It was Christmas Eve. Tired, worn, Gold stumbled as he walked up the steps towards the apartment. Lacey stood back, knowing that any offers of help wouldn't be appreciated. She yawned. Poppy had been awake half the night and was snotty this morning. Lacey knew it was nothing more than a slight cold but even so…

'Hey,' he smiled, when he finally reached the landing. He was out of breath, sweating and Lacey suddenly felt bad about asking him to join them. She was certain that he'd have much rather been on Fifth Avenue, in the comfort of his own home.

The child in her arms wriggled, pointing at Gold.

'She missed you,' Lacey said.

He tickled the little girl, making her giggle.

'The feeling is mutual.'

They stood there for a few moments, neither knowing quite what to say. Eventually, Lacey had no choice but to wave him inside.

She'd done her best with the apartment but somehow the tinsel and fairy lights only served to make it look worse. Gold, she noticed, didn't remove his coat. He must have felt the chill in the air. Lacey had turned the heating down a few days ago in an attempt to save money and eke out her meagre savings.

'I hope you don't mind but I brought a little something for Poppy.'

Gold opened his bag and pulled out a gaily wrapped parcel, placing it under the tiny tree. He then handed Lacey a long, narrow package.

'And this is for you.'

'I'm sorry … I didn't…'

Lacey took a deep breath, forcing herself to be grateful for his kindness. She placed an awkward kiss on his cheek.

'Thank you.'

He blushed.

'It's no matter.'

Lacey set Poppy down on the floor. Gold lowered himself onto the couch, his attention riveted on the little girl; watching with strange fascination as she played with her toes.

'Uh … the turkey's almost done and we have dressing, potatoes and greens …'

'You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble.'

'When I can't afford it?'

He drew back, his fingers tightening on his cane. Lacey sighed. Gold wasn't her enemy. Not anymore. She had to stop treating that way. Trusting that the turkey could look after itself for a little while, she sat beside him. He relaxed, but only slightly.

'I take it that you've had no luck in finding alternative employment.'

Lacey shook her head.

'Angelo paid me until the end of the month. Maybe in the new year?'

It was hard though. She'd filled out a dozen applications but hadn't really been qualified for any of them. Most had been kind enough not to laugh in her face. Come January and she'd start again. Take whatever she could get. Do what she had to.

'I baked,' she said with a small smile. 'Pecan pie.'

Gods, why couldn't she stop prattling on about food? Surely there was something else that she could talk about? Lacey was drawing a blank.

Poppy reached for Gold's shoe laces, overbalancing slightly, and toppling onto her face. Her thin cry broke through the awkward silence and Lacey started down to comfort her daughter. Gold got there first, pulling Poppy onto his lap, bouncing her on his knee. He wiped the little girl's tears away with his silk handkerchief.

'I'll … just go and check on dinner,' Lacey stammered, suddenly feeling unnecessary.

'Is there anything I can help with?' he offered.

'Can you cook?'

'Of course.'

'Apart from noodles?'

'I think you'll find my skills extend beyond microwaveable products.'

Gold leaned closer, just enough for Lacey to feel his breath against her cheek.

'And you should definitely taste my pancakes.'

She attempted to laugh even through the heat that threatened to stain her skin.

'Are you flirting with me, Mr. Gold?'

'And why would I do that, Miss French?'

'I'm not your wife.'

Gold twisted the ring on his left hand.

'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.'

'You didn't it's just … I guess I'm not used to nice guys coming onto me.'

'I'm not nice,' he said, a bitter twist to his words.

'Yes you are. Deep down,' she said and then rested her hand over his heart. 'Where it matters.'

'My actions towards you were unforgivable.'

Poppy was chewing on his tie. Lacey gently removed the sodden garment from her daughter's mouth and smoothed the little girl's thin hair. It was getting darker by the day. Brown hair, brown eyes and the longest eyelashes she'd ever seen on a baby. Her daughter was beautiful. It was the first time she'd really admitted it to herself.

'What's done is done,' she said with a shrug. There didn't seem to be much point in raking up the past. Gold nodded but Lacey had the feeling he wanted more from her. Absolution? Not something she was qualified to grant. She stroked her daughter's satin soft cheek and then took a deep breath.

'I don't know who her father is,' she admitted in a whisper. 'It's like one day I just woke up and I was pregnant. Virgin birth, right? '

Lacey wiped her face with her hand, dragging away the tears that threatened to fall.

'There were a lot of guys. Some of then I even liked but … but I kind of wish this one had been special, you know? That he could see how wonderful she is. That he'd care about her. I mean even if we weren't together…'

'Oh sweetheart…'

Gold slid an arm about her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her hair.

'She has a mother who loves her more than anything,' he said. 'Don't ever think that you won't be enough for her. Poppy is a very lucky little girl.'

Poppy gave a little sniffle, adding a layer of baby snot to the drool that was already covering Gold's tie. A thin spiral of smoke drifted through the apartment. Lacey shot to her feet.

'It's the pie!' she shouted over her shoulder as she ran to rescue dessert.

Dinner wasn't a complete disaster. Or if it was, Gold was too polite to comment. They ate dry turkey, over-boiled vegetables and slightly burnt pie. The cheap bottle of wine they shared tasted of vinegar but Lacey found that it was quite adequate as far as alcohol content was concerned. She felt slightly light-headed as she put Poppy down for a nap. It felt perfectly natural to join Gold on the couch and curl up against him whilst she flicked through the channels on the tiny TV. She settled on the Wizard of Oz but Gold removed the remote from her hand.

'How can you hate the Wizard of Oz?' Lacey demanded.

'I had a bad experience,' he admitted, 'with the Wicked Witch of the West.'

'Old girlfriend?'

'Gods no!'

Lacey warmed to his violent denial. Not even minding when he switched to a classical concert. Curling her feet up, she leaned against him, letting herself get swept away in the music. Lacey couldn't remember the last time she'd listened to Christmas carols. Not like this. The soaring soprano touched something deep within her soul. Feeling Gold so close, his warmth, his scent… They rearranged themselves on the couch. Lacey with her head on his chest, listening to his ailing heart beat. His fingers tangled in her hair, smoothing out the knots. It was nice she realised, to be this close to someone without the need for anything other than companionship.

Not that she didn't want to. Gold was a good looking man. She'd have to be half dead before she couldn't recognise that. But the guy had just had a heart attack and she didn't want to be responsible for giving him another one. And this was nice.

'What is?' Gold asked.

Lacey felt her face warm. She hadn't realised that she'd spoken the thought aloud.

'This is,' she said.

'I'm not doing anything.'

'Keep doing it.'

He chuckled, winding his fingers back through her hair.

'As long as you want.'

Lacey didn't want to think about forever. She lived day to day, week to week… Nothing lasted. Poppy was the first constant she'd ever had in her life. But here, now, with this man, she was starting to believe that maybe she did have a future. That there was something for her outside of this tiny narrow world she'd found herself in.

She cuddled closer, closing her eyes and letting the music carry her away.

And then his whispered words caught her on the edge of sleep.

'Oh Belle … sweetheart … what did you do?'