The conversation with her foster parents didn't go as expected. In fact, she was surprised to find that they received it well and had few objections to her proposition. Though they'd never really been that unkind to her, she still couldn't have predicted how receptive they were to the idea.

"Is this going to be okay with her parents?" her foster mother asked seriously, looking Emma over.

"Her mother doesn't give a shit about her."

"Emma!" the woman shouted. "Watch your language!"

"Sorry," she mumbled, digging her heel into the floor and twisting her foot. "So can she stay?"

"She can stay with you, yes."

"Thank you!" Emma cried, running up the stairs.

"They said yes!" she told Belle, wrapping her arms around the girl. "See? I told you it would be fine."

Belle's eyes filled happily with tears as she embraced her friend, her heart slowing from a racing speed as the adrenaline slowly left her body.

"Alright. Dinnertime. Come downstairs and we'll eat."

With a reluctant nod, Belle followed her down the stairs and sat down at the table beside her.

"Hey dyke," one of the boys said roughly, glaring at the new addition to the 'family.'

"You shut the hell up!" Emma screamed, standing up from the table and reaching out to grab his neck and throttle him until she stopped his breath.

Belle pulled her down, though, gripping her shirt tightly.

"Shh," she hissed, kicking Emma under the table. "Don't make waves, okay? I don't want to be a problem here."

So the brunette ignored the boy and stared down at her plate until the parents entered the room. They said grace - during which both girls bit their lips and stayed silent - and began to eat. When dinner was over, Belle lingered awkwardly at the table, unsure of what to do.

"Come on," Emma encouraged her, still trying not to be angry enough to kill her foster brother. "Let's rinse our plates and go upstairs and study."

But Belle continued to stare at the table.

"This feels wrong, imposing on them like this," she said quietly, clenching her hands into fists. "I don't belong here."

"You belong here more than you belong with your stupid parents. You're safer here. I know it's not ideal, but you've got to make this home for a while, just like I do. We'll get through it."

"Are the boys always that cruel?" Belle asked nervously, changing the subject.

"Worse," Emma confessed. "They're pretty violent. But I won't let them hurt you, I promise."

"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you being covered in bruises."

"I'm fine," Emma mumbled, standing up and grabbing Belle's plate and her own as she made her way into the kitchen to rinse them both.

She put them in the dish washer and started it before heading up the stairs, saying nothing else to Belle.

"Emma," the girl whispered once she'd shut the door to their bedroom. "What's your girlfriend going to say about this?"

"She already knows. She's fine with it," Emma told her, then hesitated before speaking again. "Well... She's nervous. I told her you were pretty and sweet, and that makes her feel... insecure."

Belle's mouth fell open.

"You think I'm pretty?"

"I think you're beautiful," Emma admitted, sitting down on the bed and looking the girl over from head to toe. "Everyone does."

"What?"

"Everyone talks about you. They all say you'd be the best lay in town."

"Well, none of them would know," Belle mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"I've only ever been with one person, and he's dead."

"Wow... I... I'm sorry, Belle."

Emma looked away, not knowing what else she could say.

"It's okay. I'm alright now. I went through a period of time where I could barely get out of bed, but it's easier these days. Since I found you."

"Oh, come on. What could I possibly be doing to help you get over something like that?"

"You're nice to me. You don't treat me like a piece of meat. You see me for me. You appreciate me, even, and that's amazing. You're the only person that's ever made me feel smart before."

"Well, that's because you are smart, and because I'm incredibly stupid."

"You're not stupid, Emma. Stop saying that."

"Look, let's just study, okay? I don't want to fail this test."

"You want help?"

"No, I'm okay. I just need to try to focus."

"Alright. Is it okay if I sit at the desk?"

"Yeah, totally. I like laying on the bed while I'm doing my homework anyway."

So the two did schoolwork in silence, neither of them wanting to address the heavy issues that had just passed between them. The room was quiet until Emma's phone rang.

"Hey," Emma said into the microphone. "How are you?"

"I miss you," Regina told her, then waited for Emma to speak.

"I miss you too," Emma told her, looking over at Belle, who was biting her lip.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm sorry. It's just... Belle's here."

"Oh. Sorry."

"No, it's fine. I just... I don't want it to be awkward."

Belle looked over and shook her head, silently telling her that it was fine, even though she felt her heart crumbling inside.

"Can I call you later?"

"Um... Yeah. I guess so."

"I'm really sorry. I'll call you soon, I promise. I just need a few minutes, okay?"

"Em..."

There was a pause while Emma waited for Regina to talk again, but when she didn't, Emma said, "Yeah?"

"I love you."

Saying simply, "You too," Emma hung up the phone.

"Belle," Emma said softly, climbing out of the bed and putting her hand on Belle's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

"No, don't. I know this must be hard for you. I just don't know how else to handle the situation, you know? I'm not trying to make this worse."

"You're not. I just lo-"

Belle stopped mid-sentence, covering her mouth.

Emma caught on quickly and asked, "What?"

"Nothing," Belle snapped, not moving her hands.

"Tell me what you were going to say," Emma demanded, but Belle's lips were sealed.

"I'm gonna go for a walk. I'll be back in a few minutes."

And with that, Belle nearly ran down the stairs and out the front door, leaving Emma dumbfounded.