"Ah, miss French." Gold said as he stepped into the living room. "Dinner is about to be served." Belle looked up to the man. He was still in his button-up and tie, despite being at home, and cooking nonetheless.
"I will go and set the plates." Belle offered as she stood, taking the tray in her hands.
"There is no need, miss French." Gold said as Baelfire unlocked the brakes from his wheelchair. Mr Gold followed Belle to the kitchen where she noticed Gold had set the table for one person.
"You want me to eat alone in here…" Belle said, growing sad at the idea to be eating alone every single meal. Gold only hummed as he started to fill two dishes, no doubt for himself and Bae.
"Feel free to help yourself." Gold said as he skilfully balanced both plates on his left hand before walking through the door. Belle sighed. She had to go and change this. She helped herself to a small portion of penne with spinach and salmon. She was pleasantly surprised at the taste, and soon was helping herself to a second, larger serving. She was about to clean up, when Gold entered with their empty plates, putting them in the dishwasher and raising an eyebrow at the nanny.
"I would appreciate that you put all used ceramics and utilities in the dishwasher the next time. I am not into seeing dirty dishes every single time I set foot in here."
"Yes, sir. Anything else you have neglected to tell me?" Belle curtly asked, but she managed not to snap at the constantly grouchy man.
"I lock the doors every evening before I will retrieve. I do not wish to be disrupted under any circumstance but Bae's health."
"All right." Belle said with a nod before she went to put her things in the dishwasher and cleaned off the table. "Where is your father?" Belle curiously asked as she entered the living room where Bae was playing his videogame again. Baelfire responded with a small shrug.
"Probably back to his study."
"You think he would like to come and watch a movie?" Belle asked as she discovered the television, nicely tucked away in the large dresser. Several small trinkets stood on the shelf above and below, nothing too special.
"Don't think so."
"Then how about we go and watch a movie? Your pick." Belle said with a smile.
"Okay." Baelfire agreed and tucked the console away in between the side of his wheelchair and his leg. He then took the remote that Belle offered before turning on the tv. Bae settled for a comedy show. Belle made herself comfortable and watched with the boy, hoping this counted as something like bonding.
"Would you like a little snack and something to drink?"
"We don't have any snacks for a movie." Bae quietly replied.
"Well, that does not mean we cannot take a biscuit." Belle quipped as she went to make some more tea, with the required amount of sugar before returning. "There you go." She said as she handed him a mug. She put her down on a coaster on the table before she quickly dashed back for the biscuit tin.
"Thanks." Bae replied once she offered him the open box.
"Does your father cook often?" Belle asked as she kicked off her shoes before tucking her feet beneath her as she sat down.
"He used to, but now he almost never cooks, not even when Alma had her free day." Bae said before he nibbled from his biscuit.
"He is like a real good cook. I loved the pasta."
"It is one of my favourites." He beamed up at her. "Oh, the movie is on again." That effectively cut down the conversation, but it was a conversation nonetheless.
"All right, time for bed." Belle called when the movie finished, and the credits started to roll on the screen. Bae gave a small nod and handed his empty mug to his new nanny. "All right, go and get ready for bed, I will be there in a minute."
"Yes, Belle." Bae said and unlocked the brake before wheeling himself out of the living room. Belle made sure she turned off the TV and closed the cabinet before bringing the dirty mugs to the dishwasher. Belle then made sure she turned off all lights. As she walked through the hallway to Bae's room, she noticed a thin strip of light coming from underneath the door to Gold's study. How was it that the man was working on a Saturday evening? Belle shook his head in sympathy for the child before knocking on his door.
"Are you already in bed Baelfire?"
"Almost, but you can come in if you want." Bae responded as he was halfway through getting himself upon his bed.
"Do you need any help?" Belle asked as she watched the boy, who was now dressed in a blue pyjama.
"No, I've got this." Bae almost proudly said and several minutes later he had himself all situated.
"Anything else I can do for you? Do you have everything you need for the night?"
"I think I have everything." Bae said as he turned to look at his nightstand, where a glass of water and his small buzzer lay.
"Okay, then I wish you a very good night and sweet dreams." Belle said, gently smoothing out the blanket. "Do you need me to turn off the light?"
"I cannot reach it now, so you need to." Bae said sending her a little grin. "Good night." The boy said as Belle turned off the light before she closed the door. Belle allowed herself a little smile. Baelfire was a sweet child, maybe even when he seemed a little shy. She decided to leave the light in the hallway on before she slipped into her room. Now she finally could go and test out her bed. She dressed in a nightgown and brushed her teeth before she crawled beneath the blankets, but not before she took the book she was currently reading out of her bag. She read until she felt tired. She put the book aside before she snuggled into her pillow and blankets. She would put her clothes into the cabinets tomorrow. She mused before she drifted asleep in the softest bed she had ever slept upon.
*BRB*
"Shall we go outside for a walk?" Belle asked as she looked at Bae, still dressed in the blue pyjamas. She was sure the boy would go and dress after breakfast, but it appeared she had been wrong.
"I am not allowed to go alone…" Bae said with a shrug, even if the idea to go for a walk appealed to him.
'Well, if you get dressed, then I will take you."
"You should ask papa first. I am sure he will say no." Bae quietly said, before he turned back to the cartoon that was playing on the tv.
"I will go and ask." Belle said, giving him a little smile before he walked over to the study and knocked.
"Yes?" Gold asked before Belle invited herself in.
"I was thinking about taking Baelfire out for a walk."
"You are not on duty yet, miss French." Gold replied, not looking up from the document he was hunched over.
"Well, I do not need to be on duty to take your son out for some fresh air, do I?" Belle asked as she planted her hands on her hips.
"If Baelfire desires to get some fresh air, he can go and sit on the porch." Gold replied as he finally looked up at the nanny.
"That is not the same. I am sure he has seen the backyard a hundred thousand of times already."
"Miss French..." Gold drawled. "If you want to discuss things, I suggest you go and visit a politics club or something alike. If I say no, I'd have you not argue with me."
"It is about the wellbeing of your son we are speaking about!" Belle exclaimed, turning red with anger.
"As if I do not know what is best for my son?" Gold asked, as he slowly rose from his seat. His eyes flashed dangerously as he leant forward, leaning with both hands on the desk. "I suggest you go and take yourself for a walk before I decide you do not need to return." Gold hissed. Belle obviously wanted to stand her ground, but another voice stopped her.
"Belle…" Bae quietly called her. "It is not worth fighting over… I will go and sit at the porch." The boy looked sad before he turned around, returning to the living room.
"If you would please leave me to return to my work." Gold requested, snapping Belle from her stupor. She had no intention to make Baelfire sad. Belle let out her breath slowly before she stepped out of the study, closing her door. She would apologise to Bae in a little bit. She needed to calm down first. Returning to her room, she picked up her book from her nightstand and went to the porch. The garden looked a little neglected, the grass was high, and the bushes were in a need of a good trim. Weeds sprouted in between the cobblestones that made a path to the back of the garden, where a lovely little pavilion stood. The white paint was peeling from the cast iron garden set, rusty at a few places. Surrounded by, and overgrown with roses, Belle knew that this would become one of her favourite places. She sat down on the most decent chair before she started to read.
"There you are! You missed lunch." Bae's voice made her look up from her book. How long had she been reading?
"Are you okay, Baelfire?" She asked as she noticed the boy had a bit of trouble getting over the overgrown path.
"I am. I was wondering if you could make some tea?"
"I sure can. Do you want to have tea out here?"
"I am here now." Bae nodded. "Had to go all the way round the house to get here." Belle frowned a little at that.
"Will you be okay for a few minutes?"
"I am not a baby, Belle." Bae said, feeling a little annoyed, but smiling nonetheless.
"All right, I will be right back." Belle said and went back to the house, only now noticing that the back porch indeed had no ramp. She would need to go and fix it. Belle mused as she made tea. Having assembled a tray, she made it back outside again, only to find Bae with his nose in her book.
"Do you like the book?" Belle asked with a smile as she put the tray down.
"Dunno." Bae replied before he put the book back down. "Do you like it?"
"I do like it indeed." Belle said with a smile and opened the biscuit tin. "Do you have a favourite book?" Bae shook his head as he picked up his mug.
"We have only grown up books in here. They are no fun."
"Really?" Belle mused. "How about we are going to visit the library after school tomorrow. Then you can go and pick out a few books. I am sure you will find something there you will like."
"Okay." Bae agreed with an eager nod.
"What do you think about the garden? We sure need to do something about it if we are going to sit here more often.
"I don't think I can offer you any help…" Baelfire said, his face once again sad.
"I am sure you can!" Belle said. "We only have to find something you can do." Belle was silent for a minute. "I think you can paint the chairs and table. I will go and collect some old newspaper and some paint. That will be a good start, don't you think?"
"I guess." Bae agreed. Belle smiled at the boy. That was at least a better proposal than giving the boy some shears and letting him try and trim the bushes… "Will you play with me in the garden once we finished tidying it up?" The boy asked after a while.
"Of course I will." Belle nodded. "You still have some toys for outside?"
"I think there will still be some toys in the shed." Bae said as he pointed somewhere behind Belle. Belle needed a moment before she spotted the small shed behind all kinds of overgrown plants.
"We have to be careful, otherwise we can go and have a treasure hunt in your own backyard." She said with a chuckle. "You want some more tea?"
I'd love to hear your thoughts :D