AN:Ok, still working on Day by Day, but I can't get this plot out of my head. A series focusing on the first six months that Belle is released. All their firsts as a couple: kiss, date, nightmare, fight, and the proposal. I need one more prompt for month six. Either that or I need one for month 5 and the proposal will be in chapter 6. Let me know some ideas!

Thanks Oldromanticem for betaing! You really inspire me to keep writing, thanks for your great advice and edits!

June

It had been one month. One, wonderful, clear headed, sunshine- and fresh-air-filled months, and she was tired of waiting for him to make up his mind about their future.

When she had been released from the hospital, memories intact after the sedatives wore off, she had run straight into his arms. Their past forgotten the second she'd seen the relief in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." That blasted statement over and over again cried into her hair between dry sobs. He held her until the blond sheriff- Emma was her name- had awkwardly cleared her throat and momentarily gained their attention.

Quick decisions about where to keep her until the town psychiatrist could examine her were made over her head, and as much as she wanted to declare that no one decided her life but her, she was too grateful to be back in the one place she ever truly felt accepted.

Her fears of his continuing refusal of her, because of her stupidity back at the Dark Castle left her mind as he said, "She'll be staying with me." Despite the sheriff's argument, her love held his ground and in the end, brought his girl home with him.

They didn't say much that night as he showed her around the beautiful home, his arm still wrapped around her like a safety net. He finally let go, albeit reluctantly when he showered her to her room, down the hall from his. Ever the gentleman, he parted company with a simple caress of her cheek, staring as if afraid he might forget what she looked like.

Each day for a week, they would spend time together, him teaching her the small details of this world she would need to fit into society. They would make short excusions to the diner or the library even his shop a few times, and every night, he would leave her at her bedroom door. Her cheek warm from the trail of his hand, and her lips untouched.

After nearly a month of acclimating, her curiosity overcame her need for propriety, so during a breakfast of toast and eggs, she interrupted his reading of the paper with a question.

"Will you still lose your powers?"

He looked up at her, trying to discern her meaning behind the question. Swallowing a bite of eggs, he replied, "What do you mean, love?" His attention fully on the beautiful girl, sitting in her flannel PJs across from him.

"Kissing me," she looked down at the half-eaten slice of bread on her plate. "Will it cause you to lose your powers, even though you're human here?"

She looked up, meeting his eye, his expression torn between regret and longing. Belle immediately regretted her question, and not waiting for an answer, began to gather up the morning dishes, taking them to the kitchen. Placing the pile in the sink, she tried to swallow her disappointment as she ran hot water to do the dishes, her hand grasping the side of the sink. A hand reached around her and turned the water off, before turning her around to face its owner. With her back to the sink, and Mr. Gold's arms on either side of her, Belle had no choice but to greet his gaze with one of her own.

"Why do you ask?" he asked, the same confusion painted on his face as when he had asked her why she returned.

"Because, you hadn't… kissed me, that is," she breathed, her face inches from his. He searched her eyes, before lowering his gaze to her mouth, as slowly as she had all those years ago, he met her lips in a tentative kiss. Belle's eyes fluttered closed at the feel of his body so close to hers, and his mouth so carefully on hers. He pulled back slightly, no physical change made to the man the town feared.

"Kiss me again," Belle demanded with the same enthusiasm she'd had back at the Dark Castle. Then she was trying to save him, but now she wanted him and only him.

Their second kiss, third, technically, lost the strange innocence of the prior ones as they both met in desperation, trying to grasp the reality that they were both alive and well and in each other's arms.

Belle wrapped her arms around Gold's neck, her hands tangling in his hair, while Gold used the sink to support himself in lieu of his cane, and his other arm wrapped her and pulled her to him as tightly as he could.

The heated exchange was brought to an abrupt halt when the door bell rang through the house. Belle looked at the clock on the stove before gasping and pushing her way around Gold.

"I forgot my interview," she exclaimed hurrying toward the staircase. She called behind her. "Will you let Emma in, please."

Gold's mind finally caught up with him at the sound of her bedroom door shutting with finality. He grimaced from the realization that she wasn't going to come back, at least not this morning, and resigned himself to answering the impatient sheriff, who had once again sent the door bell blaring through his home.

"Coming, Ms. Swan," he said, opening the door a less than friendly look on his face. "Please, come in."

Emma looked at him carefully, his face was flushed and he was a bit out of breath. "Work out this morning?" she asked, slipping into the house, waiting to escort young Ms. Rebecca French to the library to get a job.

"Something like that," he muttered, turning at the sound of a freshly-changed Belle skipping down the stairs, her sun dress swaying around her knees. She met the uncomfortable pair and reached around Emma for her cardigan on the coat rack.

"Ready?" she asked, her eyes shining and an unstoppable grin passing over her face.

"Ready if you are," Emma exited the house, glad to be away from the incorrigible man and headed down the walk to her waiting car, turning just in time to see an over exuberant Belle pull away from a blushing Mr. Gold, having given him one last chaste kiss.

Emma froze, before shaking her head and pretending she didn't just see the meanest man in town watch the kindest girl in town flounce to the car as if she were the source of air and he was a breathless man. She pretended not to see the way Belle looked back at him as though he were the most important thing in the world. Starting the car, she gave one last glance at the lovestruck two and muttered under her breath, "Well, okay, then…"