"Bae, what do you have there?" Belle asked a little confused as the artwork on the boy's lap. She was quite sure the boy did not have any project for school. The boy wheeled himself to his usual spot at the dining table. She put down the baskets she was holding.

"Do you think we can go and visit papa at the shop after school?"

"If you want to, we can, but do you want to tell me what is going on?"

"It is papa's birthday today, but he won't tell anyone. He does not want to celebrate, although I always make him a little gift." Bae softly said. "Do you think papa will go and like it?" Bae put a small clay figurine which was quite clearly a dog on the table. "Mrs Blanchard helped me a bit."

"That is a very pretty dog. Did you have one?" Bae shook his head at that.

"Papa told me that when he was little he used to have a dog like this. I even have a stuffed animal that looks like this."

"Really? I think your father will love the gift." Belle nodded. "Do you want to wrap it before we leave for school?"

"Can we?"

"I will go and look for a box. Why don't you make little fluffy protection from the newspaper?" Belle handed him the newspaper that was still on the table. After several minutes she returned with a box that used to contain cereal. "Do you think this will be big enough?"

"I guess it will fit, but we will need to wrap it in gift paper. Papa will be so confused, thinking we give him a box full of breakfast." Bae giggled before he went to stuff the newspaper in the box before halfway putting the figurine in and filling it up.

"Do you think your father will mind having it wrapped in this?" Belle asked as she showed him the gift paper that had all kinds of vehicles upon it. "It was the only paper I could find."

"It will have to do." Bae shrugged and took the tape Belle brought and tightly closed the box.

"I will wrap it, you go and put on your coat and shoes."

"Thank you, Belle." Bae replied and left the box on the table.

"Let's get you to school, I will bring you present with me when I come to pick you up." Belle promised as she pulled on her own coat and scarf. Belle brought Baelfire to school like always but decided to make some treats before doing her chores. She decided that baking some cupcakes would be the best way to go to have a festive yet small and delicious treat. Finishing them up with some frosting and rainbow sprinkles, she quickly packed three in a small box to take with her. When she had finished her chores, it was already time to go and pick up Bae. Taking the two boxes with her, she was soon on her way to gold's shop with Bae in the back.

"Can I hold the presents?" Baelfire asked when Belle let him out of the van.

"I am sure you can, I will push you." Belle nodded and handed the to boxes over to the boy. The bell above the door chimed when they entered, making Gold come out to see who it was.

"Is something the matter, Baelfire, Miss French?" Gold casually asked as he halted in the doorpost, leaning on his cane.

"Your birthday is the matter, papa." Bae said as he beamed up a bright smile. Gold narrowed his eyes a little, especially when he noticed the boxes on Bae's lap. He could not send them away now they were here in his fortress of solitude. He sighed before he walked to the back, turning on the small water cooker so they could have some tea. The backroom of the shop was completely crammed full of stuff, even so that Bae barely got through it when they entered. Gold cleared a small space from his work bench so they could put the cups down there.

"Miss French, could you please fetch a cup from the front?" Gold asked when he only could find two cups. Belle nodded and soon noticed a fine china set in one of the displays. Taking out one cup, she turned to get to the cramped backroom. Gold winced when he heard something fall. As he turned around, he found Belle with big eyes trying to hold back a half painted wooden nutcracker and the fine china cup on the floor. Gold stepped over and carefully put the wooden puppet back into place.

"I am so sorry, it is chipped." Belle said as she picked up the cup. "You can hardly see it." Gold said nothing as he took the cup from her hands. He then filled the two mugs and the cup with tea, taking the chipped cup for himself. "You should not drink from that; you can cut your lip."

"And have you ruin another cup? I hardly think so." Gold said, taking a sip from the chipped cup before setting it aside.

"Will you open your presents now?" Bae eagerly asked.

"All right." Gold nodded and opened the first box Bae handed to him.

"If I had known earlier that it was your birthday, I would have made something more special." Belle said.

"Thank you." Gold said with a little nod and took the three cupcakes out, setting his own aside.

"Now my present." Bae said, almost bouncing in his wheelchair.

"What could this be?" Gold asked and gave the package a little shake as he listened. Gold softly hummed before he carefully opened the paper. "Cereals that do not sound like cereals." Gold hummed and opened the box before removing the crumpled newspaper. "Thank you Baelfire." Gold said and for the first time Belle saw a genuine smile from Gold. He took a moment to study the artwork before tucking it back into the box. "I think that one deserves a special place in the living room." Bae beamed at that.

"Can I have my cupcake now?" Bae asked, glancing at the delicious looking treat. Both Gold and Belle nodded. Quietly they shared their tea and the cupcakes.

"I think we both enjoyed the little treat." Gold commented before he reached for Bae's face and wipe away some frosting. Bae beamed up a sheepish grin.

"I am glad." Belle smiled. "I think it is time to go home, for you still need to do your homework." Belle said when she had finished her tea.

"See you tonight." Bae waved as Belle took him back to the front of the shop.

"Bye." Gold said with a nod. Once home, Bae went to do his homework and Belle started onto dinner, hopefully making some special dinner.

"Look, Belle." Bae said as he came into the kitchen. The boy showed her a slightly faded picture of a young lad that stood on a grassy hill with a dog at his feet, and sheep grazing in the background. Belle could not help but smile.

"Is that your papa?" Belle asked, taking the picture so she could study it a little closer. The boy had dark eyes and dark brown hair that was ruffled by the wind. A bright smile and pink cheeks lightened up his face. His clothes were simple but warm.

"I once found it in an old shoe box with several other pictures and small things." Bae proudly said.

"Thank you for showing me this." Belle said with a smile before handing it back. "I would love to see the other pictures." She could not quite remember seeing other pictures of the family around the house.

"I don't have the box anymore. Papa took it from me after he had seen it I found it, but I had yet to put this picture back in it."

"That is no problem. You want to set the table for me?"

"I will. Going to put the picture back first."

"All right." Belle smiled and turned back to finish making the salad and put up some water for tea. The first thing Gold did when he came home was putting Bae's present with the other trinkets in the cabinet above the TV. Belle found the man watching the trinkets when she stepped into the living room. "Are you coming for dinner?"

"I'll be there in a moment." Gold said with a nod. Belle then returned to the kitchen and started to dish up salad and casserole.

"Thank you Belle." Bae happily said when Belle put some food on his plate. She also filled Gold's plate before she sat down to eat. Belle had done her best to create something that would resemble a Scottish dish.

"Well, it appears I need to make more when I make this a second time." Belle said with a big smile as Bae and Gold himself went for a second round of servings.

"It is almost as good as papa's pasta." Bae responded before he tucked in again.

"Did you have enough? I still have some cupcakes." Belle asked when they all had finished, and the dish completely empty.

"I had more then enough, thank you." Gold said with a nod. Belle was surprised Gold thanked her for cooking, at least her gesture had not gone to waste.

"Your welcome." Belle smiled. "Are you going to the living room to have some tea? I still have some cupcakes."

"Not tonight." Gold shook his head and got to his feet. He went to his study where a pile of work was waiting for him. Baelfire however Joined Belle in the living room when he had finished his homework. Belle looked up from where she had been reading when Bae wheeled himself in.

"Can I have some tea as well?" The boy asked as he took the book he had been reading from.

"I need to get a cup for you. You want a cupcake as well? I still have a few left over."

"Please!" Bae said with an eager nod. Belle chuckled and went to get a mug and two cupcakes. "Thank you, Belle." Bae happily said before he took a bite of his cake. "Do you think we can decorate for Christmas?"

"I am sure we can decorate. I love to decorate." Belle smiled. "I only need to find the place where your father keeps the decorations. I am sure Leroy or Jorge can help us to a tree…"

"Can I come tree-shopping?"

"I am sure you can. I'll go and speak to your papa to see where he has hidden all the decorations, and if he agrees me moving the furniture to make room for the tree."


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