Chapter Two: Take the Dare

When Ruby's situation was cleared away, Emma thought about Belle more often than she anticipated. The girl had been through so much, she seemed to like a night in better than a night out, and she was in love with the town's slyest contractor. Emma smirked as she walked home that night.

"Mom!" Henry exclaimed and he ran from the kitchen chair he was sitting at to hug Emma as a greeting home.

"Hey you," Emma replied, looking up to see Mary Margaret at the kitchen counter, slaving away as she always did.

"Hello Emma," Snow said with a smile. "How was work?"

"Cumbersome as usual..." Emma found this a perfect opportunity. "Hey, what do you know about Belle? That girl Regina kept from Mr. Gold all this time."

"Belle?" Snow inquired. "Not a whole lot. She's reserved, or so Red likes to say. Ashley's met with her a few times with pleasant conversation. I think she helps out with the baby sometimes. I don't spend too much time with her though, so I can't judge."

"She's Beauty, from Beauty and the Beast," Henry stated.

"Yes I know that," Emma said with a smile. "I was just thinking. I had a case today involving her. We got to talking a while. She seems very nice. She's pretty. I'm surprised she isn't more outgoing."

"Well, I'm sure Gold has her locked up pretty tight. Watches her like a hawk, I hear. Not that she wants to go many places right now, given her condition," Snow said with a shrug and a glance at the cookie batter in front of her.

Emma nodded, shaking away her thoughts of Belle for now. Shawn and Ashley were holding a barbecue tonight, so Mary Margaret was making cookies for later. Henry just finished his homework, so he began helping her in the kitchen.

There was a sudden knock at the door, startling everyone in the house. Snow jumped, sighing as she realized it was only the door. She'd been so caught up in the baking with Henry that she shut everything else out. Emma flinched in the chair she was sitting in, finishing up some last minute paperwork. The sheriff rose to answer the door.

"Oh hey, Belle, Mr. Gold," Emma greeted, causing the other two to look up from there spot in the kitchen.

"Good even, Miss Swan," Mr. Gold replied. "I have some business to attend that would nearly bore everyone in this room. I was wondering if you might accompany Belle to the dinner at Ashley's tonight. I'll be joining you an hour or so late."

"Sure," Emma said, gesturing Belle inside. "Come on in."

Emma and Mr. Gold exchanged a look, and Emma saw a hint of perhaps either annoyance or gratitude, she couldn't tell just yet. His eyes held a soft gesture as he took his leave, the cane at his side, and his straight hair falling perfectly in line along his neck. The savior shut the door.

"Hi Belle!" Henry exclaimed, looking at Belle's simple cotton dress. "You look pretty."

"Thank you Henry," Belle said, seemingly a bit uncertain of herself. Snow could see this, so she ushered the child's mind back to the shaping of the next few pans of cookies to go in the oven.

Belle turned to Emma, and the two girls sat in the living room.

"Now, was that look good or bad?" Emma asked in a whisper.

"I think it had good intentions," Belle replied. "He's just protective...that's all."

As they arrived that early evening at the barbecue, Snow with cookies, Belle seemed to keep herself apart from everyone else. A book in her hands, Belle sat on the couch, inside, away from the food. Emma watched her sitting inside, and Ashley came up next to her with the baby.

"Has she been in there the whole time?" Ashley asked, adjusting the baby in her arms.

"Yeah, I was gonna go in and talk to her," Emma said, making a move for the door.

"That's a good idea," Ashley agreed. "If you can, bring her out. I think I could connect with her."

Emma walked into the house, closing the door softly behind her. Belle didn't even so much as throw her a glance. She just stared into her book as Emma came to sit next to her on the couch.

"Oh," Belle said, startled. "I'm sorry. It's getting to the good part." She gestured to the book.

"How many times have you read that book?" Emma asked.

"Twice," she replied, adjusting to sit next to Emma, the book open and she pointed to one of the pictures.

"Here's where she meets Prince Charming, but she won't discover that it's him 'till chapter three," Belle explained, a smile on her face.

"Why don't you come outside?" Emma suggested, however Belle looked down. "It'll make you feel better."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that," she confided in a quiet voice. "I've been comfortable with Mr. Gold in our own part of town..."

"You need some girlfriends, Belle. I know Ashley wants to talk to you. I mean, how much longer can you stay so close to Mr. Gold?"

"He said he didn't want me wandering when Regina had power..."

"I'll be sure Regina doesn't harm you. I'm the sheriff, it's what I do," Emma reassured her. "You can come outside for a little while and talk."

"What would I talk about?" Belle asked.

"Well, Ashley has this game. It's only if you have a guy though, so Ruby and I just make up a boyfriend. It's way more fun if you have one though. You go around, asking each other questions about them. The catch is that the questions have to either be awkward, hilarious, quirky, or surprising," Emma said.

"How do you play if you make up a guy?" Belle asked.

"Well, I used Graham. Long story, but he's gone now. Ruby uses guys in town like Billy the mechanic, but...I don't know how she does it. I just try and imagine what it might have been like."

Belle looked at Emma, putting down the book on the clear glass coffee table and placing her hands in her lap, thinking. Emma stared in hope that she would say yes, but the time was a little too much for her comfort.

Emma thought perhaps Gold told her specifically not to go outside until he arrived, but she could never be sure. The sheriff placed a hand on Belle's, feeling the softness of her gentile skin.

"Well, all right. I'll come out," Belle finally said, taking the book for comfort. Emma smiled.

"Good. Come on," she ushered Belle outside on the lawn, where the smell of some delicious meat entered her nose, and the smoke in the air reminded her of a home she once knew long ago.

Belle loved the familiar smell, and she followed Emma towards Ashely, Ruby, and Snow.

They greeted her with more warmth than Belle expected. Belle thought this would be a good thing for her, and she convinced herself the Emma was right. As all five of them began to talk, Belle found herself becoming more and more comfortable with each word around these girls.

Snow told a few stories about her experiences as a teacher in a classroom with a bunch of fourth graders and some of the funny things they did. Belle looked to Alexandra, Ashley's kid, and she smiled. Ashley let Belle hold the baby for a few minutes as she went to get some of the food James and Shawn were cooking out on the grill.

Belle smirked.

"I have no idea what I am doing," Belle confessed.

"None of us do," Snow told her with a smile, looking at Emma. Belle smirked, trying to keep the baby firmly in her arms. She didn't cry, so Belle thought that was a good thing. Emma told the girls how happy she was to have Henry back in her life.

There was no time to give Belle all the details, but Belle got the feeling that Emma was a remarkable woman, special to Storybrooke. She felt lucky to be a part of the group, and things seemed to be going well. Getting out wasn't such a bad thing after all.

"What's your story?" Ruby asked. "I mean, does Mr. Gold just keep you locked up or what? Has it always been that way?

"Well, no," Belle found herself suddenly shy at her own gold-spun tale. "It started as a deal for the ogre wars. My father traded me for safety of the kingdom, but he didn't want to. I agreed to spend the rest of my life with him, cleaning up the castle."

"My my! I couldn't imagine having to clean up after him!" Ashley said when she returned. Then she gasped.

"Girls, I'm thinking of a game..." she said with a smile.

"Is this the game you told me about?" Belle asked Emma.

"Yep, I think it is."

"Let's play!" Snow said. They got a few looks from the men across the table and they started laughing together.

"Maybe we should go someplace else to play," Ruby suggested. "Hmm, what would be a good spot?"

Emma got an idea, but she wasn't sure. She looked at Belle.

"I don't want to get you in trouble," she said, looking at Belle. "But, can you get us into the pawn shop?"

"Oh my gosh!" Ruby said. "That's perfect! Can you do it Belle?"

"Well, I do have a key..." Belle whispered. "I guess we could. But, Mr. Gold didn't show up yet. I think we should wait."

Emma explained that she could talk to Mr. Hopper so he would know where they were. Belle still wasn't sure.

"He can't get mad if you're in the shop. It's his property, so he can't say you're not safe," Snow said. "Come on, take a little dare."

Belle gave in with a smile.

"Fine, but we can't touch anything," Belle said sincere. "I'm serious."