Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my fantastic Beta.
I thought I was finished with A Treasure Worth Fighting For. After all, I'm quite a ways into the sequel, A Treasure Worth Saving. But then Rumple and Belle wouldn't leave me alone. I decided I wanted to do a short epilogue for them. Here it is. And I hope you like it.
"Like hell, I will!" Rumple sneered at his boss.
"I want you to stay and triple-check that contract. It has to be air-tight!"
Rumple gave him a condescending look, "I don't make mistakes with contracts. Look it over yourself, and you'll see I left no loopholes. I know what I'm doing."
"I asked you to look it over!"
"I have a beautiful wife to get home to, and I'm already running late." He started to walk away, but he turned back and said, "Find a new lawyer to work for you. I'm getting tired of putting up with you. I don't like taking orders from imbeciles."
He sighed, realizing that it would mean he'd have to call Belle and tell her he'd be late. He had an office to clean out.
When he carried the box with his things out, he chuckled. He had three pictures of her in his office. He decided it was time to tell her his plan.
After dinner, he sat with Belle and said. "Are you mad that I quit without asking you?"
"You gave up your whole life for me and moved realms. I think you've proven I come first in your eyes. Especially since you quit because he wanted you to work late and you wanted to come home to me."
"Everything I do is for you. I couldn't tell him I didn't want to waste time at work after I gave up being the Dark One to spend time with you."
"Yeah, I don't think that would do." She leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled. "I'm so happy."
"I noticed something when I packed up my office today."
"What's that?"
"I had three pictures of you on my desk." He caressed her cheek. "I want to be around you more. I was wondering if you would want to work with me. I could start my own law firm, and you could be the office manager. You're better with people than I am. Also, I'd put you in charge of the law library there. I'll have the best one in the country."
She looked at him in shock. "You want to work with me?"
"Belle, I don't like being away from you. But don't feel like you have to say yes. I know you love your job at the library."
"You aren't the only one who gave up their old life to be together. I would love that. Can I be in charge of the marketing too?"
"Of course you can." He smiled at her, and he was amazed at how much joy he had in his life.
"What about Neil? Would you hire him?"
"No. As much as Zelena annoys me, she's good for him. I think he should continue on as he is. He seems more confident when he's not working for me."
"It does make family dinners every other week more entertaining. He likes having something new he's done to report to you."
"Think Zelena will ever say a word to me again?" He asked.
Belle shrugged, "She's starting to like it here. I think when she settles in more, she'll forgive you for being sent here."
"She's not good at forgiveness."
"No, but you weren't either. People change."
"True love changed me. And I wouldn't have it any other way."