Alrighty, so this is part one of a prompt that I got from 31halloweennight31 on tumblr. I've never even attempted writing anything like this before so we'll see how it goes. Happy reading and feedback would be fabulous *hint hint*.
Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or any of the characters.
It was one of those mornings.
Gold had managed to spill his first cup of coffee on his favorite tie. His hair would not stay flat no matter what he threatened it with. And to top it all off his left shoe was missing.
He had an early appointment today with what Ruby assured him was a high profile client that he would be very interested in working with. He found another pair of shoes, brown instead of black, picked out his next best tie and sat down at his breakfast table. His house was all quiet, his things and himself being the only residents of the place. The antiques he'd managed to procure cluttered up every shelf and table in the house except for his small square breakfast table. He flipped on the TV that sat on it and allowed himself a small smile.
"Good Morning Storybrooke." 7:15. Right on time, as always.
She knew the second her cup of coffee was splashed across her windshield that she should've stayed in bed that morning.
Belle groaned, remembering too late that she had set her usual morning cup of coffee on the roof of her car and forgotten to get it down before pulling out of the driveway. Her windshield wipers were just spreading the sticky mess over more of the windshield and she laid her forehead on the steering wheel.
It was one of those mornings.
"Come back to bed, Darling." A disoriented Gaston moaned from his place on their bed before she had even finished getting dressed that morning. He never had been a morning person.
"Can't. I have ten minutes to get to the studio and right after that we have to go see the planner."
"You know, Ruby is right. Vegas would be just as good." He mumbled and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Vegas is not exactly my ideal wedding spot." She smiled at his sleepy grin and tousled hair and shook her head. Marriage. She never thought it'd happen.
Belle nearly tripped as she put on her favorite red shoes and was out the door, knowing hair and makeup would be mostly covered by the crew at the studio. She walked out to her car, her bag, notes and several books in her hands. She set her coffee on top of the silver beast as she climbed in; cursing the day she let Gaston pick her car out for her.
'Books with Belle' had been nothing but a waste in Gaston's eyes. He didn't understand how anyone could watch a 15 minutes segment about something as boring as literature. The segment was bringing so much more business to the library though and Belle couldn't get enough of it. She had had enough trouble trying to fit into life here when they'd first moved to Storybrooke, but now, with the show and the library, she was really starting to feel like she was part of a community.
Mr. Gold knew it was ridiculous, but that didn't make him enjoy it any less. The blue eyed beauty stared at him through the television screen, holding up her latest discussion topic.
"This book is one of my particular favorites. Inkheart is a story set in a world not unlike our own, but it's filled with its own sort of magic. By reading aloud, certain people who are called 'silver tongues' are able to call fictional characters out into our world." Belle began; her voice equal parts reverence and enthusiasm.
He had been watching books with Belle every day since it started airing two months ago. It was a show with actual subject matter, unlike the rest of the too sweet cheery nonsense. Of course it had never been the subject matter that had drawn him to the show (though he liked to pretend it was). It was the hostess. He had never seen a woman more beautiful, more sure of herself (except for that little mishap with Romeo and Juliet) than this one.
Gold had never been one to believe in love, at least not when it came to himself personally. He did believe it was possible for others though. If anyone could have a fairytale love story, it was that girl.
After she had gotten to the studio and finished her segment she was back in the car and off to Storybrooke Wedding Planners Co. Hoping that they could solve the problem that had been plaguing her for the last few weeks.
"You're late Mr. Gold." Scolded the ever observant receptionist at the front desk.
"I am aware, Dearie. Is my client here yet?" He nearly hissed. Honestly he didn't even know why they kept this girl on. She gave him nothing but trouble.
"Potential client. And no, she hasn't arrived. Lucky for you." Ruby said with a glare.
"Not luck, just great timing." He said, rushing through the front lobby and down the hall to his office.
"Whatever you say." She mumbled to the air as he left.
He was behind his desk and looking professional with just seconds to spare as Ruby led the newest bride-to-be and her groom into her office.
"Hello there, Dearie. I-" He paused, his eyes lighting up as she entered the room, her brown hair cascading down her shoulders. Her fiancé quickly followed and the light went out. Mr. Gold put that smirk on his face and looked at the pair with dark eyes. He didn't feel anything. He kept telling himself that he didn't feel anything. But then she spoke.
"Good morning. Sorry I'm late." She said in that beautiful accent of hers and he knew that he would have to turn down the job. She took a seat in the chair across from his desk and gave him a warm smile. The same she gave to the camera every morning on her show. He could feel his hands began to tremble and laced his fingers together on his desk, attempting to steady them.
"Good morning. I am Mister Gold. Yes, I do have a first name but this is how I prefer to be addressed. I am here to create the wedding of your dreams, not be a pillar of support or your new best friend. Now that we're clear on that, why did they send you to me?" He began with his standard opening.
"Pardon?" She said with a quirk of her brow. Her fiancée was just about to open his mouth when Gold began speaking again.
"They only send me the difficult cases, marriages that need to be done well and done quickly, or the unusual ones. Because I am the most skilled at handling it. So why are you here?"
"How dare you-" Her fiancé began and she put a hand on his arm.
"It's all right. I don't expect you to make friends with me. I would like us to operate on a mutual respect for each other though. My name is Belle French, this is my fiancé Gaston. They said you could get us the wedding we wanted within our six week time frame."
"Six weeks? That's an awfully rushed engagement, don't you think, Dearie?" He glanced up at her with knowing eyes and Belle tried not to take offense. He didn't know her reasons, he couldn't.
"Not at all." She smiled at him.
"So can you do it or not?" Gaston asked rudely.
"I can."