It was Gold's morning lecturer and Ruby had become hyper aware of Belle's behaviour around their teacher. She'd noticed how Belle had started wearing clothes that where just that little bit more revealing. That morning she favoured a white empire waist dress with thin straps and came down to her mid thigh. It was coupled with a mini black leather jacket that Ruby had given her as a birthday gift a few years before, and a pair of black leather heeled ankle boots. Ruby had to admit she looked sexy and Jefferson would have been proud of the outfit what with being a fashion student and all, the man had aspirations of becoming a costume designer.

Gold was handing out the King Lear reports when his cell phone sounded. People rarely called him and when they did it wasn't good. His cane tap, tap, tapped as he made his way down to his desk. Belle gave him her full attention, probably hoping nothing was wrong.

"Hello."

They heard him say quietly. It was like slow motion watching his face drop, there was no emotion, he just went blank. Belle felt the instant urge to run to him and pull Cameron into her arms, but she forced herself to stay in her seat. He slumped into his chair listening to whoever was on the other end of the line for a moment.

"That's it for today. Everybody out. Now." He suddenly shouted.

The class wasted no time, they were terrified of him and practically sprinted out the door. That was all except Belle and Ruby.

"You should go to him, I know you want to Belle."

"What?! No."

Belle shifted from foot to foot trying to hide her feelings for the still blank man over at his desk.

"Don't try to hide it Belle, I know he's the mysterious boyfriend you've been hiding."

"No he's not." She said far too quickly.

"Yeah he is Belle. I've seen the way you look at him."

Belle knew she was solved, no one could hide anything from Ruby for long; she was like a bloodhound or maybe a wolf.

"Please don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone, not even Victor and Jefferson." She looked over to Professor Gold, her high ponytail swishing with her movements. "You should go to him, he looks like he needs you."

Ruby gave a confused and worried Belle a kiss on the cheek and then left the lecturer hall, her flowing red summer dress dancing on the soft breeze. Belle knew Ruby would tell no one, Ruby was a good person. Not wanting to leave Cameron on his own with whatever had happened she left her things and padded down the steps to his desk, just as she reached him he hung up the cell phone.

"Cam? Cam are you alright?"

She crouched down by his side and looked up at him, eyes filled with concern. Cameron eventually tilted his head to meet her eyes, he didn't look sad or angry just...shocked. Belle cupped his cheek and whispered.

"What's wrong?"

"Milah, she's dead."

"Oh. I'm sorry." Belle didn't know what to say, she knew he and his ex-wife had problems.

"You don't have to be, I didn't love her anymore."

"Still she was your wife once." A thought struck her. "What will happen to your son?"

"He's my son, I'll take care of him like I always have. I em...I need to go get him."

Cam stood pulling Belle up with him. He shook his head trying desperately to get his thoughts straight.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Cam took a deep breath at her words. "You can say no, you know."

"No, no I want you to come."

XXXX

Cam wasn't sad that Milah had died, all the love he felt for her had long since faded to nothingness. Milah had left him years ago and it had crushed him. She'd never wanted a child and then after years of divorce they had a massive argument that turned into a one-night stand. That was just over two years ago and soon after he found he was to be a father...and she took the baby away from him. He hated her for that, only ever getting to see his son on holidays and every few weeks. Cameron had stopped feeling after that, of course that was until he met Belle; he only had room in his heart for Belle and Baedan now.

When a woman from social services pushed the two-year old into his arms Cameron's heart flared with love for the small boy. He was beautiful with his chocolate eyes that matched his father's perfectly, a maternal instinct suddenly triggered in Belle and she wanted nothing more than to hold Bae. He was the most perfect thing she had ever seen, Bae had dark brown almost black hair with the most kissable tiny hands.

The child slept all the way back to Gold's home, he'd tired himself out earlier in the morning crying. As they approached the door to his salmon house Belle dipped her hand into Cameron's left inside pocket where he kept his keys and opened the door punching in his alarm code, she had been there so many times before that she'd memorized it. OLIVIA, she meant to ask him who Olivia was, but she always forgot. From his dog bed came a large Belgian Sheepdog, a happy look of his face.

"Hey Kubla." She beamed at the animal. "How have you been, boy?" Belle gave the dog a scratch behind the ears and pressed a kiss to Kubla's forehead.

Kubla had been wary of her at first, but soon warmed when he realized how much his owner cared for her. He was a dark chocolate color with a tiny white patch on his oh so fluffy tummy. Belle had figured the name out instantly much to Gold's surprise; he was named Kubla after the poem 'Kubla Khan' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A crazy but happy poem about a dream, crazy but happy was the perfect way to describe Kubla.

"Would you mind taking his bag?"

"Of course." Belle took the sky blue bag packed with everything from clothes to Bae's favourite teddy bear that Cameron had on day named Humphrey. "Door at the end, yeah?"

Cam nodded and followed her and Kubla up the stairs and into Bae's room. It was different from the rest of the house and to be honest Belle would have killed to have had a room like that when she was young. The floor was a wonderful dark wood that looked up at a heavenly blue ceiling. The white walls made it look larger than it was, but the little pictures of Kubla and different cartoon wild animals made it look cosy. In front of the little bed was a giant plush St. Bernard that had clearly been cuddled often, it was so lifelike that for a moment Belle though Cam had gotten a new dog.

They spent the rest of the evening caring for the child and playing with him. Belle didn't know if she should have been ashamed for imagining them as a family, even if she should have been Belle couldn't bring herself to do it. 'Do you want to stay' he had asked and Belle had grinned wider than she thought possible, Belle had never stayed the night but she didn't want to leave him alone with Bae after such tragedy. She'd quickly called Ruby and after much teasing they had said their 'good nights'. Belle was going to indulge her little family fantasy.

When the sun had gone down and Bae had gone to sleep Belle forced Cam into a kissing match on his bed. She was happy, happier than she had been in a long time.

"I. love. You." She said in between kisses.

"I love you to, Belle."

His hand slipped under the fabric of his charcoal black shirt that she has raided from his closet for the night, and he teased his long fingers up her thighs. Belle couldn't help her moan as the kiss deepened that was, until Bae started crying.

"I'm sorry Belle." Cameron sighed.

"No, no it's alright. Bae is more in important."

With a grateful smile he untangled himself from the beauty and wandered off down the hall towards the crying toddler. Kubla came running in and jumped onto the bed seeking attention.

"Hey Kubla." She kissed his head and scratched the belly he so quickly offered. Belle wanted to ask what happened to Cam's ex-wife, but there would be time for that and she didn't want to ruin their evening, Ruby would tease her later for it but she didn't care. She could hear Cameron's Scottish brogue soothing the child but the cries didn't stop, in fact they grew louder as Cameron returned with the toddler cuddled close.

"Kubla, go to your bed." The animal obeyed her and padded off to his navy lounger dog bed on the other side of the bedroom, Belle thought it looked more comfortable than her own bed. "Good boy."The bed even had Kubla's name sewn into it.

Cameron lay down next to Belle with Bae on his chest, the two-year old clung to his father's silk night shirt as his tears darkened the fabric and Belle couldn't help but smile at the love Cam had for his son.

"Milah used to do this for him when he was a baby, rest him on her chest, it helped relax him." Cam's attempt didn't seem to be helping. "Maybe he's grown out of it."

Belle's heart ached that Cam had not been allowed to spend every moment with his son, it was clear how much that hurt the older man. A thought came to Belle.

"Perhaps it still does." He looked at her with confusion. "Maybe it's because you're not a woman."

"What do you mean?"

"Well there are clear differences between out chests. May I?" She gestured to a still crying Bae.

"Sure."

Belle took the child and rested him on her chest. Bae gripped the silk shirt instantly and within a few moments started to slow his tears until there was nothing but little hiccups. Even Kubla was pleased for the quiet.

"Just needed a woman's touch then." He teased.

"Here." She made to pass the child back but Cam stopped her.

"No, he's happy with you."

Belle felt the trust that Cam had placed in her and it only fed her teenage fantasy.

"I can help you with him if you'd like?" She hoped beyond hope.

"I would like that, Belle. Very much." He turned on his side and pushed a strand of curly auburn hair behind her ear. "But what about class? You need all the rest you can get."

"Well I have a very qualified person to help me from home." She kissed his warm lips. "And in six months I'm not a student anymore."

"More importantly you won't be my student anymore, and I can tell the whole world that the most beautiful creature in existence for some reason unknown to man, loves me."

"What so you can officially lay claim to me?" The two laughed, but quickly silenced themselves when Bae started to shuffle.

"Something like that." His lips found her porcelain neck and started nibbling away.

"Six months and we are official then."

XXXX

Hours passed and Gold was the only one awake, he couldn't seem to sleep, not because of his ex-wife's death or Kubla snoring, but because of how perfect Belle looked holding his son in her sleeping arms. Belle didn't know it but she wasn't the only one to build a fantasy; seeing them together it was just...right. It was like pieces of him had been missing but now with Belle and Bae, he felt whole, like a piece long lost had been returned. In that moment he built a dream, a dream where he, Belle and Bae could be together. A dream where no one could keep them apart and they could be happy. A little fantasy of a family and the dog.