Warning: Will eventually contain mature material. Language. Lemons. Some spicy limes. Maybe full-blown things. ~_^

A Salvation Called Love

-Chapter 34-

-Graduation and Surprises-

[Annabelle]

Today was the day that I graduated. I'd worked hard for my degree and I was absolutely happy. Today also marked the 5th month since the incident where I almost died and marked my 6th month pregnant. The baby, a girl if the ultrasound was right, was healthy and growing quickly. The day that I had gone in to check the sex, Dominic had dropped everything to come down and be with me. He'd never seen an ultrasound before and it had amazed him. I had only laughed so much that the doctor had gotten a little mad because he couldn't get a clear picture. The smile on Dominic's face as he saw his daughter for the first time moving around in my womb was priceless. I watched his face the entire time, etching his expressions into my memory.

Currently I was sitting in the chairs in front of the graduation speaker waiting for the announcement of graduation. From where I was sitting I could see Dominic smiling at me, Ashley laughing at something the speaker had said and Baelfire with his arm draped around Ashley. Those two had gotten extremely close in the past five months and I was happy that they had each other. Both had gone through so much that they deserved the happiness offered to them by each other.

There was a sharp nudge to my ribs by one of my friends and classmates and I turned to look at her, arching a brow. "What was that for?"

Anya laughed and pointed towards the speaker. "He's fixing to announce us as graduates so stop staring at your man and drooling all over your graduation robes."

I rolled my eyes and elbowed her back in the ribs. She gave a small grunt and a laugh but aside from that she kept her eyes turned back to the speaker. I did the same just in time to hear him tell us all to stand. We did and there was a lot of noise and shuffling as everyone stood and stretched. We'd been here for an hour and a half. It was about time. He speaker smiled at all of us and presented us to the stadium of parents and friends and family that we were now graduates. A roar happened and everyone threw their graduation caps. The sky turned black for a moment and then the sun was back as the caps thudded down on the chairs and the ground and a few people who didn't dodge. I could feel my heart racing happily and my baby girl did a few rolls to show her joy as well.

Weaving my way through the crowd of graduates and family I looked for Dominic. I knew he would come find me but I didn't want to just sit and wait. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and hug him tight. I was standing on tip-toe looking over a few heads when I felt hands wrap around my tummy from behind and a soft, accented voice whisper against my hair as I scooted back down to my own height. "Looking for someone, Dearie?"

I wrapped my arms over his and leaned back against his warm chest, rubbing my cheek against his stubble. "You."

Dominic chuckled and laid a kiss against my neck causing me to shiver. "You looked absolutely beautiful just sitting there staring at me."

I grinned. "You saw me staring?"

"I did."

I turned slowly in his arms and adjusted my body so that my baby bump wasn't in the way and I wrapped my arms around his neck, looking up into his beautiful rich brown eyes. "I love you, Dominic."

Dominic smiled and his eyes crinkled up in the corners as he reached up and traced along my cheek. His voice was a little softer and his brogue a little thicker when he spoke. "I have never been so blessed than to have you love me, Annabelle, and to have you carrying our child. I love you too." His lips were warm against mine as he kissed me deeply. I sighed against his lips and hugged him tighter. He did the same, one hand wrapping tightly into my hair and the other around my waist.

Our baby girl wasn't happy with this though because she kicked out against Dominic's stomach and he pulled back with a loud laugh. I gasped at the sensation of the kick. "Bloody hell, that girl has one hell of a kick."

Dominic laughed and slowly dropped to his knees, letting his cane fall to the grass as he wrapped his large hands around my belly and put his mouth close to it. He spoke softly to our girl in Gaelic and even though I didn't know what he was saying it was absolutely beautiful. I slowly ran my hand through his silky hair as he whispered and I looked out at the people surrounding me. I couldn't be happier than I was now. I had a man who loved me, a growing daughter in my belly, and a best friend who was actually walking our way with Baelfire in tow. She was grinning ear to ear as she stopped beside me. Baelfire sort of rolled his eyes at his father but didn't say anything. Ashley gave me a small nudge. "Congrats on graduating, Anna. Hopefully that will be me in a year or so."

I gave a small laugh. "I'm sure it will, Ashley. You're so smart and you have someone to keep you in check now so that you do all your work."

Ashley's grin grew even wider and she slipped her arm around Baelfire's waist. He towered over the both of us. "He's pretty smart himself. I'm hoping he will come in and register with me next semester."

Dominic gave a small groan as he pulled himself to his feet and leaned against his cane as he beamed up at his son. The two of them had gotten the chance to catch up and I loved seeing them together. "My son is a bright boy, I'm sure if you ask him nicely he'll apply. I'll even pay for his college."

Baelfire blushed lightly and hid behind his curly bangs. "Papa, stop."

Dominic grinned and turned slightly, giving me a wink. "What, son? Am I embarrassing you?" When Baelfire gave a small nod everyone started laughing and Ashley hugged him tighter. He even gave a small grin.

With a small sigh I entwined my fingers with Dominic's and smiled up at him. "I guess we should get going, Dominic. I'm getting hungry and you don't want me cranky on the drive back to NY tonight."

He gave a small nod and we took off towards the car with Ashley and Baelfire in tow. Ashley had plans to stay with us during the break so that she could spend time with Baelfire and help me as I got fatter with my pregnancy. I was already having trouble doing certain things so I didn't mind the help.

Once we were all in the car Dominic headed downtown where all the good restaurants were and when he found a parking space he pulled into it and turned the car off. He turned to me and smiled brightly. "Wait here with Ashley, love. Me and Bae are going to go in and see if they have any open tables. Ok?"

I gave a small nod, not thinking anything of this request. "Ok. Just don't leave me out here for long because the baby is pressing on my bladder and I have to pee really badly."

Dominic chuckled and leaned forward, his stubble rubbing against my chin as his lips pressed against mine. It was a small kiss and then he was pulling himself out of the car with his cane. Baelfire got out of the back and followed his father into the restaurant. A few minutes passed and I was starting to squirm with the need to pee when Baelfire poked his head out and waved at us. I gave a loud sigh and quickly hauled my fat butt out of the car, practically running to the door. Ashley followed behind me and then we were all in. I made a bee-line for the bathroom while the others went to the table.

When I got back to the table Dominic stood and pulled my chair out for me. I smiled and thanked him as I took my seat. When we were all seated the waitress came over and took our orders and left. I scooted my chair closer to Dominic's so that I could lean on his shoulder. "I'm so glad I'm finished with school. The baby was making me so tired."

Dominic reached out and entwined our fingers, his large rough hands warm against mine. "I'll take care of you, love, so you can sleep as long as you want when we get home."

I nodded and found myself dozing off a little while we waited for the food. Our girl was gently rolling around and I placed my free hand over my baby bump so I could feel her while Dominic, Baelfire, and Ashley talked. After about fifteen minutes I was nudged from me nap against Dominic's shoulder. I slowly sat up with a groan and rubbed at my eyes. My plate of food was sitting in front of me and I couldn't help but grinning. It was a big steak with a potato, jalapenos, and cottage cheese. I didn't have too many weird pregnancy cravings but jalapenos and cottage cheese were two of them.

Just as I started digging in, Ashley took a quick drink to wash her mouth out and spoke up. "So… have you guys decided on a name yet? For your daughter?"

I shoveled a chunk of steak into my mouth and blinked at her for a few seconds before giving a shrug. Dominic was the one who answered since he didn't have food in his mouth. "We've talked about it some and we've narrowed down the choices but we aren't dead set on a name yet."

Ashley arched one of her brows. "So what are the top choices?"

Dominic looked at me for a few seconds as I shrugged again and then gave a small sigh. "So far the top one is Belle."

Ashley paused for a moment from taking a bit of her sandwich and looked back and forth between me and Dominic. "After, you know, that ghost lady?"

I finally managed to swallow my chunk of steak and answered the question. "Yah. It was my idea because I… well… I know how much he loved Belle and it's not like I'm named Belle so I figured I would honour Belle's name by giving it to our daughter."

Ashley frowned slightly. "Wouldn't that be… awkward?"

Dominic gave a small shrug, his shaggy floofy hair bobbing with the movement. "I don't find it awkward, Dearie. I would love to have a daughter named after Belle. She was a very brave, smart, and encouraging young lady. She gave up her freedom to save her family and she grew to love a beast…"

I quickly reached out and grabbed Dominic's hand. I looked up into his beautiful brown eyes and shook my head. "You weren't a beast. Belle didn't think so and neither do I."

Dominic gently smiled down at me and reached up with his free hand to cup my cheek. "I know that now. After so many years thinking I was nothing more than a beast you both showed me that I wasn't. And…"

As he paused in the middle of what he was saying he slowly scooted his chair back and slid off his chair to one knee. I frowned down at him as he let my hand go. "What are you doing, love? Why are you down there? Sit back down."

Dominic's laughter echoed in the restaurant and brushed along my skin, making me shiver with the pleasure of it. His hand delved into one of his pockets and pulled out a small, gold velvet box that he held up to me. His eyes never left mine as he spoke and I could feel my heart start to race when he opened the box and I found myself looking at one of the most beautiful rings I'd ever seen. There was a simple golden band with what looked like Gaelic written on it and another small golden band with a huge diamond on it. "Annabelle, I know that our beginning wasn't as pleasant as it should have been and that I haven't always been the best of men. And I know that I've caused you more trouble than you deserve but I find myself loving you from the bottom of my old beating heart. I want nothing more than to take care of you, love you, and raise my son and our daughter together for the rest of our lives. Will you do me the honour, love, of becoming my wife?"

I struggled to breathe as he spoke to me and I fought back tears at his beautiful words. By the time he was finished and he'd asked me to be his wife I was shaking. I had never thought in a million years he would do something like this. I finally reached out and gently touched one of the rings, feeling it to make sure it was real. "I… Dominic, I…" I didn't know what to say.

I watched as the thought that I was rejecting him flashed in his eyes and he slowly moved back. "It's alright if you don't want to get married, love. I just thought…"

I quickly leaned forward making sure not to fall over and grabbed Dominic's face in between my hands. I stared straight into his dark, soul-drowning, brown eyes. "Rumplestiltskin Dominic Alexander Gold how dare you think I was rejecting you. Shame on you. Of course I'll marry you, silly."

Dominic's eyes lit up with a shining light as he grinned and quickly pulled the simple golden band with the Gaelic on it out of the box and took my left hand so that he could slip the ring onto my ring finger. The words on the ring said 'Beidh grá agam duit go deo.' I arched a brow and traced a finger over the words. Dominic grinned. "It says that I will always love you." I smiled down at him and reached up to cup his face again. Those words meant everything to me. I leaned forward and kissed him once, twice, three times with a giggle.

"OH MY GOD, YES!" There was a sudden screech from Ashley which startled both me and Dominic from our kiss and I turned quickly to see what was going on. To my surprise Baelfire was on his knee just like his father and was holding out a simple silver ring with three small diamonds on it.

Baelfire gently pushed the ring onto Ashley's finger and scooped her up into a massive hug, lifting her from her seat. I turned to look at Dominic and I arched a brow. "Did you both have this planned out?"

Dominic grinned mischievously and drew me forward for another kiss. "Of course we did, love."

Before his warm, demanding lips pressed against my own I whispered softly to him. "I love you so much, Mr. Gold."

He whispered back. "And I the same, Dearie."

A.N. - I just wanted to give you amazing readers a heads up that the next chappie is the last for this wonderful story. I'm sad to have it end but this is where I planned on ending it. I hope that every single one of you has enjoyed what you've written and I want all of you to know that you have continually encouraged and uplifted me with your amazing words and reviews! Thank you so very much! I am blessed to have such amazing readers! *^-^*

A.N. #2 - WHO IS EXCITED FOR THE START OF FILMING FOR SEASON TWO OF ONCE UPON A TIME? I am! That's fo' sure!