Thanks for the reviews. I appreciate them and you for sticking with this story. 3
"I hear congratulations are in order," Regina said approaching Gold. "Your precious Belle is a having a baby."
Gold angrily gripped his cane and sucked in his breath. "Do not speak Belle's name or that of our child. If I so much as sense you are thinking it-"
"You'll what? Rip out my heart?" Regina teased. "Go ahead. I dare you."
Gold and Regina stood each other down until she cracked a sly grin.
"It is interesting that you're having a child with a woman who had no idea who you were just a few short months ago. I feel sorry for that poor deluded girl."
"I swear-" Gold said through gritted teeth.
"Don't waste your breath. I'm not looking for a fight," Regina conceded. "Because of you every time I use magic I'll age and I have too much to live for to waste my time on you. Not to mention - Henry is excited for his aunt."
"What?" Gold demanded glaring at Regina. "What do you know about this child?"
"Calm down. I don't know anything. No magic remember?" she said holding up her hands innocently. "I was guessing. All these little princesses have girls," Regina chuckled at Gold's defensiveness. "No harm will come to her from me. Not that you don't have plenty of other enemies to worry about."
"It is a beautiful day for a picnic," Belle said helping Gold lay down a blanket.
"I thought so," Gold agreed carefully watching Belle as she moved to sit down. "Do you need help?"
"I'm not that big yet," Belle said shaking her head. "I just started the second trimester a couple days ago."
"And you're feeling better? I read in the book that now you shouldn't be as sick," Gold noted handing her a burger.
"I feel much better. I can eat again but now I fear I'm eating too much. I basically devour anything with chocolate on it," Belle confessed.
"I know what to bring you next time."
"So are you going to tell me why you asked me to lunch or are you going to make me guess?" Belle playfully asked sipping her iced tea.
"I-" Gold began to protest but was quickly interrupted.
"Don't lie to me Rumpelstiltskin. I know when you're up to something. What is it?"
Gold paused to consider his options before he spoke. "I have a proposition for you."
"Really?"
"Come stay with me - in my house," Gold offered nervously. "You'll be safe. You'll both be safe."
"Are we in danger?" Belle asked worriedly.
"You've already been kidnapped and shot. I hardly think it's unreasonable for me to be concerned about your safety."
Nodding her head slightly, Belle was forced to agree with his argument. Her time in Storybrooke was a string of incidents. "Ok. Let's make a deal."
"A deal?" Gold repeated surprised.
"That's what you do isn't it?"
"What do you want?"
"I'll move in with you - if you go to Dr. Hopper with me."
"Dr. Hopper?" Gold snorted unaware that Belle was serious until he looked up at her.
"Do we have a deal?" Belle asked extending her hand.
Gold looked quizzically at her outstretched palm and then up to her face. "If that's your price."