Rumplestiltskin and Belle had been married for three years now. Their little girl, Kaitlyn, was almost two and they had another baby on the way. Rumplestiltskin had never been happier.
One day in June, Rumplestiltskin was in his back yard stirring the big iron pot he used to dye wool when he heard a voice behind him.
"Hello, Rumple." He wheeled around, unbelieving.
"Milah!" he gasped. "What the hell are you doing here!" He had known that she had run off with the captain of a pirate ship, but he hadn't told Bae that. He'd thought it would be easier for the boy if he thought she was dead, rather than know she'd simply abandoned him. Now, she was back, but for what?
"I wanted to see my son," she said. "Where's Baelfire?"
Rumplestiltskin was more furious than he'd ever been in his life. Did this woman think she could just breeze back after nearly ten years? He glared at Milah.
"What makes you think he wants to see YOU?" He hissed at her, baring his teeth. She took a step back. She had expected to see the broken cripple who was afraid of his own shadow. She had even laughed about it to Killian.
"He'll probably cry and beg me to come back," she'd said, sending them into gales of laughter. "Believe me, I can bully him into letting me see Bae. He's too chickenhearted to stand up to anyone."
Just then, Belle and Kaitlyn came back from town. Kaitlyn came looking for her father and toddled up to him, holding her arms out. "Papa!"
He knelt down and hugged the little girl. "Hello, darling," he smiled at her. Kaitlyn pointed at Milah. "Who 'dat?" she asked him.
"No one, sweetheart," he said, giving Milah a cold glance before turning back to his daughter. "Now, I need you to go inside and stay with your mama. I'll be along shortly. You go on now, all right?"
Giving Milah another questioning glance, Kaitlyn went back inside.
"I heard you married again," Milah said. "So you're happy?"
Rumplestiltskin straightened up. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. Does that disappoint you? You would prefer it if I wasted my life pining for you?"
Milah faltered. "Of course not," This was not the man she remembered. He wasn't meek and timid anymore; in fact, she was beginning to be afraid of him a little. "I want to see Bae…please. Rumple, I am still his mother."
Rumplestiltskin scoffed at her. "How DARE you even call yourself that! You gave birth to him, but Belle is more of a mother to him than you ever were! Go away from us, Milah. Go back your ship, and your dashing sea captain. We don't need you. If you care for Bae, you'll let him be happy." He gripped his walking stick tighter, ready to beat her head in with it if she gave him any more trouble. "Go! NOW!"
Milah's eyes were fearful now, and he liked seeing that. Without another word, she turned and walked away. When he was sure that she was really gone, Rumplestiltskin walked into the house.
"What on earth was that all about?" Belle asked him. "Was that Bae's mother?"
"She was his mother," he said, drawing her close and rubbing her round tummy. "Not anymore. You're the only mother he needs, and you're the best mother my little ones could ask for, and the best wife any man could have."
September
Rumplestiltskin sat up on his side of the bed. It was late, and Belle was finally fast asleep and the midwife had gone home. In his arms, he held their new son, Jack. He had sent Bae and Kaitlyn to Maurice's house early that morning when Belle had gone into labor. Now that it was all over, he enjoyed the peace and quiet, rocking his baby boy in his arms. Beside him, Belle stirred. A sleepy smile spread across her face.
"Beautiful isn't he," she said softly, and reached up to touch the baby's hand, letting the little fingers grip hers. "Strong too."
"Just like his mother," Rumplestiltskin agreed. He put his hand on her forehead. "Go back to sleep, Belle." She took his hand and held it in hers as she closed her eyes again.
This chapter was one I felt the need to write. I needed Rumple to stand up to Milah, without Dark Magic. I didn't like the way they just had him kill her so quickly on the show; to me he still never really won over her. So I wrote this so he would!