Here's some fluff and smut, just because. Enjoy! :)
I do not own "Once Upon a Time."
Chapter 14
"No papa, I'm fine." Belle said as she paced her living room while talking on the phone. Belle's publicist Aurora and her manager Mulan were also in the living room making calls. Nick sat on the sofa watching them – if he didn't know any better he'd swear they were discussing some sort of national security emergency, not a paparazzi article about a film actress and her new boyfriend. "Papa, he's not a psychopath. I don't care what he looks like to you in the picture, he's not. No, he's not blackmailing me with anything – I'm with him because I want to be. I love him. For god's sake papa, I spent three days sitting in the kitchen with you crying over him, do you think I'd act that way over some monster? I told you he was older, you didn't seem to be bothered by it then. Look, papa, I have to deal with other things right now – I will call you tomorrow, we can set up a time to meet on Skype, you can meet Nick that way and talk to him yourself. I set it up for you and showed you how to work it. Well then ask one of your friends if one of their kids or grand kids knows how and have them show you. I'll talk to you tomorrow, papa. Yes, I love you too." Belle hung up the phone.
"So I've not made a good first impression on your father I take it?" Nick asked.
"I think he's as bad as Ruby when it comes to reading those damn gossip articles. Speaking of Ruby, what did she have to say when you talked to her?"
"Well the press is all over my shop and my apartment. Emma is working on getting some security over there to get them out. She said there were a few folks outside her place too so she's staying with Graham until all of this blows over." Nick said.
"Sweetie, she's probably been staying with Graham for awhile now, you just don't want to admit it." Belle teased. Nick ignored her comment. Aurora and Mulan both hung up their phones and looked up at Belle. Belle sat down next to Nick.
"Okay – we're going to put together a statement to release to the general press, and US magazine has agreed to run an exclusive cover with full content approval from you if you give them the first photos of the two of you here at your house, they'll have a photographer here at two.
"What? Fuck that! I'm not doing some ridiculous interview with a trashy magazine." Nick insisted.
"You don't have to say a word, Belle will do all the talking. You just need to shut up and look pretty – if that's even possible." Mulan said as she sneered at him.
"I'm sorry but – why does Belle have to do any of this shit? She's a grown woman who has a right to her own life and her privacy. She shouldn't have to get permission from US magazine in order to have a relationship with me. Why can't she just tell the press to mind their own business and go fuck themselves?" Nick asked angrily.
"Oh, sure, she can do that. Of course she'll have to endure the fallout, the gossip, the speculation, the paparazzi hounding her even more than usual because she's got some big 'secret' she's hiding, and don't think that won't have a negative impact on her career. Oh, and um – all of that goes for you as well. The public doesn't like secretive celebrities. They tend to think you're being secretive because you're doing something you shouldn't be doing." Aurora said.
"Nick, it'll just be a few pictures. Alright? They'll leave us alone if we do this." Belle said as she squeezed his hand.
"Belle there's also the, um – Philip issue." Mulan said.
"What about him?" Belle asked.
"Well as far as the public is concerned, you two were still a couple until the pictures of you and Grandpa Munster here got out." Mulan said. Nick glared at her angrily.
"I'm only fifty-two." Nick said through gritted teeth.
"You look seventy on film." Mulan retorted.
"Stop it!" Belle shouted. "Nick looks fine, stop putting him down, you're being mean. Let me call Philip and have him come over, I guess he's in on this too whether he wants to be or not."
"You better tell him to get ready to open that closet door because that's the only way some of your fans are gonna forgive you for this one." Mulan said.
"Wait – Philip is gay? Bullshit!" Aurora said.
"Seriously? You really didn't figure that out?" Mulan asked.
"Oh shut up Mulan, we had you fooled for almost two years." Belle said.
"Damn – I had a crush on him. That's disappointing." Aurora said.
"I'll call Philip and have him come over. Come on sweetheart let's go upstairs and figure out what we're going to wear for this." Belle said.
"What's wrong with what we're wearing now?" Nick asked. He was wearing jeans and a polo shirt and she wore a pair of red capris with a black t-shirt.
"Oh sweetheart you have so much to learn about the press." Belle said, and she took his hand and led him upstairs.
"Here, you'll look nice in this." Belle said as she entered her room carrying a pair of black dress pants and dark blue shirt. Nick sat on the edge of the bed and glared at her.
"Fine." he said. Nick stood up and grimaced a bit, and he reached out and touched his leg.
"Are you alright?" Belle asked, setting the clothes down on the edge of the bed.
"Just my bloody leg, it's been hurting all morning." Nick said. He sat back down and rubbed it a bit. "Too much walking yesterday."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Belle asked. "And we walked much more when I was in New York and you were fine."
"That's cause I was wearing my brace." Nick said.
"Your what?" Belle asked.
"I have a brace that I wear on my leg whenever I know that I'll be walking or standing for long periods of time. It helps to prevent – well, things like this." Nick said as he looked down, a bit embarrassed.
"Well can we get one for you here?" Belle asked.
"It's custom made, Belle, it took several weeks for them to get it to me after I was fitted for it." Nick said. "It's in my apartment."
"Well maybe Ruby can send it here. I'll give her my FedEx account number, she can overnight it." Belle suggested.
"My apartment is surrounded by the press, she won't even get in." Nick said. "I'll call Emma, maybe she can get through the crowd somehow, she's scary enough to keep them at bay."
"Here, why don't you just lie back and relax for a bit." Belle said, and she had him lie back in bed. "Can I get you anything?"
"Do you have any ibuprofen around? That will help." Nick said.
"Yes, of course." Belle said. She left the room and came back a few minutes later with a pill bottle and a bottled water.
"Thank you love." Nick said, and he sat up and took the pills and water from her. He took out three pills.
"Are you supposed to take that many?" Belle asked.
"I can take up to four if I need to, every eight hours." Nick said, and he swallowed the pills.
"Take off your pants." Belle said. Nick looked at her with surprise.
"Belle, um – there are people downstairs, at least close the door." Nick said.
"Not for THAT!" Belle shouted, and she lightly slapped his arm. "I was going to massage it, maybe that will help."
"It might." Nick said. Belle removed Nick's shoes and helped him off with his jeans. She propped his right leg up on a couple of pillows and began to move her hands gently up and down his leg.
"Where does it hurt the most?" Belle asked.
"My knee – just below. That's always where the pain is the worst." Nick said. Belle glanced down at his leg – there was far much scarring around his knee than anywhere else.
"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Belle asked.
"No, it's fine. It feels good." Nick said.
"Maybe I should get you into my hot tub after everyone leaves, do you think that would make it feel better?" Belle asked.
"Yeah, it probably would." Nick said. "Belle, I hate this – you're a lovely young girl you shouldn't have to be playing nursemaid to a crippled old man like me."
"I thought we determined earlier that you're not that old. And it's not your fault what happened to you." Belle said.
"Yeah it is. It's a constant reminder of what a foul person I used to be." Nick said. "I may have reformed but – I'll never be able to forget because of this. My leg will always be a reminder to me that I am nothing but a monster. Or as the press put it – a beast."
"Stop it." Belle said, and she reached up and kissed him. "I love you. I wouldn't love you if you were a monster."
"I don't know what you see in me Belle." Nick said.
"My life. My future. Everything. That's what I see in you." Belle said. Nick wrapped his arms around her and rolled over on top of her. He was able to forget about the throbbing pain in his leg as he kissed her.
"Hey, do that bullshit on your own time, Philip is downstairs and we need to strategize!" Mulan shouted as she peeked into the room. Nick and Belle, both startled, sat up. Nick looked down at his uncovered legs, embarrassed.
"You could at least knock!" Belle shouted.
"YOU could at least close the damn door!" Mulan said, and she stormed off in a huff.
"She didn't take a dig at me this time, I think she's warming up to me." Nick joked. Belle gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Why don't you stay up here and rest for a bit while I go downstairs and work out all of the details of how Philip and I are going to handle our little ruse blowing up in our faces." Belle said. "Aurora will have someone here about one to do our hair and make up."
"Makeup? Fuck that, Belle. I'll sit for your damn pictures but I'm not wearing eyeliner or any crap like that." Nick said.
"They'll probably just put a light base on you, or even just a bit of powder, it's no big deal. I'm really sorry about this – I'll make it up to you tonight in the hot tub, how does that sound?" Belle teased.
"Can't we just kick them all out of the house and do that now?" Nick suggested. Belle smiled and gave him one more quick kiss.
"Get a bit of rest, I'll be back up to get you when it's time to get ready." Belle said.
About an hour later, Belle entered her room and found Nick to be asleep. She quietly closed the door and went to sit next to him. She caressed his cheek gently and kissed him on the lips. Nick opened his eyes and blinked, then looked up at her.
"What time is it?" Nick asked, sitting up a bit.
"12:30. I was hoping you would take a little nap – do you feel any better?" Belle asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine." Nick said. "I should probably shower and shave before the media circus begins." he said. Nick sat up on the edge of the bed and stretched his leg a bit. "Oh fuck, where's my cane?" he asked.
"It's on the floor – here." Belle said, and she picked the cane up and handed it to him. "You want me to join you? I probably should shower as well."
"Do we have time for that?" Nick asked.
"It's just a shower." Belle said.
"It's never just a shower with you." Nick said. He stood up and Belle took his hand.
"This time it will be. I'm saving all my energy for the hot tub tonight." Belle teased.
"You'd better." Nick said, and he pinched her behind and she giggled as they made their way into the attached bathroom, laughing the entire time.
"Well look at you – you actually look presentable." Mulan said as Nick made his way into the living room with Belle. Nick was wearing the black pants and blue shirt that Belle selected for him and Belle wore a blue floral print dress that complimented his outfit. "They're setting up in the dining room to do your makeup and hair."
"They're not curling my hair, either." Nick said.
"They won't curl it, just comb it a bit, maybe put a bit of product in it. Although somehow I think you might look a bit nice with some curl in your hair." Belle commented.
"Not in this lifetime, sweetheart. I have my limits. I love you but I will not curl my hair for you." Nick said adamantly.
"It's okay. You can't cut it though – I love it long like you have it." Belle said, and she kissed him.
"Can the two of you please hold off on this crap until AFTER we're done with this?" Mulan asked. "And no kissing once the makeup is done, I don't want it getting smudged." Mulan's phone rang and she stomped out of the room.
"Jesus, she's worse than a drill sergeant." Nick said.
"She used to be one. She was in the Air Force for seven years. I think that's why she's such a good manager, she doesn't put up with anyone's bullshit." Belle said. "She also only takes on clients that aren't complicated – YOU complicated me. She's not happy about that."
"Well that's too fucking bad for her, isn't it?" Nick said. "Can I sneak one more kiss in before all of this crap begins?"
"Only one? I think we can squeeze in more than one." Belle said. She leaned against the wall and pulled him close, kissing him the entire time. She squealed and pulled away when she heard a camera click.
"Gotcha! Belle French with no makeup, I wonder how much this one will sell for!" Philip teased.
"Give me that!" Belle said, and she reached for Philip's camera. He hid it from her, teasing her. He darted through the living room with Belle chasing after him. Belle tackled him on the sofa. "Give it to me!" she shouted, giggling the entire time. Belle finally got the camera away from him. She found the picture he took and deleted it. "You're an ass!" she said, and she threw the camera at him. Philip laughed at her.
"You know I wouldn't sell it for less than ten grand." Philip said.
"You see what I have to put up with?" Belle said, and she walked back over to Nick, who put his arm around her. Nick tried to hide his discomfort with their playful scenario.
"I think you look lovely without your makeup." Nick said, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek. "So – what sordid tale did you come up with to tell the press about your supposed break up?"
"Oh, you'll love it. I'm gonna burst into the room during the interview, act like a jealous asshole and just beat the crap out of you right in front of the press, it'll be fab!" Philip said. Nick's eyes widened. "Don't worry mate, I'll wait till after you do the photo shoot."
"He's kidding, Nick. Philip, behave." Belle said.
"We're just saying that Belle and I never got back together, we just went out a few times, the press assumed what they assumed, and I've known about you for months and I'm very happy for you. What a concept, telling the truth for once." Philip said. "So – how was the shopping trip from hell?"
"That pretty much describes it in a nutshell." Nick said.
"Hey, I tried to warn you. Next time listen." Philip said. "Belle, I set that script down on your kitchen table – you promised me you'd look at it."
"I will." Belle said, and she heard some noise coming from the foyer. "Come on, I think the makeup and hair folks are here – you ready for this?"
"Let's just get it over with." Nick said.
"You will TRY to smile in the pictures, right?" Belle asked. "Just remember – hot tub tonight." she whispered in his ear. Nick looked at her and smiled.
"Is that better?" Nick asked.
"Yes. I love you so much for doing this, Nick." Belle said, and she hugged him tightly.
That evening, Nick sat waiting for Belle in the hot tub. The photo session and interview was a tedious activity and he couldn't believe that Belle had to endure such nonsense on a regular basis. He honestly couldn't imagine why anyone would give a shit about any of this. The interviewer asked the most ridiculous questions, many of which were intrusive and no one's business and he was glad that Belle had the good sense to point that out and refuse to answer. He was ready to take his cane and whack the asshole photographer who suggested that he get a nose job. And he still hadn't told Belle about the whole mess with Regina, but he figured that could wait, she didn't need another thing piled on her today. Belle finally made her way out to the hot tub – she was wearing a bikini and she looked incredibly beautiful. She carried two towels with her and set them down near the tub as she climbed in.
"Well, Ruby managed to get your brace, I just spoke with her, she's shipping it tomorrow morning, it'll be here the next day, and she is NOT happy with you for not telling me about it." Belle said.
"Perfect. I'm sure I'll get a scolding from her when I get home." Nick said. Belle put her arms around Nick and rested her head on his shoulders.
"Today was some day, huh? You did alright though, I thought." Nick didn't say a word. "What's wrong?" Belle asked, and she gave Nick a kiss on the cheek.
"The way you were with Philip today – acting silly and playful and chasing him – I'll never be able to do that with you. And I want to, Belle. But I can't. Belle, if I were a younger man, a better looking man, you wouldn't have had to have to 'explain' me to anyone. Instead you're stuck with an old man who could barely walk this morning and who needed a nap by 11:30." Nick said.
"Have I ever once complained about anything about you? Your looks, your age, your leg – have I ever said anything negative? You're the one who does that, not me. You think you're uglier than you are and you can't even see that you are absolutely gorgeous and that I'm not the only woman who takes a second look at you, and I've seen them and want to rip their eyes out when they do because you're mine. You're not an old man but you certainly act like one sometimes with your attitude. You could barely walk this morning because you're a jackass for not telling me about your brace last night and you know damn well if I had known I wouldn't have had us stay out that long, and you needed a nap partly because of said jackass behavior and partly because we were up late doing – well, you know what we were doing, and you woke up too early because you still haven't fully adjusted to the time zone and you're still a bit jet-lagged. Now are you done getting all moody and putting yourself down because it's getting very tiresome." Belle said. "And as for my 'silly' behavior with Philip – Philip is like a brother to me, we always do that. There are plenty of playful and silly things that I have done and will do with you that I have NO desire to do with Philip, and not one of those things involve being in a standing and upright position. Like right now – I'm going to do THIS." Belle climbed on top of Nick and faced him, and with one swift move, she reached her hand down and tugged on the underwear Nick was wearing, and she yanked it off of him. Belle grabbed his cock with her right hand and began to massage it until it was fully erect. She pressed her lips against his and began to kiss him with an open mouth, and he happily complied and did the same. Belle moved her lips across his neck and shoulders as she continued to move her hand up and down his cock. Nick leaned his head back and panted in ecstasy. He allowed Belle to continue pleasuring him until he was able to come. His entire body trembled and let out a loud moan, then sighed and leaned his head on her shoulder as she moved back to his side.
"I love you so much." Nick whispered. "I'm sorry I've been behaving like such an ass."
"I'm not leaving you, Nick. I know that's what's at the root of all of this, and it needs to stop. You are very much stuck with me. Forever." Belle said.
"Forever." Nick whispered. He wrapped his arms around Belle and pulled her into the middle of the tub as they kissed.