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Two weeks of honeymoon vacation around the small Australian towns passed quicker than a weekend and Jack and Belle were finally moving into their own house. Living together was a completely new level of getting to know each other.
Jack was woken up by swearing that was coming from the kitchen. It was six a.m. and Belle wasn't in bed.
“Belle?” he asked drowsily as he entered the kitchen. She was standing there, looking at a pot full of water.
“What are you doing? Why are you up so early?” he asked as he came to her and kissed her on the cheek.
“I am always getting up at sunrise. I am just trying to make some tea. Why isn't it boiling yet?” she asked.
“Because you put too much water there. Half the amount will be enough,” Jack said and poured away the redundant water.
“Oh, well, good to know for the next time. What do you eat for breakfast?” she asked and investigated the cabinet which was fully filled. Lady Fox was probably worried that the two of them wouldn’t think about the food at all. The cook was supposed to start working for them next week, so they must feed themselves somehow until then.
“Not much, usually, anything that is available at the hospital,” Jack shrugged and poured the tea leaves into the pot.
“Marmalade?” Belle asked.
“Oh, we have marmalade, I love it!” Jack was excited and began to put it on his bread.
“You do?”
“Oh, yes, we got to eat marmalade only on special occasions like Christmas or something, so now it always feels special,” he shrugged and started eating it.
“Good to know,” Belle smiled at him, and they enjoyed breakfast together.
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“I have never thought that marriage could be so freeing,” Belle said as she hooked their arms together and they started to walk towards the hospital.
“What do you mean?”
“We are going to spend a whole day in the hospital, I will have my own patients! Mother would never allow me that.”
“Well, I don’t think that there is anything I could or would want to allow you. You are your own person, I am just happy that I get to sleep next to you every night,” he winked at her, and Belle’s heart was filled with warmth – Jack always knew what to say to make her the happiest person alive.
“I love you so much,” Belle said and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Mrs. Dawkins are you trying to seduce me here in plain sight in front of everyone?” he asked her, and she just shook her head.
“Not at all, my dear husband, I just love you so much,” she smiled at him innocently.
“Well, it is working, nevertheless. Would it be too indecent if I just pulled you into some smaller alley and kissed you properly?” Jack asked and Belle giggled.
“It really would be too indecent; we have to work on your etiquette. Besides, I don't want to come late on my first day.”
“We wouldn’t want that,” Jack winked at her once again and Belle wondered if he would ever stop affecting her so much. Just a mere smile sometimes could turn her stomach into a butterfly pond.
“No one is here, and I need to kiss you before we part,” Jack said as they reached the hospital.
“What?” Belle asked but before she could react, he quickly kissed her on the lips.
She just shook her head and then interweaved her fingers around his neck and kissed him properly. Damn society or propriety, damn everything, he was her husband and she wanted to kiss him.
“So, you won’t forget me,” she winked at him this time and then finally entered the hospital.
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They had an operation together in the afternoon. There was a young girl with gangrene on her left foot and they had to amputate the leg. Belle tried to find another way until the last moment but there was no other option. They at least ethered the girl before the surgery.
“I don’t like this, she is so young,” Belle sighed, and Jack nodded with sadness in his eyes.
“She is, but you said it yourself, it would only spread more, we have to do this. You should do it, but it takes lots of strength.”
“Do you think I will be able to?”
“We can change if it is too much,” he said and passed her the equipment.
Belle was satisfied, she was truly proud of herself. Everything was going well when suddenly someone busted into the room. Fagin, Jack’s unfamous uncle. He immediately ran to Jack, whispered into his ear, and then gave him something, which Jack put into his pocket.
Belle was distracted by that, but she had to continue with the amputation. Fagin ran away again. She finished and woke up the girl and then she finally turned to Jack.
“What was that about?” she asked but the soldiers busted into the room.
“We are looking for Mr. Fagin,” one of them said.
“He isn’t here, and you have to leave, there is a girl who just went through an operation,” Belle drove them out of the room. Hetty took care of the girl and Belle dragged Jack away. Into their favourite closet.
“Jack! We were in the middle of the operation, what if it was you, who was just operating? You would stop it to help him?” Belle asked, baffled by the whole situation.
“No, of course, I wouldn’t. But you must understand. He is my family, the only family I’ve ever had. I can’t just leave him, Belle,” he said sincerely.
“I am your family, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are but I can’t leave him, I owe him my life.”
“I get it that you can’t leave him, but you can’t risk for him all the time.”
“Well, my whole life is about risking,” Jack shrugged, and Belle shook her head in disappointment.
“I, I can’t see you right now. I need some space, I am going home,” she said and left without another word. Jack just stood there and wondered if he destroyed everything.
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“Fancy skirt will calm down soon. She’s your wife now, she can’t just leave,” Fagin waved his hand and Jack took another glass of whiskey. He couldn’t go home because he wanted to give Belle the space that she wanted so he ended up in the pub with Fagin. Probably not the best decision.
“I don’t want to trap her…”
“You already did, marriage is one big trap. I warned you, Dodge,” Fagin shrugged and took a sip.
Jack was quiet for some time. The only thing he wanted was for Belle to be happy and healthy. That was all that mattered. There was so much disappointment in her eyes today and he didn’t want her to feel that way ever again.
“I have to change,” he proclaimed, and Fagin laughed.
“You can’t change, Dodge, that’s what I’m telling you the whole time. This is who you are.”
“No, I am a husband now and my wife’s happiness is the most important.”
“Fancy skirt truly has you wrapped around her finger and here she is, I’m leaving,” Fagin said and disappeared before Jack could properly register his words.
“Hi Jack,” Belle whispered as she sat next to him.
“Hi,” he responded and looked at her. She seemed so sad, and he was the reason. He hated himself.
“I am sorry,” he said quickly but she shook her head.
“No, I am sorry, I shouldn’t just leave and act as a stubborn child. I can’t just leave because I am angry, we are in this together. We are married, we must talk about these things,” she said decisively.
“Yes, you are right,” Jack agreed, and she took his hand in hers.
“I usually am,” she smiled at him but then got more serious and continued: “You have to build some boundaries with Fagin. Not just because of me, but because the way he treats you isn’t right, it isn’t healthy.”
“I know, Belle, I truly do. And I am trying, it’s just, it isn’t so easy,” he sighed and couldn’t meet her eyes.
“I know, I know. It will take some time and I am going to be by your side, always,” she squeezed his hand and he finally looked at her.
“I love you so much,” Jack said and kissed her on the hand.
“And I love you, so much, Jack,” she kissed him, and everything was better.
They got home soon after that. She asked him to help her with her dress which he complied more than just gladly and then they ended up curled together in the bed. This new shared life seemed a bit scary, but both knew that as long as they were together, everything would be alright.