Rumbelle One-shots

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"Stop.... stop it!"

Rumplestiltskin spun on his heel to face the incessant tapping. It stopped when he turned, but started again behind him. 

"Shut the hell up!"

"Rude. You know I'm only here to help."

"There's a couple problems with that, dearie. You're here, uninvited, and you're not helping," Gold snarled. He faced the young woman perched atop his display cabinet in the shop. He swept his arm around him, encompassing the store. "I'm the only one doing anything!"

"Okay, fine," she replied. The young girl silently watched him work for a minute before muttering "You're doing it wrong."

Bottles crashed to the floor.

"And I supposed you know how to create this spell?" he asked, earning a nod from his companion. "Then help me...please."

"Was it really that hard?" 

She jumped down from the counter and strode over to his work table. 

"My name is Carla, by the way," she introduced herself, skimming over the open books on the table. "I'm sorry, but you really are doing this all wrong."

Carla beckoned Gold over to the table and began instructing him on how to make the spell he was previously working on. 

"Why can't you just do it - make the spell?" he asked while working.

"Because. You're the one trying to wake your wife, you have to make the spell. It wasn't meant to be done this way; it was always meant to be True Love's kiss, but even though we're doing things more artificially, it still has to come from you. Fortunately, you have me."

"I'm sorry, but what even are you?"

"I'm not a what. Well...I'm more of a guide. Whatever beings be, decided that this spell needed to come with instructions. And that's what I am. Watch what you're doing! Geez, you want to wake Belle or not?"

"Of course I do! But I can't figure out this damn spell! It's wrong."

"Think, Rumplestiltskin. Remember when you were making your 'True Love' potion, back in the Enchanted Forest? What was the key ingredient, your price from Snow, and something you came by from your deal with Charming? What was it, Gold?"

"A hair from each. But I tried that - multiple times. It doesn't work."

Carla placed a hand on his arm and looked him in the eye.

"Think," she reminded him. "That was enough to make a potion, but that wasn't True Love. This? You love her, no one doubts that. But you can't love her the way you could without your power. This is one place where you have to give it all. Literally."

"I'm not cutting off my hair!" Gold exclaimed, running a hand through his graying hair. "It's part of who I am, as Rumplestiltskin, as Mr. Gold- "

"STOP! Stop being Rumplestiltskin. Stop being Mr. Gold. Stop being the fucking Dark One and just be her husband! That's what she needs you to be, right now and every day after this one. Because, believe it or not, she's gonna wake up. And you know what happens after that? Nightmares. But it's not just Belle anymore, it's your child. They need you to be that man. So shut up, and cut your damn hair."

Gold let out a huff and waved his hand, magically shearing his locks. With the last strand of hair he'd taken from his wife, he mixed the last of the ingredients and watched as it glowed. It wasn't a bright glow like all his other potions had been; this was a more subtle glow, blue around the edges but otherwise rather dull. He set the bottle on the table with a clunk.

"I don't think it worked."

"What didn't work?" 

Gold looked up to see Belle coming through the curtain that separated the back of his shop. Casting a glance around, he noticed that Carla was gone. Belle pointed at his head.

"What, uh, what happened to your hair?"

"All magic comes with a price," he joked, taking a cautious step towards his wife. "Belle, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't wake you up, that your father wouldn't... I'm sorry for everything."

"I'm not. You couldn't wake me up because you love your power, and as much as I don't like feeling like it's a competition, you were honest about it. My father didn't wake me, but you tried. I know how hard it is for you when it comes to my father, but you tried and that's all I could ask of you," she said closing the distance between them. "I'm not sorry about everything, because that everything led to this."

She took his hand and placed it on her still-flat stomach, where their baby was growing. Rumplestiltskin felt his heart flutter for a moment as he thought about their child. Belle's hand found its way to his hair, petting it lightly.

"I will miss your hair though. I'll miss running my fingers through it when we cuddle. I'll miss holding on to it when I kiss you, but I'll get used to it." 

"I missed you, Belle," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. With his free hand, he stroked his fingertips across her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, Rumple."