I am so excited for the amount of feedback, faves, follows, etc., that this little story already has! Thank you so much - I appreciate it and please do keep it coming!

I do not own 'Once Upon a Time.'

Chapter 3

Belle headed upstairs to clean. She started in Mr. Gold's bedroom. Following the instructions Mrs. Potts left, she was to strip the bedding, put on a fresh set which would be found in the hallway closet, and vacuum and dust the entire room. She completed these tasks, then proceeded to the bathroom and cleaned in there. Belle was impressed at Mr. Gold's neatness – most men, in her experience, were slobs in general, but Mr. Gold appeared to be a bit of a neat freak – everything upstairs was in precise order. But then – everything in his life seemed to be in precise order, from the times he ate to what he ate – he had a specific menu for each day and each meal, and from what she gathered, he really didn't veer from that.

After serving Mr. Gold his lunch, Belle proceeded to his study. Belle entered the room and gazed around in awe. Well this was different. There were – many things in here. All sorts of collectibles and knick knacks. Everything seemed to be in its proper 'place', as it were but – she didn't think that Mr. Gold would be someone who was that much of a collector. Many of these items appeared to be quite expensive. Belle was instructed to dust each and every one of them, and she did so with great care. She was certain this task would take the remainder of the afternoon. She wondered where he got all of these items. But one thing piqued her curiosity more than the others – in a corner of the room sat an old-fashioned spinning wheel. It wasn't the wheel itself that was interesting, however; it was the fact that there was material on it waiting to be spun, as well as a fresh pile of yarn on a table next to it. He actually USED it – recently. This peculiar, crass man had a hobby of spinning yarn. What on earth was that about? Belle was determined to find out.

Mr. Gold was sitting at the dinner table reading a business magazine when Belle brought out his dinner that evening. He didn't say one word to her as she set his food down and poured his coffee. She did, however, notice that the cup he had taken from the cabinet was the one she had chipped the prior day. "Let me get you a different cup – this is the one I chipped." Belle said.

"It's fine – leave it." Mr. Gold said, then went back to reading as he at his dinner. Belle sat down at the table with him.

"Why do you have a spinning wheel in your study?" Belle asked. Mr. Gold looked up from his magazine.

"Because I do." he replied, then went back to reading.

"That's not an answer." Belle said. Mr. Gold stopped reading again.

"I told you that you were permitted one question per day, Princess. I didn't say that you could dictate how I answer them." he said.

"Well, you clearly use it, it's just – not a common hobby for a man. Or anyone really in this day and age." Belle said.

"I'm not a common man." Mr. Gold said.

"You're very neat. I mean – that's not a common trait in men, either. But you – seem to like everything in its place." Belle commented.

"Indeed." he said. Belle sat quietly for a few minutes.

"Why do you wear suits every day?" Belle asked.

"That's another question. You've already had one question answered today, but if you like I can bank that one for tomorrow." Gold said.

"Why bother? Your answer will probably be another snippy 'because I do'. Is that going to be the answer to every question I ask?"

"I'll save that one for Monday then." Gold replied.

"Well I just don't see why you have to wear a suit every day. You don't go anywhere and no one comes here. What's the point? I mean, if you're here alone all day you could just lounge about in your underwear and be comfortable instead of wearing those stuffy suits."

"I dress professionally because I prefer it. Do you have a problem with that?" Gold asked. Belle giggled a bit. "You find that funny?"

"I just got you to answer a second question. But then again you never really answered the first one so I guess that's fair." Belle said. Gold tossed his magazine down on the table and stood up. "You haven't finished your dinner." Belle said.

"I'm full. Thank you." Gold said. And he left the room.

The next day was Sunday. Mr. Gold took his breakfast at 8:30 on Sundays. It was the only day that he began a bit later than the others. But at 8:30 sharp, there he was, at the table, waiting for his breakfast. And dressed in a suit. "You're wearing the blue today, I see." Mr. Gold commented.

"Yes. Is that a problem?" Belle asked.

"No – it's fine. You wear whatever color you like." Gold said.

"So what do you do on Sundays then?" Belle asked.

"You just had a question answered, Princess, and you will not trick me into answering a second one today." Gold said.

"That didn't count!" Belle insisted.

"It was a question, was it not?" Gold asked.

"How come I only get one question per day, but you get as many as you like?" Belle asked.

"Because it's my house." Gold said. Belle smirked at him as Gold realized he had just answered another question. He glared at her and continued eating his breakfast in silence. Belle noticed the cup he was using – it was the one with the chip again.

"You're using the chipped cup again." Belle said.

"Yes I am." Gold said. "Does that bother you?"

"No. Whatever you like." Belle said. "So I clean your office today, are there any specific instructions for that?" Gold looked up at her and didn't say a word. "Well surely questions that pertain to my job don't count."

"Just clean per the instructions left by Mrs. Potts. That is all." Gold said. Belle sighed – such a frustrating man. She waited for him to finish his breakfast and leave the room. She cleaned up in the kitchen and after she was finished she proceeded to his office. As with everything else in his house, it was organized precisely. There was no clutter on the desk; it didn't even look like he used the desk at all. But there were file cabinets and she assumed that he had any documents organized in those, likely in detailed alphabetical and numerical order.

There were a handful of knick knacks on the mantle of his office fireplace, which she carefully dusted. As with the items in his study, they looked expensive and quite fragile. The lighting in his office was awful. He had a lamp on his desk and one standing lamp in the corner. It was dark and dismal and this was the room he spent the majority of his time in. No wonder he was so cranky all the time. She'd be cranky too if she were in the dark all of the time. Belle walked over to the window next to his desk and tried to pull back the blinds, but they wouldn't budge. Good lord, what did he do, nail them down? Belle walked out into the hallway and took a stepladder out of the hall closet and brought it into the office. She planted the ladder next to the window and climbed up to the top step.

"What are you doing?" she heard a voice ask from behind her as she fiddled with the blinds.

"Trying to let some light into this room. These blinds won't open, it's almost as if you nailed them closed." Belle said.

"I did." Gold said, moving closer to Belle until he was standing next to the stepladder. Belle tugged hard on one of the drapes until it released. Unfortunately, the weight of the drape took her by surprise and she fell backward so fast she was unable to stop herself from falling. Without thinking and without hesitation, Gold moved quickly, dropped his cane, and grabbed her in his arms as she fell. He held her without moving for a moment, staring at her in disbelief, then winced in pain at the pressure that her weight put on his leg and quickly grabbed the edge of the ladder for balance as he set her down. Belle caught her breath and trembled for a moment.

"Thank you." Belle said, not knowing what else to say to him. She picked up his cane from the floor and handed it to him.

"No matter." Gold replied, taking the cane from her and seeming a bit flustered.

"Is your leg alright?" Belle asked. Gold glared at her. "Come on, that's a legitimate question, it doesn't count."

"I'm fine." Gold replied.

"I'll see about fixing the drapes." Belle said, looking at the one side of the window that was now open.

"It's alright. I'll get used to it." Gold said, much to Belle's surprise. "Just leave it be." Gold ambled out of the room, and Belle watched him. He caught her. Without any thought for injuring himself. If he hadn't caught her she could have been hurt, badly. Killed, even. And he saved her. Belle smiled to herself – she truly did not understand this man at all. But something told her he wasn't as bad as he liked her to think. He wasn't just some grumpy and peculiar recluse – he was much more layered than that. And Belle was determined to peel those layers back one by one, no matter how long it took.

Monday arrived – it was the day that Belle was to go into town to shop. She was to take Mr. Gold's suits to the cleaners and pick up the ones that had been dropped off the week prior, and she had a list of items to get from the grocery store as well as the meat market. Belle was excited – it was a week ago that day that her life changed, and she had been moved from one isolated situation to another. But now she could at least get out for a bit. She was anxious to see people other than Mr. Gold. He had a car for her to take, and Mrs. Potts had left detailed directions for getting around the town. Belle had to remember to introduce herself as Lacey Woods to anyone who asked, which she didn't like. She hated the name – it made her sound like a tart. But she had no choice. She had to keep reminding herself that what she was doing was a good thing. She may even be saving lives by doing this. She supposed she could put up with Lacey if that was the case.

Belle made her rounds as instructed. She was cheerful and polite to everyone that she encountered. But no one seemed to act that way toward her in return. The moment they realized that she was there for Mr. Gold, they became quiet and stoic. Every last one of them. They conducted their business with her in a terse and abrupt manner. Belle returned to the manor saddened by this. Her first day out and about was not what she had hoped for. She was hoping to make some friends in this town at the very least, as Mr. Gold, although amusing, wasn't always the best company. But it seemed that her association with him was going to hinder her from doing that.

At dinner that evening, Belle sat down at the table, ready with her daily question. "Why do the people in town hate you?" she asked.

"I wasn't aware that they did." Gold replied.

"Well they weren't exactly nice to me today. As soon as they found out that I was your new housekeeper, their entire demeanor toward me changed. They were cold and impersonal and it seemed like they couldn't wait for me to leave." Belle said.

"Well, Mrs. Potts wasn't a social butterfly – she conducted her affairs in town every Monday ina purely business-like manner and then returned to the estate. They're used to that." Gold suggested.

"No – it was you. They don't like you." Belle said. Gold continued to eat his dinner, not responding. "You're not bothered by that?"

"That's another question." Gold said. "Which, I believe, falls under the 'personal' category that I told you I was not willing to discuss."

"So it does bother you then?" Belle asked.

"Miss Woods, I believe that I am done with your services today. Your day off is tomorrow and you have worked hard this week so I am generously offering you the opportunity to begin that time now. I will clean up after myself this evening." Gold said adamantly.

"I can still -" Belle began.

"That wasn't a request. Good evening, Miss Woods. I'll see you on Wednesday then." Gold said. Flustered and a bit angry, Belle left the room and headed downstairs. It bothered him – quite a bit, she could tell. Which intrigued her even more.

Belle didn't set an alarm the next day, as Tuesday was her day off. She allowed herself to sleep in and didn't awake until nearly ten in the morning. Mr. Gold was probably settled in his office, so she showered, dressed in her own clothes (which Emma had purchased for her) and made her way upstairs to have breakfast – or lunch – or maybe a combination of the two, though she hated the idea of 'brunch', it always seemed pretentious to her. Belle ate her meal quietly in the dining room, alone. After she finished, she decided to venture into town once again, this time for her own personal needs. She was hoping to find the town library, maybe check out a few books, but she couldn't seem to locate it. She returned to the grocery store to pick up a few things for her own personal needs, and was greeted with the same level of unfriendliness that she encountered the day prior. Such a cold, cliquish little town – the people in New York weren't always the friendliest lot, but at least they acknowledge your presence before they cursed at you. These people didn't even do that much.

Still unable to locate the library, Belle meandered along the streets of the little village. She came across a quaint little restaurant called 'Granny's Diner' and decided to stop in. She wasn't particularly hungry but perhaps a nice dessert was in order. She stepped inside the diner and sat down at the counter. A girl with long brown hair with a red streak in it, wearing a quite skimpy red waitress outfit, greeted her.

"Hi. Can I help you?" the girl asked with a smile on her face. It was the first smile Belle had seen in over a week.

"Yes. What do you recommend as far as the desserts here?" Belle asked.

"Well, Granny's cherry cobbler is the favorite – would you like to try it?" the girl asked.

"Yes, that sounds good. Oh, and an iced tea, unsweetened." Belle said.

"Coming right up." the girl said, and within minutes she brought Belle what she had ordered. Belle took a taste of it.

"Oh, it's wonderful!" Belle said.

"Made from scratch every day." the girl said. "Are you new in town? I've never seen you before."

"Yes – my name is – Lacey. Lacey Woods. I just moved here last week." Belle said.

"I'm Ruby Lucas. Nice to meet you." Ruby said. "So what brings you to Storybrooke?"

"I'm almost afraid to say." Belle admitted.

"Why? Is it some big secret?" Ruby asked.

"She works for him." an older woman interrupted. "That's what brought her here. She's the new maid."

"Oh, you – oh. I'm sorry." Ruby said. Her entire demeanor and tone of voice changed immediately.

"Why?" Belle asked. "He's not that bad – why does everyone react that way to him?"

"You've – met him?" Ruby asked.

"I work for him, of course I've met him." Belle said. "Haven't you?"

"Ruby – I need you in the kitchen." the older woman said.

"But Granny, I -" Ruby interrupted.

"Now." Granny said, and Ruby reluctantly complied. The woman turned and looked at Belle. "I think it's best if you find somewhere else to have your dessert from now on."

"But – why? Please, I don't understand. Why is everyone so frightened of Mr. Gold?" Belle asked. Everyone in the restaurant turned and looked at her at the mention of his name, and a silence fell over the entire place.

"We have our reasons." Granny said. "Now please - I think it's best that you leave."

"Well did he do something to you? Did he upset you the last time he came here?" Belle asked, and Granny began to laugh.

"Young lady, Mr. Gold never comes into town." Granny said. "He hasn't left his estate in almost twenty years."