The Best Tea Cup is Chipped Book 1

Trust

"Powder of Amethyst if you please." Rumplestiltskin said and Belle handed him a vial of pure powder. They were in his tower and Belle was assisting him with one of his potions.

Of course, she'd long since been coming up to the tower to visit him, she truly enjoyed watching him work, and would often ask questions regarding the different ingredients however, recently she'd become something of an assistant when it came to his potion making.

It had all started a few weeks after the Samuel incident.

*Flashback*

Rumplestiltskin had been in his tower the entire day, even forgoing dinner. Belle had begun to worry for him and so made her way up to the tower. She gently pushed open the door to find Rumple looking, almost frazzled.

"I really can't do with any interruptions right now Belle." he said shortly as he zipped around the tower pouring over books and adding ingredients.

"No but it does look like you could use some help," said Belle.

"Nonsense. This potion may need to be done by daylight tomorrow but I'll be able to finish it on my own." scoffed Rumple and Belle raised an eyebrow.

"Perhaps. The question is if your sanity will still be intact."

"Sanity is overrated," scoffed Rumple and Belle gave a very unladylike snort before stepping inside.

"Please, surely there is something I can assist you with?" Rumple gave her a piercing look.

"You aren't going to let me be anyway, are you?"

"Probably not," conceded Belle. Rumple rolled his eyes.

"Fine you can help with preparing the ingredients," Belle beamed and swiftly hurried to his side.

*Flashback*

They'd finished the potion well before the deadline and Rumple had in fact conceded that Belle had a bit of a talent when it came to potions. For her part Belle found the way the different ingredients mixed and reacted to be fascinating and she soon began to help him more often even when she suspected he didn't quite need her help per se.

It was also nice to have another activity that she could share with Rumple a way no matter how small to be a part of his world and the magic he worked. She also couldn't deny she was still getting the same strange fluttery feelings inside her whenever he got particularly close. Which was both exhilarating and infuriating in equal measure. Still, at moments like this she was just happy to be spending time with him.

OUAT

Rumple had begun to quite enjoy having Belle for a lab assistant. She was clever enough that he could trust her to listen to his directions and remember everything he'd told her and her acute curiosity and thirst for knowledge never failed to amuse him.

He also hadn't been lying when he'd told her she had a knack for potion making. She might not have any magical inclination but she was certainly smart enough that given enough time he wouldn't put it past her to start experimenting with her own potions.

He hadn't yet told her though what today's potion was for. He'd recently visited Regina and been reminded of her vault of hearts. Of course, he didn't balk at the idea of taking someone's heart but it had brought a concerning thought to mind.

"So when are you going to tell me what we are making?" asked Belle.

"Well, I suppose now would be as good a time as any." Rumple paused becoming more serious.

"How much do you know about the extraction of hearts?" Belle's brow furrowed.

"Not much. I know it's an exceptionally dark branch of magic."