A/N: Much love to EarthGurdian, Moments Spent Elsewhere, and Chibi Tsuki Hikari!
Belle was sitting in her office trying to finish up Mr. Gold's paperwork when Ashley knocked on her door, looking nervous.
"Hey...uhm...the Mayor is here to see you," Ashley told her, rubbing her stomach absently.
"Um." Belle blinked. "What?"
"Ms. French," Mayor Mills pushed her way past a very pregnant Ashley, a deceptively sweet smile on her face. Belle wasn't sure why she was nervous, she liked Mayor Mills. Hell, she had even voted for her the last election. She stood and shook hands with the Mayor and nodded for Ashley to shut the door behind them.
"Mayor Mills, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were coming by today," Belle gathered her paperwork and slipped into the bottom drawer of her desk, folded her hands on the top of her desk and smiled. The Mayor was a beautiful woman, short dark hair, pretty brown eyes, and flawless ivory skin. She was wearing a pretty silver dress and black heels, the picture of elegance.
"No, I'm sorry; I should have made an appointment. I wanted to congratulate you on your latest victory." Regina crossed her legs and folded her hands on top of her knees.
Belle flashed the woman a small smile. "Thank you."
"That's not why I'm here though," Regina's smile faded slightly and she leaned forward. "I have heard a rumor that you are helping Mr. Gold regain custody of his son."
Belle's mind flashed to The Trickster in her living room, telling her Regina was a corrupt official. She hadn't believed it at the time, but the deeper she looked into Mr. Gold's situation with Balfour, and Spencer's removal of the boy made her think that Spencer was definitely corrupt. Definitely working for someone other than the common good.
"Yes," she kept her smile in place. "That's true."
"May I ask why?"
Belle swallowed and chose her words carefully. "I think he is a good father for the boy."
Regina laughed, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, Miss French, have you spent any time with Mr. Gold?"
"Yes, actually," Belle responded, feeling a little defensive. "He's never been less than a gentleman to me."
This seemed to surprise Regina. "Really? Well, I came to offer some advice. Gold is not a nice man. He is not a good man. He can seem charming when he wants something, but he would kill his own mother if it benefited him."
Belle frowned at her words. Even if that were true, what did the Mayor care? Surely she had more important things to deal with besides a small custody case Belle was working on.
"I will certainly keep that in mind, Mayor Mills," Belle told her diplomatically.
"I just hope you haven't made a deal with him," Regina told her looking entirely too relaxed. Belle blinked at that, because she had, but it wasn't nefarious; it actually swung more in her favor than his in the long run. At least, in her opinion, anyway. "He has a way of twisting things."
Belle just smiled. Regina stood again and smoothed out her skirt. "It was nice talking with you, Ms. French."
"Likewise," Belle told her, shaking her hand again. She was relieved the mayor was leaving.
"Oh...before I go, how are things going with Mr. Gaston? He is a favorite of mine, down at the office," Regina's smile had taken on a sinister quality.
"Oh...Garrett. We broke up," Belle told her. Belle had made the call directly after speaking with Balfour. Garrett had not taken it well, but at least it was done.
"What?" Regina's smile slid off her face and she looked angry. "What happened?"
"He...he was sleeping with other people." Belle didn't know why it was any of the Mayors business, but if Garrett was so well liked down there and this got some people to see the real Garrett underneath his careful layers of charm then that was fine by her.
"That...is regrettable." Regina was smiling again, no hint of her previous anger. "Good day."
"Yeah...bye," Belle told her, watching the mayor stride out. Ashley waited until the mayor was no longer in their line of site before waddling over to Belle.
"What did she want?"
"To talk to me about Mr. Gold," Belle told her, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Belle considered herself a smart woman, and all of this was not adding up. You don't make a trip across town to warn a stranger about someone, no matter how good your intentions.
"Mr. Gold?" Ashley asked, confused. "Why would she care about Mr. Gold?"
"A good question," Belle told her secretary. "I have no idea...but I plan on finding out."
"Have fun. I would not want to be you." Ashley moved to sit back down at her desk when another woman burst into their office.
"Oh God," Belle rolled her eyes and moved into her office, allowing Ashley to come with her. Kathryn Nolan strode into the office holding paperwork, looking furious. David and Kathryn were going through an incredibly nasty divorce, one that often got loud and ugly in their office when David did something to anger Kathryn. Belle and Ashley had long since learned to stay far away from the pair of them when they got into it.
"What do you think he did this time?" Ashley asked as Kathryn began shouting in David's office.
"Probably won't give her their boat," Belle rolled her eyes. David and Kathryn were dragging this divorce out by arguing over everything, from silly things like who retained ownership of their dog Ajax to who got to keep their airline miles.
"JUST SIGN IT DAVID!" Kathryn's voice carried. Both Belle and Ashley cringed.
"Do you think he's dragging it out?" Ashley whispered to Belle. Belle shrugged her shoulders, but judging by the sudden quiet she would say no. Usually these things went on for a good hour, either side screaming back and forth, but now it was quiet. Belle opened the door quietly and poked her head out just to see if this was the calm before the storm or if things were finally being resolved.
David and Kathryn were standing in the doorway of his office, shaking hands. She was holding the paperwork again, but her features had softened.
"Good luck," David told her.
"You too," Kathryn whispered. They looked like they might attempt an awkward hug, but decided against it last minute which made the whole scene incredibly awkward to watch. Belle wanted to slip back into her office, but Kathryn noticed her head poking out at the last moment.
"Hello Belle," she said, throwing both Belle and Ashley a somewhat dirty look.
"Kathryn..." Belle smiled, looking at David with apologetic eyes. David opened his mouth to attempt a heroic rescue, but Frederick chose that moment to walk in holding a small file in his hands.
"Am I...is this a bad time?" He stopped, feeling how tense the atmosphere was in the room, and how everyone was suddenly staring at him.
"Not at all," David said, cutting through the silence.
"I...was just leaving," Kathryn said, seemingly flustered. Frederick looked at her for a long moment. Belle felt bad for the man, Kathryn was very beautiful, tall, thin, blonde, classic features and pretty blue eyes, but she was just freshly divorced and in no position to be dating. Kathryn was staring too though, and Belle wondered...maybe Kathryn dating wouldn't be the worst thing. She wouldn't be around here, bothering everyone and screaming about how David was such a son of a bitch.
"Frederick," Frederick told her, offering a hand.
"Kathryn," Kathryn smiled, shaking it.
"Careful," David said, his eyes teasing. "She's freshly divorced, and she got more than half."
Kathryn turned and shot David the angriest look. Belle was amazed David didn't burst into flames on the spot. Frederick didn't seem to be taking any of it too seriously.
"You divorced her? You must be crazy," he laughed, pulling a pen out of his shirt pocket. "Seems like it's my lucky day." He handed Kathryn a slip of paper ripped from a corner of a paper in his file. Kathryn smiled and accepted it.
"Thank you," she smiled, slipping it into her black coat pocket.
"You better call me!" He grinned. "I don't just hand my phone number out to every beautiful woman who just divorced her husband."
"Of course I will." Kathryn looked happier than Belle had ever seen her, walking out with a spring in her step. Even if she didn't call Frederick, he had done her self-esteem a big favor.
"She won't call me," he told Belle conspiratorially.
"I don't know, she looked awfully happy," Belle smiled back, taking the file from Fred.
"Well, if she does I'll give you twenty bucks."
"Deal," Belle smiled, pleased with the sudden turn of events.
"No fair talking to her and convincing her into it," his eyes twinkled as he pulled a small tape out of his pocket.
"I think that would have the opposite effect," she laughed, accepting the tape. "Is this a copy of our interview with Balfour?"
"Yes it is," Fred said. "Thought you might like a copy. You never know." He grinned at her, and Belle could appreciate what Kathryn had just seen in Frederick. He was a good looking guy, good natured, and funny. Kathryn certainly couldn't do better, especially since she hadn't seemed to find David to her liking. If Kathryn didn't like Frederick, Belle had no hope for love in her own life. Her own life...her own love life was already a train wreck. Caught between two opposite, yet equally powerful men, Mr. Gold and The Trickster. She was strangely attracted to both, The Trickster for saving her life and coming to her aid when Garrett had been attacking her...and Mr. Gold, the enigma behind Gold Corp who wanted nothing more than to have his son returned to him. Who had found her lying on top of the roof of his building and had taken her to his home to ensure her safety. It had occurred to her that Mr. Gold may have walked in on the Trickster trying to help her and The Trickster had to disappear. Why else would he have left her lying on a building alone, after going through the trouble to save her life?
"You never know," she agreed, slipping it all into her bottom desk drawer. "And I hope she calls you."
Frederick flashed Belle one last smile before leaving. "So do I."
She watched him walk out, and then David came in. "I'm popular today," she commented, leaning back in her chair.
"Don't get excited. Playing matchmaker, hm?" He indicated Frederick who was still walking out.
"That was just a happy coincidence. Anything to see Kathryn smile again," Belle flashed him a cheesy, teasing grin.
"No man could make her happy. Trust me, I tried for five years."
"Oh come on. You must have loved her once, you did marry her."
"Well, we all make mistakes. Speaking of which, what is going on with you and Mr. Gold?" He was suddenly very serious. Belle put both hands behind her head and got serious.
"I'm doing him a favor."
"In exchange for what?"
"He helped me with Andrew Hordor," Belle sat back up. "Nothing nefarious David, don't you know me better than that?"
"Hm. Mr. Gold is a bit old for you, don't you think?" He turned to walk out.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She shouted at him.
He stopped, turned, and studied her for a moment. "I saw how he was looking at you. I think the only person doing someone a favor is you. You are doing him a favor by spending so much time with him."
"David..."
"I'm a man, Belle. If I wanted a girl around, I'd bring her to a fancy party too."
"Get out of my office," she grumbled, admitting defeat.
"Belle French, taking down city crime one date a time," David chucked. He was halfway back to his office when she sprang out of her chair and leaned against the door frame of her office.
"Oh, hey, David, did you hear Mary Margaret has a new boyfriend?" She said, her eyes glinting. Speaking of men who spent too much time with a woman, David was constantly calling Mary Margaret. She complained about it often, saying she barely got any work done. Belle had accidentally introduced them over a year ago, right when David and Kathryn first filed for divorce. David was head over heels for Mary Margaret, and Mary Margaret didn't date married men, even one's going through a divorce.
"Who?" He asked, his disappointment betraying the mask of cool indifference on his face.
"Dr. Whale. He's a surgeon," she said smugly. In truth, Mary Margaret had gone on one date, which had ended in disastrous sex. It was bad for Mary Margaret, but funny for Belle, Emma, and Ruby. They had gotten a good laugh out of the whole thing when Mary Margaret described the awkward five minutes of sex.
David scoffed. "I'm better looking than that guy," and swung his door shut. Belle sauntered back into her office, but David wasn't done, opening the door again to shout at her, "Not as good looking as Mr. Gold though, right Belle?"
It was her turn to swing the door shut, leaning against it in frustration. She didn't know exactly how she felt about Mr. Gold. He wasn't handsome like David was. If David was Prince Charming, then Mr. Gold was Rumpelstiltskin. Still, there was a handsome quality to him. His face was strong and his features were nice. Dark brown eyes that were flecked with gold, dark brown hair that touched his shoulders, strong hands. She shook her head and moved away from the door. David had gotten into her head. No matter what she might think about Mr. Gold and his hands, this was a business deal and nothing more. The moment Balfour was back with his father Belle and Gold would go back to being total strangers.
Her phone rang and Belle answered it, grateful for a distraction.
"Belle French," she said, sinking into her chair.
"Ms. French, it's Mr. Gold," his voice sounded silky. She put her head in her hands. Speak of the devil and he will call you, apparently.
"What can I do for you?" She asked.
"Regina just paid me a little visit, and I was giving you the heads up."
"Oh, I already talked to her today," Belle told him. He paused, seemingly caught off guard.
"About?"
"My feelings on the state of Storybrooke's roads," Belle told him sarcastically.
"Very funny Ms. French."
"You can call me Belle, I think we're there," she told him seriously. "She just wanted to warn me about what a sneaky bastard you are. I told her I already knew that, and then she left after asking why I dumped Garrett."
Mr. Gold laughed when she told him that. "You're funny. I guess my warning is too late then."
"I suppose so. You have a good day."
"You as well...Belle."
She sighed and clicked the phone down, only for it to immediately begin ringing again. "Jesus on roller skates," Belle muttered picking it up again.
"Belle French."
"Belle, hey, it's Ruby!" Ruby's bubbly voice made Belle smile.
"Hey Ruby, what can I do for you?"
"You can meet me at Granny's Bar and Grille tonight for drinks and conversation."
Belle hesitated for a moment. "I don't know...I have a lot of work to do..."
"No. You HAVE to come. Emma and Mary Margaret already agreed! Pllleeeeaaassseeeee..."
"All right, all right, fine."
"Yay! We're meeting at eight o clock. No work clothes!"
"All right! I'll see you at eight." Belle hung up again and then waited, alternating glances between her door and her phone. No one knocked, and the phone didn't ring, and after a few minutes she pulled all of her paperwork out and began working again. David had given her several cases she needed to start looking into, but she wasn't in any hurry for those. The people the cases belonged to were tucked safely away in Storybrooke Maximum Security Prison, and for now they could just hang out there. These things took time, and she was certain the defense would prefer to her to stretch it out as long as possible. It gave them longer to prepare for reasonable doubt.
She desperately wanted to get the paperwork filed today. There wasn't any specific reason outside of just wanting to get it done. The sooner she was done with Gold, the sooner her life would go back to normal. She could stop daydreaming about a man who had no interest in her and focus on finding a decent man her own age who actually liked her. Maybe she'd see if Frederick had a friend.
The day progressed slowly which was good for Belle. At three thirty she headed down to the court house to file the paperwork with the clerk. After that things were out of her hands for a while. It would take a while for them to be submitted, and then a judge would begin looking things over, and then she'd be in court with Mr. Gold, arguing a case.
She submitted the paperwork with the clerk, pleased with herself. On her way out the door she ran into the pretty blonde Mr. Gold kept on an assistant.
"Belle French!" She said, nearly colliding into her.
"Oh...hey..."
"Serena," Serena shook her hand. "I work for Mr. Gold. It's a tough job but someone has to." She laughed prettily. "Anyway, I am just down here to pick a few things up."
"Oh? I actually submitted his custody case just now," Belle indicated towards her back, where the clerk's desk was, out of sight. Serena smiled.
"Well, hopefully that will make him a more pleasant person to be around."
"Oh, he's not so bad," Belle smiled at the girl.
"Well, if you say so. Anyway, I must be going. Time is of the essence, and all that," she smiled again at Belle, and then was on her way. Belle stared after Serena for a long moment and then shook her head and left.
Serena rolled her eyes the moment her back was turned to Belle. 'He's not so bad.' Of course she would think that, considering the man was obviously interested in her, at least on a physical sort of level. She should know; she had been working for Gold long enough to know when he was interested in a woman. Belle French was a little beneath him, in Serena's opinion, but her opinion meant little to Mr. Gold. She was supposed to be his simpering, scared little secretary, easily replaceable.
This made her chuckled as she picked up the paperwork Mr. Gold has sent her to retrieve. He would be less monstrous if he knew who she really was. She was the last of the first villains to come to Storybrooke, years and years before he had even been a thought in his mother's head. Once nicknamed The Siren, Serena had the ability to change her appearance at will. She was lucky enough to also have some sort of cellular regeneration, the ability to never age. Her real appearance was not as pretty as the one she adopted now, and she was young, only seventeen. Seventeen forever, the kind of thing most women dream of. Only Serena knew what kind of hell it really was. Immortality was useless if everyone you loved would eventually die. That was why Serena loved no one.
The only way to truly kill her was to remove her head, and no one had ever come close; but she imagined if she re-emerged now, allowed everyone to know she still existed, if anyone even remembered she had existed in the first place. She didn't care for the theatrics of today's villains like Amethyst Dragon and The Trickster. She preferred subtly, which was why she was so drawn to Mr. Gold. In her day she could be anyone, any powerful politician, a no body. She could Belle French if she was really bored enough. Still, nowadays she was just Serena.
Except to the Glass Family. Somehow their boss, whoever he was, had discovered her identity, and put her in Gold's office. She had been against the idea at first; after all, she was retired. However, they had made her an offer she couldn't refuse monetarily wise, and so here she was. Essentially Mr. Gold's bitch. She wished The Glass Family would just get on with it, and do whatever it was they were planning on doing to him, and let her go back to solitude. She wouldn't miss Mr. Gold, but she would miss his money, and The Glass Families money. As it stood, she had enough money to allow her to be comfortable for the next two hundred years.
That made it all worth it, as far as Serena was concerned.
"Hey Mr. Gold, it's Belle. I just submitted your case. I'm not sure when we'll go to court, but when I know I'll let you know. If you need anything else just give me a call or come down to my office. I'll talk to you later," Belle talked cheerfully into his voice mail. It was done now, and out of her hands, for the moment. He had no reason to call her, talk to her, come see her, or any other number of things he might decide to do. It was a little disappointing, but also a relief. She felt like she could breathe again and focus on more pressing issues. Like The Trickster, for one. She hadn't seen him since their roof top encounter, and part of her wanted to see him again. Wanted to kiss him again. The other part hoped he never showed up again. She supposed that was a good way to identify the way she felt about him in general. Part of her was interested, and the other half was afraid of him.
She needed some kind of Trickster signal, something she could flash into the sky to get his attention so he knew she wanted him. She doubted, even if she could manage such a thing, he wouldn't come anyway. He didn't seem the type.
Belle had time before meeting up with her girlfriends, so she took a bath and read a book. She knew she should be working on any one of the cases David had assigned to her, but she needed to relax, clear her mind, unwind. She was no good if she was worried, to David, The Trickster, and most importantly, herself. She didn't spend enough time relaxing and taking care of herself.
She threw on a pretty, pale pink dress that cut to her knees and had a square neck line with capped sleeves. It was pretty, but still comfortable and casual. She would leave being a trendsetter to Mary Margaret and Ruby. Her and Emma preferred function to fashion, and Belle knew she wouldn't have fun in something too tight, heels too tall. She'd leave that to those stupid parties Storybrooke was forever demanding her to attend. Uncomfortable dresses were for men like Garrett who didn't care how she felt so long as she made him look good.
Men. She didn't understand even the simple minded ones, like Garrett. Maybe she was just destined to die alone. If she couldn't make things work with Garrett, what hope did she have of making something stick with any man? Especially since she found herself in some kind of triangle between Mr. Gold and The Trickster, neither of whom reciprocated her feelings, whatever those feelings were. She was still trying to work them out.
Seven thirty approached far too quickly, and before long Belle found herself heading out to Granny's Bar and Grille. It was a favorite of theirs, out of all the local watering holes in Storybrooke, because the people who went were friendly, the food was good, and the beer was cheap.
When she got there she found August Booth sitting at the bar with Graham Hunter and Archie Hopper. An odd trio, but the three of them were there almost as often as she was. They were drinking tall glasses of beer and laughing boisterously about something. Archie nodded to Belle as she walked in, the first to arrive, and took a seat in a booth off to the side. She set her phone down on the table top and then made her way to the bar to order a drink.
"What can I getcha?" Granny asked her when she made her way over.
"My usual," Belle smiled.
"Coming right up," Granny told her, pulling a crystal martini glass down. Belle liked to drink colorful drinks and the occasional beer if she was feeling up to it. Her usual was called The Black Dahlia Martini. She hadn't wanted to try it the first time Granny had made it for her because it wasn't the usual pink and orange she was used to, but it tasted like perfection, consisting of citrus vodka, raspberry liquor, and Kahlua. Is should have been a seven dollar drink, but Granny liked Belle, so it was three for her, so long as she kept coming and occasionally ordered food.
"Thanks!" She smiled, sipping from the dark purple drink and handing Granny her credit card to start a tab. Granny was the coolest old lady in Storybrooke, all sass and silver hair. No one got anything past Granny, which made it unpopular with the rowdier, younger crowd. Belle was okay with that.
She sat back down as Emma came in wearing jeans and red leather jacket. She punched Graham lightly on the shoulder and ordered a beer before catching sight of Belle. "Hey," she said, sliding in across from Belle. "I'm sorry I'm late. Mary Margaret and Ruby should be on their way. I'm surprised they're not already here."
"Speak of the devil," Belle muttered as Ruby and Mary Margaret walked in. Both looked amazing, yet completely different. Ruby was in a skin tight red dress, strapless and short, showing legs that seemed to go on for miles, with bright red heels. Mary Margaret was in a half sleeved vintage dress, tight around the waist and then flowing, cutting at her knees, white and lacy, paired with nude heels.
"Suddenly I feel under dressed," Emma said, taking a long drink from her beer.
"Cheers," Belle agreed, lifting her drink into the air. Mary Margaret sat next to Emma with a strawberry margarita and Ruby slid in next to Belle with a raspberry martini.
"Oh I soooo needed this," Mary Margaret said, taking a long drink. "Regina came to see me. Again."
"Ooh, about what?" Ruby asked.
"She thinks the Mirror is being too negative and wants me to report something sunnier," Mary Margaret grumbled.
"Like what?" Emma asked incredulously.
"No clue, she didn't offer suggestions. She was in a foul mood."
"That miiight be my fault," Belle said. "She came to see me today too."
"You? Why?" Ruby asked, surprise coloring her tone.
"Well...I agreed to help Mr. Gold with something...she came to warn me about it."
"Help Mr. Gold? With what? Is that why he was watching you so closely at that last party?" Emma asked suspiciously.
"Wait what?" Belle was sidetracked by the idea that Mr. Gold had been watching her.
"Yeah, and right after you disappeared so did he. I kind of thought..." Emma trailed off, but it was obvious what she thought.
"No. Nothing like that. He...uh...just kind of rescued me from a very angry Garrett."
"What is going on with him?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Oh...we broke up."
"What?" All three girls were staring at her.
"But...he's so handsome."
"True, but he's also a son of a bitch," Belle took another drink, trying to drown out the memory of Garrett and that girl.
"Go on..." Emma prodded.
"I caught him cheating on me."
"Again?" Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. They had all been present during the first go arounds with Garrett, where he and Belle broke up and then made up over and over again.
"Apparently a leopard doesn't change their spots. Who knew?"
"Well, you're better off, but that doesn't change the fact that you and Mr. Gold-"
"There is nothing going on between me and Mr. Gold." Belle declared, pushing the way he smelled out of her mind.
"Really?" Emma arched an eyebrow.
"Really."
"Then why is he sitting at the bar right now, looking at you?"
"He-what?" Belle looked up and sure enough there was Mr. Gold sitting there, a glass in his hand, watching her.
"Better go see what he wants," Ruby elbowed her. Ruby stood and Belle slid out, still holding her glass.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Belle said, trying mostly to reassure herself.
"Doesn't look like nothing," Mary Margaret teased.
Belle stopped and looked at the three girls, all smiling wickedly at her. "Don't get me started on you three."
"Us? What about us?" Emma asked.
"Well, how about your love triangle between Graham and Jefferson? Or Ruby's crush on Dr. Hopper? Hm? And Mary Margaret, did you hear David is finally divorced?"
All three girls suddenly looked shame faced. "That was uncalled for," Ruby said softly.
"I'm sorry," Belle said, feeling guilty.
"Divorced? He finally signed the papers?" Belle's words seemed to have sunken into Mary Margaret's brain.
"Yep. He's a single man. Excuse me..."
"There is no triangle!" Emma yelled after her, causing Belle to smirk as she made her way to the bar.
"Are you following me?" Belle asked, taking a seat next to him.
"Awfully full of yourself, Ms. French," he took a sip of his drink, never taking his eyes off of her.
"Mmhm. I was told you prefer a different bar...Fox and Hound, is it?"
"How astute of you. Now who is following who?" He asked her, brushing some hair out of his face.
"That's not a very carefully guarded secret," Belle spun around on her stool, facing the front of the bar. "Everyone knows that, because that's where all the mobsters like to drink."
"Are you accusing me of something?" He asked mildly, draining his drink.
"Of course not," she said innocently. "Are you feeling guilty? Want to confess something?"
"You're funny tonight," he smiled, indicating to Granny he needed another.
"How about you, Belle?" Granny asked, seeing as how hers was nearly gone too.
"She'll have what I'm having," Mr. Gold told her smoothly. Granny nodded and pulled down an expensive bottle of Scotch, pouring equal measures into two tumblers.
"Bottoms up, Ms. French," he lifted his glass in her direction.
"Belle," she corrected, clinking her glass softly against his and taking a drink. Belle was not fond of straight scotch, and now she remembered why. It was smooth, and it burned, but it was still like drinking gasoline. It took all her will not to choke in front of Mr. Gold, who was watching her intently.
"Lovely," she murmured, her voice feeling somehow silkier. "You are crashing my girl's night, by the way."
He looked over where Mary Margaret, Emma, and Ruby were sitting, all lost in a very amusing conversation.
"You're welcome," he told her, offering her a smile. She couldn't help it, the alcohol was loosening her up a bit and he was funny in a very dry sort of way.
"That's not very nice," Belle chided, taking another drink of the scotch. She found if she held her breath she couldn't taste as much of it, which made it tolerable. It was strong, he had ordered them a double on top of her Martini and she was starting to feel a little silly. Definitely warm, even in her cool dress.
Mr. Gold leaned in slightly, his smile still in place. "Haven't you heard, Belle? I'm not a very nice man."
"Oh my God, look at them," Ruby said, watching Belle and Mr. Gold out of the corner of her eye. Emma and Mary Margaret both turned to see Mr. Gold leaning towards Belle, a smile on his face.
"I've never seen him smile. Like, actually smile," Emma said. She had dealt with Mr. Gold before and was well aware of his behavior.
"He likes her. Oh my God, he likes Belle," Mary Margaret was stunned.
"What's not to like? Belle is a sweetheart," Ruby said, turning away from them.
"Yeah but Gold is a total bastard."
"Well maybe a few nights with Belle will turn all that around."
"No. Just stop. I do not need that imagine in my mind."
The girls giggled and went back to talking about other things, forgetting for the moment that Belle was sitting next to a smiling Mr. Gold.
"I never got to thank you," Belle said after finishing her drink. Granny immediately put another one in front of her. Belle felt like she and Mr. Gold were playing a game of chicken, and she didn't want to back down, even though she was certain this next glass was going to take her out of buzzville and place her firmly in drunktown.
"Thank me? For what?" Mr. Gold was also on his second glass, but was doing better than Belle, who was decidedly red faced.
"For finding me on the roof. You know, bloody and wounded? You took me back to your house? That was really nice of you."
Mr. Gold was so tempted to dip into her thoughts. How fortunate that his plan had worked without him having to say a word.
"It seemed...the honorable thing to do."
"Well, I'm sure it couldn't have been easy, carrying me and all," she said earnestly. "What with your leg..."
"I manage," he said, draining his glass again. Drinking around her suddenly seemed like the worst idea. He was going to let something slip.
"You know what's funny?" She giggled as she took another long drink. She was drunk.
"What?" He asked as Granny set two more glasses in front of them.
"You and The Trickster wear the exact same cologne. Isn't that funny?" She was still laughing as she finished her second glass and reached for the third. He slid his credit card across the bar.
"Put it all on my tab," he murmured to Granny. "How do you know what The Trickster smells like?" He asked her after a long moment. She was still giggling, and apparently past the point of taste because she gulped down her drink quickly, leaving it empty. He was both impressed and a little shocked. Belle French was a drinker. She was tiny, and had just the equivalent of six shots on top of whatever she had been drinking before he arrived.
He drained his glass as she kept giggling and grabbed his coat. She took hold of the arm not gripping a cane and began to led her out.
"Uh guys, Belle is leaving with Mr. Gold," Ruby said suddenly, seeing Mr. Gold leading Belle out, his hand on the small of her back.
"Oh no," said Emma, springing up. Mary Margaret and Ruby followed, stopping him at the door.
"Belle, sweetie, where are you going?" Ruby asked her, taking her arm and guiding her away from Mr. Gold. Emma and Mary Margaret followed, leaving Mr. Gold standing there awkwardly. Belle blinked twice, clearing her head a bit.
"I'm going home," she said, swaying slightly.
"With Mr. Gold?" Mary Margaret asked softly. "Are you sure that's a good idea."
"He has a car, so it's better than walking. I'm sorry," her voice sounded stronger as she assured them she was fine. "Nothing is going to happen. Really."
"Are you sure...cause we could take you home.."
"It fine," Belle insisted. "Have fun. I'll call you when I get home, okay?"
This seemed to placate the three women, who hugged her in turn. Emma sideled up to Mr. Gold as Mary Margaret and Ruby said their goodbyes. "No funny business, Gold."
"I wouldn't dream of it, Ms. Swan."
"I mean it. Any shenannigans and I'll arrest you."
He smiled at her. "Wouldn't that be a sight."
Belle stepped away from her friends and back to Mr. Gold, allowing him to lead her out the door.
"Well, I guess that settles that," Emma said, walking back to their booth.
"Settles what?" Asked Mary Margaret.
"They like each other."
"Now, Belle, how do you know The Trickster and I smell the same?" He asked her.
"I know because he broke my mother's tea cup," she told Mr. Gold seriously. Mr. Gold flinched at that. He hadn't bothered looking to see what cup meant to her, forgetting all about it when she shrugged and told him it was just a cup. Just a cup indeed, a cup that had belonged to the mother he had allowed to die.
"And that's how you know how he smells?" He continued, wondering if someone in Belle's subconscious she had made a connection between his alter ego and his real life persona.
"Oh," she giggled again, stumbling slightly. He nodded to Bernard, who had the door to Mr. Gold's town car open, waiting for them. Mr. Gold saw him smile fondly at the now clumsy Belle French before shutting the door after them. "No. I kissed him."
"You...kissed The Trickster?" Mr. Gold of course already knew this, but now he was really curious. He could probe her mind and find out all her thoughts on the kiss that had transpired between them, but Belle was being honest now and he would much rather hear the words come from her own lips.
"I did. Isn't that crazy? That's not even the best part. The best part is; I liked it."
She liked it. She liked kissing him, even if she didn't know it was him. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. Belle was smart, and beautiful, and intriguing, and most interestingly of all, fearless. No matter who she was talking to, Mr. Gold or The Trickster, she was unafraid and unflinching. A woman who certainly could protect herself, even against the worst of the worst. Wasn't she sitting in his car right now, her arm brushing against his as she laughed about kissing Storybrooke's most notorious villain?
"Very crazy," he finally agreed. Bernard had stopped and Mr. Gold realized they were outside Belle's apartment complex. "You better get inside, dearie.
She paused for a second, looking at him curiously, but then her door was being opened and she began to stumble out. "Come up?" She asked him, biting her lip. "For tea?"
"Tea?" He asked her. Was this a euphemism or did she really mean tea? He found he didn't really care, because nothing was going to happen either way. Belle was drunk and while he was a man, he was a man who preferred the women he slept with to have their wits about them. She certainly did not, and if he ever did get the chance to take her to bed he wanted her completely sober.
"Tea," she said again, swaying slightly. He nodded, and stepped out. It took her several tries to get the code to her building right, and then a short ride up an elevator. He had been here before, but she didn't know that so he pretended he had never seen the inside of her apartment. She made a bee line for the kitchen, her pretty pink dress swaying as she walked.
"Maybe you should let me do the boiling?" He suggested, taking the tea kettle away from her. She just giggled, but didn't fight. He found he didn't like her so much this way. It was interesting to see how cheerful she was when drunk, but he missed their playful banter. She slipped out of the kitchen while he set about filling the kettle and putting it on the stove. He leaned against a counter and watched, noticing the time was only nine thirty. It seemed like so much later.
Belle came back in the tiniest black shorts and white ribbed tank top, her hair pulled into a pony tail. "I feel better," she told him, plopping down on the floor of her kitchen.
"Well that's good," he said, unsure what to do with her. He decided to pour the girl a cup of tea, and then put her to bed and try and make it out of here with what was left of his sanity. The kettle went off and Belle scooted forward to open up a pantry, pulling out two cups, one of which was chipped.
"The chipped one is mine," she told him, handing the porcelain cups to him. He poured the water into the cups and placed tea leaves in them.
"You have to stand to take this," he told her. She obliged, climbing clumsily to her feet. He handed her, her cup and guided her into her bedroom. It would be easier to put her to bed if she was already in bed. She climbed in, spilling some of her tea onto the bed. She didn't seem to notice and he decided not to point it out to her as he awkwardly sat on the edge of her bed.
"Taste good?" She slurred, taking a scalding gulp. She would regret that in the morning he knew.
"Mmhmm." She set her cup on her nightstand and looked down at her hands. He needed to go. Coming up had been a mistake.
"I should leave," he told her, standing up and setting his cup next to hers.
"Okay," she agreed, looking back up at him with those large blue eyes. He wished he was The Trickster right now so he could lean down and kiss her good night. Instead he stepped back and walked out of her room, heading towards her front door as fast as he could. He had his hand on the handle when he heard the padding of feet on carpet.
"Wait! Mr. Gold!" She caught him at the door, closing it with one hand, effectively trapping him between her body and the door.
"Yes?" He asked trying to ignore how closer her face was to his, or how he could smell tea and whiskey on her breath. It wasn't unpleasant.
"I..." She suddenly looked unsure of herself, but he didn't need to be a mind reader to know what she was thinking. He closed the gap between them and pressed his lips against hers. Maybe Mr. Gold could get the girl, even with his lame leg and boring day job. She kissed him back enthusiastically, and before he knew it his hand was tangled in her hair and he was pulling her hard against him. She sighed, wrapping both arms around his neck. Everything came crashing down on him after that. She was drunk; she wasn't thinking clearly, he had to stop her. Gently, he broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. She was so short, how had he never noticed this before?
"Why did you stop?" She asked him, looking up at him with those eyes. He was tempted to ignore his better judgment, but he knew if he peaked into her mind he'd find a jumble of thoughts, not one making sense, and to him that wasn't consent. This was as far as it went, for now.
"You've been drinking," he told her, wrapping the hand that hand been in her hair around her waist. She looked confused.
"You don't want this?"
"I do...but not like this."
"Then how?" She asked, keeping her arms firmly around his neck.
"You, sober. Totally willing, unable to say anything but yes."
"I'm saying yes now," she protested.
"A drunk yes isn't really a yes," he told her regretfully.
"Garrett never seemed to mind," she pouted, stepping back slightly. He kept his arm firmly around her.
"Yes, and Garrett was not a good man, was he?"
"No. You're right," she sighed, breaking out of his grip and putting some space between them. He stepped towards her and kissed her again, just once.
"We will continue this," he promised, watching her stare at him with something like comprehension in her eyes.
"I hope so," she murmured, touching her lips as he walked out. Belle was drunk. She was aware of this, and she had just kissed Mr. Gold. It started off as innocent curiosity. She was drunk and it seemed like a good way to play things off in case he wasn't interested. Turns out he was. More interested than she imagined, but she felt like they had done this before. He tasted familiar, his lips felt like something she had felt before. She couldn't place where though and thought it must be the alcohol talking. She would remember if she had kissed Mr. Gold before, she was sure of it. He was a good kisser, the way a man ought to be.
She crawled into bed and began to fall asleep. On the precipice between dreams and sleep she realized where she had felt those lips before. The Tricksters lips had felt exactly the same. Then Belle was asleep.