"Is there something wrong?" Belle asked as she looked at Gold who was kind of pretending to eat but taking way too small bites to actually be properly eating.

"Everything is fine, Miss French." Gold said as he put his fork down before wiping his face with a napkin. "It just appears I have little appetite today." Bae and her crossed looks, but neither did comment. "If you will excuse me?" Gold said as soon as Bae and Belle finished eating. They watched as the man retreated.

"Do you have any idea about what is going on?" Belle asked as she looked at the boy.

"He usually gets a little grouchy around this time of year." Bae shrugged.

"I will go and see if I can get your father to talk to me." Belle said with a tiny and somewhat sad smile as she started to collect the dishes. You can only bottle up so many feelings and thoughts, right? "Go and do your homework, I believe we have some new books that are in need to be read."

"Yes, Belle. Can we have some tea when I have finished?" Baelfire asked as he pushed himself away from the table.

"I am sure we can." Belle nodded and went to the kitchen to clean up. She made a full pot of tea, intending to go and offer Gold some in his study. She however was rather surprised when she found that Gold had settled upon the large wingback chair next to the fireplace, that he apparently lit.

"Yes, I do use my living room. A cup of tea would be great." The man drawled. Belle gave him a small shrug before handing over the mug of tea. Belle sat down on the sofa, watching him as he sipped his tea. The firelight made his dark eyes light up just a little, giving them the perfect warm honey colour while it also highlighted the small lines and creases upon his face. It seemed that there were more than she usually noticed, especially from the corner of his eyes. It hit her after a moment that she had noticed his limp was a little worse like he would have walked longer than what was comfortable for him. It would be no surprise if he were hurting more because of the cold weather, she realised. It was but November, but frost was already in the air, freezing the dew on the lawn every night. Then an idea hit Belle, hiding her smile behind her cup as she sipped her tea.

"I'd rather have you not stare at me as if I grew a pair of antlers or my skin changed in that of a crocodile." Gold raised his eyes to look at her. "Or is this the way you are trying to get me into a conversation, Miss French?"

"Belle." She ground out. Why of all people did she need to deal with the hard-headed people… "Well, I have seen everything in the living room after several months, and now there is something new in it." Belle boldly told him. Gold casually raised an eyebrow at the cheekiness.

"Do I need to remind you I am your employee?"

"No need, even though I appreciate talking with another adult sometimes." Gold hummed at that. He was not really into having some idle chatter around, even if silence sometimes unsettled him as well. Belle watched the man as she continued to sip her tea. No matter how badly she wanted to talk, the man acted so unapproachable she had no idea how to start a conversation, she knew next to nothing about the man.

"Do the trinkets have a story?" She decided to ask, trying to break the awkward silence.

"All have their own story." The reply sounded after a minute.

"Would you like to share one of those stories?"

"Not tonight." Gold replied before he slowly got up on his feet and slowly started hobbling. He brought the mug to the kitchen before he retreated to his study.

*BRB*

The next morning Belle made sure she stopped by her father after she brought Baelfire to school.

"Belle?" Maurice asked a little surprised when Belle stepped into his flower shop.

"Hello father, I hope you are doing well?" Belle asked as she leaned over the counter to kiss her father's cheek.

"I am, but what are you doing here? Don't let me see that that monster has hurt you in any way." Maurice added as his eyes darkened.

"Don't be so silly, father. I just realised I forgot to bring my winter coat and mittens." Maurice hummed at that. "I need to be quick; I promise to come by soon for a proper cup of tea." Belle smiled at her father before she went to fetch her winter coat and mittens, but also took a small brown glass bottle from the bathroom cabinet. Her grandmother would use the tonic to bathe in to relieve all her aches. Belle waved at her father before she returned to Gold's house. It took her almost an hour to find a large enough bucket or box where the water could come high enough to cover an ankle. She set out to do her chores then but finding a bucket had taken too much time, making her ten minutes late when she realised she had to pick up Baelfire.

"I am so sorry, Bae." Belle apologised when she opened the back of the van before helping the boy in. "How about I make you a cup of hot cocoa to make it up to you?" Bae was shivering a little but nodded eagerly.

"Why are you so late anyway. Got lost in your story?" He curiously asked, not angry at all. Belle blessed the boy's kind heart and quickly strapped him in.

"I went to visit my own papa this morning." Belle told the boy as they drove back home. "I collected something that I hope will help your papa with the pain in his ankle."

"Really?" Bae curiously asked. "I know he has pills for the pain, but I do not think he ever takes them." Belle hummed at that. It would be very logical, and she guessed he would keep them in the bathroom cabinet, but she was not allowed upstairs…

"I won't be giving him pills." Belle assured. "How about that cocoa I promised you?" She asked as she pulled up on the driveway.

"Do we have marshmallows?"

"I do not believe so; we can add them to the shopping list. We do however have chocolate chip cookies which will go with that as well, or do you want a cinnamon biscuit?" Belle helped him out of the van before letting them both in.

"Can't I have both since we do not have any marshmallows?" Bae cheekily tried.

"We will see about that." Belle said as she held open the door for Bae so he could join her in the kitchen. "How about we have s cinnamon biscuit now, and when you finished your homework you can have a chocolate chip as a reward?" She mused as she put a small pan on the fire so she could heat some milk.

"I am not a dog, but deal." Bae said as he pulled out his coat and threw it over one of the chairs around the kitchen table. Belle handed him the biscuit tin and waited for the milk to get hot. She put one big spoon of cocoa powder in each cup before pouring the milk over it.

"There you go, one hot cocoa. Do I get a biscuit for the effort?" Bae gave a soft giggle before handing her a biscuit as well.

"You like soggy biscuits?" Bae asked as he wrinkled his nose as Belle dipped her biscuit in her hot cocoa.

"Not soggy biscuits, but I like cinnamon with my hot cocoa." Belle chuckled.

"Can we make biscuits our self sometime?" Bae curiously asked.

"I am sure we can bake some good things together." Belle smiled. "That sounds like a very good idea."

*BRB*

"Are you coming for some tea in the living room as well?" Belle asked as she stood to clean up the table. Gold had eaten more than yesterday, even if it was only a little.

"You are not going to expect I will join in the living room every evening because I did once." Gold said with a raised eyebrow.

"That is why I asked." Belle said with a small shrug, not really happy with the unkind comment of the man, even if he was in pain.

"Can we watch a movie together?" Bae asked. It was Friday so he was allowed to stay up a little longer.

"Yes, go and pick out something, then I will go and make some tea." Belle said and took the empty plates to the kitchen. Ten minutes later she entered the living room with the tea tray. Gold had once again settled himself in front of the fireplace in the wingback chair while Bae had settled himself on the sofa with a blanket and the remote in hand. Belle handed out two out of three mugs before she quickly returned to the kitchen. She filled the bucket halfway with mostly hot water before she fetched the bottle. Carefully she dripped in several drops before stirring it with her hand. She put away the bottle before taking the bucket back to the living room. Gold and Baelfire silently watched the nanny.

"What is the meaning of this, Miss French?" Gold asked when Belle put the bucket next to his feet.

"Maybe if you are in less pain, you will be less of a grouch." Belle deadpanned before she kneeled and started to undo the laces of his right shoe.

"I beg your pardon." Gold said as he sat up, pulling his foot back.

"Don't deny it." Belle shook her head and reached for his foot again, rolling up the fabric of his right trouser leg. "I can see that your injury is hurting you. Your limp is more pronounced and how you lean more heavily on your cane. Don't deny your appetite is less because of the pain." Belle explained.

"Do not speak of thing you know nothing about." Gold's eyes narrowed at her as he grabbed for his cane, ready to get up.

"Papa!" Bae scolded. "Belle knows best." Gold's face blanched a little when he got reminded his son had a front-row seat. Belle took the opportunity of Gold being distracted to haul his leg back forward and carefully slip off the shoe. Gold hissed when his ankle got jostled and tried to pull his leg back again.

"Belle knows best." She said and held one hand on the back of the man's calf as she quickly got rid of the sock before pulling over the bucket. "Keep your foot in here until I say so." She sternly said before gently letting the man lower his foot. A quick breath from the man told her more than enough about how uncomfortable he felt, ankle probably not included. She quickly rolled up the leg a little higher. "Now try and relax while we watch the movie Bae has picked for us." Belle climbed back to his feet and filled Gold's mug again before joining Bae on the sofa. Gold did not reply and watched the young lady for a moment. He eventually settled for watching the movie, occasionally wiggling his toes in the warm water. After the second break started, Belle got up to test the water in the bucket. When she found the water had cooled too much, she got up and got a towel. Gold obediently lifted his leg and let Belle gently dry off his foot. She pulled back on his sock before taking the bucket to pour the water away.

"Do you have something like slippers to wear?"

"There is no need for you to get them, Miss French, go and enjoy the movie." Belle raised her eyebrow but decided not to argue with the man, also aware that Bae would hear every single word they would say. The remaining evening stayed rather awkward and tense.

"Time for bed." Belle announced when the end credits started to roll over the screen.

"Five more minutes?" Bae asked, putting up his best puppy eyes.

"You may read for another ten minutes in bed if you go now." Belle bribed.

"Okay, Belle. Good night, Papa." Bae said as he got himself back in his wheelchair.

"Sleep tight, Baelfire." Gold replied.

"Come, I'll help you." Belle said before directing the boy to his bedroom. Once Gold was alone, he carefully climbed to his feet, slowly shifting his weight onto his right foot. When the pain in his ankle only stayed the uncomfortable ever-present pain, he closed his eyes and softly sighed. He would have to thank Belle for that and ask what was in the water. Slowly he walked to the hallway, happy the pain stayed to a minimum before he climbed the stairs.

*BRB*

Belle was a little surprised when she heard the familiar sound of Gold's walking, entering the kitchen. "Good morning." Belle greeted without turning around.

"Good morning." Gold greeted back before he cleared his throat. Belle turned around curiously when Gold stayed silent for a long moment. "I believe an apology is required after my inappropriate behaviour last night." Gold calmly said as he watched the beautiful lady before him.

"So, did the water help sooth the pain?" Belle asked, curiously.

"It appears indeed that whatever was in the water partially managed to sooth my injury."

"I am very glad it helped. When it starts hurting again, just let me know, then I will make you another bucket." Gold gave a small nod before he walked through the door to the dining room to set plates and collect the newspaper so he could read it.


A/N Please Read and Review! I hope you liked this chapter, please let me know!