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"Just hold still. It'll burn for a moment."

Mr. Gold tried not to wince when his wife pressed the cloth to his head but failed. The cut on his forehead, courtesy of Ashley Boyd did not need stitches, but his eyes burned like mad and his head was throbbing. He'd been unconscious for nearly an hour and a half on the floor of his shop. Thankfully, Belle and Draco had found him and lead him home safely. Now, Belle was trying to clean the cut on his head and keep him awake until she finished, but his body was begging for sleep. When his wife finally finished, Gold let his head fall back on the pillows.

"My head is killing me. I need a drink."

Belle kissed the cut softly and began packing up the first aid kit."You can have the drink or your pills. You're not getting both."

He groaned and began contemplating which option would work best. In the end, his need for alcohol won out. After his decision, he felt his eyelid droop and was about to fall asleep when Belle's voice broke the silence.

"Rum?"

"Hmm?"

"No. I asked if you wanted the rum."

"Oh. No. I want something good. I'll take the scotch." Since coming to this world, Gold had found that Scottish whiskey was the closed thing he could get to the alcohol he'd had in his castle.

"Fine, but just half a glass. I don't want you end up like last time,"she said, pouring him a glass

He chuckled and rolled over to look at her."Like you really need alcohol to get me naked."

"I know I don't, but you don't need a hangover and a headache in the morning. You've got a busy day tomorrow."

As always, his wife had a point. Though she did not always like his dealings, she respected him and agreed not to interfere with whatever he planned. It was his business, and she wanted no part of it. Belle passed him the glass of scotch and carefully slid into bed next to him.

"Ah yes. Ashley. She's definitely still in town, but where she is another matter."

"She could go into labor any day now, so she's probably somewhere near the hospital unless she tries to leave town."

Gold took a sip from his glass and thought about Belle's words. If Ashley did try to leave town, it would end badly, but she didn't know that. He finished off the scotch, enjoying the burn as it went down, before rolling over and pulling Belle against him. She relax in his embrace and yawned loudly.

"If you waste time looking for her by yourself, chances are she'll slip away from you. You're better off having someone else look for her,"she said lazily.

Above her, her husband's eyes widened as a plan formed in his mind. With a wicked grin, he kissed her forehead.

"You're a genius, Belle. I love you."

Though confused, Belle mumbled it back before falling into a peaceful sleep. Still smiling, Gold closed his eyes as he thought about how his plan would go now thanks to Belle. Maybe she should help out with his deals from now on.

TBC

It's all downhill from here! Four days left!