Gideon Gold's third birthday was quite the affair. There was cake and balloons and more presents than young Gideon could ever hope to unwrap in one afternoon. It was also attended by princesses, wizards, fairies and even a knight.

Belle was grateful for every birthday she got to celebrate with her son. It wasn't long ago she was afraid she'd missed out on every milestone. But after the Black Fairy had been defeated and Gideon had been reverted back to an infant following his misguided crusade against Emma Swan, she'd set about making every major moment of her son's childhood a memorable one.

And birthdays, well, birthdays were the biggest moments of all.

For Gideon's first birthday, she'd rented out the whole of Granny's diner and invited half the town. For his second birthday, she'd hired a train to take the children all through town. Gideon had gotten his own conductor's hat and sat up front pulling the horn. And this year, Rumple's backyard had been turned in to a menagerie. There were goats, and ponies, and chickens, and even a unicorn Rumple had managed to somehow smuggle in from the Enchanted Forest. Gideon was still clamoring for a dragon and she'd arranged for Mal to make a fly by later in the afternoon.

Birthdays were Belle's specialty, if she said so herself. And this year was no exception.

"They seem to be having fun," Rumple said, approaching her beside the drinks table and pouring himself some punch. Granny had been a little heavy handed when adding the rum to the adult beverage and Rumple pulled a face at his first sip.

"Yeah," she chuckled, watching as Gideon and Neal Nolan were led around the yard on ponies, their chubby little legs swinging, too short to reach the stirrups. All the children in town seemed to be in attendance, even little Robyn Mills who'd been brought by her Aunt Regina. Everyone knew Zelena would never be welcome in Rumple's home, though her daughter certainly was. "Can you believe he's already three?"

Rumple sighed. "It has flown by hasn't it?"

Belle turned to look at her ex-husband. He'd kept his hair short for years now but it still somehow took her by surprise. It suited him, the shorter hair. It made his face more open and highlighted his eyes. He couldn't just hide behind his fringe anymore when he didn't want to talk to her. But the haircut symbolized something to her. He wasn't her Rumple anymore. The longhaired Rumple had been her husband, the shorthaired Rumple was her ex, her co-parent, her friend if she really thought about it.

Something in her ached at the thought, as it always did. But it was for the best. The past three years, raising Gideon together without being in a relationship, had been the smoothest they'd ever gotten on. The fights were minimal, the catastrophe's limited. She'd once told him that their being together only ever led to heartbreak. But apparently their being friends, albeit awkward ones, led to calm skies.

"Mama!" Gideon called from the back of his pony, waving at them. "Papa! Look at me!"

"You're doing wonderfully, Gid!" Rumple called back. "We should get photos," he said to Belle before darting back toward the house for the camera, leaving her standing alone.

She wandered over to where Snow, David and Regina were congregated, attempting to lose herself in conversation with the others and trying to push away the uncomfortable thought that had taken root in the back of her mind.

Time was moving quickly. Perhaps not as fast as in the realm of the Black Fairy where Gideon had first grown up. But this world moved quickly as well. Gideon was already three. Soon he'd be starting school. A scant 15 years and he'd be off to college. Where would that leave her and Rumple? Right now they split custody 50/50, dropping off Gideon and picking him up at the end of every week. They tried to do as much together with the three of them as possible to give Gideon the most stable home life they could. What would happen when that eventually ended?

She and Rumple would always share a child, but he wouldn't always be a child. What would become of their tentative friendship when it was no longer mandatory?

She bit her lip, lost in thought, until she heard her name being called repeatedly.

"Belle!"

"What?" she asked, looking around.

"It's time for cake," Rumple said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She hadn't realized he'd made his way back to the yard. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," she said with a shake of her head. "Just spaced out for a moment. Let's round up Gideon and blow out candles."

It was typical to have such thoughts as you watched your child grown older, wasn't it? She was just experiencing the perfectly normal growing pains all parents went through. Gideon was still her baby, and he would be for a long time.

But the thoughts didn't leave her after Gideon's birthday party. Belle always knew she wanted more children. The traumatic circumstances of Gideon's birth had put her off the idea for a time, but three years later and those memories had started to fade only to be replaced with new ones, of holding her baby and rocking him to sleep at night, of seeing his gummy smile first thing in the mornings, of hearing him say Mama for the first time. She'd missed out on a normal pregnancy and she was keen to experience that as well. And she wanted Gideon to have a big family. She wanted him to have siblings to play with, something that had been lacking from her own childhood. Belle wanted another child.

The only problem was you needed two people to make a baby, and Belle was certainly in no place for that.

Her luck in the dating department had been all but nonexistent since she'd split with Rumple. She was certain having the Dark One as her ex-husband and father of her child didn't do her any favors, but it wasn't just that. There'd hardly been time. And Storybrooke was a small town. There were only so many eligible people and few of them seemed keen on her or vice versa.

But, she supposed, in this modern world it wasn't exactly necessary to have a partner to have a baby. Women did it all on their own all the time.

It was another two months before she pursued that line of thought further and the morning she found herself sitting alone in the waiting room of a fertility specialist, she almost chickened out and ran away.

Instead she was led into a beige office covered in photographs of beautiful, smiling families and handed a binder filled with different sperm donors, separated out by appearance, ethnicity, level of education and medical history.

After the fourth blond haired, piano playing, lawyer, Belle slammed the binder closed and left.

She was an idiot for thinking that would work. The idea of carrying the child of someone she'd never even met was utterly bizarre. The specialist had even told her it was easier and cheaper to use a donor she knew. But there was only one possible person Belle could think to ask and that was definitely not happening.

She couldn't possibly.

Right?

It would be completely absurd to ask her ex-husband to provide her with a sperm sample so she could be artificially inseminated. She couldn't even think it without blushing like mad. It would be even more ridiculous considering they'd already made a child, without even trying, the old fashioned way. Why bother going to the expense of a middleman when they knew they could get along just fine without one?

Belle dropped her head into her hands at that thought. She was actively losing her mind if she thought propositioning Rumple would be a better plan than asking him to please ejaculate into a cup for her later use.

A manic bubble of laughter escaped her lips as she made her way up the front drive of Rumple's pink house to pick up Gideon for the week. What they had between them now was comfortable and civil, if not overly friendly. It worked for them. To ask him to do this for her would upset the delicate balance they had cultivated. And she couldn't upset the balance when Gideon was in the middle. They both valued their son's happiness far too much for that.

With that decision made, she rang the doorbell, hearing the pitter-patter of little feet before the door was thrown open and Gideon launched himself into her arms.

"Hi, Mama!" he said, wrapping his arms around her neck. Rumple was right behind him, toting Gideon's little duffle bag and smiling at the sight of mother and child.

"This should be everything," he said, handing the bag off to Belle. "Be a good boy for Mummy, Gid."

Rumple helped Belle get Gideon into his car seat and kissed the little boy's forehead, telling him how much he loved him, before waving them off.

Belle watched him in the rearview mirror as she drove off down the street until he eventually turned and headed back inside. He loved Gideon so much. He was sure to be just as good to any other child they had.

"Did you have fun with Papa this week?" Belle asked her son, watching his little face in the mirror.

"Yep!" Gideon agreed. "Papa is funny. He makes silly voices."

Belle couldn't help but laugh. "He certainly is good at that, isn't he?"

By the time they'd reached Belle's little house a few streets away Gideon had told her in detail about everything he and his Papa had done that week and Belle was more convinced than ever that there was no one she'd rather raise a child with. And the process couldn't be less romantic. There was no reason their relationship should have to change in any drastic way. It wasn't as if they'd actually need to be intimate to have this child. All she needed from Rumple was his sperm.

Now, if only she could think of a way to actually ask Rumple for his help.

It was simultaneously the best and worst time of his week when Belle would come to pick up Gideon. It was the best because it was the one time he was guaranteed to see both his ex-wife and child together at the same time. It was the worst because they would then drive off together, leaving him utterly alone.

The weeks Gideon spent with his mother were always harder. Rumple felt his loneliness keenly when there was no toddler running wild through his house, his giggles reverberating off the walls. He knew he should be grateful. Belle had graciously allowed him to be a part of Gideon's life in spite of everything. They split custody, he was involved in all major decisions, got to spend every holiday with them. When Belle was pregnant with Gideon all that had seemed a pipe dream. After Gideon had been kidnapped by his grandmother and returned them already an adult, he thought he'd lost out on another child's life completely.

But now he had his son back and he even still had Belle in his life. After everything he'd done to her, it was amazing her capacity for forgiveness hadn't been completely wrung dry. But he still found himself wanting more.

He didn't let that on to Belle, of course. She had been very clear that they were co-parents only. That alone was more than he deserved. They would never again embark on a romantic relationship and he respected that.

But Gods he still loved her. Especially when she was lost in thought, chewing on her lip with that adorable frown line creasing between her eyebrows, as she was currently.

Belle was just outside his shop, pacing back and forth with a paper coffee cup in each hand. It looked as though she was talking to herself. He walked closer to the window, glancing around at the otherwise empty sidewalk. She was definitely talking to herself.

He watched for another long moment. It almost seemed like she was rehearsing something she wanted to say, stopping and bouncing on the balls of her feet as she expressed a point. He couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. Sometimes she was too damned adorable.

"Belle?" he asked, finally opening the door to the shop and poking his head out. "Are you alright?"

Belle's cheeks had gone bright red, her eyes wide, as though he'd just caught her doing something terribly embarrassing.

"I brought coffee," she exclaimed, thrusting one cup in his direction. He took it from her slightly trembling hand before moving back out of the doorway and holding the door open wide.

"Would you like to come in?" he asked. Belle nodded and followed him inside, walking up to the counter.

She placed her cup on the glass surface of the display case, staring down at it as though it held the mysteries of the universe.

"Is everything alright with Gideon?" he asked, taking a sip of the coffee. It was piping hot and Belle had already sweetened it with just the right amount of sugar.

"Oh, yeah, he's fine," she said with a wave of her hand. "I dropped him off at Snow's for a play date with Neal."

They stood there drinking their coffee in silence for a moment before Rumple had to ask.

"Was there something you needed then?"

It wasn't that he didn't enjoy Belle's company. He loved the moments he got to spend with her. But they generally centered around their child. It was rare for them to spend time together without Gideon, and if they did, it was to specifically talk about Gideon.

"I was hoping to talk to you about something," she said, fidgeting with her cup. He didn't think he'd ever seen Belle so nervous. It was starting to make him nervous. If Belle was this unsettled, she was surely about to drop something big on him. His traitorous imagination started to run away with him. What if she wanted to move? Take Gideon far away from Storybrooke and him? What if she was getting remarried? He hadn't heard anything about her dating anyone but that didn't mean she hadn't been. He didn't have any hope for he and Belle ever being anything more than civil co-parents to Gideon, but to know for sure that she'd moved on would hurt. He'd try to be happy for her, but God would it hurt.

"Of course," he managed, trying to school his features into something neutral and less like his world was about to come crashing down around him. "Wh-what did you need to talk about?"

Belle shuffled her feet, biting her lip in that way she always did when uncertain about something. This was going to be worse than he feared.

"I want to have another baby," she said in a rush.

Rumple just stood there in stunned silence. He knew this day would come eventually. He knew Belle would meet someone else, find love again, even have more children. She was still so young and beautiful and good.

He set his coffee cup down on the counter, the drink suddenly bitter on his tongue.

"I didn't realize you were seeing anyone," he said, hating the way his voice cracked over the words. They'd never discussed their personal lives with each other. He had nothing to share and he always assumed she was sparing his feelings. Belle couldn't have been consistently single for three straight years. It was impossible to think someone hadn't snapped her up the moment their marriage ended. But she'd never rubbed his face in it, never told him about any escapades, and she'd kept it separate from their time with Gideon. He couldn't have asked for more than that.

But now she was talking about adding to her family. She would have a child with someone else. Gideon would have a brother or sister that was completely unrelated to him.

He wasn't prepared for the sick, twisting feeling in his gut. He knew he still loved Belle. He would always love Belle. But he thought he'd made peace with living his life without her. He didn't expect to feel the sick swell of jealousy.

Belle looked adorably flummoxed. "I'm not," she said. "What are you talking about?"

"You said you wanted another baby," he pointed out. "I assume there will be another party involved in the creation of said child."

"Yeah," Belle agreed, shuffling her feet again. "Um, you."

Now he was well and truly at a loss for words. He felt his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. She wanted a child with him?

"Don't worry," Belle exclaimed, holding a hand out toward him. "I'm not suggesting we go have sex right this second or anything."

His eyebrows rose even higher at what a pleasant idea that was.

"I just would need you to go visit Dr. Whale and leave a, um, sample," Belle continued. "It's all very clinical."

She blushed prettily, her eyes staring off over his shoulder and not quite meeting his. He just continued to stare at her, mouth slightly agape.

"Rumple this is unbearably awkward," she said after a long moment. "Would you please say something?"

"Why me?" he managed to gasp out.

Belle's eyes darted back to meet his finally.

"You're Gideon's father," she replied as if that answered everything.

"Exactly," he rebutted, spreading his hands wide. "And look at the heartache that surrounded his birth. Why would you want another child with me?"

"Because I want any other child of mine to be Gideon's full sibling," she said. "Because it wouldn't be fair for this child not to have a loving father. And honestly, I would feel strange carrying anyone else's child. I can't really explain it, but I'd rather carry a part of you around inside me than some stranger."

There was definite appeal to the idea. Some part of him responded strongly to the image of Belle once again pregnant with his child, of everyone knowing it was his. He'd never got to see Belle visibly pregnant with Gideon, thanks to the machinations of the Evil Queen. He'd missed out on that completely. But it would be different this time. Despite all their faults, Gideon had been born from love. A second child would be born from something completely dispassionate and scientific.

"If you don't want a stranger's baby, why not wait until you find someone you do want to have a child with?" he asked. He wasn't sure why he was protesting. He was sure to give in. He could never deny Belle anything she wanted. But somehow it felt wrong to have a child this way.

"Well that's not guaranteed to happen," she said stiffly, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Of course it is," he scoffed. "Belle, look at you. It's a miracle you're not remarried already."

Her eyes widened, looking at him disbelievingly.

"People aren't exactly lining up around the block for a single mother with the Dark One himself as an ex," she snapped. That shut him up. He supposed he was a rather large deterrent. But that hadn't stopped her before.

"We weren't even divorced when you saddled yourself with Will Scarlet," he pointed out childishly.

"Nor when you fucked the Evil Queen," she shot back.

"It never got that far," he protested. "I swear."

"I don't care," Belle answered, throwing her hands up. "Look we're both free to do whatever or whomever we want and have been for a long time. I don't want to fight."

"Nor do I," he agreed. They rarely fought these days. It helped that they never spoke about anything personal. Their conversations revolved around Gideon and since they were in complete agreement in wanting what was best for him, there was no need to argue.

"What exactly would this entail?" he asked. He felt it was best to get all the details before making a decision of this magnitude.

Belle blushed again and it was worth asking the question just to see it. She was so beautiful with her cheeks all flushed. He missed being able to make her blush. Back in the early days of their relationship it had been so delightfully easy, a naughty whisper in her ear would have her whole face aflame.

"Well, like I said, you'd have to go to the doctor's office and provide a sample."

"And how would they procure the sample, Belle?" he asked, watching her turn even more red.

"Couldn't you look this up on the internet?" she pleaded, twisting her hands together.

"I'd rather hear it from you."

"Fine," she said, gritting her teeth. "You would go to the doctor's office, go in to a private room, and…." She paused, searching for the right word.

"Ejaculate," he provided.

"Yes," Belle agreed. "Into a cup provided for you. The doctor would then take your sample and put it in me when I'm ovulating in the hopes that I get pregnant from it. If it doesn't work, they'd try again the next month."

Rumple shook his head slightly.

"So you want me to go and masturbate in an office building so a doctor can impregnate you with the results?"

Belle rolled her eyes, dropping her hands to her sides. "Well when you put it like that it sounds ridiculous."

"It is ridiculous, Belle."

She shook her head, frowning, and he felt a twinge of guilt for making fun of her.

"Sweetheart," he said, the old endearment rolling off his tongue without warning. "I'm your ex-husband. If we didn't have Gideon, you'd have absolutely nothing to do with me and with good reason. Are you sure you even want this?"

"Yes," she said, her spine stiffening as she looked him square in the eye. Whatever awkwardness she'd felt she seemed to have shaken it off. Belle wanted this, and he knew better than to try to change her mind once it was made up. "I want a chance at a nice, normal pregnancy, Rumple. I want to give birth and actually hold my baby afterward. I want to have the chance to breastfeed and really bond with my baby in those first few days like I never got to with Gideon. And time is ticking by, Rumple. We don't all have all the time in the world."

The reminder of his immortality hurt in a way it never had before. Belle was still physically younger than him by years, but that wouldn't always be the case, would it? She was aging, Gideon was growing older, and yet he stayed the same. His gaze dropped to the floorboards beneath their feet, unable to bear the sight of Belle's blue eyes any longer.

"Look," Belle sighed, stepping closer to him. "Obviously you can say no if you don't want this or it makes you uncomfortable, but will you at least think about it? We've done a really great job co-parenting Gideon the past three years and I think you're a wonderful father. I want my child to have a father who is involved and will love them the way I know you will."

He nodded, still not looking up from the spot on the floor. "I'll think about it."

The tips of Belle's high-heeled ankle booties invaded his line of sight as she stepped even closer, reaching out a hand to squeeze his arm.

"Thank you, Rumple," she said. "Take all the time you need."

He nodded again and listened to the click of her heels on the hardwood as she walked away. A jingle of the bell on the front door and she was gone.

He finally looked up, watching Belle's retreating back through the window as she crossed the street to the library.

So Belle wanted to have a child with him.

He indulged himself for a moment, imagining a tiny baby girl with Belle's eyes. He imagined watching Belle's stomach grow rounder day by day, of sitting beside her in the hospital, of holding her hand when it came time to push. He'd missed both Baelfire and Gideon's births. He hadn't been present to support either of their mothers. He'd missed seeing their first breaths, of holding them on the day they were born. He imagined pouring over baby names with Belle, of coming up with one that suited their child together.

And then he thought of Belle doing all of that with some other faceless man, that jealous feeling churning in his stomach and making him want to throw up his breakfast.

There was only one way to answer Belle's request.

Before he knew it, he was digging in his jacket pocket for his cell phone, flipping it open and punching in Belle's number.

"Hey," she said breathlessly, paused just outside the library door where he could still see her through the shop windows.

"Okay," he said. "I'll do it."

Even from across the street he could see her brilliant smile. And in that moment, even though he was not literally going to be fucked, he knew he was so fucked.