Beautiful Lily

Good morning

Sunlight broke through the blinds peeking into the darkened bedroom. The room was just a bit cooler than the night before, but somehow they newly-weds found themselves cocooned and insulated in a couple of layers of thick blankets. Belle woke, only to be in the best place in the world. She was resting on her side with her back towards him. With his arm resting wrapped around her torso, his body laid on its side parallel to hers. She could feel the warmth of his pulsating breath cascade down her neck. She was afraid to move. To move would mean she was awake and that meant paying due diligence to the day that lay ahead. So she breathed in heavily and exhaled softly. Time was fleeting and the moments were coming and going but this moment, right now, she was going to revel in just a bit longer.

"Good morning my beautiful wife," said Rumplestiltskin. He was always a light sleeper, constantly sensitive to his environment.

"How is it that you always know when I'm awake?" she asked in a low groggy voice.

"I told you," he said squeezing gently her at the volition of his words, "I can tell when you're thinking."

She grinned at his uncanny ability and kissed his arm. She inhaled the scent of him, before responding after a moment, "Can we just stay like this... for like, forever?"

"We could, but I have an obligation this morning."

"Really? What could possibly be more important than staying in?" she asked grumpily. She turned over on her back and looked at him frustratingly. He sat up, freeing himself of the warmth of the covers, and curled himself over to kiss his wife lovingly on the cheek. "I love you Belle," he said settling and resuming his cuddling position behind Belle, "There... obligation fulfilled."

They laid there in blissful silence when the clock in his bedroom chimed minutes later. He gave a weighted sigh and he hesitated speaking his thoughts. Now it was Belle who felt his muscles tense, leading her to conclude that he was thinking of something. "Now what are you thinking?"

"I was thinking...," he began unsure of her reaction, "that I have a surprise for you after all, for our honeymoon."

"Rumple, you know I'm happy simply spending our honeymoon here at the house."

"I know, but I think a change of scene and putting distance between ourselves and the town would be a better way to spend our honeymoon." In his mind, the more distance between them and the town, the less likely they were of getting involved in any more unnecessary drama, and of prying eyes into their lives. One thing that they both valued and had in common, and that was their privacy. Belle saw the merit of his suggestion and became intrigued. As long as it was with him, she didn't care where they would go.

"Alright, I'm interested. Where are we going?"

"Well, if we prepare now, we can get there later this afternoon and..." his thought trailed off. The coolness of the air distracted him, leaving his thought incomplete. The arm that was lying around Belle grew goosebumps and he shuddered "... is it me, or is it colder in here?"

She had only noticed the temperature drop when he mentioned it and quivered herself. He braved getting out of the warmth of their bed and quickly grabbed for his robe. He slipped into some slippers and walked towards the windows, separating some blinds to peek out the window. He let out a baffled, "Huh?"

"What is it?" inquired Belle as she sat up gathering the residual blankets around her to trap the warmth.

"It must have snowed last night."

"Has it ever snowed in Storybrooke?"

Rumple scoffed, "In all my years of living here, I cannot recollect a moment of inclement weather."

"Strange."

"Indeed. No matter..." he said turning around to face her. He walked around to her side of the bed and sat next to her. "It just means that we have to bring the proper attire for where we're going."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Now what's the point of a surprise if I tell you?" he said gleefully, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "I have to go into town and grab groceries for our venture. But if you pack for us, by the time I get back with the provisions we'll be that much closer to our destination and that much sooner to revealing the surprise."

"Sounds like a deal." She replied playfully, kissing the dealmaker.