Belle cried all that night and refused to release her grip on Bae, not that the boy minded, he was her life line and in that moment Belle needed him. Cam ached to put a stop to the pain her father had caused but all he could do was hold her tight and remind Belle of how much he loved her. It took a long time, as well as a tear soaked night shirt on his part, but exhaustion finally took over and Belle fell asleep, leaving Cam to look down on her; a soft smile on his face. Words couldn't describe how much he loved her, she was so special and smart and loving. More importantly she loved him. Cameron pushed a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear and whispered softly 'I love you' into the darkness.

He had known from the moment Belle had told him they were going to see her father that it wouldn't end well. Cam knew he wasn't young or handsome that he wasn't an overly nice person and that Belle could do a million times better. What he did know was he loved her and had expected Moe French to trust his daughter enough to make her own decisions...turns out not. Cameron had to agree with her father on one thing though, there was something monstrous hidden away deep down inside him, but he would kill himself before he let his evil harm Belle, or their baby.

Gold didn't sleep that night, he just lay there with his arms around Bae and Belle. Just him and the silence of night. He wasn't worthy of Belle but she had chosen him and he would treasure every moment he had with her, even the ones where she was asleep on his chest, her face bathed in silver moonlight. It made Belle look like she was surrounded by a silver aura. This angel had chosen a demon and he would give her everything she wanted, he would fix what had happened with her father, he had no idea how or when but he would. He may have been a demon, but he was her demon.

It was his silent vow to her.

XXXX

It took a few days for Belle to get back to a normal emotional level, well, as normal as she could what with her hormones everywhere. College helped her to forget what was happening with her Papa, especially when her Library Science class had spent ten minuets confusing her. However, after a few quick questions to Missus Lynd, she got it. Soon the class was dismissed and Belle waited for the masses to leave the hall before following, she had a pretty decent sized bump for four months. Victor and her doctors said it was normal and that some women where just larger than others but Belle was sure it was all the cheesecake her baby had been making her eat. Yes, it was the baby, not just her using it as an excuse to indulge in her cake obsession. 'All the baby's fault' she would tell herself with a smile.

"Miss French?"

Now that wasn't a good voice, Belle had to force herself not to cringe. She stopped and turned to the owner of the sickly sweet voice and pushed a pleasant but very fake smile onto her clear glossed lips.

"Dean Mills, what can I do for you?" Belle knew exactly what Regina wanted but still, she would play the taller woman's silly game.

"I was hoping we could have a little chat in my office." Belle opened her mouth to protest and tell her about meeting Jefferson but Regina got there first. "It won't take long, I promise."

Reluctantly Belle followed Dean Mills along the hallways and up a flight of very inconvenient steps and into the woman's far too white and black office. It was large with an overcompensating desk, the walls were meant to look like some sort of forest but all it succeeded in doing was giving Belle a headache. There was a large, white cut out bowl of apples on one edge of the desk that looked like they were perfectly ripe. Belle thought they looked delicious and her mouth watered, but she didn't trust anything about the raven haired woman, even her fruit; they would probably put her in a coma or something.

She was pointed to an uncomfortable chair while Regina took up her high backed leather seat opposite, after a few awkward moments of silence, that Mills had used just to make Belle nervous, she spoke.

"So Miss French, how have your classes been?"

"Em, alright."

A protective hand came to rest on her baby bump as she forced herself to make eye contact with the Dean.

"Good, good. That's what we like to hear. And your baby, how have your teachers been with that?"

Her fishing wasn't even subtle, it was obvious that she wanted to know about Gold and if the baby was his, if she loved him but Belle would make her work for it.

"My teachers are fine with my baby. A few are a little annoying by asking the class to let me go first but most don't even react."

Belle had to hide a smirk when she saw Regina's reaction to her schooled words.

"And the baby's father, who is he? Is he supporting you?"

'She's not even trying to hide it now' Belle said in her head. "He is a good person, he's happy about the baby. He's got a good job and I know he is going to be a good father."

Everything she said was true while at the same time it left everything personal out about Cameron. What Dean Mills really wanted was for Belle to turn around and say 'the father is Cameron Gold, he forced himself on me. Please have him locked up so you can be the one with the power', that was not going to happen though.

"And Professor Gold, how does he treat you?"

She was not going to let it go. Well, Belle could play the game just as long as Regina. Her hands rubbed over the spot that her baby kicked, like he or she was saying 'let me at her'. Belle smiled at that, the baby was just like their father.

"What about him?" It hurt to sound so indifferent but she didn't let on. "He's just normal Professor Gold. Angry, mean, frightening everyone in my class." 'When at college' she added in her head.

Regina raised an eyebrow, either Miss French was good at hiding her feelings, if so she deserved a medal, or she really didn't return Gold's affections. If the latter was true, then she had something to work with, if not then she would manufacture something to work with.

"Are we done, Dean Mills? I have to meet my friend, Jefferson."

It was clear that Belle wouldn't give her anything useful so she decided she was done with the pregnant teen.

"Of course, dear. Off you go." She waved her hand dismissively.

XXXX

That evening Bae managed to drag his Mama and Papa into watching Despicable Me with him and Humphrey after dinner. Gold settled with back against the arm of the couch while Belle leaned into his chest with Bae on her knee, cuddled around her baby bump with Humphrey. It grew dark as the movie went on and about half way through Belle looked down to Bae.

"He's asleep." She said softly.

"He's had a long day with Ashley. She took him to one of those toddler swim lessons, he loves them."

"I'll turn it off and put him to bed."

She reached for the remote but Cam pulled it from her hand and hid it away from her behind him.

"Let it finish."

Belle smiled. "You like this movie more than Bae, don't you?" She took a lot of pleasure in teasing him.

"Hey, what can I say? I want a minion."

"What my sweet scoundrel doesn't want Chewbacca and the Millennium Falcon anymore." It wasn't a question, just her teasing.

"Can't I have them all? And anyway if I had a space ship I'd send our friend Dean Mills into a sun."

Belle's chuckling came to a quick end when she remembered her talk with the bitch herself. She wasn't normally one for swearing but when it came to Regina Mills she had no other word. She was a first class Bitch.

"I had to talk to her earlier." Cameron's face fell to a cross between serious and worried.

"Oh? And what did she want?"

"She was looking to see who the baby's father is."

"And what did you tell her?" Cam tightened his grip on her, pushing all his love into hold. "To sod off I hope."

"Not quite. I said that he loves me and that he has a good job and wants to support the baby."

"So you told her everything without saying anything important?"

"Pretty much. I'm beginning to think that the only way to get rid of her is if we get married."

She meant it as a joke but something sparked in Cameron's heart.

"Then marry me."

In that moment everything stopped.

"What?"

"Well, I love you and you love me. I know it sounds like I'm just saying this because it gets her off our backs but I'm not. Belle, she may be the spark for it but she's not reason I'm asking, I love you."

"Not the proposal I would have expected."

"Belle, I'm not joking." He turned her around to look at him. "I love you, you're the one flicker of light among an ocean of dark. You make me want to be a better man and that's never happened before. I'm not saying lets do it tomorrow just, one day, after the baby's born. Marry me?"

Everything went silent for a moment as Belle took in his words. She had always imagined them being a real family and there was no mistaking the love in Cameron's gold chocolate eyes. Was it too fast? Was it a way of getting rid of Dean Mills? Was it for Bae, so he would have a real mother? Yes was probably the answer to all of them, however, there where much more important questions to be answered. Was she happy with Cam and Bae? Yes. Did she want them to be a family? Yes. Did Belle care if it was too fast? No.

Did she want to marry Cameron Gold? Yes.

Belle felt her lips curl upwards into a brighter than the sun smile. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Her words where soft and gently but that didn't stop Cam from feeling like he'd been hit by a train. Belle had said yes. She said yes! To him, to evil unworthy him. For a moment Cameron thought he was dreaming but the pain when he bit his inner cheek told him otherwise.

"You will?" His voice barley registered and tears began to flood his eyes.

"Yes, you silly idiot. I love you so how could I say no?"

Gold didn't realize it was possible but with those words his love for her grew. Suddenly memories filled his mind and Cameron stood then made his way over to a draw removing something small before returning. Gold sat down and pulled Belle closer to him, Bae still in her arms.

"Here." He said opening the small black velvet box. Belle gasped, inside was a ring. It was white gold with a large opal in the middle surrounded by a mass of swirling blue diamonds, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

"If...if you don't like it..."

"I love it." With that she handed him the ring so Cam could slip it onto her finger; it fit perfectly. Belle hauled him into a kiss. Eventually a need for oxygen caused them to release the lip lock.

"So you just have engagement rings just hidden around the house?"

"No." He smiled. "It em, it belonged to my Aunt."

Belle could tell there was a story there and she was determined to find out what it was.

"Your Aunt?"

"She raised me." He pulled his now fiancée into a tight embrace while Bae snoozed on the other side of the couch. "My mother died giving birth to me and em...my father, he left me with my Aunt one day and just never came back."

"He abandoned you?" Belle had no idea how anyone could do that to their child, it was monstrous.

"It was probably the best thing that could have happened. My Aunt, her name was Olivia, she raised me. Loved me. From an early age I had an obsession with that ring." He gestured to the white gold band decorating Belle's hand. "So she gave me this one." He held up the hand that he wore his Gold opal ring on. "Haven't taken it off since I was eight. Most painful moment of my life when I lost her."

Belle's heart warmed at the story of his Aunt Olivia but it also felt his pain, she couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to be abandoned by someone she loved. It was an agony that she never again wanted him to experience..

"Anyway, I should be listening to you going on about dresses and the hundreds of people you want to invite."

"Never wanted a big wedding."

"Good because neither do I." That made her smile.

"All I need is you, Bae, the baby and my three best friends with that I'm set. Maybe some Blink 182" The two chuckled.

Belle couldn't care less what anyone else thought, she loved him and getting married was just the next step in their lives together. They loved each other and that was all that mattered in the end. Their lives where not a tale of going slow, sometimes things went faster than people expected or thought was right. It didn't matter what other people thought, since the moment they admitted their feelings for one another Belle knew he was the man she would marry. It was just a little sooner than she had expected.