I do not own Once Upon a Time

Chapter 6 Our Mutual Friend

If Belle was the usual governess, summer time would have found her returning home, or to a family member or acquaintance. If she worked for a typical family, this would have been done while the family visited the seaside or traveled to some other location for their summer holiday. However, Belle was not a usual governess, and she did not work for a typical family. With that, Belle was to stay through the summer, her contract with Mr. Gold had already been renewed with no hint of a cold retort, and to the pleasure of little Bae who had begun to wrap his arms around her in a loving fashion whenever he was happy or excited and it opened up all sorts of maternal emotions that Belle had never experienced before.

Belle did her best during this time, to find herself useful in other areas of the house. She folded laundry with Mary, helped knead bread in the kitchens, and gave companionship to Mr. Dove, when he was doing some odd request of Mr. Gold. Mr. Dove had been to their church-she did remember him when he reminded her of this-and he complimented, in his own quiet way, a sermon that her father once preached and told her that 'he was a fine, godly gentleman and you are credit to him, Miss French.' The stares among the other staff during breakfast were not icy anymore, and some were soft and warm. She had even begun to hear bits and pieces of gossip, and though she gave no credence to anything she heard, it made her feel a little more like she had become part of Dark Manor itself, no longer the newcomer that fit nowhere at all.

Little Bae would be seen running about the manor. Though he was with his father much more than when they had done lessons, there were times when he followed Belle like a shadow, and she couldn't say she minded. Having no more family left, she enjoyed being so loved by the little boy, and pushed any thought away for how this was all temporary. The entire thing. The comradery with the servants, amiability with Mr. Gold, and the tender embraces of Bae, were a temporary position that she would find herself away from in a year's time. Belle was not one who could steel herself from attachment and here she was, completely taken in by Dark Manor, and she never wanted to leave.

A few weeks into summer, she was called into Mr. Gold's study.

'We will be having visitors in a week's time.'

Belle's eyebrows shot up in obvious wonder. Mr. Gold did not have visitors-an occasional business associate perhaps that would be ushered into a darkened study to be met by the same shadowy figure that Belle had once met. Or else, Mr. Dove would see to the 'lesser' visitor's that could be dealt with and his reputation would only grow then. Those who hadn't been met directly would always feel slighted and go away pretending that they actually had seen the deformed recluse they had heard so much about, and would make up wild rumors that only built upon the other wild rumors already circulating. Mr. Gold had once chuckled to Belle, that the wilder the tale, the better for business, actually. He always got the best deals when acquiring other's lands, for no one would give a counter offer to a monster, and no one dealt with him unless they were desperate.

'Among whom is one I think you will find to be a mutual acquaintance.' Mr. Gold continued and Belle brightened, though did not do what the childish, still somewhat girlish side of her wanted to do and bounce up and down in her seat as she was apt to do when her father would announce the gentleman's arrival to their home not so long ago.

'Mr. Jeffrey's?' She smiled but remained ever the professional-if her eyes did the dancing, she simply could not help it.

'The very person.' Mr. Gold gave one of his tight, small smiles back. 'As you can imagine, I do not have many visitors but when I do, Mr. Jeffrey is normally kind enough to help with me with hosting, for he is the more welcoming gentleman of us, and I deal with what normally brings people to my home-deseparation.'

The vague way in which he spoke only made Belle's face crinkle in curiosity the more he said. She waited in her chair until she was dismissed in confusion and happiness at seeing Mr. Jeffrey's again, or for things to become clearer.

'Among the party is the gentleman I will be dealing with, his wife and their five children, all of varying ages. This is an old house and one that once upon a time, people enjoyed exploring. I think Mrs. Mills wants to use this as their holiday trip, since I am very well aware how little they can afford to travel-much against Mrs. Mill's usual tastes.' He spat this out, and Belle should have felt incredibly uncomfortable with the details of someone else's financial state. However, Mr. Gold shared it in such a way that it felt like he was sharing it with a friend. Though she did not question her role in the household, she knew how very lonely Mr. Gold must be, and if a listening ear was something he needed, however improper the speech (well, there were limits to this, Belle thought, but it wasn't as if he had said anything truly improper, she supposed).

Her eyebrows must have betrayed her wonder at the subject matter of the speech, for he stopped a moment before continuing.

'That is to say, she's invited her own companion or two, so in all there are four adults, including Jeffrey, and five children-and I imagine, Miss French, that the house might be in a state of turmoil for the next few days as Mrs. Lucas tries to rid certain parts of the Manor of ten years of stagnation.'

Belle thought she saw where this was going.

'I will help in any way I can, sir.' He smiled and nodded rather nicely-a long way from the cold words and icy dismissals of four months ago.

'There is another thing with which I wish to speak with you.'

'Yes sir?'

His voice was less self assured as he continued.

'The five children-I imagine there are ways in which our usual routines will be broken. I am aware of how different the Dark Manor opporates than to other places. Much to Bae's excitement, I imagine that he will want to take his meals with the other children, and they will take their meals alone. Mrs. Mills is under the firm belief that children should be seen and not heard, and if at all possible not seen at all. That being the case, Miss French, I would very much like for you to, that is…'

'You would like for me to dine with the children, sir? I would be glad to.' She smiled in assurance and he visibly relaxed. She was the governess, and she found it comforting that he worried over asking her to do something that would be considered the normal thing to do in almost any other household.

'I imagine Bae will not be seeing much of me over the course of their stay, which will be only for a week-Heaven be praised.' The sarcastic tone in which the last phrase was said sent a hand over Belle's mouth to keep out a very unladylike giggle threatening to escape and the action caused Mr. Gold's soft brown eye to twinkle a little, much to Belle's amusement and bafflement. 'Would you mind keeping an eye on Bae during that time? It would give me relief to know that he was kept from mischief, while I focus on the tedious business aspects of their visit. It's a very important transaction, and though they are desperate, and as I stated before, I would be less distracted to know Bae was well looked after.'

'You may depend upon it, sir, I will stay with Bae and look after him.' She smiled again, he nodded with a 'Thank you, Miss French, that will be all.' And she left his study to the temporary quietness of the Manor. Once Mrs. Lucas learned of the upcoming upheaval to their abode, the Manor was a state of utter chaos.

Belle sunk down on her bed, never more thankful to leave the confines of her dress behind for a softer nightgown. The day had been hectic with the putting away of cloth that covered furniture that bespoke of days gone by, dusted out rooms that hadn't been touched in a decade's time, and readying the guest rooms that would be required in only three more days. Bae had wanted to watch the goings on of the staff, but had been shooed away more than once (though not by Belle) that Mr. Gold had taken to spending hours outside with him to keep him away. Belle stole a glance, as she did a chore for Mrs. Lucas, sighing and smiling as she watched Bae load Mr. Gold's lap with flowers, sticks and other bits of nature, she imagined inquiring after each one. Mr. Gold's book he had brought with him was laid to the side in preference to listening to the chattering on of his son. It might be true that Mr. Gold could be gruff from time to time, though he was less so to Belle as of late, he was ever the devoted father to little Bae, and she smiled as she observed them. If only more people saw this aspect of Mr. Gold. Who would even notice the rougher bits of skin or even the scars when he was being so kind to his son.

She shook her head and went back to dusting.

The first person to arrive, a day earlier than the rest of the party, was…

'Mr. Jeffery!' Both Belle and Bea squealed at the man they had been equally anticipating by the front door. Bae darted forward, wrapping himself around the tall, smiling man. Belle did not do anything so childish as to run and do the same, no matter what she might want to do. Mr. Jeffery beamed at the both of them, eye's dancing.

'How are you my dear boy, have you been good for Miss Belle, excuse me, Miss French.' He smiled slyly at the blunder. 'I almost forgot that you're now a grown woman, my dear.' He said to Belle before devoting his attention to the words spilling out of Little Bae's mouth giving him detail upon detail of all the things he and Miss French had done since she came. Mr. Jeffery listened as if it were the most interesting thing he had ever heard, stealing laughing glances Belle's way every now and then.

'Dove has already taken my bags to my room, if you'll run along you'll find a present in there, I think.'

Bae jumped up and down several times before bounding away towards what was apparently Mr. Jeffery's usual room.

'And now, how is my dear little rabbit? Rowland hasn't scared you off, I see.'

Belle smiled good naturedly. 'I am well, as you see. I don't even believe it was as bad as you said it would be.'

'No, I have a feeling that's you having your usual effect on the place my dear. I can see Bae adores you, as I very well knew he would.' He smirked, but then grew serious. ' How are you really though, little rabbit?'

Belle shrugged a little. 'I still miss them, of course I do. But being here, and being busy, not just for busyness' sake, but for good-seeing Bae learn and grow-I-I think it's given me a fresh sense of purpose. I didn't think I could feel that way again after Papa died.'

'And it will become easier to bear, I am sure. Grief is like an ocean's waves, coming sometimes stronger, sometimes hardly at all, but constant. The key is you will become stronger as time goes on, and the waves will not knock you down so often.'

Belle nodded her head and Mr. Jeffery planted a small kiss on the top of her head as he had done when she was a child. They both started when Mr. Gold cleared his throat and Belle saw that he was leaning on his cane in the shadows. She wondered how long he had been standing there.

'I wondered when you would get here, Jeffery. There is much to be discussed before the group arrives tomorrow.'

'I still can't believe you are doing this. Just to gloat too-If I…' Mr. Gold cleared his throat again and shot an icy glance to his visitor, and even the jovial Mr. Jeffery shut his mouth without protest and Belle felt suddenly like she was very much in the way.

'Excuse me, sirs, I'll just go see after Bae.' She curtsied and left, though not before hearing Mr. Jeffery's comment.

'No better girl alive, Rowland, and pretty to boot, hmmm?'

Belle walked quickly away before she heard the reply to that statement, her ears burning.

The next day, Belle held Bae's hand for almost as much her own comfort as to calm his energetic nerves. They stood next to other members of the staff, welcoming the visiting family and their guests as they came inside. A parade of colors strutt in front of them. The very first man was the most solemn and had the kindest face, though it didn't take much in comparison to the rest. The others only had scowls for the staff and looked down from their ornate attire and seemed to roll their eyes at the curtsying welcome party.

Bae looked excitedly at the children who also scowled towards them. The first three children looked to be not much younger than Belle, while the younger two looked closer to Bae's age. The last child, a young girl with cascading ringlets about her face, seemed the most friendly and even gave a fleeting smile at Bae, which made him beam all the more.

The guests were shown their rooms, Bae and Belle retired to the nursery and she entertained him until dinner. They walked hand in hand to dinner, and Belle was faced with snickers and giggles from the other children. Two older girls, each of dark hair, one more Auburn, the other jet black, a dark, curly headed boy with mischievous eyes, a younger boy who couldn't be more than ten, yet stood almost as tall as his older brother, and finally the sweeter looking curly headed girl all looked at them as they entered the dining hall. Belle found their looks uneasy, and the youngest seemed almost guilty and Belle sat with apprehension. A second she felt a stinging sensation and jumped up suddenly with a yelp. There in her seat she found a pine cone laid there and the children laughed heartily. Bae was confused, and Belle was certain-this would be a very long week.

Author's note:Sound of Music reference anyone? Things will just get crazier from here! Hope you enjoy!