A/N: I was happy to see that everyone enjoyed the last one-shot. I think it turned out to be one of my favorite one-shots to write up for Rose. I want to thank those that left reviews last time: CocoRocks, belle, Grace5231973, NinaGold, crazykat77, Alice J. Nightshade, AbbieT, and orthankg1.

Ageless

If there was anything Rumpel learned during his days in Storybrooke, it was this: the ringing of his little bell could be either a blessing or a curse. For Regina in rage mode and most of the citizens in town, he regarded it as a curse. Today, when the bell above his shop's door rang, it was a blessing.

Dragging his attention away from the dusty antiques clutting every ounce of space, he was relieved to see Belle standing there in the sunlight.

"Good afternoon, Rumpel," she greeted cheerfully, gracefully crossing to his side to plant a kiss on his cheek. He turned his head to kiss her lips instead. There was a white plastic bag hanging from the crook of her elbow and she carefully set it down on the counter. Inside the bag was a box. He could already smell the delicious aroma coming from it.

"How was your lunch with Snow and Red?" He could tell it made her happy to spend a few peaceful afternoons a week with her friends, so he encouraged it often. Even if he had no clue what those girls talked about when they were together. It was worth it to see Belle's brilliant smile. Like now, for instance.

"Oh, it was wonderful. I had several iced teas and Red was able to convince Granny to give us a discount on the burgers. She didn't even charge for the pickles." Rumpel felt a twinge of jealousy. Granny always charged for his pickles. Actually, she charged double the original price.

Rumpel dismissed his envy and moved closer to Belle. It was like he was pulled by a string that was attached to her side. Grasping her hips, he guided her into his arms.

"My ears were burning this afternoon. What did you lovely ladies talk about?" He hoped he didn't sound too bothered or insecure. There was no telling what sort of secrets or stories those girls might share over lunch. Belle played with the knot in his tie and a lump formed in his throat.

"Red asked me...if you and I were going to...and I quote...pop one out anytime soon," she said, her cheeks turning bright red.

Rumpel's eyes widened until he feared they might fall out of his head. The nerve of that wolf. His gaze traveled to Belle's flat belly. They were becoming more and more intimate with each other, but they hadn't really talked about having a child of their own. Belle sensed his bewilderment and hurried on.

"Red also complained about her hours at the diner, her lack of a social life thanks to Granny, and her growing fascination with pork. Snow is still uncomfortable with her and Emma being the same age."

"Comes with the curse, unfortunately," he replied quietly. His mind remained stuck on the part where he and Belle were expected to "pop one out." Instinctively, his hand drifted from her hip to caress her belly. What if...they had a child? It wouldn't be the worst outcome in the world, especially if it turned out to be a little girl he could cherish. "Can you imagine that? Being the same age as your child?"

Belle's words yanked him out of his fantasy of having a little girl.

"Never," he admitted.

It was a strange phenomenon, indeed. The only reason Snow White was the same age as her daughter was because she had been frozen in time for three decades while Emma had grown naturally. He couldn't imagine being the same age as Bae. As Mr. Gold, he was only in his forties; as his true self, he was three centuries old.

"She should be lucky she hasn't lived three centuries," he declared. "That's an even worse fate. Most of it has been lonely and boring. Not to mention that it leaves loads of time to mull over your regrets."

He didn't mean to sound so dejected, but it was the sad truth. There were whole periods of time that Rumpel simply could not recall because it had been spent in complete solitude. It was one thing to lose a child. It was another matter when you were forced to wait centuries before reuniting with that child again.

Belle instantly appeared sympathetic, mewing softly, her hands moving from his tie to cover his heart.

"Should I put three hundred and one candles on your cake this year?" She quipped. It was her attempt to lighten the situation and he knew it, but somehow it only made his turmoil worse. His hands slipped from her hips and he turned his back on her, hunching over the counter. he squeezed his eyes shut as the memories came flooding back all at once, an eternity of misery.

He didn't know why he was so sensitive to it today. It was one of his oldest securities, being alone in the world, having lived all those centuries searching for his son without anyone to turn to for comfort. It had built up for so long inside him and finally it exploded altogether.

"I find more gray hairs every day. My leg gives out on rainy days. It's rare if I can remember the day of the week. I've witnessed villages flourish and burn, wars begin and end, men born and perish. I've lost every person I ever dared to love and spent more evenings alone than I care to remember. But, yes, if it would amuse you, cram three hundred candles on my cake. Let's hope I'll have the lungpower to blow them out."

The words came out harsher than he intended. It was dreadfully quiet behind him. Then the floorboards creaked under Belle's small feet as she went to him. A hand brushed down his curved back. Her touch burned.

"That one was a quip," she whispered and suddenly he felt guilty for emptying his grief on Belle without warning. Surely he had done a fantastic job of dampening her good mood. He turned and sought out the comfort of her embrace.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's being here, in this world. I feel more human and vulnerable than I have in a very long time. I'm aging, Belle. What if...?" He didn't have the power or courage to finish that sentence. Luckily, Belle was exquisite in reading him like every other book in her library.

"What if...something happens to you? What if your age starts showing and I discover I no longer want you?" She smiled reassuringly and brushed the hair off his forehead. "You know you shouldn't worry about that. I will always want you, no matter what form you take. You may be aging, Rumpel, but so am I. We'll face this challenge as we do every other: together. This way, I won't have to wonder if you'll outlive me."

This took Rumpel by surprise. Belle was good at hiding her fears or working through them. Many times he was convinced she wasn't afraid of anything at all, but of course she must be. He knew she was afraid of losing him-to death and to darkness both.

"You worried about that?" He asked, not sure whether to believe it. Belle shrugged loosely.

"Once or twice. Back then, you seemed so ageless." Rumpel didn't care for immortality, not if it meant outliving those he loved. He would rather grow old with Belle than exist for three more centuries. "Think of it this way: if you hadn't endured those centuries of living, you would never have found your son. We never would have met. I might have searched the world for you without ever knowing what I was missing."

Rumpel stroked Belle's cheek. Soft as fresh rose petals. She was one of the few sources of light in his life and he would never regret meeting her.

"I waited so long for you," he said. How many times had his heart been broken before he stumbled on the only woman that would be able to hold it securely in her hands? By the time his fate intertwined with Belle's, he had lost faith in true love, but she had restored it.

And Belle nearly fell into an arranged marriage that she didn't want. Would she have gone through with that marriage if they never met? Would she have been unhappy and trapped the rest of the days?

Belle leaned up and kissed him fully on the lips.

"See? It helps to look on the bright side once in a while," she advised. Then she led him to the counter where his tray of food was still waiting. The warm aroma teased his nose again.

"What did you bring me this afternoon?" Belle was much too good to him. He didn't care half as much about his wellbeing. If not for her, he might forget to eat lunch at all. She flipped open the tray to reveal a fresh hamburger sitting atop a mountain of fries.

"I ordered another hamburger before I left the diner. A hamburger with extra pickles." Rumpel's eyes lit up. He couldn't resist pulling Belle close to his chest and kissing her hard on the lips. She smiled against his mouth before the kiss was even done.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Belle giggled.

"You tell me every day, but it's always nice to hear it."

...