After her and Cameron's conversation that morning Belle had been in a good mood; a really good mood. She felt like a weight had been lifted and they could finally go back to just being in love without all the worries of feeling like one wouldn't want to be with the other anymore. When she really thought about it with a clear head, all those little worries of the past few days, 'skipping a chapter', it seemed silly to her, like the small fears of a child. Belle flat out refused to be a child, she was a grown woman and could make her own choices as to her fate.
Belle couldn't wait to go to Cam's so they could cook together like they had planned, Belle had said she would 'surprise' him with ingredients. Cameron Gold was not the best of cooks, he could follow a recipe just fine and forty-four years it had worked out alright but other than that he was hopeless. Belle's mother had died when she was a very young, but Colette had taught her father much in the time they were together and then he had taught Belle. She practically skipped through the apartment from the bathroom to her bedroom, Ruby just smiled from her place on the couch with her cell phone.
Belle wasn't one to indulge in clothes like Ruby, but she did have some very nice as well as some very provocative outfits. After much searching and lip biting, Belle had narrowed it down to two outfits, one was an aqua sleeveless pleated dress with a belt that tied in a bow, simple but pretty...that and it matched her eyes. The second was a white and black plaid yoke skirt, that was much shorter than the dress, she had it coupled with a rather tight fitting satin blouse that Ruby had talked her into buying a few weeks earlier. A few moments passed as Belle's eyes flashed between the two outfits before she decided on the skirt and blouse combo. The soft fabric hugged her curves and looked divine when she slipped on her black suede ankle heels with little black bow, Ruby had convinced her to buy those too, but she couldn't quite remember when.
Just as Belle was finishing her make up a knock came at the door and within seconds Ruby had it open. From the 'oof' noise Belle guessed she had pulled Victor into a huge hug; they hadn't seen him in three days thanks to his work at the hospital. Victor went past Cameron's home on his way to the hospital and so she had asked if he could give her a ride, with how protective Victor was of Belle and Ruby he had agreed instantly. Belle was just happy to get to spend a little time with him, she had missed him since he got his placement at the hospital.
"Hey Victor." She greeted as she entered the reasonably sized living area.
"Hi Belle, you ready to go?"
"Yeah, just let me grab my jacket."
Victor nodded and was pulled off by Ruby to see something on her cell while Belle nipped back into her room to grab her emerald short military jacket. She could hear giggling coming from the next room and guessed it was that funny picture of the fat cat and the kitten with the caption that read 'you're funny, I'll eat you last', she had to admit it was funny. When she came back Ruby had Victor in yet another hug, he looked slightly like he could pop.
"Are you going to let him go, Ruby?" Belle asked as she took all her ingredients out of the small refrigerator in the kitchenette and moved them to a pale purple canvas bag.
"Maybe." She teased.
"Tell you what, you let go and I'll take you, Belle and Jeff for lunch next Thursday, yeah?" He compromised.
Ruby nodded into his neck and finally released the blonde. Belle spent a few moments saying 'bye' to her roommate and then left with Victor falling into step beside her. They lived on the fifth floor and the elevator at the end of the hideous green hall had been broken for two months, to be honest it was beginning to get on Belle's nerves.
"Oh, hello Mister Theroux." Greeted Belle as she and Victor rounded the corner to the stairs.
"Hey Miss French." Maxwell Theroux was an older man, somewhere in his sixty's. He had thinning grey hair and such dark blue eyes that on first glance they looked brown. His teeth where a dazzling white and his mood was always cheerful, kind and friendly. Maxwell or Max as he preferred was the handy man who lived on the ground floor with his wife of forty years, Marianne. He would never say it to the man's face, but Victor thought he sounded like Bob Newhart. "How are you today?"
"I'm well, better if I didn't have to keep going up and down these stairs." She smiled.
"I'm sorry, I did my back in a few months back and the landlord said that the elevator could wait until I was better."
"Oh that's alright, I could do with the exercise. How's your wife?"
"Marianne's very good, she's been baking all day. We're going to visit my sons Mark and Gareth tomorrow so she's baking cookies for the grandchildren. I'll bring you and Miss Lucas up some"
"That's sweet, thank you. Didn't one of your sons just have a new baby?"
"Yeah that's why we're going down. We're up to five now; Mark's got Lucy and Clarice." He smiled as he spoke. "And Gareth has Noah, Jesse and the new baby girl. You know she's a Belle too, well an Annabel."
"We're slowly taking over." The three laughed.
"Shame you're an Isabelle." Said Victor.
After their conversation Victor and Belle made their way down the winding stairs and into Victor's car. They chatted about everything and nothing as the blonde drove through the New York streets; Jefferson, Ruby, books, his work at the hospital and God only knew what else. It was pleasant to have time with her friend again, he was such a hard worker but they had missed him.
Eventually the car came to a stop outside the salmon house and Belle turned to her blonde friend. He looked adorable in his simple dark suit with matching tie and purple shirt, she was so used to seeing him in jeans and a t-shirt that for a moment she wondered if he was an alien. The suit was nothing as bespoke as Cameron's tailored ones but Victor still looked professional and dare she say handsome. Victor turned to look at the house.
"Belle, his house is pink." Victor announced.
"Yes I know."
"Are you sure he's not one of us?" Victor gestured to himself. "Because, I am one of me and even I wouldn't live in a pink house."
Belle just giggled. "I can assure you, I only have two gay men in my life."
"Good." The blonde finally turned his head back to the auburn haired beauty. "You going to be okay?"
"Yeah, thanks Victor."
"Okay, but you need anything, you call. Alright?" He was so protective, it came from losing his younger brother all those years ago.
"I'll be fine." She assured and leaned across the car to hug him.
Belle slipped out of the car, picking up her bag on the way and rounded it to the sidewalk where she leaned down and pressed a kiss to Victor's cheek through the rolled down window.
"Thanks again, Victor."
"You're welcome."
Victor watched as she made her way up the steps and knocked on the door that was just his way of making sure she was safe, he didn't wait for Gold to answer though; didn't want Belle to think he was acting like her father, he was protective but like a brother rather than a parent. Belle heard the cars rumble off and smiled as at that moment she heard Cam's cane tapping on the hardwood.
"Hello Belle." He greeted when the door opened.
"Hey Cam." Belle stepped inside and pressed a kiss to his ever-soft lips. "I love you."
"I love you too. Bae will be pleased you're here, he's been driving Ashley insane."
Ashley Boyd was the nanny that Cam had hired for while he was at the college lecturing. She was young and pretty with long blonde hair that framed her pale face and showed off her big blue eyes. It was safe to say that Belle had been jealous of the blonde at first, she got to spend so much time with Bae and she greeted Cam when he came home from work, Belle knew that was silly and had quickly pushed it from her mind.
"And why is that?" She asked, her thoughts coming back to her.
"He has been saying 'want Belle' about 'a million times a minuet', according to her." Ashley had actually said ' a trillion times a minuet' but Gold hadn't really been listening to her.
Belle chuckled at that and then before another word could be uttered a small boy with chocolate eyes and dark hair came running from the living room, when he saw Belle a smile grew on the child's face, he ran up and wrapped his arms around her naked legs pressing his cheek into the side of her thigh, ruffling the fabric of her skirt.
"Belle! Belle! Belle!" She didn't know how one encounter with the two-year old had left such an impact, but Belle was pleased it was a positive one.
"Bae, come on lad. Let Belle go." Cameron's words where soft yet fatherly, it suited him.
The boy obeyed and looked up at her with what seemed to be awe, his little eyes sparkling in the afternoon light. He wore a pair of dark almost black jeans and a white and dark blue striped polo shirt, Belle thought he looked more adorable than the last time she had seen him, if that was possible. Bae reached up and took her hand trying to pull her off towards the living room.
"Come color."
Cam and Belle shared a look and a smile. She shrugged off the purple canvas bag and handed it to Cameron.
"Could you put that in the kitchen? I'd do it myself, but I have my orders."
He nodded. "Sure. He's demanding isn't he?" Cam took the bag and watched as Belle turned back to Bae.
"Come on then, 'lead on Macduff'."
Cameron chuckled as she was dragged off by his son. He liked her quote, even if it was may a misquote but, then again everyone misquoted it so he let it slide.
Belle was dragged along into the living room where Bae charged over to the coffee table and dropped to his knee's opening coloring books and moving crayons. He held his arms up as if saying 'come and sit with me', Belle understood perfectly and settled down beside the child.
"What are you drawing?" Kubla chose that moment to make himself known, jumping onto the couch behind them and resting his head between Bae and Belle as if trying to see what was going on. "Hello Kubla."
Bae picked up a slice of red apple from a small white plate that was set out on the table and started to nibble away on it. Belle didn't know it, but Bae loved apples, they were his favourite and Cam was more than fine with that. When Bae finished his last piece of apple his little fingers wrapped around a red crayon and began coloring in a cat. Suddenly he turned to Belle and held out a sky blue crayon, she took it with a smile. The two-year old pulled Humphrey close with his free hand, the bear had clearly been well loved and she couldn't help notice that Humphrey was a Steiff bear and those were not your standard cheep bear. Humphrey had a big black nose and eyes to match that contrasted wonderfully with his tan fuzz, she had never seen a bear so well made.
"Needs blue eyes." Bae suddenly announce bringing Belle back to the moment.
"Oh so that's my job, I think I can do that. Why does he need blue eyes?" She started to color.
"So they're like yours."
Belle paused at that, she didn't know why, but it made her want to cry with happiness. She didn't understand why it gave her such an emotional response and she didn't think she ever would. So Belle decided to enjoy it.
"I noticed that you have white wine and Squid. Planning something big, dearie?"
Cam seated himself beside Kubla on the couch and Belle, from her place at the floor, rested her head on his good leg.
"It's not as complicated as it seems, my..." Whatever Belle was going to say next was cut off by Bae.
"Don't stop." Bae piped up and it was only then that Belle realized she had stopped coloring and was paying full attention to Cam. "Please."
"Sorry Sweetheart." Belle started coloring in the other eye but kept glancing up to Cam, who was tickling Kubla.
"You were saying?" Cam prompted as Kubla shuffled to practically sit in his lap.
"Oh, just that my mother taught it to my father because he's hopeless and he taught me."
The trio and Kubla spent a short while coloring and chatting about everything and nothing before making their way into the kitchen to begin cooking. Bae followed them in with Humphrey cuddled close to his chest, curious of what his Papa and Belle where doing.
"Cam would you slice the squid please?"
He nodded and pressed a kiss to her cupids bow lips before rounding the kitchen island to retrieve the squid. Belle got the eggs out and a glass bowl, just as she went to crack the first one she saw the way Bae had his head rested on the island looking to see what they were doing.
"Do you want to help me, Bae?" Bae nodded frantically and practically ran over to her, sitting Humphrey beside the egg box. Belle crouched a little and lifted Bae, settling him on the edge of the island with a smile. "Here." She said holding out an egg. "Just tap it on the edge of the bowl to break the shell."
Bae did as Belle had said and with her help they separated the eggs, they then mixed flour with white wine while Cam washed the squid. She let Bae beat the eggs, but at one point did have to slow him down when he got a little over eager. Cam got lost in his thoughts for about five minuets at the sight of Bae and Belle laughing and cooking together; it warmed his heart.
Dinner didn't take long and once the squid was deep fried Belle sliced a lemon and let Bae squeeze it onto the salty squid. Belle froze.
"Wait I didn't think this through, will Bae even eat this?"
"He's not picky. That and after you and him did all the hard work, I think he'll at least try it."
Belle grinned uncontrollably when Bae beamed at the taste and began eating like a man-man, Gold had to physically get him to slow down. 'Point to Belle' she told herself. The evening went smoothly after that, the two played with Bae and Kubla until his bedtime finally came and once tucked up Bae demanded Belle tell him a story.
"Alright then, Angel." Belle settled on the edge of his bed and he cuddled into her side, Cam smiled before wandering off to feed Kubla for the night. "What do you want to hear?"
Bae gestured to a blue hardback book with gold lettering that said 'Grimm Fairy Tales' on its front. Belle picked up the book and flipped through to where an elephant bookmark indicated.
"Hansel and Gretel. Alright, ready?" Bae nodded and Belle began to read. "Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children. The boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel."
The story went on and Bae never took his eyes from the book, when Cam returned he just stood by the door and watched the scene before him with a smile; nothing needed to be said. Belle continued to read aloud.
"'Be quiet, Gretel,' said Hansel, 'do not distress yourself, I will soon find a way to help us. And when the old folks had fallen asleep, he got up, put on his little coat, opened the door below, and crept outside." It was beautiful hearing her read to his son. Soon the tale came to an end and Belle spoke the last line softly while smiling down on a yawning Bae. "Then all anxiety was at an end, and they lived together in perfect happiness. The end."
Belle set the book down and pressed a kiss to Bae's little forehead. Cameron's cane tapped as he entered the room to say his own 'good night' to his son. Humphrey was cuddled closer than anyone thought possible giving a childish sense of safety.
"Night, my boy."
"Night Papa. Night Belle."
Bae fell asleep almost instantly, he had enjoyed a long day with Ashley and then with his Papa and Belle. Nothing like that night had ever happened when he was with the other woman, even at the age of two he knew that the other woman hadn't really liked him. Milah had taken care of Bae yes, but he had never really felt love from her, not like he did from his Papa and now Belle. Baedan was incredibly grown up for his age and Gold knew it. Milah was like a strict nanny while Belle was like, well... a Mama.
The door shut behind them and the two adults retired to Cameron's bedroom where Belle pushed him down on the bed, pressing kiss after kiss to his warm body; his cane clattering to the floor. Eventually, in need for air, she pulled back.
"So, Bae got the story he wanted. What does Papa want?" She bit her lip seductively.
"Well it's going to take more than a story for me, dearie."
Belle just giggled and kissed him again.