'Belle...' Robert greeted her when she entered his shop. He reached for the vase standing on the counter and produced a single red rose. 'For you... If you'll have it.'

'Thank you,' Belle smiled widely, taking the flower. 'It's beautiful.'

She kissed him gently on the cheek, inhaling his scent.

'And I... I also wanted to make sure you are not angry at me for yesterday,' he said quickly.

'I'm not,' Belle frowned. 'Why would you think so?'

'Because I lost control over myself and drowned you in complaints and weaknesses,' he answered smoothly yet sadly. 'It was never my intention. It was probably because of Jefferson's stunt with the poetry and then... well, you shocked me pretty much by proposing a relationship.'

'It's all okay. I don't mind.'

Robert shook his head.

'I do. And, well, if at any point you have enough of it, of me, of the relationship, please tell me.'

'Robert...' Belle took his hand. 'It really was okay. And if I helped, I'm glad.'

'For now. It was just one evening. But believe me, I'm not the best choice for a man. You'll see.'

'Oh really,' she muttered, then added more somberly: 'Okay, but do you agree to leave that up to me? If I see that this is not working, I'll tell you. If we can't work it out, then ah well, at least we'll have some good moments together.'

'You promise? To tell me if something is wrong?'

'Yes, of course,' Belle nodded a bit taken aback with the intensity of his gaze. 'Robert, we're just getting to know each other now. There is a lot of room for learning what is and what isn't okay. It's a process, it takes time. I expect you to tell me if something is wrong as well.'

He listened to her with something like a tentative hope in his eyes, but he sighed at the last bit.

'I still feel bad about yesterday.'

Belle squeezed his hand.

'It was a lot of personal information. I'm not surprised that it's unsettling.'

'It's not only about it all being personal... It's like... like I used you to get comfort, sympathy, when it wasn't... necessary.'

He looked at her from beneath his hair. Belle moved the bangs aside, ensuring that she has his full attention.

'It's not about necessity. If you needed it, then you needed it.'

'And it's not irritating or a burden to you that I don't understand it right away? That you just had to explain it to me, reassure me? That I'm still asking questions? It can't be attractive.'

Some part of Belle laughed madly, thinking of numerous fictional characters and the kind of stories they tended to inhabit in fanfictions. But mostly, she was just concerned and determined to set the matter straight.

'It's not like every single part of you has to be attractive. What I find attractive is your passion for what you do... the exact thing that made me stay with you all day at the festival. And the way you can tell stories, like they were precious and valuable pieces of art, each of them. And the way you dress, a bit overdressing in comparison to the folks here. And your relationship with your son, you two are so adorable. And just you, the eyes, the hair, the face, the smell.'

Robert listened to this with open mouth and in the end just grabbed her and held close, not speaking, just hiding his face in her hair. Belle embraced him, running her hands over his back gently.

'So, are we good?' she asked eventually. 'Let's not hide from each other. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't, but let's take a chance?'

'I'll try...' he said in a small voice.

'We don't have to rush either. I spoke with my boss. I can stay longer. I didn't actually specified how long exactly.'

'And you won't be in trouble?'

'Nah,' Belle laughed. 'Gaston doesn't really care, as long as he has the articles I promised him. He's also totally used to the fact that I'm pursuing any interesting topic in any place on Earth. Paying for my stay here is relatively cheap comparing to some of my other business trips.'

'Sounds like a dream job.'

'It pretty much is. And I'm damn proud of working for the position. I started with writing the column about star gossips. You won't believe how dull that was.'

'Oh... I'm sorry to hear it.'

'No need. It makes me doubly grateful for what I have now.'

'Then maybe you shouldn't risk it by staying?' he asked with his nose still stuck into her hair.

'As I said, it's no trouble. You just have to provide me with writing material.'

'Well, have you heard of the ghosts visiting the island?'

'No. But I'd love to hear all about them,' Belle said with delight, straightening up and looking at him. 'And I'd love the trip to the island if you were so kind as to take me there.'

'I might. We don't have too many places here to go...'

He paused, blushing.

'On a date?' Belle smiled. 'I must say that I never had a date on a haunted island. It's one of these things I didn't realize how badly I want to have until I've heard of it.'

Robert smiled.

'Tomorrow then? After the shop closes? Bae is visiting Emma tomorrow, his schoolmate from another village. We'll drop him there and then have our date.'

'Agreed,' Belle nodded, then stole another kiss on his cheek. 'I'll be sure to take a camera there.'

The next day Belle had an occasion to see another, bigger village and the landscape around it as she and Robert drove Bae for his sleepover at Emma's. Bae looked at Belle awfully knowingly, but still smiling, so Belle supposed he was okay with her being with Robert. The boy was more excited about the sleepover anyway and barely had time to say goodbyes to her before almost bolting for Emma's house. Robert went with him, taking his backpack and talking to Nolans for awhile. Belle waited patiently in the front seat, her own small backpack ready for ghost-hunting on the island.

She smiled at Robert encouragingly when he came back.

'It's not Bae's first sleepover,' he admitted. 'And I know he's a big boy. And very smart. But still...'

'It's okay. But now, take us to the island. I know it's Saturday and it's barely noon, but I want to use the light to make the pictures.'

Robert nodded and they soon found themselves at the lake shore, on a small parking next to the pier. The lake itself was quite big, with dark, cold water. At it's center, Belle could see an island and when she squinted also a shape that might be the ruins Robert talked about.

She immediately reached for her photo camera.

'It's beautiful, isn't it?' Robert said quietly, standing next to her. Belle noticed that now he was always trying to stand or sit as close as he could, looking a bit like a hopeful puppy following its owner. She reached for him, taking his hand and he immediately closed his fingers around hers, smiling slightly.

'It's wonderful. Shall we go there?'

They took the prom along with two more tourists that wanted to see the ruins. The same prom would take them back in the evening, and Belle was excited at the perspective of the whole, warm afternoon in such a beautiful, interesting place – and with such a company. She forgot how it was to do any sightseeing together with another person.

'Thank you for taking me here,' she said as they trailed along the sand path toward the ruins. 'It so good to share the experience. Usually I'm on my own, and it has it's advantage, but not always.'

Robert blinked, looking at her with wide eyes. He looked a bit spooked.

'Belle, I... I'm glad I'm here with you,' he whispered. 'I'm sorry you're... That you sometimes feel lonely on your travels?...' Then he looked at her hesitantly, as if checking if he said the right thing. She squeezed his hand.

'It's my job and I love doing it, Robert,' she elaborated. 'But aside of that, now I found that I missed just being somewhere with a close companion. Somehow I never was in a relationship too long. I did some travels with Ariel, my friend from the newspaper, though. It was such a crazy fun, I'll show you pictures from Venice when we go back to Crathie, they are the best. When I was young we traveled some with my parents, but since then, well, my mom died, my father and I moved from Melbourne to London... He's a professor in Oxford now, at the Department of Engineering Science. And I have a work of my dreams, but it's still not everything I want to have in life.'

Belle paused for a moment, to take a breath, but also to take a picture on the ruins that now were almost all visible from behind a small hill.

'I...'

'Robert?'

He shook his head.

'I'm sorry you lost your mother,' he managed.

'Oh. Thank you. Though it was almost fifteen years ago now. It's not something you need to worry about.'

She curiously noticed that he was walking a few inches apart of her, while not so long ago he was practically glued to her side.

'Robert, is something wrong?'

He cringed.

'I'm sorry. I suppose... I'm not even sure what to say. Are you happy, Belle?' he asked suddenly.

'Of course I am,' she said at once, wondering where all this was going. 'And even more happy now that I'm with you.'

He seemed to be breathing easier now.

'I'm glad,' he said so quietly that she barely heard, but he inched closer to her again and practically melted into her side, when she put an arm around his waist.

'I'm really happy,' Belle said again, grinning, a bit just in case, and a bit because she felt so happy she might burst without vocalizing it. 'I feel so grateful, for my dad, my friends, for my job that allows me to see the world, but right now I'm just so happy I've met you.′

It must have had an additional good effect, because Robert was cuddling to her so much that they started to have trouble with walking straight. Not that Belle minded.

Still, he was afraid of something earlier. For all his sweetness, her Robert seemed to have a lot of demons on his own. She hoped they would work with them well. She didn't like to see anyone in fear and pain, and about her family and friends she felt ten times more protective.

'I'm so happy I have met you too,' Robert murmured. 'It's still so scary, but...'

They sat down on the big stone, warm from the sun rays. Now they could cuddle all they wanted.

'It happened quickly, yes,' Belle admitted. 'But I hoped for it from the very first day at the festival. No one earlier made me feel so certain I want to try.'

'Even if it won't work.'

'Even then. Oh Robert, I know that sometimes it just doesn't work, yes. But I don't think it's the reason to not try. I had so many spectacular fails in my work. But it all still was so worth a try.'

'Fails? You?'

'Oh yeah. One time, I went to amazonian jungle with the best equipment the newspapers could buy. My boss, Gaston, agreed to invest a small fortune in them. It was all so meticulously organized, I had a guide that worked with us previously, no going blindly, it was supposed to be a three days in the jungle, under care of local Indian guides...'

Belle trailed off, amazed how much energy went into organizing this little trip.

'What happened?' Robert prompted whispering.

'On the last day anaconda ate our best camera.'

Robert gasped.

'Oh, we retrieved it. Indians hunted the snake down. But then they refused to give the camera back. And it looked crushed too. We lost two threes of a footage. It might have been the most expensive of all my trips, even that apartment in Dubai for one night to catch that investor for the interview wasn't this costly...'

'Belle, an anaconda!' Robert interrupted her.

'Yes?...'

'An anaconda!' now Robert was working himself up. 'You go to the jungle where anacondas attack?...'

'Hey, hey, it's okay, calm down,' Belle caught him by arms and pulled closer. He allowed her to embrace him. She stroke his hair. 'Yes, Robert, I'm traveling to places that are moderately dangerous. It also is worth it. It's the price for seeing and living through things I always dreamed of. I wouldn't change it if someone paid me million dollars for it. But believe me, I'm not taking stupid, avoidable risks. Believe me, I'm smarter than that. I'm awfully curious, yes, and impulsive, but I'm doing this work for some time now, I've learned how to do it responsibly. And don't you think that there are many dangers right here, amongst us? So many people die in car crashes, for example. And yet, we are still using cars.'

Belle felt Robert relax, but more exactly, he sagged against her, hiding his face on her shoulder.

'Robert? Are you alright?'

'Aye,' he murmured. 'Aye, of course.' He straightened a bit and took deep breath, but didn't break the embrace. 'I'm not as brave as you and... I would hate it if something happened to you. It's scary enough to think that something could happen here, but places like amazonian jungle... Though to be honest, it doesn't matter where, you are right. Right here in Scotland is just as dangerous. And you at least are so happy when you travel.'

'Yes, I am. Though I didn't really mean that Scotland is dangerous. Just that my travels are not really that dangerous.'

'Still, I would ask you to promise me to be careful and come back okay... But it's fine, I know it's not something you can promise.'

He said it with heartbreaking undertone suggesting that he was preparing himself for the case when Belle doesn't come back.

'I can promise to be careful and not take any unnecessarily risks.'

'It's almost as good. I'm just terrible at not being afraid, I'm sorry. I don't want to pressure you...'

'Well, I'm not resigning from my travels, and I'd prefer to just work on assuring you that it's not as scary as it may seems. My father was worried at first too. Over time, he learned to trust me to take care of myself. Now he can't wait to hear stories and see pictures from my newest trips.'

'It would be good,' Robert agreed with a small smile. 'I'd gladly see more pictures than just Venice.'

'You'll see as much as you want,' Belle beamed. It would probably be too early to suggest they travel together from time to time, but who knows. Having a taste how it is like for real might be good for him, not to mention the sheer fun they could have.

They went on to the ruins after a good fifteen minutes of snuggling together in the warm sun.

'It was a chapel once,' Robert said. 'And before that, this island was a place of Celtic rituals. The Kirk wanted to establish its own presence here. Then it was destroyed in... in a big fire shortly before prince Bonnie Charlie was defeated at Culloden. But as the legend says, a hundred years later a group of rouges made this place their hidden base. Many people looked for a treasure on the island, but to no avail.'

'Wow! Did you too?'

'No, not really.'

'Even as a kid?'

Robert shook his head and looked at Belle sadly.

'My aunties wouldn't let me. And with that leg, I wouldn't be of much use in treasure hunting.'

Belle frowned.

'Your leg? You mean that it's such an old injury?...'

Robert flushed.

'Yes, even older,' he said quickly and rather coldly, not looking at Belle. 'It's no matter.'

'Oh, okay...' Belle reached for his hand. 'It's fine, you can tell me later.'

He nodded, but didn't look convinced.

'Much later,' Belle amended. 'But maybe you'll tell me something about your aunties?'

'I'm sorry, Belle. It's... it's making me uncomfortable.' He accented the words as if he asked her if he said it okay, so Belle nodded. 'And my aunties... well, I moved to Crathie to live with them when I was eleven. Before that I lived in Glasgow with my parents. My father worked in the docks, my mother was a waitress in some small pub. I suppose I am still a Lowlander in heart, even aside all the... misunderstandings with the village people. But I love the hills here, the legends. They're somewhat better than plain reality,' he smiled ruefully. 'Aunties taught me a lot about the lore. I loved hearing these stories. Then they died too, it was... about the time when I finished high school. I took over the workshop. I was meant to anyway, they were planning a retirement...'

'So your parents died when you were a child,' Belle said softly, caressing his hand.

'Well... my mom did. My father... I actually lived a year with him before he dropped me here. I don't know what happened to him then. He wasn't... really cut out for the job.'

Belle couldn't help but embrace him tightly then.

'Than you for telling me this,' she said into his ear.

'Well, you told me about your family too...'

She kissed him on the cheek.

'All the same, thank you.'

'I guess I should be grateful that I can tell someone about this,' Robert said in a more somber tone. 'It's not the kind of story I would want to tell Bae. He knows only the most necessary basics...'

'Oh. And I bet he asks about your family?'

'I guess he learned to not ask too much. He knows a lot more about aunties though, especially when there are so many of their things in the house, including various items they made for the annual festival, they initiated it in fact. But I can't very well tell him that his grandfather was a con man and a gambler. Or that he demanded my mom to give him money and shouted until she obeyed, calling her vile things... though no physical violence, never. He was kind of dependent on her when things were bad, but posed as an absolute ruler when things were good, well, good for him. Then he was promising her wonders but never delivered, treated her like a mascot. He also has no problem with going to the strip club, though he might have believed she didn't know that, I'm not sure.'

'But you knew?' Belle whispered. Robert coughed, looking away.

'I did. She told me.'

'What?...' Belle expected rather that he found out by himself, following his father or something. But why would his mother...

'It somewhat... slipped in the conversation,' he said quickly. 'Anyway, my father is not someone I would want Bae to know too much about. The last word I had from him was when aunties died, he wanted money, but aunties didn't have much cash. He took some of their jewelery, the pieces I didn't manage to hide and he left.'

'What an ass!' Belle huffed. Robert actually chuckled.

'Yes, he was. I hope he's happy enough wherever he is to not come here anymore.'

Now Belle chuckled, because it surely was a very pragmatic look at the matter. But also heartbreaking, especially when Robert didn't actually wish his father anything bad.

'It's good you could live with your aunties then,' she said.

'Yes. They were very good for me...' His voice wavered and Belle hugged him close. 'I... I so regret that at the end I wasn't there for them as much as I should. I was still at school, lived in the dorm. When auntie Mary fell ill it didn't seem so serious. I would come home if it did, really.' She hugged him even closer to show him, that she believe him. 'But all the same auntie Mary quickly became bedridden. And auntie Flora had to care for her. I... I should have been there.'

'Sweetheart, it's okay. It always seems like we should have done more for our loved ones.'

He shook his head.

'I know that. And I still should have been there. She died so quick, I wasn't there. I was just returning, I just finished the school and then I learned that she died.'

Belle cooed and held him close, because what else was there to do?

'Auntie Flora... she told me that I left her alone with her sick sister,' Robert whispered. 'I could see how scary it was for her, how terrible, how hard. I was even... relieved for her that... that she doesn't have to do it anymore. She could care for anyone, but her own sister... I don't know how I didn't expect she would follow her soon. I wish they were here. I would help them. I would tell them how important they are. I don't know how, but I would try to do better. Though I don't think I would know what to tell auntie Flora... She was hurting so much when auntie Mary died.'

'Sometimes we just can't do enough,' Belle whispered. 'It's not your fault.'

That must have hit something, two tears rolled down Robert's cheeks.

'Oh, sweetheart,' Belle cooed. 'You did all you could, I'm sure.'

'You weren't there,' Robert said in a hollow voice. 'You can't know.'

'But I know you now. Of course you did everything you could. I'm sorry that your aunties needed more. It is terrible, but it's not your fault.'

Robert hugged her closer now, hiding his face on her shoulder.

'Okay, Belle, okay. I'm so grateful that you're here... Do you really not mind hearing all this? We should have fun right now.'

'I don't. It's... it's somewhat magical to get to know other person like that. To know you trust me and need me enough to tell me this. It's... I never felt like that. I want it, and I want to help you,' she wondered for a moment. 'As much as it's possible,' she clarified, thinking of what she told him earlier. 'And I trust you to do the same for me if I would need it.'

He stiffened a little in her arms, taking sharp breath.

'But not now, Robert,' she added quickly. 'I know that right now you just told me so many things that are very hard for you. Say, maybe just let's sit down over there? I have food.'

Robert chuckled.

'How could I say no to food?'

TBC.