The time was flying and before Belle knew it was the end of October, a week before Halloween.

Gaston, with unusual stubbornness, demanded her to be in London for the office party. Really, as if Halloween in Scottish Highlands wasn't so much more interesting! Belle demanded a reason, after all, it wouldn't be the first office party she skipped for the sake of traveling. But she got none.

She only hoped that Gaston didn't get into his head that she became unprofessional just because she decided to write some twelve articles on roughly the same subject of Scottish Highlands. They were excellent articles, thank you very much.

Nevertheless, she needed to pack up a whole week earlier than she needed for her planned trip to Spain. This way, she wouldn't be back in Crathie sooner than at the beginning of December. It sucked.

It didn't help that her throat hurt and she wasn't sure if it's because of incoming cold or because of trying to reason with or threaten Gaston for a good hour on the phone.

Now however she needed to break the news to Robert. She knew he would be disappointed, apparently he and Bae had the whole Halloween planned just to show her as much of the traditions as possible. She could easily imagined that Robert never took a big part in the village celebrations and as she understood, Bae usually spent the evening with Emma in her own village. This year was supposed to be different and here we go, office party. She almost decided that she's not going anyway, but then Gaston threatened to have his father involved and this was just not fair. But fair or not, she had to go.

They were meeting for a walk this afternoon and then for a dinner, which she regularly had at Robert's home not at Granny's. Walking briskly, she arrived at his shop just when he put out the lights. They had about an hour to sunset, a reasonable time for a walk in the cold but fresh and delicious air.

Robert smiled when she entered and she just couldn't spoil a smile so radiant. She allowed him to pull her in for a kiss, then waited until they were on the road out of the village before broaching the difficult subject.

Then she couldn't pretend any more than everything is alright and she didn't know how he knew before she even turned to him, but he was already looking at her with anxious, wide eyes.

'Belle, what is it?'

'I got a call from Gaston,' she said unhappily, coughing a little because of her still sore throat.

'And?...' he squeezed her hand a little stronger.

'He wants me to go back to London a week earlier, so I attend to the office Halloween party. And I have to go.'

'Oh...' he exhaled, looking suddenly not at her but straight ahead, frowning.

'He threatened to broach the subject with his father, the owner, if I don't comply. It's unfair,' she finished. 'How can he threaten me like that when he can't even gave me a reason he wants me there! I'm not his call girl!'

She realized that she sounded rather pathetic and hysterical, but she didn't really care. She was miserable, cold, and she just had to bend under an unfair force display.

'I... I'm sorry he treated you like that.'

Instead of replying she coughed again. Just wonderful!

'Sweetheart?... Are you alright?'

'Yes, of course, just a sore throat,' she replied testily. 'Another unfair thing sent by the universe, and it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to talk to Gaston so long in hope of beating some reason into his head.'

'Then maybe we should go straight home? I'll make you tea.'

'Okay, that sounds good.'

Hopefully, Bae would be busy upstairs and they could be alone until the dinner. Belle adored Bae, but right now, she wanted just Robert.

'Then let's go,' Robert started to walk quicker. 'Belle?'

'I'm coming. I'm just disappointed, why did it have to happen now? Bae would be so disappointed too!'

'I know,' Robert sighed. 'But it's not like everything can be perfect.'

Belle frowned, because that seemed far too conciliatory for her.

'Still, people should try,' she grumbled, wishing Gaston to have a sudden itching rash all over his body. 'We all deserve to be treated good and fair, and is it that much to make that effort?'

Robert didn't answer, just throw her a somewhat panicked look.

'What do you think?' she prompted.

'I... yes, absolutely.'

'I asked what you think, not just to agree with me.'

She tried to say it in a much calmer way but rather failed at that. She felt a surge of irritation on herself for this, but on the other hand, Robert should be able to withstand some negative mood on her part.

'Well, I think it's difficult,' he said finally, in a quiet voice. 'Whether you try for perfection for yourself or for others. And whether you try it because you want it or because someone tells you to.′

'I meant only Gaston, you know that, right?' she said quickly.

'Yes,' he sighed. 'See, we're almost home. I'll make you a tea with honey, okay? It will help your throat.'

It was a blatant try for changing the topic, but Belle allowed it somewhat gratefully. She felt too riled up to listen patiently. She needed to manage her own anger first.

In precisely that moment her phone chimed. She pulled it out, cringing when she saw a text from Ariel.

'Oh, you've got to be kidding me!' she exclaimed reading.

'Sweetheart?'

'My friend from the journal just texted me that I'm supposed to do another series of articles based on a trip that we had in the spring. Apparently the first round was so good that they want more.'

'That's good, right? That it was so good?'

'Do you have any idea how long it would take to write? I didn't even finish the last one about Highlands!'

He threw her another panicked look and turned to open the door. They went in and pulled off their clothes in a complete silence.

'Is there any way I can help you?' he asked timidly when they made their way to the kitchen.

'No, not with the writing,' she sighed, suddenly feeling very tired. She plopped on the chair observing Robert preparing the tea. She loved to watch him doing such simple kitchen chores, he managed to do it like they were some mysterious arcana of alchemy. 'Than you,' she smiled, when he put the tea in front of her. 'It smells divine.'

He reddened a little under the praise.

'How is your throat, Belle?'

'Oh, don't worry, I certainly had much worse.'

He nodded shortly and looked away, fidgeting.

'Robert?'

'Yes? What can I do for you?'

'Nothing, it's okay. Just look at me.'

She took his hand and he managed to smile. Was he afraid she would be as angry at him as she was at Gaston?

'I'm not angry at you, Robert,' she said aloud, just in case. 'I'm angry at the whole world and at Gaston especially. May his hair turn green.'

Robert finally laughed at that.

'I'm sorry, Belle,' he explained shyly. 'I just felt like I should do something for you, since I am fine, but didn't know what... Milah would be angry at me for not helping. For not suffering along her too.'

'I'm not angry at you. You can help me think of some more creative curses to befall Gaston.'

'Okay,' he smiled tentatively. 'May... may all his pens leak ink on important papers?'

'Oh, good!' Belle exclaimed and enjoying Robert's bashful expression. 'Hmm, may his drawers all be stuck.'

'And may his printers be likewise.'

'And may his favorite shirt got unwashable stains on it.'

'And may his favorite tie got cut off.'

They amused themselves for a good ten minutes until both were laughing aloud and the atmosphere got much lighter. They Robert applied himself to making a dinner, though Belle was content to just observe him some more. She actually took her phone and recorded him for the time when she wouldn't be able to watch him in person.

'You won't be here?...' Bae whined hearing about Belle's office party.

'Now, Bae,' Robert said gently. 'Belle needs to be at work.'

'I would so much prefer to be here with you and your papa, sweetheart,' Belle said. 'I so regret that I can't.'

Bae sniffed, obviously trying not to cry. Robert embraced him gently and the boy quickly hid his face on his papa's shoulder.

'I'm so sorry,' Belle sighed.

'It's okay, Belle. I'm sure we would make up for it when you're back.'

'Of course. We'll have a wonderful time when I'm back.'

'Do you hear, Bae? There would be so much to do when Belle gets back.'

'But it's a whole month and it won't be Halloween,' Bae mumbled into Robert's jacket.

'I know, sweetie. But it still will be so much fun, I promise.'

Slowly, Bae allowed himself to be persuaded to eat the dinner in a relative calm. After that however, he wanted to go upstairs immediately, not trying to persuade Robert for as much time before curfew to spend with Belle as possible.

Belle threw a concerned glance at Robert, but didn't say anything and let him take Bae upstairs. She just hoped that whatever Robert would tell his son would be effective in cheering him up. Robert appeared back after a good fifteen minutes.

'How is he?'

'As good as can be...' Robert sighed, sitting down next to her on the sofa. 'We will be both missing you.'

'I'll be missing you too.' Belle wrapped her arms around Robert's middle, hugging him hard. 'I promise to call and write.'

The dinner next day went better in regards of Bae, but not that good in regards of Belle's sore throat. She pushed her food around the plate, cursing Gaston in her head. There was a very thin possibility that in two days when she was supposed to leave, her throat would be fine again. More likely, she would be forced to endure the additional discomfort on the road. She wondered if she could use it as an excuse to not go...

'Belle...'

She looked up to meet Robert's anxious stare. Bae also looked at her curiously.

'What?'

'Y-you're not eating.'

'My throat hurts,' she reminded him. 'It's unpleasant to swallow anything.'

Robert was looking at her with a distressed eyes. But Bae quickly chimed in:

'Papa makes a great honey tea for that!'

'Yes, that's true, he made me one yesterday.'

'I'll make you one again!...' Robert exclaimed and quickly got up, leaving half-eaten dinner.

'Robert, you don't have...'

But he was already in the kitchen and Belle certainly wasn't about to shout after him. Instead she concentrated on eating her dinner when it was still warm. Robert's collops and clapshot were delicious and despite sore throat she wanted to eat them, especially considering that for the next month she would have to go without his cooking.

When Robert returned with her tea, she looked at him apologetically.

'I'm sorry, you didn't have to leave your dinner just to make me a tea...'

'It's okay,' he cut in. 'It's okay. Bae, have you eaten? Then why won't you go upstairs to play? Belle doesn't feel well.'

Bae considered it for a moment, then nodded.

'Call me when you'll be leaving, Belle?'

'Sure, Bae,' she croaked. At first she wanted to protest that Bae can stay with them, but it wouldn't be smart to share her cold with him. Also, she wanted Robert alone with her now.

She drank her tea slowly, when Robert took the dishes to the kitchen. When he returned, he gave her the same anxious look.

'Robert?'

'Ah?'

He was fidgeting on his chair. What that Milah did to him?

'Thank you for the tea. It helps.'

He nodded.

'I shouldn't have to talk with Gaston for the whole hour with the window open. At least it wasn't opened all the way, but I was so warmed up with the adrenaline that I didn't even think...' She shook her head. Hopefully this would show him that this was her fault and a normal, human thing, not something he needed to be anxious about. 'I should have been smarter than that.'

'No, sweetheart...' he sounded pleading. 'It's not your fault.'

'Robert, it's not your fault either,' she said quickly, not liking his tone. 'And your tea helped, really.'

'I know, I know,' he said quickly, forcing a smile.

'But I see that something is wrong. Robert? I...' she paused to cough and curse Gaston and Granny's windows. It felt like she was about to spit up her lungs, however cliche that sounded.

'Belle?!' Robert reached for her hand with both his.

'I'm fine,' she smiled at him, trying to manage the annoying tingling behind her tongue as if she just inhaled feathers. 'It will pass. It's nothing.'

'Y-you don't have to...' he said hesitantly. 'You can be sick. I mean, it's okay, you don't have to be strong all the time...'

He was looking at her with a silent plead, and Belle felt lost. She also felt ill and unable to decipher his anxioussness.

'I don't understand.'

'Just what I said...' he said as if the words pained him. 'You don't have to be strong and brave all the time. Maybe I should call Victor? Our GP?'

'No need, but thank you.' Belle smiled at him, trying to convey her gratitude. 'You're so sweet and kind to me... Robert?'

Now he looked like he was going to cry. Whatever was going on in his head was far too quick and complicated for her.

'Robert, what's the matter?' she demanded. 'You need to tell me if something is wrong, if I'm doing something wrong.'

'I'm sorry...' he whispered, blanching, then took a deep breath, visibly withdrawing himself. 'I... I think you should go home, to Granny's I mean, lie down. Sleep. Come, I'll drive you.'

He got up and Belle, completely bewildered, followed him.

'Robert...'

'Don't say anything, please.' He sounded so serious, despite almost whispering. 'I'll explain to Bae that you didn't feel well enough...'

Belle allowed for that, seeing as tomorrow they were all supposed to meet again before her departure on the morning the day after.

'Robert, what is going on?' she tried to ask him again when they were in the car. He sighed, when she put her hand on his on the wheel.

'I... I don't know.'

She could clearly see that it was a lie.

'Robert...'

He started the car and took off with such a speed that Belle for a moment felt breathless.

'Promise me you'll take care of yourself?' he said finally.

'Of course... But it really is nothing, a simple sore throat. I've had much worse. And I told you how I got this, I guess I deserve that for what I've done.'

He shook his head. Then he stopped the car, not very gently, before the bed and breakfast.

'Okay, Robert. We'll see each other tomorrow.' Belle sighed and decided to give it some time. Whatever was going on, maybe it just needed some distance and cooling off the emotions. She squeezed his hand and, a bit hurt that he didn't made a move to kiss her, got out of the car.

When he left, she looked after his car until it disappeared completely, despite her damned throat.

TBC