Belle settled Zelena down into the small bed Rumple was able to acquire. "This will do for now, little lady but soon you'll have your own room I promise." Belle sat down beside her and took out a storybook from a nearby shelf. "Would you like a bedtime story?"
Zelena nodded her head, snuggling close to her mother, while holding onto one of the dolls from Granny's.
"Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess…" Belle began.
While Belle read, Rumple started tidying up a few last minute things around the shop, trying to be as quiet as possible. Tomorrow he would go out and see about a new house for his family. His old one was too full of dark magic and spells, no place to raise children, he told himself. There had to be somewhere else.
A few minutes later he heard Belle finish speaking and he walked back into the bedroom. Zelena was fast asleep, clutching her doll. Belle had covered her with a blanket and kissed her forehead.
"That didn't take very long," Rumple remarked.
"She has had quite a busy day," Belle reminded him.
"We all have. I think it's time to turn in for us too, what do you say Mrs. Gold?" Rumple asked, taking her into his arms.
Belle yawned. "Yes, that is a good idea. I have a lot to do tomorrow. Regina is going to need all the help she can get with this curse." Rumple released her and she walked over to the armoire, grabbing a pale blue nightgown.
She turned around and showed it to Rumple. "Where did this come from?" she asked, having never seen it before. It was definitely not in there this morning when she had checked.
"I thought you might like it. It's a bit… roomier," he said careful with his words. "To help accommodate your beautiful new figure."
Belle rolled her eyes. "Nice try, Mr. Gold. I see what you did there. But your gesture is appreciated. This will fit me much better than my old ones for now." She quickly slipped out of her clothes and into the silky, soft nightgown.
Rumple eyed her as she did, liking her new curves. He had definitely made the right choice in purchasing the nightgown, he thought to himself.
Belle caught him watching her. "Do you like what you see?"
Rumple walked over, running his hands up and down the length of the nightgown. "Very much so. There is just something about you, pregnant, that drives me wild. You have this beautiful glow about you." He pulled her in close, kissing her passionately and leaving them both breathless when they finally pulled apart.
"Well maybe I should just be pregnant as much as possible, I like this wild side," she smirked, kissing him again.
"Come my dear, bed time," Rumple said, taking her by the hand and leading her to their room. He would be so happy when they would have their room themselves again.
"What happens if we can't find out anything about the curse here? Will Regina go back to the Enchanted Forest to search?" Belle asked, snuggling up close, her head on his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
"It's a possibility. But I am hoping it doesn't come to that."
"You wouldn't go with her, would you?" Belle asked.
"I can't say for sure I wouldn't. It might be faster if we both went to search for its source. I might even need to go back to Oz, where Zelena was from."
Belle sighed. "I was afraid of that. And what if you get stuck again? I cannot, I will not, be a single mother Rumple. You can't leave us. Not again…"
Rumple gave her a small squeeze, "I know you're afraid. I know you worry about me. But I won't be without my magic again, even in Oz. Zelena's reign has ended there and it will have gone back to normal or maybe as if she never existed in that land. I want our memories back. I want to know about the year we had together."
"But it isn't just about you and I any more. We have children. They need their mother and their father. If anything were to happen to you…."
"Let's not think about it tonight. I don't want you worked up in your condition. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, if it comes to that."
Belle kissed his lips. "I want our memories back to, but at what cost?"
"I agree. That is why, tomorrow we will all find out what we can and see if we can't reverse the curse without having to leave. Believe me, I would much rather stay here with you and Zelena." Rumple ran his hands through her hair. "Let's not worry about it yet."
Rumple stayed awake long after Belle's breathing became even and he knew she was fast asleep. The last thing he wanted was to leave his family again, after it felt like he just got back to them, but he felt torn at the same time. He wasn't sure when he fell asleep but he did eventually, his arms still safely wrapped around his wife.
The next morning Zelena was up bright and early. Belle got her dressed and fed her breakfast so they could begin their day the library.
"Want to meet at Granny's for lunch?" Rumple asked, as the two headed out the door.
"Sounds like a great idea. What do you have planned today?" Belle asked him back.
"I'm going to do some of my own research and see what I can come up with. Let me know if you find anything, will you?" he kissed her lips and crouched down, to kiss his daughter. "Be good and listen to your Mama."
"I will Papa!" Zelena responded, giving him a big hug that melted Belle's heart.
"Have a good day, ladies. I'll see you at lunchtime," Rumple gave Belle one last kiss, his hand resting on her belly for a few brief seconds as well.
Belle took Zelena by the hand and the two headed down the street to the library. Belle reached into her purse and unlocked the doors with her key. "Are you ready to have some fun?" she asked her daughter.
Zelena nodded and they walked through the doors. Zelena set her doll down on a nearby chair and took in all of the sights. There were books as far as she could see. There were books on shelves much higher then she could ever reach. "Wow!" she exclaimed.
"A lot of books, aren't there?" Belle asked. She smiled, watching the fascination growing in her daughter's eyes.
"Mama, so many books!" she cried out, walking up and down all the aisles. "Are there books for me?"
"Of course there are. I can find you a few and then I have to start looking for something for Aunt Regina, ok?"
Belle walked to the front aisle, where the children's books were displayed and grabbed a few with a lot of pictures she thought Zelena might like. She brought the girl over to the small corner she had made, designated for young readers. It consisted of a small table with chairs and a few bean bag chairs. Zelena plopped down onto one of the bean bag chairs and started reading her first book.
Once Belle was sure she was settled in, she headed to the back aisle, searching for some books she might find useful. She was determined to dig up something, anything, to keep her husband from having to travel realms again.
Belle occasionally checked on Zelena but found her engulfed in the books she had given her. She smiled at the sight, truly hoping her love of books remained. It was something they would have in common as she grew. Zelena got up a few times to come find her mother and explore a bit more but for the most part she stayed put, reading and studying all of the beautiful pictures in the books.
Belle on the other hand, had a handful of books strewn all over the back desk and she poured over them, trying to find anything useful. By the time noon rolled around, she hadn't found many leads but she thought she might on to something. She was so involved in the book; she didn't even hear the bell chime when the door to the library opened.
She looked up a few minutes later, nearly jumping at the sight of her husband, standing there watching her, amused.
"Rumple, sorry! How long have you been there?" Belle asked, gathering her notes together and trying to make the desk look presentable.
"A few minutes. I didn't want to disturb you, you looked like you might be on to something," he explained. "I love the way you look when you get really into a book."
Belle blushed a little. "Well I think I may have found out a few things but I am not sure if any of it will be relevant. Is it lunchtime already?"
Rumple nodded. "I stopped into the café first but when I didn't see you, I figured you were lost in a book."
"It is so easy to do. Books take me to another world. A world I still wish to see some day…"
"One day we will. I will take you wherever you want to go," Rumple promised her.
"Right now, I want you to take me to Granny's. Did you see Zelena when you walked in?" Belle asked.
"Like mother, like daughter. She looks to be enjoying a book about princesses and dragons," he said motioning for his wife to follow him. "She barely looked up when I walked in the door."
Zelena finally looked up when she saw both of her parents standing in front of her. "Hi Mama! Hi Papa!"
"Are you enjoying your library day?" Rumple asked her, picking her up.
"Yes. So many books!" she exclaimed.
"Are you hungry? It's time for lunch. Papa came to get us," Belle replied.
"Yes!" Zelena yelled out. "Can I have ice cream?"
"Not for lunch my sweet girl. But maybe another time," Belle told her. The family walked over to the café together, Zelena anxious to get down and run ahead. "Don't go too far ahead!" Belle called after her.
"She'll be alright. Let her get some of her energy out," Rumple said, watching after his daughter as he said that.
"Henry! Henry!" Zelena cried, spying the boy, heading into the café with his father.
"Is it ok if I bring her in?" Henry asked, stooping down to pick up the young girl.
"Of course, Henry. We will be in shortly," Belle told him.
"There's Baelfire..." she mentioned, turning to look at her husband's reaction.
"Yes, I see." Rumple's face was serious and he watched as Henry and Zelena disappeared inside the café door which Baelfire had held open.
"You need to talk to him," Belle urged. "Things are different now. You have time to repair things. He is your son."
Rumple knew his wife was right. His stubbornness was getting the better of him though. He knew he ultimately did the right thing, keeping his sister from him. Why should he have to apologize and talk more about the choice he made? And anyways, it was all irrelevant now.
Belle could almost read his thoughts. "You still have to, Rumple. Things may have changed but it doesn't change the fact that they did happen. Regardless of how it all turns out, you need to make amends with him. He is your son. You have the time and the opportunity to do so. Explain to him your reasoning but also listen to what he has to say. His feelings matter. He is upset and for good reason."
Rumple sighed and nodded. "You're absolutely right. As always," kissing her forehead. "I promise I will talk to him if he will let me."
They got to the main door of the café and Runple opened it up, allowing his wife to walk in ahead of him. They saw Henry had secured a larger table for them all, Zelena already settled in a high chair.
"Now is your chance," Belle said, whispering to him. She took the empty seat next to Zelena.
Rumple cleared his throat. "Bae, can we talk? Privately?" he asked his son. Baelfire looked up and thought about it for a few seconds, and caught sight of Belle mouthing the words "Go and talk with him".
"Sure Papa, let's step outside," Baelfire stood up and Rumple walked ahead. Baelfire looked back at Belle, a small smile on her lips.
"What is that all about?" Henry asked, looking over the menu, even though he had it memorized.
"Your grandfather and father have a lot to talk about regarding, you know…," Belle answered, gesturing to her daughter.
"Dad has been pretty upset over it. He won't talk to me a lot about it though. He said he doesn't want to burden me or something," Henry responded.
"Its good those two finally talk and clear the air. We are all a family and Rumple deserves to tell him why he did what he did. But Baelfire deserves to be upset about it too. I just hope they can figure this all out." Belle handed Zelena a few crayons and she started to color on the coloring sheet left for her.