Nice Girl

Chapter 18

"Hey mum" oh gosh, Leo's mum looked over them both with an almost stern look in her eyes "this is Isabelle," Leo introduced Belle received a critical look from his mum it was almost unimpressed until suddenly she broke out into laughter Belle swallowed again nervous

"I'm sorry I tried to be mean but I couldn't help myself," Leo's mum ran over and gave Belle a suffocating hug "oh you're so gorgeous!" She pulled away still holding her shoulders as she looked over the stunned girl, Leo chuckled as he stood to the side just glad it wasn't him in his mothers death grip "how are you this gorgeous?" Belle didn't know what to say but Leo's mum just carried on "and how are you with my son of all people?" She laughed "well I'm assuming you are, I didn't just make this awkward did I?" She gave her son a wink

"Mum," Leo rolled his eyes as she talked a mile a minute

"Yes we are Dr Cooper," Belle didn't know whether to call her Miss/ Mrs or even if she was still a Smith- since Leo had changed his name last year after his dad got arrested.

"Call me Emma!" Emma smiled Leo's smile and squeezed her again "I'm so pleased to meet you I thought this one," she inclined her head to Leo "was just making you up... Or gay!"

"Mum seriously," Leo laughed not embarrassed by his mothers antics

"Yes sorry," Emma finally set Belle free "I'll go to bed, I'm on lates again next week baby," she turned to her son still looking at Belle every so often like she couldn't believe her eyes.

"That's okay, I'm away next weekend remember," Leo grinned and Belle suddenly remembered their holiday.

"Oh yes!" Emma grinned excitedly "oh okay well sleep calls, I'll stick my headphones in so you won't wake me up," she planted a kiss on Leo's cheek before heading up back out of the kitchen her shoulders slumping as sleep took over her. Leo waited until she was safely upstairs before he turned grinning to Belle and pulled her close again.

"I think she liked you,"

Belle chuckled "well it looks like she's gotten some good press about me," her hands wondered up his arms to his shoulders where they rested softly

"Very good press," he smiled "did you forget about our holiday?"

Belle nodded but smiled softly as his strong arms wrapped around her waist "it'll be fun," she grinned and continued on with their anniversary day "ok we'll have breakfast, watch a movie and"

"Kiss," he added coming closer so their nose touched softly

"Mhmm," just as he was about to kiss her Belle slipped away grinned "lets eat,"

Leo shook his head watching her dance away to the awaiting plates "tease." Belle just winked and laughed as he joined her.

Leo linked his fingers with Belle's and rubbed circles into her thumb, it was getting late and she'd have to go home soon but he didn't want her to leave, he wanted to always be with her, for her to be in his arms. His mum had already gone to work giving them a grin and a wink before she left, he kissed Belle's hair "did you give in your statement?" He wondered, he had forgotten to ask before but they needed to hand in their personal statement by Thursday.

Belle wriggled in his arms and looked up at him blinking her blue eyes "I'm not going yet,"

He raised an eyebrow "what?"

"I'm not ready so I'm not going to go," she sat up smiling "before my dad went to Law school he had a gap year and I don't know..." He watched her as she thought things over "I want to travel,"

"Where?"

"Brazil, India ... China Everywhere, I want an adventure," she grinned Leo watch her eyes dance with excitement