Belle was relieved when Emma arrived. On the phone the sheriff had sounded hesitant, but after hearing what Belle needed she agreed. To the beauty's relief as well Emma didn't ask any questions when she arrived. But the whole transaction left Rumple quite confused. Of course he questioned why Miss Swan was there. After all, the phone was only for emergencies and they certainly weren't out of food. But he left the situation alone when he saw the secret look on the women's faces.

Even in the Enchanted Forest men weren't fully unaware of the going ons with women and their…time. But he didn't want to know every detail either. He just couldn't help but feel something wasn't right.

He wanted to talk to Belle. Communication, he reminded himself. But the last thing he wanted to do was push her. Perhaps that's why she had gotten up last night and left. He kept asking what was wrong when she didn't want to say. Then he realized there was another part of the whole communicating thing. Patience.

The morning was spent in awkward silence and it itched Rumple's bone. After Miss Swan had left that morning Belle had spent almost an hour in the bathroom. He had walked up and raised his hand, but after hearing her get sick again he felt he owed her privacy. So he walked away to try and keep his mind busy. But how could he? The woman he loved was currently sick and he had no idea why, and she wasn't telling him anything.

Patience, he reminded himself.

He growled as he sat back in the parlor chair, trying to pay attention to a random book he grabbed. It was quite ironic when he thought about it. He had waited over 300 years to find his son. He had manipulated and played the game and moved pieces in directions that weren't possible. He hated for people to be born while making sure they even had the chance to be born. He dealt with the most insane and unstable people ever during that time. And while it was frustrating to no ends, he remained patience. So why couldn't he wait two hours, which it had come to when he looked at the clock, for his wife to get out of the bathroom?

"What could she possibly be doing in there?" He asked.

Of course he wasn't sure he even wanted to know. He just needed to know that she was safe. Rumplestiltskin knew that if he had his magic, he could simply send it to her and know. Know if she was in physical pain of any sort and he could even heal it with his magic without him ever knowing. But that wasn't a choice. He no longer had his magic and he cursed to the four corners of the world for it.

He nearly jolted up when he heard the bathroom door open down the hall, but he remained in his seat. Patience. He grumbled. His heart skipped when he saw Belle enter the parlor, seeming hesitant.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

Belle tried to smile. "Um, yeah. I was wondering, if the offer still stands, perhaps some breakfast?"

He smiled. "Of course."

He set the book down and got up, heading towards the kitchen. "Eggs?"

Belle nearly froze. What? "What?"

Rumple looked back at her, looking innocent. "Do you want eggs?"

She chuckled. "Oh, um, no. It's okay. Maybe just some toast."

He looked at her, though Belle felt it was more like eyeing. It was that predatory stare, like he was waiting. Perhaps waiting for her to say something? To give an excuse to why she didn't want eggs? Well if that was what he was wanting to know, he would have to wait. So Belle just smiled at him, the level of awkwardness rising. Rumple let the matter dropped and continued on to the kitchen. When he was out of view Belle huffed, nearly falling down into a nearby couch. But she followed him.


Belle managed to make it through breakfast, now that she knew what made her sick. All the while her and Rumple were eating in yet more awkward silence, she had been contemplating how to tell him. But she couldn't decided yet if it was good news or bad news. Of course the prospect of a child entering their lives, especially theirs, was indeed good news. It was great news. Was it wrong for her to feel that it came at the wrong time?

Or maybe it came at the right time. She couldn't decided. Maybe becoming parents was what they needed to fix their relationship, but if so, what exactly did that say about them? Was their relationship so bad, were they that bad with each other that they needed a child to focus on? Could they not fix their mistakes and past regrets like adults?

Belle sighed. They were halfway through their homework. Half the week was already gone and Belle wasn't certain that they really improved. Yes, they talked. They talked about what they did and how they felt when they did. They talked about what they should have been talking about all along but each refused to listen in fear of being hurt.

But doing so hurt us even more, she thought.

She looked up. Rumple was staring at the fireplace again. But since it was early in the morning, there was no need for it to be lit. Since their homework had begun, next to actually talking, all Rumple and her had been doing was finding someway to fill the silence. Reading, staring, chess, anything really. She sighed. They had done what they were suppose to. They talked. But only of the past. And no matter how much it hurt, Belle knew the past shouldn't matter. Not anymore.

She set the book down next to her, getting Rumple's attention. "Do you want to talk again?" She asked.

He looked at her. His finger was rested over his mouth in that contemplating way. She wondered what he was thinking.

"I think that sounds good." He said.

"I was thinking," Belle got up and sat down next to him. "Instead of talking about what has already happened, maybe we could talk about…what might happen?"

Rumple's eyes lit up. He liked that idea. It was getting tedious and tiresome talking about his…their mistakes. It was all too sad. He felt focusing on the past wouldn't help fix the future. He almost laughed. For 300 years, that was all he did. Focused on what had happened in the past with his son so he could fix the future to have his son. But his son was gone. Belle was here. She was sitting right next to him, actually willing to listen to him and try. And he knew he was ready to.

"What would you like to talk about?" He asked. He knew what he wanted to talk about, but he felt it wouldn't be the right course of action jumping to questions about her secrecy this morning. But again, he was a patient man. Whatever happened this morning, perhaps that was where Belle was trying to lead to. So he waited.

"We've both made mistakes. A lot them. We didn't listen or talk to each other."

"We are now."

Belle smiled. "Yes. But I don't think focusing on the past is…is going to help the future."

She was fidgeting with her hands, which Rumple found odd. That was something he would do when he was nervous. But he let her continued.

"It does help to know the mistakes we've both made, so we don't make them again. But…"

Belle looked down at her hands. She had spent the last few hours, during breakfast and in the bathroom, scripting out in her head what she was going to say. Now she couldn't put together a sentence. She laughed. She guessed she was far more nervous than she thought. But she knew she had the right to be.

But he's not the only one that made mistakes.

"Are we… Rumple, are.."

"Belle."

She looked up. He didn't blink. There was a short pause and she feared he would yell at her. She had never been afraid of Rumplestiltskin, and she never would be, but these last few days had put not only Rumple but herself in a whole other light. She now knew that she had been an awful person. Maybe he realized that he didn't deserve her. No matter how angry she had gotten with him in the past, Belle could never deny that she truly and deeply loved Rumplestiltskin. She couldn't bear for him to leave. Not right now of all times.

"Before we talk about the future. May I ask what happened this morning?"

She blinked. Her heart nearly stopped for a second. But suddenly, she felt calm. She could do this. She could tell Rumple the news and they could rejoice and praise and everything would be better. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she shut it.

Neal. Baelfire. Rumple had spent hundred of years finding his son, only to loose him in the end. How exactly would he react to the news?

"Um.."

"We're suppose to be honest, right?"

Belle looked up. "Honest?"

"Yes. No more lies and deceits. Just the truth. Besides, it's just us in the house."

She smiled. He was right. Do the brave thing and bravery will follow. She repeated her life motto in her head three times before looking him in the eyes. She needed to do this.

"I'm pregnant."


The clock ticked. Since the beginning of their homework Rumple had been wanting to blow up the grandfather clock, magic or no magic, but somehow during the week the ticking had become soothing. Helping past time to heal the wounds. And it was always better than complete silence.

Pregnant. Belle was pregnant. His Belle was pregnant with their child. At least…

"Is it-"

"It's yours Rumple." Belle almost smiled. While they both knew she had dated Will, only for comfort, she knew their relationship never went up burgers and kind gestures. The child was Rumple's. And hers. Theirs.

He took a deep breath. He was smiling. But they didn't kiss.

"Are you okay?" Belle asked.

Rumple furrowed his brows. "What do you mean? Of course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be?"

Belle smiled. Just then he had sounded like his old self. Back in the Dark Castle when he spoke like she was the most ridiculous woman ever, and he was hopeless in love with her.

"Because of Baelfire?"

His smile left and she regretted ever mentioning his son's name. But could they really go through this without bringing up such a subject?

"Belle-"

"Rumple, you just lost him. I know it's not easy. I don't wan-"

"I want this." He interrupted her, throwing her off into silence.

"What?"

Rumple leaned forward, inching closer to her face, and took her hands in his. "I want this. I want a child with you. But I didn't think-"

"Oh, Rumple." She laughed. They had both been foolish.

It was all clear now. Somehow, everything just clicked. All this time they had both been foolish. Utterly foolish. Belle had believed that she was never good enough for Rumple and that he loved power over her. While he believed that no one, not even her, could ever love him. Perhaps they had just never really proved it to each other.

Before they fully realized what they were doing, they were doing what they kept insisting all week they shouldn't be doing. They were in each others arms, kissing and holding on to the other with their very existence. Never letting go.


Rumple bent down to pick up the clothes, passing glances as Belle as she moved around the room. They were both halfway dressed, just having finished a session of passionate loving. Gods they missed each other. And it was clear by the way they left everything. Article of clothing was spread out the room, as if they were merely thrown careless without knowing where it would land. The sheets were tangled in a mess. They didn't even seem to have time to fully close the door behind them. Of course it didn't matter that they were the only ones in the house. Just like the last time they were here.

Belle crossed the room. "I'm going to take a shower." She said.

Rumple smiled. "Would you like me to join you."

She laughed. "Dinner sounds better."

They both smiled. While Belle loved the idea of Rumple joining her in a hot shower, she was starving. And now Rumple knew why. Not only had they skipped lunch but she was pregnant. A fact Rumple couldn't stop reminding himself of. His fears from this morning that she was terribly ill was banished and he could finally breath. He could finally relax.

They both could. Though he wondered if that was because of their recent action. He laughed as he thought how long they had been really holding it together. Especially Belle. The first night of the week when they had both practically yelled and cried at each other, Belle was ready to get back with him. He found it a miracle they didn't just do it already the previous night. When he had offered her to sleep with him. Looking around the room he nodded. Yes, it was definitely a miracle.

Remembering what Belle wanted Rumple left the room to head to the kitchen. He had to remind himself again, not that he minded one bit, that Belle was pregnant. As he stepped into the kitchen, thinking about what foods wouldn't make Belle sick, the phone rang. He stopped. He had thought he and Belle specifically told Miss Swan that no one was to interrupt them. Unless it was a dire emergency, which could mean anything for their small magically enclosed town. Another ring. Deciding to face the music Rumple picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Gold. It's Archie. I hope you don't mind me calling."

There was a silence and Rumple figured the cricket was wanting a response. "No, of course not. Is everything alright?"

"I was going to ask you that. How are you and Belle doing with the assignment."

A big smile found its way to Rumple's lips. He had to hold back a laugh.

"Is everything alright?" Archie asked on the other line.

"Yes. We're doing great."

"That's great to hear! So you've managed to talk things out?"

"Yes. Now if you don't mind, I must prepare dinner."

Rumple hung up the phone, not caring if he left the therapist wondering why he was making dinner at three in the afternoon.