Author's note1: Part 2 of the last chapter

Mr. Knox is Kieth (sheriff of Nottingham)yup, he's in here *bleh*
I do not own Once Upon a Time

Chapter 12 Many Happy Returns

Mr. Gold's estate seemed to stretch on forever, for Bae. For someone so eager to get to town, an hour's ride can seem an eternity. Mrs. Lucas patted him on the head when he asked for the fifth time if they had reached the end of his father's grounds yet, and Belle tried to distract him with stories but he couldn't pay attention to them. Mr. Dove gave a warm smile to Belle that seemed to thank her for her efforts no matter how in vain they were.

Town came upon them eventually and Bae whooped suddenly where he sat.

'I know you are excited Bae, but you must control yourself. Act like the little gentleman I know you can be.' Belle said calmly.

Properly sentured, he quietened, though his eyes wouldn't stop dancing. Mr. Dove helped each one of them down, and the sights and smells of the town she knew so well surrounded her. No longer was she a girl, daughter of a beloved clergyman and a lump formed involuntary at the familiarness of it all. Bae's hand grabbing hers gave her renewed strength, and she smiled down at his beaming face.

Bae gasped and awed over each item the little shop offered. Asked very handsomely if the lady with the gray dress and crisp white apron would very much mind wrapping the candy for him. Could she measure out _pounds of nuts? He then asked the gentleman at the next store if he could have some paper and ribbon. And no one hurried him when he went especially slow, looking at some toys in another store.

While Bae was left in good hands, Belle excused herself and went to do her own shopping. Though Mr. Gold was very kind and her salary very good, she was still a governess, and what she could afford to buy was significantly less than what she would have been even as a middle class clergyman's daughter. She was measured for what she chose and a date was given for when they would be ready. She was thankful for her petite stature and dislike for an overabundance of trim or material, which saved her a little. She exited the shop and went to search for the rest of her party.

'Halloo, I say, Miss French?'

A grovely voice spoke behind her and she turned to see the man that had taken her father's place in the beloved church's pulpit.

Despite Mr. Gold telling Belle that she might go with the servants to church, she had only done so a couple of times. Mr. Dove, the most religious of the household, had told her when she first arrived that the new parson was not worth listening to. Belle, who had never actually sat through a sermon of his, took him at his word. There had been in Dark Manor, a little chapel room, and it was set aside for prayer on Sunday Morning, and Mr. Dove himself took to reading out of a prayer book or book of sermons. He had worried that God might mind that they didn't attend an actual church, but Belle reminded him that where two or three were gathered… and Mr. Dove seemed pleased enough at this.

They did go on Easter, however, and she was immediately struck with the feeling that he was only in the pulpit because man and a need of funds had put him there and not God. His voice had no conviction and his sermon, even for an Easter service, would put a saint to sleep. She had stayed afterwards for a moment to say hello to old friends and it was at that time where she met the man that had called out to her. Mr. Knox was a youngish sort of man of about six and twenty with short dark hair and gray slits for eyes. She supposed he would have been called handsome enough, though he was very tall and even a few feet away made Belle have to look up considerably.

'Mr. Knox!'

'Miss French, how very good to see you. The old monster letting you out,eh? I've heard such things about him. You must tell me how much of it is true! And what's with your arm? Are you quite alright?'

His tone was too familiar, and Belle immediately longed to be elsewhere.

'Rumors are never to be trusted, Mr. Knox. Mr. Gold is a gentleman. And I had a small accident, that's all.'

Belle's reply was through her teeth, though polite. Her obvious distaste towards the questions were apparent even to someone such as Mr. Knox.

'You must excuse me, Miss French, I'm not starting very well, am I?'

Now her brow knit in confusion, for what could he be 'starting' that was turning out poorly?

'I do not understand you, sir.'

'Why, I would like to get to know you, is all. I dearly hoped to see you at church, sitting prettily on a pew but I have not seen you since I met you in April.'

Belle felt immensely uncomfortable in this exchange and only wished to get away quickly.

'We have a service at the manor. Mr. Gold's estate is quite extensive as you might imagine and makes traveling so far on a Sunday quite difficult.'

'I thought he might have everyone locked up in there or something.' He smirked and Belle blanched. 'Might I call on you there, then? Do you have a parlor or sitting room of some sort?'

She did. The classroom had been her room of comfort for many months, and to think of the man looking very little at her face, sitting down with her in the same room sent a shiver down Belle's spine.

'Mr. Gold does not have visitors, and I have very little time for company, if you'll excuse me I see my friends.'

She was very happy to get away from the farce of a man of God and over to Mr. Dove, Mrs. Lucas, and Bae who had just come out of a nearby shop. Mr. Dove looked grim towards the man-who he did not like simply for not being Mr. French, and doubly so because he butchered sermons so badly, and now-now his look was one of some disgust and Belle easily shared his sentiments.

'I don't care for that man very much, Miss French.'

'Neither do I.' She smiled at Mr. Dove and his shoulders relaxed.

'I'm very glad to hear that.' And she found him with the brightest smile yet and they all went to gain refreshment before ending their excursion.

He helped Mrs. Lucas and Bae back into the carriage, and paused before helping Belle.

'Might I have a word, Miss French?'

'Of course, Mr. Dove.'

'I-I never have never given my apologies for what happened with the horse. If I had made sure the boy went inside-if I had stayed for a moment more…'

Belle had now been apologized to by Bae, Mr. Gold and Mr. Dove, none of them being Cilian, the actual person who caused the accident, and if Mr. Dove's look was not so grave before her, she would have giggled at the thought.

'No need, Mr. Dove. It was not your fault, please do not blame yourself. I am recovering nicely, and in a short time it will be as if nothing happened at all.' She smiled warmly but was only given a small smile in return.

'We are all so glad you were alright. You have been good for master Bae, and if I might be so bold, I think you've been good for Mr Gold too.'

She had no words, patted the outstretched hand Mr. Dove offered, and quietly entered the carriage.

They were greeted by a very anxious Mr. Gold, for though he trusted the three that had taken his dear son with all his heart, Belle knew that Bae was everything to Mr. Gold. They had carried part of Mr. Gold's heart with them, and until it was returned he had most likely never been at ease. He acted rationally when they returned, stood firm and allowed Bae to gush about his day, but she saw the relief on his face and in his demeanor, as soon as Bae bounded towards him.

Fatigued, Belle left the happy reunion and went to freshen up for dinner. Upon Belle entering the dinner room, Bae found new energy in his storytelling, calling on Belle to help him remember certain shop's names, what they sold there, how long they stayed in each shop. How Miss French had missed a certain toy in a shop since she had been to the dressmakers. Mr. Gold tended to look at her from time to time with a curious expression on his face-half grimace, half of something else that seemed deep and earnest. She wished she knew what he was thinking.

That weekend Bae and Belle arranged the candy and nuts in dainty bits of paper and tied them with ribbon. On Monday, Bae cheerfully handed out each one of his little bags to the servants, and smiled handsomely to each one. Mr. Gold had presented him with a very beautifully illustrated set of children's stories, and a few outdoor games to play while the weather held. Belle had bought him a set of new drawing pencils, since she knew his love for drawing. She wished she could have gotten him something more, but with her recent purchases, it was simply impossible. Bae was enraptured with each gift, but he was most pleased when Mr. Jeffrey came in the early afternoon to share in his birthday luncheon. A cake was made in his honor, and all his favorite foods were brought out. Mr. Jeffrey gave him a set of toy soldiers and he was thanked by a heavy thump of a hug.

Mr. Gold behaved strangely with Belle that day, so unlike how he had been, or even how he was the Saturday before. He was formal and stiff. Things were back to cold 'Miss French' instead of the warm ones that had become so common as of late. Mr. Jeffrey shot him questioning looks and even Bae picked up on the difference.

'Is there anything the matter, Papa?'

'Yes, Rowland, please tell us what has gotten into you.'

Belle wished she was invisible when he gave a scathing yet pleading look to Mr. Jeffrey and Bae received a gentle, 'Of course not son.'

'Does your leg hurt especially today? It ought not to, it's my birthday, after all!'

'It's nothing to signify, Bae.' And Mr. Gold did a very good job pretending to smile.

I've made him uncomfortable. Belle thought. This is a family affair, and I'm here-not family, nor even a close family friend.

Immediately Belle wished to be anywhere but there, and scolding herself for being there at all. Bae had wished it, she remembered, that should make her feel better, but seeing Mr. Gold, so uncomfortable with the celebration of his own son, was difficult to bear.

After dinner Belle helped Bae take his new treasures to their homes before Bae was requesting to go back to Mr. Jeffrey. They went hand in hand down the halls, not exactly sure which room the men would have retired to. Mr. Jeffrey was standing outside of the library and waved them down as soon as he saw the bouncing mop of Bae's hair.

'There you are my dear boy! Go on into the library, your Papa has got tea and biscuits for you-as if you needed more sweets today. You'll be bouncing off the walls now.' Mr. Jeffrey's eyes danced warmly.

Bae cheerfully entered the library and Mr. Jeffrey paused at the door.

'I think I will go to my schoolroom, and make sure my lessons are ready for tomorrow.' Belle said softly.

'Don't be silly, little Rabbit, come along. Don't let Rowland's sour attitude hinder you from joining us.'

'I'm just the governess, Mr. Jeffrey, I-I feel like I'm interrupting.'

'You are doing no such thing. Bae would be disappointed, I would miss chatting with my dear friend, and Rowland would feel your loss as well, I assure you.'

Belle looked at him with questioning eyes.

'Don't look at me like that, Rabbit! The man who certainly isn't your Mr. Gold,' He smirked at her. 'Just had an argument with me, is all, and I suppose he is taking his sour attitude out on everyone but his precious child… I just want to assure you, Rowland isn't being all stiff and stupid because you are unwelcome. I imagine that quite the opposite is the case.'

She supposed she must believe him, and took his arm into the library.

Author's Note 2:A few notes on the culture.

There were little chapels in large homes and castles (see Mansfield Park) that would be used for a wealthy family's personal use. Mr. Dove is not ordained, thus doesn't feel qualified to give actual sermons and would not be able to do any of the things an ordained minister would be able to do (christenings, weddings, the like), but I thought that perhaps since they are quite a ways from town, not a traditional household and the chapel is there, it would help the story if they weren't in the new parish church. It may perhaps not be as historically accurate-hopefully it's not too off putting here. Belle, knowing actual theology (because she reads everything), would be reassured in the fact that they aren't going against the Bible really. I hope you'll forgive me stretching things a little here.
Also, Knox is meant to be creepy as all get out, just in a Victorian way. He will appear at least once more in this story (as far as I know-it could change). I was imagining a mix of his show character and Mr. Elton from Emma. In the show, the sheriff would have been a leader in the community, despite his nastiness. I thought a clergyman would represent that here in this time period.
Sorry for the long end note, hope you enjoy!