Belle woke up not feeling well at all. She felt nauseous and her head was pounding. It was early morning, Rumpel was at the wardrobe getting dressed. Belle jumped out of the bed and ran to the bathroom tossing the door closed behind her. She made it in time and ended up throwing up. She sat on the floor leaning on the wall for support.
"Belle? Are you sick?" Rumpel asked coming in. He got down on his knees in front of her cupping her face, "you don't look well."
"Thanks..." Belle said sarcastically.
"Do you still feel sick? Do you want some water?" Rumpel offered her.
Belle nodded, and Rumpel got up to go to the kitchen to fetch some water. Rumpel returned with a cup and handed it to her. Belle took it gratefully and began to drink. Once she was satisfied she sat the cup next to her.
"It must have been from our walk last night, when we went to the park," Rumpel determined. He and Belle wanted to enjoy the beauty winter had to offer and would often go walk about the town to see the snow, "I hope you're not getting sick, the ball is this weekend you were so looking forward to it."
"You could still go," Belle replied.
"Not without you dearie," Rumpel said.
"Why not?"
"In sickness and in health, remember?" Rumpel said to her helping her to her feet again, "How do you feel now?"
Just as quickly as she had woken up to it, it had passed. She felt fine again, her head was still a little heavy but the nausea had passed.
"I feel fine," Belle reported.
"Are you sure? We could just take the day off and rest today," Rumpel offered. He was supposed to go to the castle to help with last-minute things for the ball, Belle had work but they could both for go a days work.
"Perhaps we should," Belle replied, "my head still hurts a little."
"No matter," Rumpel said, he placed both his hands on her face. Belle could feel the magic he was using on her. It cleared her head and she felt good as new in that moment. Regardless, Rumpel made her a light breakfast that morning and the two spent the day lounging about the house. They cuddled together on the couch keeping each others company, she read her books and he sat at his wheel spinning.
Eventually night came to fall along with a light snow. Belle and Rumpel were upstairs getting ready for the Ball. Belle finished her make up and looked at the mirror at her final product. She was wearing a dark navy blue dress and a cloak to match with white fur on the edges. She just sighed.
Rumpel entered the bathroom and saw Belle in the mirror, "Oh Belle you look beautiful."
"I don't feel beautiful," Belle sighed.
"Why not?" Rumpel asked her turning her around and holding her comfortingly.
"I just...I dont," Belle started to try and explain but there was a knock on their front door. Their carriage to take them to the ball had arrived.
"Come, let's go see all of our friends, that will cheer you up," Rumpel said to her and kissed her forehead leading her down to the carriage.
Belle felt moody the whole ride, and she couldn't explain it. Belle had always tried to stay positive and look at what was good. She had plenty of practice in that, but now she was just moody and dark. She tried to hide it as best she could, she could also feel a small wave a nausea coming through her. She just figured that it was the nerves of going to the ball.
The castle was in full swing for the evening, it was casted with a blue light to make it glow and decorated with Christmas reefs and red ribbons. It was a perfect winter wonderland. The carriages were all lined up awaiting their turn to be unloaded with guests and move on. Once Belle and Rumple were in line, the jumped out and marveled at the sight of the castle.
"Shall we?" Rumpel asked holding out his arm for Belle to take.
Belle just smiled as she tried to repress her dark mood and took his arm as he escorted her inside. Normally it was the excitement that would build of seeing old friends and going to such a grand party but this time it was only the sickness that was building.
Baelfire, Emma, Snow, Charming, Henry and little Charlie were all at the main entrance greeting all the guests. They all looked beautiful in their winter attire. Henry was growing into a strapping young prince at the age of fifteen. Everyone greeted Rumpel and Belle with hugs and wishing them Merry Christmas and invited them into the ball room.
The royal family followed them in. Baelfire and Rumpel continued a conversation and Rumpel expressed how proud he was of his son, for the thousandth time, and Snow studied Belle's face as she kept it turned down to the floor.
"Is everything ok Belle? Did you and Rumpel have a fight?" Snow asked keeping her voice low. She could see a troubled woman from a mile away.
"No, he and I are fine. I'm just not feeling well, must be from all the winter cold," Belle said trying to be pleasant.
They entered the ball room and it looked perfectly beautiful. There were 6 thrones on the back wall, all for the royal family. There was even a tiny one that fit Charlie perfectly. Next to the thrones was an extensive Christmas tree decorated with all ornaments and gifts offered from the town and even some to the towns' people. There were red ribbons and glassy chandlers made to look like ice hanging from the high ceiling. This was a perfect winter party.
Snow took Belle's arm while Rumpel went to chat with the other men. Meanwhile Snow wasn't going to let Belle off that easily.
"So are you enjoying that party?" Snow asked
"We just got here," Belle said and immediately regretted it. She had no reason to have an attitude with Snow of all people.
Snow shook it off, "Are you sure you're ok? You look upset."
"I know, I'm sorry it's just-" Belle exclaimed, "I'm not really in a party mood tonight."
"But you look forward to the Christmas Ball every year," Snow said now eyeing her more suspiciously.
"I know, I don't understand it either. I'm just not myself tonight," Belle tried to explain.
"And things with you and Rumpel are well?" Snow asked.
"Yes, Rumpel's great. He's been hovering over me all day," Belle said rolling her eyes.
"Well then you need some girl time," Snow smiled confidently and took Belle's hand off the the rest of the nobel women.
It did feel good to be around someone other than Rumpel, like all couples they needed space from one another. Rumpel was with the other men all laughing and drinking, he loved being close to his son again.
"Oh hey," Baelfire said when he looked to the entrance, "There's King Midas."
The group of men looked towards the door, King Midas entered the party with a worried look on his face and had more knights around him then necessary. He must have thought there was still a weapon about.
Baelfire tried to wave him over to join the party but when he surveyed the group of men he indicated later. Baelfire and the rest of the men looked at one another confused.
"Does he think that if we had a weapon we would bring it here?" Charming asked.
"I don't know, but he looks kind of sacred," Grumpy pointed out.
"Yeah, well lets not spoil the party. Midas will be here for a few days and we all have an audience with him tomorrow," Baelfire said and broke away from the group.
The orchestra started to play upbeat party music and several couples began dancing. Rumpel looked around and spotted Belle with the rest of the woman still looking sullen. He strode over to her and offered her his hand to dance.
She gave a small sweet smile and followed with him. Soon enough everyone was out dancing, except Henry who was standing awkwardly next to another nobel girl of his age looking equally awkward.
"Feeling better?" Rumpel asked of Belle.
"Can everyone please stop asking me that?" Belle expressed, "No I'm- I'm sorry. I'm really just not feeling myself."
"Are you still feeling sick?" Rumpel asked.
"I wasn't before but now it's building again," Belle said.
"I don't have any tonic with me other wise I would give it to you. Do you want to sit down and rest a bit?" Rumpel offered.
"No I'll be ok," Belle said determined to be on her best behavior and try to join the party.
Belle was not ok. From all the spinning and moving around that the dance required it made her nausea grow worse and worse. Rumpel noticed that she was getting paler. Then it hit, Belle broke away from Rumpel and the rest of the dance floor and sprinted towards the ladies wash room. Rumpel wasn't allowed to follow her in there.
Luckily the wash room was mostly empty, she entered a stall and thew up again, only this time it was worse than before. She leaned on the stall and felt a sharp stab in her stomach, one that made her hunch over and whimper in pain. She felt something in her stomach moving which frightened her.
"Belle? Belle where are you?" It was Snow. Rumpel must have sent her in.
Belle had enough, she didn't want to be alone, "I'm in here."
She opened the stall door still supporting herself against the opposite wall of the stall.
"Belle, come here," Snow said helping her to a small nearby sofa. Snow held her hand placed her other on her back, "what happened?"
"I don't know," Belle finally admitted. She didn't mean to but she started to cry, "I just have been feeling sick all day and I'm moody and irritable for no reason."
Belle let the tears fall freely, but Snow just smiled. She recognized this before.
"It is fora reason Belle," Snow said warmly, "you're pregnant."
"What?" Belle said shocked.
"You're feeling sick and you emotions are all over the place," Snow replied, "It was how I was in the beginning with Emma and Charlie."
Belle could feel the shock building. She didn't know what to say...
"Do you want me to go get Doc? We can leave the party and go to a spare room here," Snow offered her.
"Ok..." Belle whispered.
Snow pulled her up lightly and lead her out of the wash room. Rumpel was standing at the door waiting for her.
"Belle what is going on with you?" Rumpel now demanded.
"Let's move this upstairs I'll go get Doc," Snow said trying to appease the tension. She directed Rumpel and Belle to a spare room away from the party.
Once in the room, Rumpel sat her on the bed and sat beside her, "What is it Belle? I know you know something."
Belle was no feeling scared, she had no idea how he would react, "Snow..."
Rumpel studied her trying to be patient and held her hand.
"Snow thinks..." Belle said. She wasn't even sure that she could say it to herself, "Snow thinks I'm with a child."
There was a silent tension that hung in the air. Rumpel had the same shocked expression that Belle had. Neither of them knew what to say.
"Are you sure?" Rumpel asked.
"No, Snows' getting Doc so he can come see me to be sure," Belle reassured, "are you mad?"
"No, no..." Rumpel said now standing, "It's just- I havn't been a father in a long time. The last time I was I failed him more than once."
"But look at him now! He's a king," said Belle.
At that moment the doors opened and Snow and her dwarf friend Doc came in.
"Hey Belle," Doc greeted warmly past his spectacles.
"Hey," Belle greeted now feeling insecure. She wasn't sure if she wanted to admit that she was pregnant and she knew that Doc would only confirm it.