"I'm really glad you agreed to go on this date belle… Grace loves you, she goes on and on about her teacher's assistant the most beautiful woman in all of Storybrooke and the enchanted forest combined." They walked through the edges of town in the dim lit night. Close but not touching.
Belle smiled at his words her cheeks darkening. She was glad she'd decided to come along after all. She did think about calling Mr. Gold and running back to him but she thought back to all that had taken place in the last couple weeks and her heart sank. She couldn't be near the man who'd almost killed her father or Regina…or half the town. She turned to look at the other man.
He was handsome.
Maybe this wasn't technically a date, Jefferson asked her basically to appease his daughter but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate the sight of him and enjoy a romantic dinner. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and suppressed the urge to sigh.
He didn't look at her like Rumple did….she doubted any one ever would, but truth be told It didn't matter because if he was going to ruin people's lives, she wouldn't stand by his side and idly watch. She couldn't, that just wasn't the girl who bravely gave up everything she had for her village. It just wasn't her. A single question crossed her mind tirelessly since she left him.' Was she really giving up on Rumple's redemption?'
A shot of pain burst through her chest. Maybe the love he had for her wasn't enough…maybe he wasn't lying about choosing power over her, she thought sadly. Maybe.
She was just weary of the constant mood swings, the calm sweet man and the sly conniving imp all in one package. Did she still even know the man after all that time?
"Thinking of the beast?" Jefferson's voice cut through her thoughts. They were almost to his pawn shop, they should turn around soon she thought.
She blushed and he smiled at her charmingly for someone thought to be mad. It was infectious and soon she felt one split in her face.
"Y-yes. I'm sorry." She said sheepishly.
"It's alright…I know what it feels like to want someone whose for all intense and purposes, evil." His smile broadened and he fell into step much closer than before.
Belle reddened at the closeness but in the chill night it created a welcomed heat.
"Do you think he…do you think he'll change?"
"Mr. Gold …no."
Her smile slipped of immediately and she took a steadying breath. He stopped his stride in front of the library and pointed upwards.
There was a mistletoe.
Her eyes showed confusion and Jefferson drew her near.
"Not without a good …" He looked across the street and shrugged…"Push."