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Chapter 1

Belle wasn't sure how the evening would turn out in the beginning after hearing Neal asked to come over for dinner as a way to fully be better acquainted with her. They had met before but it was Lacey and that was an experience she would soon forget bit she had hoped her step son had not thought she was some kind of trouble making gold digger. Luckily though after the events of Neverland, things became more at ease in Storybrooke where the Charmings begun to deal with their internal problems on their own leaving her and Rumple more time to be alone without the possibility of being interrupted and Neal began spending time with Henry (and at times Emma) leaving Emma with time to have dates with Hook although him and Neal were still fighting over her affections but not to the point where swords have to be drawn out in the middle of main street. For tonight, Belle wanted to make the best impression on Neal partially because she wanted to help the situation no longer be awkward between him and Rumple but also she hoped he would accept her in her life as well. This left Belle while getting ready a nervous wreck as she tried to find her favorite navy blue pumps matching her turtleneck dress that went up to her knees with a black belt. Rumple could not help but enjoy seeing how his true love who was always cool as a cucumber becoming a frantic over trying to look as nice as possible in front of his son. He loved Belle incredibly that he still was not sure how it was possible for them to be at this point in their lives when only a few weeks ago, they were saying goodbye to each other on the Storybrooke docks as he went off to Neverland expecting to die.

"Try looking on the shoebox under the dresser" Rumple pointed to their wardrobe on the far left of the bed in giving a little purple light onto the second bottom drawer in which Belle opened it to find the shoes she was looking for.

"Thank you, if it's not a book then I am not sure where anything is at" Belle continued to act nervous putting her shoes on as Rumple went over to her holding onto as tightly as he could giving her a chaste kiss.

"It will be fine, Bae is not going to have a problem with you because of your footwear."

Hoping to set her at ease left her she saw his smile giving her the ability to believe him when normally their situations were the ones in reverse. "I want tonight to be a good start for the both you, after all that has happened there is a lot of work to be covered and if there is anything I can do to help then let me know" Rumple could see how hopeful Belle began to be as they started to hug and went downstairs.

Dinner was going off without any problems, Neal had not yet set foot into the salmon estate so he and Belle were basically exploring around as he began to see the trinkets and style were almost as they were in the drawings he saw of the Dark Castle in Henry's book. They all were able to chat about basically anything that came to mind as Neal started to explain to them how the outsider world viewed their persona leaving Rumple become shocked a few times over the idea that he is considered furry with horns rather than his infamous scales and grotesque teeth. Belle began to laugh as she started to explain the play Peter Pan from what she heard in Emma's words he is was literally a silly crocodile who would stalk Captain Hook to the point where Hook was afraid of his own shadow. Despite hearing Pan was the hero, that piece of information left both Rumple and Neal chuckling as they both had at least one realization where despite all the pirate has done for them in Neverland, he was still not a favorite person of theirs.

Later they started to have some wine in the sitting room which Neal could not help but feel a little jealous over his father as he saw how close he and Belle were. They were sitting so close together not able to keep their eyes off each other which reminded him of a time when Emma would look at him this way. He knew there may have been a long way to repair the damage he has done to Emma but it still heart to see how she would react differently to him in contrast on how she was with Hook. It still made him happy to see how happy they were and in some way gave him hope there might be a future with him and Emma if someone like his father could find someone. Their night of enjoyment became interrupted as a phone began to ring. Neal check to see if it was his but the tune of Human Again rang loudly in the background leaving Belle jumping out of the couch to pick it up much to her horror.

A few seconds later Belle came back to the room being annoyed but worried Rumple might have to kill whoever called him. "So sorry but Ruby had another fight with Victor so Ariel and I have to go help her cheer up for a little bit" This was not how she wanted to spend the night and every instinct told her to just make up some excuse as she could."

"Can Snow or Emma help her out?" Neal knew the dates of his father and Belle being interrupted were infamous gossip and tried his best not to laugh that he was witnessing one with the reactions he would have never expected.

"Unfortunately Ariel and I are better informed of the situation with Victor plus she is on her way to the apartment and I have the keys. It will only be for a few hours, really really sorry to be leaving" she went to get her coat as the two men got up to see her off. She gave Rumple a kiss on the cheek followed by handshake to Neal as he decided to give her a hug instead.

"It was great seeing you again Belle, I hope we can do this again sometime"

"I hope so as well, don't you two destroy anything until I get back" Belle closed the door behind them and went off smiling at the thought the evening went off as better than she hoped minus the slight interruption.

The two men went back and both were now more at ease being in the same room together than before but Neal was not in any hurry to leave yet as Rumplestiltskin was not in the mood to go see what Belle was up to.

"How much does she know about all the stuff you've done?" this comment was not implausible to assume as Rumplestiltskin tried to think of the best way to say answer without it becoming like a case to be send off to a mental institution.

"She know everything, her first week with me she had to help me clean up the blood of a thief I was punishing. Her ability to stand up to me knowing what I can do was something that still leaves me to wonder how she loves me." He went back to his case where he kept the chipped cup and handed a pouch to Neal asking if he could open it. Neal was confused as what his father was up to as he took the pouch and found a small white box which he opened to find a gold ring with a medium sized diamond shaped into a heart with little blue sapphires surrounding the sides.

"So when is the big day?"

"As soon as I decide to figure out a way to propose" Rumplestiltskin took the ring box away from Neal caressing the diamond tip as he imagined how it would look on Belle's finger not remember he had an audience.

"You can always try the ring in the champagne trick in a secluded corner at a high end restaurant." The mention of champagne made him think about their date as Lacey where all he could do was try to avoid that mess as much as possible.

"I want to do something special, this is something I had hoped to always get right and with Belle I want to be just perfect" Neal could see the pain in his father's eyes as he felt nervous in helping him with this sort of thing but wanted to him to be happy.

"The best I can suggest is that if you want it to be perfect with Belle, is to make sure there will not be any interruptions and have some time alone together just enjoying each other's company" Never had he thought as he live would Neal have to give his father romantic advise considering his own problems but he was starting to see for the first time how much in common he and his father have in terms on how they view the world. They both hugged each other and began to spend the remainder of the evening in each other company.

Belle came back around 11:30 as Rumplestiltskin was in the living room reading as he waited up for her. She then took off her coat and shoes and plopped in the couch to him as they decided to hold each other helping her to relax.

"How is the wolf girl doing?" he started to massage her scalp as she started to rest her eyes.

"Still heartbroken but I think they might patch up by tomorrow at most. She thought she was being inconsiderate in letting us help her but I tried to explain to her it's what friends do so I insisted she stay the night at the apartment and Ariel decided to keep her company afterwards. How was your bonding time with Neal?"

"It's a start, but at least we both admitted that it something we are going to try fixing."

Belle stared at him giving him of sympathy as she put her hand on his cheek caressing him "I'm glad, we will become a family again Rumple continue to remember that". He bent down to kiss her this time passionately as she grabbed his neck to pull him closer to her. He then moved to have her lying on the couch as their mouth began to explore one another.

"I was thinking we can go to the cabin tomorrow. The snow is starting to rise up, with no phone signals" he began nuzzling her neck as Belle started to unbutton his shirt trying to listen but at the same time too distracted to care.

"Will you put the barriers up in case everyone starts to look for us?" he held him up as she started to kiss the nape of his neck as her fingers began exploring his chest happy to hear he was moaning as she touched him.

"Consider the barriers already placed we'll leave first thing in the morning" he then kissed her hands as she got up and started to leave

"Well aren't you coming upstairs" Belle gave a seductive look as she started to go the stairs acting as innocent as ever knowing Rumplestiltskin was just behind her.