Thursday. Today would be her free day. Belle had no idea what she was to do with the time. She could go and read all day. After a moment she realised she had not seen her friends for such a long time. Belle had almost finished dressing when a knock sounded at her bedroom door.

"Miss French?" Gold's voice drifted through the door.

"Just a minute!" Belle called back and made sure she was presentable before she opened the door.

"What can I do for you?" Belle asked as she opened the door to face her employer.

"As you know, this is your free day. I would like to know if you are having dinner here tonight, or that I only have to cook for two."

"I think I will eat here." Belle said with a nod.

"I will serve dinner at half past six." Gold said with a nod. "Have a good day." He nodded and turned. Bae was already waiting at the front door and waved at Belle.

"Have a nice day!" Belle called back as she waved before she went to put on her shoes. Belle had easily settled into the rhythm that the binder told her to follow. Even if getting up at six-thirty was a little early. She had more than enough time to finish her chores. She had even found a radio with a relatively good station she could turn on while cleaning. She took her purse and the two sets of keys before she headed out. Locking the door behind her, she was a little surprised that she found the Cadillac still present on the driveway until she realised that he needed the van to get Bae to school. Getting her pinker than red car out of the garage, she decided that it was better to do a grocery round before she could stop by Granny's for lunch. With Gold's credit card, Belle went to the paint shop where she bought some white paint, suitable for painting metals and other required supplies. From Mr. Clark's grocery store she bought a small wristwatch, knowing she needed it after she ran ten minutes late yesterday when she was to pick up Baelfire. She even ended up buying a book, and she was also allowed to take a whole pile of old newspapers from Mr. Clark. She also ran by Marco and August to see if they could make a ramp for the back porch, so Bae did not need to wheel himself all the way around the house if he wanted to get into the garden again. After Belle promised to send them the measurements, it was time for some lunch.

"Belle?" Ruby asked as she came bouncing over once she saw her friend.

"Hey, Ruby!" Belle said and gave in to the one-armed hug she received from the waitress.

"Since when have you been in town?"

"Last week I came back." Belle said as she waved at Granny before she sat down at one of the bar stools.

"And you only came by now?" Ruby accused.

"Well, I have been busy with helping my father, and besides that, I have a new job, here in town."

"Really?" Ruby asked, obviously interested as she put the coffee pot down and leaned on the counter with her elbows.

"I accepted the job as housekeeper and nurse from Mr. Gold."

"You are working for that ass?" Ruby exclaimed. Even Granny looked over her glasses.

"We can borrow you some money if that is why you took the job." Granny offered.

"I do not need any money." Belle said with a shake of her head. "So far it has not been bad. It has been but almost a week… I have no regrets. Baelfire is such a sweet boy."

"If you ever need anything, you know where to find us. You only need to ask." Granny said as she gently gave Belle's lower right arm a squeeze.

"Thank you." Belle said with a smile. Granny nodded before she went to serve some coffee and food to Leroy who sat down a minute ago.

"How can cope with him? I can shoot him already after five minutes." Ruby asked. Luckily, it usually did not take so long to collect rent.

"Ruby!" Belle exclaimed. "He is at work the whole day, so I have the house to clean and things. I only see him after he comes home from the pawnshop. He does not even allow me to eat dinner with them, and after that he disappears in his study." Belle explained. It was true, she barely saw the man even when he was home.

"Anyway, can I take your order?" Ruby asked when she received a glare from her grandmother that she should return to work.

"If you know me so well, I am sure you still remember what I usually ordered." Belle said, smirking at Ruby. She looked her Belle for a moment before she went to pour a glass of iced tea.

"One iced tea. Two paninis with ketchup coming right up." Ruby called out.

"Thanks." Belle said with a smile. Five minutes later, Ruby provided Belle with her lunch. Even though she was eating alone, basically, she enjoyed the quiet chatter in the background. At least it was not completely silent.

"Do you have any time to go and do some fun things?" Ruby asked as she came to clear away the empty plate.

"I've got to check with Gold, but I have your number, right? Then I will text you with some dates so you can check." Belle offered.

"All right, but don't wait too long. The Rabbit Hole as two for one shot on Friday night."

"I will go and see what I can do Ruby." Belle smiled and paid granny. "I will come again soon." She promised before she left the diner.

"Belle? Is that really you?" Hopper waved back at her from the other side of the street where he was about to start his walk with Pongo.

"Archie!" Belle smiled. "How are you?" Belle crossed the street and kneeled so she could properly pet Pongo.

"I am fine, but what about you? Since when are you back in town, or are you just here for the holidays?"

"Good. I accepted the position of nanny in the Gold household." Belle said as she straightened.

"Really. I try to talk to Gold every time he comes to collect rent…" Archie said and pushed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.

"That is nothing personal." Belle shook his head. "I have yet to have a civil conversation to have with him.

"What about Baelfire?" Archie curiously asked as he started walking a little, as Pongo started to get a bit impatient.

"Baelfire is a very sweet boy. I will go and do my best to make the boy smile because he deserves it. Who knows his laughter will be able to infect the grumpy Gold." Belle gave a soft chuckle.

"That would be a very curious theory." Hopper mused. "I am happy to have seen you again, Belle. I do hope you will succeed."

"Thanks, Archie. If I ever need some advise, I know where to find you."

"Just give me a call and I will free up some time." Archie said with a nod before he quickened his pace to normal walking speed. Belle turned around to go and pick up her car before returning to Gold's house. Belle was but half surprised when she found the house empty. She brought all the paint things to the back porch. She sat down on the wooden decking with one of the chairs and started to chip away at the peeling white paint. She was so concentrated on her work that she did not even notice that Gold came home to drop off Bae before returning to the shop. Belle jumped a little when a loud knocking got her from her concentration. When she looked up, she found Baelfire waving at her from behind his bedroom window. Belle beamed up a smile before she got to her feet.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Bae?" Belle asked as she met the boy in the hallway.

"No, I was surprised to find you already home. I will go and start my homework so I can continue reading when I am done."

"That sounds like a very good idea." Belle said with a small smile. "You want tea and a biscuit?"

"Did you bring soda when you went shopping?" Bae hopefully asked.

"In fact, I did." Belle nodded. "I will get you some of that then."

"Thanks!" Bae beamed up before he wheeled himself back into his room to start his homework. Belle brought him a glass of soda and a biscuit after a minute before she returned to the half-stripped chair. Not being able to chip off all the paint, Belle got out a mouth mask and a piece of sanding paper.

"Belle you are all white." Bae said with a giggle as he stood in the doorway, watching her. Belle looked up, smiling behind her mask.

"You want to come and help?" Belle invited.

"No, papa sent me to get you. Dinner is almost ready."

"Is it that late already?" Belle asked as he put the sanding paper down and removed the mask. "Then I will be right here. I shall go and wash up first.

"You should wash up." Bae agreed with a smirk. Belle gave a soft chuckle and walked into the kitchen five minutes later. "Belle?" Bae called once he heard her heels on the tiled floor of the kitchen.

"Bae?" Belle asked as she walked into the dining room. Gold was about to sit down to go and eat his own dinner.

"Papa? Can Belle please sit with us while eating? I really like it when she sits with me at breakfast. I never liked eating alone when Alma was my nanny. I am really sure Belle does not like it to eat alone as well." Bae put up his best puppy eyes. "Please papa?"

"If you insist, Bae." Gold said. Belle could see Gold was a little uncomfortable with his son's request, but he would need to get used to it like every new thing, right? She quickly fetched the cutlery from the kitchen and laid it out before she filled her plate and joined father and son for dinner.

Belle quietly ate and every time she looked at Bae, the boy smirked back, obviously very satisfied that he managed to convince his father.

"What did you do on your day off, Belle?" Bae curiously asked once they had all finished eating.

"Bae." Gold warned, but Belle quickly waved away his concern. Belle told her about Granny and Archie, and also about Marco, deeming it well that Gold would know about the new ramp as well. Gold looked indifferent, while Bae was obviously excited about the news.

"Now I told you about my day, but I would like to hear about your day as well." Belle said. "But I am going to make tea first." Belle took the dirty plates and silverware and cleaned up as she waited for the water to boil. When she returned with two cups, Gold was still at the table, much to surprise for Belle and Bae. Belle did not object to him staying as she served him a cup of tea as well. Once Belle sat down, Baelfire started to tell them about his day. The boy told them about the maths test they did, and that he had talked with Henry, who loved to read fairy tales.