Bella waited impatiently for her husband to come home from his pawn shop.
She had spent most of the day crying and then getting angry, and then returning to crying.
How could Rumple do this do her? She loved him with the her entire heart, and he loved another?
She couldn't believe this was happening to her.
"What did I do wrong?" She asked herself, sometimes out loud but mostly in her head.
Was it the way she looked? She hadn't been spending a lot of time on her appearance lately, but Rumple had insistently told her how gorgeous she was, even when she wasn't wearing makeup.
When Gold finally arrived home she was a mess. Her clothes were wrinkled, her face and eyes were red from crying and and mascara was running down her face (for she actually has done her makeup today).
She stared at him when he walked through the door.
"Do you have anything to tell me?" She asked, with a hand on her hip.
Gold laughed and kissed her forehead. "Nothing interesting happened today. The Charming family was busy, so no angry people came stampeding into my shop."
Belle shook her head. "Not what I was talking about." She said.
"I talked to Regina and she told me about you and Kiarra. How could you do this to me Rumple? I love you." She started crying again and Gold wrapped his arms around her. "I have no idea what Regina is talking about, Love. You should know better than to trust the word of that witch." But his conscience was killing him. He don't have an affair with Kiarra, but he had thought about her in an inappropriate way, which was wrong. He was a married man with a wonderful, sweet, gorgeous wife who he adored and ho adored him.
He held her close and let her cry onto his chest. "I guess I was just so insecure..." She sobbed. "And she seemed so serious and I am so afraid that one day you'll find someone better than me."
Gold held her at arms length to look her.
"Oh Belle. I'm your husband." He said, twisting one of her chocolate curls around his finger.
"I love you and I will never leave you."
He kissed her and wiped away her black mascara tears.
Enrique and Kiarra sat on the couch in her apartment. He had kept his encounter with Regina a secret because he didn't want to make Kiarra upset, especially since she just got over being sick.
She nuzzled up close to him and laid her head on his shoulder. He took a deep breath, taking in the sweet way she smelled, like vanilla and cinnamon with a touch of nutmeg.
"Are you ready to go to the library?" He asked, kissing the top of her head softly.
She good up and stretched. "Let's go." She said with a smile.
A few nights ago he had finished reading The Princess Bride to her, which now became her favorite book. They had decided to make reading to each other a normal thing. Now it was her turn to pick out a book to read to him.
When they arrived at the library Belle met them with a smile.
"Hey Belle!" Kiarra said, leaning in for a hug. Belle hugged her back even though she still felt a little jealous every time she looked at the beautiful Kiarra.
"What are you guys looking for today?" She asked with a bright smile.
Enrique pulled Kiarra close to him and smiled at her lovingly.
"We're looking for a book to enjoy together. I picked last time and its Kiarra's turn now." He held her hand and kissed it softly.
Belle could see the love the two shared. It was evident in both of their eyes. She knew that she had nothing to worry about.
"Tell me if you need anything." She said as she placed a book on a shelf.
"We will." Enrique said with a smile.
He and Kiarra browsed for a while but eventually ended up in the classics section. "Oh look! Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Oh Enrique, I love that book!"
He smiled. "Let's get it then. I must here this story that you adore."
They brought it up to Belle and Kiarra handed her the library card.
When Belle saw the cover she smiled fondly.
"Rumple read this to me when we were...well I guess you would call it dating. It's one of his favorites. Good choice Kiarra." She said with a wink. Kiarra smiled back. "Thanks."
A few weeks later Kiarra and Enrique were sitting cross legged on the floor as she read the final chapter.
When she finished she closed the book with a sigh.
"What did you think?" She asked, scooting closer to Enrique and opening her chocolate eyes wide and batting her thick lashes.
"Hated it." He replied.
"It was so dark and sad and depressing and unsatisfying. I can see why Gold liked it so much." He said, pushing a few strands of hair from Kiarra's forehead.
"But didn't you see the beauty of it all?" She asked. "They loved each other so passionately but they couldn't be together."
Enrique sighed. "I don't want to think of loving someone if I could never marry her." He replied as he turned so he was facing Kiarra directly. He pulled a small box from his pocket and took Kiarra's hand in his.
"Kiarra, taking care of you when you were sick made me realize how much I truly loved you. You are a bright light in my life, and I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. Will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs.?Enrique Vasquez?"
Tears fell from Kiarra's eyes as she nodded rapidly. "Of course, of course! Oh I love you Enrique!" He slipped the ring onto her finger.
So Belle and Gold resolved their problems, Enrique and Kiarra decided marry and Regina got nothing that she wanted.
A pretty happily ever after if you ask me.
(and there's one person who will not be attending Enrique and Kiarra's wedding.)