𝑶𝑪𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑺 - Rumplestiltskin [1]

SIXTY

60|WELCOME HOME

"Bella?" Emma noticed the dark haired woman tucked up on the sofa in their apartment with a cup of coffee. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." Celeste waved off the blondes concern. "Just boy trouble."

"You're married, it's not exactly boy trouble." She sighed and sat down beside her friend. "Is it about the well?"

"He could have killed you because he is scared of someone almost as powerful as him." Her ocean blue eyes watched her friend carefully, knowing she was going to defend the man.

"Cora is worse than Gold, he is sane compared to her." Emma revealed, accepting her cup of coffee. "Is there whiskey in this?"

"Yes."

"Anyway, Gold has many reasons to want to kill her. He was more concerned about protecting you." She continued to justify his actions to her. "I can't believe I'm saying this but you need to forgive him."

"Are you feeling okay?" Celeste joked, placing the back of her hand on the blondes forehead. "I'll talk to him, but tomorrow. He needs to learn to listen to me."

"Good idea." Emma chuckled before sighing loudly. The front door opened again, Snow White and Charming walking inside.

"Thank God my room has a proper door, sound proof my room a little." The Doctor winked at the blonde, knowing the thought of what they would spend the night doing would gross her out.

"I hate you." The blonde rolled her eyes with a huff before greeting her parents as Celeste slipped out the room and into her bedroom. She clutched her phone in her hand, her finger hovering over his number.

"I'll wait till morning." Celeste blinked repeatedly, trying to get the tears to go away. She laughed to herself when she realised how strange she must look as she got ready for bed. It felt strange sleeping alone.

~•~

"I love tacos." She hummed, walking into their apartment last as she listened to Henry rave about how much he loves tacos.

"Hey, guess what! Taco shells were on sale." Henry announced as they walked into the apartment.

"Apparently tacos are not a big item in the Enchanted Forest." Emma added before stopping beside Henry, Celeste close behind.

"What're you guys still doing in bed? It's the middle of the afternoon." He asked innocently as his grandparents lay half naked in their bed.

"The trip back was tiring, and I needed to rest." Snow lied, holding the blanket up to her chin.

"And I needed to help her rest." Charming added on suspiciously.

"Uh, let's go make tacos." Emma said speechlessly, trying to distract Henry and get him away. "We have to make a lot. Because there's gonna be a ton of people at Granny's welcome back party tonight."

"I'll go help." Celeste pushed Henry into the kitchen, almost in tears of laughter at the pair.

They spent the rest of the afternoon making tacos, Celeste constantly checking her phone with a heavy heart. Finally, they were finished and everyone was dressed up so they went to Granny's, all being greeted by cheering.

"I hate this." Celeste mumbled, grabbing a drink and sitting in the far back of the diner, away from the cheerfulness.

"I just wanted to thank you all for joining us tonight." Charming tapped his glass for everyone's attention as he started his speech. "Mary Margaret and I, we have a saying, that we will always find each other. And while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say, here's to not having to look for a while. Mary Margaret and Emma."

As everyone cheered at his speech, clanging their glasses in celebration, Regina wandered through the front door, stunning all the party goers.

"Sorry I'm late." Regina apologised with a genuine smile, closing the door behind her.

"What is she doing here?" Grumpy asked as he grabbed a sharp knife, aiming it at the Queen.

"I invited her." Emma replied casually, not realising the fuss it would cause.

"Thank God you're here!" Celeste gave the woman a side hug as Henry joined them. "I'm too sad to be surrounded by so much happiness."

"Here." Regina plated some of her homemade lasagna on to a plate and handed it to the grateful doctor. This was her way of showing how grateful she was for Celeste's kindness after how she treated her.

"I'm glad you came." Henry beamed up at his mother.

"Me, too." She smiled down at him and passed him a portion of lasagna. "Oh, I made lasagna." Regina smiled at Grumpy, offering him some.

"What's the secret ingredient? Poison?" He scoffed at her kindness.

"Red pepper flakes. Gives it some kick." Regina snapped back as Celeste smirked at her response. Grumpy reluctantly took the plate, sniffing it before taking a bite and walking away.

The two women eventually moved over to a table, Regina drinking tea while Celeste sipped on something that tasted like beer. They both felt lonely in a room full of people, watching every interaction with sad eyes.

"I'm gonna head home." The Mayor smiled at the woman for keeping her company before standing up and putting her coat on, heading for the door.