38. Bright

Belle floated down the aisle, adorned in white and smiling happily at the groom waiting for her. Gold followed her every step with his eyes, still unbelieving that this was really happening.

The vows were exchanged. The bride and groom held hands and never looked away from each other. Gold dimly heard the preacher say that it was now time to kiss the bride. And so he saw Belle lean in…

And Jefferson met her halfway, pulling his new wife close to his heart, where she would stay for the rest of their days.

Everyone in the audience clapped and cheered for the newlyweds, standing up to watch them walk back down the aisle. The pews started to clear, but Gold merely stood in place, his gaze following the girl who he had once believed to be his True Love. It seems that it really was not meant to be. He felt as though his last chance for happiness was slipping through his fingers.

He heard her walk up behind him, but he didn't acknowledge her when she spoke.

"They look happy, don't they?"

A silence. She waited him out.

"Yes. They do."

Another silence and a moment later he felt a hand on his arm, "Come on, Rumplestiltskin. Let's go take advantage of the free bar."

And he let Emma lead him away.

"You holding up alright?"

He wanted to drown in his scotch. "Do I look like I'm 'holding up', Miss Swan?" he grouched.

She only raised an eyebrow at his crankiness. It didn't seem to bother her. He supposed she expected it.

"Actually, yes."

He shot her a look from behind his hair.

"From what I've heard, if one's 'True Love' is away from them, the other person seems to die from heart break." Her voice was sarcastic and biting, but her eyes showed the bitterness and sadness she wouldn't tell. "But here you are, still breathing and living. Your frown isn't even as murderous as it usually is. I expected you to be gouging people for early rent or something."

He scowled at that, and she smirked. "There it is! That's what I mean," she pointed at his face with the drink still in hand.

He rolled his eyes and took another sip. They sat in silence, both wallowing in their drinks and loneliness. Growing bored, he allowed his eyes to wander the bar and then to the side where people were dancing and conversing in their nice formal attire. He cast a glance over at Emma, realizing something.

She was wearing a dress. A very pretty, girly dress.

He gave her a onceover, taking it in, knowing this was a rare opportunity.

She caught him looking. "What?" she asked, harshly. "Is there a problem?"

"You…are wearing a dress," he stated simply.

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Yes, Sherlock, I am. Because this is a wedding and showing up in jeans is something that people would frown upon." She turned her nose up at him, "Or leather pants, for that matter."

He gave her a hurt look, "Is that supposed to be a jab at my taste in fashion? I'll have you know that my leather pants were the talk of the forest. I've made princesses swoon at my feet with them."

Emma let out an unintentional giggle at the image. The alcohol must be getting to her already. "Oh God, I can just imagine." An unladylike snort escaped and she started laughing harder.

He watched as she slumped over onto the counter, holding it for balance. He himself couldn't hold in the chuckles. She turned to him and they just continued to laugh.

It took awhile before either calmed down, but when they did Emma knocked back the rest of her drink in one go.

"Oh man, I needed that. It's been so stuffy lately." The bartender came over to refill the drink at her beckoning, and when he walked away Emma turned to be greeted by Gold's offered drink.

"I know exactly what you mean, love."

She smirked and clinked her drink against his. Bringing hers to her lips, she didn't remove her gaze from his as she drank the contents.

Unbeknownst to them, a couple was twirling on the dance floor, taking glances at the two at the bar with interest.

"You see, sweetheart? He's doing fine," Jefferson soothed his new bride. Belle had been worried about Rumplestiltskin since she revealed they were engaged.

Jefferson understood why. After all, the Dark One was prone to drowning in his self-contempt and hatred and sorrow, and this could, quite easily in fact, push him over the edge. She fretted that he'd be brooding in the corner the whole time.

But there he was, laughing it up with the Savior. They looked quite cozy too, if he did say so himself.

"Are you sure?" Belle asked, keeping one eye on her former partner as she and her husband spun around the floor.

"Yes, dear, I am," he leaned down and kissed her cheek. That made her turn and smile brilliantly at him. She kissed him chastely on the mouth.

"I'm just worried. You know how he is." She glanced back over at Rumplestiltskin. "I just want to make sure he's okay. I may not be in love with him anymore, but I still care."

She turned imploringly back to Jefferson, hoping he understood why this mattered to her. And he did, and she could see that in his eyes and smile. He turned them again so they could see Rumplestiltskin at the bar more clearly.

"I think he's faring very well. As is our resident Charming princess."

"How do you mean?" Belle asked, a quizzical look on her beautiful face.

He pointed with a finger, "See how brightly her eyes shine at him?"

Belle peered closer, "Yes."

"His are brighter," he whispered into her hair near her ear.

Belle's mouth fell open as she realized this. Then she smiled softly at the couple.

She turned to him, their faces still close. Her eyes danced in the light and he was once again struck by how lucky he was. He caught her lips in a searing kiss and instead of being surprised by it, she returned it as though she expected it.

She rested her forehead against his when they parted. "I love you, you know that. I may be able to see the good in things, but you seem to see everything more clearly."

His heart warmed and he brought her closer, nuzzling his nose in her neck. "I love you."

She whispered the same sentiment against his lips as they continued to sway with each other.

Across the room, Gold had completely forgotten his earlier dark thoughts. Emma was cheering him up without even trying and he couldn't remember ever feeling this lighthearted.

He was continuously blinded by how bright her smile was. He spent the rest of the night trying to bring it out as much as he could.

What he didn't know was that it was there to stay.