Rumpelstiltskin's head lay on his wife's breast. She was sleeping, far gone in dream land. He had stayed up to listen to the music of her heart beat in his ear. His Belle, his wonderful Belle who was alive and well and in his bed. She'd been back two months and he knew he'd never tire of hearing her heart beating. He'd thought her dead for far too long to take something as simple as her heartbeat for granted. Belle shifted in her sleep and put a hand on his back,
"Rum, what are you doing?" she mumbled. He kissed her bare breast,
"Listening, dearie. Your heartbeat is so strong. It's nice to hear." He said honestly. Belle grinned lazily,
"It better be strong. It's beating for two." Rumpelstiltskin's eyes flew open. He slowly lifted his head to look Belle in the eye.
"It's beating…for two?" he asked hoarsely. Belle nodded with her eyes closed.
"Or three. I'm not sure." She yawned. Rumpelstiltskin coughed,
"Three?" His eyes bulged out of their sockets. Belle seemed utterly unaware of the importance of what she was saying. Rumpelstiltskin quickly decided she must be sleep-talking. The possibility of it being true was just too good to be true, and too terrifying to contemplate. He laid down on the soft breast he'd claimed for the night, his thoughts on the future and his beautiful wife's place in it. Belle's eyes cracked open and she sat up a bit,
"Rum? Is that…is that okay?" she whispered.
"Three?" he whispered. He knew Belle heard him.
"Three. I'm not sure, but it just feels… different."
"Are…are you even sure you are?"
"What? Pregnant?" She chuckled softly, "Rum, do you not remember the first night I was back? At all?" He blushed a bit at that. He most definitely remembered the night Belle had brought his every fantasy to life.
"I remember, but aren't I… a bit old for that?" he said softly. Belle pulled his face up to her. She kissed his brow, his nose, his lips. Her smile blinded him,
"Never." And now her smile dimmed and her teeth worried her lip, "But you didn't answer my question. Is this…"she made a gesture at her belly, "okay? It's really unexpected, I know, but…I really really want this." There were tears pricking in her eyes. Rumpelstiltskin froze for a moment, attempting to process what Belle had just said,
"You think I don't want children?" he asked. The frightened look in Belle's eyes told him everything. He couldn't help it. Rumpelstiltskin laughed, a boom sound that shook the room. He stood and picked up his beautiful Belle, swinging her around in his arms and laughing. She laughed with him,
"We're having a baby!" he shouted.
"Two." Said Belle. Rumpelstiltskin slowly lowered his wife.
"Two." He stated. Belle nodded,
"Maybe. I just…I have a feeling." She said. Rumpelstiltskin wrapped his arms around her,
"And I'm inclined to agree. After all, Mother knows best." Belle giggled at the title and pressed her soft lips to his. Rumpelstiltskin happily returned her kiss. She pulled back and slowly turned, pressing her back to his bare chest. Rumpelstiltskin wrapped his arms around her, both his hands coming to rest on her belly. He nuzzled into her neck and whispered,
"Mother knows best."