Belle set silently across from Gold at the kitchen table staring into her glass of hot tea. "I could have made hot chocolate if you had rather drank that; I don't mind." Belle looked up at him watching her; she managed a weak smile.
"No, this is fine, thank you. You didn't have to do this, I didn't mean to wake you; I've always had nightmares, it's nothing for you to be concerned about." Gold stirred his cup quietly before taking a sip of the hot amber liquid and swallowing. Belle watched as his adams apple bobb in his throat. He didn't take his eyes off of her. She could tell he wanted to question her, but he was fortunately restraining himself. He wished Belle would confided in him on her own; he didn't wish to pry especially since they really had only known each other for a few days but for some reason to him it seemed like so much longer.
She wiped at her eyes, even through she was no longer crying and upset she imagined they looked as red and puffy as they felt; perhaps she should go wash her face; she took a drink of the tea, it tasted good. He made a sound clear his throat.
"I see your leg is all better, your no longer using your crutches; perhaps it's time for you to see the loft, maybe you will find it too your liking." Belle had temporarily forgotten about the apartment above the garage he had offered her. Part of her wanted to see it, to have a place of her own but there was that spot that lived deep down that feared being alone. After all this time she was still scared of the night; fearful she would wake up to hear her father coming into her room, she nodded her head. She guessed that he didn't relish her waking him up at all hours of the night with her silly nightmares; if she were in the loft he wouldn't have to be bothered with her.
"That will be great, I look forward to it." Gold noticed she didn't sound enthused. He found that he had actually enjoyed her company for these past few days but he figured that she would surely want a space of her own and not be bumping into some old man around every corner. She had never really had her own place and he wanted her to experience that freedom; staying here in his guest bedroom couldn't possibly give her what she needed which he was sure was space; and the freedom to be an adult with out a guardian always around.
"Would you like to talk about your nightmare; I heard that it helps?" Belle bit her bottom lip, she didn't want to look at him. She was sure that the guilt of her past was plainly etched upon her face; she would be mortified to tell Gold what she had allowed both her father and Whale do . He would never want such a person around him; who would. Belle vigorously shook her head no.
"You don't want to hear it I'm sure and I don't want to tell it. I've spent my life trying to put my past behind me, dredging it up won't help; nothing can, let's just forget about it." Gold didn't want to push her; she would have told him if she wanted him to know. He nodded his head slowly before drinking the last of his tea and scooting his chair back; he got to his feet. "Well, we have a busy day tomorrow so I suggest we both try to get some sleep." Belle picked up both of their cups and put them in the sink before going to her bedroom. She noticed his light still on, it's glow peeking out from under his door before she closed hers and climbed into bed willing her nightmares away. Thankfully she got some sleep before the sun awoke her a few hours later.
She slipped on her freshly cleaned clothes and brushed out her hair with her fingers in the mirror of the dresser. she twisted her long hair and piled it into a bun, tucking it through itself so that it would stay without aid of a ponytail holder. She could hear the running of the shower in the bathroom so went on into the kitchen to start something to eat before they went to the shop; she wanted to make Mr. Gold breakfast. There wasn't much to eat in his fridge; must be a bachelor thing but she did spy some cream cheese in the fridge and a bag of wheat bagels on the counter. She boiled a little water and whipped up a few smothered in cream cheese and had them layed out by the time he emerged from his bedroom in his suit. Belle could smell his cologne; it was nice she thought as she smiled at him, holding up a plate of bagels for him. "I thought I'd make us a little something if that's alright, guess I'm a breakfast eater, hope you don't mind." Gold wasn't much for eating first thing but he couldn't refuse when she had obviously went to the trouble for him, he plucked one off the plate.
As he sipped his tea a ringing of the doorbell caught his attention.
Gold put down his cup before answering the door to the UPS man and several large boxes. Belle came up behind him, curious as to what it could all be. "Do you mind bringing them into the living room?" The delivery man nodded his head as he began putting the boxes down in the floor before going out for more. Six large boxes and one long one in all, Belle wondered would they could all be. Gold signed for them and the man left shutting the door behind him. "That was fast" he said as he folded the paperwork in half and layed it down on the coffee table; Belle was jumping with curiosity about them.
"What on earth is in all of these; there are huge. Is it antiques?" She figured it must be something for his shop. Gold went into the kitchen and retrieved a utility knife and unsealed a box. Belle practically squealed with delight to discover it was her clothes; but this was a lot more than what she had ordered, this was an entire wardrobe not just the few things she had picked out. She stepped back as she opened one that was filled with nothing but shoes, in every color she could imagine; ten pairs in all. She plucked a pair of heels out of the box; they were silver dress shoes and they were exquisite. She looked over at Gold who stood watching her as he leaned on his cane.
"Well, go one open another dearie, I for one would like to see what is in each one; Belle did. It seemed he had made a few purchases of his own after she had selected the items she wanted. As she opened each box she discovered blouses of every color and sweaters and another box full of jeans and slacks; another full of belts and a few purses, more than she could have ever hoped. The only box that remained was the long box. She gasped as she opened it see a garment bag not even daring to imagine what lay inside,and unzipping it reveling the most beautiful gown Belle had ever seen. It was a dove grey evening gown made of silk. Sequin straps graced the neck but what set it apart was the backless plunging cut; it looked like something you would see an actress wear to the Oscars, where would she ever wear this too? She turned back to Gold; he could see the question on her face.
"In a few weeks there is to be a charity event, I was hoping you might accompany me; that is if you feel up to it. Mostly dancing and dinner; I'd understand if you'd rather not be seen with an old monster like me. Belle smiled; how could he think something like that, did he think so little of himself?. She zipped the dress back up into it's protective bag.
"I don't know how to dance and I've never owned a pair of heels in my life; I'm sure it will will the other way around; I'll embarrass you I'm sure. Gold snorted. "Don't worry we have a few weeks and I can show you enough that if anyone asks you to dance you will be able to maneuver your way around the floor gracefully." Belle frowned, she didn't really like the idea that someone would ask her to dance.
"You mean I won't be dancing with you?" Gold raised an eyebrow at her in question.
"As lovely as you are dear they will be lined up to ask you I'd think, but that dearie is entirely up to you, alright?" Belle seemed to visibly relax. She stared in awe at the boxes of clothes, it was more than anything she had ever owned in her life.
"Why don't you take these things to your room and tonight you can begin putting them away and we can go over a few steps." Belle nodded, she was at a loss for what to say or how to thank him for his kindness.
By the time Gold and Belle returned home that evening after working at the shop all day Belle was exhausted. She had organized all the books at the shop and Gold had caught her looking through several. he relented and let her take a few home since she had never heard of Dickens and he had to confess the look of pure joy on her face was one he would miss when she moved into the loft. They had stopped to grab some take out on the way home, he would really have to break down go to the grocery this weekend, but he had promised her after dinner he would show her a few simple dance steps.
Belle felt silly as she strapped on the dress shoes with her blue jeans and looked at herself in the mirror. They did make her taller, so tall in fact she felt as if she were walking on stilts. Gold had turned on some incredibly dull music that she had never heard before and scooted the coffee table out of the middle of the living room with her help. They both felt a little silly as the music started and they came together. Gold timidly put his hand at her waist as he held up his other for her to take. Belle stepped closer as they took their stance and waited for the music to begin. "Now I want you to just follow me; No, no don't look at your feet, just feel the music." Belle didn't know where to look, how would she know where her feet where if she didn't look at them. "Just close your eyes, that's it" she listened to Gold's voice in her ear as she shut her eyes and did as he instructed; before she knew it they were gliding around the livingroom.
"Now, open your eyes dearie, your dancing." Belle slowly opened her eyes, it felt like a dream; right before she stepped on his toes.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" Belle had noticed that she could hardly tell he had a limp at all as they danced, well, she fixed that didn't she. Those shoes must have hurt, why did she do a better job with her eyes shut?
"It's quite all right, you did marvelous for your first time." He shook off the stabbing pain in his foot and held his arms out once more for her to dance which she gladly accepted. Belle did much better the second time around and this time when she opened her eyes she didn't make a fool of herself. She kept her eyes on his as the music played; he smiled at her as she glided around the room on the high heels he had bought her. For the first time she noticed how dark his eyes were, the brown like the color of chocolate; she wondered why she hadn't noticed it before.
The music stopped yet Belle felt like she never wanted too; she had no idea she would have enjoyed dancing so much, it made her feel free. Gold was enjoying himself as well. Usually these charity balls were insufferable but perhaps with Belle for company he could somehow get through the night without looking for the exit door. All they were interested in was money, but he thought it might be a chance for Belle to experience something nice and when he had found the dress on line he knew that it had been made for her.
"Well, I guess first lessons over." They both laughed at Gold's obvious statement as they stepped away from each other. They had fit so perfectly well together, even with her in heels, she just hoped she would do as well with that dress on; she had never owned a dress like that before and with no back she was sure she would feel positively naked in it. She could feel her face grow hot thinking about being in that dress in front of him; he sensed her discomfort.
"Is everything alright?"
Belle smiled at him, "Of course, I just hope I don't embarrass myself or you at this dance."
Gold chuckled at her statement, "Trust me dearie you won't."
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Belle stepped inside the loft. It was beautiful, even thought it was plain. White walls and a beige couch and small end table, a small kitchen with a table and two chairs. She liked the tub and the sink in the bathroom as well, but there was no character about it. "What do you think" Gold asked.
"Well, it could use a little color, a woman's touch." Gold tried to see it through her eyes.
"I guess your right. We can go pick out some paint if you'd like, what ever you want. I could even hire some painters if you'd like to move in faster?" Belle shook her head. I'd like to paint it myself, of course I wouldn't be opposed if you'd like to help. I'm used to doing things myself, there's no sence in hiring someone to do something I can do just as well. Of course I might have to stay in your guest room a few more days until it's all finished, if that's alright?" Gold's eyes lite up at the prospect of having her there longer.
"Of course dearie can't have you breathing in all those fumes now can we?"
It was settled at the paint store; the bedroom would be yellow with white trim and the Kitchen would be a soft pale blue much like the color of Belle's eyes Gold thought as she held up the sample. This might take longer than expected if she was going to redo every room and it was fine with him. He wasn't sure the silence that would return with Belle out of his house and into the loft would be a welcome one.
Besides there was the problem with Belle's nightmares. they of course were frequent visitors. Gold offered to take a seat in the chair in Belle's room until she feel asleep and it seemed to work. At first she felt self conscious about it; a man in her room how could that possibly help but he would read to her as she lay there listening to the soothing sound of his voice as he read Charles Dickens to her until her eyes grew heavy, he was fast becoming her favorite autor. sometimes Gold would stay long after she had drifted off, sipping his scotch; watching her for any signs of discomfort. Oddly enough those nights that he lulled her to sleep by reading, the nightmares would cease as if his presence kept them at bay.
During the days Belle would help him in the store. Now that the books had been categorized; well the ones that she didn't manage to talk him into taking home, she had went on to cleaning up the seemingly endless isles of trinkets. She fussed at him about everything being so cluttered and dusty and everyday she would come in and organize; they seemed to work well together although she still seemed nervous about wanting to leave to eat anywhere or go into any stores; she was a terrible recluse Gold thought, even worse than him. When necessity did drive her into a store she was always quick to return to the car; never browsing or shopping around even though he paid her well for her services. She would safely put the money away in a container she bought, hiding it away under the bed.
The loft was coming along nicely and Belle was an excellent painter. The kitchen matched her eyes perfectly Gold thought as they finished it and stepped back to admire their handy-work while eating a sandwich on the small island in the middle of the room. "Guess that about does it dearie, you'll be free to move your things up here now." He had expected Belle to be happy but she just nodded her head and took another bite out of her sandwich quietly; he could tell something was bothering her.
"Don't you like it?" Belle smiled then and nodded but Gold could tell something was holding her back, she didn't seem herself. She could feel his eyes upon her as she stared down at her plate, she licked a little mayo off the corner of her lip.
"What if they come back," she stole a glance up at him.
"What comes back; oh your nightmares." Gold wiped his mouth with a napkin. He could sense her apprehension; he smiled reassuringly down at her before putting a hand over hers."Then I'll chase them away." Belle smiled but Gold noticed it was one of sadness.
"You can't climb these stairs every night just because I'm having a bad dream; that's silly. It's so childish of me to be 23 and still having nightmares." At once she straightened her shoulders with a look of determination, "I'm just not going to have them anymore I've decided." Gold laughed at her; she looked like a willful child, he had seen that same look on his son.
"I'll tell you what I'll leave the door unlocked and if you need to wake me you can come in; how would that be?" Belle shrugged her shoulders.
"I can't imagine I'd need too, but thank you all the same. This is my new home and there is nothing to be afraid of, right?" She looked up at him for reassurance.
"Right dearie, nothing at all."
Belle moved all her things up to the loft that evening instead of practicing her dancing with Gold, after all the gala was tomorrow night, if she didn't have it down by now she was never going to, but Gold missed their dancing just the same and as she hauled the last of her things up the stairs he felt the silence in the house overwhelm him already.
There was a small part of him that hoped she would have a reservation about sleeping up there and ask to come back to her own bedroom; he wondered when he had stopped thinking of it as the guest room and started thinking of it as her room, he couldn't recall.
He made sure the back door remained unlocked as she said her good nights and he watched through the window as she climbed the steps to the loft closing the door leaving him alone in his big empty house once more. He poured himself a drink and sat in the living room staring into the fireplace even though there was no warming fire in there to see. He felt as cold and desolate as it looked as he drank his scotch before going down the hall into his room, turning out the lights and trying to get some sleep with that infernal security light blaring in his window. Tomorrow would be the charity ball, tomorrow he would be blessed with her company once more; he would take what he could get, what choice did he have. He tried to remember when her company started seeming so important to him; he couldn't recall that either.
