Author's Note: This is my very first time publishing my work, so please be easy on me. Updates will come whenever I have time and proper motivation. Reviews and ideas are very welcomed. Please enjoy this chapter as thoroughly as possible.
Chapter 1: 'Til Death Do Us Part
Belle quietly cleans around Rumplestiltskin's shop, dusting off the shelves that had not been cleaned since the man's death approximately two years ago. After the darkness was torn from him, he was in a deep coma for several months until he slowly passed away. Belle felt like her whole world had ended and the shop had been abandoned since then. She was certainly not able to bear the painful memories it held, but she knew she had to in order to let go completely. She had already moved on and found a happy ending with someone else, but there were just so many things there that were very sentimental to her.
Someone soon decides to sneak through the door, very lightly shutting it as to not elicit a jingling sound. Belle was now in the back of the shop organizing things, not even noticing that someone had entered. The person hears movement coming from the back and slowly begins to step towards the entrance. They knew exactly who it was. A smirk appears across the person's face as they approach closer, taking a gentle step at a time as to not let Belle know they were there. When they reached the room, the brown haired woman had her back to them. She was stacking some old books that Rumple had kept from his old castle library. The person then steps behind her and quickly grabs her hips, making Belle jump and turn around in a frightful gasp.
"Oh, Regina!" Belle laughs loudly and playfully slaps her arm. "You scared the living jeepers out of me!" the young woman exclaims.
Regina teasingly chuckles and softly wraps her arms around her waist. "Sorry, dear. I just couldn't help myself."
"Yeah, and just for that you can help yourself in bed tonight." Belle counters with a spiteful grin curled on her lips.
The brunette poutingly drops her jaw a little. "Oh c'mon, sweetie. You know I was just playing."
Belle soon rolls her eyes and huffs before pulling away from her, returning to her organizing as if nothing happened.
"What, was it something I said?" Regina raises a concerned brow towards her soon-to-be wife.
The young girl sighs more and places the books back on their shelf. "No, Regina. I'm just not in the mood right now."
The older woman furrows her brows in confusion and carefully approaches her. "You've been having an attitude with me all week. Belle, please tell me what's going on."
Regina silently waits for a response and grows more worried when the younger woman doesn't speak after a few moments.
"Belle..?" Regina presses, trying hard not to upset her more.
"Just please, Regina. I cannot handle anything right now, okay?" Belle quickens the pace of her organizing to try and settle herself. Regina watches her and exhales a bit of a shaky breath. She had never acted this way towards her since Rumple's death had occurred. The younger woman then continues with her rant.
"I don't even want to be here, but I knew I had to be eventually. Rumple would have wanted me to care for his shop and plus, it was time to move on completely, Regina. For us. For our.." Belle stops cleaning to glance down at her abdomen, tears quickly beginning to slip down her cheeks.
The brunette slacks her jaw as tears also start to pool in her eyes, finally realizing what she should have known all along. She steps over to her fiancé and pulls her closely into her arms as she softly sobs with her.
"Oh, Belle.." Regina breathes, feeling a mixture of guilt and happiness.
The younger girl places her arms tightly around the brunette and rests her head gently on her shoulder, sniffling a little. "I think the potion worked, Gina. I'm finally going to be a mother." She cries happily.
Regina had successfully concocted a fertility potion a few months ago and laced it with her and Belle's DNA. They never knew if it was actually going to work, but they decided to give it a try. She knew she had been cursed from carrying any children, so they decided together that the younger woman would drink the enchanted liquid.
"That explains why you're moodier than a stubborn bull." the brunette lightly giggles with tears still brimming in her eyes. She slowly peppers kisses to Belle's temple and continues to hold her close.
Belle softly laughs with her before pulling her head away to sadly look into her eyes. Her mood was clearly still fickle. "Look at me, Regina. I'm a mess. I've laughed, got mad and cried in the whole fifteen minutes you've been here. I also threw up three times this week."
"Oh, dear.. I'm so sorry. I should have seen the signs and been more understanding." the brunette sighs. "I had no clue that the potion would even work." she explains concernedly as she places her hands gently on her flushed cheeks, swiping her tears and makeup stains away with her thumbs.
"C'mon, my darling. Let's go to Dr. Whale and confirm this." Regina keeps her hands lightly on her cheeks as she leans in to press her lips softly to hers.
Belle returns the kiss and nods a little, soon taking in a deep breath to calm herself. "I apologize in advance for the next five months." She snickers slightly.
The older woman chuckles back a bit and smooths some of her brown curls away from her face. "Don't be, sweetie. This all will be well worth it." She then laces their hands together and begins to lead her out of the shop to see Dr. Whale.