Thanks again for continuing to read this story. I'm having so much fun writing it, so I hope you're enjoying reading it too. Slightly shorter chapter this time - I had originally planned a longer one, but couldn't resist splitting it up and ending it at this particular point, so the rest will be posted in the next few days. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

As the late summer sun shone down on the busy streets of New York City Belle French stepped out of her office building, lunch box in hand, and made her way down the street towards Central Park. A last minute task courtesy of her boss had threatened to cut into her lunch plans and a quick glance at her watch told her that, despite Neal kindly offering to finish the task for her, she was still going to be late. She broke into a run, weaving carefully through the crowds. Why did New York always seem even busier when she was in a rush to get somewhere?

She finally reached the agreed meeting point to find that her lunch companion had already arrived.

'Sorry I'm late,' she said, trying to catch her breath as she sat down on the bench. 'I was just about to leave when my boss arrived at my desk with an urgent assignment.'

'No worries,' Dorothy replied as she leaned in for a hug. 'I thought your workload was supposed to be getting better?'

'That's what I thought too. But the big pre Christmas push is slowly winding up, and since they still haven't replaced everyone they got rid of over the summer it means extra work for us.'

'That sucks Belle. Is there nothing William can do about it?'

'I've asked him not to interfere. He only knows about the problem because of me. That would be giving me an unfair advantage because I'm in a relationship with the boss if he were to tell them to ease my workload.'

'What if he were to subtly start making enquiries into staffing issues?'

'Maybe… I don't know. We've managed to keep our relationship a secret for three months now. I don't want to risk it all because I'm a bit busier than usual,' Belle said, unwrapping her sandwich.

They caught up on the latest news as they ate, their weekly lunch dates having become something of a tradition since they had become friends five years prior, when Dorothy and Ruby had started dating. It had come as a lovely coincidence that Storybrooke Publishers was located only a couple of blocks away from the law firm where Dorothy worked and their lunch dates always provided a welcome break from their otherwise hectic lives.

However, on this occasion Belle noticed that Dorothy had barely touched her sandwich and seemed distracted and rather subdued throughout their conversation. She asked her what was wrong.

Dorothy sighed. 'I found out today that work will be transferring me up to Boston in November.'

'What?! For how long?'

'About six months. I guess as long as it takes to settle this case we've got up there. I knew it would happen at some point. When I took the job my contract stated that if I was ever needed in Boston I would go, but that doesn't make it any easier to handle when it actually happens,' Dorothy said. 'I haven't told Ruby yet. And I know how upset she'll be. We'd just started talking about moving in together and now…' She threw her hands up in defeat.

'Oh Dorothy, I'm sorry. And there's no way of getting out of it?'

'Not unless I quit my job.'

'Hm. I'm sure the time will fly by though, and Boston isn't that far away. You'll be back again for Christmas right?' Dorothy nodded. 'And maybe when you get back you and Ruby could move in together? It could be the start of a new chapter in your lives.'

'Maybe you're right.'

'And you know I'll look after her while you're gone,' Belle assured her.

'Thanks Belle.'

Belle wrapped her arm around Dorothy. 'And we're going to throw you the biggest party ever when you get back and before you leave.'

Dorothy chuckled, leaning into her friend's embrace. 'That'll be something to look forward to.'

'Exactly. It'll be ok. I promise.'

'I know. I'll be fine,' she said, trying to convince herself as much as Belle. 'Anyway, let's talk about something happier. How are things with William?'

Belle beamed. 'They're good. Great. He's so lovely. These last three months have been a perfect dream.'

'Has he sprung the L-word yet?'

'No, it's still too soon for that isn't it? Gaston didn't say it until we were six months in.'

'But that was Gaston and he was a dick,' Dorothy pointed out.

'That's true,' Belle giggled. 'Well, when did you and Ruby first say it to each other?'

'Probably around the time you're at now,' Dorothy said. 'But everyone is different. And it's entirely dependent on how you feel about each other and whether you feel ready yet. Do you think you might have those feelings?'

'I - I don't know. I guess I'm not really sure what it should feel like. I thought I was in love with Gaston and then that all went down the drain. I know that William makes me happy. He makes me feel safe and appreciated. It just feels right you know? How did you know you were in love with Ruby?'

'I don't know really. The feelings kind of crept up on me. I woke up one day, saw her lying next to me, and knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. And from that moment on I knew that I could never be happy with anyone else.'

'Were you not scared?'

'Fucking terrified. But that fear was nothing in comparison to the happiness I felt whenever we were together. And eventually I learned to say no to that fear, to squash it. I'm guessing that's what you're feeling right now?'

Belle nodded. If she was being honest with herself she was absolutely bloody petrified. Which was why she'd been trying not to think about her feelings or what the future could hold for them. Their relationship was perfect as it was at that moment. They spent almost every night together, they had fun, they talked and made each other laugh. But the further things went with William the further she'd have to fall if it didn't work out. She'd opened her heart before and it had left her a mess on the floor. And now these feelings were infinitely stronger. She didn't know if she could go through that again.

And if she acknowledged those feelings, let them escape into the world, it would make everything so much more real, more fragile somehow. Right now they were having fun and that was good enough, wasn't it? Why risk all they had together with declarations of love? Besides, how could she be sure he even felt the same way? What if he didn't? Then it would all have been for nothing.

Belle was letting fear rule her heart and she knew it. But, unlike Dorothy, she wasn't strong enough to squash that fear. Not yet anyway.

'Ruby can you get that?' Belle called from the kitchen a few nights later after hearing the front door bell ring.

'Sorry I'm late,' Neal said as Ruby opened the door.

'How can you be late? You live around the corner,' she commented. 'And what are you wearing?'

He was kitted out in fluorescent green sports gear, which was completely caked in mud and carried with it a rather pungent smell. 'I was playing soccer. I didn't have time to change, sorry.'

'You're gross. Did you at least bring the DVD?'

Neal pulled a DVD out of his rucksack and handed it to Ruby who got the TV set up for their movie night.

'Make yourself comfortable, the food has just arrived,' she said distractedly as she fiddled with the TV remote.

Neal dropped his bag by the front door and followed the smell of Indian take away into the kitchen where Belle was dishing up. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, enveloping her in a big hug.

'Ew, what is that smell!?' she whined, trying to escape his embrace.

'That is the scent of hard work and success,' Neal said proudly, pinching a piece of chicken from one of the plates.

Belle slapped his hand away. 'Your team won?'

'No, but we didn't lose so badly this time, which is as good as a win at this stage.'

'I'm happy for you, as long as you don't get mud all over the furniture.'

Neal rolled his eyes good-naturedly. 'I brought spare clothes. I'm gonna shower quickly.'

'Hurry!' she called after him.

'Yes mom!'

Belle took the plates through and once Neal had returned, thankfully smelling much fresher, the three of them made themselves comfortable with their dinner in front the TV where Lord of the Rings had just started. A firm favourite in the Lucas/French household.

Unfortunately the peace did not last long. Just as Frodo was offering to take the ring to Mordor Belle's phone rang. She checked the caller ID and motioned to Ruby that she wouldn't be long as she got up from the sofa.

'Hey William, how were the meetings?' they heard her say as she disappeared into her bedroom, door closing behind her.

Neal turned to Ruby, curiosity spiked. 'Who's William?'

'Belle's boyfriend.'

Boyfriend?! She hasn't mentioned a boyfriend to me, Neal thought to himself, trying to calm his suddenly racing heart and maintain a neutral expression. 'She's seeing someone?'

'Yup.'

'Is it serious?'

'Quite serious I think,' Ruby said, trying to maintain her patience despite the interruptions.

Oblivious to Ruby's frustrations, or simply too desperate for more information to care, he persisted. 'How long has it been going on?'

'About three months.'

'Three months?! Why didn't she tell me?' he asked, hurt evident in his tone. He thought he and Belle were supposed to be best friends. As her best friend he'd have expected her to share such a significant change in her life with him.

'I don't know Neal. Ask her.' Ruby sighed and paused the movie, getting up to refill her glass in the kitchen. She stopped by his chair and leaned down to whisper in his ear. 'You should have taken your chance when you had it.' She squeezed his shoulder affectionately and picked up his empty glass as she went.

Neal leaned back in his chair, losing himself in thought. Fuck. That was not at all news he had expected to hear and it threw him.

He eyed Belle as she came back into the room, but decided not to say anything just yet. He would work out what he wanted to say first and plan it all out. There might still be time to take his chance, if he was clever about it.

A couple of days later, a lazy Saturday morning, found Belle preparing a pot of coffee, humming to herself as she boiled the kettle. Gold was due back later that day and she couldn't wait to see him again. He'd been away all week on business in California, in what he hoped were final talks to sell Storybrooke Publishers. The negotiations had gone on for longer than he had anticipated, or liked, but it looked as though they might finally sign a contract that week.

Belle was excited by the possibility of the deal finally going through, not only because of the obvious fact that it meant that Gold would no longer be her boss, but also because these negotiations had meant a number of trips to California over the past three months and she hoped that by closing the deal he could spend more time with her in New York. She found she always missed him terribly while he was away.

As she was taking the cups of coffee over to the dining table she heard the front door open, signalling the return of Ruby with croissants and the morning newspapers. 'What took you so long? The coffee's ready.'

Belle looked up as Ruby rounded the corner into the kitchen area. Fear gripped her when she saw the grave expression on her housemate's face. 'What happened?'

'Before you get upset remember where this is coming from, ok?'

'Ruby what the hell are you talking about? You're scaring me.'

In response Ruby held up a magazine.

Belle gasped.

The colour drained from her face, coffee cups crashing to the ground.

On the front cover of the magazine a bold headline read 'On again, off again Hollywood romance back on again?' and was accompanied by two photographs. The first showed a man and a woman having lunch together. The man was very obviously Gold and according to the magazine the woman, who had her back to the camera, was famous Hollywood actress Cora Mills. No harm there. Just two people eating together. No, it was the second photo that caused the bile to rise up Belle's throat. The photo, although very blurry, depicted two people, allegedly the same two people, sharing a passionate kiss in the entranceway to that same restaurant.