A/N: I loved this verse and I hope you guys enjoy this one too!

Indecent Proposal

Prompt: Belle adjusts to married life and the reactions from her friends. She finds herself defending Gold. (Rated K+)

It was several days since the practiced kiss that stunned her in his shop and a couple days since she discovered the preserved bedroom of his son. Everything that Belle thought she knew about this man was suddenly on a tilt. He had been so gentle, so full of concern that she didn't know how to fit this information in with the Gold she had known. The ruthless, deal-maker who targeted helpless souls who were so desperate they would do anything to make ends meet. While she didn't want to consider herself in that category, Belle had willingly entered into this deal nonetheless.

And now…

Now she was torn.

Altogether, she was seeing a side to Mr. Gold that no one in this town has ever seen. She was seeing that he did have a kind nature beneath the cold exterior and a considerate disposition that it almost had her forgetting his motivations for this deal.

Almost. Not quite.

Belle was anxious to get the deal over and done with, yet Mr. Gold explicitly stated over and over how "authentic" they had to make their marriage appear for this family friendly businessman. She figured by the week's end this person would show up and see how happily wedded Mr. and Mrs. Gold were, offer the contract, sign it, and be gone. However, Mr. Gold chuckled and told her that he wasn't expecting this person to come for at least another two weeks.

Two weeks?!

The last thing she expected was for the charade to continue that long. On top of it, he also told her that after they meet with him, then they would have to be married for a while longer. There will be negotiations before the signing that would require Mr. Gold and this future partner to travel back and forth until everything is settled. He expected Belle to go with him on these trips so she could be her charming self and make him look all the better. And even after the contract was finalized, she would still have to be Mrs. Gold for at least three months afterwards.

The first month would be marital bliss, the second will introduce marital troubles, and the third and final will involve the divorce after a suitable number of proper attempts to make it "work out."

To make it look legit, of course, and not a farce.

Not that her contract with Gold spelled all that out. Instead, the fine print alluded to the marriage and the business deal would take the necessary and appropriate time required for it to be fulfilled and for the marriage to dissolve naturally in its course.

Had she known how long this was going to take she would have been more forceful with her refusal. Of course, at the time, she wanted to get it over and done with quickly so she and Grayson could move on with their lives. She wondered if her fiancé even knew about this…

Not that she could ask him.

Of course it did lead to her and Gold having an argument about it. But as much as she wanted to rage about it, she knew she only had herself to blame. She should have insisted on clearer and specific language so she would have known what she was getting into.

Well, she made her bed and had to lay in it until everything about Gold's business was concluded. She just hoped that Grayson understood the sacrifices she was making for him and their bookstore. He better appreciate it because this was the most difficult thing she had to do.

Furthermore, she had to endure the alienation from the local residents.

She was forewarned by Gold that this was going to happen, and she had this conversation with Grayson as well. Since Gold was so determined to be the most unlikeable person in Storybrooke, he succeeded in his goal and as his wife she would have to face the fact that she wasn't going to be well-liked either.

Grayson assured her that it wouldn't be too bad.

"They know you Belle," he told her. "They know you're a loving, warm, and caring person. Even if it seems that you're married to Gold… they know the real you. That won't change."

Except it did.

She would get these looks from the customers whenever she entered Granny's. Of course, they weren't exactly looks but it was the-not-giving-you-any-type-of-look look. And she would hear their whispers behind her and she knew their words were anything but nice.

Any time she was out in public, this was the type of reaction she was starting to expect. She wished it didn't sting as much as it did, but the truth was… it hurt so much.

It was like everything she had done previously was suddenly erased. She was a stranger to her town and despite her best efforts to make it seem it didn't bother her… she couldn't always hide the tears.

Mr. Gold never commented about it, but she knew that he knew how upset it made her. And that was the other strangest part too. She was getting to know how to read him as he did with her. If she had a bad day in town, he would make her a cup of hot chocolate and hand her favorite book to her so she could curl up with it and get lost. He wouldn't ask her any questions or try to pry it out of her. He would leave her in peace, which was exactly what she needed.

Grayson had never figured that out. If she was upset, he would want to talk about it or he would tell corny jokes until he got a smile out of her. It got to the point where Belle would smile to stop him and make him think he made her better, when in fact, she wanted him to leave her alone. Grayson's heart was in the right place, even though it wasn't what she needed.

But Mr. Gold knew. He knew.

Likewise if someone had tested him or if he had a run-in with Mayor Mills, then Belle would make a cup of tea for him and serve it with two brown sugar and honey cookies. She had made them once and he couldn't stop eating them so she made certain there was plenty in the cookie jar. Like her, Mr. Gold also enjoyed his solitude and she was respectful in that regard until he was ready to seek her out for her company.

It was an arrangement they were willing to live with and it wasn't that bad. If anything it was a little bit scary that she was finding herself becoming more and more comfortable with him. It was growing difficult to hold onto that earlier resentment.

In addition, Belle reached a startlingly revelation about her and Mr. Gold.

It was one afternoon and Belle was leaving the library for her lunch break at Granny's. Since she couldn't work at the bookstore (Grayson was still running it and they were to avoid contact), Gold had arranged it where she could work at the library instead. She was still surrounded by books and it was something for her to do rather than sit around in the Victorian house all day. She thought he would insist she help him in his pawnshop, but she liked this alternative more. At least the books didn't judge her. They were the true friends she could count on at this time.

She arrived at twelve-thirty and took her spot at the counter. A couple seats down from her sat Leroy and Tom Clark, the town drunk and pharmacist respectively. They were already eating and barely acknowledged her, which she was growing used to. She saw Ruby and raised her hand to wave hello. Her best friend returned it although the greeting didn't reach her eyes.

The other guys she didn't care how they treated her. With Ruby… it was a slap to the face.

Yet, Ruby did approach her for her order and Belle mourned the knowledge that their friendship was strictly professional now. As Ruby turned around to get Belle her iced tea, the reluctant Mrs. Gold heard Leroy say loud and clear:

"You better be quick Ruby with her drink. You wouldn't want Mrs. Gold to be the reason your rent was raised."

Belle froze at the animosity in his tone and for a second she forgot how to breathe. Did he really think that? Did Ruby?

Apparently her friend did as Ruby delivered the iced tea so fast it would have sent her head spinning. Belle didn't want them to see how their words affected her, but she couldn't prevent the slight tremor in her hands as she raised the glass to sip her drink.

But the abuse didn't stop there.

"Seriously, why do we have to take this? Gold rarely comes in here because he knows he is unwelcomed. But does his wife get that? No! And you want to know what sucks? I used to like her. She was a real lady and now she is no more than a cold-hearted bloodsucker like that husband of hers."

Belle flinched as if those words hurtled were actual bullets. She should say something. She wanted too but the words were clogged in her throat. She did get a glimpse at Ruby and the waitress was growing furious at Leroy. It made Belle feel a little good that Ruby cared enough to be upset for her.

"All right Leroy, that's enough," Ruby said coldly. "Belle is sitting right there. I'm sure she gets it. We all get it about Gold, but enough is enough."

"I don't think so," Leroy went on. "I'm not done. Why should we cater to them? Is it because they're rich? Or because Gold owns half this town? We all know why they married in the first place. She wanted money because her fiancé wasn't doing well with that shop and he wanted some young tail to keep his bed warm—"

"How dare you!"

The other diners all stopped what they were doing, even Ruby, as they all looked at Belle. She hadn't realized the outburst came from her until all eyes were on her. But Belle was standing right there with her fists clenched and her eyes shooting sparks at the ignorant man beside her. Even he was shocked!

"How dare you!" Belle repeated again, her voice sharp and chastising. "In all the years I've known you Leroy… that is how you think of me? How this whole town seems to think?! Let me tell you this once and for all: you don't know a damn thing about me or my husband. If you had any sense at all, then you would know that his money is not something I'm interested in having. I rather work to have my own and my husband respects that about me. He knows I care little about wealth. And for insinuating that he married me for one thing… My husband and I married because we care about each other! But you wouldn't know about that because you never stopped to ask how we're doing or see there is nothing licentious in the way he treats me! My husband is a good man despite what you think. And you should be ashamed that you think you have us figured out when you don't have a single clue. Do me a favor and keep your ridiculous thoughts to yourself!"

She turned her back on Leroy (whose jaw had dropped), set money down for her drink, and left. She was nearing the crosswalk when Belle heard Ruby shouting her name.

She stopped, surprised to see Ruby chasing her, but was even more surprised at what Ruby said next.

"Belle, I am so sorry. I want you to know that I never thought that about you or Gold. I know you're not that type of person, and the sad thing is… everyone knows that. Leroy was shooting his mouth off because he's stupid. But… I will admit I did think Gold had less than honorable intentions when you told me the news of you getting married."

"And now?"

Ruby inhaled. "Well, you seemed pretty intense that he isn't a pervert and I know you pretty well to know that you wouldn't be with him if he was. But I have to ask. Is he treating you well?"

"Yes. I couldn't have asked for a better husband," she answered.

"Are you happy? Really happy with him?"

Without giving it another thought, she replied, "Yes I am."

Ruby nodded. "That's a relief. Oh and here." She handed Belle a paper bag with her cheeseburger and fries and the cash she left behind. "Your lunch shouldn't be ruined. It's on the house. And before you say anything, I insist."

Wordlessly, Belle accepted the money and food. In that moment she realized that she and Ruby were good once more. She beamed at Ruby and thanked her.

"I'll see you around Belle!"

On that day, Belle realized she defended Mr. Gold not only to the townspeople, but also to herself. Regardless of her feelings about this fake marriage, Mr. Gold really has taken the steps to ensure her comfort and never push her for anything in return. All he wanted was to score this business contract and nothing else. Any other man in his position might try to get her into bed, but not Mr. Gold.

Telling Ruby that he was the best husband and she was happy with him… none of it was a lie or an act. She really was happy with him. Content, even. Grayson hadn't figured in her mind. For the first time since she made this deal, Belle didn't give her fiancé a fleeting thought.

And Belle never felt more conflicted or terrified over what this admission could possibly mean.

Ooh… Belle might be rethinking her future plans. Feel free to prompt me for this one if you want to see something in particular, especially when that businessman comes to meet Gold and his wife!