I do not own 'Once Upon a Time.'

Chapter 10

Belle awoke the next morning still enveloped in Nick's arms. She lifted her head up and gazed upon his face. His hair was disheveled and falling into his eyes, and she lifted her hand and gently brushed it away. He did not stir at all, so she moved up a bit, and she kissed him, first on the cheek, then his lips, until he began to awaken. He tightened his grip on her as his eyes fluttered open. "Hi." Belle whispered with a smile on her face when he finally opened his eyes.

"Hey." he said in reply, and pulled her close. His arms wrapped tightly around her, he began to kiss her as he rolled her over without warning, and he pinned her underneath himself as she giggled. He gave her several kisses on the cheek and on her neck. "Last night – was magic."

"It was." Belle said, and she kissed him again.

"It's my understanding that all magic comes with a price, though." Nick told her.

"And what is your price?" Belle asked.

"How about this?" Nick said. He flipped the covers over his head and kissed her up and down her upper body as Belle giggled and held on to him tightly. After several minutes he popped his head back up, then rolled to the side, resting his head on her shoulder. "I think – we should just spend the day here. Together. Just like this." Nick said.

"Don't you have to go in to the shop?" Belle asked.

"Jefferson opens on Wednesdays. And I'll just call him and tell him to cancel my class tonight because – I'm spending the day in bed." he said.

"Well we do have to eat. How about I go make us some breakfast and I'll bring it to you – that can be the first thing that we do in bed today." Belle suggested.

"But not the only thing." Nick said.

"Of course not." Belle said, kissing him again. Nick sat up a bit, and propped his head up in the palm of his hand.

"So you cook? I thought you Hollywood types had people to do everything for you – cook your meals, clean your house, wipe your arse." Nick teased. Belle laughed.

"Well, first of all, I wipe my own arse. And I do have a cleaning service for my house but I do know how to vacuum and dust believe it or not. And whenever I'm home I do my own cooking. After my mum died I had to take care of my dad – he cooked alright but I helped quite a bit. So – I was thinking omelets for breakfast – what do you like?" Belle asked.

"Cheese is fine. Maybe some bacon mixed in." Nick said.

"Alright then – I will go make us breakfast." Belle said as she stood up.

"Like that?" Nick asked while he stared at her naked body.

"I love cooking in the nude, doesn't everyone?" Belle teased.

"Now that's not fair – my cane is in the other room, you have me trapped here and I can't get up to come out there and watch." Nick said.

"Well you'll just have to use your imagination then, won't you?" Belle teased as she bounced out of the room. Nick leaned back in his bed and sighed. He reached for the remote for his TV as he waited for Belle. He began to flip channels and in his search he found a morning talk show discussing the photos of Belle that had been leaked. Curious about what they were saying, he stopped to watch. Belle entered the room with a tray of food, now wearing the pajama top that had fallen onto the floor the prior evening. Nick moved to turn the channel.

"No, don't turn it off – I want to hear this." Belle said, setting the tray down and climbing back into bed with Nick. They sat together and quietly listened to the television; the show that was airing got every bit of information wrong as they speculated about Belle's scandalous photos.

"Belle, it's not worth it. You shouldn't have to listen to that garbage." Nick said, and he turned the television off. "They don't know what really happened anyway."

"They never do. Even if you explain your side in earnest, they just say whatever they like, doesn't matter if it's true or not." Belle said.

"Come on – eat your breakfast." Nick said, putting his arm around her. He picked up his coffee and took a drink. "You brought the chipped cup, I see."

"You really have been drinking out of that every day?" Belle asked.

"Yeah." Nick admitted. "This is good – you're a pretty good cook."

"Thank you." Belle said. "Nick – what are we doing here?"

"Well, I'm eating, and so are you, I thought that was obvious." Nick joked.

"You know what I mean." Belle said. "This. US. What is this?"

"I really don't know." Nick admitted. "Belle, I honestly thought I'd never see you again. Not because I didn't want to, but – well because – lots of reasons, I guess. Your life, and mine – they don't really fit together, do they?"

"I suppose not." Belle admitted. "But that doesn't mean we don't. We fit together pretty well last night. Incredibly well, actually."

"Indeed we did." Nick replied. They continued to finish their breakfasts, and when they were done Belle took the tray and moved it onto Nick's dresser, then climbed back in bed with him.

"Does my age bother you?" Belle asked.

"I would think mine would bother you more. I'm old enough to be your father, Belle." Nick said.

"No you're not. My father is sixty-two." Belle joked.

"You know what I mean." Nick said. "Plus I look older than I am and you look younger than you are – I saw people turning their heads at us when we were out before, even without them recognizing who you were."

"Well it's not their business, is it?" Belle commented. "It doesn't bother me – I just want you to know that. And I don't think you look old, I think you're very handsome."

"Please, sweetheart – in comparison to the men you've paraded around with over the last decade? I'm a beast." Nick said.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and I think you're beautiful." Belle said, and she gave him a kiss. "I'd like to take a shower. Do you want to join me?"

"I don't think so." Nick replied.

"Why not? It'll be fun, then we'll come back to bed and – have more fun." Belle suggested with a flirtatious air about her.

"That's alright. Fun in bed is enough for me, you go ahead." Nick said.

"Oh, come on – come with me." Belle said playfully, and she tugged at the sheet that was covering the lower half of Nick's body.

"Belle, please don't -" Nick began, but before he could stop her she yanked the sheet away and then gasped as she looked at his right leg. It was deeply scarred up and down from surgeries and pins, and a bit thinner than his other leg, its muscle tone clearly weakened and damaged.

"I didn't want you to see what I did to myself. Not yet." Nick said. His voice trembled, and a pained and vulnerable look came across his face that Belle had never seen on him before. Belle remained silent. "Not so beautiful now, am I?" he finally said. Belle moved close to him and traced her hand gently up and down his injured leg. She took the sheet and covered his pelvic area, but kept his right leg exposed. She leaned forward and kissed his leg up and down, from his thigh down to his ankle. Nick leaned back and trembled, his eyes welling up with tears. Belle sat back up and took him into her arms, and she leaned back, cradling his head against her chest.

"You're beautiful. Every last bit of you." Belle said as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Now can we have that shower, please?" Nick regained his composure, sat up and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Alright." he agreed. "You'll need to go get my cane, I can't walk that far without it."

"You just hold on to me. I won't let you fall." Belle said. Nick stood up and allowed Belle to lead him down the hallway, her arms wrapped around him tightly.

After their shower, Nick and Belle returned to bed and spent the afternoon talking and making love. Both of them were so lost in one another that they allowed time to stop for them that day. Neither of them checked their phones for messages and they gave no thought to the world around them. They were together and they were happy and that was all that mattered.

"Belle, I have something to tell you." Nick said, holding her tightly in his arms as the day came to a close and evening began to fall.

"What?" Belle asked in a whisper.

"This is all – I can't believe I'm saying this at my age but – this is all so new for me." Nick said.

"What is?" Belle asked.

"This. Us, together like this. When I was a lad, I didn't really have a girlfriend. On top of the fact that puberty wasn't very kind to me – well, it's kind of hard to impress the schoolgirls when half of them are taller than you." Belle laughed quietly at that. "When I came to America to go to get my MBA, I was still – well let's just say I arrived here extremely inexperienced in many things. I found my accent to be an asset to me in the states, however – with the ladies. They didn't seem to care how tall you were when you spoke to them with a Glaswegian lilt in your voice."

"Well it is pretty sexy." Belle commented.

"Yes, I've been told, why do you think I've made no effort in all the years I've been here to soften my accent any?" Nick said. Belle laughed at his comment.

"You really can't have a relationship based on your speaking voice though, so none of that really went anywhere beyond a couple of nights of fun. And then there was Milah – that was anything BUT fun after awhile. And I'm ashamed to admit I had the occasional indiscretion here and there – again, totally devoid of any meaning and usually tied to sealing a business transaction. And then – well then I had my accident and I didn't hold out much hope for anything romantic in my future after that. I had a couple of dinner dates early on, but – well, I just stopped looking at some point. I certainly wasn't looking when you walked into my shop."

"You think I was? Tyler was fun at first, then just boring, and then just plain irritating. I was glad to be rid of him, to be honest. The only other person I was with was Sean and – well, in hindsight that was quite a mess anyway. We were both too young and immature and not at all ready for a relationship, we just thought that's what you do in Hollywood. If Ashley hadn't broken us up, it would have been something else, it wasn't going to last."

"What about back in Australia?" Nick asked.

"I'm afraid I was in a similar boat as you were." Belle said.

"Oh, come on – I was an awkward-looking little imp, but you're lovely. The boys must have been chasing you all over the place."

"Not really. My mum died when I was twelve, and I spent most of my time helping my dad out at home and at his shop. And I was always reading and studying, I was quite the bookworm. I was pretty shy back then, too. I started modeling to help make extra money for my dad, it really wasn't what I wanted to do. I came to the states because I thought there were better opportunities here, and I fell into acting totally by accident and I really love it, but – part of me wishes I had gone to school – I really regret that I didn't." Belle said.

"What did you want to study?" Nick asked.

"Library science." Belle said.

"You wanted to be a librarian? Really?" Nick asked.

"Yes. I mean, I love acting but I love reading too, and sometimes I think I'm too quiet and shy for the Hollywood scene. I don't like parties, I don't drink, I abhor the drug scene, the endless obsession with looks and vanity drives me mad, and I've only slept with three men in my entire life, and that includes you. Maybe that's why I trust the wrong people so often." Nick kissed her on the forehead.

"What will I do when you leave? Belle, I don't want you to leave." Nick said.

"Maybe you can come with me?" Belle suggested.

"To Ireland? Sweetheart, you do know that my ex-wife and her husband live there, right? I can't even imagine what Milah would do if she found out I was there with you. She's completely the type that would sell her story to every gossip rag in the UK. And to be honest, I still think Jones has a restraining order against me. Granted, it's only valid in the states, but that slimy little bastard would probably find a way to make it hold up in Ireland as well."

"No one would need to know you're with me. I could arrange for a place for you to stay." Belle suggested.

"What, be your kept man? That's very flattering at my age love, but I'm not doing that. Plus I have my shop, and my family. I don't want to miss the birth of my grandson. I could probably get away for a week or two but not for four months. And I really don't think I can afford that kind of expensive trip anyway."

"I can afford it." Belle said.

"You're not paying my way, Belle. Not for something like that." Nick told her. Both of them were silent for a moment. "This isn't going to work, is it?" Nick finally said.

"We'll make it work." Belle told him. Both of them remained quiet for a bit. "We should probably get some sleep." Belle suggested.

"Mmm hmm." Nick replied, about ready to doze off.

"Goodnight." Belle whispered.

"Goodnight sweetheart." Nick said. He dreaded the next day to come, because that would probably be their last day like this. They had shut themselves off completely from the world for an entire day, and he knew that couldn't continue past tomorrow. He had his shop and she had commitments that were so far removed from his world that he couldn't even begin to fathom them. He wanted to tell her his feelings, but what was the point if this wasn't going to go beyond these few glorious days? He loved her – he believed that months ago, but now he was sure of it. The thought of life without Belle terrified him, and the idea of life with Belle underneath the bubble of Hollywood scared him even more. She thought they could make it work. He honestly couldn't imagine how that was even possible.

The next morning, Belle sat behind the spinning wheel in Nick's living room and attempted to refresh her memory on the skills that Nick had taught her in his shop. He had some supplies there and she decided to give it a try on her own. She remembered quite a bit more than she realized as she allowed the material thread through the machine. Nick limped into the room after she had been busy at the wheel for nearly thirty minutes. He wore nothing but his pajama bottoms, and Belle was at the spinning wheel wearing the matching top. "Hey – what are you doing?" Nick asked.

"Good morning." Belle said, and she smiled as she looked up at him. "Just trying to see if I can still do this." Nick grabbed a chair, pulled it up next to her, and sat down.

"Looks like you're doing well." Nick said as he put his arms around her from behind. He gave her a quick kiss on the neck. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Thought I'd let you sleep in a bit." Belle said.

"I don't want to miss one minute of time with you, though." Nick told her, his arms still wrapped around her. "Here, hold it more like this." he said as he guided her hands. "That's it. Perfect."

"I really like doing this. I thought about buying a spinning wheel when I got back to Los Angeles." Belle told him. "I'll never be as good as you though."

"Oh I don't know about that. It just takes a bit of practice, that's all." Nick said as Belle finished with the material she had to spin. When she was done, she turned around, wrapped her arms around Nick's neck, and kissed him. "Have you checked your messages yet today?" Nick asked.

"Yes. Twenty-four. More than half of them are from Mulan and my publicist Aurora having conniption fits because they can't get in touch with me." Belle said. "Two from Philip, three from my Dad, I should probably have called him before all of this hit, one from Tyler, good lord, does he really think I'm going to call him back, and a few calls from some of my friends back in Melbourne and a couple of folks in LA wanting to make sure I'm alright. How about you?"

"Several texts from Ruby and one message from her. That's it. Apparently I'm not as popular as you are." Nick said. "No word from August Booth?"

"No." Belle replied quietly. "I'm not really sure what to think about that."

"I'm surprised that your manager hasn't called out the national guard looking for you." Nick said.

"Philip knows where I am, he'd stop her if she went into a panic over not being able to find me. He's the only one I told. When he called that first day, he asked me right away if I went running to that 'hot Scotsman' I was always talking about." Belle said.

"Hot Scotsman? Is that your nickname for me?" Nick asked.

"Well, with Philip – yes." Belle said, and she blushed a bit.

"I rather like that. Sure beats the hell out of Rumpelstiltskin." he said, and they both laughed and kissed once again. "Have you had breakfast?" Nick asked.

"I had some coffee. I used our cup – hope you don't mind." Belle said.

"It's our cup now, is it?" Nick asked.

"I think it is." Belle replied. "How about we go have a bite to eat." Belle stood up and offered her hand to Nick, who took her hand and stood up. He started to walk with her for a few steps, then stopped when they neared the sofa. He yanked her toward himself.

"I think I'd like a bite of you first." he growled, and he dropped his cane to the floor and fell backward onto the sofa with Belle in his arms. Belle squealed and giggled as she climbed on top of him. Nick pulled her into a deep kiss. Their focus was so fixated upon one another that neither of them heard the door to the apartment open.

"Daddy, I just went to the shop, Jefferson said you haven't been in for two days are you – alright?" Ruby began speaking as she walked toward the living room, then stopped on the last word of her sentence when she saw Nick and Belle together on the sofa. The both pulled away from one another and sat upright.

"Ruby, what – what are you doing here?" Nick asked as he tried to hide his embarrassment and failed miserably at doing so.

"I – I went to the shop – you didn't reply to my texts and – I thought you might be sick or something so – I – I need to leave." Ruby said, and she turned back toward the door.

"No, Ruby wait – please let me explain." Belle said. She got up quickly and walked up to Ruby and put her hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Don't touch me." Ruby said as she pushed Belle away. "Why are you here?"

"I – I had nowhere else to go." Belle said.

"You've been hiding here this whole time?" Ruby asked.

"For the past few days, yes." Belle said.

"Ruby – it's not what it looks like." Nick said as he stood up and walked toward her. Ruby shot him a glare. "Alright it IS what it looks like but – Ruby, it's fine. I want Belle to be here."

"Ruby, please – please don't tell anyone." Belle said.

"I don't have to do anything for you." Ruby said angrily. "Do you know how much you hurt my Dad when you left? Do you?"

"Yes. I do. We talked about it quite a bit." Belle replied.

"Ruby, we're fine. We're just enjoying our time with one another right now. Sweetheart, please – no one knows she's here. She's trying to work all of this out and until she does this is the safest place for her to be." Nick said. He took Ruby's arm and led her over to the sofa. Ruby pulled away from him as Nick sat down.

"I'm not sitting there where you two were –" Ruby stopped and made a face.

"Sit down." Nick demanded, and his tone became stern. Ruby pouted and took a seat on a chair instead. "Ruby – what you're hearing on those ridiculous websites and talk shows isn't the truth. There' s much more to all of this, and it's not my place at all to repeat any of it without Belle's approval, but please know that you do not know all that is happening by any means."

"It's alright, you can tell her." Belle said, and she sat down next to Nick.

"No, she just needs to trust that I know what I'm doing here."

"Does Bae know?" Ruby asked, and she glared at both of them.

"No." Nick said. "And you're not to tell him, either. I'll do that myself."

"Ruby, I have to talk to my publicist today and get all of this mess straightened out. Your father has been very kind to me letting me stay here." Belle said, and she grabbed Nick's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Ruby – I'm very happy right now, alright? Whatever happens will happen. Just let me have this for now." Nick said.

"So what about Philip Prince?" Ruby asked.

"He's a friend. My best friend, actually. But – we're not together. We never were." Belle admitted. Ruby remained quiet for a few moments.

"You guys do make a cute couple – in a weird sort of way." Ruby admitted. "Daddy, are you going to Ireland with her? I can help at the store."

"We're still trying to work all of that out, sweetheart. Now you don't worry about me at all, okay? I'm fine, and everything will work itself out in time." Nick said.

"Okay." Ruby said, and she stood up to leave. Nick walked with her to the door.

"Remember – we're keeping all of this quiet for now, right?" Nick reminded her.

"I promise." Ruby said. "But you'd better tell Bae."

"We have one more day together, Ruby. I'll call him tomorrow, I'm supposed to have lunch with him anyway." Nick said. Ruby hugged Nick.

"Don't have too much fun." she whispered in his ear.

"Get out, this is awkward enough as it is." Nick admitted, blushing a bit as he shoved Ruby away. Ruby giggled.

"Bye Belle!' Ruby called out as she opened the door and left. Nick closed the door behind her and leaned against it, and Belle walked over to him.

"Well that was – uncomfortable." Belle said.

"I'm just glad it wasn't Bae, I don't think he'd have been as quickly sold on us as Ruby." Nick said. Belle cuddled up to Nick, and he put his arm around her.

"We knew we couldn't stay in hiding forever, as much as I'd like to." Belle said. "Come on – let's go have breakfast, take a shower, and then I have about fifteen calls to make. After that I'm all yours for the rest of the day."

"And night." Nick whispered as he turned to face her.

"That too." Belle said, and they kissed once again.

Ruby walked down the street with Graham, the two of them holding hands, when Ruby looked up and grimaced. "Oh, no – not her." she said.

"Ruby Gold. Well this is a surprise." Regina said as she approached the couple. "I haven't seen you in years – look how grown up you've gotten. Who's your friend?"

"Graham Humbert. Nice to meet you." Graham said, extending his hand. "And you are?"

"Regina Mills." she replied. "Irishman. Your father must be thrilled over that." Regina commented to Ruby in a sarcastic tone.

"Regina used to be my dad's boss." Ruby said.

"How is your father? Last time I saw him was a few months ago, oddly enough he was at Saks with Belle French. You know – the actress. What was that all about?" Regina asked.

"Nothing." Ruby replied. Regina could tell she was lying, or at the very least hiding something. Or both. "Daddy's fine. Come on Graham, let's go." Ruby said, and she tugged on his hand and pulled him away. Regina ogled Graham from behind as they walked away.

"I wouldn't kick him out of my bed." she mumbled to herself with a grin on her face. Regina waited a moment until they were just out of sight, then turned around and followed in their direction.

Graham and Ruby found a restaurant and went inside, and were seated at a booth in the back of the restaurant. "So whatever did happen with your father and Belle French? I know you said she left but – did they keep in touch or what, you never talk about it." Graham said.

"Graham – if I tell you something, do you swear that you won't say a word about it to anyone?" Ruby asked.

"Who would I tell?" Graham said.

"Daddy swore me to secrecy, I was at his apartment this morning, but if I don't tell someone I am absolutely going to explode so please, promise me that if I tell you this no one and I mean NO ONE else will find out." Ruby said.

"I won't say a word." Graham said as they held hands across the table.

"Belle French is staying at my dad's apartment." Ruby said, then she bit her lip and made a face.

"Now? Like – today?" Graham asked.

"Like all week, I think. And um – she's not just staying there, she's – I mean they are – you know. Together. I kinda – walked in on them, I think." Ruby said as she cringed a bit.

"So they're what? Dating, a couple, just a fling, what?" Graham asked.

"I don't know. Daddy was pretty cryptic about everything. He just said that he's really happy right now and nobody knows she's there and he wants to keep it that way because of the whole nude picture scandal thing, I suppose."

"Well how do you feel about it?" Graham asked.

"I don't know. I mean, when he first started seeing her a few months ago I was all excited, but then she left and I don't really know all of what happened but I know Daddy was really hurt and really sad and I don't want her to hurt him again. But he was so happy today. I haven't seen him that happy in – well, EVER. Daddy's been through so much, he deserves to be happy. But she has to go film a movie, and she lives in LA, and how on earth can that even work out for them?"

"Well – you know if they're meant to be, they'll find a way." Graham said.

"I guess." Ruby replied. "You swear – you're not repeating this to anyone. Not even Bae or Emma or anyone."

"I promise. I won't tell a soul. What's the saying? Cross my heart and hope to die." Graham said. Ruby and Graham continued their dinner. Unbeknownst to them, Regina had obtained a booth behind them and was listening to every word they said.