~ Three Coins In The Fountain ~

I am not an angel, I am not a hero,

I am just a man

Unlike any other

In her eyes I am...

Josh Groban - In Her Eyes (Belle and Rumple's love theme)

Although their wedding was the happiest day of her life, Belle felt something had been missing that day when her beloved sister chose not to stand by her side in fear that she would be ridiculed because of her occupation during the curse. Now she would at last have Marie at her side where she belonged and once again pledge to love her sorcerer in the shadows for all of their lives and beyond.

The moment she saw the Trevi Fountain in the pictures and videos her sister brought back from her honeymoon, she knew there was the place she wanted to renew her own vows and it reminded her of one of her favorite classic movies; Three Coins In The Fountain. She did not need to dream of finding romance...she lived it every day.

Rumple Gold would have said to anyone who asked before he was cursed that he was not worthy of love from anyone. Being abandoned by his father at a young age and abused by him and having his mother die having him had left him with a horrible self-esteem problem, and being cursed and possessed by a demon only made it worse. But meeting one lovely fiery beauty who believed in the lonely sorcerer in the shadows changed his life forever.

She alone of all women he had known before had seen the man behind the monster and her love had freed him to become the good and loving man he was today. For he had never considered himself a hero, but just a simple man who wanted nothing more than a family to love and to be loved. Now he had more family than he knew what to do with, and more love than he ever expected.

He was excited to renew their vows here, in the Eternal City, where lovers had come from time immemorial to pledge their hearts.

"You could not have picked a better place, my friend," Angelo said to him the previous evening in his workshop while they were practicing portal spells.

"And I believe your first test of your skill should be to create a portal to take your lovely bride to a special place. Now where would that be?"

"The Trevi Fountain," Rumple replied. "It's where we wish to speak our vows again."

"I mean for your wedding night, my apprentice," the chef said with a grin. "You will not have privacy here."

"Oh . . . can you suggest somewhere? I don't know your country the way I do my own."

"Hmmmm...I was thinking more of your own land. The portals you make can cross worlds...I've just never tried it."

Angelo turned a page in his spellbook. "Creating a portal to a new world is something I could not do because I am from this land..but you can."

"I . . .there's my home, Belle Reve, in the Enchanted Forest," Rumple mused. "I'm sure my enchanted staff would welcome us for our second wedding night."

"Would they give you privacy, amico?"

Rumple smirked. "Yes, if I so ordered it. They know when to intrude and when not to. And I can always lock the door."

"Then show me what you have learned. Open a portal to your world and let us travel through."

Rumple concentrated, using the visulaization techiques Angelo had taught him and called upon his magic. A glowing door of purple and gold light emerged and then showed a scene of a tranquil forest retreat, and a lovely castle surrounded by mountains.

"Excellent amico!" the elder sorcerer cried. "Now let us pass through." He took Rumple's hand and together they stepped through the portal to the front gates of Belle Reve.

They swung open at a touch of their master's hand and they walked into the courtyard. "Would you like a tour?"

"I would, si! It reminds me of the grand castles I lived in during the time of the Borgias..."

Rumple's eyebrows rose. "Well, welcome to Belle Reve. Let me warn you though, I have a hassock puppy named Gabby that may jump on you."

"Oh that's all right. I've had plenty of dogs in my lifetime that have taken a liking to me."

"Okay." Rumple touched the doors to the castle and they swung open, welcoming him back. As he stepped into the entryway, the enchanted furniture woke and rushed to meet him.

Angelo's eyes widened in wonder. Though he had the ability to animate objects, giving them voices and human characteristics was a skill he did not possess and one he wanted to learn.

Rumple turned to him. "My servants were once people, enchanted into furniture by my predecessor, Zoso, centuries ago. When I became master here, I couldn't transform them back because they would have aged in an eyeblink and become dust. So they remain enchanted."

"Which is better for them. And how is your daughter able to animate her toys. Is it the same enchantment?"

"Adriana . . . has inherited my gift of transformation. But her spell is one that works with Light magic, and not dark. She takes a seeming of those she loves and projects it onto her toys, as near as I can figure it."

Angelo frowned. "The Borgias, especially Cesare wished to learn dark magic, specifically the art of mind control. He wanted to use it to lure Lucrezia into his bed." The elder sorcerer crossed himself. "His own sister..."

Rumple grimaced. "Such would be forbidden here in this land too. Incest is not something we believe in. It is considered abomination according to our own religious beliefs."

"it's good to see some things do not change between worlds."

"Actually, I believe there ar emany similarities between this world and the century you grew up in." Rumple said.

"It would appear so yes. The clothing is similar."

"Heeyyyyy...who're you?" they heard a little voice ask on the floor in front of them.

Rumple knelt and picked up Tobias, his pepper shaker. "Tobias, this is Master Angelo, my friend and fellow magician from Italy. Say hello, lad."

"Ummm...hi. Where's Italy?"

"It's in the world Storybrooke is," explained Rumple. "But across an ocean."

"Is it a big ocean?" asked Wesley, Tobias's brother as he jumped up and down exictedly.

"Yes, very big," Rumple went and picked him up also. "This Is Wesley, Tobias's brother. Wesley, this is Master Angelo."

"Hi."

"Well hello there, little one. I take it you are Rumple's helpers in the kitchen, eh?"

The two nodded. "We like to help Master Rumple cook!" Wes said.

"Uh-huh and Master Archie cause they make the best stuff ever," Tobias added.

Rumple blushed slightly. "Now lads, ye've only known me and Archie to cook here . . ."

"Ummm Master Robin tried to make somethin and so did Master Jeff...and...it made us all throw up!"

Rumple groaned. "I wasn't going to mention that little mishap, dearies . . . it's what happens when you get two former outlaws together in a kitchen who are used to eating in public taverns for over half their lives."

"Well I can assure you you will never throw up when I cook," Angelo said.

"The Master's home! The Master's home!" Gabby barked as he skidded down the stairs and over to Rumple where he jumped up on him and licked his hand. "I missed you!"

Angelo chuckled. "He's an excitable one, isn't he?'

Gabby turned and went to sniff and lick the other sorcerer. "Ohh! A guest! A NEW guest! Hello! Hello!" His tassled tail waved back and forth.

"Hello there," Angelo kneeled down to pet the hassock and scratched its back.

Gabby groaned happily. "Ooh, I like him, Master. He knows about the good spot!"

"I had a dog or two in my life and they all have the same spot that's just right to scratch."

"I think you've made a friend for life," Rumple giggled.

"Oh I don't mind. This is the perfect place for your wedding night, amico and I wouldn't mind coming back to visit a time or two."

"You will be more than welcome. Come, let me show you around." He led Angelo into the den, where Misty the loveseat was and some other enchanted objects.

"Rowl?" the loveseat feline asked when she saw her master's new guest.

"Misty, this is Master Angelo," Rumple soothed. "This is Misty, my cat sofa. She doesn't speak, I think Zoso only enchanted her to become furniture because he caught her going past him. Or if she does, she only chooses to do so when she wishes, like any cat."

Angelo patted the sofa affectionately. "I once had a cat as my familiar...Sophia her name was...but alas she took a draught that was meant for me..."

The sorcerer's eyes narrowed to slits. "Were I less of a man I would have cursed the Borgias myself but fate dealt them a rather unpleasant blow, did it not?"

"What goes around comes around, my friend," Rumple said softly.

"Well then, I would like to see your workshop here."

"This way, dearie," and he led Angelo to his lab, which was warded but the wards relaxed when he touched the door.

Angelo was still learning how to cast wards but he'd managed to successfully cast one of them on Villa Pulcinello so that they would no longer be bothered by thieves.

"My wards here are keyed to me-and whoever I choose to allow entry with me," Rumple explained. "Think of them as a kind of alarm system like a watchdog. The "dog" knows my aura, and knows to permit any who come with me-as long as they are not dark. So a dark practitioner could never force entry into my lab by using me as a hostage-the wards would know and fry them."

"Excellent. I have not sensed any dark mages in Italy but that does not mean they are about...they can mask auras as we do."

"Yes . . .and they would because they were hunted in your land. Here, not so much, where magic is commonplace as grains of sand. Even the lowest hedge witch can sell her charms and potions at a market."

He entered the room and mageglobes lit at his approach and illuminated the room, which was a round room built of interlocking stone blocks and furnished with a long stone table, some comfortable chairs, a bookshelf with many magical tomes, and several cabinets with small cubbyholes which held potion ingredients-a cauldron was in a corner-and also scrolls in cases. There was a large rug in front of a fireplace and a stained glass window that showed an area of the garden. "I grow my herbs there," he pointed. "And some of the older and more dangerous spellbooks and scrolls are warded also. Don't want any curious apprentice prying where they shouldn't. So if they try to open one without knowing the keyword, they'll suffer singed fingers."

He chuckled wryly. "Of course, I didn't think to ward my potion ingredients like that, so my son came in here and nearly blew up my lab trying to make a perfume for his girlfriend a few years ago."

Angelo chuckled. "Thank God my lab is hidden. The Pulcinello bambinos were a curious lot and would have blown up the villa!"

"Kids! Some days you want to hug them and others you want to spank them," the sorcerer sighed. "And it depends on the day!"

"Yes it does. This is a magnificent castle, truly and Belle will have a wonderful time. We should get back so you can get ready."

"Thank you! You will have to come back and stay sometime during the summer, when I have leisure to show you both the grounds and the inside," Rumple said. "Yes, Belle will have my head on a plate if I'm not ready for the ceremony."

It was also when he could tell the other mage the true story of this castle, and how it had been transformed after he and Belle had inhabited it with their family from the Dark Castle to Belle Reve.

"Then cast the portal to take us back, apprentice."

Rumple did so, and they stepped through it and were whisked back into the kitchen of the villa in a twinkling. The spell drained his reserves a little, but since he was a master, he had magic to spare. However a younger mage would have needed to rest for awhile afterwards.

"Well sis, today it's your turn to be on cloud nine," Marie said softly to Belle while they were dressing for the wedding in the Hoppers' suite. "Even though your actual anniversary isn't til Valentine's Day but who cares. This is the perfect place to renew your vows."

Belle pulled on her petticoats and tied them, saying, "It's so beautiful, Marie! The moment I saw it in Three Coins in the Fountain I knew we had to come here so we could renew our vows. And best of all, you're going to be with me like you should have all along!"

"I know I know...and like I said before Archie was upset with me about it and with my not telling you the truth about who I was. I was so damned stubborn and self conscious back then because of Cora's curse."

"But now the curse is gone and so is she, and we can live as we choose," Belle said. "Help me with my dress?"

"Of course...thank God I didn't wear something like this on my wedding day...or a corset. Archie would have cut it off...then burned it.." Marie laughed. "He did that with my corset after our dance the first time we went back to Belle Reve!"

Belle chuckled. "Rumple hates them too, says they're medival torture devices masquerading as ladies fashions. But this is one of his own designs, and it's a longline bra and it won't leave marks on me like stays used to."

"Archie said almost the same thing," her sister grinned. "Oh do you remember that ball where we set up a nasty little accident for those Villette trolls?"

Belle smirked wickedly. She smoothed the skirts of her turquoise gown, which had puffed sleeves edged in gold lace and in gold thread were roses and spinning wheels on the bodice, and layers of silk and tulle filled out the skirts. She had on sheer white stockings and matching heels with diamon rose buckles. Around her neck was a lovely locket with Bae's pictures of Rumple in it, it was a protection charm made long ago by her husband. More turquoise and iolite stones hung from her ears.

"Of course! And the nasty cats deserved what they got!"

"Axelle always had it in for us and that sister of hers always went along with what she did...so I thought frogs in the punch bowl was appropriate but a bit of an insult to the frogs that they had to put up with them."

"But oh it was funny to see them screaming like ninnies and running around knocking over the servants and banging into people like madwomen! You'd have thought they'd been assaulted!"

Marie scowled. "They have no idea what an assault feels like."

Belle shook her head. "No, they don't. And they should thank their lucky stars for that . . .although I doubt if they'd consider Gaston's attentions an assault if he'd bestowed them on those two harpies, which I'm not all sure he didn't! He always pursued everything with skirts!"

"I'm glad he's dead! Glad! But...enough about him...let's finish getting you ready...but should I wear my green gown, Belle?"

"Why not? It's suitable for the occasion," her sister replied. She started to brush out her long hair, hissing when the brush tangled. "Oh! Dratted hair! Rumple can always untangle it for me, his fingers always manage to undo the knots."

"So did I, remember?" Marie took the brush from her sister's hand and carefully worked out the knots in Belle's hair, recalling the many times in their childhood when they used to brush each other's hair before bed and talk about their dreams for the future.

"Of course. And you could braid hair better than me, which was why I was always glad it was your job to do so, otherwise I would have looked like a ragbag!" Belle admitted. She had always preferred reading and other scholarly pursuits.

"Would you like it in a braid or a twist?"

"Twist it, so I can put it up on my head. It's hot here, and I don't want a lot of weight on my neck."

"I'll do a French Twist...besides, Rumple can always take it out later and run his hands through it." Marie sighed dreamily. "I love it when Archie does that...oh Belle we got the best of them...better than we ever dreamed of."

She started laughing suddenly. "Oh! Do you remember the time I found that book hidden in our tutor's desk? The one called 101 Ways to Attract A Man? And we spent the night reading it under the covers and plotting ways to use what we read to get the man of our dreams? But it turns out we didn't need anything-except to just be ourselves."

"No we didn't and of both of us, I never thought a man like Archie could love me...because of being in that damned club. But there you were after the first curse was broken telling me to go for it...even when I thought everything was falling apart you kept me believing I could have a love as wonderful as yours..."

And today as they had on Archie and Marie's anniversary, the two couples would stand together as Rumple and Belle reaffirmed their love for each other.

"Because I knew that if I could make Rumple believe in love again, after he was as damaged as you were, I could make you believe it too." Belle said.

"You always were the optimistic one," Marie said while she fastened her heart pendant around her neck. "Do you know where your husband is taking you for your wedding night?"

"No, he said he wouldn't tell me. It's a surprise. But I have a pretty good idea."

Marie smiled slyly. "I know but I'm not supposed to tell..."

"Hmm . . .I bet I could tickle it out of you," Belle threatened.

"You wouldn't dare..."

"Is that a challenge?" she purred.

Belle lunged at her, her hands reaching for a spot under Marie's arm, which she knew from their childhood was her ticklish spot.

"No...nooooooo stop...you're gonna make me pee myself!" Marie giggled.

"Tell! Tell!" Belle chanted, and in an instant was transported back to their chldhood in Avonlea and she was ten and trying to get Marie to tell her about a surprise Maurice had gotten her for her birthday.

"I can't... I promised Archie I wouldn't...he's gonna make me a red velvet cherry coke cake roll Belle and serenade me! Serenade me! Here!"

"Oh, all right!" Belle relented. "Perhaps Rumple will sing for me too when we get to wherever we're going."

"Belle, you know I need to have my baby serenade me."

She also knew Rumple was planning a moonlight serenade of his own at Belle Reve.

"You're lucky none of the Mad Crew had recorded him doing so and put it online."

"No but I just recorded this," Archie said from the doorway holding up his phone.

Belle gasped. "You didn't! I'm suing!" she cried, then started laughing. "Now I know I'm a lawyer's wife!"

"Come on...hand it over," Marie demanded of her husband.

"Nope..."

Marie winked at her sister. "Wanna help me get it?"

"Why not?" Belle said.

"Marie...don't you even think about...ooof!" Marie tackled her husband onto the bed and kissed him. "Grab the phone!" she yelled at Belle between kisses.

"That's...cheating...my goddess..."

Belle went and snatched the phone out of his hand. "Got it!"

"Now get rid of the evidence..."

"You're gonna pay for this my goddess..."

"Later, darling, later..."

Belle scrolled through the phone, and pressed delete. "It's gone, gone, gone!" she chanted.

Archie sat up. "Oh and I'm going to make certain Rumple pays you back nicely for that little distraction Belle," he said with a smirk.

"You'd have to make a deal with him," she grinned.

"Oh I think I can manage that."

"You'd better go get dressed darling," Marie reminded him.

"Oh damn...Rumple will have my head if I'm late..."

He jumped out of the bed and raced out of the room, his wife giving him heated looks.

"Save it, Marie," Belle urged. "Now we have to redo my hair . . ."

"All right." Marie opened her jewelry box and took out a set of ivory combs. "These were Mama's. Papa gave them to her when they were children and she wore them every day."

"They're beautiful," Belle said. She showed her sister a carved ivory rose bracelet. "They match this piece Papa gave my mama."

"He bought the set for both of them on the same day," Marie explained while she wove her sister's hair into an elegant French Twist and placed the combs.

Belle looked in the mirror. "So, what do you think? Will my beast like what he sees?"

"He always does, sweetie. That's the beauty of the men we married. They love us for what we are outside and in."

"Because they know what it's like to NOT be loved that way," Belle said sagely. "And if I had that-that tart Milah here right now I would beat her with my shoe for treating Rumple so disgracefully."

Marie laughed. "Or the broom...but you put quite a hurting on Antoine Devarge with that shoe when he threw you into that mud puddle and you got sick, didn't you?"

"Yes. For a shoe can be mightier than a sword!" Belle chuckled.

"Well, let's go round up the rest of the girls and our kids and get this wedding going so you can be alone with your beast."

"Yes, because I don't want to wait another minute," Belle said, and lifting her skirts slightly, hurried from the room.

"Mama, Mama! How do I look?" Adriana asked coming out of her bedroom in a duplicate of her mother's dress her father made for her months earlier.

"Oh, sweetie, you look perfect!" Belle said, thinking that Adriana was the perfect blend of her and Rumple.

"And Sella, Ellie and I got all the babies dressed," she declared proudly.

"Thank you, that was so thoughtful of you girls," Belle praised. The babies all had outfits made by her husband, but spelled so nothing, like baby drool or spit would mar them.

"Can we push em in the strollers to the fountain Belle?" Ellie asked.

"Yes, you can. Just be careful of the cobblestones, they get the wheels caught."

"Okay we will. "C'mon Jonny," She took the handles of the stroller her brother and Pearl were sleeping in and wheeled them outside while Adriana and Neal wheeled the triplets.

"Oh God...my son with a baby carriage...his father will pass out!" Marie moaned.

"Now, Marie," Belle laughed. "Archie knows that gender roles have reversed since coming here. And it's perfectly normal for a boy to play house."

"Oh he knows that its just that they're growing up too fast for us.. "

"They're not even five yet. Wait till they're fifteen! Rumple swears he's going to start needing to dye his hair."

"Archie's afraid he'll be bald by then!"

"Not if Rumple has anything to say about it," Belle giggled.

"Your limo awaits Mama," Bae said and bowed .

Belle eyed her oldest. "You look very handsome, Bae. Like your papa when he was younger. I'm sure Andi will need to borrow my broom to beat away the girls."

"Oh I can do that," laughed Andi looking every inch the duchess that she was in their world.

Bae took Belle's arm to escort her to the limo, as was his place as the eldest son.

The Hoods, Hatters and Nolans would ride in the other cars along with the children.

"Were gonna have one of these too, eh Gina?" Emma said.

"Maybe in a few more years."

"You look beautiful Belle, " Snow said softly.

"Thank you, Snow." Belle said quietly.

"Are you...nervous Rumple?" Archie asked him.

Rumple looked up from straightening his swallow tail jacket and said, as he adjusted his tie, "I shouldn't be, but I am a wee bit."

"Its not like she's going to back out. She loves you...she always has."

"Oh, I know that . . .I'm just . . . hell, you know I want everything to be perfect." Rumple said, smoothing his waistcoat.

"Do you remember how I was before I got married and everything you said to me? Keep that in mind ."

"Thanks, sometimes I need a reminder," Rumple fixed his hair. "Well, how do I look?"

"Great. Now wed better get going before our wives take the broom to us."

Rumple shook his head. "Not today, dearie. Come, I don't like being fashionably late."

Ewan and Bobby were driving them to the ceremony both boys dressed in old Scottish garb.

"Belles gonna faint when she sees ye," Bobby teased.

"Do ye think so, laddie?" Rumple winked at him and drawled softly.

"Oh aye. Now if ye wore a kilt like a proper Scotsman..."

"My knees are too knobby, dearie. But maybe just for Belle I might . .. "

"And ye know what no' to wear beneath, aye?" Ewan teased.

"Aye, and ye dinna need to remind me," Rumple smirked.

"I don't think I could do that...would be too embarassed," Archie admitted.

"Yer lasses wouldna complain."

The two teenagers grinned. "Lad I don't know where you've been but I see that ye won first prize!" they sang and laughed.

"Now dinna be singing that kilt song lads!" Rumple scolded.

"Och come on Rumple, sing along, ye and Archie!"

"NO!" the men said firmly.

They arrived at the fountain first, pleased to see that there was not much of a crowd that had gathered. The wedding planner they'd spoken to earlier in the week assured them that they would have all the privacy they needed for their ceremony but Rumple was not taking any chances. He, Angelo, Henry, Emma and Regina would cast wards around the site to protect everyone from any uninvited guests.

The first cars to arrive carried the Nolans , Hoods , Hatters, Scorpions and the children. Robin sauntered up to the groom with a flask in his hand. "Need a shot, Rum?"

"Maybe two by the looks of him!" Jeff teased.

"You get him drunk and we get the brooms. Dammit don't you two ever LEARN?" David demanded.

"Aww calm down David we all need a little courage booster!" Robin said nonchalantly.

"Yes well I don't need a sore ass...you want to get him drunk you're on your own!"

Jeff handed the flask to Rumple. "Ahh take a shot!"

"No thanks. Alcohol and sorcerers do not mix, dearie! And I want to be able to speak my vows, not slur them. My courage is found here." He laid a hand on his heart. "And I believe you promised Emma you were going to quit drinking once this new baby was born, didn't you?"

Archie eyed the portal jumper pointedly. "Yes, he did and if he knows what's good for him he won't touch it...right?"

Jeff gulped. "You won't tell Emma...will you?"

"If you don't drink anything we won't have anything to tell her about, now will we?" Rumple demanded, his eyes hard. "You of all people know how I feel about alcoholics, Hatter. And if you don't by now, perhaps I'd better enlighten you some night!"

He waved the flask, which he could tell had some kind of whiskey in it, away. Just the smell of it brought back memories he had tried to put to sleep forever, memories of hole-in-the-wall taverns, dirt floors, the stench of vomit and unwashed bodies, and the curses of patrons as they lost at dice and cards, as well as the lash of his papa's temper.

"Bad move boys," Archie scolded.

The two men backed away, feeling guilty.

"Sorry about that Rum," David said. "I'll keep them in line."

"Thank you," he sorcerer said softly. "You understand too," he said, since the former shepherd had also grown up with an alcoholic father, though his had not been as abusive as Malcolm.

"Too well," David mumbled.

Their eyes met in shared understanding. For no one knew the demon in the bottle as well as those who had grown up under a parent who was a slave to it.

"Rumple think about Belle," Archie encouraged.

At that moment Bae drove up in the limo carrying his mother and aunt.

When Rumple saw the car, he quickly stopped the line of depressing memories. His Belle was here and he would be damned if he let something like this ruin their day.

In the car Marie squeezed her sisters hand gently. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Belle agreed, giving her a squeeze back.

Maurice was waiting beside the car. "You look beautiful poppet."

"Thank you, Papa." She looked up, feeling the spirit of her mother Collette watching over her, a smile on her lips as she recalled all the discussions the two of them had about life and love.

"Someday Belle cherie, you will find a man who will loe you as you are, and that my darling is the truest love you can ever have. Hold onto it darling."

I have found it Mama...maybe not in the place you would have expected me to but I've found it...and now here we are...so many years later...with five beautiful children. You would like Rumple, Mama. I know you would.

Rumple waited calmly beside the fountain, it's gently burbling water soothing away the last of his dark memories, and sending them back to sleep. Go back to hell, Papa, where you belong!

Instead he thought of the women who had raised him, the kindly spinsters who had taught him the right way to treat others and ladies most of all. "Be kind, be gentle, and love will find a way to you."

And love had, in the most unexpected way.

Maurice kissed Belle's cheek and placed her hand in Rumple's. "I love you poppet," he whispered and returned to his seat beside Penelope who was weeping into her handkerchief.

Rumple smiled at his wife. "Shall we, mo chroi?"

"Yes, dear heart, we shall."

They processed up the line of their family, to where Archie and Marie waited alongside the fountain. When they reached the fountain's edge, they turned and faced each other, their hands still clasped.

Belle decided to let her husband speak first sensing something had been troubling him before her arrival and hoped her presence would be enough to chase his demons away.

Rumple swallowed, then gathered his thoughts, silently recalling what he had intended to say. Then he spoke, pitching his voice the way he did when he was in a courtroom, so all could hear his words. "Belle, before I met you I struggled with a soul-crushing curse, but besides that I also struggled with a poor self-image from growing up a bastard son of a coward alcoholic who abandoned me to the mercy of strangers. I felt that I was unworthy of being loved, even though the spinsters who raised me told me long ago that by being gentle, kind, and honest love would find me. But for so long love eluded me, it fled from me like a ghost, and I felt as the centuries went by that it was lost to me forever. For who could ever love a beast? Or a coward spinner? But I was wrong. For you found me, the lonely sorcerer locked tight in a prison of shadows, a prison born of fear and isolation and darkness, and you freed me. By doing one simple thing-loving me for all that I was, and all that I could be. You gave me back my heart, my soul, and my slef-esteem. And all you asked in return was that I love you. That was the best deal i ever made, and I have never regretted it. Because of you I have what I have always dreamed-I have a family, a place to belong, five beautiful children, and my heart's desire. That's all I have ever wanted. So, I ask you now, the same thing I did long ago in Avonlea, will you go with me, Belle, forever?"

Tears were in Belle's eyes as she began to speak. "Before I met you, I thought that true love was the way I read about in my books...with a handsome prince that would come and take me away to his shining castle but I was wrong. For while a man may be beautiful on the outside his heart can hide a dark nature. Then one day a man came to our castle...a bit of a showman...but the show hid something that he was afraid to let others see..someone who wanted to be loved so much but no one was willing to venture into his shadows to see the true beauty that was within. And because I wanted to know him I made a choice to go with him...I knew it would not be easy to bring the light back into his life but I would not be like the others who were not strong enough to stay. Rumple, I made a promise to you that I would go with you forever and I always will. And I will always be your light when you feel your shadows gather around you. You are my my heart and my soul and I will love you in this life and beyond my gentle beast."

"In you, mo chroi, my heart has found its home, and to celebrate the love I bear you, I give you this, spun out of my magic and love." He gestured and a glittering golden ring appeared in his hand.

It was a tricolor rose ring and on the inside was written "Mo Chroi love Rumple." He slid it on her finger, next to her wedding band. "With this ring I vow thee my eternal devotion, until the end of all things, I am yours."

Marie was fighting back her own tears when she handed Belle Rumple's ring. "With this ring I vow thee my eternal devotion, until the end of all things, I am yours." Belle slid the ring onto his finger and raised his hand to her lips, kissing it softly. "I love you."

The Hoppers then handed the couple some coins to toss into the fountain.

Together they threw three coins into the fountain-one for love, one for luck, and one to return again to Rome someday.

Then Rumple drew Belle into his arms and kissed her breathless, the way all lovers dream of being kissed, yet so few ever experience. It was kiss of pure magic and pure joy.

It was with great reluctance that they parted long enough to be hugged by Marie and Archie.

"That was beautiful Belle!" Marie sobbed.

"Thanks, and I'm so happy you could share in our special day this time," her sister said.

"I wasn't going to be crazy enough not to again."

"I wouldn't let her," Archie added.

"Good thing, dearie, or else Belle would have broken out the broom!"

David and Snow hugged the couple next. "Beautiful ceremony, just beautiful. Now I want to renew our vows," Snow said dreamily.

"Where do you want to do it, honey?" David asked her.

"Our castle of course and everyone is invited. I want to have a winter ceremony."

"Sounds like fun," Rumple snickered. "It'll be a winter wonderland."

"Well we want to have a mad ceremony, don't we Em?" Jeff asked his wife.

"Because we're all mad here!' she giggled.

"That's about right," giggled Rumple.

"Well I don't want to be around mad people," Regina joked.

"Too late for that, my queen. We inducted ourselves into the Mad Crew and we can't check out!' Robin reminded her.

"Yeah, it's like the roach motel!" Bae teased.

Adriana jumped into the fountain followed by the rest of the children. They scooped water into their hands and splashed the couple.

"It's for luck Mama, Papa!" she sang joyfully.

"Oh no! Come on kids, get out of there!' Archie cried.

"Uncle Archie we're giving Mama and Papa good luck!"

Some of the people on the street stopped and frowned at them.

"Now dearies, come out of there," Rumple ordered. "This is a public landmark, not a swimming pool!"

"But its fun!" his daughter protested.

"Jonny, Gisella! Out. Now!" Archie ordered firmly.

"Maggie, come on...get out of there," Emma crooked her finger at her daughter.

"Ellie, Jason, Roland, march yourselves out of that fountain," Regina ordered.

The three Hoods crawled out of the fountain and walked over to their father with their heads bowed.

"We're waiting Neal," David tapped his foot.

Reluctantly, Neal came out, looking slightly sheepish.

"What is going on here?' they heard someone say. Two police officers stood behind them.

"We're gonna get 'rrested!" Maggie cried and raised her hands. "Put your hands up!"

"Don't worry, Maggie! Papa's a lawyer and he'll defend us!" Adriana cried, alarmed. Then she said, "I didn't they's 'llowed to 'rrest kids!"

"Yeah they can an they can put us in little cells!"

"M'not goin in a cell. Jonny'll bust me out, won't ya Jonny?" Ellie asked.

"I don't wanna go in the hoosegow!" Jonny wailed. "I didn't rob nothin' or kill anybody."

"We can bust out!" yelled Jason.

"Yup, cause Will taught me how to pick locks!" Roland said, eager to test his skills.

Behind him Robin facepalmed himself.

"I'll just burn the doors off like Charlie McGee!" Ellie boasted.

"Would it help if we said we're sorry an' we'll never do it again?" Neal asked, giving the policeman puppydog eyes.

"How come jumpin' in a fountain's a crime?" Adriana wanted to know. "I don't see no sign sayin' No Tresspassin' or Keep Out."

The two officers laughed. "Well, cara, this is a very important part of our nation's history...you wouldn't want us to do that to one of your landmarks, would you?"

Adriana now looked guilty. "No, sir. We didn't know . . . we just wanted to give my Mama and Papa good luck cause they got remarried . . .and it's good luck to splash people on their wedding day."

"Oh...this is your wedding day?"

"It's a wee bit early but . . .since we were here on vacation, my wife and I decided to count our blessings and renew our vows. Some of our family couldn't be present the first time we were married, so it gave them a chance to participate also. We apologize for any inconvenience." Rumple explained with his suave charming manner.

"It's all right signore. Just...try not to do it again."

"Well, children? What do you say?" he fastened a sharp Look upon them as they stood dripping wet before the fountain.

"We're sorry," they chorused.

The officers couldn't help laughing. The children were adorable.

"Congratulations and may you enjoy the rest of your day."

"Can we eat now? I'm hungry!" Maggie asked.

Her siblings laughed. "Bottomless pit, that's you Mags!" Henry teased.

"So were you," Regina reminded him. "Once you ate a box of scented crayons!"

"Ewwww!" Grace screeched. "Gross!"

"Didja havta crap em out?" asked Jason.

"Betcha it was a rainbow!" Ellie giggled.

"Aww cut it out you guys!"

Grace grinned at her sibling. "Even I wasn't crazy enough to do that!"

"It was the crayon company's fault for making them smell good enough to eat," her brother objected.

"And he didn't eat the whole box, just bit a piece off each of them," Regina clarified.

"Oh you don't wanna know what I nearly gave Papa a stroke over eating." Bae said.

"Tell, dearie!" demanded his sister.

"Nope!"

"Papa, what did Bae eat that was really gross?"

Rumple groaned. "Are you SURE you want to know, dearie? I wish I didn't need to remember it."

"Tell me!"

"I wish you developed memory loss!" Bae muttered.

"Just for that, lad, I'm gonna tell her TWO things!" his father growled.

Adriana was nearly jumping up and down. "What is it?"

Bae wanted to crawl in a hole.

Rumple paused then said, "Well, you see, dearie, when Bae was walking, sometimes I had to go and sell things and I left Bae home with his mama . . ." Here Rumple grimaced. "And sometimes his mama was-err-indisposed and didn't watch him as well as she should have and one day I came home and found Bae sitting in the yard-it had rained and there were mud puddles and he was crawling in the mud and picking something up and eating it. I was horrified!"

"So I ran over and cried, "Bae, what are you eating, lad?" And I saw him eating . . . a bug!"

"Cannibal!" Jonny yelled.

"Eww! Gross!" Adriana cried.

"Well, I almost threw up right there," Rumple said. "But when I brought him inside to Milah, she was napping in front of the fire, all SHE said was, "Why are you making such a fuss, Rumple? Bugs are good protein!" I almost felt like telling her to go dig in the garden for her dinner!"

Archie, Jonny and the twins were pale. "Ewww Daddy, 'member when we saw those bags of crickets at that fair once?" Jonny asked his father.

"And they called them the 'other green meat'. The 'other green meat'? It was disgusting and they even flavored them!"

Rumple looked ill. "You know, I've eaten a lot of things when I was hungry, But I NEVER ate bugs! Grass, tree bark, pine needles, yes. Bugs, NO!"

"An this guy held one up to Daddy and wanted him to try it. Gross! Daddy's not a cannibal!"

"What else, Papa?" Adriana persisted.

"Nothing!" Bae said quickly.

"Liar, liar pants on fire!" Ellie taunted.

"So what was it?" Neal asked Rumple.

"It was not good. Back then I used to dye my own thread, and one day I was making mulberry dye and I mixed some mulberry extract with some other plant juice to make the dye fast and put it into a big vat of water. Well, Bae climbed onto my workbench, he was like a little monkey, and he drank some of it. I was terrified, because too much could be poisonous to a small boy. So I dosed him with some milkweed syrup."

"I thought it was mulberry juice, okay!"

"I think that was the day I got my first gray hair."

"Well you won't be eating anything disgusting at my table!" Angelo boasted.

"Thank God for that!" Rumple said.

"I can't wait to see what you boys made for us," Belle said softly.

"And on that note...let's go eat!" Jeff crowed.

"Lead the way," Bae said, anxious to both fill his belly and get off the topic of childhood mishaps.

Mariana and Egg already had the tables and buffet set up in the back lawn of Villa Pulcinello by the time the party returned from the Trevi Fountain.

On a large buffet table were loaves of crusty Italian bread, accompanied by Caesar salad, clams in white wine sauce, prosciutto wrapped canteloupe, tomato salad with mozzerella and basil. For main dishes there were linguini carbonara, sauage and peppers, Roman veal scalloppini, and shrimp scampi. There was also margherita pizza and pepperoni pizza and an antipasto tray of olives, cheese, and fruit.

On a separate table were the desserts. Tiramisu, a cannoli cake, fruit, pignoli cookies, wedding cookies, and nuts toasted with cane sugar.

"Congratulations!" Mariana hugged the newly remarried couple.

"Gratzie," Rumple replied, and kissed her on both cheeks, which was the Italian way to greet people.

Egg kissed Belle's cheeks. "Bellissima, cara."

She blushed. "Gratzie Egg."

"You know cara if I were younger..."

"Oh? You'd what?' Belle giggled.

"Well, not meaning to step on any toes..."

"I'd run off with your husband!" giggled Mariana.

Belle laughed. "It's the leather, isn't it?'

"And the face . . .he ages like fine wine . . .better and better . . ."

"Oh yes..." Belle sighed.

Once everyone had their plates and sat down to eat, Rumple's eyes bulged when he glanced down at his son's plate. It was piled high with food.

"Where you gonna out all that?" Adriana inquired.

"In my mouth, Rumplette. Now go eat your pizza."

"Daddy this kinda tastes like the grilled cheese you make me," Gisella said.

"Aww crap I got this stuff all over my dress!" Ellie wailed.

"Ah who cares...you still look pretty," Jonny complimented.

Bae was eating his linguini carbonara and sighing in rapture. "Papa, you gotta make this at home."

"Or I can," his mother said. "And not traumatize the kitchen..."

"I love this shrimp scampi," Adriana said, licking the butter and garlic sauce off her lips.

Belle dipped an olive into her wine and held it out to her husband.

"Thanks, dearie."

"This pizza is amazing!" Kat said. "It reminds me of the one my mom used to make when I was little."

Belle was content feeding her husband from her plate of olives and cheese while their daughter held her hands over her eyes.

"Mama, can't ya do that later...don't wanna see ya making out here..."

"Yeah reminds me of the time Henry an Emma said they caught Mommy and Daddy makin tacos only it wasn't tacos," Neal muttered.

David nearly choked on his cannoli.

Snow slapped him on the back.

"Emma! have you been telling our son wild stories again!"

"Well what the heck was I supposed to say when I come over to your house in the middle of the afternoon and you two are still in bed...with the door wide open I might add and forgot YOU were supposed to have Henry for the day!"

"I can't wait until we're alone," Belle murmured.

"Neither can I," Rumple grinned. "But first, we dance, dearie."

"Lead on, my beast."

Rumple drew Belle to her feet. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for a waltz!"

"This has been the perfect day..." Belle murmured, laying her head on his shoulder.

Rumple began to twirl her gently across the floor, moving slwoly both in deference to his injury and also so people could see Belle's dress flowing like seawater across the patio.

Every time they danced together she always felt as if she were dancing among the clouds. Years ago when she was young and naive she dreamed of prince for her true love, now she would never settle for anything less than her beast who treated her like a princess than a prince who never could.

Rumple gazed into her eyes and a part of him marveled at how lucky he was that this fine lady had chosen him, once a mere spinner, over all the fine nobles she could have had. "I love you."

"You know I will always love you...I made a deal forever dearie...and I'm sticking with it." She caressed his cheek lovingly.

"Good, because I will never let you go," he whispered.

"Even if you tried to I would come back. I would fight for you and never stop until we were together again. You belong to me Rumplestitskin Gold and don't you ever forget it."

"As if I could," he laughed huskily. "Even when we were cursed, a part of me still remembered you in my dreams."

"Mine did too..only I couldn't see you clearly. You were always in the shadows like you tried to be when I came to your castle."

She smiled at him. "And as much as I love spending today with all our friends and family...there's nothing I want more now than to be alone with you..."

"Yes, dearie, me too. Shall we tell them goodbye and go to our wedding retreat?" he asked, purring softly deep in his chest.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see." He dipped and twirled her about one final time then said, "Now dearies, it's time for us to bid you arrivaderci, but please stay and enjoy the food and music, for, as they say here, it's una bella notte!"

"Have a good night!" Archie called back, winking at his brother-in-law.

Then Rumple gave one of his traditonal flourishes~and a gold and purple portal appeared in front of them. He picked Belle up and jumped into it . . .and they emerged in thier bedroom at Belle Reve, but the bedroom had been transformed into something like a princess' boudoir, complete with satin sheets covered in rose petals, beeswax candles scented with honey, and there was a bubbling hot tub sunk into the floor with rose petals floating on the surface as well as flat candles.

One stained glass window was thrown wide, and the coo of mourning doves could be heard as a few fluttered up to the casement and pecked at the golden grain scattered there on the sill.

Beside the tub were mounds of ultra fluffy towels in gold and pink with Mr. & Mrs. Gold upon them and an assortment of crystal vials of bath salts and bubble bath. There was also a turquoise and white bikini and a gold Speedo.

"I can't think of a more perfect place to spend our wedding night..." she whispered.

Floating on a bamboo tray were glasses of fine Moscato D'Oro and a plate of muscadine grapes and sharp provolone cheese.

As well as a plate of boar sausage, which was a Tuscan delicacy Angelo had given to Rumple, sliced into rounds.

"Your bath awaits,mo chroi," he gestured to the tub invitingly. Then he began to shed his clothing like a king snake shedding his skin.

She was taken back to her wedding night, and while most brides would be nervous on their wedding night, she wasn't nor did he have anything to fear from her. The bond that forged between them in this very castle so many years ago always allowed them to break through each other's barriers.

Suddenly soft music began to play, the instrumental version of Josh Groban's "In Her Eyes" which was their chosen love theme.

She came toward him in the chipped cup bikini he made for her and held out her arms. "Let's dance again, my beast."

"With pleasure," he said, then waved a hand and he was wearing his gold speedo. Then he clasped her in his arms and twirled to the music, kissing her ardently.

"And now I think I'm ready for a nice...hot...relaxing...bath..."

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Rumple said huskily and then walked down the steps into the water.

When wet, his floofy hair floated about his shoulders like a sleek cloak and he could move freely in the pool.

The massaging jets came on and the water whirled gently, causing the tray and rose petals and candles to spin around.

"I remember waking up the morning after our wedding...and you disappeared on me...and I find you in the tub...tempting me with this..." She gestured to his Speedo.

"And that was when you broke my curse," he grinned. "And together we sent the demon wailing away into the dark."

"I'll send all your demons wailing away. I know something upset you earlier...but whatever it is...let it stay in the dark tonight..."

"It will . . .it was a momentary memory . . of something best forgotten," he murmured. Then he began to sip the wine, enjoying the luscious taste of sweet and tart on his tongue.

"May I have a sip?"

He held out the glass to her.

Her eyes met his over the rim of the glass and she took slow teasing sips.

"Minx!" he said, then he took the glass from her and kissed her. "Drink to me only with thy lips . . ."

She took the glass from him and set it down. "Only my lips...I thought you loved all of me..."

"Your lips so I can taste you . . ." he said, a wicked gleam coming into his eyes. "Would you offer your throat to the beast?"

"I would offer my body, my heart...and my soul to the beast..."

"And by doing so you have transformed the beast into the man," he giggled.

She crawled onto his lap. "And I'm ready to be taken by both...shall we go to bed, dear heart?"

"Yes, now let's get dried off," he said, and they climbed from the tub and wrapped themselves in the corresponding towels.

Rumple dried Belle off with slow gentle sweeps of the towel, rubbing her till her skin gleamed, and she did the same to him, making him glisten as the oils from the tub were rubbed into his skin. He quivered all over, tantalized by her touch.

Then he drew her to the bed, and they lay upon the rose petals, crushing them, as he made slow love to her, bringing her to the brink of ecstasy, then following her over the edge into bliss. Together they soared, one body, one heart, one soul as they celebrated a love like none other, forever and always, a tale as old as time, a beauty and her beast.