(1114 words)

Your POV

I was cleaning the banister for the stairs. Something I always did. Cleaning as I always did, I never noticed Rumple standing next to me.

"I've been thinking."

I jumped for a moment before I looked at him. He had sat on the stairs as he looked at me.

"That's dangerous"

I resumed my cleaning, deciding I could clean and listen to him. Can't have him complaining I'm not working fast enough. Feeling my ears perk up as I heard him speak again.

"You should start singing again." His voice was hushed, barely above a whisper. I had moved in surprise and knocked the bucket down the steps. Standing as I made my way towards the bucket apologizing profusely.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened."

He waved his hand, a mop appeared, and started to clean up the mess I made. Blinking as I watched it for a moment, I turned and looked at him.

He stood and made his way over to me. Grabbing my hand gently, he led me to the dining table and had me sit. Walking to the side of the table he stopped and lifted his hand to touch a rose.

"Why do you want me to start singing again?"

"Because my thoughts get loud, and it is difficult to focus. Your singing gets me from my thoughts, even if it is briefly"

He glanced at me for a moment. I was shocked. I had been sure he didn't remotely like or tolerate my singing. My parents always told me that it was a gift. I should cherish it, not everyone could sing as I could.

"I was under the impression you didn't even like my singing"

"Let's just say, it's grown on me."

Nodding gently, I stood before I walked over to him. Grabbing his hand gently, he turned to look at me.

"I'll make sure to sing more for you, I've never had an audience before "

Letting go of his hand I went to continue my cleaning. Before I heard his voice again.

"Just a moment, dearie"

I stopped and turned to look at him before he walked over to me. Looking up at him he hummed for a moment. Waving his hand again he looked at it before a rose appeared. Smiling gently, I looked at it as he held it in front of me.

"Then let me be the first to throw a rose after a performance "

I giggled as I took it from him. Smiling as I sniffed the flower for a moment. I turned before I cut the stem of the rose shorter and put it in his jacket pocket.

"As beautiful as it is, red is your color "

Giving him one last smile, I turned and hummed as I walked off to finish cleaning. Hearing him vanish, I thought he had gone to his tower to spin. Taking a breath, I started to sing again.

Picking up the bucket I grabbed the mop and started to clean the floors. Something that hasn't been done for some time.

Letting the echoes of the foyer carry my voice throughout the castle. It felt nice to be able to sing again. I felt like a bird in a cage. Doing nothing but singing through its days.

Finishing the floor I made my way to the second floor, continuing the cleaning. Hearing the chimes of the grandfather clock in the hall, I made a rush to start dinner.

Sliding down the banister I hopped off and slid to the door of the red room. Noticing that Rumple was in the corner with his spinning wheel.

Walking by I heard his giggle before I leaned out of the kitchen and looked at him.

"I thought you were in your lonely tower."

He looked at me as he spun for a moment.

"I decided it was best if I stayed down here"

Standing next to him, I put my hand on his shoulder. I watched as he spun his straw into gold. It was mesmerizing as the wheel spun round and round.

"Why do you spin so much?"

"It's how I get my best ideas."

"Like what, deciding that you need a maid?"

I asked as I walked towards the kitchen. Hearing him get up and follow me. I turned around in time as he picked me up and put me on the counter. Gasping gently as he did, I looked at him.

"The majority of my ideas that I get when I spin tend to be very dark. About as dark as my heart."

I hummed as I rose a brow. "Does that make me one of your darkest ideas?" Looking at my hands I heard him sigh.

"No, you're one of the lighter, innocent ones."

I looked up as he stepped back from me. He blinked before he turned and walked to his spinning wheel.

Hopping from the counter I started working on dinner. Since the colder months were among us, I decided that it was time for soup. Making the broth I hummed a little, smiling gently. Letting the smell of the food flow around the castle.

I yelped as someone was behind me. Feeling a hand on my waist another came around and helped me cook.

"You never cease to amaze me with your cooking. Reminds me of simpler times."

He let his chin rest on my shoulder as he watched me cook. I felt his lips press gently against my neck. Biting my lip, I tried my best to ignore it.

"(Y/n)!"

I was snapped from my thoughts by Rumple as he came into the kitchen just in time. The dinner had been engulfed into a fireball. He had moved me in time before he used his magic to control the blaze. Turning to me as it was out, I put a hand over my mouth.

He looked at me for a moment. He wanted to yell, that much I could tell. But his look softened as he stepped closer to me. Wrapping his arms around me he sighed gently.

"What happened?"

"I- I don't know"

I buried my face into his chest as I bit my lip, my eyes watered a little as a few tears fell. Doing my best to hold them back as he held onto me.

That was when it hit me, that little daydream I had didn't happen for just any old reason. I was falling for the Dark One. Deciding that then and there I wouldn't tell him. It was better off that he didn't know of my feelings. It would only make things awkward, getting no one anywhere.