Chapter 12

*THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER*

Thank you guys soooo much for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing! There will be a sequel coming soon so please follow me or keep a lookout if you're interested. This finishes the Scar story, so the sequel will have a different theme. Hope you keep reading! :)

Regina went to the water's edge and pulled out a large seashell. She blew into it, and waited. A few minutes later there was a splash in the water and a glimmer of green fins.

"Ariel," said Regina.

"Has something happened?" The redhead asked.

"Yes, but we've taken care if it. Well, except for one little detail that I need your help with."

"Okay?"

"I need you to...relocate something. How much can you haul?" Regina asked.

Ariel raised an eyebrow, her green eyes wide. "Haul? Umm, well mermaids are a lot stronger than we look, but I'm not sure. I can call others to help, though. I have a few friends still among my own kind."

"Good. So, I need you to take the...cargo...HERE," she pointed to a spot on a map, "and follow the instructions." She handed Ariel the map and a rolled up piece of parchment.

"Okay. Yeah. I can do that," the mermaid said. "But what am I carrying?"

"This," Regina said and snapped her fingers. There was a puff of purple smoke and a huge crate appeared.

"What is that!?"

"A very large lion," Regina said. "He's not quite...normal. He has no magical powers now but he's still too dangerous to keep in Storybrooke."

"Wow."

"Yeah. Anyway, he's prepared, shall we say, for his little journey. I've put a waterproofing spell on the crate and the creature himself should sleep for another couple days."

"Alright." Ariel said. "I think I can handle it. I'll get some friends to help. Can you, uh, magic him into the water or whatever?"

"Sure." Regina snapped her fingers again and the crate was in the water. "Ariel?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

The mermaid smiled. "You're welcome, Regina. Tell everyone I said hello."

"Will do."

Rumple awoke to the scent of his wife's shampoo as she snuggled under his chin in her sleep. He smiled down at her and ran his hand through her chestnut hair. He twirled a lock around his finger and mused that he much preferred it to a strand of gold.

His heart swelled every time he looked at her. It had been over two years since they'd been reunited, yet sometimes he still had to touch her to make sure she was real. Occasionally he would cry a little when he recalled the emptiness and regret he had felt when he had thought she was gone forever. He didn't like to imagine how lonely he would be if he'd never found her again.

Belle murmured his name in her sleep and shifted about. He kissed her forehead and fought back tears. How could this beautiful person actually want to be with him? How had he ever managed to claim such a treasure? For she was certainly finer than any gold. She was beauty and love and hope. She was sunshine and laughter and she was HIS!

He was so very thankful that she was alright; that she had been completely unharmed, at least physically, by the battle. He had been absolutely terrified, not for himself but for her, in those moments when Scar had pinned him down. Terrified of her being left alone, and not because she wasn't capable of taking care of herself, but because her love for him would render her heart-broken. Then, she had saved his life with not only her intellect, but her physical bravery. His sweet little Belle who was a delicate rose on the outside and a fierce dragon on the inside. She had saved her people once again.

Suddenly, she yawned and rolled over, twisting up in the sheets and stealing all the blankets. Rumple laughed. She was so adorable, his Belle. He'd found her beautiful from the moment he'd first seen her, but her cute, funny nature had only become apparent as he'd gotten to know her. The way she wrinkled her nose when she laughed. The way she used her hands when she talked in her very expressive manner. The way she gave a little laugh if she was nervous and used humor to lighten a tense moment. The best, though, was the way she bit her lip and gave him a coy look. She had an innocent way of flirting that had totally overcome him even back in the Dark Castle. She had defeated the monster and stolen his heart with both fire and ice: the fiery warmth of her love, and the icy blue of her eyes.

Rumple kissed her cheek, tucked the blanket around her, and sneaked down stairs to make breakfast.

The Saturday morning after the battle with Scar, Belle got up early to open the library and read to the kids. It was a little hard to get out of bed because she still felt exhausted despite a full night's rest-something she'd been experiencing a lot lately, and was starting to feel concerned over. Still, she was determined to go on as normal, especially for the kids.

It had really touched her heart the way Connor's mother had reacted during the ordeal. Some other parents, and even random other people from town, had made various attempts to thank her for doing what she did. She had always sort of wanted to be a hero, but now that people were treating her like one, it felt kind of awkward. Still, she appreciated their sentiments and assured them that she was fine and would be back and reading to the kids the same as always.

She rounded the corner to the library and was shocked to find a large group of people milling about in front of the building. She realized most of them were her usual listeners and their parents. When they saw her, the children ran at her with open arms. Squeals of "Mrs. Belle!" filled the air and she found herself grinning as tiny hands tugged at her skirt to get her attention. Some handed her flowers and handmade cards.

"Are you okay, Mrs. Belle?" little Clara asked, green eyes wide.

Belle smiled. "I'm fine, sweetie."

"Did you get any booboos?" asked Sam, who always brought his blankie.

"Just a few scrapes. I'm alright."

Her best listener, little Connor with the fiery hair, shuffled up to her. He gave her a shy smile, then threw his arms around her. His tiny hands entwined in her hair and she fought back tears. She felt a tug at her heart that she had been feeling more and more lately. She hadn't really talked to Rumple about it, but she'd caught him smiling wistfully at families with little kids-and sometimes even making comments about them-when they went to Granny's or the park. Honestly, she wondered if he had been feeling the same way and was equally anxious about bringing it up. She sighed. A few more weeks and she'd take the plunge first if he didn't.

"Okay, kiddos, who's ready for story time?"

"YAY!" squealed two dozen little voices and Belle ushered the children inside. She was glad things were back to normal.

Well, as normal as things ever were in Storybrooke.

FIN

Please keep a lookout for the sequel! :)