Stars

Night had fallen, yet Rumplestiltskin and Belle remained standing in the woods by the well which had finally finished spewing its magic.

It had grown cold, but Rumplestiltskin barely felt it.  He could feel the magic beginning to course through his veins, sans curse.  Belle, on the other hand, was shivering in his arms.  He threw his cane to the side, having noticed that his knee was feeling better than it had in twenty-eight years, then removed his jacket and placed it delicately around her shoulders.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Belle suddenly asked between her chattering teeth, clutching the jacket closer around her.  

Rumplestiltkin followed her eyes upward.

"The stars?  Yes, they're quite nice.  But now we need to get you to my cabin before you freeze to death.  It's close by."

Instead of responding to his concerns, Belle let out a chuckle and allowed him to put his arm around her and pull her close to his warm body.  He made a move as if to guide her, but she would not yet be moved.  It had been so very long since she'd been outside...

"On clear nights like this, I feel like I can see every single star!" Belle went on, as she finally allowed her love to begin slowly guiding her away from the well.  

"That's impossible," Rumplestiltskin said, always pragmatic.  "There are too many stars to count, and the universe has no beginning and no end."

Belle's eyes drooped a little as she quietly said, "That's romantic, don't you think?  No beginning and no end.  It just exists.  Like love."

Rumplestiltskin said nothing, though he pulled Belle a little bit closer.

"You must be tired," he finally said.  Belle didn't answer.

"Rum…" Belle began, but her voice faded as her eyes drifted closed.

"Belle!" Rumplestiltskin shouted, catching her as she lost consciousness.  He knew it was stupid to be outside in the chilly air, and Belle had to have been exhausted from the events of the day.  But after so many years of missing her and longing to be in her presence again, he found he couldn't deny her anything.  So they had stayed by the well and he had finally shared a tale that he'd owed her for quite some time.

But his Belle, true to form, had pushed herself too far.

With Belle cradled in his arms, blessing the Powers That Be that magic had returned some of his strength, Rumplestiltskin sprinted toward his small cabin in the woods.

*****

Belle's eyes opened in an unfamiliar room.  But there was a fire happily crackling away in a nearby hearth, and she was warm and comfortable.  The smell of something delicious wafted in the air, making her stomach growl.

She looked around with bleary eyes and saw Rumplestiltskin sitting right next to the bed, watching her.

"Good morning," he said.

"Where are we?" Belle asked, stretching.

"We're in my cabin.  I mentioned it before you lost consciousness."

Belle's face flushed a beautiful shade of pink at the revelation.  "I'm sorry," she began, trying to sit up.

Rumplestiltskin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place.

"Rest, love.  Everything is fine.  The cold started to get to you last night, and you passed out, but I was able to get you here and get you warmed up in plenty of time."

Belle's eyes turned down as she muttered, "Thank you."

Rumplestiltskin smirked.  "Don't mention it.  You got a good night's sleep, and I have some stew on the stove for you.  Old family recipe."  

He paused a moment, taking in Belle's healthy glow and sighed with relief.  "What's the last thing you remember from last night, love?"

Belle was silent for a long time.  

Then, in a breath barely above a whisper, Rumplestiltskin heard her say, "Stars."