Hey guys thanks for again for keeping up with the story! I know a few of you were concerned that Belle would be forced to shoot Rumple and you can calm down right now because that's not what's going to happen I promise. The last chapter was very dramatic so this time we're taking a fluffier Henry-centric route filled with SwanQueen co-parenting.

"Were you out of your mind Miss Swan?!"

If Regina was filled with joy when she learned of Robin Hood's decision to choose her it evaporated when she heard of Emma's decision to teach Belle to shoot. The next morning she rushed over to the Charming loft to let Emma know exactly what she thought. "What possible excuse could you have to justify giving Belle a gun?"

"I was thinking," argued Emma. "That in the event of her lunatic ex-husband showing up again that maybe she'd want something more productive to do than hide behind the counter and wait for one of us to show up!"

Regina pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. It was just like a Charming spawn to not take in consideration anyone else's feelings. "Did it ever occur to you Miss Swan that Belle still has feelings for Rumpelstiltskin? That even if given the proper training and opportunity she would struggle to actually pull the trigger? And that at her first sign of hesitation Rumple would overpower her fueled by a rage that can only be caused by a failed assassination attempt?!"

Emma just glared at her from across the room. She realized that Regina had a point but that didn't mean she had to admit it aloud. "Well how else are we supposed to ensure her safety? We can't be with her every minute of every day and it's clear she doesn't want us to be."

"Well unlike you I actually used my brain and skills to solve this problem." Said Regina reaching into her bag.

Emma rolled her eyes. She hated when the queen got all superior with her. "What do you have?"

"This," said Regina pulling a medallion with a large gem from her purse "is a homing device. I made it with some of the marble from my house. When she's in trouble all she has to do is hold it tightly, press on the stone and it will send her to my house in a similar manner to my swirls. After that she should be safe under the protection spell I put up. I already gave Belle her homing bracelet this morning."

"Then what's that one for?" asked Emma.

"It for Henry obviously. He needs to be protected as well."

Emma stared at the medallion then snorted in laughter. "Regina there's no way he's going to want to wear that. It's huge and hideous."

Regina glared at her. "It's for his own safety. Besides he's a prince. Who does he have to impress?"

Belle had been enjoying her newfound freedom all day. It was nice to be alone with her thoughts and to be honest she was glad she had another option than the gun. It never felt right. After wandering around town for a while she decided to head to the library. She hadn't been there since her altercation with Rumple and she was eager to get back.

She'd been there for a while when she heard the door open. She smiled when she saw that it was Henry's friend Grace. She'd noticed that the two of them had been spending a lot of their afternoons at together studying for school and doing homework. "Hello Grace. What are you working on today?"

"English." Said the girl brightly. She looked around the library before asking, "Is Henry here?"

"No I'm afraid he had to meet up with his mothers this afternoon. But I could help you study if you want." Suggested Belle.

"No," said Grace clearly deflated. "I think I might just study at home then. See you later Belle."

"Bye Grace." Said Belle. "I'll tell Henry you stopped by."

Grace stopped just short of the entrance and hesitated before turning back. "Does Henry ever… talk about me at all?"

Belle looked at her warily when she realized what was happening. Grace had a crush on Henry! She knew kids their age didn't study that much for no reason. She had to handle this delicately. She didn't know Henry's feelings but she didn't want the girl's feelings to get hurt.

"Well… Henry is a young teenager Grace. When he's at home he doesn't really talk that much at all." She laughed nervously.

Grace forced a chuckle. "Well I guess I'll see you around then."

After she left Belle let out a deep sigh. Oh dear, she thought.

When she finally left the library Belle decided to pick up some groceries for dinner before heading home. Regina had been doing all the cooking lately and she thought it was to do her share of housework. She was cutting up the carrots for a pot roast when Henry came home from the Charming loft.

"Hey Henry," smiled Belle. "Where's your mother?"

"She back at the loft developing strategy with Grandma, Grandpa and Mom." He answered throwing his backpack on the couch. "They're forcing me to wear this hideous medallion."

Belle smirked and raised up her own chunky bracelet. "You're not the only one."

Henry laughed when he saw the equally hideous bracelet. "Have you been wearing that all day?"

"Yeah," chuckled Belle. "But I've been hiding it under my sleeve."

"And that works for you?" he asked skeptically.

"Yup." Replied Belle. "I don't think anyone's noticed. Grace didn't say anything when she came into the library."

She noticed that Henry perked up when she mentioned the young redhead's name. "Grace came by the library?"

"She did," answered Belle setting down the carrot in front of her.

"Did she… ask about me?" said Henry trying to be nonchalant. Of course Belle saw right through that.

"Henry, forgive me for this but I'm going to be blunt." She said staring at him. "Do you like Grace as more than a friend?"

Henry straightened up thrown off by her audacity. He hadn't expected her to be so direct but he did feel like he could be honest with Belle. "So what if I do? It's not like she's interested in me."

Belle took a deep breath. She hadn't realized how oblivious teenage boys could be. "Henry I can assure you that she is very interested in you."

"Really?" said Henry shocked. "How can you tell?"

"I'm a woman." Replied Belle with certainty. "We can always tell. Besides you're a charming young man. Any girl would be lucky to catch your eye."

"Well what am I supposed to do?" asked Henry.

"That's up to you." Said Belle. "Maybe ask her out to a movie or something like that."

"Maybe…" responded Henry quietly. He'd never asked a girl out before. He liked Grace and apparently she liked him but how was he supposed to bring up the subject?

"Henry I know that putting yourself out there might be unnerving but just think of it as the beginning of your first adventure. It's a chance for you to be brave." Said Belle trying to put things in perspective. "If you can ask Grace out tomorrow then I know you can slay any dragon that comes your way."

"Hmm," said Henry thinking it over. Strangely that analogy made sense. "I think I get what you're saying thanks Belle."

He moved to go upstairs when he turned to look at her. "You're going to tell my moms about this aren't you?"

Belle shrugged her shoulders. "Oh Henry, I really don't think they're going to give me a choice in a matter."

Henry just groaned as he made his way up the stairs.

The next day Regina invited Belle to lunch with Snow and Emma stating "I can't handle a whole meal with the Hope Squad by myself." So when lunch time came she met up with the other women at Granny's. Things were going fine until Regina mentioned Henry's behavior that morning.

"Belle did you notice Henry acting strange this morning?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" said Belle knowing exactly what she was talking about.

"He usually only takes a few minutes to get ready for school but this morning he changed his shirt at least four times and actually tried to comb his hair without me telling him to. It was weird."

"Maybe he was just trying to see if he could find something good enough to distract from that hideous medallion we're forcing him to wear," quipped Emma. Regina glared at her from across the table.

"Is it picture day?" guessed Snow.

"No I would've remembered ordering his pictures." Answered Regina.

"I'm sure he's just excited,"mumbled Belle staring at her plate.

"Excited for what?" questioned Emma.

"Oh, you know… learning," said Belle unconvincingly. Suddenly everyone's eyes were on the librarian. Belle had never really been a good liar and she was sure that the women at the table could tell based on their looks right now. She averted their gaze and pretended to be mystified by her strawberry milkshake.

"Belle," prodded Regina. "What do you know?"

"What are you talking about?" said Belle chuckling nervously.

"She's talking about how you're lying," responded Emma. "And I don't need a superpower to know that. You just suck at it."

Snow giggled from her seat next to her daughter. Belle looked up to protest and say again that she didn't know anything. However she made the mistake of looking into Regina's eyes. Without even realizing it she blurted out what Henry had planned.

"Henry's asking Grace on a date today!" she admitted. Regina raised her eyebrows in shock. Emma's jaw dropped in surprise. Snow however just looked elated at the news. "Really? That's wonderful!"

"How do you know that?" asked Regina finally coming out of her shock.

"He asked me for advice on how to approach her last night." answered belle quietly.

"Wait why's he coming to you for advice?" asked Emma clearly upset. "He has two romantically experienced mothers who are perfectly capable of pointing him in the right direction."

"I'm more concerned with what exactly you said to him." Said Regina pointedly.

"I asked him if he liked Grace and he said that he did but he didn't think that she would be interested. I assured him that any girl would be lucky to have him and that if he was brave enough he should ask her out today." Said Belle timidly.

"You encouraged this?!" said the queen angrily. "What were you thinking? Henry is far too young to be thinking about dating!"

"He's a young teenage boy, Regina." said Snow gently. "From what I understand they hardly think of anything else. And for all we know Grace could be Henry's true love!"

Emma turned her head toward her mother. "He's only fourteen years old Mom! He doesn't need a true love."

"Well you were only 17 when you met Neal," responded Snow.

"Oh cause that worked out so great for her," scoffed Regina. "I don't want Henry coming home with his own… Henry." She couldn't even say the word baby without wanting to vomit. Emma groaned when the same thought crossed her mind.

"Okay that's enough speculating!" interjected Belle. "It's just a small date between two kids and it hasn't even happened yet so everybody just calm down. You know I'm starting to see why he didn't come to you guys."

"Excuse me!" said Regina clearly offended.

"Yeah it's so clear now. He wanted to avoid Emma's awkwardness, your interrogation and Snow's habit of making things a bigger deal than they are." Lectured Belle.

"Hey!" cried Snow.

"Snow she has a point." said Regina. Maybe she was overacting just a little. "Maybe we should dial back the level of importance we place on this milestone."

"Yeah," said Emma finally calming down. "Henry has been very supportive of us entering our new relationships. So we should be just as supportive if he decides to start his own."

A heavy silence fell over the table as the three women thought about the brown-haired boy that they cared about so much.

"I don't like him growing up so fast," said Regina somberly.

"Me neither." replied Emma.

When Henry came home from school that day he had a smile on his face and an obvious spring in his step. Before he'd even said a word to her Regina pulled out her cell and sent a three-word text to Emma.

SHE SAID YES.

This is going to be a bit of a two-parter with Henry's date taking place next chapter and tons of Madbeauty interaction. Tell me what you think and please review!