Summary: An old school-friend of Belle's comes back into her life and Gold categorically denies having a case of the green-eyed monster…

Note: A couple of people have wanted to see Gold get jealous.

I hereby introduced Lumière and Cogsworth, aka Louis and Clarence. Please note that this idea was conceived before Lumière made an appearance on the show. This is a non-canon Lumière!

Millionaire's Shortbread

Gold would not say that he was a jealous man. If anyone had asked him, he would have said that he was a very trusting man when it came to relationships and therefore he felt absolutely no fear when he saw Belle talking to other men. Normally, this was true. Throughout the entire length of their relationship, Gold had not once had a case of the green-eyed monster. He was Belle's and she was his, and now that they were married that fact was only cemented.

He was therefore extremely perplexed with his current state of mind; that of wanting to beat a certain young man to a bloody pulp with his cane. This was very unlike him. Yes, he would admit to bouts of temper and it would not be the first time that he had thrown something at his office door in a rage, but actually going so far as homicidal thoughts was rare, even more so when the person towards whom the murderous thoughts were directed had not done anything to personally anger Gold himself.

No, this young man's only crime was, apparently, existing.

That, and talking to Belle. Leaning in really rather too close, and laughing and joking with her, and wrapping her up in a hug and kissing her cheek.

The sensible part of his brain which he had luckily retained despite the emerald now colouring his vision, told him that he shouldn't be stupid. This young man and Belle obviously knew each other, hence their closeness and the tactility of their exchange. There was no way in the world that Belle would let someone she did not know come into her personal space like that. The slightly less sensible part of his brain told him that this was even more reason for him to worry. Perhaps he was an ex-boyfriend from before she moved south. Perhaps he was here with entirely the wrong intentions up his sleeve.

Gold, the sensible part of his brain said, in an exasperated voice that sounded rather a lot like Jefferson's, for the love of all that is holy will you please calm down. Gold?

"Gold?"

It took Gold a few moments to recognise that the voice that sounded like Jefferson's was indeed his colleague's, and he turned to find the younger man standing next to him, a tired but still somewhat amused look on his face.

"I am perfectly calm," Gold said. He realised too late that he had spoken through gritted teeth and therefore was not doing all that much to add any conviction to his statement. Jefferson raised an eyebrow.

"Your knuckles are white and you're grinding your teeth," he said. "Come on, cup of tea. There's no use in standing out here like a lemon spying on your wife."

Gold tried to protest, but Jefferson was stronger and practically levered him into Granny's and into a chair. A few moments later, he appeared with two cups of tea. Gold sighed and took a sip. It had been a perfectly ordinarily morning until about four minutes ago, when Gold had left the office with the intention of meeting Belle for lunch. As he had left the office, he had seen Belle chatting animatedly on the pavement to this young, handsome stranger, and for some completely inexplicable reason, every possessive tendency in his body chose that time to make itself known.

"Gold, you trust Belle with your life," Jeff said. "Now please stop worrying."

"Worrying about what?" Belle had come into the café behind them. "Hello Jefferson, what brings you here?"

"Your idiotic husband," Jefferson muttered. "He's gone and got stupid ideas into his head. Maybe you can quell his fears now that you're here. I'd rather he didn't have a midlife crisis and buy a Ferrari, he'll never get it in the car park."

Belle raised her eyebrows and took the seat that Jefferson vacated.

"Gold, is everything all right?" she asked.

Gold nodded. "I'm fine, Jeff's over-reacting."

Belle did not seem at all convinced by this statement, but after opening her mouth to say something, she let it slide. Gold wondered if he should bring up the topic of the mystery man, or whether he should let it lie. Maybe if he said something it would give Belle the impression that he was checking up on her and didn't trust her. And he did trust her. He just didn't trust her acquaintance.

"Ok then, if there's nothing to tell on your side, I'll tell you my news," she said. "You'll never guess who I just met."

Gold could guess, but he decided that it would be an incredibly bad idea to voice his thoughts at that moment in time.

"Go on," he said, before taking another swig of tea to occupy his mouth lest he say something he regretted later.

"Louis."

Gold blinked. "Who?"

"Louis Candélabre," Belle said. "You remember, we fell over a programme on the food network and I said 'hey, I went to school with him'? It was a programme about European cakes and he was doing demonstrations of patisserie."

"Erm..." Gold did not remember at all, but most of the cookery programmes that Belle watched did seem to blur together in his mind a little. "Yes?" he said hesitantly. Belle gave him a look.

"You don't remember at all, but that's neither here nor there. I just met him outside the café. He's opening a new restaurant here, just round the corner. He's invited us to the opening night."

"Us?" Gold said.

"Yes, us, you and me..." Belle quirked one eyebrow. "Is there a problem with that?"

"No, no, I just thought..." Gold tailed off. He really didn't want to tell Belle what he just thought.

Belle smirked in response to his floundering. "I know what's happened," she said. "It's written all over your incredibly sheepish face, you silly man. You saw me and Louis talking outside and you got jealous."

"I did not!" Gold protested - admittedly feebly. "I just thought..."

"I know what you just thought."

Belle's reaction to his almost-admission of guilt was not the one that he was expecting. He had been expecting some kind of negative reaction, an accusation that he didn't trust her.

What he got was a howl of laughter that continued for longer than strictly healthy.

"Oh dear me, Gold, of all the men to be jealous of..."

Gold could feel himself colouring. "I don't see what's so funny," he muttered. "You're young and beautiful and he's your age and handsome."

"Gold, please. Who am I married to?"

"Me."

"Who do I adore to pieces?"

"Me."

"Who do I think is the most handsome man in the world no matter what age he is?"

"Alan Rickman."

"No, you, but if you're not available then I wouldn't say no to Mr Rickman." She gave a good-humoured sigh and patted his hand. "Gold, come along to the restaurant with me on Saturday night. You'll see then."

Gold's brow furrowed. He was not altogether sure that he liked this idea. "I'll see what?"

An enigmatic smile spread over Belle's face.

"You'll see," she repeated.

X

When Saturday evening rolled around, Gold was not sure whether or not he was looking forward to the events that were about to transpire. Belle had been worryingly reticent on the subject of Louis, and Gold's research on the man had not turned up anything of import. After leaving school he'd trained in various French restaurants before opening his own chain of patisseries and now recently branching out to open his first full restaurant. To all intents and purposes he had made himself a very pretty penny.

Belle was wearing her dark blue dress, the backless one that she never wore a bra under. And sometimes didn't wear knickers under either. Normally, Gold loved that dress. Today, he was not feeling quite so enamoured by it. Belle seemed to sense his unease and draped a wrap round her shoulders, covering her bare back.

"Come on," she said. "We're going to be late. Louis is expecting us."

The restaurant was beautiful, Gold would certainly say that much. It had been finished to perfection and was scrupulously clean, and although small, the tables were not too crowded together and there was still a sense of privacy.

The food was faultless. Gold was no gourmet but he did appreciate good food. He could already tell that this was one place he was going to veto as a possible location for the next Guildhall office Christmas party. He did not particularly fancy a scene being caused in here by his drunken colleagues.

They were just finishing their desserts – Gold's a crème brulée, Belle's a chocolate and caramel entremet - when they were interrupted by the arrival of the chef at their table.

"Belle! Darling, I'm so glad you could make it."

"Louis!" Belle tilted her head to accept his kiss on her cheek.

"And this must be the famous Mr Gold." Louis shook Gold's hand and sighed. "Oh Belle, how do you do it?"

"How do I do what?" Belle asked, but Gold could see the gleam in her eyes that meant she knew the answer already.

"How do you get all the best-looking men, of course," Louis said. "It was always the same, even at school. At least you married this one so the rest are free for the rest of us."

"Louis, don't make trouble, I know that you and Clarence are very happy together."

Louis laughed. "Indeed we are. It's almost sickening how happy we are really. I hope everything has been to your satisfaction?"

"It's all been gorgeous, like always," Belle replied. "I trust that everything's under control in the kitchen."

"Of course," Louis replied airily. "My sous-chef is running around on fire and two of the waiters are collapsed in a heap giggling after sneaking too much of the cooking brandy; all in a day's work. In any case, it was very nice to meet you, Mr Gold, and lovely to see you again, Belle. I'll leave you to enjoy your desserts."

As Louis left them, Belle leaned in over the puddings to whisper in Gold's ear.

"No do you see why you didn't need to be worried?" she purred, letting the wrap around her shoulders drop.

Gold just nodded, not paying any mind to the attention Belle's bared back was now receiving.

It was not often that anything rendered him completely speechless, but there was a first time for everything...