A hotel room at the Arms, Sunday morning

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Five's idea of a 'more private location' had been a hotel room and Belle had willingly gone along with him. At first to talk. She'd meant it when she said she wanted to exchange stories with her old...whatever it was that Five had been when they were both still in school here.

She'd told him more about the curse and about Regina. She'd talked about Rumple and revealed that her type was indeed dark and mysterious older men with powers and murderous tendencies. She hadn't mentioned being married. She hadn't mentioned Gideon. She was saving that for later.

Of course, one thing had led to another, as it so often did, and Belle found herself waking up in bed entangled with a dark and mysterious older man with powers and murderous tendencies.

It was her favorite way to wake up.

[For that murderous older man!]

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[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle let out a very quiet laugh as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I wouldn't worry."

She had an arrangement with her husband, after all.

[apocalypsehow]

Five would only be surprised at the fact that he was even surprised that her husband was some version of him from another timeline. Because that did indeed sound like him.

"Well, good," he muttered, wanting some good memories to tide him over from his goal.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle was happy to provide some more good memories. Last night had been lovely, after all.

"I think we can do better than good." She laid her hand on the shoulder of his missing arm. "Can't we? We usually do."

[apocalypsehow]

"Of course we can," Five said because no Hargreeves was good at turning down that kind of challenge. "Wait, what?"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"What?" Belle asked, ever so innocently.

"This is hardly the first time."

[apocalypsehow]

"You said usually," Five said, pointing at her with the only hand he had left.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"I did," Belle said, catching his hand with her own. "I'm glad you were paying attention."

Unable to resist the temptation any longer she added "don't worry. My husband is quite aware of how often it happens."

[apocalypsehow]

"Your--husband??"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Mm-hmm. Belle grinned wickedly. "He's older than I am. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Mysterious powers. Occasional murderous tendencies."

[apocalypsehow]

Belle. You had a type.

"Me? Some... alternate version of me?" Who didn't have to do ridiculous things to save the world from his evil, alien father.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

It was a good type!

"Of course it's you, you ridiculous man. We have an understanding about alternate versions of ourselves." Because they'd both lived in ridiculous places where that sort of thing might be an issue.

[apocalypsehow]

"...of course I'd say something like that." It really did track for him.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Of course," Belle echoed, smiling fondly at him now and leaning back in for another kiss.

[apocalypsehow]

"You tell him he's a fool then," Five insisted, kissing her back with some force.

Clearly he had to be the better Five.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle was quite fond of all the versions of Five she'd met. Hers was the favorite, of course, but this one was rapidly moving up the ranks, especially with that kiss which she was going to focus on until she needed to pull back to catch her breath.

"I tell him he's a fool quite often, I assure you," she finally managed. "At least once a day. But he's my fool. You're my fool. All of you."

She was a bit possessive of every Five, honestly. Perhaps she needed to illustrate that further.