Author's note :Chapter title is from The King and I musical, which I thought was fitting for this chapter, since Gold and Neal will be spending time with each other (although, no worries, some good Belle/Gold stuff in here too!) :)

I am also sorry it's taken so long for me to upload. My kids have been sick, and I retyped the chapter after completing half of it, as it seemed a bit dry to me. This will *hopefully* be much better than my original draft, lol

Chapter 21 Getting to Know You

'Rodrigo!'

Gold groaned. He made sure his eyes gave way his amusement, and only made half hearted attempts at looking annoyed.

'I'll give you points for ridiculousness, but my name is much more-eh, English.' He eventually smirked, especially when Belle's eyes lit up and turned to Neal and nudged him. 'A clue, we have a clue now.' Both were smiling, and he was unimaginably happy to see it.

'And with that clue, I demand an amendment to our deal.'

The burgers had been laid out on the kitchen table, though Belle had yet to sit down. She looked down at him, her eyes all sparkling with amusement and her arms crossed. 'Oh really? Mr. Gold is amending his deal, is he? Neal, you don't know this, but Mr. Gold is most famous in this town for the mmmm, unique deals he makes. They are always thorough and he rarely ever changes them once they are put in motion.'

Neal looked at the both of them, seemed interested in the conversation, but said nothing.

'I have if you recall, made amendments before. You should be very used to the notion.' Gold gave a sideways smile, and Belle giggled before sitting down to eat.

'I guess you have, now that I think about it. So what's the amendment?'

'I propose you get one guess per day, and I will disclose my real name…'

'If we don't guess it first.' Neal interrupted. Gold nodded and smiled. 'Yes, if you don't guess it first, though, I have the highest confidence that you won't. Anyway, I will disclose my real name on the fourth day-thus, prolonging the time when I have to give it away, and also, for your side of the deal.' For Belle was giving him such a petulant glance, it was hard not to laugh. 'It will give you more time to research before making your next guess.'

Belle glanced over at Neal conspiratorialy before they both agreed to his demands, and Gold was quite glad that he had extra time, both before giving away his name, and to have something that Belle and Neal could bond over. For a reason, that he wished he could expose, but hadn't the courage, he very much wanted them to bond. The three of them, sitting at the table, laughing and conversing together was exactly the sort of thing he wished for himself. But though he was Mr. Gold, and could very easily acquire anything he desired in the material realm, in the emotional, longing of his heart he seemed always thwarted.

'Hey, I'm going to Daddy's tomorrow! How are we supposed to guess then?'

'You're going to be gone tomorrow?' Neal questioned. The disappointment written on his face made Gold's heart both drop for it, since he seemed to already have a preference for Belle, though at the same time soar, for who could not prefer Belle, and was it not what he had just wanted? For them to bond?

'Yes, I go to my Dad's flower shop on Saturdays, but I'll be back bright and early Sunday morning. You'll have to tell me what your favorite breakfast is, Neal, and I'll have it ready for you when you wake up on Sunday.'

'Bacon and waffles?' He said hesitantly and after some thought , as if it were the first time he had to think about what his favorites were. Belle turned to Gold.

'Is there a waffle maker here? I'm trying to think about if I've seen one…'

He couldn't remember either, but that was easily fixed, and an opportunity for something to do the next day, as he would have Neal by himself.

'Perhaps I can show Neal around town, tomorrow, and we can pick up a waffle maker while we are out?' On second thought, shopping for kitchen gadgets might be a little lame for a teenaged boy. Neal shrugged, but nodded his head. Belle smiled.

'And when I get back, I can bring some of my favorite board and card games? Do you like to play games?'

Neal's face held only a small smile, but he nodded again and that was enough to send Belle smiling again.

The evening was spent very quietly. Belle had shown Neal the gaming system that had been bought for him and he asked if he could go up to his room and play on it. Gold wasn't used to such parenting situations, realized that he probably should put some sort of limits on the play, but also didn't want to be dishing out rules the second Neal came and staid, he cast Belle a look (her smile always so reassuring), and told him that was fine, as long as he was in bed before midnight. Neal didn't seem upset, Gold was relieved and Belle gave him a small smirk once he was gone.

'What?'

'Congratulations, you gave your first rule as a father.' Her smile went all the way to her eyes and he couldn't help but reflect a little of it in his own features.

'And I didn't butcher it too badly?'

She shook her head. 'No, not at all, in fact, quite well, since he's still a bit of a stranger to you-your rule was both simple and not too restrictive.'

Gold felt his chest swell a bit at her compliment. 'Well, since you are being very generous in your praise, I freely admit that you've helped more than I could have hoped for, thank you.'

Belle was still smiling, but there was so much more warmth in it now. 'I'm happy to do it. Neal is a sweet kid. I-I want this to work so badly for you, Mr. Gold. If there is anything you can think of that I could do to help more, just tell me, alright?'

Gold only nodded, as he was worried he might break down out of sheer gratitude if he spoke.

Belle's presence was sorely missed the next day. Conversations with Neal were going well, though much more stilted than when Belle was there. The drive around town didn't take nearly as much time as he wished, and he made sure to stop at any store he thought would be of interest, and any sort of place that would peak the curiosity of a teenager. After a stop for lunch, they drove for a half hour and went to his favorite spot to watch the ocean, when he got a bit of time for a bit of tranquility (which, he admitted, he didn't allow very often). Realizing that his most loved spot (therefore least populated) was not quite the beach he was sure Neal would enjoy, he breathed in the salty air and ventured.

'We can visit the sandier beaches another time, if you would like. I apologize, this is my personal favorite, though it might not be as enjoyable for a fifteen year old.'

Neal had found a jagged slab to sit on and was watching the waves wash over the dark stone, the wind churning up peaks and foam that made the blue green water seem wild and dangerous, yet beautiful all the same.

'Nah, this is good. I've never seen the ocean before. My family enjoys more of the theme park sort of trips, though they had planned on stopping along the coast since we were coming this way. I like it-it's very peaceful and in some ways, quiet.'

Gold nodded, relieved, yet still hurt at the wistfulness in Neal's voice.

'The town-the people, they aren't very friendly, are they?'

At first Gold wondered if he had heard him fully, the waves were actually loud for all the 'quietness' that had been described and Neal had yet to get to such a comfortable place, as to talk with his full volume, Gold surmised. He mulled over the words, once he assured himself that was truly what was asked.

'I think they can be. At least a lot of them, anyway. It's not the largest town, which means that gossip is a staple to everyday life, and people have their little groups they fit into. But, I believe that our town is actually considered friendly, in a general sense.'

'So why did everyone frown at us?'

Gold sent a hand through his hair, which proved difficult, as the wind had caused it to tangle.

'It's not us, it's me. They don't like me-and if you saw a shocked face or two, it's because they have no idea I have a son. Probably didn't realize I'm even capable of it, either.' He mumbled the last sentence, causing Neal to turn and look at him, as he wouldn't have been able to hear it.

'Why don't they like you?' He asked the question innocently, but at the moment he would rather have a thousand knives in his back than give an honest answer. He had promised answers, however, and for Neal, for his son, he would give them.

'I am a hard person to like, unfortunately. I own most of the town, and people in a small town resent a landlord who is strict about payments, apparently. They expect me to be their 'friend' and give them whatever they want without interest. People ask for money, agree to those famous deals with me Belle was telling you about, and then get upset when I make them follow through.' The words were spat out before he realized how vehemently they were spoken. Neal listened in silence throughout the speech. He hoped he hadn't spoken too much. Would Neal worry about staying with someone that the whole town hated?

'Belle seems to like you well enough, though. And she said that you were dad's landlord too.'

Gold smiled in spite of himself. 'I am, but Belle is not like most of the others in this town. She is nice to everyone, even the town pariah.'

'Hmmm' Was Neal's only answer as he absentmindedly threw loose rocks he found into the ocean. 'Does she have any reason to dislike you though?' Neal looked like he was worried over his question, even after Gold assured him that there was no question he was forbidden to ask.

'Yes' Gold looked down at his cane that stood between his feet. He didn't want to have to say anything more. While he wanted to answer any question, he dreaded the dislike or hatred that would surely come if he elaborated. While Belle had seemed to accept her situation and bloom where she was planted despite what he had done, would Neal be able to see past what he had done after the positive first impression she had left on him?

He glanced up, Neal was looking at him, waiting for a longer answer, Gold sighed.

'She is working for me because of a deal we made, because her father borrowed money from me and couldn't pay. She is working to pay it off.'

There was silence for a good minute.

'Her dad let her do that?'

Gold looked up in surprise. Gold had thought similar thoughts, no matter that it had been his wish for her to come and work for him. He had used her father's weakness , and then exploited Belle's weakness for forever being the sacrificial lamb to her father's comfort. That didn't mean he didn't put some blame on her father for not owning up to his own responsibilities in the first place.

'Ultimately it was her choice, but it wasn't her fault that her father borrowed so much, she didn't even know he had borrowed from me until the day before I came to collect.'

'And she's not mad at you for all that?'

'Apparently not.' Gold shrugged, and was grateful that seemed to be all Neal pursued on that subject. They went home once they began to get hungry.

'Belle always leaves a fridge full of sandwiches and such for me to eat on while she's gone, will that be okay, or would you rather do something else?'

Neal assured him that sandwiches were fine, looked at him rather strangely, and then they drove home in relative silence. Neal spent the rest of the evening playing in his room again, and Gold drove his hands through his hair until he was sure he would cause thinning to happen. He paced instead, demanding himself to stay calm. For some reason, no matter that the entire day had gone remarkably well, the thoughts of Belle had dredged up the remembrance of all the reasons that Belle could never truly be happy with him, not in the way that he wanted. He had done so much to her, disrupted her life, her family, and yet he still had actually tried to hope that she might want to stay with him-be with him, and for him to allow himself to try to have a family again. He sunk into his chair and put his face in his hands. She had only learned to be content. She was nice to everyone. He had told Neal. She was his friend, but that was all.

Gold wandered downstairs the next morning, the smell of bacon telling him that Belle had made it back. The bags he found under her eyes told him that she had worked herself too hard again.

'I hope I did okay on the waffles, I used my pancake recipe, only made it a little thicker-I think that's what you're supposed to do.'

Gold shrugged, 'I'm sure they'll be fine. Thank you.' He said the latter with great meaning. No matter how tired she was, she somehow kept her smiles and never seemed to do things apathetically. He wondered if her father truly appreciated everything she did for him. She didn't have to do anything when she was on her day off-she could hang out with friends or lay around in her room all day, but she chose to help-it was just the kind of person Belle was. Then he thought about how he was as much to blame for how tired she was and chastised himself, as he remembered how much Belle had been working to both prepare and then clean up after the Darlings, that she must have been doubly tired before she even arrived at her father's.

Belle tilted her head curiously, but didn't seem to fully grasp anything more than the surface level grattitude. 'Of course' She smiled, her eyes much duller than he liked.

'You're beyond tired, Belle.' His voice was pleading. 'Did you sleep at all last night?'

She buttered the last waffle and reddened. 'I actually got four hours last night.' He gave her a scolding look, but she brushed him off with a light laugh. 'Anyway! Daddy found someone to work a few hours a week this summer, at least-we'll have to see if he can stay on once school starts. It's Henry, Emma's brother. He would make a great friend for Neal, I think. He's only a year older than Neal, and very energetic, Oh! Good Morning, Neal!'

Gold turned to see his Neal not blurry eyed, or wiping sleep from his eyes. He looked rather alert, and his eyes had some mischievousness behind them. He wasn't quite sure what to think of the development.

'Good Morning, Belle, Gold.' His voice was less tense, the air in the room felt less awkward than it had the past couple of days. 'Any clues as to Gold's name?' He half whispered to Belle, as if Gold couldn't hear him, causing Gold to chuckle.

'Well, I've come up with a more English name, I think-and somewhat unique, shall I try it?' Neal smiled.

'Raymond?'

'I said ridiculous, not unique.' Gold chuckled again.

'Oh' Both Belle and Neal said in unison.

'Alright, well, we are out of guesses until tomorrow. But I am almost too anxious to wait. Can't you at least tell us once we do our final guess tomorrow?' Belle gave him quite the pleading eyes-add that to how small and fragile she looked at that particular moment in her fatigue and he couldn't help but give in. He could at least admit it to himself-she could ask for a million dollars and he would run to grab his checkbook.

'I suppose that will be acceptable.' He smirked.

Despite how tired she was, she clapped her hands together like a child who had gotten their way. Neal looked at the two of them in that funny way he had before.

Their waffles were eaten-Belle complained that she hadn't quite gotten the batter right, though Gold didn't taste that it was so very bad. Neal ate two of them, so they really couldn't be that bad at all, he assured her. Belle began to gather the plates.

'It's alright, Belle, I can finish here. You go and get some rest.' He insisted.

'It's a coffee day for me, or have you forgotten?' She teased, then yawned, gaining both a confused look and a scolding one from him. 'Board games! I brought some board games from Daddy's-what will it be: sorry? Jenga? I thought about bringing Monopoly, but for some reason I don't trust you.'

He gave a dark chuckle, Neal said Jenga, and Belle told them she would just run up to take a quick shower and then be down to play. As soon as she left Neal looked at him looking both nervous and amused.

'So, um, you and Belle, huh?'