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I do not own 'Once Upon a Time.'
Chapter 8
Emma stumbled out into the living room the next morning, groaning in pain. Her arm hurt worse than it did the night before, and on top of that, she had a few bruises from the fall she took during her scuffle that were making themselves known in a bad way. "Emma! Good morning – why don't you go back to bed, I can get you whatever you need." Belle said, turning around and looking up from the book she was reading while sitting on the living room sofa.
"What are you doing here? I mean – hi, Belle. But seriously – what are you doing here?" Emma asked.
"Bae didn't want to leave you alone, he asked me to come stay with you until his meeting was over." Belle said.
"I told him I don't need a babysitter. I'm fine." Emma said, and she headed toward the kitchen. Belle got up and followed her. Emma opened one of the cupboards, looked inside, and sighed in frustration. "Dammit, the boys at the last pop tart!" she shouted.
"Why don't you go sit down, I'll make you something." Belle suggested.
"I can take care of myself." Emma insisted. She instinctively reached to open the refrigerator door with her left hand, then winced in pain. "Damn." she whined, then she kicked the refrigerator in anger.
"Emma, come on, sit down. My gosh, you and Nick could rival one another with your tempers." Belle said, as she led Emma to the table. Emma reluctantly sat down. "What did you want to get?"
"Orange juice." Emma said. "I can get it." Emma started to stand up but Belle pushed her down.
"I'm here to help, Emma. Please – just let me help." Belle said as she went to the refrigerator. She took the orange juice out and poured Emma a glass, then handed it to her. "I think sometimes we need people to take care of us, it doesn't mean we're weak, it just means we're human. Now – what else do you want me to get for you?"
"Can you get me a new life?" Emma asked, and she put her right elbow on the table, put her face in her hand, and sighed.
"Something wrong with the one you have now?" Belle asked.
"Yeah. It sucks." Emma said.
"Oh, I don't think it does. You've got a good job, two lovely boys, and a wonderful husband." Belle said.
"Well, two out of three ain't bad." Emma said. "Not too sure about the 'wonderful husband' right now." Belle sat down at the table with her.
"I know that you and Bae are having issues, but all of that can be worked out. For heaven's sake, do you think Nick and I never argue?" Belle asked.
"Not that I've seen." Emma replied.
"We have disagreements all the time – we just don't let them hang around. We had a little tiff recently actually, I just couldn't reason with him, so I left the room and went to bed. We didn't even cuddle that night." Belle told her. "We slept on it and worked things out the next day." Emma laughed a bit.
"That's your biggest worry? Missing a night of spooning? You know when the last time was that Bae and I even – well – it's been a while, let's just put it that way." Emma said.
"Nick mentioned something to Bae and I think it's worth it to run it by you as well. Why don't the two of you spend a weekend together in a hotel in town right after my gala? I'll take care of all of the expenses, Nick suggested that it be an early Christmas present. And the boys can stay with us." Belle told her.
"I don't know. I mean it sounds nice it THEORY." Emma said.
"It CAN be nice. It can be whatever you want it to be. But you have to TRY Emma. Isn't your marriage worth at least that much effort?"
"How do you guys do it? You and Nick? You're just always so – happy." Emma said. "You've got a perfect relationship, a perfect kid – Henry is in a league that I can't even comprehend, I think he's actually more like you than me or Bae and I have no idea how in the hell that happened. And Neal is – I don't know what he is. He's unfocused and goofy and – I don't know how to relate to that. I don't know how to relate to either of my children. What kind of mother does that make me?" Belle looked down and became quiet for a moment.
"I don't relate to Olivia very well. I never have." Belle admitted. Emma just stared at her in disbelief.
"Oh, come on – you two do everything together, she's like your own personal mini-me." Emma said.
"Olivia is nothing like me at all. And the older she gets – the more I'm realizing that – I'm not sure I'm ever going to be as close with her as I wanted to." Belle admitted. "I've always been very quiet, very introverted – Olivia has always been a – well for lack of a better term, a 'queen bee' of sorts. She's a very definitive leader, and I'm not. But in some ways – she's also a follower. She's always worried about what other people think, and that trait is displaying itself even more as she gets older. I used to be like that in some ways but – not as much as her. And I really don't think we have much in common, she has far more in common with Nick, but even that is changing now, too. Sometimes I wonder – if she weren't my daughter – would I even like her? I think I get on with Henry better than I do with my own daughter." Belle started to cry a little bit.
"Holy shit." Emma said.
"My mother and I were so close when I was a girl, and I lost her when I was so young, but – we did everything together. I wanted to have that with Olivia, and I've tried so hard, but – it's just not happening and I don't know how to fix that." Belle said, and she tried to pull herself together. "Sorry. Look, I shouldn't be prattling on to you about these things, I'm here to help you out." Belle said. "What else do you want, you need to have something else. Orange juice isn't breakfast."
"Well, since pop tarts are out of the questions – I'll just take some cereal. Froot Loops are good." Emma said. Belle laughed a bit.
"Nick likes those too – he's too embarrassed to eat them in front of Olivia, he always waits until she leaves for school." Belle said as she got up and prepared a bowl of cereal for Emma, then gave it to her and sat back down.
"You know – if you would have told me twenty years ago that one day I'd be sitting in my kitchen with Belle French sharing stories with her about how inadequate we feel as parents, I'd have thought you were crazy." Emma said, and Belle laughed a bit.
"I don't think either of us are inadequate. I just think that – our children are who they are, and that's not necessarily who WE want them to be."
"Henry's crazy about you, you know. I was um – kind of jealous of you for a while. Felt like you bonded with him more than I did." Emma admitted.
"Henry loves you so much. So does Neal. And I know that Olivia loves me, we just – we don't get to decide their fate, as much as that's what we'd like. They do." Belle said.
"Well, this has been an – enlightening conversation." Emma said as she stood up, having finished her breakfast.
"I'll get that." Belle said.
"I can put a dish in the sink, Belle, I'm not that helpless." Emma said, and she did so without difficulty. "I want to take a shower. That'll be fun – the doctor said he doesn't want me getting this bandage wet for at least three days."
"Oh, I think I can help with that. Where are your trash bags?" Belle asked.
"Trash bags?" Emma asked. "They're in the closet, why?" Belle walked over to the closet and found the trash bags and took one out.
"Do you have any rubber bands?" Belle asked.
"Yeah – I think Henry has some in his room." Emma said.
"Well, here's what you do. You put the trash bag around your arm before you get in the shower, and you put a rubber band around the top. No water gets in. It's a little trick I learned when I broke my arm a few years ago." Belle told her.
"Thanks." Emma said. "Never would have thought of that."
"Let me know if you need any help." Belle said.
"I think I'll be fine. Thanks Belle – for helping me out." Emma said.
"We're family. It's what we do." Belle said.
"You know, you're not bad for a mother-in-law." Emma joked as she walked out of the room.
The doorbell rang a couple of hours later at the apartment. After a bit more time talking, Belle convinced Emma to go back to bed, take some of her pain pills, and take a little nap. Belle could tell that Emma was hiding the level of pain she was actually having; she had become a bit of expert on recognizing this in all of her years with Nick, as he would often do the same at times when his leg was bothering him.
Belle went to the door and opened it. "Can I help you?" Belle asked.
"Yeah, I'm looking for – Emma." Walsh said, and he stared at her awkwardly. "You know – you look exactly like -"
"Belle French. I know – I get that all the time." Belle said, smiling at him.
"You – kinda sound like her, too." Walsh said.
"That's because I am her. You must be Walsh, she told me you'd be stopping over. Emma probably didn't tell you, I'm – I'm kind of her mother-in-law. Through marriage, I'm married to her husband's father." Belle told him.
"Seriously? I mean – obviously, seriously, you're standing right here, but – wow."
"It's okay." Belle said. "Emma's taking a nap right now – please, come in." Walsh entered the apartment – he was carrying an envelope and a grocery store bag.
"How is Emma doing?" Walsh asked.
"She's alright. Still quite sore, but – I'm sure in a day or two she'll be feeling much better." Belle told him. "She said you were bringing the report for her to look over."
"Oh – yeah, here." Walsh said, and he handed her the envelope. "I've also got – this." Walsh handed the bag to Belle, and she looked inside and laughed – there were two boxes of pop tarts inside the bag. "She asked me to stop at the store. I didn't know if she wanted frosted or not frosted, so – I got both."
"Well, I'll make sure she gets them. Thank you." Belle said.
"Right." Walsh said, still staring at Belle. "Um – you, um – I'm sorry, I just – love your movies. And that TV show you did a few years ago, when you played the alcoholic former TV star."
"Lacey – yes – she was fun." Belle said.
"I mean – you were just – amazing." Walsh said. "I sound like a fanboy stalker, don't I?" Belle laughed a bit.
"No, not at all. And thank you, I appreciate that you enjoy my work." Belle said.
"I should um – probably go. Tell Emma to call me later and let me know if the report is okay." Walsh said.
"I will. It was nice meeting you, Walsh." Belle said, and she walked Walsh to the door. About thirty minutes after he left, Bae arrived home.
"Hey – sorry my meeting took a little longer than I thought it would. Where's Emma?" Bae asked as he took off his jacket.
"She's sleeping, I just checked on her a few minutes ago." Belle said. "She had breakfast and took a shower, she was up for a while but I could tell she was hurting so I convinced her to take some of her pain meds and take a nap."
"How the hell did you manage that? It was all I could do to get her ass in bed last night, she was on the phone with Graham for over an hour going over the whole incident report." Bae said.
"I guess I have a lot of practice with stubborn people. I AM married to your father, after all." Belle said.
"I've been with Emma longer than you've been with my dad, how come I haven't mastered that skill?" Bae asked.
"Probably because you're BOTH stubborn people." Belle commented. "Take good care of her, Bae. Emma is hurting a lot more than she's admitting. And not just physically."
"Yeah." Bae replied. "You know I um – I think I'll take you and my dad up on that weekend offer."
"Good, I'm glad. Where did you want to stay? I know, how about the Waldorf Towers? That'll be a nice little weekend." Belle suggested.
"The Waldorf, are you kidding me? We're not the fucking royal family." Bae said.
"Well – maybe it'll be a nice change for Emma. Spend a weekend treating her like a princess." Belle said.
"You have MET my wife, right? The last time she wore a dress was at Ruby's wedding." Bae said.
"Just because a girl doesn't dress like a princess doesn't mean she won't enjoy being treated like one now and then. Besides – what's the point of having a stepson if you can't spoil him and his wife once in a while?"
"That's usually not how it goes in the books." Bae said.
"Well, that's how it goes with me. I better get going, I have a hair appointment and then I have to get ready, your father and I have our date night tonight." Belle said.
"Your what?" Bae asked.
"Date night. Once a month, we pick a night, we go out to dinner, for a walk if it's nice out, that sort of thing. We've been doing this for a few years now. Olivia usually stays with Ruby for the evening. Nick likes to make it all romantic, he picks me up in a limo, it's very sweet. You and Emma should try it sometime."
"Right. I'll put that on the list of things to do." Bae said.
"Well, you need to do something, Bae. The weekend is a start, but – the two of you really need to spend more time together. That's the key to it all – Nick and I hate being apart for too long. You know – I don't think we've been apart for more than fourteen or fifteen consecutive hours since Olivia was born."
"Don't you get sick of each other?" Bae asked.
"Why would I get sick of your father? I love him. Why would I want to be with somebody that I didn't want to – you know – BE with?" Belle asked. "Plus, I think we just feel like we missed so much time together. I mean, there was that whole time when I was being an idiot when we were first together and ran away, and then there's the fact of our ages and that we feel like we missed out on a huge part of what should have been our life together. I think we're always trying to make up for that, and maybe we do overcompensate but – we're alright with that. You and Emma need to learn to like each other's company better. That's where you start."
"I'm not really sure I could convince her to like my company." Bae said.
"Have you tried? Do something romantic for her. Something surprising. Your father and I are always doing little things for one another. It helps us stay connected." Belle said.
"Belle, I get that you guys feel like you have time to make up for, but if you two were any more connected you'd be conjoined twins." Bae remarked.
"Bae, you have two boys. They need their parents to get on with one another. You know what it's like when they don't from your own experience. Don't do that to them." Belle said. "I'll see you later – tell Emma to call me if she needs anything." Belle headed for the door. "Oh, and Emma's partner was here. He dropped off the report for her to look at and he stopped at the store to get her something she asked for, it's on the kitchen table. I'll see you later."
After Belle left, Bae went into the kitchen. He saw the envelope and bag sitting on the table. Bae opened the bag up and looked inside. "What the hell?" Bae said as he looked inside.
"Hey." Emma said as she entered the kitchen. "Did Belle leave?"
"Yeah. Walsh brought you something." Bae said, holding up one of the boxes of pop tarts.
"Oh, thank god, the boys go through these things before I even get to them." Emma said, and she dove into the box and grabbed a package. "Can you open this for me?"
Bae took the package and opened it, then handed it back to Emma. "You called him and asked him to run errands for you? Why didn't you call me?" Bae asked.
"Because I was talking to him on the phone about the report and I just thought of it and asked him, do you have a problem with that?" Emma asked as she placed the pastries in the toaster.
"No. No problem at all." Bae said dryly, and he picked up the boxes and put them in the cupboard.
"Seriously Bae, are we going to actually have an argument about pop tarts?" Emma asked.
"Who's arguing? Am I arguing?" Bae asked.
"You're not NOT arguing." Emma replied. "What else do you want to call it?"
"You know what, forget it. How are you feeling?" Bae finally asked.
"Tired. I hate these damn pain pills." Emma told him. "I just wanted to grab something quick to eat, then I'm gonna go back and lie down." The pop tarts popped out of the toaster, and Emma grabbed them and sat down at the table.
"You're not gonna look over the report Walsh brought over?" Bae asked.
"I'll do it later. I talked to him this morning, it sounds like he actually knows what he's doing." Emma said.
"Yeah. Too bad he didn't know what he was doing yesterday." Bae said.
"I already told you, it was a rookie mistake, he's sorry." Emma told him.
"Yeah, he's sorry. What would I have told the boys if he hadn't gotten there when he did? You think 'sorry' would have cut it for them?" Bae asked. "Emma, I told you when you took on the training responsibility that I didn't like it, I don't like you riding with rookies."
"Someone has to ride with them! And excuse me, not to brag or anything, but I'm the best fucking detective they've got, why wouldn't they want the best training them? Yeah, maybe I bitch about it sometimes and maybe it does get frustrating, but I'm teaching them to be GOOD COPS and we need that!" Emma shouted at him. "You want me to ask Graham to take me off of training duty? Fine. I'll do it. When you fire Tamara."
"What the fuck does Tamara have to do with anything?" Bae asked angrily.
"You know how I feel about her. And you don't give a shit. So why should I give a shit what you think about any aspect of MY job?" Emma asked.
"Tamara isn't going to get me KILLED!" Bae shouted.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Emma said, and she stood up.
"What the hell does that mean?" Bae asked. "I am NOT cheating on you with Tamara! I'm not cheating on you with anyone!"
"I'm not having this conversation right now, Bae. In case you forgot, I was STABBED on the job last night. Not that you give a shit, you went off and had your meeting anyway!" Emma shouted.
"You TOLD me to!" Bae shouted in reply.
"You wouldn't have listened to me if I'd have said anything else! You know what? Forget it." Emma said, and she stormed out of the room. Bae sighed and paused for a moment, then followed her. When Bae walked into their bedroom, Emma was sitting on the edge of the bed crying. Bae quietly sat down next to her on her right side.
"I'm sorry." Bae whispered, putting his arm around her. "Emma, I'm sorry." Emma looked up at him.
"I was scared." Emma admitted. "I'm a cop, I'm not supposed to get scared."
"Hey – it's alright, you're allowed to be scared. I was scared too when I got that phone call." Bae told her. Emma leaned her head on his shoulder. "You're right – I should have canceled the meeting, I should have stayed here with you. I'm here now, okay? I'm not going anywhere."
"What's happening to us, Bae? How did we end up like this?" Emma asked.
"I don't know." Bae said. "My dad and Belle, they want to give us a weekend getaway at a fancy hotel."
"Yeah, Belle told me about it." Emma said.
"You want to?" Bae asked.
"Yeah. I do." Emma said.
"Okay." Bae said, and he kissed Emma on the forehead. "Come on – lie down, get some rest." Bae helped her lie back in bed and covered her with blankets. "I'll take care of dinner tonight, what do you want?"
"Whatever." Emma said.
"No, you're the one that's hurt – you pick." Bae said.
"Wouldn't mind some spaghetti." Emma said.
"Okay. That I can manage." Bae told her. "You want me to stay with you for a bit?"
"Yeah." Emma whispered. Bae leaned back in the bed and Emma snuggled up to him. He ran his fingers through her hair gently until she fell asleep.
"So you think they'll work things out, then?" Nick asked as he sat across from Belle at dinner that evening.
"Nick, I can't say what they will or won't do, but – both of them seem to want to make the effort. We really can't interfere that much, they are adults." Belle said.
"They're not really acting much like adults lately. Henry acts like more of an adult than they do." Nick said.
"Are you really in a place to judge, Nick? I mean – given your past?"
"I suppose not." Nick said. "Alright, enough talk about Bae and Emma, you're probably right, not much we can do anyway. So – we're all set for the gala then?"
"Pretty much. I'm excited, I think it's going to be so much fun, especially with Zelena's show!" Belle said.
"Yes, that will indeed be interesting. I wonder what doom and gloom she'll predict for your unsuspecting guests when she reads their palms." Nick said.
"Oh, come on, it wasn't doom and gloom, that could have meant anything. And the more I studied it, the more I kind of agree with you, its rubbish."
"You didn't think it was rubbish when you were doing it to me. You actually made some good points." Nick said.
"Well, I changed my mind. I was probably doing it wrong anyway, I found some other books and they were completely different." Belle told him.
"Wait a minute – you actually researched this?" Nick asked, and he started to laugh.
"Well, you know I like to study things." Belle said. "Stop laughing at me, I can't help it if I'm curious."
"Alright. I'm sorry love – I'll stop giving you a hard time." Nick said. "By the way – you look exceptionally lovely tonight. Is that a new dress?"
"Yes, it is." Belle said. She was wearing a sparkly blue dress.
"Well, it's stunning. But then again – you make it stunning. And I love you in blue, it brings out your eyes."
"Well, you look quite handsome yourself." Belle said. Nick was wearing a black suit with a purple shirt. "I really do like you in suits. I know that they tend to remind you of all those years ago, but – it's nice to see you wear them once in a while. I like you in purple, too."
"Yes, the things I do for you." Nick said. He reached for her hand across the table and kissed it softly. "So – are we doing dessert here, or – at home?"
"At home sounds nice." Belle teased. "I um – I picked something up the other day that you might like, too. It's um – very small, and – lacey and – see-through."
"Well, that sounds lovely. I'm assuming you're wearing it, not me." Nick said.
"I don't know, it might look cute on you." Belle teased, and they both laughed as they continued to hold hands across the table.
"Nick? Belle?" a voice said, interrupting their intimate moment. They both turned to look up.
"Zelena. Hi – are you here alone?" Belle asked.
"Yes, just finished dinner. I like this place, it's – very nice. I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt your evening I just saw you here and thought I'd say hello." Zelena said.
"It's fine. How is your project going?" Nick asked.
"Oh, it's going perfectly. I think I'm – right on target with it, actually." Zelena said.
"Nick said you were making something for your husband, that sounds wonderful. You must miss him very much." Belle said.
"Oh, I do. But I got to talk to him today, so – that always makes me feel much better." Zelena said.
"Any word on when he'll be back?" Belle asked.
"Oh – as of now, it looks like he should be with me shortly after your Thanksgiving holiday." Zelena said. "I can't wait to have him home."
"I can imagine. And such a nice time too, New York is all decorated for the holidays. Nick and I love to go walking around to look at all the decorations." Belle said.
"That's what we're doing? I thought we were going out so that you can buy out every store on Fifth Avenue." Nick commented, and Belle made a face at him.
"Well, I have to be honest – once he gets home I'm not even sure we'll leave the house. I think we may be bunkered in for days. Weeks, even." Zelena said. "Well, I should let you go – I'll see you later. I'm really looking forward to the gala next week, too. It should be quite an evening."
"Yes, it should be. Nice seeing you." Belle said, and Zelena walked away.
"Well – you still think she has some little crush on me? It's obvious the only person she's in love with is her husband." Nick said.
"She's never said his name though, I wonder why that is." Belle said.
"Maybe he doesn't have one." Nick said.
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, everyone has a name." Belle said.
"Well, maybe it's something strange. She said he's Scottish, there are some bizarre names out there, trust me." Nick told her.
"Maybe his name is Rumpelstiltskin." Belle teased.
"I thought we let that running joke go a long time ago." Nick said, not amused.
"Yes, but – it is fun to bring up on occasion." Belle said. "You ready to go? Rumple?"
"You call me that again and you're going to be in quite a mess of trouble when we get home." Nick said.
"Oh, really? Well – then I guess I'll be calling you that for the rest of the evening. Rumple." Belle said playfully. Nick just smiled as he stood up and offered her his hand, and he let out a mild groan as he did so.
"Are you alright?" Belle asked.
"Leg is just stiff. I've been sitting all day at the spindle, just need to get up and move about." Nick said.
"You've been sore a lot the past couple of weeks, far more than usual, and your limp is more pronounced, especially at the end of the day." Belle commented. "You were supposed to go for a check-up with your ortho doctor earlier this year, you never did that."
"Belle, I'm fine, I don't need to waste half of a day sitting around in a doctor's office only for him to tell me that everything looks good. Besides, the weather is changing, it's getting colder, you know my arthritis acts up when that happens." Nick told her.
"Well, I still think you should go in and get looked at. Besides you're due for a new brace." Belle said.
"I'll get to it after the holidays, alright? Come on, let's go – have dessert." Nick said, smiling at her, and they headed toward the exit walking hand in hand. As soon as they reached the door, a paparazzi who was waiting there for a chance celebrity sighting called out to them.
"Belle! Over here!" the cameraman shouted. Belle and Nick both turned around. Belle half smiled at the man, while Nick didn't look the least bit pleased. "Can I get a couple of pictures?"
"Of course." Belle said politely, still holding on to Nick's hand.
"Mr. French, can you look at the camera?" the man asked. Nick glared at him, and Belle squeezed his hand tightly, smirking to herself a bit. He reluctantly complied, and after taking a few shots, the man thanked them and they went on their way.
The entire time they were being photographed, Zelena stood off in a corner watching, unseen by them, a scowl of anger covering her face.
Next chapter sneak peek:
There's a very real probability for smut in the next chapter.
Actually, there's definitely smut in the next chapter.
