Proposals

By: RosexKnight

I mean look at the title man what do you think happens?

"Belle?"

He almost felt guilty as she tore her eyes from her book to look at him. Rumpelstiltskin had been staring at her from his spinning wheel for a long time that night. She was tucked on a couch by the fire, a book in her lap, as Baelfire wished away at a piece of wood, adding to the collection of carved animals he'd taken to giving to princess Emma when Charming and Snow White needed something or came to visit. At this rate the blonde princess would have a whole flock of sheep. It was the warmest sight he'd ever layer his eyes on.

"Rumple?"

The spinner blinked, her voice snapping him out of his daze, and for or a moment, faltered. It would be easy to chicken out as every fiber of his being wanted to. He could simply ask Belle if she wanted her feet rubbed or something of the like. But his son was giving him a significant look. Now or never. He needed to stop running anyway.

"May we speak?"

Belle tilted her head at her and glanced at Bae, who seemed to be overly focused on his carving. Something stirred in the pit of her stomach. Something was up.

"Of course." She said, marking the place in her book and standing. Her mind reeled, trying to figure out what she could have done wrong. Did he get bored of her already? It had been nothing but heavenly the past few months, after they had returned from the deal with Ruby and Gaston.

Was he upset that no child had come yet? Was that it? Surely there was some sort of magic to be used for that. Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't send her away for this. Though he was The Dark One now, but surely he wouldn't...

Rumpelstiltskin wrung his hands as he led Belle onto the balcony. His heart was pounding in his chest as he went over the speech he'd thought up for the seventh time in his mind. He had to be brave. Hadn't Bae said she'd accept? What was it that Belle said? Do the brave thing…

"Rumple?" His eyes shot to hers as she spoke, seeing a twinge of something akin to fear in them. No that wasn't right. "I haven't done something wrong have I?"

Oh she was getting the wrong idea. He hadn't even spoken and he was already mucking it up.

"No!" The spinner said quickly. "No sweetheart of course not I just...Are you happy here with me?"

Belle blinked at the question, her eyes searching him. Always searching him. Finally she giggled, and whatever tension that was strung between them relaxed completely. Because she giggled as if he'd said something completely outrageous and he was left dumbfounded. The giggle was right.

"Of course I'm happy, Rumple." She said. "I that what all this was about?"

"Yes. No. Not...exactly." The Dark One stammered. Gods they'd been living together nearly a year! What was wrong with him? How could this woman, this princess, still knock him speechless with a glance? He was the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms! Surely Belle was charmed…

"Rum?"

"Sorry! I just…" He had no idea what he was doing. "I'm glad to know you're happy here."

"So you're not...bored of me? Or upset? That Bae's little sister hadn't come yet?"

Is that what she thought? He lunged forward, grabbing her hand, perhaps a little too roughly. "No! No I hadn't even considered…"

Belle moved, taking her hand from his and putting it on his arm. Once again, the spinner froze. "Rumple, what's this about?"

Rumpelstiltskin swallowed, unable to look Belle in the eye. He suddenly wanted to run. To tell her that was all and dart and pretend it never happened. But he'd done that before. He'd hurt her. He couldn't do that again. Do the brave thing.

It was with a deep, shaky breath that he finally moved, his hand reaching into his pocket to produce a box. A simple wooden box. One that years ago he'd given her thread in. She tilted her head at it, looking at him curiously.

"This started with thread." He said, his voice wavering, "And it will end with it."

Belle opened her mouth, an obvious question to come, before he was suddenly down on one knee before her, and it seemed for the first time he'd been the one to render her speechless. Finally, their eyes met, and he couldn't tell if Belle was more scared than him.

"My princess...I am now, and for all the future, yours." He opened the box, revealing a ring woven intricately with golden thread. "Will you marry me?"

Belle blinked, tears spilling over as she choked back a sob, giving him a watery smile and a nod. "Yes. Yes! Of course Rumple."

He smiled, leaping up to put the ring around the third finger on her left hand (it fit perfectly, like it was always meant to be there) and pulled her into a tight embrace. Hers. He was hers. And she was his. And everything was as it should be.

Almost.

Granny gave a bursting laugh as Belle and Rumpelstiltskin looked between each other in confusion. She and Ruby had come for a visit, and somehow the topic had drifted to children between the women, and then Belle's odd behavior the past few days.

"You're pregnant." Granny said simply.

Belle's eyes widened, her hand flying immediately to her stomach. "C-Come again?"

"Oh sure." The older woman said, sipping her tea easily. "I was like that with her mother. Cried at everything that moved. Threw a shoe at my husband for no good reason a few times."

"But she hasn't been sick." Rumple protested.

"Give that a few days. When was the last time you two…?" She raised an eyebrow at them, and both of them felt heat rush to their cheeks. "Uh huh. You're probably a month in. Give it a few days. You'll be sick if that's how this one goes."

"Granny was a midwife." Ruby interjected, seeing the stunned looks Belle and Rumpelstiltskin were exchanging. "She's delivered plenty."

"Yes, and better you than Ruby. I'm not sure if I'm ready to be a great grandmother yet."

"Granny!"

The two laughed as they badgered each other, but Belle and Rumpelstiltskin's gazes finally found each other.

"We have to tell Bae." She said.

"We don't know if it's a girl…" Rumple began, suddenly nervous. A father. He was to be a father. Sensing his flight instinct was kicking in, Belle leaned over, squeezing his hand.

"Go find our little knight. We'll tell him the good news."

The spinner gave a shaky nod before disappearing out the door, and Belle took a shaky breath of her own, slumping back in her chair.

"Boy wants a sister?" Ruby asked.

"That's how all this started. Well. Sort of. It was in motion he...sped it along." She sipped her tea, letting the warm liquid cool her before giving the two other women a smile. "I'll need a midwife. And a maid of honor for the wedding. I recall you two are a package deal."

"A package deal that'll be glad to help you."

Belle smiled at that. At least she had someone willing to help. Moments later Rumpelstiltskin entered with a rather nervous looking boy, and Ruby and Granny excused themselves.

"Come here, Bae." Belle said, reaching out her arms.

At the age of manhood, Baelfire was really too big to sit on her lap, but she didn't care, and neither did he it seemed.

"Am I in trouble?" He asked, glancing between them.

"Not at all, son." Rumpelstiltskin said, though his voice was too hoarse to offer the boy any real assurance.

"Bae we have news for you. Remember when I told you I was going to be your mama properly?" The boy nodded excitedly at Belle's gentle words. "Well I'm going to be another mama properly."

Baelfire's eyes widened, a smile spreading across his face. "A little sister?"

"A little something." She said. "It's too soon to know. But perhaps."

"And it's papa's?" Belle nodded, "And you're not leaving?"

"Never."

Baelfire beamed, throwing his arms around Belle, clinging to her. The princess giggled, outstretching a hand to Rumple, who came over to embrace his family with a watery smile.

"Everything is going to turn out alright then." Baelfire said. "Isn't it?"

"I hope so, Bae." Rumpelstiltskin whispered. "I hope so."