Author's Note: So sorry for the delay. I'm going to try to finish this story by this summer.

Prompts: little-inkstone's prompt: Belle tries to ignore Gold during work after finding out he's 'dating' Cora. And tinuviel-undomiel's idea of Jefferson shipping them along with Bae and Ruby!

Belle had secluded herself in her office, going over the shooting schedule for next week. There was a head of departments meeting and she had feigned a headache and had gotten Jefferson to go without her.

She had decided to stay away from Gold after what she discovered. It hurt just to think about that man. Avoidance, it wasn't the most adult thing to do, but hell she was a producer of a children's program.

She was nearly done, signing off on the schedule when Jefferson came swaggering in (the man was always one for the dramatics, maybe that was reason he was in the industry).

"You have to go to the next meeting," Jefferson told her as he plopped himself down on the loveseat across from her desk.

"No, I don't," she said, pretending to find the papers in front of very interesting. "I don't ever have to see that man again."

"Oh my god, you slept with him!" Jefferson yelled. Belle winced at both the volume and the subject. She knew that most of the writers were working on another episode in the next room and she didn't want them to hear that, but they did, of course.

"Who did Belle sleep with?" August asked running to her office door, while Victor tagged behind smirking. Those two were the biggest gossip mongers in the whole building (though the security guard Leroy could give them a run for their money). She just wished they would save their lust for drama for the scripts.

"No one, get back to work," she grumbled, slamming the door in their faces.

"Then why can't you go to these stupid meetings? He was asking where you were. And he had questions only you could answer," Jefferson said.

Belle looked around the room as if searching for hidden writers or listening devices.

"Because he is sleeping with Regina's mother! That's the reason he made us get that witch on the show!"

Jefferson looked puzzled at her.

"Yeah so?"

"It's dirty dealings, I don't like it," she said shrugging, sitting back down at her desk.

"Yeah so?"

"So I don't like it!" she yelled standing up. Jefferson while being one of her best friends, also knew how to get under her skin, quickly.

"Why, Bluebell? We have dealt with so many dirty dealings since we started in this game. Why is this one bugging you?"

"I don't know."

"I think you do."

"Fuck off."

Jefferson gave her a cheshire grin and sauntered out of her office, leaving the door wide open.

And a few seconds later August was leaning against the door.

"Well Belle, if you do want to sleep with someone," he leered.

"I see those sexual harassment seminars have gone to waste Booth."

"I've learned a few things."

Instead of finding out what those things were, she threw a season one DVD at his head, and then made a mental note to make sure to volunteer August for every exercise in the upcoming company mandated sexual harassment class. If that didn't work… she would just tattle to his father Marco. Yes, Belle was very adult-like.

In the afternoon Belle was looking through wardrobe once again signing off on things, she really should get a stamp. She stopped in the middle of looking over Red Riding Hood's cloak when she heard some familiar voices. She peaked through the clothes as if she was looking for Narina.

Bae was sitting on a table in his adorable school uniform, drinking from a juice box.

"Papa says he hasn't seen Belle for a while, I think he misses her."

"Really?" asked Ruby drinking from her juice box. "Hey Jeff you know anything about that?"

Her traitor best friend and producer looked far from innocent.
"Bae why don't you see if Granny will show you the knight's suit of armor in the next room?" Jefferson said.

The little boy jumped down and excitedly ran from the room.

"She is upset because she thinks Gold is sleeping with Cora Mills, Regina's mother."

"Ew, no," Ruby said making a face. "He had a thing with her before he was married, years and years ago. But now he hates her with an undying passion of hate."

"And how do you know that information Red," he asked bemused.

"Archie told me, when Gold refused to go to some charity auction for a museum or gallery or something. Mills was on the board and he said he was going to stay the hell away from that woman…. Wait why does Belle think they are sleeping together?"

"I don't know, I guess she ran into Cora at King's cocktail party a few nights ago. If she is anything like Regina then she must love causing drama."

"Very true…" she said, and Jefferson shivered. "What's the matter?"

"I'm just imagining two Reginas."

They both laughed. She furious that her two friends were talking about her behind her back. But at the same time she felt like a pressure had alleviated from her heart.

And before Belle could sneak out the back door, she felt a tug at her skirt and turned around to find Bae grinning at her.

"Are you playing hide and seek?" he asked excitedly, looking around for "it."

"Oh, no Bae, I was just going over the costume for the next episode…" she said gesturing to the clothes rack.

"Okay. I've missed you!" he said earnestly.

Belle scooped him up for tight hug and told him she missed him too.

"I've got to go, but I'll see you soon," she said putting him down. "And don't tell Ruby or Jefferson I was here… I'm… umm…"

She couldn't ask the child to lie for her so she exited, quickly (again super mature).

She was walking away so fast (in high heels which may have been a few inches too high) that ran straight into him.

"Miss Belle," Mr. Gold said curtly, his hands on her arms, attempting to keep her from falling. However once he noticed he was touching her, he instantly let go.

"Mr. Gold."

"I hope your head is feeling better."

"Um, yes, thank you," she answered, remembering her lie. "You're looking for Bae?"

"Yes."

"He is in costuming with Ruby."

"Thank you."

He turned to walk away.

"Wait."

"Yes, dearie?" he asked bluntly.

"I saw Bae in there and he said he missed me and I missed him as well. And he is such a fan of the show, do you think he would like to be an extra? Next week John is going to read to the younger kids at the library and I think Bae would be perfect for it!"

Gold's expression shifted as quickly as she talked. When she spoke of his son with love, his face softened.

"I think that would be the highlight of his young life," he told her with a smile.

"I'll send Mr. Dove the information."

He reached into his pocket for a rarely used business card.

"Or you could just contact me directly," he said handing it to her. "Though I'll ask you not to give this number out, it's my personal cell phone."

"Yes, of course," she told him grasping the card.

And as he walked away she knew Jefferson was right. She knew exactly what she was feeling for Mr. Gold and she was in trouble.