Chapter 8: - Rebuilding The Bridge
Rumple took baby steps with Belle. He knew she was still angry with him and he didn't blame her. He would bring her milk, chocolate, fudge and sometimes a random piece of cheese depending on what her cravings demanded. He was only too happy to help her as she had helped him all those years ago.
Belle's belly swelled more and more with each passing day and she was tired most days so Rumple decided to bring her a picnic basket filled with things he knew would cheer her up.
She couldn't help but smile soft as she glanced through the contents finding amongst them a copy of her favourite book and some bluebells and she looked at him,
"You remembered" she said softly and he smiled,
"Of course I did…. The book you had when we first met and your favourite flowers" he said and Belle smiled at him awkwardly,
"Errrrrrm…. Actually Bluebells aren't my favourite" and Rumple looked at her surprised,
"What?... I… I thought they were" he said confused and Belle looked at him guiltily and shook her head gently,
"No…. I'm sorry. I like them but….. They're not my favourite" she said sadly and Rumple thought for a moment before taking her hand gently,
"Will you join me and Bae for a day out? I know Bae really wants to know more about my childhood and you 'were' a big part of that…. You're still a big part of my life and now I realise that there are things I don't know about you… because I never asked. In my eyes you're still my best friend…. I know you might not feel the same but….. Please give me a chance to earn that position once more" he begged and Belle thought for a moment before smiling softly and removed the hair clips that kept the tiara in place and placed it on the dressing table and she smiled at him softly,
"I guess…. Maybe it is time to take a trip down memory lane…. It's had a barrier up for far too long" she said gently and Rumple smiled brightly.
Belle smiled and took a deep breath and sighed blissfully as she walked with Rumple and Bae through the village square,
"You have no idea how nice it is to get out of that inn" she said happily and Rumple chuckled,
"I can imagine. I'm sure the life as crowned Princess is very tiring" he said gently and Belle nodded,
"… I'm sure it's nothing compared to what it will be like when I'm finally crowned queen after my baby's birth" she said with a quiet tone laced with a small trace of sadness and Rumple looked at her sadly. He didn't want to lose his best friend again but… he was going to make most of the time they had together for the next 7 months.
Little Bae giggled as he played hopscotch on the cobbles as his papa and Belle sat on the fountain and he giggled and ran up to Belle and smiled brightly,
"What was my papa like when he was my age?" he asked curiously and Belle giggled and smiled brightly,
"He was a lot like you little one….. In fact…." She stood and walked over to a spot behind Bae and smiled,
"I met your papa in this exact spot" she said happily and Bae giggled as Belle knelt down gently so she was eye level with him,
"You know….. Your papa actually saved me when we first met" she said with a smile and Bae's eyes widened and he looked at his papa,
"Weally papa?! You saveded her?" he asked with childhood innocence and Rumple rubbed the back of his head with his hand awkwardly,
"Well…. I don't know about saving Belle….. Her book maybe" he said with a chuckle and Belle giggled and smiled,
"No…. you definitely saved me…. The little lonely village girl who always had her nose stuck in a book. The girl no one ever understood. You saved me that day Rumple… You saved me by becoming my friend" she said softly and Rumple smiled before standing and walking over to her,
"I may have saved you once…. But you saved me so many times after that….. And for the record… That 'little lonely village girl' was the best person I've ever known…. She still is" he said gently and Belle smiled softly and a tear fell down her cheek,
"I've missed you so much" she said with a whisper and he hugged her gently for the first time,
"I missed you too" he said and Belle hugged him back tightly. Belle smiled and whispered,
"You never stopped being my best friend…. No matter how angry I was with you. I missed you every single day" she whispered and Rumple smiled as he hugged her for the first time in years.
Little Bae giggled and pushed himself in between them and joined the cuddle and both Belle and Rumple let out a giggle and a chuckle.
Awwwwwwww I loved writing this chapter :D
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Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996
