Arthur knew from experience that every groom thought his bride was the most beautiful woman in the world on their wedding day, so perhaps he was a little biased when he saw Belle coming down the makeshift aisle towards him. Though, from the awe in Bae's eyes as he escorted his mother towards his waiting father, he thought perhaps at least one other person might agree with his assessment that yes, Belle really was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Admittedly, some of that might be the natural glow he'd heard to expect during these early months of pregnancy.

He still sometimes couldn't believe his luck that his life had finally come to this. He was desperately in love with his best friend, a woman who just happened to be the one who had raised his son and who now was expecting his second child. This one took after its brother in coming along quite by accident – she'd only just taken the test a couple weeks ago and Arthur still wasn't sure if he'd stopped smiling since then. They'd both been absolutely thrilled (and maybe a little terrified by) the news, and so had Bae. Belle tackled it with her usual indomitable spirit, reminding both Bae and Arthur that she had raised her first all by herself while running a business. Surely she could handle finishing her Masters with an infant as long as both her guys were around as well.

She'd finally sold off the shop to Anton, intending to be a full time student after the wedding, but she had insisted part time student and full time mom was just as good. And anyway, it'd be a lot easier to deal with daycare now than it had been when Bae was a baby so there was no reason not to do full time soon.

As for Bae, he couldn't have been more happy that the father he'd met just over two years ago had fallen head over heels in love with his mother. Although, honestly, who could do anything but love Belle?

As his family finally arrived at the rug that served as altar for their backyard ceremony, Arthur could barely contain his tears of joy. Bae was so very grown up, carefully offering his mother's hand to his father just like they'd practiced before standing slightly off to the side. He would be included in the ceremony to help light a unity candle, and the vows had been written to include bits about always caring for him as well. Both parents wanted to make the point that Bae was to be the centerpiece of this new life they would be sharing, regardless of any other children that came along. He was, after all, the whole reason that they were a family.

As unplanned as this new baby was, Arthur loved that it, too, would end up being a part of their ceremony. He would pledge his devotion to his family every day for the rest of his life if he had to, and he'd love every minute of it. This was the second chance he'd never thought he would ever get – he had his son and Belle, and now a new baby to love and cherish.

As the ceremony came to a close and the fairy lights were turned on for their first dance as man and wife, Arthur couldn't help but press his hand against Belle's still flat belly for just a moment. In a few hours, Bae would be with his Uncle Tiny for a few days and Arthur would have his new wife to himself for the first time since he'd known her. If anyone was scandalized by the fact the bride was pregnant, Arthur didn't notice or care, he was too busy being the happiest man in the world.

Finally, after so many years of searching for one, he was home.

A/N:

I started writing this story as a prompt fill in July of 2014. I had no idea then what it was going to turn into, and if I had I don't know that I'd ever have had the guts to do it (and I definitely wouldn't have given Arthur the same name as I did in Mysterious Ways, which at that point I thought was going to be my 'big' fic from that promptathon). It was really my first serious entry into Rumbelle fic writing, as at that time I had only barely started writing my second chaptered fic and the first one wasn't exactly taking off. As of this writing, this story is the second most popular Rumbelle story on AO3 in Kudos, Comments, and Hits, and is one of only two Rumbelle fics to make it to the front page of the Once Upon a Time tag on AO3 in those three categories (the other, of course, being Bed of Thorns).

It's been an honor and a privilege to write about this family from the beginning. I don't feel like the writer sometimes so much as I do the custodian. Bae feels like he's mine at this point - some people hear horror stories of children being abused and think about their kids, I think about Bae. I don't know that any of these characters will ever really leave me, and in a way I hope they don't. I had to bring three people through the hardest year of any of their lives and it's been a journey for me as well as them. I like to think I've grown as an author since those first half-assed short stories and that ridiculously silly kiss.

I'd like to thank everyone who has helped with prompts and support and encouragement by name, but that would be impossible because there have been so many of you over the last 14 months that I can't keep track, so consider this my eternal gratitude for offering up your time and creativity to help me make this story better. Everyone who's ever left a comment, thank you for encouraging me to keep going. The people who track me down on Tumblr to leave me long messages, you're the best. Everybody who posts it to rec lists and suggests new people have to read it have earned my undying love.

I've only really been the custodian of the characters and the story that the fandom gave me to work with and I'm so proud to have been that. So thank you to everyone who helped me make this special.

I've got a couple little bonus gifts that I wasn't able to get uploaded here, but if you go to this link you'll be able to see them: /works/1843297/chapters/11631724

I also have a series of short stories that are associated with this universe. Some of them take place between chapters, most are sequels showing their life after marriage. I'd like to invite you all to check those out here: /series/156242

Also, keep an eye out in November when I'll be beginning work (again) on the remix of this story where Arthur finds out about his son ten years earlier. Thank you again everyone who made this so worth it.