XIII

"God's scabby knees! Still abed … and with … my sister," Lucern growled from the open door between Belle's bedchamber and that of her spinner's. "I do wonder if I should be concerned."

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes flew open at the unfamiliar snarl coming from the doorway, fighting to get his fuzzy brain to focus and assess the threat. His arm tightened about Belle's waist and she grumbled unintelligibly against his shoulder. Gaston snickered from behind Lucern's left shoulder and prodded him forward into the room, careful not to nudge him too hard lest he take a tumble on the crutches he leaned upon.

"Oh, give over, Luc. The door is open and Gerta spent the night in Belle's room should she have needed anything. Not to mention the man is incapacitated," Gaston drawled in a dry tone as he urged the prince into a chair beside the bed.

"Highness, I assure you we've done nothing untoward," Rumpelstiltskin said softly, keeping his voice low so as not to wake Belle. Unfortunately, the other members of her family weren't so considerate.

Belle tossed her pillow at her brother before diving under the covers and nestling herself tightly against Rumpelstiltskin's side, greedy for his warmth and comfort. Gaston tickled her bare foot where it poked out from beneath the duvet. "Bloody hell, Gaz!" she snarled, whipping the duvet off her head to glare at him. "Can't we have any peace this morning?"

"It's nearly noon, love."

"Don't care!"

"Well, perhaps once you hear the news I have to impart, you'll change your mind," Lucern interjected, happily taking a cup of tea Bethany offered him from the tray which had just been delivered.

Rumpelstiltskin eyed the second set of crutches the little maid had set against the edge of the bed. "Might we hold off on your news until after I've visited the water closet? And maybe found some trousers?"

Lucern grinned at him over the rim of his cup, his brow arching in amusement. "Of course, my good man."

Belle bit her lip, all remnants of sleep leaving her at the thought of her spinner getting out of the bed. She knew it would happen sooner or later, but it didn't make her worry any less. "How are we going to manage this? With your shoulder …" She bounded out of the bed, her curls tumbling all about her as she rounded the foot of the bed to his side.

"Fetch him some pants, Bluebelle," Gaston ordered helpfully, brushing her out of the way so he could help Rumpel maneuver to the side of the bed without putting any pressure on his injured limb.

"Fuckkkkk! Sorry, dearest," he amended apologetically when she blushed. "But I'd forgotten how bloody painful broken bones could be." It was only worse as he placed his foot gently on the floor and the blood flow surged to the battered joint. It was all he could do to grind his teeth against the pain and pray he wouldn't embarrass himself before the nobles congregated in his room. He'd rather walk across the desert on his broken ankle than let the tears sparking at his eyes fall over his lashes.

"Deep breaths, Rumpel," Belle commanded gently as she knelt at his feet. Gaston gripped the spinner's right leg just beneath the knee and held it out for her to begin to work the trousers over the thick bandage. Once they were around his knees she rose to her feet. "Alright, Gaz, help him up. Get the crutch under his right arm … yes."

Rumpelstiltskin threw off the sling and worked the other crutch under his left arm. "There's no other way, Belle. I'll wear the bloody sling when I'm back in bed. I'd prefer, however, not to land face first on the floor out in the corridor."

"Grouch," she chuckled, slipping her arm about his waist and holding fast as he took a tentative hop forward. It was imperative he bear no weight to his fragile bones despite the secure wrappings to hold them in place.

Lucern grimaced as they returned to the room. Rumpelstiltskin looked as though his jaw would shatter from the strain of clenching it, his color waxy and pale from the pain. "Gods, man, you look like hell."

"Which is why he's going to have to settle for a chamber pot for a few days despite his missish misgivings," Belle insisted as she helped her love back onto the bed and piled up the pillows to rest his leg on. Bethany had taken the opportunity to make the bed and hurried to fetch a light blanket to drape over his legs.

Her spinner scowled darkly and leaned his head back against the headboard, closing his eyes instead of arguing with her in front of her twin. "I'm perfectly capable of hobbling to the bloody water closet, Belle."

"Oh indeed," she snapped in a waspish tone brought on by her worry for him. "And I'll not have you falling and injuring yourself further, Rum. Once your shoulder is better, you'll be able to maneuver the crutches more easily."

"Your ladies send their regards, Bluebelle," her brother grinned.

She arched a brow at him as she settled next to Rumpelstiltskin on the bed, pulling a lunch tray between them to share. "Did they now? I wonder what they'll be conspiring in my absence."

Lucern leaned forward and snatched a scone from the tray, narrowly avoiding being slapped with her butter knife. "They were all aflutter with the announcement I made this morning over breakfast."

"What announcement? You shouldn't even have been at breakfast this morning. You should have been in bed nursing that injury," she admonished as she buttered a blueberry scone and handed it to Rumpelstiltskin who was busily preparing a cup of tea for her.

"Pfft! Dr. Cassel stitched me up tight. I'm perfectly fine. It's no worse than the time I took a spear to my backside during that skirmish at the pass three years ago."

Belle giggled. "Yes, that was rather humiliating, wasn't it? And you had to remain in bed for a fortnight flat on your belly."

"Anyway," he smirked. "As I was saying … your ladies were all atwitter after I made the announcement that you will be marrying soon."

She spluttered into her tea. "What? Tell me you didn't announce it to the entire court! Gods, Lucern, what is wrong with you? I swear Papa dropped you on your head when you were a wee babe," she hissed. "Did you never think to speak with me or Rum about making an announcement? It was very late last night when we even spoke of our courtship, much less plans to marry. You're entirely too presumptuous."

"Um …"

Gaston snorted and held out his teacup for Bethany to refill. "He was simply anticipating your wishes, Bluebelle."

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head and swallowed the last bit of scone he'd been chewing. "How did they take it? They can't be happy their princess is marrying a peasant."

"That might be true if she were marrying a peasant … which she's not."

Belle glared at her brother, her mouth falling open in protest, a firm scolding ready to be unleashed from her sharp tongue. He held up a hand to forestall the storm. "Luc –"

"Easy, my sister. Rumpelstiltskin will still be your husband when all is said and done, but he will no longer be a peasant." Gaston handed Lucern the diplomatic pouch which he opened to withdraw the documents held therein for Belle and Rumpelstiltskin to peruse.

Rumpelstiltskin set his tea cup on the tray and frowned down at the looping scrawl on the parchment. "Belle, love, the penmanship is –"

"Here, darling, let me see. I presume you wrote it out yourself, Lucern?" she asked, grinning as he shrugged. "For valorous service to the crown, Rumpelstiltskin of the Frontlands is hereby bequeathed the title of Earl. Earl? You made him an Earl?"

Her spinner took the parchment back and stared at it in amazement. "What does that mean?"

Gaston looked smugly happy. "It means you're a noble now, spinner."

"It also goes on to say he will sit over Dunsmore since it is part of your dowry. I dunno, Bluebelle, Earl Spinner has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" her brother crowed, pleased with himself. "Least I could do since the man kept me from bleeding to death yesterday."

"Valorous service to the crown. Oh, Lucern," she gushed, happy tears rolling over her flushed cheeks.

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head as he looked over at his princess. "But I didn't do anything anyone else wouldn't have done."

"Spinner, you were hurt yourself, grievously so, yet you took the time to patch me up until our knights could rescue us. You've won the heart of our princess and now the hearts of our people. I believe we need to celebrate," the prince said, clapping his hands.

"You always look for a reason to feast. It's a wonder you're not fat as Lord Grimmold," Belle snorted.

Gaston rose to his feet and tucked the papers away in their pouch for Belle to safely file away later. "Soon as he's steady on his crutches we can feast and announce the betrothal. If that's agreeable to you, Rumpelstiltskin?"

"I-I don't … I'm … uh …"

"I think he's a bit overwhelmed," Lucern chuckled. "No matter. Just let us know what you decide." He climbed awkwardly to his feet and shoved his crutches beneath his arms, wincing as he steadied himself. "Now I need to get back to Lyssa before she decides I've been away too long. She wasn't at all pleased that I could have died yesterday."

"I should say not, brother." Belle rose from the bed and threw her arms about his neck, embracing him warmly. "Thank you, Luc. You don't know how much this means to me … and to my Rumpel." She kissed him soundly on his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too, Bluebelle."

Belle returned to sit next to her love as Bethany saw Gaston and Lucern to the door. It was a true test to her upbringing that she wasn't bouncing with glee atop the mattress. "Highness! Oh, I'm so happy for you and Rum … er … Earl Spinner. An earl!" she gushed happily. "I just don't know what to say! I can't wait to hear what Mrs. Potts will have to say about it."

Rumpelstiltskin stared at her in horror. "What will Baelfire think?" He turned his worried gaze to Belle. "What are we going to tell Bae?"

"The truth of course," she said simply, spooning a forkful of poached egg into his mouth. "Chew please."

"Belle!"

"What? You're fretting over nothing. You were worried Papa wouldn't allow you to court me because you were a servant and a peasant, and he surprised you. Then you were worried about Lucern and the court. Now he's elevated your station and announced to everyone that you have won my hand. Baelfire is going to be happy if you're happy, darling."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked, narrowly avoiding a piece of bacon until he could get the words out.

Belle bit thoughtfully at her lower lip, peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. "He called me Mama yesterday."

He gaped at her, nearly choking on a bit of scone. "He did? When did this happen?"

She set the fork aside, neither of them having an appetite any longer. "Are you upset? It was just after you and Lucern had fallen into the ravine and Thorrin brought him to me. He was so worried for your safety and I think a little insecure that he couldn't help you and fretful we wouldn't be able to get to you. He just reached out to me as the only other parent figure in his life."

Bethany came to clear away the tray, shutting the door behind her to give them some privacy. He pulled Belle into his side and pressed a kiss to her brow, reassuring her with his touch. "No, I'm not upset, just surprised. Sweetheart, Milah cared for his basic needs … most of the time," he added as an afterthought. "But I was the only parent who showed him love and affection. I was the only one who gave him my time and understanding. It gladdens my heart that he's reached out to you, that he trusts and loves you enough to see you as his mother. You have shown him more love and nurturing in six weeks than Milah did in six years. You are his mama."

Belle wrapped her arms about his neck and clung to him, overjoyed to hear he was pleased with this new development. "I do love him so very much, Rumpel. I couldn't love him more if he were my own."

"This is really happening," he murmured against her lips as she brought them up to brush over his own. "It's so hard to believe. I … Good things just don't happen to me, Belle."

"Things change, my love. All you can do is accept them for what they are … blessings, and clasp tightly to them with both hands," she said, carding her fingers through his hair. "It was destiny or fate or karma which brought us together, but it was up to us to carve it to fit us. Just be happy, Rum. Be happy and let me love you."

"Always, my princess."

*.*.*

"Merciful Gods!" Rumpelstiltskin cried, whipping the blanket off his legs to reach for his right calf, his fingers kneading at the ravaged muscle.

Belle set her book aside and hurried to the bed, brushing his hands aside so she could massage the ache away. "Cramp?" At his nod she clucked sympathetically. "I wonder if Mrs. Potts still has any of those bananas which came in on the ship a few days ago. They're rich in nutrients and might help. We could try."

"I'll just be glad when I don't have to take that infernal powder any longer. It makes my head feel funny," he grumbled. "And when is my son going to arrive? I thought he went for a sleepover and here it is going on two o'clock."

"I sent for Thorrin to bring him back, darling, but you know he goes to Mr. Lawson at one for his math lesson. He won't be much longer."

Rumpelstiltskin knew he was being silly. He was anxious and irritable, both feelings brought on by his confinement to his bed. He wasn't used to being inactive and it didn't set will with him. He desperately needed something to do with his hands, spinning preferably, but he didn't see himself doing that in the near future. "It's stifling in here, Belle. Can't we open a window?"

Belle nodded to Bethany who went about opening the windows in the room to let in the breeze and then banked the fire in the hearth. "Are you alright, Rum? You're not running a fever, are you?"

He jerked away from her as she went to touch his forehead. "I'm fine!"

"And grouchy as a bear. Does it make you feel better to take your irritation out on me?" she asked calmly, her face a serene mask.

His brows drew together as he lowered his gaze to his lap, now irritated with himself. "No. I'm sorry." His long fingers closed over hers, gently clasping. "Truly, I don't mean to be so disagreeable."

"Rum, I understand. You're in pain."

"It's not just that. I keep thinking of the things you'd planned for this week and I'm not able to do any of them stuck in this bed as I am. I've never liked idleness, sweetheart," he tried to explain. "I've always worked … even when I came home from the war, injured as I was, I sat at the wheel and plied my trade. I've been in this bed less than a full day and already I'm afraid I'll go mad."

"We'll figure this out, Rumpelstiltskin." She scooted closer to him, sliding her hands along his shoulders which tensed reflexively beneath her fingertips as she slipped them beneath his hair and massaged the base of his skull.

He shivered, his eyes growing heavy as his lips parted on a soft gasp. "Belle …" he sighed. "You have no idea what you're doing to me."

It was her turn to shiver as his hands settled on her hips, his thumbs tracing patterns on the fabric of her gown, his heat seeping into the marrow of her bones. She pressed her lips to his jaw, his stubble a pleasant abrasiveness against her soft skin. "Is it anything like what you're doing to me?" she whispered silkily, moving higher to nip at his ear. "Do I make you feel warm, my spinner? Does your skin ache to have me touch you?"

Rumpelstiltskin nodded jerkily, his throat working to swallow around the lump of emotion lodged there around his adam's apple. "Yes," he rasped, his fingers tightening over her hips as he pulled her closer. He hissed as she leaned a little too much against his chest, the pain in his ribs grounding him, but he didn't care. He wanted to feel her curves pressed to his lean lines, to feel the weight of her body against his own as it was meant to be.

His fingers delved into her luxurious chestnut locks, his hand cradling her neck beneath her ear as his thumb stroked softly over the smooth curve of her jaw, holding her in place as he brought his lips to hers. She met him eagerly, claiming his bottom lip and sucking gently until he lost the battle with his control and moaned desperately into her mouth.

Belle melted against him, the ends of his hair tangling about her fingers, bracing her forearms against his shoulders to keep most of her weight off his ribs. "Rum …" she moaned, dizzy with the pleasure of his mouth. It had never been this good before. She was twenty-five winters, of course, she'd been kissed. Stolen kisses by a visiting prince or a dignitary with flowery words. She'd allowed one or two but had never found what all the fuss was about. Not until her spinner who set her every nerve ending on fire and burned her with the heat of his passion.

His own fingers tightened in her hair as he broke the kiss and leaned away to take satisfaction in her darkened eyes and swollen lips. "Beautiful," he murmured appreciatively. His gaze skated towards the connecting door where he could hear Bethany humming as she went about her duties in the next room. He nipped again at her lower lip as he smiled. "Belle, dearest … do you like the way I kiss you?" he asked, wondering if he was pleasing her as he'd never seemed able to please Milah no matter how valiantly he'd tried.

"Oh yes, my love. Very much," she breathed, her heart racing with excitement.

"And you trust me?"

"You know I do."

He brushed the tip of his nose to hers affectionately, holding her gaze. "Give me your tongue."

Her eyes widened. "What for?"

He arched a brow, knowing his little princess was never one to back down from a challenge. Her curiosity was sure to win out over her caution. "So that I may taste you," he purred, his sable eyes dark and daring her to give in.

Belle felt her stomach somersault as she leaned in and pressed her tongue to the seam of his lips. He wasted no time drawing it into his mouth, sucking gently, dueling softly, as he sought out the places which would make her blood sing.

"Papa, whatcha doin' to Mama?" came a little voice from the doorway which had them springing apart guiltily. Thorrin snickered softly behind his hand, wondering how his mistress would explain this one, more than a little amused at her flushed cheeks.

Rumpelstiltskin was glad he'd already pulled the blanket back to cover his lap. He didn't want to even attempt to explain a body's natural reaction to kissing to his six-year-old child. "Erm … well …"

"Papa was giving Mama a kiss, darling," Belle interjected, patting the bed beside her for him to join them. "How was the sleepover? Did you have a good time with Abel and his family?"

Bae crawled up onto the bed with his parents and nestled into his mama's lap. "It was fun. Lord Meyerson took us out to the village to the mistral show again. They had different puppets last night. Why was Papa kissing you?"

"One-track mind, that one," Thorrin muttered under his breath as he flopped down onto the settee and stretched out for a nap.

"Papa, are you gonna marry Mama Belle? You have to be married if you're going to kiss her, right?" he asked in a conspiratorial whisper as he leaned forward and cupped his hand around his mouth.

Belle giggled as her spinner blushed a fiery red, his mouth twisting up in a wry smirk. "Not helping, dearie," he snarked.

The boy winced as he took in the sorry state of his father, from the sling to the heavily bandaged ankle to the bindings around his ribs peeking out near the lacings of his shirt. "Wow, Papa, what happened to you? I've never seen so many boo boos." He knelt on the bed beside his father's hip and clasped his face in his little hands, pressing a kiss to the cut at his temple. "There, I kissed it all better. Just like you do for me, huh?"

Rumpelstiltskin pulled his son into the crook of his arm and hugged him tightly. "I'm much better now that you're here, my boy. It's going to take a while to heal, but I'll be good as new before you know it."

"I'm glad. Now why were you kissing Mama?"

The spinner chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not going to let this rest, are you? Very well. Belle and I have some news for you … and I'm hoping it pleases you as much as it has us."

"You're getting married?" Baelfire asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

Belle ruffled his untidy curls. "Is that something you would like, Bae?"

"You would be my mama for truth. Why wouldn't I want that? You love Papa, right?"

Belle gazed lovingly at her spinner. "More than anything. You and Rum are everything to me, darling."

"Then it would be good if you got married. That way it would be ok if he kissed you," he said with a knowing nod of his head. "And Belle's already my mama so it's just right that you should marry her." His little brow scrunched up in confusion. "If you love her. You love Belle, don't you?"

"I do."

"I thought so, but you never said anything." He leaned in and rubbed his father's cheek. "And she won't be mean to you like my other mama."

"Oh, Bae, of course not," he said, his eyes smarting with unshed tears.

"May I go play with the bunnies until dinner?" he asked, looking between his parents for their approval.

"Yes, you may, darling."

Rumpelstiltskin practically collapsed against the mountain of pillows at his back and groaned. "Well, that went better than I could have hoped."

Belle curled up at his side and retrieved her book from the night table. "He's a remarkable child, Rumpel. You've done such a wonderful job with him. You should be proud."

"I suppose you weren't worried at all?"

"Of course, I was. I just hoped for the best, and I wasn't at all disappointed," she assured him. "We're going to be a family and I couldn't be happier."

"Me too, love."

She pressed a soft kiss to his lips and found her spot in her book, settling in to read to him. It was silently decided to give themselves a bit of time to allow their blood to cool, especially with their little one back in residence. A little bit of normalcy in the chaos of their lives was just what was needed.

*.*.*

"Lyssa, I can't even get up to visit the water closet. Give me back my bloody crutches!" Lucern roared, his leg smarting from hanging over the side of the bed for so long while he argued with his wife.

"You big oaf, you're lucky I don't beat you with them," she hissed at him from where she sat on the settee near the hearth stabbing at her embroidery in a fit of eternal pique. "I asked you and you promised, Lucern … you promised to remain in bed as the doctor advised. Then the moment my bloody back was turned you and Gaz are gallivanting all over the palace on your sore leg. Do you want it to become infected? Do you want to be known as the one-legged prince? You haven't a lick of sense at times."

"Oh, for the love of all things holy, there's no pleasing you, woman!" he growled, using the bedpost to lever himself off the bed.

"Luc! Sit down! You're going to pop your stitches."

"Then give me the bloody crutches so I can go to the water closet!"

"Good heavens, I can hear you shouting out in the corridor. What the hell is going on in here?" Belle asked, barging into her brother's private chambers.

"He won't stay in bed," Lyssa said defensively, knowing how the twins were when defending one another. As much as she loved her sister-in-law, she hated it when she took Lucern's side.

"Luc?"

"I promise I'm just going to the water closet and then I'll be right back. Please?" he asked, casting his pleading gaze upon his wife.

"You have ten minutes," she snapped, rising from the settee and retrieving the crutches from her dressing room. "Don't make me come after you, husband."

Belle wrapped a comforting arm about Lyssa's shoulders and led her back to the settee, drawing her down beside her. "What happened, darling? Is his confinement turning him into a beast?"

"Dr. Cassel warned him to stay abed for the remainder of the week and at the first opportunity he was off to parts unknown," she lamented, wringing her hands. "When Gaston returned him to his room, Lucern was pale and haggard, and –"

"It frightened you," Belle finished gently. "I have to admit I was surprised to see him this morning in my apartments. Did he tell you what he'd been up to?"

Lyssa shook her head, her blond curls bobbing merrily about her shoulders. "Actually … after I'd finished yelling at him, I didn't really wish to hear his explanations. I took his crutches from him and it's been rather silent until just a few moments ago." She laid her hand over Belle's and winced. "I wasn't really going to keep him from the water closet."

Belle embraced her warmly, rubbing a soothing hand over her back. "I know you wouldn't, but you really should let him explain. I know you were only fearful for him and he really shouldn't have been out attending to business this morning."

"He does sometimes let his sense of duty cloud his judgement," Lyssa said in with a rueful grin.

Lucern poked his head around the door, assuring himself his wife didn't have any projectiles to launch at his head. "Is it safe to come in?"

Belle kissed her sister-in-law on the cheek and sauntered over to her brother's side. "Yes, darling brother, come in and talk to your love. Tell her what a noble personage you proved yourself to be this morning."

"You didn't … um … you didn't tell her?"

"No, I think it should be your place to tell her what a wonderful man you are," his sister teased. "Now I have an errand – which I was on my way to do when I happened to hear all the shouting – so play nice."

Lyssa arched a quizzical brow at their curious behavior, notably at her husband's flushed cheeks. Belle bid them both goodnight and left them alone. "What was all that about? I thought she was angry with you." She bent her will enough to help him back into the bed. The crutches were returned to her dressing room, however; just to be on the safe side.

"I made amends with her spinner this morning, in gratitude for saving my life. For valorous service to the crown I may have … um … given him an earldom and my sister's hand in marriage," he said sheepishly, toying with a loose thread on the duvet.

"You what?" his wife asked incredulously.

"I want her to be happy. Yesterday, I could actually see how much she cares for him. And as horrible as I was at breakfast before our ride, he still saved me despite his own injuries. I didn't want to waste a moment –" His explanation was cut off as his wife's lips covered his in a kiss filled with her apology, her gratitude and more than a little of her fiery passion.

"You changed your mind," she breathed between kisses. "You let her choose her spinner." Another kiss. He took advantage and pulled her down onto the bed beside him on his uninjured side, his strong arms trapping her against his chest. Now that he had her, he wasn't about to let her go. "My wonderful prince. I knew you were in there somewhere under your snobbish stubbornness."

"I'm forgiven?" he asked in a hopeful tone, nipping lightly at her lips.

"Yes."

Lucern nuzzled just below her jaw where her pulse beat frantically. "You still love me, vixen? Even though you think I'm an oaf?"

"I love you because you're an oaf," she teased. "But I promise to tie you to this bed if I catch you going farther than the water closet again. At least until the doctor assures us you can do so without further injury."

"Perhaps my lovely wife can convince me to stay in bed?"

She smiled coyly at him before her fingers twisted roughly in his chestnut hair. "Oh, I think I can make it worth your while."

"I'm certain you can, my love."

A/N: I have to say I really loved writing this chapter :D I hope you all enjoyed it as well. Please don't hesitate to let me know what you think about it. I love reading and responding to all your comments and reviews. Next week we'll be dealing with more issues and having them continue to open up to one another as they move closer to tying the knot. Thank you all so much for reading.

Huge buckets of love for last week's reviewers: Wondermorena, CLKit, fire90, Twyla Mercedes, Grace5231973, kristen0901, April, scorpion22, Erik'sTrueAngel, FaerieTales4ever, MyraValhallah, lovepeacebubble121x, Witch Nova, xXSedationXx, AnneElliotsCat (chapter 9, 10, 11 & 12), onlyinyourdreams77, musicbean2, minterwint, and Deb.