A/N: With the constant reminder in the fandom that Rumpel is once again a married man, I decided to write this one-shot to suit Emma/Rumpel. Nothing but a modest proposal. (-; As always, I hope everyone enjoys it and I appreciate all the kind words I have received. It definitely helps me to keep writing.
Say Yes
Rumpelstiltskin could safely say that he had never cleaned the Dark Castle so fast in all his years of living there. The only reason he put in the effort now, cleaning it top-to-bottom, was because Emma had agreed to have dinner with him that evening. She had never set foot in the Dark Castle before-it was crucial that he made a good impression on her.
From the minute the golden rays of the sun filtered through the dusty windows, which were definitely not nailed down, he went from room to room leaving no corner untouched. Snapping his fingers like Mary Poppins, strewn objects zoomed to their proper places. The layers of dust disappeared. The bathroom was spotless and featured indoor plumbing. He even placed several vases of flowers around the castle as a final touch.
What woman didn't appreciate fresh flowers?
By the afternoon, he was exhausted from all his running around and he collapsed into his favorite armchair at one end of his long dining table. The castle looked good, but there was still the dinner to prepare. Wine would most certainly be needed. Two or three bottles should do. Oh, and candlelight.
Everything had to be perfect for Emma. She did not realize it yet, but this was more than a friendly dinner for two.
From inside his vest, he pulled out a small object. It was a tiny black box. Lifting the lid, he examined the ring for the umpteenth time. It was a simple golden band set with a white diamond that sparkled in the sunlight.
He and Emma had been exploring the boundaries of their relationship for some time now. A few tender kisses that grew more demanding each time, a few gentle touches in the softest spots, a few dates. Now he wanted to transcend those boundaries, make the next move.
He was more afraid of losing Emma than what was required to be with her forever.
For better or worse, tonight, everything would change.
...
He was ready and dressed by the time evening rolled around. Of course, he had changed multiple times, never fully satisfied with what he saw in the mirror.
Would Emma like this? What would she think? He always ended up asking himself those questions every time he modeled an outfit in front of the mirror. Should he wear cologne? Should he leave his shirt slightly unbuttoned, teasing her with a strip of skin? Were his leather pants too tight and therefore revealing?
Finally, he settled on a dark, comfortable pair of leather pants and a crisp white shirt. A spritz of cologne, shined boots that took twenty minutes to lace up, and one button undone on the shirt.
Everything would be fine. The dinner was ready on the table, with a bottle of rich red wine and candles. All that was required now was the guest of honor. Stop panicking, he scolded himself as he fumbled with his clothing one last time before the mirror.
From the window of his tower, he watched the sunset. The sky was ablaze with streaks of red, orange, and purple. He had a good view of the road leading up to his castle and he was anxious for Emma to arrive. Last he heard, Charming was dutifully escorting his daughter to the Dark Castle.
Rumpel wondered if the prince would be just as eager to walk his daughter down the aisle. That was assuming she said "yes." Even after more than a year of being together, Emma continued to surprise him at every turn. It was one of the reasons he loved her so dearly-he never knew what to expect.
The sun sunk into the earth and yet there was no sign of her. Nothing moved on the road. The skies darkened to a powdery midnight blue. He began to pace restlessly in his library, arms folded behind his back, brow furrowed in deep thought.
Where was she? When she agreed to the dinner, she told him she would arrive at his castle sometime in the evening, but what did that mean exactly? What time? Would she...even come at all?
No, he couldn't afford to think like that. He couldn't slip into his old habit of expecting failure. Emma said she would come and Emma never went back on her word. Honor was something her whole family upheld as sacred.
She would be here. He must be patient.
Then his doubts turned into downright worry. It was getting dark out there and Charming was escorting Emma all the way from the Charmings' castle on the water. What if something happened? Ogres, wolves, trolls, and thieves roamed the land, not to mention the occasional upset magical being. What if they were stuck out there, alone, wounded, or lost?
What if...
As he whirled around to pace the floor again, his steps quickening with his jumbled nerves, something poked the middle of his back. Rumpel yelped loudly and nearly jumped out of his skin, his heart hammering in his chest. He collapsed weakly against the window, his hand over his heart.
"Sorry," Emma apologized, holding up her hands in surrender. She couldn't be that sorry since she was grinning and choking back a giggle. Not many people had what it took to sneak up on him. He almost regretted teaching her how to stay silent on her feet, as he often did. "Didn't mean to scare you. Not really. Charming just dropped me off. Guess you didn't hear me come through the front door."
Rumpel regained his breath, his heart gradually returning to its normal rhythm. He held up a hand to tell Emma it was okay, but she might have misinterpreted it as a warning to stay back since she kept her distance. Through the window, Rumpel glimpsed a figure riding off through the darkness. Must be Charming.
"You're a fast learner," he praised Emma when he remembered how to speak.
Crossing the library, he took her into his arms and welcomed her properly by kissing her gently on the mouth. Immediately she grabbed handfuls of his white shirt and kissed him back hard. He had to pull back before they went too far and lost track of the time.
"Shall I give you the grand tour of my castle?"
Emma tilted her head back to the stairs. It was easy to see that this was his library-no use insulting her intelligence.
"Lead the way," she said breathlessly, still recovering from their kiss.
Rumpel slipped his arm around her waist and escorted her down the rickety stairs. He couldn't help but admire the supple texture of her red leather jacket. Emma looked good in leather, but he would bet every strand of gold he spun that she looked stunning in a little red dress.
"Let me guess: we're starting with the master bedroom?" Emma nudged his ribs with her elbow. Rumpel's neck grew hot. She knew the exact buttons to push to make him flustered and she loved it.
"Em-ma, please, I'm a gentleman. That would be wildly inappropriate," he said, enjoying the way her name rolled from his lips. It didn't matter that his bedroom was on the other side of the castle from the library. He had a feeling that, if he took Emma there first, they would never have the power to leave it. "Right this way, my lady."
I could get used to saying that.
...
He showed her the guest bedrooms, done up with the finest silk and softest pillows this land had to offer. He led her to the bathroom, which contained a glass shower and a separate tub big enough to accommodate twenty people. They passed the trophy room that doubled as the dining hall, though he did not open the door yet to let her see, for fear of spoiling her with the sight of their dinner.
After all, tonight was his turn to surprise her.
Upstairs, downstairs, every room in the castle was free for Emma to explore to her heart's content.
Last but not least, he brought her to his bedroom. All the way down the hall of the East Wing, his belly growled for dinner and curled in knots with nervousness. His palms grew clammy, his fingers wiggling at his side. The master bedroom was one of his most personal spaces in the castle. Even Belle had seen it only once.
"Are you alright?" Emma asked, peering up at his face with concern. His arm was looped through hers and he realized he was holding on a little too tightly to her hand. His lips had formed a thin white line. He tried to offer her a reassuring smile, but it faded too fast.
"It's fine," he insisted, picking up the pace. They were right outside his bedroom now. He stared at the golden knob, hesitating in opening the door. "I just never..."
"Had a girl in your room before?" She teased.
He fidgeted, looking down at the floor. He almost retorted that he had plenty of women in his bedroom before, but a: that was a lie, and b: he doubted it was the best thing to say to the woman he intended to propose to by the end of the night. Emma snickered in amusement and that small sound lifted his spirits.
"I was going to say...I only care to showcase my bedroom to those I consider worthwhile. To people I wish to let in," he said, guiding her closer by the hips. He felt her breath tickle his mouth. Emma's eyebrows arched.
"You think I'm worthwhile?" She sounded like she was waiting for him to yell out April Fool's. Emma proved to have the same issue as him, forever hiding behind her walls, keeping her heart barricaded so she wouldn't get hurt. It made for a very lonely existence.
"Absolutely," he whispered.
Reaching behind him, he turned the knob and flung open the bedroom door, leading her over the threshold. Perhaps, one of these nights, he would carry her over it.
It was dim, the curtains drawn over the windows. Dozens of candles scattered the room, the wax dripping over every surface. For centuries, he lit the candles to honor Bae's memory instead of bringing light into the room. The king-sized bed was pushed against one wall, the covers turned down. A full-length mirror stood in one corner, though it had been covered for years.
You never knew who could be watching.
Slipping from his grasp, Emma went ahead and explored every inch of the bedroom. She picked up a couple of colorful vials, but he carefully removed them from her hands before she learned the hard way what spells were bottled inside. She drifted to the bed and ran her hand over the cold sheets. To his surprise, she even dared to flounce down on the mattress, ankles crossed, testing out the level of comfort. When she went to the window, she spread the curtains wide and stared out into the night. The pale moonlight flooded the floor and illuminated her fiery green eyes.
"Your castle is beautiful," she told him honestly. Turning away from the window, she gave him a mournful once-over. He let her look. "Don't you get lonely living on this mountain by yourself?"
More than you will ever know, he thought sadly. His heart longed for her, commanding his feet to go to her. Putting his hand in his pocket, he fumbled around for the ring.
"I do," he admitted without hesitation. He stopped at her side and took her hand. He pulled the other hand out of his pocket, holding up the delicate ring. Then he struck her speechless when he knelt down before her. Not an easy thing to accomplish in skin-tight leather pants, but he endured it. "That is why, after a great deal of consideration, I have decided...I would like you to be the one to share it with me. You are filled with light, strength, honor, and true love. You are everything that I am not, everything that I need. So, Emma Swan, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Emma ran a hand through her golden mane of curls, unable to form a single coherent word. Emotions warred over her fair face: surprise, happiness, love...and doubt. Please, sweetheart, let down your walls. It's no fun drinking alone. Take it from someone who has done it for centuries.
Rumpel lowered the ring.
"Forgive me if this is sudden. I wanted to surprise you tonight. I was planning on doing this over dinner, but..."
"You couldn't wait?"
Patience was not usually one of his strong suits, even if he was determined to reach his goals. When he met Emma's eyes again, he noticed that she looked far less doubtful. Some of the tension had lifted from her shoulders. His fingers ached to rub out the rest.
"I've been waiting much too long already. I don't want to be alone or afraid anymore. You?" He held up the ring again, asking if she would accept it. Emma mulled it over silently, weighing the pros and cons. It was a relief when her smile grew.
"Okay," she said confidently. The ring almost fell out of his hand. He wondered if he heard that correctly. When she saw how stunned he was, she took the ring and pulled him to his feet. "Yes, I will marry you. Though I don't really know if I'm the jewelry type."
He chuckled and watched as she slipped the ring on her finger. It looked perfect.
"That's what your mother said the day she met Charming. I like to think that when she tried on that ring, she came to realize that she wanted it to be true more than anything. That was where she belonged."
Emma paused in studying the ring from all angles. His heart continued to skip a beat. She said yes. She'll be the lady of the Dark Castle. He hadn't been so happy in so long. Hell, he was almost giddy without a single drop of wine.
"Our dinner will be getting cold," he said, suddenly remembering that it was waiting for them. Of course, he could always heat it up with magic, but his brain wasn't functioning correctly since Emma accepted his proposal. He bowed in front of her, gesturing to the open bedroom door. Emma twitched her lips.
"Or...we could skip straight to dessert," she purred. He straightened up sharply. Was she implying what he thought she was implying? Her enchanting green eyes said it all, luring him in with their excitement.
Entwining her arms around his neck, she pressed a bold kiss to his mouth. After a moment, he returned her kiss and knew there would be no going back. She dragged him away from the door, dragged him to the bed, where they were doomed to lose track of time completely.
...
