Chapter 17: Hot Mama
She didn't know why she said it.
It didn't make sense.
But at the time…well, she had to help Harry, and the last thing he needed was to be outed as Rumple's son especially with Cora on the loose.
But Belle didn't look old enough to be the mother of an eleven almost twelve year-old. Plus, she wasn't stupid. She saw the way Harry looked at her. It reminded her a lot like how Rumple looked at her.
Except instead of looking at her with smoldering passion, Harry looked at her with puppy love.
Smoldering passion?
She was spending too much time in the romance section at the library.
But the way Rumple had kissed her and told her thank you after Emma Swan and Regina left—yeah, that was smoldering passion.
Of course, you shouldn't be kissed with smoldering passion when you lie. But given the circumstances, Belle didn't complain.
But she was concerned about how they were going to pull it off.
Rumple shrugged. "I don't think it will be that big of a deal."
Regina seemed to think the same.
But it would, Belle was sure of it. "What about Gaston?" She asked.
Because Gaston was the only other guy she had been with—well, she really hadn't been with him. Rumple had been the one to rob her of her maidenhood. Though to be honest, Belle had never been one for the virginity myths not even in the Enchanted Forest.
Gaston and her father were big about being pure. At least her purity since she was pretty sure Gaston had a thing with Babette or whatever her name.
Rumple snickered.
Oh, what had he done?
"It was a long time ago, sweetheart." He said as if reading her mind.
Forget it, she really didn't want to know. "So, he's not an issue."
"At all." Rumple said.
"What about my father?"
Now that was an issue. Even without Belle's big fat lie, Moe French had becoming more and more of a problem.
She didn't get it. He had been content with leaving her with Rumple for years, but now since it was very open that there was something there with Rumple he was chastising her constantly about living in sin with a monster.
Whatever.
It wasn't like she had been the only one to lose her maidenhood before marriage (cough, Mary Margret, cough).
Still though, Moe had gotten more aggressive in yammering at Belle about how she was ruining her life. Almost where she wanted Rumple to do something, that didn't involve pulling out her father's heart and turning it into dust.
She could just imagine how Moe was going to react when he heard she supposedly had a son.
"It's going to be okay," Rumple said sensing her distress.
Belle shook her head. "We have to explain this to Harry. You have to tell him the truth."
That was another thing that they had been avoiding to do.
Telling Harry the sordid truth. The truth about everything: his origins, his mother, the fact that his mother tried to kill him and that they were hiding his real identity because of that.
God, Belle had such a headache.
"It will be okay, sweetheart."
She shook her head. "No one is going to believe it."
"Emma Swan believed you."
Belle rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, not that sound of an argument, is it?"
Belle shook her head. "Have you looked at the way Harry looks at me, Rumple?"
Rumple looked confused.
"He has a little crush on her." Regina interjected.
"Yes, but who has a crush on their mother?"
"Good point. We'll talk to him."
Belle sighed. She really didn't want to have this conversation with Harry, so she tried once more. "What's so wrong about telling the truth?"
"Cora." Regina said. "You saw what she tried to do to him last night."
"But she didn't know he was her son." Belle countered.
Rumple sighed. "Sit down, sweetheart. I think it's time Regina and I told you about my ex."
By the time they was finished, Belle couldn't believe it but she hated Cora just a bit more. And she was scared. Really scared.
Despite the fact, she was of diminutive height and weight, Belle was not really scared of anything. It helped her when it came to living with the Dark One. But Cora, the ruthlessness of that woman had made Regina look like she was a risk assessment specialist.
Belle shook her head and sighed. "Poor Harry."
"Harry will be fine." Regina stated. "I survived Cora and so can he."
He wouldn't though. Belle knew how it felt to have a parent who had done something unforgivable.
Rumple looked at her, "He has you."
"What?"
"He has you, so he'll be okay." Rumple said. "He doesn't need Cora."
Yes, but she was his mother. As much as Belle already adored Harry, she knew she'd never be able to replace Cora. Oh, they might have a better relationship and he might eventually grow to view Belle like a mother, but regardless of how he might view Belle, Cora was always going to have an impact on his life.
A negative impact.
And look what that impact had done to Regina.
Rumple shook his head. "It won't be the same for him as it was for Regina, I promise."
"You can't promise that." Belle said.
And he couldn't. As powerful as Rumple was, he couldn't control his son's feelings and thoughts. He couldn't control his own thoughts about Cora, Belle thought.
Rumple sighed. "No, I guess I can't. But Harry will be okay."
"Rumple…"
"Well, I have to believe it, sweetheart. I have to have hope."
Harry reacted much like Belle expected.
"I'm going to have to pretend to be your son? That's just so wrong."
Belle had to agree, but she also heard what Rumple said about Cora so she had to disagree. "I know, but—"
"You don't have to explain." Harry said. "You two already said it. My mother is a psycho."
"I never said Cora was a psycho." Gold said. "I think sociopath would be a better word."
"Rumple." Belle corrected.
Harry rolled his eyes. God, they reminded Belle so much of Rumple's back when they were in the Enchanted Forest. They were the same color. Molten gold.
Or molten gold on Rumple. On Harry, it looked slightly more like butterscotch. That was a much better Harry suited description, since they didn't exactly make her feel the same way as when she looked into Rumple's molten gold eyes.
Way too much time in the romance section.
Gold sighed, "It's only a temporary solution, dearie. I thought you'd be happy, you can get out of bed and go socialize in town now."
"And have to say Belle is my mum. Belle as my mum. That is just wrong."
"I don't see what's so wrong about it." Gold said, "She is going to be your mother."
"Stepmother," Harry said. "There's a big difference."
Rumple rolled his eyes. "Well, you can't have everything."
"I don't get what the big deal is though." Harry said. "I mean, I get my biological mum is not the nicest person. But she's in town, seriously?"
Belle gave Rumple a very pointed tell him the truth look.
Rumple sighed, "Yes. You met her actually. Last night. And don't tell me know that Cora isn't unstable."
"That was her?" Harry asked. "She tried to kill me just because I lied about my name? Regina was right."
"Of course, I was." Regina stated. "I'm always right."
"And she hurt you." Harry said.
Belle rolled her eyes. She couldn't help it. It was sort of sweet (okay, maybe really sweet) that Harry cared about his sister so much. But she was the Evil Queen. Regina knew how to take care of herself.
And how to take care of others.
Belle was victim to that. She really had to tell herself that she had to tolerate Regina for Harry. That she was family now, but it still occasionally made her want to puke.
She did, however, feel bad for the woman who looked like she had the snot beaten out of her via Cora.
Regina tried to soothe Harry. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine to me."
She rolled her eyes. "Just haven't really had time to perform a few healing spells. I wanted to make sure you're okay. How's the leg?"
Harry shrugged. "Better. Which is expected after fifty potions."
"It wasn't fifty." Rumple said. "It was maybe twenty. And you're lucky I am an exceptional brewer. It could've easily been more."
Well, at least he wasn't obsessing over Cora.
"It's only temporary, Harry." Belle added.
"You being my mum." He said. "I guess, but it's weird. And I don't like lies."
Neither did Belle. But as she was finding out, sometimes lies were required in life, especially if you lived with the Dark One.
She decided to go for a walk that afternoon. Mainly because Rumple was strategizing with Regina, and whenever she saw the two of them in cahoots with each other it gave her a migraine. Plus, she needed to clear her head and reassure herself that she could get away with this charade.
Mother.
It felt as weird as it did to her as it did to Harry. At least the whole giving birth to him part. She could actually see herself mothering the boy though.
"Belle!"
She wanted to groan. She knew that voice very well. It was her father. She was trying to decide whether she ignore him or not. That probably would be the smartest thing to do. If she did that, there was less of a likelihood that Moe would see her and then there was a less likelihood that Rumple would turn him into a snail.
"Belle! Look at me, young lady!"
Just keep walking.
And that's when he grabbed her wrist. She tried her best to turn away, but when your wrist is being squeezed you really can't help but yelp and turn to face the wrist squeezer (her father).
"I could scream his name." Belle said, might as well start with a warning.
"There's no need." Moe said. "I just want to talk with you."
Belle sighed heavily. Oh, how she wanted to believe him. But she couldn't. Her papa had done so many things…
"I'll call his name if you do anything funny."
"Is that how you're going to act?"
"You grabbed my wrist." Belle glared at him.
"Yeah, but you were ignoring me."
The brunette shook her head. "Is there a point to this, Papa?"
He sighed. "I talked to Emma Swan today, it explained some things."
Belle just stared at him. "Explained things?"
"You have a child." Moe said. "Is it that thing's?"
Belle narrowed her eyes at him and then said something that even surprised her. "Go to hell."
"What?" Moe said. "Belle, I'm just trying…if you gave birth to an abomination. I get why you feel free to be near it. But it needs to be destroyed, love."
Never had Belle felt such hatred for her father at that particular moment. Abomination? It was true Harry wasn't her child, but she hoped that one day she would have Rumple's child. To imagine Moe looking at her father like it was the devil's child made her blood boil.
She tried to calm herself down though, told herself that she needed everyone to buy the illusion, so if Cora heard anything she'd leave Harry alone.
Taking a deep breath she said. "Harry is Gaston's biologically, but in every way that matters he is Rumple's."
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Moe asked his face lighting up. "This changes everything."
Belle gave him a weird look. "I don't see how it changes anything, Papa. I'm not leaving Rumple and neither is Harry. If you can't accept Rumple as a part of our life than I have no place for you in it."
"Belle." Mo said his hand gripping tighter around her wrist.
"Don't make me call his name," She said. "I really don't want you to be turned into a snail, Papa."
"So, you do still love me?" Moe asked.
Belle rolled her eyes. "This isn't about love, Papa. I just don't want you turning into escargot. Now, let go of me?"
"You have a son." Moe said still not letting go.
"Let me go." Belle repeated.
"You have to save his soul." Moe said. "It's not too late for him."
"Like it is for me." Belle smarted off.
Moe looked at her, "Think about it, Belle."
"No." Belle said yanking her arm free before running as far as she could from the shop.
Good thing he didn't leave a mark. She didn't want to think about what her fiancé was going to do if there would've been one.