Thanks so much to everyone who followed and reviewed the last chapter. It keeps my heart going :) This chapter features a lot of Grace and Belle. I hope you enjoy!

Grace's room was much more defined than the rest of the house she lived in. Unlike her father she was very determined to make sure that she left her own personal signature on her living space. The bedroom walls were painted lilac, of course, with darker purple surrounding the edges. The thing Belle loved the most though was the flurry of purple painted butterflies descending from the ceiling to the floor on the wall next to her bedroom door. They varied in sizes, shapes and shades. She ran her hand over the nearest one in awe. Each butterfly's wings were unique, no two of them matched.

"Do you like them?" asked Grace, observing Belle's reaction.

"They're incredible," said Belle breathlessly. She turned to the young girl. "Grace did you paint these?"

She nodded her head. "Me and my dad did."

She moved to stand next to the butterflies. "When I first moved in here things were a bit awkward between us. We were together again but it was like we didn't know how to move forward with each other. One day I mentioned how much I missed the meadow by our house in the enchanted forest. Every year around the third week of spring Dad would take me out there so we could see the butterfly migration. There would be thousands of them in the sky just flying around."

Grace smiled to herself as she remembered their old tradition. No matter what was going on that year her father would always make sure that she saw the butterflies. He would always say that he never wanted her to forget that no matter what happened there was always beauty in the world.

"I told him it was what I missed the most from the Forest. He left for a little while and when he came back he had like six cans of purple paint. We spent all night and a huge chunk of the next day painting these butterflies. I swear our hands were purple for a week. After that things weren't awkward anymore," finished Grace with a small smile.

"They're beautiful Grace," said Belle. The story of Grace and her father made her heart flutter. Their relationship with each other was obviously very dear to both of them. It made her just a little regretful about the current status of the relationship she had with her own father. She still hadn't seen him yet. And she wasn't entirely sure what was stopping her.

"Thanks but enough about my butterflies. Are you ready to make me the prettiest girl at the ball?" joked Grace as she sat down on her bed.

Belle giggled at her as she took a seat next to her and opened her make-up bag. "Well I think genetics already beat me to it but I'll see what I can do."

Xxxx

As she helped Grace get ready for the dance Belle silently thanked Regina for implanting her with her cursed memories. Even though Lacey wasn't the most pleasant person in the world she was certainly a make-up aficionado.

"Okay Grace," said Belle laying out all her various make-up tools. "The number one thing you need to remember with make-up is that its purpose is to enhance, never to cover up."

"You seem to know a lot about this stuff," commented Grace as she shook out her freshly painted nails. "How did you learn?"

"Well most of the technical stuff came from Lacey, my Storybrooke alter ego, but the 'more is less' philosophy came from my mother," answered Belle going through her various blushes.

"Your mother?" asked Grace curiously sifting through all the makeup.

"Yes," said Belle with a small wistful smile. "She taught me about colors the night of my first ball. I was around your age and it was my first time using anything like cosmetics. There wasn't anything close to what we have here but there was rouge and lash darkeners. I had no idea what I was doing. I modeled myself after my favorite doll and by the time I was done I surely looked it. I had so much rouge on my face I looked like a stop sign with eyes."

Grace laughed at her analogy. "Really?"

"Yes," chuckled Belle. "My mother took one look at my face and said there was no way she was letting me go until she was able to fix everything. She told me I should always put on as little make-up as possible. When she was done I looked in the mirror and could hardly see any difference between my face without make up and my face with it. I asked why she hadn't put on anything more and she said to me 'because I want to make sure all the boys fall in love with the face that you have and not the one you painted on.' It's one of my favorite memories with her."

Grace looked at Belle sympathetically. "Do you still miss her?"

"Every day," answered Belle sadly. "What about you? Do you miss your mother often?"

Grace shrugged her shoulders apathetically. "I don't remember her. Dad said she died when I was a baby."

"I'm sorry," said Belle. She mentally kicked herself for bringing up Grace's mother. She knew it could only bring her pain.

"But Dad says I look more like her every day," said Grace with a proud smile. She didn't know much about her mother. Her father would tell her stories of their adventures together when she was younger but she wasn't entirely sure what was fact and what was fiction. She was even less sure if she wanted the answer to that question.

"Then I guess she's to blame for these amazing cheekbones," said Belle lightly swiping Grace's face with blush. "She must've been very beautiful."

Grace blushed at the compliment. "I'd like to think so."

As Belle put the final touches on Grace's make-up she thought over what Jefferson had told her downstairs. Speaking to Grace about her mother made her realize just how many experiences the young girl must be lacking in life. Losing a mother was hard enough but never knowing one just seemed terribly unfair. She could only imagine the burden it put on both her and Jefferson's hearts.

xxxxx

Jefferson sat next to his daughter's bedroom door and listened to her get ready for her first dance. It's not that he wanted to eavesdrop. He just wanted to be there. This day would most likely become an important memory for her and the whole time he'd been wondering just how to take his place in it. Fathers didn't usually participate in activities like this but Grace didn't have a mother. She only had him. But he had no idea how to make this day special for her. It was why he was so happy that Belle had shown up. He smiled as he listened to them talk to each other about make-up and colors. He definitely still had feelings for Belle and seeing her spend so much time with his daughter only made them grow. However, he could help but fixate on how quickly she had dropped his hand when Grace showed up. It wasn't a bad decision, she clearly didn't want to give Grace the wrong impression and neither did he, but it was still a bit disappointing. He'd promised her all the space she'd needed but when he made that promise he thought that she would change her mind. He certainly hoped that she would. But now Grace was bonding with her and he realized that he'd give up any chance of a relationship with Belle if it meant she would stay in his daughter's life.

He was lifted out of his inner turmoil when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door he was greeted by his former nemesis and her son.

"Jefferson," greeted Regina with a cool smile. "How lovely to see you."

"Regina… you're here early," he said expressionlessly. He turned to give Henry a small smile. "Henry, your suit looks great."

"Well you would know, you picked it," said Regina with a touch of irritation. "Are you just going to stand there or are you going to invite us in?"

Jefferson rolled his eyes as he let them in the house. Regina might've changed and he might have to accept that but that didn't mean he had to be nice to her. She'd cost him a lot of time with his daughter.

"Is Grace ready?" asked Henry nervously. He didn't want Jefferson and his mom in the same room for long. They were only being passive aggressive but he knew it wouldn't take long before that changed.

"She should be down in a few minutes. Belle is just helping her put on the final touches."

Regina raised her eyebrows. "Belle is here?"

"Yeah Grace asked her for her help to get ready," said Jefferson. "I thought Belle or Henry would've told you."

Regina gave Henry a pointed look. "Must've slipped their minds."

Henry just cleared his throat awkwardly. Things were still tense between him and his mother. She was still upset with him for Operation Beautiful Hatter. He, for the record, still thought she was overreacting. He'd gone the whole week without screens and she was still being strict. "Well I'm sure Grace appreciated the help."

Xxxxx

"Alright," said Belle placing a final pin in Grace's hair. "I think we're all done here."

Grace turned to look at herself in the mirror. She liked what she saw. Belle had kept her make-up light but effective. Her cheekbones were more defined and her eyes seemed brighter but she could still see herself. She had placed half of her hair up in a ponytail while letting the rest fall down to her shoulders where they curled at the ends. She let out a happy laugh. "Everything looks amazing! Thank you Belle."

"It was my pleasure," she said giving her a pat on the shoulder.

"Is it crazy that I'm still a bit nervous about tonight?" asked Grace anxiously.

"No," said Belle giving her a comforting smile. "I was nervous before my first ball too but I promise the butterflies in your stomach are just a sign of great things to come. Just like the ones on your wall."

She gave Grace one last reassuring look before heading downstairs. She was surprised when she saw Henry and Regina waiting with Jefferson in the living room. "I didn't even hear you guys come in."

"It's not surprising given how large this house is," said Jefferson with a sigh. "Is Grace ready?"

"She's putting on her dress right now," she answered taking a seat next to him on the couch.

Regina raised an eyebrow at her seating choice. "I didn't even know you were coming here at all Belle."

"Well it was a last minute thing but how could I say no," said Belle politely.

"I am still extremely grateful that you came," said Jefferson sending a smile her way.

She blushed at his words. "It was no problem really. I was happy to do it."

"My gratefulness still remains," he said looking in her eyes.

Regina narrowed her eyes at Jefferson and opened her mouth to speak. However she was cut off by Grace's entrance. Every one stood as she entered the room. Her make-up and her vintage dress stunned everyone into silence. Henry was the first to overcome his speechlessness.

"You look amazing Grace," he said breathlessly.

"Thanks," she said timidly. "It looks like I'm not the only one who cleans up nice though."

"Well, I had help," smiled Henry shrugging his shoulders sheepishly. He turned to look at Jefferson. "Thanks again Jefferson."

The Hatter gave him a curt nod. "I was only in it for the pictures."

Belle softly nudged him in the ribs and gave him a stern look. "Well I think you both look great."

"You'll be the best looking couple at the dance," said Regina with a trembling voice and tearful eyes. Everyone turned to give her a quizzical look.

Henry narrowed his eyes at her. "Mom are you crying?"

"No!" she said quickly. "The air in here is just giving me allergies. We should take the pictures and get going before I collapse."

After few quick photo shoots on the staircase, in the backyard and on the steps of the house the kids got into Regina's car to head to the dance. As she walked over to the driver's door of her Benz Regina looked at Belle. "Are you coming? I could swing by the house before I drop the kids off at the dance if you're tired."

Belle shook her head. "No I think I'll just walk home. I could use the exercise."

Jefferson walked over to her side. "I should probably walk you home then. It's getting late out."

Belle scoffed at his suggestion. "In the Enchanted Forest that might've swayed me but cmon it's only Storybrooke."

"Exactly," said Jefferson teasingly. "It's been months since the last monster attack which means we should be due for one any minute. Do you really want to be alone when it finally happens?"

"Point taken," said Belle nodding her head.

"Well then I guess I'll go get my coat," said Jefferson smugly.

Regina watched their banter with curious eyes. "And I guess I will see you at home Belle."

XXXXXXX

As she drove the kids to the dance Regina thought over what she'd just seen. Belle and the Hatter. It was so… unexpected. She thought Belle had decided that she wasn't interested in Jefferson but she couldn't ignore what she saw tonight. All the blushing and nudging and smiling. At one point she swore she Belle's pupils turn into hearts. She took a deep sigh and pulled over to the side of the road.

"Mom we're not even halfway there. Why are you stopping?"

Regina squeezed her eyes shut and ignored his question. She couldn't believe she was doing this. "What did you name it?"

"What I'd name what?" asked Henry in confusion.

"Your operation with Belle and Jefferson. What'd you name it?"

Grace felt a smile tug on her lips. "We named it Operation Beautiful Hatter."

Regina nodded her head in resignation. "Okay. I'm in."

Henry grinned as he and Grace gave each other a high-five.

So Regina's in on operation beautiful hatter! What could that lead to? Stay tuned to find out!

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