It was the day before the last day of their assignment and Belle and Rumple decided it was best to start talking about the future. They had spent the rest of last night in each others arms and didn't get much talking done. They were too excited about the news of the baby to talk about past mistakes and hurts. And they didn't mind. But now they felt it was time to put everything together and decided what they were going to do now. To decided where they were in their relationship. They knew that the baby helped provide them with a means to move on from the past, but while it hurt to realize it, they also knew they couldn't use the baby as an excuse to continue on hurting each other. Neither of them liked the idea of a divorce or shared custody over the child.

"We have nine months to figure something out." Belle said. Rumpel chuckled.

"Yes. I'm sure that's plenty of time. Archie called."

"He did? What did he want?"

"To check to see how the assignment was going."

Belle blushed. "What did you tell him?"

"Just that everything was going well."

They both laughed at the slight tension of the situation. Most of that tension was already gone, thanks to last night, but a few bits still lingered.

"I guess it helps now that we don't have the Dark Curse." Belle hesitated. They hadn't really talked about the Dark Curse itself. But over all of their mistakes Belle had come to realize that it wasn't always the Curse that hurt their lives. It was their own choices. But she had to agree that it did influence Rumple to make the wrong ones.

Now the curse was gone and Belle could see a difference in Rumple. He was more open to talk and communicate with her. More willing to listen. But that wasn't the only difference she saw. She had also noticed that without the curse he was far more...cautious. More hesitant and….cowardly. Of course she never truly believed he was a coward. At least not in the way Rumple always depicted himself as. And then she remembered why he was afraid.

"Rumple?"

"Hm?" He looked up at her.

"Do you think...that you're going to fail this child?"

He didn't answer. He just continued to stare at her, but not really looking. He was looking into the distance, into the past. Baelfire. They hadn't talked about him. Rumple wasn't sure he even wanted to. He would always love his son, but it still hurt to think about.

"Belle," He said. "Do you really want me to be honest?"

Belle pursed her lips. "That's what this is for, right?"

He nodded. He fidgeted with his hands on the armrest of the chair, casually glancing between Belle, his feet, and the fire.

"I don't regret what I did. The Dark Curse." He said, suddenly looking at her dead in the eyes. "I know it...disrupted...many lives. I know I hurt a lot of people, but I don't regret it."

"Why?" Belle asked.

Rumple sighed. "This is your first child, Belle. You haven't experienced the pain of losing it because of your own fear and mistakes. And I pray you never will. But I know how that feels. And I'm certain Snow and her charming prince could tell you as well."

Belle sighed. She knew what Snow and David had done to Emma and Maleficent's daughter, Lily. And while she could fully understand not wanting their child to become evil, she couldn't imagine going to such great lengths. But what they did to Emma and Lily wasn't necessarily the worst part. It was what Snow and David had imagined Lily to be. They had assumed she would be evil and a villain like her mother. A monster was what they said. Belle would be lying if she said that she didn't have that fear. Before.

When Rumple was the Dark One, she had imagined plenty of times of them having a child. But she also feared what people would see. Would they see an innocent baby who had done no wrong in his or her life? Or would they see what David and Snow saw in Lily? A monster. A villain all because of its parentage. It scared her.

But Rumple wasn't a Dark One anymore. There was no curse to get in the way of a happier future. Of course, she now knew that they could still make mistakes. On both parts.

"Why were you so afraid?"

Rumple looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"I know Pan was your father, but why did that stop you? Why did that make you so afraid of being a good father? Just because your father abandoned you, it didn't you mean you should do the same."

Rumple stood up, walking away. Not out of the room, just across it. He took a moment to figure out what to say. Of course Belle would think that way. Sometimes he had to remind himself that she wasn't always a maid. She was a lady and she grew up privileged. He didn't have to be a prince, but if he could have grown up the way Belle had, servants and maids and a well gifted life, he would have wanted nothing else. Of course, that was all on the basis of what he had suffered. Belle couldn't understand that. But he wished she would.

"You grew up with the belief that anyone could be brave. That you could do anything if you wanted. You could be a hero. I was never taught that."

He tried not to glare at her, but sometimes it irked him for her to think that everything was just that simple.

"The first time anyone had ever taught me that was you. Baelfire tried to tell me that I didn't need the Dark Curse. But he didn't understand either. Then you taught me, 'do the brave thing and bravery will follow'. By that time I had already lived hundred of years of pain, hurt, and love lost. It could have never been as simple as telling me and expecting me to do it so easily. But you've lived a privileged life, Belle. You never had to experience the suffering I did. And trust me when I say, your days as a maid in my castle was nothing compared to the hardship I went through. Both as a child and an adult."

There was silence. Rumple standing by the fire, his arms cross after hoping to explain. Belle was still sitted, evaluating what Rumple had told her. He was right. While she never did consume herself in the lifestyle she had, she did have it easy. She wasn't royalty, but she was close. And in fact, she possibly had a better life than royalty. Lords and ladies didn't have to concern themselves with entire kingdoms. Only a small village. The political matters weren't as heavy as what Snow and David must have gone through. Well, Snow perhaps. Since David was only a shepherd for most of his life. She was blessed, truly.

"Could you tell me?"

"What?"

"You're right. I don't understand. I never had to go through what you did. But maybe if you told me, I could understand?"

Rumple contemplated, and decided maybe it was worth it. But what all exactly did she want to know. The average life he had to live before the curse, or the heartache and pain he suffered afterwards? He wasn't sure which was worse. He never wanted her to see him as a coward, but now that the Curse was gone there was no escaping it. He knew she would eventually learn just how pathetic he was, but the question was would she stay with him? Well, she was still here, so he figured it was worth a shot.

"Very well." He sat back down.


Rumple spoke for the next two hours, detailing his life after his father abandoned him to the Dark Curse. He explained to her how he was left the war and was branded a coward. She reminded him that it was because he wanted to see his son, a noble cause in her eyes. But he told her that when a whole village, and your own wife, saw it was another matter entirely and reminded you every single day, you believed them. He almost hated himself for making her cry when he explained that he had to kiss a boot in front of his own son, but he knew it would help her understand. It was hard. It felt like he was being torn raw, his skin exposing. But he sat there, his palms sweaty, as he continued with his tale.

Eventually he got to the part of the portal where he lost his son for the first time. But he didn't have to continue. Looking at the tear stained face of his wife, he knew that she finally understood. He wanted to be happy, but he felt sick instead.

"Belle-"

She got up and made her way to him, taking his lips on hers. He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her closer. None of them were really comfortable in the position they were but they didn't say anything. All Belle wanted was to hold Rumple and let him know that he wasn't leaving. She now understood. He wasn't a coward. He was simply afraid, and somehow those two things seemed entirely different.

"I feel awful." She cried. "I only made things worse."

"Belle-"

"No."

They continued to kiss. They didn't break apart until they were out of breath and only then did they make their way to the couch for more comfort. But once they got there they remained sitted, eyes closed and arms wrapped around. They focused on breathing and the silence. Silence. There was too much.

"The clock." He muttered. "It stopped working."

Belle gave a light giggle. "Good. The ticking was really bothering me."

He laughed. "If I still had my magic I would have blown it up."

They remained in silence. Now they weren't sure where to continue, or what to do. Or if they should continue to sit there, quietly.

"This communication thing isn't so hard without the curse. Without all those voices."

"Oh, Rumple." Belle whispered. "Knowing everything I know now, I know this. You are far braver than I could ever hope to be."

"I highly doubt that."

"Yes, you are." She looked at him sternly. Giving him the look that said he had to shut up and listen because she was right. He laughed. Of course she was. She was his wife. "You're still here."

Rumple was sure his heart would burst from his chest. It was beating so fast. All because of her. When Belle said that it was like all the missing pieces of the puzzle was finally put together. And he wondered how he could have been so stupid. If he truly wanted to end it all, and he did for many years, he could have. Easily. He could have tricked another to taking the Dark Curse just like Zoso had tricked him. But he didn't.

"I had to find my son." He said, like an excuse.

Belle smiled. "Yes. And now you might have another. When I found that gauntlet, I had thought it meant you loved your power more than me."

"As usual, you didn't listen, dearie."

They both laughed. She wasn't upset at the 'dearie'. They both knew it was in a joking matter, just as he did back in the Dark Castle. She was still his maid at the time he told her.

"You said it leads people to their weakness."

"Which is often times... the thing they love most. My power is my weakness...or it was. But I love you the most. And you're my strength."

Belle smiled, staring at him with the most loving and blue eyes he had ever seen.

"I'm about to take you back to the bedroom." She laughed. "I've been so foolish."

"Perhaps." Rumple smiled. "But we both have. What is this child going to do with us?"

They laughed.


The rest of the day went easy. They relaxed, but by the fire and in the bedroom, and decided to talk about more pleasant matters. Like baby names and nurseries. Among other topics.

"You know, no one really owns this house. It does belong to the Sorcerer, but he's gone now I fear."

"I thought it belonged to the Author?" Belle said.

"Well the Author is chosen by the Sorcerer, which is Merlin. And while Henry does hold that title, he has no need for a house this large. He's just kid."

Belle laughed. "He's becoming a teenager now."

"Yes, he is."

"But I do think you're right. And I hope his mothers will agree."

"How so?"

Belle looked at him with a knowing gleam in her eyes and a smile that had 'sneaky' all over it. Rumple smiled. "What is it?"

"I really like this house." She said. "And we already own it...in a way."

Rumple chuckled. She was right. "I'm sure getting Regina and the others to agree to let us have the house would be easy, if we let that little bit of information in."

Belle laughed.

"I guess it would be more fitting if I was still the Dark One. But I am still the landlord." He smiled.

"By the way, Dove still collected the rent while...you were gone." Her voice lowered at the end. She didn't want to talk about her actions at the town line, but thankfully Rumple didn't say anything. He understood.

"I'll have to raise his paycheck."


The ending was a little odd, but I didn't want to keep going on about little matters. One more chapter, if I don't decide on an epilogue. I think we need during the two week hiatus. The last episode was...well, I still love Belle and Rumple. But I have lost all respect for her in this last episode. Why? Because of this :

"You're just afraid because I almost won today. Well, next time I am going to run so far and so fast that you never lay eyes on this child."

Won. Like it's a game. Oh Belle, of all the times you have been used as a pawn by Regina, Hook, Zelena, the Charmings gang, and even Rumple. You would think you would know not to use your own child as a playing piece to beat your own husband at his game. Oh, and by the way, he's been playing this 'game' FAR longer than you. Longer than before you were born. You really think you can beat him?

Anyways, please review :)