accio-firewhiskey said:

Adopt prompt: Belle is shocked and strangely attracted but also wary upon finding out Gold has a law degree

Tinuviel-undomiel said:

Something I thought of for you your Adoption verse, even if Belle and Gold get along, won't they still need to go to court so Gold can be formally recognized as Bae's father?

Fred Knight could talk about the importance of physical education to a child's development longer and in more depth than any man Gold had ever met. He had heard all about fine motor skills and gross motor skills and attention spans since Belle had left. Abigail had been right, it was a recruitment speech. He'd made the mistake of mentioning that he used to be a footballer and now Fred was explaining how they had need of a second soccer coach.

"It's a pretty simple job," Fred explained. "David Blanchard-Nolan already coaches, and he's great with the kids, but strategy isn't exactly his strong suit."

"I could help with that," Gold conceded. "But I'm afraid I may not be up to the activity level."

He tapped his leg with his cane and Fred glanced down quickly with no sign of awkwardness.

"Oh, that's not a problem," he continued. "David can do all the drills. In fact, hold on, he's right over there."

Fred waved over Gold's shoulder to a tall blond man standing in a group with a few other parents. The man who must be David nodded and jogged over to join them.

"Hey," he said cheerfully. "What's up?"

"David, this is Arthur Gold," Fred introduced them. "He's Bailey's dad. Arthur, this is David. His daughter Emma is on Bae's soccer team."

"Great to meet you," David said, extending a hand to Gold who shook it. "Bae's a great kid."

"I was just talking to Arthur about helping out with the team this year," Fred said. "He used to play semi-pro in Scotland."

"Really?" David's eyes got larger at the news. "That would be great. I could always use more help."

"It's been a few years since I played," Gold demurred. "But I'll think about it."

It would be nice to spend more time with his son, and he wanted desperately to be more involved with Bae's school and the community. It was definitely an idea worth considering, at least. He was saved from the hard sell by the return of Abigail and Belle.

"Are you too bullying him into coaching?" Abigail said teasingly, draping her arms around her husband affectionately. "Don't let them push you around, he thinks everyone should volunteer."

"No, no," he assured her. "He's actually making a very persuasive argument. I'm seriously considering it."

He glanced to Belle, who was giving him a funny look but had returned to his side. If they had been alone, he'd have asked her if something was wrong but standing amidst a group of strangers seemed like neither the time or the place.

"I should really be heading to the other classrooms anyway," Fred said apologetically. "It's been great meeting you, Arthur. We should all get together sometime outside of school."

It took a moment to register Fred's meaning, but Abigail quickly interfered.

"Oh, honey," she said softly. "They're not together."

Fred glanced back and forth between Arthur and Belle quickly, comprehension dawning on his face.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "You're just...well, never mind. My mistake."

"Come on," Abigail said with a smile. "There are other dads for you to work on. It was nice seeing you again, Belle."

The two made their retreat, down the hall to another classroom, leaving Belle and Arthur with David.

"So, David," Belle said sweetly. "How was Florida?"

The other man launched into a description of the trip. He was being polite in front of a stranger, but he got the feeling there was more to it than he was letting on. "Finally, though, David excused himself to Gold's promise that he would definitely consider helping with the team.

"David's a good guy," Belle said idly after the other man had left. "He's good with the kids...and very honest."

That seemed like a strange thing for her to mention, but he didn't want to push it.

"Are you alright?" he asked her finally.

"I'm fine," she sighed. "Just tired."

"We can go," he offered. "I've apparently been assigned a job for the school year anyway and I met his teacher. What else is there?"

"Not a lot," she admitted. "I'm already one of the room mom's myself so I won't be doing any extra volunteering."

He made a mental note to figure out what a room mom was later. There was so much to learn about all this.

"Let's get Bae and go home," he said finally. "If you're really ready to go, I mean."

Belle glanced around before turning towards him.

"You know, I think I am."

The kids were being kept in the gym under the watchful eyes of a handful of parent volunteers. They had set out a pile of balls and various other things for the kids to use to amuse themselves with. It took a few minutes for Gold to identify his child in the mass of eleven-year-olds playing what seemed to be the least organized game of dodge ball in the world, but eventually he spotted Bae in the corner of the gym with a little blonde girl.

Part of him felt a swell of paternal pride that his son was talking to a pretty girl, but at the same time given his own love life (or decade long lack thereof), that probably wasn't something he could really take credit for.

"Oh lord," Belle muttered, hurrying over to where Bae stood.

Confused, Arthur followed her. It wasn't until they got within earshot that he realized her distress was because Bae and the girl were arguing loudly.

"You were tagged out, Emma!" Bae insisted. "It hit you!"

"You're a liar," Emma said in a huff. "It didn't touch me. You're lying!"

"I'm not a liar!"

"Prove it!"

Bae and the girl seemed on the verge of coming to blows when Belle arrived and put a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Can't you two have one conversation that doesn't end like this?" she said with a grimace.

"She started it," Bae supplied.

"Did not," Emma replied.

"Did too."

"I don't care," Belle interrupted. "It makes absolutely no difference to me who started what. But you shouldn't call each other names."

Bae and Emma looked at each other as though it hadn't occurred to either one that there was anything wrong with what they had been doing, though he was sure Belle had probably had this conversation with them on numerous occasions.

"Why not?" Emma finally said. Bae seemed equally confused.

"Because it's not nice," Belle replied. "Anyway, Bae, your dad and I are leaving early."

Both children let out matching whines, Emma lamenting who she'd play with now and Bae not wanting to leave early. Belle directed Emma towards a little redheaded boy named August and informed Bae that if he truly wanted to see Emma that badly they could arrange for her to come over that weekend.

Something still felt off about Belle, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was as they said their goodbyes and he watched them drive off.

Belle was scarcely able to sleep that night. Arthur had lied to her – well, he'd hidden the truth which was basically the same. He could have told her! She'd never doubted him before and even when she'd barely known him she'd always trusted him. Knowing that he hadn't extended her the same courtesy was what was killing her. As soon as it was reasonably polite, she called Mary Margaret to ask the other woman if she'd mind watching Bae. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) Emma had been on a tear that morning and Mary Margaret was more than happy with anything that would hopefully distract her daughter from the swath of destruction that she'd been creating in the house.

After dropping her son off for the playdate, Belle wasn't sure what her plan was but wasn't surprised at all when she found herself outside of Arthur's house. She knew she should stop and think this through, but even as she was knocking on his door no plan was forming. His face lit up at the sight of her, and that more than anything told her what to do.

"You bastard!" she shouted, storming past him into the house.

He was stunned, backing away and only barely seeming to remember to shut the door after her.

"Were you ever planning on telling me?" she continued as his mouth opened and closed as though he couldn't quite figure out what he wanted to say.

"Belle..." he finally forced out in a strangled sounding voice. "What's going on?"

"Abigail!" she shouted. "Were you planning on ever telling me that my adoption is invalid, Rumpelstiltskin?"

She practically snarled the last word and felt just a little bit vindicated when he visibly paled.

"What did she tell you?" he said in a tight voice.

"That you're apparently some terrifying family law attorney," she ranted. "And apparently I'm not Bae's legal guardian. Oh and also that I should use your feelings for me to get you to agree to me having custody."

She deflated now that she'd gotten it out, leaning against the wall.

"Is that all?" he said.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged.

"And say what, exactly?" he finally replied with a challenge in his voice. "I wasn't going to make any moves against you and I told you that. When I have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

"This!" she heard her voice squeak. "This is a reason not to trust you."

"So it is," he said with a sigh. "What difference does it make now?"

"I'm not his mother anymore!" she said through the tears she hadn't known were coming. "You showed up and now I'm not his mother."

"You're always his mother," he replied with a shocked expression on his face. "You'll never stop being his mother, even if I had taken custody. You know that, Belle."

He looked like he was going to hug her if she'd let him, but she wasn't sure that she could handle that at the moment.

"If I were one of your clients," she said suddenly. "What would you tell me to do?"

"If you were..." he sighed. "Probably what she did. Use my...affection for you to get me to agree to a formal custody agreement. Though I might have thrown in something about not storming into my house and yelling at me."

He said the last bit with a shy little half smile that broke her heart.

"And would that have worked? Aside from the yelling, I mean."

He didn't answer her right away, instead looking anywhere but at her as his fingers twitched against his cane.

"Yes," he said finally. "It would have. I'd do anything for you, Belle. You know that."

Oh.

She was going to pretend like she didn't understand what he'd meant by that, and he seemed content to pretend like he hadn't meant it. It was too much right now, and the only way she could handle the rest of it was if she didn't think about that.

"We need a custody agreement, don't we?" she said at last, conveniently sidestepping the uncomfortable truth.

"We do."

"So how does that work?"

"You'll need to contact your attorney," he said slowly, sounding tired. "And I'll get in touch with my own. You're going to need to go through the adoption again, I'm afraid."

"Can I just adopt him without you giving up rights"

He shrugged.

"It's...not exactly common but I don't see why not, if I consent to it," he glanced up to her. "And I will, of course. You're always his mother, Belle. I wouldn't take him from you."

"I know," she replied. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"It's no matter," he said flippantly. "I should have been honest to begin with."

"Why weren't you?"

"What would you have said if I had been, back then?"

Belle thought about it for a second. She'd have panicked, of course. And then what? Probably circled her wagons and hoped for the best.

"You still should have said something later."

"I should have," he admitted. "There was just never a good time."

She took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before exhaling and letting the anger dissipate.

"I understand," she said finally. "I wouldn't have then, but I think I do now."