Work Text:
“Hey,” He spoke, the alcohol masking his nerves, “Care to dance?”
“I don’t dance that well,” The girl he approached says with a slight laugh.
“Neither do I. I’m Scrooge.” Ebenezer introduces himself by his last name, as he always does. Ebenezer is a mouthful, and when he’s trying to talk to a pretty girl it can be a handicap.
“I’m Belle.” She offers him her hand. Her name fits her, Scrooge thinks, for she is beauty itself.
And the two dance; It’s messy as they try to keep in time to the music, but the two are too inebriated (Scrooge moreso) to even attempt to dance properly, not that they really could sober. They really weren’t lying, they can’t dance that well. But for them? It’s perfect.
Later that night, the only thing on each of their minds is the other. They both can’t wait to see each other again, and luckily they don’t have to wait too long
Their first official date is a sober one, and a classic as well. Dinner and a movie. Scrooge takes a deep breath as he walks into the restaurant, his nerves on fire. He didn’t mean to be late, he had to take the bus due to his car being out of commission, and not yet having the money to fix it. All his panic disappears as he sees her, however. She’s wearing a simple blue dress, but she looks far from simple. The most beautiful woman he’s ever laid his eyes on. Scrooge forgets to smile back at her once she meets his eyes, forgetting to even breathe for a moment. His eyes never leave hers as he walks towards the table.
It’s not even surprising when he trips.
Belle’s laugh causes him to freeze in place as he’s getting up. It’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever heard. She laughs more out of joy when she sees the lovestruck look on his face, and helps him up.
Dinner was nice and though he does not have much money, Scrooge pays. The movie is a Hallmark movie, he never liked them but his sister did, so he’s practically seen them all. Well, he thinks he has. Once you’ve seen one you’ve pretty much seen them all, right? But Belle seems to like them, so he happily watches it with her. Most of his time is actually spent watching her instead of the film. The way the lights of the movie reflect in her dark eyes is better than any movie they could see.
Scrooge forgets the dance that is in dating, knowing there are steps to take but not knowing which to take himself. He takes a leap, and reaches out and softly grabs her hand. For once, Scrooge did the dance well, and that step was well received. She squeezes his hand back, and looks up at him. And quickly glances down at his lips. He tilts his head, as if to say ‘Are you sure?’
His heart races when she nods, and then the two lean in for a kiss.
It’s such a shame how things change.
Scrooge’s palms are sweaty as he goes over the dance steps in his head. He didn’t expect their friends to make them dance at their engagement party, knowing how bad the two of them are. Now that he thinks of it, that’s probably why they made them dance.
Belle originally wanted the party to be small, at their house, but Scrooge thought she deserved much better than that. With his newfound success and money, he rented out an expensive bar, hired musicians, and invited all their friends and family. Belle was especially nervous in front of all these people, chewing on her lip nearly the whole night. She tries to be thankful, but it’s hard. She glances down at her left hand. At her ring. It’s very extravagant. She’s never been an extravagant girl, she wanted a simple ring with her birthstone on it. But Scrooge again thought she deserved more, and got her a huge diamond ring, with a cushion cut and more small diamonds along the band. It wasn’t her. This whole party isn’t her. But she tries to be thankful. Because he’s done so much for her, right? He’s still the boy she fell in love with.
But he’s trying too hard as they dance. He doesn’t even step on her toes, he barely even looks at her as they dance. Only looking at the floor. The boy she once knew would keep his eyes on her at all times, even if it made him stumble. His problem is he wants nothing but the best for her, that he forgets what's best to her.
It was things like that which led to her giving back the ring she tried so hard to love. She just couldn’t. Just like the man he turned into. She tried so hard to see the good in him, to love him. But he couldn't anymore. And she couldn’t let herself suffer anymore.
Now, it’s Christmas Day, and Scrooge has one final stop. He’s reconciled with everyone except the one that terrifies him most. His heart pounding in his chest, the steps he takes are very practiced although it feels like a lifetime ago that he last walked them. The steps to her front door.
He rings the doorbell and hears footsteps from inside the house. There’s a pause as she gets to the door. He remembers how she never opens the door without looking through her peephole. A few moments pass and he knows for sure that she saw him. He debates turning around and going home, but then the door opens. And they stare at each other. She looks at him, confused. Her brown curls streaked with white and grey, and her dark brown eyes tired but the same, her crows feet much more prominent. It’s something he loved about her, something she always had. She smiled so much and it shows. She looks more beautiful than he ever remembered. And he forgets to speak.
“Ebenezer?” She always called him by his first name, and through her lips it sounded wonderful. How he longed to hear her say it again.
“Hi.” He pauses, unsure of what to say. “It's… It’s been a while.”
“It has.” Her guard is up, and he doesn’t blame her. He changed so much, and hurt her even more.
“I’m here to apologize. I… I had an epiphany. I changed. Long ago I changed, and you were so right. And I was too far up my own ass to realize it. I cared about money more than anything, and I stopped paying attention to you. And I am so sorry. You didn’t deserve that. And I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I truly am. The last time we met… When you broke up with me, you asked if we met that day, would you still catch my eye, or would I walk away or pass you by. And I just want you to know, if we met today, I would try so hard to get you to stay. And… And not say goodbye. You were the best thing to ever happen to me. I know you’ve moved on, and I know things will never be as they once were, I fucked up enough to make sure of that. But if you deem me worthy, I would love nothing more than to be your friend, Belle. I truly would.” Scrooge is sobbing, and snotty, holding onto the railing of her steps up to the door to make sure he doesn’t fall. This is the least attractive thing he could ever do, and it makes her heart swell. To do this, apologize, cry, really cry, in front of her like this, only the boy she met long ago would do this. Not the man she left.
She steps out of her house, towards him. “It will take more than this to get me to forgive you. Ebenezer Scrooge.” He nods, knowing that he doesn’t even deserve that, however not able to stop the sinking feeling in his chest that comes from hearing that. And then she cups his face, not even caring that it’s drenched from tears. “But its a start.” And she smiles. And it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. Her name truly fits her.
“Thank you, Belle. Thank you. I promise you won’t regret this.” He can hardly stop himself from cheering. “I…. Thank you.” He calms down as he stares into her eyes once more. “I’m throwing a New Years Eve party for the whole town! Free entry, food, drinks, you name it.” He nearly yells of excitement. He falls down the steps as he says this, distracted by her and his happiness. He gets up and brushes the snow off of him as she laughs. His heart aches the same way his bones do when he finally lies in bed after a long day. It sounds like relief, it sounds like home. “I hope to see you there.” And she just smiles at him, shaking her head playfully. And closes the door. She waves at him through the window, and blows him a kiss. He pretends to catch it, and puts it safely in his jacket pocket. He gives it a few pats for good measure to keep it safe.
Eventually New Years rolls around, and Scrooge throws the best party. Everyone is still shocked at his change, but they’ve welcomed it. And when Belle shows up that night, Fred encourages Scrooge to dance with her, and they do. And it is just as clumsy and awkward as the night they met. And it’s perfect.