A/N: Okay, just because I love you guys so much, I'm posting this chapter early. Have fun!

Chapter Seven: Take a Chance

Spring had come to Storybrooke early, and the town was abuzz with activity. The good weather enabled people to enjoy the park and woods, and children were often found at the local playground, laughing their cares away. Belle had started talking with Archie Hopper more, trying to get to know him as well as slyly encourage him to talk to Ruby more. Mary Margret had started going to the animal shelter more often (Ruby and Belle had agreed that she was developing a bit of a crush on a certain David Nolan) and even Emma was spending more time with Henry. Mr. Gold had started humming in his shop, little songs he knew Belle loved, and had even started showing her a more playful side that she had not expected. But there were still questions that he would not answer, and she had the feeling that, although in many ways he was opening up, he was also trying to push her away.

"It's like he's changing you know?" She commented to Ruby and Emma at the diner one evening. "I'm seeing a whole new side to him. He's evolving, bit by bit." Ruby nodded vigorously, Emma still slightly dubious.

"She's right you know. He came in for the rent just the other day and he was smiling. I mean really smiling. When Granny gave him the rent money, he told her it was too much, and gave her back two hundred dollars! He actually chatted her up for a bit and I swear to god, when he left Granny was blushing!" Ruby said, pouring Emma and Belle's cups of coffee. Belle looked a little taken aback at that, and Emma gaped at her. "Whatever you are doing to him Belle don't stop."

"No way. No way! I can't believe it, Gold?!" Emma said incredulously. Both Belle and Ruby nodded. Emma sat back in the booth stunned. Just then Mary Margret appeared along with Ashley Boyd. They both waved to Belle, Ruby, and Emma, and sat down, Mary Margret next to Emma, and Ashley next to Belle. Belle and Ashley shared an affectionate hug, Belle commenting on how long it had been since she had seen her.

"I'm sorry it's been so long, but I haven't much time to get out of the house, what with the wedding plans, the baby, and a very affectionate fiance." She said as everyone but Emma giggled. Emma wasn't the giggling type. The women talked at length about many different subjects when Archie walked into the diner.

He gave a little wave to Belle and everyone else at the table, to which they replied with "Hi Archie" in unison. This caused Archie to blush, and a fit of giggles to erupt from the corner. Ruby was behind the counter, blushing lightly at her friend's antics when Archie approached her. The giggling in the corner stopped almost immediately as everyone tried to pretend that they were not listening.

"Hello Miss Lucas." Archie said shyly. Ruby gave him a small shy smile as she wiped down the counter.

"Hi Archie. C-can I get you anything?" She asked, stuttering for a moment. It was everything Belle, Mary, and Ashley could do not to "Awww" at that. Emma just rolled her eyes, trying to pretend she didn't care.

"A-actually I uh...I came to ask if you wanted to go to the P-Picnic on the Green with me." He said, just as flustered and shy as she was. Ruby stared at him, slightly shocked. She had never expected him to ask her (even though she had desperately wanted him to) and blushed furiously.

"Y-Yes! I would love to go with you!" She blurted out, barely masking her excitement. "I was hoping you would ask me." She added, looking down at her hands. It was Archie's turn to blush, the color only complimenting his features and hair.

"R-Really? You wanted to go with me?" He asked, unable to contain the emotions on his face. Hope and affection mingled on his face as he leaned forward slightly over the counter. Ruby gave him a large toothy smile and nodded. Belle swore Archie could have jumped for joy in that moment.

Ruby then became occupied with talking to Archie, so Belle, Mary, Emma, and Ashley continued their conversation. When desert was being eaten, the conversation turned to back to Belle and Mr. Gold's relationship.

"Well it sounds as though things are going smoothly Belle, but I don't think you're as satisfied as you say you are." Mary Margret said, setting down her fork and giving Belle a look. Belle sighed as all eyes turned to her.

"I am. It's just..." She drifted off, momentarily lost in thought.

"It's just...?" Ashley asked, being filled in on the events of the last two months earlier. Belle snapped out of her daydream and sighed again.

"I don't know! I thought I would be happy to just be around him. But there are times... when he looks at me, and I look at him and..." She stopped again, biting her lip.

"You want him to make a move." Emma finished for her simply. Even if Emma was not a romantic, she had enough experience with relationships to relate. Belle nodded, looking down at her piece of pie. Mary gave Belle a soft smile.

"Belle, have you thought that maybe, he's waiting for you to...make a move?" Mary Margret asked quietly. Belle threw up her hands.

"I don't know. I suppose that could be it, but I think he's afraid of something. I don't think he thinks anyone could find him... attractive in that way. Oh what do I do?!" She said, burring her head in her hands. Ashley draped a comforting arm around her, squeezing her shoulder gently. None of them spoke for a moment until Emma snapped her fingers, an idea popping into her head.

"You should ask him out." Emma said matter of factly. Belle gaped at that, thinking it was a horrible idea before Mary Margret piped up.

"She's right! Way to go Emma!" Mary Margret said before turning to Belle. "You should ask him to Picnic on the Green! Oh it would be a wonderful opportunity for you two. And, it would be a great opportunity for us to get to know him."

"Oh! She's right that's a brilliant idea. Why didn't I think of it?" Ashley commented. Belle could not help but gawk at all of them.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea. Picnic on the Green is very public, and I mean... he's such a private person." Belle said, unsure of how Lor would take to the idea.

"Well, you don't know if you don't try right?" Emma said before she took a bite of pie. Belle could not help but agree, the conversation then turning to Emma and her not-so-hidden feelings for Jefferson Hatter.

Picnic on the Green was a well known, and well loved event in Storybrooke. Every spring, the residents of Storybrooke would gather in the park for a large day of laughter and fun, enjoying the weather and outdoor activities. Towards the end of the evening, there would be dancing and music as well as plenty of food for all. It was a time for family fun, as well as more romantic pursuits. And Belle wanted nothing more than to spend every minute of it in Lorcan's company. She knew, however, that if she was going to be able to convince him to go with her, that it would take some tact on her part. So, with that in mind, she made him a special breakfast one Saturday morning, to warm him up to the idea.

"Alright dearie, what do you want." Gold said after finishing the wonderful feast of eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy. Belle blushed as she sat across from him in the back of the store.

"How did you know I wanted something?" She asked, unable to help her curiosity. Lorcan gave her a chuckle as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"This, wonderful breakfast by the way, is outside the norm. Usually, you get us something from Granny's." He said simply, giving her a wicked smile. Belle sighed and set down her fork.

"I guess I am found out." She said, giving him a smile of her own. God help him if his heart didn't stop right then and there at that smile. His smile turned turned almost shy, and she could not help but giggle a little at it.

"Yes well... what is it you want Belle." He asked, his voice a little tight. It was her turn now to be shy. She glanced down at the hands in her lap and fidgeted a little before speaking.

"I was... well I wanted to know if... maybe you wanted to..." She fidgeted even more as she tried to find the right words. 'Oh bloody hell just say it!' She thought. "Would you like to do to the Picnic on the Green with me?" She asked, blurting it out with a hopeful passion, biting her lip. Lorcan could not have been more shocked.

She wanted to go to the Picnic of the Green, with him? It always been an event he had avoided, mostly because it was for families and couples. His heart began beating at a rapid rate, his breathing harsher just at the thought of him and Belle, sitting on a blanket holding hands. There was no way she was thinking of him in that respect. She didn't want to go with him in a romantic sense, did she? He had to know, the urge so overpowering he could not stop himself from trying to clarify.

"You...you mean like...a date?" He asked hesitantly, the shy hopeful tone in his voice slipping through his usual reservation. Belle melted at his words, her earlier hope growing stronger.

"Well...yes." She stated simply, giving him a shy smile and blushing. The smile, he noted. His heart soared at her words, unable to stop the boyish grin from spreading across his face. She blushed harder at his smile, the butterflies in her stomach working overtime. When he realized that he was grinning he quickly schooled his features, clearing his throat and pulling a little at his tie and collar.

"I ah...I would love to accompany you Miss French." He said, trying to regain some composure. She practically beamed at him, and launched herself out of her chair to embrace him. He froze for a moment, her arms around his neck, her face burred in the crook of his neck. He kept his hands at his sides, the urge to wrap his arms around her and start kissing her neck so powerful, he was shaking from the effort to suppress it. Belle finally did something she'd wanted to do for a while now, and nuzzled into him. He almost groaned when she did, desire and a feeling perilously close to his heart mingling within him.

"Thank you Lor." She said softly, inhaling the scent of him. She could have died right then and there, and felt perfectly happy. She loved him with all her heart, and she knew she would never get enough of the feel of him. She pulled away to look at him, a happy smile gracing her features as their eyes locked.

Lorcan stood suddenly, his hands snaking around her body to pull her flush with his. He could feel every, perfect, inch of her as he looked at her with such longing that her breath hitched.

"You're welcome Belle." He said before capturing her mouth in a hungry kiss. She gasped into his mouth before melting against him, her hands moving from his shoulders to his hair. Their kiss began slowly at first, with teasing little brushes and quickly turned hot and needy. He maneuvered her toward the wall, pushing her up against it as his fingers ran through her perfect hair. She moaned a little, giving him entrance to her mouth. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip, causing her to clasp him to her, their lips interlocking in a perfect way. He drank from her like she was the sweetest, coolest water on earth, and he soon found his hands on her hip as he pulled her against him, needing to feel all of her. He felt her hands on his chest, the beating of his heart under her palm as she began to undo his tie. He groaned when she began to undo the buttons of his shirt, her fingers touching his burning skin. He pulled away from her slightly to trail kisses down her neck as she slipped her hands into his shirt to feel his back. Her nails raked across him, causing a shiver of pleasure to coarse through him.

"Lor." She said, her voice husky with pleasure. He smiled into her neck, nipping at the soft skin he found just below her jaw. "Lorcan." She said again, her voice more normal now. Almost as if she was irritated.

"Lorcan?" Belle said, snapping him out of his daydream. He felt himself blush slightly as he found her eyes on his, concern in her voice. "Are you okay?" She asked, causing him to nod, unable to speak. She smiled at him and moved to sit back down across from him. He crossed his legs, his good leg over his bad leg, and cleared his throat again, not wanting to sound as... stimulated as he was.

"So... so h-how are things at the Library?"

Belle had decided to clean the small storage space above the shop while Lor was away that day ( he mentioned something about a no good, dirty, low down, vicious harpy ) running errands and dealing with tenants. She had spent several hours on the task when she came across a box in the far corner, covered in dust and unlabeled. Belle's curiosity would not be sated until she saw what was inside, and so she sat down and opened the box carefully.

Inside, she found an array of different things. Children's books, ranging from the earliest years to more challenging novels. She also found toys of different varieties. Some looked like old tin toys that might have been played with over fifty years ago, others looked like brand new, out of the box action figures. Stranger still, was a whole wardrobe of clothes. Baby clothes that had seen better days, clothes for a little boy, and then some that looked like they were just a tad too small for her to fit in. At the very bottom, Belle found a stack of letters, tied with a ribon, that looked as though they had been read, and re-read a thousand times. Knowing that it was probably a bad idea, and she should not read them, she hastily put them back where they belonged. One letter, slipped out however, and landed on the floor. Belle picked it up cautiously, and opened it, unable to help herself.

Dear Papa,

I haven't really had much time to write, mum has kept me busy with homework and chores. Thank you for the present you sent with your last letter, I showed it to Billy Kimble just down the road, and he's jelous and wants one too. Mum says I can't come to see you till Michaelmas, so I've been practicing my throwing arm so we can play baseball when I go. I started all the boys here in Glasgow playing it, even though some of them say cricket is better. I've been doing good in school, and I have been trying to be better about picking up my room, but it's been hard. Did mum tell you I got in a fight the other day? James MacAlastair punched a girl on the playground, and I stood up for her. I'm afraid I got in trouble, but you always told me to stand up to bullies like him, so I knew you wouldn't mind if I told you. I've got to go now, mum wants to take me shopping for some new clothes and then go see the doctor. I love you Da, and I hope I'll get to see you soon.

From, Bae

Belle read the letter, tears springing to her eyes as she did so. Lorcan Gold had a son. She could not believe that he had never mentioned him before. But she supposed that Lorcan was a highly secretive and private person, and didn't want anyone to know about it. The letter was dated 1998, so why would he keep all of his son's possessions up in the storage space of the pawnshop? Her curiosity was burning, but she knew that today was not the day to bring it up. They had just taken a big step in their relationship, and Belle was certain that Lor might close himself off from her emotionally, if she wasn't very careful about asking him. She placed the letter back in the stack, and closed the box. She continued to clean, avoiding the box in the corner as she wondered what other secrets he was keeping from her.

A/N: Thank you so much to all of the followers, and to everyone who favorited and reviewed. I am so happy that all of you are enjoying reading the story. It is a joy to write it. Anyway, chapter six's title comes from the song "No One is to Blame" by Howard Jones, and this chapter's title come's from ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me".

Next chapter is the Picnic on the Green, and will probably be longer than usual because there is a lot that I want to happen. Okay, scratch that, a LOT longer than usual. The muse called, and I could not stop. Get ready for Regina, Ruby and the rest of the gang, and finally, Henry!