A few months passed and it was eventually the library's grand opening and Belle was beyond excited, all the novels where in place and Jefferson had even given her some maps he had made of the area, she had displayed some of them while others where neatly placed in their own section awaiting some curious cartographer. It was quiet to begin with yet that was to be expected, no one came charging into a library first thing in the morning. Or so Belle thought, she had been sat at her circulation desk for about ten minuets before the door flung open and a gust of cool air followed a young brown haired boy; Henry.

Henry greeted her with the largest smile Belle had ever seen and slipped his backpack of and onto the floor by the circulation desk. He wore a blue and white plaid shirt and dark wash jeans that crumpled as he walked.

"Hello Henry." She greeted.

"Hi Missus Gold."

That still sounded strange from other people, 'Missus Gold', she was getting used to it slowly though. She leaned over the desk and returned Henry's smile.

"Oh you don't have to call me that, so formal. Please call me Belle."

"Oh okay, Belle."

"Now were you looking for something in particular Henry? Something with a daredevil adventurer perhaps?"

"No, not today. Miss Blanchard says we have to do a report on Lord of the flies and em..."

He cut himself off but Belle knew what he was trying to say.

"You didn't read it did you?"

"No. My Mom, Emma, she was being yelled at by, well, my other Mom and I kinda forgot."

"Complicated." Belle could see he was just pleased that Belle wasn't being judgemental, most people probably didn't even realize they where passing judgement over him, he was only ten. "Well I think we have a copy."

Belle lead Henry over to a stack at the very back of the library and searched the shelves for a few seconds before pulling a small novel from the middle shelf. Belle handed it to young Henry with a half smile.

"Thank you, Belle."

"Of course, if you like I can write down some summary points if you like. Make things easier."

"Really? Thanks."

The two went back to the circulation desk and Belle took a yellow league pad from the shelf underneath then began jotting down bullet point after bullet point of notes and tips.

"You err, you know a lot about this."

"English is my thing." The two laughed. "When I was about your age we had to study it too, I guess because I hated the book everything stuck in my head."

"Is the book that bad." He spoke in an of-course-it-is tone and looked down at the white front cover.

"Each to their own but between you and me." She leaned down to his eye level. "Yes its that bad."

"Well yippy for me, now I'm really looking forward to this report."

Belle stood straight again and smoothed out her raspberry skirt.

"Tell you what..." She went to the shelves right beside the circulation desk and crouched to pluck a rather thick green paperback book from the bottom left hand corner, then handed it to Henry. "Something to read after."

"What is it?"

"Its called 'The Name Of The Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss. One of my favourites. Its about a tavern owner named Kvothe and one day a man comes in asking for Kvothe's story. So reluctantly he tells the man. He tells him how his parents where murdered and how he started a new life at the university and got kicked out at an age younger than most where accepted."

"Sounds cool."

"It is, its the first part of The Kingkiller Chronicle, if you like it we have the second."

"Nice, thanks Belle."

Belle took down the book titles and who had them and then smiled at Henry as he practically skipped out the building. She got a warm feeling inside for being able to help someone, she had been so excited when Rum gave her the key but being there, being the librarian was such a better feeling.

Throughout the rest of the day Belle went around helping the drip of people that came in and out, there where a little more than she expected but that didn't stop Belle. Most people wanted fiction novels, mainly the classics; a teenager or two came in wanting Twilight and other new age so called romantic novels, Belle wasn't really a fan. Emma coming in had surprised her a little but she guessed that Emma was just curious.

XXXX

The front door opened and an tired Belle stepped inside ''home-sweet-home' she thought. Rum was nowhere in sight and the house was silent.

"Rum?" She called out. "Rum?"

Belle made her way around the ground floor but no one was there, Belle got a little worried Rum was had said he would make dinner. Obviously that hadn't happened.

"Rum!"

Still no answer. Belle made her way upstairs and into his and her bedroom...then smiled. There on the deep blue silk sheets was Rum fast asleep, his cane rested on the nightstand and his jacket and tie abandoned on the floor but that was not what made her smile. Rum was on his right side with his arm out stretched circling around Kasper and Thera who were equally unconscious. It was the most beautiful sight Belle had ever scene her husband and children curled up fast asleep dreaming away. In that moment Belle forgot about her aching feet or her grumbling stomach and just climbed onto the bed beside Kasper. She stretched out her arm to be the mirror image of Rum and just in a split second...

...fell asleep.