Summary: Belle gets upset with a writer right when Mr. Gold walks in.

A big thank you to esinofsardis for beta reading!

Author Note: Sorry for the delay of this chapter. I hurt my wrist and type is a pain with a brace. And if you have any prompts just leave them in a review, PM me, or find me on tumblr my name is stormywithachance.

"No, it can't be set in the diner!" Belle screamed across the writer's room.

"Why the hell not? There needs to be a change of scenery. It's getting boring in the library," Victor yelled right back. Victor Whale was always trying to stay "cutting edge" as he called it. However that sometimes (a lot of the times) clashed with the way Belle felt it should go. Storytime in Storybrooke was a classic with a twist. Not a spin. Not a shake up. Just a twist.

The library set was her favorite place in the whole studio, she always felt the most comfortable there.

"The library is where the whole fucking story started! It's our headquarters, our Central Perk, our Hogwarts! Don't ruin Hogwarts Victor!"

Belle froze. She couldn't believe cursed, much less at an employee in front of all the writers and the producer Jefferson. She was just about to apologize when she heard the unmistakable tap of a cane against the linoleum floors. She closed her eyes for a second a sighed. While she would think it was a horrible coincidence that her boss just happened to be walking around their floor when she was a nervous breakdown, Mr. Gold had been spending much more time down here than his predecessor.

Jefferson had done some reconnaissance on Cameron Gold once they met him. Rumor had it he was nicknamed 'the beast' in the business world. He was the master of deals and contracts. He also worked his way from the bottom up, something Belle respected. However everything else she heard, made her wary of the man.

The whole room was silent as the imposing figure of Mr. Gold strolled into the office.

"Dearie, why don't you come to my office?" he said motioning at her.

She past Jefferson with a dreaded look in her eyes. He mouthed the words "good luck," which she took to be poor sarcasm.

They rode the elevator in silence and while it took everything she had she smiled at Mr. Dove when they walked by his desk.

"Have a seat," Mr. Gold said gesturing to the arm chairs near the window as he closed the door.

On the table surrounding the chairs was a decorated tea set. She sat down in the chair, the chair she would be fired in. She would be blacklisted in the entertainment industry, she would have to move back in with her father, work in the flower shop, she hated flowers. She taking a deep breath she decided she would at least go down with dignity, she wouldn't cry.

Mr. Gold took a sit across from her and started pouring the tea. She could help but watch his hands elegantly handle the antique.

"How do you take your tea dearie?" he asked.

"One spoon of sugar, no milk," she answered. He complied to her request and handed her the steaming cup. She mimed taking sips, since she felt anything would make her feel sick at the moment.

"I've met with many producers and writers, this past month, but none of them are even half as passionate as you are."

Passionate he had said, not mental, she thought, that was a good sign.

"Well, I love what I do."

"No, it's more than that, you have a personal connection with the story," he said almost softly.

Belle blinked at his analysis, no one had ever really figured out how she came up with the idea. Most figured she just wanted to push her pro-reading agenda on the masses. But once again, Mr. Gold seemed to see right through her, it was unnerving but also strangely comforting to find someone who understood her.

"I'm John," she answered quietly. His eyebrow rose at the statement.

"I mean, I was like John growing up. After my mother left me and my Dad when I was seven, we moved to the States. We lived in a small town, where everyone already had friends. I was the odd girl with the funny accent. My Dad spent most of his time working, trying to make sure I was taken care of, which I do appreciate, he helped me get through University. But I ended up spending most of my time in the library reading and daydreaming. When my Dad would have time off, we didn't have much money to do things, so we would watch TV. The show represent two important things from my childhood," she said all this very quickly without looking him in the eye.

"Interesting, I'll be sure to use that question in my next exit interview," he said. She instantly dropped the cup.

"That was quip, my dear," he said. She stared at him for a second but then grabbed the cup from the floor , she had broken the boss' antique tea set.

"I'm, uh… I'm so sorry, but, uh… It's… It's chipped. Y-You can hardly see it," she said showing him the damage.

"Well, it's just a cup," he said shrugging her off. "But we do need to talk about what to do about Mr. Whale."

"Dr. Whale," she corrected.

"Excuse me?"

"He has a PHD in English from Harvard, he never lets anyone forget it."

"Well Dr. Whale from Harvard, needs to be apologized to," he said rolling his eyes.

"Yes, I will definitely do that."

"However, make sure he knows this is still your show. You are the head writer, producer and creator."

Before she could reply, the door opened to reveal Ruby and her charge Baden, dressed in a school uniform. The six year old ran in and when he caught sight of her he launched himself at her.

"Belle! I've missed you!" he said, completely ignoring his father.

"I've missed you too," she laughed as she embraced the child.

"Bae, I thought you were excited to show your father your spelling test?" Ruby asked smiling.

Bae looked torn, but let go of Belle to go into his backpack and handed his father a piece of paper with a large A written in red ink and gold stars.

"Look Papa, I even spelled citizen right!"

Mr. Gold's whole face broke out into a grin. "Well done Bae, once we get home we'll put this on the frig."

Bae beamed at the praise. Ruby said her goodbyes muttering something about class and rushed off. Bae then climbed into Belle's lap, settling in while he was going stay there for a while.

"One does not simply sit in people's laps, Baden," Gold told him sternly. Belle was about to reply she didn't mind the child beat her to it.

"Belle isn't people, Belle is my friend," he said, but then paused to think. "We are friends, right Belle?"

He looked up at her with those warm brown eyes, eyes he must have gotten from his father.

"Yes we are," she said smiling at the boy, cuddling him closer. Belle always had a fondness for children. She was Jefferson's go to babysitter for his daughter Grace, when he had to work late. She loved the innocent imagination of children, she even collaborated with the actor Henry Swan on a few ideas for the show.

Belle wondered if Baden was wanting or even needing a little motherly love. Ruby was a wonderful friend, but she wasn't what you would call maternal.

Growing up, when Belle had just moved to the States and felt homesick, her father's cousin-in-law would give her the best hugs. She was soft and she smelled like cinnamon, she would pick her up and just rock her. Belle believed this was what a mother's love felt like. As she thought of of those times, she just held Bae closer, kissing the top his curly hair.

Mr. Gold eyed the pair of them.

"How was school today?" he asked.

"Belle, I think you should be on the show!" Bae said excitedly, ignoring his father's question.

"And why do you think that?"

"Because you look like a princess! But you wouldn't be a sissy princess like Cinderella, you would be a tough princess like Snow White! Plus you already have the name."

"We just need to find you a beast," Gold retorted smiling.

And Belle can't help but grin back, knowing who would be her first choice.

puzzle-dragon asked: Idiot Box Prompt: Mr. Gold asks Belle why the show means so much to her.

riskpig asked: IDIOT BOX PROMPT: Belle stands up to a particularly p.o.'d cast member.

Anonymous asked: Hi sweetheart! For your "the Idiot's Box" - Bae think Belle should be part of the show because she looks like a princess.