Gold's cane tap, tap tapped on the hardwood floor of his shop. All was quiet, few ever entered the belly of the beast. Emma Swan, town sheriff, was probably the only one not afraid of him, well her and Doctor Whale, maybe Jefferson Hatter but that could have just been insanity. Many put on a brave face acted aloof and stand-offish but they all feared him. It had been so long ago that Bae died, since he had watched his son choke to death on his own blood, trapped and immobile, unable to help his child. Gold still didn't feel safe to lower his walls, if they stayed raised then he could not get hurt. However, someone had broken them down without ever meaning to. Belle. Beautiful perfect Belle.

Suddenly the shop bell rang out to indicat a visitor pulling him from his thoughts. His cane echoed around the room as he left his office for the main shop. Speak of the angelic librarian, there she was.

"Hello." He greeted far more kindly than he did anyone else.

"Oh, hello Mister Gold." Belle smiled at him, why did she always show him kindness? Gold was sure he didn't deserve it.

"Can..." He cleared his throat, she always made him so damn nervous. Like he was some sort of teenager. "Can I help you, Miss French?"

"Its Ariel's birthday next week and I really have no idea what to get her, she's one of my best friends so it has to be perfect. Then again 'perfect' doesn't really exist does it?"

It was a rhetorical question but Gold had to force his tongue to stay still, not to tell her that she was the embodiment of perfect. Thankfully Belle spoke again making it easier.

"I really have no idea what to get her. Ruby is easy its clothes. Victor is Bourbon, Eric is chocolate but with Ariel I'm drawing a blank."

"Well what sort of things does she like?"

Normally Gold couldn't care less if someone bought something or not, But Belle wasn't 'someone', he wanted her to be happy, he wanted to be the one to make her smile.

"Oh that's easy, the ocean, she loves the sea its her favourite thing in the world, other than Eric of course.."

"The sea?"

Belle nodded and Gold couldn't help but let out a slight smile. He had just the thing. Gold wandered off to the glass case that held the cash register and quickly opened it, on the back left hand side was a small green velvet box. He pulled it out and returned to a curios Belle in the middle of the shop.

"Maybe this?"

He handed her the box and watched with anticipation as Belle opened it, she gasped.

"Its perfect."

Belle took from the box a silver necklace, it held a small ring of silver metal with a seahorse, a clam shell and a starfish in the middle. The necklace was simple yet elegant with little details that brought the item to life. Belle smiled and Gold felt like he had won the lottery. Designed to look like a bubble between the seahorse and the clam she was a pearl, and the reason the necklace was so expensive. It was silver yes but the pearl was the star of the show and pushed the price up. Gold had always thought the necklace was destined to sit in his shop forever, never to hang from a woman's neck again, but maybe it was there to help him make Belle smile.

"I'm glad you think so, Miss French. Hopefully your friend will think the same."

She was so beautiful, while her eyes focused on the necklace Gold risked a quick glance at her slender frame. His eyes drifted over her body taking in her long pale neck that he longed to bite and mark as his own, her firm breasts he wanted to feel flush against his chest, her silky legs that he wanted wrapped around his hips as he filled her. No! No, he couldn't have such thoughts, she was far too good for him. She was the angel of light while he was the imp of darkness. Gold didn't deserve her and she would never want him.

"I'll take it, how much?"

He thought for a moment, he would be happy just to give her the necklace, but he knew Belle would never go for that.

"Twenty dollars."

Any lower in price and she would have suspected something. He didn't want her to know of his love, it would just embarrass her nad him both.

XXXX

"Belle?"

Ariel's voice pulled Belle from her thoughts, the redhead had the ocean necklace on and Belle couldn't help but be reminded of the day she had gone into Nathan's shop to get it. He had been so nice to her, smiled and helped her with her errant, she missed his smile.

Belle had planned on getting Ariel a dress she had seen and had only gone into Gold's shop so she could talk to him. Belle had always loved his voice, that strong Scottish brogue. She could listen to him recite the town charter and still she would love every second.

"Belle?" Ariel said again, a little more firmly.

"Yes? Sorry I was miles away."

"Obviously."

To be honest Belle had forgotten that she was in Granny's, the noise of conversations and smell of food soon reminded her.

"What was it you were saying?"

"I asked if you had heard anything more from Gaston?"

"Oh, no I haven't. I think he got drunk and forgot."

Of course Belle had told her best friends about the incident with Gaston three days previous and the things he had said about Nathan. His coma had reached the four-month mark and to be honest it had really upset Belle that he still hadn't woke.

"He better have. You don't want me and Victor to ruff him up? Victor could bring Jefferson and August, we could make a night of it." Eric smiled as he sipped his coffee and slipped his free hand around Ariel's shoulders.

"No, I don't think that would be necessary thank you Eric."

"Well the offers there."

Ariel swatted his arm and turned back to her friend. Ariel had a talent of saying everything with a look, she could go days without needing to say anything if she wanted to. When the redhead tilted her head Belle knew just what she was being told. Everything will be alright Belle. Gaston is all bark and no bite. Just don't listen to him.

Ariel was right, she normally was. Belle had faith that Nathan would wake up and so everything would be alright. Nathan would come back to her, and protect her from Gaston if needs be. Belle knew she should had gone to Emma but for some strange reason that even she didn't understand, she couldn't bring herself to do so.

XXXX

"So?" Zelena demanded, her arms folded over her chest.

They stood in the woods that surrounded the Hospital. It was late and Zelena was anxious to get back to her ward because she knew Belle would be there soon and she wanted to watch for any sign that Gold was reacting to the little tramps voice as she read.

"I tried being nice one more time, you know, because I'm a gentleman." Nurse Green snorted a little. "I think you were right though, she's got some sort of crush on him."

"Well I think its time you reminded her what a catch you are, Mister Rose."

"I think you're right, but I want my money. I want Belle, yeah, but I'm not helping you out of the goodness of my heart."

"What happened to I'm a gentleman?"

"I'm a selective gentleman."

That did actually make Zelena chuckle slightly, she smoothed out her pink and white uniform and then looked up at Gaston who had an expectant eyebrow raised.

"I told you, you can have your money when I have Gold to myself."

"Well I want it now, or I go straight to Sheriff Swan and tell her what you asked me to do." Gaston placed a hand over his heart and looked at Zelena with mock shock. "Tell her about the horrific and damn right inhuman things you asked me to do to Belle because you want Mister Gold's money and power to yourself."

He was just about a good enough actor to get away with it, of course they didn't know about the Sheriff's super power, then again they would if Gaston went to her with that story. Zelena knew she was being backed into a corner, she had to make Gold see he was meant to be with her and only her. Not little Belle French.

"Fine! You'll have it by the end of the week."

"Good." Gaston smiled. "Wasn't so hard now was it?"

Zelena didn't answer, she had a job to do, a librarian to spy on and then some things to sell so she could pay the pathetic younger man. It didn't matter once she had Gold and his money she could buy back her things as well as anything she liked the looks of. Gaston was wrong she didn't just want Gold's power and money, no, she wanted his heart as well. All she had to do was wrestle it away from Belle.