Chapter 5

He'd heard her cry out when he walked past her bedroom. Pausing in front of the door, he hesitantly called out in case she was distressed or in pain. "Belle?"

"Rowan?" she echoed, her voice sounding strained and muffled. "Can you come in? I… I'm afraid I need help.

With her permission granted, he opened the door, but almost instantly froze again when he caught sight of her.
Belle was standing in front of the wardrobe, her right side turned towards him, clad only in her bra and panties, her arms and part of her head stuck in a spaghetti strap top.

He tried not to stare, he really did, but he couldn't help swallowing harshly as his eyes travelled covertly over her curves and the sheer endless amount of creamy, brilliant white skin, her modesty only protected by the pale blue, lacy underwear he was trying very hard not to notice.

'Eyes on her face, Gold!' he told himself sternly.

"Help?" she muttered resignedly.

That, at last, snapped him out of his trance and he crossed the room to her side. "What are you doing?"

"I thought I'd be able to dress myself. Now I'm stuck." Her voice was laced with frustration and he gently untangled the top and pulled it down, his fingertips accidentally skimming the silky skin of her back.

Up close she was even more alluring, with the scent of her hair filling his nose and so much soft, perfect skin only inches away from his fingers, causing his body to react almost instantly.

Well, hadn't that been a hundred years ago?

"Aren't you supposed to wait for the nurse?" he asked, wincing as he noticed how hoarse his voice was sounding.
But heavens, she was absolutely breathtaking with her slightly flushed cheeks and her curls in disarray, one of them bouncing persistently in front of her eyes. The urge to tuck it behind her ear almost became too great, but then she turned around to face him.

"I am, but I wanted to try for myself…" Biting her lower lip, she added: "I'm not exactly used to not being able to do things for myself…"

He was going to reply to that, but the words dried up in his throat as he got sight of her left side, worry instantly overruling his rising arousal.

"Oh my god… Belle…" Placing a careful hand on her left shoulder, he turned her slightly so that he could inspect the bruising that covered the left side of her body almost entirely, a sense of horror filling him. She was literally black and blue, almost every inch of her skin heavily discolored, the intensity of the bruising varying from a deep purple to almost green.

Her hip, upper arm and upper thigh seemed to have suffered the worst, but just below her tank top, he noticed a rather large, angry red bruise on her stomach too.

It was no wonder moving around was so difficult for. He was rather surprised she was able to get around at all. This slip of a woman had jumped in front of a speeding car, had bounced off the hood and slammed into the ground like a rag doll and if she hadn't, it would have been Bae who'd been hurt like that.

Still, the sight of Belle's bruised, discolored skin made his stomach churn in sympathy.

"You must be in so much pain," he said softly.

Under his scrutiny she'd blushed even deeper, but she managed to give him a smile. "It's not so bad… the painkillers help a lot."

He realized his hand was still on her shoulder and that at some point he had started to stroke his thumb over a bit of uninjured skin. Embarrassed by his own actions, he pulled back hastily.

"Thank you for saving me from my top," she said with small laugh and he smiled back at her, suddenly very aware how her eyes were even deeper blue up close.

"You're very welcome," he breathed. "Do you… need more help getting dressed?"

Belle eyed the dress hanging from the wardrobe, biting her lip again in contemplation and that little gesture was going to become a serious threat to his self-control.

"I think I can manage putting it on, but could you button me up?"

He nodded and watched how she pulled the dress from the hanger and stepped into it. She managed to put her arms through the sleeves, but by the time she'd pulled the sleeves up to her elbows he could tell from he tensing of her posture and the flash of discomfort crossing her face how much effort it was costing her.

"Here… let me…" he said quietly, stepping up behind her to carefully pull the dress up, mindful not to pull the fabric against her bruises.

He started at the small of her back, sliding each tiny button through the hole, mindful not to let his fingers stray against her back and purposefully ignoring the catch of her lacy bra peeping above the top.

Once the dress was on properly, she turned around and smiled at him. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," he replied. "Just please wait until the nurse get here next time."

"I will," she promised. "It's going to take some time, I'll just have to accept that."

Having seen the extent of her bruising, Gold thought to himself that the three weeks Dr. Whale has set for her recovery was a rather optimistic scenario. It could take months before that kind of bruising had entirely faded away.

At least this way he could keep an eye on her and make sure she didn't stretch herself.

Together they made their way downstairs and he noticed how she still clutched the bannister of the stairs and a surge of protectiveness flared up in him.

He was going to see to it that she'd be right as rain again, no matter how long it would take.

When Miner's Day arrived the weather did absolutely everything to try and spoil the festive atmosphere of the day.
Leaving Belle behind at home, snuggled up on the couch with blankets, cushions, books and a galleon of tea, Gold and Bae made their way between the stalls, the icy temperature biting their faces, the clouds above their heads grey and heavy with rain.

First they went to the stall of Bae's Elementary school, where the decorated candles were arranged by class and Gold bought his son's Spiderman themed candle and carefully put it inside his pocket.

"Are we going to get Belle a candle as well?" Be asked and Gold nodded, letting himself get dragged off to another stand that sold candles.

"What's Belle's favorite color?" Bae asked, eyeing each of the candles critically.

"Light blue," he replied without thinking, his heart stuttering at the memory of her underwear.

"Then she'll like this one!" Bae picked up a round, blue candle with swirling patterns on it and he couldn't help but agreeing with his son.
Once the purchase was made it was also tucked away securely and then they made their way to the bouncing castle.

By the time they got there, it had started to drizzle and after Bae had been jumping on the castle for only five minutes, the attraction was closed because the rain made the plastic floor too slippery.

"How about we get a pretzel?" Gold suggested in an attempt to cheer him up, once Bae had joined him again.

His son looked up at him, looking indecisive, wet curls plastered to his forehead. "Papa? I think I want to go home."

Going home meant getting out of the chill and the rain and back inside their warm, comfortable home. Going home meant going back to Belle and enjoy her smiles and chatter and suddenly he could think of nothing he liked better.

"Let's go home!"

Rowan and Bae had left for Miner's Day and as she had feared, she was nowhere near recovered enough to join them.
So instead she had waved them off and installed herself on the couch with 'The Matchmaker of Pėrigord' a novel that promised to be as quirky and entertaining as 'Le Fabuleux Destin d' Amelie Poulain', which happened to be her favorite movie.

The day before she'd gotten halfway through the novel in a matter of hours, eagerly devouring page after page of bizarre incidents, hilarious characterizations and mouth watering recipes, but today she found she simple couldn't concentrate, her thoughts returning to the man who had so selflessly opened his home for her again and again.

He had been very attentive towards her since the moment he'd met her, but after discovering the full extend of her injuries the day before, he now treated her like she was made of fine porcelain.
It was nice to be cared for like this, she'd admitted to herself, realizing fully that she was in great danger of getting far too attached to this small family that made her feel like she belonged somewhere.

Her own mother had died when she'd been very young and her father hadn't been the same ever since. When he had died two years ago, she had seized her chance at adventure and emigrated to the States.

It was nice to get a fresh start, to build a life for herself, but she hadn't realized until she had landed herself in the hospital how lonely she had been.

She'd been staying with the Golds for almost a week now and she loved it here. When he first made the offer, she'd jumped at the change he offered her, anything to avoid going to Blue Fern Sanatorium.
But after he'd left, she'd started to second-guess her impulsive decision. Staying under the same roof with people she barely knew was bound to give trouble. Any relationship she'd had in the past quickly came to an end when her partner discovered just how odd she was. They became annoyed with her chatter or the fact that she was always reading five books at the time or the opinions she voiced and in the end the relationship had always turned sour.

With no romantic attachment between them and her physical condition rendering her almost incapable of helping out or contributing in any way, she felt sure Mr. Gold would very quickly grow tired of having her around.

Until he'd come to visit her in the hospital, she had only known him from vague stories she picked up from the patrons that frequented the library. Apparently he owned half the town and was an incredible strict landlord. Aside from that he also owned the local pawnshop and it seemed it took a special brand of magic to best Mr. Gold in a deal.

She wondered how many of those people got to see the other sight of Mr. Gold. That of the devoted father. It was clear in everything that he did how much he adored his son and after he had told her of his difficulties with his ex-wife and the way she had treated Bae, her heart had ached for the both of them
Rowan Gold was a wonderful father, who loved his son unconditionally and would stop at nothing to ensure his happiness.

Whenever he talked about his son a smile lit his face, making the lines around the corners of his eyes crinkle and his eyes shone with love and affection. Belle was willing to bet a great deal that he had no idea he was doing it, but she found it deeply endearing.

Bae was the sweetest boy she had ever met. She had noticed him during the monthly class trips to the library straight away. He was quiet, smart and incredible polite, if not a little shy. But Belle suspected that was just a bit of a family trait.

The time they spend reading together or playing games had quickly become the highlight of her day and every time he gave her a hug, always careful of her bruises, a deeply hidden longing stirred inside her.

She was thirty years old now and if she wanted to have a family of her own, she needed to get a move on. She still had time left, but with no husband in sight, she's begun to wonder lately if she'd ever have a child of her own.

As far as she was concerned, Milah Gold was an idiot and her resentment towards the woman she'd never met grew with each passing day.
She had a wonderful, adorable son and she had just abandoned him in favor of a young lover and a reckless adventure.
Bae was a loving, sweet-tempered child who craved love and affection and she had just turned her back on him.

She had also treated a good, loving man like absolute dirt. From the way he doted on his son and took care of her, she had no qualms in believing that he would make a wonderful husband.
Really, if he was this considerate towards a stranger who'd just happened to be at the right time and the right place when a car was coming at his son, she could well imagine how he would treat the woman he truly loved.

Sighing deeply, Belle tried once more to re-direct her attention towards her book. She was having a lovely time here, but it wouldn't do to let her imagination run free. Within another two weeks, she'd be ready to return home and although she hoped she had gained two friends, the first after coming to Storybooke, it was foolish to hope for more.

She had just managed to finish her chapter when the backdoor opened and Rowan and Bae stumbled in, both slightly damp from the rain.

"Back so soon?" she asked surprised, closing her book with a snap. "Didn't you have a good time?"

Bae shrugged. "It was all right. But I'd rather be home."

"The weather was foul," Rowan explained, shrugging out of his coat. "It's freezing outside, you'd think it was February."

Glancing outside though the french doors that overlooked the garden, Belle noticed that it was pouring by now, the rain slanting against the windows.
"Looks like you made it home just in time."

She couldn't help but feel rather elated at their early return and looking forward to spending the afternoon together.

"I'm going to start the fireplace," Rowan announced and Bae whooped with joy.

"Can I roast marshmallows?" he asked excitedly and his father nodded good-naturedly. "Sure, go get some from the pantry."

"You can do that?" Belle asked incredulous. "Roasting marshmallows over a fireplace?"

"It's what we do," Rowan answered with a shrug, arranging the logs inside the fireplace before lightening it. "In the summer we sometimes build a campfire outside, but the fireplace works just as well."

She could picture it. Long evenings lounging in the garden, watching the sun set and the stars appear, putting a sleepy Bae to bed and returning to the dying embers of the fire, talking quietly into the night.
She couldn't imagine anything better.

Minutes later Bae returned, carrying a bag of marshmallows and a long stick.

"You need to wait for a couple more minutes before the fire is strong enough," Rowan cautioned his son.

"Okay, we can give Belle our present first then," Bae decided, his face lightening up.

"Present?" Belle echoed, blinking in bewilderment but Bae was already running into the hallway to retrieve something from his father's coat.

"Well, we did promise," Rowan told her with a shy smile.

When Bae returned seconds later, he handed her a round object, wrapped in tissue paper. "You can come with us next year, that'll be even better." he told her.

Carefully removing the tissue paper, Belle unwrapped the candle. "It's beautiful," she breathed. "I love it."

"Bae picked it out for you," Rowan told her bashfully.

"But papa helped, he said you liked blue," Bae piped up.

Belle smiled at his father, noticing how his ears reddened with embarrassment. They were being beyond adorable and how anyone could not want to be with them was beyond her. God, she'd give her right arm to be part of a family like this.

Ignoring her painful ribs, she reached out and gave each of them a hug, trying to ignore the fact how nice it felt to have Rowan's arms around her for a second.
"Thank you."

Bae popped a marshmallow on the stick and held it above the fire and soon the room was filled with a sweet fragrance. Outside heavy rain was pelting against the windows, but inside it was dry and toasty warm.

And with the three of them eating marshmallows and laughing together it didn't get much better than that.

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