A/N-Thanks once again to my beta Woubazoid. And this is for her, a prompt that she sent me.

Belle paced.

The carpet under her feet would be threadbare before long. The apartment above the library had been there for 28 years, and while it was not in the best condition it had at least gotten her through. But at the rate she was going there would be a rut running along the bathroom before long.

These were the longest three minutes of her life.

To spare the carpet she stopped and sank to the floor beside the bathroom door.

Ever since Rumple had come back to town with Baelfire, six months prior, things had been different. They had been better. With his precious son returned to him, it made the former Dark One that much more eager to prove himself to her, to prove that he could be a changed man she thought he could be.

Since he had come back they had been, by the standards of this realm, 'dating'. That had included one enchanted evening at a ball held in City Hall, a fun day playing in the snow, and a beautiful picnic in the woods with her, Bae and Rum.

The alarm in the other room went off. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt as though she was going to drown. "I can't do this," she said out loud. Picking up her cell phone, she called Ruby. Three minutes later the wolf walked through the door.

"Belle? What's wrong? You sounded so panicked on the phone." Ruby bent over to a distraught Belle.

Wordlessly, Belle gestured into the other room. Ruby stood up straight and walked into the other room. "Oh my..."

"I can't look. I really can't Rub, it's why I called you. I don't even know what it says."

Ruby walked out, with it in her hand. "And you need me to tell you?"

Belle looked up, her eyes wide.

"Sweetie, it's positive. You're pregnant." Ruby held out the stick so she could see.

Trembling, Belle took the test from Ruby's outstretched hand. The digital read-out showed, very clearly, 'Pregnant, 3-4 weeks'.

"I'm carrying his child. I have his child," Belle whispered, pressing her hand against her flat stomach.

Ruby smiled, "I'm guessing this is a good thing? Then why were you so nervous?"

"The uncertainty I think. I couldn't deal with not knowing, and I wasn't brave enough to look myself."

"You moved into the Dark One's castle to save your land and you're scared of a pregnancy test?"

Belle huffed and looked at Ruby. "You wouldn't be?"

OoOoOo

Later the same day, Belle was out, walking down the street towards Rumple's store, but taking her time. It was a beautiful spring day in Storybrooke and she was in awe about how much the scenery around her seemed changed.

She noticed all the children running down the road. School had just let out, and they were on their way out to greet their parents. She watched, and for a split second, she saw a 5 year old girl with dark blue eyes and straight dark brown hair. She blinked and the vision vanished. A slow easy smile spread across her face and she sighed.

Or maybe it would be a boy. And Bae would have a brother. She could see them running through the woods, playing hide and seek. Bae would be a good brother to him.

She had already made an appointment with the OBGYN in Storybrooke, for the day after tomorrow. But she wanted to tell Rumple first.

What they had was true love. She knew it, knew it since her kiss had started to break his curse back in his castle. There was no chance that this was just a flight of fancy and they would break up a few months down the line. This child would have both a mother and a father in its life.

She had felt never felt such peace and joy.

Wondering how she would tell Rumplestiltskin the good news, she looked idly into the general store as she walked past, and her eyes lit up as she saw the perfect thing.

OoOoOo

Rumplestiltskin examined the antique Faberge that he had acquired at the estate sale from the town over. The enamel was flawless , a light blue with blush pink hearts all over it, trimmed with silver. It was a couple times larger than a chicken egg, and it opened up into a photo frame with a slot in front of it. It was perfect for his purpose.

The bell over his door rang, and the warm spring air wafted in, accompanied by the slight scent of jasmine. He looked up, and swiftly stuck the Faberge into its velvet lined case as Belle stepped into the back room.

"Hey Rum," she said with a smile. Every day the former Dark One marveled that, while she could have had her pick of men, she had chosen him. He stepped forward, and wrapped his arms around her, leaning in for a kiss.

"Hello dearie. How are you today?"

"Not bad. Had a bit of a stressful morning, but I'm feeling a lot better about it now. Where's Bae?"

"Oh, he's out at Gepetto's. He wants to learn more about the wood working."

"Hmm." Belle leaned onto the counter.

"So why was it so stressful?"

"Oh, I was just waiting on something. Waiting always makes me nervous," Belle smiled. "But I have something for you."

"Oh? And what is that?"

Belle brandished the card she had picked up at the store, with his name on it.

"It's a bit early, but I figured you wanted to spend most of the day with Bae."

Rumplestiltskin picked up the letter opener on his desk and slit the card open.

"Happy Father's Day," he read on the outside. He smiled wryly. "Dearie you didn't have to."

"But I wanted to." Belle smiled as he opened the card and began to read to himself.

Dear daddy. We haven't met yet, but I know that I'm going to love you sooo much. And I know you'll feel the same way about me. And be just as good of a father to me as you are to my big brother. Love, your little one.

Rumple was, in a rare showing, speechless. When he finally found his tongue, his voice was very faint and weak. "Belle," he emphasized the first part of her name like he did when he was being very deliberate in talking to her. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

From her pocket, she pulled the test. "I'm about 4 weeks along. I have a doctor's appointment the day after tomorrow. You can come...if you want..." she was cut off abruptly as he swept her into his arms and twirled her around. She laughed, delighted by his reaction.

"If I want to come? Oh dearie, I'm not going to leave your side!" He pressed a hand to her stomach, and his eyes welled up with tears. "A child..." His voice was filled with wonder.

"Our child," she added happily. She buried her face in his neck. "I can't wait to tell Bae," she whispered.

Rumplestiltskin smiled. "Me either."

A/N-R&R