Most Prized Possesion (Rumbelle)

Chapter 9 Shadows In The Night

Rumples POV

4:39

Still can't get to sleep. I just can't stop thinking. It's driving me mad...
Who is sending these notes? Why? Does Belle know anything?
As much as I want to ask her, I can't.
I don't want to scare her, she's already been through so much.
Being taken away from her family, by me...
Ub-ducted by Regina and tortured both physically and mentally, alone in that cell...for 28 years...I still can't believe how strong she is, after everything.
I still haven't completely forgiven Regina for that...but Belle would never let me touch her, she can't stand to see anyone hurt, even if that person did lock her up away from the world, away from me.

Sighing, I sit up and slide out of bed and walk toward the window.
Slightly pulling back the curtain, I stare up at the bright moon.
It's light, shining down on the 2 cars below.

What's that noise?
Sounds like the stones being tread on, on the drive.

A flash of black shot behind the long bush.
Now what was that.
Or should I say who, was that.

I didn't waste any time and ripped open the bedroom door, flew down the steps two at a time, unlocked the door with a flick of my wrist, and ran barefoot into the drive, ducking behind Belle's small red car.

Where are you? I almost growl. You can't hide from me...
There.
Silencing the gravel with a spell, I quietly tiptoe round to the other side of the bush.
I take a deep breath before pouncing round to the other side in a attempt to attack the intruder.
What?
Gasping I looked around, where did they go? I heard them breathing when I was the other side of the bush, how can they be gone?
Magic? No. It would have been someone I taught. Why would they sneak around?

"Rumple?"
I didn't even hear her come out.
"What's going on?"
I turn around and look at her worried face.
All the anger rushed out of me and the guilt flooded in.
"Rumple answer me! What's going on?!" She said, looking around.
"I thought I....I thought I saw someone," I say brushing my hand through my hair.
I didn't have to lie to her about that.
Belle was silent, shivering in her nightie.
"Let's go back inside Belle, you're going to freeze to death..." I said walking toward the house, putting my arms around her.
Guiding her towards the house she didn't say a word.
Is she scared?
"It might just have been the bushes shadow or something...it probably wasn't anyone," I comfort her.
"Probably...I'm, I'm going back to bed..." She yawned, squeezing my hand, then making her way up our wooden stairs.

Why did she have to wake up...

Before I went back to bed, I went into the bathroom.
Sitting in the side of the bath, I rub my eyes.
Thinking about the latest note I found.
It just said

MR GOLD, PAWNBROKERS.

What did that even mean? My shop. Thats all.

Searching in the cabinet for something to help with my headache, a small piece of paper fluttered out.
Reaching down, I recognise the handwriting.
Using all my strength not to yell out in anger, i read the note.

9:00
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Thank you for reading this!! Comments are appreciated, so let me know what you think of the story, and any idea's on who you think this mysterious person is?.... ;)