Belle and Gold seek to define their relationship.

A/N: tinuviel-undomiel prompted on tumblr: Lacey needs Belle to switch with her so she can stall Keith. Gold sees Belle pretending to be Lacey again and is furious. Cue Angry Sex.

It was Thursday night in Storybrooke and Belle was beat. She'd stayed late at the pawnshop helping Gold go over some new inventory. Well, that wasn't exactly true. Mostly they'd flirted over tea and discussed their predictions for Game of Thrones. But she still technically worked late. She couldn't help it if she was kind of, sort of dating her boss and working late was a pleasure.

But despite her exhaustion, Belle had never been able to say no to Lacey. That's how she found herself once again dressed in her twin's clothes, hair pulled up in a teased ponytail and wearing more makeup than she was strictly comfortable with.

Lacey had a date with a new guy. He was apparently an oral surgeon, new in town and knew nothing of Lacey's reputation. Her dinner date was running late though and she was still technically in a relationship with Keith who she was supposed to meet at the Rabbit Hole at 10. Enter Belle.

She was supposed to dress up as Lacey, meet Keith outside the bar and stall him there for ten minutes while Lacey rushed over from the other side of town, slipped in the back and made her way to the bathroom. Belle would meet her there, swap outfits and Lacey would head out to meet her boyfriend with him being none the wiser. Belle had pointed out that it would be much easier to just break up with Keith, but Lacey had balked at the idea.

"He gets so sad when I dump him," her sister had said morosely. "And he's got the cutest accent when he's sad. I just can't do it."

Belle vaguely thought maybe she shouldn't be helping her sister cheat on Keith, but the truth was she couldn't stand the asshole. He'd somehow kept Lacey under his thumb for the better part of the past two years, but she knew her sister could do better.

She'd been leaning up against the brick facade of the bar, reading off her kindle app for her smart phone for close to ten minutes when Keith finally arrived.

"Lacey, my beautiful little flower," Keith called, walking up and seizing her about the waist. He leaned in to kiss her, but Belle presented him with her cheek instead. For his part, Keith seemed unfazed.

"What are you doing out here, baby doll? Let's go in and I'll buy you a drink."

Belle stopped him from entering the bar with a hand against his chest.

"Oh, I thought we could hang out here for a minute and talk," she said, putting on her best Lacey pout. "It gets so loud in there we can't really have a proper conversation."

"Talk, eh?" Keith waggled his eyebrows at her. "Alright then. How about we make our way to your favorite alleyway?"

Belle had to actively keep from gagging. How did her sister put up with this guy? They'd dated two years and he couldn't tell his girlfriend from her twin sister. Gold had spotted the difference in a matter of minutes, and she'd only been his employee.

"No, I really mean talk," Belle clarified. "I feel like I haven't seen you in a while."

Keith shrugged, looking slightly disappointed. "Been working a lot," he grunted.

Belle nodded and glanced down at her watch. She was supposed to keep him occupied for another seven minutes. She wasn't sure what she could do to keep him entertained until Lacey arrived.

Keith leaned back against the wall, popping a cigarette between his lips. He offered her one, but Belle just shook her head.

"So how is work?" she asked awkwardly. She couldn't for the life of her remember what Keith actually did for a living.

Her sister's boyfriend just shrugged. "Same old, same old you know. Fucking prick boss."

Belle just nodded again, glancing down to see she still had six minutes to go. This wasn't going to end well.

"Look, Lace, why don't we just go back to my place?" Keith said suddenly, stubbing out his cigarette and leaning toward her, pinning her between his body and the wall. She did her best not to flinch away.

"I haven't seen you in a while, but the Big Guy's gone even longer," he whispered against her ear, rubbing up against her suggestively.

Belle actually choked at that, pulling on her ponytail nervously.

"Um, you know I think we should have that drink after all, actually."

She tried to sidle away from him but he clutched her by the hips, grinding himself harder against her.

"You know I love it when you play hard to get," he whispered, the stale scent of his cigarette breath wafting across her face. "Come on, baby. I know you want it."

Belle squeezed her eyes shut, trying to divine a way out of this situation when they were interrupted by a familiar Scottish brogue.

"Is there a problem here?"

Keith spun around, revealing Mr. Gold standing just behind him, his brown eyes as hard as chips of ice.

It was the last day of the month, and Gold was running late on his rent collection. He'd stayed at the shop for far too long talking with Belle, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. Still, he had a reputation to keep up and not showing up on the last day of the month for the rent from his tenants would not stand. Just because he was falling in love with his beautiful assistant didn't mean he could afford to be lax in other aspects of his life.

He'd saved the Rabbit Hole for last knowing they stayed open later than any of the other establishments in his debt, and he was somewhat cranky. Rent collection day always wreaked havoc on his ankle and he'd had to give in and drive to his final destination. He pulled his Cadillac up along side the building and stepped out into the steamy night air.

Walking around to the front of the building he caught sight of a couple canoodling off to the side of the front door. When the big oaf of a man moved he realized the woman was Belle's sister, Lacey. Honestly, the girl could do so much better than the scum that populated the Rabbit Hole. He wondered why she hadn't gotten out of Storybrooke like Belle had.

Lacey seemed uncomfortable with the man's attention, visibly shying away from him. That wouldn't do. He strode forward, intending to break them up when Lacey pulled on her hair in an extremely familiar way. It was a nervous habit of Belle's.

The realization struck him like a kick to the gut. That wasn't Lacey. It was Belle. She'd apparently taken her act on the road, seeing if she could fool any other men in Storybrooke.

Gold shook his head at the thought. He and Belle had never defined their relationship in any real way. They'd gone on dates, they'd fucked, but he had no claim on her. She was free to do whatever she wanted.

But he couldn't help the raw fury that seemed to rise in his chest at the sight of another man touching her. It might as well have been twenty years ago, history repeating itself at this same shit bar, watching the woman he loved flirt with a dark haired stranger.

He should go in to the bar, collect his rent and leave. But Gold had never been one to do the right thing.

Before he could fully formulate a plan he'd walked up behind them and coughed loudly.

"Is there a problem here?" he drawled, attempting nonchalance and probably sounding as stricken as he felt.

The man wheeled around and he vaguely recognized him as Nottingham, one of his tenants. Well that bit of information worked in his favor.

"Mr. Gold," Nottingham stuttered. "No problem at all. We were just heading home."

Behind him Belle was pressed up against the brick building, her eyes wide and staring.

"Oh were you?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at Belle.

"No!" Belle exclaimed. "We were going in for a drink, right?"

Nottingham shrugged. "If that's what you want, baby."

Gold kept his face impassive, but his insides clinched uncomfortably at the sleazy man's term of endearment for Belle. The feeling of jealousy inside him was growing by the second, yawning and clawing like some primal creature ready to tear the world apart in a rage.

Belle turned to Nottingham with a smile that did nothing to soothe Gold's inner monster.

"Why don't you go inside and order me a drink. I actually have something to discuss with Mr. Gold."

Nottingham looked vaguely confused, glancing from Belle to Gold and back. But his innate fear of the smaller man must have overwhelmed his curiosity and he headed into the bar without question.

"What are you doing here?" Belle whipped around at him the moment the other man was out of sight.

"Collecting rent, dearie," Gold said coldly. "What were you doing? Picked up a second job?"

His meaning was clear and Belle blanched.

"Is that what you think?"

Gold shrugged, pulling on years of disappointment and anger to mask his hurt. "I see you've taken your show on the road. The act is slipping. You were even less convincing than the time you came after me. Maybe you should stop pretending to be your sister and wear your true face when you feel like whoring around."

The slap landed soundly against his left cheek, stinging. It was nothing more than he deserved.

He'd never seen Belle look so angry, her cheeks were flushed, eyes shining brightly even in the dim light outside the bar as though lit by an inner fire. Even heartbroken as he was he could still recognize her as the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on.

"How dare you," she rasped out. "You don't own me. You've never indicated you wanted us to be anything exclusive. How dare you judge me?"

He knew she was right, knew he had no claim on her. But he seemed to have abandoned all reason. He knew firmly he would regret his actions tomorrow. But he couldn't stop himself. He was too hurt, too angry.

"You're fired, Miss French," he said coldly, turning to walk back to his car. He'd worry about the rent tomorrow. Tonight he wanted to go home and drown his sorrows at the bottom of a bottle. Who had he been kidding; fooling himself into thinking Belle could have actual feelings for him? His own parents hadn't wanted him. How could she?

"What?" Belle screeched, coming up behind him and grabbing him by the arm. "You got what you wanted from me and that's it? Now I'm damaged goods?"

"Oh trust me," he hissed back. "I didn't get what I wanted from you."

Belle stepped back from him, dropping his arm.

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter," he replied, smoothing the creases in his suit jacket where Belle had clutched at him. "Our association is over."

"No," Belle insisted. "It's not. I signed a contract with you and you cannot fire me without just cause."

Gold arched an eyebrow at her. Was she really trying to go head to head with him over one of his contracts?

"Section 3B, I can terminate your employment for behavior unbecoming of a representative of myself and my business."

"You're firing me because you're jealous of Keith," Belle said with a roll of her eyes. "I didn't even do anything."

"I'm not jealous, dearie," Gold lied through his teeth. "I'd just rather not have my employee parading around town in whatever that get up is supposed to be and throwing herself at random men in a parking lot. Doesn't reflect well on me."

"I wasn't throwing myself at anyone!" Belle yelled at him. "If you'd just let me explain –"

"No explanation needed," he cut her off. "It was only a matter of time before you moved on to greener pastures."

"And you think that's Keith?" Belle asked incredulously.

"You two seemed quite close."

"I can't stand that bastard," Belle said, throwing her head back. "He's Lacey's boyfriend you idiot. She's on a date with someone else and asked me to cover for her until she got here, for Christ's sake."

Gold was genuinely speechless at that. Of course Belle could be lying, but he knew Belle. She wouldn't do that. She'd also never run around with another man without telling him, regardless of if they were technically in a relationship or not. The jealous creature in his chest seemed to shrivel and shrink, leaving him feeling worthless and embarrassed.

"What?" was all he managed to choke out.

"I'm not with Keith. I was trying to help Lacey."

Gold nodded, not quite able to look her in the eye.

"Take me home," Belle said, walking around him to his car and waiting at the passenger side door for him to follow.

He limped along after her, terribly aware of how heavily he was leaning on his cane. He felt like an old fool. How had he let his insecurities take hold of him so quickly? How had he said such awful things to Belle? Only a few short hours ago she'd been coyly flirting with him over the rim of her teacup, and now he'd ruined everything. She'd never want to see him again.

Despite that revelation, she apparently would rather not walk home in her heels. She slid into the front seat of his car smoothly, staring out the windshield in icy silence.

He put the car in drive and pulled out onto Main Street headed for the flower shop. He wondered if she'd bother coming into work tomorrow. He supposed he had fired her. She must know that didn't stand, right? He glanced over to her but Belle was still staring straight ahead, arms folded across her chest.

He sighed deeply as he turned onto her street.

"Where are we going?" she said finally.

Gold looked at her confusedly. "I'm taking you home, like you asked." He gestured at the darkened flower shop storefront down the street.

Belle rolled her eyes, sitting back with a huff.

"I meant your home."

Gold stepped on the brake. "What?"

"I don't want to go to my father's house. I want to go to your house," Belle recited slowly as though speaking to a child.

"Why?"

Belle sighed. "Because you're a complete and total asshole who implied I was being paid for sex because you saw me talking to another man."

"And I ask again, why?"

"That's not how I'm going to let us leave tonight," Belle said firmly. "So take me to your house where we can talk."

Gold nodded, turning the car around and heading to his own home. When they arrived a few minutes later, he turned the car off but neither made a move to get out.

"I'm mad at you," Belle said after a moment. "I'm livid."

"As you should be," Gold agreed.

"You're mad at me too," she stated.

"Not anymore," he said with a shake of his head.

"But you were. What did you think, I was being unfaithful?"

Gold shook his head again. "You've nothing to be faithful to."

"Exactly," Belle agreed. "You've seemed to be happy with the way our relationship has gone so far, but that's apparently not the case."

"No," he said quietly.

They sat in silence for another long beat, Gold starting to sweat beneath his collar. He didn't want to have this conversation. He didn't want to disrupt this fragile thing between them. They'd never made any promises to each other, but for the moment he had her. If he voiced everything he really wanted, she'd run for the hills. He was losing her back to Boston in a few weeks anyway, he didn't want to speed along that terrible moment when his life would lose its only light.

"I'm not a whore," her words pierced through his thoughts.

"I know."

"Do you?" she questioned. "You seemed to think me capable of anything."

He didn't know how to answer her so he stared down at his hands still on the steering wheel.

"I was trying to get away from Keith when you showed up but he was proving hard to shake," she continued. "If you'd have stopped and evaluated the scene for five seconds you would have realized that. But I shouldn't have to explain myself to you."

Another thought struck him suddenly. She was a tiny little thing, so small even he towered over her. Keith was fucking giant in comparison. If he'd decided he wanted her badly enough, there would have been little she could do to stop it.

"What the fuck were you thinking, Belle?" he lashed out, finally meeting her eyes. "Do you have any idea of what could have happened to you? Why were you hanging around that seedy bar by yourself?"

"I told you, it was for Lacey."

"Bullshit," he exclaimed. "Let your sister take care of her own messes."

"Don't try to deflect this on to me," Belle replied angrily. "You're the one in the wrong."

"You were the one seducing your twin sister's boyfriend so she could run around behind his back!"

"I was trying to help her!" Belle cried. "Maybe you'd understand that kind of loyalty if you knew anything about family."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth she seemed to realize she'd gone too far. She clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide. Belle didn't know the whole of his history, but it was still a low blow.

"John, I didn't mean –"

"No, you're right," he cut across her apologies. "I had a family once, you know. I had a wife who coincidentally left me for a man she met in that very bar you were in tonight."

"Oh God," she stuttered out. "I didn't – you have to believe me –"

"I know."

Belle shook her head, tears springing to her stunning eyes.

"We're a complete mess, aren't we?"

"Aye," Gold agreed.

"I enable my sister, you have a jealous streak and we're both shockingly cruel."

"Those closest to us are capable of causing us the most pain," he recited. "That's why I don't let anyone close."

Belle stared at him. Despite the bond they'd forged over the past month he'd still maintained some of his usual guarded demeanor. This was the most open he'd been with her since the conversation where he'd told her his first name.

"Anyone?" she prompted.

"For a long time that was true," he agreed. "Until you."

He'd said the last part almost in a whisper, but of course she'd heard.

"Then why were you so willing to throw it all away tonight? You can't honestly think I'd prefer Keith to you."

Gold shrugged, steeling his nerves, trying to push down the cowardice inside him that told him to run, go to his house and slam the door in her face. If he told her everything he wanted, he'd be vulnerable, exposed like a raw nerve. She could destroy him with a word. Could he willingly give her that power over him?

"Jealousy isn't always a reasonable thing, Belle," he said finally. "And I was jealous. I hated seeing another man touch you. And I hated myself for feeling that way because I know I have no right to."

When she didn't respond, he continued, pushing back at the voice inside his head screaming for him to quit while he was ahead, to let this thing fizzle and die before it could destroy him.

"Fuck it, Belle. I know you're leaving town in three weeks so I might as well say it now," he spat out before he could lose his nerve. "I want you. Every part of you from now until the end of time. I never want to see another man's hands on you. I want you to be mine, and mine alone. I want -"

His words were suddenly cut off by a flurry of movement as Belle straddled him in the driver's seat of his car, her lips finding his. For a second he was absolutely stunned to find himself with a lap full of Belle, but only a second. As soon as he recovered himself he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her back.

She broke away a moment later, gazing at him with an unreadable look in her blue eyes.

"Belle, I -" he stuttered.

"Shut up," Belle demanded. "Just stop talking, you complete and total idiot."

Gold couldn't find it in him to be insulted by her assessment of him, not when Belle was straddling him, her hot little hands gripping his shoulders and her eyes blazing.

She grabbed one of his hands that was gripping her waist and pulled it up under her skirt, cupping her over the damp fabric of her panties.

"Do you feel that?" she asked. "You do that to me, no one else. Never anyone but you."

Gold couldn't help the low keening sound that escaped him at the feel of her moist heat. He wanted her, God's help him did he want her. But that wasn't it. He wanted all of her. He wanted to make her breakfast on lazy Sunday mornings. He wanted to cuddle up with her on the sofa during rainstorms. He wanted Chinese takeout and movie nights. He wanted her for everything. How could he explain that to a teenager?

"It isn't just about the sex, Belle," he started.

"No," she replied resolutely. "It isn't."

He stared into her eyes for a moment, reading in their cerulean depths all the things going unsaid between them. And suddenly he wasn't afraid anymore. There were things that needed to be said, and she was ready to hear them.

"I love you," he said with a surety he was only just beginning to feel.

Belle nodded, a little smile breaking through. And then her lips were on his again, coaxing his mouth open with her tongue as her hands tangled in his hair. She hadn't said the words back, but she'd heard them and she was still here. That had to count for something.

"I'm still mad at you," she said, breaking away breathlessly. "You're going to need to do a lot of groveling."

"I'm prepared for that."

"You can start now," she replied, scrabbling with the buckle of his belt as she ground her hips against him. She slipped her hand inside his trousers, wrapping it around his cock and bringing him to full aching hardness with a few pumps of her hand.

"Make love to me," she whispered against his ear.

He should take her inside, lay her down across his bed and spend the entire night worshipping her body. But there would be time for that. There would be time for everything.

Belle hiked her skirt up over her hips, pushing her panties to the side and sank down on him in one swift movement, her silken heat enveloping him.

Gold threw his head back, his hips thrusting up into her trying to go as deep as possible. Belle let out a little gasp, gripping his shoulders even more tightly as she adjusted to him inside her. Then she was rolling her hips against him, riding him, taking everything she wanted.

He yanked at the buttons on the front of her blouse, pulling the cups of her bra down to free her breasts. Taking one nipple in his mouth, he sucked hard, Belle's inner muscles tightening around him at the sensation.

"God, yes, John. Please!" she cried.

Gold gripped her backside with one hand as she continued to plunge down onto him. His other hand snaked between them, rubbing at her clit in concert with the thrusts of her hips. It didn't take long before she was breaking apart, screaming as her orgasm shook her. Her tight cunt gripped him like a vice, but he wasn't ready to come just yet.

He continued to stroke her through her climax until she finally slumped against his chest, sweaty and spent. Then she rolled off him, back to her own seat. His cock stood there glistening obscenely, coated in her wetness.

"What -" he began, looking from his cock, flushed almost purple it was so hard, and then to Belle.

"We'll finish you inside," Belle said with an evil smirk. "I think you deserve a little punishment for the things you said to me."

Gold was beyond words, growling ferally as Belle giggled, righting her clothing.

"Come on, John," she called as she climbed out of the car and headed for his front door. "Don't want any of your neighbors seeing us like this."

Gold tucked himself back into his pants with a groan. His ankle had already been throbbing and now with the added stiffness in his pants, the short walk from the car to his front door was agony.

As soon as they were in the front door, Belle kicked off her heels and reached up on her tip toes to kiss him again. He gripped her tightly, partly out of desire and partly to keep himself upright. Belle pulled away, gripping his hand and heading for the living room. He sent up a silent prayer to whoever was listening that she hadn't headed for the bedroom. He didn't think he could manage stairs in his present condition.

"Sit," Belle instructed him, pointing at the leather sofa. He sank onto the piece of furniture gratefully, stretching his bad ankle out awkwardly.

Belle must have noticed his discomfort.

"Are you in pain?" she asked, her smile vanishing from her lips.

Gold grimaced. The last thing he wanted to do was call attention to his age or his injury.

"Nothing I can't manage, sweetheart," he said placatingly. "And nothing more than I deserve."

"Good," she said, smiling again. "Because now I want you to fuck me senseless."

His cock twitched at her words, and gave another twitch when she stripped off her wrinkled top, skirt, bra and panties and reclined against the sofa, spreading her legs for him.

She arched an eyebrow at him and all thought of his ankle was banished from his mind. In a split second he had shucked his jacket and trousers. Belle gripped him by his necktie, pulling him over her as he settled between her legs. Then he was pushing back into Belle's sweet body, home he thought.

He rocked hard against her, setting a punishing pace. Belle still had a grip on his tie and pulled him down for a sloppy kiss.

"Hated seeing that bastard touching you," he murmured against her lips. "Never want anyone to touch you."

Belle wrapped her legs around his waist, her back arching off the sofa. "Don't want anyone else," she gasped. "Only you. You're mine."

Yes. He was hers, utterly and completely. She could have any part of him she wished, the good, the bad and everything in between.

"Mine," Belle continued, stroking his hair. Mine. Mine. Mine. She said it with every thrust until he believed her, that she truly wanted him, all of him.

"I love you, too," she gasped out, tensing around him. Her words were like a balm to his weary soul. He could no more keep from coming than he could stop the tide or keep the seasons from changing. He spent himself inside her, slumping against her with those precious words reverberating in his head.

I love you, too.

They laid there, panting on the living room couch as Belle idly stroked his hair, pressing kisses to the top of his head.

"Does this mean we're exclusive now?" she asked after a minute. "That I'm your girlfriend?"

"You're damn right it does," he growled back, turning his head so he could kiss her throat. He supposed he was a little old to be someone's boyfriend, but if Belle wanted him to wear the title, he gladly would.

"Want to know a secret?" Belle whispered playfully. "We've been exclusive since day one in my mind."

He raised his head from her neck, looking at her in wonder. "Same here."

Belle pulled him toward her for a kiss, sucking on his bottom lip and sending jolts of electricity down his spine. He apparently needed very little refractory period when Belle was naked underneath him.

Breaking away, she beamed up at him.

"Now that we're official, I guess there's no more slinking around not telling anyone about us," she said with a smirk. "I think it might be time to tell my dad about my new boyfriend."

He never thought anything that came from Belle's perfect pink lips could kill his arousal, but she may have just found the magic words.