Belle hummed as she mixed the cookie dough. Christmas tunes were playing from the radio and Anna and Catherine were playing outside with Rumpelstiltskin. The smell of the pies she'd baked earlier filled the house and Belle's heart felt so full of happiness it would surely explode. Her children were healthy, her husband happy, and her own life perfect. It was good.

Just then, the back door opened and two snowsuit clad children poured into the kitchen, followed by their laughing father. Belle turned and laughed at their red cheeked faces,

"And what have you all been up to?" she asked, hands going to her hips.

"We were building snowforts-"

"And snowmen-"

"And then Daddy started a snowball fight!" shouted the twins in unison. Belle looked at her husband, who looked back a little sheepishly,

"To be fair, I'm just preparing them for playground experiences." he said, shrugging his shoulders beneath the warm wooly coat and red knit scarf. Belle shook her head and smiled,

"Ruffians, the whole lot of you! And I don't suppose the ruffians want a cup of hot chocolate?" she said, already putting the kettle on the stove. Cheers went up from the children, followed by a growl from Rumpelstiltskin,

"Mommy, I don't know if these rascals deserve hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes." he said, looking at each of his children in turn. They both frowned,

"Daaaaadddddddyyyyyyyy! Please, Mommy?" they said, turning their pleading eyes on Belle. She smiled,

"Of course."

"With marshmallows and candy canes?" asked Anna. Belle shrugged,

"You'll have to ask your father about that one." The girls' heads swiveled to look at Rumpelstiltskin. He made a show of thinking it over, rubbing his fingers across his stubbled chin and tilting his head this way and that. The girls waited with wide eyes and bated breath. At last he gave a melodramatic sigh,

"I suppose with marshmallows and candy canes." The girls cheered and Belle dug out the cocoa, tiny marshmallows, and candy canes. She poured the hot water into four mugs, adding cinnamon to her mug and a splash of something a little stronger to Rumpelstiltskin's. He raised his mug in appreciation, and drank before helping Catherine with her marshmallows as Belle unwrapped the candy canes. Anna was managing just fine with her marshmallows, carefully counting them out so she had exactly nine. Belle smiled as she watched her meticulous daughter. Even now, Anna was incredibly independent for someone her age. The girl's mantra seemed to be 'I can do it,' while Catherine constantly needed help and reassurance. The girls couldn't have been more different, but they truly were two peas in a pod.

Catherine reached across the table and threw one extra marshmallow into Anna's mug, giggling when Anna glared at her. Belle quickly intervened,

"Catherine, that wasn't very nice. Apologize to your sister." Catherine made a face but turned to Anna,

"Sorry for throwing in a marshmallow, Anna."

"I forgive you." The two went back to drinking hot chocolate and giggling. Belle caught Rumpelstiltskin's eye over their daughters' heads and she smiled. He smiled back and mouthed,

"Love you."

Belle blew him a kiss and went back to baking cookies.