Gold kept his word, that was something you could rely on, no matter the promise. That did not take away he barely made a single promise anyway. Yet, as promised, he cleared his Sunday to go and spent time with his son. Belle was rather surprised to find Gold cooking breakfast when she walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Miss French." Gold said without even turning around.
"Good morning." Belle returned and went to set the table. She was almost finished when Baelfire wheeled in himself, nicely dressed for the day.
"Good morning Belle. It smells delicious in here."
"Did you have a good night, Bae? That is your father making us breakfast." Belle replied before she went to get the pot of tea.
"I did. What are we going to do today then?" Bae asked once Belle returned and started pouring cups of tea.
"Well, we can either go for a short walk and picknick, or we can go to the ice cream parlour. If you want to go for ice cream, we will go with the car, and we can have a walk later on if you like." Belle offered.
"Can we go and picknick?"
"Go and ask your father when we have finished eating." Belle said and went to the kitchen to help Gold carry out the fresh-baked waffles, orange juice and toast with eggs. They ate in silence, and Bae obviously enjoyed the special treat as breakfast.
"What do you want to do today, Baelfire? I have freed up my day all for you." Gold asked after he had finished his tea.
"Can we go and have a picknick?" Bae eagerly asked.
"If that is what you want to do today." Gold said with a small nod. "Miss French?"
"I will go and find a basket, then we can make some lunch to take with us." Belle said with a smile. It took Belle a little over an hour before she found a basket and had packed it with some sandwiches and several snacks. "Are we ready to go?" Belle asked when she walked to the living room with the basket.
"I believe we are." Gold said as he slowly arose.
"Do we have a good suggestion for a spot?" Belle asked as she walked outside with Bae as Gold locked up.
"We have a nearby pond. I have not been there in forever." Bae said, looking at Belle.
"Not in forever, hm?" Belle asked. "Then we should bring a change into that. Lead the way please." Bae beamed up a smile to his nanny and father before he wheeled himself forward, easily finding his way back to the small park, ten minutes away. "Let me help you for the last bit." Belle put the basket upon Bae's lap before pushing him the last bit over the grass. By now Gold lacked a little behind and by the time he joined then, Belle had spread a large tartan blanket over the grass.
"Can I sit on the blanket as well?" Bae asked.
"I do not see why not." Belle said with a small shrug before looking at Gold.
"I am sure you know how to handle my son." Gold said and watched as Belle helped his son out of his wheelchair before gently setting him down on the blanket. Once Baelfire had settled, he lowered himself onto the blanket. Gold loved how his son beamed, knowing the few late nights were more than worth it.
"Can we feed the ducks before we go home?"
"We can, but it will be a while before we go home." Belle said with a smile before she kicked off her shoes and settled herself on the blanket, letting the grass tickle her feet. In silence, they enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, the sun on their faces and the birds singing in the nearby trees. It was a little after noon that Belle unpacked the basket and handed out the sandwiches.
"I wish we had brought a ball or something." Bae said when he had finished eating.
"We will go and feed the ducklings in a little bit." Belle offered. "We can always play another time."
"I guess we can." Belle smiled at him and put the plates back in the basket.
"I brought your book if you like that?" Belle offered as she got out her book and The eighty days around the World for Bae.
"I do." Baelfire said and accepted the book before trying to settle so he could comfortably read. "You brought a book for Papa as well?"
"No, I did not. I do not know what your papa likes to read, and you know, books are heavy." Belle said with half an eye upon Gold. "But you know, if you like, you can read to us."
"Would you like me to read to you?" Bae curiously asked as he watched his father.
"If you would like, Bae, then you may." Gold nodded and offered him a little smile. Bae then looked at Belle.
"Go ahead." Belle said with a chuckle and tucked her book back into the basket. Gold made himself comfortable by laying down upon the blanket, folding his fingers behind his head.
"Okay." Bae opened his book. "In the year 1872, in the house on Saville Row number 7 Burlington Garden, there lived one of the most peculiar members of the Reform club in London, called Phileas Fogg…" Bae continued to read, and after three chapters he put the book down for a moment. He noticed Belle was watching his father, who apparently had fallen asleep. "Belle?" Bae softly whispered. She looked up at him and smiled.
"What is it Bae?" She softly asked.
"Don't you think we should go home?" Bae asked, looking at his father.
"Well, I think he deserves a nap. We will go home in an hour or something, then your papa can finish napping." She pulled the basket close. "How about some soda and a treat for you reading, then we can continue for a little bit after that."
"I am thirsty." Bae agreed. Belle filled two cups and handed the boy a pastry.
"We can also feed the ducks before we go home if you like."
"I would." Bae agreed between two bites. Belle greatly enjoyed the peaceful afternoon in the sun. Together Belle and Bae read several more chapters before she noticed it started to get late already.
"Go and awaken your papa. Then we will go and feed the ducks before we go home." Belle said and she started to put everything back in the basket. Bae looked at his father for a moment before he carefully scooted over the blanket until he was sitting at the height of his father's middle. It was the perfect moment to go and hug, so Bae did, startling his father a little. Gold sighed a little as he let his head fall back to the blanket, closing his eyes.
"You startled me, Bae." He murmured as he went to pat his son's hair.
"I know." Bae said with a smirk. He rubbed his cheek on Gold's chest, enjoying the little moment. Gold opened his eyes and gave his son a little smile, but he then also noticed Belle watching.
"I believe it is time to return home. What it the time, Miss French?"
"A little after four." Belle replied. Gold gently pushed Bae so he would sit up so he could do so himself. "Come Bae." Belle said as she stepped closer so she could lift the boy. After he had properly settled himself in his chair again, she waited until Gold found his footing as well.
"Thanks." Bae softly said.
"Now go and feed the ducks with your papa, then I will go and pack the last things." Belle handed him a plastic bag with some dry bread.
"Yes, Belle." Bae started wheeling himself, but the grass made it rather hard to push himself through. When he felt that he got pushed, he turned around and beamed up a smile when his papa started pushing him.
"Brakes." Gold reminded his son as they neared the water's edge. Gold quietly watched as his son fed the ducks. Belle folded the blanket and tucked it away in the basket before taking the cane and walking up to father and son. She handed the cane back to Gold before she fetched the basket. When all the dry bread was gone, it was time to go home.
"Did you enjoy yourself today?' Belle asked as she helped the boy push himself over the grass back to the sand path. Once they were back on the sidewalk, she stopped pushing and let Bae do so himself.
"I did." Bae agreed. "I still hope we can take a game next time."
"I am sure we can next time."
"And did you have a good nap, papa?" Bae asked, twisting a little to have a look at his father.
"Watch where you are going, Baelfire." Gold said, quite deliberately avoiding the question. How could he have been so foolish to fall asleep anyway? "Do you want to have penne for dinner?"
"Do you really need to ask that, papa?" Bae asked, now keeping his eyes on the road before him. Belle softly chuckled and unlocked the door when they were finally home.
"Go and wash up, Bae, then I will do so too."
"Yes, Belle." Bae said as he wheeled past her, going to his bathroom.
"Do you need any help from my side?" Belle asked as he looked at Gold.
"You may set the table, Miss French." Gold said before he went to the kitchen to wash his own hands and start dinner.
"Belle." Belle said as she went to clean up the basket. After she had freshened up herself, she set the table, throwing out the roses that had turned all brown.
"Can we have tea in the backyard next week?" Bae asked as he joined his nanny in the dining room.
"I do hope so. We still need to do a lot before we can sit nicely."
"I can help to make it ready in time."
"We will see about that. I am going to help your father with the delicious dinner. Maybe I can find out his secret ingredient." Belle said with a smile before she walked into the kitchen.
"There is no secret ingredient, miss French." Gold casually said as he started to fill three plates.
"Belle." She reminded him before she took two plates and walked back into the dining room.
A/N I hope you liked the chapter!
Anyone who would like to write together?
