The snow and winter chill was on its last legs, soon to be defeated by the on set of spring. Belle liked the winter, specifically the snow, the way it danced in the wind before coating the ground. No matter how much Belle liked the winter she couldn't deny that spring was her favourite, she loved how the plants burst back to life and turned themselves into works of art fitting of Monet. Belle tucked her free hand into the small pocket of her deep green leather jacket as she walked down Main Street. The street was rather quiet considering it was early afternoon, Ruby waved at her from the window of Granny's and like always it brought a smile to her face. Belle and Ruby had been best friends since kindergarten, though they seemed like unlikely 'BFF's', as Ruby had dubbed them, they, had formed a strong and unbreakable bond. In fact, Belle was the only person that Ruby trusted with the top-secret knowledge that she was in love with Doctor Archie Hopper, had been for a while.

Belle came to a stop outside Mister Gold's pawn shop, her fathers debts where getting to beyond manageable and so she was at a last resort. With Belle studying English Literature and Moe drinking or gambling away what little money they had, Gold was her last choice. With a heavy heart Belle pushed open the door to his shop.

The bell chimed and Gold found himself deeply regretting buying that bell as it echoed through head. He really preferred his solitude. He sat at his work table in his office cleaning the gears of an antique clock that he was sure no one would ever buy, still he could always smash someone over the head with it if necessary. Gold took his time going through to see his customer, he liked to make them wait it made them less likely to tell him their life story. The pawnbroker couldn't deny he was surprised to see a teenager in his shop without some sort of armed guard, especially one so beautiful. People rarely came into his shop alone, like they had a theory of safety in numbers. Sheriff Swan and Doctor Whale where probably the only people that weren't scared of him. The town seemed to think he would attack them with his cane the second he saw them, Gold wouldn't do that, if he did he would never sell anything. Alas there was a beautiful young woman in his shop and so he pulled himself out of his thoughts.

Belle was looking at the shelf of repaired books, a small smile playing on her face. Gold was grateful that she hadn't been looking at him while he stood staring. He cleared his throat causing her to jump.

"Can I help you, dearie? Looking for a certain book perhaps?" He attempted to look nonchalant.

Belle turned to face him and smiled awkwardly.

"Oh, no sorry. I could never afford these." She added the last bit in a whisper but Gold still heard it.

Gold manoeuvred around the shop until he was within arms length of the teenage beauty. She had something clutched to her chest but the lapel of her jacket covered most of the item so Gold couldn't quite make out what it was.

"What is it I can do for you then?" Gold was surprised to find he was smiling.

"I...I was wondering how much you would give me for this."

Belle extended her hand and passed Gold what he now saw was a book. He took it and walked over to a counter with better light. Belle followed. The book was a first edition copy of The Castle Of Ontario, beautiful really. The novel was in wonderful condition, it had clearly been read but someone had taken exquisite care of it.

"This is in lovely condition miss?" Belle smiled.

"French, Belle French. And thank you, it was my mother's, all I have of her really."

Gold looked at her in confusion for a few moments, it was only then that he saw how sad she looked. Was it having to sell the book?

"I have to ask Miss French. If this is the only thing you have of your mother, why do you want to sell it?"

Gold didn't normally ask questions that led to a full conversation but he was too enamoured to care and he wanted to hear her accent again.

"I don't want to Mister Gold." She spoke softly. "I have to, debts don't pay themselves." Belle tried to smile.

Gold couldn't believe she was in debt, she looked far to intelligent and levelheaded to fall into something so stupid. Belle pulled her green jacket tighter around her thin frame, as if protecting herself from a rather painful memory. Belle turned and began looking at a stack of books. Gold didn't question her further, she didn't have to explain to him and Gold had to remind himself that he didn't care. He lowered his eyes and went back to inspecting the book.

The bell chimed a second time and Sheriff Swan wandered over to Gold.

"Sheriff Swan, to what do I owe this pleasure?" He supplied her with his trademark grin.

"We have a deceased man that we can't identify, no fingerprints, no nothing. He did have this though."

Belle seemed to hide herself in the mass of antiques as Emma pulled something out her back pocket. She didn't want to get in the way of anything. Emma set an old watch with a brown leather strap down in front of Gold who quickly picked it up and looked it over.

"Its one of the few things he had on him, it looks old so I said to myself, 'hey lets take it to the old stuff know it all'. And well here I am."

"Yes here you are."

Gold took a few moments to look at the watch, he had seen it before and remembered selling it to a man but he couldn't remember who. He opened a small wooden box and began routing around, there was about forty customers in that one draw and even though he meant to organize the draw but never got round to it. Turned out he was looking in the wrong draw and had to open then next one down. There it was. He pulled out the card and read aloud.

"Duncan Yates." He extended the white card towards Emma. "Here, maybe this can help."

Emma snatched it from his hand and looked at it as if checking that he hadn't lied.

"Good." Emma turned and walked over to the door, she pulled it open and over the noise of the bell said. "Thanks." It was more of an afterthought than something she meant.

Belle somehow managed to reappear as Gold put all the cards back into the box.

"You know, it would be easier to organize them by year and then alphabetize them." Before Gold could say anything she spoke again. "Sorry, don't mean to tell you how to run your own business. Any...anyway how much for the novel. Its...its a first edition."

Gold picked up the novel and rounded the corner.

"Here, you should keep this."

Belle looked confused, she furrowed her brow knocking loose an auburn curl and he got the sudden urge to softly push it back behind her ear. He gestured with the book for her to take it but she still just looked at him with that confused smile.

"Mister Gold, please. I need the money and you are the only person who I can sell it to." She sounded desperate.

"If this is all you have of her, keep it." Gold had no idea why he was being nice to this girl.

"Please, Mis.."

"I wasn't finished Miss French." He cut her off. "You seem to have a very good idea how to organize and you clearly know how to take care of something." He gestured again with the novel. "So I will make you a deal Miss French. I need someone to...tidy things up around her and you said yourself you need the money. So, you work for me and I will give you a fair wage, and of course you keep your novel."

He gestured again and this time she took it, pulling the book to her chest. She pushed the loose curl back behind her ear and couldn't help but smile, it was an awkward smile but a smile nonethe less.

"You are offering me a job?"

Gold nodded, actually anticipating her answer.

"Oh, Mister Gold I would love that." She cut herself off and looked to the floor, her face dropped. "But I...I can't. I have lectures. I em study English Literature."

"Well surly your lectures don't take up the whole day and organizing and cleaning a few things won't take that long." He couldn't understand why he was being so reasonable.

Belle looked at him in disbelief, she couldn't believe what was happening. Everyone had always said that Gold was evil, Ruby had taken pleasure as a child making up stories about Gold and how he would steal children and eat them. Belle couldn't believe that now, he was being so kind, no one had ever been so good to her; not even her Papa.

"Thank you! Yes, yes I'll do it. Thank you." Belle couldn't stop grinning.

"Very well." She looked like she was about to start jumping up and down. "When is your next lecture?"

"Tomorrow. Tuesdays I always have a lecture until eleven-thirty."

"Well be here for twelve sharp and bring a list of your lectures and I will work out a rota for you."

Belle nodded frantically, grinning like a mad-woman. Color returned to her cheeks and her oh so blue eyes got just that little bit brighter.

"Thank you, I will. Goodbye Mister Gold." Belle almost skipped to the door but Gold's voice stopped her.

"Oh, Miss French. If I find you've sold that book, I will be most disappointed."

Belle laughed as the bell chimed and the teenager left his shop.

XXXX

Some may come to believe this fic is just violent and uncaring towards women but it is quite the opposite, this is not a story of rage and rape but of the strength to overcome such things, it its a story that shows anything is possible if you just put your mind to it. You can build your own families and make things better no matter how low things get.

This story will have several chapters of rape and sexual torture so if you will find that disturbing or offencive I suggest you stop reading here.