Thank you very, very much for the reviews and support! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! This one's a bit angsty. You've been warned. :/

I do not own "Once Upon a Time."

Chapter 7

Nick and Belle got out of a cab and darted into Nick's apartment, both of them drenched and carrying several bags.

"Oh my god, that storm came out of nowhere." Belle said, hanging her clothing bag on the coat rack in the hallway. They had been walking in a park after shopping when a storm hit suddenly, and were both soaked by the time they were able to hail a cab. "Thank you for letting me come here, with my luck I'd go back to the hotel and there would be photographers everywhere and then the whole world would see pictures of me looking like this."

"You look lovely." Nick said, smiling as he set down the bags he was carrying for her. "I assume you want to get those clothes dried. Let's see if I can find something for you to wear while you're doing that." Nick said. He went into his room and came back out with a t-shirt and a pair of sweats. "These might be a tad big, but they should do fine for now." Nick said.

"Sweats? You don't strike me as someone who wears these. Or t-shirts." Belle said.

"I'm not." Nick said. He usually wore jeans and button-down shirts, although he wore a suit on several occasions when out with Belle. "You can change in the bathroom – I'm going to go to my room and change as well. The dryer is in a room attached to the kitchen, it's that way." Nick said, pointing to the kitchen. "I assume you remember where the bathroom is."

"Yes. Thank you." Belle said. She and Nick both changed their clothes – Belle found the dryer and set her clothes in it, then made her way into the living room. She noticed a photo on the end table that was clearly of Ruby and Bae when they were younger – Bae looked about 13 years old and Ruby about 6 or 7. Nick was standing between them in the photo, looking much younger.

"My, you were handsome when you were younger." Belle commented when Nick entered the room, having changed clothes. "I mean, not that you're not handsome now just – wow."

"Yes, that was taken Christmas 1999 – one of the few times I bothered to spend that holiday with my kids when they were younger. We actually had a lovely day that day and - I remember Ruby crying the next day when I went back to work. She wanted me to take her ice skating and I told her I was busy. I should have taken her." Nick said. "But I thought work was more important than my little girl crying. I'm not proud of that." Nick sat down with Belle on the sofa, and he took the picture and put it back on the table.

"You're different now." Belle said. "And Ruby loves you."

"Do you – want something to drink? Coffee perhaps?" Nick asked, quickly changing the subject.

"That would be great. Thank you." Belle said. Nick went into the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. Belle noticed a book sitting on the end table as well and picked it up. She paged through it until Nick came into the room with two cups of coffee.

"Do you need cream or sugar?" Nick asked.

"No – I take it black." Belle replied.

"Me too." Nick said, sitting down next to her and handing her the cup.

"I'll try not to break this one." Belle joked. "You like Grisham?" she asked, commenting on the book.

"Yes – one of my favorites although I haven't had much time to read recently – been busy for some reason." Nick said, smiling at her, then taking a sip of coffee. "You like to read?"

"Are you kidding? I get harassed on every movie set because between takes I always have my nose in a book. I've always been an avid reader. When I was in school the kids used to tease me and call me Marian the Librarian." Belle said.

"I thought your name was Martha." Nick said, and Belle giggled.

"It's a reference to a musical. You really don't know anything about popular culture, do you?" Belle asked.

"Not particularly." Nick admitted. "I really don't frequent the movies, I don't watch the telly much, and as for music, if it's not Motown, Queen, The Beatles or Clapton I'm pretty much clueless."

"So what am I doing with you then?" Belle asked jokingly.

"I've been asking myself that for several weeks now." Nick replied. "Do you have a particular type of music that you prefer?"

"Well, I have pretty eclectic taste – I do like musicals. I like the Beatles too, and I'm kind of partial to the female folk/rock 90's stuff – Sarah Maclachlan, Tori Amos, that sort of thing. And I really enjoy – oh, I don't want to say, you'll laugh." Belle said.

"I won't laugh. I promise." Nick said.

"When I was a girl, when my mum was still alive – she was really into the crooner type singers of the 1950's. Her favorite was Johnny Mathis – she said that the first song she and my dad ever danced to was a Johnny Mathis song. They used to dance in the kitchen – my dad had this old record player, and he'd set it on the kitchen table, and he'd play those songs and he and my mum would dance and laugh and kiss – they really loved one another. Real, true love. Most kids would have cringed to see their parents doing that, but not me. I used to smile and watch them and even back then I would think – you know if I could find that – if I could find someone who loved me like that – well I really wouldn't need much else now, would I?" Belle paused for a moment as Nick stared at her quietly. "Anyway – I like that music. It makes me think of – true love." Belle set her cup down and moved closer to Nick. He set his cup down and then she moved in to kiss him on the lips. They kissed for a moment, then Nick pulled away.

"Belle, I uh – I have something to tell you and – well since you're here at least until your clothes are dry – this might be a good time." Nick said, taking her hand. "I don't know where this is going with us, if anywhere, but – if it is going to go anywhere – you need to know things. Because if I don't tell you, you'll find out from someone else and I'd rather this come from me."

"Is this about – seven years ago?" Belle asked.

"Yeah." Nick replied. "Belle, have you ever heard of – Regal International Enterprises?"

"No – should I have?" Belle asked.

"Probably not – it's a brokerage company – Regina runs it. It's where I used to work."

"Oh. She seems – very nasty." Belle commented.

"Be glad you didn't know her mother. Regina inherited the company from her mother, Cora. You think Regina is bad? Her mother was a hundred times worse. Her mother was the one who hired me straight out of getting my MBA."

"Where is Regina's mother?"

"Presumably still at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean – if she hasn't been eaten by sharks, I'm not really sure if they eat their own. She and Regina were on a cruise about twelve years ago and – supposedly Cora had a bit too much to drink and fell overboard. I suspect she was pushed." Nick said.

"By her own daughter?" Belle asked, shocked.

"Oh yes – they never got along. Regina wanted her mother's company and the only way for that to happen was to get rid of Cora. Of course this is all my own speculation but – let's just say I'm not the only one who thinks this, there's just no proof. But I don't want to waste time telling you Regina's tale, as sordid as it is. You need to hear mine. You need to know – some things about me."

"You've told me things." Belle said.

"No – not this." Nick said. "Belle, my wife Milah and I – we were never in love. She was my secretary, Belle. I wanted her for her looks and she wanted me for my money. And that does not sustain a relationship. We probably never should have gotten married – probably wouldn't have if she hadn't gotten pregnant with Bae. Anyhow, seven years ago – I was Regina's top henchman at RIE and yes that is the right word for it. I was a corporate raider – I would help Regina take over businesses without even thinking about how it was affecting people. I cheated on my wife, I neglected my children, I drank too much – I was a monster, Belle."

"Regina hired this young man to work at the company. Upstart prick from Ireland named Killian Jones who just got his MBA from Harvard. Regina wanted me to mentor him. I ended up doing too good of a job at that, because – he stole some of my best business connections right from under me and Regina and started his own company. Oh, and he – stole my wife, too. One night I came home and found Milah packing – she told me she was leaving me. She was taking Ruby and they were moving to Ireland with Killian. I already knew that they were having an affair, and it certainly wasn't the first time she had cheated on me, but – this was too much. For the first time in my career, I was losing clients, I was losing money, and now I was losing my family. All because of Jones. Well, I kind of lost my mind as well at that point – I started screaming at her, throwing things – all of our china, vases, nick-knacks, what have you. Basically I went on a rampage through the house. I didn't hurt Milah but I did shake her up quite a bit. At some point I knew I had to leave – I was so angry with her I wanted to rip her heart out. Fortunately Ruby wasn't home, Bae had taken her to the movies. Probably one of yours, isn't that ironic?"

"Anyhow, I went to my office that night and started drinking. I don't know how many I had – I was pretty drunk when Jones showed up. Milah told him what I did and – well, I presume that he came to the office to beat the shit out of me. He walked into my office all smug and taunted me about how much he was able to satisfy my wife in ways that I couldn't, and how I was a dinosaur in my field and he was making it his personal mission to destroy me in every way. I remember sitting behind my desk and he was leaning on my desk, his hands resting on top of it, mocking me. I just sat and listened to him, and quietly pulled a letter opener out of my drawer. And then I stabbed him in the hand – straight through. Pinned it to the desk, actually. Probably would have cut it off if I'd had a knife. And then I left."

"I really don't remember too much after this. I know I got in my car, which I also know I shouldn't have done, as drunk as I was. I can't tell you how grateful I am that I didn't cause anyone harm that night – well, except for Jones. I don't know where I was going when I got in my car – I just started driving. I'm really not even sure how long I drove or how far I went."

"The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital three days later with the worst headache I've ever had in my life, several broken ribs, and my right leg in traction and in a cast from my hip to my ankle. And Bae – at my side. Only Bae. Apparently I had wrapped my car around a tree. There are four bones in your leg, Belle, and I broke all of them. Shattered, really. Broke several bones in my foot as well. Shattered my kneecap beyond repair, it had to be replaced. Took me three surgeries and about fifteen months before I was able to walk again."

"Oh, Nick." Belle said, squeezing his hand.

"Bae told me that – Jones had nerve damage in his hand and had to have surgery, and that both he and Milah were going to press charges against me for assault. Jones did recover but I understand he has lost some feeling in his hand that can't be recovered. Bae dragged Milah in to see me at the hospital and was able to get them to drop the charges in exchange for a hefty settlement – which amounted to most of my savings, save an amount that I put in trust for Bae and Ruby. I guess she decided that what I had done to myself was punishment enough. Then there were the drunk driving charges. I didn't hurt anyone and I had never been arrested before so – I ended up with a two year license suspension, not that I could drive anyway, a month in rehab, and mandatory counseling. I did come to realize that, while I had been drinking quite a bit – that wasn't my real drug of choice. I was addicted to the money, and everything that came with it. And I realized that, if I really wanted to change – I could never go back to that world."

"Bae took over my personal finances and other things during my recovery and rehabilitation – he was going through my belongings that were in storage and found my dad's spinning wheel, and brought it home, curious about it. I told him how my dad used to have a business back in Glasgow – how sad is it that it took me twenty years to tell my son anything about his grandfather. Anyway – I told him how my dad taught me spinning and looming and had hoped I'd continue the family business. I was good at it when I was a lad, but – well it wasn't the most manly hobby. I was already pretty small compared to most of the boys in school and wasn't too keen on playing sports, so – having spinning and weaving as a hobby didn't make me many friends. Eventually I stopped. But Bae said I should start again – I was cooped up at home all day and he thought it would give me something to do. He bought me some supplies and – I made some blankets and a few rugs – and then I made a tapestry for Ruby. I hadn't seen her in over a year – we talked on the phone, but – Milah was keeping her away from me. She had just turned fifteen and I finally worked up the nerve to take Milah to court. I ended up with some visitation and Ruby came to spend the summer with me and Bae. Anyway, the tapestry that I made her – she took it upon herself to enter the thing in a craft show and – it took second place. That's when Bae came up with the idea for the shop. I knew I couldn't go back to work at Regal and I really didn't have any other skills except this – and I liked doing that. And I needed to find a way to earn a living that was honest, would pay child support for Ruby until she turned eighteen, and that I enjoyed. We found the storefront, bought it, sold my Manhattan apartment, and I moved in with Bae."

"Belle, I'm not proud of all that I did in my past. All the people I hurt over the years. And I'm especially not proud of that day seven years ago. But you know what? If I hadn't hit bottom that day – I don't know what would have become of me. I'd have never gotten to know and truly love my children – two beautiful children that I've done nothing to deserve. I wouldn't have had my shop, and I love my shop, and I love spinning, and meeting people and and teaching and entering craft fairs and everything else that goes with it. And I wouldn't have met you. I'm not that man anymore, Belle. I never will be again, I swear." After Nick finished, he and Belle were both quiet for a moment. "I – I think your clothes are dry."

Belle scooted closer to Nick, reached out and touched his cheek, and then kissed him. "I believe that you're not that man anymore, Nick. I see that. I believe there was always good in you, and I'm sorry that it took what it did for you to find that. But you did find it."

"And then I found you." Nick said, kissing her again. "Belle, I -"

"I really do need to go, though." Belle said, interrupting him. "I have to get up early tomorrow morning – I have to work with a dialect coach for the audition, I'm meeting her at 8:30."

"What accent do you have to do for the film?" Nick asked. Belle looked down.

"Irish." she replied, looking down sheepishly. Nick started to laugh.

"Well that figures, doesn't it?" he said, and then Belle laughed with him and kissed him again.

"So – you didn't tell me – why do you have these clothes, you always look so – sharp, even in jeans, I could never imagine you wandering about in sweats." Belle said.

"Those are a remnant from my days in the rehab center – you really can't learn to walk again wearing suits or denim." Nick said. "I should have burned the damn things – it's my one indulgence, my appearance. I may be a cripple but I refuse to outwardly look like one. Bae made me get rid of most of my suits because he said that having them would make it too tempting for me to go back – he was probably right. I had grown out my hair during my recovery too – partly because of laziness but – I decided I actually liked the long hair – it certainly wouldn't be acceptable on Wall Street in most circles, so yet another thing to deter me from going back."

"I like your long hair – you look so handsome in it." Belle said, reaching out and running her fingers through it. "Even when you look like a drowned rat." Nick laughed. Belle got up to get her clothes, changed, and came back into the room. "I left the clothes in the bathroom. Thank you. For everything – especially for telling me the truth."

"I just wanted you to hear it from me." Nick said. Belle hugged him and gave him a quick kiss.

"Do you want to go to a show on Broadway tomorrow night?" she asked.

"I suppose we could do that. I'll get tickets, what would you like to see?" Nick asked.

"No – I'll take care of it. I have connections I'll see what's available. How about dinner before too, I'll pick you up here at five. We'll have a nice evening – my treat." Belle said.

"Belle – I can't accept that." Nick said.

"Why not? You may have been many things, Nick, but I didn't think male chauvinist pig was one of them. I can pay sometimes – you know I can afford it, and it's not about who has or makes more money, it's because I want to. Don't make a big deal out of it, just let me do this. Wear one of your nice suits and we'll have a lovely evening on Broadway tomorrow." Belle said. Nick sighed.

"After all I've told you – I expected you to run out the door. And here you are inviting me out on the town tomorrow." Nick said.

"I don't judge people by the mistakes they've made. I judge them by what they've done to overcome them. I'll see you at five tomorrow then?"

"I'm looking forward to it." Nick said. They kissed once again, and Belle left. Nick leaned against the door after she was gone. He loved her. He was sure of it now. He just needed to find the right time to tell her.

After the show the next evening, Belle and Nick walked hand in hand down the sidewalks of New York City. "You're not afraid of being noticed?" Nick asked.

"At night in New York? Nobody's paying attention, it's the one time of day I can walk around here without hiding my face." Belle said. "So did you like the show?"

"It was alright." Nick said.

"I can't believe you've never seen Wicked before – that was my fifth time seeing it, I absolutely love it." Belle said.

"Well, I told you, I don't often get to the theater."

"But it was a good show, you have to admit that." Belle said.

"Yes, I suppose – I could have done without all of the singing every five minutes." Nick said.

"It's a musical, what do you expect? But didn't you like the story? The girl who was cast out for being different – but she still found love. She found someone who saw beyond her exterior. It's classic." Belle said. "Or maybe I'm just too much of a romantic."

"Nothing wrong with that." Nick said, giving her hand a squeeze as they approached her hotel.

"So, um – here we are." Belle said.

"Yes, it appears so." Nick said. Belle paused for a moment.

"Do you want to come up?" Belle asked.

"I thought you didn't want things to be complicated." Nick said.

"I didn't." Belle said, pausing again. "So do you want to come up?"

"Yes." Nick whispered, a bit nervous. Belle reached into her purse and handed him a card.

"This is the elevator key. Room 726. Give me about five minutes." Belle said. She handed him the card and smiled as she entered the hotel. Nick stood and stared at the card in disbelief. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. Belle – the woman he was so desperately in love with – she wanted to be with him. Even after all he had told her – she still wanted him. Perhaps she loved him, too. He had to tell her. He was going to tell her now. Nick waited five minutes as Belle asked him, then went inside. He went up to her room and knocked on the door. Belle answered.

"Hi." Nick said, moving to kiss her on the lips, but Belle pushed him away.

"You have to go." Belle said.

"What? I don't understand." Nick said.

"Hey, is that the room service I called for?" a man's voice called out from within the room. The man walked over to the door. Nick recognized him immediately. Tyler Gaston – action film heartthrob, Ruby had a crush on him when she was about sixteen or seventeen. He was standing in Belle's room, shirtless. "Hey – she wants to order something too, will you take care of it?" Tyler said to Nick. Tyler turned to Belle. "Just don't get too much, you've put on a couple of pounds in the past two months, I don't want to be the actor with the fat girlfriend. I'll be in the shower." Tyler walked away. Belle stepped outside with Nick.

"I'm sorry. Nick, I haven't spoken to Tyler in almost two months. We had a huge fight two weeks before I left LA and he's called and left messages and I've just ignored him. I was hoping he would take the hint but apparently I have to handle things more directly. I didn't know he was coming here, and I certainly didn't expect him to be in my room." Belle said.

"Why didn't you tell me about him?" Nick asked.

"I was going to. I swear – I was going to tell you tonight. Look, just let me get rid of him, give me a couple of hours and then you can come back." Belle suggested. "Tomorrow morning I'll call my publicist and we can figure out how to handle you and -"

"Handle me? What do you mean?" Nick asked.

"Well - Tyler isn't going to take kindly to being dumped, that's obvious since I thought I'd already dumped him and he's too thick to realize it, he's not the brightest man in the world. I didn't even want to date him, Leroy set us up, we have nothing in common but – we looked good together in the press. So if you and I are going to be together, we'll have to figure out how to approach that, or the magazines will decide what to say on their own."

"And you don't want them coming up with their own speculations about why you're dating a crippled man old enough to be your father." Nick said.

"Nick – this is part of my life, I can't get away from it. I've kept things very quiet about being in New York but now that Tyler's here – I'm sure he's already called his publicist and they'll be outside in the morning just waiting for a photo op. I have my audition on Monday with August Booth and I can't afford bad publicity." Belle said.

"And I – I would be bad publicity, right?" Nick asked. "You know what, Belle? Bae was right. The mortals and the gods – they don't belong together. I should go." Nick turned around to leave.

"Nick, please – I don't want you to leave." Belle said, her eyes tearing up.

"No – but you don't want to be photographed with me, either. Belle – these past few weeks have been incredible. It's been lovely spending time with you and getting to know you. But you're going to get that part in that movie. And you'll go off to film it. And then you'll go back to LA. And I'll still be here – working in my shop. We both know that, as much as either of us would want it to – this can't work in the end. You're better off with someone like Tyler. He's from your world, he understands all of this Hollywood nonsense. He's handsome, and I'm – well I'm this." Nick said, looking down. "No one is ever going to believe that you would want a man like me. Thank you for the time we've had. You have a good life – I'll make sure I go see that film. Goodbye Belle." Nick turned and walked away. Belle wiped her tears away and watched him go, but said nothing. Nick got into the elevator, and once the doors closed he leaned against the wall and began to sob.