Chapter Text
Rumplestiltskin had to admit he enjoyed himself, though he would never admit it to anyone if he was asked (except possibly Belle). He and Belle walked around the bonfire, with a cup of mulled wine for him and a cup of mulled cider for her, his arm around her. The parade hadn't been nearly as horrible as he thought it would be. The float on which he and his grandson rode was all fake ice and snowflakes on his end, with a grand throne for him (probably Marco's carving, the man had a true gift). His appearance was a big hit; the now blue leathers and white shirt showed well in the light, and no one really appeared to fear him. He had even managed a bit of slight of hand, blowing glittering snow from his hand onto the children who crowded the edge of the street with their parents to watch. At the other end, Henry, with his spring green, was throwing little gold chocolates with a sun stamped onto them (and occasionally snitching one for himself). They would meet in the middle and spar a little, before retreating to their opposite sides for a bit. It gave them something to do when the float slowed to let the Storybrooke High School marching band get further down the streets. Belle rode behind them, on a float as one of Princess Snow's attendants, her gold dress glittering among the other princesses attending; Aurora, Ariel, and Cinderella, even Regina had been invited to join them. She had been remarkably quiet, and he was almost starting to feel that she really was trying. Still he made sure that she was on the other side of Belle. Snow had always been a little too willing to forgive Regina, but he was still reserving judgement. Emma had begged off, citing the fact that she was on duty. Surrounding them was an honor guard with Charming at the head. He had asked Bae to join them, though he wasn't a prince, and his son had agreed if only so that they would have the right number to escort the 'court' when they got to the bonfire.
Upon their arrival at the cleared space, he had leap neatly off the float and Henry had properly 'vanquished' him in front of a cheering audience, and he'd been bourn away in state on a bier of evergreens, while Henry took his bows and was crowned by Gretel. She was sitting in state on a little platform with him, with Snow and Charming. It was much lovelier than he remembered, but his had been a poor village so they never had anything like the parade or electric fairy lights for that matter. An ice sculpture of him was currently resting in state on the bier near them, and with the temperature, he didn't even need magic for it to keep from melting. The feat of magic that replaced him with his icy doppelgänger had been easily accomplished and impressed the bystanders. There had been a little concern that the weather wouldn't cooperate, but except for a light snow very early in the day, it had been perfect, cold and clear with a sky full of stars.
Now, he had changed, reverting back to his natural appearance (or at least his human one) and was escorting the most beautiful lady in Storybrooke around the fire, occasionally even being hailed and complimented. "Are you certain you want to stay up for the vigil, love?" he asked Belle as she leaned close to him with a dazzling smile on her face. "With the baby, you need your sleep."
"I'm fine," she promised him, leaning more closely against his shoulder and tugging him down for a kiss. "If I get tired, I will tell you, as long as you wake me for the sunrise." Sunrise on the solstice morning was the most beautiful and most magical. Young lovers would huddle together before the fire, drinking, singing, and occasionally slipping outside the light for a little more private celebration, emerging before the sunrise to watch it come up, making wishes and promises on the light of the new sun.
Rumplestiltskin looked around the light from the bonfire. Bae had coaxed Emma away from her duty long enough to take a circuit among the dancers around the fire. The Sheriff didn't know any of the dance steps but they were simple enough; and by the time they had passed a second time, she was laughing happily, though perhaps a little self consciously. Henry was in close conversation with Gretel, their heads together while her brother and Grace leaned in, probably planning some mischief, he thought fondly. The boy had done a good job, and he had a good head on his shoulders, so he wasn't too worried about what they would get up to. Seeing him watching, his grandson waved to them, and he noticed that David was watching them to, as were her father and Jefferson, who, while he was doing well, didn't much care for crowds and was keeping close to the stage where his daughter sat. It was going to be some time before his friend was comfortable with his daughter being more than a short distance from him. He didn't blame him at all.
Belle was trying to convince him to join in at least one turn of the circle when Princess Snow called them over to congratulate him on how well he had done. They exchanged the usual pleasantries, Snow going on about how well everything came together, and how happy everyone seemed to be. It took some time to extricate themselves without undue rudeness. "I think you have managed to secure the part for the foreseeable future," Belle said as they walked away. "You were so magnificent, no one will even think of asking anyone else."
"Damn, I knew I was doing something wrong," he said but with a smile.
"You enjoyed it, and you know it," she said with a smile. He had never been good at keeping anything from her. But he tried, before she leaned up and gave him a sweet kiss. That was more than enough to convince him to whatever she wanted, even if this time, it meant a quick turn in the center of the circle of dancers. He'd never danced with Belle in the old world, or with anyone since longer than he cared to remember, but the steps came back to him easily enough. If anything. it was surprising how easily people allowed them in, and that no one shunned dancing next to the Dark One and his lady.
After two turns around the circle, really the minimum that a couple should take, he pulled her to the outside and they continued to walk, this time outside the circle of the revelers. Soon enough the dancers would settled down; people had brought blankets and were already starting to lay them out so that people could cuddle together in the damp cleared grass to wait for dawn's approach. He and Belle actually had their own blankets tucked away in the back of the area behind the stage that had been used as a changing area for those who wanted something warmer than their costumes for the rest of the evening. Though Belle had chosen to stay in her gown for now, with a heavy gold cloak pulled over top, he had made sure that she had other things. He had his leathers, which were surprisingly warm, and he didn't have the problems with the cold that some did, especially right now when he didn't have to worry about his leg. He'd pay for the magic tomorrow, but then they had no plans for the next day that actually involved getting dressed or leaving the house.
As they turned the circuit, he saw Maurice French, walking with the widow he had been seeing, walking around much as he and Belle were. Belle hailed her father and he came over to them, perhaps a little cautiously but then Rumplestiltskin was used to that. "Papa," she said as she released him and gave her father a hug.
"My girl, you were beautiful up there with the Princess, like a princess yourself," he said as the couple joined them. "You...er...you were very good as well," he said, greeting Rumplestiltskin himself with at least slightly less reluctance than usual, probably because he was so relieved at having got out of the part himself. He introduced them to Mrs. Thomas, who was polite and earned points in his mind by offering her his hand, which he kissed after the old way. Determined to be polite, the old sorcerer offered to refill their cups as he had noticed his own empty. It was still better for him not to do too much small talk, but when her father offered to accompany him, he had no choice but to agree, leaving the ladies to talk.
"Was there something...?" he asked as he and the florist made it to the booth that Red and the Widow Lucas had set up at the edge of the carnival beyond the bonfire.
"Not really, just wanted to let Belle have a chance to talk to Eve. She and I...well, I'm thinking of asking her to marry me. It's not been long but....she's not been hinting so much, but we are both getting on and..." He didn't finish the sentence. Rumplestiltskin knew enough as it was. Maurice had been widowed since Belle was a young child and had resisted all attempts to be coerced into a marriage in the old world. If he'd found his happiness here, Belle would truly be happy for him.
"You could come by the shop," he said out of some strange spirit of generosity, or possibly finally trying to bury the hatchet with the old man to make his future wife happy. "We can probably find you an appropriate ring."
"That is...kind of you," the florist stuttered, clearly not sure what to make of the offer.
"It's a small enough thing," he told him with a wave of his hand. "I...we are both invested in Belle's happiness, and I know that she will be pleased that you have found someone."
"I hope so. We are. I... I will be glad to do the flowers for you and Belle. I have some ideas about what she wants..."
"Roses," they both said at the same time and then laughed just a little. The two men got their mugs filled and returned to where the ladies were apparently enjoying themselves, heads together talking.
"Rumple, I've just asked Eve and my father to come to the house for the party on Christmas Eve, and she's said she'll come help us," the light of his life said with a smile. It was moving too fast for him, all of this family stuff, but he agreed readily enough, already worried about her over working herself in her condition. With that they shared more friendly words and agreements to exchange phone calls before moving on in opposite directions.
"I think that my father is serious about her," she told him as soon as they were clear of the others. "Eve said she wanted to get to know me. Wouldn't it be grand after all this time, if my father found someone who made him as happy as you make me?"
"No one could ever make anyone as happy as we are, love," he said, putting his arm back around her. He wasn't in the habit of sharing other people's news, though his Belle was canny enough to know. "Now, how about you and I find ourselves a place a bit more...private?" he suggested wickedly. "After all, this is the night for lovers."
The sun was rising over the harbour on the first new day after the solstice. Belle and Rumplestiltskin were wrapped well in their cloaks as well as blankets to keep the winter chill far away from his love or their baby. Everywhere, as the dark sky lightened, he could see other couples or little groups. Some, those that had stayed the night, wrapped like they were (though he had every intention of taking Belle home and returning, well, they got distracted). When he turned his head, he could see other people standing, wrapped in coats, hands around take away containers of coffee, tea and other hot drinks. As the light grew, he began to make out faces and shapes of people he knew. Bae and Emma were huddled with Henry further down the edge of the park near the harbour. Henry was still wearing the heavy cloak that he had been wearing last night and looking more like his father than usual. The white of Snow White's cloak stood out on the other side while her husband rose, probably to go and get their favourite hot drinks. He wouldn't be surprised if Granny had simply turned over from hot mulled drinks to hot coffee and tea. The woman had always had a good head for business. He reached for his stick and slowly rose, offering a hand to Belle as the sky lightened before them. A new day slightly longer than the one before it, and he had Belle beside him. As the clouds began to clear, he turned to her and lost himself watching the first light of the new day play across features that he knew far better than his own. In the light of the new sun, everything was golden. It almost seemed an omen. Perhaps they would finally find their happy ending.
"Rumplestiltskin, you aren't looking at the sunrise."
"Yes, I am love, I'm looking at my own personal sun, and it's beautiful."