A/N Here's the latest chapter. I hope you enjoy. R&R

xoxo, Moxie

The walk home from his house was the hardest, longest walk she had ever taken in her life.

As she walked slowly along the sidewalk through the drizzling rain, she couldn't help the tears that were streaming down her face. She did her best to hold it in until she got home to Ruby's. Her friend wasn't home, so she had the small house all to herself.

She lay down on her air mattress and sobbed. When the sobbing died down she looked up at the ceiling, hiccuping frequently and wondering what she could have done to make him change his mind.

"I love him. So, so much. Why can't he just let me love him." She let the tears come again, glad that she hadn't cried in front of him. All she wanted right now was to be wrapped his arms, feeling his love surround her. But she was alone, lying on the most uncomfortable air mattress known to man.

When the tears subsided the feelings began to change to anger. He had been so serious, level and calm while he had been virtually ripping her heart out. Not a crack of the voice, not a tear down his cheek.

She bit her lip until it bled. She wished that she could say all these things meant that he didn't love her, but she knew that wasn't true. The moments they had shared, the feeling she had when they were together, were not imaginary. But, she supposed that sometimes even those who were destined to be together, those with the strongest love, still fell apart.

~ () ~

The next few weeks were hard for Belle. She was upset about Sydney, but she wasn't the type of woman to sit around and mope all day. She still went to work, and did what she had to do, but things became increasingly harder when the flow of customers grew to masses.

She surveyed the store. Empty for now, but not for long.
She pulled her thick curls into a ponytail and tied her apron around her back. She had three dozen batches of cookies to make and two dozen pies. She had been falling behind in the baking lately, and with no one to help her, she was fronting the entire load herself.

The door opened and closed a few times as first one, than two, than three, until the tiny store was nearly full of people.

"Two cups of sugar, some vanilla...now where on earth did I put the baking soda?" She scrambled around the kitchen for a moment, looking frantically for the baking soda. She heard the ting of the bell, letting her know that another costumer had arrived. She grew frantic. This was too much for her to handle. She pulled out her cell phone and with flour covered hands, called Ruby.

"Ru, can you come to the bakery? Like now?" She paused. "Yeah I'm fine, there's just too much work for me to handle by myself." She lowered her voice so the people who were examining the baked goods wouldn't hear her.

After five minutes Ruby had arrived, sleeves rolled up and ready to work.
"Can you handle the people out front while I do the baking?"
Ruby flashed her a brilliant smile and nodded, causing her large hoop earrings to jangle around.

"I've got them. You get back to baking."

Ruby took over out front and did a wonderful job. Helping people choose pastries, boxing them up and tying them with a pink bow all lovely, and sending the people happily on their way. She made it easier for Belle, who now only had to worry about getting done the baking.

After closing time Belle and Ruby sat at one of the tables, both with cups of coffee in their hands, and reflected on their day.

"Ruby. Thank you so much. I honestly couldn't have gotten through the day without you." Belle said, sipping her coffee and smiling at her best friend.

"No problem B. Anytime." She replied with a wink.
Belle cleared her throat and stirred a bit more sugar in her coffee.
"Ru, do you think you'd consider working here? At least for a little while, until you find something better I mean."

A huge grin spread across Ruby's face. She stood up and threw her arms around Belle.
"Of course! I really liked working here today. And to be honest I need the money."

Belle ran her finger around the rim of her cup.
"I also wanted to talk to you about our living arrangement. I would like to start helping you with the rent."

She held up her hands before Ruby could protest. They discussed and eventually settled on a number.
"See, that wasn't so hard." Belle said with a smile.

She was about to pour herself some more coffee when her cell phone rang.

"Hey it's Emma."
"Hey Em. What's up?" Belle asked, leaning against the counter and pressing her phone to her ear.
"I thought I'd let you know, Nate is heading over to Sydney's."