"Belle?" Bae asked as the young lady came out of the kitchen one morning halfway through October.
"What is on your mind? Go ahead, spill the beans." Belle smiled as she came over to pour two cups of tea.
"Do you think we can go trick 'n treating with Halloween?" He quietly but hopefully asked.
"Why can we not?" Belle curiously asked. "Do you have a costume?"
"I don't have one." Bae shook his head. The last time he had dressed up for such things was before he got his wheelchair.
"Well, then we need to go and fix it. Go and think about the costume you want to wear, we can go and see if we can buy it, otherwise I can see if I can make it." Belle offered with a smile before she got back to get breakfast.
"Are you going to dress up as well when you come with me?" Bae asked when she returned, and they started eating.
"Dressing up is a lot of fun." Belle told him with a smirk. "Maybe we can even find something that will match."
"Can I go as knight?" Bae mused when he had finished eating.
"I am sure you can, we will go and look for a costume Saturday."
"Okay, I will go and get my schoolbag." Bae said before he wheeled himself from the table back to his room. Belle cleaned up before she came out with Baelfire's lunchbox in her hand. Bae tucked his lunchbox into his bag.
"Let's go to school." Belle said as she pulled on her coat and waited for Bae to get ready before driving him to school.
*BRB*
Saturday afternoon Belle decided to walk to the shops with Bae.
"Look at all the pretty colours." Bae commented as a big gush of wind picked up an amount of brown and orange leaves.
"I should have taken you for a walk in the woods a little while ago, it would have been even more beautiful." Belle mused.
"Can we go and decorate the house for Halloween, Belle?"
"I am sure we can. What do you want to decorate the house with?"
"Dunno." Bae shrugged. "We can get a big fake spider."
"Have you ever crafted spiders from chestnuts and toothpicks?" Belle mused, remembering what she did when she was young.
"Don't think I ever had." Bae gave a small shrug. "Can we get some lights for on the porch?"
"After we picked out a costume, then we can see what we can do about the lack of decorations." Belle gave him a little smile and held open the door when they arrived at the shop. Belle let Bae try on a few different costumes, but it became clear to her after the second costume that Baelfire did not like fitting clothes at all. "We can also seek out a nice hat, and I can paint your face if that it better." Belle said with sympathy when the boy had finally redressed himself in his normal clothes again. Bae shook his head.
"You can still dress up if you like." Bae offered.
"Well if we go trick and treating together, you must help me pick out the right costume." Belle tried to bribe the boy to still involve him. Bae was not really convinced but did not protest either. Belle eventually settled for a brightly coloured poncho and a big sombrero and bought a 'Zorro' set for Bae, mostly because he could wear the cape over his coat. "Do you still want to go and pick out some decorations?" She asked when they exited the shop.
"I still want to pick out some funny lights."
"All right, let's go then." Belle said and directed the boy to a shop two doors up the road. All kinds of odd things were around the shop. Fake skeletons, miniature witches on brooms, plastic Jack-O-lanterns and even glow in the dark zombies.
"Wow." Bae muttered under his breath as he watched with big eyes, making Belle chuckle. "Can we take that one?" Bae asked after a bit, pointing at a string of small white ghost lanterns.
"We can get those if you like." Belle agreed and took a box from the shelf.
"Thank you, Belle." Bae said even before she had paid for the lights.
"Let's go and put them up when we get home." Belle said. "Then we will see if your father noticed the little change or not." Belle winked before she took the bag and started to walk back home. Belle wasted no time in putting up the spooky lanterns, with a few directions they had the lanterns hanging within minutes. "We still need to bring some candy from the store." She mused. "How about you are going to do something fun, then I will go and start dinner.
"I'd rather have you not decorate my home with plastic attributes, Miss French." Gold drawled when he stepped into the kitchen.
"Good evening, Mister Gold." Belle calmly said. "Bae asked for them, and I did not want to say no." Belle then turned to face the man. "Or are we not allowed to put up any decorations at all and leave it an empty and unfriendly house?" She cocked her head. She did not wait for the man to reply as she got the plates from the cabinet. "Could you please fetch Baelfire? Dinner is ready."
"If you would have listened properly, I only object the plastic part." Gold replied before he left the kitchen, going to get his son.
*BRB*
"Did you have a good day on school?" Belle asked as she went to strap the boy in.
"Yes, tomorrow is Halloween. We put the decorations we crafted all around the classroom." Bae told her.
"How about we are going to get two pumpkins? Then we can carve them in lanterns for tomorrow?" Belle asked as she crawled behind the wheel.
"Really?" Bae asked with big eyes as Belle smiled, seeing his face in the rear-view mirror.
"Well, I am going there right now." Belle said as she turned right instead of left. After several minutes they were on the outskirts of the town and Belle pulled up in between a large farmhouse and barn. Belle got Bae out of the van and when she straightened a large figure walked up to them.
"Hello Jorge, how are you doing?" Belle asked with a smile as the farmer walked up to them.
"Belle, long time no see." The man better known as the 'Big Friendly Giant' engulfed her in a bear-hug. "Who did you bring?"
"This is Bae, and we have come to pick out two pumpkins." Bae grinned and nodded.
"You'd need a hand, Tiny?" Leroy asked as he walked up to them, carrying a shovel over his shoulder.
"No thank you, Leroy. How many times do I need to tell you not to call me that?" Jorge asked as he shook his head. "let me show you the pumpkins. Most of them are already gone, unfortunately."
"That should not be a problem." Belle said as she started pushing Bae, who did not really enjoy the bumpy ride over the field. Twenty minutes later they were back at the van, with two decent sized pumpkins.
"Thank you, Jorge, Leroy." Belle said with a smile and quickly paid for the pumpkins and some fresh beans they could have tonight for dinner. There is nothing better than fresh beans. Belle strapped Bae back in the van and waved at the two men before she drove off.
"Can we start with the pumpkins when we get home?" Bae curiously asked.
"First homework, then dinner. If you feel up to it, we will carve the pumpkins then."
"Okay Belle." Bae said but made sure Belle would see his pout. Belle only chuckled and soon pulled up to the house.
*BRB*
"We will be back in an hour or two." Belle told Gold before she took the boy outside. Belle turned on the lights that she put on top of her sombrero.
"You decorated a little." Bae said when they went through the small gate on the street. The two Jack-O-lanterns they made flickered a little as they passed. Belle had put some fake spiderwebs on the gate. A small table stood on the sidewalk, filled with fake candles and a bowl with single-wrapped pieces of candy. That way, no one would need to enter the property.
"Is it good enough?" Belle asked with a smile.
"Really cool!" Bae replied. Belle loved how excited the boy was.
"Let's get going so you can collect your own candy." Bae smirked and started wheeling himself forward, balancing his candy basket on his lap.
As they passed the fifth house, it dawned upon Belle that every single house had steps leading up a porch, not allowing Bae to ring a single bell, even if he could reach up to the height the bells usually hung. This however did not bother Bae too much since he still received his pieces of candy from the people. Soon enough they entered Main Street where happy chatter sounded, children, running over the streets laughing and playing. The display windows were all lightened up with decorations. Belle beamed a smile to Bae to encourage him before they continued walking. The first one Belle spotted was Ruby who stood outside with a little table to hand out candy. Ruby waved at them when they walked up to her. She had a pair of big furry ears upon her head and a long red cloak. Under that, she had a way to short dress…
"Trick or treat!" Bae called when Belle stopped pushing him as they stood in front of the table.
"Ah, the night Zorro, I'd rather not go and fight with you, Señor." Ruby replied with a smile and dropped several pieces in Bae's basket.
"Thank you!" Bae replied.
"You know you still have to let me know when you have some time for a drink." Ruby pointed out.
"Oh God, Ruby. I am so, so sorry…" Belle shook her head. "I have been so busy I totally forgot. What about next Thursday?"
"I'll will let you know if I can escape Granny's clutches." Ruby replied with a roll of her eyes before she reached out to give another child some candy.
"Well, we have more candy to collect, enjoy yourself!" Belle said as she started pushing the wheelchair again.
"Belle, Baelfire!" Another voice called for their attention. Archie stood on the other side of the street, dressed as a fireman, with Pongo next to him, obviously content with every child that patted him.
"Pongo, come on boy!" Bae happily called and leaned forward to pat the dog. Belle smiled at Pongo whose tail happily wagged.
"A handsome fireman, although your truck is a little on the small side." Belle smirked.
"As charming as ever, Belle. How are you doing. It has been a while since you returned to Storybrooke."
"I have long since settled in a comfortable routine. I love to take care of Bae." She smiled at the boy who looked up hearing his name. "Other things are work in progress, I hope." Belle softly added after a moment. Archie hummed and nodded.
"Just be patient, Belle. I am sure you will be able to work it out." He also handed some candy to the children. "If you ever need advice or a listening ear, you know where to find me." Archie said and smiled at her before pushing his glasses higher on his nose.
"Thank you, Archie. Have a nice evening." Belle smiled back. "Let's continue, Bae."
"Goodbye, Pongo, Dr. Hopper!" Bae waved before unbreaking his wheelchair. Belle and Bae collected even more candy, and after thirty more minutes, Belle decided it was time to head home. Bae did not object. He was tired, and not only because it was thirty minutes after his usual bedtime. He was already nodding off by the time they reached home. Gold's face was set in displeasure at them arriving back so late, but Belle saw his face soften when he noticed Bae was almost asleep.
"I will go and put him to bed right away." Belle whispered and held out Bae's almost full basket of candy for Gold to take. Gold looked at it for a moment before he took it. He continued to watch the back of the young lady who was so kind and gentle to his son. Twenty minutes later, Belle had Bae all tucked in. "You can put the basket down, you know." Belle said, feeling rather curious why it seemed like the man had not moved the whole time.
"You are dismissed for the night, Miss French." Gold said snapping to the present. He stayed put as Belle walked up to him, still dressed in her poncho and sombrero.
"Oh, I am sorry." Belle awkwardly said as the heat rose to her cheeks as her sombrero got knocked from her head as she tried to fish out a piece of caramel from Bae's basket.
"I am unhurt." Gold managed after a moment. He handed the basket back to Belle. Her hand briefly brushed his own, sending an odd sensation of tingles all up his hand and arm, making him drop the basket before Belle could grab it.
"Good lord, I am so clumsy. I sometimes have these moments." Belle said with a laugh, even if she wishes the floor would swallow her. Gold heavily leant on his cane as he lowered himself to the floor to clean up the mess. "Oh, you should not." Belle said, looking at the man a little alarmed. "Here, let me." Belle offered as she got to the floor herself.
"I think you have done more then enough for today, Miss French. I believe I dismissed you several minutes ago already." Gold's face was stern and did not allow any form of arguing.
"Just shout for me if you need my help." Belle meekly said as she got to her feet and took her sombrero before going to her room. Gold softly sighed when she was gone. She was just here for Bae. Gold reminded himself as he started to clean up the scattered pieces, finding the caramel Belle had been looking for. Once everything was back in the basket, he put it on the kitchen table, leaving the piece of caramel out in plain sight for Belle to find.
A/N Please Read and Review! I hope you liked this chapter, please let me know!
