of my job. Leave your plate when you've finished, I'll clean it up after you've gone to bed. Good night – Mr. Gold." Belle stomped out of the room in a huff.

Gold stared in disbelief as he watched her storm out of the room. No one spoke to him that way. Not his business colleagues, and certainly not an employee of his. Who on earth did this girl think she was? But what bothered him the most wasn't the fact that she talked back to him – it was the fact that it didn't bother him at all.

The next morning, Belle served Mr. Gold his breakfast at 7:30 a.m. sharp, without uttering one word. She chose to wear a yellow uniform again that day. "Thank you." Gold said politely. Belle once again did not respond. "May I say something to you, Miss Woods?" he asked as she turned to walk away.

"What?" Belle asked in an angry tone as she turned around. "And it's French. BELLE FRENCH."

"You'd best get used to your new name, Princess – if you're going to leave the house on Monday to run errands you'll need to use it. And as for what I'd like to say, well - I'd like to apologize. For my rudeness yesterday." Gold said.

"Thank you." Belle said. "Apology accepted."

"You may join me if you wish – your choice." Gold said.

"I already ate my breakfast." Belle said.

"Well then – at least have some coffee. I would like to talk to you. If you please." Gold said.

"Alright." Belle said. She went to the china cabinet and took out a cup. She sat down, poured some for herself, and took a drink. "I've been doing all of the work you ask. Is there a problem? I mean – other than my chattiness." Gold smirked at her.

"Not at all." Gold said. "It just seems that – well, we got off to a bad start. I just want you to know that – well, I'm not a cruel man, I promise you that. I'm just – not used to company. Mrs. Potts kept to herself and didn't bother with me and I was fine with that arrangement. Clearly it's not going to be the same with you so – I'm willing to adjust. Provided that you do the same. I'm not one to answer questions openly, so – bear that in mind and I think we'll get on well. It's not personal, it's just – well I have to be careful in my line of business."

"Your line of business? What are you, some sort of spy?" Belle asked.

"Professional assassin." Gold said with a straight face. Belle was holding her coffee cup in her hand as he said this, and in shock she dropped it. It landed on the floor, spilling her coffee everywhere. Surprisingly, the cup didn't break into several pieces – it just received a small chip on the rim. "That was a quip." Gold smirked. Belle knelt down on the floor.

"I'm sorry it's – it's chipped." Belle said.

"It's just a cup." Gold said. "I suppose that wasn't the best attempt at humor given your – present situation and what put you here."

"I'll um – get something to clean it. What do you want me to do with the cup – your china set is incomplete now, can it be replaced?" Belle asked.

"It's only a small chip – no need to worry. Hardly even notice it." Gold said as Belle set the cup on the table. "Just clean it with the rest and put it back in the set."

"Yes – Mr. Gold." Belle said.

"Ian." he said.

"What?" Belle replied.

"My name. It's Ian." he said. "I suppose you deserve to know that much about me. In fact, I'll make you a deal – since you seem to be a curious one – you get one question per day. Provided that you ask nothing about my work, my personal life, or my past."

"Well that doesn't leave much other than trivialities." Belle said.

"That's the point." Gold said. "I'm assuming you'll eventually get bored with finding out trivial details about myself, and you'll stop. But until then – one question per day – and I will work on being less – condescending. Do we have a deal?" Belle thought about it for a moment.

"I suppose." Belle said. "So – what do you -"

"Ah – one question per day. And I already answered it." Gold said, pointing his finger in her face.

"You said that was a quip. It was, wasn't it?" Belle asked, not sure.

"Not that – my name. I told you my name." Gold said.

"But I didn't even ask it." Belle said.

"You asked it when you first arrived. And now you have your answer. Now clean up this mess before it leaves a stain." Gold said, and he looked down onto the floor at the spilled coffee. "Oh, and by the way – you're scheduled to clean upstairs today. You only worry about the east wing, which consists of my bedroom, bathroom, and study. The west wing is closed off and you are not to enter it. Ever."

"Why not?" Belle asked.

"You already have your one question for the day answered." he said. "Just do what you're asked. I'll expect my lunch at noon." He got up from the table and left the room. Now she was curious. Belle had yet to even venture upstairs. What on earth could be in the west wing that he was so reluctant to allow her to see? Belle knew one thing – if she got him to reveal his name within one day without even trying – she could certainly get him to reveal that. Eventually.

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