It was nine-thirty in the morning when Ruby stepped into the lecturer hall followed by about twenty-five other people. It was one of those few and far between days that she wore no red, to be honest the students following her in where a little confused yet seeing her matte burgundy lips they seemed to find reassurance. She was sporting a long sleeved white blouse that was somewhat tight with a silver studded collar and a pleated barely there leather skirt. Add in her black corset heels and it was safe to say that Ruby couldn't walk down a hallway without ten guys checking her out. That day though she wasn't interested in men, no, she was more concerned with Belle and her baby, what Gold would say when he found out and how Belle was going toy finish college. When everyone was seated Ruby noticed the look on Gold's face, he longed to ask where Belle was but knew that that would make the class suspicious, normally he didn't care. If someone missed class they had to catch up on their own. He wasn't going to help them.

His lesson on Dracula's Mina Harker went on and all he wanted to do was dismiss his class and demand that Miss Lucas tell him where his Belle was, alas he could not. Dean Mills had kept her beady little eyes firmly on Professor Gold, via Professor's Binx and Dalziel of course. He was desperate to know why the woman he loved had suddenly vanished and not told him, he was worried, more so thanks to the concerned look on Ruby's face. Still he kept talking, kept acting like evil Professor Gold and not loving Cameron.

"Mina Harker, formally Murray, is probably the most complex character of the novel and vies with Dracula for the central role. Like Dracula, she becomes a unifying force in the story, binding the main characters; Jonathan Harker, Van Helsing, Quincey Morris, et cetera..." He gestured with his cane free hand. "...together for a common purpose. But she's a lot more complicated than Dracula. We're given a glimpse of her past..."

Cam tried to sound like his normal self, but Ruby could see his worry. The hour and a half passed and finally just when he was losing hope Gold could finally yell out.

"Class dismissed."

Ruby was one of the first to pack up and be up the steps, Cameron wanted to call after her and ask her to stay but just as he looked up and opened his mouth he saw Belle hugging Ruby. 'At least she's alive' he told himself but it didn't bring any comfort, his Belle looked utterly terrified. She waited at the top of the stairs by the large double doors until everyone apart from Ruby had left. He didn't know why but Ruby wore a supportive smile and leaned against the wall her arms full of books.

Cam couldn't help but hold his breath as he watched a panicked Belle make her way over to him, his mind started screaming stupid things at him like 'she's come to her senses' and 'you're not good enough for her'. His mind finally silenced when they came face-to-face with one another, Belle couldn't look him in the eyes.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Why were you not in class?" He asked softly, desperately wanting to hold her but Cam couldn't be sure of how she would react.

"I..." She began. "I couldn't." Belle took a deep breath so as to stifle her tears. "I couldn't sit there and look at you, not...not knowing..." She trailed off and Cam's heart dropped.

"Darling, you're scaring me. Have I done something to upset you?"

He felt like he was losing her, he knew he was not good enough for her, he knew, yet he had let his imagination run wild with a dream for them to be a family. 'She's come to her senses' the voice in his mind said again. Cameron would do anything for her not to leave him, he could change, he could bring her flowers more often and take her to dinner, shower her with gifts, help her with her degree at home, anything. All he wanted was to keep her in his life, Bae's life.

"What?! No." Her voice was timid and pulled his mind back to what was happening. "I...I..." Belle had no idea how to get the words out, it was like the words where a blockage in her throat, she had asked Ruby to stay for moral support but it was doing her little good;she was still freaking out.

Belle hadn't slept all night, she couldn't, instead she had been trying to decided on how to tell him, going so far and to have pretend conversations with him. In some they were happy and exited while in others he was angry and yelled at her. Cameron was forty-four and already had a young son, would he want another child? Especially with the soon to be twenty year old girl he taught. They had always told each other that they loved one another, had planned their lives but he could have just been humouring her. Belle didn't know what to think, her mind was everywhere. Still Belle had to tell him.

"Belle please, Sweetheart. Tell me what's happened." She suddenly found the courage to make eyes contact and could see the concern growing in his golden chocolate eyes, that gave her the strength to finally tell him.

"I...I'm, You're going..." She took a final breath and told herself something she hadn't since the night they became a family 'do the brave thing and bravery will follow'. "Cam, I...I'm...pregnant."

Cameron's eyes widened and for a moment he was sure his heart stopped beating. Belle was pregnant, his Belle, his baby. Something deep down suddenly reminded him he needed to breathe and so he took a breath, filling his lungs and trying to remain calm.

"Cam?"

It was only then at her oh so quiet voice that he realized he had gone very quiet. She probably thought he was not happy. He was about to speak but she got there first with panicked rambling.

"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have been so stupid, I know, I'm sorry. Please don't be angry, I'm sorry. Really, truly I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose, I..." Belle stopped dead when she felt his hands on her shoulders, grounding her.

"I'm not angry, you're...you're pregnant." He didn't know what to say.

"You're not going to tell me to get rid of it?"

That hurt Cameron right down to his core, but he could understand why she had asked. He looked at her worrying her bottom lip.

"Tell you what." He pulled his house keys from his back pocket. "Here. Go to my home and get some sleep. Bae is with Ashley. When I get home we can sit down and talk about this alright?" Belle nodded slightly and took the offered keys. "Belle don't worry. I am not angry."

Cam pressed a kiss to her soft peach lips filling it with all the love he felt for her in a desperate attempt to prove he loved her. Belle was thankful for that and a lot of her fear drained away, she didn't know what she wanted to do but knowing that they could at least talk about it made her feel a million times better. She made to turn away back to Ruby but Cameron stopped her and pulled the scared teenager into a hug.

"I love you. Never forget that Belle. I love you."

Belle felt like she could cry.

XXXX

Belle's fears had calmed somewhat by the time she reached Gold's home, Ruby had gone off to her ACC 124 accounting class that she had to do if she wanted to take over her Granny's diner. She had apologized to her Library science Professor, a Missus Dawn Lynd. The woman was nice enough and had excused her without question, she knew Belle wouldn't miss class without a seriously good reason. Belle had gone back to her and Ruby's apartment before going to Cameron's, she felt the need to be with Cordelia and just had to go get her.

The house was quiet as she entered, she had thought maybe Ashley and Bae would be there but it was more likely he was at the park playing on the swings; they were his favourite. It was strange the place being so very quiet but at the same time it was peaceful and quiet. Cord was quickly released from her leash. Her white and black heeled Oxfords clacked against the hardwood as Belle and Cordelia made their way over to the dark brown couch, dumping her leather shoulder bag, it was sky blue and filled to the brim with books and notes from various classes. Her feet hurt from walking all the way from college to her apartment and then to Cam's house, so Belle quickly unlaced her heels looking at the beautiful full brogue as she slipped them off.

"Oh that's better." Cord barked in response making Belle smile.

She padded through to the kitchen while Cord sniffed at Kubla's bed and quickly made herself a cup of tea, it was cold outside and she needed the warmth. For a while Belle did her work for Professor Lynd, partially because she needed to get the work done but mainly because she needed something to take her mind of her brain screaming 'you're pregnant with your teacher's baby!' For a few hours it worked and she got a huge chunk done, Cordelia decided she rather liked Kubla's bed and settled down on it snoring softly. Her wrist ached from the hours of writing but Belle pushed on only stopping to take another sip of her third cup of tea...which was empty. Belle sighed looking into the white china cup with delicate blue decoration and as quietly as possible she stood trying not to wake her beloved pet. Belle slowly made her way from the living room through into the hall where she found Ashley shutting the front door while Kubla watched as Bae took his coat off. The moment he saw Belle he smiled uncontrollably.

"Mama!" Bae dropped his coat and ran to her, arms stretched out begging to be picked up.

"My little boy." She did as he requested and pulled him into a loving embrace, it was a little difficult at first with the china cup still in her hand but she got that hang of it rather quickly, supporting him with one hip. Belle looked over to the blonde "How are you, Ashley?"

She picked up Bae's coat and hung it up for him. "I'm good, thanks Belle." After Belle had gotten over her initial jealousy of Ashley, the two had become good friends, laughing and joking with one another. "We had a fun day at the park, even fed some ducks."

"That must have been fun." Belle directed her simply black lined eyes over to the boy she had come to love.

"It was, they quacked." Bae informed excitedly. It amazed Belle that he was nearly three.

"He wanted to come home early so he could watch this new cartoon that he's fallen in love with."

Belle turned to the clock mounted above the archway to the kitchen. Three o'clock. She was rather surprised at how long she had been able to work, it explained why her wrist hurt so much. The two-year old wriggled in her arms.

"Mama, can I watch?" Belle set the boy down.

"Of course you can, Angel."

Bae smiled as she set him down and then toddled off into the living room dragging Humphrey behind him.

"Go on Kubla, there is someone you will want to meet." He obeyed and Belle turned her attention back to Ashley. "You know, I am going to be here for the rest of the day, I can take care of Bae. If you want you can go home early."

Ashley though for a moment and then remembered what Mister Gold had told her. 'You leave Baedan with no one other than me...and Belle', Ashley knew how much trust Mister Gold had in Belle and to be honest she really wanted a few hours to herself at home before her step-mother and sisters got home, she really needed her own place.

"Really?" Ashley's eyes lit up when Belle nodded. "Thank you, thanks."

The two girls shared a quick good-bye and then Belle went back to making her much needed tea. The warmth soothed her throat that was still sore from her throwing up, it was welcomed and much needed. Upon returning to the living room her tea and a last minuet glass of apple juice for Bae in hand, she found the child sat crossed legged watching some evil magician looking character watching a pretty girl from a window.

"Here you go, Angel." Bae took the glass and quickly gulped down the liquid, quenching his thirst. Kubla and Cordelia had already become friends it seemed as both where curled up on his dog bed. 'Good' she thought.

For a few moments Belle just sat and watched Baedan, he was a beautiful boy and she couldn't help but wonder what her own baby would look like. If they even kept the baby. Belle decided to push those thoughts out of her mind, there would be time for that later. Instead, she settled on the couch laying down and getting comfortable before calling over to Bae.

"Bae, come and sit with me. You will hurt your eyes being that close."

The toddler stood and raced over to his Mama settling on the couch pressing into her side. She could feel his warmth drifting through the fabric of her bright orange chiffon top, the lack of sleeves allowing her to feel the softness of his tiny, dainty hands as they clung to her. He smelt faintly of grass, probably from the park, as well as a scent that could only be described as Bae Gold. It was heavenly. His breathing came in short content breaths that barely made a sound, only Belle, who was searching for it, could hear the innocent intake. She held him close as he watched his cartoon and eventually her eyes started to feel heavy and slowly, when she couldn't keep them open any longer, Belle gave in and drifted off to sleep.

XXXX

"Belle?" Something shook her. "Belle, dearie?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she found Cam stood over her with a smile, Belle still had her arms snaked around Bae, who was awake and looking at her with a smile.

"Hey." She greeted.

"Hello Sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"Alright, just a little tired."

She shuffled to perch on the couch with little Bae on her knee so as Cameron could sit beside her, which he did. Here it was, the talk she had been waiting for all day, panic began to worm its way through her muscles and down into her fingers. She took a deep breath that seemed to stutter in her lungs before she let it go, reluctantly the fear evaporated from her slender frame. Thankfully Belle's breathing returned to something that resembled normal and Belle finally felt like she could face the issue. She turned to Cam who was looking at her with a soft calming smile.

"Bae, darling. Go and color or watch cartoons for me, would you?"

Baedan hopped off her knee with a 'yes Mama' and began to make his way over to the draw that contained all his toys and coloring books but stopped half way and went back to Belle. He held up Humphrey with a smile.

"You sad. Humrey..." He still couldn't say Humphrey properly. "...make better."

Belle took the tan bear with a smile. "Thank you Bae, that's very thoughtful." With that the two year old ran over to get his crayons. Belle turned back to Cam.

"I suppose." He cautiously began. "The easiest place to start is..is what do you want to do? Its your body Belle."

Belle didn't make eye contact, she was still gathering her bravery for that.

"But it's your baby."

"What I want is nothing compared to what you want, alright? I will support you no matter what you decide."

She cuddled Humphrey close to her chest, Bae was right, he did make her feel better. With that Belle looked up to Cam who still had that same calm smile coating his features.

"I...I don't like the idea of abortion. It wasn't the baby's fault. It was mine."

"No Belle, if it was anyone's fault it was mine. I am older and meant to be wiser but...God I just wanted you so much I didn't think."

That slight hint of desperation that filtered into his voice made her smile.

"Still it's not the baby's fault."

"Well." Cam spoke so very softly. "There's adoption if you would prefer?"

Belle thought for a moment, so many notions and apprehensions spinning around in her head that it was hard for Belle to make sense of them all.

"No, no I don't like the idea of giving our baby to some stranger."

"Then, Belle that leaves, it leaves only one option."

"But would I even be a good Mom? Mine died when I was three I don't know how to be a Mom."

Belle didn't know what she was expecting, but Cameron laughing was definitely not it.

"Belle, Sweetheart. Don't you see that its innate? You may not know how to be a Mother but your body does, your heart does. I mean look at Bae, he loves you and you feel exactly the same about him. You are his Mother."

She knew what he was saying, but he was leaving everything up to her, he saw it as her body, her choice. The life of their child was firmly in her hands and then she realized something. Their child. Panic, fear, everything drained away until there were just those two words going round and round. 'Their child, their child, their child'. In a shaky breath she said.

"Then we're having a baby."

Before anyone could say anything more Cam had her in a tight embrace, pulling her into his lap and just holding her, cane forgotten on the floor.

"Oh thank God." He breathed. "Thank God."

"You're happy?"

"Of course I'm happy. You just gave me everything I wanted." He spoke into her neck.

"If you wanted to keep the baby why didn't you just say so?"

"Because I wasn't going to let you think I was forcing you into anything."

"Mama? Papa?"

The two jumped back from each other at the sound of the toddler. Belle was still sat in Cameron's lap but she managed to turn and look at the boy.

"Yes Bae." His father said.

"What talking about?"

Belle thought it was beyond cute how he left certain words out of sentences, it reminded her of Ruby when she had just woken up. Belle shuffled a little and picked the boy up cuddling him close to her and Cam.

"Well Bae." Cam began, while looking at his son with love. "How would you like a brother or sister?"

"Brother." The toddler announced quickly and they all just laughed.

"I think we have his vote. But there is one thing."

"And that would be?"

"I'm going to be almost five months pregnant by the time I finish your college course, what are people going to think?"

"Does it really matter? No one knows the baby is mine. Anyway we will have time for this later, lets just forget about it all for a while. We could think of names."

With that Belle burst out laughing and she knew everything would be alright.