I do not own any of the Once Upon a Time Characters

Just To See Her Smile – Part I

Work had been rough today – actually, the word 'rough' could hardly describe it. One lady had ruined on of Belle's favorite books – she had tried to fix it but it fell apart as soon as she picked it up. Then later, Regina had come in asking for a recipe, saying that her boyfriend, Robin Hood wanted something that didn't have apples in it. Her son had been kicking all day, and she had spent over three hours sorting out the kids section. She didn't get a lunch break because she was busy trying to argue with the phone company about some foolish misunderstanding they had that almost cost them a few hundred dollars. She won but not after exhausting herself almost to the point of tears. What topped it off, though, what really ticked her off the most was the fact that today was Valentines day. She didn't want to go into work at all, but her husband insisted. Why? She had no idea but after all the grumbling she did she thought maybe he would have relaxed the schedule a bit. But no, work must continue.

She turns the sign over to closed and grimaces as she notices a couple books left on the floor from earlier. Bending down was so hard, it drove her insane. Walking around the room, she shuts the blinds and clicks the button that turned off every light in the library. The books continue to lay there, staring at her. She trudges over, doing the awkward squat every kid in town had been pointing out and then picking up the books one by one. Stars line her vision as she gets up, walking to the kids section and placing them on the bookshelf for later. She sits on the kids table. Everything spins as she pinches the top of her nose, shaking her head. "It will be okay, it will be okay," she whispers over and over. She hears her door bell jingle as someone walks inside.

"I will be right there," she calls, slowly standing. She feels the child shift and stumbles as her stomach balances unevenly. Charming awaits at the door, looking around curiously as she sits at her desk.

"How may I help you?" she asks, deciding to not mention that she had put the closed sign up for a reason. They weren't the brightest couple on the block but they served well when you just needed someone to listen or to entertain you. One thing they did understand was the importance of family. It's just, sometimes the ' I will always find you' antic got old. They were always so perfect while her and Rumple went through weeks sometimes just arguing until someone gave in to the yelling. She just couldn't understand how the Charmings did it. Ruby had told her that not all 'true love' was the same – perhaps that was the reason.

"I was sent here as an escort."

"You dealt with him, didn't you," she replies dryly. He sighs, shifting his weight awkwardly.

"Yes, I did. But now I am returning the favor which I am grateful doesn't include me ruining my reputation this time." She gets up and pushes her chair into the desk.

"What does he want?" she asks wearily. He opens the door and she takes a step into the bright sunlight.

"I don't know. I just hope it's good because you look exhausted." He pauses, opening the car door. "Remember Belle, if you ever need anything – " She glares at him.

"He would never hurt me. I promise." The door slams shut and he gets into the other side, sighing before driving off. After a few minutes, they arrive in a trail leading through the forest. She shivers, wondering why he would take her here considering she had a fear of forests since the queen had kidnapped her years before. Belle holds her stomach as the baby kicks. Obviously her son wasn't afraid.

"Are you alright?" Charming asks, noticing her flushed face and nervously twitching hands. If he had half the brain he would have known that she would be afraid. Since he didn't, she leans back and answers, carefully avoiding his princely gaze.

"I just get uncomfortable sometimes – you know – the memories." He nods in agreement, placing his eyes back on the road. She bites her lip, closing her eyes and rubbing her sore belly. Why would Rumple need her here? Out of all places, this should be the last one he should chose. Especially riding with an unfamiliar person. At least when he drove here with her he would caress her hand and would even go as far as to quietly hum, knowing that it relaxed her. Clearly he had other things to do, but were they so important that he would make his pregnant wife go to work and then force her to drive with Charming? She feels a hand on her shoulder and jerks, opening her eyes just wide enough to see that they had arrived at their destination. The castle.

"Why did you take me through the forest?" she nearly bursts, forgetting that not everyone knew the special way Rum took her. He stares at her, gaping.

"I – I um, do you – "

"Forget it." She gets out before he responds and nearly faints with dizziness. Stress wasn't good for the baby. Someone steps out of the shadows and she shakes her head, trying to see straight.

"If I may ask," the person hisses. "Why is my wife trembling?" She grips the car, recognizing her husbands hushed voice. Charming shrugs and she takes a step forward.

"She said she was afraid of forests, Mr. Gold. I apologize for frightening her." Rumple catches her as she falls forward, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Get out," Rumple seethes. She lifts her head high enough to meet his gaze.

"Please," she breaths. "Please don't hurt him." His grip on her tightens and she hears the car drive away. Her husbands heart races and she can feel the buzz of magic on his fingertips, waiting to be let loose in a flurry of anger. His lips form in a tight line as he stares in the direction of the car. "Please leave him be," she pleads quietly, still trying to calm herself. Usually, she would say more, distract him until he calmed down. But she couldn't this time. He bends and she steps back, avoiding his arm.

"Please don't carry me. Your leg . . . it will hurt later." He looks down, as if suddenly remembering his injury. "And I am pregnant. I weigh twice as much."

"But your shivering, my dear," he mumbles, his cane disappearing with a flourish of magic. It was clear that for some reason, he was still just as upset at Prince Charming. He walks closer, the limp having all but disappeared.

"Rumple," she sighs. "Please – allow me to walk." She begins making her way to the front door of their honeymoon palace, gritting her teeth at the pain in her feet. The ground slips beneath her and she squeals as her stubborn husband lifts her into his arms without struggle. Just like in the Dark Castle when she fell off the curtains. She wraps her arms around his neck and notices he is no longer dressed in his civil clothes, but instead, in his intimidating dragon skin cloak and tight leather pants. She feels her clothing shift as well and finds herself in a larger version of the blue dress he had made for her all those years ago.

"Oh Rumple," she sighs contented, hiding her slightly blushed face in his shoulder. He no longer looked like the human he is now, but the imp she had fallen in love with. Belle liked him better in that form – for her it felt more natural; however, he did not prefer her to see him this way often; the form was the demon he had been trying to escape for hundreds of years.

He cannot help but smile at her sudden shyness. He would never understand how a beautiful woman would want him in this awful scaly skin, wild hair and giant reptilian eyes – then again, he could not understand how it was possible she could love him just for the demon he was, form or not. Whether or not she liked it, his Belle still had to deal with his tantrums, his violence, everything that was so horribly dark. He was not a prince charming in the least, he had little to offer compared to the other princes.

"Rumple," she whispers, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Please stop brooding." She leans up, kissing him. It was funny how insecure the two of them were at times. The thing was, they were insecure in such opposite areas of their life, the other could be there for them in those areas. He carries her up the steps and into the house – he could nearly feel her buzzing with excitement. Between the two of them, she could always win the award for being the most curious. He gently lays her on the couch before walking to the center of the living room. With a flick of his wrist and a few whispered spells, the entire mansion is as clean as there house back home. He feels a hand on his shoulder and jerks around.

"I could have done that," she responds teasingly. "I was your maid all those years before."

"Well, I didn't need a maid then and I certainly cannot let my pregnant wife breathing in all this dust."

"So does that mean you are going to admit that you were lonely?" He refuses to answer, cutting her off with a kiss instead. She giggles a bit and he summons wine out of the cellar, pouring it into two glasses before breaking the kiss.

"I could have done that too," she responds dryly. "You don't need to show off." He giggles his in his high pitched imp tone and she laughs, the memories flowing back. How silly they had been back then, him hiring a princess for a maid and him refusing to admit he could love anyone. And then her trying to figure him out, and him as tense as a caged bird whenever she said anything. "So what can I do, Rumple?" she asks. "I mean, you can't possibly do everything with magic and I might get bored if everything –"

"Dearest, there is no I as long as we are here." She sips her wine, pulling a bar stool up to the island. Rumple hides a grin, waiting for her to stop dancing around the question she wanted to ask which was obviously, why did you bring me here. She takes a few more sips of her wine and rubs her swollen belly.

"So, what have you been up to while I was at the library?"

"Not too much," he replies nonchalantly. "Did anyone come by with their books today?" She grimaces, not wanting to answer that question and also knowing that he was a lot more patient then she was.

"Yes, one person." The two of them sit there for awhile, gathering their thoughts and as usual, waiting for one person to break the silence. Neither of them wanted to fight, they already did enough of that and to be honest, there wasn't a good reason too at this moment. She feels him kick her slightly under the table and grins, continuing the silent game. She always appreciated it when he was in this optimistic mood. After another fifteen minutes she gets up, setting her wine glass down and making her way up the stairs. In a flash he is in front of her, blocking her way. She raises an eyebrow.

"Should I be concerned?" He brushes the question off, taking her wrist and guiding her back down the stairs.

"Lets just say that it's not time for you to go up there yet." For a second, the thought of trying to beat him up the stairs crosses her mind. Magic . . . always getting in the way. Her stomach growls.

"Someone is hungry," he mentions nonchalantly. He goes to magic up food but she grabs his wrist, forcing it back down.

"No. We are going to cook the food, together."

"Well then you won't get the surprise upstairs," he says, playing at being offended. She rips out of his grip and begins making her way back up the stairs before he blocks her.

"Rumpelstiltskin, you let me up there right now!"

"Sorry dearie," he replies. "But I am afraid that is not how –"

"Anxiety isn't good for your son," she interrupts, her curls bouncing as she rocks on her heels with excitement. He sighs, climbing up a step. She follows, keeping eye contact with him the entire time.

"I will make you a deal." Six magical words he always used to get himself out of trouble. She leans on the rail.

"Alright, Rumpelstiltskin, all right. I shall concede to your wishes to wait however, I do not want another deal I think I have had plenty of those in the last few weeks." He nods his head and they walk downstairs. He allows her to cook some food, it kept her mind off upstairs as he brooded about the gift himself. Maybe it wasn't a good idea. He was going to wait until tonight to show her . . . it was what sounded best since she would want to stay with –

"Rumple, the brooding has to stop." Before he can process what she has just said, he finds a bowl in his hands, his clawed hands with a spatula. "Eat that thou might be fulfilled," she demands teasingly. He looks back down and notices what is left of chocolate chip cookie batter. He sets the bowl on the counter and wraps his arms around her waist. She always worked so hard to please him.

"Lets go upstairs." Hey everyone, please review! I read them all and they encourage me so much!