@comeeaalive // continued from HERE
belle had always been a believer in second chances. sometimes things didn't immediately turn around and end up in a better state, sure. but the real point of it was the effort put in. this time felt different with rumple and to have declared her love for him just then had been a battle. she had never wanted to give up on him. so in that moment she felt like it had been right to admit it out loud.
belle felt thankful the shop was closed because somebody barging in on this moment made her want to go crazy. so she walked back over to the main counter to be closer to rumple. "i believe you and believe in you too," she reached her hands out to grab his, squeezing them. "this can be the start of something good, something better for the both of us."