Belle and Gold see the sights and meet a face from Tristan's past.

Part Two

Gold smiled as he watched Aggie and Elsie making breakfast together.

'Did you check the scones?' Aggie asked.

'Five more minutes.'

'How do you think she likes her eggs?' Aggie wondered.

'She likes them poached,' Gold called from his spot by the door.

His mothers jumped and looked around.

'Almost gave me a heart attack!' Elsie cried.

'Don't sneak up on us like that!'

'Poached you say?' Elsie wondered.

'Yes,' Gold said, coming in and kissing each of his mothers on the cheek, 'but I told you two not to go to any trouble.'

'It's no trouble.'

'We like doing it.'

'And it's been so long since we've had you home.'

'And we like spoiling you.'

'Where's Belle?'

'She's getting dressed: she'll be down in a few minutes. Please tell me you haven't been up for hours cooking.'

His mothers didn't answer, which was a sure sign that they had, indeed, been doing something he'd expressly told them not to do.

'You don't have to impress her, you know,' he said quietly: 'she likes you very much.'

'She does?'

'Really?'

He smiled at their hopeful expressions.

'Yes, she does. Now, tell me what you think of her. I want to know.'

'Och, she's lovely!'

'Such a sweet girl!'

'And so pretty.'

'Like a wee doll.'

He laughed and then turned as he heard Belle in the hall.

'Something smells absolutely delicious,' she commented, coming into the kitchen. 'Oh, my goodness,' she breathed, when she saw Elsie and Aggie hard at work cooking. 'I hope you didn't go to too much trouble,' she said.

'They did,' Tristan told her, 'even though I told them not to.'

'Oh, be quiet, dear,' Elsie commanded.

'We haven't been able to cook for you in years.'

'So we're making up for lost time.'

'Now, sit down.'

'Let us look after you.'

'No arguments.'

'Oh, alright,' Gold returned. 'Have a seat, Belle. They won't let you help.' He said this because he could see that she wanted to.

'No indeed,' Elsie agreed, shooting a smile at Belle and tilting her head for her to sit.

Belle did as she was told with a good grace and the four of them were soon partaking heartily of the feast Aggie and Elsie had cooked.

'So, dears, what have you got planned for today?' Elsie asked.

'I'm going to show Belle the city,' Gold said. 'We'll sort ourselves out for lunch and we're taking you two out for dinner, so don't cook.'

'Och, you don't have to do that,' Aggie protested.

'We want to,' Belle said, before Elsie could add her protest. 'After such a warm welcome and this lovely breakfast, you must let us treat you, please?'

Gold smiled at his mothers. 'Can't argue with that, can you?'

Aggie and Elsie gave in in the face of Belle's earnest request.

Gold smiled again. 'Never thought I'd meet anyone as persuasive as you two, but it appears I have.'

Belle smiled at him.

0

They spent the day wandering the streets of Glasgow, Belle listening attentively to Tristan's history lessons and tales of his youthful exploits. She was happier than she'd ever been walking around his native city in her boyfriend's company. She was about to spend a happier Christmas than she'd spent in many years, all because of this man, and she smiled as she cuddled close as they walked down crowded streets in their own little world.

Gold was pleased as punch to have Belle on his arm as he showed her his city. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on and every time she leaned into him as they walked, his heart swelled with love and pride.

The difference between the man he was and the man he'd become was especially stark to him now that he was back here. He couldn't imagine what he would've been if he and Milah had ended up staying together. He might have a kid by now, but he hoped to have one with Belle one day. That would make his life even more perfect than it already was.

After lunch by the fire in an old pub, they set out again, deciding to take a wander around the shops.

As they passed a jeweller's, Gold said Aggie had asked him to pick something up for her.

'Alright,' Belle said easily: 'why don't you do that and I'll wander down the street a bit.'

He smiled, kissed her, and watched her down the street a little before he disappeared into the jeweller's in search of one more Christmas present for her.

Belle wandered slowly for a while; then a coat on a mannequin in a shop window caught her eye. It was a man's overcoat in a light-coloured tweed, almost a gold colour. It would look fabulous on Tristan, she thought, so she went in to see if she could find his size.

The woman at the counter smiled expectantly at Belle when she came in. She had long dark hair and blue eyes, like Belle, but she was taller. When Belle asked about the coat in the window, the assistant said she was sure they had the right size and went to look.

'Here we are,' she said brightly, coming back a few minutes later. She lifted up the plastic wrapping so Belle could take a closer look. 'It's a nice coat.'

'It is,' Belle agreed, touching it and smiling. It was finely made and would look very well on Tristan. 'Yes, I think he'll like this: I'll take it.' And she handed over her card.

'For someone special, is it?' the sales assistant asked as she went about packaging the coat and putting through the sale.

'My boyfriend,' Belle said with a proud smile.

'I see. Is he Australian too?'

'No, he's from here,' Belle said genially. 'We're spending Christmas with his family before we go back to the States.'

'You live in America?'

'Yeah, I know,' Belle agreed, amused. 'A Scot and an Australian had to go all the way to America to find each other.'

'And what brought you both to America?'

'He's a musician and my family moved over for business years ago. We met at one of his gigs.'

'Sounds great,' the other woman said politely. 'Here we are.'

'Thanks,' Belle said, taking the bag. 'Merry Christmas.'

'Same to you,' the other woman said, with a smile and a nod.

Belle was turning away when she saw Tristan coming through the door. He came towards her, smiling.

'There you are,' he called warmly. 'What've you got there?' He eyed the bag she was carrying.

'Never you mind,' she said, pulling the bag behind her back. He couldn't see what was in it anyway, since it was one of those covered suit bags. 'Did you find what you were looking for?' she asked.

'I did,' he said, smiling. He knew he hadn't fooled her with his comment about looking for something for Aggie. 'So, Ms French, where shall we—'

'Tristan?'

Belle turned and saw the sales assistant who had helped her staring at Tristan in shock. She looked up at Tristan to find him looking equally surprised at the sight of the woman.

'You two know each other?' she asked, looking between them.

Gold looked down at his girlfriend. How different the feelings he had for her were compared to what he'd once felt for the woman behind the counter.

'We do, yeah,' he told Belle, wrapping his arm around her. 'Belle, this is Milah Cassidy, my ex fiancée: Milah, this is Belle French, my girlfriend.'

'Hello,' Belle said quietly.

'Hello,' Milah returned.

'How've you been, Milah?' Gold asked, determined to make conversation.

'I've been well. You're doing very well for yourself, I hear.'

'I'm doing alright,' he said, smiling. 'You and Jones still together?'

'Yeah.'

'That's good. Kids?'

'A son,' she said quietly.

'That's great,' he said warmly. 'I bet he's excited for Christmas.'

'Yes,' she said simply, studying him for a moment. She looked from him to Belle and back to him. 'Well, happy Christmas.'

'Happy Christmas, Milah,' Gold said, smiling: 'have a good one, eh?'

'Yeah, you too.' She nodded to them and then went off to serve another customer.

'Let me carry that,' Gold requested of Belle. 'I promise I won't look.'

She handed the bag over to him and smiled at him as he took her hand and led her out onto the street.

'Tristan?' she asked, when they had walked a bit in silence.

'Hmm?' he asked, looking down at her.

'Are you ok, about seeing her, I mean?'

'Yeah, of course,' he said at once.

'Really?'

He stopped and turned to face her.

'Really, babe,' he assured her. 'I'm not thinking about what might have been or wondering what my life would be like with her. The life I have with you is so perfect I can't imagine a better one, and certainly not with her.' He leaned down a little. 'You're stuck with me, babe,' he murmured, and smiled.

She blinked and smiled. 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'

He kissed her and they walked on.

0

Over dinner that evening, Belle contemplated how blessed she felt. Tristan was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she was so happy to be here with him, among his family. Aggie and Elsie were warm and kind, and had welcomed her with open arms. She smiled at their delight in the fancy restaurant and, like Tristan, was pleased to be able to treat them. They meant the world to him, and she knew he wanted to look out for them. She did too. She couldn't help but consider them family now too.

Elsie smiled at her when Tristan excused himself to go to the toilet.

'You look so well together,' she commented.

'Do you think so?' Belle asked, pleased.

'Oh, aye,' Aggie said, picking up the conversation.

'Such a perfect couple.'

'Lovely,' Aggie agreed.

Belle smiled, touched. 'And you don't mind that I'm so much older than him?'

'Och, lassie, what's age?' Aggie demanded.

'Hearts find their proper homes, dear, sometimes in surprising places,' Elsie added, and Belle smiled as she saw her touch Aggie's hand and Aggie clasp hers gently.

'Very true,' Aggie agreed softly.

'He speaks very, very highly of you both,' Belle said, smiling at them, 'and I understand why. You raised a wonderful man, the best I've ever known.'

Her smile was soft and her eyes were teary as she saw them tear up.

'Oh, dear, I'm sorry,' she apologised.

'No, no, dear.'

'We're only happy.'

'We've wanted him to find happiness for so long.'

'He loves his music, of course.'

'But that could never be enough to make him truly happy.'

'But you, lassie, you make him truly happy.'

Belle looked earnestly at them. 'I promise you both,' she said softly, 'I will always do everything I possibly can to make him happy.'

Aggie nodded and Elsie smiled, and Belle saw the deep satisfaction and acceptance in their eyes, and felt truly like one of the family.

Gold frowned as he sat down beside Belle again. There was something in the air between her and his mothers, and he didn't quite know what.

'Is everything…alright?' he asked cautiously.

'Everything's wonderful.'

'Don't you worry about a thing, lad.'

'We're all getting on like a house on fire.'

Gold smiled as his mothers continuing Belle's sentence. Oh, yes, he could see they were getting along well.

0

'I think it's going to snow, dears,' Elsie called over her shoulder as the four of them walked up the path to home.

'It's cold enough,' Aggie commented.

'Wouldn't that be lovely?' Belle mused.

Gold smiled at her. She looked such a picture in her coat and hat, but he was longing to hold her and make love to her, even if his mothers did hear them.

Belle smiled at him as they followed his mothers into the house.

Gold noticed that his mothers kept their coats on while he and Belle were taking theirs off.

'We promised we'd call in and see Margaret,' Aggie said, by way of explanation. Margaret was a neighbour and an old friend.

'Poor thing broke her leg last week and she's having a miserable time of it.'

'So we're going over to spend an hour or two with her.'

'You two stay in and amuse yourselves.'

'We'll be back by midnight.'

'Poor Margaret,' Gold said. The old lady had always been nice to him. 'Should I—?'

'Not at all, dear.'

'We'll tell her you'll stop in and see her before you go back.'

'You must both be tired after that long flight yesterday.'

'And even if you're not, you'll enjoy the time to yourselves.'

'Now, we'll be back before midnight.'

'Night, night, dears.'

And they were gone, leaving Belle and Gold alone.

'Are you tired after the flight?' he asked.

'Not a bit,' she returned, smiling. 'Are you?'

He shook his head, smiling as she stepped into his arms.

'We have a couple of hours,' he murmured, turning his face into her neck, 'might as well make the most of it.'

Belle nodded, stroking her hand through his hair.

'They're very perceptive, your mothers,' she commented, 'I've been thinking about nothing but kissing you all the way home.'

'Have you now?' he murmured, smiling against her neck. He kissed below her ear softly. 'Well, then…' He pulled back, intending to kiss her, but Belle pulled away and began to run up the stairs.

'You have to catch me first!' she cried, her joy and happiness making her giddy.

Gold laughed and ran after her.

He caught her by the door of their room. Indeed, she'd stopped to wait for him. She tilted her face up to his and smiled. He was so awed by the sweet look of love on her face that, for a moment, he just cupped her face in his hands and looked at her.

After a long moment, Belle kissed him, stealing his breath. Her insistence spurred him on and he pushed open the door, manoeuvred her through it, and pushed it shut firmly.

It wasn't long before the sounds of their pleasure could be heard through the house. It was just as well, then, that Tristan's mothers weren't home to hear them.

Next time: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities