Ch. 10
Belle awoke to the sound of her cell phone buzzing.
Sighing, she picked it up and squinted. Apparently she had just missed a call. No… She'd actually missed fifteen calls.
"Ugh," she groaned. She wasn't hung over, but the couch hadn't done much for her back.
She flipped through the missed calls list noting that all of them were from Rumple. She was about to call back when another number popped up. This time, someone else was calling.
"Hello?" Belle asked.
"Belle! Are you okay?"
It was Emma.
"Yes… I'm fine," Belle replied.
"Well you'd better talk to your husband, then. I'm at your house right now. He wanted to report you missing."
"Really?" Belle was shocked. She'd only been gone for a single day!
"Yeah…" There was the sound of the phone being shuffled around, before Emma's voice returned. "Sorry. I had to step outside. Listen, you really ought to come home, unless… he didn't do anything to you, did he? There was a lot of broken glass."
"He got angry and shattered all of the glass in the kitchen with his magic," Belle explained. "He didn't hurt me though. I went out just to clear my mind."
"He's freaking out. I've never seen him like this before."
"Yeah, okay. Tell him I'll be right home."
"Alright. Do you need a ride?"
"No," Belle answered. She was only a few blocks away. "I'll walk. Thanks, though."
00
Belle entered the house, expecting to see Rumple in some type of rage-filled state. Instead, she found him sitting on the couch nearly crying.
"Belle…" he said, softly, as he watched her enter.
"Yes," she replied. She was still annoyed at him but the hurt expression on his face made her forget much of it. Frowning, she walked over and sat down next to him.
"Don't cry," she whispered. "Please."
"I won't," he replied, though Belle could see that it was taking a lot of effort for him to hold it back.
"Where were you?"
"I went to the library and went out with friends after work. I needed some time, after that tantrum you had yesterday morning."
"Friends," Rumple repeated. He didn't really have any friends. He wasn't sure why that thought occurred to him right then or why it bothered him so much, but he could think about that later. At least Belle was back.
"I'm sorry for what happened."
Belle nodded, unsure of what to say.
"I know it was extreme. I'm trying, Belle, it's just hard sometimes… I should have planned for this. It's my fault."
Belle rolled her eyes.
"We both should have prepared for it, me especially. You were right that I shouldn't have made the appointment behind your back but I knew you wouldn't do it yourself, and if something were to happen to the baby…" she didn't want to finish that sentence. If something were to happen to the baby, she would be absolutely devastated, simple as that.
"If it helps at all, I went to it."
"You did?"
"Yes. He had one of the technicians do an ultrasound. The baby is fine."
"That's fantastic! And I'm so proud of you!" Belle hugged him. "Thank you, Rumple. Really."
Rumple hugged her back.
"You're welcome, Belle."
"So was he surprised?"
"Not as surprised as I'd imagined he would be. I think he was somewhat disgusted, though. I could tell by his mannerisms. It matters not, there is an obstetrician on staff that I met."
"Oh?"
"They have a pretty large staff. I hadn't realized it. People who were midwives or healers in our homeland work there. You may remember Lucia Kingsley?"
"Yes… she was one of the midwives who helped deliver my niece!"
"She works at the hospital. She was very kind."
"Good, I'm glad."
"I made an appointment for next month."
"That's great, Rumple. Really. I'd be happy to accompany you. Thank you."
The two leaned in and kissed, their dispute seemingly resolved.