Is this Home?
By RosexKnight
Anon Prompt: "Is this home?"
"He's changed." Bae was saying as Belle rode beside him.
The riding lessons were going well. Bae had learned to take care of horses, and they were working their way through the basics. Jumping would be soon, even though Rumple was against the idea. Though she had talked him in to getting Bae a horse of his own.
"What do you mean?" Belle asked. "I mean he may look a bit…fiercer now, but he's still your father."
Bae shook his head. "He's darker. It's because he's The Dark One. Something evil took root in him when he became it."
Belle stopped, and Bae with her. She chewed her lip, looking at the castle before them, searching it the way she searched Rumpalstiltskin's cottage years ago. But then she was shaking her head.
"It's only skin deep." She decided. "He's still your father, Bae."
Bae didn't look at her, focusing on his hands on the reigns.
"Hey." She reached over, taking his hands in hers. "He may be darker, but underneath it all he's still the spinner he was. Next time you're with him, look at him. Really look. You'll see him in there."
And just like that she was riding off, back towards the stables. Bae followed slower than she. He was still troubled, she could tell. But who could blame him? His father was…well…The Dark One. And compared to the man he used to be, well, if one wasn't looking or didn't know what to look for.
"Belle?" Bae asked as they were dismounting, taking off saddles, and brushing the horses.
"Yes Baelfire?"
"Is…is this home? To you?"
Belle thought for a moment, worrying her lip. The Dark Castle wasn't that much of a change for her. But she didn't have maids. Nor did she have her husband or father. It was only her. No family. But as she looked at Baelfire, and thought of the riding lessons and time spent baking together and reading at night. She thought of the odd little imp she now shared the castle with, and the days spent pretending to dust his collection and not glance at him, and the nights of reading by the fire as he spun. She'd taken to reading aloud for him to listen. She didn't realize she was smiling until her cheeks hurt.
"Yes, Baelfire. I think it is."
Bae was smiling now too, a small smile that was full of hope. "Let's get back. I wanna make cookies."
The boy was practically skipping back to the castle, baking cookies for three even though his father was out. That night, however, as Belle was reading by the fire and Bae was tucked away, the master returned.
"Welcome home." Belle said with a smile.
He paused mid step for a moment. "Home?"
"Well that is what this is isn't it?"
Rumpelstiltskin nodded deftly, obviously trying to process her words and giggle as he wrung his hands for a moment. "Of course. Home."