Epilogue:

3 weeks later, Rumpelstiltskin came in the door to the coral house on Dogwood Avenue to laughter from the kitchen. He hung his coat in the foyer and made his way back to the sunny room from where the sound was emanating. Standing in the doorway silently, the pawn broker smiled watching the scene.

Belle was covered in flour from her pretty little head to her pretty little bare feet. She was flanked on either side by Henry and Grace Hatter, who were plopping cookie dough on a baking sheet with their hands. Every once in a while a small pinch of flour would go flying from one of them to the other and the giggles would start again.

The last three weeks had been wonderful for his beloved beauty. It was true that Henry and Grace visited the house (and the kitten) more than adult company, but Emma had also been for dinner at least once, and had invited Belle out to a "girls' night" with Snow and Red twice. He couldn't have gotten a better bargain for a deal with the princeling. His Belle's happiness and slow acceptance by Storybrooke for a few cat hairs left on his trouser legs. Yes, he definitely got the lion's share of this agreement. It was the kitten that finally gave his presence in the doorway away to the others.

Three heads turned from the counter to the small meowing sound, to see the, now growing, kitten rubbing his little black nose lovingly against Mr. Gold's cane. Another round of giggles ensued.

"Well?" Belle asked cheerfully as she rubbed her hands on the apron that had not protected much of her from the flour. "How did it go?"

"Did you find anything?" Henry chirped.

"I think you can ask her yourself," Mr. Gold returned as the sound of Emma's VW pulling up reached them. Moments later she sauntered into the kitchen and plopped down in a chair in the breakfast nook. Henry gave her all of 5 seconds before demanding, "Well?!"

Emma shrugged, "It didn't go quite as planned…" She examined her nails as if they were the most important thing in the world. "We're not going to be moving any time soon."

"Oh," Henry managed, as Belle put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Emma couldn't keep up the façade for long she grinned (as much as she could) and let the news spill with a small look to Mr. Gold. "Actually, Snow and James have found a house. Mr. Gold has graciously allowed me to take over Snow's lease on the apartment. So, in two weeks…I think we should have a place ready for-" she came up short. She didn't know the damned cat's name.

Henry smiled. He knew that Emma was trying to remember the kitten's name in vain, because he hadn't named him, yet. "Spindle," he said interrupting her and shooting a shy look to Mr. Gold. "His name is Spindle."

Author's Note: Thank you SO much for your encouragement and kind reviews. I really enjoyed writing this little fluff. I may write another soon, but it definitely won't be as fluffy. However, I probably would keep it rated K+ or T, to keep with what could be actually shown on TV. THANKS!