That night Gold ended up getting absolutely no sleep whatsoever. After leaving Belle, he went to take a long and very cold shower to clear his head. This woman had affected him way more than he ever thought possible and he did not like it.

The shower did help though, but it also woke him up, which didn't matter. He wasn't going to be able to sleep now anyway. There was no way he was returning to his room to join Belle, the sleeper in the library had already been tainted with her as well, and the couch in the living room wasn't quite comfortable enough to sleep on for a long period of time.

Still, he settled in the living room, dressed in his same pajama pants and another top he found in the dryer, and found a movie on television he could pay attention to and would block out the images of Belle. It was also helping him forget that she had just practically stolen his nice warm bed, leaving him out there on a cold and uncomfortable couch.

Eventually he did drift off though, this time into a sleep full of dreams of Belle and what might have happened if he had chosen to stay with her. Eventually those dreams transformed into one that sported of a domestic life with her, living in the North Pole in a quaint little cottage that looked like a gingerbread house instead of his fancy New York apartment. It was the most ridiculous dream he probably had ever had-him parading around in the silliest blue elf costume while Belle danced around and spoke of eating sugarplums and making snow angels, but it didn't bother his dream self. Instead he actually enjoyed being with her, watching her, listening to her, and there was something special between them, something more than just friendship. It was love. They were madly in love.

"Papa?"

Neal was there too…adorned in his own little elf outfit and for once he actually seemed happy, something Gold had always wanted for his son, but had never been able to make it possible. Neal came running up from the candy cane forest and gave Belle a big hug, before turning and doing the same with his father. Gold laughed boisterously and swung his son in his arms.

"Papa?"

They were the perfect and most happy family and it was all because of Belle. She had brought them together and he loved her truly.

"Papa? Wake up!"

Gold's eyes popped open and the first thing he saw was Neal's face looming above him. "Neal?" He didn't look like an elf. What was going on?

"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" his son questioned.

"Couch?" Gold blinked his eyes a few times and looked around as his penthouse living room came into focus. The euphoria began to wear off. Oh he was home, back in his apartment. Thank the gods! He didn't care how happy or in love he had felt in that dream-it would be a nightmare if it were to come to pass-not that it would. There was no such thing as the North Pole-well no living in it anyway. And he would never have feelings for Belle nor would she ever care for him. No one cared for him. At times he even doubted his son's love.

He groaned as he sat up, rubbing his back, which was hurting now because of the position in which he fell asleep. "It's a long story, son…" One that he was definitely not planning on telling.

Neal nodded and shrugged it off. "Okay…well, Belle made breakfast." He hopped up and ran toward his room. "I already ate. I'm gonna go get ready for school."

Gold watched his son retreat and then he looked toward the kitchen. The last thing he wanted to do was face Belle and he wasn't going to if he didn't have to.

Opting to steer clear of her, he went to his room, purposely avoiding any glance toward the freshly slept in bed. From this night forward, he would be returning to his bed; he was not willing to do another night on the couch. Belle would just have to deal with the sleeper in the library and he would have to make sure to request Mrs. Potts change the sheets. He couldn't lie in a bed that most likely was doused in her fresh scent of peppermint. That could cause more of those unwanted dreams and feelings.

As he dressed in one of his finest suits, he hoped he would be able to sneak out before Belle found him. He didn't have to worry about Neal. The boy could take care of himself and he always walked to school each morning any way since it was only a couple of blocks away.

It was better this way, hiding. Yes, he wished he could just go in the kitchen and enjoy his morning tea like he did every single day, but today he would just have to pick something up on the way to work.

Luckily at first, everything did seem to be going his way. He heard Neal rustling around, putting his shoes on and getting his book bag; he heard Belle call goodbye to the boy and then the elevator doors opened and closed. Belle's footsteps were the last noise as they patted away back into the kitchen.

Grabbing his briefcase, he knew now was as good a time as any and he hurried out of his room and to the elevator, pushing the button and waiting impatiently for the door to open. It wouldn't open. He pushed it again. Nothing. Grr…he should have waited a few minutes because the elevator had to go all the way to the bottom and back to the top most likely. Perhaps he should just take the stairs because any moment now Belle could…

"Mister Gold?"

Gold closed his eyes and sighed heavily, not having to turn around to know she was standing right there. "Yes, what is it?" He sounded annoyed and did not move to face her.

"I…I made breakfast. Wouldn't you like some before you go to work?" She sounded so meek and unsure, frightened even.

Once again he sighed. Well, he hadn't managed to avoid her, and breakfast sounded good-tea sounded even better, so he might as well. "Very well." He sat his suitcase down by the door and turned around to look at her. This time he was prepared for what he might see, hoping she at least had the decency not to parade around in that nighty where his young son could have seen. If not, then he knew he would have to tell Maurice that he would not be able to accommodate her anymore, not that he wanted to in the first place.

Luckily, that wasn't going to happen because she was decently covered-enough at least to be around his son-but not enough to keep those unwanted feelings at bay. Belle was still wearing his nightshirt, but buttoned now, so if she still had the teddy on he couldn't tell. His shirt was rather long on her, falling just at her knees. It covered her, but her nice creamy legs were still exposed and the picture of her twirling in front of him surfaced in his mind.

He swallowed thickly, unsure if he could do this. Wait…what was he thinking? He had dealt with more difficult situations before! He could handle this, no problem. Straightening his back, he didn't look directly at her and started toward the kitchen. "I see you're still wearing my shirt," he commented bluntly. "Why haven't you changed?"

"Oh…" Belle glanced down at herself nervously, twisting the shirt in her hands. "I will…but my dress is still drying. I had to wash it last night."

Reasonable, but it didn't make him feel any less upset. He didn't like excuses. He walked over to the kettle and set to boiling water for his tea. "And I trust you didn't wear that red nightgown in front of my son this morning." He spoke so calmly it was almost sinister.

"No, I didn't." Belle was still shocked by his previous reaction and he seemed very unhappy with her now, and she thought she knew why. "I'm sorry," she told him. "I didn't think you would hate the gown that much…"

"Belle, I didn't hate the gown," he barked, slamming his cup down on the counter and turning to face her.

Belle looked up at him, worried, able to see the fierceness burning in his eyes and she couldn't help but feel a little terrified.

"I did not appreciate you coming in my bed uninvited in some pathetic attempt to seduce me," he continued, speaking with is hands to show how true his words were.

"I wasn't trying to seduce you," she replied, clearly sincere. "I…I don't even know what seduce means."

He stared at her with a creased brow, fed up with her supposed naivety. "You're sure? You're sure you aren't here for my money?" He was still convinced of that and no matter what her answer, he wasn't sure he would believe otherwise.

Belle shook her head. "I don't care about money. We elves never have to worry about money…"

He resisted the urge to groan. This elf act was getting old fast. Still, she seemed genuine, so he decided for now he would trust her. In the end, if he was wrong, then it would be Maurice's problem.

The kettle whistled and he turned around to tend to the tea and return to ignoring Belle.

Belle could tell he believed her, but there was still this tension between them that she wanted to break. "So you did like my nightgown?" she asked with a smile, taking a step toward him.
Of course she was still on the nightgown subject and he realized then he had made the stupid mistake of saying he didn't hate it. "Belle there was nothing wrong with the gown, it was just inappropriate."

"Inappropriate? But you said it was meant for a woman."

"And it is," he agreed, dipping a tea bag in his cup and walking over to the kitchen table to sit down and enjoy it. How was he going to explain this to her? He really didn't want to. Did she really not know?

He glanced up at her. Nope, she didn't-that much was clear on her befuddled face. Sighing again, he took a sip of his tea, deciding on the best thing to say to avoid a slew of questions. "It's meant for a woman who wants to impress a man whom she's in love with. We are not in love." That wasn't completely true, but it was a description that he was sure she could understand.

"Oh…OH!" Belle felt absolutely dense then. How could she be so foolish? She blushed profusely. "I'm so sorry…I didn't know…I guess I should have known…but this, everything in this world…it's just all so new to me."

She was blushing again-he loved it when she blushed. "Elves don't have lingerie?" he joked with a chuckle before he could even think about what he was saying. Was he really playing a long now? What was wrong with him?

Belle giggled and looked away, going over to the stove. He was teasing her now…that was a good sign. "It's too cold up there to sleep in anything like that. All of our clothes are made of wool or other warm materials-like my dress."

"Must be terribly boring, to wear the same thing every day." He said it, yet it didn't occur to him that in a way he did the same. He always wore a suit no matter what, but they weren't all the same suit.

"Yes, well…" Belle looked a little flustered. "Breakfast?" she offered once more.

He stared at her for a moment, watching as she stood on her tiptoes to pull a plate out of the cabinet. There in his kitchen, dressed in his clothes, with her brown locks a little messy from sleep, she almost looked as if she belonged there. He smiled just a little. "Please," he replied.

Belle noticed his smile and returned it, but couldn't help but avert her eyes.
Gold seemed lost in the moment, but he quickly brushed it off and went back to his tea. And just when he thought he was done with surprises for the day, Belle plopped a plateful of spaghetti in front of him and drenched it in maple syrup.

"Enjoy!" she squealed happily.