𝑶𝑪𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑺 - Rumplestiltskin [1]

SEVENTEEN

17|MEN

Bella sat upside down on the small sofa, her legs hanging over the top. She was mentally preparing herself for the "run" she was going to do later. She use to exercise all the time until shifts became longer at the hospital and Mr. Gold wandered into her life.

"Morning." She waved lazily to Emma as the blonde wandered down her stairs.

"Really?" Emma sighed in frustration as she spotted Mary Margaret's flowers on the table. Bella watched with confusion as she grabbed them and dumped the flowers in the bin, Mary Margaret running into the room.

"Oh, hey, wait. What're you doing?" Mary asked, staring at Emma with surprise.

"If Graham thinks flowers will work on me-" The blonde growled before being cut off.

"No, those were mine." The teacher informed her before taking them out the bin.

"From David?" Bella questioned, looking up as Mary came to sit near here.

"No, uh, from Dr. Whale." Mary Margaret said with a blush, avoiding Bella's curious eyes at the mention of her co-worker.

"Why would Dr. Whale..." Emma trailed off as Mary Margaret sent her a look, explaining silently why. "Are you serious?"

"I know. It's a disaster." She stumbled, putting her school jotters on the coffee table near the shocked Bella's head.

"No, that's amazing. You're getting over David." Bella sat up, falling off the chair as she did when she realised what her friend had done.

"Ew, no, bad. Bad Mary Margaret." The doctor stumbled up off the ground, rubbing her head as she stared at Mary Margaret with disgust. "Bad."

"First of all, there's nothing to get over, and second of all, it was just a one night stand." Mary replied to Emma, ignoring the disgusted Bella as she made breakfast.

"Not according to those flowers." Emma smirked, grabbing the orange juice out the fridge and pouring herself and Bella a glass.

"Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have called him." The teacher said casually while her two roommates stared at her in shock.

"Oh, my God! You called him?" Bella dropped the knife she was using to give a lecturing look at her. "That is definitely not a one night stand."

"Okay, I'm still learning. I've never had one before." Mary Margaret said defensively. "I felt guilty."

"Why?" Emma asked worriedly while Bella's face dropped into a concerned look. "There's nothing wrong with what you did. Trust me. One nighters is as far as I ever go."

"Yeah, but that's because you're...." She trailed off before finishing her sentence, regretting it as Emma sent her a look.

"Because I'm what?"

"Nevermind."

"No, tell me. What do I do?" The blonde grilled her as she tried to think of an answer.

"You're just protecting yourself." Mary Margaret answered. "With that wall you put up."

"Nice save." Bella laughed, throwing her eggy bread on the frying pan.

"Just because I don't get emotional over men." Emma avoided her eyes as she put the juice back in the fridge and passed Bella her glass.

"You don't get emotional over men?" Mary repeated, gesturing to the bumped up flowers on the table. "The floral abuse tells a different story."

"And what story is that?"

"The one that's obvious to everyone except, apparently, you." The teacher continued with a knowing smile. "That you have feelings for Graham."

"It's more obvious than me and Mr. Gold." Bella inputted before going back to listening and making breakfast.

"Come on."

"There's that wall."

"It's not a wall." Emma defended herself weakly while her two roommates smiled to themselves.

"Really?" They both sent her a raised eyebrow look, almost mirroring each other.

"There's nothing wrong with being cautious." She said as she walked over to the pair, curious about what they were thinking.

"Okay, true. True." Mary Margaret agreed with her. "But, Emma, that wall of yours, it may keep out pain, but it also may keep out love."

"Ma and Mary love you, you're like a protective sister." Bella grinned, passing her a plate of French toast as Mary Margaret walked away to mark her students work. "Like it or not, we are part of your life now and we are here to be the most annoying people you know while also being the most supportive and worried people. Don't shut us out and don't shut Graham out. I've known him for ages, he isn't going to fuck you over."

"Thank you, Bella." Emma smiled at her, happily eating the breakfast that was made. "Sometimes I forget you are the wise one."

"It's because I'm the virgin." The doctor laughed, plating up her toast. "Unless you listen to Henry because apparently I'm married."

"Who are you again?"

"Princess Celeste." Bella shrugged. "I don't remember her from the usual fairytale books but apparently I was from an abusive household, which is funny because my father is actually abusive, and Rumpelstiltskin saved my life. I married him then was kidnapped."

"You probably have the most interesting story." Emma sent her a sympathetic smile as they sat quietly at the table eating breakfast.