Note: Thank you, guest reviewers! Also a little note of warning, some mild language towards the end of the chapter. The most common swear word I use is 'bloody' and I don't generally warn for that, but I try to remember to do so if I'm putting anything stronger.

Carrot Cake

Chapter Ten

Despite the bright sunshine, it was a bitterly cold day and Gold had had to break out his prescription painkillers, especially in anticipation of the long drive. Grudgingly, he admitted that hospital visits were good for one thing if nothing else. It was the building itself that he hated more than the occupants, really. He owed his ability to walk to the surgeons who had realigned his bones after the accident, and being mobile was worth the hassle of explaining about the large amounts of titanium in his leg every time he went through a metal detector, but he'd spent enough hours in hospitals to last him a lifetime.

Gold was glad of the sun; the cold he could stand but the wet he did not like. Every single funeral that he had been to in his life thus far, it had rained, and Bae's had been no exception. It had made a rotten day even more miserable, and Gold had always hated visiting cemeteries in the rain.

The trip to see Bae every third of November was one that he made without fail, though, whatever the weather, and he was even more determined than usual this year having moved away from the area in summer. Gold parked outside the cemetery and sat staring at the gates for a while before picking up the flowers that had sat on the passenger seat all the way from Devon. Thirteen white lilies, one for each year of his young life. It was a tradition, and even after a decade, Gold was loath to break it. He got out of the car and tied his scarf a little tighter against the chill before walking through the gates. An elderly lady was sitting on a bench just inside, muffled up in several coats and scarves making her look twice her usual size. She had her eyes closed, but she opened them on hearing Gold's step on the gravel path.

"The third of November again," she said. "Time flies, Mr Gold."

"Indeed it does, Mrs Cope."

"First Saturday of the month," Mrs Cope said. "Time to change my Norman's flowers, but I'm not too good on my trotters these days, so our Morrie's doing it instead." The old woman smiled. "I think she's calling on someone else too, just to say hello for old times' sake."

Gold's insides twisted. Moraine Cope, Bae's first and only girlfriend.

"Well, I won't keep you," Morrie's grandmother said. She reached over and patted his hand on top of the cane. "Best wishes, and Merry Christmas since I won't see you again beforehand."

"The same to you, Mrs Cope."

Gold continued down the path, through the arch that separated the oldest graves at the front of the cemetery from the newest ones at the back. A young blonde woman was coming in the opposite direction.

"Mr Gold," she said quietly.

"Miss Cope."

"Actually, I'm a Mrs now." Gold glanced down at her fingers but she was wearing gloves. "Just this summer." She smiled weakly. "We knew you'd be coming today but Gran was certain our paths would cross. Fate, you know."

"Your grandmother is a wise woman." There was nothing more to be said between them; there never had been. To give thanks or apologies would just seem out of place and clichéd. Both understood the sentiments, they did not need to be voiced.

"Good morning, Moraine, and best wishes for the future."

"Thank you, Mr Gold. Good morning."

She passed him and Gold made his way down the gravel until he got to the headstone he sought. He'd walked this route so many times that he could probably do it blindfold. Ignoring his knee, he crouched down beside the stone and placed the lilies on the turf before running his fingers over the lettering.

Baelfire Gold

18th November 1988 – 3rd November 2002

Always in our hearts

"Hi, Bae. It's Dad." Best to begin in a time-honoured fashion. "I'm here, like I said. I know I'm over a hundred miles away now but I'd never forget." He paused. "I can't believe Morrie's married now. I mean, I knew she was growing up but I still can't believe it." Gold sighed. "I can't imagine you any older than thirteen. Certainly not twenty-three, with your own career, your own life, married with kids… There's a trainee at Guildhall who's only a day older than you. I keep an eye on her, can't help it. I don't think anyone's noticed though. We wouldn't want to ruin my reputation, now." He paused again. He never had a preconceived idea of what he'd say to Bae each time, just whatever came to him on the spot. "You know how you were forever badgering me to get a girlfriend? Well, better late than never. Her name's Belle, and I swear, you'd love her. She's bright and bold and beautiful, and I think that this is it. She's the one. I know, I know. Stop being such a coward and tell her before it's too late and someone younger and more attractive comes along. I will. I'll just procrastinate a bit more first."

His knee was beginning to feel like it could give out at any moment, so he had to break off and stand up to ease it.

"Gold."

He knew the voice without having to turn.

"Liz."

His ex-wife came up alongside him, both hands clutched around a baker's dozen of lilies.

"Great minds think alike, like always." Liz placed her bouquet next to his. "I knew you'd come, even from Devon. You wouldn't give up on the ten year mark."

Gold shook his head.

"No… I'm not sure about next year though. I'll have to see where life's taken me."

Liz smiled.

"I'm glad you've finally found someone," she said. "You deserve to. Don't throw it away, please. For your sake. I can't say that solitude doesn't suit you; you were always a good loner, but happiness suits you better."

Their divorce had been an amicable one for the most part, even when it came to the then-eight-year-old Bae. The only sticking point had come two years later when their son had decided he wanted to live with Gold on a permanent basis instead of their original joint custody arrangement. Liz had been heartbroken and relations had been cool for a long time, but she hadn't fought it. Bae had always been closer to his father than his mother; it was an unspoken fact between them.

"I'll leave, you'll want some time alone…" Gold began. Liz shook her head.

"It's all right. I don't like staying here too long. God, that's an awful thing for a mother to say. It's just that it reminds me of the funeral too much. Besides, you were always a lot better at talking to him than I was." She kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the stone, her little ritual just as much as he had his. "It's good to see you well," she said eventually.

"You too, Liz. Give my regards to everyone."

Liz nodded, lingering for a while before leaving. Gold didn't begrudge her it. They'd both coped in different ways at the time, and Liz had since remarried and had someone else to talk to about it all. Perhaps next year he would have Belle. Hopefully he would. He crouched down again.

"I'll always love you. Even if I'm not always here."

No more words were needed. Bae understood.

X

Belle thought nothing of it when she heard a car pull up outside her flat, but when the doorbell rang she was perplexed.

Emma was standing on the doorstep.

"Come on, I'll give you a lift to Granny and Ruby's," she said. Belle peered around the doorframe to see Emma's bright yellow Volkswagen parked in the road outside, Henry waving from the back.

Emma and Belle had been seconded into helping Granny and Ruby get their house ready for the party that evening, and Belle had spent the morning gathering her accumulated stationery and making the prophesied 'sorry you're leaving' banner. She grabbed her bits and bobs and shoved her boots on, hopping out of the door after Emma.

"Thanks for the lift. I could have just got the bus," she said, getting into the passenger seat. "You have to come past Station Road to get up here. Hi, Henry."

"Hi, Belle," Emma's son said before going back to his book.

"Yeah, I know, but I wanted to speak to you before we got there." Emma broke off to shake her fist at the driver who pulled out in front of her. "I've got a bit of a confession to make and I wanted to tell you before Ruby in case she tries to throttle me with a pair of tights."

"Ok…" Belle narrowed her eyes. "Am I allowed to be rather worried now?"

"There's nothing to be worried about," Emma said brightly before glancing in the rear-view mirror. "Henry, what have I told you about reading in the car? You'll get travel sick, young man!"

"Sorry, Mum."

Emma returned her attention to Belle.

"So what's this confession, then?"

"Well, you know how you and Ruby are trying to set me up with August?" Emma began.

"We, erm… Were we really that obvious?"

"You were fine. Ruby wasn't exactly subtle about it."

"I don't think that 'Ruby' and 'subtle' are words that will ever belong in the same sentence," said Belle.

"You're right." Emma continued. "Well, the thing is, I'm actually seeing someone else. I'm just worried about telling Ruby because I've been seeing him for nearly six months and I haven't told her."

"Six months?" Belle exclaimed. "How did you manage to keep him hidden for six months?"

"Great skill," Emma said with a grin. "Very great skill."

"I won't ask you to tell me about him yet, as you'll only have to repeat yourself to Ruby, but let it be known that I am extremely intrigued."

"He's coming tonight," Emma said, "so you'll all be able to meet him then. I thought it was the right time to come clean."

They reached Granny and Ruby's house and Emma sped into a parking space on the road just before someone coming in the opposite direction nabbed it. Belle smiled sweetly at the other driver as they all got out.

Henry rang the bell, and Granny's voice could be heard calling.

"Ruby, get the door! It'll be Belle or Emma and Henry!"

"Or all three," Ruby called back as she opened the door. Belle sighed on recognising that her friend was still in her pyjamas and had a toothbrush in one hand.

"Ruby, it's gone one in the afternoon," Emma said in despair.

"It's a day off," Ruby said by way of explanation, shutting the door behind them and rushing off back up the stairs to finish her ablutions. Belle went through into the kitchen, where Granny was busy with a piping bag, her tongue stuck between her teeth in concentration.

"There," she said after ignoring her visitors for a few moments. "Done. What do you think?"

"I think you are a sugarcraft genius, Mrs Lucas," Emma said.

"It's awesome!" Henry exclaimed.

The cake was square and covered with white icing, with 'Good Luck, Astrid and Leroy' written on it in blue. A sugar replica of Leroy's beloved red Landrover was stuck on top, an icing Astrid and Leroy waving from it.

"The only reason I agreed to Ruby's idea was the opportunity to make it," Granny admitted. "I've been itching to do a good cake for weeks now."

The last cake Granny had made had been for Henry's birthday, in the shape of a ten. She'd originally just been going to make a sugarcraft tiger to put on the top, but she'd got 'a little bit carried away' and created an entire menagerie, including a shark swimming in the middle of the zero. It had taken the best part of a week for her to design and make, but on the upside, Henry's schoolfriends were now clamouring with their mothers to get Mrs Lucas to make them novelty cakes for their own birthdays, so hopefully paid commissions would be coming in soon.

Emma and Belle were soon clearing up the living room whilst Henry helped Granny with the washing up. Ruby came in, fully-dressed this time, dragging the vacuum cleaner along with her. She had a love-hate relationship with the machine – it loved her to the extent of tangling itself around her legs with every step and making her fall flat on her face, and Ruby hated it for it. Halfway round the room she gave up and kicked it.

"Calm down, Ruby," Emma said. "I've got some news that'll cheer you up. It's about my love life."

Belle ducked down behind the sofa to hide her imminent laughter, listening for Ruby's reaction as Emma told her the same story that she'd relayed in the car. Her friend didn't disappoint.

"Nearly six months!" she exploded. "You kept this mystery man from us for nearly six months! Right, that's it. You've got to tell us everything now to make up for it."

"Well," Emma said, continuing to push the furniture around to create more space for guests in the room, "his name is Graham, and he's a policeman."

"Trust Emma to go for a man in uniform," Ruby said with a grin.

"What does Henry make of him?" Belle asked.

"Oh, Henry set the whole thing up, the little devil," Emma said. "Graham had come to do a talk at the school and Henry collared him afterwards. When I went in to collect him, he dragged the poor man over to meet me. We got chatting for a bit, and on the way home, Henry pipes up with 'so when are you and PC Graham going on a date then?' Oh, believe me, Henry gave his approval long ago."

"Well, if Henry approves, then I see no reason why we shouldn't." Ruby sighed. "I had such high hopes as well. You and August seemed to be getting on so brilliantly."

Emma laughed.

"Shared experience," she said. "It turns out we both spent time in the same foster home when we were kids."

"Well, that's all right then. Oh, Emma!" Ruby threw her arms around her friend. "I'm so happy for you! But I'm still mad that it took you so long to tell us. Six months!"

"Well, we wanted to make sure it was working, for everyone's sakes," Emma said.

"All those blind dates I set you up on that you refused," Ruby said mournfully. "At least I know why you said no now. But six months! My Uncle Stanley and Auntie Linda met, married and divorced in less than six months!"

"Are you girls tidying or yakking?" called Granny. She came into the living room, hands on hips. "You were the one who wanted this shindig, Ruby Lucas, so you can make sure your house is ready for it." She grinned. "Henry and I have finished our jobs and we're on a tea break."

"An excellent idea," Ruby said. "Tea break!"

Belle and Emma rolled their eyes and followed Ruby into the kitchen.

It took most of the afternoon to get ready for the party, with Emma and Henry being sent on numerous errands in the yellow Beetle to pick up things that Granny and Ruby had forgotten, and the three younger women taking over the top half of the house in an effort to get themselves ready, with Granny and Henry looking on in despair at the carnage. As half-past seven rolled around, Belle and Ruby could be found outside number ninety-three with a stepladder, trying and hopelessly failing to get the banner straight.

"Oh, it'll do," Ruby said, leaving the banner at a rakish angle and tripping down the ladder, nearly toppling into a young man who had paused in the garden path to watch their antics. "Oops, sorry."

"No problem. Erm, I'm looking for Emma," the man began. "I'm Graham."

Ruby's eyes lit up.

"Graham! We've heard so much about you this afternoon, do come inside." She practically dragged him up the path towards the house, where they were met halfway by Emma, who skidded out of the house with no shoes on and her mascara wand in her hand, one eye made up and the other bare.

"Hi, Graham, sorry, I got held up. I had planned to be waiting outside to save you being accosted like this." She hopped from foot to foot on the cold paving slabs. "Let's go in, I'm freezing."

Graham laughed and leaned in to kiss her before letting Emma resume the dragging.

"Come on, Belle!" Ruby said, waving her friend inside after them. "We need to be properly introduced!"

Belle rolled her eyes and left the banner; half-cocked would have to suffice.

It was clear that Graham and Emma were very much in love, and it was only Henry's presence that prevented their current honeymoon period from being overly apparent. Belle thought back to the conversation she'd had with Ruby the previous afternoon.

"If Gold arrives, this will be your third date," Ruby had said confidently. "So wear nice knickers."

When Belle had asked why, Ruby had rolled her eyes.

"Because after three dates, you can cross the bedroom threshold," she'd explained.

"I thought it was three months," Belle had said.

"Well, I don't really know to be honest," Ruby'd admitted. "Most of the men I go out with are lucky to get three dates, let alone three months."

When Belle had pointed out that Saturday would technically be Archie's fourth date with Ruby, her friend had gone a delicate shade of pink and said that yes, well, Archie was a special case and she was taking everyone's advice and going slowly with him.

Belle had decided to follow her own instinct and wait longer, but she'd put nice knickers on nonetheless.

The evening drew on with more and more people began arriving – Astrid and Leroy, some of Leroy's colleagues, some of Astrid's knitting group, Mary Margaret and David, Ashley and Sean – and Belle found herself jumping up every time the doorbell rang, her heart leaping to her mouth. When she'd started for the fourth time and the door had revealed Archie and a fully-recovered Pongo, she came to the conclusion that she was being silly and she'd leave it next time. Ruby came careering out into the hallway to fawn over the dog and its owner, and Belle found herself squashed back into the living room next to David.

"I forgot to ask earlier," he began. "Did you like the flowers?"

"Pardon?"

David's expression of perplexity matched her own.

"The flowers… Gold was in the shop this morning, bought a big bunch of white flowers. I'd assumed they were for you. He came out as I went in. Mary'd served him."

Belle shook her head.

"I haven't seen him today; he said he had to drive to Winchester which was why he'd be late tonight."

David shrugged.

"Well, it was pretty early, she'd only just opened."

Belle's mind went into freefall. There had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation. Maybe he wouldn't have had time to get them later and bring them to her.

The doorbell rang, and Ruby, who had come into the living room with Archie to catch the tale end of the conversation, turned on her heel and went straight back out again.

"That might be him," she called. "Here's hoping he's holding a bunch of carnations."

Belle followed her friend, hearing her open the door and give an exclamation of surprise.

"Oh. You weren't who I was expecting. Can I help you?"

"Yeah, I'm looking for Belle. Her landlord at St Anne's said she'd be here."

Belle froze, feeling all the colour drain out of her face, ice pouring through her veins.

"Sure… Belle! There's someone here to see you! Sorry, what was your name?"

"Gary. Gary Hunter."

"Ah."

Ruby's tone of voice had changed on a knife-edge from happy-go-lucky party girl to wolf ready to pounce on anyone who threatened her best friend's happiness. Belle forced her legs to move and she walked to the front door as if she was going to the scaffold.

Gary didn't look a day different to when she had last seen him, eighteen months ago when she'd told him she was moving south.

"Hi, Belle," he said.

"Hello, Gary." Her tone was cold and clipped, trying not to betray the shivering she felt in her knees despite the heat of so many people in the house.

"I need to talk to you," her husband began.

"Now?" Belle hissed. "At a party in someone else's house, someone you don't even know?"

"Ok, not now, but soon. Tomorrow?"

Well, there was no point in her going back to Solihull if Gary was here. She nodded curtly.

"I really think it's time we made another go of it, Belle," he said. "Honestly. I've tried to move on, but I can't stop thinking about you."

Belle shook her head.

"It's over, Gary. It's always been over. It was over before we even got married."

"But now you've had breathing space, time to think, we both have."

"This isn't 'breathing space', Gary, this is a fresh start. Now please leave before the mood is soured. This isn't my party. I'll see you tomorrow. You evidently know where I live." It was taking all her courage to keep her voice level and disinterested, and her arms folded.

Gary nodded.

"Do you honestly think it can't work?" he said. "Really?"

"It can't work, Gary. I have a new life here. I'm seeing someone new."

Ruby was trying to push the door closed on him, but Gary stuck his foot in it, his eyes narrowed.

"Does he know?" he asked.

Belle bit her lip.

"Of course he does," she said quickly. Too quickly. Gary shook his head.

"That's a lie, Belle. I could always tell when you were lying. No wonder you want to get rid of me so quickly. Is he here? I should tell him."

"He is here, and you should tell him what?"

Belle had never been so relieved nor so terrified to hear a Glaswegian accent in her life. Gary turned, startled, and his movement revealed Gold standing on the path behind him, his face perfectly impassive.

A small, detached part of her acknowledged that there were no flowers in sight.

Belle closed her eyes and grabbed the door for support in case her knees gave out completely as they were threatening to do. Ruby put a protective hand over her shoulder. Of all the possible worst-case scenarios that she had imagined when revealing her legally wed status to Gold, that he and Gary should actually meet had never crossed her mind.

On hearing no words passed between them, she risked opening her eyes again. Gary had taken a step back and was looking from Belle to Gold and back again.

"Seriously?" he muttered. "Seriously? Jesus, Belle, I never had you down as the sugardaddy type."

Belle grimaced and she saw Gold's jaw clench. He had been worried about the age difference between them from the offset, and now Gary had rammed the point home in his spite and jealousy. It had always been the way, since she was fifteen years old and their status became officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Intentionally or not, he had never let her move on with her life, and he wasn't going to let her do it now, either.

"Is this gentleman bothering you, Belle?" Gold asked through gritted teeth. Gary snorted.

"This gentleman is Belle's husband, mate."

"I see." Gold turned to Belle. "Is this true?"

Belle closed her eyes against the tears that were forming there.

"Belle, please." Gold's voice was gentle now, pleading almost. "Is it true?"

She nodded.

"I'm sorry," she began, but her voice was choked around the knot of fear and shame in her throat, and she couldn't go on.

"Then I should leave you to sort out your difficulties in peace. It is not my place to interfere in marriages unless I'm being paid to."

Belle wanted nothing more than for Gold to interfere, to defend her honour and take a swing at Gary, but he couldn't. After all, he'd only known her for three weeks. They knew practically nothing about each other when compared to what a husband and wife would know.

Whilst she was on the subject, the small, detached part of her wondered where her flowers were.

She opened her eyes and wiped them on the back of her hand. Gold was walking back down the path, and it might have been her imagination but his limp looked heavier than she'd ever seen it. It made the picture of dejection even more heartbreaking. Belle shook off Ruby's hand, pushed past Gary without a second thought and raced to catch up with Gold, coming round to block his path as he stepped out of the garden onto the pavement.

"Wait!" she cried, well aware that tears were now streaming down her face. "Please wait, I'm so sorry, I should have told you before, but I swear, I haven't seen him since I moved here, I…"

"Belle, please." Gold's voice was quavering just as much as her own. "I shouldn't have come tonight. I've had an incredibly draining day, both physically and emotionally." He paused. "I believe you, my dear, but I am in no state to try and deal with this rationally at the moment."

Belle saw the pain in his eyes, mingled with something that she identified, with a jolt, as guilt.

"I'm sorry, Belle. But please not now."

He stepped past her and made to get into his car.

"Bastard!"

Ruby's scream echoed through the moonless night and Belle heard her high heels clattering over the pavement.

"You bastard! How can you leave her like this? You're no angel, buying flowers for a woman you aren't dating!"

"Ruby!" Belle sobbed. "Ruby, please, stop it, you're making it worse."

Gold had gone incredibly tense, paused half-in and half-out of his car.

"They weren't for a woman," he growled, and slammed the driver's door shut.

With impeccable timing, the rain began to fall as he drove away.

To be continued