It was half past four when Cam and Belle got into her Papa's apartment and just as she had promised Moe French was out at his poker game with his friends Isaac, Jim, Aiden, Chris and Lewis. Two days had passed since the amazing escapade in his Cadillac and the student and Professor had thought of nothing else since, it filled their every waking moment. Cameron's chocolate eyes watched as Belle slipped her dark wool coat off, leaving her in a thin green tank top and short dark skirt that she had worn simply for him; Belle loved the way he looked at her exposed skin. Gold had always thought her beautiful but at that moment looking at her soft but teasing smile, her almost impossibly blue eyes, he knew that 'beautiful' didn't even come close to describing her, maybe the word didn't yet exist. The French's apartment was small and quaint, painted in a color somewhere between red and orange. Gold didn't really notice though, he was still too busy looking at the perfect milky flesh of her thighs.

"I know it's nothing much, but I call it home." She sounded embarrassed.

Gold smiled softly at the auburn haired beauty and reassuringly slipped an arm around her waist; looking into her gorgeous eyes.

"On the contrary, it reminds me much of my childhood."

Belle wanted to ask about that, but she could see in his eyes that there was something painful lurking there and so Belle decided to leave that topic for another day and instead to pull him down on the couch and cuddle close. Neither spoke for a long time, they just sat there in the arms of the other enjoying the quiet and togetherness, the peace and warmth.

Belle had forced herself to leave his arms long enough to order a pizza, but was rather perturbed when it showed up mid make out session. They ate and talked for a short while, just getting to know one another; he learnt that her mother had died of cancer when she was three, while on a happier note he discovered her favourite flower was the Vanda Orchid because of its intense purple-blue color, and that she had a dream to become a librarian where she would be surrounded by literature and worlds where anything and everything could happen. Cameron had taken a little more convincing, but he eventually started opening up to her, about when Milah left him, the heart defect that would eventually win and caused her death; even the car crash that had left his leg beyond repair. There had been such sorrow in his life, however, now that Belle was there he was to have love and kindness to fill his life as well. The pizza soon vanished until just a few crusts where left, Belle didn't like them and would always leave the crusts for her Papa, who thought they were the best bit. However, with Moe with his friends the pizza crusts just gathered in the box.

Touches slowly grew in boldness, Belle loved every moment of it and felt like she couldn't get enough. A delightful warmth grew deep down that was more than welcomed, it pooled and tingled, filling her with uncontrollable want and desire. His long slender fingers slipped down under her skirt...

XXXX

Belle woke suddenly, eyes blinking more rapidly than she knew possible as the beauty attempted to figure out where she was and why Cam wasn't there. Eventually Belle realized she had been dreaming and turned on her side, ears filled with the sound of sheets ruffling, shapes appearing from the early morning darkness. Belle missed Cameron with every fibre of her being, her heart physically ached for him, and her only wish was for him to come back to her so as she could hold him tight and banish the painful feeling of loneliness that had plagued her since the day he left for Chicago. Belle wanted to hold Bae in her arms and read him a bedtime story, kiss his little hands and know that everything was alright. There was a ball of white beside her bed, at first Belle couldn't make it out, all fuzzy and blurred. Belle wiped the sleep from her eyes so she could look again. With her eyes more alert she could make out the smiling face of Cordelia looking up at her.

"Hey girl." She greeted. "Come on."

Cordelia obeyed and jumped up onto the bed and settled on the space that Belle had patted. The animal curled up next to her and Belle wrapped an arm around her seeking the comfort that Cordelia offered. Cam had wanted his sweet girl to feel safe and happy, to be void of loneliness while he was gone and Cordelia was trying her best, but she wasn't him.

"I miss him Cord. I really do." The Samoyed seemed to know Belle's pain and nuzzled into her owner's shoulder showing compassion and love. "We just have to wait a little longer, and he will be home. You can meet Kubla, I know you would like him. Just a little longer."

XXXX

Warm orange sunlight intermittently shone through the dancing leaves of the trees that line the Gothic cemetery. There were no sounds, not even the soft chirp of birds in far-off nests, nothing. Cameron stood by the newly filled grave, his cane in his right hand and Bae supported in the other.

"You are a very strong boy, you know that?" Baedan nodded into his father's suit clad chest. "Say 'good-bye' to your other, Bae."

Gold knew his son's bond with Milah was almost non-existent , she hadn't been an overly loving mother and as much as Cam would have liked Bae to forget her altogether, she was still his mother.

"Bye mother." He whispered, Bae had never really seen her as a mother, but that was the word she had always made him use.

Gold stood there for a while holding Bae close, just thinking about the past. It was when he thought of the future though that a smile filled his face, a true honest smile.

"Papa?"

Gold was pulled out of his thoughts thanks to Bae, who was looking at him with a questioning face.

"What is it, Bae?"

"Can we go home?" The two-year old looked down to the mounded soil and then back up to his father. "Want Belle."

That made Cam smile and pull his darling son closer.

"Okay Bae, we'll go home. We'll go to Belle."

XXXX

Bae watched his father on the drive home, every inch closer to Belle they got seemed to make Cam happier and happier. The little boy had always loved his Papa, but couldn't help but notice how sad he had always been, it was clear even to a child, Belle had changed that, not just for his Papa, but for him as well. Belle was a beam of light that now neither could be without, a necessity like air or water. Bae loved her and it was clear that Cam did too, Bae just had to figure out how to tell her.