Coming up: Belle and Gold finally express their feelings for each other, and Milah learns her lesson.

Chapter Five

'Oh, yes? And what might that be?' he asked, trying not to think about what she may or may not be wearing under his shirt.

'Why don't you look under your pillow?' she suggested.

He went and looked, intrigued, and he found a handful of foil-wrapped objects. He knew only one thing they could be. He looked up at Belle, surprised.

'Where did these come from?' he asked.

She smiled. 'Emma.'

He barked a laugh.

'Said she thought we might need them.'

'Christ,' Gold intoned. 'Don't think I've ever heard of a situation where a son and daughter-in-law practically pushed one of their parents into the arms of their friend.'

Belle smiled, biting her lip. 'But, uh, are you glad they did?'

'Oh, God, yes,' he growled, rounding the bed quickly and pulling her into his arms.

'Me too,' she said, patting his chest. 'And now you don't have to wait to have all of me, and I don't have to wait to have all of you.'

She reached up and he met her in the kiss, both of them desperate, clinging to each other.

'Too many clothes,' Belle said, trying to unbutton his shirt, which proved difficult with her injured thumb. She made a noise of frustration and his hands came up to catch hers.

'Let me,' he said, and quickly unbuttoned his shirt.

She hummed and pushed it off his shoulders; then pulled up his undershirt and pulled that off over his head, him raising his arms to aid her.

Her hands mapped his skin now, gentle fingertips leaving trails of heat. Gold almost couldn't bear it, feeling the desire in her touch.

She looked up at his shuddering gasp, and then everything got intense very quickly. Belle found herself on the bed, the borrowed shirt unbuttoned as he kissed his way down her body, between her legs, where he… Oh!

She writhed, moaning, but trying not to do it too loud lest she wake Henry down the hall. Gold loved the sound of her, loved the way she rocked against him, taking her pleasure.

His tongue was magic, drawing shapes against her folds, teasing her clit. And then his fingers, pushing, curling, and his mouth on her clit…

'Tristan!' she wailed, still trying not to be too loud, thumping her fist against the mattress, panting and keening as she came.

Gold let her quivering legs fall from his shoulders and climbed up beside her. She turned her head and stared at him.

'You are very, very good at that,' she breathed, awed. 'God, I can't move. I've turned to jelly!'

He chuckled, and so did she.

'I'm glad you enjoyed it,' he said softly. 'Never had quite that reaction before.'

She looked at him. 'I find that very hard to believe.'

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. 'It was never really that great with Milah. Always thought it was my fault. She seemed to think it was.'

She growled and the sound went straight to his groin. His pants were getting uncomfortably tight now.

'It wasn't anyone's fault,' she said. 'She was wrong to think that way. You just weren't compatible. Sometimes people aren't. Sometimes it just doesn't work.'

'Speaking from experience, love?' he asked.

She smiled at him calling her love. 'My father wanted me to marry this guy named Greg. He wasn't my type at all. I tried to like him, to make my father happy, but I just…didn't. Finally, I said no, and that was the moment I'd had enough. I wasn't going to marry a man I wasn't compatible with and had no romantic feelings for.'

He made a very displeased noise, tugging her to him, and she went, raising herself up and leaning over him.

'You, though…you, I definitely feel compatible with.'

He smiled, stroking his hand through her hair.

'Oh, I feel that too,' he agreed, 'but, you know, I think it would be a good idea to experiment a little more. You know, just to be absolutely sure.'

She grinned. 'I love the way you think.'

He rolled them over, making her squeal, and kissed her. After that, her borrowed shirt was quickly discarded, as were the rest of his clothes. They opened one of the foil wrapped packets, and Belle, biting her lip in excitement, rolled the condom down over him. Then there was nothing else in the world but them as they made love, kissing heatedly as their bodies moved in time.

'That's…mmm, just there: right there,' Belle panted.

'Like this?' he asked, circling his hips slowly as he found a new angle.

'Mmm,' she moaned. 'Oooh, yes.' He'd found a sweet spot. 'Harder, please.'

He obliged, and she squeezed him. He gasped.

'I'm sorry!'

He shook his head. 'No,' he said. 'You're just so tight. Feels so good around me. Shit, can't hold it. Fuck!'

'Let go,' she coaxed. 'I want to see you come undone.'

He was panting, trying to hold on for dear life, wanting to satisfy her. Shit, he was such a fucking joke.

But Belle could see that self-deprecation all over his face. She caught his chin, forcing him to look at her.

'You're the best,' she said: 'you're the best I've ever had, Tristan Gold, and don't you ever doubt that. Don't think of anything else, just think of me and how good this feels.'

'Fucking incredible,' he growled. He wrapped an arm tight around her waist, holding her to him as he lost control completely. He was hoping holding her tight would provide enough friction from his erratic, quick-fire thrusts to give her what she needed to come too, and when she moaned, clinging tight to him, burying her face in his neck, he knew she was there too.

As he collapsed, he rolled them over, bringing her to rest atop his chest. Both were panting, gasping for breath, heavy-limbed and spent.

Belle was the first to speak. 'That was incredible: you're incredible. Mmm, thank you.' She kissed his chest, her tongue sneaking a lick of his sweaty skin, making him gasp.

'Mercy, please,' he begged, teasing her. He smiled tenderly as she smiled at him. 'Oh, Belle, that was amazing, the best I've ever had as well. If I could go again right now, I would.'

She smiled. 'We've got plenty of time,' she soothed. She rubbed his chest. 'I've never felt this way before. I've never felt so connected with someone, or so sure of what I want.'

'What do you want, sweet Belle?' he asked wonderingly.

'I want to be with you,' she whispered. 'I want to see where this could go, what we could be. I just…want you.'

He didn't speak, but he didn't need to. She bit her lip, knowing what he was thinking.

'Your heart's beating so fast,' she breathed, then, feeling the thump of it against her hand.

'Because you've just given me the best Christmas present you could possibly give me,' he said. 'God, Belle, I've wanted you for so long. I didn't dare imagine I could have you.'

She shook her head. 'I don't want to hear you talk like that any more,' she said, 'like you don't deserve happiness or good things. Tristan Gold, you deserve everything wonderful there is. You're a good man, a wonderful father and grandfather, an amazing friend: you deserve to be happy, and I'm going to do my absolute best to make you happy, alright?'

He smiled. 'Alright. Belle?'

She smiled. 'Yes?'

'I love you.'

Her eyes widened. 'What?'

'I love you,' he repeated. 'I think I have for ages.'

'I love you too,' she gasped. 'God, Tristan, I never thought I could have this.'

He cupped her cheek. 'Now who's thinking they don't deserve good things?' he asked.

She looked down. 'I guess you and I aren't so different,' she murmured.

'And maybe that's why we work,' he mused. 'But, Belle, I'm going to do all I can to make you happy, my sweet, clever, beautiful, darling girl.'

She hugged him and he rolled them over, and soon, they were kissing again, hands caressing, eliciting sighs and gasps, and, soon after that, moans of passion and pleasure once more.

0

Belle woke some time in the night. She stretched a bit and smiled; then gasped as both her memory and her body reminded her of the incredible evening she'd spent in Tristan's arms, with his hands and mouth all over, and his cock and tongue and fingers inside her. It would be easy to think it was just a dream, but for the way Tristan shifted closer as she stretched, curling himself around her again, not wanting to be parted.

She smiled as his lips trailed over her shoulder and up her neck.

'Hey,' she whispered.

'Hey,' he murmured, kissing her as she turned. 'Mmm, Belle, I could get used to this.'

'Good,' she whispered: 'I want you to.'

'You are incredible,' he whispered, kissing her.

She smiled and shook her head. 'I'm just in love with you, so I want to be with you, want you to want to be with me.'

'I do,' he said, kissing her deeply.

She smiled again. 'And now I'm wide awake,' she said.

He laughed softly. 'Me too. And I think…' He leaned over to check the clock on the nightstand. 'Yes, it's Christmas Day. Merry Christmas, Belle.'

'Merry Christmas, Tristan. This is the happiest Christmas I've had in a very long time.'

'I'm so glad, sweetheart.'

'I love when you call me that.'

He smiled. 'Well, since we're both awake-'

A noise interrupted him.

'What was that?' Belle asked, clinging to him.

'Someone's downstairs,' he said softly.

'An intruder?' she asked. 'We should call the police.' She reached for her phone.

'Let me check it out first,' he said, moving to get off the bed.

'Tristan, no! It's dangerous!' She grabbed his arm, refusing to let him go.

'It might just be Neal or Emma gone to get a snack,' he said. 'Neal's always had a habit of indulging in nighttime feasts.'

'Then I'm coming to investigate with you,' she said.

He leaned over and kissed her deeply. Despite her worry, she relaxed into it.

'Mmm, the world could be ending and you could distract me like that,' she said.

He smiled. 'Stay here and keep warm,' he coaxed, stroking her cheek. 'The thought of you in my bed, waiting for me, it's thrilling, sweetheart. I won't be long, I promise.'

'Ok,' she said, still reluctant to let him go. 'Just hurry back.'

He nodded and kissed her.

He put on his pyjama bottoms and t-shirt, smiled at her, and padded down the stairs.

Before he reached the bottom, he knew who it was who was down here. Milah had come back, and she'd brought a guest with her, a man. Wariness was replaced by anger. She'd brought a stranger here? With their grandson in the house? All so she could get one over on him?

Furious, Gold took the last few steps. He found Milah and her guest, a young man not much older than Neal, with dark hair, stubble, and blue eyes, seated on the couch together. Gold had actually seen the man before: he'd been at Milah's apartment one day when he'd gone to meet her there, hoping they could really talk. She'd been all over him. Gold had left feeling worthless and humiliated. He knew that was what she'd intended by bringing that man here tonight, but Belle was waiting for him upstairs.

'Having fun?' he questioned.

Milah looked at him. 'Yes, actually,' she said smugly. 'You remember Killian, right, Tristan?' She patted her guest's chest.

'I remember,' he said quietly.

'He's been showing me a very good time.' She smirked.

'Yes. I'm sure,' Gold said coldly. 'Our grandson is asleep upstairs, Milah,' he reminded her. 'You know this isn't appropriate.'

'No more inappropriate than that girl you brought here,' Milah returned. 'Maybe you should consider how appropriate your behaviour is.'

'Belle is my girlfriend, not some one-night stand, and Henry's known her for ages. She's not a stranger to him.'

'Killian's not a one-night stand either,' she claimed.

'Henry doesn't know him,' Gold said, not backing down. 'He's not staying here.'

'But your little whore can?'

'Don't you dare speak that way about Belle!' Gold snapped. 'You're not fit to breathe the same air as her.'

She rolled her eyes. 'Aw, smitten, are we? Pity there's not a lot you can do as regards…performing. She'll never stay with you, even in the unlikely event that she does actually want you and not your money.'

Gold rolled his eyes. 'Your taunts aren't going to work, Milah,' he said, 'not any more. I'm finally over you.'

'Sure about that?' she asked, cupping her breast and coaxing her sometime lover's head down towards it.

Gold's head was full of Belle. He looked at his ex-wife dispassionately. He felt no jealousy, no stirrings of worthlessness. He was finally free.

'Why don't you run along?' Milah suggested, 'unless you want to stay and see how it's done?'

Gold laughed. 'Oh, I doubt he'll be able to please you any better than I could, Milah,' he said, bored. 'That's the thing I realised, you see: no one could please you, because you're never happy with anything. You weren't happy being my wife, you weren't happy being Neal's mother, none of your boyfriends made you happy, and as much money as you've had from me, you're still not happy. And you know what I realised? It's not my job to fill that hole inside you.

'I tried to do it for years. Because I loved you, even when you walked out on me and Neal, I tried to give you what you needed, tried to make you happy. I sold my soul trying to make you happy, and it made me miserable. You took your unhappiness out on me, made me feel like I wasn't good enough, and, for a long time, I believed it, but not any more.

'I don't care what you say or what you do any more, Milah,' he said, 'I'm done catering to you. I've got somebody in my life now who makes me feel like I can do anything.'

'The little gold digger? Yes, see how long she stays when she realises you can't please a woman to save your life.'

'Oh, but that's where you're wrong.'

'Belle,' Gold murmured, looking around to see her standing there in his shirt from earlier.

She smiled and came to him. She darted a look at Milah before reaching up for a kiss from Tristan, who obliged her. She went for it, wanting to prove a point, and he went for it too, forgetting all about Milah, and they were panting as they parted, and Belle was smiling.

'God, Belle,' he whispered, hugging her to him.

'He pleases me very, very well, you see,' Belle said, leaning into her lover, biting her lip as he caressed her bottom. She'd brought his confidence out, which delighted her.

'Oh, spare me your little show,' Milah grumbled, glaring at Belle. 'As if I didn't know that this was a charade for my benefit. You're all over him every time I walk into a room: it's so obvious you're threatened by me. You're afraid he'd come back to me, so you're playing the part of the doting girlfriend to perfection. He'll see through you eventually.'

'You're delusional,' Gold breathed: 'you're actually delusional.' He'd known she was narcissistic, but this was taking it to extremes. 'I know who Belle is: I don't need to see anything.'

'You know her? You can't even see this is all pretend with her. Trust me, I know.'

'Why, because pretending is what you've been doing?' Belle asked. 'I'd examine your own behaviour before you criticise mine, Milah. Nothing about my behaviour with Tristan has been a pretense, but, yes, if you want the truth, I have been showing off around you, to let you know that he's not yours any more, and that I won't let you hurt him. Tristan's mine, and you're never getting him back.'

She ran her hand over his chest as his arm around her waist pulled her closer.

Milah's mouth twisted into an ugly grimace. Her would-be lover had moved away from her when he realised this was all about making her ex jealous.

'I'll be going,' he said.

'That's probably wise,' Gold said.

'What? No!'

'Forget it, Milah,' the man said: 'I'm not interested in just being some means to make your ex jealous.' He stood and left.

'How dare you chase him away!' she demanded, glaring at Belle and Gold.

'Typical Milah,' Gold said quietly, 'blaming everyone else for your problems. If you're unhappy, you only have yourself to blame. I'm done. You can stay tonight, but I want you gone in the morning.'

'Well, look who finally grew a backbone,' she sneered.

He shook his head. 'You can't help yourself, can you? You don't know anything other than viciousness, but don't you see, Milah? All you're doing is pushing everyone who might care about you away.

'Let's go, Belle,' he murmured.

She nodded and he took her hand, leading her up the stairs.

'Tristan,' Milah started, standing and moving forward. He ignored her. 'Tristan!' she called.

'No,' Belle said calmly, holding her hand up imperiously. Milah actually stopped at her forbidding look. For such a tiny thing, that girl had a forcefulness about her.

'He's said all he's going to say,' Belle went on. 'Now, do the decent thing and back off. You had your chance with him and you squandered it. Now it's my turn to give him the love he deserves.'

'Who do you think you are?' Milah hissed. 'You're nothing but a gold digging whore.'

'I will not be spoken to like that,' Belle said, holding onto Tristan's hand firmly so he couldn't rush to her defence, 'by you or anyone else.'

'I want you gone, Milah,' Gold said, trying to keep calm. 'Like I said, you can stay tonight, but only because I don't want Henry woken up. Pack your things and leave after breakfast.' He looked at his ex-wife now. 'And don't you ever darken my door again, do you hear me? Stay away from me and stay away from Belle. You find something else to take your unhappiness out on, because I'm done. I mean it.'

He led Belle up the stairs, and only she could feel how much he was shaking. She looked back at Milah standing alone in the living room, and saw that that the look on her face was one of devastation. It was quite sad. It made Belle realise something, something that troubled her.

Gold pulled her into his arms as she closed the door.

'It's alright, it's alright,' she soothed, stroking her fingers through his hair. 'I'm here, my darling.'

He held her tighter, burying his face in her neck.

'God, that felt so good,' he whispered.

She smiled. 'Yeah?'

He nodded. 'I felt so free. Thank you, sweetheart.'

She shook her head. 'You did that yourself, darling,' she said.

'But I was only able to do that because you were here with me. I love you, Belle.'

'I love you too,' she whispered.

He kissed her, coaxing her back towards the bed.

She put her hands on his chest, pushing at him a little. 'There's something I should tell you,' she said softly.

'What?' he asked, frowning.

'I looked at her as we were coming up the stairs. I saw her face.'

'Belle, what-?'

'She was devastated, Tristan. You said that you always loved her more than she loved you, but I think she just realised…'

He shook his head. 'Belle, I don't understand what you're telling me.'

'She does love you, Tristan,' she said quietly. 'I think she just realised how much. You know how it's said that you never know what you've got until it's gone? Well…'

He shook his head again. 'No, I don't… I don't believe that, Belle. Even if it were true, it's too late now.' He pulled her back into his arms.

'Is it, though?' she asked. 'If she told you tomorrow that she loves you, you wouldn't want to try to make a go of it with her?'

'No,' he said at once. 'Belle, I don't understand… Why are you telling me this?'

'I just… I don't want you to regret us,' she said softly. 'I figured I should tell you what I saw, and that way, you could make an informed choice. I'd never want you to regret being with me if you still…'

'If I still loved her?'

She nodded, looking worried.

'But I told you I don't love her!' he said. 'I thought you understood that, Belle. I stopped loving her when I fell in love with you, which was months and months ago. It's too late for Milah and I, and I never want to go back to that life. I was miserable, Belle, but, with you, I feel alive and happy and free for the first time in so long. Sweetheart, after the night we've just spent together, what on earth would give you the idea that I would choose her over you?'

She sighed. 'I guess I just…need reminding that I deserve the things I want,' she said, voice trembling. 'My father always did his best to tear me down: I suppose his voice is still in the back of my head, making me doubt that I'm good enough.' She looked at him, eyes watering.

He hugged her. 'God, we are so alike.' He cupped her cheek. 'Belle, whatever Milah's realised, it's far too late for us. I have you, and I love you more than life itself. My precious, let me show you, hmm? Let me love you, Belle.'

She relaxed into his arms and he kissed her. She gave herself up to the feelings he awoke in her, the desire and the freedom. She loved that the world went away when she was in his arms, and it was just them, focused on each other, and nothing else.

She lay down at his urging, and buried her fingers in his hair as he kissed down her body. She gasped as his tongue parted her folds, and he spent several minutes lavishing attention on her most intimate places, coaxing little sighs and moans from her, showing her how he adored her.

'Tristan,' she whimpered, shaking.

'Hmm?' He slid his hand up, kneading her breast, his fingertips plucking at her nipple.

'Oooh!' she sighed out. 'Good. So good. Love you so much.'

He licked at her clit with a deft stroke, smiling when she gasped and rocked her hips into him.

'Again,' she called. 'Please, please.'

He gave her what she wanted, his tongue firm against her little pearl. He did it again and felt her muscles tighten.

'Mmm,' she moaned, feeling her toes curl. 'Coming, I'm coming.'

And she did. Gold hummed, licking her through her orgasm, delighting in every noise of pleasure she made. He knew he was never going to get tired of doing this with her.

Belle smiled dreamily up at him as he climbed up beside her.

'You're amazing,' she breathed. 'You're the best Christmas present I've ever gotten.'

He laughed softly. 'Well, that's good, because you're the best Christmas present I've ever gotten.'

'I love you,' she said tenderly.

He stroked her cheek. 'I love you too.'

They curled up in bed together, Belle's head on Gold's chest.

'I'm going to miss this when we go back to the city,' she said softly. 'I love sharing a bed with you.'

'Oh, I don't plan on letting you miss it, sweetheart,' he said, rubbing her arm. 'I'm not going to want to be away from you much. You're going to be sick of me.'

'No,' she said, kissing his chest: 'no, I'm not. I want you around as much as possible.'

He hummed, taking her hand and sliding his fingers between hers.

'We're agreed, then,' he murmured: 'from now on, our lives are entwined.'

'Yes,' she said, looking up at him, the thought of sharing a life with him the most wonderful thing she could imagine.

'Kiss me,' she whispered.

He obliged.

0

Belle grumbled as he attempted to extricate himself from her hold.

'I've got to get up, sweetheart,' he whispered.

He'd been trying to do it without waking her, but to no avail. He smiled tenderly at her little frown and shake of the head.

'Mm, stay,' she mumbled. 'Too early.'

'I've got to make breakfast,' he said. 'Henry will be up soon, if he's not up already, and it's tradition that I make breakfast on Christmas morning.'

'M-kay,' she mumbled, relenting, loosening her hold.

'Thank you, love,' he murmured, kissing her nose and smiling at her smile. 'Shall I bring you up something?' he asked.

'You,' she said, opening her eyes and smiling at him as she cuddled with his pillow.

He smiled. 'That's a given,' he said, 'but how about something to eat? We did burn a lot of energy last night.'

She grinned. 'True. Surprise me.'

'Alright,' he said, and kissed her softly. 'Go back to sleep. I'll bring breakfast in bed soon.'

She smiled. 'Love you.'

Gold went down to the kitchen, his heart light as air. He found Neal there, making a start on breakfast. His son smiled.

'Thought I'd give you a break this year, considering you and Belle…'

Gold smiled. 'Well, Belle understands the importance of our traditions.'

Neal smiled. 'Guess she'll share 'em all now, huh? Which is totally cool with me, Papa,' he added. 'I wouldn't have pushed you two together if I didn't want it to happen. I'm happy for you. I can see you're happy.'

'I am, son, and I know I owe much of that to you. Belle and I figured it out pretty quickly, but you brought us together, so thank you.'

Neal smiled as his father hugged him. 'You're welcome. Kinda surprised you did figure it out so quickly. Was hoping you would, but I still kinda thought I might have to lock you two in a room till you confessed your feelings. So, how come I didn't have to do that?' he asked, smiling.

Gold laughed. 'I don't know, to be honest, I just…'

'You're different,' Neal remarked quietly, 'stronger, braver.'

'Yeah,' Gold agreed.

'What changed?'

'You know what changed, son: you introduced me to Belle, and I came to see that if I did the brave thing, bravery would follow.'

'Bet I know where you learned that,' Neal said, smiling.

'From Belle, of course. But, Neal, she was your friend first: are you really sure you're alright with her being my…?'

'Girlfriend?'

'Feels like she's more than that,' Gold said quietly.

Neal smiled. 'Hey, if you wanna make her my stepmother, I've no objection.'

Gold's eyes widened, not at the idea of marrying Belle, but at hearing his son would be fine with it.

'That is a distinct possibility, down the line a little, of course, but thanks for your blessing.' Neal nodded, smiling. 'By the way, your mother is leaving today.'

'Thought she already had?'

'She came back last night, brought a guest with her.'

'What?' Neal demanded. 'With my kid in the house?'

'I told her it was inappropriate.'

'Damn right!'

'We had words and he left. I told your mother I wanted her gone. I don't think I'll be seeing her again.'

'Papa, I'm sorry I even asked her here,' Neal said softly.

'No, I'm glad you did,' Gold said, 'because now I know she no longer has any hold over me. I'm sorry I was angry with you, son.'

Neal smiled and shook his head. 'It was a pretty stupid thing to do,' he said. 'Saying what I said about you and Belle was a dick move too. I shouldn't have put you two in that position.'

'You did it out of love: that's all that matters,' Gold said magnanimously.

'Yeah, but I made it awkward for you,' Neal said. 'You were right to be pissed.'

'I think my reaction was mostly based on my feelings for her,' Gold said thoughtfully. 'I didn't want her thinking I had no respect for her.'

'She'd never think that,' Neal said. 'You were right, though: she's my friend and I made things awkward for her. I shouldna done that.'

'Well, it seemed Belle was of a mind to be helpful,' Gold said with a smile, 'which has led us to where we are now.'

Neal smiled.

0

The smell of cooking reached Belle. She'd been lying in bed awake since Tristan left. As early as it was, she was too awake to go back to sleep now, and when she caught the scent of cooking, she was immediately hungry. Well, she had worked up an appetite.

She got up and dressed in her pyjama bottoms and his shirt again. Then she made her way downstairs, where she found Neal and Gold cooking together.

'Good morning,' she greeted.

'Hey, Belle,' Neal called, shooting her a smile.

'Sweetheart,' Gold greeted, 'I was going to bring you something.'

'I know, but I was awake and I smelled the food, and I missed you, so…'

'I think I hear Henry upstairs,' Neal said, turning off the stove so nothing could get burned. 'I'll go say good morning.' And he made his way out of the kitchen.

'Poor Neal,' Belle murmured. 'I'm not sure he knew what he was letting himself in for.'

'He'll get used to it,' Gold said, going to her and pulling her close. 'He'll have to. So, is you wearing my shirts going to be a thing?' he asked.

'Mmm, depends.'

'On what?'

She smiled. 'Well, is you taking them off me going to be a thing?'

He smirked. 'Would you like it to be?'

'I think you know the answer to that,' she breathed, reaching up for a kiss.

He obliged her, and they kissed for a long moment, but then they heard the sound of footsteps clattering down the stairs, and there was only one person those excited footfalls could belong to. Neal really had heard Henry stirring.

'Cool!' the lad cried from the living room, having seen the array of presents under the tree. 'Can I open them, Dad?'

'Let's wait for Mom, buddy: she'd hate to miss it. She'll be up in a few minutes, ok?'

'Ok,' Henry said easily, not wanting his mother to miss out on the fun. 'Grandpa!' Henry shouted.

'Down here, Henry!' Gold called.

Henry came running into the kitchen and his grandfather scooped him up.

'Merry Christmas, my boy,' Gold greeted, smiling.

'Merry Christmas, Grandpa,' Henry said, and hugged him.

Belle smiled at them. They were so precious. Tristan had so much love to give: he should have the chance to be a father again, and maybe she could give him that, down the line, of course.

More steps on the stairs on the stairs reached them.

Neal, standing in the hall, saw his mother carrying her bags down.

'Let me get those,' he said.

'I can manage,' she snapped.

'Gimme that big one, Ma,' he commanded.

She glared at him, but handed it over. Neal would never admit it, but he did care a little. He'd never forgive her for leaving him, and he didn't want her around his father, but she was his mother: there was some love there, whether he wanted there to be or not.

She followed him out to her car. He lifted her bags in for her.

'Well, you got what you wanted,' she said. 'Hope you enjoyed the show.'

'I'm happy,' he said. 'I'm happy because he's happy, which is all I ever wanted. I love him.'

'And you don't love me,' she surmised.

He shook his head. 'Didn't say that. What I do know is that I don't like you, Ma: I don't like how you treated him all these years, and now you're reaping the consequences of that. I can't say I'm sorry.'

She didn't say anything. She was about to get into her car when Gold appeared.

'Go on inside, son,' he said.

'Papa,' Neal began, a warning note in his voice.

'Go on, it's ok.'

Neal went, realising he had to trust his father to be strong enough to manage this on his own. Things had changed.

Belle was standing in the hall.

'You ok?' he asked her.

'Yeah,' she said, though she looked a bit tense. 'If she says anything to hurt him…'

'He'll be fine,' Neal said, smiling at the fierce look on her face.

'I know,' she said, her expression softening. 'I do know that, I just…' She hugged herself; then seemed to shake herself out of her funk. She smiled at him. 'Emma's up,' she said. 'Go on and open presents with Henry. We'll be in in a minute.'

He smiled at her and went.

Outside, Gold only had a few brief words for Milah.

'What do you want?' she asked, when Neal left them.

'I just want to say that I'm sorry you're unhappy, Milah,' he said. 'I know what it's like and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I hope you find something that makes you happy: I truly do. Merry Christmas, Milah.' So saying, he backed away.

She looked at him for a moment; then climbed into her car and drove away.

Gold smiled at Belle as he met her in the entryway. 'Alright?'

'Yeah,' she said, reaching for him. 'She's gone?'

He nodded. He kissed her.

'I love you,' he whispered, 'and I can't wait to see what traditions we make together.'

She beamed at him. 'Me too. I love you.'

They kissed again, and then joined the rest of their family around the Christmas tree.

The end…for now ;)