Warnings for: Underage Sex, Alcoholism and Gambling addiction.

November 13th 2019

Storybrooke, Maine, USA

Belle French's first day in Storybrooke, Maine wasn't quite what she'd expected in truth, she'd had a mental image of an all American town, the sort seen in books and old TV shows, but Storybrooke struck her as a place with secrets just under the surface; secrets people avoided talking about. There would be time for discovering those secrets later though, she had to keep some mysteries for at least day two.

The winter fast approached the tiny coastal town, so flip-flops and dresses had given way to wool coats and hats. It was a temperature change she'd never really encountered before. As a child Belle had longed for real snow but, alas, Australia rarely – if ever – got the powdery delight. She'd heard of places further south in Queensland getting a touch of snow but the reports were few and far between and Belle had never seen it for herself.

When her father, Moe, had told her he'd wanted to emigrate to America Belle had been a little dubious, he'd never made any mention to it before and it had just come out of nowhere. However, after only a few hours Belle had figured out why he wanted to leave Australia; debt. Moe French was a chronic gambling addict and alcoholic, he managed to hide his drinking well enough when he wanted to but gambling was just a storm that wouldn't stop. He'd betted almost everything he'd had, lost her college fund before Belle had turned thirteen and never seemed even remotely remorseful about it. The only reason they'd managed to stay in their house back in Brisbane was because it had been Colette's – her long deceased mother – and fully paid off.

Knowing her father would have destroyed any attempt at actually moving, Belle had dealt with everything for him; which he'd seemed pleased about. It had killed her to sell her mother's house but it was the only place they'd get any money from and Belle longed to be in Maine. Her heart actually yearned for the move.

The store she'd managed to acquire wasn't overly large but would work fine as a florists what with all the big windows to show off displays and the apartment above had just enough space for Moe to call home. They'd rolled into town early that morning, maybe seven o'clock, and set about unpacking but by noon Moe had decided he was hungry and Belle had started to go stir crazy.

The two ended up making the short walk down the street towards a diner they'd passed on their way in, Belle with a backpack of blues on and Moe grumbling about needing a drink. How the man had managed to repeatedly convince people he was sober when she'd been a kid Belle had no idea.

Granny's Diner, that was the name of the place, quaint and cute upon first glance … and second glance. The place seemed busy what with waitresses going this way and that while cooks worked rapidly in the kitchen, then again it was noon and everyone wanted lunch. She'd never been very good in crowds but she kept her breathing steady and looked around; her fingers toyed with her necklace for comfort.

It was as cerulean orbs flicked to every corner that she spotted someone she'd not expected to see until at least the next morning. A grin broke out on her lips, wide and happy, not that Moe seemed to notice, he'd tugged a menu from a table and appeared quite engrossed in its contents. He had his perfect tailored suit clad back to Belle but she knew it was him and her smile only grew. Oh how Belle's teenage heart soared, like someone had let the light back into her life. For a moment all the hubbub of the diner faded away and only the man at the counter existed.

Belle forced herself under control and took a breath; sound returned to her.

"Sit down, Belle." Her father ordered from their table by the window but Belle didn't move an inch. "For the love of God, sit down and find me some money for lunch."

Belle knew for a fact he'd got almost fifty dollars in his wallet, she'd seen him get it changed at the currency exchange; no doubt that money would be for his booze and whatever gambling he could worm his way into before nightfall. There had been a time when Belle was young that he'd tried to sober up and get help but it hadn't ever worked and frankly Belle had given up, she'd felt as though she'd abandoned her father but the teenager just didn't have the energy any longer.

"Belle!" Moe tried again but she wasn't listening, no Belle was more focused on her prize at the counter.

After a deep breath Belle calmly strode past tables and lunch goers until she stood more or less directly behind the man in his black suit as he sipped his tea. Despite the diner being busy no one say on the stools either side of him as though he'd created a bubble people didn't wish to intrude on. She liked it, the controlled sense of power.

Belle cleared her throat. "Dorian?"

Gold froze with his cup half way to his lips, hardly anyone knew his given name and only one woman had ever said it so sweetly. Careful so as not to drop the cup he set his tea down on the counter and turned to face her.

"Belle?" Her name came out but a whisper.

The teen smiled back at him. Yes! Yes, it was Belle, so beautiful and perfect.

A few people had noticed this innocent girl approach the town monster and paused in their eating to watch whatever would unfold like some sick play. The town folk had been dealing with Gold for years and still came away frazzled and bewildered so what on earth could he do to this child?

Belle beamed at the elder man, her whole face lit up as he stared at her like he was trying to figure out if she were real or he'd actually gone crazy.

"Belle." He said again and she nodded.

She enveloped him in her arms then, quick, needy and loving. Her arms around his neck and her face buried in his shoulder. For a moment he didn't move but she smelt the same and she was real. He snaked his arms around her waist and just held onto her like a lifeline. Belle was here, Belle had come to him.

The entire diner let out a collective gasp when Belle tilted her head so she could kiss Gold's lips, not in the passionate way she'd wanted but certainly enough to get the gossip train going at full speed. Ruby stood behind the counter with a pot off coffee in her hand as if she'd been frozen in time, there were patrons all around Granny's with forks or sandwiches half way to their mouths and Granny herself stood open-mouthed by the pass. No one in Storybrooke had expected anything like this when they'd woken up that chilly morning.

The silence and Belle's absence must have finally drawn Moe French's attention because he suddenly came storming across the diner uncaring who he bumped into and yanked Belle from Gold's grasp with a snarl.

"You again, you fucking pervert!" Belle's Papa yelled. "I'll have you arrested for this! She's seventeen!"

Belle sighed, she shouldn't have done this. She should have waited not just sprung herself on him at the diner. What if she'd ruined it? What if her Papa did get Dorian arrested? Belle wouldn't be able to cope if she'd waited all those years and then destroyed their dreams because she'd not been able to resist him.

"Papa, I'm eighteen." Belle insisted as she wished everyone would stop staring at the three of them. "I've been eighteen for almost seven months now."

Back in May when he'd forgotten yet another of her birthdays Belle hadn't been surprised and hadn't said anything on the matter. Still, eighteen meant she was legally an adult, she could do whatever and more importantly whoever she wanted.

"You forgot your own child's birthday?" Gold sighed, clearly he'd not been surprised either.

Gold stood and straightened his suit where Belle had been pulled away then took out his wallet and tossed some money down for his tea. People continued to stare but he didn't seem concerned in the slightest. His cane echoed through the silence as he crossed the diner to the front door and pushed it open, half way through he paused and turned back to the delightful eighteen year old.

"Belle, would you like to join me?"

"No she wouldn't, you sick fuck." Hissed Moe but Belle just pushed her way past him and went to Gold.

"I'm an adult, Papa, you can't choose my fate."

Like a perfect gentleman Gold held the door and Belle happily padded down the steps. The town monster gave a little nod to Moe and a devilish smile that clearly said 'I win'.

For a few moments after they'd left the diner the pair walked in utter silence, Belle had no idea where they headed and Gold seemed cocooned within his own thoughts. When she noticed a large sign not to far off in the distance which read 'Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiques Dealer' Belle grinned and looped her arm with his.

"That's your shop! I finally get to see your shop."

Whatever mental labyrinth he'd been stuck in must have released him because Gold's honey chocolate eyes flashed up to the beauty at his side.

"You're still that desperate to see it?" He asked with just a hint of disbelief.

Belle nodded. "Yes, of course. You always said it was filled with books and magical things." She pulled him a little quicker, his leg wasn't too pleased but Gold didn't care. "Come on, I've waited three years for this."

Soon enough they were at the door of an older looking, blue building. Belle tried to peer in the windows while Gold fished out his keys but the blinds were down obscuring the treasures within. He watched her from the corner of his eye with a smirk, she'd always been so inquisitive, if she hadn't have been they'd never have met. Once he'd unlocked the door Gold pocketed his keys and cleared his throat to get the eighteen year old's attention.

"You're magical mystery tour, milady." He made a show of bowing and Belle quickly pushed the door open and went inside.

Honestly, no one had ever entered his store with such glee before. He followed her in as Belle – unsurprisingly – shot straight to the bookshelves off in one corner. In a way he felt as though they'd not spent three years apart, as though he'd not left her back in Tionken, that quiet little suburb of Brisbane with only her father for company. Still, she was here now, with him, and Gold wouldn't ever let her go; ever.

Belle grinned when he snaked his arms around her from behind and rested his chin atop her shoulder, instantly she settled into his warmth.

"Your father made quite the scene." He told her after he'd placed a gentle kiss to her exposed neck. "Not that I didn't think he would."

Belle deflated. "I'm sorry, I know this wasn't the plan, but then I saw you and Papa had been complaining all day, and I just wanted you. I'm sorry, I know we showed up a day early but-"

"Hush, my love." He gave her a little squeeze. "Yes, this wasn't the plan but please don't believe I'm angry with you. I'd have rather it hadn't happened in front over everyone at Granny's but I've gotten out of stickier spots than this. You should know that, you were there for one of them."

She chuckled at his teasing and spun around in his arms so they could kiss. He tasted like tea and something innately him that she'd savored before. Calloused hands slid down her waist to squeeze her backside which earned him a little mew form the goddess before him.

"I love you, Dorian."

Gold hummed. "And I you, my darling Belle."

"Please." She quietly begged as he chest pressed against his own wantonly.

Oh how he'd have enjoyed taking her on his desk, the counter, the floor. Hell, he'd wanted to bend her over in the diner but no. No, Belle deserved so much better.

"You have no idea how much I'd like that, Belle, but not here. You deserve silk sheets and comfort."

Belle breathed out a smile, he'd always been so good to her, always made her feel like the only woman in the world.

Dorian gripped her by the hand after he'd stolen one last kiss then tugged her softly towards the back of his pawnshop.

"Come with me, Belle."

Cerulean orbs flicked around trying to figure out all the things he had nestled away there. Over on his desk lay a small, bronze clock in several pieces with several gears stacked up neatly at its side.

Gold found his safe and made quick work of locating what he'd wanted, he limped back to Belle and held the fairly sized gift wrapped in dark purple paper out for her to take.

"You already got me a birthday present, ages ago." She smiled as she fingered the small sapphire pendant at her neck. Gold wouldn't ever forget Belle's birthday. "You don't have to keep getting me things."

Gold shrugged. "I know, but I enjoy the way you light up." He wiggled the present at her again and this time she took it from him. "Besides, this is more of a welcome to the neighborhood present."

With an excited grin Belle made quick work of shedding the paper away until it settled in a heap on the floor between them, Gold couldn't have cared less. There she found a first edition copy of Anna Karenina, a book Belle had always adored; she also didn't want to think how much he'd paid for such a novel. She'd always known Dorian Gold to be very wealthy and she'd certainly known it when her latest birthday present – a sapphire necklace - had arrived. He never made a huge display of his money, the necklace he'd given her wasn't ostentatious but no one would have mistaken it for costume jewelrey; all except her idiot of a father that was.

"Dorian, this is- this is amazing, thank you."

He flashed her that half smile of his. "Anything to make you happy."

Belle cuddled the book to her chest with a grin.

Yes, Gold had won.