The Best Tea Cup is Chipped Book 1

Tardiness, Tattered Dresses, and Tea Time

Rumple had spun late into the night. The day's events had left him pleased but confused. He had no idea why he'd reacted to her the way he did. Why he cared about her opinion or her safety. She was just a girl he'd acquired in a deal wasn't she?

Midnight came and he realized that the spell which shut the dungeon door, though no longer locked it, hadn't gone off. Curious Rumplestiltskin made his way back up to the library and was greeted by a rather lovely sight.

Belle sat slumped in one of the armchairs her eyes closed and face peaceful. Her pale pink lips smiled at whatever pleasant dream was passing through her head. A part of him longed to brush back the chestnut locks of hair that had fallen on her face but he held back. Such a beauty should not be tarnished by the touch of a beast.

It was evident she had fallen asleep here on accident given the book that precariously dangled from her fingers. Rumplestiltskin moved forward and swiftly plucked it away before it could fall and wake her.

He supposed he ought to make a fuss over her not going back to her assigned "room" but he couldn't really bring himself to work up the annoyance instead he waved his hand and a blanket appeared over her. He'd let her sleep. After all he could always scold her in the morning.

OUAT

Belle awoke to find herself in the library apparently, she had fallen asleep while reading. However, she didn't recall ever using the royal blue blanket she found draped over herself.

Belle smiled as there was only one place the blanket could have come from. Glancing at the clock her eyes widened she had less than 20 minutes before Rumplestiltskin's breakfast was supposed to be served! She jumped up and raced down to the kitchens to prepare everything.

It was a quarter past breakfast time when she finally brought the tray up into the great hall. Rumplestiltskin gave her a stern look.

"I do expect my meals on time dearie."

"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't mean to oversleep."

"Or not go to your assigned room to sleep?" asked Rumplestiltksin pointedly.

"It wasn't intentional. And we did have a rather long day. As I recall SOMEONE insisted on needlessly trekking through a forest for a majority of the day," replied Belle before she could think about what she was saying.

"That was because SOMEONE else decided to free a prisoner they had no business going near and needed to be taught a lesson," replied Rumplestiltskin and she would have taken it for a scolding were it not for the slight hint of humor she thought she detected in his tone. She looked up and saw him raised an eyebrow at her.

"If you're waiting for an apology for letting him go it won't be coming this side of forever," she quipped. Rumple snorted and sipped his tea from the chipped cup.

"You know most servants aren't this impertinent."

"Most Master's don't give their servants usage of library's," replied Belle who was beginning to enjoy the verbal sparring matches with her employer.

"Well, one would hate to be like most people dearie," he answered and Belle smiled softly as she took the empty tray and turned to leave.

"Now that we can agree on."

She made it halfway towards the doorway leading out of the hall when she stumbled over the golden ballgown. Not for the first time. It was now wrinkled and slightly dirty but it was more the cumbersome aspect of its design that bothered her. In an instant it seemed Rumplestiltskin was at her side catching her and vanishing the tray before it could drop.

"My, my dearie you do seem to be accident prone," suggested Rumplestiltskin and Belle huffed though she couldn't summon up much annoyance.

"I'll have you know I'm perfectly graceful thank you very much. It's this silly gown. Perfect for sweeping across dancefloors while attempting to avoid an oafish knight's feet or sewing in a salon but not very practical," she said as he steadied her.