From Tumblr: Anon Ask - Will ABoT!Rumple and Belle ever make love using magic?

[nym_wibbly]

Will BOTRumple ever use magic to make love to Belle (and will she ever let him?)
~ Anonymous

Good question! Belle does seem to be overcoming her suspicion of magic in general, while becoming more aware of Rumple’s magical issues. It would come naturally to him to use magic, I think, which would mean he’s been restraining himself all this time in the face of her disapproval. He read a lot more into her initial refusal of his magic than Belle actually meant by it. In one sense she was spot on in discouraging him from hiding himself and the difficulties of their relationship behind magic, but in another sense she rejected a part of Rumple that means a great deal to him. The trust is there now, on both sides, so I’d be sort of surprised if they didn’t explore the possibilities, especially if Belle gets hold of the idea that Rumple’s emotions fuel and direct his magic - that he can do different magic using his love for her than he’s used to doing with his anger and bitterness.

The show never got into the question of whether light magic carries less of a “price” than dark magic. ABoT!Rumple has been keen from the start to avoid tangling Belle up in his own magical mess, generally agreeing with her that using magic to heal her faster would be a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution. Limiting her exposure. He respects her caution because he shares it, in spite of himself and in spite of the Dark One. Because the show never nailed magic down in terms of cost/benefit, neither did I, but I wrote my story assuming they’d get around to it in the end, leaving room in ABoT to tweak things along whatever lines the canon eventually ran with. But they didn’t, so I guess I can do whatever I want!

Recreational magic, love magic, sex magic… couples magic… there’s probably an entirely new epic storyline to be had there, nevermind spicing up A Bed of Thorns!