Rumpelstiltskin was in the dining room sitting at the head of the table, his arms resting on the arms of the chair.

Belle walked into the room carrying the tea set.

He didn't move or acknowledge her.

As she walked over to Rumpelstitskin he could tell she was nervous and scared just like the first night he had brought her to his dark castle, He heard the tea set clattering on the tray.

Belle set the tray down and poured some tea, her hands were shaking.

"Calm down dearie or I'll have a match for the chipped cup."

"Yes sir." She didn't look up at him as she handed him his tea and started to walk away.

"Aren't you going to have a cup?" He called out to her.

Belle stopped dead in her tracks. She couldn't believe that he wanted her to sit down with him for tea after what he'd overheard between her and the lady on the road.

Belle retreated back to the table and picked up a cup.

"I'd rather you use the chipped one," he told her.

Belle took the cup and poured herself some tea, then headed over to the opposite end of the table.

"Sit next to me," he ordered.

Belle nervously complied.

For a moment everything was at a standstill. Neither one of them talked. As Rumpelstitskin was sipping his tea, Belle was almost gulping hers so that she could hurry out of the room.

When Belle finished she was about to stand up. "Have another cup Dearie" Rumpelstiltskin said to her.

Belle realized there was no way of running from him. She poured herself another cup of tea, but this time sipped it realizing that drinking it quickly would do her no good.

As Belle took a sip of the tea, Rumpelstiltskin put his cup down and lay his arms back on the chair again. "Good tea," he said to her.

"Thank you," Belle replied.

"How long have you been friends with the queen?"

"She…she's a queen?" Belle said surprised.

"Not a queen, the queen. She is Snow White's stepmother."

"I swear I had no idea. She never told me who she was."

"What did she tell you?"

"That true love's kiss would break the curse on you."

"Wow, what a theory. Why haven't you changed me from the beast I am back to a man then?"

"You are no beast."

"Don't mock me Belle it doesn't suit you," Rumpelstiltskin stood up and walked over to a full length mirror. He removed the drape from it and looked at his gruesome reflection, wondering who could ever love him.

Belle came up behind him. "What do you see when you look there?"

It took him a moment to respond. "A hideous monster."

"I see a man who's sad and lost."

Rumpelstiltskin looked at her. "Don't lie to me," he said as his voice cracked.

"It's no lie Rumpelstiltskin. You are a man and handsome in a different way."

Rumpelstiltskin undid a few buttons of his tunic baring his chest. It was a grayish green color. "How is this ugly skin handsome?" He showed her his hands which were the same color as his chest, the fingernails were black and pointy. "Or these?"

Belle put a hand on Rumpelstiltskin's bare chest. He started trembling. He never thought a woman would ever touch him as Belle was. He grabbed onto her hand and kept it there in fear she'd move it away.

Rumpelstiltskin put his forehead against Belle's. "You never answered my question. Why haven't you kissed me?"

"I do want to kiss you, but for the right reasons. Not to rid you of a curse, but because I love you."

He looked at her in shock.

"I'm not lying. What I'm saying is true. When I first met you I was scared, but then I got to know you. The real you. I love you Rumpelstiltskin."

Rumpelstiltskin leaned in and kissed Belle lightly on the lips. He stepped back and saw a look of love on her face. She wasn't repulsed.

He kissed her again slowly. When they broke the kiss both of them looked in the mirror. For the moment Rumpelstiltskin's complection was back to normal and his hands looked as they should have been. He smiled for the first time in a long time. Then he changed back to his other self.

Rumpelstiltskin looked at Belle. "Still find me handsome after what you just previewed?"

"Yes, the man before me now is who I fell for. I'll love that other man just the same, if he wants to come out."

"He does," Rumpelstiltskin whispered.

Belle wanted to kiss him again. He stopped her. "I think I can go awhile longer not being human."

Belle smiled knowing that for the moment Rumpelstiltskin would stay as he was. Someone finally loved him for himself.

Belle kissed him on the cheek.

"Don't you have some clothes that need refolding?"

Belle smiled. "I'll get right to them."

As Belle walked away Rumpelstiltskin called out. "While you're doing that. I'm going to have a room prepared."

Belle was shocked and surprised. In all the months that she'd been living in the castle they'd never had guests. "Are we expecting company?"

"No, but I can't have the woman I love sleeping in a dungeon."

The End