Sunday. Minimum 7 sentences.
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Their guests gone, Belle stacked the plates and started her way to the kitchen. Rumpelstiltskin followed her with the glasses they had used for the so-called family dinner, humming distractedly as he helped load up the dishwasher.
The evening had started on a tense note, as Regina still took offense at the Darling brothers' actions while under Pan's thumb. However, the men were apologetic enough to soothe even the Evil Queen's anger.
It helped that Regina could certainly understand going to extremes to protect a beloved child.
"That went well," he said when his hands were free, and immediately reached for his wife. "Thank you for convincing me to invite Bae's friends. I'd have tossed the Charmings out before dessert, I'm sure."
Belle turned sideways, giving him an incredulous look. "That was a disaster, Rumple."
Rumpelstiltskin frowned. There had been no yelling, no threats, and no magic shooting around. "What are you talking about, sweetheart?"
"Henry is sweet on Wendy."
Well, yes. Anyone with sense could see that. His grandson had inherited his subtlety from Regina - to wit, he stared at the Darling girl with hearts in his eyes and monopolized her attention.
It was rather cute.
Belle appeared not to share that opinion. "Wendy isn't interested in Henry."
Rumpelstiltskin shrugged. In their family, a little prepubescent romantic disappointment wasn't a huge problem. "He'll get over it. Or maybe he'll change her mind." He chuckled, tightening his grasp enough to land a playful kiss on her cheek. "We are men of great charisma, I'm told."
Belle rolled her eyes.
"Maybe a little too much charisma. That girl is still stuck on your son."
That was also obvious.
"For all she's been alive for two centuries, she's twelve at heart. Puppy love passes soon."
Belle still frowned. "It's still weird."
Rumpelstiltskin laughed. "My son's best friend used to be his mom's lover. And though we all pretend otherwise, Miss Swan has taken an interest on the bastard." He took a deep breath, as he usually did when the pirate came up, and returned to the subject at hand. "Wendy's little crush doesn't even register on the weird scale to Bae."
"I guess..."
He twirled them around so they were face to face, and kissed her forehead. "You married into quite the unconventional family, sweetheart. But we make it work, don't we?"
Belle smiled. "It has been weeks since anyone tried to kill the other," she agreed.
"Best of all, we don't need to have them over for another couple of months at least."
"Want the house all to ourselves, don't you?"
Rumpelstiltskin tilted her head up and smiled. "Yes, indeed." He gave a quick kiss to her lips. "I'm happy when it's just the two of us."
The End
28/04/24