Belle thinks the word monster is an ambiguous word. For she's read of monsters that devour their prey without mercy, destroy whole cities within a blink. She has read of monsters that are simply people with troubled lives and ones' who have just lost the kindness within them. She has never allowed herself to be frightened of the latter because they have a heart – they're all just here living and breathing, trying to survive, like she once was.
Many people think her naïve, but it kept her heart embedded in kindness.
Rumplestiltskin… oh that man. He had his own personal monsters that he couldn't concur. She knew that he always tried; and if not for himself he always tried for her.
He needed faith in consistency, just like the next person – if not a little more. She vowed to hear heart a long time ago that she would always be his consistency.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," Archie said with tears welling in his green eyes. Belle could feel her heart tight in her throat as her own tears swam in her eyes.
Archie left the pair to kiss passionately in the silence of the forest. Her husband was, for once, not withholding passion from her. She had become his sparkling rose – his very own kissable chipped cup.
"Belle…" he whispered softly against her red lips.
She pulled back and shifted her gaze to look into his brown eyes, dark with need, and hummed an inquiry to him – her lips buzzing pleasantly with the sensation.
Rumple pulled a hand up, the one that usually rested atop his cane, and carded a hand through her locks. "Sweetheart…" escaped his lips in a whisper, much like it had the day she came out of the curses hold. "You're finally mine to have and to hold."
"I always have been you absurd man," she replied – leaning up on her tippy toes to peck his nose.
His nose wrinkled under the pressure and he followed her mouth back down to claim it when she was once again on her feet. A few moments of spice flavored kisses progressed between the newlyweds before Rumple pulled away to nestle his face in the crook of her neck; breathing deeply and feeling her pulse beat in time with his own fluttering heartbeat.
"We should go to the coronation ceremony. It would be bad form to not attend," Belle said – raking her fingers through his soft hair.
"What would I do be without your well-versed rationality?" He inquired, leaning back to smile widely at her.
Belle turned suddenly serious and honest. "You'd be a good man still, Mr. Gold," she replied with a small curtsey – pulling back from his grasp.
"Ah, but never better than I am with you, Mrs. Gold," he answered with a bow.
Belle giggled at their absurdity as he grasped her hand to head back into the forest to Granny's. They didn't talk much, but then again they never needed to use too many words for expression. Belle never pushed him; just as well, he never harshly mocked her or thought her naïve.
As they reached Granny's Belle quickly wrapped her arms around his lean waist and giggled into his back. The smile Rumple wore when they entered did not go amiss to everyone in the diner, but it was not their time so he simply waved the strange looks off in favor of pulling Belle's chair out for her. He stood behind it, leaning to rest his chin on Belle's head when Charming stood to speak.
The minute the Charmings' son was named, Belle knew she would turn to see a humbled look on her husbands face. He was a master of disguise unless it came to very few things that graced his life and shook him to the core. His son was one such graceful peace in his life, despite recent events.
Rumple kissed her on the forehead and walked cautiously to the couple holding their newborn – expressing his gratitude. Belle smiled, biting her finger, as she realized he'd lost the cane. He was changing and she would reap the benefits of a man she'd still wait forever for.
"Let me see that ring!" A shrill voice said, stirring her from her thoughts.
Belle startled, but soon smiled – lifting her left hand to her best friend Red. "Sh! It only just happened. We didn't want anything big."
Red swatted her hand after thoroughly inspecting the ring. Her glare soon broke into a smile as she leaped into Belle's lap, hugging her to pieces. "The only woman who can tame the beast."
The two sat talking for long moments simply chatting about Belle's new life and what she intended to do. After all, Rumple had been gone for so long. She informed Red of the fact that she intended to blatantly tell Rumple she'd refuse to stop working in the library; which he'd seemingly kept closed until Belle had returned.
"Could I trouble you for my wife?" A stern voice inquired behind them.
Red turned to face Rumple after giving Belle a 'brace yourself' look before she leapt up and gave the cunning man who found his heart a giant hug. And to everyone's surprise, including Belle, he returned her hug in kind. She bounded off so he could help Belle from her seat and the two met only a few congratulations before departing.
Rumple's car was waiting for them on the side of the street and Belle mused that it was either magic or Archie that brought it to them, either way she was thankful for the chance to be able to get off her feet.
"So I think it goes without saying that you told Red?" Rumple asked after he climbed into the car next to her, offering his hand.
"Well I had to tell someone," she replied with mock defense.
"Simply chiding you, dearie," he said – chuckling. "Where did you stay in my… absence?"
Belle gave an embarrassed laugh before turning to face the window as she answered, "in the house. I thought… well I didn't think, but I figured… I couldn't be away from all of you. It stopped me from missing you so much."
"Belle, I wouldn't have wanted you anywhere else." Rumple replied with such conviction in his voice that she turned to watch as he continued down the long driveway to their house. She only spoke when he turned the car off and turned fully to her.
"I remember when you would leave the castle for days at a time and I'd go to the Great Room just to read and I felt closer to you. Being here alone was a bit like that for me; I just wanted to be close."
"You'll never have to experience being alone again, my darling." And as he says it his hand lifts to trace her cheekbones, flushed with cold. "Shall we go in?"
It's barely a whisper, but she catches it and nods. She thinks it's funny that she doesn't dare open her side of the car because he's an abled man; hell get her door. Her hand is taken with deft fingers when he reaches for her and they climb the stairs to a door that looks completely different to her now.
"This is ours Belle, finally ours."
"And you… you are so deserving," she replies – knowing where his thoughts are as always.
He's not a simple man and she would never try to push him to be so. Rumplestiltskin is complex and dark at times, but he's also the fulgent light that leads her in dark times. The honesty in her vows, of spending her life finding him, she'd do it all over again and for the future.
She's lost in these thoughts as he steadily picks her up into his arms like a child, like his bride, and she buries her face into the scruff he has yet to fully shave. The house automatically brightens when they enter and she knows it is magic, but good magic – light.
She remains in his arms even as he shuts the door with his foot. It's only when she leans to face him that it really dawns on her; she is his bride. Her blue eyes widen, but close shortly after he presses his lips to hers. His tongue skims adeptly between her lips, begging the entrance to taste her.
A moan escapes her as they part to him, his mouth opening to her as well. She thinks he tastes of cinnamon and smoke, but inwardly she knows it's the magic coursing through his veins. He is omnipotent in his deals and agreements, but weak to her in his heart. She was never just his caretaker. She was a reason to stop being alone. And she has never been so sure in her life…
A/N: Smut to be had in the next chapter, which I am currently writing. For all my o.g. fans out there... I needed a way back into writing again. I think it has sparked!
