Chapter 7

Belle had set up a schedule in which each child could spend some time with their father alone to rekindle the bond which has been overdue. In no time at all, the Captain should no longer feel like a stranger towards his own children and he continued to show his gratitude to Belle every chance he could say it.

The first one to get her alone time with the Captain was Mary Margaret, who got very excited when her father said that he would spending his second day back from the Enchanted Forest with her. The Captain had obviously felt extremely guilty for missing out his second to the youngest's birthday and had bought her the pink parasol she wanted so dearly.

"We'll be reviewing their lessons upstairs," said Belle as the Gold children all frowned except for Mary Margaret.

"Do we really have to?" whined David as the other children all flocked out of the living room. "We reviewed math last week. We need a break after that."

"What will it be today Fraulein?" asked Regina, gathering Bae in her arms and carrying him.

"History," replied Belle much to the groans of Killian, Emma and David. "Now, now...that won't be your reaction once I tell you I've asked an expert to hell in your lessons."

Rumple raised an eyebrow her direction as he carried Mary Margaret. "And who might that be, Fraulein?"

"Come now, Rumple," said the voice from the hall as Merlin entered the room. "Surely you're not that old to have become senile."

Rumple glared at his friend as Nimue and Belle smiled. "I'm not sure this is going to be a good idea, Fraulein."

"Why not Captain?" asked Belle, her face falling a little. She thought the Captain would have been enthusiastic about the idea.

"Your guest teacher actually failed history when he was lad," replied Rumple with a broad grin and it was Merlin's turn to glare at his friend as Nimue playfully slapped her fiancee's arm.

"I completely forgot about that," laughed Nimue. "Don't worry Rumple, I'm sure between Belle and I, we can make sure the children actually learn something."

"Hey!" came the protest as Nimue dragged Merlin out of the room while Belle motioned for the children to move as well, leaving the Captain with his youngest daughter.

"So," began Rumple, turning towards his daughter gathered in his arms. "What do you wish to do today Mary Margaret?"

Mary Margaret looked to be in very deep thought and Rumple had to smile at how her face scrunched a little, telling him his daughter was concentrating real hard on what she wanted to do with her father the entire day.

"Papa," began Mary Margaret, a little shy smile on her face. "I remember you used to show me some animals before….could you show me the birds again?"

Rumple smiled. Mary Margaret, out of all his children, was very animal friendly. He did remember taking her to the farthest part of their estate where a lot of bird houses were situated. They had fed some birds and some of them even landed on her hand as she studied them.

"I don't see why not," he replied hugging her tighter. "It's actually just here in our home, Mary Margaret. But before we go, you have to promise me that you won't wander there without an adult in the future ok?"

"Yes, Papa," replied Mary Margaret. "Besides, I'll only go there when I'm with you."

Rumple felt his heart swelled at his youngest daughter's words. "Then let's go see our Barn Swallows."


Belle walked over to open the terrace doors of the children's play room. Behind her, Nimue was the one explaining the events of the recently concluded war, Max adding a few facts here and there.

She stepped out for a few moments to relish the beautiful day when the sound of laughter had her eyes drawn to the grounds of the Gold estate. There was the captain and Mary Margaret feeding the birds that must inhabit the many bird houses Belle had seen around the grounds.

A Barn Swallow was steadily perched on Mary Margaret's shoulder as the little girl slowly offered it some food. The Captain had dropped down to be at Mary Margaret's eye level and seemed to be explaining something to the little girl who giggled.

The Captain continued on talking, Belle tried to concentrate hard to listen but they were too far away to make out any words. The Captain extended his hand and after a few moments, a Barn Swallow had landed on his hand and he slowly brought it over to Mary Margaret. The bird looked to be completely satisfied perched on the Captain's hand, not looking scared or even flying away as the Captain brought it closer for the girl to study.

It looked to Belle that the Captain was instructing the girl how to get the bird to fly to her own hand and stay there just like the bird who still had itself perched on her shoulder.

After a while the bird did fly over to Mary Margaret's outstretched hand and the girl smothered her giggle so that her two new friends wouldn't fly away. The Captain backed away a little, studying how happy her little girl was as the two birds remained close to her.

"So this is where you've ran off to," came the voice of Nimue as Belle turned to offer her a sheepish smile. "Looks like Mary Margaret is turning out to be like Milah when it came to animals."

Belle turned back to the two as the Captain seemed to be explaining something new again to Mary Margaret. "Milah was a nature lover and even tried to rescue as much animals she could abandoned on the streets. You can just imagine our home."

Belle laughed as Mary Margaret suddenly waved her arms around and the birds flew around her and the captain, much to the captain's laugh. It was that sound that passed through Belle, giving her a very satisfied feeling. His laugh was very rich and infectious in a way and Belle couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"I've missed that sound very much," said Nimue as the Captain picked up Mary Margaret and they headed to a different part of the villa's gardens.

"Hearing it now," began Belle. "I would have missed it as well."


The next day found Rumple sat on his study floor surrounded by numerous papers with different sets of drawings. All of them having one thing in common, being drawn by his youngest child, Baelfire, or as he was very fond of calling him, Bae.

Bae was on his fifth drawing of the day and Rumple hasn't even finished his first one. He could draw yes but Baelfire could draw absolutely anything. The papers on his study floor was the proof of that. Baelfire had drawn the view from the back of the villa, the mountains they had apparently gone to while he was in the Enchanted Forest, a dog who he was dropping hints of wanting to own and he was now currently drawing the car they own.

Not only could he draw, but the colors were very precise and beautiful as well. Rumple couldn't help but just wonder at them until Bae would look up from his drawing and remind his papa that he had to draw something too.

Bae had of course seen the portraits the Rumple had done of his children. That was about the only thing he could draw, faces. And he couldn't even color them in properly so he was contented with just rough sketching.

His current piece was of Baelfire's concentrated face as he tried to decide what to draw. Although he started this when Baelfire was still trying to draw his first creation, the same look on his face would come up frequently when Baelfire turned to study the drawings he had done.

It amazed Rumple at how the five year old could be so detail-oriented when he was such a young boy. He couldn't decide if Bae had inherited it from him or from his mother.

A small knock on the door brought Rumple out of his thoughts, but not enough of a distraction for Baelfire who remained on the floor as his father got up, placed his sketch on his desk and walked over to open the door. He wasn't surprised to see Belle with a tray of sandwiches and a pitcher of iced tea.

"I figured you'd be eating lunch here," began Belle but then she turned a bit sheepish. "Assuming that it's ok to eat in this room of course."

Rumple smiled to reassure her. "I do take meals here when I am busy, Fraulein. It's ok." He turned to look back at his youngest who was still too focused on his drawing. "I think he won't be eating until he finishes his fifth masterpiece of the day."

He opened the door wider to permit her in and Belle quickly placed the tray on his desk. Her eyes falling on the unfinished sketch on his desk. "I see he's not the only artist in the family."

Rumple smiled shyly as he poured himself a glass of iced tea. "It's not as good as my five year old's works, I assure you." He paused and turned to motion with his head to the drawings on the floor. "The one he did of your mountain was very beautiful." He had raised an eyebrow at that and Belle smiled as she shrugged.

"Oh," said Belle. "Did I mention that I took the children to the mountain range of Avonlea?" And as an afterthought added, "It was part of a lesson in geology."

"Of course it was Fraulein," replied Rumple as he turned to watch his son still drawing on the floor. He head leaned back on his desk and Belle stood by his side. "Have I said my thanks today?"

"You have and if you're going to say it again it'll be your third thank you today and 27th since you've arrived back," replied Belle to which the captain blushed and tried to hide it to no avail.

"Believe me Fraulein," began Rumple setting the glass back down on the tray. "A million thank yous wouldn't be enough for what you've done for me and the children."

Now it was Belle's turn to blush. They had their differences before but the Captain was a man she was growing to be fond of increasingly on a day to day basis...like the feeling she had when he first used that whistle.

But she shouldn't dwell on that. In a few weeks time, she'll be heading back to the Abbey and will no longer be needed by the God family. A certain sense of dread overwhelmed her and it must have shown on her face as the Captain's hand was suddenly on her arm.

"Is there something wrong Fraulein?" asked the Captain, a look of concern lining his face.

"None at all Captain," replied Belle, masking her dread with a bright smile. These people were a family before she came to the villa and a family they will remain once she departs. She was not needed here. "None at all."


He was surprised to learn that he would spending time with Regina next, especially since Nimue and Merlin had offered to take the children to town for a little shopping stint so that the two could buy presents for their nieces and nephews.

Rumple had asked Belle to accompany them just to be on the safe side. Sure, he trusted Nimue to be a responsible adult but with 6 children and a man who acted like one, Nimue would need the help.

"Here I thought you all would be heading to town," said Rumple as he and Regina remained at the dining table. He then thought that maybe a telegram was coming and Regina wanted to spend a few moments with Robin but Regina stood and took the vacated seat of Mary Margaret.

"Granny managed to bake a cake for Mary Margaret's birthday," began Regina with a little glint in her eye that told Rumple that his eldest child had a plan. "But I'm sure she wanted to eat apple pie and I was thinking…"

She let her sentence trail for her father to catch up and of course he did so quickly. Regina had inherited her mother's knack for baking. Although Milah could only prepare one particular thing, apple pie. Her fondness for the fruit was also passed down to their eldest child as Regina loved apples.

Milah was no talent in the kitchen but Rumple had to agree that when his late wife made apple pie, it felt like a gift from above.

Rumple was the talent in the kitchen, able to make things from recipes or even from scratch but he could never make apple pie like Milah and Regina did. Regina had inherited both parents' skill in the kitchen and it looks like Regina wanted to surprise her siblings, especially her youngest sister.

"You'll have to take the lead on this one Gina," said Rumple. "I've tried making her pie and I always fail."

"Come on Papa," began Regina with a bright smile as her father agreed with her plan. "Yours was delicious as well but mama has a special ingredient."

Rumpel raised an eyebrow but Regina shook her head as she motioned with her hands, zipping her lips. "Not where anyone can hear." She then grabbed his hand and all but dragged him into the kitchen.

"Now I am very intrigued about this secret ingredient," said Rumple as they got to the kitchen. "I take it you've asked the staff to vacate the kitchen until lunch?"

"Yes," replied Regina as she handed him an apron and went to prepare the ingredients. "I'm not really sure I can do this again...it's been so long."

Rumple smiled as she placed hand over his daughter's. "I know you can, Gina." He smiled as his daughter did the same. "You're a natural in the kitchen."

"I have missed cooking and baking," said Regina as she took some apples and handed it to her father. "The apples most of all."

"You and your love for this fruit still astounds me," said Rumple as he watched the apples and began cutting them for the pie.

"I can still remember the day we went apple picking you know," teased Regina. "You lifted me up on your shoulders so I could get my hands on bright red ones. I felt like I was on the top of the world."

Rumple smiled at the memory. Regina had grown right in front of his eyes and he was a fool not to recognize that fact. His little girl was no longer so little but a young woman in her own right, even taking own the mantle of being the eldest and being a sort of mother figure her siblings could look up to and find comfort since their father had been too busy in his own grief.

Suddenly a warm hand was over his and Rumple turned to see Regina smiling up at him. She didn't say anything but a lot of things were conveyed by her smile and Rumple smiled back before focusing on the perfect slices of apples he had to do for the pie.

"So," began Rumple as Regina mixed a few ingredients together in a bowl. "Might as well get this out into the open," he paused as Regina turned to him, confused. "Robin dropped by the house the other day."

"Oh," replied Regina, her cheeks reddening slightly as she focused back on the bowl in her hands. "That's...why would I care, father?"

"Regina," began Rumple, his face stern. "I may be old but I'm not stupid." He turned to her, his face passive and devoid of all emotion and Regina stared at him in wide-eyed terror. Rumple couldn't resist but finally broke into a smile. "Sorry, just had to get the strict protective father out of my system." He paused and thought about it. "Did you really just call me father?"

Regina rolled her eyes at him and resisted the urge to throw a handful of flour at his direction. "You sacred me, papa."

"My intention, Gina," replied Rumple. "I mean I know you're growing up but boys this early is just going to turn all my hair white."

Regina laughed as they settled into a nice silence, focusing on the task at hand. Once the pie was finally cooking in the oven. Regina and Rumple sat by the kitchen and ate some of the leftover apple slices.

"So the reason why the doors were locked during the night before you went back to the Enchanted Forest?" asked Regina as she ate another slice.

"Well, I was going to ask you about it yes," began rumple. "But you manage to climb to Fraulein Belle's room." He paused remembering that night. "I did however mane to talk to Robin."

Regina's eyes widened. "Papa you didn't."

"Hey he's still dropping by so I didn't scare him off," argued Rumple and Regina slapped his arm, though it wasn't hard. "Honestly, I shouldn't even be the one talking to you about this and don't even start by telling me you love hi-"

"Papa!"

Rumple raised his arms in surrender. "I'm a father Regina. We're paranoid when it comes to our daughters."

"I can see that," mumbled Regina but soon found herself smiling. "Don't worry Papa. You're still the most important man in my life."

"Of course I am," replied Rumple as he took Regina's free hand. "And I know that won't change even if Robin Heller comes in and proposes."

"Papa!" reprimanded Regina again. "Honestly, we're not even a couple yet and you're already jumping to marriage."

"I know, I'm sorry but that's what fathers do," said Rumple. "I'm mostly rational about things but I guess seeing my daughter suddenly become a young lady, wondering when had all these time passed...it's just…"

Regina wrapped her arms around her father and rested her head on his shoulder. No words were needed. Regina understood where her father was coming from, she knew what he was feeling, knew where his mind wandered at this point….missing her mother.

"I'm going to try Regina," began Rumple as he leaned his head to hers. "I mean I know you won't be comfortable talking to me about boys and crushes and all that...and I wouldn't even want to hear them in the first place." He lifted his head to meet her eye. "But I'll try to be both a mother and a father in the circumstances."

"Papa, I'm not asking you to," began Regina with a small smile. "You being our parents is enough. You are more than enough."

Rumple felt his eyes tear up and he wrapped Regina in a tight hug. He had missed a lot of his children's life already. He was going to make up for it.