Rumple is being unbearable, really short tempered. David quietly asks Belle to do something before Rumple starts turning people into snails again. Belle knows what is wrong, it’s approaching Neal’s birthday. She tries to talk with Rumple about it but he’s practically phobic on the subject, he can’t bear any mention of Neal at all.
Belle takes Rumple up to his cabin to try and distract him, or at least keep him away from the townspeople for a few days. Eventually Belle realizes that Rumple never got to say goodbye. He was still Zelena’s prisoner during the funeral. So she takes him out to the lake and they make a magic box ever-burning candle light in remembrance, sending it floating out into the lake.
A few days later Henry asks Belle about the candle on the lake and Belle tells him. He asks whether Rumple would mind if he lit one for his dad as well. Belle, rather choked up, says she thinks Rumple would like that but she’ll check. Later that evening Rumple, Belle and Henry go to the lake and do a candle for Neal from Henry. Before they leave Henry hesitantly asks if he can do another candle, this time for Graham. Rumple agrees, admitting that he’d liked Graham too.
The next day Henry is in the Charming loft and the topic comes up. Snow thinks it’s sweet and says she’d like to do a candle for her parents. Henry is horrified and says that she can’t because it was Rumple’s thing for Neal and they can’t just do the same without asking. He says he’ll ask and he goes and talks to Belle. She isn’t sure because Rumple can be quite possessive but he overhears the conversation, and much to their surprise says that it’s fine.
Later that evening, Belle and Rumple are back at the cabin, watching the lake get more and more candles of remembrance on it. Belle asks why he let the town use his goodbye for his son. Rumple, eyes fixed on the candle he sent out for Neal, says that now Bae isn’t alone. He also says that Bae would have approved, that he was always the better man and he would have said anything that brought a little light to the world was a good thing. That it was a fine way to honor him.
How did you pack so much beauty into such a short story? That was incredibly moving…..thank you!
Thank you so much! 🙂 It’s more of a summary of a story, than an actual story but it gets the point across. Maybe one day I will flesh it out.
“Now Bae isn’t alone.”
THANKS IM’ DEAD FROM SAD NOW. But it was beautiful.😢
Oh no don’t be dead from sad. Although it was kinda sad /sniff I still miss Neal. @woodelf68 @beastlycheese thank you all for your kind comments!