To say Jefferson Hatter was excited about Belle and Donny coming over for dinner was a great understatement. As of late he'd not spent much time with his best friend and fellow puppy, Jefferson himself could live with that but the dark-haired man felt bad for his daughter; Grace missed her Uncle and could be rather demanding about seeing him. Jefferson would be lying if he said that he didn't occasionally encourage Grace's demanding. Sometimes he wondered if his little girl preferred Donny to himself, if she did Jefferson wouldn't blame her; Donny was as much her father as he was.

Gold had always thought he was a different man to love, but it was actually very easy, the outside evilness of Mister Gold pawnbroker was a shell, and act, not the man. The man was Donald, a man who hated his name but loved his Jefferson given nickname, a man with impossibly soft greying hair and honey chocolate eyes, a man who was far brave than he thought he was and filled with love that Donny had only give to four people in his Gold had been the first, his darling son taken before his time. After that had been Jefferson; the first friend Donny had found is almost forever. Donny had found friendship with the flamboyant man because they could be themselves around one another; that and it was really good sex. Next had been Grace of course, a girl he loved like his own. Finally was Belle and Jefferson thought she was the best thing to ever happen to Gold, yes Jefferson loved Donny and he knew that Donny loved him but Belle, she was something entirely different. Belle was where he kept his heart, she was his everything. Yes, it was very easy to love Donald Gold. Especially when you've seen him in leather pants, Jefferson smiled to himself.

Dinner was almost ready and the clock was ticking towards seven-thirty, Belle and Donny would be there soon, the dining table was set with plates for himself, Grace and Gold while Belle had bowls awaiting her in his kitchen waiting to be filled. This dinner was all about forgetting Zelena and Jefferson knew that a puppy felt safe and most content at their Master's feet. Jefferson wore his standard black skinny jeans with a jet black shirt, the sleeves to which had been rolled up while he prepared dinner. Over the top was a Regency era Cavalier waistcoat with a bold blood red and black pattern that only Jefferson Hatter could pull off, he'd always leaned towards the more Steampunk style of clothing, and if Gold's words of God you look hot each time he got a new outfit were to be believed then it certainly suited him.

He'd dressed Grace in her favourite white dress, whether it was her favourite because of how beautiful she looked in it or just because Donny had bought it for her Jefferson didn't know, it had thin straps and a black ribbon around the waist as well as little circle all up the skirt; only a few were filled in. The dress came down to her knees and made her look like a princess. Princess Grace. The way her long wavy dark blonde hair hung down around her shoulders only aided in making his daughter even more beautiful than she already was.

At exactly seven-thirty the door bell rang, the chime echoing through Jefferson's happily went to the door and pulled it open revealing his best friend in one his bespoke black suits with the plaid shirt Jefferson had given him once upon a time, Belle was at his feet with the blue leash hanging loosely from her Master's hand. Jefferson's home was out in the middle of nowhere so there was no chance that anyone would see.

"Hello Jefferson." He smiled.

"Come on in." Said Jefferson stepping aside for his two guests to pass.

He took Belle's leash while Gold clipped Belle's lace collar back on, he noticed the way Belle's shoulders relaxed as the delicate lace gently slipped over her soft skin. Jefferson loved his collar with its rich blue velvet but Belle needed it.

"It smells wonderful in here." Gold beamed.

"Good." The younger man grinned. "I promise everything you put in your mouth with taste divine."

The two shared a smug smile, the alternate meaning certainly wasn't lost on them.

"Now, where is my God daughter?" Gold asked as he combed a hand through his puppy's auburn hair.

"Living room." Came Jefferson's quick reply. "Keep an eye on her for me while I check on dinner."

Donny nodded as the younger man walked away towards the kitchen. Belle let her Master guide her down the long white hallway and into the living room, she almost gasped upon entering, Donny had a specific taste but seemed to be all over the place. The walls had been painted in a color too dark to be almond but too light to be taupe with white trimmings, a large fireplace lay opposite the door in matching colors. A warm fire crackled from it forcing away the evenings chill and giving out a tantalising glow that made Belle smile. To her left was a black grand piano that looked beautifully maintained, she didn't know Jefferson played, while on her far right by the windows stood a solid wood table covered in books and Belle would have been more than happy to indulge in for hours on hours. In the centre of the room was a white L shaped couch covered in red pillows, between said couch and a coffee table was little Grace who was playing with several stuffed toys, in her hands was a dog. Seems Grace likes puppies as much as her father, Gold chuckled to himself.

"Hello Sweetheart." Gold greeted with a charming smile. "Love your dress, who bought you such a beautiful thing?" He teased, Donny had known she'd love that dress the second he saw it.

"Uncle Don!" The girl beamed practically lunging at him.

Donny wrapped her up in his hands for a few seconds before she reached down for Rusty the lion and a white rabbit, the lion was pushed into the small section of space left in his arms while the rabbit was offered to Belle who sat on the floor by her Master's feet. Child and adult watched as Belle set the rabbit down and lay her head upon it, Grace laughed. Belle saw the way he looked at Grace and knew Donny would make a wonderful father, already had, he'd told her the story of his son and the tragedy that took boy from parent. It amazed Belle that one teenager could take everything important from Gold in the space of a few seconds. At least he has Grace . Gold loved that little girl like she were his own and in a way she was. She watched quietly for a time as Donny played with his God daughter and the mass of stuffed animals, and it was as though Zelena Green had never existed. After all that had happened over the last few days no Zelena Green was a God send.

Soon enough Jefferson called them to the dinner table, he settled Grace into her chair before taking his own seat. Belle's food was in her bowl and she couldn't help but smile at her friend, he knew what she needed, despite the bowl Belle still sat at the table to the left of her Master with Jefferson opposite him leaving Grace at the head of the dining table.

Conversation seemed to be based on Jefferson's business, though no words that Grace might repeat were said, Belle enjoyed her meal and just listening to them. Puppies didn't speak. The dark-haired man had just gotten onto a strange little tale of a new couple that had shown up at his shop a few days earlier and seemed to be obsessed with Daddy kink when Grace interrupted.

"Birthday!" She beamed.

Every person at the table knew it was her birthday in two weeks, little Grace would turn three, and it seemed that the excitement had started.

"And whose birthday would that be, Rabbit?" Her father teased before taking a bite of food.

"Mine!" Another happy smile.

"No can't be." Gold began. "You had a birthday last year."

"I think that's how they do them now days, Donny." God these two could be Olympic medallists at sarcasm, Belle thought. "Kids weren't happy with just one so they do them annually now."

"Well that's just greedy. We can't go spoiling Grace." Donny retorted acting as though hewere unimpressed.

"Birthday!" Came Grace's voice again and the two men ended their sarcasm.

"Oh alright, Sweetheart. If you must be spoilt, spoilt you shall be."

"Love you Uncle Don."

"I love you too, Grace."

After that conversation moved back to Jefferson's shop punctuated with bits about Gold's own, seemed he had just come into possession of an antique fob watch that he thought Jefferson would like. As Belle ate she couldn't help but think about what Gold had said in the library, Jefferson really could cook, each mouthful was an explosion of perfectly seasoned flavour on her tongue that kept her returning for more. The desert he presented her with, a jasmine and mango panna cotta, was just as good if not better; apparently it was Grace's favourite. Grace had been wriggling for the last ten minutes of dinner and so Jefferson had changed her into her pink pyjamas. The dessert came in a reasonably sized glass with a rounded base half of which on a diagonal slant was the yellow-orange mango while the other half looked like a regular panna cotta, it was topped off with diced mango and looked far too pretty to eat; that didn't stop Belle for long though. It had been way too long since Jefferson had cooked for anyone that wasn't himself or Grace, he'd always loved the looks of appreciation and enjoyment that came from people eating his food.

Eventually Jefferson busied himself with tidying up the plates and wine glasses until he and Donny noticed Grace falling asleep.

"It's long past your bedtime, Sweetheart." Said Gold with love in his eyes.

"Belle would you mind putting her to bed? Her room is the second door on the right at the top of the stairs."

"Sure."

Belle knew when to switch in and out of her puppy frame of mind and caring for a child was definitely one of those times, it would only be for a moment and her Master didn't seem to mind. It was the first time that night that Belle raised up from her knees, Donny handed her Rusty the lion and then picked up the final few plates as she took Grace into her arms and she wondered what it would be like for them to have a child of there own. Would he want one? After loosing Baedan? And he has Grace. Belle didn't dwell of those thoughts for too long, there would be plenty of time for them later. Grace gripped the fabric of her blouse as the older woman carried her up the stairs and into her bedroom, instantly Belle wanted to stay there. The room looked like some kind of enchanted forest rather than a bedroom, the ceiling was painted to look like a star-y night that one could easily fall asleep under; Jefferson had spared no expense on his darling little girl and Belle noticed several thinks that just screamed gifts from Uncle Donny. Grace's bed was a canopy bed in different shades of green and gold, at the end of it was a pale green upholstered Ottoman covered in toys. Beautiful.

Belle set the little girl down in her soft comfy bed and tucked her up, Grace was a sleep the second her head hit the pillow. Rusty held tightly in her small arms. The auburn haired beauty watched her sleep for a few moments just to make sure she was alright and then left, closing the door behind her as quietly as possible.

"Night Grace." She mumbled as she left. "We'll see you in the morning."

They probably would, from the way her Master and friend had been eye fucking each other all night they'd certainly see her when the sun came up. Belle padded back down the stairs, careful so as not to fall in her killer heals and returned to the dining room...

That was when she saw it.