T.G.I.F

Prologue

"You tried to poison me, didn't you dearie?" The man couldn't speak; he could barely even breathe at the moment since Rumpelstiltskin had his throat clenched. He had pinned him to the wall closest to his end of the table. "Speak!" Suddenly the man's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he gurgled, "Oops." Rumpelstiltskin let go of his grip and the man's body collapsed to the floor. "Looks like I'll need to find a new baker." He walked over to the window. "Perhaps from a village a bit farther this time" he said before giggling his maniacal giggle.

Purple smoke appeared in front of an old cottage house. He looked around, "This can't be it." The Dark One hadn't been in a village this poor for quite some time, even the house of the town baker was a sham. He knocked on the door. Someone from inside called out, "Coming." There was shuffling before the door opened to show a middle-aged, heavy-set man.

"Hello. I'm looking for the village baker."

"You're looking at him. Who are you?" the baker furrowed his brow.

"I… am Rumpelstiltskin." He said in a dramatic way.

The baker took a step back, "The Dark One?"

"The one and only" he said with a devilish smile.

"Wha…wha…what do you want?" the old man stuttered.

"I am in need of someone to make and bring me bread to my castle."

"That's at least a half day's walk. Why don't you ask one of the closer villages?" He tried closing the door, but Rumpelstiltskin pushed on it and kept it open.

"Well you see, I have already used their services…and was not pleased."

The baker stared at him blankly for a few moments, wondering what the others had done wrong.

"May I come in so we can discuss our arrangement?" Before the grey-haired man could object, "I'll make it worth your while." The Dark One said with a bit higher-pitched tone of voice.

He thought about it. "Alright, but don't go near my daughter." He said with a stern voice.

"I wouldn't think of it dearie."

The two men entered the small cottage. Rumpelstiltskin noticed it had a different set up then usual cottages. Perhaps they had to adjust it so the house wouldn't collapse.

"Your village seems very old or extremely poor."

"Oh yes, it's sadly both, and quite small too. Only twenty people live here in total. We hardly even know the lord of the land. His manor is somewhere in the woods. Come this way."

The Dark One followed the old man down a long, narrow hallway which had two doors on each side. After he passed the doors he heard a little yawn from behind him. He turned to see a young girl, probably in her early teens, with a dirty face rubbing her eye. Once she caught eye of him she just stood still. Didn't say a word or make a sound, just stared with her mouth a little open. She made him feel nervous. He thought she'd scream or cry or run back into her room, but no, she just stood there and stared. Not like he hadn't been stared at before, this just felt…odd. Finally she removed her hand from her eye, "Hi," she said with a small wave.

"Hello dearie." He winked at her just to prove he was odd too.

"Rumpelstiltskin, this way to the kitchen," the baker called down from the other end of the hallway. He turned to follow him again, but with one quick glance behind him he noticed she was still staring. No fear or disgust on her face, just wonder.

"So Maurice, you'll come over every Friday and deliver me two loaves of bread. And for the task of making, walking, and delivering, you shall receive 3 gold coins."

"Sounds good to me; let me just get a map of the area. I'll be right back."

As Maurice was leaving the kitchen/dining room/bread preparation room, the girl entered. She hadn't noticed he was there since he was sitting at the table in the corner of the room near the oven; so she went on as if he wasn't there. Grabbing the giant pot and filling it up with water from their barrel as she hummed a small tune. It sounded lovely to him. He watched her sashay around the kitchen (which was on the opposite side of the room) grabbing things here and there, placing things on top of others, and starting to knead dough on a small wooden table near the hallway entrance. When Maurice returned he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning Belle" Maurice said while walking back to the table they were sitting at with a map rolled up in his hand.

"Good morning Papa" she wiped some flour off her face with the back of her hand.

"Can you prepare two cups of tea and a plate of bread and cheese?" he said as he sat back down.

"Two cups?"

"Yes, one for me and one for our guest" he said laying the map out on the table.

"Guest?" She turned around and her eyes widened when she noticed Rumpelstiltskin sitting at the table with her father, "H...Hello."

"Hello, Belle." He said clearly, now knowing her name. He thought it suited her perfectly.

She turned back around and started preparing the plate of mixed breads and cheeses in the kitchen.

"Alright here's the map of the area" Maurice said while flattening it out.

As he and Maurice were trying to figure out the quickest route to his castle, Belle served them the plate and their tea. He noticed she kept her eyes low, trying not to look at him. Just a few minutes ago in the hallway she couldn't help but stare at him, now she seemed shy. Perhaps she was embarrassed about her staring. Or maybe she realized who he was and was now scared of him. As she should be, he was the Dark One, the most powerful and feared being in all the lands.

"So it's settled. Belle, darling, we just got us a new customer. A very rich and generous customer," he said proudly while looking up at her.

Finally Belle looked at the Dark One, but it was only a quick glance, "Understood father."

Maurice stood up and held his hand out "The deal is struck."

Belle looked at Rumpelstiltskin again. He looked at her while he took ahold of her father's hand and shook.

"Indeed. As long as you agree not to tell anyone where you're receiving you're gold."

"Of course, you have my word that no one besides Belle and I will know it's from you."

"Excellent." He smiled before he turned to Belle and held his hand out to her.

She hesitantly grabbed his hand, but once their hands touched she gasped.

What could it be? He noticed that her hand was extremely cold. Probably from being in this tiny cottage that was so old and beaten up it could fall apart at any moment. He wished a girl so young didn't have to live in these conditions. It reminded him of Bae; how he wanted his son to have better.

"I'll see you two on Friday." He said as if her gasp didn't affect him. Their fingers lingered as they let go. Maurice noticed as their eyes connected.

"Well you must be busy, probably needing to make a deal or kidnap children." Maurice said with a chuckle as he pushed the Dark One towards the narrow hallway. Belle followed behind the two of them.

When Rumpelstiltskin was outside Maurice closed the door. Right when he was about to vanish back to his castle Belle opened the door just enough for her head to show "Bye" she said quietly.

"Bye Belle" he said as he bowed.

She giggled and waved goodbye before closing the door. He could not wait for that Friday.