Together

                                    

                                          
I reached with my hands for his while preparing to answer him. Weaving our fingers together, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I began to recount to him what had happened after we last saw one another.
                          
"A few weeks after you left, I went to Corona." I felt him inhale sharply and turned my face to his. Rumple was looking down to me and was attempting to cover his pain.
                          
"You stayed in the Dark Castle for weeks after I left?" He closed his eye but a tear spilled out. I reached my hand and wiped it away then kissed his cheek. I knew him having to leave me in the Enchanted Forest was just as painful for him as for me.
                          
"Rumple, the Dark Castle is our home. It's where we first met, fell in love, were married, and conceived our children." He opened his eyes slightly towards me, I could tell he was curious as to how I was so sure the children were his. As I was looking towards him, I felt him let go of my hands and move his under my robe. He gently brushed his fingertips across my stomach, and I smiled to him. I knew he would understand everything soon.
                          
"I needed to be there for awhile so that my heart could heal." I softly spoke breaking a moment of loving silence. We met each others' gaze and he embraced my lips with his again.
                          
"I'm unworthy of your love." Rumple fondly nuzzled me as we continued our embrace, and I wondered why he couldn't realize that he deserved much more love than I could even give him.
                          
"No, it's me that isn't worthy of your love." He always protected me and did his best for me. I was heartbroken that he had been used and abused all his life. It's beautiful how much he loves despite all of that.
                          
A moment passed and I felt a little chilled. I went to grab the blanket from underneath me. Seeing what I was trying to do, Rumple swiftly grabbed the silky sheet and placed it over us. My heart skipped a beat, being so touched by his devotion. I continued speaking after snuggling under the covers and against his body. 
                          
"Should I continue?"
                          
It seemed Rumple had forgotten what we were speaking about, it took him a second before he nodded to me. I wrapped my arm around him more as I prepared to tell my tale.
                          
"Again, a few weeks after we last saw one another, I left for Corona. When I got there, I confronted my parents." I let out a heavy sigh and rubbed my temple slowly slightly. Rumple's hands had already drifted back to my stomach, his touch felt like small kisses meant to reach our babies within me. "Corona was worse than when I left. Magic was completely banned and anyone found using magic was put into prison, or worse."
                          
I closed my eyes and could see the hundreds of people behind bars for having magic. Their ages ranged from ninety to five years old - my face filled with hot anger at the thought of that child among others in the damp and cold cells. They were malnourished and scared. Many of their parents had been put to death or were also in jail - but in cells far apart from their children.
                          
"I released hundreds of innocents from their grasp then locked my parents away."  I paused to see if Rumple would say anything, but it seemed he wanted me to continue. "I held a trial for them, to show I'd be a fair and just ruler. As the evidence of their evil ways was exposed, the kingdom was horrified and demanded their execution. I crushed their hearts with my own hand."
                          
So far everything I had said was according to what Rumple and I had discussed before he'd left. He had been nodding throughout and giving reassuring touches while I was speaking, but I could tell he was anxiously waiting for me to tell him why I was in Storybrooke and about our children.
                          
"The Kingdom was running well, and nearly everyone accepted me as their new Queen. Of course, there were a few villagers who were displeased due to my magical ability, but they were mostly silenced by the others who saw my magic as an asset for us all." Absentmindedly, I allowed my hands to join his under my robe.
                          
"Yet, after three months of being in Corona, I began to feel sick. I consulted with the royal doctor and he told me I was pregnant." I sat up and turned to Rumple. I placed my hands and on his shoulders and looked him squarely in the eye. "I could barely imagine living without you for twenty-eight years; I absolutely couldn't raise our children on my own and have you miss out on their childhood."
                          
Rumple wiped the tears from my face and placed his forehead on mine. He closed his eyes, taking in everything I said. His expression went from sadness to understanding.
                          
"No child should have to grow up without their father." His words felt like a soothing balm on my heart and I once again melted into his chest. I listened to his rhythmic breathing before continuing.
                          
"The day I found out I was pregnant was the day that Regina cast the curse. I froze the time in my kingdom so that when we're ready we may go back where I left off." Reliving those moments was exhausting and I decided to rest my eyes. "I tried to get to you before the curse did, but I fell slightly short. I'm sorry, Rumple."
                          
"Don't be. We're together now." He kissed my head and laid me down on the pillow next to him. As we began to spoon, I looked at the time. I couldn't believe it was only nine in the morning. My eyelids flitted open and shut for several minutes.
                          
I must have fallen asleep because, when I opened my eyes, Rumple was gone and my phone was ringing. I groggily gazed at the clock and saw that it said 11:30 am. Being disturbed by the ring, I shifted out of bed just in time to answer Mary's call.