I really enjoyed this!

Gramercy. To no end.

This is such a beautiful, intimate, heart-wrenching character study. I read it twice, wanting to capture every nuance. What I have always loved best about their relationship is the comfort, confidence, and solace they find in each other. Neither think themselves worthy of the other's love and affection but gradually realize this is what makes them so perfect together. You have captured all of that here, and more. Brava!

OMG this is amazing! It is stories like these that will secure my survival until march! Thanks :D

"He meets her gaze, but the slight reddening of his cheeks belies his conficence." D'aw, ain't he cute? I have a thing for blushing, shy guys :3

And how many words is this chapter? Just about him brushing her hair? How do you DO that? XD Other than the part where Belle's breath is taken away from looking at Rumple in the mirror (which borderlined sappy...wait, I think we passed sap in ch.1) it was another adorable chapter. Rumple gets just a tiny bit more confidence than before, and you can almost see him relaxing. There's an easy, relaxed air to them now, as if they're already in a long and established (and adorable) relationship. Good work!

I am amazed that we're still in the hospital. Really, I am. It doesn't bother me, I'm just amazed, because I read nine chapters now and you managed to maintain the scenery and keep me interested all the same. I still want to keep on reading, because whatever change you lack in your scenery you make that up for writing five times as much about your characters.

I think in this story we get to witness the first and only time ever that Rumple is entirely honest with Belle. Of course there are things he still doesn't want to talk about, but that doesn't really count. Because he tries to tell her everything, even the ugly things. I always hope for the best when he's being honest with her and I really hope I won't be disappointed here as well. The show always does D:

Smooth Rumple, leave the coat with her and she has to return it - Ha! (We all know she would. Though I'm not sure we might ever leave the hospital at this point. It's starting to feel like home.)

It's very accurate for Belle's situation that she has to phrase her need as a question ("Stay?") First of all she has no idea if it will be fulfilled, but also because she has no experience in expressing these things. And it might also be her subconsciousness questioning if she really wants it.

Oh my God. That's it! That's exactly how Rumple smiles when he looks at Belle! Seconded, he does look gentle when he smiles at her. And it's one of the very few occasions to ever see that expression on his face. It's a glimpse of who he once was and it's beautiful that Belle can bring that back to him.

'It's his continued nearness that brings warmth to her heart and body alike.' I downright love this line.

When he says 'I can' it's like the most simple and accurate description of his power and sureness. Because he doesn't need to state reasons or explain in detail. It's just a matter of fact.

That scene where he gives her a rose turned me into a puddle of goo. I'm a total sucker for hints like that at canon, and my actual notes for that were: THAT SCENE IS PRECIOUS AND MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS and I still love it.
Also, it's really cute how she's more fascinated by the rose than him.

Belle is a pretty, precious, lovable thing that needs to be protected under all circumstances. That was about my mental state when reading she wants to stay with him.

I was about to say that Rumple begs to differ and that she's powerful on all the level's he can't be, but she already realised that, but I still need to say it!

No Belle, not almost, Rumple definitely worships you with all his heart and might. There is no maybe in this.

Chapter nine killed me with cuteness tbh, and now I want Rumple to wash Belle's hair while she has her eyes closed and just enjoyes the simple careful, yet notable touch and both being perfectly content with it. They're so cute adorable, I want like ten or something x3

Also, something that I have been wondering since chapter one: What the heck is the hospital staff doing? Are they still standing there and watching and one is like "we should go over and bring belle back to her room, she needs to stay away from him" and one is gushing over how cute they are and one is like "chill guys, just ignore them, it's not like he's doing her any harm" and they keep arguing over the whole situation and about what will happen next. And when Rumple looks over at them they all wince in unison and pretend to be busy? Or are they generally pretending not to see anything at all?

A sentence I really loved was, 'it's another of these things she knows without knowing' because it really captures the essence of Belle's character throughout the whole situation.

AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING VERY GREAT, I CAN HEAR THEIR VOICES IN MY HEAD WHILE READING THIS. Especially Rumple's his is stronger, but still, I got so excited when I noticed it. Happened somewhere around chapter 3 I think. Rumple, really sounds like Rumple in your stories and that Belle's voice isn't as clear might be just that she's without her memories.

I very much support that even though Belle is very much leaning towards the idea of her and Rumple and what he tells her, she's not entranced by it the moment she hears it and SO in love. It later developes that she would very much like to have it back, and I think it really needed that time.

Again the traits of her former self shine brightly: She is observant, she learns from their conversation and instantly applies, which I think is very very lovely and she must be really proud of herself in these moments :)
The way she is understanding towards him, even though she doesn't know him and still kind of scolds him when she tells him that that is not how a relationship should be. The way she is drawn to him, that is very much just Belle too.
However, it's all thanks to him that what is truly Belle still comes through. Even without her memories she still brings him from forcefully wanting to get back her memories to accepting her the way she is and not wanting to force herself to be someone she isn't.
And in return his honesty and openness now pays off because she is listening quite calmly, when he tells their tale.

I think I died of cuteness overload when they wiped away each others tears. That scene was so adorable. And I can only begin to imagine how much it meant to her when she had a memory of something, however small.

Their conversation is walking slowly through the steps in their relationship, more or less reliving them, it seems and that makes everything even more beautiful. I could cry, A
The ending of chapter five was actually more beautiful then I could handle, good job ;/;

A rather tiny detail, but I loved how she started mimicking him, I do that too when I don't know what to do. It felt very comforting to read that.

It seems you are taking the opportunity of Belle having lost her memory to clear a few things up in their relationship and I very, very, very much love that.
Your story reminds me of why I love their version of 'The Beauty and The Beast so much, love it.

It's only a tiny detail, but I was kind of really happy to see you included her memory. I mean it makes sense, after all it's logical - just, that detail was not as present on the show. So it makes me happy that you let it linger on Belle's mind now.
Also, it reminds you of the reason why she has some basic instincts, that give her a vague gut feeling about things, even though she can't recall experience.

You're taking these baby steps with her thinking, every minute in the story seems to last an actual minute, she observes her surroundings and feelings carefully, making guesses and the time seems to slow down with all that. I'm not very good at this baby-step-writing, but that is also why I admire it :) It's awesome. It also grants Belle the exact space she needs to figure out the world she has no clue about, only ever imagined.

What is really great I think, is that she questions even what should be instinctive behaviour, realising that she has no idea whether or not to be scared our how to judge the situation at first. She guides herself by his behaviour because of that. She's like a blank paper right now, eager to learn, waiting to be scribbled on, only that erasing is not an option in this case.

I think it's very important that you mentioned it is most likely her first kiss, details like this is that mark how inexperience she actually is and makes you remember how you might take things for granted simply because you know them. Yet, Belle's traits shine through even though the memory of that person is buried.
It's in how observant she is towars Rumple, how she notices 'he thinks too much, he feels too much.' In the way she is scared but her curiosity wins her over, in the way she tries really hard to be brave, how she longed to see the world anyway. Still she is an ordinary human questioning the mere possibility of magic and that anchors her in our world, it seperates her from Rumple's world.

Rumple is a double sided coin to her, even now. Only that it's to her the first time she realises that.
'She's beginning to see that he's not what he seems at first' - was one of my favourite lines so far! Very lovely. Or this one 'displaying a gentleness she couldn't have imagined until now.'

'Something deep inside her aches at seeing him like this' - How can you do this to my heart. Oh Belle D:
Goddamn, must be hard not remembering your own name. I wouldn't want to have to go through that.

I noticed how she still refers to him as 'the man who prefers to be called Rumple', which indirectly states two things. One, how little time actually passed in these three chapters and secondly and more importantly that she doesn't considering the two of them to be particular close. The distance is important to her.

Rumple trying to be as honest as possible with her is just heartbreaking.
'You are not like I thought you were' - [dies inside]
'You are kind to an old man' - [dies more]

All in all, it's really great, I enjoy reading this and I can already see why it has so many chapters :D (which is good because I like many chapters!) I will definitely continue reading this as well! :3

Your habit of letting the story end as if in the middle of it is both slightly frustrating and highly imagination-inspiring.

*sigh*
I love this story, the way you write both Rumple and Belle, the things underneath the surface of the fic and just all of it.

KEEP WRITING :3

hervissssa :)

/All these clothes just won't do./
Mwhahahahahhahahh.

Belle's an expert at finding good opportunities ;)

Exhausted Rumple, set-on-a-task Belle and the last chapter waiting.
THIS IS GONNA BE INTERESTING :D

hervisssa :)

Oh for F's sake!
STOP THIS ALREADY

...I never thought protection wards would be THIS exhausting...but your story, your rules ;) :D

GIVE HIM A RED BULL, BELLE
HE'LL SPROUT WINGS AFTERWARDS, BUT IT'LL BE WORTH IT

Ehehehe :D

hervisssa :)

I'm slowly melting into a small pool of frustration on the floor.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS

I MEAN
EVEN IF SHE GOT HER MEMORIES BACK
SHE'D STILL REMEMBER HOW SHE FELT WHEN SHE WAS AMNESIAC
IT WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING
OH GOD WHY IS THIS SO TERRIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL AT THE SAME TIME

*SIGH*

I'm patient.
I can...wait.

hervisssa :)

WHAT?!
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING
MAKING ME GRIN MORE AND MORE THROUGHOUT THE CHAPTER, THINKING THAT THEY WILL FINALLY KISS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE AMAZING
AND THEN /SLAM/
"A SUDDEN BARRIER"
WELL SCREW THAT BARRIER

AAAAARGGGGHGHHGHGHHH

Yes, I'm frustrated and angry.
And at the same time, as a writer, I have to say that it was the perfect twist and a very good decision on your part.
GET THE READER HOOKED ON AND THEN TAKE THE TREAT AWAY
Works every time, it seems.
*sigh*

Well, I'm not giving up until they find their Happily Ever After, you hear me? :D

hervisssssa :)

From what I recall from S2 between their reunion and 2x11, Rumple wasn't keeping back THAT much... ;) :D
But then again, that might just be my perspective and opinion... :)

ARE WE GONNA GET THE OH-SO-DESIRED KISS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER?
'Cause if we're not, I'll be sulking till the final chapter.
[...just kidding ;]

hervisssa :)

I don't know what to say that I haven't said before.
This story, this insight into "what could've been", is purrfect.

ONLY SIX CHAPTERS LEFT.
*sigh* ;D

hervisssa :)