"Well, with that interruption done..." Mr. Gold set the dream catcher on one of the many shelves in his shop, being especially careful. All of these interruptions whenever he was with Belle were really starting to grate on his nerves. One day he feared he would snap in front of Belle; but now wasn't the time to worry about that.
"I can't believe that Regina would do that," Belle said, her brow bent in concern. "It seems too low, even for her. Archie...dead..." She shuddered, folding her arms across her chest.
Mr. Gold chuckled darkly. He knew Regina better than probably anybody. "Believe me, nothing's too low for her." The forgotten picnic basket (from before they were so rudely interrupted) drew his attention. He looked at the baked goods they had begun to unpack, and formed an idea in his mind.
"I'll tell you what." It was easy for him to smile at her. Just the sight of her made him grin, no matter what else was going on. Though the idea that Regina had begun picking off innocent people was slightly intimidating- only because the category of innocent people included Belle- Archie's death didn't really bother him. He had seen too many years pass, too many people come and go.
So Mr. Gold smiled at Belle and placed his hands on the tops of her arms, hoping to combat her worry. He could only wonder what it was like to be so sympathetic and compassionate like Belle; though he knew he had been like that once, it was a long, long time ago, and he didn't remember it.
"We'll take all of this," he said, gesturing to Belle's baked goods, "and go on a picnic in the woods."
He could sense her reluctance, and he knew her thoughts all too well. She loved to be the hero, to save everyone and everything she could, though it was due to her compassion rather than pride. He knew that she wanted to be out there with Emma and her parents, confronting Regina and getting to the bottom of the problem.
"It will get your mind off of things," he prompted, giving her arms a gentle squeeze. Her expression didn't waver.
"I know a really good spot," he continued in an almost sing-song voice, one that he would only use with Belle. That elicited a small smile from her, and in return a bigger smile from him.
"Okay," she said finally, her eyes wide and excited and her red lips pursed in a genuine smile.
Mr. Gold pulled her in for a hug, gently rubbing her back. "I'm sure Miss Swan will bring Regina to justice," he said with full confidence.