Chapter 17: Daydreams
Belle didn't know what to say. Of course her answer was yes, how could it be anything else? The man just offered her a library...rescued her books and those beautiful bookshelves which were her prized possessions in that store, and was offering her a home. But could she really accept it? This gift laid out in front of her by a man she wanted desperately to love, to be equal with, could she accept it?
"It's...it's too much. Mr. Gold, I just...you can't just give me a library, an apartment...my things. It's too much!" she finally exclaimed, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.
Mr. Gold frowned, "If I hadn't of purchased your things you would have lost them. I couldn't buy just the library. To get the town to agree I had to buy the properties as a group. Apparently all the buildings that I've purchased from the respective banks were all in states of foreclosure or pre foreclosure.
"The businesses here are failing. There isn't enough revenue and money coming into the town to support the apartments, the diner, the library - which is why it's closed, no funding. The pawnshop has been closed for quite a while I was informed. The funding for the police department has been cut. You lost your store... Storybrooke hasn't been able to find a mayor, nor does it have the funding to support one."
"It was the first thing I noticed about the town when I arrived. This place should be booming, especially in the fall. This is a beautiful town, it should be bringing tourists in in droves..." Mr. Gold found himself pacing and gesturing, hand flexing nervously on the handle of his cane.
Belle was silent looking at him, "You bought our town...to save it? Save me?"
Mr. Gold paused, "Yes... and in part to save me too," he moved to sit in a chair next to her.
"My entire career, the majority of life has been about selling off businesses, downsizing people. I had the chance to save a few...and the woman I've come to care for...deeply. I've spent every spare moment and I've still my best team going over plans and projections and my PR people coming up with proposals to make this town thrive again. If I can destroy, I can also build. My bailout, so to speak will not save this town, it's just prolonging death. The saving has to come from within... I've tied up most my assets in these businesses. My personal fate is tied to this town...I'm invested in it. In you."
He looked desperately at Belle hoping for her to say something, to break his awkward rambling but she just stared at him wide eyed.
"The library is safe, it's guarded. I've made sure of that... It's cared for and yours to do with as you decide fit. I haven't been able to disclose all this to the city yet. My plan is that my team will have a viable blueprint that I can present to the city council and city business owners... The pawnshop is mine though, that was separate. I intend to stay here Belle."
Belle's heart was pounding like a jackhammer in her chest, she was struggling for breath, "This, this is a lot Mr. Gold. You seem to be making a habit of knocking me off my feet..." she laughed nervously.
Mr. Gold's fingers danced anxiously, one hand on his cane, the other on the arm of the chair, "Aye, I suppose. I've just had to move quickly, everything has deadlines dearie and I'm afraid even I am subject to them."
She nodded, "Raising the rent?" she asked softly.
"To appease the banks. Had to show somehow a good faith gesture that I would have ways of paying them their money. I obviously didn't have enough capital to purchase out right every one of businesses, so I purchased their debt and loans from the bank at a profit to the bank, securing their investment with my capital."
"That makes sense..." she sounded almost surprised, she looked overwhelmed.
Mr. Gold quirked a grin at her and arched an eyebrow.
"Well! What were we all supposed to think? I mean it is a little shady..." she defended.
He laughed, "I suppose, but it didn't stop you from trusting me, did it?"
Belle lifted her shoulders, "No, I trusted you then, and I trust you now. It just looked a little shady, really shady actually."
Mr. Gold laughed again, "Yes, yes it did. But, I hope that after everything can revealed people might be a little less hostile toward me?"
Belle shrugged again, "I wouldn't hold my breath just yet...but it certainly can't hurt."
Mr. Gold looked surprised, until he saw the teasing twinkle in her blue eyes, "Very cute my dear."
They sat in silence, absorbing the information.
"So...this is really mine?" Belle finally whispered.
Mr. Gold turned to look at her, she was staring into the light that was catching dust particles and making them dance.
"Yes."
"And you're staying in Storybrooke?"
"Yes..."
She nodded, still not looking at him.
"Are you going to ask me out?" she finally turned her head, cheeks blushing, a small smile turning the corners of her mouth up.
"Oh, aye. I was thinking about it just now actually. Are you hungry Ms. French?"
"Absolutely famished Mr. Gold, I would fancy a hamburger...with pickles...and mustard. I like mustard with my fries."
Mr. Gold stood, offering her a hand, "Indeed, condiments are rather magical..."
She grinned, accepting his hand and together they exited the library arm and arm.
Three Weeks Later...
The Storybrooke City Hall was packed; there was barely standing room. The council was seated at their table looking out on the crowd. At one of the two large tables in front of the benches sat Mr. Gold, a stack of glossy papers, a yellow notepad, his briefcase and a banker's box set neatly beside him.
Much had happened in the three weeks since Mr. Gold had been able to reveal his plan to Belle. For one, Mr. Gold had had to fight Regina Mills to keep control of his company. It didn't look entirely sane for the CEO of a worldwide company to sell his home, tie up the majority of his assets, which included a large piece of Baelfire, into the purchasing of a large chunk of a small failing Maine city.
Regina had swayed the majority of the board into ousting Mr. Gold with a vote of no confidence, only with sheer tenacity and a bit of the famous Crocodile intimidation did Mr. Gold persuade the board to wait, to hear him out at this Town Hall. True to the agreement the back row of the audience was comprised of the board of Baelfire, all staring at their CEO.
"Mr. Gold, you would address the council?" Sydney Glass, council spokesperson announced after hitting the gavel to bring the session to a start.
"Yes, Spokesperson Glass, I would like to address all of Storybrooke's residents, if I may," Mr. Gold brandished a dramatic gesture at the packed room; there was a hint of a smug grin on his face.
Belle watched from the row directly behind Mr. Gold's table, she was fidgeting nervously. She knew that Mr. Gold's smug grin and twitches of dramatic gesture were nervous ticks of a sort, his armor against things that he was unsure of, ways to cover the nervousness of his body, she prayed though that the town, the council would be receptive despite it the smugness.
"Proceed Mr. Gold," Sydney nodded.
"Thank you," Mr. Gold nodded. He stepped around the table and to the side of the room where he had brought two large display boards; which were currently covered with black cloth, hiding the content beneath.
"As most of you know my name is Mr. Gold, though some of you may know me by my moniker the Crocodile. You may know that I am founder and CEO of Baelfire Consulting. If you know that then you know that my company deals in predominately the restructuring and often downsizing of companies and their employees…"
Belle nervously looked around and tried to hear the mutterings of the crowd. They weren't very welcoming or understanding mutterings.
"Now, I am sure what you're thinking is not very good…and I know you've heard some rumors…" Mr. Gold went on.
"Let me assure you these rumors are true," he paused and the room nearly broke out in an uproar of angry protests, "and also untrue."
The crowded quieted down as they watched Mr. Gold take off the cover of one board.
"I purchased several businesses in Storybrooke, but not to close them, not to put their owners out of work but because I believe in this town. I believe in it's potential for greatness…" Mr. Gold began to indicate the board.
"Storybrook is a beautiful, charming town that is made up of great, loving and wonderful people. It's natural beautiful is unparalleled, but also underappreciated," he motioned to the map where Storybrooke was marked with a red dot, just a few miles off of Maine's most frequented scenic byway, "Nobody knows where this town is, few have heard of it and because of that can't enjoy it…can't grow to love it, as I have in my short stay here…Perhaps most importantly they can't spend their money here."
The room had fallen nearly silent as Mr. Gold pointed to the buildings on the board, "Historic buildings, fall foliage, a marina, some of the finest cooking in the state…even if the lasagna is a bit overpriced," he teased gently and the room snickered while Granny's cheeks pinked.
"This town has struggled, struggled with a down turning economy, with a changing world, what I am proposing, what I am offering is not to dismantle this town, run you out – as some have suggested," Mr. Gold's glance at Sydney wasn't noticed by anyone but Belle.
"I do not want to do that. I want to preserve everything that is good about this town…and share it with the world. We can make this town thrive again, we can share everything that makes this map dot," Mr. Gold gestured emphatically to the map, "Special and in turn make it thrive and you thrive, your children thrive…" with no loss of showmanship he twirled the remaining cloth off of the second board.
Beautifully rendered sketches of the town were displayed. The Clock Tower restored and glowing, the doors of the library beneath gleaming.
The apartments were renovated but still quaint and oozed of charm.
A new park was envisioned with fountains and statues. An open market for the artisans would be there on the weekends for tourists and locals alike.
Granny's had a new sign and the B&B had never looked more welcoming.
Then there was the town sign it's self. Stylized in an old fashioned manner with swooping lettering and carefully carved angles, the caption simply said, "Step inside a storybook, step amongst fairytales."
The last sketch was perhaps the most the chilling, the most whispered about. It was the pawnshop, reimagined as the Law Offices of Roderick Gold, the sign blatant and bold.
"I want to invest myself here, I want to see this town succeed. Together we can make Storybrooke everything it can be, we can show this town to a new group of people."
Mr. Gold had come to the close of his initial presentation and looked quietly at the room.
Belle also looked around, looking for reaction. They weren't unreceptive it didn't seem, completely convinced though? She wasn't sure. She risked a look at the board of Baelfire and they were just as unreadable. She gave Mr. Gold an encouraging smile and a small nod.
"These are grand plans I know, but I believe in this town. I believe in this town like I have in few other things. These are not just lofty, cosmetic or whimsical plans I give you…" Mr. Gold moved back to his table to pick up the stack of papers, which were cost breakdowns, the pubic town budget, the nitty-gritty, as it were.
"These are your numbers, these are the numbers of your town, the budget and the costs for the changes and plans I have proposed. These are also the numbers and the inevitable outcome if you do not get revenue into this this town, quickly. They are not pretty, they are black and white…well, in this case mostly red," Mr. Gold had to fight down a sardonic snicker as he passed the sheets around.
"This town can generate money, it can secure it's future but I cannot do it alone, I cannot infuse any more capital into it – you have to save yourselves, but I can help you…"
Mr. Gold turned to the council, "Help me, help you… Can we make a deal council?"
Sydney Glass arched an eyebrow as he accepted the papers.
He didn't say no.
The meeting lasted well into the night. The tables were pushed together up against the long table of the council, creating a War Table at Mr. Gold and the board of Baelfire found themselves tearing around the carefully prepared reports that Mr. Gold's teams had put together. There was salvation in those pages for the town; even those most resistant could see it. Belle was beyond heartened to see the Baelfire board so engrossed in the project, they were a group of affluent business people who couldn't help be enchanted by the idea of 'rescuing' a small town.
The plan was many fold. There was the tourist campaign, the festivals, the promotions and ads. There were the financial prospects and tiered loan systems and interest rates. There were prearranged deals and understandings with banks across the country. There were suspicious owners and stubborn council members.
Belle was just coming through the doors with another two carriers of coffee and hot cocoa from Granny's, she paused looking to the tables where at the head facing her stood Mr. Gold. He had shed his suit jacket a long time before, the sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up to his elbows, his tie was gone, probably somewhere with his jacket. The top buttons were undone. He was leaning over the table, hands braced as his face twisted dramatically with whatever he was passionately speaking about. His brogue was easily heard, distinct in the room and she adored hearing it.
Belle felt heat starting to pool into her stomach and it made her toes curl. Her breath was lost as she watched him. He was so magnificent. For a moment she let herself watch and enjoy the show.
He didn't allow her to enjoy the performance uninterrupted for long though as he seemed to sense her presence even in the crowd and straightened, eyes locking onto hers.
The smile that spread across his face was absolutely glorious. It was joy and perfection and light. If she hadn't already been in love she would have been then.
She blushed and her eyes dropped as she moved forward offering the cups around, ending with Mr. Gold.
"Thank you sweetheart," he said quietly as he accepted the cup and brushed her fingers with his.
"You're welcome…I haven't seen these before," she reached out to tap the apparent reading glasses that were slid into the little pocket of his suit vest.
"I seldom need them. I thought tonight might run long…I was right," he looked at the council locked in heated debated.
"Hm, well, put them on…let me see," she grinned folding her arms across her chest.
Mr. Gold smirked at her but obliged and slipped the wire frames onto his face, "Happy?"
Belle swallowed hard and leaned close to his ear, "You've no idea," then she kissed his cheek.
He laughed a wonderful, throaty sound and shook his head turning back to the table.
Belle wasn't surprised that Mr. Gold was as good as he was rumored to be, not really. There was a confidence, an honest arrogance about the man that you couldn't help notice upon first seeing him, you couldn't help but be attracted to in some way. Not in the romantic way, or in her case not only in the romantic way. There was something about a man, a person that was so sure of himself that he walked as if he owned the world, a man that owned the world but didn't need to flaunt it.
Mr. Gold didn't flaunt it that was for sure. His reputation of course preceded him, how could it not, she thought back to the day she had first met him, the day he had first entered her shop. All casual arrogance but still, still there was something there, something different. Something more. There were lines of humility and effort and hard work. Understanding and wisdom, there was so much more to this man than so many saw. The more she had come to know him the more right she realized she was.
She could not be more in love with this man, it almost felt crippling, all these feelings she had for him. Watching him interact with Emma, getting to know Neal, fighting for Storybrooke…fighting for her. Standing up to Milah for her, enduring the hostility of her friends because they were her friends. The small, silly texts and the long phone calls they had come to share over the weeks as he split his time between Boston trying to tie up lose ends, and supervising the remodeling of the pawnshop and his many duties here. He had asked her to help him in restoring The Rose Gold House; they were scheduled to begin next week.
She hadn't ever imagined she could be this happy. From losing her mom, to the problems with her father, the debacle of Rupert, the failure of her store… She was so blissfully happy now, the only thing left, the only piece left out of the puzzle was the council signing off on, and the businesses getting on board with Mr. Gold's plan for Storybrooke's salvation. If they could just shore that up, secure that piece…her puzzle of a life would finally feel complete.
"Sweetheart…Belle, Belle love, wake up, it's time to go…" Mr. Gold's soft lilt broke through her dream.
"Hm?" she murmured through her haze, sitting up from the bench she had apparently dozed off on.
"You fell asleep, everyone has gone home, come on then…up you go," he tenderly helped her up, supporting her with an arm around her waist as she scrubbed at her eyes.
"Oh, I didn't mean to fall asleep," she said around a wide yawn.
"No worries at all darling, but let's get you home…" he held her coat up for her to shrug into, even as she was still yawning.
"Did everyone one come to a conclusion?"
Mr. Gold hesitated as he guided her to the front doors, "Yes, yes they did, we'll be going through with the plans," he said softly.
"Oh truly?! Roderick that is wonderful!" she exclaimed fully awake now and she turned to throw her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.
Mr. Gold smiled into her hair as he returned her tight hug, "Yes love, it is…very good indeed.
Belle pulled away slightly so that she could look him in the eyes, search his face, her brow furrowed, "Something is wrong? Why do you sound sad?"
Mr. Gold tipped his head, "Not sad…resigned perhaps? It's a big undertaking; a lot of lives in my hands…people trusting me. More than a few are questioning if I can follow this through, they wonder if a crocodile can change his spots, such as they are. I still may lose Baelfire, the board is satisfied that I haven't lost my mind but are considering putting Regina in as operational CEO while I'm tied up here and that sits wrong. Baelfire is my company, but at least I still retain my majority share and control – so long as Storybrooke succeeds… I guess I am just really for the first time realizing I have something very much I don't want to lose…"
She frowned at him, "You aren't going to lose Baelfire, Storybrooke is going to flourish. Everything is going to work out…you'll see," she smiled at him, lifting her hands to cup his face.
"I believe in you Mr. Gold…and you're going to be wonderful!"
He shied away a bit, chin dropping as he leaned his cheek into her palm, "Funnily enough, I'm not as worried about losing Baelfire as all that, I mean I don't want to but it's not just what worries me. In all of this I've been motivated by one thing. I changed everything for one thing and the idea that this one thing is fragile and something I could lose? It scares me. I think tonight I came to think of it more, think of the circumstances that brought us together... I worry that I could lose you and I can't lose you Belle. All of this? All of this never would have been possible without you."
"If not for you I never would have come to Storybrooke, I never would have reunited with Neal, never would have known he existed in all likelihood. I never would have changed, never would done a thing differently. I would have continued on just as I was and I would have died, alone and miserable without a truly good thing to my name. Belle, do you have any idea how you've saved me?"
"Do you know how you brought air to this drowning man? From the moment I saw you…reading that blasted fairytale book, you inspired something in me. You chipped away the vanity, the selfishness and self-centeredness. You broke away my cold, dark heart and reintroduced me to goodness. You made me want to go back to that best version of myself, that good and pure version that wasn't so jaded, so bleak and unfeeling toward people and not since my mother have I felt that way… When I think how the fates had to align, how luck and destiny and all that hokum had to be just right for you to come into my life, I realize I'm the luckiest man in the world, but also I'm reminded at how fragile life is and how quickly I could lose it…and I worry," he sighed.
Belle absorbed his words and swallowed hard. There was much she could attempt to say back, list dramatically thing upon thing to try and reassure him, to prod him out of this moody reflection but she didn't, she just smiled leaned to kiss his cheek, "Mr. Gold, I love you. We are meant to be, of that I am sure. There is nothing else that you need worry about, I'm here, and I'm not leaving or disappearing. We've got the whole rest of our lives to figure everything else out…for now, I think you should take me home as I'm tired and would like curl up by the fire with my very own Beast with Crocodile spots, perhaps you can read me story, I do so love stories…"
Mr. Gold could hardly argue with that and with those few words she had dusted off his melodramatic ruminations and eased his mind. He mayhap be a beast, but he was her beast and he was very okay with that. Arm and arm they left the Storybrooke city hall walking in the encroaching winter moonlight.
They walked silently until Belle stilled him with a hand upon his arm, "Look…" she pointed suddenly to the sky just behind and to the right of the clock tower, "A shooting star…make a wish," she said hurriedly as the stars winked and dazzled around them.
Mr. Gold looked from the sky to the shinning face of his love, mouth quirked in the half smile she loved, "No need…I've got more than I ever dreamed possible right here…" and with that he bent his head and sought a kiss from his True Love.
And They Lived Happily Ever After
AN: So…yeah, when I started writing this chapter I didn't realize it was the end until a few paragraphs in…and it really made me somewhat sad. I love this story; I really, really, really love this story. This is possible my favorite story so far that I've written. I may revisit it with at least an epilogue (it would just totally make my little fanfic writing heart to get 200 reviews on something lol)…but I will in no way promise that… All that being said I've no wish really to draw this out or make an overly dramatic ado about nothing but do know that every single word of every single review you all took the time to write absolutely mean the world and I appreciate them more than you know.
I know the road here was bumpy and so VERY long and you more than put up with my hiatuses (which were almost as long as the ones OUaT went on lol) my drama, my lack of any kind of beta and wild tangents…so thank you so much. I'll be taking more to write to you all and thank you for your support, because as I said…you made this story happen.
So, enough from me, I hope you enjoyed and I hope to see you again soon in perhaps some other pages of a fairytale or two :) – with all my love, RaeAnne
Oh and yes…I totally nodded to the phone conversation in The Millers Daughter ;-)