Hi Guys!
Thank you all for the reviews!
I know that I can't make everyone happy. For right now, I'm going to keep developing the story as I have been. So for right now it's going to be about Regina and the baby.
If anyone likes Swingtown, I wrote a new story- check it out! :)
Enjoy!
...
"My child can bring back the dead?" Regina breathes out in shock.
Bringing back the dead is impossible. I spent years trying, this can't be possible.
Rumple looks at Regina with a slight frown, sensing Regina's worry, "it's only a prophecy, there is no way of knowing-"
"But the prophecy is describing almost everything that has happened. She-Sh-She's unexpected. Robin I are Soul Mates..." Regina struggles as she stammers.
Rumple nods, " yes. But you know as well as I do how deceiving prophecies can be. That's why I didn't want to tell you, I didn't want to scare you."
Prophecies can be incredibly deceiving, just as Rumple's visions. He hadn't wanted to worry the already concerned brunette. She isn't far along, and yet she has had more complications than more expecting mothers.
"You can already feel her power... She's barely 2 months old. If she already has so much power..." Regina rambles as she stares at the floor, her concern for her child only growing. Regina distances herself, getting lost within her mind.
She's so young and already in so much danger...
"Rumple. I-I'm not supposed to be able to have children... she's in so much danger already. I-I don't know if-" Regina's panic grows as thousands of unwanted hypothetical possibilities enter her mind. "She already has a target on her back,... I need to protect my child. I-"
"Regina, there is no need to panic-" Rumple tries to ease the brunette, not knowing how to calm her.
Unknowingly to the pair, Belle had heard the commotion form the kitchen Hurrying to Regina's bedroom, Belle walks in quietly.
"Here," Slowly sitting next to Regina, Belle calms her, comforts her, stroking her hand over her back, holding Regina close to her.
Giving Regina the comfort and safety she needed in that moment to calm and relax herself. Grasping at the warmth she receives form her friend. Something she's never had before.
"Why don't you go check on dinner. I'll be down in a minute." Belle says in a quiet and soothing voice as Rumple nods and scurries from the room, walking quickly he shakes his head.
I'm the Dark One, I'm over hundreds of years old and I still get uncomfortable around crying women.
...
"Is she alright?" Rumple asks in worry as he sees Belle walk down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Belle nods with a reassuring smile, "she's resting. After she calmed down I talked to her. Eased her worries for a few hours. I'll bring her dinner later after she's a bit more relaxed." Rumple nods as he takes a deep breath. "After all these years, you don't know how to comfort a woman who's upset?" Belle says with a knowing smirk as she begins to set the table for dinner.
Rumple groans as he covers his face with his hands, "she got so upset, I had no idea what to do!"
Belle sighs, "are you out of your mind, you should know by now that her emotions are heightened. Plus, it's Regina... Telling her that... now?"
"Yes, I know... but it's Regina! She squeezed it out of me!"
"You've never been able to keep anything from her." Belle gives a slight smile.
"Not always..."
"I know, she probably demanded to know. I understand why you told her. Just be careful from now on. She doesn't need the added stress. The pregnancy has been hard enough on her already." Belle says with a sad smile.
Rumple nods as he takes a deep breath, "yes. I know. One thing still concerns me though."
"What?"
"She's right to worry Belle. The prophecy says-"
"You said yourself that prophecies aren't supposed to be trusted," Belle says with her eyebrow raised.
"Yes. But even ignoring the prophecy... her child has a lot of power. It's young, and yet so very incredibly strong."
"What does that mean?"
"Regardless of the prophecy, her child will be powerful. And Regina is strong, but I'm concerned her child is too strong, even for her."
"You think her child will hurt her?"
"Not intentionally, but yes. If her child continues to grow as it is... Her pregnancy could be very difficult to say the least."
"Is there anything we can do?" Belle asks as her concern grows.
"I can't say for certain. But if the child's magic grows stronger... we might need to find something that can help, delude it."
"Like the cuff?" Belle says with a frown, realizing what may need to be done.
"Yes," Rumple says with a sad sigh.
She won't like that.
Belle nods in understanding, "don't tell her. Not yet, let her rest for now. We'll figure it out later.
...
Belle sighs as she places the last dish back into the cabinet.
"What's on your mind?" Rumple asks as he takes Regina's dinner out of the refrigerator to warm up.
He had noticed Belle's distress after dinner. Knowing Belle has grown to care for Regina, any distress to the brunette caused Belle to worry.
"The cuff," Belle whispers as she shakes her head, leaning against the sink, "Rumple... if she needs to where it... she won't like it. The last time she wore it she was-"
"Tortured. I know. there may be a chance she doesn't need to wear it. If she does... we'll cross that line if and when we get there." Rumple walks to the tense brunette, "try not to worry too much."
Belle nods, "alright. Here, I'll bring her dinner up to her room."
...
Belle walks quietly into Regina's room, when she had left earlier Regina had been laying in bed, curled up in blankets.
Belle smiles as she walks into the very dark room, seeing Regina's body outlined in a bundle wrapped in blankets in the middle of the bed.
"You're not as quiet as you think you are," Regina mumbles as she turns her body towards Belle. Basking in the warmth and comfort the bed brings.
"Sorry," Belle whispers with a smile, chuckling softly. She walks slowly to Regina's bed, easing her body gently on the side. "I brought you dinner." Belle says as she sets the plate on the night stand next to the brunette.
"Thank you," Regina sighs as she sits her exhausted body up, against the headboard.
"Still tired?" Belle asks with a sympathetic smile.
"You have no idea," Regina says as she takes a deep breath, her hands automatically going to her stomach. Stroking softly, with growing affection.
"Why do you always keep your room so dark?" Belle asks unexpectedly as she looks around,
It's always dark. always.
Regina raises her eyebrow at the sudden question, shrugging, "I just normally do... always have." Regina says as she picks at a piece of bread.
"Even as a child?" Belle asks in confusion.
"Yes."
"You weren't afraid of the dark?"
"I wasn't allowed to be," Regina says as she looks at Belle's shocked expression.
"You already knew my Mother wasn't a nice person, why are you so shocked?"
"You were a child!" Belle exclaims.
"I learned quickly. It's just the dark. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"When I was a child I was terrified of the dark, Monsters and all..."
"When you're a monster the darkness becomes your home. Monsters aren't afraid of the dark." Regina whispers with a frown as she stares down at her hands.
"You're not a monster! You've changed." Belle says as she places a hand on Regina's fiddling fingers.
"Even so. I used to be." Regina gives a sad smile as she looks up at Belle with tearful eyes, "I hurt so many people. Including you. Even people I didn't want to hurt. My Father, Henry... I never wanted to be like this. I spent my whole life trying to not be my mother and yet... I'm exactly like her."
"Regina, no!" Belle says as she cups her hands on Regina's cheeks. Stroking away tears with her thumb. "Shhh... You did what you did because you saw no other way. You were lost, and no one helped you. So many people in your life hurt you, Regina you did not deserve that..."
Belle sighs as she tries to change the subject. Anything to get Regina's mind off of self loathing.
"How would you feel about Henry staying here? I've thought about it for awhile, he can trade off living here and with Emma. That way you can spend more time with him. In the mornings you can walk him to the bus stop around the block. It's not that far, and a little air will do you good. There are more than enough rooms for him to choose from..."
"Really?" Regina asks with a hopeful smile.
"Yes! Absolutely."
"Thank you," Regina breathes out with a smile as she hugs a very surprised Belle in thanks.
Belle had planned on telling Regina about the cuff before asking her about Henry. But seeing her bright smile, is worth it.
Seeing her new found friend happier than she had been in days is worth it.
Everything else could wait another day.
...
Hope you liked it!