Epilouge

By: RosexKnight

(( I just want to say thank you, everyone. This is by far the fic I am most proud of and it really hurts to see it end. Thank you all for your support, and I hope you enjoyed it! This 'verse IS going to remain open for prompts, though. So feel free to send them in anytime! ))

Everything is Alright

Chapter 23

"Focus, Belle…" Granny's voice came, firm but gentle, encouraging. "Not much longer now. Push my girl."

"Let me use magic." Rumpelstiltskin begged. "To ease the pain. To-"

Ruby's voice was unquestionable. "No magic!"

Belle's cries ripped from her as she followed directions. With the hand she wasn't squeezing, he reached up and pushed her hair out of her face, the sheen of sweat making it damp. He had no idea how long this had been going, only that he was glad Bae wasn't there. The spinner was already trembling, hating to see his princess exhausted and in pain. He wanted to run, but she kept him grounded. Reminded him why he was there. Made him do the brave thing.

He was praying to the gods that bravery would follow, as Belle always said.

"Nearly there." Granny gasped, "I can see her. One more Belle."

Belle groaned, her head falling back on the pillow. Rumpelstiltskin kissed her hand, squeezing gently. She panted, her breaths ragged as she looked at him. He nodded, and she took a breath, whimpering as she gave one more push. He was vaguely aware of the small cry that mingled with his wife's cry.

"It's a girl!"

Eilonwy's cries filled the room, and Belle smiled, collapsed against the bed. Her grip loosened and her hand fell from Rumpelstiltskin's hand. His eyes widened, fear squirming in him.

"Can I…?" She rasped, and relief flooded him. She was okay. In pain, but okay.

He couldn't help but feel helpless without using magic.

"In a moment. Let us get...maybe magic to clean up would be acceptable?"

"Please." Granny agreed.

Rumpelstiltskin snapped, and whatever mess had been made disappeared. Ruby moved, helping Belle to sit up. He watched deftly as the older woman wrapped the little bundle, grinning as she caught his gaze.

"Rumpelstiltskin? Do you want to hold your daughter?"

The spinner went rigid, looking back to his wife. Belle gave a hoarse laugh, nodding for him to go on.

"Yes. Yes please…"

Granny moved, placing the small bundle in his arms. All of the tension left his body as the girls cries subsided and her little eyes opened to look at him. She had Belle's eyes. And his nose.

"Hey…" He said breathlessly. "Hey Eilonwy. My little girl…"

The babe smiled, and deftly reached up, grabbing his nose. He chuckled, tears prickling in his eyes.

"She's perfect, Belle."

Belle smiled. "Just like her papa…"

Magic sparked through The Dark One's Great Hall. His gaze was squared solely on the figure on the other side, trembling.

"Please! Have mercy!"

"We had a deal, dearie." The Dark One snarled. "And no one breaks a deal with The Dark One. You tried to steal that wand."

"My wife! Marian she's sick! Please I was only-"

With a giggle he fired a spark of the darkness at him, causing him to flinch away and scurry to another side of the table. "I'm not interested in excuses. Now, you're going to-"

"Papaaa!"

Everything seemed to halt as the sound of little footsteps echoed through the room. A crying could be heard and all at once the magic was gone. A small girl of 5 appeared, tears in her eyes and a scraped knee.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"I...I…" She said, small hiccups escaping her through the tears.

As Rumpelstiltskin kneeled, the so-called thief named Robin of Locksley cleared his throat. They had sealed for a bow that would never miss and he'd then stolen a want. A part of Rumpelstiltskin still wanted to skin him alive, but his daughter was crying and now that seemed less important

Besides, the mood was completely ruined for any intimidation now.

"Go." The Dark One said. "But if you even think of-"

"I get skinned alive." Robin nodded. "Crystal clear."

The sound of the castle doors opening and closing only vaguely reached his ears as he lifted his daughter up and sat her on the table.

"Now then…" He said soothingly. "Tell me what happened."

"We...We were playing and I…" She pointed to her knee, bloodies but otherwise fine. It was only a scratch.

"I have it!"

Baelfire's voice echoed next, and he entered The Grand Hall in a sprint, a blonde princess at his heels. The daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White had grown quite attached to his son, and Snow often brought her along when she visited Belle. The two of them were out with Ruby right now. Something about a girl's night.

The boy who was no longer a boy, but a gangly teen deposited a bowl of soapy water and a towel on the table. Eilonwy looked warily at it.

"Can't papa use magic?" She asked.

Baelfire smiled at her, glancing to his father. "He could but this will work just as well. Trust me. It's my magic."

The little girl gasped. "You have magic too?!"

"Of course." Baelfire said, dipping the small towel in the water to soak it. "But the price is a bit of stinging. Will that be alright?"

The girl nodded, immediately reaching for her father's hand. Rumpelstiltskin squeezed it affectionately, and wondered once again at her.

There was Belle in her. She had the same eyes as his wife, which he was grateful for. She'd retained his nose, which she often groaned at until Belle assured her that nose was her favorite. Her hair, however, was a mix of brown and yellow that was all her. He recognized the look of determined bravery as one she'd picked up from him, and she only hissed a little as Baelfire gently cleaned the scrape and then wrapped it with a bandage.

"See?" Rumpelstiltskin said, waggling his fingers at her. "Magic."

Emma laughed then, "You three are so cute it's almost nausiating."

"You love it!" Baelfire shot back, his chest swelling with something rather unfamiliar as pink colored her cheeks.

"Not the point?" Emma said, then turned to Eilonwy. "Your big brother takes good care of you huh?"

Eilonwy grinned, jumping down from the table, testing the bandage. "He does! He says he wants to take care of you too someday because he likes you so much!"

This time it was Baelfire's cheeks to turn pink. "Elle!" He growled, and soon he was chasing his laughing little sister deeper into the castle.

"Shouldn't you, like, stop them?" Emma asked. "You are The Dark One right?"

Rumpelstiltskin gave her a grin that was too much like his daughters. His magic might have still been present, but the darkness had subsided, the only proof of its presence in his appearance. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I'm a simple spinner. People are layered, I've found."

"Yeah." Emma said. "I suppose you're right."

It was a bad night.

Belle wasn't sure what had made it a bad night, only that Eilonwy had reported to Baelfire that her father had told her he couldn't teach her magic that day, something that he hadn't ever missed. Bae had taken her on a ride to cheer her up, distracting her from the looks he and his mother exchanged. Dread churned in Belle's gut as she climbed the steps of the tower, a place Rumpelstiltskin had been found less and less since his daughter's birth. She couldn't clearly recall the last time he'd been there after that. And never could she remember him denying his daughter's request.

Belle gasped at the sight of the workroom. Books and paper of notes were strewn across the floor along with glass of broken bottles and splintered wood.

"Rumple?" Belle squeaked, searching the darkness for him.

He was huddled in a corner, looking small, breath shaky. Vulnerable. She'd only seen him like this once before. The day she'd found him on the road, running to keep their son safe from the bullying soldiers.

"Rumple…" She stepped around the mess carefully, approaching him slowly. "Talk to me, my spinner. What happened?"

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head.

"Rumple, please…"

Kneeling, she caught his cheek, guiding him to look at her. He was a far cry from his usual self. He truly looked broken.

"Don't." He said. "Please. Go. I'll be fine. I'll clean up. I'll be in time for dinner."

"No I'm not going anywhere what happened?"

"Nothing."

"This is not nothing."

"Nothing happened!" He snapped, making her pull her hand away. Slowly, he deflated, looking as though he wanted to reach out to her for a moment before giving up. "Nothing more than usual."

Belle's eyes widened, and she looked back to the room. Understanding dawned on her, knocking her breath away from her.

"Have you...Is this what happens? When you have to fight it?"

The spinner made a whimpering noise before nodding. "It's too much, Belle. I can't do this anymore."

"Then don't." She caught his hand in hers. "You've been carrying this alone. Let me help."

"No! No I can't put this on you. I can't ask you to carry my burden. I...I'll leave. This is your home. You can have the castle. Raise the children."

"Rumple you're being ridiculous. You are my home."

"And I'll leave. You won't have to be with me anymore."

"Rumple."
"You won't have the darkness constantly fighting over you. Constantly in danger because of me."

"Rumpelstiltskin."

His eyes snapped to her, and it comforted Belle to know her princess voice still held the same authority it always did. She waited for him to stop trembling, then gave him a smile. It turned into a laugh as she caressed his cheek.

"Do you have no faith in my love, my spinner."

The spinner shook his head, "I don't know." He breathed. "I still sometimes suspect it's a dream. That I'll wake up, cold and alone and lame in my shack."

"That's the darkness." Belle said, placing a hand on his chest. "Your heart knows the truth. Just as mine does. It wasn't coincidence that I met you on the road that day. It was fate. The place where we are was written in the stars."

The spinner blinked, and in an instant was on her, arms wrapped around her, clinging to her just as he did all those years ago on the cot in front of the fireplace. Their lips crashed together, and Belle felt the twinge of magic before he did.

"What's happening?" He gasped.

Belle caught him before he pulled away completely, and watched as the scaly exterior melted away, starting at his eyes, revealing her spinner.

"Kiss me again." She insisted. "It's working."

As always, Rumpelstiltskin was helpless to do anything more than obey her. Slowly, he felt the curse break, the darkness ebbing away. He suddenly felt very exhausted, and his leg was killing him. But that didn't matter, because his princess was clinging to him, her lips slanted over his in a kiss that was full of sincere, true love.

Really, he was a fool for ever doubting. Everything was alright.