9 months later…
The dark castle was quiet, quieter than usual. A few moments before, the master bedroom was filled with screams of agony and heavy breathing, then was silenced and replaced with the cries of a newborn child.
Now, in the master bedroom Rumple held his sleeping wife, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead with a cloth. He glanced over at their new daughter, sleeping peacefully in the bassinet beside them. Finn was sleeping soundly beside his mother, clinging to her like a frightful puppy. Unfortunately the boy could hear his mother's screams and it frightened him. Rumple had never seen him so scared; he had to leave Belle to the nurse to go calm him down.
He used a spell to soothe his son and explained to him clearly what was happening. It was a good thing Bae had arrived just in time to keep Finn calm. Rumple left Finn in the arms of his older brother, and returned to stand by his wife. Rumple reached over and patted his youngest son's head, being extra careful not to waken Belle. Bae was sleeping at the foot of the bed; his green hood shielding his face.
Rumple could not sleep, how could he? His whole family, everything he had in his life was sleeping soundly in this room. How could he look away from an image that only appeared in his dreams? His heart was warm, the pride swelled within him. He wanted this moment to last forever, but he was tired. With a smile on his face, he drifted off to sleep, anticipating the joys of the long life he still had left.
END