Childish Wants

By: RosexKnight

Baelfire asks for something from Belle because he doesn't want his father dealing for it. Needless to say, it catches both Belle and his Papa off guard.

"Hey Belle?"

"Yes my dear?"

"There's something I want."

Belle paused, glancing at her boy from her spot preparing tea. She'd never heard Baelfire ask for anything besides perhaps an earlier or longer riding lesson, more sweets or the chance to go to town with her but never sounding so…determined?

Behhe went back to preparing their tea. "Well. I'm sure if you ask your father he'll give it to you. That man would give you the moon if you wanted it."

Baelfire shook his head. "I can't ask him."

"Why not?"

"He might deal for it. I don't want him dealing for this."

Belle straightened, giving a puzzled look to the boy. He was being cryptic and she didn't like that. "Sweetheart what is it that you want?"

"A little sister."

The cup that Belle was holding tumbled to the floor. "You…what?"

"I want a little sister." Baelfire repeated. "Someone to play with in the castle while you and Papa are busy and to ride with and to teach things to like the other boys in town do with their siblings."

Belle's mind was flooded with thoughts, so many that it was hard to sift through them, and she was all too aware of how her face was burning red. Through the haze of it all though, one thought struck her.

"Baelfire I understand your want but how can I help?"

The boy tilted his head in confusion, "Isn't it…don't you wanna be a mama too? This works. Papa won't mind another child in the castle as long as its yours."

The weight of it all hit Belle in a moment, and her guy churned. Baelfire didn't have a mother. He'd grown up poor with Rumpelstiltkin as a spinner's child. Their worries were tending sheep and making sure Baelfire didn't get drafted not marrying him off and upholding a family lineage. Unlike her, who got a talk of what being a wife entailed when she'd first became a woman, Baelfire was still on the cusp on manhood, and had no mother to teach him things. And she had the feeling Rumpelstiltskin was too reluctant or shy to know where to begin. Oh lord she didn't want to tell Baelfire what went into making a child, but she didn't want to dash his hopes either. So instead she kneeled down, running a hand over his arm.

"Bae, sweetheart, it's not quite as simple as all that." The way the boy's face fell broke her heart. "See, I know you don't understand everything, but in order for a woman to become a mama there has to be a man to become a papa too. And they have to love each other very much to make a family."

Baelfire was silent for a moment, eyes focusing away from Belle, processing things. "So when you find a man you love, then you'll be a mama?"

"Exactly."

"But don't you love papa?" Belle froze, her blood running cold. "You just…you always give him extra sweets and sometimes stare and you read to him and you've kissed his cheek. That's what the woman in town do to the men they like."

Oh gods. Darn he was t perceptive. too clever. Suddenly Belle's heart was pounding. She couldn't do this. She couldn't face this truth so soon. Not with Baelfire asking for a sister. Not that she hadn't thought about…but surely he didn't…

"Is everything alright?"

The spinner had appeared at the doorway, giving a concerned look to both Belle ad his son. Belle straightened immediately, grabbing the cup.

"Fine. I just dropped a teacup." Belle said with a forced smile.

"Well I hope you didn't chip this one."

"No no. Let me just, I'll go get the rest of the pastries."

And as Belle practically ran from the room into the kitchen she could feel Rumpelstiltskin's eyes on her, and willed her heart to stop pounding so hard lest he hear it.

Later, when Bae had been put to bed and Belle was reading by the fire he asked.

"Is everything okay dearie?" She glanced to him at his wheel. "It's just…you've been out of sorts since tea."

Belle swallowed. "Baelfire asked for something today. From me because he didn't want you dealing for it."

Why had she said that? Now he was on his feet and walking towards her chair and she'd never felt so oddly frightened in her entire life.

"What does he want? I can get it for him. Surely I have enough gold to buy whatever it is." No you don't. "We can surprise him. It can be from both of us." It'd have to be. "Come, Belle name it and it shall be his."

"He wants a little sister." Belle blurted without thinking.

She was looking at him now, and he looked just as shocked as he felt. "Ah." was all he said before practically stumbling away from her. "Of course. Most children his age want siblings. It's only natural." He rationalized.

Their eyes never left each others, and there was an odd weight to it all, as if they were both tense cats waiting for the other's move. Searching each other like they could see their very soul.

A sort of odd fear flickered behind the spinner's eye before he choked out "What did you tell him?"

Belle was silent for a moment before clearing her throat. "I told him that in order for there to be a mama there has to be a papa too. And that the papa has to be someone the mama loves."

"Ah." He said again, wringing his hands, now suddenly unable to look at her as his voice shook. It was so odd to her how easily he became her spinner again. "And you…I…would you…want to be a mama?"

"Perhaps some day."

"Would you want to go, Belle? And…and find someone…Love?"

A smile quirked at her lips. "I wouldn't need to go to do that."