In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 7

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn’t do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story… in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

Read previous chapters on AO3

In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 7

When Rumple opened the book he found himself rushing toward the hospital. It turned out that he, or rather, Daniel, had overslept and was late for his duties there. By the time he arrived a lecture had already begun, words spilling out of Vickery in the most hateful way.

“So, as you can now see, there will be times when you find that you can do nothing more for a patient other than to follow the procedures that tradition and decorum demand. In your time as an assistant, you will discover that you and the doctor you serve will not agree, however, you must defer to his experience. Or else something tragic like this will undoubtedly take place.”

“Tragedy like what?” Rumple whispered to Harry as he quickly took his place in the group.

Vickery was the one who answered, eyes narrowed. “Death, Mister Gibson. In fact, I should say that I am glad you arrived, since this most certainly concerns you.”

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In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 6

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn’t do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story… in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

Read previous chapters on AO3

In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 6

Standing under the steady stream of water, Rumple had to admit Gideon’s suggestion was a good one. The temperature was perfect and the two shower heads that hung over him sent a steady stream of rain-like perfection over his body. There were few things that he missed about the modern world when they traveled back to it, but this ingenious design that mimicked the natural world was going to be one of them. The Golds hadn’t ever stayed in a house with such truly modern inventions and this was a luxury. The water would fall in a great spread, concentrate in a smaller stream, pour over him like a waterfall, or do any combination of the three, and there was only the one wall, where the controls were mounted, to contain the flow. The rest was open to the room, providing relief from excess heat and steam, making the experience feel as natural as possible.

Originally he’d set it to cascade down on him like a chilled waterfall, letting that shock him back into reality, but now the water was warm and gentle, like a summer rain. He felt each droplet on his skin and spread his legs wider to take it all in. He tipped his head back to feel the droplets on his face and let out a sigh of contentment before leaning forward, palms against the dark tile to brace himself so that the false rain could trickle down his spine. There was tension in his muscles that he didn’t know existed and he let the water wash it gently away.

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In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 5

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn’t do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story… in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

Read previous chapters on AO3

In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 5

Through the next few chapters of the book, Nora’s relationship with Daniel became easier and she spent more time with his friend Harry. Rumple read eagerly, hoping to reach the point in the Story that Gideon had suggested things might become more interesting. There were times he imagined himself in the pages, and he always put Belle in Nora’s place, but for the most part he managed to retain most of the story’s original points. That was, until the incident at the hospital.

As part of his studies there, Daniel had performed a simple amputation on a woman’s finger. She had been run over by a wagon and the digit was simply unsalvageable. The man in charge there, a doctor by the name of Vickery, who was also a rival of Croft’s, instructed Daniel cauterize the wound. He didn’t do it.

Suddenly finding himself inside of Harry’s character, Rumple lectured the other man about the decision, but he’d insisted. Croft never cauterized wounds and since Daniel had chosen Croft as the man he would be living and working for, he’d learned that not all of the “normal” ways were right. Rumple came from these times, he didn’t have to know medicine to know what was going on. Relief flooded him when Daniel allowed him to pour alcohol in the wound, but that didn’t make up for what he knew was to come. Going against Vickery’s orders would mean trouble, their superior would most certainly see to that, if only to bring Croft and his like-minded equals down.

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In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 4

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn’t do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story… in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

Read previous chapters on AO3

In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 4

Quiet music bombarded the senses as Rumple pushed a rattly shopping cart through the grocery store. It confounded him how even the major chains arranged their shelves in a completely different order in each location where they went, making it always impossible to find what he was looking for. “In the Enchanted Forest it was simple,” he muttered to Gideon, who walked dutifully at his side, eyes darting from their list to the shelves they passed. “If you wanted meat, you went to the meat stall, if you wanted vegetables you went to the farmers. There was none of this nonsense.” He waved a hand at the aisle where they were currently hunting, then let it land on the cart’s handle with such force that it rattled the contents.

“But things are cleaner here,” Gideon pointed out.

“Or so the shoppers here are lead to believe, but don’t you believe a word of it. If ‘uncivilized’ people had no idea of how to keep their food properly stored, cleaned, or cooked, no one would be alive today.”

Gideon’s steps faltered. “Papa, I didn’t mean-”

“I know you didn’t, son.” Giving a little smile in the hopes of altering his mood, Rumple met Gideon’s gaze and latched on with his eyes. There was always so much love there, and there had been before, even when he was under the Black Fairy’s control. This boy, who had come from such darkness yet was the product of true love, was something so special that there weren’t even words to describe his gifts.

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In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 3

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn't do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story... in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

Read previous chapters on AO3

In the Shadows of Others - Chapter 3

Rumple and Gideon spent the next few days finding sneaky ways to put the book into Rumple’s hands. Belle would read it first, then pass it to Gideon who pretended to read, then set the book aside for Rumple to find. In this way he was able to catch up, reading each short chapter as quickly as he could. He struggled with his feelings as he followed the story, unsure if he wanted the new doctor to discover Nora’s abilities. On one hand, Rumple loved the fact that a woman was bold and proud enough to do what others believed wasn’t a woman’s profession, but on the other he wanted to keep her safe.

He tried to follow Gideon’s direction and fought the urge to insert himself into each section. Instead, he focused on the characters themselves, trying to picture their features, expressions, and behaviors as he turned each page. For the most part, he was successful. At least until the bell rang at the back door, indicating the delivery of a new body for study. Grave robbery was how most medical practices got their cadavers for experiments and dissection, so the deed itself wasn’t what jarred his mind into an alternate reality, it was the announcement of who it was that shook him to the very core.

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In the Shadow of Others - Chapter 2

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn't do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story... in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

Read previous chapters on AO3

In the Shadow of Others - Chapter 2

It took three whole days for Rumple to convince Belle and Gideon to do their errands without him, days he spent pining for the book that was always just out of his reach. First Belle read a chapter, then she passed it on to Gideon, who caught up, then read on to the next. Back and forth the exchange went, each reading when they had time, both discussing the details exactly when Rumple didn’t want to hear them. He watched the book exchange hands and thirsted for it like a man in the desert, chasing a mirage.

Only once he was finally alone did Rumple dare to touch the slick cover, breathing a sigh of relief that it would finally fall open in his hands. He lifted it from the side table where Belle had last set it down, memorizing its exact placement so that he could return it without any suspicion. With the image of it safely recorded in his brain, he lifted the book from the polished wood, then sank slowly into the chair by the open window. Here he could read in peace, with his ear to the outside world and his back to the wall, if his family arrived he would hear them and have plenty of time to put down the book and hurry from the room.

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In the Shadow of Others - Chapter 1

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Gideon (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Gaston (Once Upon a Time), Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: Missing Years, Alternate Universe, Medical Procedures, Family, Heavy Angst

Series: Part 3 of Golden Dreams

Summary: While the Golds are spending some time in the Land Without Magic, Gideon and Belle have picked up a book at the local library. Sharing the story with each other, they take turns reading and discussing the plot of The Girl In His Shadow (a real book by Audrey Blake). Rumple becomes drawn to the plot as his wife and child discuss it. The book is about a woman taken in by a doctor when she was a child and how she secretly practiced medicine with him even though women in that era didn't do such things. Reminded of Belle, he sneaks a look one day when no one is around, but ends up casting himself into the story... in more roles than he expected. (Note: The character death is in his imagination, not his reality.)

In the Shadow of Others - Chapter 1

“If cholera is spread through bad drinking water, why didn’t people change the way they did things?”

Walking into the middle of an unusual conversation was part of daily life for the Golds, one Rumplestiltskin was used to. Gideon was such an inquisitive child, often hopping from one topic to another in an effort to learn everything at once. It was a trait that made Rumple proud, even when the topics could be quite disturbing. So when he walked in on this one, all he wanted to do was pause in the doorway and take it all in.

“That is a part of the history of this world that I don’t know much about, but I imagine they didn’t understand how it was transmitted at the time,” Belle told him while she chopped away at vegetables on the kitchen counter.

From his place at the kitchen table, Gideon stared at his mother and frowned. He was so caught up in their discussion that he hadn’t noticed his hand was still poised over his paper, the pen making an odd mark among his notes. “So people everywhere just started dying and no one could do anything to stop it?”

“That’s often how diseases go at the beginning.”

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The Angel and The Devil

This fic was based off of a visual prompt from a prompt bot in the Rumbelle discord group. Here’s a still capture of the image that inspired me:

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lacey/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Evil Queen | Regina Mills

Additional Tags: Snow, Public Sex, Voyeurism, Outdoor Sex, Car Sex, Dream Sex, dream - Freeform, Alternate Universe, Missing Years

Series: Part 2 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Storybrooke Flats is an apartment building in an unknown city where the residents are all from a land they can't remember. At least most of them don't remember it. The two exceptions are Regina Mills and Mr. Gold. One night, Gold is escorting his girlfriend, Lacey, back from the bar when the two get into mischief. Will they complete their misdeeds before they get caught, or will Rumple awaken from the dream and be forced to seek out a different conclusion?

The Angel and The Devil

Lacey never went home at a decent hour. If she wasn’t the one closing down the bar it meant Gold had performed an act of the most powerful magic known in all the realms. Tonight none of his little tricks had lured her from the pool table or the tab he’d left open for her. Shouldn’t have done that, he reminded himself as he watched her down the last drops in her glass. When she didn’t have access to all the liquor in town she was more likely to head out with him early.

“All right then,” the bartender said as he took the glass from her. “See you tomorrow.”

“I’m sure you hope to,” Gold muttered before putting a hand on Lacey’s back and guiding her away. At least she was a woman who knew how to drink so that she didn’t end up having to be carried out to the car. That would be a difficult task to accomplish, considering his cane. His comment earned him a sideways glance from his date, but she waited until they were near the door to say anything.

“What’d he do to you?”

Gold curled his lip in a sneer and pulled her tightly against his body. “Kept you from me.”

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 11

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Grumpy | Leroy/Nova | Astrid

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Baelfire | Neal Cassidy, Nova | Astrid, Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale, Emma Swan, Red Riding Hood | Ruby, Magic Mirror | Sidney Glass

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination, Partial Nudity, Nudity, Strippers & Strip Clubs

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 11

Belle rushed back to her seat, arriving in time to see Jefferson take the stage, microphone in hand. He flaunted his charm, pouring it down on everyone and playing to the whoops and hollers just long enough for the crowd around Belle to reach a tipping point in their patience. Only then did he speak.

“I know what you’re thinking. None of the people on this stage tonight are professional dancers. We’re not all the fittest or the most beautiful, but we’ve got rhythm and we’re here to show all of you a good time.” He winked down at a man in front of him, who laughed uncomfortably, but didn’t seem otherwise bothered by the attention. “You came to see a show and we’re going to give you one. Tonight, for one night only, we’re going for the full monty!”

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 10

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Grumpy | Leroy/Nova | Astrid

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Baelfire | Neal Cassidy, Nova | Astrid, Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale, Emma Swan, Red Riding Hood | Ruby, Magic Mirror | Sidney Glass

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination, Partial Nudity, Nudity, Strippers & Strip Clubs

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 10

"They sure did pack a lot of people in here," Ruby shouted to Belle as they pushed their way through the crowd at the bar. Neither of them wanted to be pressed in with the masses, so Ruby was hunting down a suitable place for them to claim as their own, one she insisted would be waiting for them. "Gotta be a whole bunch of code violations against this."

Belle nodded to one of the groups they passed, men and women in two very different types of uniform, all eagerly awaiting the start of the show. "Fire and police are already here. Doesn't look like they are going to do anything about it."

"Here. Front and center." Ruby puffed out her chest triumphantly as she gestured to two seats that were, in fact, right up front, exactly where she said they would be.

"Wow," Belle swooned, smiling. "Well done."

Ruby shrugged. "I might have had a word with a few people."

"Mhm. Maybe someone up on the stage tonight?" Belle gave Ruby a playful nudge and got one back in return. "Come on. I saw the way you were looking at him."

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 8

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Grumpy | Leroy/Nova | Astrid

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Baelfire | Neal Cassidy, Nova | Astrid, Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale, Emma Swan

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination, Partial Nudity, Nudity, Strippers & Strip Clubs

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 8

"Your roommates?!" David's voice bounced between the industrial buildings Belle was patrolling and reached her ears. After spending a good bit of time only being able to imagine their personal lives, the group was back in her world, finally letting her spy on the show she so desperately wanted to see. "Your roommates are our audience?"

"Only the women," Billy answered back.

Belle's eyes went wide and her heart skipped with anticipation. Having women in the room had to mean that final rehearsals had begun. The former factory workers were now officially strippers, and they were putting on their first show right here, right now. She hurried to the nearest window to get a better look.

Four women sat facing a section of wall between two doors; the "stage," Belle guessed. Tucked away in a corner to the side of said stage, Bae sat at a table with the music player. None of the men were anywhere in sight, though. She peered one way and then the other, but had no luck, though she could hear them as plain as if they were right in front of her.

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 7

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination, Partial Nudity, Nudity, Strippers & Strip Clubs

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 7

Days went by in a flash, with nothing happening to speak of, until one morning when Belle found herself passing the group of dancers on her way to work. They were practically strutting along as they chatted about whatever was going on in their day. It was quite a turn around from watching them slump in their seats at the job club, fussing about their uselessness. These men had a unity and purpose, and that made her smile.

When they turned the corner ahead of her, her steps faltered. The reality of her situation right now was that following them would be a form of stalking. This food for her imagination had become an addiction, one she knew she should leave behind. Her friends had their own lives to live and the men who were really in front of her didn’t even know she existed. The two parts should remain separate. Yet even though she knew that, she convinced herself that the blending she’d done was the whole point of immersing herself in their story. The tale was meant to make her feel something, and feeling she was, deep within her core. Every time she thought of Gold on stage, stripped of everything but the smallest scrap for modesty her whole body went weak and her skin flushed with heat..

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 6

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination, Partial Nudity, Nudity, Strippers & Strip Clubs

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 6

“It was Leroy’s idea to do this!”

Belle heard the harsh whisper as she patrolled the factory grounds. While walking along the crumbling perimeter wall, the voice hissed out at her ears. It carried with the slight echo of the large, empty space towing just beside her. Curious, she planted her feet and held her breath, hoping to hear more. She wasn’t disappointed.

“You wanted me to teach you to dance, I didn’t agree to waggle my pickaxe in front of the entire neighborhood!”

“Really?” Jefferson’s voice this time, stifling a snort. “You call it a pickaxe?”

“Well, I suppose it does… mine?” Archie offered. “I mean…it goes in a cave so… in a way it does?” Though he was obviously trying to reach Jefferson’s level of metaphor usage, he wasn’t quite getting there and the waver in his voice over that uncertainty didn’t help him.

“The real point here,” Gold cut in, “is that you won’t be dangling anything. We’re taking everything off except whatever Jefferson decides goes on underneath.”

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 5

 Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 5

Belle loved dancing. She loved the music and the way it guided the motions of a group of people. Often she imagined that dancers looked like flowers drifting on the surface of the water, gliding around freely, yet nudged along their way by the current or a gentle breeze. There was a polite formality to dancing that allowed you to get close to any number of people without having to be improper about it. Couples who wanted intimacy would simply change their stance so that they could press closer and feel each other’s heat or the movement of each muscle, yet anyone who was just getting acquainted could keep their distance while still sharing the intimacy of their joint coordination.

Dancing also allowed an opportunity for show without seeming to be boastful. Make your steps precise enough and anyone who recognized the skill would find themselves studying your movements. Perhaps they might even ask to have the next dance. It was intimate yet friendly, and a way to share brief conversation if one had enough skill.

Unfortunately, formal dancing was quickly going out of style. These days the carefully counted steps and melodious tunes were being replaced by wild gyrations and rib rattling beats. It was a change she thought of as tragic, until she remembered last night’s display. Awkward as Gold had been, she still remembered the slow reveal of the abdomen that she didn’t know she needed to touch until the moment it was displayed before her. That, she had to admit, was an entertainment all on its own and one most worthy of her attention.

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 4

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 4

That night, Belle found herself in the position of security guard at the abandoned factory. It was a strange shift from her previous occupation as supervisor to a collection of men pretending to be interested in work. This place was cavernous, and every room was dingy from both its previous occupation and its age. Paint peeled off of neglected walls, and dust collected in corners, but though it was a depressing sight, there was a jovial chatter filling the space tonight, happy conversation that shouldn't be there.

“Remind me why we told Archie about this plan,” David’s voice echoed down the corridor at her. “If we have one more man on the stage, doesn’t that make less money for each of us when we split it?”

“We need him because he has access to a place for us all to work,” Gold said calmly. “Do you want your wife barging in while we’re all shaking our cheeks in the living room? Besides, helping us out is going to be like therapy for him.”

David scoffed. “Prancing around naked in front of a crowd isn’t therapy.”

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 3

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Grumpy | Leroy, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Jiminy Cricket | Archie Hopper, Gus | Billy

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination

Series: Part 1 Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 3

In what felt like no time at all, Belle found herself walking down the sidewalk past a row of neat brick houses. She took in the feel of the neighborhood as she went, staring at things as if she’d never seen any of them before. Some had quaint little gardens. Nothing fancy, but a bush or two and a bed of flowers to add color, others were plain but had nice looking cars. All of them were perfectly kept, with curtains in their windows and small, grassy lawns.

As she strolled, she found herself thinking about the men she’d been watching not long before. In the job club, Gold and the others at his table had been talking about the strip show in town. While some of the things she overheard just before and after the fight had turned her off to their behavior, Belle couldn’t help but admit to herself that she was curious about their idea. What would this strip show be like? More importantly, would her attention be drawn to only one man?

“What do you mean sole custody?!”

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A Full Imagination - Chapter 2

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV), The Full Monty (1997)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Belle (Once Upon a Time), Blue Fairy | Mother Superior

Additional Tags: Daydreaming, AU, Imagination

Series: Part 1 of Golden Dreams

Summary: Belle has come to the hospital thinking that she wants to see her father after the curse is broken. When she discovers that he is no longer a patient she is relieved and loses herself to the waiting room television and her own imagination.

This is part of my specifically AU series where I Rumbelle various things. Every fic in this series will be some sort of daydream or fantasy of the characters that already exist within my Rumbelle universe.

Read previous chapters on AO3

A Full Imagination - Chapter 2

Everyone in the room stared at Belle as she held up the clipboard in her hands. “All right,” she told the captive audience spread out among the tables before her. “Your application letters need to be finished before the end of the day. If you have any trouble with them, I’ll be right here.” She pointed to the desk she intended to claim as her own, then promptly sat, making sure her gaze could take in the entire room. Surprisingly, or perhaps not surprisingly given the reputation of the men in front of her, not one of them listened. Instead, they went back to their conversations and card games, chatting with each other as if she weren’t even in the room with them.

“Women only?” Jefferson’s voice bounced up above the crowd, making her glare at him. He only smiled that charming smile of his and settled back down. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

“Not much call for men around here to watch other men swing their backsides around on stage,” David reminded him.

Jefferson shrugged. “Some of us might.”

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