Chapter 78
A/N. We've reached the end of this story. Thanks to everyone for reading and thanks for the comments. It was a challenge trying to keep up with you guys! Your guesses were often right on the money. I hope that, if I didn't manage to surprise you, at least I managed to entertain you. . . and take our dear Rumple to a happiness he's earned.
Po: "You will have found your strength and the source of your survival. You will be free."
Two weeks before Christmas, Belle and Gold are sorting through the kitchen cupboards and the refrigerator while Rachel watches from her high chair. They're planning a dinner party for New Year's Eve, which will follow their re-commitment ceremony at the convent. Just family and close friends are invited–which means about half of Bell's Corners, along with Kevin and his "plus one." The second wedding is Belle's idea: they're living dramatically different lives now than those they were living when they first married. But she also hopes any lingering insecurities he feels will be quelled when, before their friends and family, she repeats her pledge of forever.
After, there will be a gourmet dinner, she's decided; she's been so busy lately she hasn't shown off her culinary skills in a while. They finish the shopping list, post it on the fridge and go on about their day.
In a locked closet upstairs are ten Christmas presents (with a two-year-old in the house, the presents can't be left unsecured). Two of the presents are wrapped in silver paper: they're tagged "Belle" and "Rumple." Six more are wrapped in gold and are designated for the Doves and the Swan-Golds. Two are wrapped in Sesame Street paper and are tagged "Rachel" and "Jin." According to their legal representative in China, Jin's adoption papers won't clear until July, but the Golds want to be prepared for the possibility of a Christmas miracle. They've seen plenty of miracles before.
Three days after Christmas, Destiny laughs and grants them the miracle they were not yet expecting.
Gold, still in slippers and a robe, is slicing an apple for Rachel's breakfast when Belle gallops down the stairs, thrashes around in the junk drawer, finds a pen, then scratches something off the shopping list. Tossing the pen in the air, she cheers.
Gold cocks his head.
She splays her fingers in the direction of the list. He takes the implied suggestion and squints at the list. Under her scratching he can barely make out a "t," an "a" and an "m."
He gapes and drops the list, just in time, because Belle is flying into his arms. After a long kiss, he releases her for a moment to retrieve the pen and write on the list, in all capital letters, "PAMPERS, SIZE: NEWBORNS."
The day after New Year's, Gold sends a text to Won-Que: "My body and my mind are in harmony."
The reply: "Congratulations! When is the baby due?"
July 21, 2017
Today's Mirror reports that by the latest count, Storybrooke has 1,274 residents; its neighbor to the north, Bell's Corners, has 7,434. A small article on the Lifestyles page announces the newest arrival, eighteen-month-old Jin Gold, formerly of Shijiazhuang, China. "Three under the age of three, and one of them only ten days old," the article reports Jin's new mother as laughing. "Yes, we have our hands full, and we're loving every minute."
December 21, 2017
Today's Mirror includes an obituary for Angelo Romano Sr. and his wife Cindy.
Today marks the final edition of the Mirror.
July 1, 2031
Gold leans in the doorway to Gold and Dove Antiques. He's been spending a lot more time here, as he's passed retirement age; he jokes that he belongs here with the other antiques, a remark that always earns a slug in the arm from Belle or an "Oh, Daddy!" from Rachel. Most of his work in the community, he's gradually passed on to his eldest son and grandson, except for his gardening. He and Blue will never relinquish that.
"How they bitin', Mr. G.?" Annie Hopper greets as she drives by on her bicycle. It's their equivalent of "good morning." Gold and Rachel taught Archie and Annie how to fish last summer.
"Slow this morning." Gold waves back. "See ya, Ann."
"See ya, Mr. G."
The shop's had no customers since he opened an hour ago, but that's the norm. Only the tourists can afford this stuff. Besides, his shops have always been more of a pastime than an income generator. His real estate investments and Belle's salary provide enough for them to live comfortably.
Belle's Honda turns onto Trout Drive and heads north. Gold straightens his tie; after all these years, he still likes to look presentable for his wife. Then he frowns, because she's got two passengers, people he's not keen on seeing. He ducks inside to plug in the coffee pot, then reemerges on the street. She parks at the curb and he opens her door to help her out, then assists her passengers out. "Your Majesty."
"Good morning, Mr. Gold." Snow looks as fresh and young as she did fifteen years ago, unless you look close. She's dressed in a yellow sundress and white sandals and Ray Bans. Her husband comes to her side; he's sunburnt. The prince nods a greeting. "Gold."
"Shopping for antiques, are we?" Gold holds the door open to allow them inside.
"Actually, they came by the house looking for you, so I drove them over," Belle explains. "They want to talk about something quite important."
"What could be more important than a sale?" He holds aside the curtain that separates the showroom from the workroom. "Come in and have a cup of coffee." Belle seats them as he fetches coffee cups and spoons.
"We haven't seen you in Storybrooke for a while," David begins.
"I don't get out as much any more." Gold brings out a little pot of fresh cream from the mini-fridge. "Most of my Storybrooke friends have left, or passed on, and as you know, having three teenagers keeps one busy."
"It does at that," David agrees. Both of his kids are on the track team.
"I'm sure you're aware, anyway, Storybrooke's never recovered from the economic slump of twenty years ago. We had some good years, but we never seemed to bounce back." Snow bows her head, and now Gold can see gray roots in her shiny black hair and lines creasing her forehead. "But Bell's Corners has prospered."
Gold nods. "We've done well. The mayor's brought in profitable businesses without losing the small-town flavor of the area or endangering natural resources. Wise decisions have been made."
"Decisions that led one of our own into the Governor's Mansion," David remarks, with just a hint of emphasis on our. "Youngest governor in Maine's history."
"We can thank Grace Hatter for that. She's a brilliant political strategist."
"Yes," Snow acknowledges. "Mr. Gold, the reason I'm here is, frankly, to ask your help. As you know, Storybrooke's lost half its population since 2014. Unemployment is nine percent. Poverty rate is thirty-nine percent. We haven't had a new business open since 2021. We filed for bankruptcy last year."
"How do you perceive me as being able to help?" The coffee pot is steaming now. Gold brings it over and fills four cups. Then he sets the pot down with a thump. "You're not thinking I'd conjure you a solution? Fill the dwarfs' mine with diamonds? Transport the U. S. Mint to Ms. Ginger's backyard? Or maybe something simpler: hypnotize Bill Gates into believing that he's King Midas and transport him to Storybrooke?"
"Rumple," Belle cautions.
"I apologize for the sarcasm." Gold sits down. "Part of my nature. All right. What would you have me do for Storybrooke?"
"Speak to your oldest son on our behalf," Snow answers, raising her chin.
"My son is married to your daughter," Gold points out. "You've got a direct line to him. Why bother with a middle man?"
"When it comes to city development, he listens to you. That was proven last year when Lotsa Lumber wanted to buy Plockton Woods and you put your foot down."
"Those trees are worth far more alive than cut down," Gold mutters.
"I agree. You've got a keen mind for how and when to accept a deal. Baelfire listens to you, and he's right to do so. We'd like you to clear a path for us, and then we'll approach him with an offer."
"And that offer is?"
"A merger. Storybrooke and Bell's Corners. Each town would retain its unique flavor, but they'd operate under one government. Yours."
Gold's cup clatters as he nearly drops it. "You'd. . . abdicate?" He's not sure that's the right term for the relinquishing of a mayoral seat held by a queen.
"I need to save Storybrooke. I think this merger will do it."
He feels sorry for her. In the Enchanted Forest, no monarch ever abdicated. They died—by natural or unnatural causes—on the throne. But at the same time, he's pissed that the Charmings have once again come to Rumplestiltskin for aid. If he assists, they will thank him, of course; they're well-manned people. They will accept Bae's leadership, which is a sort of ironic revenge, Gold supposes. But he's pissed nevertheless. Without a word, he walks out the back door, grabbing his fishing jacket. He passes Adelena, who's earning her allowance by sweeping up. "Going fishing," he whispers to her, and she giggles. "You're in the dog house again, aren't you, Daddy?"
In the parking lot now, he hears Belle through the shop's open windows: "Seriously? You're asking me to talk to him? Convince him to accept your deal? Snow, he's a good man, and I trust him to make a decision that considers the best interests of Bell's Corners, as well as our family. Even if he weren't my husband, I'd support his decision. So no, I won't talk to him for you."
"Where did he go?" Charming is demanding. "We need him to broker this deal for us."
As the shop door opens, Gold scrambles to get into his Tesla before he can be caught. He's already made up his mind about the deal: Belle's confidence in him reminds him who he's become. Besides, he's got ten kids to set an example for. So he will go back later today, but first he needs to chill. Angelo's home from Zimbabwe; Gold will pick him up and they'll head out to the river. It'll be more productive, Gold thinks, than listening to Charming yak.
From WMTW dot com, January 21, 2032
Last night in a two-thirds vote, the state legislature passed a bill authorizing the merger of the towns of Storybrooke (pop. 1,255) and Bell's Corners (pop. 7,611), separated from one another by a twelve-mile expanse of Scotsman's Bay in southeastern Maine. The merger is subject to a referendum election, to be held in May.
According to Mayor Baelfire Gold, Governor Henry Mills, a former resident of both towns, will return to Bell's Corners on June 1 to sign the bill into law. Grace Hatter, press secretary for the governor, stated that the signing will take place in Cindy's Rose Garden, the designated quiet zone area of Romano Park. A town picnic will follow the signing. "The governor is very proud to be a part of this historic event," said Ms. Hatter.
The new town is expected to adopt the name of Hope, a suggestion made by Rumple Gold, the leading advocate for the merger. Rumple Gold is both Mayor Gold's father and Governor Mills' grandfather.
Attempts to reach Rumple Gold for comment were unsuccessful. A sign on his antiques shop indicated that he and his business partner Josiah Dove had "gone fishing with the kids."