Notes: In case you forgot (because I did coming back to this story), this is set after 5B. Rumple goes with the heroes to the Underworld to try and save Hook but they fail. They return and Rumple is NOT the Dark One and Belle is NOT pregnant...Carry on!


They had actually gone the whole day without having a 'heart to heart' and it was a nice change. They both figured they needed a break and they didn't think Archie would mind. So they simply relaxed. Either reading a book, watching some television, playing more chess. They realized how much more time they had on their hands when they weren't busy saving the town, helping the heroes, working on the shop or the library (perhaps that one didn't count), or fighting with each other.

It was past eight, dinner already eaten, and they were sitting by the fire. Just like back in the Dark Castle. With a few differences. Rumple wasn't spinning straw into gold and Belle wasn't reading on the floor by his feet. Instead, her legs were hung over his knees while she sat back in the couch, still reading, and he faced the fireplace. He smiled fondly as he remembered how Belle would slowly scoot closer to him through out her 'working' days in his castle, thinking he didn't notice. And each time she got closer, the faster his heart beat, until he reached a time where he would wonder why she was sitting by the fire across the room instead of by his feet. Of course he would pretend that he was annoyed by her presence, or make some odd reason of the servant needing to be by the master in case he needed anything and such nonsense. And of course, she would always smile, never bothering to hide it.

When he looked at her tonight, he noticed the most strangest thing he had ever seen when she was reading. She wasn't smiling.

Oh it was that little detail she wasn't even aware of (as she always seemed confused when he brought it up), but Belle would always unknowingly smile when she was reading a good book. And it was a good book. It was one of her three copies she brought with her for their break from their homework. But now she wasn't smiling. In fact, she looked a little sad, and confused.

"Belle?"

She looked up. Perhaps she was just tired. Belle never could put a book down, no matter the time.

"Are you alright?"

She tried to smile. "Yes, I'm fine."

She turned her attention back but the curved arch of her lips vanished as quick as it came. Guilt rose in Rumple's chest and he knew that somehow he was responsible. Again. Even if they were being completely honest with each other, he knew telling her about the dagger and how it really felt just wasn't a good idea. But he had to anyways, didn't he? He was stupid with her all the times it seemed. Clever when it came to Cora and Zelena, but stupid with Belle.

"Do you want to talk about anything?" He asked, surprisingly hoping for an answer.

Belle sighed. Not really, she thought. It was part of the assignment to talk about everything, but why couldn't she figure out what she was feeling before explaining it?

"Rumple, I'm fine, really." She said.

He smirked. They both knew she was lying and he didn't believe it. She took her legs off of Rumple's lap and stood up.

"I think I'm going to go ahead and go to sleep."

"Agreed." He smiled up at her.

He turned off the fireplace. He liked it being a gas fireplace rather than woods and oil, it made it easier for everyone. He then made his way to the bedroom. Passing by Belle's room he could hear the shower go on in the bathroom and he focused on not turning his mind to her. It wasn't right. They were married of course and knew each other in every way, but they both agreed that getting back together in that way wouldn't help them. That was one of the problems. He would lie, Belle would leave, he did something to earn her forgiveness, but in the end they found themselves in bed together forgetting what they were fighting about in the first place. Communication. That was their real problem and Belle often liked to place the blame on him, but he has learned something in the short few days of their homework.

He wasn't the only one. How could he learn to talk to her if she walked away?


Belle couldn't fall sleep, again. This time it wasn't about what Rumple said, but rather what he did. It was the little things she didn't think he ever noticed that sent shivers up her spine, when she would find herself waking up in bed next to him the next morning.

The previous night they had slept in the same bed. She didn't want to be alone with those thoughts, but they remained on their respected sides. They didn't do anything because they both knew it wasn't right. Not when they were trying to fix their marriage.

But why did we choose this house for the homework? She thought. It held too many memories of their honeymoon. Only because their honeymoon was held in that house. And it wasn't very long either.

We thought that putting it in the paper would prevent the weekly villain causing a problem that forced us to return home early, but I guess not.

It seemed every happy moment in their life was short lived, and she hated it. Her mind went back to that evening. They agreed to take a break from their homework, something she knew Archie wouldn't mind, and spent the day relaxing. It was a nice change of pace rather than spreading themselves too thin helping everyone. Or having control of all the playing fields in Rumple's case.

While she was reading he was gently rubbing her legs with his fingers, staring at the fire and seeming all casual. Of course it didn't help matters that she purposefully propped her legs up on his lap. It was one of the most romantic moments women wished for. A moment they didn't have during their honeymoon, and it was addictive. It nearly forced her out of her bed, throwing the sheets off, and knocking on Rumple's door. Damn him if he was asleep after that evening, she would wake him if she had to.

But she didn't move. She remained in her bed, staring into the dark and dreaming of things she wished were true.


On day four of their homework, Belle woke up rushing to the bathroom and throwing up in the toilet. She had figured that before it was only because of the news she received, and she knew it couldn't have been the food yesterday because Rumple did the cooking. He had joked that he didn't want to die by maid.

So what happened? She thought bent over the toilet.

"Belle?" Rumple knocked on the door from the other side. "Are you alright?"

She quickly forced down whatever else was about to come up before answering, "I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."

Her hope that he would believe her quickly left when she retched in the bowl again, hating herself for not having control over her own damn body.

Thankfully Rumple didn't say anything on the other side but knowing him, she knew he hadn't left yet. In fact he would most likely be right outside when she opened the door. She brushed her teeth thoroughly, making sure the vile taste was gone, and finished getting ready. All the while going over what could have made her sick.

She nearly dropped the hair brush when she recalled what her and Rumple had did right before he left for the Underworld with the others. But it wasn't possible.

If by chance it is, she thought, I shouldn't be sick yet.

Granted she didn't have a thorough knowledge of pregnancy and wasn't sure just when morning sickness hit, but she wasn't going to rule out the possibility either.

She knew this wasn't the best of times, by any means, but there was no guarantee that her and Rumple would stay together after this. She loved him to the depths of her heart and soul, and she truly believed they were True Loves, but what if they needed a real break? Not just staying away from each other for a few days or weeks? But what if this was what they needed as well?

Rumple knocked on the door again, pulling Belle away from thoughts she knew wasn't particularly practical.

"Sweetheart, are you alright?" He asked again.

Her heart leaped at the first word, but she forced herself to think. She opened the door to face him, hating how worried he looked.

She tried to smile. "I'm okay. I guess dinner didn't sit well with me last night."

"I guess it was death by Dark One." He awfully joked, but Belle smirked. "I assume breakfast wouldn't be any good?"

"Probably not. At least for right now." She quickly added. She didn't him getting the idea she had, but she wanted to make sure before she told him anything.

It can't really be possible, can it? She wondered as Rumple left to the kitchen to make himself something. She headed to her bedroom, finding her purse and pulling out her phone. They were only suppose to use it for emergencies and Belle felt that this qualified. Besides, they couldn't leave the house for her to find out herself.

"Emma?" She asked when someone answered on the other line. "I need you to get me something."


Hm,...I feel the chapters are getting shorter and shorter. Lol, actually the are. It went from 4,000 to 3,000 to 2,000 to almost 2,000 again. I'll try to make the next chapter longer.