Who We Are, Dearie

Winter Mornings

Belle sat outside cuddling her mug, her feet perched up on the coffee table. The sun was just coming up, and she almost felt warm sat in her dressing gown. How she missed the sunshine. She loved the autumn and winter too, but the feel of the warm rays on her skin couldn't be beaten. 

She took a long sip of the hot coffee and closed her eyes, taking in all of the tiniest bit of sun she could. It wasn't that warm, but it was almost there. For a December morning, it was extremely sunny, the best kind of winter days. All she needed now was for Rumple to wake up. She always woke up early, but Rumple would sleep all day if he could. But she always felt bad waking him up so if she woke up extremely earlier shee would tiptoe out of bed, make herself coffee and read a book. 

Belle had always been an early bird, ever since she was a child, but the nightmares kept her awake too. Sometimes she'd wake up thrashing around in Rumples arms, him trying to soothe her, stroking her hair damp from the sweat on her forehead. Usually she would just wake up with a start, led in her own sweat and tears, but not thrashing so Rumple would still be asleep. She always wanted to wake him, have him hold her, fight all the bad dreams away with his strong arms protectively wrapped around her. But she never could, she felt bad. He'd just want to know what the nightmares were about and she couldn't explain them, didn't want to. Dreaming about them was enough let alone re-living them by explaining them to him. He'd want to know what was bothering her and would never believe her if she said nothing - even though it was nothing. It was just flashbacks, flashbacks of darker days. 

The dreams varied but usually to do with the same things. Being locked in Regina's dungeon and most commonly, the asylum. 

She shivered just thinking about it.

She closed her eyes again, don't think about it Belle, it's over, you are safe, you are safe-

Hands on her shoulders made her jump, throwing her coffee high up in the air as she twisted around.

She saw a startled Rumple stood behind her, soaked in coffee.

"Oh Rumple, you, you shocked me, oh look at you I'm so sorry," she said, standing up and trying to dab at his pj's. 

"Are you alright my love?" He asked, his eyebrows lowering, worry in his eyes.

"Yes, I'm fine, you just shocked me!" Belle smiled to reassure him.

"Come on lets get you cleaned up, I'm so sorry!" She said heading back into the kitchen.

Rumple watched her go then followed her, eager to find out why she was so jumpy. Yes he probably should have given her some warning he was there, but he didn't expect her to react quite that bad. 

Belle damped a cloth and started to dab at him, the brown starting to stain the blue and white striped cotton. 

"I don't think thats going to help - we're going to have to wash it," she said throwing the towel back in the skin and starting to undo his buttons.

Gold used this as a way to flirt.

"Belle, if I didn't know any better, I'd say this was just a sneaky ploy to get me out of my clothes," she smirked at her.

Her cheeks flushed and the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile.

"Me? Do something like that? Never..." She said, her voice drenched in sarcasm, raising her eyebrows, playing her innocent act. 

"Mhh..never..." Gold moaned quietly, he couldn't take it anymore, he had to kiss her.

His hands wrapped around her back and pulled her closer to him, her hands still on his shirt, undoing his buttons. 

The kiss was simultaneously passionate yet tender. Belle wasn't sure they could both exist at the same time, but somehow when she kissed Rumple, they did. 

Not stopping for breath she slid off his shirt, revealing his bare chest, as he undid her dressing gown and threw it to the side of them. Belle moved her arms and wrapped them around his neck and he lifted her up, her legs then wrapping around his as he placed her up on the kitchen counter. Rumple was always sure that they'd run of out of breath, but they never did, he could go on like this forever. His hands rested on her hips, she loved the feel of them there, just as much as he loved her arms around his neck, her pulling them both closer together. 

Rumple slid his hands down her little silk nightie, feeling for the end. Once he found it, he started to pull upwards, the dress slipping off her as she raised her arms, their lips losing contact for only a second as then she placed her hands on his cheeks, putting her lips in their rightful place - against his. 

A crash of china against the floor made them both stop. Gold span around his arms out wide to protect Belle instinctively. 

"Oops..." Belle giggled as she realised that they had knocked off her mug from the counter.

Gold lowered his arms, realising there was no danger, and he knelt down and picked up the glass, before chuckling to himself, Belle still sat on the counter peering down.

"Is it broken?" She asked, hoping the answer was no as it was one of her favourite mugs, from a set of white ones with flowers painted on them. This one had yellow flowers on so instantly her favourite.

"Is it ever?" Gold turned to her and raised the mug.

She realised why he laughed when picking it up.

"It's chipped," she smiled, her eyes filling with warm, nostalgia and love. 

"This is becoming a theme," he sighed, as he placed it in her hands before placing his hands either side her on the kitchen counter, leaning forward toward her. 

Belle stroked the chip with her thumb, smiling. How could chipping a cup bring both of them such joy? How strange it was that it happened again. 

"Indeed it is...although, we shouldn't make a habit of it, I love our mugs," she said placing it back on the side, wondering wether that was a good move as she could still see the look of longing he had in his eyes.

"True..." he smiled, caressing her thigh with his thumb. 

"So whats the plan today then?" Belle asked, ready to get their day started as he was now awake. 

Rumple let out a sigh,

"Ahh, I don't know, hadn't thought about it, what would you like to do?" He asked, he would do anything she wanted to do. 

"Ummm," Belle looked up, trying to think of what they could do. 

"There's always Granny's for lunch?"

Belle pulled a face, unconvinced, she was happy to do it, but they always did that. 

"Okay...stroll along the pebble beach?" He suggested, they both enjoyed walking on the beach when it was cold as well as hot. He enjoyed it for the fact that it would be empty, nobody goes to the beach in the winter. Except them. Belle liked it because she said the cold air made the sea look beautiful, especially if there was a mist. She said it made the beach look mysterious, like in one of her books, the title escaped him. 

"Mhh..." Belle chewed her lip, still unsure. 

"We could just...uh..." Rumple said, highering the position of his hands on her legs.

Belle smiled. 

The best suggestion so far. 

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hope you enjoy it! please leave a comment!! also comment what you'd like to see them do in this little book of fluff!!

Thanks for reading -Amy:-)