A Golden Interlude

Author's Note: A few people have asked for some of the story from Gold's point of view. So instead of changing it all around here are three ficlets that are insight into his mind. Also it was just an excuse to write more fluffy Bae and Gold moments.

While Cameron Gold did enjoy the show Storytime in Storybrooke, it was smart but children appropriate, what he enjoyed even more was watching his six-year-old reaction to the show.

Baden would sit next to him in his pajamas, blanket and teddy bear in hand. He would giggle at the jokes, put his blanket over his head when the ogres came, and cheer when the heroes saved the day.

"Papa that was the best Storytime EVER," Bae said excitedly. Gold just smiled at his, not reminding him, the boy said that after every episode.

Bae jumped off the couch and ran over to his child-size table and took out some paper and his crayons.

"What are you doing son?" he asked curiously. "Bedtime is in a few minutes."

"I know, I just want to write a letter to Belle, telling her that it was the best ever!" he answered his father, taking out his favorite blue crayon and writing away.

Dear Belle:

How are you? I love Storytime. The show was the best. I can't wait to go to school and play ogres and knights with my friends. Playing pretend is the best. I love the show. I love you. I hope to see you soon and we can play.

Love,

Bae

"Papa, can you give this to Belle tomorrow when you go to work? I have karate class and won't be able to visit you at work," he said almost solemnly.

"Yes, dear one, I can do that," Mr. Gold smiled, though he did feel guilty that he was using his son's love of the show and it's creator as an excuse to visit the lovely Belle French.

Cameron Gold shuffled the tedious forms around his desk. He loved making a deal, even writing up contracts, but after the deal was struck, it all became a boring mess to him.

"Mr. Gold, Baden is on line one," Mr. Dove said through the intercom.

Gold quickly answered the phone, he son rarely called him.

"Bae, what is it son?" he asked trying to keep the panic out of his voice.

"Papa, I need help on a homework assignment," his son told him. Gold breathed a sigh of relief.

"What is the project?"

"I need to write about a person I admire. But it can't be our parents or else I would write about you."

Gold grinned, all the awards hanging up in his office paled in comparison to his son's words.

"So what do you need from me?"

"I want to interview Belle, because she is smart and nice and really cool. And Ruby said I should plan to meet her and she only has her cell phone number, but Belle turns off her cell phone when she is writing and Ruby says by the time Belle is done working its past my bedtime. So could I please have her work phone number?"

Gold marveled at both the way his son could say so many words without taking a breathe and that they shared an infatuation with the same woman. Well they did have good taste. He gave his son the phone number that he may have already had memorized.

Before he had a child, he loved working all hours of the day. But now that he had Baden, his favorite moments happened when he was out of the office.

Today was their junk food day as Bae liked to call it. Gold wanted the best for his son, in every way including nutrition. However, having one day a week where they didn't look at nutritional value was okay. The diner was suggested by their new neighbors, Freddie and Abigail, who both had lived in New York their whole lives and were better than any Zagat guide.

He expected to see Bae and his nanny waiting for him, in their favorite booth. However, what he did find was his son and the woman who had been plaguing his thoughts for the past month, giggling over milkshakes. She wore a beautiful lace blue dress, that made her eyes sparkle, not that he was looking at her eyes.

"Miss French, what are you doing here?" he asked as casually as possible.

Her face fell at his words.

"Bae, said, I thought you knew I was coming along. He made it sound like it was your idea." she said looking from him to the boy.

He looked at his son, who instantly attempted to look guilty, he even added a slight pout for effect.

"I'm so sorry, I don't want to intrude," she said getting up grabbing her purse, however he stopped her by holding her hands, surprising even himself.

"No, please stay. If Bae had asked, I would have agreed."

"Which is why I said she could come!" Bae said suddenly smiling again. "Plus I need to finish our interview."

Belle scooted back into the booth. Gold sat across from her and his son.

"Have you ordered yet?" he asked.

"No, just the milkshakes, we wanted to wait for you," Bae said, rolling his pencil in his hand. "Okay, Belle, what is your favorite color?"

"Blue," she answered with a smile. Blue was becoming Gold's favorite color as well.

"Favorite food?"

"Chocolate cake."

Bae struggled spelling the first word, but before he could assist him, Belle told him, "CHO-CO-LATE."

Bae just grinned at her and finished spelling the word correctly. Gold tried to concentrate on his son and not the way Belle's lips pursed around the straw of her strawberry milkshake.

"Why do you like writing?"

"It's fun to make up stories in my head. It's like playing pretend."

The waitress came to take their orders, the three of them ordering hamburgers and fries.

"I think that's it. Papa can you think of any questions for Belle?" Bae asked.

Yes he could think of many questions, but none of them were appropriate.

The next day after long meetings and boring small talk he finally made his way home. While he wanted to be successful for Bae's future, he also wanted to be a proper father to him and missing a few hours with son always upset him.

He found Bae and his nanny Ruby on the living room floor, playing some kind of spelling word game with flash cards. He didn't much care for the girl, but she came highly recommended and Bae adored her, which was all that really mattered.

"Hello Mr. Gold, Louis left you a plate of dinner in the oven," Miss Lucas told him. Bae just waved at his father, he was immersed in the game.

Gold decided to eat his dinner at the kitchen counter, instead of the dining room. He prefered the kitchen because there were mementos and reminders of Bae everywhere. His colorful plastic plates and cups were stacked neatly in the clear cabinet. The rainbow bread that Bae swore taste better than "boring bread" was on the counter. The refrigerator was covered with his good grades, letter magnets and artwork.

A new drawing caught his eye. It was obviously of Baden and him in the park, but there was a woman there. She had blue eyes and brown curly hair. Could Bae be drawing his mother? His friend Archie Hopper, told him Bae may start asking questions on why he never saw his mother. Gold never wanted to lie to his son, but he couldn't tell him, he was unwanted.

He looked at the drawing closer, the woman seemed to have some kind of square with writing in her hands.

"Papa, you've seen my new drawing!" Bae said excitedly walking into the room.

"Yes, who is this?" he said pointing at the woman.

Bae rolled his eyes (should six-year-olds be rolling their eyes, Gold thought making a mental note to ask Archie).

"It's Belle, of course! Don't you see the book in her hand?" he told his father.

"Oh yes of course Miss French."

"I'm going to draw another one, so she can her own drawing on her frig," Bae said, grabbing a squeeze box of apple juice.

Gold knew he should be thankful that Bae wasn't missing his mother, but he also knew he should be worried that his son was drawing pictures of Belle, the woman his father was falling for and had little to no chance of ever being with.

Prompts: Idoit Box!Bae, when you're watching Storytime in Stroybrooke (or any other time) does your Papa ever talk about Belle?

Bae arrives from school and shows a drawing he made: He with his father and with Belle.