Glinda reclined in her glass orb as she combed the vast Land of Oz to find a suitable place for the wedding of Belle and Rumplestiltskin. She had learned much about Rumple and Belle in the days following their unexpected victory over the dagger's curse. Even though he was no longer the Dark One, Rumple still had the laser-like attention to detail that characterized all of his deals. He delighted in doing most of the wedding planning, while Belle seemed content with any plan as long as she was married to Rumple at the end of it.

"I just want it to be the wedding you deserve, Belle!" Rumple explained for the forty-third time, as he and Belle sat in the library of the inn at which they were staying. He was trying to plead his case to have a more extravagant wedding. It seemed to Belle as if, once he started planning, the wedding had taken on a life of its own and Belle was trying to rein him in. As Rumple looked into her flashing blue eyes, he could see a will equal to his own, though expressed in a less abrasive way. "I want every detail to be perfect."

"Rumple, I appreciate what you are trying to do, honestly I do, but there is no perfect. I've always had my heart set on a forest wedding, and outdoor weddings are just less predictable. Could you at least consider it?" Belle was secretly torn. She wanted her forest wedding, but she also wanted this wedding, their wedding, to be what Rumple wanted too. Was this really going to be so complicated? She sighed.

When Rumple heard her sigh, he was undone. He was becoming tuned in to her moods and the little nuances that made her Belle. That little sigh told him all he needed to know about her state of mind. He reached over to rub her neck and was surprised by the tightness in every muscle. Belle sighed with pleasure as he applied pressure to the formidable knots, and gradually they released. She leaned into him and he chided himself silently for being so inflexible. After what she had been through, the last thing he wanted was to cause Belle any stress. The fact that she was still willing to marry him at all was a miracle. "Whatever you wish, Belle," he said and smiled at her obvious relief.

"Really? I can have a simple ceremony in the forest like we originally planned?" Belle had to restrain herself from jumping up and down, and clapping her hands like a child. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, but he turned his head at the last moment, so that their lips met instead. As she leaned into him for a deeper, more satisfying kiss, she sighed again, but this sigh didn't worry him. "Thank you." She rose to her feet and walked over to the window, as if trying to see Glinda's progress from the library window.

"Thank you for the kiss or for giving in, once again?" Rumple said with a grin as he smacked her on the bottom.

Belle pretended to be shocked. "Both," she said with a wink. "How many more days until the wedding?" she teased.

"Two days, Belle!" Rumple was starting to get agitated again, but he refrained from pacing and sat back down on the sofa, as calmly as he could manage. Realizing how soothing her presence was to him, Belle sat next to Rumple, and he put his arm around her, pulling her close. "Okay, sweetheart, let's review what we have so far."

"Location" Rumple had been keeping a written checklist and had gone over it so many times that he could recite in in sequence, even though the list was over on the table.

"Undecided" Belle knew that Glinda would find them a beautiful place; they just needed to be patient. As she thought those words, she laughed. Patient? Remember with whom you are dealing, Belle! Rumple merely repeated "undecided" and tried to breathe deeply.

"Flowers"

"Unnecessary. We're getting married in the forest, Rumple. We'll be surrounded by beauty."

"I can't argue there, Belle. Look at whom I'm marrying..." Belle blushed, unaccustomed as ever to receiving a compliment. Rumple began playing with her curly auburn hair as he continued with the list. "Witnesses"

Distracted a little by the hair play, Belle forced herself to answer in a normal tone of voice. "Lizzie will stand up with me, but who will you have?" Rumple didn't really have any male friends, in the traditional sense. He had acquaintances, people in his debt, and of course those who never wanted to have any dealings with him, but friends?

"I suppose Jefferson will have to do," Rumple grumbled. He thought the custom was ridiculous, but knew it was important to Belle to have Lizzie take part. Belle rewarded him with a bright smile as she thought of Jefferson and Lizzie standing up with them together. Surely it was a good omen to have a happily married couple as their attendants. Rumple went on. "Music"

They looked at one another. "No singing!" Rumple declared, remembering the propensity of the Munchkins to break into song.

Belle laughed. "Agreed! I'll see if I can find a lute player. It's the perfect accompaniment to an outdoor wedding." Rumple nodded, charmed by Belle's intelligence and musical ability. He would have to ask her how she gained that knowledge...

"See, now isn't this going well?" Belle got the list from the table and crossed off the items they had discussed.

Rumple had to admit it was far easier doing things Belle's way. "Dress" he said in a nonchalant tone of voice, but his eyes told a different story. He had been waiting to bring up the dress and hoped he would at least get his way in this one area. When Belle hesitated, he asked, "Belle?"

Belle looked down and tried to speak casually, as if the dress was merely one more thing on the list. "I don't actually have one," she said quietly. "The white dress you made for me was made by magic, and it's gone, along with everything else. I suppose I can wear my gold ball gown, but we have to let Lizzie know so she can bring it."

Rumple looked horrified. "You are not wearing that gown, Belle." As she started to protest, he explained, "Don't get me wrong, I love that gown on you, but your wedding dress needs to be special, one of a kind, not something you've worn before. Leave it to me." Belle looked puzzled and started to speak, but Rumple held up his hand. "Can you trust me with this, darling?" She nodded slowly, wondering what he was up to.

"What will you wear, Rumple?"

"Belle, it doesn't matter what I wear, because all eyes will be on my beautiful bride." But Belle wasn't buying it. She knew that appearances mattered to Rumplestiltskin, with or without magic.

"I'll trust you with what I'm wearing, if you trust me with your attire," she said, already planning in her head. She had some definite ideas about what she wanted to see him clothed in.

"Very well, my dear, but I think I got the better part of that deal," Rumple laughed, reminding Belle of his old giggle. I guess you can't take all the Dark One out of him, she thought. It's actually fairly endearing, the way he slips into it from time to time.

When Glinda returned early the next morning, she glowingly described a beautiful forest located next to the sparkling blue ocean. After thanking her, Belle took her aside to make some practical requests about Rumple's wedding ensemble and her own trousseau, especially items for the wedding night. Belle was not entirely comfortable speaking about her wedding night with Glinda, but the lovely witch was more than helpful, directing her to seamstresses and clothing stores. Belle had fun designing Rumple's clothes, and was even more delighted with the selection of lingerie, from which she chose carefully. "At least he'll be surprised about something," she told Lizzie when they went to collect the items the following evening.

"Oh, I think he'll be surprised with more than that," Lizzie said slyly. "He's how old, Belle? And it's been how long since he...well...you know?"

Belle punched her friend on the arm. "Stop it!" she said. And they both burst into laughter. Between gasping for air, laughing and stammering due to embarrassment, Belle managed to get out, "He's around 300 years old...in experience...(more laughter) but the breaking of the curse...left him at the age he was...when he was cursed. So I don't know how to answer that." Belle was bright red at the end of this exchange and she told her friend, "No more! This is private!" Lizzie reluctantly complied, but she sat with Belle on a nearby bench, trying to find the right words to say what was in her heart.

She took Belle's hand and gripped it tightly. "Belle, are you sure about this? I need to know that you're going to be safe. Rumplestiltskin has quite a past, you know. All this talk of adventure and Neverland and pirates...what will I tell your father?"

Belle relaxed and smiled her most genuine smile. Her brilliant blue eyes lit up with what looked like a reflection of the million stars in the sky that evening. She hugged Lizzie tightly and said, "Tell him I've found the perfect man for me, and that I'm finally going to have the life I was meant to have. Lizzie, you've known me since we were little girls together in Avonlea. Haven't I always longed to experience new things, new lands, new adventures? I thought it was too late for that when I agreed to go with Rumple to the Dark Castle, but look what happened! I'm marrying him, a man who loves me more than his own life, and all the adventures I could ever ask for. I'm happy, Lizzie!"

"Belle, wake up!" Lizzie shook her friend impatiently. "It's your wedding day!"

Belle turned over to look out the window. It was a crystal clear morning, with blue skies, golden sunshine and a cool mist in the air. She said a prayer of thanks and scrambled out of bed. Her forest wedding would have been severely compromised by a summer storm.

"Do you think your bridegroom has finished your dress yet? I mean, since the wedding is today, it might be nice to have it..." Lizzie teased. While Belle slipped into the bathing room, Lizzie went to the door and opened it. She was not disappointed. Just outside the door was a large box. It could only be one thing. "Belle, it's here!" she called, and Belle came out to see what Rumple had created for her.

Belle's heart began beating quickly as she reached for the box. There was a small card, delicately lettered with her name. She looked at Lizzie and smiled. "Always open the card first," they said in unison, recalling their parents' admonitions to them as little girls. Belle carefully opened the envelope and pulled out a simple white card on which was written,

Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.

Belle, my heart has been yours for many months now, but from this day forward, it belongs to you completely, for all eternity. Thank you for doing me the honor of becoming my wife.

~R~

Overcome by emotion and by the beauty of the words she was reading, Belle walked over to the window seat and looked out at the gardens below. Tears flowed freely as she thought of all she and Rumple had gone through in their journey, starting as complete strangers and culminating in this wedding day. Not culminating, Belle reminded herself. Beginning. The best is yet to be. She laid her head on her hands and tried to imagine what their life together would be like. Allowing her friend all the time she needed, Lizzie busied herself about the room, packing Belle's belongings in a small bag, and getting her own things together. They would each be taking a journey tomorrow, but tonight Rumplestiltskin and Belle would be returning to this room as husband and wife.

"All right. I'm ready." Belle opened the box and drew out something wrapped in yards of soft cotton fabric. When she unwrapped it, she gasped with delight and looked mutely at Lizzie.

"What is it?" Lizzie asked. Belle held up the dress. It was an exact replica of her original wedding dress, the one made with magic by Rumple in the Dark Castle. Belle turned it over and over, admiring the beaded and jeweled bodice, and the overlapping layers of white lace on the skirt.

"I never thought I would see this dress again," she confessed to Lizzie. "I would have been happy with any dress Rumple made for me, but this...this is so unexpected, so perfectly dear of him. What it must have cost him to complete this in two days! And without magic!" Belle regretfully hung the dress up, and began her bath. The soft creams and oils which Lizzie had brought from Avonlea did wonders for her skin and hair, which had been sadly neglected during her captivity. Belle and Lizzie talked and laughed as Belle continued her preparations. The new lingerie was admired and modeled, their small bags were packed, and they read and re-read Rumple's card to Belle. Soon the girls heard the rumble of a coach downstairs and realized how late it was.

Belle jumped up off the bed in a panic, still dressed only in her new lingerie. "I can't go like this, Lizzie!"

Lizzie laughed. "Well, I'm sure the groom wouldn't mind, but, you're the bride, Belle. Everyone has to wait for you today." Belle was still looking alarmed, so Lizzie spoke calmly and firmly. "Put on your dress, sweetie. I'll do your hair in the coach." Lizzie quickly dressed herself and then turned her attention to helping Belle. The dress fit perfectly and the acquamarine crystals set off Belle's eyes to perfection. Grabbing her own overnight bag, Lizzie left Belle alone in the room and hurried to meet the coach. The dress's volume made it impossible to move quickly, so Belle had to be satisfied moving at a much slower pace than was her habit. As she went to close the door, she looked back at the room and whispered, "When I return, I'll be Rumple's wife." Then she clapped her hands together softly and made her way to join Lizzie in the coach. Her journey was beginning.