Jump Then Fall

Over the next few weeks, Rumpelstiltskin and Regina slowly started becoming inseparable. They were enjoying the simplicity of just being together. They had a lot more in common than they ever realized and were relieved to finally feel understood.

Regina had heard Rumpelstiltskin say her name countless times before, but lately, the very sound of it would make her knees go weak. Rumpelstiltskin was in love with Regina's scent and he wanted to smell it all the time. The way her perfume lingered on the pillows and in the rooms of his house triggered an extra something special inside of him. When they kissed, magical things seemed to happen. Like a million tingles in all the right places of their bodies.

Rumpelstiltskin and Regina could no longer imagine life without each other. Unfortunately, love was never easy for either one of them. It certainly was never perfect. But it was always worth fighting for.

One afternoon, Rumpelstiltskin decided to surprise Regina by showing up to her office with lunch. She was thrilled as always to see him and share adoring smiles and spirited laughs.

"It's been a few months, I think we should tell Henry about us," Rumpelstiltskin said to Regina as they were finishing their lunch.

"I don't know. I don't want to say anything to Henry until things are serious" Regina replied cautiously.

"Things are serious, Regina. I love you" Rumpelstiltskin stated sincerely.

Regina widened her eyes and just sat there quietly for a moment. She was trying to process what Rumpelstiltskin had just said to her. Regina loved him too, but after everything she'd been through with Daniel and Robin, she was terrified to be in love once again. Love seemed to be something that was meant for everyone else, but not for her. Nothing had brought her more pain in life than love.

"You don't have to say that" Regina blurted out, trying to keep her walls up.

"What"? Rumpelstiltskin asked perplexed "I'm saying it because it's true" He insisted.

"You don't really love me, Rumple. We've been each other's crutches for so long, it's easy to confuse that with love."

Regina hated herself even before the words finished falling from her mouth. The pained look in Rumpelstiltskin's dark eyes was breaking her heart. Regina was using her words as self-defense. She was trying to spare herself the inevitable pain of a real relationship.

"Please don't tell me what I feel" Rumpelstiltskin demanded "I'm no longer the village coward. I don't need anything to stand on my own anymore" He professed.

"Can you honestly say that you're over Belle"? Regina asked

"Maybe you're not over the thief"! Rumpelstiltskin fumed "I think that's what this is really about, your majesty."

"Robin is enjoying his happy reunion with Marian. I have no choice but to be over him" Regina replied angrily.

"Not a good answer," Rumpelstiltskin remarked as he headed for the door.

"What about you"? Regina asked "You didn't answer me. Are you over Belle"?

"I'll never be over Belle. I've accepted that. All I want is to be happy, with or without her" Rumpelstiltskin replied truthfully.

"Oh goody, I can be your consolation prize! No thanks," Regina responded sarcastically.

"We're done" Rumpelstiltskin muttered right before he stormed out of Regina's office, thoroughly exasperated. Regina had gotten under his skin. She had also forced him to think. Did he have enough distance from Belle to venture into a new relationship? Things happened so fast with him and Regina that all the lines were blurred. Love, friendship, sex, comfort and desire were all muddled together. What was real and what wasn't?

Regina was devastated by what had just transpired between her and Rumple, but she wasn't sorry that she stood up for herself. She didn't want to be any man's second choice. She'd come too far for that. She deserved to be loved completely.

About a half hour later, as Regina was masking her unhappiness with work, Rumpelstiltskin stormed into her office. He walked right over to Regina, lifted her out of her chair and kissed her passionately. His feelings were crystal clear. Belle was his past and Regina was his present and his future. She had permanently changed his life for the better. Regina made Rumpelstiltskin feel like anything was possible and he was no longer willing to let fear hold him back.

Rumpelstiltskin looked deeply into Regina's eyes, cupped her chin and said commandingly, "I love you, Regina Mills. You better believe me and you better love me too, you stubborn bitch"!

They both burst out laughing. Only they could speak to each other that way and have it be heartfelt. Regina wrapped her arms around Rumpelstiltskin and kissed him.

"I love you too, you twisted little imp" She beamed "But just so we're clear, I'm done doing your dirty work. The next curse is on you" She teased.

"I think our cursing days are behind us" Rumpelstiltskin smiled.

"There's just one thing that puzzles me," Regina said, "Tink told me that Robin was my soul mate…and pixie dust never lies. How can this be, that we're so happy together"? She asked

"There's a first time for everything, Dearie" Rumpelstiltskin grinned as he held Regina tightly and stroked the back of her head.

Rumpelstiltskin and Regina were in love. They didn't require confirmation from pixie dust or anything else. What they felt in their hearts was all the validation they needed.

"We do have to tell Henry" Regina realized.

"I already told you that, my dear" Rumpelstiltskin laughed.

"Can you come by tonight"? Regina asked optimistically

"Name the time" Rumpelstiltskin replied.

"Come by at 6:30. We'll order pizza and sit Henry down and tell him" Regina responded, formulating a plan.

"Done" Rumpelstiltskin responded.

Later that night, as Henry was keeping his eye out for the pizza delivery man, he was surprised to see his grandfather's large black sedan pull up. Henry opened the door and greeted his grandfather with a hug as he let him in. Moments later, the pizza arrived.

"Henry, I hope you don't mind, I invited your grandpa to have dinner with us" Regina announced.

"That's cool" Henry replied as he grabbed a hot slice of cheese pizza from the box.

"Plate"! Regina barked as she walked into the dining room

Rumpelstiltskin, Regina and Henry all had dinner together at the dining room table. Pizza wasn't really Rumple's thing, but he happily went along with it for Henry.

After dinner, Rumpelstiltskin and Regina asked Henry to sit down and wait for them in the living room. They had built up their courage for a few minutes before they joined him.

"What's going on guys"? Henry asked, slightly concerned

"Your grandfather and I wanted to let you know that we're seeing each other" Regina responded bluntly.

"What"? Henry asked in a state of utter confusion "Like dating"?

"Yes" Rumpelstiltskin replied.

"Gross" Henry responded a little disgusted.

"Henry"! Regina shouted

"Sorry," Henry said apologetically "How long have you two been dating"? He asked

"Since Marian returned" Regina replied "It's serious. We love each other" She beamed.

"Gross" Henry blurted out once again.

"Henry! Stop!" Regina scolded him

"It's ok, my boy, I imagine this must be strange for you" Rumpelstiltskin sympathized.

"Aren't you married to Belle"? Henry asked

"I am, but I hurt Belle and there is no way of redeeming myself this time" Rumpelstiltskin admitted.

"So you're with my mom because you can't have Belle anymore"? Henry asked, feeling protective of Regina

"Absolutely not" Rumpelstiltskin assured Henry "I'm with your mom because I love her and because she is the right woman for me" He continued.

"Gross" Henry blurted out again, unable to control himself.

This time Rumpelstiltskin and Regina couldn't help but laugh. If you had told them back in the Enchanted Forest that they would fall in love, they probably would have thought it was revolting as well.

As they finished up the remaining slices of pizza, Rumpelstiltskin, Regina and Henry clowned around in the living room, playing video games. Henry was a master, Rumpelstiltskin and Regina…not so much. Henry beat them both to a pulp, but it was the most fun they'd had in ages. They felt like a family. Slightly offbeat, but entirely happy.


Author's Note: I just want to thank everyone for all the great feedback that I have received on this story. When I first started this, I wasn't sure where I was going with it or if anyone would even read it. The fact that people are actually enjoying this makes me super happy. Thanks for reading and feel free to check out my other stories.