OMG it's ONCE SUNDAY and I'm so excited! I can't wait to see what Belle has been up to since we last saw her. In honor of the day here's a new chapter to celebrate. Get ready for some MadBeauty interaction! Enjoy!

Ever since Storybrooke had calmed down Snow was more determined than ever to make sure that her family bonded in some way that didn't involve monsters or villains. So she created the tradition of weekly Sunday night dinners. Every week all the entire family plus Hook and Robin met up to have dinner. This week they were hosting it at the loft. She and Charming had commissioned a new kitchen table from Gepetto just for the occasion.

If anyone ever asked her Regina would swear up and down that these dinners were the bane of her existence but the truth was she really enjoyed them. For a long time being in a room full of people made her feel more alone than anything but she never felt that way during Sunday dinners. She felt included and cared for. It was nice.

She watched from the new table as Henry introduced Roland to a new video game. The two boys had gotten rather close in the past few months. Henry had become rather fond of Roland and younger boy practically worshipped Henry. It made her heart swell whenever she saw them together, especially since they were going to become brothers soon. Regina twirled the simple gold band on her ring finger. Robin had proposed to her less than three weeks ago. It still felt like a dream she could wake up from at any minute.

"They seem to be getting along nicely," observed Snow as she set the table.

"Henry's always wanted a little brother," said Regina with a small smile. "I never thought I'd actually be able to give him one."

"Regina I am so happy for you," said Snow. "The family you and Robin are building together with the boys… it's beautiful."

Regina just gave her a tearful smile. She never thought that she'd get here but it finally looked like she'd gotten her happy ending. "Thank you Snow. I should call the boys over for dinner."

Once everyone was settled down at the table dinner was served. When everyone was seated Charming noticed the empty seat next to Regina.

"Hey where's Belle?" he asked.

"She's not coming," said Regina shaking her head disapprovingly. "She said she was going to fill out forms for book orders for the library and then head to sleep early."

Emma frowned at Belle's absence. "That girl is going to run herself ragged working the way she does."

"Well you can't say it hasn't paid off," commented Charming. "Thanks to Belle town literacy is almost back up to one hundred percent."

"I know for a fact that the Merry Men's camp has never been so quiet," added Robin, helping Roland pile green beans on his plate. Since Belle had started her literacy program more than a few of his men had participated. Whenever they weren't patrolling the forest he'd usually catch them, along with Roland, with their heads in the hunting books that Belle provided putting their new skills to use. "A lot of the men are really grateful to her."

"It's not as if the lass never relaxes," said Hook from his seat next to Emma. "Just yesterday I saw her out with Grace. The two appeared to be dress shopping."

Henry tried to act as calm as possible when he heard Hook mention Belle's time with Grace. He let out a silent breath of relief when his mom just shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah she told me about that," said Regina. "I was rather surprised that Grace felt comfortable enough to ask Belle for help in that area."

"I'm not," said Emma. "Belle has a pretty good track record when it comes to skirts and dresses and stuff like that."

"Oh that reminds me," said Snow curiously looking over to Henry. "Sleepy said he saw you and Jefferson going into Tailor Made together. What was that about?"

Everyone looked over at Henry at the mention of the time he spent with Jefferson. Henry in turn took a giant bite of his biscuit to buy himself more time. He had no idea how he was going to get out of this one.

Regina raised an eyebrow at her son. "Henry did you go suit shopping with Jefferson? We were supposed to do that together this Wednesday."

Henry slowly swallowed what was left of his biscuit and subconsciously scratched behind his ear. "I'm sorry but, um, I just thought that Jefferson might be a better option and Grace wanted me to try to get her father to like me better."

Emma was silent while she studied her son with a tilted head. "Regina he's lying."

"I know he's lying," said Regina squinting her eyes at him. "I just don't know why."

Everyone was now captivated by the drama that was playing out at the dinner table.

"I'm not lying!" insisted Henry scratching behind his ear.

"Yes you are," said Regina. "You've got a tell and you just used it."

"Wait I have a tell?" asked Henry shocked. "What is it?"

"We're not going to tell you what your tell is. You're going to tell us what you're hiding," said Emma firmly.

With both of his mothers staring him down Henry knew that the only option was to come clean. "I may have been… attempting to get certain…. information from him."

"Information about what?" asked Regina in a low voice.

"About… whether he was interested in dating Belle or not," answered Henry.

"Oh my god. Henry are you trying to set Belle up?" exclaimed Emma.

"Not set her up. Just nudge her in the right direction," corrected Henry.

"So you snuck around in order to do what? Gossip with your girlfriend's father?" said Regina incredulously.

"What'd you find out?" asked Hook clearly intrigued.

Both Emma and Regina turned to glare at him. "Killian stay out of this," warned Emma.

"I just think that if you're going to punish the lad for snooping that you might as well find out whether or not he's good at it," he argued practically.

"I agree," said Snow from the head of the table. She knew Henry's lying was wrong but she did want to know whether Jefferson was still interested in Belle.

"He still likes her a lot," said Henry confidently.

"Okay Henry I know that your intentions were good here but it is not your place to micromanage Belle's love life. Besides you don't even know she likes him or…" Emma trailed off as she realized just how Henry could find that out. "Oh Henry please tell me you didn't."

"Tell you I didn't what?" said Henry.

"Tell me you didn't drag Grace into this and have her interrogate Belle when they went dress shopping," she said.

Henry just looked down at his place to avoid her gaze. "Well I wouldn't say that she interrogated her…"

"Henry!" exclaimed Regina sternly.

"Hey I didn't drag her into it! She joined in by herself."

"Oh so you didn't come up with this idea, give it a cool operation nickname and then mention it in a way that would entice her?" asked Emma sarcastically.

Henry gave her a pointed look. "Okay just because I did all those things doesn't mean I dragged her into it."

"Henry you have crossed so far over the line with this one," said Regina shaking her head at him. "The operations we allow you to have are for magical investigations only, not meddling in adult romance! Now you just go to your room until I figure out what to do with you!"

Henry gave her a strange look. "Mom I can't exactly do that. My room isn't even here."

"Well then you just- just go up to Emma's room! You just get up those stairs!" she stuttered. "You've got me so angry I can't even speak straight."

Roland gave Henry wide eyes as he stomped over to the staircase. "Are you in trouble Henry?"

"Yes Roland I am and I'd thank you not to mention it," he said sullenly making his way up the stairs.

"Why don't you go upstairs with Henry and see if you can cheer him up." Robin suggested to Roland. The young boy bounded up the stairs eager to join his future brother. Once he was gone Robin turned to Regina. "I know you're upset with him darling but don't you think you were a little harsh?"

"Maybe so but lessons like this are important to learn," said Regina firmly. "I've got half a mind not to let him go to that homecoming dance next weekend."

"In any other case I would agree with you," said Emma, "but he already promised Grace he'd take her and I don't want to punish her."

"Fine but no screens for the rest of the week. I mean it Emma. No phone, television or internet. Enchanted Forest standards."

Emma nodded her head in agreement. "Totally fair."

"I personally think you're overreacting a bit," said Snow shrugging her shoulders. "I thought it was kind of cute. I know he was meddling but what harm could he really have done?"

Charming cringed at his wife's words. He could already see where this was going.

"I'm sure you thought the same thing at his age when you meddled in my love life," said Regina giving Snow a warning look. "Remind me again how that worked out for you."

"Shots fired," muttered Hook under his breath.

"And target hit," whispered Emma in response.

Snow looked appropriately ashamed at the reference to their history but continued on. "Regina you know that's a completely different story. And to be fair it's not like he's exactly wrong. Belle and Jefferson do like each other. They had that supervision date with the kids and she did say she had a good time."

"Yes Mom but she also said that she needed more time before she would be ready to start anything," said Emma.

"Well it's been over six months. Isn't that more than enough time?" argued Snow.

"I'm sorry your majesty but grief doesn't run on a set schedule," said Robin wisely. "After I lost Marian it took me years before I could even look at another woman in that way. Luckily the first woman to break that barrier happened to be my soulmate but there's a chance Belle might not be that fortunate and she has every right to proceed as cautiously as she feels. "

"Robin is right," said Regina taking his hand in hers. It was moments like this that made it clearer than ever that Robin was her soulmate. She understood his grief and he understood hers. "If Belle doesn't feel ready then none of us, including Henry, have a right to force her to act differently. She's shown no sign of being interested in dating and I don't think that will be changing anytime soon."

xxxxx

Belle looked in the mirror as she brushed her teeth before bed. These past few months she'd been more aware of her reflection than ever before. She supposed she was looking for some physical mark of everything that had happened since the curse of shattered sight. So much had changed in her life that sometimes she felt like she shouldn't even be able to recognize herself. But whenever she caught sight of herself in a mirror or window she still saw the same face she had always seen. Everything might've changed but she was still her. At least on the outside.

As she put on her pajamas she looked at her bed dejectedly. For the past few months she'd hated going to bed more than ever but it wasn't until a few days ago that she finally realized why. She was going to bed alone. Now she wasn't desperate mind you. It's wasn't like she was incapable of sleeping without a warm body next her. It was just that she never expected to be sleeping alone again. Ten months ago she had thought without a doubt that she would have someone to share her bed with for the rest of her life. Someone to hold her while she dreamed. Now those future nights that she'd dreamed of just felt so far way. And she was reminded of it every time she went to sleep.

Sadly she got in her bed and looked over at all the empty space next to her. Would she ever find someone to fill it?

xxxxx

The following Saturday Belle closed up the library early and headed over to Jefferson's house. It was the day of the homecoming dance and she'd promised Grace that she would help her with her make up for the night. To be honest she was glad to have a reason to get out of the house. There had been a tension in the air with Henry and Regina for the past few days but whenever she asked either if there was problem they both vehemently denied that there was anything wrong. It was unnerving.

As she walked up the steps to the door she couldn't help but remember the last time she had been there. The night she had unexpectedly gained a co-chaperone for Henry's first date. She smiled at the memory as she knocked on the door. When Jefferson answered he looked utterly surprised to see her.

"Belle!" he said confusedly. "What are you doing here?"

There was a tiny part of him that hoped that she was there to see him but he tried his best not to get his hopes up.

"I'm here to see Grace. I promised her I would help her with her makeup tonight," she answered lifting up her makeup bag. "Didn't she tell you?"

"I suppose it must've slipped her mind," he said dejectedly. Despite how hard he tried his hopes had gotten up. He stepped aside so she could walk through the door. "Come in."

Belle walked passed him and looked around the foyer. She'd seen his house before on the night they chaperoned but it still took her breath away. The house was huge, even bigger than Regina's with at least ten bedrooms. It was well decorated too but something told Belle that was more of a result of the curse than actual effort made by the Hatter.

As they waited for Grace to come down Jefferson turned toward Belle with a smile. "Just a question, are you going to put me into debt every time I see you?"

Belle gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"Well the first time we met you were protecting my daughter. I owed you for that and I think I paid you back fairly quickly but then you took her shopping for her first dance. So I have to find a way to repay you for that. And now you're taking time out of your day to help with make up for the big event. At this rate I'll be indebted to you for the rest of my life," he explained facetiously.

Belle chuckled at him. "Don't worry. I'll think of some creative way for you to pay me back."

The hatter gave her small smile. "I know we joke a lot Belle but I am completely serious when I say I owe you for this. I've always worried that Grace has missed out on having a proper female role model because I raised her by myself. So it means a lot to me that you've helped her with these things."

Belle gave him a sympathetic look. "Jefferson you don't have to owe me anything for this. I know what it's like to be without a mother and if Grace ever needs anything she can always come to me. I won't ever turn her away."

In a moment of uninhibited bravery Jefferson took her hand in his own and looked into her eyes. "Thank you."

For a moment Belle found herself lost in his eyes. But then the moment ended.

"Belle?"

The two adults both whipped their heads toward the sound of Grace's voice. Neither of them had even noticed her arrival.

"Grace!" said Belle quickly letting go of Jefferson's hand. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," said Grace with a smug smile. "Are you ready to get started?"

"Yes," answered Belle anxiously nodding her head. "You can lead the way."

"My room is this way," said Grace leading the brunette up the stairs. Not even two minutes in the same room and they were already holding hands. Operation Beautiful Hatter was turning out to be a quick success.

Coming up next time... Grace and Belle bond even more, Regina reveals a secret and Belle makes a decision. Stay tuned to find out how it all goes down.

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