Hey readers! Thanks for the positive reviews last chapter! Only one more after this one! Enjoy!
Belle and baby Gold were released from hospital the following day. Neal helped the couple and new sibling move in, get them settled, with Moe, Tinkerbell, and Henry meeting them there. Rumplestiltskin loved the work done on his daughter's nursery, only wishing he could've been apart of it.
"So, are you guys gonna finally tell us the name of the baby? Or should we just keep calling her hey, there?" Tinkerbell requested.
Belle scoffed slightly then answered, "Well, the thing is—there's sort of this… tradition."
"Back in the Enchanted Forest, when any royal is born, you usually announce the name at a coronation ceremony." Moe explained. "Belle's mother and I did it when she was born."
"Are you guys gonna hold her out in front of the clock tower and present her like lion king?" Henry wondered.
Gold laughed at his grandson. "Of course not."
"In fact we've decided to forego all pomp and circumstance for a nice… potluck at Granny's."
"I preferred a nice dinner at home with close knit family, but Belle wanted something not as extravagant as a coronation, but more than family gathering."
"It is important to mark the occasion Rumple. Remind ourselves that after all we've been through, we're still together… as a family." She leaned kissing him reminding he was doing this for his two girls.
"Sure you guys just can't decide on a name for my little sister and are trying to buy yourself some time?" He joked making the others laugh.
Granny's Diner was transformed into a beautiful party to welcome the town's newest member. Belle's baby shower was a multitude of colors, now that the baby was here; the restaurant was covered from ceiling to floor in pink. As Henry read the story of how his new aunts parents fell in love, the bell above door rang for someone else's arrival, one that no one was happy to see. The wicked witch, now standing side-by-side with her sister.
"Sorry we're late." Regina spoke on behalf of herself and Zelena.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Moe demanded.
"I invited her, and got permission from your daughter and Gold." Regina answered bringing her sister to the table with Robin, and Roland, Henry joining in with them.
"You two seriously invited the witch? After everything she did to the two you? Your friends, your children?"
"For once Mr. French I do agree with you, but again, Belle insisted on it." Gold confirmed much to everyone's surprise on the two men agreeing and Belle's idea.
"Regina is willing to give her another chance, so we should too."
"Belle it doesn't matter what Regina wants-"
"It does to me Neal. Regina's done a lot for me in the past year. She stood by my side when you didn't father; and when you two were gone." Her comment made all the men feel guilty what she was put her through in the past year.
"We all came back Belle."
"I know you did Rumple, but it still doesn't change that Regina was there when you all weren't." She paused for a moment. "As much as I admit I am nervous about Zelena being out, she has no magic, and is under constant super vision. Regina has wants to try and trust the last blood relative she has, so, I'm going to do the same." She finished firmly walking away to leave the gentlemen to think, when suddenly, Henry noticed Zelena's time portal opened from diner window across town.
Zelena claimed she had nothing to do with opening the time portal. Surprising to everyone she was telling the truth. She may have lost the ingredients now, they were together for a period of time, and the portal was able to open.
It was able to close, but it did not stop Emma and Hook from falling through. They landed back in past Storybrooke, before the curse had broken. Mr. Gold from the past had a magical wand in his shop, but being able to conjure enough magic was tricky, but doable. The pirate and the savoir we're able to return home, but not without saving the life of the beloved huntsman… Graham.
Regina made a potion to officially return Graham's memories from the Enchanted Forest. Everyone was thrilled to have the old sheriff return, but even more thrilled to hear the name of baby Gold.
"Excuse me, if I could have everyone's attention please." Gold clinked his glass to make everyone silent and focused on him. "This coronation ceremony is something more, than celebrating our daughters life. It is celebrating as well, the safety of our family. Something I was not able to protect, but you all were. Something I will forever, be in debt for. And I truly hope you can rejoice in a name that, is a beautiful as she is."
Belle was going to be one to announce it. "People of Storybrooke. It is our great joy to introduce you to our daughter… Rose Vera Gold." The guests cheered and clapped in joy, no name could be more perfect for this new child.
Zelena however did not join in festiveness. She sat by herself at the counter, alone with her thoughts. "So I hear you were the one that created the time portal that Emma and Hook went through." She looked up to see newly brought back man the savior and pirate brought back.
"If you only came over to lecture me in how my time portal was dangerous and it was dumb idea, I don't need to-"
"I came over to thank you." He finished her sentence leaving the former witch stunned.
"Thank me?" She couldn't remember the last time someone said that to her.
"While I agree your portal was crazy and dangerous, without it, Emma and Killian never would have come back. I would have been killed. You helped me escape a cruel fate, giving me a second chance at life. I owe you a thanks for that."
"You're welcome."
"And while I'm making all this effort to thank you, I realize I haven't even told you my name. I'm Graham." He held out his hand for her.
She was reluctant to take it, but she knew she was stuck in this town for a while; she needed to make a least one friend. "Zelena." She took his extended hand in his hers.
When the party was over, there was one last thing to take of. Graham had offered to keep watch on Zelena for a short period of time; Gold was able to get the small family gathering he wanted. Out by the well in the woods, the dark one stood in the most fancy suit he ever owned, his son by his side, Tinkerbell on the other. Regina with her new fiancé, the Charming's with their new infant son, and Emma with her new boyfriend stood ready to watch something beautiful.
Henry was the first to walk down the path, wheeling his little aunt dressed in beautiful white dress with a pink flower headband in her hair, in small wooden wagon decorated in white streamers and flowers. Everyone awing in how cute and handsome the pair looked. But whom everyone came to see was last come. Escorted by her father, came Belle, leaving the Rumplestiltskin the former beast, stunned by her beauty.
Dr. Archibald Hopper performing the ceremony began reciting. "It is my great honor to officiate this most lovely union. If you like to begin your vows…"
"Rumplestiltskin… this thing we have it's- it's never been easy. I've… I've lost you so many times. I've lost you to—to darkness, to weakness, and—and finally, to death. But now I realize…. I realize that I have not spent my life losing you. I've spent my life finding you."
"Belle… when we met, I wasn't just unloved and unloving. I was an enemy of love. Love had only brought me pain. My walls were up. But you broke them down. You brought me home. You brought light into my life and chased away all the darkness. And I vow I will never forget the distance between what I was and what I am. I owe more to you than I can ever say. How you can see the man behind the monster, I will never know."
"But that monster is gone. And the man breath him may be flawed… but we all are. And I love you for it. Sometimes the best book has the dustiest jacket. And sometimes the best teacup is chipped."
They we're pronounced husband and wife. Mr. Gold leaning in, kissing his beautiful bride Belle.
Well that's it, happy rumbelle wedding! Hope everyone likes the baby's name, I chose Vera as the middle name as tribute to Emilie's actual daughter. And I'm not totally trying to ship Zelena with Graham, I am just trying to give her one friend for now.
Hope everyone enjoyed, next chapter will be kinda of an epilogue.