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~ Early Christmas Gifts ~
Keeping a secret from their husbands was not easy for Belle and Marie to do in a small town like Storybrooke but somehow they managed it. Giving the men the excuse that they were doing some 'special Christmas shopping' the two women set off in Belle's van at eight-thirty in the morning and walked into the offices of Ob/Gyn Dr. Jo Farrar twenty minutes before Belle's appointment was scheduled. Marie would be seen after her.
They, along with their friends Snow White, Emma and Regina all wanted to have another baby and shortly before Halloween, they set aside one of their date nights to work on it, every Saturday night after that…and other days of the week if they could find the time. So far none of the women made the joyous announcement but Belle and Marie were both hoping they would be the first.
Until three years ago, Belle was terrified having children would not be possible for her. She suffered from endometriosis most of her life and had been told at one point she could not have a child but fate along with true love's magic made her dream come true and she gave birth to her precious Adriana. She and Rumple had been convinced Adriana would be the last of their children until the naiad Ninia blessed them with the ability to have more children…whenever they wished. Now that Adriana was three they were ready to have another child and this time they longed for another son.
Marie and Archie had also been blessed that day, with the lifespan of a mage that lasted centuries so that the family could have a long, happy life together. The naiad also bestowed the same fertility blessing upon them even though Marie was pregnant with Jonny at the time. They were hoping for a girl but had names picked out for either sex.
"Mrs. Gold?" the nurse called out.
"Good luck," Marie whispered and squeezed her hand.
"You too."
Belle made the appointment telling the staff she had concerns her endometriosis was reoccurring and since her husband was showing no signs of Couvade syndrome, she worried they would have to keep trying for a baby.
Dr. Jo walked into the exam room and smiled at her patient. "It's good to see you again, Belle. Is Adriana doing well?"
"Yes, although she caused a bit of a ruckus yesterday when she launched a gingerbread man protest," Belle answered with a laugh.
"She did…what?"
"Brought Rumple's gingerbread cookies to life and threw an unholy tantrum and made quite a mess too."
"Sounds like something one of MY kids would do," the doctor chuckled.
"Well she learned her lesson, thank goodness but I don't think that'll be the last of the magical mayhem we'll see from her."
"You mentioned that you've missed your menstral cycle and that you had concerns the endometriosis may have returned."
"I'm worried it has, yes...but...I'm hoping that it's because I'm pregnant again. We've been trying."
"Then why don't we find out if you're right or not."
The hopeful young mother prayed to every deity she knew while the doctor examined her that she would be able to go home and give her husband the wonderful news that they might have another son on the way.
When the doctor finished she smiled at her patient. "Congratuatlions, Belle. You are indeed pregnant."
"I am? I am!" she cried. "H...How long?"
"You said your last period was before your 'date night' and your next period was due after that, which was the one you missed. It looks like Operation: Let's Make a Baby was a success in your case."
"Oh gods...thank you! Thank you so much! I was afraid Ninia's blessing wouldn't work and..."
The doctor's eyebrow arched curiously. "You were given a fertility blessing by Ninia herself?"
"Yes...so was my sister."
"Oh my..." Dr. Jo whispered.
"Dr. Jo, what's wrong?"
"Well ahh...a fertility blessing is about the same as a fertility drug here...Belle...dear...there is the possibility you could be carrying more than one child."
"Twins?"
"Or triplets...or more. Every woman I've known who has been given Ninia's blessing has had multiple births, the most being six at one time."
"Six!" Belle gasped. "We...ahhh...weren't planning on having THAT large of a family..."
"In a few weeks we should know more but I want you to be prepared."
"Rumple's going to be a bit...shocked..."
Then again the sorcerer was learning how to expect the unexpected with his family.
"At first but he loves children and he'll be just as excited as you'll be for their arrival."
Belle hugged the physician. "I can't wait to tell him!"
"Then you'd better get going."
"Not until my sister's appointment is over."
Dr. Jo laughed. "May as well send her in."
Marie was reading a book in the waiting room when her sister came out.
"Well...?" she asked anxiously.
"I'm pregnant!" Belle announced.
Marie jumped up and threw her arms around her sister. "That's wonderful, Belle!"
"There's ahhh….something else that you need to know too."
"What?"
"Dr. Jo thinks I may be carrying twins...triplets or more."
Marie's eyes widened. "T...twins? Triplets?!"
"She said that Ninia's blessing is like a fertility drug so that means..."
"Oh my God...that means that I might..!"
"We won't know until you find out. Now get in there!"
Marie was thinking about what her sister said and how her own husband would react if he found out she was carrying more than one child this time. Like Rumple, Archie loved children..and they did discuss having at least two more.
When she finished examining Marie, Dr. Jo smiled at her. "Well Marie, congratulations are in order for you too and it looks like you conceived around the same time Belle did."
"That was the plan...but we worked on it a bit more after that...just in case..." Marie said with a grin.
"Well now you can go home and tell Archie he's going to be a father again...but you'd better warn him there's going to be more than one this time."
"You're sure?"
"I'm surprised Rumple didn't remember that about Ninia's blessing. He must've forgotten it."
Marie hugged her. "I'm still happy even if I do end up having a dozen kids."
"I'll see you all back here soon."
When Marie stepped out into the waiting room, Belle knew just by the expression on her face that she was going to be giving Archie the same wonderful news Rumple would soon be hearing.
Back at the Hopper house Gisella was watching a DVD of the Powerpuff Girls while Jonny sat on the floor building a little old west town with his Legos. His pet garter snake Zach slept beside him and his cricket Mickey sat on his shoulder.
"Can't we watch somethin else?" he complained.
"You're not watchin it. You're playing with your Legos so knock it off!" Gisella grouched.
"Yeah but the Powerpuff Girls are dumb. The Lone Ranger's cool."
"He can't fly, shoot stuff outta his eyes or have ice breath."
"So what if he can't. He can still beat the crap outta any bad guy too!"
"You'd better not be fighting in here," their father said from the doorway.
The two children glanced over at him and started laughing when they saw the flour stains on his apron.
"Daddy, what'd ya do, spill the whole bag on ya?"
"Almost," he chuckled.
"Wha'cha making Daddy?" inquired Jonny.
"Cake rolls."
"Oooh, do a creamsicle one, pleeeaaaase!"
Rumple was sought after for his cookies, Archie for his cake rolls. He made several kinds: red velvet, pumpkin, chocolate, carrot, lemon and creamsickle, popular with the children.
"I did but it's not quite ready yet so hands off."
"You gonna do a gob cake too?"
"Now that your uncle showed me how to make them right, yes."
"Yeah cause your last one was roadkill," teased Gisella.
"That and it had so much sugar in it you two were practically bouncing off the walls and your mother almost put me in the corner!"
"Nah...she just kicks ya outta bed like she did when Zach scared her in the shower, huh Zach?" Jonny asked his pet.
The snake lifted its head for a second or two then went back to sleep. Mickey chirped in Jonny's ear.
"Nah, Zach's not sick, Mickey, just tired."
"He doesn't do anything all day!" Gisella exclaimed.
"Yeah he does!"
"Sella, Jonny...don't start or you know where you're ending up."
"Sorry, Daddy."
"So if Mommy kicked you of bed, Daddy, why was she sleeping down here with you?" Gisella inquired.
Archie grinned. "She called it a compromise."
He went back into the kitchen to see several messages on his phone from Rumple. They'd been talking back and forth all morning about everything they were baking for the upcoming celebrations the family was having both in Storybrooke and back in the Enchanted Forest.
One of the messages included a recipe not for a baked item but Italian style meatballs. He couldn't decipher what one of the instructions was because there random numbers and letters included in it. He laughed and dialed the sorcerer's number.
"Did Adriana steal your phone?" he joked when Rumple answered.
"The little minx is always touching something," his brother-in-law replied. "The other day I found she was playing Cafeland on my phone. I'm lucky she hasn't figured out how to buy cash on it yet."
"She put a bunch of jargon on the meatball recipe."
"Oh dear gods! I'm going to have to put a password on my phone now."
"I had to after Jonny tried to use it to call Sheriff Woody and he ended up calling Regina."
Rumple started laughing. "You're lucky they haven't tried to call Santa yet and ended up calling 911."
"No, but he's anxious to see Santa."
"So is Adriana, and to get her picture taken with him."
"I need to get my rear end down to the mall to pick up Marie's Christmas gift."
"Gods and hells, Hopper! You mean you haven't yet?"
"I want to do something special but I have no idea what. I'm just wondering what she and Belle are doing on this little shopping trip they're on today."
"Oh I tried coaxing it out of Belle but she won't budge an inch."
"Maybe I can get it out of my wife."
"Good luck with that, Archie. Marie's as bad as Belle at keeping her mouth shut."
"She may change her mind...if I tempt her with my red velvet cake roll."
Rumple giggled mischievously. "You have been taking lessons off me...appeal to her sweet tooth...it does work."
"And I have a mini cake roll set aside for it..."
"I've had my eye on a new cookware set but I don't dare buy it in case Belle already did or she'll be taking the broom to my arse!"
"There's a new recliner I was looking at for my office but I don't dare buy it or I'll have a date with the couch...again."
"You never did tell me what happened with that, just why you got put there."
"Oh after I got Zach out of the shower and gave my son a talking to about being responsible when owning a pet she had the blanket and pillow in her hands..."
"...You, Archibald Hopper, have a date with the couch tonight!"
"What?! What did I do?"
"You were the one who talked me into letting that…that…thing in our house. Where is it going to end up next? In our bed!?"
"I had a talk with him about that and he's promised me it won't get loose again."
"You're still going on the couch tonight, mister. That damned thing scared me half to death."
"Marie darling, be reasonable."
"Out! Or it's a week, cricket!"
"Damned stubborn woman! I'll give you half the night…half the night and you'll want me back in bed," he challenged.
She crossed her arms over her breasts and glared at him. "Oh, is that so? I slept alone a long time before you came along so don't think I can do it again!"
"You hate going to bed angry as much as I do," he argued. "All right my goddess, if that's the way you want to play it, fine. But you'll want me back in bed before the night's over…"
"And...did she?" Rumple inquired.
"I was already asleep when she came downstairs and told me she missed me."
Rumple laughed. "So you got back in bed after all."
"No, she slept down here with me...called it a compromise."
"Oh I doubt Belle would compromise...when I'm on the couch...it'll be for the whole night and if she's in quite a snit...longer."
Archie's phone beeped.
"Was that you resending the recipe?"
"Yes...and my wife just walked in the door. Let's see if one of my Golden Delights can tempt her into giving me some hints about what she's been shopping for."
Archie laughed. "Good luck!"
Rumple pulled his apron off and hung it on the hook in the closet. "Did your shopping trip go well, dearie? I don't see any bags or did you hide them in the car."
Belle smiled. "I didn't go shopping today, Rumple."
"Oh? Then why did you tell me…"
She pressed her fingers to his lips. "I hated not telling you the real reason but I had to…in case…in case I was wrong."
Wrong about what? he thought.
"Then where did you go?" he inquired softly.
"Dr. Jo's office."
"Belle….sweetheart…." he whispered, praying she was about to give him the news he'd been waiting to hear since their date night. She was having none of the signs of pregnancy and neither was he which was odd considering they were bonded but Dr. Jo did tell them every pregnancy was different when she was carrying Adriana.
She wrapped her arms around him, her eyes meeting his. "Rumple, darling….you're going to be a father….again."
He picked her up and spun her around. "Ah, mo chroi this is the best news ye coulda given me! We're gonna have our little lad or our bonnie lass!"
"Ummm..Rumple…Dr. Jo told me that when a couple is given Ninia's blessing….there's a chance we could have more than one child this time."
His eyes widened with shock. "Twins? Are ye carrying twins, sweetheart?"
"We'll know more soon. I know we talked about having one more."
"It doesna matter how many ye're giving me my sweetheart. Ye could give me a dozen lads an' lasses and I'd still be the happiest man in all the realms!" he exclaimed and kissed her.
"I love you, Rumple."
"And I love you, mo chroi! How long? I didn't sense anything."
She smiled. "Looks like our little relaxation time in the hot tub worked a little magic of its own, darling."
"Ye've suspected all this time and didn't tell me?"
"I wanted to believe it was true…but we were disappointed so many times before Adriana…"
"Aye, we were."
To him, this was the best Christmas gift she could give him, even if the announcement was before the holiday and their babies wouldn't arrive until sometime after. He placed his hand on her still flat abdomen until it glowed with a bright white light.
"Can you feel them, Rumple?"
His eyes brimmed with tears. "Aye, I can…three, my sweetheart."
"T…Three? I'm carrying triplets?"
And he suspected they would all be as powerful as their sister, a true love baby herself but their abilities would be unique. Their home was going to be quite chaotic with four magical children in it but he could handle that. The life he had now was far better than the one he lived while he was under the curse of the Dark One: unloved, feared and the only child he believed he would ever have was Bae. At the time Bae was pulling away from him thinking his father never had time for him anymore. The beautiful woman who came into their lives at its darkest time brought with her the hope that they could be a family again and now they were and he never wasted a moment with them.
His arm around her shoulders, they went into the den to tell their son and daughter the good news.
Bae was on the floor playing with Major and Adriana was watching Beauty and the Beast, the Enchanted Christmas, trying to sing "As Long As There's Christmas' with Belle on the screen.
Rumple picked up the remote and paused the movie. Adriana turned to him and gave him a Look.
"Now, now, don't start pouting mo astor," Rumple said gently.
"I was watchin' that!" she protested.
"Ye can watch it in a bit. Mommy an I have somethin we need to talk to ye about."
Bae frowned. "Is something wrong?"
No, Belle thought. Everything couldn't be more right.
"Remember how we talked about Papa and me trying to have another brother or sister for you?" Belle asked them.
Bae's eyes lit up. "Mama, are you...?"
"Yes."
"That's great!" he cried, jumping to his feet and throwing his arms around her.
"So where is it?" Adriana demanded. "I don't see it."
"Well...ahhh dearie, we have to wait for them to be born..."
"Wait...whoa...THEM?" Bae gasped.
"You heard yer mama right, lad...we're gonna have three o' them...lads, lassies or a bit o' both."
"Holy shi...crap!"
"M'gonna have three sisters or brothers, Mama?"
"Yes sweetie, you could have three brothers like papa said, three sisters or some could be brothers and some could be sisters."
Adriana beamed. "HAPPY ARMY! Front n' center!" she called out.
The stuffed bears raced down the steps and lined up in front of their excited mistress. "We gonna have a party! I'm gonna have new brothers and sisters!"
The bears jumped up and down and clapped their hands.
"We can't party just yet, Adriana. There's more."
"More, dearie?' Rumple was puzzled. Belle smiled.
"Your aunt Marie is going to be giving you a new cousin...or two."
"Gods and hells! Does Archie know yet?" Rumple exclaimed.
"She should be telling him now."
"Oh man...Uncle Archie's gonna pass out he when finds out Aunt Marie's gonna have a whole brood too!" Bae joked.
"So let's go ta Unca Archie's an we'll have a big party," suggested his sister.
"They'll need some time alone first, dearie...now dinna gie me that look imp. We can party later." Rumple said firmly.
"So...Papa...you ready for this?" Bae teased.
"Aye...it's going to be a bit...hectic with more wee ones in the house so we'll need you and Adriana to help out a bit."
"I can help, Papa!" Adriana cried excitedly.
Rumple and Belle smiled at each other thinking how blessed they were to have two wonderful children. They had their moments when they drove their parents insane but they would never stop loving them and they would love their three new additions just as much.
Twins….or triplets….Marie thought when she pulled into the driveway. She was still reeling from the shock of it but she wasn't as shocked as her husband was going to be or Rumple would be when Belle gave him her news. She walked around the house to the patio door and as soon as she opened it she could hear Chicago's Christmas album playing. Her husband stood at the counter wrapping up the extra cake rolls he baked so that he could freeze them.
There was a small red velvet cake roll set aside on one of the dishes.
"Is that for me?" she murmured.
"That depends…if you tell me what you went shopping for," he proposed with a smile.
"I didn't go shopping. I went to Dr. Jo's office."
The spatula he was holding slipped out of his hand and dropped to the floor.
"Marie….darling…are you…?" he asked hopefully.
She nodded. "I'm pregnant, Archie."
He stepped out from behind the counter and took her in his arms. "I love you," he whispered as he kissed her. "This is the best Christmas gift I could've asked for…"
"I thought I was because I missed….after our date night but we've been so busy getting ready for Christmas that I kept putting going to see her off and I didn't tell you because I didn't want to get your hopes up…"
"And she's sure?"
"Yes…but she's not sure I'm only having one."
"W…what?" he gasped.
"Ninia's blessing…..every couple who's been given it…has had more than one child at a time."
"She thinks you might be having twins?"
"Or more….does that bother you?"
"I don't care how many we have!" he cried joyfully. "Wait til we tell Sella and Jonny…and Belle and Rumple."
"Belle's giving Rumple the same news right about now."
"You mean…..both of you are expecting?"
"Well…that was the idea of date night….we called it Operation: Let's Make a Baby…"
"We'd better go tell Sella and Jonny."
They went into the living room and turned off the TV.
"Sella, Jonny...you're going to have new brothers...or sisters...or both," Archie announced.
"Yay! Bout time cause if we didn't I was gonna tie the stork to a tree!" Jonny declared.
"Jonny!" his parents exclaimed.
"The stork doesn't bring babies Jonny. Mommy has em in her tummy," Gisella explained.
"Huh? How you gonna fit all of em in there?"
"Well...ahhhh...they're a bit smaller..." Marie stammered, not wanting to know how her daughter found out where babies actually came from. If she were to guess it was probably from that tart Zelena when she used to work at the Foxtrot.
"You're having twins, Mommy?" Gisella asked.
"Maybe more. We're not sure yet, honey...and Auntie Belle is having more babies too."
"Cool! Driana's gonna be happy cause she wants 'nother brother or sister," said Jonny. "So when's ours comin?"
"Not for a while yet, Jonny," his father answered.
"Awwww!"
"Daddy, you're gonna get all pukey again," his daughter reminded him.
"It's worth it," he said softly, meeting his wife's eyes.
Rumple called an hour later to congratulate his in-laws and suggested they all get together to celebrate. Archie invited them over for dinner and when they arrived Rumple announced that Belle was indeed carrying triplets.
"We won't know of what until later," Rumple added then placed his hand on Marie's abdomen. It glowed briefly then vanished. "You're having twins, dearie."
"And we have a lot to celebrate," Belle said softly. Rumple conjured a bottle of grape juice and some glasses and together the Golds and the Hoppers celebrated the anticipated arrivals of their little bundles of joy...all five of them.
A/N: Any guesses on what Belle and Marie are gonna have? What do you think?
