Beautiful Lily

Wedding night

"...and sometimes, the best tea cup is chipped."

Rumplestiltskin and Belle looked at each other with tears in their eyes. This was a long time coming. All those years of separation, all those years of constantly finding each other, all worth it. The world faded away as their lips gravitated naturally towards each other. The joy became so overwhelming it escaped through the form of tears out of the corners of their eyes. Their eyes closed as they savored this moment and tasted each other's kiss.

Time could have stood still. Did minutes pass? Hours? Possibly, but who was counting? Only the most significant and privileged of persons witnessed this precious and intimate moment: Dr. Archibald Hopper and Maurice French, Belle's father. A soft gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the branches as if nature was approving, applauding this pulchritudinous proclamation. Blood rushing towards their ears drowned the muffled claps being emitted by Dr. Hopper and Mr. French celebrating this incredible union.

Belle slowly and bravely opened her eyes, taking in one of his last breaths before allowing their lips to part. The sight she saw, like the first time they kissed, was something to marvel. He was beautiful. They gazed lovingly at each other, reflecting similar smiles to one another. Another tear managed to fall out of the corner of his eye. Belle caressed his face in her hands and lifted the tear delicately away. His smile only seemed to grow bigger as he leaned forward to plant another kiss on top of the tear drop that resided on her face. They fell into each other's embrace; her arms wrapped around his neck and his arms around her torso. Their faces rested cheekbone to cheekbone like interlocking puzzle pieces and he breathed in her intoxicatingly addictive scent. He whispered into her ear, "My darling Belle, thank you for loving me and making me the happiest man tonight."

"Rumplestiltskin, my dear husband," Belle replied hugging Rumple, "I will love you till' my last breath."

Both Belle and Rumple pulled away from each other for a brief moment, and Rumple turned to the witnesses recognizing the presence. "Gentlemen," addressed Rumple to Dr. Hopper and Mr. French, "thank you for being here. As you know, I'm usually a man who has a way with words, but right now... I'm...," he looks over at a beaming Belle, "I am rendered speechless."

"Well, I think that's a first for all of us," remarked Maurice French.

"You guys go on and head on out. We'll take care of everything here," replied a smiling Dr. Hopper.

"Father... Archie... thank you," said Belle wrapping her arm around Rumple's arm and intertwining her fingers with his. Hopper smiled and nodded towards Belle. Mr. French pressed his fingers towards his lips and blew his daughter a loving kiss.

Both Belle and Rumplestiltskin turned away from the candle lit well and headed toward his car, hand in hand as husband and wife. They walked through the darkened woods enjoying each other's blissful silence. The sound of the twigs and leaves crackling beneath their feet sobered the reality of their marriage. It wasn't a dream. They are married. She glimpsed up from her feet to look at Rumple only to discover that he had been gazing at her this entire time. She smirked while a blush formed within her cheeks.

They finally approached his car. With his spare hand he quickly pulled out his keys and unlocked the driver's side door in one fluid motion. With the hand still holding Belle's he drew it up to his lips and kissed it tenderly, never losing eye contact with her. He then bowed to her, gesturing with his free hand to enter the car first. Belle smiled as she harkened back to a memory of him bowing and giving her a rose. "Always the gentleman," she thought grinning at his chivalry. "Why thank you," she said with an informal curtsy. She got into his car and scooted herself all the way to the passenger seating allowing him space to comfortably enter.