A World of the Unexpected

by Snapegirlkmf & CJ Moliere

1

~ Are You Ready For The Summer? ~

Belle and Marie were miserable in the final weeks of their pregnancies. Since Belle was carrying triplets and Marie was carrying twins, both women had gained more weight than they had in their previous pregnancies and had a difficult time getting around but they weren't suffering alone. Their husbands once again experienced sympathetic symptoms due to the deep bonds they shared with their wives and were equally miserable. They both knew the worst part would come on the day their wives delivered and they would feel the womens' pain as if it were their own. Rumple's first experience with it was so intense they'd given him Stadol in the delivery room and he'd gone on quite a hilarious drug trip that somehow ended up on the internet just as his little Adriana learned to walk. Archie's own experiences with the pain hadn't been quite as bad since he'd been prepared for them even before he and Marie got married, fainting only when he saw his wife delivering the afterbirth and finding it disgusting.

Adding to their discomfort was the heatwave that swept through the town at the end of May and everyone in the town was complaining about it as much as they complained about the long winter they had with some of the lowest temperatures and highest accumulations on record. The women were due to give birth in early June and they were going to spending July and August in Europe staying in Greece first then Italy, their main concern being whether it would be safe enough for their newborns to fly and on such a long trip. The flight to Greece was at least fourteen hours, quite a long time for one infant, let alone five and nearly all of the children that would be boarding the plane had magical abilities that would need to be kept in check for the duration. There were going to be so many people on the flight that Rumple was looking into taking a private plane. He could certainly afford it. They were already booked into the finest hotel in Greece, the Grande Bretagne, courtesy of Archie's Greek friend Alessandro Palakas and a villa in Rome. There was also the possibility that Snow and Regina could deliver while they were still abroad. Emma's baby would be due after they returned.

The expecting parents expressed their concerns to Doctor Jo who explained in detail what preparations had to be made to make them all safe for travel, magical and non-magical.

"This is one instance where being a mage comes in handy," Jo said. "There are differences in opinions amongst the medical community what age a baby is safe enough to travel on a plane by but I think you will have less of an issue with it than other parents. Also I would suggest all of you update your vaccinations before you go overseas. I know you had yours done before your honeymoon Marie but with all that's been going on in the outside world lately, you can't afford to take chances."

"That reminds me, we were having a discussion in the teacher's lounge the other day about parents who are refusing to have their children vaccinated for measles and bringing the disease into the schools. It's insane!" raged Belle. "We would have sold every last thing we OWNED to have those vaccines back in our world before the curse was cast."

The doctors in Storybrooke travelled back and forth between the two worlds working on ways to improve the way of life for the people who chose to stay behind, their healthcare being a top priority.

"I know honey but I am pleased to say that is not an issue here. All of the parents in town have been cooperating in the vaccination programs. This lapse in judgment in parents from the outside is leading to diseases that were thought to have been eradicated from coming back and in some cases they may mutate."

The expectant mothers cringed.

"Now then…any other issues I should be aware of?"

"No….just the usual mood swings, swollen feet, aching backs and bladders the sizes of peanuts," Rumple quipped.

"Wives who keep threatening to exile you to the couch because she doesn't think you give her enough room on the bed when you're almost falling out of it," Archie grumbled.

"Oh I do not take up the whole bed!" Marie exclaimed.

"Yes you do!"

"So do you dearie," Rumple reminded his wife.

"Need I remind you, dearie, there are five of us sharing that bed now, not two. I told you we should've gotten a bigger one but no! You said ours was large enough. I don't have this problem at Belle Reve," Belle argued.

Jo laughed. "Sometimes you feel like there's never enough room, right ladies?"

"They only gain part of the weight. We gain it all and they think they have it bad," Belle huffed.

"Still, don't you just looove it when they have the pain too?" Marie taunted.

Belle smirked. "Of course."

"Must you rub it in Marie?" Archie moaned.

"Dearie, get that look off yer face 'cause ye'll no' have yer way by making us have the baby one o'these days!"

"Magic needs to catch up with the times then."

"Not a chance in hell. Magic can do a lot of things but thank the gods THAT is not one of them. And that other thing you go through, I will have myself committed if it happens."

"You'll have to save room in the cell for me Rumple because I don't want it either!" Archie cried.

The two women looked at each other and grinned, unable to wait to find out how their husbands were going to handle it when their daughters became women and Archie unfortunately would experience it first since Gisella would be going through it sooner than the others.

"Speaking of that, I am going to have to have The Talk with Sella in a few years," Marie said. Her husband buried his face in his hands.

"Rumple, I beg you….whip up a potion that will keep my daughter a child…please!" he begged.

"I'd love to keep my lass a child too Archie but I can't," Rumple said resignedly. "And I'll be keeping a gun handy at the front door when those damned boys come calling…and the tests ready."

Archie smirked. "Oh I have my own arsenal of tests ready too. I hope there's room at the asylum for some new inmates."

Belle shook her head. "Our daughters are never going to keep boyfriends at this rate."

When they got back to the Victorian Bae and Andi were watching the kids while they played in the backyard. Mary Poppins was out of town; she'd just started seeing Doc and the two of them went to Boston to watch a baseball game. They were playing train robbery with Bae and Andi dressed as robbers, the Happy Army Bears as the passengers and Jonny, Gisella and Adriana were the sheriff and his deputies.

"This is a stickup!" Bae yelled from behind the scarf tied around his face as he pointed a toy gun at the bears. "Hand over the gold and shiny and no one gets hurt!"

"Oh no, please don't hurt us!" Major Belle pleaded and threw a plastic tiara into the bag Andi was holding.

"You got anything else on ya, Miss Rockerfeller?" Andi demanded, waving her gun. "Fork it over. Don't make me search ya!"

Jonny and his team hid behind the bushes until they made their move, their parents watching from the side, recording the event on their phones. They all had dozens of videos of their childrens' playtimes. Rumple wished they had such things when Bae was a child, he could still remember some of the wonderful games they used to play. His favorite was when they would walk through the forest and play the "Who Am I?" game. Rumple would look at something, give Bae several clues as to what it was then ask his small son to tell him what it was and the boy guessed correctly every time.

Jonny jumped out of the bushes in his Sheriff Woody costume and crept up behind Bae, pointing a toy gun at the teen's back. "Drop it an put your hands up!" he commanded inn a gruff voice. "You're under arrest for armed robbery! Sella and 'Driana, cuff 'em and take 'em to the jail!"

"Yes sir!" The girls pulled out a set of toy handcuffs and cuffed Andi and Bae. "You heard the sheriff…move it!" Gisella ordered.

"Police brutality!" Andi exclaimed.

"Ya want some cheese with that whine?" Adriana, pressed her toy gun into Andi's back as she led her away. "Tell it to the judge!"

"Are you sure she's going to be a healer Rumple? She sounded just like a police officer there," Belle asked her husband.

"Without a doubt, mo chori. Kids, it's almost time for dinner!" he called out.

"Aww do we have to? Got the trial comin up," Jonny complained.

"Jonny you can have your trial at home tomorrow, okay?'" Archie proposed to his son.

His son approached him with his hands on his hips. "Then we gotta start over. You havta be the robber and Mommy can be the girl on the train."

"I'm always the bad guy. That's typecasting!" his father complained.

"Yup. You're really good at playin' the robber."

Marie giggled. "Oh, Doctor Hopper what would it do to your reputation if everyone found out just how naughty you can be…?"

"Marie!"

"Mommy I wasn't talkin 'bout that!" Jonny rolled his eyes. "Bae's right. Worse n'rabbits."

The Golds laughed.

"No I think Mama and Papa are worse," Adriana piped up. "They make out in the spa!" she added referring to Rumple's last birthday which was caught on tape by the Mad Crew and set to music for their latest gag gift.

"And ye need to remember how to knock, dearie!" Rumple scolded his daughter.

"So do Mommy and Daddy." Gisella said.

"Gisella!" her parents cried.

"Come on, let's go. Dinner's getting cold," Rumple said and picked up his daughter.

There was so much to do in the weeks prior to the births of the babies. Several of Belle and Snow's classes would be taking field trips to museums and zoos closer to the end of the year. Rumple agreed to help chaperon and so did David. There were several classes holding graduation ceremonies from middle school into high school and the entire family would be seeing Gisella making her acting debut as "Annie" in the school's adaptation of the musical and film. She did most of her rehearsals at the school but enjoyed practicing the scenes with Daddy Warbucks at home with her father. Becky was playing Miss Hannigan and Ewan had been cast as Daddy Warbucks but the teenager refused to shave his head. Rumple cast a simple glamour spell that would allow him to appear bald for the duration of the play. Bae was helping with the set artwork, Lenore Phillips and several girls from the home economics department were making all the costumes.

Bae also entered a state wide art contest and chose to paint a scene from his childhood as his entry but when his parents asked him what it was he wouldn't tell them and he had his room locked tighter than Fort Knox so that no one could see the painting until it was finished. Rumple could have easily unlocked it with his magic but he respected his son's wishes to not peek until the painting was completed.

The summer festival would be also held the second week of June and this year Belle was going to submit the entry for the baking contest, having officially conquered her kitchen demons thanks to Archie. Her husband requested that she submit her version of the Golden Delight cake that she made for his birthday. Rumple never submitted anything for the cooking contest, not wanting his brother-in-law to lose his long standing title as the chili king. Instead he would submit an entry for the new contests Regina added this year for knitters and weavers. She'd gotten dozens of requests to add such a competition for years but never got around to doing it. The Golds and Hoppers took turns entering the kissing contest and this year Archie and Marie would be defending the family title as "Best Kissers".

Another new event was the boules tournament. Marie and Belle loved playing the game as children and made their husbands build them a boules court in the backyard for the spring and summer months and they also had one in the basements of their homes for the winter. Some of the other women and men in the town also enjoyed the game and men's and women's leagues had been formed. The women played on Fridays at the Gold or Hopper house, the men would play on Sundays down at The Rabbit Hole. Most of the people who joined played for fun but there were others who were highly competitive and sometimes arguments broke out. Rumple and Archie had been forced to referee a few times when the women got into shouting matches at the house and Emma and Jeff had to haul men out of The Rabbit Hole for brawling during a game.

Another new addition and the favorite with everyone was the teams making their own floats for the opening ceremonies. Regina had given each team a list of float design guidelines to make it fair for everyone and the winner would be chosen by the crowd. The ceremony would begin with the Happy Army and Minion march followed by the floats. Both sets of living stuffed toys were excited to finally be a part of the festivities and were only allowed to be after the kids held a protest on Regina's lawn complete with signs reading: No Happy Bears and Minions, No Fun!

"So where are you taking the kids on Tuesday, Belle?" Marie asked her sister.

"The Children's Museum and Theater in Portland," Belle replied. "They have a lot of fascinating exhibits that the kids will love; the one where they can play with shadows will be a favorite. I know Adriana loves it, don't you sweetie?"

"I can make lots of happy faces!" the toddler cried. "And they have the playground inside too, huh Jonny?"

"Yup! I like the little town the best but should be one like the old west. Daddy, when we gonna go see a real old west town?" Jonny asked his father.

"Next year."

"I wanna do a cooking thing," Adriana said.

"We did one in Greece, didn't we, Daddy?" Gisella asked her father.

"We certainly did, Princess."

Jonny laughed. "Yeah and you said you wished you were roasting the goat witch that turned Daddy inta a cricket!"

"Papa, Mama, you guys are gonna need a LOT of energy to keep up with two groups of hyperactive kids," Bae warned his parents.

"That's why we're going to bed early the night before," Belle giggled.

"Better hope you don't go into labor."

"Oh God! I hope not too!"

"Papa, it's really nice out. I wanna sleep outside tonight."

"Adriana, mo astor….your mama and I can't sleep outside…."

"Bae can sleep outside with me, can't ya Bae?"

Adriana enjoyed camping out, she had ever since she was an infant but Rumple and Belle didn't allow her to do so until recently.

"I can stay out in the tent with her, papa and you know Major Rumple and Major Bae will sit right outside of it and scare the crap outta anyone who tries to come near it."

"Ye bet we will!" Major Rumple called out from the living room.

"Oh, all right. But I want you to make sure you have plenty of warm clothes and blankets in case it gets cold overnight," their father said.

"Papa, you're the best!" Adriana jumped out of her chair and ran over to her father's throwing her arms around him.

"Daddy, can we camp out too?" Jonny asked his father.

"Jonny…ummm… we can't sleep outside either."

"Sella can!"

"Daddy, c'mon," his daughter pleaded, both of them giving their parents the puppy dog look.

"Oh, all right!"

"Yay!" they cheered. While Bae went outside to get the tents set up, Rumple got all the bedding the children used out of the second floor closet. It was close to bedtime by the time they got the kids settled. Archie and Marie were going to drive back home but Rumple took one look at their exhausted faces and informed them they were spending the night in the guest room.

Later on that night Belle heard a loud thump followed by someone groaning in pain. She sat straight up in bed. "Rumple? Did you hear that? I think someone's in the house," she said fearfully.

"That was me, dearie. Ye kicked me out of t'bed again! What are ye tryin' t'do, gimme another bad leg?" He turned on the lamp and glowered at her as he pulled himself up.

"I told you this bed was too small. We're getting another one tomorrow because I am not sleeping in this one another night!"

"Fine. At least then I won't have to worry about ye kickin' me out again!" he grumbled and crawled back into bed beside her.

"And finally I'll be able to sleep comfortably," she muttered into her pillow.

Over in the guest room Archie was awakened for the third time when he felt Marie's foot kicking the back of his leg.

"Archie, must you spread out so much?" she complained.

"Me? I'm almost hanging off the side! Could you move over a bit?"

"I can't!"

"Belle's right. The beds in this house are too damned small…I feel like I'm in the Three Bears' house!"

Marie moved over a few inches to give her husband a bit more room but they still felt cramped. They couldn't wait to sleep in their own bed the next night.

Several days later, Rumple, Belle, David and Snow along with their classes waited in the school's playground for the bus that would take them to Portland while Mary Poppins watched Adriana and Neal for the day. The women were grateful for their husbands' assistance with the kids since they would have a difficult time keeping up with them.

Rumple looked at his Rolex, frowning. "Sweetheart, wasn't the bus supposed to pick us up at nine-thirty?"

"Yes. I hope it didn't break down but if it had, surely the driver would've called."

"I hope it gets here soon because the kids are starting to get antsy," David muttered.

Minutes later they were all wanting to check themselves into a mental institution when the group of children started complaining that they wanted to go to the zoo, not stand around. Snow tried calling the cellphone number for the driver but it went straight to voicemail. She also called the garage and was assured by the supervisor that the bus was working properly and the driver should have arrived. Not long after she hung up the yellow school bus screeched to a halt in front of the school. As soon as the doors opened Quiet Riot's Come On Feel The Noise blasted through the speakers, nearly deafening the adults.

"Will ye turn that DOWN!?" Rumple bellowed. "We don't need hearing aids yet!"

The driver, a young man in his early twenties with long brown hair done up with rasta braids, a tie dyed shirt, khakis and a knitted cap got out of the driver's seat. "What's your problem, dude?"

"How the hell can ye concentrate on drivin when ye're exploding yer eardrums with that noise?"

"Aww chill out, will ya!"

"I'll chill out when you turn that junk off and get this bus moving!" the sorcerer snapped.

"Okay, okay…sheeze whatta grouch," the boy muttered. As he stepped outside the scent of marijuana filled the air. "Ready to go?"

"Oh we are, but you're not going anywhere, dearie except down to the station to have a little chat with Sheriff Swan about driving under the influence!" Rumple growled and gestured, a pair of handcuffs appearing on the boy's wrists.

"You've gotta be kidding me! It was just weed!"

"I don't give a damn if it was the poppies from the Ozian gardens! Ye are not driving this bus stoned out of yer arse with children and two women expecting on board!"

"Who's gonna drive? You?"

"I most certainly am. Now GIT!" he waved his hand and the boy vanished in a puff of smoke, appearing in the police station with a note attached to his tie dyed shirt.

"What the hell…?' Jeff gasped, his egg and cheese omelet dropping to the floor. Emma rose from her desk and approached the new arrival. She removed the note and gave it a quick read through, grinning.

"Ohhh Billy boy….you don't know how long I've been waiting to haul your ass in here," she sang. "Hey Jeff! Look who it is! In for a DUI!"

The two officers could barely contain their excitement. Rumple had just handed them the biggest marijuana dealer in Storybrooke on a platter.

Back at the school everyone boarded the bus for the trip to Portland. Driving a school bus was a bit different from driving a car but not for a sorcerer of Rumple's caliber though it was a bit difficult for him to keep his road rage under control once he got on the expressway.

"Ye bloody arse! Where's your turn signal!" he yelled at a driver moving in and out of the lanes without activating the turn signal, forcing him to keep his foot near the brake pedal. "Where'd ye go to school to drive? The Go Kart Academy?"

"Mister Nolan, who has a bloody butt? Did they have one of them hemrods that busted like my dad did?" one of the boys asked David.

David and Snow burst out laughing.

"The light's GREEN. GREEN! How many colors do you want?" Rumple yelled when they were stopped at a traffic light.

"Honey, calm down. You'll raise your blood pressure," Belle advised gently.

"Maybe some people are color blind?" Jason piped up.

"Or stupid," muttered Hannah Phillips.

"This is going to be quite a trip," Snow giggled.

"Oh yeah….a real adventure," David chuckled.

"Mister Gold, are we gonna stop soon? Gotta go to the potty," another little girl said from the back of the bus.

He pulled into the parking lot of a McDonalds, in need of a cup of coffee after dealing with his own episode of the World's Worst Drivers.

"Did everyone have breakfast this morning?" Snow asked the children. Most of the children admitted that they had but several informed her that their parents hadn't cooked them anything before dropping them off or even making sure they at least ate something. She frowned, knowing who those parents were. They were some of the newcomers from the Enchanted Forest and had been just as lazy in their old world.

The children formed two lines when they exited the bus, one half going with Snow and David into the dining area to sit while they ate breakfast and Belle and Rumple took the second group to the restrooms.

"Order me a coffee and a sausage muffin to go will you please?" Rumple asked David, handing him his black American Express Card.

"With this thing I could buy out the whole restaurant," David chuckled.

"Well don't go hog wild Charming."

"Okay, girls, if you need any help just let me know," Belle was saying when she went into one of the stalls. She was at the sink washing her hands when she heard someone crying in another stall.

"April? What's wrong, honey?"

"Miss Belle! I can't get the door open! It's stuck!" the little girl cried, pounding on it in fear.

"Try turning the knob again," she coached.

"I am…it's not moving! I don't wanna stay in here!"

"April, honey, it's going to be all right. We'll get you out of there." She glanced down, to her dismay the space between the door and the floor was not small enough for the child to crawl out of.

"Miss Belle, what're we gonna do?" asked Cindy Lou Hoover.

"Cindy, I want you to try to find Mr. Gold or one of the workers…hurry now!"

Rumple was having an issue of his own in the men's room, first the condition of it left much to be desired. Using some of the magic he'd stored in his ring, he went around making sure all of the stalls were clean before any of the boys stepped one foot in them.

"There was poo all over the wall Mr. Gold. That's gross! Why'd they do that?" a little boy named Tom Thumb complained.

"Eww I stepped in somebody's pee! Why'd they pee on the floor like a dog?" another asked.

"Don't know how t' aim," answered one named Pete. "My dad said if you can't use it right, don't use it at all."

"All right boys, enough of that," Rumple said firmly. In a few minutes all of the boys had finished and they were walking out to the dining area when one of them yelped.

"Dennis, what's wrong?"

"Ummm….ummm….my zipper's stuck an I think it got caught on my winkie!"

"Oh man…that is the worst!" groaned one of the customers.

"Mommy, his fly's down!" yelled a girl at one of the tables.

Rumple glowered at the laughing patrons. "Come on Dennis, let's go get you fixed up." They were heading back to the restroom when they collided with a frantic Cindy Lou Hoover.

"Mister Gold, April's stuck in the bathroom and she's really scared. Miss Belle can't get the door open either!"

Rumple pulled the two children out of the sight of others, waved his hand and fixed Dennis's stuck zipper. As they approached the ladies room they could hear April crying and Belle trying to comfort her.

"Someone's coming, sweetie…"

"Cindy, did you tell someone from here what was going on?" Rumple asked her.

"I tried but all these people kept shovin me outta the line so I came to get you."

"Imbeciles." He opened the bathroom door to find Belle tugging at the stall door. "Sweetheart, stop….you don't want to hurt the babies."

"Rumple, thank God!"

He gestured and the stall door opened. Little April ran out and threw herself into Belle's arms. "Miss Belle, I hate being stuck!" she sobbed.

"I know honey. Come on, let's get you out of here." Rumple picked the little girl up and carried her out of the bathroom. She ran over to the other children and started telling them what happened.

"Aww that's nothing…try havin a zipper stuck on your winkie!" Dennis scoffed.

"I don't have a winkie, I have a birdie!"

Rumple nearly dropped his cup of coffee. Snow and David were laughing behind their napkins.

"These kids oughta go on Kids Say The Darndest Things," remarked one of the cashiers.

"All right….now we should be getting going, dearies…"

Children and adults boarded the bus and they were once again on the road headed for the Children's Museum and Theater in Portland. Snow, David and Belle kept the children entertained by playing guessing games with them and Snow and Belle had them all singing children's songs. In the driver's seat Rumple was smiling, looking forward to the day when he would finally hold his three new babies in his arms. His two older ones were growing up so fast that he wondered where all the time went. Soon Bae would be eighteen. He would have been centuries older due to an aging curse placed on him by a rival wizard but Rumple had managed to slow down the process to the point where once the Dark Curse was broken, Bae would age normally again. Adriana would be four and ready to start school soon. He and Belle would both be fighting back tears on that day after all they endured to have her. The diagnosis from Belle's doctor was bleak four years earlier but through the love they had for each other, they'd created a miracle. Months later the goddess Ninia had given them and the Hoppers a fertility blessing that was equal to using fertility treatments in this world. Now they knew they were expecting two girls and a boy. The boy they would name Robert, the girls Valora and Victoria and like their elder sister, they would possess some form of magic, he just wasn't sure what they would be. Each child would be different.

"We're here!" Rumple announced as he brought the bus to a stop in the parking lot.

"All right everyone: you are to stay with us at all times….no wandering off and no touching anything without permission. Understood?" Snow asked the group.

"Yes Miss Snow," they chorused.

"We'll be dividing you up into groups of four," Belle explained. "One group will come with me, one with Miss Snow and the other two with Mister Gold and Mister Nolan. I want you all to count off from one to four. The ones will be with Miss Snow, the twos with me, the threes with Mister Gold and the fours with Mister Nolan. Okay…begin."

The staff was pleased to see the Golds and Nolans since both of them held family memberships to the museum as did their friends that afforded them many perks including discounts in the shops, parties, workshops and summer camps and theater performances. They took the children to the indoor playground first to enjoy themselves a bit before they started touring the exhibits.

"Our kids will have more fun here than in the museums in Greece and Italy," David said to Rumple as they watched their groups play in the 25 foot fire truck pretending to be firefighters. It also taught them the basics of fire safety, a lesson they had with Belle and Snow in the school but it was always wise to have a refresher course.

"Oh, I don't know. Gisella enjoyed it when she went and she wasn't much older than these wee ones. I'm curious about that flea market."

David laughed. "You'll set your own table up."

"I'm thinking about it."

"Ah, go for it. I want to go to one of the restaurants and try out some of that food Archie's been making for us when we go over to their house for dinner."

"Just hope you don't have the two bad food experiences he did!"

"I about laughed my ass off when I saw that video of Gisella tossing that steak on the road and them giving the manager hell!"

Several of their children left the fire truck to go to the car repair shop where they acted like actual mechanics.

Belle and Snow's groups were on the second floor enjoying the Raising Readers Book Nook. There were books in many different languages including Braille ones for the visually impaired. Belle and Snow chose two volumes and they all sat in circles on the floor for storytime.

Rumple and David returned with their groups, both men filming storytime on their phones. They loved hearing their wives read to the children at home and Rumple was a bit inventive with his stories, creating different voices for each character. Once Belle finished reading her book, she handed one to her husband. "Your turn, honey."

He smiled. The volume she had chosen was The Little Prince. The sorcerer sat in the middle of the circle of children and began to read while Belle filmed him on her phone.

David and Snow took their children to the Camera Obscura exhibit on the third floor, watching as the children had fun making their shadows do some of the silliest things. One of the children even had his shadow dancing set to music from David's phone. They would give copies of all the videos they shot to the parents so that they could see some of the things their children did on their trip.

An hour later Rumple rounded everyone up for the drive to the Maine Wildlife Park. All of the children were excited to see the different kinds of animals the park contained. They started their tour in the visitor's center where some of them weighed moose antlers just to see how heavy they were and others visited the reptiles and played with puzzles and light boards.

"Can we get some ice cream Mister Rumple?" Cindy Lou Hoover inquired, pointing to the snack shack while they were walking toward where the habitats were located.

"At lunch time, dearie."

"Yay!" the kids cheered.

The adults carried pouches full of quarters for the feed dispensers so that the children could feed some of the animals since outside food was prohibited.

"Cool! A bald eagle!" Dennis exclaimed.

"There's a turkey!" One of the girls pointed to a turkey coming out of the woods. Their chaperones snapped more pictures on their phones, taking special care not to antagonize the animals.

In the afternoon as promised, they took the kids to the Snack Shack for ice cream treats and headed back to Storybrooke shortly before three. It had been a pleasant day even though there had been a few mishaps.

A week before school ended everyone was gathered in the auditorium to watch Gisella make her acting debut in Annie along with Ewan and Becky. She spent two hours in the afternoons rehearsing at the school and on the weekend she would run through her scenes with Daddy Warbucks with Archie. Her favorite was the finale when they would sing 'I Don't Need Anybody But You' together.

"Those sets look wonderful," Snow praised as the curtain rose for the first scene in the orphanage. "Bae has a future as a set decorator too if he wants it." She snapped several pictures on her phone. The performance was also being filmed for a DVD that everyone could order.

Archie and Marie were in tears when the spotlight shone on their daughter as she sat by a window singing about the parents she longed one day to have and soon everyone else was misty eyed remembering how the actress had once been a little girl who longed for a father to love her.

"Maybe they're strict

As straight as a line...

Don't really care

As long as they're mine!

So maybe now this prayer's

The last one of it's kind...

Won't you please come get your "Baby"

Maybe..."

The tender moment was then interrupted by the arrival of Becky in the role of Miss Hannigan. The Scorpions in the audience looked at each other and smirked, recalling how they called the principal's secretary Miss Harridan Miss Hagidan. She certainly reminded them of the loose, alcoholic orphanage matron.

"Fury is having toooo much fun playing a lush," Andi giggled to Bae. Rumple turned toward them and raised his finger to his lips.

"Can't wait to see the scene where she tries to maul Ewan," Kat chuckled. "Had to hold her back a few times before she scorched Jenni Turlough because Ewan has to kiss her…"

Bobby sniggered. "Ewan can't stand kissing Jenni. He said her breath smells like feet."

"Oh gross!" Bae groaned.

"Quiet!" Rumple hissed.

"Where did she get all that crazy jewelry from?" Emma asked when they were changing sets. Regina laughed from her seat.

"Robin."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry I asked….and sorry for the person you stole it from!"

"I'm not. She was a mean old buzzard. We were staying at her inn for a bit and we paid her well but she also wanted us to muck out her horse stables. We didn't mind…except when that horse of hers almost buried its foot in my ass!" Robin said. "It was called Lucifer and the name suited it."

"So we took off with some of her jewelry and left a little surprise in her bed." Little John added. Jeff and Emma's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"Man, if you tell me you left the horse's head in her bed, I'm hauling your ass in!" Jeff threatened.

"No…just some of the crap we had to shovel out."

"Oh God….I'm gonna puke," Emma groaned. Her stomach was unusually sensitive with this pregnancy.

Jeff held out his hat. "Make it go on someone we hate," he teased.

"Just…goin to the bathroom instead," she mumbled and hurried out of the auditorium, barely making it to the restroom in time.

When it was time for the final scene Archie and Marie looked at each other and smiled, recalling when Gisella first rehearsed that scene with her father a month earlier.

Marie, Jonny, their Happy Army bears and the pets were all outside on the back patio waiting for father and daughter to give their first performance together. Then the glass door slid open and Archie stepped out wearing a white tuxedo jacket and black pants holding a small white rose in his hand. Seconds later Gisella came out wearing a red dress. Her father bowed to her and handed her the white rose. She pinned it to her dress and took his hand in hers.

"Together at last

Together forever

We're tying a knot

They never can sever," they sang together.

"I don't need sunshine now

To turn my skies to blue," Gisella sang.

"I don't need anything but you!" they sang together as they danced around the patio.

"You've wrapped me around

That cute little finger

You've made life a song

You've made me a singer!" Archie sang.

"I'm poor as a mouse," Gisella was laughing as she sang.

"I'm richer than Midas!" Archie sang with feeling believing with all his heart that he was as he gazed at his daughter, his wife and son.

"But nothing on earth

Could ever divide us

And if tomorrow I'm an apple seller too

I don't need anything but you!"

Archie picked up his daughter and spun her around. She laughed and threw her arms around him. "I love you Daddy," she murmured into his shoulder.

"I love you Princess." he whispered and kissed her forehead.

"That was beautiful!" Marie sobbed as she shuffled over to them holding Jonny's hand.

"You're gonna be good Sella but it'd be even better if it was you an Daddy up there," Jonny said.

Gisella ruffled her younger brother's hair. "He's going to be in my heart, Jonny. That's what matters."

When the song ended, everyone in the audience was on their feet applauding the little girl while her parents wept with joy and pride.

"She was fantastic," Rumple praised.

"Oh Marie…she was wonderful," Belle whispered to her sister.

The proud parents were escorted backstage, Archie holding a bouquet of white roses. The moment he saw his daughter he kneeled down and scooped her up into his arms.

"You were wonderful Princess, wonderful!" he sobbed.

"I was imagining you were up there with me the whole time. Daddy. No offense, Ewan."

"Ah, none taken. Come here you!" he called out to Fury and pulled her into the corner for a kiss.

"I really liked when you an Daddy danced better Sella," Jonny piped up.

"Me too," Gisella murmured.

"Hey Sella….I…uhhh got you something…" Roland said, shuffling his feet nervously from beside his father who he pleaded with to take him backstage as soon as the show was over.

"You did?"

Archie set her back on her feet.

"Uh-huh." Roland handed her a small package wrapped in Sleeping Beauty paper. She tore it open and found a music box inside. When she opened it, it played "Once Upon a Dream."

"Aww! Thanks Roland." She gave him a peck on the cheek as he blushed scarlet. They heard a groan behind them and turned around to see her father passed out on the floor.

"Archie! Baby….come on….wake up!" Marie pleaded, slapping his cheek gently.

"No….my little girl's kissing boys…" he moaned.

"He passes out! I'm going to have a coronary if I see Adriana doin it!" Rumple muttered.

Two weeks later everyone was there to show their support of Baelfire for the art competition. Rumple choked back his tears when his son finally unveiled the piece he'd been working on all that time. He'd painted a scene from his early childhood where he was sitting on his papa's lap while Rumple told him a story, both of them wrapped in a blanket he'd made for them to keep them warm when they had very little wood for their fire while outside a blizzard ravaged the land.

"It's beautiful Bae, so lifelike," Belle praised.

"Thanks Mama."

"You're gonna win Bae, "Adriana declared.

"I don't know…there are a lot of kids sending stuff…"

"It's not about winning, it's about sharing your talent with the world," his father said wisely.

Though there were many other talented artists in the group, everyone believed Baelfire's piece would be the one chosen for the top award. The judges walked past each piece, studying them carefully, making notes on pads they carried with them. The panel included some popular artists and each judge spent several minutes talking with the artists.

"Have you studied medieval history?" one of them inquired of Bae.

"Yes." I lived it, he thought.

"You've painted the medieval period in such detail that one would think you've lived it. This is the kind of work we like to see, inspiring and so lifelike that you feel like you are in the scene. What do you call this piece, Mr. Gold?"

"A Winter's Tale."

"A homage to the classics. Excellent, Mr. Gold." The judges moved on to speak with the next artist.

"Well done, Bae."

"I was so nervous, Papa."

"I didn't notice. Now, breathe, son."

The artists and their families waited anxiously as the judges went into a separate room to discuss the works on display.

"They're nuts if they don't choose you Fire," Andi said loyally.

"Yes, they'll need to go back to art school," added Shadow.

"And now we would like to announce our choices for the top three artworks that will be added to a special collection in the gallery. Third prize is awarded to Gabrielle Menigas for her Fragments of the Mind. Second prize is awarded to Trevor Winslow for his Mass Hysteria. And our grand prize winner is Baelfire Gold for A Winter's Tale! Congratulations to all of our artists and we wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors."

"YAY!" Adriana screeched and threw her arms around her brother's knees. "See I toldja they were gonna pick ya Bae!"

"Rumplette, you're gonna cut off my circulation now ease up!" Bae chuckled. His parents approached him, both in tears.

"We're so proud of you honey," Belle sniffled.

"Thank you Mama."

"We're going to hang the duplicate you made on the wall in front of the grand staircase at Belle Reve, Bae. That part of the house needs some light anyway," his father quipped. Belle frowned at him.

"Well maybe if you would open the drapes once in a while!"

"Those windows are too high for ye t'be goin up them on a ladder and ye won't be doin' anything like that till after the wee ones are born!"

"Then why don't you make it easy on me and make them open."

Everyone started laughing.

Rumple threw up his hands. "Cannae we just agree to keep those drapes closed? T'light from those windows can blind you."

"I can attest to that," muttered David. "It certainly blinded me the first two times I was there."

"Well, being blinded and having your ass blistered was just desserts for being a moron!" Marie huffed.

"You two and those damned brooms! Rumple, can't you torch them?" Jeff pleaded.

"Not unless I want MY ass blistered dearie and I'll no' be riskin' that."

"Papa, are we gonna have a party now? Bae won the contest, right?" Adriana demanded impatiently.

"We certainly are, mo astor!"

Bae felt like he was on top of the world. He'd come a long way from the former gang member. Now his writing had been featured in a state magazine and soon one of his paintings would be hanging in the art gallery for all to see. Art had always been his passion and with his family's encouragement, he was now ready to share his talent with the world.

In the week leading up to the summer festival everyone was busy getting their entries ready for the float parades, the spinning and weaving contests and the baking and cooking contests. The Golds and Hoppers' float would take everyone back in time to the flower power generation. Rumple made flower printed dresses for the girls and garlands for their hair. He, Bae, Archie and Jonny would all be wearing bellbottomed jeans, tie dye shirts, long wigs and blue sunglasses.

The top of the float itself would have a cardboard VW van with flowers painted on it in psychedelic colors. The floor would be a green outdoor rug with paper flowers sticking out of it, all of them with smiley faces drawn by Adriana and there would be a large glitter rainbow that ran the entire length of the float. Marie wanted to put up a 'Make Love, Not War' sign until her husband reminded her it was not safe for children to see. They settled for peace signs instead.

Ewan and Becky rigged up a sound system that would play the songs the group chose to represent the era as they drove by the crowd.

One day while Adriana and Neal were having one of their playdates, the curious little sorceress asked her friend what his family's float would be.

"Not 'sposta tell," Neal said.

Adriana crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "Uh-huh. You're my boyfriend an you're not allowed to keep secrets. They're bad."

"My daddy says you're 'llowed to keep some so I'm keepin this one," Neal said defiantly.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Bae and his friends, having overheard the conversation, howled with laughter.

"Having a lovers spat, Rumplette?" he teased.

"Aww shuddup!"

"No we're not!" Neal defended. "Just not 'llowed to tell what our float's gonna be, s'all."

"Fine. I'll remember that when you wanna know a secret," Adriana snorted.

"I cannot wait to see what happens when they really start dating," Andi giggled.

"Papa's hair will all be white by then."

"And he'll probably be a bit loony by then," added Bobby.

"Well we're all half nuts anyway," Becky laughed.

The Charmingly Mad float was going to be a tribute to the family's favorite TV show, Doctor Who with the couples representing the time traveler from both the new and classic versions of the show and the children would be costumed as some of the monsters in the show. The base of the float would be a large blue police public call box that had been used widely in England around the time the show first aired in the early sixties. Jeff and Emma decided to play two of the least favorite doctors. Jeff would be costumed as the Sixth Doctor with a patchwork frock coat, yellow striped pants, a white shirt with question marks on the collar, a blue polka dotted cravat and a flower printed vest along with a blond curly wig. Emma would be dressed as the Ninth doctor wearing a black t-shirt, a black leather jacket and black slacks. Snow and David would dress as two of the most popular Doctors. David would portray the Tenth doctor with a long brown overcoat and a brown pinstriped suit with a white dress shirt, necktie and black glasses with Converse sneakers. Snow would portray the Fourth Doctor wearing a maroon velvet suit with a matching overcoat, a fedora hat and a long woven scarf. Henry and Grace would be costumed as Daleks, little robots that almost looked like R2 in Star Wars only they could speak and had what looked like plungers for eyes and their arms were weapons. Maggie and Neal would be the Cybermen, silver robots with square shaped heads.

The Sherwood Outlaws would be paying tribute to Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men In Tights and they would even be singing the theme song and wearing the costumes. Robin was not going to be on the float with his friends since his family was hosting the event much to his disappointment.

Everyone was excited on the day of the festival. It was the one day where the entire town could take the day off and just have fun. Regina stepped up to the podium with her family at her side and smiled as she addressed the crowd. "My family and I welcome you all to the summer festival where the only rule is to just have fun! We're going to start things off with the Happy Army and The Minions as they march to our national anthem in honor of our brave men and women in the US Military. I ask you all to please rise and gentlemen, remove your hats."

Bae walked out onto the street with Adriana behind him driving her little Power Wheels Regina had given her with Neal the passenger seat. She stopped the vehicle and they climbed out facing bears and Minions.

"Happy Army an Minions! March! One…two…three. Four!" they commanded in unison. The bears and Minions marched down the street dressed in uniforms representing the four branches of the Armed Forces, tossing candy at the children as they walked by. The children happily scooped up the treats while their parents took pictures and videos. Bae attached an American flag to the antenna of the Power Wheels, the crowd singing The Star Spangled Banner along with the stuffed toys.

"I think our daughter would make a good soldier Rum," Belle murmured softly.

"Or a field medic," he agreed. Even at the age of three she was demonstrating that she was well suited for either profession, but Rumple never wanted his children to fight in a war. Still, they all were loyal to this new world of theirs and if his children wanted to answer the call to defend the country they lived in, he would not deny them that right no matter how worried for their safety he would be.

"We'd like to thank Adriana Gold and Neal Nolan for allowing the Happy Army and the Minions to open our ceremonies this morning and now…teams….it's time for the float parade and good luck to all of you as our fellow townspeople vote for their favorite float."

"Daddy I really wanted to go on our float an sing," Roland complained.

"Me too buddy," Robin said sympathetically.

"Mommy can we do a float next year…please?" Ellie begged.

"Yeah….I wanna have one like the Muppets an Ellie can be Animal!" Jason teased his sister.

"You sayin I'm nuts?" Ellie glared at her brother, hands on her hips.

"Yup!"

"You wanna be toast?"

"Eleanor May! You even think about attacking your brother with fire your backside will be stinging for a week!" her mother warned.

The little girl bowed her head in shame. "M'sorry Mommy."

Robin stepped up to the microphone, his lips curved into a sly smile. "Our first float is from the Sherwood Outlaws and a salute to the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights!"

Everyone started laughing when Little John drove up on the float depicting a forest where the men stood in identical outfits and faced the crowd.

"We're men, we're men in tights.

We roam around the forest looking for fights.

We're men, we're men in tights.

We rob from the rich and give to the poor, that's right!

We may look like sissies, but watch what you say or else we'll put out your lights!

We're men, we're men in tights,

Always on guard defending the people's rights…"

They started dancing like they were in a chorus line and continued singing while the audience laughed.

"We're men, MANLY men, we're men in tights. Yeah!

We roam around the forest looking for fights.

We're men, we're men in tights.

We rob from the rich and give to the poor, that's right!

We may look like pansies, but don't get us wrong or else we'll put out your lights.

We're men, we're men in tights TIGHT tights,

Always on guard defending the people's rights!

When you're in a fix just call for the men in tights!"

Regina was giggling beside her husband. "You can do a solo performance for me later," she murmured.

"After the kid's born," he promised.

"Looking forward to it."

"Our next float is from the Golden Wishes team and their salute to the Sixties!" Regina announced.

Bae drove the family's float past the crowd and Rumple, Belle, Archie and Marie stepped to the front of it and started singing and swaying gently to the music while Johnny, Gisella and Adriana stood behind them shaking tambourines and throwing shining confetti at the crowd.

"When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius

The age of Aquarius

Aquarius!"

Many of the older members of the audience started singing along with them, remembering how much their cursed selves had loved the music of that era.

"Are you all right, dearie?" Rumple inquired of his wife after the song when he noticed that she was starting to look tired.

"I need to sit down a bit," she murmured. Marie was already sitting down, Archie fanning her with one of the paper flowers. Both men were feeling uncomfortable themselves from the heat and having to stand so long. Bae drove the float over to their designated spot to wait for the first event to start which was the kissing contest.

"Our final float comes from the Charmingly Mad team and their theme is Doctor Who!" Regina announced. Fans of the show began to cheer as a version of its theme music played and the four Doctors waved to the crowd while the kids got off the float and started chasing people in the crowd.

"Exterminate! Exterminate!" Henry and Grace yelled as the Daleks, spraying their victims with silly string.

"You are not compatible. You will be deleted. Delete! Delete!" recited Neal and Maggie recited also spraying people with silly string.

When the last float was parked, Regina asked the crowd to vote for their favorite.

"Hope we win, Daddy," Jonny said.

"I don't know pardner…the Charming team had a darn good one and they put a lot of work into it."

"The real guy who flies around in the blue box is cuter than Uncle David's version," Adriana said dreamily. "Just don't tell Neal I said that…he'd get jealous…"

"Oh yes he was honey," Marie cooed, earning a jealous glare from her husband.

"I'd take a flight in the TARDIS with him," added Belle and now Rumple was fuming.

"I'll incinerate that thing," he muttered.

"All right ladies and gentlemen, the votes are in. In third place we have the Sherwood Outlaws. In second place, Golden Wishes. In first place, we have the Charmingly Mad team!" Regina announced.

"Whoo HOOO!" Jeff hooted and threw his arms around Emma and spun her around. David clapped him on the back.

"Congratulations Hatter, Nolan," Rumple called out. "Though would ye mind losing the coat before you're arrested for a crime of fashion!" he teased.

"Aww cut poor Sixie a break, will ya!" Jeff threw back.

"I'd like to cut that coat to shreds!"

"Will our couples please take your places in the kissing booths?" Robin called out.

Jeff linked his hand through Emma's. "Come on hon, let's give Hopper a run for the money."

"Oh you bet."

"Come on, my goddess…..time to defend our title," Archie murmured.

"Hopper's Hotter n'Hell for the win!" cheered the Scorpions.

It was the Hatters and Phillip and Aurora's first time participating in the contest, all of them knowing they would have to step up their game if they hoped to defeat the Golden Wishes team who held the title for the last four years.

Marie blocked out everything else but her husband and cupped his face in her hands. Just before her lips met his, she felt sharp pains in her abdomen, their children deciding that they were tired of staying in her womb and wanted to join the outside world.

"Ohhhhh!"

"Marie, darling what is….oooh gods….not now!" Archie clutched his belly and doubled over in the booth. "Regina….we're….going …to…have…to withdraw from…the ahhhh…dammit….contest…"

"Archie, will you help me out here…I am NOT having these babies in a goddam booth!" Marie growled.

The two of them struggled to get to their feet and clung to each other as they shuffled out of the booth. The other expectant mothers and fathers gave them sympathetic looks knowing it wouldn't be long before it was their turns to suffer.

"Are they comin'? Are AJ an Maureen comin'?" Jonny asked excitedly.

"Yes!" his parents cried painfully.

"I guess I'd better go get the car," Rumple mumbled and was nearly brought to his knees in pain and seconds later he heard Belle cry out.

"Rumple….it's time!"

"What the hell…?" he groaned. "BAELFIRE! Get t'car!"

Bae made a mad dash for the parking lot then slapped his forehead, remembering they'd driven the Happy Float to the festival. Now what was he going to do?

"We're not all gonna fit in that car and I sure as hell am not driving to the hospital myself!" Archie yelled.

"Oh calm down, cricket….you….awww hellfire….why did we have to do this again?" Rumple moaned.

Though they were in worse pain, Belle and Marie smirked at each other as did all the other mothers in Storybrooke who wished every man in the town suffered through Couvade Syndrome.

"Do….I need…to tell…you to get out the damned wheelbarrel?" Belle snapped at her husband.

"Baelfire, will you please HURRY UP!" Rumple shouted.

Bae returned out of breath. "Ummm, Papa…"

"Papa, why'd you tell Bae to get the car? We got here in the Happy Float." Adriana spoke up.

Rumple facepalmed himself. "Dearie, why did ye not say somethin' earlier?"

"Cause I forgot."

He groaned and shook his head.

Seconds later the Nolans' rocket sleigh came to a stop before the astonished couples. "Come on get in! This will get you to the hospital faster than a car!" David yelled from the driver's seat.

"Nolan, are you out of your mind….? We want to get there in one piece!" Archie protested.

Marie grabbed his shirt. "Get…in…that…sleigh…or you…will… have a date…with…the couch…for a month!" she panted.

"Are you…ahhhh….honestly going to…ohhh dammit….pull that now!?"

"I am not going to the hospital in a…yeeahh…Belle!" Rumple yelped when his wife grabbed his cane and shook it in his face.

"Unless you want me to deliver our children in the middle of the street, I suggest you get in that sleigh Rumplestiltskin!"

The families of the expecting couples climbed onto the sleigh behind them, their children excited that their new siblings would finally arrive while the mothers and fathers just wanted the agony to be over with. David braced himself knowing Snow's time was quickly approaching. The sleigh pulled up in front of the emergency room entrance in less than five minutes, several staff members standing in a nearby parking lot stunned.

"What's Nolan smoking? Whatever it is, I want some!" joked one of the volunteers.

"Hold tight and I'll get you some wheelchairs!" David cried and jumped out of the sleigh with Bae at his heels.

"HURRY UP!" yelled four impatient parents.

"Sweetheart….breathe…that's it…" Rumple coached as he held his wife's hand, linking with her to try to lessen her pain though his was just as agonizing. The beautiful babies they would hold afterwards would certainly be worth it but dammit, he was hoping it would not be so difficult this time…at least that was what he'd heard from some of the other mothers in town.

"Oooooohhhh….they're coming too fast now."

"My water just broke!" Marie called out.

"Hold on Aunt Marie, we're coming!" Bae and David were pushing two wheelchairs out to the sleigh while two orderlies followed them with two more, both of them laughing when they saw Archie and Rumple moaning and groaning with their own pains. They glared.

"Won't be laughing if this happens to you!" Rumple sneered. "That can be arranged y'know!"

"Goddammit Rumple, hex them later!" Archie barked, practically crawling into his wheelchair.

Snow had called ahead to warn them that there were two expectant mothers on the way. Dr. Jo and her staff had the delivery room prepared. The sisters insisted on being in the same room so that they and their husbands could give each other moral support. They were going to need it bringing five children into the world at the same time. The staff also had plenty of Stadol handy; having a feeling the fathers were going to need it.

While Marie was being helped into her bed, Archie glanced over at her and realized she was asleep. "Darling, why are you sleeping?" he cried.

She opened her eyes and glared at him. "Because I'm doing all the work and I need the rest!" she snapped.

Belle had dozed off in her own chair and woke up once she was in her own bed, remembering Dr. Jo's advice that taking small naps between contractions would help her keep her strength up when she finally delivered.

"Supposed….to help them….keep their strength up…when they deliver…" Rumple panted though his was dwindling rapidly.

"All right boys, let's get you into your beds," Dr. Jo said with a smirk.

"Oh no! They stay right where they are," Belle ordered. "He's not getting any drugs like last time!"

"Not unless we get them first!" Marie added.

"I'm sorry ladies…but you're too far along for that now," Dr. Jo said sadly.

"Dammit!" Belle cursed.

Two of the male nurses, feeling sympathetic to the fathers injected both of them with Stadol.

"I don't feel anything…" Archie murmured.

"Ohhh wait till it kicks in…" Rumple sang.

"You bastards!" Marie yelled.

"Men!" Belle scoffed.

"Oooo I'm feeling good now Rumple…you wanna sing…?" Archie slurred.

"Shhhurreee dearie….let's do Dialogue."

The former cricket grinned. "Y….You havta start….my voice is too high for that part…"

"Okay…."

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! We're having your babies and you want to sing!? That is it! Rumplestiltskin, your ass is going to feel the sting of my broom when I get my hands on it!" Belle bellowed. "Ohhhh God…..why does this have to take so long!"

"Are you optimistic 'bout the way things are going?" Rumple started singing.

"No, I never ever think of it at all…" Archie sang back, barely able to keep himself sitting up.

"Don't you ever worry

When you see what's going down?"

"You should be worried about what's going down right here!" Belle shouted as another contraction hit. "Ohhhh!"

"Breathe, Belle…that's it…" Dr, Jo encouraged.

"No, I try to mind my business, that is, no business at all…"

"Your business, cricket, is shutting the hell up over there and paying attention to your wife!" Marie snapped.

"When it's time to function as a feeling human being

Will your bachelor of arts help you get by?"

"I hope to study further, a few more years or so

I also hope to keep a steady high…ooohhhh yeahh…!" Archie sang gleefully.

"Oh my God this is better than the last time Gold was in here!" one of the nurses joked.

"Knock it off!" Dr. Jo barked.

"Oh, you're gonna be high all right, Archibald Hopper when I take my broom and whack your ass to Siberia…ohhhh God!" Marie moaned.

The men passed out in their beds.

"Dammit to hell…they passed out!" Belle glared at her unconscious husband.

"Better….wake up before these kids are born or else…"

Having only each other and Dr. Jo for comfort while their husbands slept off the Stadol, Belle and Marie struggled to keep up their strength as their labor went on without progress. Finally they heard the men stir in the other beds.

"Belle, oh gods….not again!" Rumple cried. "How idiotic was I this time?"

"Will you please forget about it and help me!" she pleaded tiredly. He jumped off the bed and rushed to her side, putting his arm around her and linking with her so that his energy could sustain her. "They're being….stubborn…"

"Like their mama and papa," he murmured. He clasped her hand in his. "Together dearie…."

Archie put one arm around his wife's shoulders and held her. "I'm right here, my goddess…"

"All right ladies, we're going to need you to push now."

The women felt their strength returning, fueled by the love of the men who sat by their side, holding their hands, whispering words of encouragement and admiration in their ears.

"Just a little while longer. You can do it sweetheart," Rumple murmured.

"I can almost see one now, my goddess. That's it….Marie."

"The heads are crowning ladies. Push!" Jo instructed. "You're almost there, Marie! One more."

Maureen Hopper was born several minutes later followed by her cousin, Robert Gold. The proud parents barely got time to celebrate the births as their second children prepared to make their entrance.

"You're almost done Marie, one more! Come on Belle, you can do it….one more big push now…" Jo encouraged.

"I'm so tired…." Belle murmured.

"One more to go sweetheart and then you can rest…" Rumple said softly, sending her more of his energy though it was quickly tiring him.

"Archie….I can't…" Marie said weakly.

"Yes you can, darling. I'm right here with you…we'll do this together…."

"Here they are, ladies, a handsome son Marie and a beautiful daughter Belle."

"Victoria…." Belle murmured. They cut the cord and handed Belle her beautiful daughter with eyes like her own and her father's face. Then Jo brought Robert to them, their son closely resembling his father with a small impish smile on his lips.

"Archie….they're so beautiful…" Marie wept as she held her own children in her arms, both of them having their father's eyes and small patches of ginger hair.

Archie took them from her arms and cradled them against his chest. "Our little crickets…" he joked.

Rumple held his son and tickled his chin. "Oh ye're going to be a sly one like your big brother, eh my wee imp?"

"Oh…oooo….Rumple….Valora…..she's ready to come out!" Belle panted. Nurses took the babies from them to weigh and measure them while Belle gave birth to her fourth child.

"Marie….we'll need to deliver the afterbirth now," one of the nurses said to her while Dr. Jo assisted Belle.

Archie turned his back as he held his children. "Just…tell me when it's over," he gulped, recalling how nauseating the sight had been to him the first time with Jonny.

"This is it Belle…the last one….the last time….it's time to come home Valora," Rumple encouraged.

Ten minutes later Valora Gold made her own entrance. She, like her siblings had inherited their mother's azure eyes and their father's facial features. All of the babies were slightly smaller which was expected with multiple births but healthy.

"Congratulations!"

Jo snapped pictures of both couples holding their children in their arms, once again all of the pain and discomfort they'd endured in the months leading up to the births well worth it indeed. These would be the last children they would bring into the world and it was their hope that they like their other children, would help make it a better place for future generations. The arrival of five bundles of joy was the perfect start to what promised to be a wonderful summer.