"Oh, come on Belle." Begged Ruby as she shuffled in the red booth. "Please you love The Rabbit Hole."
Belle smiled and looked around Granny's for a moment before answering.
"No, you love that place."
"Okay fine I do, but its your birthday. You only turn twenty-three once."
Belle had started her Library Science course at seventeen, it was a two-year course and so Belle hadn't been around for all the silly teenage randomness that Ruby had fallen in love with. She'd returned to Storybrooke right after she'd finished her courses and taken over the Library so it seemed Ruby was still trying to show Belle her teenage years.
"Can't we just go to a restaurant?"
"Oh, no, no, no." Suddenly Ariel slumped down into the booth beside Ruby. "Its her birthday, she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want." Ruby remained silent under Ariel's words. Her red hair cuddling her pale face.
"Thank you, Ariel." Belle was grateful, she had never been into the club scene. She looked down to her watch. "Damn! I should get back to the library, I should have opened it back up twenty minuets ago. Sorry guys."
With that Belle was gone leaving her half drunk ice tea on the table, Ariel quickly pulled it to her and ripped off the strawberry hanging on the glass. It was cold and juicy as she bit into it, the flavour filling her mouth with such sweet wonder that finished with just a hint of sour. Suddenly Ruby poked her friend in the shoulder and she yelped.
"Okay spill. Why did you shut me down just now?" A grin appeared on her scarlet lips. "You have a plan don't you?"
"I and Eric may have thought of something."
"You and Eric? No. Me and you are her best friends I want to help. Her birthday is next week after all."
"Oh you are going to help, there is stuff that..." Ariel was quickly cut off by Granny's loud voice.
"Ruby! What on earth do I pay you for? Get back to work would you. Emma here has nearly died of thirst." She gestured to the Sheriff who had a tiny smile decorating her face. Ruby sighed.
"Fine!" She stood and straightened out her skirt and apron. "Tell me later, I have to know everything. Oh, and make sure there's heavy lifting, it'll give Victor and Eric something to do."
XXXX
The Day of Belle's birthday finally came, the day was pleasant and the sky shone a bold blue that seemed to match her eyes. Belle had hoped that Gold would have woken up when her birthday finally came. It would have been the greatest of gifts, but alas, he remained in his dreamland. Belle knew it was silly, but finding him asleep had actually hurt her, it stung in her heart like she had been stabbed. Belle didn't blame him though, she knew that was unfair.
Her day had been quiet just her and the books. Belle had never really been one for big birthdays or nights out with drinking, that was more of Ruby's thing. Just after she got back from her lunch break her Papa had come in with twenty-three red roses and Belle had nearly cried with happiness. When Moe and her mother, Colette had gone on their first date he had taken her a single red rose, said it was because hehad met the most important woman in his life. He did the same thing when Belle was born saying it was for the other most important woman in his life. Each year after Moe had added one and now with her being twenty-three, she had a rather beautiful vase of roses sat on her circulation desk. Archie had come in to return a book of eighteenth century poetry and had spent ten minuets complementing her on them, he had even offered her words of support for Nathan, Belle had always admired Archie's ability to show anyone respect and kindness. Doctor Archie Hopper was a good and noble man.
Belle was just locking the door for the night when Ruby prodded her in the back, Belle yelped and turned to face her best friend. Ruby wore a tight skater dress that stopped at about mid-thigh, it was in her favourite cherry red and had short off the shoulder sleeves. Belle wondered how Ruby could be out without a coat, the fall chill had become apparent in the past few days.
"That hurt."
"Sorry honey, but I need you to go and pretty yourself up, we are going to dinner like you wanted."
"Really?" Belle smiled brightly.
"Yeah, we have to go and meet Ariel and Eric at the beach first but yeah."
Belle waisted no time, she was up the stairs to her apartment and in for a quick shower before Ruby had noticed Belle had moved. When Belle leaned her head out the bedroom door Ruby was flicking through one of the many magazines from her glass coffee table.
"What time is the table booked for?"
"Hmm? Oh, don't worry. We have lots of time, go get dressed."
Belle did as instructed and quickly flung open her closet and set to work finding something to ware. Belle was so happy, they always ended up going out for drinks, Ariel was quite the mocktail enthusiast once upon a time, going out to dinner would be perfect. Belle soon came across a crisp white top with pretty lace three-quarter sleeves, it was one of her favourites. A few moments later she came across a navy high-waisted chiffon skirt, they went together perfectly to create a cute little outfit that Belle deemed epically perfect.
"What do you think?" Belle asked, re-entering the living room.
"You look great. Come on."
XXXX
Ruby had convinced her to cut across the beach on their way to meet Eric and Areil, they soon came across a two gazebos, Belle was confused only for a moment.
"SURPRISE!"
Belle practically jumped out of her skin. Little glass jars filled with candles were quickly lit revealing the mass of people on the beach, the sun had set an hour previous making the candles glow against the dark sand. Striped deck chairs littered the sand. Waves crashed against the shore softly. Ariel and Eric were the first to come up to Belle and Ruby, closely followed by Victor who pressed a quick kiss to Ruby's scarlet lips.
"Happy birthday, Belle."
"Thank you, Eric. Ariel, you did all of this for me?"
"Of course, and these three helped a lot too." She gestured to the two men and Ruby. "Come on, let's get a drink and greet your guests."
Belle and the others followed Ariel to the two pale blue gazebos where the guests waited with smiles and cocktails. Jefferson was the first to approach on his way to a large barbecue off to the left of the large camp fire that August was tending to. Jefferson was Victor's best friend, they had known each other pretty much since birth and were more like brothers than best friends. Belle had to stifle a chuckle, even at the beach he still had one of his ridiculous hats on. Cute she thought.
"Hey Belle. Happy birthday."
"Thank you, Jefferson."
Victor and Jefferson exchanged a quick 'bro hug' before Jefferson spoke again.
"Belle, your gift is on the table. Grace chose it herself." He turned to the blonde doctor. "I'm on barbecue duty and you are helping, Vicky."
"Sure thing, Jeffy. In a minuet."
Jefferson had randomly used the nickname once when they were ten and it had stuck ever since, Jeffy was Victor's retaliation. Without another word Jefferson vanished off to start on the burgers. From nowhere Ruby pushed some kind of cocktail into the birthday girls hand and stared at until she took a sip, it was sweet, really sweet with something that was a little sour. Unusual but good. Music drifted through the air and Belle couldn't help but sway to the melody.
The promises that you promised are about as real as an air guitar, so watch your back 'cause I'm gonna steal your car...
"Hi Belle." Belle turned to find; Mary Margaret, David and Emma. "Happy birthday."
She exchanged pleasantries with them for a few moments, Ruby threw in a joke about Emma leaving the badge at home and it turned out that Graham was covering for her. Explains why he's not here. Soon they went back to the music, chatting with friends while Belle went around everyone else to say hello. Belle had wanted a quiet meal, but somehow the party was better, being surrounded by her friends; Aurora, Philip, Anna and even Elsa showed their faces. Ashley could only stay for a short time due to the baby, but Belle didn't mind she just chatted and listened to the music.
Well, did you know when you were famous you could kill your wife, and there's no such thing as twenty-five to life...
She watched as Eric and Killian, who had been friends since birth, got into some kind of play about the ocean, running up and down the beach going on about looking for treasure. Somehow Ariel became the mermaid that helped them, she didn't really get a choice considering Eric just picked her up and threw her in the water. Belle and the other guests found it hilarious, the boys were clearly drunk. At some point Victor, Jefferson and August joined in as the evil soldiers that wanted to take the treasure from the heroic characters Eric and Killian had decided to portray, while not long after David became shepherd turned adventurer who dropped everything to help them and Mary Margaret became another mermaid. It made no sense since they were all drunk or at least tipsy and making it up as they went, but it sure as hell was fun. In the end Eric and Killan defeated the evil soldiers with the help of the shepherd and presented the treasure to the Queen, Belle. It was fun.
I scratch a living, it ain't easy you know it's a drag. I'm always paying, never make it but you can't look back...
There was a long table set up in the gazebo closest to the sea, topped with everything Granny could think off, and some new ideas. There were little cupcakes with a swirl of ocean blue butter icing, on their own they were cute but it was the little surfboards inserted the icing that made them adorable. Granny had out done herself...so had the bakery. Set out beside the cupcakes was the most beautiful cake Belle had ever seen, it was about a foot and a half tall and designed to look like a stack of books. The bottom book was thick and sandy colored with two dark red ones at diffrent angles laid atop it, above those were two more, one sky blue matching her eyes almost perfectly and another dark green. Beautiful, just beautiful. She found out later that Victor had just shown up with it an hour before Belle arrived and said it was just the other half of my gift to you. She had hugged him for about fifteen minuets and Victor had just giggled for most of it. It didn't take long to notice Gaston gawking at her but Belle paid no attention, she was determined to enjoy herself.
Hey, street boy, want some style? Your dead-end dreams don't make you smile. I'll give you something to live for. Have you and grab you until you're sore...
Just as Belle was getting into the swing of things she noticed a very tall bald man over by the gift table, even from the back she could tell it was Ethan. People were glancing at him with eyes that screamed you don't belong. She excused herself from her friends and almost ran to Ethan, she hadn't seen him in almost a week.
"Ethan!" He turned just in time to accept her hug.
"Hey Belle." Ethan hugged back, but only for a moment. "I...I just came to give you this."
Belle was presented with a small rectangular parcel wrapped in silver paper with a scarlet silk ribbon. Belle wanted to chuckle at how nervous Ethan looked, beach parties were not his thing.
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
Belle's smile was brighter than the summer sun as she looked down and pulled the ribbon loose and shred away the wrapping. She gasped, with the paper gone she was faced with a black floral half leather journal.
"Oh, Ethan. Its beautiful thank you." She forced another hug on him. "I love it."
"Open it."
Belle did and found gold calligraphy printed into the inside cover.
Books are a uniquely portable magic.
-Stephen King
She smiled, Belle had never heard words more true in all her life. Her arms wrapped around Ethan's neck and gave him another tight hug, she thanked him more times than he could count before she finally released him.
Sweet dreams are made of these, who am I to disagree? Travel the world and the seven seas...
"I hoped you would like it."
"I do, its wonderful."
Belle suddenly noticed Ruby and Victor making their way up the beach away from the shore, she knew they had something planned but before her mind could wander any further Ethan spoke again.
"I should get going."
"No, please stay. This party is for me and my friends, you're my friend Ethan."
"That's very kind Belle, but parties aren't really my thing. I'm like Mister Gold when it comes to this sort of thing."
"Belle." Came Ruby's voice as she approached. "We have to get you a bat."
"A bat?"
"Yeah, for the piñata, it's a shark." Ruby looked so happy while Victor, who stood beside her, just looked tired. "Come on."
"Ethan, come with us. Please, just the piñata and then you can go if you must."
"Oh alright." Ethan gave a feather-light smile and let Belle drag pull him across the sand. "If you insist."
Because the drugs never work, they're gonna give you a smirk 'cause they got methods of keeping you clean..
Ethan had come to treasure Belle's friendship, he didn't really have any other friends and Belle was so sweet and kind. A princess in disguise he had once told himself. Acquiescing to her requestEthan stayed and even joined in with the shark piñata, it was fun and he hadn't experienced that in a very long time. Belle had given him not only friendship but joy as well, he could see why Mister Gold was in love with her, yes he knew about that.
Babe you're a hard game to catch, you fight and refuse oh you're a wild little bruise. Never tasted a sweet a poison as you have you know you never can hide. You're a bad little love and you're mine...
The party went on long into the night, Jefferson managed to burn the hotdogs but Victor saved the day with burgers and as what he called the worlds best barbecue sauce, just like Mother used to make. Belle danced with Ruby and Ariel while the others played volleyball. With the stars high in the sky looking down like celestial guardians Belle had one thought. Best. Birthday. Ever...
...well it would be if Nathan was there.
XXXX
Ethan was not one for parties and so he had left the beach not long after his time talking to Belle. He wasn't stupid he could see that her other guests didn't want him there, that he wasn't welcome. Ethan was also well aware that Belle liked having him around, they were friends after all, but still he didn't want to make things awkward for her, he had given her his gift and shown his face he only hoped that was enough. He'd heard what David Nolan had said about him, the monsters bloody guard dog, they had no idea what Mister Gold was really like, he could be kind, compassionate, friendly even, yet that was only to those that deserved it. People thought him a monster, Mister Gold just didn't bother to correct them.
With the night drawing on Ethan found the need to be around someone who didn't judge him and there was only one person other than Belle that did that. Gold. Gold never judged him and Ethan was thankful for that. He crept up to Gold's hospital room, visiting hours had long since ended but he didn't care, he hadn't been able to visit Gold as much as he liked what with having to deal with the shop, it had always surprised him that Gold could get so much done.
"Hey boss." He greeted shutting the white door behind him. "Sorry its been a while."
No answer as always, Ethan didn't mind though he just slumped down into the black chair and looked at the vase of Gerbera on the side table. Belle he thought only she would bring a monster flowers. He was right, only he and Belle ever visited Gold, the only ones who cared.
Long ago Ethan had gone through a bad time. He lost his job as a chauffeur and soon after his wife left him, he had been low. Ethan felt like his life was done. Never had any real friends. One day as he was out looking for work in the Boston streets he had turned down an ally and seen a kid trying to get the door of a rather expensive looking Cadillac open. Hey he had shouted have some fucking respect. Ethan had never liked thieves, the kid had shouted back something derogatory that Ethan had long since forgotten, but he would never forget the look on the teenagers face when he was pulled from the car and thrown across the ally, the look of terror when he saw how strong Ethan really was. The kid had ran away leaving silence that quickly filled with clapping. ' Well done, dearie' a strange man had said. It only took Ethan one glance to guess the short man was the owner of the car. Ethan had been confused as to why the owner had blocked his path when he tried to leave until a business card had found its way into the spaced directly in front of his face. ' I like you, and that doesn't happen often. If you are still looking for a job, give me a call.' With that the Scott went to his car, Ethan remembered being confused, remembered turning and asking. 'How do you know I need a job?' It had seemed a valid question at the time. 'You're holding the recruitment page of a newspaper, dearie.'
Ethan liked that memory, to Dove Gold had saved him. Given him a fresh start in the little town of Storybrooke.
"Boss, its Belle's birthday today. Thought you'd want to know. She seems happy, Belle was laughing when I left her party. Those friends of hers have got some beach thing going on."
He shuffled forward on the chair bloody hell how does Belle sit on this for hours? It was uncomfortable and lumpy in places no other chair had ever been, it creaked when there was the slightest movement and to top it off the so-called cushioning acted like a freezer on his rear.
"I got her a gift. Just a journal, didn't really know what else she liked beyond books. She seemed to like it so that's a win I guess." He shuffled again. "I even had that quote you always say when the subject of her comes up. You know, the portable magic one."
He leaned down so he could whisper in Gold's ear, he knew no one else was around but he didn't want to take any chances, Ethan didn't want Gold's first waking action to be choking the life out of him.
"I see why you love her, she has a good heart."
"What are you doing in her? Visiting hours are long over."
He looked up to see a rather angry looking nurse with fiery red hair and such sharp featured that someone could easily cut themselves. She almost flew to Gold's bed leaving the door wide open.
"Please leave, sir." The words were polite but had bite to them
"Sure." Ethan stood and looked down for a moment at Gold. "I'll leave you and nurse Ratched to it."
"Its Green." Said the nurse. "Zelena Green."
Ethan didn't respond he just said a quick good-bye to Gold and made his way out of the room, as he reached the threshold he couldn't help but say over his shoulder.
"Bye Ratched."