Epilogue






Author’s Note: This is written with great respect, love and gratitude for the talents of Robert Carlyle, Emilie de Ravin, and everyone involved in of Once Upon A Time. I do not own these characters, nor do I own the songs mentioned in this story.

Thank you to my readers.  I will be working on a sequel, Journey of Twin Souls in the near future.  Special thanks to my husband, Frank, for his support and proofing efforts; to Elisa for helping with proofing and to Terri for being my cheerleader when I had doubts.  ((Hugs!!!))

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Epilogue


October 22, 2012

Standing behind the counter at the Storybrooke Library, Belle, sorting through the spreadsheet of books, puts on her reading glasses as her eyes are fatigued today. Indeed every part of her is fatigued today. Opting to leave the florescent lights off, as it is just her in the library, the sun cascades from the windows, through her dark chestnut hair and illuminating her deep blue lace sleeveless dress.

Suddenly, she hears a familiar brogue, “We may sit in our library, and yet be in all quarters of the earth.”, as Rumplestiltskin appears from between the bookshelves.

She smirks, “Waxing poetic again, I see.”

With a smile and a tilt of his head, he asks, “Your organization plans coming along?”

“Coming along…now, if only we can get rid of the chard dragon smell, the place might be fit for children.”

Standing with both hands on his cane in a dominating stance as the sunlight illuminates his soft, smooth hair, he quips, “Do they make an air freshener for that?” and she giggles. Then eyeing her lasciviously, he says, “Do you remember five years ago when you rented your house from me?”

Wondering what he is thinking, Belle responds, “Of course, I do. What brings that day to mind?”

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, he says, “You put on glasses to read the contract, and I had to step on my own foot to drive away the sexy librarian fantasy that I was having…and now, here you are my wife, the sexy librarian.”

Walking with some difficulty from behind the counter towards Rumplestiltskin, the sight of Belle voluminous belly elicits a proud grin from the papa to be. Belle says, “I don’t know how ‘sexy’ I can be waddling like this.”

With his accent, thick and full of mischief, he smirks, “You have no idea. The results of blackmail are rarely this appealing.”

With mocked offense, she says, “I did not blackmail you…I prefer the word extort. Besides, you were rewarded well for your good behavior.”, and then with her eyebrows raised and a knowing gleam in her eyes, “So are you checking up on me?”

Incredulously, he asks, “After yesterday’s kidnapping, can you blame me?”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she asserts, “No…I’m just pleased my sexy husband was there to save us. I’m not really in fighting condition right now. It’s hard to take a guy down while toting kids.”

Softly brushing a strand of hair off of her forehead, he says with loving admiration, “You kept your head and handled things brilliantly.”

In a determined tone, tinged with bitterness, “I’ll never let my father hurt our family.”

Wishing to change the mood, he announces, “I have news.”

Eye wide with excitement, Belle asks expectantly, “About being able to leave Storybrooke?”

He nods smugly, “Mr. Smee turned out to be quite useful.”

She clarifies, “He still remembers who he is, right?”

“Indeed.”

Belle responds pensively, “I guess I should feel a little bit sorry for him, but that’s what he gets for kidnapping a woman who’s eight months pregnant. That was one job offer he should have refused.”

Rubbing the home of his offspring, he asks, “Hungry?”

Brightly she announces, “I got it.” With a wave of her hand, electric blue mist emerges producing hamburgers, french fries, pickles, ice cream and decaffeinated iced tea.

Acknowledging her efforts, he says, “You’re getting better at that.”

“Well, it makes McKenna happy. Besides, I need to have some tricks up my sleeve if Milah tries something.”

Rumplestiltskin frowns at the mention of his dead wife’s name, “I wish you wouldn’t use that name.”

Stoically, Belle says, “Darling, now that we know who we are dealing with, it helps me be alert to the enemy. Don’t worry, I never use that name around others.”

Plunging a pickle into the chocolate ice cream, Belle observes his look of disgust and says, “Don’t give me that look. It’s your kids that make me eat this stuff”, then shoving the pickle in his face, she asks, “Wanna bite.”

“I think not.”

She smiles, “Fine, more for me. So are you starting arrangements for me to give birth outside of Storybrooke?”

He affirms, “Yes, I rented a house via the Internet, and if need be, there is a hospital nearby.” The thought of delivering their babies is unsettling, thinking about McKenna and Angela, but he resolves to do what must be done.

She replies, “Hopefully, the hospital won’t be necessary, because the staff will ask questions that we don’t want to answer.”

He nods, “Yes, and we don’t know if the wee ones might be able to do things outside of Storybrooke.”

Smirking, she says, “Like turn off lights?”

“Is that why you don’t have the lights on?”

Belle affirms, “Yes, I think the florescent annoy them. They’re already opinionated little dickens.”

The speaking simultaneously, Belle says, “Like their papa.” and Rumplestiltskin says, “Like their mama.”

Stroking her abdomen as unseen beings press against his palm, he says, “By being born outside of Storybrooke, they should be able to travel anywhere we need to go without need for a talisman.”

Belle touches a hand to her blue stoned necklace and smiles.


11:58PM – December 24, 2012, Belle opens the door to the nursery, watching a blissful, yet tired Rumplestiltskin holding their son and daughter in his arms. The stereo softly plays, Colin Raye’s “One Boy, One Girl”

“He was holding her hand when the doctor looked up and grinned,

‘Congratulations, twins’

One boy, one girl

Two hearts beating wildly

To put it mildly, it was love at first sight.

He smiled, she smiled, and they knew right away

This was the day they’d been waiting for all their lives,

And for a moment the whole world,

Revolved around one boy, and one girl”

Her tear filled eyes glisten, realizing that she has waited life times for this. She sniffles and Rumplestiltskin looks up, “Hey, you’re supposed to be asleep.”

Looking at the clock, for the arrival of December 25th, she says, “Do you really think I’d miss their one month birthday?”

Reaching out her hands for whichever infant Rumplestiltskin is willing to temporarily relinquish, Rumplestiltskin cautiously leans up his left arm with their son. Belle nuzzles their son against her shoulder, as he lets out an impressive belch.

She chuckles, saying “Well, happy birthday, Reimund Graham.”, and Rumplestiltskin looks contentedly down at their daughter, who keeps puckering her lips and he says, “Happy birthday, Lucienne Rose.”

Seating herself, in the other rocking chair, Belle says to their children, “Life is an adventure…and happy endings come in parts…with some assembly required. It won’t be long now, until you meet your brother, Baelfire.”

Reaching a hand to stroke Belle’s arm, Rumplestiltskin asserts, “We’ll find him together…as a family…as it was meant to be.”





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