A/N: I will be updating some of my other stories. My muse hasn't been inspiring me lately, but hopefully after starting this one I will be able to add more to the others.

Chapter One: The Wedding

Picking up a fry, Belle dipped it in the ketchup as she waited for Neal to arrive. The longer it took for Neal to get to the diner, the more the butterflies filling her stomach continued to flutter. Ever since Rumple had proposed to Belle, she had been eager to have this meeting with Neal. She feared Neal would think she was replacing his mother, and that he wouldn't like his father getting married again, especially since Neal and his father just started to reconnect.

"Belle, are you okay?" Ruby asked pouring more ice tea into Belle's glass.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine," Belle replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked, furrowing her brow in concern.

"Yeah, I'm just anxious. Neal's supposed to meet me here and were going to talk," Belle explained.

"Ah," Ruby said knowingly. She was about to walk away when something came to her. "Belle, you shouldn't worry about Neal accepting you as a step-mother. You've been a great influence on his father, and if anyone knows you, they know you would never want to replace his mother."

"Thanks Ruby," Belle said smiling as Ruby's words eased her nerves for the moment.

She decided to take a bite of her burger that she had not started to eat due to her nerves causing her to lack hunger.

"Sorry I'm late," Neal said approaching Belle's booth.

"Its fine," she said, relieved, as she stood up and hugged him. "I'm just glad you came."

They both sat down and Ruby came over to take Neal's order. As Belle waited she shifted nervously in her seat waiting until they were alone again.

Once Ruby was gone, Belle began to speak. "Neal, I know you're papa told you he proposed to me, but I didn't feel right about accepting his proposal until I talked to you first," she began, "Before you say anything I need to get this. First, I'm so glad you two finally are on good terms. He still feels guilty about letting you go, but now he knows you forgive him. A good relationship between a parent and child is the most important thing to have in this life. Forgive me for bringing this up, but Rumple did tell me about your mama. I don't want to replace her Neal, I just want to be your friend at least, but if you don't want me marrying your papa I understand."

As Belle spoke she tried not to sound condescending, but she wanted him to know that she cared about him too. She didn't want him to resent her, or think she was trying to take his papa away from him.

For a moment he was silent, confusion etching his features as she told him this, and then he smiled at his step-mother shaking his head.

"Belle, I don't see you as replacing my mother at all. If anything you're more of a mother to me than the woman, who brought me into this world. I barely knew Milah, and those seven years she was in my life she ignored me or made me feel like I was a burden to her. My papa was always there for me and took care of me. I know the anger I felt towards him was because he let me down like my mother had done, but I know that he did everything in his power to find him me to earn my forgiveness. Though, I wish he hadn't taken on such a dark power to do it."

Neal took Belle's hand, holding it the way a boy would hold his mother's hand, and said, "I couldn't be happier that you're marrying papa, because you're the best thing that's happened to him in a long time, to us in fact."

Tears streaked Belle's face as he spoke these words, and her heart filled with joy. "That makes me so happy to hear Neal."

She got up and embraced her new stepson tightly kissing the top of his head as a mother would. Relief swept over her that Neal was okay with this, with her marrying his papa, and being his new stepmom.

~Page Break~

It had been two weeks since Belle had had that conversation with Neal about not wanting to replace his mother. It had been a comforting notion that Neal already saw her as a mother, but a voice in her still made her feel as if she replacing Milah.

She even had dreams about a Milah coming to her screaming, "How dare you take my son away from me!"

Rumple had told Belle many times that Milah had never cared, never wanted, to be a mother, but how could anyone not want to be a mother? If Milah was still alive why wouldn't she feel threatened by Belle? Then again, Belle hadn't known Milah. She was going by her beliefs and experiences with motherhood, and how most mothers wanted their children, so she assumed the same for Milah. She couldn't deny that she was at least flattered that Neal saw her as his mother, it meant a lot to her.

Everything was falling perfectly in place for hers and Rumple's wedding tomorrow. They would be having an outdoor wedding surrounded by their friends and family, with the exception of Belle's father. Maurice and Belle hadn't spoken in months, but Belle had tried to speak to him a few days ago, feeling inspired by her successful conversation with Neal. Unfortunately, the conversation with Neal was much easier. Maurice was a stubborn man and was still prejudiced against Rumple.

"Father, I want you to be the one to give me away at my wedding, but if you can't accept whom I'm marrying then maybe you shouldn't come," she said with firm resolve in her tone of voice, though it was slightly shaky.

"How can you marry that monster? He kept you prisoner for several months and is the reason that wretched queen kept you locked up," Maurice reminded Belle, exasperated by her choice.

"He didn't tell her to capture me! She did it out of petty jealousy and wanting to hurt Rumple," Belle defended her fiancé, her voice rising in anger.

"Why couldn't you just," he muttered but was interrupted by his daughter.

"Why couldn't I what? Marry Gaston? Gaston was an abusive bastard, who only cared about owning your land and me. It wasn't about love," she argued.

"He could have given you financial security and everything you ever wanted," Maurice argued back.

"Love isn't just about that and you know it! What I have with Rumple is real and true. Why can't you see that?" Tears were overflowing out of Belle's eyes as she and her father exchanged heated words.

"He is a monster and I cannot believe that your love will last. Even if he does love you he has many enemies and is a dark sorcerer. You could get hurt easily by him, or if not by him, by his enemies. I'm sorry Belle, but I cannot give you to this man," he said in a voice of finality.

"Then you cannot come to my wedding and I'll ask somebody else to walk me down the aisle," she said, letting the bell above her the door of her father's flower shop jingle angrily as she walked out.

~Page Break~

Rumple wrote in his latest business transaction, he'd been having a lot of business both as a lawyer and as a pawn broker, when he heard the jingling bell. He lifted his head and started to smile at the sight of his fiancée, but the smile turned down at the sight of her glistening eyes and quivering lip.

"Belle, what's wrong?" he asked.

"It's my father. I need to find someone to give me away because he won't," Belle said bitterly. "Damn him! How can my father be so obstinate? I hate him and will never forgive him for this."

Rumple came up to Belle and putting his arms around her, pressed her against his chest. He ran his fingers through her auburn tresses and she sighed appreciating his tender touch.

"Now, I know you could never hate your father," Rumple spoke soothingly, "it's not in you to hate your father. He wants to protect you, and I may hate his way of going about it, but I can understand why he made such desperate decisions and why he doesn't want you marrying me. Your father loves you and you love him, I know you do, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life if you don't work things out with him."

"I want to Rumple, desperately, but I fear papa will never see reason," she said gazing into his eyes, "What if he never accepts us being together? What if the only thing that will make him happy is if I don't marry you? I can't choose between you and my father, because I will choose you. I already have, in fact."

"If your father loves you as much as I think he does he will come around, but for now if you want to choose someone else to walk you down the aisle that's fine with me," he said and kissed her brow.

"Thank you for being so understanding. That's something I could use right now. Can you give an honest unbiased opinion?" She asked.

"I can try," he admitted.

"Do you think I'm being unfair to my father?" she asked.

He hesitated before he spoke, "I think your father is struggling with you no longer being his little girl, and choosing to love someone with such a dark past. He's afraid for you and that's understandable, but at the same time it should be your choice. I also know you are stronger than your father thinks you are, and you can't be his little girl forever. As much as I want to marry you, and despite my personal feelings toward your father, it's your decision whether you want to go through this without him. I don't want to come between you two."

"I want to marry you too and I don't want to wait any longer. I don't think my father will ever change his mind, and I refuse to let his pride dictate my decisions, especially when it's my life," she said, determinedly.

"No one decides my fiancé's fate, but her," he chuckling as he repeated a familiar declaration she made long ago.

She smiled mischievously. "Yes, and it turned out pretty good the first time. After all I found my true love by deciding for myself."

"And I'm glad for that. How about you ask someone else to give you away, but if your father changes his mind he's welcome to do it. If you're okay with it," Rumple suggested. He knew deep down she really wanted Maurice there, but she was just as proud and heartbroken as Maurice was. Choosing between the two men she loved most was not an easy choice to make for her, but maybe he could help by talking to Maurice himself.

~Page Break~

Rumple took several deep calming breaths as he stood outside the local flower shop with his son. Rumple requested that Neal to come to prevent him from trying to kill his future father in-law. He had told Belle he was going to just pick up flowers for the wedding, but planned on talking to Maurice to see about persuading him to walk his daughter down the aisle.

Maurice was just coming out of the back room when Rumplestiltskin and a much younger man, whom Maurice had seen around town with Rumple entered the shop. The two men seemed to have history making Maurice think he was a sorcerer too.

"What are you doing here you monster?! How dare you set foot in my establishment," he said glaring at the man, who took away his daughter.

"How dare you talk my father like that," Neal said defensively as he stood a little in front of his father.

"Your…you have a son," Maurice stuttered, his mouth hanging slightly open. "Let me guess he raped your mother or something?"

Rumple gripped the top of his cane tightly, his gloves rubbed against gold handle as he spoke. "I don't treat women like they're something to be thrown away. I have more respect for them, unlike the man you were arranging your daughter to marry before."

"Milah chose to leave my father because she was bored with her life, and was disappointed my father didn't die in glory during the first Ogre Wars. In fact, he came home wounded, because he knew Milah had just given birth to me, and didn't want her to have to raise me on her own. Nor did he want me to be fatherless," Neal explained in a tone of irritation.

"Bae, please let me handle this. I just want you here to prevent me from doing something I'll regret and Belle would never forgive me for," Rumple whispered to his son urging him not lash out on Belle's father. Neal nodded reluctantly and stepped back.

"Maurice, Belle doesn't know I'm here and I told her I was going to pick up the roses for the wedding, but I also wanted to talk to you. Sir, I know you don't like me and are afraid I'll hurt her, I'm afraid of that too, but I love your daughter more than anything in the world and there's only one person above her and that's my son. I want to give her the whole world and to be her husband, but it won't mean as much if you're not there to give her away. It would mean everything to her if you put your pride aside and gave her away. That's all I came to say," Rumple said and turned to leave.

Just as he was about to walk out the door Maurice asked, "If you love her so much why can't just let her go so she'll be safe?"

"In all honesty, I couldn't even if I tried," Rumple admitted and left.

"I thought you were going to buy roses for the wedding," Neal asked as his father came out.

"I doubt Maurice was going to give us roses," Rumple replied, "I can conjure up roses." Neal raised a brow. "Don't look at me like that," Rumple said defensively, "it's a small piece of magic, nothing harmful."

~Page Break~

All three dressing rooms of Briar Rose Boutique were occupied by Belle and her three bride's maids. Belle tried to be excited about seeing her bride's maid's dresses and trying on her own wedding dress, but her mind was too preoccupied that she would have to ask someone else to give her away at the wedding.

"Alright what's wrong?" Ruby asked as she was suddenly in the doorway of Belle's dress room.

"By the Gods Ruby, I'm still naked," Belle exclaimed picking up her blouse and covering her partially naked body.

Ruby rolled her eyes impatiently. "Tell me what's wrong. You've been quiet all morning."

"Nothing, it's just…my papa still isn't pleased with my choice to marry Rumple, and I told him if he couldn't accept that he couldn't come to wedding," she confessed as the tears began again.

Ruby entered the small room and sat on the little seat that was built into the corner. "It's no secret that Rumplestiltskin isn't my favorite person, but he's been a good man to you and loves you. Rumple hasn't abused, hurt, or taken away who you are. It's understandable that you're hurt and you feel guilty, but your father doesn't have a right make you feel bad for your decision."

"I know, I'm still angry, and Rumple said the same thing," Belle admitted.

"This is your day, and you shouldn't let your papa's pride ruin that. Come," Ruby said taking her friend's hands and pulling her up. Let's try on your dress."

~Page Break~

At Granny's diner the girls ate lunch with Emma and Snow talking about the dresses and how Belle didn't want her wedding to be an extravagant event. Snow wasn't a bride's maids, but she was eager to help plan, and was a little disappointed that Belle wanted to keep it simple in every way. She just wanted the wedding party and a few family and friends to attend, but Snow was pleased that at least Belle wanted a ceremony.

Emma had told her she would be fine with getting married at city hall if she ever got married, which did not please her mother. Snow wanted to see her daughter in a wedding dress, and David walking down the aisle to a handsome suitor that loved their daughter and was good to her. At the moment, the one man that could be good for Emma was Neal, Rumple's son, but she wasn't a little angry at him. He was trying so hard to prove himself, but Emma kept her guard up. Snow didn't know what happened between them but she believed the boy earned a second chance; David wasn't as accepting up Neal.

"So Emma, are you coming to the wedding as Neal's date?" Belle asked curiously and everyone's eyes were on Emma

Her cheeks turned crimson and she glared at her mom mouthing, "That was a private conversation!"

"I've been thinking about it, but I don't know," Emma admitted still glaring at her mom, "I just need some time to think about it."

"Okay well just hurry because the wedding's in a week," Belle replied.

"Emma, I don't know why you're so hard on him. I think he's proven himself and he's a great guy. He's also a good dad from my perspective," Ruby said, shrugging.

"He is a good guy and a good father to Henry," Emma admitted, taking a sip of her coffee.

"It's just one date Emma," Ruby pointed out.

"I appreciate your input and I'll think about it, but can we please not talk about this anymore," Emma said stabbing a piece of lettuce with her fork.

"Will you at least consider him?" Ruby asked.

"If that will keep you guys from badgering me about then yes, I'll consider him," Emma said.

Ruby said, "Promise."

A small smile of satisfaction touched Snow's lips as her plan had worked perfectly as she planted the seed.

~Page Break~

Belle tried to ignore the raging butterflies that flapped around inside her stomach as she paced the room waiting to be given away. Her father still hadn't come around and she didn't want that to ruin the happiest day of her life, after all, her father wasn't the only stubborn one in the family. The day she had been waiting for her whole life had finally arrived and she couldn't contain the overwhelming giddiness she felt inside.

Snow had done an amazing job with the ceremony, receiving a little help from the others at making everything beautiful. The couple would be standing underneath a canopy of roses, the path up to it was made of cobblestones, and there were chairs on each side for guests to sit. The guests that waiting to her go down the aisle were Geppetto and his son, August, Snow and David, the seven dwarves—she had asked Leroy to give her away since he was first friend she had made when she left Rumple's castle-, Eric and Grace would be sitting next to Henry, Henry would be sitting next to Emma—she had agreed to be Neal's date, Granny, and Belle's friend Robin and his son Roland. She debated about inviting Regina as a sign of good faith, but Belle was still weary of the woman and knew Rumple, as well as everyone else, wouldn't be very welcoming.

She admired herself in the mirror one last time as she took several breaths to calm her nerves. The dress was long as it trailed behind her with a straight, lacey neckline and sleeves were also made of a lacey material. A tiara sat on her head with her veil that cascaded down her back was pinned to it. She had curled her hair letting the auburn tresses fall, but some of her hair up with rose shaped pins.

"Are you ready to go?" Leroy's scratchy voice spoke through the door after he knocked.

"In a minute Leroy," she called through the door. "You can do this! This is the happiest day of your life, and you won't make a fool of yourself when you cross the threshold to the beginning of your new life."

As soon as she opened the door Leroy's jaw dropped as he saw how beautiful his friend looked, not as beautiful as Nova, but still beautiful.

"You're looking fine sister," Leroy complimented and blushed profusely when Belle giggled at his compliment.

"Well thank you Leroy," she said and kissed him on the cheek.

He offered his arm and she accepted it gladly. "Thank you for doing this Leroy. It means a lot to me."

"Of course Belle and I'm sorry about your papa not being here to be the one," he said.

"Thank you. I appreciate that," she replied and the two friends walked together outside on this cool April afternoon.

~Page Break~

Rumple's heart was pounding and his whole body was shaking as he waited for his beloved Belle to appear and walk towards him. The closest he had ever come to be this nervous was the first time when he suspected she was going to kiss him. Hands touched his shoulders and the shaking had stopped for the moment. He turned and smiled lightly as his son.

"Relax Papa, it's going to be great, just breathe," Neal encouraged.

"I can't Bae. I'm getting married again, what if I make the same mistakes?" Rumple protested.

"You won't. Besides, it wasn't your fault that Milah left and she didn't think you were good enough. It was her choice, not yours, and you and Belle are meant to be. She loves you for all you are and won't leave you," Neal said.

"Rumple, just focus on her and ignore the rest of us, except Archie. You might want to pay attention to him, so you won't forget your lines. You don't want an upset bride," Jefferson said, also trying to be encouraging.

"Yes, thank you Jefferson," he said sarcastically, "that is just so helpful dearie."

"He's gotta a point, papa. You just focus on Belle and let the rest of disappear," Neal said.

"Okay, I can do that. Do you have the ring?" he asked his son. Neal had to fiddle through his pockets for a moment until he found it inside his breast pocket. He patted his pocket to assure himself and his father the ring was in there.

Neal looked over at Emma, who was sitting beside her parents, and winked at her. She rolled her eyes, but smiled still managed a smile for her ex-boyfriend. Thinking how handsome he looked in his suit and tie, but how she was not going to show any sign of it. She chose to return her focus on Belle's bride's maids walking down the aisle. She an overwhelming sensation of nerves filled Emma's stomach because in a few minutes the bride would be coming down the aisle, and Emma would be performing a small feat of magic on her own. Rumple had taught her a spell where she could make rose petals fall as Belle walked towards Rumple. Neal and Henry both gave her encouraging words, and Rumple promised it would be a simple spell, not difficult at all. Thankfully, as the bride's maids came down the aisle it gave her time to prepare.

A quartet began to play and Astrid came down the cobblestone pathway in a knee length dress that was the color of red wine carrying a bouquet of white roses. She was followed by Ariel, who wore a long gown of the same wine red color with a wide mermaid style skirt, also carrying a bouquet of white roses. As she passed her boyfriend, Eric, she smiled at him as she passed. There were five candles that stood beside the arch and Ariel lit the first candle before she took her place across from the groom's men. Ruby, who was the maid of honor, was the last to come wearing a dress that rose just above her knees, the dress hugging her body. She lit the next candle the, and Jefferson and Neal approached to light the other two candles. This left the candles to represent the God and Goddess to be lit by the bride and groom, another red one and a white one for the Goddess

Neal gave Emma an encouraging smile and after a few deep breaths, she began to recite the words to the spell. Rumple watched the three women come down the aisle as his heart pounded rapidly on his chest as he waited for Belle. He stood there with baited breath as the quartet started to play the Wedding March and suddenly he gasped she appeared holding her bouquet of white red roses as Leroy guided her. Rose petals appeared and fell with graceful ease all around Belle and Leroy.

Everyone faded to blurry images as he did what Jefferson and Bae suggested, focusing only on Belle, which was the easiest thing he ever had to do. He was stunned by her and couldn't take his off her. She took his breath away as she slowly came towards him walking with delicate grace of a dancer she was. His stunned expression was replaced by a smile that showed how beautiful he thought she was in this moment and how much he loved her.

The moment Belle saw Rumple's face her blue orbs lit with pure joy, and the whole world around them just fell away. She walked towards him with a joyous trepidation and soon she was standing before him. The dwarf placed Belle's hand within Rumple's and stepped back to wait until Archie asked who gives Belle to Rumple.

"Who gives this woman to this man?" Archie asked.

"Her friends and I do," Leroy replied and gave Belle a kiss on the cheek. "You better take care of her Rumplestiltskin. Remember, were watching you." He eyed Rumple warningly pointed his fingers at his eyes and then at Rumple.

"I promise," he said, "Always."

Satisfied Leroy went to his seat beside his brothers.

Astrid's cheeks flushed as red as her dress when she saw her boyfriend doing that. The two had been courting for a quite a while, much to Blue's dislike, since they weren't in the Enchanted Forest anymore. Both agree that those rules didn't matter as much here and they didn't have as much need for the jobs they did back there.

Emma's first responsibility came a little too quickly as Archie as priest gestured for her to help him cast a circle. This didn't require any magic, but it had more effectiveness if it was cast by someone innately magical. It didn't mean she wasn't nervous about completing the cast, even if she did have help from Archie.

"We call upon you in the guise of Eros, kindler of desire, bringer of love, to join us here and witness the bonding of Rumplestiltskin and Belle," he recited once the circle was cast.

He continued, "We call upon you in the guise of Aphrodite, Always desirous one, sensual lover, to join us here and witness the joining of Rumplestiltskin and Belle."

Archie then asked, "Do you Belle join us here of your own free will, to acknowledge before the Lord and Lady the bond that is shared between yourself and Rumplestiltskin?"

"I do," she replied.

Archie asked the same question of Rumple and he replied, "I do."

The couple turned to face each other and held each other's hands gazing into each other's eyes as Rumple spoke his vows to Belle.

"Belle, for the longest time, I never thought I would be happy and that I would be lost in the darkness forever. I had so many doubts about myself and saw myself as the coward and monster everyone believed me to be, until I saw a light amidst and ocean of darkness. You, who could have any man, saw passed the monstrous façade and loved the man beneath the monster. Belle, you have saved me in so many ways by healing my heart, soul, and my relationship with Baelfire. I promise to return that love, to honor that love for as long as we both shall live. I give you everything that I am, my heart and soul, and hope you'll accept it." Rumple recited his vows with passion, but knew that what said was only a small portion of how much love he felt for Belle.

Rumple accepted the ring from Neal and placed on Belle's finger as he spoke the words, "With this ring I thee wed."

Belle began to tremble and her voice shook slightly as spoke her vows to Rumple, "Rumple, before I met you my life was dull and the only happiness I had were my books and my father. I thought my fate was to be married to man I didn't love, but then you came along and changed my life forever. Not only did you help me write my own fate, but you gave me love that I thought only existed in books. I know you don't always see yourself as a hero, but you're my hero. I promise to be worthy of your heroics and be a good wife to you."

Rumple didn't normally cry openly, but Belle calling him her hero meant so much to him. It gave him the confidence to believe he could be a good husband to her and maybe a father again someday.

Ruby handed her the ring and she placed it on Rumple's finger reciting the words, "With this ring I thee wed."

Rumple and Belle each lit the candles that represented the God and Goddess

They weren't the only ones that were emotional as almost everyone was crying after they heard Rumple and Belle's vows to each other. Mary Margaret squeezed her husband's hand as she saw him tear up a bit and leaned on his shoulder. She recalled her own wedding to David and how happy she had been until Regina had shown up threatening them with the curse. Despite that it had truly been the happiest day of her life. She glanced at her daughter, who was smiling at Neal as he winked at her, and Mary Margaret looked over at grandson, both with identical, conspiratorial, grins. Operation SwanFire, as Henry decided to call it after he heard his father's birth name and his mom's love of swans would be underway soon. If Mr. Gold and Belle, and his grandparents could be happy why couldn't help his parents be happy too?

Archie bound their joined hands together with a ribbon. "Here before witnesses, Rumplestiltskin and Belle have sworn vows to each other. With this cord, I bind them to the vows that they each have made. However this binding is not tied, so that neither is restricted by the other, and the binding is only enforced by both their wills."

"Heart to thee, soul to thee, body to thee, forever and always, so mote it be," Rumple and Belle spoke these words.

Their friends and family repeated, "So mote it be."

"Now that you are eternally bonded, you may kiss the bride."

As soon as the words left Archie's lips Rumple took Belle in his arms and placed a passionate kiss on her lips. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her slightly above the ground with only her toes were touching the ground. Everyone clapped and cheered as the couple kissed.

"We thank you, Aphrodite, for your presence among us, and as you take your leave, we ask that you leave among us, in each of us, the ability to each be sensual lover, and desirous one. Hail and farewell. We thank you Eros, for your presence here this day, and ask, as you take your leave, that you leave in each of us, the ability to be a Bringer of desire, and kindler of love. Hail and farewell," he spoke releasing the God and Goddess.