Bailey embraced him.
Even though it was only for a brief moment, his son had embraced him and Gold could hardly move, hardly think. He'd somehow mustered up a voice to respond to Bailey, but after the boy left, all Gold could do was stand rooted on the spot and feel his son's arms around him.
He'd needed the touch of the son for so long, and in that moment, his whole world felt complete again in nearly three hundred years.
Gold finally willed himself to move, slowly trekking to the back and sitting at his desk. He breathed in deep, not knowing how much longer he could keep up the façade. His son and his True Love were with him nearly every day, and not knowing who he truly was to them was more agonizing than not having them at all at times. But Gold would take what he was dealt from the curse, knowing one day soon it would break and they'd remember him and they could be a family.
The next week went by as usual. Bailey's enthusiasm was flying as he kept the pawnshop tidy and asked questions about how the business worked. Gold felt like flying himself, feeling closer to Bailey than before. Bailey invited him over Saturday, informing him that it was Isabelle's birthday. Gold knew it was only her cursed birthday, but to Isabelle it was important and Gold would be there for her.
Gold raised his hand to knock on the back door of the floral shop, hesitating when he heard commotion from the other side. A loud clatter sounded from behind the door and Bailey's voice could be heard coming closer. Something was amiss, he could feel it.
Passively knocking, Gold waited anxiously for someone to reveal the mystery. When Bailey answered the door, he smiled brightly at Gold, inviting him in. Gold peered around, taking in the two stuffed backpacks sitting on the kitchen table, along with a sack that had a label indicating it was a tent haphazardly leaning against a chair. The clatter of the poles was most likely what he'd heard.
"Bailey, what's going on?" Gold asked, sweeping a hand at all the camping supplies.
"Grandpa and I are going camping" Bailey replied, excitedly.
"Going camping without me on my birthday!" Isabelle protested from the kitchen entranceway. She looked perturbed, hands planted on her slim hips and a slight pout of her lips, but her eyes held no anger.
Bailey jogged up to her, throwing an arm around her shoulder. Gold could see a plan cooking in the boy's head. His smile was overly innocent as he practically presented Isabelle to him. "That's why Mr. Gold is here, Mama. He wanted to come over for your birthday. Now you won't spend it alone."
Isabelle's face flushed, appearing quite mortified at the idea. "Bailey! You knew your grandpa was taking you camping, but you invited Mr. Gold over anyways?"
"It's all right, Ms. French" Gold intervened, catching the need for help in Bailey's eyes. He'd play along for today, but come Monday, he'd have a talk with the boy about his little matchmaking game. "Bailey explained the situation to me yesterday. It didn't seem right to leave a lady alone on her birthday."
The dismay melted from Isabelle's features, replaced with a curious smile. "Thank you, Mr. Gold."
Bailey practically beamed at them, and he hugged Isabelle tightly before scampering off to load the camping supplies in the delivery truck. Gold cleared his throat, awkwardly shifting his weight, Isabelle watching him intently.
"Would you like dinner at the diner?" he asked, wishing there was more he could give her than just a meal at a place she frequented.
"I hear Granny breaks out the fine china in the evening," Isabelle remarked jokingly, but her smile was genuine. "Let me change real quick and we can be on our way."
Bailey made one more appearance, grabbing up the tent and yelling a last "Happy Birthday" to Isabelle. "Thanks, Mr. Gold."
"We'll talk about this later, Bailey." He tried sounding parental, but it was hard to be stern with the boy when Bailey had procured a dinner with his True Love.
The engines of the delivery truck revved up, growing fainter until it disappeared a minute later. Gold stared at the kitchen table, his mind abuzz with the thought that he and Isabelle – his Belle – were going to dinner alone. He swallowing hard, not feeling this nervous since the first day Bailey had come to work for him.
"I'm ready." Isabelle's lithe voice broke him of his trance, and Gold snapped up his gaze, breathe catching. Isabelle was clad in a turquoise sundress, a white, satiny sweater hanging loose over the top. Her hair fell over her shoulders, lovely chestnut waves standing out against the pure fabric. Every time she'd come to the pawnshop, or he'd see her around town, she always dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. She was beautiful to him no matter what, but this sight was one to behold.
"Let's be off."
Granny breaking out the fine china in the evening was truly just a rumor, but Gold didn't care as he sat across from Isabelle, watching her order. A hamburger and iced tea. He'd have the same.
They chatted about Bailey's excitement over Gold's offer and Isabelle informed him that her father didn't know yet. It was best to keep it that way for the time being. Moe wasn't Gold's biggest fan, and he had his own plans for Bailey to run the floral shop.
"Why did you agree to what I offered Bailey?" Gold asked.
Isabelle nibbled her lip a moment then leaned against the table, clasping her hands together. "I don't want Bailey to feel stuck like I do." Flashes of the girl in a golden dress standing courageous in a room full of men crossed his mind's eyes. Belle had been stuck in a position of responsibly, having her life planned for her. "I want him to have the best opportunities possible, and I think working for you is the best he'll get in this whole town."
"But what about you?" Gold wondered aloud, "What do you want to do with your life, Ms. French?"
Isabelle frowned down at the table. "What I want to do will never happen. I wrote my dream off when I became pregnant at 16 years old and had to raise a baby without a father."
Gold was taken aback by her confess. She'd never talked about her past, and though he knew it was all false memories, he felt for her.
"I wouldn't trade Bailey for the world, but I wish it could have been different."
"But if you could do anything, what would it be?" Gold pressed, wanting to know her heart's desire. He'd do anything in his power to give Isabelle her dream.
Passion flashed in Isabelle's eyes. "I want to open the library again."
Gold held back a surprised chuckle. He should have guessed it. It was one of the first things he learned about Belle when she came to live with him. She loved books. Books were her passion, and opening the town's library would be her perfect dream.
"I'll see what I can do" he proclaimed, earning a disbelieving laugh from Isabelle.
"You'll get me a library, Mr. Gold?" she asked with a snort.
He smirked mischievously at her. "Perhaps, dearie." She didn't believe him, but he was Mr. Gold, owner of over half the town. He'd make it happen.
Their food arrived, and they had a pleasant meal much to Gold's delight. Evening had long set as they walked back to the floral shop. To Gold's surprise, Isabelle wrapped an arm around his as they walked and he basked in the feel of her warmth beside him. Any doubt that she wasn't interested in him completely faded with her touch.
"So, whose idea was this?" Isabelle asked, suspiciously.
"Excuse me, Ms. French?"
"The birthday dinner," Isabelle stated as if he knew exactly what she meant. "Was it yours or Bailey's idea?"
Gold halted as they arrived at the floral shop's door, a street lamp the only light casing down upon them. "Bailey is a very bright boy," he replied, not wishing to rat the boy out totally.
Isabelle smiled triumphantly. "I knew it! That little sneak!"
"Don't be upset with him." Gold tried to save the poor boy's hide.
Isabelle waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, no, I'm not. I had a lovely evening." Her eyes practically sparkled up at him, and Gold forgot to breathe as she stepped into his personal space. He heard her swallow as she drew closer, and before he knew it, Isabelle's lips were pressed against his.
The kiss was hesitant at first as if she were seeking permission. Gold parted his lips, deepening their connection and Isabelle followed, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her fingers teased the ends of his hair, sending Gold's mind on fire and he moaned into her mouth.
Isabelle broke away slowly, her warm breath huffing upon his face. "That-" she licked her lips and Gold wished to do the same, "felt so good."
"Oh yeah," Gold added breathless.
Isabelle slipped her palms down his shoulders, resting on the folds of his jacket. "This turned out to be one of the best birthdays. I'd hate for it to end."
Gold had to touch her. He'd restrained for so long, but now the wall was broken and he brushed the soft skin of her cheek with his knuckle. "Isabelle-"
"Stay with me?" The question spilled from her mouth, hope and anxiousness mixed together. "The boys will be gone for the night. I mean, I don't want to lead you on because it's too early to go further with…things, but-" she paused for mere seconds and Gold could hear his heart pounding in his chest, "I'd like you to stay."
"Isabelle," the need was written all over her face. "If you wish to talk all night or to have me lay beside you-" He cradled her cheek, their eyes never leaving one another. "I'll stay."
