Prompt: AU! Mr. Gold has a crush on the pizza delivery girl, Belle.

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Belle rubbed away frustrated tears as she eased the dying pizza delivery car into French Bread's parking lot. She was cold, humiliated, and wanting nothing more than a hot bath and enough leftover pizza to make her forget Mr. Gold for the night.

She wanted to be angry at him but she knew that he hadn't been trying to insult her social status. He was simply pointing out that her car was about to give out and that she should replace it, nothing else. But it still made her notice their differences and she knew he must have seen them as well.

With some difficulty she managed to turn into the parking lot of French Bread's where her dim headlights landed on her co-workers Jefferson and Will Scarlet, there arms loaded with pizza boxes and insulation bags.

"Hey Belle!" Will called out, "You're not going to believe what…" He paused when he saw the lifelessness on her face. "You okay?"

Belle managed a strainless smile. "Yeah just…the car's acting up again. It's embarrassing."

Jefferson smacked his lips and leaned against the car. "I think we just need to shoot her and put her out of her misery."

Belle scoffed tiredly and leaned against the hood of the car. "You find us another car; I'll supply the bullets."

"Save your bullets for later." Will said. "We got a huge order coming in Belle."

Belle perked up. Good news at last.

"From who?"

"You know how the mayor has one of those benefit…balls…rich people things every month?"

"Rich people." Belle muttered bitterly.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Doesn't she usually order from Granny's for those things?"

Jefferson smirked like he had just gotten away with murder. "Well Granny-dearest just happened to run out of lasagna tonight so BOOM!" he gestured to the tower of pizzas. "Casual Friday Pizza Night!"

"That's great." Belle rejoiced. Things were finally turning around. "Let's load these up and…" Belle paused as the car under began to tremor, steadily at first and then violently enough that Belle was forced to jump off.

Jefferson wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her away, Will beside him.

"It's okay Belle, it always does that."

Suddenly, the hood flew up and spat out acidic-smelling flames.

"It always does that too."

Belle jerked from his arms and ran to the back door and screamed for Merlin.

In less than ten seconds, she, Merlin and Will were siccing fire extinguishers on the enflamed car. Jefferson remained in a daze and no one bothered to slap him out of it.

Finally, the fire was out, but the car, the very thing her livelihood relied on, was a pile of burnt metal and rubber.

Belle looked around at her co-workers, then at the stack of pizzas, then at the car, then at her co-workers again.

"W-where's dad?" She trembled.

"Boston." Merlin husked. "Looking at new pizza ovens."

Belle nodded, pacing off the shock and smell of burnt metal. She looked at the guys. Merlin was already on his cellphone calling the sheriff or Moe. Will was moving the pizzas back into to the restaurant to keep them warm just a little longer. Jefferson was still rooted, watching the smoke with a spectacular sense of awe.

"Jefferson." Belle sighed. "Come on, snap out of it." She put her hand on his arm and gently shook him. "Please Jeff, I need all the help I can get right now."

Jefferson's hand glazed her, soothing over her fingers and sliding to her wrist. His shocked expression changed to one of confusion and he looked down at her.

"Belle, who's jacket are you wearing?"

All the panic and shock in Belle's mind froze. She now could notice the jacket around he was satisfyingly warm despite how she was trembling, how if she turned her head to the collar she could smell the rustic scent of his cologne. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head in pleasure.

And then realization kicked in.

She had hightailed in out of Mr. Gold's so fast that she hadn't given him back his jacket.

And subsequently caused the pizza delivery car to give out.

"Mr. Gold." Belle gasped.

Jefferson eased away from her, looking her over as her hands subconsciously played with the lapels, her eyes turning back to the smoking car. He followed her stare and then looked back at her. And then the jacket. Then the car again.

"Oh God." Jefferson gasped.

"Now what?" Will stepped in.

Jefferson pointed a trembling finger at Belle.

"You…Gold…"

Will looked at Belle and finally noticed the foreign clothing on her frame.

"Oh my God you slept with Gold and took his jacket!"

"N-no!" Belle yelled. "I did not sleep with Mr. Gold!"

Merlin appeared beside her. "You slept with Gold?"

"No she didn't sleep with Gold damn it!" Jefferson yelled. He threw his arms out to the singed car. "She killed him, stuffed his body in the trunk and set the car alight to destroy the evidence!"

"…What the Hell Jefferson!" Belle shrieked.

"Oh Belle come on." Will exclaimed, "You didn't have to destroy the car. We would have helped you bury the body. Damn!"

Belle threw her arms up in the air and stalked to Merlin who looked as exasperated as she.

"We'll have to light it again!" Jefferson reasoned. "The fire didn't spread to the back; the body didn't burn. Someone find me a damn gas can!"

"Shouldn't we burn the jacket?" Will inquired.

"Right! But empty the pockets first! There might be candy!" He grabbed Will and the two ran to the back of the restaurant.

Belle felt like curling up on the ground and screaming. Her co-workers had lost their shit, her father was across the state, and she had a stack of pizzas that were cooling and a high-maintenance mayor who would surely ruin their business after tonight.

She was done. French Bread was done. If Gold didn't think she was nothing before he surely would now.

Before she could start wailing, Sheriff Graham's police car and a firetruck eased down the street toward the restaurant. Just as it was about to turn, a black Cadillac cut it off and sped into the parking lot.

Belle of course recognized the vehicle and froze on spot.

Mr. Gold jumped out of the car, sparing a glance at the emergency personnel but focusing on the burnt pile of metal that Belle had been driving just an hour ago.

Horror filled his gut and he nearly threw up from relief when he saw her across the way, looking unbelievably small and unharmed in his jacket.

"Belle!"

Belle shot around to run into the restaurant but Merlin stopped her, forcing her back around.

"Be brave Belle." He whispered, nudging her ahead so that he could deal with the fire department.

She stumbled and stopped as he limped to her, having left his cane in the car. She was certain he was going to rip his coat off of her and accuse her of being a thief, maybe even motion Sheriff Graham over to have her arrested.

"Mr. Gold, I-"

Mr. Gold dove down on her, wrapping his arms around her frigid frame and squeezing her as if he were never going to see her again.

When he had seen an unusual amount of smoke above French Bread's and then firetruck heading towards it, he truly believed he wouldn't. All he could think of was how she had ran from his yard, how he had made her feel embarrassed over her car and how that could be her final impression of him.

Now she was in his arms and he was never going to make her feel ashamed about anything ever again.

Belle slowly melted into his embrace. Months of scenarios about their first physical display of affection were so insignificant compared to now. He was holding her so close they could almost weld together, whispering apologies into her hair (which she was probably sure smelled of burnt oil but he did not seem to care one damn bit) and making her feel so alive.

Mr. Gold pulled back, trailing his fingers over her cold face. "Belle, I'm…I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did about your car. I shouldn't have embarrassed you like that."

Belle shook her head, her whole body humming with unabridged happiness. "It wasn't the car. I just thought that…I was worried you saw me as less because of my station. I thought maybe you were out of my league."

Mr. Gold scoffed. "If anything you're too good for me. You have so much life and love to give, and it's all a waste for someone like me."

"Don't ever say that." Belle scolded. "You nearly tore our restaurant apart over your child. I don't know of many people who would do that." she ran a finger down the edge of his tie. "You're one of the best people I've ever met."

Mr. Gold smiled. They could have had this talk months ago and prevented an explosion or two, but he wouldn't trade this moment for the most elaborate of scenarios.

Later, when this was all over, he'd apologize more properly over dinner, but for now they had this moment and that was all he needed.

The sound of a throat clearing broke the romantic couple from their daze. Merlin, who had borne witness to their testimony, looked amused but also heavily stressed.

"This beautiful and I want full details over drinks later, but we still have 30 plus pizzas and no way to deliver them so we could really use a plan right now."

Belle immediately snapped back into panic-mode. She had zero clue what to do. Everyone lived within walking distance and left their cars at home. Even if they carried them the three miles to the mayor's house, the pizzas would be stone-cold and their reputation would be annihilated.

"30 pizzas you say?" Gold spoke up. "I've carried twice that much in my son's soccer balls. Start loading them up in my car."

"What?" Belle and Merlin exclaimed.

"I shouldn't have let you drive off in that thing, Belle. I'm going to help you get through tonight." He smiled. "And also, I've dealt with the mayor during her moods on several occasions. You may need me to coerce her to hand over the check."

Belle nodded and, since Will and Jefferson were still on their quest, she, Gold, and Merlin began to strap pizzas down in the trunk.

"You want me to ride along?" Merlin inquired, waving off the fire trucks.

"You should probably be here to talk Jefferson out of being an accessory to murder."

Merlin nodded and embraced Belle in a final hug.

"Thank you." Belle whispered to him.

"You better come back with dinner plans." He replied with a nod at Gold. He released her and closed the door as she settled into the Cadillac, waving them off as they sped to the mayor's mansion.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

They made it to the mayor's mansion in record timing, Belle jumping out of the car while Mr. Gold unlocked the trunk.

She had her hand poised to knock when the door swung open and revealed a very displeased mayor.

"You were supposed to be here 30 minutes ago! My guests are starving."

Belle gulped and readied for the rest of the lashing.

"My apologies Madame Major, there were some…unforeseeable obstacles."

"Life is full of unforeseeable obstacles, Miss French, and I won't be…" the major paused when Gold came limping up the stairs, his arms full of pizza boxes.

She smirked then, mischief flashing in her dark eyes.

"Mr. Gold, I didn't realize you had taken up a side job as a pizza delivery boy. The economy's not that bad off is it?"

Mr. Gold gave her a condescending look while Belle skirted back to the car for the rest of the pizzas.

"Or is this your idea of a date?" The mayor teased. "You certainly could have done better."

"Regina," Mr. Gold growled, making sure Belle was still occupied before he continued, "if you dare try to embarrass Miss French over this mishap, I promise you the only thing you will ever be able to order in this town again will be a cup of coffee from the gas station."

The mayor's smirk dimmed at threat, but her spark for mischief reignited when Belle hustled up the stairs with the rest of the pizzas.

She looked shyly at Mr. Gold and then at the mayor. "Your receipt, Madam Mayor."

The mayor grinned like she was about to hatch an evil plan. "Miss French, do your really expect me to pay you for tardiness?"

Belle bristled. "I apologize again Madame Mayor, but as I said there were some unforeseeable obstacles and-"

"Perhaps," the mayor interrupted, "if you had spent more time focusing on your customers instead of…" she looked Gold over with a gloating sneer, "whatever he is to you, then those obstacles wouldn't be so unanticipated, now would they?"

Belle did not appreciate being talked down to like an imbecile but held her tongue in hopes her silence may render the mayor's mercy.

She looked at Gold, her eyes pleading. You said you could help me.

Instead, Mr. Gold was looking past the mayor into her home where her elaborate partiers mingled about.

Belle's stomach dropped. Did he wish to be in there instead of with her? Was he going to leave her on the porch with 30 unpaid pizzas which she would probably have to carry all the way back (because Gold would not lend his car to someone who had set her own on fire just an hour ago)?

Just as Belle was about to demand an explanation from him, Mr. Gold's entire face lit up and he stepped more into the mayor's doorway.

"Mal! Could that be you?"

A tall striking blond who had been sipping a drink by the staircase looked up, glowing at the site of Gold.

"Goldie Locks, what a treat!" She pushed past the mayor and kissed Gold's cheek. Her eyes instantly fell on Belle and the young girl flushed under her relentless gaze. "And who's this lovely dish?"

Belle shrunk back but found Mr. Gold's arm stalling her plans to dash.

"This is Belle of French Bread's Pizza. She had some car trouble this evening and I was assisting her with her deliveries." He motioned to the massive stack of pizzas.

Mal's eyes lit up and she launched at one of the boxes.

"Finally! I'm famished." She bit into a slice of Hawaiian pizza and moaned so vocally that Belle blushed.

Mal grabbed a couple of boxes and headed inside. "Bring her around more often Goldie Locks." She bumped the mayor with her hips. "Regina, pay the woman and come back inside."

The mayor's face heated crimson as Mal called for assistance for the rest of the pizzas.

"I believe," Mr. Gold leaned over the crumpled receipt in the mayor's hand, "that the total is…" he clucked his tongue repeatedly as he read the paper, "$272 for 32 pizzas, plus the $15 delivery fee…" he clucked his tongue again and the mayor's glare intensified.

"Just round it to $350. The lady deserves a nice tip."

His straight stance had a finalizing air, and the mayor hissed an unprofessional curse and snapped around to grab her checkbook from the mudroom. She was back in a minute and shoved the check into Belle's hands, slamming the door without a ta-ta.

Belle stared at the check before turning her awe-struck gaze to Mr. Gold. He was smirking at the closed door, cockily proud with how things had played out.

He turned to Belle to congratulate her on a job well done when he saw the look on her face. Was she revolted by how he had handled the situation? He knew he may had been cold towards the Mayor but he thought he kept his harshness PG compared to how it could have been.

"Miss French," he hesitated, "I apologize if-" He found himself abruptly (and wonderfully) cut off by Miss French's lips searing into his, her hands tightly woven into his collar.

Three things went through Mr. Gold's mind as he relented into the kiss:

She tasted of garlic and the cold. It was all he ever wanted to taste.

Bae was going to have a field day when he told him about this.

Was this going to fast? Was she going to regret this when they came up for air?

Before any more thoughts could enter his oxygen-deprived head, Belle pulled away, staring into his eyes with a gleeful hunger.

"You were incredible!" she gasped, soothing out his collar. "You knew exactly what to say, how to move her! I was so scared you were going to just…" her eyes lowered shyly; she shook her head.

"I was wrong to doubt you."

Mr. Gold wanted to reassure her, tell her that any doubts or misconceptions she had of him were rightly placed if she deemed them so, but his lips were still tingling from her kiss.

"Oh no." Belle shuddered. "I'm sorry for kissing you. I just…you were…"

Mr. Gold reached out carefully and soothed the lapels of her coat. His coat. His coat that was not coated with her warmth and scent. Would it be wrong to feel like he had claimed her? Like he beat all the odds that were against him?

Before he allowed himself to chicken out, he leaned down and kissed her again, taking in her unique taste and grazing over her waist to keep her steady. Belle moaned against his lips, resting her hands on his arms.

A banging beside them caused them to jump apart. The mayor was glaring at them from her window.

Get off my porch! She mouthed before shutting the curtains.

Belle laughed good-naturedly. "I have a feeling she won't be doing much business after tonight."

"Her loss." Mr. Gold smiled, his fingers absently playing with one of her curls. Her eyes lowered in a blush and he wondered how someone as beautiful and loving could exist at the same time as him?

She deserved so much better, but here she was in his arms. He would make it up to her. Soon, tomorrow or the next day, he'd start fresh and take her somewhere nice, somewhere where, God willing, there was no pizza.

But for now, they had this moment, and he wanted to indulge it.

"Would you…" he coughed nervously, pulling back to allow them both some much-needed breathing room, "like to…um…get a bite to eat or…coffee?

Belle bit her lip in anticipation. She had waited for him to say those words for so long, abet in a more romantic setting and her in something that wasn't her work uniform, but considering the grotesque amount of chaos that went constantly reared its head in their lives, this was perfect.

"I happen to know a pizza parlor up the road that has subpar pizzas but a pretty great atmosphere." She suggested.

Mr. Gold laughed and Belle feared he wouldn't want to be seen in her dowdy business.

"I'll probably be having nightmares about pizza for the next week." He commented. He placed an arm gently around her waist and led her off the mayor's doorstep.

"There's a 24-hour gas station around the corner that sell's limited edition chips and acceptable cappuccinos. Care to partake?"

Belle leaned further into his embrace. "I would love nothing more."

He smiled and led her to the car.

"Oh wait!" Belle exclaimed. She rummaged through the pockets of his coat and pulled out his wallet. "Consider your next ten pizzas paid for." She shoved her hands into the pockets. "But I'm keeping this coat.

They got back in his Cadillac and drove away, one of the parties laughing at the others comment at how the car had a lingering smell of melted cheese in the seats. when they started to finally sell deserts.

He couldn't wait to tell his team, especially Belle. The additional businesses would allow him to hire an extra employee or two, meaning his girl could get some much-deserved days off for socializing. It would also mean he could get rid of the metal death trap she delivered pizzas in.

However, as Moe pulled into his beloved business and saw the car, the very car his daughter drove on a regular basis, all plans of the future halted just as his car did.

"Where's Belle!" Moe howled when he entered the shop.

Merlin looked up from his counting at the register. "She's fine Mr. French."

"But the car-"

"Exploded. But Belle found a way around it. She finished her deliveries and took the rest of the night off with Mr. Gold."

Moe French fell into one of the booths, sagging with relief.

"I'm too old to get frights like this." As soon as his heartrate leveled out, he replayed Merlin's words.

"Did you just say my daughter is out with the man who threatened to shut down my business?"

Merlin paused his counting. "…yes?"

Moe gaped at him.

"I've been gone for barely a day. What the Hell else happened?"

Merlin shook his head and stepped around the counter, throwing a brotherly arm around the dumb-struck man's shoulders.

"Come to the back Mr. French. I'll explain everything over that bottle of Merlot you have hidden behind the tomatoes."