"We can't tell Bae." Belle looks at him in vague alarm and all he can do is raise a lazy eyebrow, not really in the mood to do anything but admire her naked form amongst his bed sheets.
"Sure." He agrees easily, nuzzling her neck and pulling her closer.
"No." With a firm hand, she pushes him back so she can see his eyes. He looks at her imploringly; quite intent on getting back to his plan to spend the morning making sure there isn't a patch of her flawless skin he hasn't kissed. "Rum, are you listening to me?"
"No." He says honestly. "You said my son's name in bed, I'm doing as best I can to completely ignore that."
"Rum." She grabs his chin and makes him look up at her, forcing him to keep eye contact.
"Yes?" If his eyes can't appreciate her, his hands at least can and so he puts them to work, exploring familiar territory that still causes him to lose his breath, following familiar paths.
"Enough!" She bats his hands away and rolls until she's astride him, pinning him down by the wrists. It has the exact opposite of the desired effect and he moves his hips in slow circles, showcasing his erection. Belle's eyes go hazy, like she's going to let herself be distracted by it, but then she blinks and shakes her head, looking down at him in disapproval.
"Please?" He tries, knowing there's no harm in asking.
"We are not telling Baen about this." She gestures between their bare chests. "Got it?"
"Why not?" He's genuinely surprised at that. "He'll be thrilled, you know he adores you. In fact, he thinks you're entirely too good for me, and he's not wrong, but I—" Belle cuts him off with a kiss and he wants to get lost in it but then she's pulling back and giving him a stern look.
"I don't want to alarm him. We're what, hardly a month into this? We barely know what this is, if Bae comes into it I'm worried that, well, it'll complicate things." She admits and he pulls his hand from her grasp carefully, then tenderly runs a hand over her messy bedhead.
"Belle, I intend on this lasting a long, long time." He whispers and Belle hides a beaming smile. "Bae deserves to know."
"And we'll tell him… Eventually." Belle draws thoughtful patterns on his chest, biting her lip. "But let's just get through this long weekend and see how it goes, yeah? Then we can worry about how to tell him that I'm staying in a more… Permanent capacity."
"Is that what we're calling it?" He mummers, amused, and she laughs, dipping down to kiss him.
"Would you prefer I call you my boyfriend?" She teases and he makes a face at the word.
"I haven't been a boy in ages." He mutters, pulling her close to him. "Bae knows you're my Belle, my darling Belle. That's enough."
"That means no kissing in the kitchen, no cuddles in the library, no surprising me in the shower, and no sleepovers." She says sternly, between kisses, and he groans in protest.
"You are trying to get an addict to quit his new drug." He warns her and Belle smiles into his mouth.
"We could always go to the studio." She suggests. "I know a couple uses for those chairs we haven't gotten around to."
"I've dreamt about that, you know." He confesses and Belle grins.
"Good. I was trying to put those thoughts in your head." She whispers and he sinks his nails into her hips.
"I'm not going to make it." He says honestly and Belle chuckles, low and deep and utterly seductive.
"It's only four days." She reminds him and when she brushes over him he moans in want.
"I'm not going to make it." He repeats adamantly and Belle's sly smile is a thing of beauty.
"Think of how much fun it'll be when we have to wait a couple days." She tries to cajole him and he ignores her completely to focus his rapt attention on her perfect breasts.
In the car on the way to the airport to get Bae, Belle holds his hand and hums a thoughtful tune, scrolling through some article on her phone. He watches her with a small smile, trying not to think about how, for the first time ever, he's not completely excited for Bae to come home. He wants more time, more time with her, more time alone. But Bae is coming home and Belle will be Dottie and he will keep his hands to himself. It seems a little ridiculous, but necessary, and it will please Belle.
"Is that him?" Belle is practically bouncing in her heels while using his arm for balance, craning her neck in a desperate attempt to see over the heads of the milling crowd.
"Don't know, hard to tell when I'm being jostled so." He says dryly and Belle frowns at him, giving him a small punch.
"Papa? Dottie?" Bae's voice draws their attention as he emerges from between two men and Belle squeals loudly, running for the youth who's now far taller than her despite her heels.
"Ernie!" She pulls him into a tight hug and sways on the spot. "Oh, you're home, you're home, you're home." She pushes him away so she can get a better look. "And taller. How?"
"I eat." He says simply then goes to hug his father. Belle beams, throwing her arms around the two of them.
"Oh, my boys back together." She says happily, kissing both their heads. "Let's go home."
The car ride back is filled with nonstop chatter from Belle and Bae, practically talking over each other in an attempt to spill all their secrets. When Bae casually asks her if anything new has happened, she catches Gold's eye and remains impressively impassive when she informs him no, nothing new. He sits back, smiling, and listens to Bae's story about his latest science class and the resulting explosion.
The first night is deceptively easy. He'd spent the morning loving Belle anyways, and he can still taste her on his lips. Supper with Bae is a breeze, since they all have stories to tell. He gets a work call halfway through that turns his mood sour and when he returns to the kitchen, all he wants to do is bury his head in Belle's hair and let her comfort him, but he can't, because Bae is sitting there, rambling about his next book report.
They go to bed separately for the first time since they'd slept together and that's when he decides this will be worse than anticipated. He hates that Belle's warm form isn't there for him to find when he rolls over, sleepy and looking for cuddles. He misses the way she steals the blankets, he misses her three little snores before she falls asleep completely, he even misses her cold feet pressing into his thighs when she comes to bed. He misses her, badly, and it's ridiculous when she's a hallway away.
The next morning he tries to catch her in unawares, sneaking up for a kiss, protesting that Bae sleeps the day away anyways, that there can't be any harm. Belle let's him get close enough to smell the oil she must've dabbed on her wrists before darting away laughing.
"Addict Belle, addict." He reminds her darkly. She floats back over and hugs him tightly from behind, some of the tension leaking out of him at the mere contact with her.
"You've been sober for 15 years. Three days will not kill you." She reminds him, kissing between his shoulder blades.
"I should go to work. You and me, same space, not able to do anything?" He turns and looks down at her with a pout. "It's agony Belle."
"And you're being dramatic." She grins and taps his nose, grabbing the toast that pops up.
"Cruel woman." He accuses and she drizzles honey on the toast, feigning deafness. "I thought the whole upside of us living together—"
"Temporarily!"
"We'll see about that." He snorts. If he has it his way, she won't be going anywhere. "The bright side is that I get to see you, every day. Kiss you, hold you, be with you, love on you."
"You do that." She says dryly. "But not while your son is here. And you're not going to work today, you've already taken it off, I've told Mary Margaret she can have a date with David, and Bae will be disappointed if you ditch on our plans. So go in your office, pout like a baby, and get some work done."
"I can't focus." He whines.
"Try." She relents a little and kisses his cheek on her way out, but that's all she allows and he heads to his office, grumbling the entire time about stubborn women and stupid rules.
"Hey." Bae pokes his head in a little while later and he glances up at his son. "We're going out for lunch. Wanna come?"
"Where would we be headed?" He carefully sorts the remaining papers into done and not done piles.
"Belle wants to go to this quick-fire pizza place, you make your own pizza and then they fire it in a really hot oven for like 90 seconds." Bae explains excitedly. "It sounds awesome."
"Traditional pizza too good for us?" He remarks and Belle emerges from the library, rolling her eyes.
"Don't be cranky because we're making you try new things." She orders. "And Jefferson is bringing Grace, so best behavior."
"I don't have good behavior." He reminds her and Belle raises an eyebrow, waiting until Bae leaves to respond to the slamming of the front door and excited yells of a young girl.
"Yes you do." She mutters, snaking past him and letting her hip brush against his purposely.
"Not if you keep this up." He warns and Belle's laughter lingers as she goes to greet Jefferson and Grace. He follows, frowning until Grace's lanky arms wrap around his neck, excitedly jabbering about her newest adventure. He likes the little girl and always has, with her sweet disposition and general innocence. The good in the world.
"Are you excited for pizza?" Belle asks, helping her into her light jacket and Grace nods, practically buzzing.
"I like mine with the pepperonis on it." She says seriously. "Daddy likes his with olives and those are gross."
"You should try peppers." Bae says, guiding her outside while the adults wait for Belle to grab her purse and a scarf.
"Peppers?"
"Peppers and pepperoni, let's try it."
The pizza place is near a park, so they take it to go. Bae successfully talks Grace into the peppers, which she's eyeing with distrust now. He laughs and cajoles her into eating it, showing her his own meat-covered creation and letting her try a bite. Belle, of course, gets one of the Mediterranean varieties, and Jefferson does indeed get olives on his. Gold settles for Hawaiian, a choice that seems to surprise and delight Belle.
"What?" He demands when he catches her watching him eat his pizza with revelation.
"Never pegged you for a pineapple on his pizza kinda guy." She says easily, grinning at him.
"I am full of surprises." He informs her and she raises a wicked eyebrow in a challenge.
After they eat, Grace and Bae set off to explore the park. It hardly matters to Bae that he's playing with a girl half his age; he's content to scramble over the playground and play Grace's silly games, laughing and climbing atop a high tower where she can't reach.
"He's good with kids." Jefferson comments, watching them with a smile. Belle tilts her head, smiling.
"He is. He deserves a gaggle of younger siblings to command and get into trouble with." She says it casually; seemingly unaware that Gold has started choking on a pineapple.
"He really does." Jefferson smacks his boss's back nonchalantly while Belle hides a secret smile.
After the park, they visit a couple shops, Belle getting books, Bae a game, and Grace a new doll. Walking takes its toll after several blocks and so he pauses on a bench to rest, Belle sitting beside him wordlessly and carefully easing the pain with her hands. Bae and Grace hardly notice, distracted by Jefferson taking them to get ice cream.
"Is it feeling better with it being warmer?" Belle mutters and he tears his gaze away from her hands to look at her.
"Yes, but now that the knee doesn't hurt, my heart does." He switches gears to be romantic but Belle doesn't do anything but just smile sweetly.
"I think Bae and I are going to have another movie night tonight." She says thoughtfully.
"Are you telling me that I have to sit beside you on a couch whilst you're in your pajamas, and I can't even so much as hold your hand?" He demands, sure she's doing this on purpose now.
"It will be a movie night with Bae." She says carefully and he gives her a look that usually sends mere mortals running. Belle, on the other hand, grins cheerfully, then thanks Grace for getting her lemon sherbet.
For movie night, they're still on that strange list of 'classics' and tonight's viewing is Edwards Scissorhands. Bae makes the popcorn while Belle does hot chocolate and tea. He sits on the couch, unsure of where to go or what to do. Bae collapses on one side of him and Belle the other, pressing play.
"I don't think Johnny Depp can get any better than Pirates of the Caribbean, I'm just saying." Bae announces and Belle gasps.
"Baen Matheson Gold, you take that uncultured nonsense back right now or I will disown you."
"You can't disown me." Bae laughs.
"I'll get your father to disown you." She threatens and Bae glances at his father with a raised eyebrows.
"Yes. Disowned over the acting choices of a one Johnny Depp." He deadpans and Bae rolls his eyes.
"Pirates of the Caribbean is good, you can't tell me it's not." He argues and Belle snorts.
"Yeah, it was good after the third one, now that they're on like the 8th one it's overstayed it's welcome."
"I like them." Bae says resolutely. "We should watch them next."
"Focus." Belle gestures to the TV. "Focus on the good."
He tries to pay attention to the first half of the movie, he really does. A curious girl and a timid beast, all parallels he doesn't want to dwell on. However, he gets distracted running one finger up and down Belle's arm, watching in enjoyment when goose bumps arise. To his surprise, Belle doesn't say a word and he realizes with amusement it's because she doesn't dare tell him off, not with Bae sitting right there.
He makes a game out of it then, seeing what he can do to get a reaction from her without Bae noticing. He sees her pupils dilate but she keeps her lips firmly shut, refusing to allow him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. When the movie is over, she practically leaps up.
"Well, busy day tomorrow, better turn in early, time for bed, see you tomorrow, goodnight!" She says quickly.
"I thought we were going to watch Pirates." Bae says disappointed and Belle shakes her head.
"Tomorrow, but I think I need to go to bed first." She takes a deep breath, smoothing out her pajamas.
"Alright, then I'm gonna play my new game." Bae gets up to fiddle with the video game controller and Belle pats his head before departing.
"Goodnight." He tells his son and Bae gives him a distracted wave, most of his attention focused on the game now. He follows Belle to her bedroom, where she's flopped down on the bed, the picture of defeat. He observes from the doorway, amused.
"You think I'm cruel? You're a thousand times worse." She accuses without removing her arm from across her eyes.
"I believe all of this was your idea, dearie." He reminds her and Belle sits up, glaring daggers.
"You protect that kid like the mob is after him, but you want to introduce him to your girlfriend of like a week." She accuses. "Forgive me if that surprises me just a little."
"Yes, I'll reintroduce him to the woman that he met months ago, that he's been in near constant contact with, who is not my girlfriend but rather my serious companion." He corrects and Belle throws a pillow at him.
"Serious companion sounds way worse than girlfriend." She huffs and he picks the pillow up, tossing it back.
"Are you ashamed?" He asks her and she looks at him, aghast.
"Of us? No!"
"Then why don't you want Bae to know?" He presses. "You are my girlfriend Belle, though I loathe that word, and he deserves to know that you are staying in our lives in a very serious capacity."
"What if he doesn't want me?" Belle whispers.
"What?" He nearly drops his cane in surprise. "That's your worry, that Bae will be upset we're dating?"
"I mean, I'm fun Belle." She waves a hand as he comes to sit on the bed beside her. "And we get along so great, but what if this ruins it? What if I'm not the girl he had in mind for a stepmother? What if he prefers that it just be you two, like it always has? What if he doesn't want me? Because you'll pick him over me, you must, and I just…" Tears well in her eyes unexpectedly. "I want things to be perfect, for us, and I don't know how to do that yet."
"Belle." He takes her hands. "My beautiful Belle, he loves you. Adores you. I am absolutely certain that he will be delighted in this. You are everything he deserves; I've thought that since Christmas. He will want you, just like I want you. You fit, you fit into this family, and we all know it. So whenever you're ready, sweetheart, we can tell him." He kisses her forehead and she smiles.
"A little bit longer." She requests. "Before he leaves, I promise. But just, tomorrow, let's see how it goes."
"Fine." He agrees then offers her a hand. "Now, let's go to bed."
"Goodnight then." Belle shoves him off her bed without preamble. He whines loudly and she smiles.
"Please, Belle, come to bed." He pleads.
"See you in the morning." She shoos him out and he goes, cursing the air blue, destined for another night alone.
Saturday means the baseball game Bae and Belle have been so eagerly discussing since Bae got home. Gold whines and complains about the disgrace of raising an American child and the pointlessness of baseball, but is told to shush and come with or complain and stay behind. Grumbling, he goes with, adamantly refusing to put on the Yankees cap Belle holds.
It's a beautiful spring day, the first of the year where shorts are acceptable and even needed. It takes all his willpower to not stare at Belle as she skips along in dark shorts that showcase her long legs, arm in arm with Bae. They have good seats and he stretches out, remarking on the poor selection of whiskey they have at the stadium.
"Order a beer then." Belle doesn't miss a beat, before turning to Bae to discuss the chances of their team winning the World Series this year. He chuckles at her; relaxing into his seat, though he remarks after every inning that football is far more entertaining.
"Soccer." Belle and Bae correct him at the same time and he gaps at them in astonishment.
"Really, Bae? My own flesh and blood, calling it soccer! A right disgrace!" He accuses darkly.
"I was born in America." Bae grins at Belle then rolls his eyes at his father. "We call it soccer here."
"And you?" He turns to Belle.
"We call it soccer in Australia too." She informs him. "And I have lived in the States nearly all my life."
"Traitors." He grumbles. "Incorrect traitors."
Despite the snacks they had at the stadium, Belle decides that they're getting supper. On the way home, she suggests the sushi place where they'd first had lunch and Bae agrees with ease, flicking through the pictures he'd taken at the stadium and asking Belle which to upload on his social media.
"This is where your father and I first met, did you know that?" Belle informs Bae as they walk inside and pause, waiting to be directed to a table.
"Just three?" The hostess asks them with a smile.
"The three of us." Gold responds, looking at them with a smile.
"Follow me." The hostess leads them towards the back and Belle points to the booth as they pass it.
"That booth, right there."
"You guys met over sushi?" Bae's forehead crinkles in confusion.
"Not exactly. We met when Dr. Whale gave me her number for therapy." Gold explains, winching as he lowers himself down into their booth. "I was in a bad mood—"
"Imagine that!"
"And so I called her. I wasn't about to trust someone that I'd never met with my injury, so I suggested lunch." He explains.
"He trusted me enough to order him sushi." Belle remarks, grinning. "Of course, he had to, since he'd never had sushi a day in his life."
"How'd you know?" He demands.
"Mary Margaret brought it up a few weeks after we started your appointments." Her eyes twinkle in amusement. "She mentioned that you'd never expressed a want for sushi before, so I figured all of that trust was to keep yourself from actually having to order."
"Don't act like you know me." He grumbles and Belle grins, taking a sip of water. "Tell him what you did then."
"I ordered us sushi." Belle says innocently.
"After." He specifies and she chuckles.
"There was an old couple, sitting over there." She points to where they'd been. "And they were just crabby. Your father was being an uptight stick in the mud, so I decided to show him that I was fun."
"By doing what?" Bae asks curiously and Belle raises an eyebrow, folding her straw wrapper before glancing around. Satisfied that no one is watching, she lobs it towards the table of teens diagonal from them, grinning in triumph when it lands on the plate of one.
"Your father is a much better shot." She informs him and Bae looks at him, raising an eyebrow in a silent challenge. Gold carefully folds his own wrapper then aims it for the glass in the table next to them. When it sinks in, he simply takes a sip of his own water while Bae struggles to hide his glee.
"Is that what you guys did on your first date, threw stuff at people?" He questions and Gold chokes on his water.
"It wasn't a date." He says quickly, once he can breathe and Bae simply blinks before turning to Belle.
"We did some throwing, yes." She admits. "But there was a lot more talking, mostly on my part. And delicious sushi, which we will now have again."
After sushi, on the way home, Bae requests if he can go see some friends. He hesitantly offers to stay, since they only have tomorrow remaining on his break, but Gold practically forces him out the door, reassuring him that it's good he gets out of the house. Belle gives him a kiss and laughs, reminding him that they've had all day together, and seeing old friends is good. Bae's hardly out the door when Belle pounces.
"On the sofa, really, darling?" He comments dryly, as Belle's little shorts go flying and his shirt follows.
"Less talking." She urges him, forcing him down onto his back and kissing his neck. "More kissing."
"Demanding." He teases. Now that she's the one that's desperate, he reclaims his power victoriously.
"Shut up." Belle grabs his face and holds it tightly, eyes wild. "I have not kissed you in 48 hours. That is 47 hours and 45 minutes too long. So, for the love of god, kiss me."
"Gladly." He gives into her wishes.
Though the first round is on the couch, he quickly moves her to the bedroom, desperate not just for sex but the cuddling afterwards. He wants to hold her again, have the soft curves of her body against all his sharp edges, soothing him. He wants them to talk, and laugh, and hold each other.
"One more night." Belle mutters, once they're curled up in the sheets together, her head on his chest.
"Just stay." He runs his fingers over her shoulders. "Just stay, and be with me, and stop acting like you don't want Bae to know."
"I do want him to know, just not yet." She reminds him, snuggling closer. "I like it just being us."
"He's my son." He glances at the clock. "Besides, look, it's late. He'll stay with his friends. It'll be fine. Stay Belle, stay."
"Can't." Her lips quirk up and she gives him a light kiss. "Besides, I thought you'd be delighted to finally get your fair share of bed and blankets."
"It has been a delight." He teases. "But lacking my own personal furnace in the middle of the night has been hard."
"I'm not that warm." She protests, smiling.
"Belle, you're like a small bonfire."
"Papa? Dottie?" The door slams and Bae's voice drifts up to them. Belle goes rigid, eyes wide and looking at him in terror. He makes no movement, just grinning. "Where are you guys?" At that, Belle makes a mad scramble out of bed, looking around frantically for her clothes.
"Clothes! Where are they?" She hisses, gesturing to her body only half hidden with a blanket.
"Living room floor, I believe." He props himself up on one elbow, grinning. "You were the eager one, if I do recall."
"Rum!" She glances around in a panic. "What are we going to do?"
"Hey, are you guys— Oh." Bae stops in the doorway and takes in the scene in front of him. His father, chest bare, sitting amongst the pillows of his bed. Belle, off to one side, wrapped in a blanket, hair messy and eyes wide.
"Bae." Belle gasps. "It's not— We're not— You—"
"Ok." Eyes closed, Bae puts up his hands. "Ok. Everyone, dressed, please, in the kitchen."
"Give us a moment then son." Gold requests and Bae flees.
"Oh my god." Belle mutters, bringing her hand up over her mouth and closing her eyes. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, that didn't just happen. It didn't. Pinch me, I must be dreaming."
"As much as there are certain parts of you I'd love to pinch, dearie, I think it's best we talk to the boy." He says easily, grabbing pants and shirt. Face flaming red, Belle retreats to her room. He makes it to the kitchen first and decides that tea would be a good idea.
"So." Bae sits at the table, watching his father as he puts the kettle on. "It's about time."
"For?" He feigns obliviousness.
"For making a move on Belle." Bae sits back, satisfied. "I've had a bet going with Jefferson and Mary Margaret, she didn't think you'd do anything till summer or later."
"And you had faith that your old man would make a move?" He raises an eyebrow, flattered.
"Faith that Belle would." Bae grins and he chortles, going to grab cups. That sounds more like his son.
"Bae, I am so sorry." Belle comes flying into the kitchen in shorts and crewneck, hair a mess atop her head. "That is not how I wanted you to find out. I was picturing a fun day, maybe another Yankees game or something cool, I'd ask your opinion, I'd answer questions, we'd get treats, I'd listen to everything you had to say." She rambles.
"Well, you did take me to a Yankees game today." He reminds her carefully. "And you can still listen to me and let me ask questions. I'm sure there's ice cream in the freezer, but if this means we can get cake, I won't complain."
"Wait." Belle stops, staring at him. "You're not freaking out? Traumatized that we were—"
"Don't say it or I will be scarred for life." He flinches, making a face. "But I'm 14 Belle, not 4."
"Ok." Belle sits across from him eagerly. "Ok, then ask questions. Ask anything. You want to know, I'll tell you."
"Just one thing." He announces and Belle takes a deep breath, nodding. "Who made the first move?"
"I did." Both Belle and Gold declare, and then look at each other.
"I came to your studio." He reminds her.
"After I texted you!"
"I told you my feelings first."
"I pulled you down to kiss me!"
"Belle made the first move." Bae decides. "Because that means Mary Margaret owes me $15."
"Did you two bet on our relationship?" Belle asks him, half amused and half affronted.
"Yeah." He says nonchalantly. "I mean, I could see it coming a mile away. He was basically in love with you at Christmas."
"What?" Belle goes red again, hiding a smile.
"Please. I'm just glad you guys finally acted on it. This whole weekend, pretending not to be together was ridiculous. You cuddled all last night and then today we went to where you had your first date. I'm a kid, not an idiot." He scoffs and Belle's jaw drops.
"Wait. Not only did you know about us, but you approve?" She demands, glancing at Bae then at Gold then back at Bae.
"Of course I do." Bae rolls his eyes and gets up, opening the freezer, pulling out the vanilla bean ice cream. "Belle, you know I like you. A lot. Are you really surprised that I'm this happy that you like my dad?"
"I thought you'd be upset." She admits, still staring at him disbelief. Gold places a teacup in front of Belle while Bae dishes up ice cream. "I thought you'd be mad or that you'd think I was taking your dad or ruining your thing or, I don't know." She flounders.
"Caramel?" Bae asks her and she nods mutely. He grabs it from the fridge. "Belle, you talked him into bringing me home for Christmas. You make him happy, like really happy, and he smiles more when he's with you. I'm super happy you're here." He offers a bowl. "Are you staying, like forever?"
"Yes." She says firmly, setting the bowl aside and pulling him into a fierce hug. "Yes, I am, whether you like it or not. You two are my boys, and I am never going anywhere."
"Good." Bae hugs her back tightly but when she lets go, he turns pink. "Could you guys, just not, uh, do stuff when I'm home?"
"Yes!" Belle says instantly while Gold mutters,
"No promises."
"Good." Bae relaxes and grabs his ice cream. "Well, it's only like 11, want to watch a movie?"
They decide to let Bae pick the movie, since he claims he's suffered the most today. He picks Pirates of the Caribbean, much to Belle's chagrin, and settles in with them to watch. Belle curls into Gold's side and he secures his arm around her tightly, thinking quietly to himself that he is a wicked man, he does not deserve the happiness seated on his left and right, and despite all that he will fight until the end of time to keep it.
Sunday morning he treats them to brunch, delighting in the simple pleasure of holding Belle's hand while they wait for coffee. He's transfixed by her smile, the way it lights up the whole room. All he has to do is sit back and watch as she and Bae transform the space into beauty.
"Are you packed?" He asks, as Bae finishes scarfing down his eggs. He nods, mouth full.
"Even the things Mrs. Potts was washing?" Belle questions, putting a thin layer of jam on her toast.
"Yes." Bae grins at her. "She packed it for me last night."
"Baen." He says sternly. "She is not your maid. I think it's time this summer that you start having your own chores."
"Speaking of this summer." Bae changes the subject with flawless ease, leaning forward and looking between his father and Belle.
"Yes?" Gold says slowly, unsure of where this is going.
"Belle, are you going to live with us?" Bae questions. Belle goes pink, glancing at Gold and raising an eyebrow.
"Um, for right now, well, we were thinking that I would, you know, stay for a little bit, until I—"
"She's staying." Gold says firmly and Belle puts her head down, grinning uncontrollably.
"Good." Bae takes the rest of his father's breakfast potatoes.
"Ok, you have everything right?" Belle asks Bae worriedly at the gate, pushing his hair back.
"Yes." He assures her for the hundredth time, grinning. "I've got all my socks, all my books, I even have that book report that you helped me write. I've got everything, I swear."
"And whatever he has forgotten, because he has, we can ship to him." Gold says dryly and Belle pulls Bae into a hug.
"Don't forget to write." She reminds him and he makes a face.
"Belle, I'll call, it's not the 1850's." He says sarcastically and Belle gives him a tap on the nose.
"Alright sassy, get through security." She orders and he kisses her check, then turns to his dad.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asks lowly and a little surprised, Gold nods, following him a few steps away from Belle.
"What is it?" He asks worriedly and Bae glances back at Belle then fixes his father with his most serious look.
"You're dating Belle now." He declares and Gold can't help the corners of his mouth from turning up.
"Aye, I am."
"She's the best person in the whole wide world." Bae states and the grin takes over Gold's face.
"Aye, she is."
"Don't mess it up." Bae waves to Belle and Gold pulls him into a fierce hug. He's been proud of Bae many times, but this moment is the sweetest.
"Wouldn't dare."
"Ok." Bae pulls back and starts walking to security. "Bye!"
"Love you." Belle yells, as Gold returns to her side. "Be good! Text us when you land! Be safe!"
"Belle." He takes her hand and she looks at him with big eyes, tears threatening in the corners. "Thank you. Thank you for this, for all of it, for everything. It means the world."
"Hey." She rests her hand on his cheek. "I should be thanking you, for this, for everything."
"What in the world do you mean?" He questions, entangling their fingers and walking with her back to the car.
"You know I come from a small family." She says carefully, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Yes." He says slowly, wondering where this is going to go.
"Just me, my dad. No mom, no siblings. Ruby was the closest thing I ever had to any of it, but here…" She squeezes his hand. "I have you, I have Bae, I even have Jefferson and Grace and Mrs. Potts. I… I'm home when I'm with you. I haven't had that in a long time."
"You deserve it." He says honestly, looking at her imploringly. "You deserve the whole world Belle."
"I have you." She says frankly. "That's all I want."
"Then let's go home, darling." He brushes her hair back, beaming at her. "Let's go home."
AN: Thank you for all the reviews, but can I please have some more? Always appreciated!