Rumpelstiltskin's lonely, and Belle knows just how to cheer him up.

Chapter Text

"Belle," Rumpelstiltskin's breath was shaky as he called out for his… maid ? Mistress ? He wasn't sure what Lady Belle was to him any more, he just knew that he needed her in this moment.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" Belle responded, confused as to why he was calling out for her so late in the night. "Hey, I'm here." Belle told him as she walked over to her side of the bed, and yes, she had a side. She had shared it with him long enough to be considered worthy of having a side.

She crawled into the bed, snuggling up to her longtime crush. "Rumpelstiltskin, what's wrong?" Belle murmured into his chest as he cradled her.

"Bae… My boy… he's gone." Rumpelstiltskin rasped out.

"Oh, Rumple," Belle pulled away from his chest to look into his eyes. "He's gonna come back, you know? Or you'll find him. I promise." she vowed to her crush.

"And-and Belle, I haven't been honest with you." Rumpelstiltskin's voice was now ragged with emotion.

"What do you mean, Rumpelstiltskin?" she asked, her brow furrowing nervously. Was he seeing someone else? Did he not like her anymore? Was-

"I.." He interrupted her thoughts.

"Yes, yes, you?" Belle encouraged him, quite confident that this would work out in her favour if only she could get him to speak it.

"I love you." he confessed, his voice husky. "I know I shouldn't, and I know that you won't feel the same, but I love you Belle… You're always there when I need someone. You didn't run away when you could've. You stayed. And no one else has ever done that for me. But the truth is, ever since I saw you in the golden dress, I knew I was going to fall… hard." This was the most emotion Rumpelstiltskin had ever shown her.

Belle was overwhelmed with joy. Oh my Gods. She thought. How could it be, that this monster truly loved her back? "Rumple…" she began, wondering if she could play him any chord she liked.

"I know, I- I'm so sorry. You can go." Rumpelstiltskin sighed, his voice full of defeat.

So she got up. But instead of getting off the bed, she rolled over ontop of the beast, straddling him gently. "Rumpelstiltskin, if you'd listen to me." she said, smirking.

"All ears, l-love." Rumpelstiltskin assured her as she ground down on him.

"I love you." the words didn't sound forced. They didn't sound unsure. They sounded rehearsed, as if she'd planned to confess herself one day.

"Belle, I'm so- Wait.." his brow furrowed in confused bliss. "What?" his eyes widened in shock.

"I love you, you numbskull." she told him again.

"Say it again." he pleaded.

"I love you. I love you, I love you." Belle repeated over and over, until she was breathless.

"Yes, yes, yes. I love you too, Belle." Rumpelstiltskin responded, his eyes aglow with a new emotion she'd seen quite often, but never placed until now: Love.

CROSS POSTED ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN!

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LOTS OF LOVE, KINDLE