Chapter 7: New Arrival

A/N: Publishing two chapters tonight to hopefully get you guys to forgive me for forgetting about this fic due to *sighs* life... Can't wait for Yule! Only twelve days left! Huzzah! Sorry, rant over. Welcome to the madness dearies.

Disclaimer: If I owned OUAT, there would have been a Cheshire cat for Jefferson to love.

It was about five months later in the Dark Castle, in the months of Autumn, in the month known as September, where Belle and Rumplestilskin Gold were preparing the castle for the arrival of their firstborn daughter, Rubelle Baelfire Gold who was scheduled to be born any day now. Belle was nervous as she had never had a child before, but was also excited beyond belief to be carrying the child of her and her True Love. Rumple hardly let her out of bed these days, making sure that she was comfortable as well as well fed and well rested in time for their little princess. Rumple was besides himself with excitement and wouldn't let anyone next nor near Belle until their daughter was safely out of his wife and happy. Belle and he had painted the room right next to theirs – which had naturally been transformed into a nursery for Rubelle, when she came. The nursery had been magically decorated in a lovely shade of pastel green as well with hints of yellows and greys. A small spun gold mobile made by Rumple himself was hanging just above her cradle. There were assorted toys and books on bookshelves, so that they would be able to read to their little treasure. A close friend of theirs – as they didn't trust the Blue Fairy – or any fairy, in Rumple's case; except for one; Tinkerbelle would be helping Belle to deliver the baby in their home. Belle smiled at her husband who had a tray with him as he came into the room. On the tray, there was a cup of tea, some toast with a thick layer of spreaded chocolate on top of it. Anyone who knew Belle knew that she had a serious addiction to chocolate, tea and Rumplestilskin's lips. Rumple smiled at her, "Good morning, dearest. I thought you might be hungry so I prepared a spot of breakfast for you. I know how much you love chocolate, my Belle." he greeted her warmly, setting the tray down on her lap as she smiled at him from her position in the bed; sitting propped up with pillows behind her. Rumple kissed her forehead with a small smile. "Thank you, Rumple. Your so sweet, darling. You're right, I do love chocolate... but I only love chocolate half as much as I love you." she answered her True Love kindly with a grin. Her stomach hurt and she had severe cravings. Mostly, she craved chocolate, toast, tea, oranges and anything to do with cinnamon. This wasn't unusual for the sweet-toothed wife of the Dark One.

Rumplestilskin had Tinkerbell on call as Belle's midwife because he trusted her. He had also vowed to return her magic to her, should she help her dear friend birth her first daughter and her first child with Rumple that she had mothered. As Baelfire considered her to be his step-mother before his death. Suddenly, Belle had a sharp contraction in her abdomen. Rumple sensed that something was wrong with his beloved wife. He gently asked her, "Belle sweetheart, are you alright?" Belle shook her head to say 'no' and Rumple worried. He called the green loving fairy that he trusted to check his wife, "Tinkerbell! Belle's in pain and it's near the date!" The blond pixie approached them, looking at Belle as she opened her bag of equipment. She check Belle over to find that she was going to be in labor soon. She looked with worry on her features at the sorcerer as she informed him, "She's going into labor soon, Rumple. She'll need us near her for a few hours, in case Rubelle decides that she wants to meet her father." Rumple turned to one of the few people that was permitted to call him by his abbreviated name as he asked, "Will she be alright?" Tinkerbell smiled at him as she answered, "Since when is our dear rose not alright?" she answered happily, earning a small smile from Belle who's contractions were only growing stronger. Tinkerbell asked the brunette, "How's the pain, dear rose?" Belle gritted out, "I think... Rubelle's coming out to meet us soon, Tink." Tinkerbell smiled at her, getting her tools and things out to help with the birthing of the newest Gold.

A few hours later, the wife of the Dark One was going into labor and it was painful. She grasped Rumple's hand as she writhed and pushed when Tink told her to. Moments later, a cry was heard and the newest gold was brought into the world. Tink took her over to a table to clean, bathe and dress the newborn babe. Sweet thing had her father's eyes; a deep rich sienna that was the image of her father's. She looked like her mother a bit, but it was hard to tell as she was only a babe. Once she was wrapped in warm woollen yellow blanket on Belle's orders - no pink, because she wouldn't have her daughter become a stereotypical girl. Rumple had insisted on yellow because the colour reminded him of his wife's ballgown when they had first met. The sweet girl was handed to her mother who smiled down at her. Belle whispered to her daughter, "Welcome to the world, Rubelle Baelfire Gold. I'm your mother, Belle and this is your father, Rumple. We love you, our little girl." Rumplestilskin smiled happily at the sight of his blue eyed beauty holding his gorgeous baby girl. He looked to Tinkerbell and thanked her, "Thank you, Tinkerbelle. Go into the dining room and look on the table. There you'll find something that I think you'll appreciate." Tink grinned happily, knowing that it would be her magic. He had promised that if she helped Belle with the child, which she would have done anyway as Belle was her friend; he had promised to return her fairy magic to her. Tink walked to the kitchen and found her magic in a little corked bottle with a note beside it reading, 'Dear Tink, thank you so much for helping us. As promised, my end of our deal - R.' She uncorked the bottle and drank it down, feeling the pixie dust enter her system and make her whole again.

Meanwhile, the Golds were talking quietly while their new daughter slept peacefully in her bassinet. She was a sweet girl already, Belle had planned on reading to her as soon as she could. She knew that she would need to make sure that Rubelle's godmother was back in the room, magic intact. when she met her goddaughter properly. Jeffererson and Katja would be along shortly with Grace, as Rumple had written a letter to them using a beautiful silvery owl that he had grown to care for. The letter had read; 'We're writing to tell you that your goddaughter has been born, Hatter. I hope you and that kitten of yours can be along in a while to see our little girl. Oh, bring Grace too if you'd like. - Rumple, Belle and Rubelle'. It was indeed a happy day for the Golds.