"Do you know where we are?" Belle questioned Gold as she led him down another of the ship's corridors.

"How could I forget?" They were headed to the area on the ship where the photo gallery and shops were located. He was not sure he wanted to remember.

Belle giggled. "Some of my favorite memories from our first cruise took place here."

Gold narrowed his eyes and twisted his lips in an attempt to convey his displeasure to her.

Belle's giggles increased. "I can still see the look on your face when you found out that there were photos of you wearing my hat on display." Her giggles turned to laughter and she had to stop to catch her breath.

Gold wanted to tickle her badly. "And that's still funny to you?" He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "You're enjoying yourself too much, sweetheart." He spoke directly into her ear. A wave of desire passed over him as her body molded itself to his.

Belle obviously felt it too because her giggles subsided. "At the time I wanted to kiss you to help make it all better."

Gold's cock stirred. She had a way of distracting him that he could not fault. "Is that so?" He pulled her closer and nuzzled her neck.

Belle whimpered almost inaudibly. "I feel the same way now. Would you like me to show you?"

Gold's arousal increased. They were in a public area on the ship, but his body did not want to acknowledge it. "Only if you insist."

Belle turned to face him. Her hands immediately found their way into his hair. "I do." Her lips met his in a kiss that sent new waves of desire coursing through his body. He thought about her concern that he would find her less attractive as the baby began to show. He was convinced that her pregnancy was going to have the opposite effect on him. He was already feeling everything with a greater intensity than he had before and he could tell the same was true for her.

When they parted lips, Belle looked deeply into his eyes? "Did that help?"

"It helped to make me even more anxious to get you alone."

Belle giggled. "I was hoping I wasn't the only one feeling that way." She bit her lower lip. "But all in good time. We still have things to do this morning."

Gold chuckled and kissed her on the head. "I know, darling." He took her hand in his.

"OK, then." Belle smiled at him. "First we need to go the photo shop," she paused briefly as her smile broadened, "and then to the store where we bought your bathing suit."

Gold didn't even ask. If he'd had his arm around her waist his fingers would have been itching to tickle her. He was convinced that she was determined to make him relive every torturous moment of that first cruise. Little did she know that he cherished every second he'd spent with her on that cruise, especially those times that had put him at a disadvantage. He'd rather liked the way she'd been able to get to him so easily... often to the point of rendering him speechless. It had baffled and delighted him at the same time. Nobody had ever had that effect on him before her.

"As you wish." He said it with just enough of an inflection to make his point to her.

She giggled and squeezed his hand as she led him into the photo gallery. "I want to find the photos they took of us yesterday when we boarded the ship and at our dinner last night... I was thinking that we should buy all the photos they take of us this time around... What do you think?" She glanced shyly at him.

It didn't take Gold more than a second to catch on to what she was saying. She wanted to keep every photographic record of their honeymoon. "I agree completely." He grinned at her. "At least this time we're not scrambling to find our photos before Nolan."

Belle giggled. "It was sort of fun the last time though... we were on a special mission together."

"Need I remind you that we failed on that mission?" How could either of them forget when a framed copy of the photo in question (courtesy of Mr. Nolan) sat on their nightstand?

"I know... but it was still fun. You were so happy when you thought we'd prevented David from seeing a photo of you in my hat."

Gold seriously wanted to tickle her. How was he going to go all these months without doing so?

"And it's still one of my very favorite photos of you. So cute and so sexy." She stopped to brush a strand of hair away from his face.

Gold chuckled. She was just too good. "OK, sweetheart. Let's find our photos."

She smiled happily at him. Then she took his hand and never let go until they found both sets of photos. Belle was pleased with how they'd come out. "You're extremely photogenic, Rum. I don't think you can take a bad photo."

He did not agree. If anything, the only thing that made him look at all good was that she was so beautiful that he barely noticed himself in either.

"Do you think I look pregnant in them?"

Even though Belle's question took him by surprise, Gold felt instantly aroused. "Darling, I don't think you're going to be noticeable for a while." He ushered her out of the shop and directed her into a private little nook. "I can't wait until you start showing. I have a fantasy that you're not going to wear any clothes when we're alone so that I can worship your beautiful body every second that we're together." He felt her body respond to his words and it made his respond in kind.

Belle giggled in spite of her arousal. "We're still not going back to the suite yet, Rum."

He chuckled. "I'm well aware of that, Mrs. Gold."

"Good." She bit her lower lip. "We need to take a look in the sportswear shop." She began to walk away and he followed after her.

She stopped almost as soon as they entered the store. "Rum... look." He barely had time to follow her gaze before she was rushing to the back of the store with him following closely behind. "Did you ever see anything so adorable?" She removed two items from a rack and held them up for him.

"They're infant swimsuits!" Her face expressed everything she was thinking. "One for a boy and one for a girl."

She had in her hands the tiniest swim trunks and bathing suit that Gold had ever seen. He chuckled. "I think I've forgotten how small our baby's going to be."

"Oh, Rum... I wish we knew if we were having a boy or girl."

It was clear to Gold that she wanted to purchase them. "We could buy one of each."

"You don't think that's a little crazy?"

Gold thought a minute before answering. "We can always give away the one we don't end up using... or..." He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. He used his free hand to push the hair back away from her ear so that he could whisper into it. "... or we can save it for one of little Rum-Belle's future siblings." His cock stiffened as soon as he said the words.

Belle felt the same spark he did. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Neither of them cared if they were making a scene. "I like the way you think." She whispered seductively into his ear before giggling.

Gold chuckled even as he felt his cock harden more. There was something naturally seductive about the way Belle laughed at herself whenever she tried to be sexy. It never failed to do things to him. He loved seeing her so happy.

"Thanks for understanding, Rum." She kissed him again before turning back to the bathing suits. "Help me pick out the cutest ones." She began to search through the rack, almost scaring him when she let out a little squeal.

"I think this has the same design as the swimming trunks we bought for you last year!" She held up the tiny bathing suit to him.

"Let me see." Gold took the tiny item into his hands. He could not explain the feelings that overcame him as he thought about the child that they were about to bring into the world.

"Oh, Rum... I hope the baby looks just like you if it's a boy. He'll be so adorable!"

"Please…" Gold chuckled again. "I wouldn't wish my looks on anyone."

"Rum…" Her voice was a reprimand.

"OK… I'm willing to compromise if it will make you feel better… your looks and my charming personality…"

Belle giggled in spite of her best efforts.

Gold slipped his arm around her waist and whispered into her ear. "You're so lucky I'm not allowed to tickle you, Mrs. Gold."

Belle bit her lower lip and placed her hand on his chest. "We'll have to find something else that you can do in its place."

Gold's body responded to her words. She was being seductive again and it was working. "I'll remind you about that later, Mrs. Gold." The way his hot breath tickled her ear sent a jolt through her body. "Now let's make our purchases while I'm still able to maintain some semblance of self-control."

Belle smiled and patted his chest. "OK. You hold onto that swimsuit while I find one for a girl." She turned to peruse the girl's swimwear while Gold held her by the waist from behind. He didn't want to let her go.

She finally turned to show him a blue bathing suit with a swirling white pattern on it. "Look how teensy this is!"

"And yet it may be slightly larger than the one you wore on our first honeymoon, sweetheart." Gold drew her closer until he could feel her butt pressing against him.

Belle bit her lower lip again. "I think you're right."

Gold chuckled. He had her right where he wanted her. "Are you having fun, Belle?"

"Yes." She turned to face him again. "Thanks to you."

"Me?" Gold was truly baffled.

"Yes… because even though we're both over the moon about the baby, you haven't forgotten that it's our honeymoon too."

"Darling…" Gold caressed her cheek. "That's because you're so irresistible to me… and always will be."

Gold could see tears in Belle's eyes.

"Come, sweetheart." He took her hand. Somehow he had the feeling that this pregnancy was going to be very emotional for both of them.

She followed him up to the counter to pay and then he led her out of the store and to the elevator. "I have a place that I want to visit now." Gold squeezed her hand. "It's one of my favorite spots from our first cruise."

Belle squeezed back. When she saw which deck he selected, she was pretty sure she knew exactly where they were heading. It was one of her favorite spots too. She was also pretty sure that he had an ulterior motive for bringing her there.

When they exited the elevator, they strolled slowly across the deck with their arms linked until they came to a private little area near the bow of the ship. Gold stopped and smiled at her. "Do you know where we are?"

Belle smiled. "Of course I do."

Gold embraced her and kissed the top of her head. "Let's rest a little." He directed her to the lounge chair that they'd cozied up on a year ago this day. He lay back and helped her settle down next to him. "Are you comfortable, sweetheart?"

Belle knew that he was worried that the pregnancy would make her tire more easily and he wanted her to rest when she could. "This is perfect, Rum." She slipped her hand under his shirt and kissed his chest. "You're sweet."

Gold's cock responded to the sensation of her hand roaming over his skin. His body seemed to remember their first time together on this very spot.

"What are you thinking about, Rum?" Belle could feel his heart racing and knew that the rest of his body was recalling that earlier time.

"I'm remembering how embarrassed I was when I realized that you could feel how aroused I was when you pressed your body against mine."

Belle's eyes met his. "I wanted to feel you naked."

Gold's cock hardened. He had still not recovered from her unabashed interest in him at the time. "I couldn't even admit to myself that I felt the same way. If it had been up to me we'd still be dancing around each other."

"I know." She giggled.

"I'm still in awe of you." He admitted. "I don't know how you broke through my barriers. I let you see the real man, Belle. I never allowed myself to reveal so much of myself to anyone before you. I can never thank you enough for that."

"Rum…" Her voice caressed him as tenderly as her hand.

"Belle…" He caressed her cheek and outlined her lips with his finger.

"Just think where this has led us." She took his hand and placed it on her belly.

Gold kissed her and looked sheepishly into her eyes. "I can't help thinking about how we got here." He pressed firmly against her so that she could feel just his arousal.

"Me neither." She kissed him back and he hungrily responded. They were both pretty far gone by the time they broke apart.

"Maybe we should go have lunch now so that we'll have time to relax in the suite for a while after we eat." She suggested while chewing on her bottom lip.

Gold chuckled. He remembered when he first realized that the word 'relax' was a euphemism for other things when it came to Belle.

"There's nothing I'd like to do more than relax, Mrs. Gold…"

Belle giggled again. "Then we're on the same page." She smiled happily at him. "I already have a special place picked out for lunch if you agree."

Gold looked expectantly at her, waiting for her to reveal her plans.

"We're going to the fifties' themed restaurant for burgers and iced tea."

"I had a feeling you'd say that." She was so adorable that he wanted to eat her up.

"And lots of extra pickles." She continued beaming at him.

"For me or for you?" Gold tried to look serious.

Belle laughed. "I guess for both of us…" She placed his hand back on her belly and kissed him deeply. "I think I'm already starting to have cravings."

"No comment." Gold grinned knowingly at her.

This time Belle did not hesitate to tickle him, easily finding that one tiny spot where she knew he was vulnerable.

Gold captured her hand in his before she could inflict her torture on him. "I'm too quick for you, Mrs. Gold. You need to stick to the things you do best."

She giggled. "OK... then let's go eat."

Gold laughed. "Yes, let's go eat."

Before Belle could get up, Gold stopped her. "Let me help you up this time."

Belle agreed. She knew he needed to do something to take care of her and the baby. "OK." She watched him get up and then extend his hand to her. "I don't think I'll be sitting on lounge chairs in a few months." She acknowledged that some things would be more difficult to maneuver as her pregnancy progressed.

"No. They're not the easiest chairs to get up from." He wrapped his arm around her waist.

Belle could see how much Gold liked taking care of her and it made her happy. She would make an effort to let him do things for her in these coming months. She would carry their child and he would make sure that they were as comfortable as they could be. She wanted him to be as much a part of this pregnancy as she was.

They strolled slowly to the restaurant, stopping to look out at the sea along the way. They were both deep in thought and spoke little until they arrived. The restaurant was lively because of the music that was playing, but very few people were there eating. Gold enjoyed the privacy that it afforded them. He jealously guarded every minute that he had alone with her.

"This is fun!" Belle's smile lit up her face. Gold chuckled. Belle, as usual, always liked things that were from another time. She enthusiastically chose a series of songs from the jukebox that was on their table.

"I love so many of these songs!" She gushed. "I hope you don't mind staying until they all play."

"Not at all. I may like a few of them myself."

Belle giggled. Rum was very old-fashioned in many ways. Even songs from the fifties were probably too modern for his tastes. It was one of those things she loved so much about him. It was almost impossible to pin him down to any period of time.

"I love you, Rum." She grinned at him. "We're very different, yet alike, in so many ways."

Gold knew exactly what she meant. Neither of them quite fit in… except with each other. "I'll take that as a compliment, Mrs. Gold."

"It is." She smiled at him.

They spent the next hour laughing and talking and listening to Belle's favorite tunes.

"Do you think the baby hears what we're listening to and what we're saying at some point?" Belle asked.

"Yes, I'm sure of it…" He chuckled. "We should make sure that I choose the music when that becomes the case."

Belle giggled. She loved it when he teased her. "I think that's going to require a lot more discussion." She yawned before she finished speaking.

"What is it, Belle? Are you tired?"

"Yes… I feel a sudden urge to put my head down."

"Well, then let's get you back to the suite."

Belle didn't object. She let Gold guide her back and help her settle on the bed. She was too tired to undress so he simply removed her shoes and tried to make her comfortable. "Do you feel better, sweetheart?"

"Yes… Thanks, Rum." She reached out to take his hand. "I think all the excitement's catching up with me."

Gold squeezed her hand and brushed the hair away from her face. "Can I get you anything?" The concern in his voice melted Belle's heart.

"No, just stay here with me. I want you close."

Gold held her hand and stroked her cheek. She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly. After a while she opened one eye.

"Do you want to do something for me?"

"Of course." Gold was eager to do anything.

"Would you mind massaging my feet?" Her voice was tentative as though she was asking a huge favor.

"You know I'm happy to do anything for you, darling."

"I know." Her voice was weak. "I just feel bad because I know you were expecting a different kind of massage."

"Belle…" She could hear the depth of his love for her in his voice. "You know that doesn't matter to me."

Belle squeezed his hand. "I was looking forward to it too." Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Gold wiped the tears from her face and kissed her on the cheek. "We have our whole lives, darling. I promise there will be many massages."

"You do?" She looked hopeful.

Gold didn't know if he should cry or chuckle. She was obviously very emotional at the moment and he felt deeply for her. "You have only to ask."

"Thanks, Rum." She smiled weakly at him.

"Now let me massage your feet. I bet it will make you feel much better." He kissed her on the forehead and she finally let go of his hand so that he could move down to the bottom of the bed.

"Let me see…" He took a foot firmly in each hand. "You have the most beautiful toes, Belle…" He massaged her arches while leaning closer to get a good look at her toes. "They're the most perfectly formed toes I've ever seen."

Belle giggled. Gold's heart, which had been aching for her, felt a thousand times lighter.

"How many toes have you seen? Do you have some type of foot fetish?" Belle giggled again.

Gold laughed. She had him there. "OK, so maybe I haven't seen that many toes, but I do know perfection when it appears before me."

"I'll accept that." She smiled at him.

Gold kneaded her arches and the pads of her feet until she was moaning with pleasure.

"Does that feel good, Belle?

"Yes… it's just what I needed. I feel so much better."

"What else can I do for you?" He kissed her feet.

"Come lie down next to me. I need to take a little nap."

Gold kissed her feet one last time and then moved up beside her and spooned her. Belle pressed firmly against him and Gold knew that she felt his erection. He'd been hoping to keep it hidden.

She pressed against him again. "I'll massage that for you later."

He whimpered as his cock stiffened further at her words. He realized that this cruise was shaping up to rival their last one. He'd spent much of that one in a state of tortured arousal. This was not much different.

Gold held onto her tightly. He didn't care if he had to go through the next nine months in this tortured state. He just wanted to hold her and be close to her. He wanted her to know that there were no bounds to his love for her.

Belle sighed contentedly, falling asleep in his arms almost immediately. Gold concentrated on her breathing until his erection diminished. To his surprise, he fell into a deep sleep too.

It wasn't until he felt her stirring that he awakened. "Are you OK, sweetheart?" He whispered into her ear.

"Yes… I feel a million times better. I was so sleepy." She pulled his arms tighter around her. "I could stay this way forever."

"Me too." Gold kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Thanks again for the foot massage. I think it helped the most."

"Anything for you, darling." He kissed her head again. "Is there anything else you'd like me to massage?" He whispered into her ear.

"I think I'm the one who owes you a massage." She turned around to face him. "Take your clothes off, Rum."

The way she said it, like a command, made the blood rush to his cock. He'd been perfectly content to just cuddle a second before. "You know this isn't necessary, Belle. We can wait until later."

"I don't want to wait." She slipped her hand under his shirt and caressed his chest with slow, tender strokes.

Gold's cock pressed against his trousers. He reached down to unzip his pants and somehow managed to squirm out of them. His cock sprang up flat against his stomach as soon as it was released.

Belle took him firmly in her hand and stroked him. "I knew you needed this now."

Gold whimpered. He could not disagree even though he had not even been thinking about it a minute ago. He slipped his hand between her legs and stroked her through her panties.

She moaned and bit him on the arm where she was leaning against him. To her surprise, she was more sensitive to his touch than usual. "Rum…"

He could tell that she was extremely aroused from her voice and the way she opened her legs wider for him.

"This feels good, sweetheart?"

"Mmmmm… I feel like I'm going to come already…" She whimpered and bit him again. His cock throbbed in her hand.

"That's good, darling. Just relax and let it happen." He continued to stroke her while she cried out and writhed against his hand. Her panties got wetter and wetter until her body suddenly shuddered and she came in his hand.

Gold's cock nearly burst. He cupped her with his hand and whispered her name in her ear.

"I want you in me, Rum… I need more. Take my panties off."

Her words almost pushed him over the edge. Gold didn't know how he didn't come immediately. His whole body was so aroused that he could barely do as she asked. He fumbled to remove the tiny piece of clothing that separated him from heavenly bliss. When he finally managed to unclothe her, she immediately draped her leg over his hip and guided his cock into her.

Gold groaned loudly as soon as the head of his cock entered her. She was so warm and wet and inviting that it took all of his willpower not to push in hard and fast.

"Is this OK, sweetheart?" He was a little nervous about the baby and knew that she would be too even though they both knew there was no reason to be.

"Yes… it's good, Rum. It feels good." She whimpered repeatedly until his cock was buried deep inside of her and she could feel his body pressing against her clit.

Gold moaned as he felt her body closing around him. It never ceased to amaze him how perfectly they fit together. No matter how aroused he was or how desperate for release, his first instinct was always the desire to remain joined together with her in this most intimate way.

Gold brushed the hair away from Belle's face and looked deeply into her eyes. "Is this what you need, darling?"

"Mmmm…" Her eyes said the rest.

He lowered his mouth onto hers and they kissed tenderly while he rocked slowly against her. She emitted little sounds between the kisses that were a cross between a hum and a moan. There was something so sweet and so erotic about it that Gold felt as though both his heart and cock were ready to burst.

"Belle…" Gold choked out her name. His throat seemed to have constricted under the intensity of is emotions. She looked up to meet his eyes.

Gold could see the same combination of love and lust in her eyes and on her face that he felt.

"Rum…" She drew him into another kiss while constricting her muscles around his cock, almost as if to embrace him in a tight hug.

Gold groaned loudly as he began to lose control. "Belle…"

"Please…" That was the only word Belle uttered as she pushed back against him.

Gold knew what she wanted. He began pushing in and out of her at a quicker pace. She moaned and moved in rhythm with him, urging him to keep increasing his speed. Gold shortened and quickened his strokes until she was clawing at his back and whimpering her need.

Gold moaned as he felt her clit swelling and thought about how it felt when it was between his lips and he was sucking her into oblivion. He could almost taste her as she screamed his name. Her body clasped his cock and began pumping the seed out of him. They both groaned loudly at their release and collapsed in each other's arms.

"Belle…" Gold needed to say her name again. "That was intense."

Belle rested her head on his chest and caressed him with her hand. "I love you, Rum."

"I love you too, sweetheart." He kissed her head and ran his fingers through her hair.

They lay silently together for a while until Belle broke the silence. "Do you think we'll always be this passionate about one another?" She looked shyly at him.

Gold's heart raced. After a whole year together, he was still in awe of her ability to be completely uninhibited with him and yet still a little shy at the same time. It did things to him even when his body was in no condition to respond.

"I guess it depends on what you mean by passionate." Gold chuckled to himself.

Belle obviously heard him because she giggled. "You know what I mean."

This time Gold chuckled out loud. "If you mean do I think you'll always be incapable of keeping your hands off of me, then the answer is yes." He grinned at her.

"Oh, really? And what about you? You won't feel the same way?"

Gold laughed. "Darling, that's not even a question that needs to be asked. I think I may be addicted to your body. You're like a drug… like dark magic to an evil sorcerer."

"Mmmmm… I approve… especially the evil sorcerer part." Belle somehow managed to look extremely seductive without giggling.

Gold knew better, but he still could have sworn his cock stirred. He had a feeling that she was going to be extra naughty during this pregnancy.

Gold urged her to turn around so that he could spoon her. He whispered in her ear. "I'll be anything you want, darling. You know that."

"I know." She reached up to caress his cheek.

"You also have to know that I'd feel the same way about you if you only wanted to kiss and cuddle with me. The only thing that really matters is that we're together."

Belle placed her hands over his. "Thanks, Rum. I'm a little nervous about how I'm going to feel while I'm pregnant and even after the baby's born. I don't want things to change between us."

Gold tightened his grip on her. He could see that he was going to have to reassure her a lot. It was sort of a reversal of their roles on the first cruise. She'd been the forward one, constantly having to reassure him that what was happening between them was real. He'd been so unsure of himself. Now she was the one who was going to need him to make her feel better.

"Belle, sweetheart…" he kissed her shoulder. "It doesn't matter if things change as long as we go on the journey together."

"And you'll take the journey with me anywhere?" He couldn't see her lip, but he knew it was trembling.

"Of course, darling." He held her closer. "No matter where the journey leads us, no matter what joys or difficulties we encounter along the way, we'll be together. I promise you that."

"I know. I just like hearing you say it." She squeezed his hand and then turned again to face him. "Thanks, Rum." She kissed him and then rested her head on his chest. She caressed his chest while he stroked her hair.

After a while she looked up at him again. "You know it's getting late and we have to get ready for tonight."

Gold made a sound that was something between a grunt and a groan.

Belle giggled in spite of her best efforts. Then she tried to placate him. "I need you to help me with my hair. I want to put it up in braids."

Gold knew she was trying to distract him, but he also knew that she really did want his help. They'd both come to realize that he was very good at styling her hair. It had started one night when she'd asked him to help her comb it out. That, somehow, had led to him arranging her hair for her. He was shocked by his natural ability and racked it up to the fact that she was so stunningly beautiful that everything looked good on her. She insisted that he had magic fingers… fingers that worked magic with everything they touched.

His cock stirred again. "You know I'd be happy to help you, sweetheart." He thought about how often his attempts to help her with her hair had led to other things. He thought about the way she moaned when he ran his fingers through her hair... as if he was trying to seduce her rather than gather her hair in his hand. He thought about how when he stood in front of her to arrange her luscious locks, she would stroke his cock through his pants, often leading them to activities that left her hair in a state of complete disarray. And then there were those times when she pushed him back on a chair and straddled him, insisting that he could reach her hair more easily in that position.

"What are you thinking about, Rum?" The way she said it made him certain she that already knew.

"I'm thinking how much I enjoy helping you with your hair. I find it very relaxing." He stressed her favorite word.

She giggled. "It is very relaxing… for both of us."

Gold now wanted to tickle her again. He really was going to have to come up with something to combat her naughtiness

"I know we have to get ready now so it probably won't be as relaxing as usual," she bit her lip to stifle her giggle, "but I'm sure it will be a lot more relaxing later when I let you comb it out."

Oh, he definitely had to find a way of getting back at her. "We could skip dinner tonight…"

"Rum…"

"I know." He managed to look sheepish even though he wasn't feeling it.

"I love you." She kissed him and ran her fingers through his hair. "I'm going to jump in the shower. Then you can help with my hair." She wiggled her way out of his arms and headed to the bathroom.

Gold sighed. He missed her already and she was only a few feet away. He got out of bed and began to organize his clothing for the evening. It was formal night on the cruise so he wanted to look his best for Belle. He knew how much she was looking forward to this evening.

He was barely done when Belle emerged from the shower with a short thin piece of material covering her body which may have been even more revealing than the nightie she'd worn the previous evening.

She smiled brightly at him and sat down on the chair in front of the vanity. She removed the towel from her hair and shook it out. "I'm ready if you are."

Gold's eyes met hers in the mirror and they both laughed. "You're being extra naughty, Mrs. Gold." He pulled her hair back and then bent down to whisper in her ear. "I like it."

He felt her shiver. He looked up to meet her eyes again and smiled a wicked smile at her. Gold spent the next several minutes drying her hair while smiling at her in the mirror. His fingers roamed through her hair and she moaned in response just as he'd anticipated.

"Was that good for you?" He asked her as he turned the dryer off.

Belle giggled. "Yes… you do that so well."

Gold chuckled. Then he leaned over to wrap his arms around her. "Everything's fun with you, Belle."

Belle tilted her head up to look him in the eyes. "And everything's fun with you."

Gold smiled widely at her. It was true. He always enjoyed himself when he was with her no matter what they were doing. They simply liked being together.

"OK… let's see what we can do with your hair. Do you want something sweet and romantic or do you prefer something seductive and sexy?"

"Sweet and romantic… we'll save the other for when you take my hair down later." She smiled her sweetest smile at him. And as usual, it was that combination of sweet and sexy that she embodied, that made the blood in his body rush to his cock.

"Mmmm… excellent choice. I approve." He watched Belle's eyes trail down his body and settle on his boxers. He could feel his cock responding as he watched through the mirror.

Belle bit her lower lip and looked back up at him. "I approve too."

Gold swallowed. "OK, darling. Let me work on your hair. I'm afraid we're not going to get very far if we continue this."

Belle smiled joyfully at him. "I love you so much, Rum. You make me so happy."

Gold's eyes teared up at her words. All he ever wanted was to make her happy. He gently threaded his fingers in her hair and kissed her on the head. Words failed him as he kissed her over and over again.

"It's OK, Rum." She knew he couldn't speak. "You don't have to say anything."

Gold swallowed again and finally composed himself. "You know nothing makes me happier than being with you."

"I know. I've always known."

Her words comforted him and he smiled weakly at her.

"Rum?"

"Yes, sweetheart?" He finally began to arrange and braid her hair.

"Do you ever wonder why we never argue?"

Gold stopped what he was doing to look at her. "I can't say I have. Do you?"

"No... I love the fact that we never fight… it's just that some people think it's unhealthy to always agree on everything."

Gold hesitated for a second and then chuckled. "I was unaware of the fact that we always agree…" His eyes almost bored a hole into her. He really wanted to tickle her. "I think the circumstances surrounding this cruise render that statement false, Mrs. Gold."

Belle bit her lip and giggled. "I guess you have me there."

Gold's hands dropped to her sides. It was going to take all of his willpower not to tickle her. "I think it's not so much that we agree on everything… it's more that we discuss any issues we have with one another rather than arguing about them."

"It's more like we compromise…" She took his hand in hers and smiled at him.

"I prefer to think of it as making a deal." He said smugly. "Wouldn't you agree?" He gave her a knowing look.

"Well… we have been known to make a deal or two…" She skirted the issue.

"May I remind you that we made a rather explicit deal about this cruise, darling?" He was not about to let her forget it.

"Oh, I haven't forgotten." She looked coyly at him. "And you have to admit that I'm well on my way to fulfilling my end of the deal."

Gold laughed. "Yes, I can't fault you there."

"I love you, Rum." She kissed his hand. "I promise that we'll have lots of fun, especially since Neal's here this time around."

Gold could still not fathom how he had agreed to invite his whole office and his son to share their honeymoon cruise with them. Belle had somehow convinced him that it would be a once in a lifetime experience to see how much things had changed from their first cruise when they had just met to this second cruise that was taking place many months after they'd exchanged wedding vows. She'd been so excited by the prospect that he'd found it impossible to say no… At least he'd had the wherewithal to make her deal for his agreement.

He chuckled at their arrangement. Maybe she was right. He found it very difficult to disagree with her. She was his refuge. He did not want to fight or argue or find fault with her (not that he could even if he tried). He came home every day happy to find solace in her arms and he knew that she felt the same way about him. They were each other's safe place where they could be themselves without being judged. They wanted the best for each other even if it sometimes meant sacrificing something to make that happen.

"If you're happy, I'm happy." He grinned at her. "Plus I think I got the better end of the deal."

"Oh, really?" She giggled.

"Yes, really, Mrs. Gold... since I negotiated the right to lay claim to your first-born child..."

Belle kissed his hand again. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Gold chuckled. It was a year since they'd met and she still had him completely wrapped around her little finger, as Moe would say. It was a good thing his deal-making skills were still intact when it came to anyone other than her.

He played around with her hair for a few more minutes and then stepped aside so that she could get a good look in the mirror.

"How's that?"

"It's perfect… exactly how I envisioned it."

"You look more beautiful than ever, Belle. I think motherhood agrees with you."

Belle's smile was radiant. "Do you know what's so special about this cruise apart from it being our honeymoon?"

"That I can kiss you in front of your father without being guilt-ridden?"

Belle giggled. "You've been kissing me in front of him for a year now."

Gold chuckled.

"I was hoping for an adventure when I agreed to go on that first cruise. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd find my true love and that I'd end up marrying him."

Gold helped her up so that he could embrace her.

"That cruise was the beginning of the greatest adventure of my life." She continued.

Gold felt the tears forming in his eyes again.

"And now this cruise… with me being pregnant and us celebrating our marriage…" She raised herself on her toes so that could kiss him. "This is the beginning of an even greater adventure."

"Oh, Belle." He hugged her close. He knew exactly what she meant. They were about to embark on a journey together that would be like no other. Gold could not speak. His emotions, once again, had gotten the better of him. "Belle..." He could only say her name.

They held each other close for the longest time until Gold could finally speak. "I'm so happy I'm going on this journey with you, Belle." His voice cracked.

Belle felt a little tug at her heart. She knew that Rum hadn't had this with Milah when she was pregnant with Neal and he'd always felt as though he'd missed something special. She stroked his cheek. "I can't wait until we can share the news with everyone, Rum. I feel the same way I did when I wanted everyone to know that we were together. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to hold it in."

Gold tightened his embrace. She had just voiced everything he felt. He was so filled with love for her and for their baby that he thought he might burst. "I'm not sure that either of us are very good at keeping things under wraps. If I recall correctly, everyone seemed to know about us pretty quickly the last time around." Gold had a sudden urge to tickle her. "Not that us wearing matching outfits to dinner had anything to do with it."

Belle giggled. "I don't think we're going to be that obvious this time." She giggled again. "Unless you decide to make blue and pink storks when we go to our napkin-folding class."

"Who said we were taking a napkin-folding class?"

"I did." She smiled at him.

Gold didn't know if he wanted to tickle her or hug her. He loved how sure she was of him and how she had helped him reach that point with her too.

"OK, Mrs. Gold. I did say that your wish was my command." He tapped her on the nose and kissed her in the same spot.

"Thanks, Rum. I promise you won't regret inviting everyone along. We're going to have fun."

Deep down, Gold knew she was right. He had given himself completely to her and his life was so much richer for it. As long as he was with her nothing else mattered.

"Besides," she smiled happily at him, "we have to get used to sharing each other... we're going to have someone joining us who's going to need a lot of our attention."

Gold cradled her in his arms. He laid one hand over her belly and used the other to push her hair aside so that he could kiss her on the neck. He felt her body respond and his responded in return. He knew in that moment that even though everything in their lives was about to change, the deep love and commitment (and even the intense desire) that they had for one another, would always remain the same.

The End

A/N: Yes, this is the end of The Company Cruise. It began on the cruise ship and that's where it was meant to end. The story for Gold and Belle, however, is not over. Once I finish The Bath and take a much needed break, I'm hoping to continue their saga with a new story, new title. My sincere thanks to everyone who has followed the story (it's been over a year) - and a special thank you to those who have taken the time to favorite/follow it and make comments. You've motivated me to keep writing when the show has failed. I hope season 5 brings Rumbelle some real happiness. I think they and we deserve it.

For those who have asked: Here's the link to the sixties-inspired wedding dress that I used as a model for the dress that Belle wore in the story.

www weddingshoppeinc com$pr$Voyage-by-Mori-Lee-6749$3185$47505 - FFNet won't save links so I had to replace the periods with blanks and the forward slashes with dollar signs. You'll have to change them back to get the link.