"You look… Wow. You look beautiful." Mary Margaret takes a step back and looks at her in approval. "You look absolutely stunning."

"Shouldn't I be saying that to you, seeing as it's your wedding day?" Belle teases gently, setting the bouquet of flowers she'd retrieved from the floral woman moments before onto the dresser.

"I know, I know. But I did such a good job with your dress, it sets off your hair wonderfully." Mary Margaret gestures for her to spin and Belle does, the skirt of the ivy green dress fanning out before resting down just above her knees.

"But you look like a dream come true, or a song come to life." Belle announces, making Mary Margaret blush prettily. "David is going to faint when he sees you."

"You think?" She looks a little surprised, spreading her arms wide. Her wedding dress is stunning, with tiny flowers on the bodice and a wide, full skirt that she manages to expertly maneuver. Belle laughs and gently brushes her lips to her best friend's forehead.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"I'm so glad this has all worked out." Mary Margaret says happily, going to put on her bracelet and secure her earrings. Belle waits nearby, in case the bride needs anything. She knows what exactly Mary Margaret is referencing, and smiles.

"Me too. Today is going to be the happiest day of your life." She assures her and Mary Margaret looks thoughtful.

"So far." She amends and Belle grins at that.

"Yes, so far."

They finish getting ready, the two of them. Mary Margaret is fidgeting, whether it's from excitement or nerves, Belle can't really tell. It doesn't matter, because Belle knows that a couple doors down, David is probably doing the same thing. The happiness of her two friends is enough to make her smile constantly, until her mouth starts to hurt from the effort of it.

When it's finally time to leave the little cabin and head towards the woods where the ceremony will be held, Belle carefully gathers up the train of the dress, to make sure it doesn't dirty. Mary Margaret twists her engagement ring, looking rather nervous.

"Is it raining?" She suddenly asks loudly, and Belle hides a smile. "Because I knew it was going to start, we never should've had decided to get married in a forest, that's crazy, we should've—"

"It's not raining." Belle smiles, and takes her hand. "You love him. You've never been more sure of anything in your entire life."

"I know." She whispers. "Ok, let's go get me married."

"Yes please." Belle beams and helps her to the meadow, just off of where everyone is seated for the big event. They can both hear the quiet mummer of the small crowd. Not many people, just the closet friends and family members sitting on chairs beneath fairy lights, amidst trees and tulle. Belle is straightening Mary Margaret's hair when a soft voice says,

"Well, aren't you radiant?" Both of them turn, smiling at seeing Gold walking towards them. Belle drinks in the sight of him, hardly caring that he's doing the same to her. His suit is a dark grey, with a tie that matches the color of Belle's dress. His cane shines, as do his shoes and the buttons on his shirt. His long hair is soft, and his brown eyes warm when they turn onto Belle.

"I know you're talking to her." Mary Margaret softly ruins the moment with a little smile. "And yes, she is the most beautiful woman on the planet. But it's time to walk down the aisle."

"Of course." He tears his eyes from her and Belle can't stop blushing and smiling. "You do look lovely, dear."

"Thank you." Mary Margaret gets them in place, while Belle takes the arm of Will, one of David's frat brothers, who smiles at her rather sweetly. She decides to keep the fact that they'd went on one blind date during the wake up of the breakup to herself. She's still not sure she trusts Gold not to beat a man with his cane yet.

She pushes such thought away, focusing on the beauty of the day. It does look like something straight out of a storybook, with the twinkling lights, the smell of pine, and a simple wooden alter that only enhanced the natural beauty of the wilderness. When her and Will reach the alter, he gives her arm a little squeeze and she smiles at him. He had been nice, after all, when she'd ended their date after one drink, rambling on about trust issues and boundaries.

She takes up her spot off to the side, looking out over the crowd while David squirms in anticipation beside her. Bae is sitting in the row, beaming at her and her heart swells with pride to see how handsome he looks in his little suit, though he's nearly the size of his father now. Then, the music swells, and Gold and Mary Margaret come down the aisle.

Everyone is looking at the bride in adoration and Belle does too, for a moment. She is beautiful, and wonderful, and lovely. But Belle's eyes are mostly for her love, since he doesn't like to be called her boyfriend any more the second time around than he had the first.

He's so handsome, with those quick eyes and a sly smile. He'd been worried before, about all those eyes on him limping with his cane, but right now, he stands tall and walks with mostly ease, even giving a smile to a few of the people gathered. But he too is looking at Belle with that soft, kind smile, and she wants to melt into a puddle.

He hands Mary Margaret off to David with a firm handshake and a couple muttered words that makes the couple laugh. Then he goes and sits next to Bae, watching Belle the entire time.

Vows are said, songs are sung, kisses are given, and cheers signal the end of the ceremony. The new Mr. and Mrs. go down the aisle in a shower of rice, and everyone moves into the reception hall for drinks, food, and music. Belle isn't inside for more than a moment when she's suddenly caught in the tangle of Bae's arms.

"Oh, well, hello!" She laughs, careful not to topple off her high heels.

"Easy." Gold chides. "Easy, son."

"You look so pretty." Bae tells her, eyes shinning.

"Thank you." Belle cups his cheek, smiling at him as well. Still, she takes every opportunity to cherish his face, to memorize it should she ever be parted from him again. "You are very handsome yourself."

"Think so?" He plays with his suit, then looks up at one of Mary Margaret's young, pretty cousins.

"Yes." Belle says firmly, while his father narrows his eyes. "You should go say hello."

"Think so?" Bae hesitates then nods, seemingly steeling himself. He strides for the punch table first and Belle hides a giggle behind her hand.

"If there are tears tonight, from either, you're handling it." Gold informs her, passing her a champagne flute with a kiss on her cheek.

"Gladly." Belle beams. "Look, he's adorable." Bae is trying, rather awkwardly, to offer a drink to the young girl. She's not frowning, which Belle takes as a good sign.

"He's something." He snorts and Belle reaches down, entwining their fingers tightly, still happy with all the contact they have. Some days she keeps him in bed with her, and hangs on tightly and never wants to let go.

"It was a beautiful wedding, wasn't it?" Belle hums, watching as David twirls Mary Margaret for their first dance.

"Not my style perhaps." He says delicately and Belle turns to look at him, arching her eyebrow.

"No? And what is your style?"

"Smaller." He says, after a thoughtful pause.

"There's hardly 60 people here." Belle laughs. "How much smaller can you get?"

"Myself, you, Bae. Does anyone else need to be there?" He asks her, with all the innocence in the world.

"Yes." Belle says instantly, then launches into her list. "Ruby and Dorothy, and Granny, and then we have to invite Mary Margaret and David, and Jefferson, and Grace would be the flower girl, and Regina and Robin and Roland as the ring bearer, and Mrs. Potts and—"

"Alright, alright." He cuts her off with a little laugh. "You win, my dear. You may invite whoever you'd like."

"Could I?" Belle looks at him and he smiles down at her, reaching over and gently stroking her cheek.

"You could do anything, my darling Belle. I would marry you, here or now, any time or any place. I would marry you in my office, or a yoga studio, or in the middle of Times Square." He leans forward and kisses her sweetly on the nose. "I love you, dearie."

"I love you." She whispers, cheeks flaming. She hastily goes back to watching Bae, because an ache has opened up in her chest, and she knows what it is.

She wants to be the one in the while dress, and she wants to be Mrs. Gold, and she wants to never leave his side.

Ruby had scoffed, actually laughed, when he'd suggested going for tea. She had promptly reminded him of who she was, and who she wasn't, then instructed him to meet her at a punk coffee shop. So here he sits, holding a mug of black coffee, scowling at the youths who lounge around with facial studs and neck tattoos, drinking ridiculously named things. Ruby is, as usual, 15 minutes late, and he has an acute realization that he loves Belle, he loves her for all that she, and for all that she isn't.

Ruby breezes in, her wide brimmed red hat drawing people's attention, and her low cut top and tight red leather jeans keeping it. He is not so easily swayed, and gives her a wry look. She smirks, unbothered, and gestures to the barista, who looks a little star struck as he comes over.

"I'll have an Irish coffee, heavy on the Irish." She drawls, setting her purse on the table. "On him, please."

"Of course." He stammers and Gold growls softly, but hands over his card regardless.

"And a piece of the coffee cake!" Ruby gives a bright smile, watching the man leave with a rather wolfish smile. "I hope he makes a better Irish coffee than my woman." She says airily. "For an adorable Irish woman, she cannot make one to save her life."

"Perhaps you'll leave her for him." He says dryly and Ruby pretends to look scandalized.

"I would never. I've seen the light, I'm never going back to men." She informs him. "Strictly a woman's woman, if you will."

"Change the subject." He orders her, taking a drink of his coffee.

"Alright," Ruby agrees easily, inspecting her nails. "Then let's talk about why the hell we're having coffee at 3 pm on a Thursday, without our significant others, who are undoubtable our better halves. What, are we going to conspire to beat Mo again?" She says it without hesitation and he appreciates Ruby's wildness, though he loves Belle for her absence of it.

"Not yet." He says with a small sip. "Perhaps another day. I wanted to speak about this." He reaches into his coat pocket and sets a small box on the table between them. After a pause, Ruby glances at him and opens it slowly.

"Well, I'm flattered, but didn't I just finish telling you that I'm a woman's woman?"

"Very funny." He says, rolling his eyes and Ruby smirks, picking up the box to get a better look at it. The ring inside is sparkling, stunning, even in the low light of the coffee shop. She inspects it, sparing the barista a short noise when he sets her coffee and cake down. He looks between the two of them, eyebrow furrowed at the sight of two people and a wedding ring.

"Waiting for something else?" Ruby asks, nothing his hovering.

"Uh— Congratulations?" He offers slowly and Gold snorts, while Ruby pretends to gag.

"I would never." She says firmly. Stammering his apologizes, he leaves them to it and Gold raises an eyebrow.

"Well?"

"I mean it's very pretty." Ruby looks at it critically and he feels vaguely defensive, because it had taken both he and Bae weeks to properly pick this ring. "But how many carats is it?"

"Four." He tells her. The diamonds around in a halo, and the diamonds on the band, were smaller, but he'd thought it to be sizable enough. It was perfectly clear, and had no imperfections, but if Ruby thought it not enough, he'd gladly spend more.

"Only four?" Ruby chokes on her coffee cake.

"Should it be more? Belle has small fingers, I—"

"How much did you spend on this?" Ruby demands and he falls silent, as Ruby suddenly sets it down and shoves it back at him. "Fuck, I shouldn't touch that. That's worth more than my entire apartment and my car and everything I own bundled into one."

"Perhaps." He doesn't try to deny it. "Will she like it?"

"I think any woman walking around New York would like that." Ruby still eyes it as though it's going to devour her whole. "Is it ethically sourced?"

"Yes." He's a little offended at such a question, as though he hadn't thought to make sure of that with Belle's preferences.

"And conflict free?"

"Yes."

"And you went through all the proper channels?"

"Of course."

"Why'd you get it that big?" She asks suddenly and he pauses, unsure of what it means. "Do you think she's like kind of girl who needs a big ring? That having a massive rock on her finger is important, because she needs to show off that she's got a sugar daddy?"

"Do not call me that." He says, mildly alarmed. "I am not that."

"That ring make it seem like you're compensating for something." Ruby takes a sip of her coffee, finally, and sighs in happiness. "Ah, that's good. Do you think he'll give me his recipe?"

"Can we focus on the ring and not on your day drinking?" He snaps and Ruby takes another sip, before offering him some coffee cake, which he takes a little grudgingly.

"The ring is beautiful, I'm not denying it. But I want to make sure you got it for her for the right reason." Ruby states and he gives her an annoyed look.

"I want to marry her, that's why. Because I love her, and I never want to be apart from her, ever again. And because, by some miracle or dark magic, she loves me back, and I will never jeopardize her again."

"Yeah, yeah, save it for your speech." Ruby licks her fingers clean of coffee cake, oblivious to the fact that the punk boys sprawled on the couch are staring. "That's not my point."

"Then what is?"

"This ring, does it say Belle to you? Can you picture her wearing it to yoga? Can you picture her giving massages with it, doing physical therapy? Do you picture her reading by the fire in it? Or do you think she's going to lock it in a safe and be terrified to ever lose it?"

"I have insurance on it." He tells her, though he's fast seeing Ruby's point. Belle, for all that she is and all that he loves her for, is kind and sweet and utterly low maintenance. A big ring might be more of a hinderance than a blessing to her.

"I am Belle's best friend." Ruby says grandly. "And she will love that ring, but because for all the things you said before. Because, and god only knows why, she loves you more than anything. She'd marry you with a shoe lace. But is this ring really Belle?"

"Yes." The words are out before he can even think about them. "Yes, it's stunning and beautiful, just like her. And it's not a symbol of my— our— wealth, it's a symbol of our love. That I love her more than anything, that this is just the smallest token of my affection for her. And I know that she will end up with a rubber ring on her finger most of the time." He smiles, loving her for it. "But this is the ring I want to see on her finger. She deserves all of this, and more."

"Alright." Ruby let's him get away with it. "Then it is absolutely perfect, and even if it makes her lopsided from the weight of it. She's going to love it. How are you going to propose?"

"I haven't got there yet." He admits, shifting uncomfortably.

"Here or elsewhere?" Ruby asks plainly.

"Elsewhere." He decides. "A trip."

"Take her to Scotland." Ruby is doing her best to impersonate a very innocent soul, sipping her coffee delicately. "Go to a loch, read her some poetry with that burr of yours, sweep her off her feet, and put that shiny rock where it belongs, way the hell away from me."

"Well," He huffs, trying to sound annoyed and failing because the suggestion is rather perfect, and he had thought about taking Belle and Bae to his homeland. "Fine."

"Will you wear a kilt?" The devilish glint is back in Ruby's eye and he glares, finishing off his coffee and looking down at his phone.

"I need to go get Belle." He declares. "Or I'll be lately and she'll know I'm up to something."

"You are very welcome for my amazing advice as a best friend." Ruby reminds him pointedly.

"Yes, yes, now that yacht has a hot tub and jetksis and— what do you want to add now?" He questions, securing his coat and standing with the use of his cane.

"A full service coffee bar, and him to make me whatever I please, whenever I please." Ruby jerks her thumb towards the barista, who still looks bewildered at what's passed.

"Deal." His stern look softens some at the sight of her, still sipping her coffee. "Thank you Ruby."

"Name a kid after me." She waves a hand. "It's the least you can do."

"Not a bloody chance." He leaves at the sound of her laughter, one hand firmly resting over the little box in his pocket, mind already planning when they will visit his home, and how exactly he will do it.

"Hello!" Belle cheerfully breezes into the office, arms ladened down with shopping bags. She receives smiles and greetings back- it's common knowledge that while the charming Mrs. Gold is far more approachable than her husband, she's to be treated with the utmost respect or face the full wrath of the beast.

"Why hello you." Mary Margaret is grabbing something off the printer and she falls into step with Belle as they head to the back corner office.

"How are you?" Belle hands her a green tea, which Mary Margaret takes with a mummer of gratitude.

"Emma is very impatient." She remarks, resting a hand on her large belly. She and David have already named their firstborn daughter, who's due in a short week. "Half the time I'm convinced she's just going to kick her way out."

"Poor child, never had a chance." Belle leans down to her friend's belly. "Neither of your parents are good at waiting, so do us a favor, and come out already."

"We've tried that route." Mary Margaret says ruefully. "Next up, David's famous spicy chili for supper."

"You let me know if you need me to come over for a massage." Belle implores her and she waves a hand, carefully lowering herself down into a chair.

"I've got a lovely and attentive husband to do exactly that. Go. I know how big of a deal is today." Mary Margaret looks at her fondly. "They're both excited, you know."

"I'm excited." Belle beams. "And a little nervous. But I better go get him. You know how long it takes to drag him away."

"You've got good motivation today." Mary Margaret calls as Belle eases open the door to his office and sticks her head in.

"Hello you." He doesn't bother to look up until she sets the bags down on his desk. "I see you've been… Shopping?" He says slowly, tilting his head slightly. That's rare for Belle- he often remarks half the wealthy men in New York want Belle because she's a beauty, and the other half want her because she's a rather notorious spendthrift.

"Today is a special day." She says seriously, opening the first bag. "I've treated it accordingly. For you…" She produces a new tie, a deep red one that he knows will set off his eyes in a way she likes. There's also a tie clip, the inside engraved with the date.

"The day we finally became a family." He mummers. "However will I choose between this one and my wedding date?"

"You can rotate." Belle's eyes sparkle. "For me…" She's gotten herself new shoes, stunning red pumps the color of his tie. "I'll wear them with my dress." She produces a tasteful black number, one that will hug tight to her curves without seeming trashy. She'll look flawless, and it makes his eyes shine. "Then of course just makeup and other things, the standard. But here's where I may have gone a little overboard."

"A little." He eyes the remaining bags, of which there are several.

"It's a big day." Belle says defensively and he waves a hand, gesturing for her to continue. She pulls out, in rapid-fire succession, a large photograph frame, with the date engraved on the bottom, a shadow box for the items from the day, spiffy new shoes for Bae, a new tie, a new game for his favorite gaming system, cupcakes for them to celebrate with afterwards, and a nice new shirt for him to wear.

"You were busy." He says dryly and Belle ignores him, grabbing her dress and makeup. "You spoil the boy, dearie."

"We spoil him." Belle corrects, heading for his bathroom to get ready. "And perhaps if he had siblings, he would learn to share." With that, she closes the door, apparently unaware that she's left him stricken in his chair. He's hardly recovered from the idea when Bae bounds in, grinning.

"Are we ready?" He demands.

"Nearly." His father responds, tying his tie. "Belle got you a new shirt, tie, and shoes."

"Where is she?" He asks, picking up the tie with appreciation.

"Bathroom!" She calls and emerges a second later. Bae holds up the shoes, grinning.

"They're a size bigger than what I'm wearing right now."

"Give it 15 minutes, they'll fit." His father remarks dryly and Belle pulls him into a hug.

"Are you ready?" She looks into his eyes searchingly and he's smiling, ignoring the fact that he's barefoot and shirtless.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

Half an hour later, they're standing in the courthouse, Bae and Belle both squirming impatiently while he and a judge watch them in amusement.

"Are you ready?" The judge asks and Bae nods while Belle squeezes his hand. "Alright, then if you'll sign these papers, Baen Matheson Gold will officially be adopted by Belle Adaile Gold." Both of them scribble furiously, then look at each other, grinning. It takes everything in him to not reach out and pull both of them into a tight hug. Instead he stands back, and let's them have their first moments as mother and son.

Some had thought it ridiculous, that Belle was so adamant that she adopt Bae. At 16, nearly 17, he is almost of legal age anyways and it wouldn't have truly made a difference. But Bae and Belle know. Know that it cements their bond, gives Bae the chance to call her 'mother' open and honestly, makes her more than just a 'stepmother'. She is the best mother for his son that he could've dreamed up and as they pull him into their hug, he reflects that she should have a chance to be a mother from the start.

"Happy New Years, my love." He whispers in her ear and she grins, looking up as the sky above them explodes into colored explosions of light.

"Happy New Years, my husband." She tilts her head back to kiss him, as fireworks go off behind them. They're sitting on the balcony of the hotel, watching the spectacular show over the water, a blanket loose around them. He's never felt quite a deep sense of contentment before, Belle in his arms while Bae and a couple friends laugh on their own balcony next door.

"Happy New Year!" Bae yells, his face appearing to grin at his parents.

"Happy New Year." They call back then Belle asks,

"Bae, will you come here quick?"

"Sure. What's wrong?" He asks worriedly but Belle smiles.

"Nothing, just come here." Without looking reassured, he disappears and he looks down at her wife, alarmed.

"Belle, what's wrong?" He demands anxiously.

"Nothing." She laughs lightly. "I just want to have a moment in the new year with my family."

"Papa? Dottie?" Bae calls, practically sprinting for the balcony.

"Bae, it's fine." He says reassuringly. "Grab the bottle of wine and some glasses, we just want a moment together."

"You two stress me out." Bae huffs, emerging with the bottle and three glasses.

"We stress you out?" Belle raises an eyebrow and he grins at her, pouring three glasses, though his is far less filled.

"To our family." He toasts and they mummer it back. Both the men raise their glasses to their lips and drink, but Belle carefully sets hers aside with a small smile.

"Do you not like it?" He asks immediately. "It's red dearie, I know you prefer that over whites. Do you want a moscato?"

"No, I don't want a moscato." The corners of her mouth are twitching like mad. "And I don't want a white and I don't want champagne or vodka or anything alcoholic and I doubt I will for the coming months."

For a second, there is a long pause, as both father and son try to work out what she means. Bae gets it first, nearly dropping his wine glass and looking at her in shock.

"Are you… Are you pregnant?"

"By the end of this year, there'll be a little Gold running around." She reveals and he feels like he's been clubbed over the head.

"I'm going to be a brother?" Bae yelps. "We're going to have a baby?"

"Yes." She whispers but now her attention is on her husband. She's scared of a number of things, but his reaction remains high on the list, and he's frozen. "I thought that you wanted this." That shakes him out of his revere and he pulls her to him, kissing her with such passion Bae groans.

"You better go, son." He says, between kisses.

"Not on the balcony, not on the balcony." Bae protests, stepping over them and grabbing the wine bottle. "I think I deserve to take the rest of this."

"Shoo." He waves a hand and Bae goes, but not before yelling,

"I want to name it!"

"He's not naming it." Belle laughs but he's too distracted trying to show his wife just how thankful he is that for her and this baby.

"And you remember that Gideon has soccer until 4, right?" Belle says and he nods, kissing her head.

"And you're getting Zara from ballet at 1 correct?" He responds and she nods.

"She'll stay at the studio with me until class is done at 3, then we'll be home to pack things up before you get back. How do you think Bae and Evander's day went?" She ask him nervously.

"I'm sure wonderfully." He pulls her so she's sitting on his lap, running his fingers through her hair. "Bae adores him. I bet he put him in the pram, walked him to the park, read him stories, the whole works. You know him. He loves kids."

"I do." She mutters back. "Sometimes I'm a little worried he'll make grandparents of us sooner than we'd like to be."

"He wouldn't." He says, only a little alarmed.

"He is 25." Belle reminds him gently. "When you were his age—"

"I had him, yes, I know." He scowls at her. "I was also a drunken addict."

"Two things Bae isn't." She calms him with a feather-light touch. "But I think the next girl he meets, things will get serious."

"We're never going to get out of the diaper stage." He says despondently and she laughs, such an honest and pure laugh, this his heart soars at the sound of it. That's why he'd fallen in love with her, the sound of her laughter, and he'd been delighted to note that both Gideon and Zara have inherited the joyful sound.

"Don't sound so upset, if there's anything in this world you love more than work, it's babies." She teases and he tightens her arms around her.

"Try me and see, Mrs. Gold."

"Tonight." She promises, kissing his nose, but giving his hair a tug for good measure. "Tonight, when we're far away from work and the city, when all the kids are finally to bed. Remind me again why we don't live in Maine full time?"

"Because you love the city." He draws her in for another long kiss. "And this is where Gideon has soccer and Zara has dance and I have work and you have sushi and…"

"Ok, ok, ok." She leans back with a smile. "We stay, until I realize it's madness to raise 4 kids in the city, even if our oldest doesn't live with us."

"Given the chance I think he would." He shakes his head at Bae. "As is, he already has Gideon spending weekends there and sleepovers with Zara. If we let him, he'd take the whole brood."

"He's as good a big brother as you are father." Belle sighs in contentment. "I absolutely cannot wait for a week in Maine. It's so needed."

"To think, a whole week of just our family." He sighs and buries his face in her curls. "We just have to get the 25 year old, 7 year old, 4 year old, and 8 month old out of the city first."

"Mhmm." Belle doesn't seem excited by the prospect either and so the two of them remain tangled up in his chair, content to be together in the peace of his office. No peace can last, and when the chime of her phone goes off, both of them groan.

"No." His arms tighten around her. "Don't go."

"If I don't, your daughter will be left to join the corps." Belle mutters, amused.

"Isn't that the goal?" He points out and she laughs, kissing him deeply before she clambers off him.

"Finish up work. If I so much as see a loan agreement or proposal at the house, I'll tie you down the rest of the week." She informs him, a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Threat or promise?" He asks idly.

"Oh, threat." Belle feigns innocence. "A promise would be letting you tie me down."

"You minx of a woman." He says, with open admiration and once she's gathered all her things, she pauses for one last kiss on the way out.

"I like it better when you call me a force of nature." She mutters into his mouth before puling away. "Now work, and don't forget your son at 4! Car will be packed, we'll leave the second you get home."

"I love you." He calls as she bustles out the door.

"I love you more!"

"Never." He says quietly, turning back to his papers, now able to focus.

At 4:30 pm, they're in the car, headed for the airport. They're sitting in the backseat, Evander's seat between the two of them. Bae is in the third row with Zara and Gideon, listening intently as the two of them fight over who gets to tell him stories first. Gold watches his youngest son sleep, a peaceful and calm little boy. He reaches out over the carseat, taking Belle's hand. She looks at him and raises an eyebrow with a small smile.

"Are you happy?" She whispers, so none of their children hear them and he strokes one finger down Evander's smooth, creamy cheek.

"You know, I thank a higher power each and every day for Dr. Whale's uncompromising stupidity and how it brought me to your doorstep, Miss French."

"It's Mrs. Gold, you silly man." She pulls him in for a kiss. "And it will be forever."

AN: Well friends, this is it... The grand finale. This was originally just a short thing, inspired by yoga and the song 'Me and Mine' that spiraled into this, and I've never been so glad. Please, leave a review, or a request for a story- the reason why this is a bit delayed is because I was prompted by 'Gold and Ruby' and I decided Monday's aren't for working anyways, right? Thank you all for reading and reviewing, and if you'd like more, please request it! I love nothing more than to write my OTP.