Belle's thoughts had calmed down and she had decided to listen to Victor's advice, 'you love him, he loves you', that was all that was important to her now. Belle was no longer a teenager with a crush, she was a young woman who had fallen in love and in six months when her college life finished she would have a family. She had always wanted a real family, her mother had died when she was a baby and Belle had no siblings. Her father, Moe, had tried desperately to be there for her, but when the money problems had arisen certain things took a back burner. Belle loved him more than she could put into words but with Cam and Bae she had a real chance of a true family.

Victor had gotten a placement at the New York hospital for when he wasn't in Biology lectures and it had left Jefferson rather depressed; he missed his boyfriend. The girls didn't mind being with him, they always where but a depressed gay guy with what seemed to be a hat fetish did get tedious after a while, Belle and Ruby hadn't ever been so pleased to get into the lecturer hall. Ruby hadn't noticed until the day before but Belle had somehow managed to move them from their normal seats in the middle of the lecture hall to the very front row, no one ever sat there, they were far too scared Professor Gold would eat them or something. Ruby didn't mind though, she no longer feared Gold now she'd seen the way his eyes sparkled with love when he looked at her best friend, he may have been a hard-ass but she now knew he wasn't heartless.

Belle wore a denim a-line dress that came down to just before her knees with thin straps and little silver buttons that fastened down the whole front. A simple outfit, but it had been made with love by Jefferson for her birthday. She had seen a sketch for it one day in his and Victor's apartment and had said she liked it, two weeks later on her birthday Jefferson had presented her with the dress and to be honest Belle had felt like crying. Every time she wore it Belle felt loved.

Everyone took their seats and Cam in his best 'Professor Gold' voice started his lecture on Shakespeare's influences on the English language and literature. She loved his lectures, it always amazed her at how passionate he was about literature; no one else really noticed it because of their pure terror of him but Belle did.

"The English language owes an eminence debt to William Shakespeare." Gold began. "He invented over seventeen-hundred of our common words by changing nouns into verbs, verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising words wholly original. Words such as 'vaulting' which first appeared in 'Henry The Six part two'. Does anyone know line?"

The room was silent, Belle felt like she should know it, it was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't quite remember. Gold looked around with an eyebrow raised and then after a short time sighed.

"'The petty-vaulting sea refused to drown me, knowing that thou wouldst have me drown'd on shore, with tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness'." He quoted, Belle couldn't help but smile at his reciting, she suddenly remembered the quote somewhere around line ninety-five she believed. He looked around the room and asked. "Does anyone at least know who said that line?"

Belle thought for a moment and then looked over to the man she loved and raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss French?"

"Queen Margaret."

"Well it's nice to know one of you has read a play and actually taken in the information. Well done Miss French."

She had to hide a blush at his praise, but Ruby saw it and she began smiling to herself.

"Can anyone give me another word Shakespeare created?"

A timid hand went up at the back of the room, a hand that belonged to a girl just a little older than Belle with short dark hair and pale white skin.

"Yes, Miss Blanchard."

"G...gossip?"

"Is that a question or are you telling me, Miss Blanchard?" Mary Margret's eyes suddenly widened in fear, Professor Gold just smiled, he enjoyed teasing his more timid students. "You are correct anyway, Miss Blanchard."

"The word originated in old English, godsibb, from the words God and sibb. It was originally a term for the godparents of a child. In the sixteenth century the word took on the new meaning of a person who engaged in idle talk. It was however, in the nineteenth century that the word 'gossip' moved from the speaker to the conversation between such people. But the verb to gossip meaning 'to be a gossip' first appeared in which Shakespeare play?"

It amazed Belle at just how much knowledge he had hidden away within his head, but Belle knew the answer, it was her favourite Shakespeare play and so she raised her hand for a second time.

"Miss French." His eyes always lit up when she answered his questions.

"'A Comedy Of Errors'. Aemelia said it. 'Go to a gossips' feast and go with me; after so long grief, such festivity'." She quoted.

"Anticipating my next questions, Miss French. Very good."

The class went on simply after that, Gold parting with his literary knowledge and scared teens scribbling down notes praying that he didn't give them a pop quiz. When he eventually shouted 'class dismissed' twenty percent of the room let out a breath they didn't know they had been holding, packed up and left like the room was on fire. Ruby and Belle linked arms as they always did and began making their way up the steps and out of the mint painted lecturer hall, until a voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Belle, can I have a word? It'll only take a second."

She had told Cam about Ruby, Victor and Jefferson's knowledge of their relationship and how supportive they were being, so Gold had relaxed around Ruby, but only a little. Belle looked at Ruby and raised her hand indicating 'one minuet' and then clicked her white lace zip up heels over to the man she loved.

"Sexy." She said as she reached him.

"What?"

"You asked for a word, sexy." Belle smiled.

"Alright then." Cameron took a breath. "Belle, I need to talk to you about something. I love you. And I know that we have only been together for six months but...but with Bae now I..." He tried to find the right words. "...I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you to do anything you don't want to do. I know that things have suddenly jumped but that doesn't mean that..."

Belle silenced him with a kiss and Ruby suddenly averted her gaze.

"Oh you silly idiot." Cameron raised a questioning eyebrow. "I love you too. And I had my own little freak out a few days ago about 'skipping a chapter' but I came to realize that you are what I want. You...and Bae."

Her gentle smile warmed his stone heart, he didn't know it was possible, but those words, 'you and Bae' made him fall even more in love with her.

"Belle, how is someone so young and beautiful willing to give up her life for a cripple and his son?"

"Because" She pulled him into a hug. "I am not giving up my life, I'm adding to it."

"You know I think both the Gold men are in love with you."

"Oh?"

"Bae, he started saying 'where Belle' pretty much the moment you went home. And yesterday it stopped being 'where Belle' and became 'want Belle'. I think even Kubla misses you."

Belle's heart fluttered, she was so touched. Her family fantasy was once again fed and she kissed him again.

"I em...I could come over later, we can cook? I'll bring the stuff."

"I would like that very much, and so would Baedan."

The two shared another love filled kiss and then with a smile covering her face she clicked her heels back to Ruby and linked their arms once more; the two leaving the hall.