Chapter Four: Breakfast

Belle was sitting on a barstool at the counter in Granny's diner eating her pancakes quietly while reading a chapter in the book she was currently fascinated with. She was too engulfed in the story to hear the bell ding and notice a tall dark headed man enter the diner and sit at a booth in the corner. He took out Moby Dick and started reading, while keeping a watchful eye on Belle at the counter. He did not notice Ruby coming up to greet him. "Why hello again handsome," said Ruby in a flirty tone as she bent down to put her elbows on the table, "did you find who you were looking for the other day?"

Hook sat his book down, "Yes, I did. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction."

Ruby leaned in a little closer, "Anytime sugar. Now is there anything I can get for you this morning?"

Hook was a little annoyed with her forwardness, but he brushed it off and ordered some eggs and bacon. A few minutes later she returned with his order and placed it in front of him. He sensed she was going to try to hang around some more, so he politely told her thank you and went back to reading so she would get the hint.

Ruby, disappointed, walked back behind the counter over to where Belle was sitting. "So how's it going with you Belle? Everything ok on the guy front?" she asked a little cautiously referring to Belle's and Mr. Gold's relationship. Ruby and Belle had grown to be good friends over the past few weeks, but she couldn't stand the fact Belle was seeing someone like him. However, she learned fast never to say negative things about it because Belle did not care what others thought, and wouldn't take critisism. Ruby cherished their friendship and she did not want to jeopordize it.

Belle set her book down and smiled, "Everything is wonderful Ruby! He took me out on the most romantic date last night, and even opened up to me a bit more about his life."

Ruby knew Belle wouldn't go into any detail about Mr. Gold's past because that was private, so instead of trying to pry she just smiled and asked, "Well that's great he's being honest with you like you wanted, where did he take you?"

As Belle began to go into the details of her romantic evening, another customer came through the door. It was a blond haired girl carrying an infant on her chest. "Ashley!" Ruby exclaimed, interrupting Belle just a little. Belle didn't mind too much. She knew how Ruby felt about Rumpelstiltskin, and how she didn't care to talk about him either. Belle was just glad Ruby cared enough about their friendship to try.

Ashley walked over to the counter and took a seat, "Good morning."

"I haven't seen you in a while, where have you been?" Ruby asked as she placed a glass of water in front of Ashley.

"Well I've been so busy planning the wedding and all, and on top of that with the baby, I haven't really had any time to do much else. Who's your friend?"

"Oh Ashley, this is Belle. Belle … Ashley."

Belle smiled, "It's nice too meet you." Her eyes wondered down to the child Ashley was holding.

There was a minute of silence before Ashley exclaimed, "Oh, this is Alexandra! Sorry I almost forgot! Forgive me, I haven't had much sleep."

"It's ok, I understand. She is beautiful." Belle watched the baby sleeping against her mother's chest, "How old is she?"

"She is almost seven months old now. Do you have any children?"

Belle blushed for a second and glanced up at Ruby who was glaring a little then looked back at Ashley, "No, I don't," she finally said. Belle hadn't given much thought about having children; she really hadn't been around many. She wondered if her and Rumpelstiltskin would ever have a child. She wasn't opposed to the idea, but she knew right now finding Baelfire was the priority.

Ruby quickly tried to change the subject. The thought of Rumpelstiltskin having children with anyone made her sick to her stomach, "So Ashley, tell me about your wedding. I didn't think you would still have it now that we have our memories back."

"Well, Sean and I talked about calling it off, but we decided to do it anyway. You know it's like David said, our lives have changed. We are no longer just Cinderella and Thomas, but also Ashley and Sean. We feel it's only right to have a wedding in this world even though we were married before."

"That's a good way to look at it. Excuse me for a minute," Ruby walked away to help another customer leaving Belle and Ashley alone.

There was a moment of silence and Belle finally broke it, "Congratulations on your wedding."

"Thanks," Ashley sighed, "I'm excited about it but I am so ready for all this planning to be over with. How about you? Are you married? Are you seeing anyone special?"

"Oh, yes I'm seeing someone right now." Belle intentionally left out his name. While she didn't care what others thought, and it was her choice to be with Rumple, she knew his reputation and preferred to avoid any confrontation or negative comments if at all possible. She also wanted to make some friends and she knew leading with "I'm dating Rumpelstiltskin" was not the way to go about it.

"Anyone I would know?"

"I don't know maybe…" Belle was trying to think of a way to change the subject, "What about your fiancée?"

"Well he works a lot, so you probably haven't seen him around." A little bit of sadness crossed over Ashley's face.

"Oh, ok. That must be hard on you and the baby. Do you stay at home with her?"

"Yeah. I was working here, that's how I met Ruby, but Sean insisted I quit to stay at home with Alexandra. What do you do?"

"I just took over the library a few weeks ago. I love books, and it's the perfect job for me."

The smile on Ashley's face suddenly turned to a frown, "Wait, you took over the library?"

Belle was a little confused in Ashley's sudden mood change, "Yes…" Then it hit her. Belle was just now getting adjusted to living in such a small town. People know everyone and gossip excessively. Her father was doing everything in his power to try to break up her and Rumpelstiltskin, so there was no doubt he was trying to get others to help him. Rumple also gave her the library without a price, which was unheard of, so she realized Ashley had put two and two together.

"I've heard the gossip, Mr. Gold reopened the library and gave it to his girlfriend to keep from losing her."

"Well that's not exactly what happened…"

Ashley ignored her, "That means…YOU ARE DATING MR. GOLD!"

Ruby and the other customers in the diner turned to observe what was going on. Ruby knew what was about to happen and she knew there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Yes, but…" Belle was interrupted.

"No. How could you be with someone like that?! Do you know the things he has done?"

"There is more to him then what everyone sees…"

Ashley didn't want to hear it. She stood up and looked Belle right in the face, "There must be something wrong with you to choose to be with a monster like that. You know he tried to steal my baby as Rumpelstiltskin until Thomas and I prevented it by locking him up in a special dungeon, and when we came here and we didn't remember out past lives, he still tried to take my baby."

Tears welled up in Belle's eyes. She didn't know what to say. Ruby came over to the two, "Ashley, Belle is not like Mr. Gold. She may be dating him, but she is a sweet girl."

"No. NO! I don't care! He's evil, a monster, a beast…who would want to separate a child from its mother?" She turned back to Belle, "As sweet and innocent as you may be…it must be an act…you have to be a monster too to be with him…you stay away from me and my baby!" Ashley stormed out of the diner.

Everyone continued to stare at Belle for a couple of minutes. Ruby put a hand on Belle's shoulder for comfort, "I'm sorry that happened. I should have seen it coming. I knew Ashley's past with Mr. Gold, but I never thought she would take it out on you."

Belle looked up into Ruby's face obviously holding back tears, "No, Ruby, it's not your fault…I should get to the library."

"Are you sure you are gonna be ok?"

"Yeah, it's fine, thanks. I'll uh, I'll see you later." Belle stood up and started walking toward the door. Before she stepped out the door she was stopped by a familiar voice.

"I don't think you are a monster."

Belle turned around to see the man with black hair who was just in the library the day before. "Oh, well thank you," she said, "that's kind of you to say that."

"No I understand. You view him as more than just the monster everyone else sees. You have an ability to find the light in the darkest of places."

Belle was a little confused at this man's opinion of her, "How would you know something like that? Do I know you?"

"I'm a good judge of people, and no we never met until yesterday."

Belle nodded in agreement, she paused for a second and noticed he had been reading, "Are you enjoying Moby Dick?"

"Why yes, I've only just finished the first chapter, but it is good so far. Won't you sit down?" He gestured toward the seat across from him.

"Oh, I would but I need to get over to the library to open up."

"Ok, well maybe I will see you again soon."

"Yes I'm sure," Belle turned to leave then turned back, "Wait I didn't catch your name? I'm Belle."

"Call me Key."

Belle smiled at his play on words from Moby Dick, "Call me Ishmael," and bid him goodbye.