I do not own ABC's Once Upon A Time. If I did, do you think I'd be writing fanfiction? Really?

Much thankfulness and praise to DjinniFires for her awesome beta job.

This story takes place after the death of Bae but before Elsa's arrival.

Chapter 2

June 15

Belle, all smiles and glory, walked over to the registration desk and signed in. Her husband, trailing along reluctantly, looked around the office feeling utterly out of place. He guided Belle to a small settee where they could wait together.

Gold casually surveyed the room, where three young couples waited. The women were seemingly engrossed in baby magazines, their bellies in various stages of pregnancy. He looked at Belle and wondered for the thousandth time that day if her tiny size would cause her trouble as her belly grew with their child.

As he watched the six young people, another worry struck him. These women and their husbands were so young. And here he sat, an old man nearly twice Belle's age, fathering a child. Hell, he was nearly three hundred and fifty years old. Would his age adversely affect the baby? Would it cause added complications to her pregnancy? The unflappable Mr. Gold began to sweat.

Belle picked up one of the baby magazines and began to thumb through, stopping to show her husband something from time to time. All around the small waiting area, eyes were popping out of sockets. The news that Mr. and Mrs. Gold were at the OB-GYN office would be all over town by sundown. No, the news would be all over town within seconds, he thought sourly as he witnessed all three women drop their magazine and begin texting frantically.

Before long, their names were called, and a nurse ushered them into an examination room. The nurse took their basic information, asked Belle to disrobe and put on an exam gown, and left.

"What's the matter, Belle?" Gold asked when he saw the distraught look on her face.

Belle held up the examination gown in a balled fist. "I just can't put this on," she whispered. "I wore one just like it for twenty-eight years. I never want to even see one again."

He took the gown from her. "I know, my darling," he crooned. "And the next time we visit the doctor, we'll bring your own night gown to change into. In fact, when we leave here, we'll go shopping. But right now, you need to put this on, so you can be properly examined."

Biting her lower lip, Belle swallowed nervously. Tears stung her eyes. "All right," she replied softly. "Just don't leave me."

With a smile and a sigh, Gold wiped away the tears. "Never," he told her. "Let me help you."

Soon Belle was draped in the much-too-large gown and sitting uncomfortably on the examination table. There was a soft knock at the door, and a rather large woman entered. Her smile was contagious.

"Good morning," she said brightly. "I'm Dr. MaGoose." She shook first Belle's and then Gold's hands. "Now," she began, seating herself on a rolling stool in front of Belle, "let's see what we have."

She flipped through a folder the nurse had left lying on the counter. "Mother: Belle Gold, age twenty-six. Father: Rumplestiltskin Gold, age three hundred fifty." She glanced at Mr. Gold and pushed her glasses back up.

"Give or take," he told her. Then he frowned. "Will that be a problem? My age? Will it cause complications for Belle and the child?"

Dr. MaGoose smiled. "Normally, a man's age would simply mean that it would take much longer to impregnate his partner. However, that doesn't seem to be a problem for you two." She grinned. "So, no, your age shouldn't cause any trouble."

Gold nodded vigorously, much relieved. "What about Belle's size? She's so tiny," he rushed out his worries.

"I wouldn't worry about that either," she told him. "Belle's hips will widen as the child grows, and if there are any problems during delivery, she can always have a caesarian. There's no need to worry just yet. You'll have plenty of time before that trip to the hospital."

"No," Belle interjected vehemently. "I don't want to have my baby at the hospital. I want to have him at home."

Dr. MaGoose frowned. "Well, having a midwife deliver your child at home certainly is an option, but why are you so opposed to the hospital?"

Reaching out to clasp Belle's hand, Mr. Gold answered for her. "During the curse, Belle was kept locked in the mental asylum below the hospital."

MaGoose whistled low. "Regina kept you locked up for nearly thirty years? No wonder you don't want to go back."

Belle lifted her chin. "I've forgiven Regina. She isn't evil anymore," she said simply. "But I will not go back to that place."

"And, earlier she was shot, pushed across the town line, and sent to the hospital. She lost her memories of herself - "

"- And you, and us," Belle added, bestowing a look of pure love on her husband.

MaGoose smiled again. "Okay, no hospital it is. Now, let's get some quick measurements and ultrasounds, so we can see how far along you are. Later we'll be able to tell you the sex of your child."

"Oh, no," Belle cried. "We don't want to know any details! We want everything to be a complete surprise just like back home."

Raising her eyebrows, Dr. MaGoose shoved her glasses back in place. "You don't want to know any details?" She looked at Gold for confirmation.

Gold heaved a sigh and tried to appeal to Belle. "It's not like I couldn't find out the same thing with magic."

"No," Mrs. Gold insisted. "All I want to know is that the baby is healthy and when he is due."

"Mr. Gold?" MaGoose questioned.

Shaking his head, Gold agreed with Belle. "Whatever my wife wants, Dr. MaGoose. I'd be more comfortable knowing everything about her pregnancy. I don't like surprises - "

"Well, I do," Belle insisted. "Oh, Rumple, wouldn't it be more exciting to be surprised? As long as we know he's healthy and when to expect him, that's all we really need, isn't it?"

"Are you sure it's a him?" Dr. MaGoose questioned.

"I'd like to think it's a wee lass," Mr. Gold smiled. "Just like her mother with great big blue eyes."

"A boy," Belle insisted with a laugh. "With your tender brown eyes. Now, see, isn't guessing like this much better than knowing?"

Mr. Gold heaved an exaggerated sigh and turned to Dr. MaGoose. "There's just no way I can deny her anything. Tell us no details. All we need to know is whether our daughter is healthy and when she'll arrive."

Dr. MaGoose shook her head in disagreement. "As you wish, but I think you're making a mistake."