𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑳𝒀 - Rumplestiltskin [2]

forty eight

48|PROTECTION

Celeste sat at Granny's watching the fairies work as she stared daggers at the coffee machine, knowing she was not allowed a cup. She reluctantly sipped her tea, happy the fairies did not need her assistance yet and allowed her to rest her swollen feet.

"What do you want?" She spun around at the sound of the Blue Fairy addressing the person at the door, shocked to see her husband.

"Excuse me, but I'd like to borrow my wife." Rumpel waltzed over to his silent and confused wife.

"What's wrong?" Celeste slowly stood up, quickly embracing him before holding his hands, curious as to why he wanted her.

"I need you at the shop for a short while." He kissed her temple, ignoring the glares he was receiving.

"We need her." The Blue Fairy cut in, not caring about their quiet conversation.

"This is very important." Celeste reminded him, knowing they would need her in a moment. "We're close to some sort of vaccine."

"Of course." His smile was replaced with a fake one, Celeste being the only one to read through his facade. "Well, until you can go, I'll just keep you company. Perhaps I'll be helpful."

"This is light magic, Dark One." The Blue Fairy waltzed up to the man with a look of anger.

"Then why do you need my wife?" Rumpel snarled at the woman. "Her magic isn't light magic either. Maybe I'll learn something today."

"Behave." Celeste kissed her husbands cheek and sat back down, flicking through a book while sipping her herbal tea.

Their peaceful moment of potion brewing was disturbed as Emma burst into the diner, the rest of the heroes following close behind.

"The necklace, do you have it?" She jumped up, remembering what they were supposed to be doing.

"It's right here." Emma passed the Blue Fairy the small velvet bag.

"It's pebbles from the mine." The Fairy stated, pouring the pebbles on to her palm.

"What?"

"Where is it?"

"She tricked us so she can use it to keep tracking down her damn sister." Regina snapped, snarling at the fact Elsa betrayed the town. "I should know better than to trust blondes by now."

"Amen." Celeste piped in, grinning at Regina before sending Emma a wink.

"We have to go back and get it." Emma sighed, regretting putting trust into Elsa.

"No. It's too late." She shook her head at Emma, looking over the potion.

"Too late? Already?" Snow burst, worrying over her family.

"By the time you get back here, yes." Celeste explained, sipping her tea as she perched herself back on the edge of her stool. "Without Anna being here physically, there's no way to make a counter spell in time."

"Time for a nope speech? Virtues of blind faith?" Regina stated sarcastically to Snow.

"Well, it seems Elsa's blind faith is exactly what's screwing us right now." Snow growled with anger causing Celeste to giggle into her teacup at the outburst.

"Coming from you, that's just terrifying."

"Well, I'm not giving up." Emma stated with determination. "I know she's down in the mines looking for Anna. I'm gonna help Elsa find her."

"Well, then go." Charming sighed, nodding in understanding to his daughter. "Because right now, that's our only shot."

"How are you feeling to day?" Rumpel mumbled down to his wife, his hand on her stomach lovingly.

"Tired." Celeste smiled up at him, leaning her head on his shoulder as his arm wrapped around her waist. She jumped in fright as her phone buzzed in her pocket. "So, Anna's on her way." She announced to the group, reading her text aloud.

"I mean, do you really think they can do it?" Her attention moved to her husband, a worried look on her usually peaceful face.

"Perhaps." He cupped her hands, stopping her from fidgeting. "But if there's one thing I've learned, it's never trust a fairy. Come, let's get you someplace safe. Just in case."

"Fine." Celeste allowed him to drag her out of the diner and back to his shop. "For the baby."

"You'll be safe in here." Rumpel opened the door to his store, letting her inside.

"So, you can keep the spell out?" She asked curiously.

"No, but we must be separated." He sighed, cupping her cheek as he looked deeply into her ocean eyes, becoming distracted for a moment. "As Dark One, I may be immune to this spell, but you can still hurt me. Go inside, and stay in the back room. I'm gonna seal it with a protection spell so no one can get to you."

"Okay." She sighed, looking down with worry.

"Look, I'll be back soon." He kissed her temple, lips lingering as he held her close. "And then, we're gonna be together. And we're gonna be fine. I promise."

Celeste leaned up, connecting their lips breifly, hands in his hair as a tear rolled down her cheek. She sat in the backroom, feeling the spell fall over the store.