The next morning was a quiet affair. Rumplestiltskin made breakfast, but Belle didn't come down. Rumpel hated himself, but he knew he had done it himself; had caused her to hate him.
Rumplestiltskin was surprised, however, when he returned to the room - theirs, but if she wanted it, it was all hers, he'd give her anything - and saw that Belle was there, sitting in her reading chair. "Belle." he said dumbly, in shock of seeing her so soon after such an awful fight. Grateful, yes, but shocked nonetheless.
"Even magic has its flukes," Belle began shakily, looking down at her still-flat stomach. "And I have never been with anyone but you, Rumplestiltskin, I swear it." she said.
"I knew that," Rumplestiltskin admitted, looking down as well, but at his feet. "I couldn't believe it, but my mind said it was logical." he explained.
"You shouldn't ever listen to your mind, then. Maybe just your heart." Belle suggested, looking up at him hesitantly. "What does it say?" she asked.
"That we're having a baby. And I'm an arse." Rumplestiltskin told her, frankly. It won him a watery laugh, and her arms reaching for him. He went instantly, settling in beside her. The chair he'd gotten her was big enough for two; when you were small as they were.
"You're right, on both counts," Belle whispered. "This baby is yours, as much as mine, and we both are sorry we didn't tell you sooner." she said, looking down at their joined hands.
He squeezed her hand lightly. "I was being distant. It wasn't like I was open to hearing it, dear." he admitted.
"Still… If- If I had told you I suspected, you could have gotten the test. I wouldn't have had to bribe Jaymi with $20 bucks." she laughed a little. "I owe you, by the way." she winked.
"I just- Would you let me see the baby sometimes?" he asked hesitantly, loosening his hold on her.
She tightened it right back. "What do you mean? You'll be here everyday." she said nervously. "Won't you?"
"I thought…." Rumple didn't finish his sentence at her pointed glare.
"You shouldn't think." Belle told him firmly, kissing his nose. "I'm so in love with you, Rumpel. I couldn't even think of leaving you." she vowed.
"I love you too." Rumplestiltskin told her back automatically, in wonder. "I guess I had thought I screwed up; too big to fix this time." he explained.
"I'm already thinking of how you can make it up to me," Belle said with her wolfish grin. "Don't worry."
"Well then, what first my lady?" Rumple asked her with a small smile.
"First, tell me a story while you rub my feet." Belle requested, giggling.
"Of course." Rumplestiltskin smiled back, and eased her foot across his lap to rub.
"Once upon a time.." Belle began for him.
"A beautiful lady met an ugly monster." Rumplestiltskin responded, and Belle's eyes narrowed, but she let him continue. "She was so beautiful; truly radiant, but that wasn't what caught the monster's eye first." he told her.
"What was?" Belle asked, humming from pleasure as his spinner's fingers made quick work of his task.
"The fact that she'd just tried to throw a snowball at him," Rumplestiltskin said with a smirk. He wondered if she remembered that, and the look on her face said she did.
"You weren't supposed to see that." Belle told him in a haughty tone.
"You missed by a mile, darling." Rumplestiltskin said, laughing. "Your aim needs a bit of work."
AUTHOR NOTE: THIS STORY IS AN AU FANFICTION. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CANON COMPLIANT. THERE IS NO BAE. IT'S NOT A CANON FIC! THANKS.