I was so thrilled with the feedback for this story, so thank you! Here's another chapter prompted by Guestie and Twyla Mercedes, thank you both so much.

Twyla Mercedes- I'm glad you liked it, I loved your comment about his 'woobie heart'!

Guestie- I'm so happy people want to read more of this, thanks for the prompt Guestie!

Vikueen- Thanks for the comment, I loved the use of 'dearie'. I hope you like the new chapter.

Christinaisawesome- You're sooo sweet! I always love reading your comments. P.S. I'm in the middle of reading you're stories, love them!

Disclaimer: I don't own Once upon a time.

Both Belle and Gold had trouble going to sleep that night both staring endlessly into the blank ceiling. Neither one realized the silly smile on their face though if they knew they would surely stop. Gold of course would berate himself for hopelessly fancying one of the top singers in the country who couldn't never love him. While Belle similarly would remember how hadn't really wanted to come to her show. No doubt he only came for his son. She thought it was so sweet to see his care for his son, but at the same time she wished she had come to the see the band and had like her music. Nevertheless he hadn't. It was silly to think that he would change his mind about it too. She was going to have to live with the fact that Robert Gold didn't like her music. It wouldn't be as much as a big deal to her but she found she so badly wanted him to like her, and her music was such a big part of herself. If anyone looked deep into the lyrics she could be found there. She loved that music could be so emotion filled and layered. She imagined that love would be the same way; layered… a mystery to be uncovered. When she first saw Robert Gold she saw his outer armor of indifference but she saw how he threw it off when looking at his son. She wanted to know what made him so guarded, and what made him, him.

Belle awoke with a knock on her door. She moaned into the pillow at the sun streaming into the room. The clock in the room read 10:00 much to her distain.

"Mmm, who is it?" she ask groggily.

"Belle it already ten o' clock!" she could almost picture Ruby with her arms crossed outside her door. Her friend has always amazed Belle with her ability to stay up all night and wake up rested with only a few house of sleep. It had come in handy for puling all-nighters studying but now she made good use of it for after parties and midnight concerts. Belle wasn't as lucky. Belle, still in her pajamas, reached for the doorknob pulling open the door. Her friend was indeed standing in the hall with an irritated look on her face.

"You know this trip was supposed to be around relaxing and recharging." Belle told Ruby pointedly.

"Well you can't 'recharge' without breakfast which you missed by the way." However behind her back she pulled out a plate of Belle's favorite; pancakes. "Luckily being such a great friend that I am I saved you a plate." Belle gave her a large smile looking hungrily towards the plate of breakfast.

"Rubes you're the best!" Ruby flashed her a toothy smile.

"I know!" she smirked playfully. "And of course your syrup." Belle took both things out of her hands as she and Ruby walked back over to the bed where they both sat. Ruby watched her eat. Belle wolfed it down putting down her fork for the first time since getting the plate. She gave a small smile to Ruby who had her eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"What? I was hungry." She defended herself.

"I can see that." ruby said with a chuckle.

"Thank your grandmother for me," Belle told Ruby. "Not just for the breakfast, but for letting the band stay at her bed and breakfast."

"I will but I'm sure she wants to be thanking you. Our concert here has brought in so much business for the town, especially since…"she paused and gave her a worried look. Belle frowned.

"Since what, Ruby?" Ruby gave her an apologizing look.

"It was sort of leaked that were staying in Storybrooke for a while." She told her face slightly grimacing. Belle's eyes widened. She jumped out of bed. Her feet beginning to pace on the wooden floor. "Belle please come down, it was going to be on the internet sooner or later." Ruby knew how much Belle valued not only her privacy but the privacy of the whole band. She felt like she had dragged her friends into it and she didn't want to make them give that up.

"I know, I know it's just I thought we would have a little more time. I mean this was supposed to be a time away from everything." Belle started to go on and on worriedly. Ruby sighed wishing Belle wouldn't stress so much. She knew Belle felt responsible for all of them but that didn't mean they hadn't made their own choice. They knew what join the band would mean and cost. Everyone did what they had to because they loved playing together and making music.

"All this means Belle is that we have less time to find a more permanent secluded residence." Belle stopped and pointed at Ruby.

"You're right Ruby! We just need to find a large house to fit all of the band in the outskirts of the town. Perfect!" she said excitedly, but then frowned. "Who do we talk to about renting?" Ruby tilted her head and thought about it for a moment.

"Well when we were younger everyone went to Mr. Gold. He practically owns the whole town." She explained noting the shocked look on her friends face. "I think he still does."

"Mr. Gold." She repeated. Ruby looked at her curiously but nodded.

"Yeah. Hey wait it's that who you were talking to last night. You were pretty friendly. If I didn't know any better I would say someone had a crush."

"Ruby!" cried Belle. "I do not. I barely know him."

"Well that's good because if you did know him you would know he's a ruthless man with a lump of coal for a heart."

"I doubt he's that bad!" Belle defended. She almost mentioned that coal only needed a strong force to turn it into a diamond, but she didn't. "I bet he isn't bad at all. You don't truly no a person till you know what's in their heart. Which I doubt is coal."

"Maybe it's just three sizes too small." Ruby suggested. Belle let out a smirk.

"Ruby he's a normal human being like everybody else."

"You are too optimistic." Ruby accused with a shake of her head and a smile. Belle didn't argue with that there as worse things to be called. She started to get dressed deciding on what to wear. She pulled out a blue lace dress that had a brown belt and flared out a bit on the bottom. She pulled on heels. Ruby watched her with a frown. "Where are you going, Belle?"

"To talk to Mr. Gold," she said as if it was obvious. "You said he's who we need to talk to if we want to rent so that what I'm going to do."

"Didn't you say you had errands to run this morning?"

"Yeah I'll get those out of the way and then visit Mr. Gold right after," Belle told Ruby.

"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked.

"No that's okay I can it by myself."

"Good because I didn't want to go talk to him anyways!" Ruby and Belle laughed, though Belle tried to frown. She was secretly happy Ruby didn't want to come, she wanted to talk to Gold not just about house but she wanted to learn more about him.

oOo

Gold was going over the store's records in a notebook that laid on his glass counters. He had his pen in hand. All the records were perfect, clearly showing that no one had bought anything in over six months. It didn't matter to him though, the store was nothing more than a place to keep all the exquisite furniture and trinkets he couldn't help but buy. He remembered where he got them, the deal he had made, and the hours he spent restoring each and every one.

He didn't expect the bell above his door to ring around noon, so it was doubly surprising when she walked in. Belle's blue eyes were bright as wherever they looked they came upon beautiful objects. Her eyes went from a fantastical baby mobile of unicorns to a delicate blue tea set.

Gold watched her as she got lost in his shop, making him smile. Although once she started to turn her head towards him he veiled his face with mild indifference.

"You're shop is amazing." She said with her amazing Australian tone.

"Thank you, dearie," he said trying to keep her at a distance. Yes, dearie. That was a good way to remind himself that she would be no more than any other person. But she wasn't just like anyone else, he reminded himself. She was an angel. He was broken out of his conflicting thoughts as Belle spoke.

"The name is Belle," she said with a smirk. "Hope you haven't forgotten it already." He mouth upturned dryly.

"You'll have to excuse me, Ms. French. It happens with old age." She frowned. Oh great, he thought. He just reminded her of the considerable age gap between them. Even more he reminded himself, loathing himself more for liking her.

"You are not old." She stated boldly. She meant it too. Sure she had noticed he wasn't exactly her own age but he wasn't by far old. He seemed surprised so she quickly kept talking. "I actually came to talk about renting a property." She told him to his surprise. He quickly masked it with professionalism. "You see the band and I need a temporary residence on the outskirts of Storybrooke."

"Of course, Ms. French. I will go get you the binder of properties, you can look thorough them with the band members and tell me you guys decide." He told her. She smiled at his offer but frowned after he left her to grab the binder from the back room. She had hoped to spend more time with him, but it looked like he was going to hand her the papers and she would have to leave. Perhaps she could…

"Here it is Ms. French," Gold said coming out with a white three ring binder that she noted was quite big. "Every property that I own is in this binder. The available properties won't have a red check on top." She took it from him.

"Thank you." She told him and Mr. Gold had the urge to smile but he didn't.

"Of course, take all the time you need." He said sounding indifferent. However it didn't discourage Belle.

"Actually Mr. Gold I was wondering if you would look over them with me. It's just that I don't have any idea of the area around here." Gold looked at her nervously. He had hoped he could spare her of his affections for her. Spending more time with her would surely reveal them. Nevertheless he was powerless to miss the chance to help her. He knew that it was nothing more than her desire to get the best property she could, but he appreciate the opportunity to be with her.

"If that's what you would like." he said with nod. "In that case what time would be the most convenient for you?" uh how about right now! She wanted to shout at him. Why couldn't he see she wanted to get to know him?

"I took care of everything I had to do this morning." She hinted, hoping he would get the idea. "But I wouldn't want to put you out. Its lunch time and you probably want to eat…" she tried but he gave her a slightly puzzled look, his eyebrows partially furrowed. What she was trying to say, he thought. As a lawyer he knew how to tangle and decipher the things people said but for the life of him he had no idea what she was trying to get across.

"I was thinking about eating at Granny's," Belle said, now slightly rushed. "I heard she added hamburgers to the menu and that she makes a great one." She trailed off until his face had a semblance of recognition.

"Yes, she does." He breathed out. Did that-, did she-, he tried forming a coherent thought. Did she want him to join her for lunch? No she couldn't possibly, but it had sounded like… "Would you like to get lunch…with me?" he asked her. Once he had said it he felt a rush of nervousness.

Belle's eyes widened, and she broke out into a smile. Finally! He got it! She had worried for a second. She was about to say 'yes!' but he spoke up again.

"For business of course. To go over the properties." He assured her. Belle's smile slightly diminished. It wasn't exactly what she had hoped for, but she would seize the opportunity. She had lied to Ruby when she had said she didn't have a crush. She knew she did. He was so guarded to everyone, his mask of indifference always on. Belle recognized the loneliness in his eyes, ones that she had seen in her own mirror before the music and before the band. But she saw the laughter lines around his eyes and mouth, the love and adoration when he looked at him son, and she had seen the strength in him, a resilience. However as much as she could surmise by a simple observation she wanted to know more; who he really was. Maybe, just maybe she could break through his tough exterior and he would let her see the man he was underneath.

"I would love too." Belle told him with a smile, one that Robert Gold returned with the slightest of upturn on the corner of his mouth.

Thanks for reading and please keep up the prompts! Hope you liked it.