Only Time Will Tell *** [Beautibbs feat. Toulouse]
@exsgttibbs, @lou-bonfightme
It was evening, not long before the shoppe was to close. Toulouse had just arrived, Opal on his hip, to help her lock up. Hades was busy with the Board as the month was tapering off to it’s end and applicants were submitting their runs for candidacy. Usually, closing up the shoppe was something Belle could absolutely do on her own, but, despite her efforts to hide it, she had slowed down considerably.
Twins was no joke, she was coming to find out. She was aching every day. And, although she’d been on bedrest with Opal, and sick in a much different way--Belle could feel the toll the pregnancy was taking on her body. No matter how she fought it, her body’s needs always won out in the end.
So, Lou was here to assist in closing up shoppe. Putting away the few books that needed to be put away, locking up, and counting the till. Belle was in charge of babysitting Opal whilst this was done.
Sitting in a chair, she sat Opal on top of the table, playing a game of pattycake with her. The bell over the door of the shoppe went off and Belle looked around her daughter to see Tibbs had walked through.
“Sorry, we’re cl--” Toulouse started, but Belle cut across him.
“Oh, good! You’re here!” Belle beamed. She checked her phone to see the time. “Tch, late, but that’s alright. Surgery run over? No matter.” Belle got up, slowly, carefully from where she was sitting. She helped Opal hop from the table to the chair down onto the floor, tugging at Belle and making her wince. Immediately, her daughter made a beeline for Lou. Belle headed towards the counter too.
“I’ve got something for you,” she sing-songed at Tibbs. “Toulouse, will you hand me--yes, thank you.” She gestured to the package behind the counter that Lou handed over, watching the other man curiously.
“Oh, right. Toulouse, this is Dr. Willis Tibbs, he’s a friend of mine. Tibbs, this is Lou, my...” Belle trailed off for a moment, hesitated, snapped her eyes to Lou, whose cheeks were a bit pink, before looking back at Tibbs. “...friend,” she finally settled on, though it didn’t feel quite right. Though, neither did...partner. They hadn’t really discussed that, had they?
She put a hand on his shoulder as Opal tried to scramble up his pant leg.











