The Author

Arthur

...New York City, 7 Years Later...

"Papa!" cried out an excited little girl with hazel eyes and brown hair. She stormed into her parents' bedroom five o'clock early that morning still wearing her pj's. The sun wasn't even up and the little's girl's energy could be felt in full force, "Papa, papa, Come on Papa, we gotta go. Get up!"

She nearly tripped over her father's dress shoes as she climbed up eagerly onto her parents' bed. Belle stirred a little beneath her husband's arms which were still wrapped around her. With a groggy voice Belle said to him, "Your daughter is awake."

The daughter continued in her playful provocation in an almost song-like tune, ignoring the exchange of murmured words between her parents, "Pop-pop-pop-pop-papa!"

Rumple groaned back to his wife with eyes still closed, "Before sunrise she's your daughter."

"Come on Papa!" Lily said, tumbling onto her father. She lost her footing and began to quickly fall off their bed. Lily let out a small gasp, "Woah!" when suddenly her father grabbed her, catching her in time before her feet had a chance to hit the floor.

"Hmm, like mother like daughter," remarked Rumplestiltskin, turning onto his back with a smile as he lifted his daughter back onto their bed.

Lily leaned over onto her father's belly and with hands on his chest peered closely into her father's face. He cracked open his eyes and saw reflected back to him a miniature version of Belle. It wasn't until he noticed Lily's slightly angry eyes that he saw himself as she said to him, "Hey, you promised! We had a deal!"

"Alright, alright, alright. You're right. I'm up, I'm up, I'm up," Rumple repeated trying to reassure his daughter. He gave out a yawn as he slowly sat up in bed.

"What on Earth did you promise her?"

"Nothing, just some father-daughter stuff. Don't worry. We'll be right back."

"Hurry up Papa, or we're gonna miss it!"

"What are you doing hurrying me for? You're still in your pajamas."

"Oh," Lily said looking down at her attire. "Right." She immediately hopped off of their bed and stampeded back toward her bedroom.

They both quickly got dressed; Lily in a cute long-sleeved top and leggings and Rumple in his usual dress slacks and dress shirt. Belle got up with the rest of her family and shuffled her way towards the kitchen to start on breakfast. She saw the two make their way toward the exit when she stopped them. "Woah! Unh uh! Where's your jacket?" she asked, looking directly at her daughter.

"I've... uh..." stammered Lily looking wildly around for a coat of some sort when her father plucked her jacket from off the coat rack and handed it to her. "I've got my jacket Mama," said Lily as if she had it with her the entire time, quickly procuring jacket from her father.

Rumple smirked as he leaned upon his cane, opening the front door for his daughter to their condominium home. He looked over at Belle and assured, "We'll be back. I promise." Closing the door and following after his excited daughter.

... ...

The father and daughter slowly climbed the emergency stairwell all the way to the top of the roof. As soon as they emerged from the exit, Lily turned to her father, "Ok. Now can you show me magic?"

"Be patient. It's coming shortly. Turn around," instructed Rumple pointing at the sky behind her. Just as Lily turned around a golden orange beam hit the clouds cascading it's sunlight onto the many buildings below and causing them to sparkle. It was an absolutely gorgeous sight to behold and it nearly took Lily's breath away. She approached the edge of the rooftop with her mouth ajar, resting her arms on the solid perimeter as she continued gazing at the sun rising.