#ouass

"Rumple?" Belle called, her arms filled with brown paper bags and just barely hidden gift bags. She knew that her husband was supposed to be down at the antique shop, but she had to make sure. It had taken her forever to scour the entire town and internet with Bae's help to find the perfect gift for him and it was today that she finally found one.

With the house fully silent, Belle continued forwards, dropping the foodstuffs into the kitchen and making her way upstairs to hide the presents. They had created a dedicated room for the presents, both of them promising the other that they wouldn't go through it. And though they had kept their promises to each other, every day it seemed like they were fighting to keep Baelfire and Henry out of the room. Understandable, Belle knew, given that the thought of presents were tempting to father and son, but really, with Christmas just a few days away, she was hoping they'd calm it with the snooping.

Dropping the three new presents she had collected onto the wrapping table and going through the wrapping paper, Belle's mind quickly began wandering as she began wrapping the gifts. She had been by the hospital, as much as she disliked it there, due to feeling not her best. She had begun to get sick in the morning and while she knew what it was, she wanted to make sure. Better to know for sure than to hope for it and to be wrong. But the test came back positive and when they had done a quick ultrasound to determine how far along she was, the printed picture was what she decided was perfect for Rumple.

Of course, there were other gifts – ones that Bae helped her find – that were being packaged and wrapped for her beloved, but the little printed gray and black static picture was going to be the best.

It wasn't as if they were trying, but they weren't actively against getting pregnant and Belle, herself, took no pills to stop it from happening. They were active in their intimate life and they had talked about what they were hoping for in the sense of children. Though they had Baelfire, they had both agreed that they wanted a child from the both of them. And things had calmed down after Zelena's defeat.

Her hands reached her stomach, rubbing it slightly. She was growing a child, one who would have Rumple's eyes and her hair. Or maybe vice versa. Though, she would love it if they had Rumple's eyes; they were her favorite part of her husband and she adored watching them crinkle when he smiled.  Another smile reached her lips. She was excited and hopeful. With everything that happened to them, all their separations, they were starting a family.

With the final bow on the box that held her sonogram, Belle placed it among the pile of gifts that were for Rumple and left the room, she wanted to get back to organizing the library. It was planning to open to the public come late January and she had only managed to get as far as the non-fiction side completely organized.

Closing the door to the gift room, Belle left, a smile playing on her lips and a slight glow to her cheeks.

Christmas arrived in a flurry of fresh snow and Christmas lights. Baelfire brought Henry, along with Emma, early in the morning with promises of showing up later for dinner and they opened a few presents then. Belle held off the small box for when it was just them – they would tell Baelfire later but right now she only wanted Rumple and herself to know.

With their own dinner cooking, Belle grabbed the little box from under the tree and made her way to the kitchen where Rumple was in his black dress shirt, the sleeves pushed up as he worked. She smiled as she walked in, “You’ve got one more gift Rumple.” She said as she held out the little box.

Her smile grew playful as he put down the wooden spoon and limped over to her, grabbing the garishly wrapped present after kissing her on the cheek. “Sweetheart, you didn’t have to. The other gifts were perfect.”

She was glad to hear that, she had searched far and wide for the multiple books on magic in a more practical sense from this world and the books on languages that she knew she’d be reading at some time. They may be in the Land without Magic, but that didn’t mean that there was never magic as they were all coming to realize. There was traces and Rumple had been trying to learn it and her books and other items she got him was going to be helpful.

“I wanted to; plus I think you’ll really like it.” Belle said, motioning for him to open it. She was excited, and it took a bit to ignore the scared feeling in her stomach. Even though she knew he wouldn’t be disappointed, she couldn’t help the slight feeling. It only began to dissipated as he opened the box, his eyes changing from playful to confused to unabridged joy.

“Is this what I think it is?” He asked, his voice heavy with emotion.

Belle nodded, “It’s our baby Rumple.”