Chapter 29
"Mm, Little Red-Cap."
Red groaned, "Really? Little Red-Cap again?"
Belle nodded, smiling widely, "Yes, you're so cute," she nuzzled into Red's side.
Red rolled her eyes as she pulled Belle closer, resting a hand on her hip, "Mm, cute, huh? I was hoping for something a little more sexy after what we just did, but hey, cute works," she shrugged.
Belle giggled, "Nothing wrong with cute, you know!" she claimed, "But, hey, maybe you just have to work a little harder," she teased.
Red raised her eyebrows, "Oh, is that right?" she rolled over Belle and tickled her sides, "You cheeky little stirrer," she laughed as Belle rolled around laughing, attempting to protect herself fruitlessly with her hands.
"Stop, stop," Belle couldn't help laughing through her request, "Mercy!"
Red laughed and finally ceased her attack, "Hm, okay. Only because you're so…cute."
Belle rolled her eyes, "Cute, huh?" she stuck out her tongue, "It's okay, I like cute!"
Red smiled and placed the back of her hand on Belle's cheek, "Beautiful," she murmured, her lips hovering over her girlfriend's, "Do you know sometimes all I need to do is look into your eyes and it's like…" she tried to find the right words, "It's like this calm just comes over me. Like everything's just perfect."
Belle nibbled on her lip, "I love you," and with that she pressed her lips against Red's, pulling her down by the neck to deepen the kiss.
Belle locked the library door and headed upstairs with a new book. Red had called saying she had to work late. Belle was disappointed but she knew Granny needed the extra help sometimes, especially when it got busy.
She curled up in her favourite chair and opened her book.
At least time did go fast when she was reading. All of a sudden she was five chapters in and it was nearly time for Red to be home. She should probably get something out for dinner. She had decided to stick to microwave meals when Red was out. They were actually quite good and very easy to make.
"Hey, baby," Red called as she came through the door.
"Hey, kitchen!" Belle called out as popped the meals in the microwave, "How was work?"
Red snuck up behind her girlfriend and presented her with a bouquet of tulips as she turned around, delighted.
"Oh!" she exclaimed with a smile, taking the flowers and smelling them, "Thank you," she stood on her tiptoes to give Red a quick kiss.
Red nodded, "No worries," she grinned, "I love you," she nibbled her lip nervously.
Belle smiled happily as she found a vase and put her flowers in.
"So, you know what next week is?"
Belle turned, "I'm not sure. Should I?"
Red shrugged, "Well, on Friday, it will be six months since that day you kissed me in the library."
Belle's eyes widened, "You remember the date!?"
Red's cheeks heated a little, "Yeah, I do. I mean, I hoped that we'd be together and I hoped that someday I could take you on an anniversary date of our first kiss, so, you know, I kept the date in mind. I know usually, it's like a year, it's not like we're fifteen, but – "
Belle stopped her rambling with another kiss, lingering before she pulled away.
"You're the sweetest," Belle murmured, "I would love to go on anniversary date with you."
Red's face broke into a wide grin, "I'm so lucky," she breathed, "I hope this doesn't freak you… but I really want to be with you forever."
Belle smiled and reached for Red's face, "I want to be with you forever too, longer even. You're my world, you know that, right? I mean, I just always feel at my best when you're around. No matter what I'm feeling, when I see you or even if I think about you, I feel like… I've found my place in the world. Finally," she screwed up her face, "I thought I'd found it a long time ago, by going with Rumple, by sacrificing my freedom for my people and I'm still glad I did that, but with you… there's] so much freedom. You've taught me so much, not just about the world but about myself."
Red pulled Belle close and nuzzled into her neck, "You taught me the most important thing, baby. You taught me I can be loved. I honestly doubted that… I didn't know if I deserved to be loved, if I could love again… but you've shown me that I can love and be loved. That I'm never alone."
Belle bit her lip and placed a hand in Red's hair, "Here's to the next six months. The next six years. The next…forever," she murmured.
