A/N: This is a future prompt for this verse and I wasn't sure how to fit it in until the last one gave me the opportunity. You may or may not want some tissues on hand. ;)

Indecent Proposal

belle'sdarkangel prompted: Belle and Thomas Gold are happily married, or are they? (Rated K)

The alarm clock went off exactly at 5:15 AM or actually it was more the baby that provided the bells.

Belle yawned and stretched only for a second before she quickly slipped on her slippers and threw her robe on before hurrying to the nursery at the end of the hall. The cries grew louder as she opened the door but she already knew what was wrong.

"You need a fresh nappy, huh, Gideon?"

The cries became sniffles as her son gazed up at her as Belle reached into the crib to pull him out. Immediately, she knew a diaper change was needed at once as she carried him to the changing table. The routine she had was down-pat and within seconds she had a clean diaper on her little trooper and the dirty one disposed.

Gideon was much calmer but he was wide awake. One thing for certain, he was going to be a morning person.

It was fine since Belle was a morning person herself. Her husband… not so much. But she knew how to make his frown turn upside-down.

Belle dressed her son in an onesie and then carried him downstairs so she could start making breakfast. Thomas would be waking any minute and she wanted to get the coffee down first.

With an expertise born from several months, Belle held Gideon with one arm as she started the coffee machine and proceeded to pull out the pans needed to make eggs and sausages. She cracked the eggs into a small bowl, whisked, and poured them into the frying pan before moving onto the maple brown sugar sausages.

Breakfast was cooking and the coffee nearly finished, Belle cooed and sang softly to Gideon who was all smiles and giggles until she heard the coarse, "Good morning."

Turning around, she grinned at Thomas already dressed in his usual suit and cane. The morning gruff always made his brogue thicker and Belle got a little thrill every time she heard it.

"Morning," she greeted. Then, taking one of Gideon's tiny hands, she waved it. "Morning Daddy."

Thomas chuckled as he moved towards his family. He ruffled the soft mop of brown hair on Gideon's head before bending to kiss Belle on the lips.

"Good morning," he repeated, his eyes lighting up.

"Good morning," she echoed.

Tenderly, he moved his hand to catch and play with a strand of her hair. "Every time I see you…" he said. "I can't believe this is real. I keep thinking this is a figment of my imagination, but—"

"I know," Belle replied. "I feel the same way."

"I love you Belle."

"I love you too Thomas." Closing her eyes, Belle tilted her face for another languid kiss—

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Belle's eyes pop opened as the annoying screeching of her alarm clock woke her up. Flicking the switch off, she closed her eyes at the burning sting of tears.

It wasn't fair to have that same cruel dream every night, but every night Belle dreamt that she was still Thomas' wife and they had a baby boy and life was perfect and happy. But that wasn't her life now and things have ended. He got what he wanted from his contract with her. Belle was no longer required to be his wife, and as he promised, the divorce was swift and painless.

Well… not so much painless. She hadn't counted on her heart getting hurt in the process. And when she told him that she loved him…

It was best not to remember those horrible things he said.

Yes… Best not to dwell on the past. Or so Belle tried to tell herself before she went to bed every night.

Wiping away the tears, Belle took a deep breath and tossed back the covers. She may not have the baby and husband she wanted in her dreams, but she had to hope that things will get better.

At least that was what she told herself.

I assure you… there is one more prompt left in this verse.