Everything was going to be okay. Belle knew that all along, and yet when everything finally started to piece together, she still sighed in relief. To have Baedan as her little boy, the one she never even intended on having, was a precious thing to her… but to have Remus' love was dearer still to the woman.
Her routine was slowly changing. Baedan would come over after school to her shoppe, and help her out. She wondered at first if it would upset Remus, but she decided against it when he joined the boy in helping her.
Belle looked up one day at the shoppe and smiled. "Hey Bae," she greeted the boy, reaching out to hug him and kiss his head. "Did you have a good day of school?" she questioned, smiling further as he pulled out his homework and set down at his table beside the counter.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "But one of the boys were mean today." he sighed a little, but didn't seem otherwise much bothered by the encounter. "Mean how?" Belle worried, her eyes narrowing as she glanced her son over.
"'Bout you and Papa." he whispered. "Mostly you, though, please don't make me say what they said, Mom." he begged. Belle pulled him up out of the chair, sat down in it herself and hugged her boy close to her.
"It's ok, Bae." she murmured. " I'm not so weak hearted that I can't stand a few insults from boys." she giggled a little in an effort to cheer him up. He gave her a weak smile. "Really though, Bae. I don't mind what they say. I know what I am to you and your Dad, and I know who I am to myself." she promised. "They don't matter."
"I don't want to talk about it anymore." Bae requested, nuzzling his head into her neck. "We don't have to." Belle promised, kissing his head gently at an awkward angle. "Just don't let them get to you, ok? They aren't worth it." She said, tenderly brushing hair out of his face.
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right Mom." he agreed at last. "I'm gonna work on my homework." he said, getting up from her lap to help her stand. She smiled and got up. "Good idea. What subjects do you have tonight? Anything I can help with?" she asked hopefully.
"I've got English, and science. I know you can help with the science." he said teasingly, making Belle swat him playfully on the arm. Science was definitely not Belle's forte. "I'll help with the English when you get there, smart boy." she retorted.
Just then, as Belle got back to work, a short man walked into the shoppe. He had brown hair, and dark eyes, and Belle groaned to herself when she saw him. Baedan looked up questioningly, but did not have time to persist before the man sauntered up to the counter. "'Ey Belle." he greeted.
"Hey, Will." Belle quietly responded. "How are you today?" she asked. Will shrugged, laughing a little. "I'm fine," he said after a pause. "Just came by for some more of your lovely company." he winked at her, and Bae decided in that moment he did not like the man. At all.
"I'm sorry," Belle giggled a little at Bae's face. She'd have to teach him how to school his features later. "I've got some company already." At her gesture, Bae stood up and went into her arms, standing in front of her with her hands on his shoulders, her head on his. If Papa wasn't there to claim Belle as theirs, well then, he'd do it himself.
"This little munchkin can't be too exacting." Will laughed, smirking down at Baedan. Bae narrowed his eyes, not liking the name at all. "Actually," Bae chirped sweetly. "I'm getting Mom to help me with my homework." he shot Belle a nonrepentant smile.
"Mom?" Will chuckled further. "You're definitely motherly, Belle, but really? The town's-" Belle cut him off, however, with a heated glance. "I'm sorry, have I not introduced you to my son?" Belle snapped. "Remus and I share him." she said sweetly, tilting her head. "You see, he's quite attached…. and I to him, as well as his father. You understand I'm sure." Belle's voice was full of venom as she spoke.
"Not particularly." Will admitted, giving her a confused glance. "But well enough that I know where I'm not wanted." he reached out and ruffled Baedan's hair before turning on his heel and leaving.
"I detest that man." Belle muttered as she fixed Bae's hair. She smoothed it down over his face, then blew at it with a smirk. He laughed indignantly, and launched at her, tickling her ribs. Belle squealed, rolling on top of him to capture his hands and stop him. "Gotcha." she smirked.
"Have mercy! I'm your son!" Bae yelped, laughing as she tickled him. "Never! Show no mercy!" Belle shouted, getting a handful of his hair and pulling with a little laugh. He yelped, but didn't show signs of true pain.
He rolled out of her grip, though, the first chance he got. Belle giggled as she tried to catch her breath. "Well that was fun," she giggled again. Baedan nodded, smirking over at her. "You win this round. But I'll get you." he promised teasingly.
Belle stuck her tongue out at him, and they were just sitting down to their respective workplaces when Remus stuck his head in the door.
Remus broke out laughing, looking at his son and girlfriend interact. "You two seem cosy." he commented gayly, walking over to steal a kiss from Belle. She gave it up quite willingly as she replied, "Of course. We are nearly related." she smirked up at him, daring him to argue with her.
He didn't, of course he didn't. All he did was nod, smiling a surprised, yet pleased, little smile as he closed the space between them again. Bae groaned from beside them, but neither Belle nor Remus paid him any mind.
"Papa, I'm strong." Bae commented at last, after Belle had long since crawled into Remus' lap. "Of course, my boy. What did you do today?" Remus asked good-naturedly and didn't even notice Belle's signs of distress, trying to tell the boy to kindly shut his little mouth if he knew what was wise.
"I saved Mom from an evil boy." Bae smirked challengingly at Belle, testing his limits on purpose. Belle rolled her eyes and vowed to send him death threats secretly for the next year. Remus' hold on Belle loosened, just a bit before tightening again. "What happened?" Remus asked softly, and no that was not fair that his little nervous voice could make her feel so many things at once.
"An ex came by." Belle murmured lowly, pouting over at Baedan. Yes, anonymous death threats were most definitely in her son's future. He seemed very unrepentant as well as unaware of the rift he could have potentially caused between his mamma and papa.
"Nice visit?" Remus asked, and Belle couldn't tell what his tone of voice was. She decided to go with a little stretched truth. "Not really. He was an ass." she twitched her lips upwards, and leaned up to kiss Remus on the corner of his mouth. "Nothing like you."
Remus smiled, a little dazed, but oh he smiled. "I'm glad." he whispered, for Belle's ears only. He loved this woman, and she was his for as long as she'd let him keep her.