A/N: 'Ello guys. So, this chapter is going to be 90% Rumbelle fluffiness. I haven't written Rumbelle fluff in a while. So, enjoy!
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Chapter 14:
Storybrooke: A Few Days Later
It was a beautiful day in Storybrooke. The sun was actually out, which was a rare thing in the town. There was no sign of clouds or rain, and most people were basking in the beauty of the day.
And Belle did spend her day outside. She decided to visit her brothers grave. She missed Graham so, so much, and she wished more than anything that she could be with him, talk to him.
So, she'd made her way to the cemetery after giving Elsa to Rumplestiltskin for the day. She hadn't left the two of them really alone that often, but she'd made sure she pumped some milk for him to feed her, and she trusted him. After all, he was Elsa's father.
Parking her car on the path out of the way before getting out and picking up the flowers she'd brought. Closing the door, taking the keys with her and walking along the grass towards Graham's headstone. Coming up to it, she slowly moved to sit just in front of the stone indian style. Resting the flowers down by the stone as she sighed, looking at her brothers name. "Oh Grahammy...I miss you so much.." she said slowly.
Leaning her elbows against her knees, she sighed as she kept her eyes on the letters of her brothers name. "I wish you could be here. I wish you could meet Elsa. She's the most perfect little thing. You would fall so much in love with her. And I'm married, too. I married the very man you wanted to free me from. And I love him so much...I love my family. You would love them too..." she said slowly, biting her bottom lip and looking down in her lap.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Graham. I wish I could have saved you. I spent so long living my life. I should have tried to help you." she said, looking up at the grave stone again, biting her bottom lip lightly. "I could have helped. Rumple could have helped. I'm a terrible sister.." she said with a sigh.
Who was she even talking to? Graham wasn't there, it was just where his body was buried. But she felt like she had to be there, had to see her brother. "I wish magic could help us here. What I wouldn't give to see you again...to have you over for dinner...have you fuss over Elsa the way you used to fuss over me..." she said, shaking her head and sitting up a little.
"I'm being silly, aren't I?" she asked, laying her hands in her lap as she stared at the tombstone. "I just miss you. I hope you know that...and I hope you know that I'm sorry.." she said with a sigh. She'd sit there for a while before leaving, just sit there thinking about things, about her brother.
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Storybrooke: A Few Hours Later
When Belle finally did leave the graveyard, she'd gone grocery shopping, stopped by the book store and ran a few other errands before finally going home. Pulling up outside the salmon colored house that she now lived in and parking in the driveway before getting out.
Grabbing her bags from the trunk, she walked around and up to the house, opening the front door and walking inside. At first she didn't see anyone home, but she knew Rumple should be home, his cadillac was still in the driveway.
Walking inside, she set her bags on the kitchen counter before she set her keys down, figuring she'd go find Rumple and see what he was up to.
Once she had her bags sat down, she walked up the stairs, looking around a little bit. Hearing something in Elsa's nursery, quietly she walked up to the door, leaning against the frame just outside the door and peaking inside.
The sight she saw made her smile. Rumplestiltskin was there with Elsa. He stood there in one of his impeccable suits, his suit jacket laid over the rocking chair and his black dress shirts sleeves were rolled up and he was stood at Elsa's changing table with Elsa laying there in front of him. Belle smiled as she watched the scene, hugging herself a little. She'd never actually seen Rumple change Elsa. It was usually her who changed the baby, so she wasn't really sure if Rumple knew how. Though he did have a son once, so he should know how, right?
Rumple was smiling down at his daughter as he laid her down. "Now now, lets get you all clean, hm?" he asked. He hadn't changed a diaper since Baelfire was small, several hundred years ago. And things were different back then, diapers were different.
Looking down at her as he undid the onesie that she had on, starting to pull it up and looking at the diaper. Well, things had definitely changed. He looked down at Elsa and shook his head. "Times do change, don't they love?" he asked with a small smile.
And Elsa looked up at him, moving her hands up in the air and giggling a little, giving him the sweetest smile.
He looked at the diaper and figured out the tapes that held it closed, opening it and wincing a bit when he smelled its continents. "Good gods, what is your mother feeding you?" he teased, and Elsa just giggled back at him, her big blue eyes watching him in the most trusting way.
"You will feel better once I get you changed." he said. Taking her legs and gently lifting her up a little so he could remove the diaper. Folding it and tossing it into the trash can by the changing table. Then he took a baby wipe and started to wipe her clean. Once she was clean, he lowered her back down onto the table.
"There. Now to figure out one of these things..." he said as he tossed the baby wipe away, too and took one of the fresh diapers tucked in the table. Looking at the thing as he held it up, it seemed a bit more complicated than he was used to. Figuring out which way the diaper had to go, he put one end underneath Elsa. Making sure to put some baby powder on before closing the diaper. Looking at where the tape was, he gently took the tape to secure it closed, smiling proudly.
"Thereee we are! All clean. And your mommy didn't think I could figure it out." he said happily as he pulled down the onesie and clipping it secure, smiling down at her.
And Elsa returned her smile just as she usually did. Her fingers reached up towards him as she kicked a little. "Ahh you are getting entirely too big, my princess." he said as he moved to pick her up against his chest. Elsa was a few months old, and she was getting bigger and bigger every single day. Frankly, he'd love it if he could keep her this size forever, never have her grow up. But then he wouldn't get to see her first steps, hear her first words, hear her call him daddy. He looked forward to that...to hearing a little voice cry out for their daddy and knowing it was him. Being a father was the best thing he could ever do, he loved both of his kids so, so much.
Belle watched from the doorway with a small smile, crossing her arms across her chest a little. "Well done Rumple."
At the sound of her voice, he looked up at her and she laughed. Shaking his head with a stern look. "Just how long have you been standing there?" he asked. Gently shifting to hold Elsa with one arm, taking his cane as he walked up towards Belle.
"A few minutes. I couldn't interrupt while I watched as you tried to figure out a diaper. You are quite good at that, dear." she said. Smiling, she leaned to kiss him when he came up to her. "I've done some grocery shopping and what. Want to come help me put the things away?" she asked, moving to start taking Elsa from him.
But he didn't let her take Elsa, shaking his head instead. "No no dear, I am quite capable of carrying her." he said with a smile and nod. "Lets go help mommy put the groceries away, shall we?" he asked Elsa, looking down at her and kissing the top of her head.
The sight made Belle smile as she nodded. "Its sweet how much you love her..."
"You and Elsa are my world, dearest." he said as he looked up to Belle. "My entire world. And once we find Bae...he will mean just as much." he said, leaning to kiss her again slowly.
And she kissed him back. Gently moving her arms around his neck and leaning up against his side that Elsa wasn't on. Holding the kiss, she tilted her head to one side as she kissed him thoroughly. She didn't think she'd ever get enough of his lips on hers, the taste of him in her mouth. She'd missed him entirely too much.
Gently her fingers rubbed the back of his neck, causing him to almost purr against her. The sound made her shudder and lean up against him, wanting to be as close as possible, unable to deny herself that. What started out as an innocent kiss was quickly turning into something not too innocent.
It was Elsa that drove them to break their kiss. She whined and squirmed in her fathers arms, making him lean back and chuckle, looking up at Belle. "Dearest, I think Elsa does not want to watch." he said, leaning and kissing her nose.
Belle nodded with a small smile, leaning to kiss him again gently before she leaned back. "Perhaps not." she said before she turned to walk out of the room and downstairs again.
Coming up into the kitchen, she went to the bags on the counter and started to unpack things. "What do you want for dinner tonight?" she asked cheerfully as she could, glancing back at him as he entered the kitchen with Elsa in his arms before she went to putting away the groceries once again.
Gold came into the kitchen and walked to the table where Elsa's baby bouncer still sat. Gently shifting her to lay in it, he strapped her in so she wouldn't slip and fall. Smiling down at her, taking a stuffed teddy bear that sat by the bouncer and offering it to her. Smiling as her fingers took it and she brought it up to her, instantly starting to chew on one of the ears as her bright blue eyes looked up at him.
"Anything will be fine, dearest." he answered, keeping his eyes on Elsa as he moved to sit in a chair just in front of her, smiling a little. One hand gently bounced the baby bouncer, causing the child to giggle happily in her spot.
Belle put the groceries away, glancing over at him and chuckling, seeing how completely enthralled he was with the baby, and it was so, so adorable. When nobody was around but them is when Rumple showed his softer side, and she just loved it. She knew Elsa would come to love it, too. Rumplestiltskin was a complicated man, he had many sides, but it is this side she loved the most. The side he only reserved for his family. To show this side to anyone else would create even more danger for them than just their simple association with the sorcerer. She knew her and Elsa were in danger just by being with him, by being his weaknesses.
Getting the groceries away, she folded the paper bags and put them in the cabinet to recycle them before walking over to the table. Walking over to her husband, she moved to rest her hands on his shoulders, rubbing them slowly and leaning down to kiss the top of his head. "You are entirely too adorable, dear."
He chuckled, glancing back at her before turning his eyes back to Elsa. "Many people would beg to differ, love." he answered, giving Elsa a small smile.
"True. But not me. You are adorable, the best father in the world, charming, handsome, sexy." she said, leaning down to kiss his temple gently. What was getting into her? She wanted to kiss him all over, to run her fingers over him. The urge was almost unbearable. But, she kept her hands on his shoulders, rubbing them slowly as she looked up to Elsa.
Listening to her, he smiled and shook his head. "Hardly, love." he said, glancing up at Belle slowly. "What has gotten into you my sweet? Is anything the matter?"
She shrugged and looked back down at him, giving him a small smile. "I just...I just want to make sure you know how much I love you, how much I care about you. It doesn't matter how other people see you. It matters how I see you. And I do love you...so, so much."
Gold sat back and reached to take her hand. Shifting the chair back a little, he gently tugged her so she sat on his lap, careful of his bad leg. Moving his arms around her waist, rubbing her side as he looked into her eyes. "And I love you. My family is the world to me. You gave me the most beautiful little girl...I cannot believe I had a hand in making her." he said with a small chuckle, leaning to place a kiss on her nose. "But this is coming out of the blue. Are you sure you're alright?"
Shrugging again, she rest her head on his shoulder and run her fingers along his arm that was around her. "I just...I just went to see Graham today is all. He died without knowing how much I love him. I'm afraid...afraid that I'll loose someone else that won't know." she said, looking up at his face.
He gave her a reassuring smile, leaning to kiss her and hug her tighter against him. "I am not going anywhere anytime soon, that I promise you. After all, I am the great Rumplestiltskin. Where would I go?"
She smiled and nodded, leaning up to kiss him. "No where." she said. Glancing back at Elsa and then up to Rumple as she sat up. Running her fingers along his chest and chewing on her bottom lip. "What do you say...we put Elsa down for a nap...and you and me take advantage of a quiet house?" she suggested with a small blush.
Chuckling a bit and nodding. "Now who is the horny one, dearest?" he asked, leaning to kiss her gently. "Mm...alright then, how can I deny my love a thing?" he asked.
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The Dark Castle: The Wedding Day
Rumplestiltskin was entirely too nervous that day. It was the day they'd scheduled for their wedding. He hadn't been so nervous since his first wedding, and the wedding to Mila he was more nervous for because he'd never been with a woman before. He'd only sort of known what to expect for their wedding night, and it didn't help that Mila wasn't too thrilled in marrying him.
But Belle...she was beaming. The past few days she'd been absolutely beaming at the approach of their wedding. She rushed around the castle as though she were on fire. It was sort of amusing to watch how she fussed over silly little things. It wasn't like it was going to be a very big wedding, either.
And today was the day, and he was so nervous himself. Not for the fact that he wasn't sure what to expect, but because he was marrying his one true love, and he worried he wouldn't be good enough to make her happy, to give her all the things she'd need. Even this wedding wasn't something she truly deserved. Being the most powerful evil sorcerer didn't grant him many friends. He'd practically had to threaten the monk he'd gotten to agree to marry them. It had to be a monk, no real priest would agree to it, the clerics were too wide spread for many people to agree to perform such a union. And then the guests would consist of the monk, the Hatter, and the two of them. Not much of a wedding party. She didn't even have a maid of honor or a giant ball that a woman of her station deserved for their wedding. And he felt guilty of that.
Though, he didn't need to feel guilty. Everything was perfect in Belle's eyes, and she was so excited to be pronounced his wife. This move of being his wife would forever cast her into danger, and he'd made sure to remind her of that. But she loved him, she wanted to be with him and nothing else mattered.
No, she didn't have a maid of honor, and that made dressing for the wedding quite difficult. Her dress was no small thing, and growing up she always had a maid to help her dress. Here at the castle she didn't. Granted, she did know magic, but she didn't want to get ready for her wedding using magic. Besides, she wasn't even that good at it yet, and she refused to let Rumplestiltskin help.
As soon as they'd awoken, she'd kicked him out of their room, spouting off about how it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. But still...how was she supposed to get ready all on her own? She felt a little defeated at the idea. But, she'd figure it out. She wanted to be traditional, as traditional as possible. Rumplestiltskin still hadn't seen her dress, even though he'd grumbled about the fact that he'd paid for it. He hadn't been serious though, he couldn't deny her a single thing.
Fussing around with her hair, she put it up in curlers and spritzed her hair with water. She did have natural curls, but she wanted a bit tighter curls for this day. She wasn't even fully dressed at the moment. Instead of wearing a normal dress she had on her white shift that she'd wear to bed with her clothes laid out on her and Rumplestiltskin's bed, along with her under garments.
Walking up to her vanity, picking out her jewelry and laying it out onto the bed with her dress, examining the entire outfit. Deciding to get her under garments on first, she undressed from the shift and pulled on the under dress for her dress. Sighing a bit as she looked at herself in the mirror. Of course it had to be tied in the back.
At that moment she heard a knock on the door and she beamed, running up to the door and leaning against it. "Who is it? That isn't you trying to peek, is it Rumple?" she asked suspiciously.
A small chuckle came from behind the door. "No no, its Jefferson, sweetling. I came to offer my assistance. I've seen the things women wear to get married in."
She let out a sigh of relief and nodded, opening it so he could slip in. Looking up at him, she smiled slowly. "Thank the gods you're just in time. Have you ever tied up a corset?"
He shook his head, closing the door behind himself and gently taking her hand. "No, but I'm a smart man, how hard could it be?" he asked as he led her towards the open space of the room. "Wait, don't answer that." he said, laughing. Going behind her, he took the strings of her corset and started to thread it, pulling it tightly. "Just...tell me if I'm tying too tight."
Nodding a bit as she let him tie it. "Oh, trust me, you probably couldn't tie it too tightly. If you'd seen the maids where I grew up...goodness." she said, chuckling a bit and closing her eyes, resting one hand on her stomach. "One time I was tied so tightly, I nearly passed out. Pain and beauty go hand in hand, hatter. One cannot have one without the other." she stated.
But he looked at her face, shaking his head. "Sweetling, you are beautiful regardless of what you do. And I am sure our dear Rumplestiltskin believes so as well."
She chuckled and nodded, opening her eyes halfway. "I suppose so. I don't need all the fancy dresses and corsets to make him happy. I just need to be me. I love that about him, he doesn't judge the way most men do. Many a night I spent hours getting ready. A lot of men think beauty is a tight dress, done up hair, beautiful jewelry, makeup...but not him, not my Rumple..." she said with a small smile.
"Not all men think that way, Belle. Some men do want a woman with a head on her shoulders, believe it or not. My Gracie's mother was the smartest woman I'd ever met. She didn't wear all these fancy dresses or get all dressed up. She saw it as a waste of time, of money. See, we weren't the richest couple in the world." he explained as he continued lacing.
And she knew it must be hard for him to talk about his wife and daughter, but she still smiled, appreciating it. "It really is a waste of time sometimes, especially doing it every night. But, a girl must look good for her one and only wedding."
"And you will be the most beautiful girl at the ball." he assured, finishing tying up the corset before he stood up straight. "There you are, all set. Do you need more help to lace up your dress?" he asked.
She nodded a bit. "Thank you, Jefferson." she said. She should be embarrassed about being in front of a man with only her under garments, but she saw Jefferson as her best friend, more of a brother figure. Stepping up to the bed, she looked down a dress and smiled sadly, her fingers running along the silk. She wished it were her true brother there for her on her wedding day.
Jefferson walked up behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders and squeezing them a little. "Come, lets ensure you are dressed and ready for your vows. The monk should be here soon."
"Is everything ready downstairs?"
"But of course, Rumplestiltskin is seeing that everything is perfect."
Smiling and nodding as she glanced back at him. "Good. Everything is perfect." she said happily. Well, almost. Looking down almost sadly at the dress, she moved to pick it up. "Come, help me into my dress...then I'll finish my hair. I swear it'd be so much easier if Rumple would allow me the use of a mirror..."
"Ah but you know why we cannot use the mirrors."
"I do...but I still can miss a mirror, can't I? He's even covered my vanity mirror up." she said with a small pout as she watched Jefferson move to pick up the dress.
Gently resting one hand on his shoulder, using him for balance as she stepped into it, feeling the fabric being pulled up. Her dress was simple and elegant, a long white dress that fell to the floor in ball gown style. It was strapless and just underneath her bust pearls and beads were sewn into lace around her waist. Another belt of pearls and beads sewn with lace was a few inches down just above her hips, and from that the dress flared out to the ground. The white fabric was perfect and unmarred by anything, and she'd absolutely loved it on the hanger. Of course, she couldn't see it now.
Looking back at Jefferson as he tied up the back of her dress. "It doesn't look too much, does it? It looks as good as I'd think?" she asked.
He nodded with a smile as he gently worked the lace ties at her back to get the dress done. "You look like a princess, my dear. And that you are."
"I'm not a princess anymore, Jeff." she said with a small sigh, looking off to one side. "But...but thats okay. I'd give up any amount of crowns to be here instead of there." she said happily.
"Ohh but you are a princess. You are the princess of the Dark Castle. And today, Rumplestiltskin will make you his Queen." he said. Tying up the lace of her dress was a lot easier than her corset, and the dress fit perfectly on her curves. Once he was done, he leaned back and walked around her, nodding happily. "You do look lovely. But I do hope you're not walking down the isle with curlers in your hair."
She chuckled and shook her head. "No no, of course not." she said. Walking over to her vanity and sitting down, reaching to start undoing the curlers and letting the tightened curls fall down over her shoulders. "Would be easier if I had a working mirror however..." she said with a small pout.
Jefferson laughed, sitting on the bed and looking at her. "No pouting now, sweetling. You are to become a Queen."
As she undid her curls she smiled. "You are too much, Hatter." she said, glancing back at him before looking at her covered mirror of her vanity. She knew it was dangerous, that the Queen should not have access to Rumplestiltskin's private chambers through the mirror.
Reaching for her brush, she gently brushed her hair up a little, gathering some of it in a bun atop of her head. Making sure with her fingers that it was smoothed over and looked alright as she took a tie and tied it tight, pinning it into place as well. Gently running her fingers through her hair, she brushed out her long curls so they fell over her shoulders in gentle curls and waves, making sure the curls were not too tight but not too loose either.
Taking a white ribbon, she gently moved it up and tied it around the bun, hiding the tie in her hair. Picking up a small tiara on her vanity, she moved it to rest in her hair, making sure it was pinned down as well, the tiara surrounding the bun almost perfectly, the jewels glittering in the light of the room.
Once her hair was done, then it was time for her makeup. It was only light makeup she put on, a bit of eyeliner and eye makeup, a soft lipstick that she made sure would not brush off easily, a hint of blush, and then she was done. Glancing back at Jefferson, shifting on the chair to face him. "How do I look?"
And when he looked up at her, he smiled happily. "Perfect. Rumplestiltskin will love it."
"I do hope so..." she said, brushing her gown a little with her fingertips. Looking up at him, smiling happily. "Would you go see if everything is ready?" she asked.
With a nod, Jefferson stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Belle alone once again. Taking in a deep breath as she moved to put her silver earrings in and then her simple white gold necklace around her neck with a small pendant at the end of it. Butterflies flourished in her belly as she awaited the moment she'd be married, it was only a few moments from now, and she was nervous and excited all at the same time.
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Storybrooke: A Day Later
He had to work that day; of course he did, he always did. And Belle missed him more than she'd like to admit. But, Elsa did keep her busy. Elsa was a happy child, but she did take some looking after. She was about four months old and was already starting to teeth as she got bigger and bigger. Belle thought she'd have to get new clothes for the girl soon, and she'd love the chance to go clothes shopping.
But that afternoon Elsa was being ridiculous about going down for a nap. Belle herself was also exhausted and all together not happy that her normally happy baby was screaming up a storm.
Gently she bounced Elsa in her arms as she paced around the nursery, the child screaming against her mothers chest. "Elsaaa! Elsa please, can you please take a nap? Mommy needs a nap." she muttered. All together; she wasn't feeling too hot. She felt like she hadn't slept at all last night. And, she probably hadn't. A small smile formed over her lips as she re-thought the events of last night.
Looking back down at Elsa, she let out a sigh. "Come on baby girl. How about this, okay? You take a nap, and once you wake up we'll go visit daddy at work. He'll like that I'm sure." she said with a small smile. "You wanna see daddy?" she asked.
At the idea of seeing her father, Elsa seemed to perk up and sniffle, looking up at her mother as though she were trying to judge if it were a trick or not. Of course the little girl wouldn't think this was a trick, she was just a baby after all. But, Elsa was a daddys girl, she could always tell. Something about Rumplestiltskin rocking her in her rocking chair just made the child calm down, listening to his Scottish accent spin an excellent story for her.
Oh how Belle wished Rumple were here now to sooth the child. But the promise of seeing her father Elsa seemed to understand. Smiling a little as she stepped to the crib, carefully laying Elsa down in it and looking down at her. "Good girl. Mommy loves you." she said slowly, watching as the child settled down in her crib.
Standing up straight, she walked out of the bedroom door and closed it behind her, making sure she had the listening end of the baby monitor as she walked down the hallway and towards her and Gold's bedroom. Walking over to the bed, she slowly moved to take a seat and lay back. Slipping her feet from her slippers, she shifted to curl up in the center of the bed.
A smile formed over her lips as she could still smell his scent on his pillow. Shifting a little so she laid her head on his pillow, she let out a shaky sigh. What ever was the matter with her? Surely she was an independent woman. But just then, the idea of being away from him hurt. She'd spent so many months away from him, pretty much all of her pregnancy, and it'd hurt more than she could imagine.
Laying on the bed for a few moments before she suddenly felt nauseous. An unwelcome wave of sickness went over her body as she quickly got up, darting into the connecting bathroom to loose her breakfast into the toilet.
It was the worst thing in the world the way she got sick from seemingly no where. She hadn't felt so horrible since she'd been pregnant with Elsa, throwing up almost everything she ate. The beginning of her pregnancy with Elsa was horrible, she always felt sick to her stomach, couldn't keep much food down a lot of the times. At least, not breakfast.
Sitting back against the tub, she reached to flush the toilet, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand when realization dawned on her. The last time she'd felt this way she'd been pregnant. Her eyes widened a little as she mentally counted the weeks. She'd just had Elsa four months ago, there was no way in hell she could be pregnant already. Then again, there possibly was a way.
A blush crept onto her cheeks as she moved onto her knees and scrambled to the cabinet under the sink. Opening it and searching around, hoping to find a pregnancy test, something to tell her she was wrong. But of course there wouldn't be anything there. She'd only moved in four months ago, and she had no need to stockpile those things. And she didn't have her magic to tell her if she was pregnant this time. She suddenly felt in new territory.
Moving back to sit against the tub again once she finished thoroughly searching the cabinet under the sink, leaning back against the cool tub with a hard sigh. Now what was she going to do?
Thinking for a moment before she stood up, moving to turn on the sink and washing her mouth out with the mouth wash that sat on the countertop, getting all of the tastes out of her mouth.
She'd just have to go to the store and get a few tests is all. And, she would.
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The Dark Castle: Just before the Wedding
It was going to be a good day, the best day of her life walking down the isle to her true love. She did miss her father, but her father wouldn't want to be here even though he shouldn't want to miss this for the world. And, she also missed her brother. But she was trying not to dwell on such things. She had the man she loved unconditionally and her best friend. As long as those two were there nothing else mattered.
And when Jefferson came to get her, she was all excitement as she slid into her shoes and walked out of the bedroom with him, her arm intertwined with his as they walked down the corridors towards the large balcony there on the upper floors of the castle. It'd been her idea - an outdoor wedding at night. It was going to be absolutely perfect, just as she'd imagined.
Walking with him, they stopped just outside the door and he held her arm, smiling as he looked at her. "You ready to be tied down to one man for the rest of your life?" he asked.
Looking up at him, she nodded happily. "More than anything in this world."
He nodded and reached to open the double doors before he returned to gather her arm again. Slowly walking outside with her.
She looked up and smiled as she saw her Rumplestiltskin standing there waiting for her just by the monk that would marry them. It was beautiful outside. The stars shined brightly in the sky as they overlooked the woodlands that surrounded the Dark Castle. A few strings of light were hung just above the alter, from the alter to the castle. They'd had an alter put on the balcony just by the wall, overlooking the land. The alter was white and had flowers intwined around it, a few crystals reflecting light as well. It was all so beautiful, so perfect. And Rumple was, too.
He wasn't in his leathers, no, he'd dressed like a gentlemen of the time to marry her. Elegant fabric befitting a groom, and he was all smiles when he looked up and saw her.
Slowly she walked with Jefferson up to her would-be husband. Gently reaching out to take his hand, she smiled as her blue eyes met his. "Oh Belle...you are the most beautiful creature in the world..." he muttered just softly. He didn't show his soft side, only to Belle. And today was one of the few occasions he'd let his guard down, for his soon to be wife.
"And you are the most handsome." she said with a small grin, knowing he'd want to object, but also knowing that he wouldn't.
Stepping up with him, she held his hands tightly as she looked up at him simply beaming her happiness. Slowly she glanced towards the monk and nodded for him to start. She couldn't wait for it to be official.
The monk though looked nervous. And anyone would suppose he would with performing a ceremony for the Dark One after all. So he cleared his throat, gripping his bible a little bit. "We are gathered here today to join these two in holy matrimony. It is my knowledge that you wish to share your own vows?" he asked, almost seeming relieved not to have to speak too much.
Belle nodded, turning her eyes up to Rumplestiltskin and taking a deep breath. "I thought I was doing the brave thing when I met you. You know, be brave and then bravery will follow. I thought I was...walking into the den of a monster when I made that deal with you. I was scared at first, but it wasn't a monsters den I walked into at all. It was just the home of a man, a man who needed companionship, friendship, understanding. I grew to like you as a friend, to revel in your company. And then I grew to love you as a woman should love a man. You've made me the happiest woman alive, Rumplestiltskin. I'll love you until the day I die, and every moment until then. As long as we both shall live, you shall have someone in your corner, a woman to love you unconditionally, accept everything about you even the dark bits. What we have hasn't always been easy...and I know it won't ever be." she said slowly, rubbing his hands a little bit.
Gently she reached to take the ring from Jefferson, slowly starting to slide it onto Rumplestiltskin's finger. "I Belle..take you Rumplestiltskin. To be my lawfully wedding husband. To have and to hold from this day forth. For richer, and for poorer, in sickness and in health. I promise to love, honor and cherish you for all the days of my life." she said, looking up at his face as she slid the ring entirely on his finger.
He smiled as he let her and nodded a bit. Rubbing her hands slowly. "Oh Belle..what can I say? I did not want to be loved...nor am I an easy man to love. When we met...I was unloved, and unloving. I was an enemy of love. You brought light into my life the moment you stepped into my home, you brought light not only into my home, but into my heart. How you could see the man behind the monster...I will never know. I will never be a perfect man, my sweet, sweet Belle. But know, no matter what happens you are my heart, you are the brightest light in my life. And you make me feel like a man again." he said.
Slowly he moved his fingers down to take her hand, taking her ring as well and starting to slide it onto her finger. "I Rumplestiltskin take you Belle to be my lawfully wedding wife. To have and to hold from this day forth. For richer, for poorer. In sickness, and in health. I promise...to love you, honor you and cherish you all the days of our lives." he finished as he slid the ring home.
She felt like she was on top of the world, that they were the only two in existence. The world could fall apart around them at the moment and she wouldn't even notice as she looked up into his eyes.
The monk took the hint of them finishing and nodded. "By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. What god brought together, let no man tear asunder. You may kiss the bride." he said, closing his bible and still holding it tightly as he watched them.
It was him who leaned down, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss, his arms snaking around her waist and pulling her up against him tightly, holding onto her as if she were the most precious thing. And she returned the affection, moving her arms up around his neck as she returned his kiss, leaning close to him as she could.
She didn't want to be anywhere else but right there; in his arms. This was her utopia. It wasn't perfect, nothing and nobody was perfect; but it was perfect for her, for them.
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Storybrooke: A few hours later
Belle was frantic when she'd woken Elsa up to go to the store. And at the store she'd purchased a dozen home pregnancy tests. The clerk had looked at her a little funny, but she'd paid for them and left, returning home with Elsa in tow.
It was a relief when Rumple wasn't home when she got home; she didn't want him worrying or bothering her about it. She wanted to find out on her own and then figure out what to say to him.
She put Elsa down into her playmat in her and Rumple's room, sitting the mat on the floor and laying Elsa on it, smiling a bit as she reached to show Elsa to bat at the little stuffed animals hanging above her head. Elsa quickly got the hang of it and started giggling up a storm as she worked on trying to catch one of the animals dangling in her face.
Once Elsa was amused, Belle went to the bathroom and dumped the continents of her bag on the counter. Sighing at the look of the pregnancy tests there, she gulped a bit and glanced at the time. It'd be several hours since Rumple came home...so she had some time, but she was still nervous.
Taking in a deep breath, she tore open one of the tests and got to work, something she wouldn't be done until she'd taken every single one of them. After all, one could always be wrong, but could at least ten of them be?
She'd read every direction carefully, lining up the tests on the bathroom counter as she finished each one, lining them up each in rows of five. When she'd taken the last one, she took in a breath and looked at the clock. She had a few minutes to kill while she waited for the later ones to finish up. And she decided she'd look at all of them together.
So thats when she set to cleaning up her mess, making sure each box was back in the plastic bag from the store for her to dispose of later. If they were all negative there was no reason to worry Rumple. Though, she did have to remember to keep one of the tests at home for just in case of emergency uses.
Once it was cleaned, she paced through her bedroom, glancing at Elsa every once in a while to make sure she was alright.
And then, glancing at the clock, she noticed it had to have been time enough. Taking in a deep breath, she nodded. "I can handle this. I can handle this. I can handle this..." she muttered her small mantra to herself as she marched back into the bathroom.
And there, staring her in the face were ten different pregnancy tests. Some of them were digital, some had pictures for results, some had lines, some had pluses. Looking at them, her face paled a bit as she realized each one of them had the equivalent of positive. The digital ones read 'Pregnant', the ones with the pictures had smily faces, the ones with the lines had double lines to show pregnancy, and the ones with the pluses had +'s staring back at her.
She was pregnant. Again. Four months after having her last child. Blushing a little as she stared at them, folding the toilet seat lid down and sitting down on the seat once the lid was securely down. Staring down at her knees, she bit her bottom lip. This was a good thing, right? Women in her time period got pregnant all the time back to back. But...with the curse still in effect, and already having one baby to worry about, she was worried it wasn't the best timing.
What would Rumple say? Her eyes widened at a thought that he might be upset, upset at the fact that she was bringing another child into their dangerous lives. Marrying him hadn't been the safest endeavor of her life that was for sure. But she loved him, for better and for worse. And she hoped to any god that was listening that this would be a good thing.
Slowly her hands moved to rest on her stomach and she gave a small smile. All she'd wanted was to have Rumplestiltskin's baby, and now she had another one growing in her stomach, another one that he'd get to be there for to watch grow, to feel its first movements in her stomach, all the things he missed with Elsa.
But still, she was worried.
Taking in a deep breath as she stood up, leaving the tests where they were and walking into the bedroom, looking over at Elsa with a small smile. "Hey there princess..." she said as she walked over. Slowly picking Elsa up and holding her against her chest, she bounced the child a little, looking at her face. "How would you like a baby brother or sister...?" she asked, rubbing Elsa's back.
At the happy sound Elsa made, Belle chuckled. Elsa couldn't know what was going on, but it helped to think she did. "Oh I hope daddy feels the same way, baby girl..." she said, hugging Elsa a bit more. The idea that her husband wouldn't like being a father again worried her. Could he truly ever not love a child that was his? She was pretty certain that no matter what he'd love any child that was his.
"Yeah yeah I know princess..." she muttered as she walked for the door. "Daddy will be over the moon, won't he?" she asked.
Thinking about it, she remembered her excitement to spill the news to him about Elsa in the Dark Castle, only to be met with the news that he'd never know. She gripped Elsa a bit more then, shaking her head, looking at her. "Well now, we couldn't let that happen now could we?" she asked Elsa, bouncing her a little. "Lets go tell daddy, hmm?"
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Storybrooke: Mr. Gold's Shop
All in all it was a quiet day at the pawn shop. Of course it always was quiet there, people rarely came there for anything. Often times he was left cleaning something. But that day Emma decided to stop in, asking about some old things he'd sold long ago.
Of course he knew what she was up to, she was looking after the twins Hansel and Gretel. Of course he'd sold the items in his shop, and he would be oh so helpful to the police.
But when Belle came in with the most determined look on her face and Elsa's car carrier in one hand, he looked up and smiled. "Ah, what a lovely surprise dearest." he said.
Emma glanced up just in time to see Belle walk in. But Belle didn't even seem to see her standing there, looking at Mr. Gold's books to find out who had once owned the compass she'd gotten from the child.
No, Belle walked up to the counter, moving to sit Elsa's carrier down at her side and reaching to grab Mr. Gold's tie, pulling him up and planting a heavy kiss on his lips. She kissed him with such passion it made Emma blush just watching it. How could one woman kiss a man with so much passion as Lacey Stan was kissing Mr. Gold right then? She had no right to be watching this, but it was like something she couldn't tear her eyes from. She hadn't felt such love for someone since Neal had been in her life.
Slowly Belle's fingers moved up from his tie and moved to rest on either side of his neck as she kissed him. Gold seemed to recover from the initial shock and kissed her back, almost losing touch of himself. He always lost a bit of himself in Belle's lips, her kiss was so damned addicting and distracting all at the same time. One touch of them would send his mind a-blur to what he'd been doing.
It took a minute, but slowly Belle let him lean back from the kiss, a small grin on his lips as he opened his eyes and looked at her. "Well well, to what do I owe this pleasure, love?" he asked, trying to slip back into his careful mask of Mr. Gold - pawn broker.
Belle gave him a small grin as she rubbed the sides of his neck with her thumbs. "I missed you."
"Ah, well, not that I don't love the way you miss me, but we have company." he said, gesturing towards Emma standing there by the counter.
It made Belle blush as she leaned back from Gold, looking over at Emma and nodding. "Oh oh, I am so sorry Emma! I didn't even see you standing there." she said, biting her bottom lip slowly.
Emma chuckled and waved it off, shaking her head. "Hey, no big deal. Your shop, do what you want. You weren't flashing anyone so, whatever."
That made Belle blush even more as she moved to pick up Elsa's carrier, sitting it on the counter and lowering the handle, looking in at her before back to Emma. "Quite. But again, I'm sorry. It was so abrupt of me, I don't know whats come over me."
Shrugging, Emma looked over and smiled. "Hey look, she's getting real big..." she said a little. She mildly regretted giving Henry up when he was a baby. What would have happened if she'd have watched him grow the way Elsa was growing?
Belle beamed and nodded, looking down at Elsa. "Oh yeah, she gets bigger and bigger every single day. Its crazy." she said, glancing back at Emma.
"Kids do that." Gold responded, looking up at Emma. "Now, Miss. Swan, have you found what you were seeking?" he asked, almost eager to get Emma out now that Belle was here.
And Belle just chuckled. "Thats my Nicholas, all work and play only after work." she said, and Emma didn't miss the small twinkle in her eyes the way Belle spoke of Mr. Gold.
Granted, Emma didn't see anything to love about the pawn broker. He seemed every bit the conniving monster that people told her he was. But, apparently Belle saw something there, and to each their own. Emma nodded, though and looked at Gold. "I did. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Any time, Miss. Swan. Do come back again." he said, watching as she walked off. Once the bell above the door of his shop sounded, ensuring him that Emma was indeed gone, he looked back to Belle. "Now, to what do I truly owe this pleasure to, love?"
Belle looked at him with an innocent look as she smiled, moving to lean against the counter. "I did miss you. I was at home all by my lonesome missing you. Can't a wife miss her husband?" she asked.
He gave her a small smile and nodded. "Of course, but you usually don't come into my shop and plant a kiss like that on me simply because you missed me."
Nodding a bit, she looked down at the glass of the counter, chewing on her bottom lip. "Well, I did find some wonderful news today...and once I'd decided it was wonderful news, I had to come down and see you.." she said. That, and because the last time she was pregnant she hadn't gotten to tell him, and she was mildly terrified that he'd disappear again. That idea tugged at her heart and her eyes looked up at him.
He saw the conflict in her eyes. Belle showed a lot of her emotion in those deep blue pools he loved to stare into. Reaching up and resting one hand on her cheek, shaking his head. "Once you decided it was wonderful news? You had to make a decision on that?"
"Well...well yeah." she said. Shifting to stand up, she rest one hand on his wrist and rubbed it slowly, a small smile showing on her lips. "I...I'm pregnant, Rumple." she said, letting the words out. He needed to know this time; she needed him to know, and she needed him to be the first one to know.
His eyes widened at her words and he slid his hand down to her shoulder, gripping it a little. "Pardon?"
Giving him a bigger smile, she leaned up and kissed his bottom lip before leaning just an inch back. "I'm pregnant." she repeated.
And he slowly started to smile. "A-Are...are you sure, love?" he asked, almost afraid of it being ripped away from him.
"Well, I took ten tests and they all came up positive. So I'm pretty positive. I'm going to make an appointment at the hospital with a doctor for a few days from now. Did you know theres all these new things when being pregnant in this world? Like...prenatal vitamins and such? I didn't know you needed vitamins to have a baby..."
The way she talked, Gold just smiled happily and nodding. "Aye, you do. And I shall be with you at your appointment, love. At every single one. I refuse to miss a single thing." he said. Moving his hand up, he threaded his fingers through her hair and leaned to kiss her deeply, mentally cursing the countertop in-between them. How did they always come to be kissing on opposite sides of the counter?
She returned his kiss, moving her hands up to rest on his wrists and leaning back from it, smiling as she looked at him. "So...you're happy? This is good news?" she asked almost reluctantly.
"Love, you are giving me another child, I am ecstatic. I once thought it were too much to hope for any other children...and here you are, giving me two. Its a blessing, love."
She smiled and nodded. "Blessing or not, once this one is born, I am going on the pill. I do not need to be cranking out children left and right." she teased.
And he chuckled, nodding. "Aye, but after this one."
She smiled and leaned back to kiss him again, tilting her head to one side before she broke the kiss, shaking her head. "Mm, I have to stop that. Gods you're addicting.."
Hearing her words made him laugh. "Excuse me? I'm addicting?"
"Yess! When I was pregnant the last time just the smell of you on your old clothes drove me nuts. At least this time I'll have you."
"And I wouldn't miss it for the world. Come dear, lets go get something to eat. I'm sure our child is hungry." he said as he let go of her and walked around the counter with the use of his cane. Holding out his arm for her, he looked up to her face. "Shall we?"
"We shall." she said. Picking up Elsa's baby carrier and threading her arm through Rumple's, looking up at his face and leaning close to his side. "Gods I love you."
"As I love you. All three of you." he told her, leaning to kiss the top of her head before he led her out of his shop. He'd never felt so happy, and he imagined this would have been how he felt to be told the last time that she were with child. Its just how he felt the first time with the child they'd lost. Regardless on all the bad things he'd done, he must have done something right in his life to deserve a wife who was giving him not one, but now two children. A new start, a fresh chance at happiness. And now he just hoped Baelfire would see that he'd changed, would want to let him be his Papa again, too.
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A/N: Yaay for Rumbelle fluffiness! :-D. I just had to write the wedding. I'd re-watched the wedding episode and was inspired! I did throw a little twist in there, but its a fun twist.
As always, read and review. I did get this chapter out a bit quicker than I'd done the last chapter. Hopefully I can get the next one out just as fast - I just had happened to have a break in the homework load. Stupid college, cannot wait until I'm done!
Let me know what you think! Ta-ta for now.