"Hey, Lindy," Ruby greeted her with a smile as she walked in through the door of Granny's Diner. "You're not working today?"

Belinda shook her head. "I, um, have the day off." She was the worst liar ever, and Ruby knew that. The woman raised an eyebrow as she walked behind the counter and Belinda took a seat at the bar.

"Come on. What's the matter? I haven't seen you this upset since Garrett broke up with you."

She shrugged and took Rose out of the carrier and placed her on her lap. "I don't really want to talk about it, Rubes."

"Was it Gold? Did he do something?"

"No...not exactly."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Belinda sighed in exasperation. "Please, Ruby," she pleaded, "Just let it go."

"You know me. I never let anything go." Ruby leaned over the counter as she stared at Belinda's face, trying to read her. The woman had always had a great intuition about her, it was as if she could smell what was troubling someone before they so much as opened their mouths. "He kissed you," she said rather bluntly. "Didn't he?"

Belinda's face went white and then red with embarrassment. "How could you tell?"

Ruby shrugged. "You look upset, but there's a tiny little glow in the corner of your eyes. Which says that whatever's got you upset must have a silver lining to it. So...he really kissed you?" To her credit, Ruby didn't sound surprised or disgusted, but Belinda could tell that she was definitely uncomfortable with the idea. It was Mr. Gold, after all!

"Yeah..." she bit her lip, "And I kissed him back."

"Why?"

"I was tired and I wasn't thinking clearly. It just sorta...ya know...happened."

Ruby frowned. "What happened afterward?"

"I told him it was a mistake," Belinda explained, choosing to skip over the fact that they had actually spent the night asleep on the couch together! "And he got angry."

"Why?"

Belinda was silent before she looked at Ruby and sighed. "He said he cares about me, and that the kiss wasn't a mistake."

Ruby gasped. "Lindy, you do know what this means, right?"

"What?"

"Gold is freakin' in love with you!"

Belinda shook her head and laughed nervously. "Don't be ridiculous, Rubes. He said he cares about me. That doesn't mean the same thing as love. And besides, it was just a kiss."

"If it was just a kiss, then what's got you so upset?"

Belinda struggled for an answer, but found that she couldn't find one. Was it because he was her employer? That's what she had thought and gone so far as to tell him, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that that wasn't the truth. Was she scared? After all, so much of him still remained a mystery, it would only be normal to be frightened by him.

Before she could answer the question, she felt someone sit beside her and turned her head to see that it was little Henry Mills. In his arms was that large book that he never seemed to go anywhere without. "One chocolate milkshake, please, Ruby," he gave his most adorable smile and Belinda felt just a little bit better at seeing it.

"You've got it, kid," Ruby responded and walked off.

Belinda smiled at the young boy, and he at her. "How're you doing, Henry?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm...alright."

Henry furrowed his brows. "You don't sound like your alright."

"Oh, I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about."

Rose chose that moment to coo, and Henry's face lit up at the sound. He let the baby grab onto one of his fingers and she very nearly pulled it into her mouth before Belinda stopped her. "I'm so sorry. She's teething and likes to think that she can bite on anything she pleases."

Henry laughed. "It's okay."

"So what's this book you've always got with you?"

"It's a book of fairytales."

"Fairytales, hmm?"

He nodded. "Yeah. You want to know a secret?" He whispered conspiratorially.

"What?"

"Every story in here is real. They really happened."

Belinda's eyebrows raised. That hadn't been what she had expected to come out of the young boy's mouth. "Really?" She decided to play along. He frowned.

"I know you don't believe me. Nobody does. But it's true. Every story in here is about someone in Storybrooke."

"You think everyone here is a fairytale character?"

He nodded. "Exactly. The Evil Queen sent them here and now they don't remember anything. Take Mary Margaret, for example. She's Snow White, but she doesn't know it."

"Snow White, huh? That's a pretty strong title to live up to." The boy grinned at her and agreed. Belinda smiled too. Even if they were talking about nonsense, it was an enjoyable conversation. "And what about...let's see...Archie Hopper?"

"Easy. He's Jiminy Cricket."

"From Pinocchio?"

"Yep."

Belinda pretended to think for a moment and put her chin in her hand. "Who do you think I am?"

Henry smiled and opened the book to a page where a beautiful young woman was kneeling down. In her hands was a chipped cup and her entire body was covered in a golden gown. "You're Belle from Beauty and the Beast."

"I love that story! But, um," she leaned down towards him, "Who's the beast?"

He shrugged though. "I haven't figured that one out yet. The closest I can get though would have to be Mr. Gold. Which doesn't make any sense, I know."

For a split second, Belinda's smile faltered. She knew these were just children's stories, that she wasn't really Belle and Gold wasn't really the beast. But hearing it come from Henry's mouth surprised her. And he was right. It didn't make any sense at all. Or so she told herself.

Ruby walked up and handed Henry his milkshake. He thanked her before excusing himself to use the bathroom. He took the book with him. Ruby smirked as she wiped the counter with a rag. "Was he talking about those fairytales again?"

Belinda nodded her head as she watched the boy disappear. "Does he really believe all of that?"

"Seems like it. And everyone in this town is a particular character from his book."

"He thinks I'm Belle."

Ruby laughed. "That kind of makes sense. I mean, you are a beauty, and your name even sounds a bit like it!"

Belinda laughed in agreement. "I suppose so. Who does he think you are?"

Ruby flashed a wolfish grin and leaned towards her. "Little Red Riding Hood."

"You?" Belinda scoffed. "You're the innocent little girl who brings her grandmother a basket of goodies? No way."

Ruby gave her a scowl. "I think I rather like it. And, who knows. Red could've been a rebellious teenager with a dark side. The writers might have just changed it to make it more age-appropriate."

"Yeah, like PG-appropriate. Which is so what you're not."

"Hey!" Ruby called out, feigning hurt.

Belinda chuckled. She felt a hand tap her shoulder and she turned around in her stool to see who was behind her. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the Mother Superior standing there. Her and the Mother had only talked a handful of times, and then they had stopped when it had been discovered that the young Belinda was having a child out of wedlock. Now the woman was smiling pleasantly at her.

"Belinda, how are you?"

"I'm doing well, Mother Superior. And you?"

"Fine." The woman cocked her head so that she could see Rose. "Oh, she's precious, Belinda." Now Belinda felt like something was off. The woman had clearly expressed her disapproval over her pregnancy, but now she was practically fawning over her daughter.

She calmed the uneasiness in her voice. "Thank you. Is there anything I can help you with, Mother?"

"Oh, yes, dear. That's actually why I came over to talk to you. I understand you've been working as Mr. Gold's housemaid for the past few months."

"Yes," Belinda nodded her head, suddenly confused. What did that have to do with anything? But there it was. The disapproval in the Mother Superior's eyes, hidden by a fake care. As if she really was concerned for her well-being.

"Belinda, I feel that I must tell you that I do not approve of your current employment. Mr. Gold is a dangerous man. And even when that is put aside, he is still a man, and you're employer. By putting yourself in this situation, you have put yourself in a position of temptation that can lead to sin."

She looked at the woman in horror. "Excuse me?" She tried not to sound rude, but her patience was wearing very, very thin. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

"Mr. Gold is a man with sinful tendencies like the rest of us, and you are a gullible and naïve young girl. I just don't want you to fall for his charm and do something that you will regret."

"Are you suggesting that I would be so stupid as to have an affair with Mr. Gold?" Belinda breathed out hotly. She was trying to keep calm and quiet, but she could already tell that some of the people in the Diner were listening in on their conversation. She didn't care. How dare the Mother Superior ever make any accusations without proof? Especially when Robert would never ever do something like that!

"I am merely saying that you have not done so differently in the past. And now you have a daughter. I am warning you, Belinda, to be careful."

Belinda stood up off of her stool so that she could look the Mother Superior right in the eyes. She was angry now. "How dare you!" She snapped. "How dare you ever think that Robert would be capable of something like that? He would never hurt me, not ever. He most certainly has more respect for me than you do, and I trust him with everything I have. He cares for me and Rose, which is less than I can say for you, Mother Superior!" She watched with satisfaction as the woman's eyes widened in horror. Then, she heard the door to the Diner close shut and she turned her head.

She gasped in shock. Mr. Gold was standing there. His face was unreadable, but he was clearly trying to remain calm. There was no doubt that he had heard everything she had just said. He looked at her once, before nodding his head, and turning back around and exiting the Diner.

Belinda shot one more ugly glare at the Mother Superior before she turned and handed Rose over to Ruby and ran out the door after him.

"Robert!" She called to his retreating form. "Robert, please stop!"

The man did so reluctantly, placing his cane in front of him and giving her a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Miss French. I didn't expect to see you here tonight."

"I certainly had nowhere else to be," she responded a bit coldly to match his tone. Was he really still angry with her?

Robert chuckled and she decided that she didn't like the sound of it. It sounded bitter and dangerous. "Indeed, not, Miss French."

"Oh, for God's sake! Stop calling me that!" She snapped. Belinda hadn't meant to, but the informal use of her name was grating sharply on her nerves.

He seemed surprised by her tone but he remained neutral. "What would you prefer I call you, then?"

"Anything! Anything but that."

"Forgive me, but I'm not sure that it would be appropriate," he said, using her own words against her, "I am your employer after all."

Belinda groaned. "Look. I know you're upset with me. And, to be honest, I can't stand it! So...can't we just forget that all of this ever happened?"

Mr. Gold shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can." Belinda used her eyes to plead with him to reconsider. Couldn't he see that this was tearing her apart too?! Or did he see and just not care? "But I suppose I owe you a thank you."

"For what?"

"For what you said back there. The Mother Superior was out of line, but that didn't mean that you had to defend me publicly like that."

Belinda let out a tight laugh in hopes to relieve some of the tension between them. It didn't work. "I wasn't about to just let her say those awful things about you."

"What makes what she said so awful?" He asked her and his voice was somewhat softer.

"None of it was true."

"And what if it was true?" He asked and she slanted her eyebrows in confusion. What was he getting it? "What if I really was the monster she made me out to be?"

Belinda shook her head. "I don't have to answer that question, because you're nowhere near that monster. You're a good man, Robert."

Mr. Gold quirked his lips just slightly. "So, then, why are you afraid?"

"Excuse me?"

"If I'm not a monster, then why are you so afraid of this?"

Belinda frowned. "Of what?"

Mr. Gold smiled softly as he gently wrapped his fingers around her elbows and drew her closer to him until she was mere inches from his chest. "Of this. What makes you so afraid of me?"

"I'm not afraid of you. It's just-" And then she broke off. What was she afraid of? Why was she avoiding these feelings that she had for him? Was it fear of rejection, of having her heart broken again?

"Belle," he whispered her name like a caress and she closed her eyes at the sound, "I'm never going to hurt you."

"That's what Garrett said too."

Mr. Gold tilted her chin up so that she could see him. "Do you trust me? Hmm?"

Belinda was silent for several seconds before she – very slowly – nodded her head. "I do trust you."

"Then let me ask you once again. What are you afraid of?"

Her lips lifted into the smallest of smiles. "Nothing." He grinned and her smile widened. "I'm not afraid of anything."

"Good." He leaned down and kissed her. Belinda's knees buckled at the rage of emotions she felt. It was like a whirlwind swirling around in her mind, clouding her every thought. She felt drunk as he pressed his lips to hers again and again, their bodies molding perfectly against each other. She smiled against his mouth as she refused to let him go.