Hello everyone!

I don't have much to say tonight, other than I am exhausted from a very busy week. I apologize for any mistakes and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Nine

Friday afternoon brought a very excited Belle. She didn't care that her friends were sending her odd looks at her obvious excitement. Ruby had been the bold one and asked her why she in such a upbeat mood considering everything. Belle had just shrugged and said she was looking forward to her weekend.

At the end of the day, Belle sped through her closing routine and hurried to get home to Gold's penthouse. That morning he had woken her up early and helped her back a bag that would last her until Sunday. She hadn't seen him since that morning and was eager to get home to him. She took a taxi to the penthouse and bounced on the balls of her feet as she rode the elevator up.

"Rumple?" she called as the stepped out, peering around the house.

"Kitchen," came his Scottish accent and she beamed, practically skipping to him.

He was just closing the lid to a picnic basket and smiled at she entered. "Do whatever you need to do and then we will get going."

Belle moved around the penthouse like a tornado. She quickly changed, ran a brush through her hair and went to the toilet. She hurriedly ran to Gold who was waiting patiently for in the living room.

"Does this mean you can tell me where we are going now?" Belle questioned as he lifted their one bag (they were sharing).

"Afraid not, sweetheart," Gold smirked. "You will just have to wait a just a bit longer."

"Rumple," Belle moaned playfully. "You are such a tease."

Gold just chuckled and guided her to the elevator. Instead of getting off at the lobby, they went all the way down to the basement where he led Belle to a black Cadillac. Belle sat in the front while Gold through their bag in the back, along with the picnic basket, and slid into the driver's seat.

Much to Belle's surprise, Gold drove them away from the city lights until they could no longer see them. They fell into comfortable conversation, teasing each other gently, bantering back and forth. Eventually though, Belle's curiosity got the best of her again.

"How about now?" Belle asked. "Can you tell me now?"

Gold sighed heavily. "I suppose I could shed some light." His smile betrayed that he wasn't serious. "We are going to a small cabin in the woods that I own." He hesitated and cleared his throat. "That is if you wish to come. If not, I can take you back-"

Belle cut him off before he could continue by gently laying her hand on his thigh and giving a squeeze. "Of course I want to go. It sounds wonderful." She felt him relax under her touch.

As the travelled further out of city the more excited Belle got. Even after her father arrest, she had still been tense but as they drove, she could feel herself relaxing and her excitement building. She was looking forward to spending some time alone with Gold, to get to know him better and perhaps move their relationship forward.

They stopped on the way and ate some dinner that Gold had packed for them before continuing on. By them they reached the cabin, it was past eleven o'clock and both were tired. Still, this did not stop Belle from leaping out of the car and looking up at the small cabin with awe.

"It's wonderful," Belle breathed. "Rumple, this is amazing. Thank you for brining me here."

He smiled at her and took the bag from the bag. He placed led her into the cabin, switching on the lights. He was content to watch her explore, taking in everything that he was offering her. He had purchased this bit of land after his divorce to his first wife and built the cabin himself. He braced himself as Belle came to some photos and looked at them curiously.

"My son," he said quietly, though in the silence it seemed much louder.

Belle turned, her hand still holding a picture frame with a young boy smiling at the camera.

"When he was younger, of course," Gold continued.

"You have a son?" she asked, eyes wide and a small smile quirking at her lips.

"Yes," he nodded. "But, it's late now and a story for another time."

Putting the picture frame back, Belle drifted back to his side. He led her through the rest of the cabin, pointing out things as he did and finally the ended in the bedroom. He put their bag down and Belle smiled up at him happily.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Rumple," Belle said.

"You are most welcome," Gold said. He watched her stifle a yawn and gently reached out, taking her hand. "You're tired."

"A bit," she admitted.

Gold nodded and moved to open the bag. Taking out her pyjamas' she slipped into the bathroom to change. He changed while she did and when she came out they were both ready for bed. They slipped in, covering themselves with the blankets. Belle shifted until she was fitted snugly into his side.


Gold awoke with a heavy weight on his chest.

"Good morning," Belle's sweet accent filled his ear.

Groggily he pried open his eyes and found her already awake. He smiled at her, pushing back her hair back from her face, letting his fingers get tangled in the brown curls. "Good morning."

Feeling bold, Belle leaned in and kissed him. She sighed happily when he kissed her back, the hand in her hair cradling the back of her head, holding her steadily. She rested her hand on her chest, her fingers beginning to toy with the hem of the sleeping shirt he wore. Slowly she let her fingers trail down his lean chest until she reached the hem. Then she slid her hand under.

His stomach jumped at the touch. He grunted softly at her exploring fingers and kissed her deeper. He was surprised when she grabbed his other hand, directing it to her top and placing it on her hip and broke the kiss. He stared at her, looking at her questioningly. She just smiled and pushed his hand under the top she wore until his palm was caressing the her stomach, fingertip brushing just under her breasts.

"Belle?" he asked, swallowing thickly. He was embarrassed by his reaction.

"Is this okay?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Yes," he said. "Only if you want it though."

Belle's smile was back. "I want to." She leant back down and kissed him again.

Gold hesitated, but the probing of Belle's tongue got him moving. He kissed her back, moving his hands to tease her, before cupping her breast. She moaned, arching into his touch and he pushed her onto her back, intent to show her how much he cared for her.


It was much later when the managed to leave the bedroom to eat. Belle watched as Gold whipped them up some breakfast and they ate it together, chatting about everything and anything. When they had finished, Belle brought up what had been weighing on her mind.

"Can you tell me about your son?" she asked hesitantly.

Gold was silent at first but eventually spoke. "My first wife didn't really want children, but we had a son, Balefire. I stayed home to look at him, doing some deals on the side." Gold's face suddenly hardened. "My wife was watching him one day while I made a deal. I came home and both were gone. Balefire was six. I didn't see him again until he was eighteen."

"She took him?" Belle gasped.

"Aye."

"Oh, Rumple. I'm so sorry. That must have been awful."

"It did cause some issues between Balefire and myself," Gold admitted. "He believed his mother when she said I had abandoned them both. He didn't know that I had been searching for them both. But, we worked through it. He understands I was there for him."

"And now?" Belle asked.

Gold lowered his head, gripping his can tighter. "Unfortunately he passed away."

Tears automatically filled Belle's eyes and she quickly took his hands in hers. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

He nodded, squeezing her hand to show he appreciated her words. "It's been a year now."

No knowing what to say, Belle scooted closer and wrapped him in a hug. He accepted the hug, pulling her closer. It had been a long time since her received affection of sympathy. He had forgotten what it was like to have someone to trust and rely on. Belle had brought back many emotions and he was thankful that he had her. He kissed the top of her hair, his throat tight with emotions.

They stayed like that for a while before Belle pulled away and smiled at him. "Thank you for sharing that with me."

Gold smiled at her adoringly, and smoothed her cheek with his hand. "Thank you, sweetheart."

Belle understood and smiled at him.

"How about a walk?" Gold suggested. "There is a lovely lake nearby that I think you will appreciate."

"I would like that," Belle said, taking his free hand. "Lead on."

Gold led her outside and the two of them took the trail that led them to the lake. Their conversation grew lighter, falling into their easy banter. Belle was taken by the beauty of the lake, expressing her excitement both physically and verbally.

They searched for flat rocks and Gold taught Belle how to skip them across the lake, commenting that he had once done the same with his son.

"My mother," Belle offered. "Used to take me down to the river and we would sit by the edge and she would read to me. Other times I would read and she would sketch."

"And your mother now?" Gold queried hesitantly.

"She passed away when I was six," Belle said, offering a small smile of reassurance. "That's when my father grew….over protective of me."

Gold bit his tongue on what he really wanted to say about Belle's father and instead said, "I'm sure she would have been beautiful."

"She was," Belle confirmed. She twisted a flat stone in her hand. "Okay, so how do I do this again?"

When they grew hungry, they wondered back to the cabin where Belle rummaged through the cupboards and whipped them up some lunch.

"I don't want to go back," Belle admitted after lunch, when they were curled up on the couch, enjoying one another's company.

"No," Gold agreed. "This has been a wonderful weekend away. One that I haven't had in a long time."

"Or ever," Belle added for herself. She curled tighter into his side and could feel his steady heartbeat beneath her. She smiled when Gold tangled their fingers together and kissed the top of her head. No, she never wanted this weekend to end.


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