Hey guys! This is all Belle and Jefferson friendship. Did you hear Meghan Ory's left Once Upon A Time? Apparently she's too busy filming another series and she just can't do both shows. I will miss her :(
Anyway, here's another chapter
Exactly one week had passed since Belle had been freed from the hospital. And every day since she had spent with Jefferson. No one would've thought that they'd only met a few days ago. They were practically inseparable. Jefferson had come to enjoy the company of Belle and decided that he wasn't going to stay with her just to watch over her. He would stay with her because they had become really good friends. He never failed to make Belle smile or laugh. And he helped her remember who she was. She always loved having him around.
They were on their way to Granny's café to meet Ruby (Belle had introduced her two friends and they slowly became a group of three) when they bumped into Henry. The little boy looked up at Belle with a look of utter delight on his face,
"Hey, you're out! I can't believe it!"
Belle couldn't help giggle a little, "Yeah, I guess they decided I'm not some crazy lunatic after all."
"Well I always knew you weren't insane. You remember," Jefferson suddenly realised that Henry didn't know that Belle had been returned back to her cursed-self, and started to panic. He could say anything right now that might possibly set her off.
He quickly started shaking his head so only Henry could see, "and that could help me convince Emma," he carried on obliviously. Jefferson moved his hand in front of his neck to try and tell Henry to shut his mouth. Then he began to mouth the words:
Stop it! Stop talking!
"you could even find…" he trailed off.
She doesn't remember.
Henry finally understood Jefferson's message, but Belle could tell something was happening behind her back. She turned her head and Jefferson stopped immediately.
"Find what?" she asked, eyeing Jefferson suspiciously. He just smiled.
Henry kept quiet, "Henry?" she turned back to face him.
"Find me, a, uh, present." He stuttered.
"A present?"
"Yeah. For my birthday. You promised you'd get me one, remember?"
Belle began to shake her head, "No...I don't remember…"
"Great! Well can you get me one please thanks bye!" he finished in a rush and began to run off, but Jefferson was quick to grab him by his backpack.
"Woah, hold on." He said, "You go ahead, Belle. I'll meet you and Ruby in a minute."
She raised her eyebrows in a silent question, "I just need to have a few words with Henry and his rudeness. You know, that he shouldn't be opening his mouth so much." He directed it towards Henry, "You know you can't just go round asking people for birthday presents."
Henry clearly knew that Jefferson was scolding him.
"Okay, well, see you in a minute." Belle said, walking off.
Both of them waited until she was out of ear shot.
"I'm sorry!" Henry exclaimed, "I didn't know-"
"It's fine. I'm just asking you to be a little careful next time. Okay?" Henry nodded, "I'm still not completely sure what else can set her off. I think maybe even his name might trigger something. We can't afford to be risky."
"You care about her." Henry smiled, "I didn't expect that from you. From the Mad Hatter."
"Well that's exactly it," he said with a grin, "I don't want people thinking she's mad."
Rumplestiltskin watched Belle, Jefferson and Henry from his pawnshop. They chatted across the street from him, but he knew exactly what was happening. The boy was completely clueless to the fact that Belle didn't remember anything about the curse. And that he was about to give everything away. But Jefferson was there. He didn't need to worry. He would protect Belle until the curse broke. That's what he'd promised him. Then they could be together again.
He watched as Belle left and Jefferson talked to Henry about her. He's a smart kid. He managed to work out who and what everyone in this cursed town was simply by reading a book. And Rumplestiltskin knew that the boy would go to extraordinary lengths to make Emma believe. And he could tell that was going to happen soon. Really soon.
Jefferson walked into the café to find Belle sitting at the counter talking to Ruby.
"Hey." They chorused.
"Hi."
"We were just talking about having a girl's night." Ruby said, "Wanna come?"
Jefferson laughed, "I'm alright." He said.
"Oh well," Ruby turned to Belle, "I guess it'll just be the two of us."
"Aw, I think you'll really enjoy tonight, Jefferson."
"It's girls night. I'm a man, thank you very much."
Belle grinned, "We're going to the Rabbit Hole."
Jefferson stopped smiling, "The Rabbit Hole?" the two girls nodded in unison, "They're having strippers there tonight."
"Yup."
"Ruby!"
"What?! It's just a little fun, come on. Think of it as celebrating Belle's freedom."
"She was only in there for a week." They started talking as if Belle wasn't even there.
"So? A week can feel like forever in that hellhole."
"Guys!" Belle interrupted, "It's my choice, you know. I can go if I like."
"Exactly." Grinned Ruby triumphantly.
Jefferson sighed and shook his head disapprovingly at her.
"Oh, hey Archie!" Belle waved to Dr Hopper who had just sat down at a table, "Excuse me, guys." She went over to talk to Archie while Jefferson turned to Ruby.
"What are you thinking?!" he hissed, "You can't take Belle to a strip club! She's with Mr Gold!"
"With? She doesn't even remember who he is."
"She will." He mumbled. Obviously Ruby wasn't going to understand. She didn't remember anything.
"They didn't have a healthy relationship anyway. It's time she met someone new. And proper."
"Proper? What do you mean proper? Is Mr Gold not proper enough for you?"
Ruby quickly rolled her eyes, "No, actually, he isn't." she said irritably, "Just let her do what she wants, okay? It's her life."
"Whatever." Jefferson knew that even if she did start something with someone, she would go back to Rumplestiltskin after the curse broke anyway. No matter what. This one night wouldn't do anything. Hopefully.
Belle opened her front door to find Jefferson standing there.
"You decided to tag along?" She was wearing a short, tight blue dress with black high heels.
He raised his eyebrows, "You're going like that?"
Belle nodded, "Problem?"
"It's a bit... revealing, don't you think?"
"Come on, Jefferson. You're so boring today. This is only for tonight. I'll probably end up chucking this away after."
He let himself in, "Of course you will."
She closed the door while Jefferson slumped down on her sofa.
"Well I'm leaving pretty soon. You going to walk me?"
He threw his head back, "Urgh!"
She cocked her head to the side, "Jefferson…"
"I just don't think it's a good idea." He said, lifting his head back up.
"Well I don't care what you think," she smiled, "I'm going. Okay?"
"Are you sure it's okay for you to be doing something like this so early on? You only got out of that hospital a week ago."
"Yes, but a lot can happen in a week." She grinned.
"Yeah yeah yeah, use my words against me, you're no fair!"
Belle laughed, "Stop whining. God, you're more annoying than a five-year-old!"
"I'm not whining."
"You are."
"Not."
"Look, I'm leaving now. Are you going to stay here in my apartment, or are you going to walk there with me?" she couldn't help smile.
"Fiiiiiiine!" he got up and walked out the door, waiting for Belle to follow.
Jefferson dropped her off with Ruby and walked around town for the next few hours, looking for his special sleeping mixture he loves to add in his guest's tea.
Then he noticed Belle and Ruby on the other side of the street. Belle didn't seem to be walking straight, but Ruby seemed perfectly fine.
Jefferson made his way over to them and asked how their night was.
"Uh, well, we had fun." Ruby said a little uncertainly.
"Lots of fun!" Belle exclaimed a little too loudly.
Jefferson rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, "She's drunk."
Ruby made a face, "Yeah…"
"Ruby, I told you-"
"Wow! I never noticed how your hair sticks up like that!" Belle interrupted, touching his hair, "Do you put syrup in it or something?"
Jefferson gently grabbed her by the wrist and took her hand away from his head, "Belle, you're drunk. I'm taking you home." He started to lead her away, but she pulled her arm back.
"I'm not drunk!"
"She told me this was her first time to do something like this. I guess she got a little too excited and decided to really celebrate." Ruby informed him.
"Great."
"I wasn't too excited! The nice man just kept giving me drinks. I didn't have to pay so I thought, 'what the hell?'" she spread out her arms in an exaggerated shrug and stumbled over a little.
"You see, Ruby?"
She screwed up her face, "Sorry."
He sighed again and took Belle's hand, "Come on, I'm taking you home." They started walking and Belle turned back to Ruby with wide eyes,
"He's taking me home!" she turned to Jefferson, "You sure you're just taking me home?"
Jefferson rolled his eyes irritably. This was just great.
Belle had been talking about anything that came to her mind the whole walk home, and when they finally got to her apartment, Jefferson spoke for the first time,
"Where are your keys?"
Belle glared at him in thought, "My keys?" then she widened her eyes at him, "Oh my KEYS!" she wiggled a finger at him, "You want my keys."
"Yes, now can you get them please." He said a little impatiently.
"Okay, okay, hold on." She brought her hand up to her chest, and Jefferson quickly turned his head away. She reached inside her bra and took the keys out and dangled them in front of him. Jefferson tried not to let them touch his face. "Here are the keys. Are you happy now?"
"Only when you use them to open the door."
"God, you're so impatient! I was getting to that part." She unlocked the door and flung it open. Jefferson followed her in and closed the door.
"You need to get some sleep now."
"Psh! I don't need sleep."
"Yes, you do. You're going to have a hangover tomorrow."
"Well then I'm definitely not going to sleep!" but Belle fell back into her bed anyway, "My feet hurt. It's these stupid shoes!" she kicked off the black high heels.
"I told you this was a bad idea." Jefferson said, picking up her shoes and placing them neatly on the floor.
"Yeah, well, I had a good time and I deserve a night out with my friend."
"Okay, I'm glad you had fun. Just please don't do this again." He said, sitting down on the bed next to her.
She put her hand on his face a gently patted it, "Oh Jeff. Jeffy Jeffy."
Jefferson couldn't help laugh a little, "Belle, you need to get some sleep."
She yawned, "But I'm not tired."
"Well I brought my special tea along. And that will defiantly knock you out. You want some of that?"
Belle stared at him blankly for a moment before answering in a whisper, "Yes!"
Jefferson smiled and got up to fetch the drink where he left it at the front door. And just as he expected, when he got back to her room, she was fast asleep on her bed. He smiled at the look of peacefulness on her face. She looked so happy and relaxed in her sleep. Well, Belle was always happy. That's one thing Jefferson had come to learn about her. She was always cheerful and saw the good in everyone. And in everything.
He walked over to her bed and gently whispered,
"Goodnight, Belle."
Ok, I've never written a scene where someone's drunk before, so I'm not actually sure if I wrote it well. But there you go.