All that Matters

(Saturday Morning, August 3rd)

When Belle's phone rings, she slides to the edge of the bed and takes it from the charger. She glances at the ID before answering, "Adam?"

"I'm sorry, Belle."

She pauses, "I know."

"Let me make it up to you," he pleads. "Come to the castle, and I will prove to you that I have complete faith in us."

"Have you even apologized to Ben?" Belle mentions. "For hospitalizing him."

A sad sound emits from his throat, "There's nothing I could say that could make up for the damage I've caused him."

"That's why you should be there," she protests. "If you're sorry, show him you are."

Adam takes a moment, "He won't want me there. It's better if I leave him alone for now." She glances down, and he says again, "Belle. I don't want you to leave me."

"I never did," she denies. "And I wouldn't cheat either."

"I know," he reassures. "Belle. I really am sorry. Please, come see me."

She checks the time, "It will have to wait until morning."

"Morning is perfect," he agrees. She silently nods, and he continues, "Belle. This is the last time. I promise."

"I'll see you later," she whispers, before she ends the call.

After Belle knocks on the door, Adam opens it, "Welcome home." His smile slips, as he sees the car behind her. "Charming."

Belle glances from the car to Adam, "He offered for me to stay at his place last night."

He cautiously comments, "That's very… kind of him."

"Yes," Belle nods. "I had my own room and everything."

He nods in return, before he opens the door, "Come in."

Adam moves up the stairs, and she follows him, "So, what's the surprise?"

After they enter the kitchen, he smiles at her, "I know you miss pancakes."

"Adam. This is…" She falters, opting to simply take a seat in front of the plate of whip cream and berry-topped pancakes.

"It's not bacon and eggs or, uh, biscuits and gravy," he smiles wider, but she still fails to respond. "I don't understand. I thought this would help… make you happier."

"Our son's in the hospital," she concerns.

"He's always in the hospital," he reminds her.

"It's a serious injury," she whispers.

"And he always gets better," he finishes.

Her eyes widen, "You need to apologize to him."

Adam takes a moment, "I feel he would find that stressful. Don't you?" She sighs, and he reassures, "I will make amends with Ben after he's better, but right now I'm making things better with you." She tiredly looks at him, and he explains, "This is your home. You shouldn't be getting kicked out, and you shouldn't need to feel the need to knock when you return."

"How do you plan on solving that?" she evenly expresses. He moves her plate out of the way to slide the platter forward, and when he lifts the lid, her jaw drops, "Adam. Is that—"

"The deed," he finishes, before he picks up the pen and offers it to her. "Sign your name under mine, I'll initial it, and then I will legally not be able to make you leave." Belle reaches for the pen, closes her hand, and pulls it back. Adam frowns, "Is something the matter?"

She shakes her head, "When you make me leave, you're always so ill with anger. What other options would you have, should I sign this?"

"I want you to know you have a place here," he justifies.

"You're sure of that now," she counters, "but what if you change your mind? If you think I've somehow betrayed you again and you want me gone, what would you do?"

His frown deepens, "Belle… No matter my anger, I would never kill you."

"You don't want to," she acknowledges, "but you never want to hurt anyone. It still happens, and with Ben—"

"Belle," he interrupts.

"You've lost control with him more than once," she continues. "If he were less like you, imagine whether he'd still be alive." She shakes her head, "If you lose your temper with me and an accident happens—"

"I won't let that happen," he asserts.

Belle places one hand on his and the other on the document, "Adam. For the sake of the life we live, I don't think I can sign this."

He stares down at it, "I just wanted you to be happy."

She places a hand to his cheek, "So long as I have you and Ben, that's all that matters."

"He really wants to see you," Charming comments.

Belle holds the phone closer to her ear, "I just got home."

"Belle," he tries to reason. "You mean a lot to him. You can't abandon him."

"I'll come tomorrow," she promises. "I just can't right now."

He takes a minute, "Ben would also like to see Mal."

"Oh." She unsurely says, "Mal's not well today."

"What do you mean?"

"She's being a little eccentric today," Belle settles.

"Eccentric?" he repeats.

"She had a total breakdown," Belle sighs. "She's been drinking and cutting and being all loose." She hesitates, "She doesn't need to be seen like this."

"You're worried what people will think," he realizes.

"She doesn't need the ridicule," she defends.

Charming enforces, "Ben's been crying half the day, his fever is at a hundred and four, and he needs Mal here. Can you get her here or does Ben have to call her himself?"

Belle takes a moment, "I can make her presentable and get Travis to take her."

"Thank you," Charming stresses, before he ends the call.

"Is she coming?" Ben immediately asks.

"Mal is," Charming confirms.

"Belle's busy," Chad guesses, "isn't she?"

Charming notices Ben look down, "You have to understand. It takes a strong woman to tame an unruly man, and as strong as your mother is, she needs the time to do that."

"So, he invites her back, and suddenly it's like it never happened?" Ben disbelieves.

"It's because it happened," Charming excuses, "that she needs the time to take care of her marriage, but she said she'd be here tomorrow."

Ben stares forward, tears intruding his eyes, "He treats her like trash, and she chooses him every single time."

Chad takes his hand, "It's going to be okay." and Ben glances from their hands to his eyes. "She'll be here, and until then, you have me." He stares at him, moves in, and Chad presses a hand against his shoulder. "Ben. What are you doing?"

Ben's mouth opens, before he says, "I don't know."

"You have a feeding tube," Chad reminds him. "You can't eat me right now."

"I know," Ben shakes his head. "I'm sorry."

Chad looks back at his father, "Is bringing Mal here really a good idea?"

Charming contemplates, "Mal can defend herself, should she need to."

When Mal enters the room, Ben smiles at her, "Hey."

"Hey yourself." Mal eyes over him, "I heard you need me to cool a fire."

Charming stands from his seat, "We'll give you a minute." before he heads for the door; however, when he glances back, he's still sitting in the chair. "Chad."

He crosses his arms, "It's not like they can have sex in a hospital room."

"Chad," he says again.

"And how are they supposed to do anything with that tube in their way?"

"Chad," his voice raises. "They need privacy."

After a moment, Ben finds Chad's hand, and he faces him, "We'll talk later."

Chad smirks and leans forward, "Dummkopf."

Ben moves towards him, "Imbecile."

"I hate to break the two of you up," Mal strides forward and pushes Chad back against the chair. "Oh, wait. I don't need to, because you already did."

"Mal," Ben laughs. "He's no threat."

She glows her eyes, "Chad. What do you think? Are you a threat?"

"Yes," he answers.

Ben sighs, "He doesn't know what he's saying." Her eyes continue to pierce at Chad. "Kitten. Come here."

Mal lets go of Chad and faces Ben, "Kitten?"

He awkwardly smiles, "Well, you're pretty… what's the word?"

"Feisty?" Mal supplies.

Ben nods her over, "Kiss me."

After she steps away from Chad, his father calls him over. He watches her kiss Ben, and his father says again, "Chad." He frowns, moves away from them, and once he makes it to the door, his father comments, "A little young to be fighting dragons, don't you think?"

"I can't help that she chose to prey on my best friend," Chad defends.

"She's helping him with his fever," he dismisses. "It's not like she's trying to eat him."

"She sent her girlfriend to the hospital last year," Chad opposes. "She's like a heat sucking vampire."

"And you're not," his father reminds him. "Which is why she's helping him, and we're giving them the privacy to do it." He guides Chad out of the room, watches Mal place a hand to Ben's neck, and shuts the door.

Mal whispers, "You're mine."

"I'm yours," Ben confirms, and he moves in to kiss her.

She places a finger to her his lips, "And you're going to play nice with Evie?"

He smiles, "You're all that matters."