~ A Home Away From Home ~
Jon and Michael woke everyone up an hour before the plane landed. Belle, Rumple, Archie and Marie were changing and dressing the babies while everyone else ate dinner. Adriana stood beside her parents, watching them work, hoping to learn how to change and dress her younger siblings herself.
"It's not hard, Driana. They taught me how to change you and I wasn't much older than you," Gisella said.
"Make sure the diaper is actually on them before you let them loose. I about laughed my butt off when we were driving down the street doing our random patrol and seeing Bae and the gang chasing a little streaker," Emma teased. "And now that we know where she gets it from..."
"Ha ha, very funny dearie," Rumple grumbled.
"I didn't expect her to be able to run that fast," Bae exclaimed.
"I didn't streak!" Adriana protested.
"Yeah you did, Rumplette. The whole neighborhood saw."
They could hear laughing from the case where the Happy Army was kept. Adriana scowled at her plush friends. "Not funny! I didn't streak...did I?"
"Ye certainly did, dearie, " answered Major Rumple.
The toddler groaned.
"I don't streak!" Ellie declared imperiously. Her two brothers looked at her and smirked.
"You wanna tell her about the time she threw her diaper at Daddy?" Roland asked Jason.
"I did NOT!"
"You did too and you peed on him when he picked ya up to try to put it back on!"
"Ha ha! Little Miss Ellie Prissy peed on her daddy!" Maggie taunted.
"You keep it up Rag Mag an I'm gonna make ya toast!" Ellie threatened, getting in the other girl's face.
Maggie raised her fist. "Ha! You always say you're gonna make us toast 'cause I'd whup your butt in a real fight!"
"Oh yeah? You wanna find out?"
"Bring it, Prissy!"
"That's enough, Ellie, or you are going to be spending the rest of this vacation in the corner!" Robin barked. "But for now you have five minutes. Get going!"
"And the same goes for you, Margaret Eva Hatter. Corner. Now!"
"They're worse than we were," Regina sighed to Emma. "I don't understand it."
"Hopefully they'll grow out of it or the town's going to be a warzone when they get older."
Jeff and Robin called the two girls out of the corners and ordered them to shake hands and apologize to each other before they went their seperate ways.
"What they need to bring about a truce is the same thing that united the two of you, Regina. Fighting a common enemy. It will allow them to refocus all that energy in a more positive direction," Rumple said.
"The trouble is...I don't want any trouble in town, not when it's been so peaceful all these years," Regina confessed.
"For the most part. We still have people coming over from the Forest causing trouble like those damned Phillips boys, the drunks down at the Rabbit Hole and the Lolly Pot Guild," Emma added, referring to a crew of pot dealers. She'd already arrested one of them thanks to Rumple but the others were getting better at hiding their cash crop and there was a consensus among the mage community that they were being helped by a rogue mage.
"We can smoke em out, right guys?" Bae offered.
"You bet. Our inside guys used to mess with the Dogs' stash all the time," Ewan added.
Rumple almost passed out. "Baelfire! You did drugs?"
"Hell no, Papa...but we torched a few of their growing spots."
Rumple breathed again. "Because if you did I would seriously have to beat ye."
"I did, anyway," bragged Fury.
"Drugs!?" Archie exclaimed.
"Nope, torched a pot field."
"I can torch a field!" Ellie exclaimed. "Whatcha want burnt?"
"You're not burning anything, Eleanor May," her mother said sternly.
"Aww, but Moommy!"
"This is a matter for the adults, honey."
The little girl scowled. "I never get to do anything fun! Like blow stuff up! Like in the movies!"
"That's because you aren't thinking about how you could seriously injure someone. Your gift is not one I want used to harm anyone, Eleanor. I mean it."
"All magic comes with a price, dearie," Rumple warned. "And ones with your gift comes with the highest price of all. Someday I'll tell you the story of Esmerelda the Fire Mistress."
"The perfect example, Rumple. Thank you. I've been going crazy trying to think of something to tell her to drill the lesson into her head."
"We'll need to be careful with Victoria too, Rumple, since her powers are as dangerous as Ellie's," Belle pointed out.
"Aye, I know, dearie. Especially since over here there is no War Mage Guild where those with the martial Gifts went to be trained properly. But we'll make do, like we always have."
"That reminds me Rumple, we should have a mage council," Regina said.
He nodded. "Yes, I was thinking the same. With so many of our children being Gifted and others coming over from the old realm, we need one to police ourselves and set down rules for the use of magic."
"Will you serve as Elder? You're the oldest and strongest."
"I will," he agreed. "And you are my Warden." That was his second.
She smiled.
"Mr. Gold, there's a group of people waiting outside for you..." Jon Darling informed them.
"It's Sandro, Sophia, and Kyria!" Gisella exclaimed.
"Let's go then. I think the welcoming committee has arrived."
"Let us go first, Rumple, since they know who we are," Archie suggested.
"Right, dearie. Go on." he waved his brother-in-law and his family forward.
The Palakas family plus one, Alessandro's mother Penelope, stood on the runway holding up a sign the family made saying Welcome To Greece written in Greek as well as in English. Penelope, a mythology and history professor, was excited to meet this group of people from another world. Some would have been surprised by her willingness to accept such a truth so easily but she'd always been an open minded person.
"Oh my goodness what a brood you have now!" Sophia greeted Marie and hugged her.
"We've always wanted two of each child and we got our wish."
"And we finally get to meet the little cowboy. How are you, Jonny?" Alessandro sand and kneeled down to shake his hand.
"M'good. Pleased ta meet'cha."
Gisella hugged Kyria. "Now you really look like Archie," Kyria whispered to her. "Is it some kind of magic?"
Gisella nodded. "My uncle told me a while ago it was. I guess he said it's a kinda true love magic where Mommy, Daddy and I all had the same wish that I'd be theirs and it started right after Daddy had my birth certificate changed."
"Cool!"
"These two are adorable. Do they have special gifts like Jonny?" Sophia inquired.
"Yes. AJ is a nature mage and Maureen can manipulate the weather." Marie answered.
"Well, let's meet the rest of your family. Come on Mum," Alessandro said.
Archie led his friends over to the rest of the group, bringing them to the Golds first.
"Sandro, this is my brother-in-law, Rumple, his wife Belle and their kids, Bae, Adriana, Victoria, Bobby, and Valora," Archie introduced them.
Belle gazed at the Greek man in fascination. "My . . .he looks positively . . ." she began.
"Oh did I forget to mention that?" Marie giggled.
"Belle!" Rumple hissed. "I'm right here, dearie!"
"He gets that all the time," Sophia laughed. "I've even had women ask him for his autograph."
"What's the big deal, Mama?" Adriana demanded.
"He looks like Ben Barnes," Belle answered dreamily.
"Oh yes he does," Ruby muttered from behind her. "I could slap Marie...holding out on us like that!"
"Who's Ben Barnes?" Adriana pressed.
"He's a movie star," Bae replied. "And all the girls love him. Right, Andi?"
"Oh yeah...I about died during that scene in Prince Caspian when he rescued Susan..."
"Tell me about it. You only rewound it TEN times!" her boyfriend groaned.
"And the kiss...oooh I would've held on a bit longer..."
"One of these days, milady duchess, I'm gonna pick you up on the back of my horse and kiss you till you faint in my arms," Bae challenged.
"Oh please do..."
"Gotta borrow a horse first."
Penelope approached Rumple with a smile. "At last I get to meet an actual wizard..."
He bowed and took her hand and kissed it. "Charmed, dearie. Rumplestiltskin Gold, at your service."
"Penelope Palakas," the older woman said and blushed.
Belle wanted her broom.
Rumple smiled. "I'm glad that our being magicians doesn't disconcert you, Penelope. Most people are . . .uncomfortable around us mages."
"As a professor of history and mythology...I'm a bit more open minded. I will warn you though, I will drive you mad with my questions."
"My wife did too when she first met me," he laughed. "I was tempted to write a manual so that all the answers would be in one place."
"Oh I did not!" Belle protested.
"Umm . . .actually you did, Mama. I remember one time you kept him up till midnight asking him exactly how many kinds of mages there were and what they all did and so on," Bae remarked, grinning. "And that was right after the green goat was kicked outta the castle."
"Was that the witch who turned your dad back into a cricket?" Kyria asked Gisella.
"Yeah."
"Oh, all right, Bae I'll give you that one," Belle mumbled.
"And I won't ask just what YOU were doin' up listening to our conversation, lad," his father interjected, making Bae quit grinning abruptly.
"I was thirsty, Papa," he answered in his best little boy voice.
Rumple rolled his eyes, as the Scorpions burst out laughing.
"I don't know how you handle four children, Belle. I have enough trouble keeping up with Kyria," Sophia laughed.
"Five," Belle corrected. "And somedays I want Calgon to take me away."
"And this is our father...Maurice Bordreaux," Marie said. Her father was standing behind Belle.
"Pleased to meet you, my lady," he said, somewhat shyly. He found his breath was quite stolen away.
"And you, Lord Maurice," Penelope said, holding out her hand.
He took it and kissed it properly. "I haven't been a lord since coming to Storybrooke," he admitted. "In America I'm just a florist."
"Still, one should never forget his roots."
"True. And when I return to my birthplace, my castle is waiting," he agreed with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I may drive you mad with my questions too."
Marie glanced over at her sister, frowning. Seeing their father flirting a bit with another woman bothered her.
"I look forward to it," he said gallantly.
Belle, however, was just glad Penelope was no longer looking at Rumple like a slice of dark chocolate cake and thought it was sweet that Maurice was finally showing interest in another woman after all this time.
"And this is one half of what we call the 'Mad Crew': the Hatters: Emma, Jeff, Henry, Gracie, and Maggie." Archie led them over to the Hatters.
Marie pulled her sister aside. "I don't know about this..."
"Marie, he's not proposing to her," Belle whispered. "I think it's cute, that he's finally displaying some interest after so many years . . .he's been lonely ever since he lost our mothers."
"I know...but it's hard...seeing him with someone else other than them...I ...would go insane if I saw Archie with someone else..."
"So would I with Rumple, but . . .Papa's different, Marie. Our mamas are gone and he's had no one except us. He's not a monk, you know," Belle giggled.
"I feel like I've been one for the last few months and believe me...the night we renew our vows...I am making up for lost time!"
She was still going to have a talk with her husband about her feelings and hopefully he had some advice for her.
Belle smirked. "You and me both. I've longed to tie Rumple to me so many times . . .in my dreams . . ."
Then she added, "And at least we can share a bed now without him ending up on the floor!"
Marie gazed longingly at her husband. "Maybe I'll have him serenade me like he did on my birthday...and I still owe you a debt for telling me that's what he planned and of course YOUR husband told Archie that you talked!"
Belle frowned. "I still owe him for that."
"Hmmm...maybe you can make it up to him in Italy?"
"Yes . . .I think so . . ."
"So are you really THE Mad Hatter?" Kyria was asking Jeff.
Jeff held out his hat. "Mad as they come, hon."
"We had a ball seeing that video you made of Rumple," Sophia laughed.
"We had more fun making it," Emma spoke up.
"Well it just goes to show you, people can still feel sexy no matter how old they are, isn't that true, Lord Maurice?" Penelope asked with a grin.
"I suppose so," he said nervously.
"Men age like fine wine," Rumple said with a wink at Belle. "Isn't that so, sweetheart?"
"Oh of course..."
Archie introduced the Hoods next. Ellie stepped forward. "I'm Princess Eleanor May Hood," she declared regally.
"Here she goes again," Neal sighed.
Maggie rolld her eyes. "Like she's the only one here."
"Yeah, always hasta be the center of 'ttention."
"Neal, hush!" his mother warned.
"It's true!" her son said honestly. "I'm a prince too an' you don't see me bragging' 'bout it."
"No you're not. My mommy was queen!" Ellie argued.
"Eleanor," Robin gave his daughter a Look.
The little girl bowed her head. "Sorry Daddy."
"Who cares?" Adriana huffed. "We're all the same over here. It says so in the con-sti-tion. Right, Papa?" the attorney's daughter informed them.
Regina breathed a sigh of relief. Sometimes her daughter reminded her too much of herself, Zelena and their mother for her own good.
"Yes, dearie. It does say that in the constitution of the United States," Rumple corrected. "Everyone is equal under God."
"Whatever," Ellie snorted.
Rumple frowned. "But even if that weren't so, Ellie, you would still be obligated to show good manners and treat all your subjects equally and with respect. Because that's how a true royal behaves. Otherwise she honors not the blood of kings." He lectured firmly. This was the sort of talk he had longed to give her mother once upon a time, and would have if Cora had permitted it.
"And a lesson I should have learned,' Regina added.
"It's one I would have taught to you, had your mama permitted me," he admitted. "For in my life I have seen the best and worst of rulers come and go."
"It seems that your royal history is as troubled as the ones here," Penelope spoke up.
"That's putting it mildly," said Snow as she and her family moved forward before Archie had a chance to make their introduction. "We're the Nolans."
"Cool! You're the real Snow White and Prince Charming...he's cute..." Kyria said sweetly, staring at David.
Alessandro's mouth dropped open.
"Kyria!"
"What? He is!"
"Do you get THAT all the time, Snow?" Sophia asked her.
"Yes, actually quite a lot," the princess blushed.
"I can't believe it...she's fangirling," Andi whispered to Bae.
"Well, she IS Snow White. And most little girls want to be like her," Bae muttered back.
"Except me." Andi sighed. "I used to wish I was born the baker's daughter-so I could be free to marry whoever I wanted and love whom I chose."
And she already had her choice in mind.
"Looks like you got your wish-in a roundabout fashion," Bae reminded her.
"Well, why don't we get you all back to the hotel. You'll be tired after that long flight but you'll have tomorrow to start sightseeing," Alessandro told the group.
"That sounds good to me," Rumple agreed. "Before my three imps wake up and start imitating three emergency vehicles."
They heard loud screams from where Archie and Marie stood.
"Uh-oh...it's Hurricane Maureen!" Jonny announced.
Dark clouds formed in the sky above them.
"I thought you locked her magic down, Rumple!" Archie cried.
"Oh no, ye wee weather pixie!" Rumple shook his head. He snapped his fingers and the clouds dispersed. Then he went to see how come his bracelet hadn't worked-and found the clasp had broken. "Oh dearie me. Looks like I needed to do this." Then he rewove the strands so they were a continuous solid circle that fit to the baby's wrist.
"Could it be there's magic here too, Rumple. I can feel it," Emma murmured.
"Me too, Mom," Henry said.
He nodded. "Yes. There is. And long ago-there were powerful weather witches like this one here." He tickled Maureen under the chin. "Right, pretty dearie?"
She smiled at him.
Archie cradled her against his shoulder. "Now, now Maureen. You can go back to sleep when we get to the hotel."
"I don't know about that," Rumple disagreed. "This one isn't the sleeping type, Archie. She's like my Driana, likes to see everything and everyone."
"I know...I haven't had a decent night's sleep in weeks but you get used to it."
"You do, and I've been the same with mine. Usually when one's asleep the other two are awake and when two are asleep, one is always up."
"AJ can sleep the whole night but as soon as the sun comes out he's wide awake and wants to go outside...like his brother."
"Yup. Cause bein outside is more fun than being cooped up in the house," Jonny piped up.
"I guess I better be ready for this one to keep me up," Emma said
"And there speaks a true green mage," Rumple said. A soft cry came from one of the infant carriers beside him, and he went to pick up his youngest triplet, Valora. "Hey, Val. Did you hear us talking, baby girl?" This daughter was sensitive to other people around her, and often woke up even when someone was being quiet and had come silently into the room to check on her.
His daughter gurgled at him and reached out to grab his hair.
"Ah ah! None of that," he gently disengaged her hand. "You don't pull Papa's hair. That hurts!" He sent a brief image of himself crying into her head to help her understand.
Marueen smirked at her father and grabbed at his ear.
"Oh no, she's got Daddy's ear!" Archie chuckled.
"Better put it back Mo or he's gonna go deaf," Jonny teased.
Maureen pressed her small hand against her father's ear, imitating returning it to him.
Valora cried softly, in reaction to her papa's mental image, then her hand patted his cheek. And she cooed into his ear. Rumple grinned and said, "Oh yes, you're gonna be my little deal maker, aren't you, sweetheart?"
His baby girl made a curious purring sound and then cuddled next to him, her big blue eyes taking everything in quietly.
"Just give us a call when you're ready to take off for Italy," Sparrowhawk said to Rumple. "We're gonna do a little sightseeing ourselves."
"Will do, and watch the air currents here if you shift. They're a wee bit tricky or so I've heard."
"I'll be careful."
"Send us some good pictures and video!" Tink called out.
"Don't worry, Henry will take plenty for everyone. I think he's going to become a photographer." Rumple assured her.
"Well you guys give me enough to keep my busy!"
They waved goodbye to their pilots and followed their hosts down the street to their hotel, eager to begin their adventure in Greece.
The bellhops were waiting in the lobby with the luggage carts ready to help carry their bags up to their suites.
"I've booked you into the same suite you stayed in during your honeymoon," Alessandro said to Archie.
"Oh Belle, you're going to love our suites. They're like a home away from home!" Marie exclaimed.
"I can't wait to see ours!" her sister cried.
And to finally have some alone time with Rumple, she thought longingly. Provided their babies all slept now.
"This place is like a palace, Mama!" Adriana exclaimed.
"It is, isn't it honey!" Belle said, thinking that the accomodations here were much nicer than some actual palaces she'd stayed at in their old realm. Belle Reve was the only one to have actually had functioning indoor plumbing.
Though the rooms were all the same, every guest could feel that they were living in a palace with two bathrooms that included steam showers, double vanities, flatscreen plamsa televisions and a tub with a silver princess phone where guests could make calls to the outside or other rooms. There were cream colored sofas with matching armchairs in the sitting room with an antique working table that included high speed internet as well. Bowls of fruit and water were set out for the guests to enjoy upon their arrival. Artwork from the finest auction houses lined the walls as well as some valued antiques that everyone knew Rumple would appreciate and as he looked around, the pawnbroker and antique dealer nodded in approval, mentally calculating the costs of each item in his head. The beds in the master bedrooms were all large enough to fit at least three and each room had its own plasma television and DVD/CD players concealed in the armoir and there were several walk in closets. Complimentary robes and slippers were placed in the bathrooms and each bathroom was equipped with its own salon style hairdryer.
"Boy do I feel like a fish out of water," Emma chuckled as her family walked down the hall to their suite.
"You! I'm a wolf out of the woods!' Ruby giggled.
"I feel like we're living the high life in Vegas," Jeff said, whistling.
"Yeah but you're not goin near the tables. I mean it, Hatter!"
He sighed, his fingers were itching to play cards. "Aww, Em!"
"Hatter! Do I have to call for Archie?"
Jeff held out his hands. "Okay, okay! I never said I was gonna, just that I'd like to."
"Good because you're not losing your shirt. C'mon. I'm exhausted."
"Really? You're sure?" he said, giving her a wink.
"Maybe a little..." she cooed.
"Where's our room?" he purred.
"Right this way Mr. Hatter." A butler stood outside their room. "My name is Dominic. I will be your butler during your stay."
"Cool! We've got out own butler!" Grace exclaimed.
"That's awesome!" Henry agreed.
He picked up Emma's suitcases and carried them into her suite, putting her clothes in the closets and drawers.
"Would you like to order something to eat?"
"Yeah! I wanna try a gyro!" Henry said. "How about you, Gracie?"
"That sounds great!"
"I'll have some sent up immediately."
"What's that, Henry?" asked Maggie.
"It's sorta like a Greek fajita," he explained.
"Remember, Uncle Archie made them for us one night when we went to his house," Grace reminded her.
"Oh yeah! I liked them a lot," her sister recalled.
Maggie, unlike Ellie was not picky about eating and ate anything.
Emma fell back on the bed, sighing dreamily. "I've died and gone to Heaven. The kid's gonna be spoiled sleeping in this huge bed."
"And so am I. I feel like a sultan in some Arabian Nights palace," Jeff agreed. "I could sleep in here ten nights straight and never touch the same spot twice."
"Mmm...well there's a lot of things we could do here in this bed..."
"I hear ya, baby," he was grinning.
"After the kids are asleep..."
"Uh huh."'
"In a month or so...we won't be able to do much of anything..."
"I know, so let's get while the gettin's good," he sent her a steamy look over the pillows.
"You don't havta ask me twice, Hatter."
He clasped her hand. "There was only one time I did . . before we were married."
"Yeah but we have a great kid out of it."
"That's for sure. And soon we'll have three."
"And will need lots of Wheaties or Red Bull to keep up."
"Or B-12 shots," Jeff chuckled.
"Hey Mom! Dad! You gonna lounge around or eat some gyro!" Henry yelled.
"I'm coming!" Jeff said. "So don't eat 'em all, kid!"
Lately Henry had an appetite like a bottomless pit.
"Growth spurt."
"Yeah he's growin' all right. Like the Jolly Green Giant," Jeff coughed.
Dominic rolled a serving cart into the room with a tray of gyros, cans of soda and dishes of ice cream for dessert.
"Ice cream!" Maggie crowed.
"Enjoy your snacks and call if you need anything. I am your primary butler but there are others who will serve you as well throughout the month."
"Thanks, Dominic," Jeff said and sat down next to his son. "I've been hankering to try one of these since Archie bragged about how good they were."
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night," they called.
Though the hotel was not as grand a palace as the ones she'd lived in when she was queen, Regina was no longer one to complain about it. Robin couldn't help looking around and noticing how all of the monies from the gold and silver trinkets could feed a dozen families in the Enchanted Forest for a year.
"Don't be getting any ideas," she teased him.
"Honey, I've gone legit, remember?"
"Thank God because I can't pardon you in this land."
"Mommy, where'm I gonna put Kermit?" Jason asked, holding up the box where his pet frog was sleeping while Roland lead Pinkie along on his leash.
"Why'd ya have to bring that dumb frog? He's gonna give everybody warts!" Ellie complained.
"Oughta give you warts!" Jason sneered.
"Don't start you two or it's the corner!" Robin threatened.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Hood. My name is Troy. I'll be your butler during your stay," a middle aged gentleman greeted them outside their door.
"Our own butler!?" Robin exclaimed.
Ellie held up her little suitcase. "Here then, take my bag!" she ordered.
"Eleanor May! That was unbelievably rude! Apologize! Now!" Regina snapped.
Troy chuckled. "Oh, it's all right, Mrs. Hood. I'll be happy to take your bags for you, miss. And you sir?"
"I've got this Troy," Robin insisted and helped the butler carry the rest of the bags into their suite while Regina took their daughter into the bedroom and sat her down, giving her a Disappointed Look.
"You are not going to be disrespectful to everyone during this vacation and going around acting like a queen because you are not one here and neither am I. Do I make myself clear?"
"Mommy..."
"Don't interrupt me. Years ago I did the same thing, looked down on people, treated them as my inferiors and I spent years of my life friendless and alone. Is that what you want?"
"Noooo," she sobbed.
"Nor is it what I want for you."
"This mean you don't love me anymore?" the child wept.
Regina threw her arms around her daughter and held her tightly. "I love you more than anything in the world which is why I don't want you acting like this. I'm trying to protect you. I don't want you to live the life I did."
You are not going to exert your influence on my child from beyond the grave, Mother. I will NOT allow it!
Though Cora's curses had been broken, Regina still had her fears that the darkness that had surrounded the Mills women while they were growing up was now reaching out to ensnare her daughter and she would fight with everything she had to prevent it.
"I'll be good Mommy. I promise."
Regina kissed her forehead and set her down on her feet. "Come on. Let's find your room."
Once she got their daughter settled she went to the master bedroom and found her husband sitting on the bed waiting for her.
"How did it go?"
"I'm hoping I got through to her this time. Robin, what if the curses were never broken on me...what if...what if she cursed our children!"
Robin pulled her into his embrace.
"Honey, honey! She couldn't have. We had Rumple look through every book he had on curses and he assured us those two she cast can't spread to future generations once they're broken. Ellie is going to grow out of this as long as we continue to be the best parents we can be."
"It's just that...when she does that...I see myself as I was in her...and it terrifies me!"
"We'll get through it together," he promised her and kissed her gently.
"We always do," she murmured.
All three children were on the bed watching a movie when they walked into the second bedroom. Ellie was holding Major May and the other majors were sitting on the floor with Pinkie and Kermit.
"You can watch this movue but after that it's time for bed."
"Awww!" they whined.
"No buts. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow and you want to be rested or you'll miss all the sights."
"Okay."
Robin called to have snacks and sodas sent up to them while they watched the movie. The children fell asleep twenty minutes before the movie ended. After kissing them goodnight, the couple returned to their own room.
"I wish I wasn't so far along...or we'd be celebrating our first night in this room properly," Regina purred.
"We'll be able to make up for it later." He patted her belly affectionately. "I can't wait for this little outlaw to be born."
"You seem to sire girls on me."
"I'm not complaining. Girls can be outlaws."
She swatted him.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?"
"Our girls are going to be law abiding citizens, Mister Hood!"
"Yes, my lady." He pulled her into his embrace as he yawned. "We better rest up too if we're gonna keep up with the others."
Regina drifted off to sleep with a small smile on her lips. She could always depend on her outlaw to chase her demons away.
The Charmings' suite was next to Regina and Robin's. Their butler was a younger man in his early thirities named Thaddeus and he kept staring at Snow, making David want to do something not so charming to the man until Snow gave him a Look and made him help Thad carry the family's luggage into their suite. They had seen it before through the photographs and videos the Hoppers shot during their honeymoon five years earlier but actually being in the room made it all the more exciting.
Neal was impatient to let his Minions and Gru out of their box to play but he knew he couldn't as long as the butler was in the room. Snow felt she was back at her father's castle again as a child with servants at her beck and call, once a spoiled princess until her mother had set her straight. The one slight the then Princess Eva had given a simple miller's daughter set in motion a brutal plan for revenge that left two families and entire realm shattered until their offspring banded together to break the cycle.
Fighting a common enemy, Snow thought. And together we're making this new world we live in a better place for us and our children, one day at a time.
"This is better than seeing the place in pictures and videos, isn't it Snow?' David inquired of his wife.
"It certainly is," she said softly and sat down on the sofa, her feet and back aching from the walking they had to do. They were going to be doing more of it it the morning when they toured the city, first by travelling as a group and then the families would go on their own tours to give them all time alone with each other. They all knew from experience that spending too much time together sometimes brought conflict and they all wanted their vacation to as peaceful as possible.
What people would think if they knew there were real fairy tale creatures in their world, David thought with a smirk. Only Archie's friends knew their secret but Rumple warned them all that it was possible other mages or fairy tale characters lived in this world and were hiding in plain sight as the Neverland crew did and not all of them were as friendly. They would all be on their guard but he was confident they could kick the backside of anyone who threatened them now that they were a united front.
"Would you like something to eat and drink, Mrs. Nolan?" Thad inquired.
"Yes please."
"I'll have something brought up right away."
"Now can I bring Gru an the Minions out?" Neal demanded.
"Yes but they have to be quiet when Thad gets back."
"Okay...Hey guys! You can come out now!" Neal yelled into the box holding his friends. The stuffed bear and Minions hopped out of the box, the Minions running around the room excitedly.
"Watch it! You're gonna break something and I DO NOT have enough money on me to buy it!" Gru yelled at them.
One of the Minions was jumping up and down on the chair. "No bounce...no fun!" it pouted.
"No bouncing on the furniture or you're going right back in that box, Mister!" David said sharply, feeling like he was talking to his son.
"Milo, you gotta get down or you"re gonna git grounded!" Neal threatened. His mother laughed from the sofa.
"Doesn't that sound familiar!"
"Too familiar. Hey where the heck do you think you're going? Neal! They're going in the bathroom!" David called out to his son while he, Major Gru and Neal chased three Minions who ran into the bathroom and jumped into the sink and started splashing each other in the sink and getting water all over the counters and the floor.
"C'mon you guys...outta the sink!"
"Ha, ha...all wet!" one named Toby laughed as it splashed Neal.
"You come outta there now or you're not comin outta your box for the rest of our 'cation!" commanded Neal.
Snow heard footsteps outside their suite and quickly closed the bathroom door, blocking it with her body.
"Is everything all right, Mrs. Nolan. You're a bit flushed."
"Yes, yes...everything's fine. David's just...giving Neal a bath!" she lied.
"What are you doing with that! Put it down!" she heard David yelling.
Thad laughed. "Reminds me of my kids. They either don't want to take a bath or they don't want to get out of the tub."
Except in this case we're dealing with a bunch of stuffed menaces, Snow thought, dreading what chaos she was going to walk into the moment she opened the door.
Thad set the tray of drinks and snacks down. "I'll see you in the morning Mrs. Nolan. Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything." He smiled at her and left the room. Snow sighed with relief and opened the bathroom door, her eyebrows raising into her hair at the mess before her eyes.
"Somebody better clean all this up!" she said in her best princess tones and she looked at the Minions pointedly.
The bathroom was a shambles. All of the linens had been yanked out of the closets and thrown on the floor, the toilet had overflowed and one of the Minons had given himself a spiked hairdo using the hairdryer.
"Mommy, we tried to stop em but they went nuts like they was on catnip or something!"
Father and son were soaking wet.
Snow tapped her foot on the floor. "Well? This mess better be cleaned up in two minutes or else all of you are grounded!"
"Awwww!"
"You gotta do it or else," Neal said sternly, giving them the same Look his parents give him when he got out line and started handing them some of the dry towels. "You heard Mommy. Get cleanin!"
You can whistle while you work," Charming smirked. At his wife's Look, he said sheepishly. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
The Minions were doing just that only they were whistling Todd Rundgren's I Don't Wanna Work while they tried to repair the damage they'd done to the bathroom.
When the room was cleaned to their satisfaction, Neal glowered at his friends and pointed to the corners in the sitting room. "You all got five minutes in there an you better be thinkin' 'bout respectin other people's property!"
All of them were exhausted after the 'Great Bathroom Disaster" that David recorded on his phone to send to Henry so that his grandson could include it in the group's travel diary. They watched it together while relaxing on the sofa.
"If that's any indication, this is going to be a crazy vacation!" David exclaimed.
"Hopefully not," Snow mumbled.
An hour later all of them were exhausted. Neal put the Minions and Gru in their box for the night and his parents tucked him into bed before they collapsed into their own.
"...This is a wonderful place Archie picked for us to stay in," Granny was telling Geppetto while they were exploring their own suite. They were sharing one with August and Ruby while Maurice and Mary Poppins had their own rooms.
Geppetto glanced at the suitcase his son was carrying where the ring he bought a few weeks ago waited. Now he just needed to find the perfect opportunity to pose the question but he wasn't sure when it would be.
"And how long were you on my case to marry Marie," Archie had teased him before they left. "You don't want to wait too long or she'll find someone during our trip. You should've gotten married years ago, after I did!"
I just want to be sure..."
"She loves you, you love her. What are you waiting for, old friend? If she didn't think it wasn't going to work between the two of you she would've stopped seeing you years ago. Now get yourself down to the jewelers and pick up a ring or I'll do it for you."
"You would not!"
"I would." the former cricket said with a smirk.
"You're becoming as devious as your brother-in-law! All right, I'm going!"
"Papa, when are you gonna ask her?" August inquired of his father when they were alone in Geppetto's room while their butler Jason helped them iunpack.
"I don't know!" he cried. "What if she says no?"
"She's gonna say yes, Papa. Quit worrying."
Geppetto took the ring out of his suitcase and locked it in the small safe he brought with him. He was exhausted from the long flight and lay down to sleep, still wondering if he was making a mistake.
"This is better than that shack we had in the woods, Granny."
"We made do, Ruby." Her grandmother nodded in approval when she saw the red bracelet around her granddaughter's wrist. "Please don't be out too late honey and never take that off."
"I won't. I'll be with August so he'll look after me."
Granny snorted. Geppetto's son had been a wild one during the curse and she had her doubts he'd tamed much over the years. Her granddaughter was trying to mend her wild ways but it was taking time. "It's just that...we don't know anyone in this city Ruby...and only a few know what we are. Be careful."
Ruby kissed her cheek. "You worry too much, Granny."
"No I don't. Be careful," she said again.
August was waiting for Ruby out in the hallway. The two of them had spent an afternoon on the computer before their flight looking to see what night clubs they could go to in Greece and Italy and discovered there were quite a few in Athens. There wasn't much of a night life in Storybrooke and both of them were itching to spread their wings again. However, they knew their parents were right when they warned them they would have to be careful. Ruby would wear her bracelet to prevent the change but her wolf's instincts were always on alert in the face of danger. Anyone who tried to attack her would have quite a fight on their hands. The pair called for a taxi to drive them into town, unaware that their worried parents would be waiting up for them to come home.
"I wish my son would settle down," Geppetto said with a sigh.
"It's going to take a strong man to tame my wild granddaughter."
"Our wild days are far behind us, thank God."
"I wasn't wild at all. I had Archie keeping me on the straight and narrow. Thankfully he was a cricket while I was growing up or he would've lost his hair from all the scraps I got into!"
"Now he has his own boy to worry about," Granny chuckled.
"I was starting to worry he was never going to find his own happiness but the moment he told me about Marie, I knew. I could see it in his face that she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with."
"We found ours too...in a way."
But I want to settle down too...she was thinking. She'd been waiting patiently all those years for him to ask her to marry him but he insisted he wanted to take things slowly. She'd respected his wishes and loved him enough that if he decided they would go on just dating she would live with it.
"Marie, has Geppetto said anything to Archie about...us getting married?"
"It's more like my husband been after Geppetto to marry you," Marie had said. "And I think it was time for you to do so years ago. Granny, take it from me, you don't want to let go of the best thing that ever happened to you. I came close with Archie far too many times."
"Your situation was different. Gaston was a bastard. I loved my husband and Geppetto loved his wife and we both lost them tragically, before their time."
"I don't know how I'd feel if Papa remarried..."
"That's what I'm worried about with Ruby. She barely knew her grandfather and August came along many years after Geppetto lost Lucia."
"She might surprise you and be happy with it. She's gotten used to you seeing each other."
"Now if our children would give us grandchildren to spoil, I'd be much happier."
"I'm afraid we're going to have a long wait for that."
They already knew they were in for a long night waiting for their children to return home. Though both were adults, a parent never stopped being a parent.
In their own rooms, Mary and Maurice were having similar thoughts. Mary was enjoying spending time with Doc and they had also discussed marriage but wanted to take things slow. Maurice was nervous. He'd gone out on a few dates during the curse but those women had been nothing like Collette, or Jeannette. Penelope Palakas however, the moment he met her reminded him of the best attributes of both of them. Perhaps it was time for him to start living again, even as difficult as it would be.
Marie felt as if they were on their honeymoon again. Alessandro insisted on carrying the couple's luggage to their room as he did years before when he was still a hotel butler. Gisella and Kyria led Pongo and Perdy while Jonny carried the cages holding Zach, Zara, Mickey and Minnie and their Happy Army bears and their parents carried the twins.
"Daddy, can I stay with Sella tonight?" Kyria begged.
"That's up to Archie and Marie."
"It's fine."
"Yay!"
"Daddy, I wanna bunk with Roland n' Jason sometime too!" Jonny said to his father.
"You can ask them tomorrow. They're probably asleep now."
"Welcome back!" Alessandro announced as he opened the double doors to their suite.
"Oh, Archie...it's still as beautiful as it was the first time we were here!" Marie exclaimed.
"Oh wow! This place is kinda like Uncle Rumple's castle!" Jonny exclaimed.
"Yeah, I know," his sister said. "That's how I felt when we came here the first time...and look! Daddy had one of those chocolate puzzles made for me!" She raced over to the table and picked it up. "Look, Jonny. There's another bear for you!"
The toddler laughed when he picked it up. "Can't wait to see how Duke likes that."
"What'cha gonna name him?"
"Wayne," the little cowboy said with a grin. "Gotta have somebody to keep Duke in line, ya know."
"That's an understatement," his father muttered. His son's bear had caused quite a few mishaps back home, the worst being when he was drunk before Christmas.
"Ahhh, my chocolate stand!" Marie sighed and snatched a piece off it.
"Oh no you don't, my goddess. You're sharing it this time."
"Are you gonna make me, Hopper?" she challenged flirtatiously.
"I most certainly am..." He reached behind her and grabbed another piece and popped in into his mouth, giving his wife a heated look.
"Awww come on, don't you guys start already!" Gisella groaned. "Wait til we go to bed!"
"Sella!"
You'd better be well rested husband of mine because when our children DO go to bed, we are going to make up a lot of most time.
The twins had awakened from their nap, both of them oddly quiet as they took in their surroundings but both were still sleepy after their long flight. Their parents carried them into their room and sat down in the rocking chairs Alessandro had put in the room while Archie sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" to them.
"He's really good," Kyria said to her friend as they watched from the doorway. "You didn't tell me he can sing."
"Yeah he does but he gets really nervous when he has to do it in public."
"And you can sing like him too now?"
"Yeah. He's really my daddy now, Kyria."
"He was from the day you met him," her friend reminded her.
"Yeah but back then I didn't look like him. Now I do." She held up a strand of her now ginger hair.
"That's still really cool that you changed so that you do look like him."
"They both cried when they noticed it that Christmas after they got married. Jason looks like Regina and Robin now too. He's happy with it."
"Glad I never met that witch you talk about."
"Me too. She shoulda been fried like eggs for what she did to my daddy and Aunt Belle."
"So what did Rumple do to her the first time?"
"He smacked her butt good!"
"He did? Really?"
"Yep," Gisella giggled.
"I would have wanted to be a fly on the wall to see that!"
"So did I but that happened before my mom went to see them and met daddy."
"Your uncle looks like he could kick butt and take names."
"He does. He took care of the crazy Toy Story family that tried to bomb our house good. Turned them into toys and scared the crap outta them."
"Your dad's more the quiet type."
"He is...except when someone tries to hurt any one of us. Then he can kick butt. Had Jeff let him loose he would've beat Gaston to a pulp after what he did to mommy and he nearly blinded one of the Black Dogs when they were bothering me."
"Okay, girls, let's get you tucked in," Sophia said and led them to their room. Alessandro took Jonny to his room while his parents got his younger siblings off to sleep.
"When you gonna have another kid for me to play with?" the todder demanded.
"Ummm...well...ahhh..."
"Better get a move on or I'm gonna stake out the stork's place and get ya one."
"All right Jonny," Alessandro chuckled. "Your parents will be in in a bit."
"Thank you for all your help," Marie said when they came out of the twins' room.
"It's no trouble at all, Marie. We're just glad you came back. We've been waiting long enough for it."
"Well then maybe you'll return the favor and come to Storybrooke," Archie teased.
"Maybe over the holidays. Mum's the only family we have here. Good night...and I'll come and get Kyria in the morning."
All three children were asleep when the couple entered their rooms. They kissed Jonny and Gisella good night and went to their own room. While marie was in the bathroom, Archie opened his overnight bag and took out his Chicago 17 CD, a small smile on his lips, looking forward to seeing his wife's face when she saw what he had in store for her, a little trip down memory lane to her last birthday.
When she emerged from the bathroom her husband was standing in front of the bed and crooked his finger at her, giving her a smoldering look.
"I don't want you to misunderstand me
I just wanna say what's on my mind
No need to hit me with an attitude
Because I haven't got the time
I want you to know one thing's for certain
I surely love your company
And I won't take no if that's your answer
At least that's my philosophy..."
"As if I would say no!" she moaned. He pulled her into his arms and pressed her close to him as he continued to sing, his blue eyes burning with desire.
"Stay the night
There's room enough here for two
Stay the night
I'd like to spend it with you
Stay the night
Why don't we call it a day?
No one can stop us
Nothing is in the way..."
She could feel her body temperature rising as he danced her around the room, still amazed that the shy former cricket who had little experience with women she met years before had transformed into her Adonis, a lover who could make her burn with a look or even the slightest touch.
"I can still remember how surprised I was when you danced with me that night like this," she whispered.
He grinned. "Well, we'd never watched Dirty Dancing before and I was a bit...inspired. That was the part your sister didn't know about...my own little surprise I threw in at the spur of the moment..."
"I wasn't complaining."
"Have some friendly conversation
And if you still don't have a clue
Unless there's something else you've got in mind
We've got better things to do..." He swung her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed, kissing her hotly.
"Oh you know we do, baby," she cooed. She yanked his shirt out of the waistband of his jeans and pulled it over his head, kissing him back while he threw hers on the chair and unhooked her bra. "Oh gods, I've missed you!"
"I've been here..."
"You know what I mean."
He chuckled. "Well I hope you're well rested, my goddess, because sleep is the last thing I have in mind tonight!"
"I'm going to hold you to that, my Adonis. We've changed so much since we were here the last time, haven't we?"
"Like I keep saying, my goddess, I am not the shy former cricket you first married."
"No, you're not," she sighed dreamily.
Years ago, he'd been terribly nervous the first two weeks of their marriage, having never been intimate with a woman before. Most of the men in Storybrooke had made fun of him, wondering why he'd chosen to remain chaste until he was married when a good majority of them indulged themselves whenever they needed to, caring little for the feelings of the women they were with but that was not for him.
He could still hear Blue's scathing words to him shortly after his wedding.
"I cannot believe you actually did it...you married her!"
"I married Marie because I love her," Archie said, glaring at her.
"She's a whore...and you're a fool if you believe her when she claims she isn't," Blue snarled.
"She's not!"
"She's corrupted you...with her lust."
Archie stood up. "I find it fascinating that you still work in that damned club and try to pass yourself off as a pillar of virtue but you're far from that. You always have been. You've never wanted me to be happy ever since that incident with Geppetto's parents...which could have been reversed but you made me believe it couldn't just so you could enjoy seeing me suffer all those years. Not anymore! I love Marie and I am not ashamed of it. And if enjoying making love with my wife is corrputing me then so be it. Now get out of my office!" he yelled.
"You'll see things my way when she leaves you," she declared.
"That'll never happen because we have something you never will: true love." He strode over to the door and yanked it open. "Out...or I'm going to call Jeff and have you escorted out!"
She glared him one last time and stormed out of the office.
For years Marie had allowed others to make her feel like the whore she'd never been, forced to dance for men to support herself and her young daughter having only been with three men in twenty-nine years prior to meeting Archie and only for one night. She hadn't been able to respond to any of them but it hadn't stopped them from talking about her. Even hearing all the rumors and knowing what she did for a living hadn't tainted her image in his eyes. She was his goddess and only when she was in his arms did she truly feel like one, the only man who made her life complete. He took his time making love to her as he always did, giving her another precious memory to add to the thousands of others she'd collected over the years to replace the painful ones of her past and in tyhe same countries where they honeymooned years ago, there would be many more precious moments to come.
Another butler waited outside the Golds' suite when they approached their room.
"Good evening," he greeted. "My name is Lukas and I will be your butler."
"A pleasure, Lukas. I'm Rumple Gold," Rumple shook his hand.
"Pleased to meet you sir. Now let me get your suitcases into your room."
"That's too much for you to carry alone. Bae, help him, please." Belle instructed.
"Thank you." Rumple went inside and sat down on the sofa, rocking his sleepy daughter back and forth. He began to sing softly in his melliflous voice, a familiar lullaby. "Hush my wee lass, 'tis time for ye to close yer eyes and dream . . ."
Bae went and took some of the suitcases.
"Can I carry my Happy Bears, please?" Adriana asked.
"Sure, Rumplette," Bae handed her the box with them in it.
Belle came last with her son and daughter in their carriers.
"Would you like to put the children down for a nap, Mrs. Gold?"
"Yes, please."
One of the rooms had cribs inside for the triplets. Lucas placed Bobby and Victoria in the crib for her.
They didn't even stir, deeply asleep, and curled next to each other much as they probably had in the womb.
"Is there anything else you'll be needing, Mrs. Gold?"
"Well, if you could be so kind as to send us up some lemonade or iced tea and something to eat, I would be most grateful," Belle said kindly.
"Not a problem. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Belle went back into the main room to see if Rumple had gotten Valora to sleep yet.
The baby yawned, then stuffed her fist in her mouth, drooling on her papa's shoulder as he sang.
Bae leaned against a doorjamb and recalled Rumple singing this same lullaby to Adriana and if he could recall that far back, most likely him as well.
Adriana tugged on his arm.
"Yeah, Rumplette?"
"Can we draw stuff? Please?"
"Okay. Let me unpack my sketchpad and pencils."
"Cool!"
She pulled back the curtains and pointed at the Acropolis high on the mountain. "I wanna draw that."
Bae went to his backpack, which was where he carried his sketchpad and some pencils and took them out. He handed a piece of paper to his sister and some pencils. "Okay, you do that. But I'm gonna draw something in here first."
"Like what?'
He quickly turned back to where his papa and sister were and began to sketch rapidly. "This."
"Okay."
She had several sketches he'd done of her and her father hanging on the walls in her bedroom at home.
Bae drew with the ease of long familiarity, capturing the utter love on his papa's face and the sweet innocence of his baby sister, as well as the love his mama expressed as she gazed at them from the doorway.
"How's this, Bae?" Adriana handed him the sketch she'd made.
"That's really good," he praised, and it was for a toddler.
Lukas returned to the room with the tea and some baklava for them to try.
Rumple by then had almost gotten his baby fast asleep. The little one's eyes had closed and she was asleep with her little head on his shoulder. He rocked her gently.
Andi texted Bae to let him know their friends were settled into their own suite and were having snacks.
You want to come over and watch a movie?
Yeah in a bit. Soon as I finish this sketch.
Okay...what do you want to watch?
You pick. Surprise me.
Okay...something good and scary
Sounds good.
He picked up some baklava and sighed in bliss as he ate it.
He quickly sucked honey from his finger tips while he finished the sketch and signed it with his name and the date on the bottom, titling it, "A Lullaby For Valora".
He set the sketchbook down and stood up, saying, "I'm gonna go over to my friends' suite and watch a movie, okay?"
"Go ahead, lad. And if you're gonna stay there, let us know." Rumple said.
He rose and murmured, "Looks like this wee lassie's ready for the Land of Nod. Let's put her with her brother and sister." He carried his sleeping daughter into the room and placed her in the crib next to her siblings.
"Mama, I'm tired...can I get the Happy Bears out now?"
"Yes, darling," Belle said. She reached for a piece of baklava and then fed it to Rumple.
"Yeah...I'm goin' to bed if you're gonna just make out..." their daughter mumbled.
Rumple groaned. "Now really, mo astor, all yer mama did was give me some dessert . . ." Sometimes it was embarrassing to have such a perceptive child.
"For now. Still goin to bed before I see something I don't wanna."
"That's a good idea," Belle agreed quickly. "You want to be well rested tomorrow for when we go visit all the temples."
"You gonna read me a story?"
"Yes, in a little while," her mother agreed.
Several of the Happy Army bears marched into the room and saluted their young mistress.
"Permission to keep watch, dearie?" asked Major Rumple.
"Permission granted," she replied, saluting them back.
They raced down the hall to her room and hopped onto the bed to wait for her.
She went up to Belle and kissed her. "Night, Mama."
Belle hugged her and said, "I'll be in soon to help you into your nightie and tell you a story about Mt. Olympus."
"Okay, Mama!"
Rumple kneeled down and held out his arms for her to snuggle into them.
Adriana ran into them. "Night, Papa. Will you sing to me?"
"Sure, mo astor."
She kissed his cheek and then skipped into her room.
"I wonder how the others are enjoying their rooms," Belle said to her husband.
"I'm sure they're doing just fine," he replied, then he kissed her leisurely.
"Don't forget to tuck Adriana in...or she might interrupt..."
"Aye, and ye owe her a story too," he recalled.
Then he went into his daughter's room and sat her on his knee and brushed her hair. Then he tucked her into her very large bed and began to sing softly to her, the same lullaby he'd sang to all his children, and the same one his mama had sung to him.
She started to close her eyes, the promise of a story forgotten and cuddled up close to Majors Rumple and Belle.
He sang softly to her and kissed her forehead. "Sleep tight, dearie, and don't let the bedbugs bite."
"Mmmkay..." she murmured sleepily.
He looked up as his wife entered. "I think you're gonna have to owe her a story tomorrow," he said and indicated their sleeping daughter.
Belle leaned down and kissed her little angel's small cheek.
Her husband smiled at her and whispered, "Who would have ever thought we'd have what we do now, mo chroi?"
"I wouldn't trade a single moment of it for anything."
"Nor would I . . .strange as that sounds."
Now that their children were asleep, there was nothing more Belle wanted than to be alone with her husband. She took his hand and led him toward their bedroom.
He followed content to have her lead, though this was a dance he knew by heart.
"We have, as Marie puts it, some lost time to make up for."
"Was that what you two were whispering about on the tarmac?"
"That...and she's a bit worried Papa might be interested in Penelope."
"Well . . .I wouldn't say that's something to worry over," Rumple said easily. "Perhaps Moe is finally allowing his heart to love again. I know firsthand how difficult that is. I hope he finds the second chance I did."
"I can understand why she feels that way. She knew how much Papa loved both of our mothers...but I always knew he loved Jeanette more and...like me, Marie's only had one true love in her life."
"Sometimes, dearie, you get lucky twice," Rumple said. "It's rare but it happens."
"It won't with me. You're the only man I will ever love," she vowed.
"And you are the only one for me," he answered.
"Now let's make up our lost time, darling..."
"That's the best suggestion I've heard all evening," he said softly, and he drew her blouse over her head.
"Let's loosen that tie, shall we..."
She carefully unknotted his tie and pulled it free from the collar of his shirt, letting it fall to the floor at their feet.
"Would ye like to unbutton the Gold One, dearie?" he crooned, the name a play on what he used to be-the Dark One.
"Always..." she murmured and started undoing the buttons on his shirt slowly. "And what layers are awaiting me, darling?"
"As many as ye want to uncover," he answered, his own fingers undoing her bra.
"There are so many...it could take all night..."
"Well, aren't we fortunate we have the entire night?" he asked sexily.
"Yes...we are...unless our triplets decide they want attention..."
"Let's hope they sleep then," he said, and drew her towards the bed.
"I cannot wait to renew our vows and have the honeymoon we wanted..."
"Neither can I."
"I love you, Rumple."
"And I love you, Belle."
She'd missed nights like this when night fell and they could indulge in their passions without restraint but the beautiful children sleeping in the rooms down the hall had been worth the sacrifices they made.
He had missed them also, but counted the price well worth it as he drew her close and began to seduce her expertly, knowing every curve of her like he did his own name.
And over the years she'd come to know his body, his heart and his soul as he'd given them all to her of his own free will, difficult as it had been after being hurt so many times in the past. In in turn, she'd given herself to him, never asking for anything other than his love in return.
It was a love she had fought hard to win, but once won, he had never denied her it, giving her all of his generous spirit and tender yet fierce passion. It was something he would have given to his first wife had she ever quit berating and belittling him, but Milah had been a consummate fool. She had thrown away his heart and stomped it into the dirt, breaking it into a million little pieces.
With time and patience Belle repaired those broken pieces, driving back the darkness that plagued him for so many centuries, helping to reshape him into the man he wanted to be.
Until now he could stand proudly before any man and not think he was inferior to anyone. He was never inferior in her eyes and that night she reminded him of this as she allowed him to seduce her into their own private paradise. No matter what pretty face always glanced her way, at the end of the day and every night, the Beauty would have no other but her Beast for as long as they both lived.
Rumple allowed her touch to soothe him and her passion ignite his own as he made slow gentle love to his wife, the wife who had seen the worst and best in him, both darkness and light, and had stayed and fought for the man she saw beneath the curse. The wife who had given him the family he had always longed for and who loved being a parent as much as he did. So unlike Milah, who had lacked the empathy, responsibility and maturity to be a good mother. Belle was everything Milah would never be, and he need have no fear of his children being abused or neglected while he was gone. Or fear that she would cheat on him.
The old demon of low self-esteem appeased for the nonce, he kissed his beauty leisurely, knowing how to take his time and bring their pleasure to the fullest, and after all they had all the time in the world.