This is a relatively short chapter but it shows Grace and Jefferson together and RegalBeliever. We're also going to see more of Regina and how she's reacting to the fact that she's having a baby. Enjoy!

Upon hearing the news that Belle and Jefferson would be going on a date team Beautiful Hatter was ecstatic. Henry commended his mother on her fast progress.

"I've got to hand it to you mom you've made a huge impact with only one night," he said as they sat down for breakfast. Belle had gone to the library early that day so she and Henry decided to indulge in some chocolate chip pancakes and figure out what the next move was for their operation.

Regina shook her head at her son. "To be honest I wasn't even trying to make an impact so I doubt it was my influence that helped her. Really, I think she was just tired of standing still and ready to take the first step forward. I'm proud of her for that."

And she was. Belle had not only helped her that night but she'd helped herself. Regina only wished that she'd had that much self-awareness when she was younger.

"So what do we do now that they're going on that date next weekend?" asked Henry cutting up his pancakes.

"There's not much we can do besides make sure that everything before the date runs as smoothly as possible," said Regina taking a sip of her coffee. She was drinking decaf for the baby's sake but she didn't want Henry to grow suspicious because she stopped drinking coffee all together. "We need to make sure that Belle doesn't get too nervous. Grace can help Jefferson too."

"Actually Grace is going on a solo mission this morning," said Henry. "She's having Jefferson drive her to school today so she can find out what he has planned for the date."

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When his daughter asked for a ride to school that day Jefferson was naturally suspicious. He'd offered to drive her many times before and each time she said that that the other kids would think that she was lame for having her Dad drop her off. They'd barely even pulled out the driveway before he found out what her true motive was.

"So are you excited for your date this weekend?" she asked in nonchalant manner.

Jefferson let out a laugh at his daughter's question. "Oh now I see why you wanted me to drive you to school. You wanted to interrogate me."

Grace gasped at him in mocking tone. "I am not interrogating you! I am trying to make morning conversation on the way to school. Sue me for being polite."

"Yet you didn't ask me about my plans for the day or what I thought of the weather. You went straight for my personal life," pointed out Jefferson.

"My father is going on a date for the first time since I've been born. You should have expected my curiosity," said Grace with a chuckle.

Jefferson shook his head at his daughter's audacity. Grace had never been one to except no comment as an answer to a question. She would always ask until she got the answer she desired. "Fine. I will answer your question if you answer mine first."

Grace nodded her head gamely. "Shoot."

"How do you really feel about me dating?" asked Jefferson nervously. He had avoided asking this question for as long as possible because he was afraid of what Grace might say. For her entire life it had just been him and Grace and he didn't want her to feel like things were changing too fast. He was excited to be dating Belle but Grace would always be his number one priority and he needed to make sure that she was comfortable.

Grace just rolled her eyes at her father's question. "Papa honestly I am really happy that you're dating. It's been nice having just the two of us together but I don't know, sometimes I worry about you and how much time you spend by yourself when I'm not there. It feels good to see you branch out and connect with someone. And I love Belle. She's awesome."

"So you really have no concerns?" asked Jefferson.

"No," said Grace firmly. "Now I've answered your question. Can you answer mine?"

"Fine," sighed Jefferson. "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know where you're taking Belle for your date," asked Grace with a satisfied smile.

Jefferson had given some thought to where he wanted to take Belle and he decided that it was best to keep their date simple. "I was thinking we could go to Granny's and maybe a see a movie at the cinema."

Grace scrunched her face with disappointment at her father's words. "Seriously?! Oh my god. Dad I think I fell asleep just listening to that scenario."

"Hey there's nothing wrong with keeping things simple!" said Jefferson defensively.

"Yeah but keeping things boring might cause a few problems," retorted Grace with a laugh. "It's your first date. You could try to impress her a little."

"How can you even judge me for this?" said Jefferson. "Going to the movies is all you and Henry do."

"Henry and I are fifteen," Grace deadpanned. "We haven't seen much so we impress easy. But dad you've traveled to dozens of realms. You're so much more interesting than dinner and a movie. It wouldn't kill you to show that."

Jefferson pulled up to the school. "Okay, cupid junior, we're here. Now can you at least promise me to focus on your studies and not my date while you're at school?"

"I could but it'd just lead to your disappointment," said Grace gathering her things with a smile.

Jefferson watched her with a smile as she got out of the car. "I don't get a kiss goodbye?"

Not in front of the school you don't," said Grace shutting the car door and leaning through the window. "Think over what I said Papa. Love you."

"Love you too," he yelled as she walked away.

On the ride back home. Jefferson did take a minute to think about what Grace had said about his plans. He had to admit that she did have a point. It couldn't hurt for him to put in a little more effort. When he finally got home he walked into his study and pulled out his map collection.

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"What do you think of this one?" said Belle holding a blue spring dress to her body.

"I like it," said Snow looking up from the baby in her arms. "It's pretty."

"I don't know. I think it might be a little fancy for dinner at Granny's," commented Emma.

"You know it would be a lot easier to help you if you had more details about where you were going," said Regina.

"I know," sighed Belle, throwing the dress on her bed. Despite how brave she had been the day before Belle was still anxious about her upcoming date with Jefferson. In an effort to calm her nerves her friends had offered to spend a few hours helping her decide what to wear. However, they didn't realize just how little was set in stone for the occasion. Jefferson could be taking her anywhere in town and that made it hard to narrow down her options.

"Maybe I shouldn't wear a dress at all," she said. "Maybe a skirt and a button up shirt."

"Yeah that'd be a major change from what you normally wear," said Emma sarcastically. She was on the bed leaning back on her elbows watching Belle fret over every dress she brought out. She understood her anxiety over the decision but she couldn't exactly empathize. Dressing up for dates had never really been something she was overly concerned about. In her opinion anyone she went out with should just be happy that she showed up. "I don't think it truly matters what you wear Belle. He's just going to be excited that you're there at all. He waited –what was it? - six months before you even agreed to go on this date."

Belle turned away from the closet to glare at her. "I moved at my own pace and I will not be made to feel ashamed about it Emma."

Emma raised the palms of her hands defensively. "Hey no one is shaming you. I thought it was very mature that you decided to wait until you were ready."

"Me too," said Snow, bouncing Neal on her hip. "And I think it was really brave of you to take the first step like you did yesterday."

"I'll admit I was nervous the entire time I was there but I am glad to finally be moving forward with him," Belle said with a smile. "If only I could find something to wear!"

Snow smiled back at her before checking her watch. "It's about time for Neal's lunch. Emma, do you want to hold your brother while I get things ready?"

"I'll take him," said Regina.

Snow gave her stepmother a strange look. Despite Neal's obvious affection for her in the nine months since his birth Regina had made a conscious effort to only hold the young prince when it was absolutely necessary. Her offer to take him now was completely unprecedented. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," said Regina with a touch of irritation.

Neal let out a happy giggle as his mother handed him over to Regina. She gave him a wide smile as she rested him on her hip.

"Hello there my little Snowspawn," she said affectionately. Emma let out a chuckle at Regina's nickname for her baby brother. Snow however just glared.

"You know I hate when you call him that Regina," she said with her hands on her hips.

"Don't you have lunch to make?" said Regina sending her a devious smile.

Snow just let out an angry groan as she stomped toward the stairs. Emma turned to look at Regina as she soothingly rubbed Neal's back and placed a kiss to his temple. "Look at you being so maternal all of a sudden."

"I've always been maternal," said Regina. "The fact that people don't see that is their problem and not mine."

Belle just sent Regina a knowing smile. She knew that Regina's sudden public affection for Neal was brought on by the knowledge of her own pregnancy. As she watched the queen with the little prince it was obvious that she was imagining what it feel like when she was able to hold her own baby in her arms.

Belle gasped as she pulled a floral peasant dress out of her closet. "I could wear this!"

Emma nodded her head in approval at the dress. "It's perfect. Both classy and casual."

Regina looked at it with her head tilted. "Wear it with the proper heels and I will approve."

They all turned their heads at the sound of a knock at the door. Henry peered into the room with a large box with a red bow tucked under his arm.

"Hey Henry how was school?" said Emma.

"Same as always," he said shrugging his shoulders.

"What's in the box?" asked Regina. "A surprise from Grace?"

"It's actually not for me. It's for you," he said handing the box over to Belle.

"Me?" she said raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"Yeah. Jefferson gave it to me after school and asked me to make sure that you get it," explained Henry with a smile. "He said you'd need it for your date."

"Really?" said Belle. She hadn't expected anything like from him. It was kind of romantic. She held the box up to her ear and shook it trying to form an idea of what it held.

Regina groaned as she adjusted Neal to her other hip. "Okay that's enough suspense bookworm! Now open it before I do!"

"Fine," said Belle pulling at the red ribbon. Once it fell away she lifted up the lid and pulled out… hiking boots.

"Huh," she said staring at the brown boots with a smile. "Well that's unexpected."

Emma pursed her lips at Jefferson's surprise. "I don't think those are going to match your dress."

Coming up in the next chapter: Belle and Jefferson have their first date and Belle learns something shocking about Jefferson's past. Stay tuned!

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