It was early afternoon on Sunday, the day before her and Cameron's wedding, and a swarm of butterflies seemed to have moved into Belle's stomach. She and Jefferson had found the perfect dress, simple but elegant and just what she wanted. Victor's work with the New York hospital had come to an end so he'd been helping Ruby with planning the wedding, Cam had somehow gathered her two friends into whispers and general secretiveness when it came to her special day. She'd been right about Cam and Victor, they had the same humor and where both very protective, Cameron didn't have many, well any friends really but the way he had been around Victor told him that he may have made one. It was nice to know her future husband got along with her friends. Belle had been most surprised with Ruby, she had always through Professor Gold creepy and evil but now she saw the man just like Belle did, it warmed her heart.

She knew it was bad luck for him to see the bride before the wedding but since it was only Sunday afternoon Belle consented and let Cam drive her to his home. It was a shame because Ashley had taken Bae to the park with Kubla, she really could have used a Bae hug. For some reason Cam seemed nervous, whether it was the wedding or not she wasn't quite sure. He sat her down on the couch and curled up with her for a while, no one spoke, it wasn't needed. The two just enjoyed the others company, hours seemed to pass and then Cameron broke the silence.

"Belle." He began as he sat up and pulled something from his pocket. "I have a gift for you, call it a wedding present."

An uncontrollable smile grew on Belle's face, a box was slid into her awaiting hands. It was matte black and not the right shape to be jewelry, not that he had to buy her jewelry.

"I didn't get you anything." Belle sounded embarrassed.

"You're marring me tomorrow, that is gift enough." He meant it, Belle was a candle in the dark that was his life. "And you are giving us a child, I think you're giving me more than enough."

Belle smiled at that and looked down to open the box. Inside where three silver keys looped onto a keychain, it was gold and held a small rose, her favourite, Belle didn't say anything but she knew it would be real gold. He liked spoiling her.

"What are these to?" She asked looking up at him with a smile.

"Well, this one." He said pointing to the first key. "This one is to our new home."

"What?"

"You told me once that when you graduated you wanted to go to Maine with your friends. We're going to live in Storybrooke, just like we talked about."

"I thought you were just humouring me." She said in disbelief.

"No, of course not. Bae will start school soon enough and I think this place will be good for him, for us, for our baby."

"You would really pack up and move, just for me?"

"I would do anything for you. It's your dream, and this way I get mine too."

Belle gave him a puzzled but happy look, thanks to her hormones tears where slowly dripping down her cheeks. He pointed to the second key, that one was smaller and a bronze color.

"This is the key to the shop I brought."

"Your little antique store?" He just nodded and pulled her close. "Are you going to be the powerful pawnbroker then?"

The tears came to a sudden stop and humour took over, her moods where really becoming unpredictable.

"That's about it yes."

"What's the last key to?"

"Ahh, that one is a surprise."

"A surprise?" He nodded. "But I want to know now."

"Well you are just going to have to wait." He looked over to a clock on the mantel, seven o'clock, they'd been there for a lot longer than they thought. "And now you must leave, I'll drive you back to your apartment." Neither one had noticed that Ashley had brought Bae and Kubla home, tucked him up in bed and left hours ago.

She knew why he was making her leave, she was the one that had made him agree to it, but that didn't mean she wanted to leave him. Alas she insisted on checking on Bae before she went anywhere, Bae seemed to sense her presence even while he was asleep and beamed up at his Mama. Knowing he had to get Belle out of the house he dressed Bae and let her hold him as Cam took her home. Ruby had been up since four checking and rechecking things, for a courthouse wedding there was a lot that needed doing. Since the early hour at which she woke Ruby would probably be face down in a pillow by the time she got back. Jefferson and Victor where staying over so they would have the television on trying to battle Mister Carpenter's. That made her smile.

When Cam kissed her goodnight in her apartment doorway Belle had to physically force herself to not pull him into her bedroom and ride him until she screamed. However, with Bae in his arms and her two gay best friends chuckling at some comedy on the couch she decided it wasn't a good idea.

"I love you."

"And I love you, Cam."

They shared a kiss before he finally left her for the evening.

XXXX

Belle paced back and forth outside the room she would soon be married in. She was terrified. Victor was inside by Cameron's side since he had been asked to be the best man while Jefferson kept an eye on Bae who'd demanded on being a ring bearer. Ruby was the only one with Belle, dressed in a knee length cherry red dress to match her lips with a sweetheart neckline. She looked beautiful but then again Ruby always did.

"Ruby, I'm scared."

"I know, but you'll be okay. All brides are scared." She looked over to the large clock mounted on the far wall and gasped, four o'clock. "Hun, I'll go get Jefferson. You should have someone give you away."

"I think that's my job." Came the most unexpected voice in the world from behind Belle. She turned and gasped.

"Papa?"

Everything came to a sudden stop. Belle hadn't told him about the wedding, it wasn't that she didn't want him there it was more of the fact she was scared of him somehow putting a stop to it. Her plan had been to get married and then tell her Papa, he wouldn't be able to change anything then. Belle didn't know what to say so she was thankful when he filled the silence.

"I love you Izzy. If you'll forgive me, I would be honoured to walk you down the aisle."

"I thought you hated Cam." Belle asked in a confused voice.

"Lets just say he made some good points and we are suturing a wound."

XXXX 7 HOURS EARLIER XXXX

Moe French hadn't really been sleeping since the fight with Izzy. The refrigerator was filled with beer again and Pizza boxes where almost overflowing the bin, at the bottom rotted the Chicken Rice Casserole he had made what seemed like forever ago.

He slumped down onto the couch and was just about to switch on the television when a powerful knock came at the door. He recognized all the people he knew and their knocks; Izzy's was soft and gentle, Isaac's was always a triplet, Lewis' was more of a thud and Chris just banged on the door until it was opened. The twins Jim and Aiden where hard to tell apart but he always knew it was one of them. The knock came again and Moe sighed knowing it was some stranger, it was clear the person on the other side of the door wasn't going away so in a need for quiet he answered.

On the other side was Cameron Gold, dressed in another ruddy suit. Just as he opened his mouth Moe punched him as hard as he could in the face.

"Fuck!" Cursed Cam, wiping away the little hint of blood from his nose. "Probably deserved that."

"Yeah, no shit. You deserve a lot more." Moe raised his arm but Cam somehow pinned him to the open door with his cane.

"I came here to talk not to fight, I could beat you to death with my cane but Belle wouldn't want that. May I come in?"

He didn't wait for a reply Gold just released him and wandered into the apartment.

"Get the fuck out!" Demanded Moe.

"No. Not until you have heard what I have to say, sit."

Knowing he wasn't going to win Moe took a seat at his small dining table and looked up at Gold with a scowl.

"What is it you want?"

"Belle and I are getting married today."

"The fucking hell you..."

"No, its going to go like this. I will speak and you will listen and then at the end I will leave you to think about what I have said. I am not asking your permission to marry her, it's happening." Cam took a deep breath and calmed himself down, when he spoke again it was in a more human voice. "I know I'm not worthy of Belle, I know no man is. I know that she could do so much better. I know I'm too old and I also know that we crossed a huge life since I'm her teacher."

"You're her what?!"

"Oh, Belle didn't tell you that. We'll put a pin in that." He said dismissively. "I love her and for some reason known only to Belle she loves me too. She is twenty now and can make her own decisions. This isn't about me or you, its about Belle and what she wants. I will take care of her and protect her until my dying day, with the very last breath in my body I will fight for her. I'm a coward, I always have been but she makes me want to be better, be good, and that hasn't happened in a very long time." He took another breath and saw that he had Moe's full attention. "I am also well aware of how you feel. I know what its like to be away from your child, it hurts. You feel like you can't breathe, like you'll die if you don't hold them that very moment. This feud between us is hurting Belle and you, she wants you back in her life and if it makes her happy then so do I. She wants you in our child's life."

It was killing Gold being that honest but he had to push through for Belle. His fingers gripped his cane not just for physical support but an emotional one too.

"What are you saying?" Moe was clearly holding back tears but he would never let Cameron see him cry.

"I made a silent promise to Belle that I would fix this." He gestured to the two of them. "I'm aware that I can't just cast a spell and play happy families but maybe...maybe we could suture the wound, bandage it and over time let it heal and fix itself. We just have to be man enough to start the process."

Cam let that thought hang in the air for a moment before fishing a folded piece of paper out his right inside pocket. He set it down on the table beside Moe and sighed.

"That is the time and address, Belle didn't want a big wedding. Think about what I said."

He made his way over to the door but came to a stop when Moe spoke.

"Cameron?"

"Yes."

"You said you didn't know why Izzy loved you. I think its because you'll try and do anything for her, even when you're terrified."

Cam nodded and left he shook with fear, he'd never done anything that brave or selfless in all his life.

Moe looked down at the folded paper and thought of what Gold had said. It was clear that he loved Izzy and Moe had to admire the man for that. He had said he was a coward but by showing up in his apartment he had proved that to be false. Cameron Gold was a better man than he'd given him credit for. Mister French looked up at the refrigerator and then with his mind made up, he threw out all the beer.