Starting Over

By RosexKnight

Gaston appears on The Dark One's doorstep to face the beast and rescue his maiden. It does not go as planned. Belle encourages the men in her life, and has a meaningful talk with Gaston. She can handle them.

((AN: So. Real talk. I'm marking this as "complete" for now, simply because I'm unsure of where I want to go with this fic from here and this seemed like a good closing chapter. I do want to do more with this 'verse but for now I have no idea. If you have any prompts for it feel free to send them in via a PM or on my writing Tumblr URL – breaktimewritings. Thank you guys so much for following this story and supporting me through it! It really means a lot!))

Chapter Six ~ Handles

Belle reached the door before Rumple, and a chill ran through her from the fresh winter air. Gaston had turned his back to the door, but as he turned his face flushed, and Belle realized she hadn't changed out of the button-up shirt. Oh how this must look. Not that it wasn't what it looked like just...This was going to be even more awkward.

"Belle." Gaston said cautiously, glancing warily to The Dark One as he reached his lady's side, weaving a hand around her waist. "Y-your father sent me to fetch you…"

"And if I refuse?" She asked, raising an eyebrow to her would-be knight.

"He did not say." The man answered honestly, "He just wishes you safe and home."

"I'm aware. But I'm not ready yet. I'll be home when the snow thaws. I'll be safe, here, until then."

"Belle-"

"She said she wasn't coming with you, dearie." Rumpelstiltskin said, stepping forward, "Or are you deaf?"

His patience with Gaston was gone, and Belle swallowed at the look the two gave each other. The air was suddenly tense, and she felt as though she was suddenly in the middle of a firefight.

"She doesn't belong to you anymore." Gaston said firmly. "She never belonged to you in the first place."

"Well she never wanted you to begin with." Rumple snarled, his grip tightening on his cane. "She went with me willingly."

"After the promise of her people's safety."

"Better than the promise of being a broodmare."

"Hey!"

The squeak of a voice stopped the two of them instantly, and the two men turned to the shivering Belle. She was sure that if she hadn't been there, Rumple would have already done away with the poor man, and Gaston looked like he was ready to throw a punch as well.

"I'm right here." She said, turning to Gaston. "Tell father I will be home tonight. We can discuss everything then."

"Shall…" He gave a wary glance to Rumple. "Shall I fetch you?"

"No. I'm perfectly capable of walking in the snow."

"Very well…"

Without a word, Gaston turned and left, shutting the door behind him as to not let any more cold into the house. Belle sighed, glancing to Rumple with a frown.

"There's no need to be so cruel." She told him, her voice firm. "I can handle Gaston."

Belle looked back at him, his expression a mix of anger and concern. He merely nodded, and she sighed.

"You can have one of my coats when you leave. You'll be warmer then." He said stiffly. "I'll talk to your father if need be about the caretaker business."

"I can handle my father." She told him easily, stepping forward to study his face. His tone was suddenly professional, and she didn't like that. "You know I'll be back don't you?"

"I know your father seems bent on keeping you away from me." He said. "And I know I will not let that happen."

"Nor will I." Her firm tone made Rumple look at her, and she placed a hand over his whitening knuckles from his grip on the cane. "I can handle them."

There was a pause, "I know. Come, let's get you into something warmer."

"Doesn't your button-up shirt suit me?"

"Not when a knight lets cold in."

"Well it's hardly his fault the town was snowed in overnight." She paused. "You didn't have something to do with that did you?"

Rumple glanced at her rather sheepishly. "Are you suggesting I caused a harmless blizzard in the wee hours of the morning so that you'd have to stay another day? Come now does that sound like me at all?"

Belle kissed his knuckles, and Rumple grinned.

"You don't have to use magic to keep me here. You can trust me to come back."

"How?"

"I did last time."

Belle was not looking forward to the walk home, but the last thing she needed was for her father to try something if Rumple dropped her off. The walk would give her time to collect herself. Get her head straight. She and Rumple were together again. Starting over. They could make this work. So why was she still so worried?

Her father was on his feet the instant she was in the flower shop, his entirety seeming to be coated with relief.

"Belle. My petal are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Papa." She said, shrugging away his worried hands. "Honestly."

Gaston appeared, offering Moe the coffee he had apparently made in the kitchen. He gave Belle a half-smile, and somehow that eased her mind a little.

"I was so worried." Moe said, "I thought the beast wouldn't let you go."

"Papa." Belle said firmly, giving him a serious look. "Rumpelstiltskin is no beast. He gave me shelter from the cold. He let me go. He wants me to be happy."

"Belle—"

"Which is why I'm going to be his caretaker again."

"Belle—!"

"Sir, if I may." Gaston interrupted. "Your daughter seemed quite at-ease with The Dark One. And happier than I've seen her in days. Perhaps…Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing for her. To let her be with the man she loves, even if he is a villain."

Belle and her father shared the look of sheer bewilderment to Gaston. Clearly this was not expected from the Knight. Defending a lady, yes, but by giving her over to The Dark One? Belle could hardly believe what she'd heard from him, and Moe was struck speechless as the knight gave a small smile to her.

Finally, Moe spoke, his voice one of bitter defeat as he moved from the living room and into the kitchen. "Very well."

The brunette watched as her father went to lick his wounds before turning back to Gaston questioningly. The Knight simply gave her a small smile.

"I know when I am defeated. And I can accept it gracefully." He explained. "Truth be told…I enjoyed the thought of our union but you were never my type so to speak. I would have been a good husband, or tried to be, but—"

"We had nothing in common." Belle finished with a smile of her own. "Our union would have been arranged. One a bit hollow. I agree."

"I hope you won't ever think less of me, Belle, for the way I've acted. I was only trying to make good of the promise I kept with your father and my family."

"I won't, Gaston. I understand. But this is a new land. I think you're right. It's time the both of us start over."

"Well." He said, reaching for his coat. "I'll leave you with your father for now. I think Granny's is open, and I do quite fancy the barbecue chicken of this world."

Belle giggled "Gaston?" He turned from his spot opening the door. "Perhaps talk to Ruby. She might be more your type."

The knight blinked, but then nodded, giving Belle a small bow before going out into the night. Snow was falling softly, but the ground was already thawing nicely. Belle stood in the room for a moment, gathering herself before moving to the kitchen.

"Papa?" She called, finding her father looking wistfully out the window.

Moe looked to her, extending a hand that she gladly took, going into her father's arms for a warm hug, one she didn't feel so out of place in.

"I just want you to be safe, Belle." He said. "I don't want you to be taken away from me again."

"Don't worry, Papa." She said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I can handle Rumple."

"But what if he gets angry? If he decides he doesn't want you? If he decides to keep you all to himself? Away from me and the rest of the town?"

"Papa." She said, squeezing his hand. "I can handle him."