Shhhh... What I am about to tell you is top secret. No one can know this tale. It is a tale of lust, love, romance, horror, greed, and above all else a story that is one hundred percent true. Make your own call, your own decision but every word spoken here is the truth. And it all started many, many years ago...

The Enchanted Forest

It was a dark and cold night in the Enchanted Forest as six horses pulled a carriage along the back of them. Spashing through water and mud as the lightning flashed and rain began pouring down hard. The horses galloped past the gates to Leopold's castle as they stopped in front of the door. A man who was controlling the carriage stepped down and opened up the door as a woman climbed out. Through the wind and rain one could not see her face as she made her way to the door's.

Inside, Leopold sat in the Great Hall. A couple of guards ran inside to tell him that someone was here and it wasn't a leisure visit but before they reached the King they both exploded. Both their helmets dropping down to the ashes that were once men. King Leopold was in shock before he turned his gaze from them and to the figure that emerged. She walked up in front of him and when he saw her face, he swallowed hard. "What is it that you want?" He asked, his voice shakey.

"Your wife, Queen Regina is with child and we both know that it isn't yours. The kingdom will fall if the information were to get in to the wrong hands." The female said.

"And why would you care?" Leopold asked as the woman looked up with him, a smile branded across her face.

"I don't." The woman said, "All I care about is what you can offer me if I were to take care of the problem."

"What do you want?" Leopold asked, "And what would you do?!"

"What I would do to the child takes care of us both." The woman said, "I want the child for myself and I will raise him or her to kill."

King Leopold was shocked that this woman was so blunt about what she wanted to do with the child. "Out of the question!" Leopold exclaimed, "You will never touch this child! Ever!"

"Oh but you're mistaken." The woman said, "You think I'm asking. I'm not. I am here to warn you."

Leopold knew who stood before him just by the word's spoken. "You shall never have this child, Rumplestiltskin!" Leopold exclaimed.

The image of a strange woman in a black shawl had stood before Leopold but now she laughed Rumplestiltskin's trademark laugh. "Can't fool you now, can I?" She asked as a cloud of purple smoke clouded around her and when it cleared, Rumplestiltskin stood there. "Isn't that just too bad?"

"Get out of here!" Leopold demandedof the imp.

"Oh no you see? Cora and I made a deal long ago." Rumplestiltskin said, "She fooled me more then once. I was suppose to have her first born child but her first born, as you know, was already born. Then she changed the contract on me. She tricked me. She never even thought of leaving with me."

"What's this have to do with me?" Leopold asked.

"Now I'm going to take her first born grandchild." Rumplestiltskin said, his tone laced with darkness.

"I won't let you take this child from Regina." Leopold said.

"Why?" Rumplestiltskin asked, "Why risk everything in your Kingdom for a woman you don't even love? For a woman you bar to the kingdom with no freedom? To a child who isn't even yours?"

"Because this child is all the Queen has left of the Stable Boy." Leopold said, "Knowing what it is to love and lose I will not do it!"

Rumplestiltskin just stared a moment before bringing a finger to his bottom lip. "Do what you must but so will I." Rumplestiltskin said as he turned on his heel and made for the doors, "That baby shall be mine no matter where you hide her!" Rumplestiltskin left the castle leaving Leopold with his thoughts. And they were not good thoughts.

Once Upon A Time

It was a month after the unwanted meeting with King Leopold and Rumplestiltskin. A young Snow White ran through the halls of her kingdom on the search for Leopold. When she had finally found him in the Great Hall, where it seemed he always was, she ran over to him. "Father!" She exclaimed, as she approached him.

"What is it, Snow?" Leopold asked, slightly concerned.

"Regina!" Snow exclaimed, "She's having the baby!"

Leopold looked out the window and then to Snow. He knew what that had meant. The promise that imp had made a month ago. "Run!" He said, "Get the midwife and Johanna, quickly!"

"The midwife is already in there with her." Snow said.

"Then get Johanna!" Leopold exclaimed as Snow nodded and then ran off.

At Rumplestiltskin's castle, he looked through a crystal ball at both Leopold and Snow running about the castle. The panic in Leopold's eyes knowing what was coming next. "Go ahead, dearie." Rumplestiltskin said, "Tell Regina the child is in danger. If the child is taken somewhere else, I will only get what I want."

Leopold went down the hall and by the door to Regina's bed chamber as he heard her screams. He stood waiting as he then saw Snow and Johanna make their way down. "What is it you're majesty?" Johanna asked.

"The Queen is in labor." Leopold responded, "Her child is in grave danger. I need to speak with her and let her make the decision but if I know the Queen she will want her child safe. You must get ready for a journey and ask two of the guards to go with you. Then you must find a safe place for the child. Can you do this?"

Johanna thought a moment before nodding. "Of course sire." Johanna said, as she walked off, "I'll be back in a jif."

Snow stood there looking at her father, tears swelling in her eyes. "What is it my child?" Leopold asked.

"I was looking forward to having a little sister or brother to take care of." Snow said as Leopold knelt to her level and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Letting her go, is the best way to take care of her right now." Leopold said.

Snow didn't like it but she nodded her head. "Yes father." She said as Leopold stood again. He knew this was hurting Snow as well, but the only way to save the child was by letting go. Something they all had to do. Especially Regina.

Inside of the room, Regina let out one last scream as she pushed. A baby's cry was heard as the midwife smiled. "It's a girl." She said, "And my, for a new born she sure does have a lot of hair."

Regina took in a deep breath and smiled, as she laid her head back against the pillow's. The midwife cleaned the baby off before wrapping the infant up in a blanket and setting her in Regina's arms. Regina wrapped her up a bit tighter as she looked down at her daughter. Her hair so blonde it was nearly white. Her eyes bluer then the ocean. Regina placed her lips on the infants forehead and kissed her gently. "My beautiful girl." Regina whispered, "I promise to always love you and never let anything happen to you. To always give you happiness and freedom. My little Goldilocks."

"Goldilocks?" The midwife asked, "That's a new one. But it suits her perfectly. Tis beautiful, miss."

The hatred and darkness that resided in Regina's heart over her fallen love, Daniel had lightened. Because now in her arms laid her beautiful baby girl who was a part of Daniel. A part of her. Tears of joy streamed down Regina's cheeks as she placed another soft kiss to the babies temple. That's when Leopold burst in and looked at the midwife, who had jumped slightly at the sudden entrance. "Leave us," Leopold said to the midwife, "Please?"

The midwife nodded before setting a baby blanket down beside Regina in case she needed it and then did as she was directed and walked out of the room. Leopold shut the door behind her, slightly more gentle then he was a moment ago. He made his way to the bed, beside Regina as he looked down at the infant and couldn't help the smile that formed across his pale face. Not only was this one of the most precious new born's he had ever seen, aside from Snow, but he saw something in Regina he had never seen before. Happiness. True and pure happiness. But his smile quickly faded and his stomach tightened at the thought to why he was here. He had to rip that happiness away from his Queen. Regina looked up and saw the look of despair on Leopold's face. "What is it?" She asked.

Leopold took in a deep breath as he began pacing the floor. "Your daughter is in danger, my Queen." Leopold said.

Regina's face fell as she bit her bottom lip and looked down at Goldilocks and then back at Leopold. "Danger?" Regina asked.

"Someone has threatened the infant." Leopold said, "Threatened to take her away. I've spoke to Johanna who is getting ready for a journey to take the child some where's safe. That is, on your word. I shall leave that decision up to you."

Regina looked at Goldilocks again before shaking her head. She couldn't let her go. She just, couldn't. This was her child, and it was her job to be there for her. "I can protect her." Regina said.

"From forces like this, my Queen?" Leopold asked, "Do you know what you're getting yourself in to?"

"Yes I do." Regina said, even though she had no idea what kind of danger her daughter was in, "And I will die to protect her!"

"And if you are dead they will take her anyways!" Leopold exclaimed before his voice softened, "Get the child somewhere safe. In a few years you can find her again. When you know she will be okay."

"And if I am not to know where it is Johanna is taking her, how will I know her when I see her?" Regina asked.

"A mother always knows her child." Leopold responded.

Regina swallowed back her tears and looked down at Goldilocks again. She took her index finger and rubbed it against Goldilocks' knuckles. Goldilocks opened up her hand and took her mother's finger as she held on like her life depended on it. This small action of affection is what drew her tears out. Regina knew what she had to do but she didn't want to. In her mind, this 'danger' was her mother but how? She was so careful. She never mentioned her pregnancy to her mother. Okay maybe once but after what her mother had responded with, Regina had erased Cora's memory of that specific conversation. A piece of magic she used that let her know that if she wanted to push her mother through the looking glass, she could. And she did. Which is why Regina was so confused. How did she get out? How did she know? And then one name came to her mind. The one who wanted her to learn magic so badly. "Rumplestiltskin." Regina whispered to herself.

Rumplestiltskin sat at his table in his castle as he watched all of this unfold before him. He then looked to his left to ten men all with leather masks over their faces. Obviously men with power who owed the Dark One a price. "It's time for this show to begin." Rumplestiltskin said, "You know what to do."

Rumplestiltskin waved his hand over the men as they disappeared in a cloud of smoke and reappearing by the gates of Leopold's castle. They took out their swords and axes as they walked towards the castle. One took out an arrow and blew on the tip. It grew hot with fire. He put it to his bow and shot off the arrow and as it approached the roof it multiplied in to a dozen arrows all on fire as they flew through the sky with procession and it took out each and every one of the now running for their lives, men. The lead of the men working for Rumplestiltskin, walked over to the castle doors and killed the men on guard with one swish of his sword. He walked through the door, as if he were a ghost, using magic as he turned and opened it up for the rest of the men who swarmed the castle quickly.

In Regina's bed chamber, a guard ran in without knocking. "Sire!" He exclaimed, "We're under attack!"

"You! Get Snow and Johanna in to this room along with two guards chosen by Johanna." Leopold commanded as the guard nodded and then ran out.

Leopold walked out as well as he closed the door to Regina's room. Snow? She was the reason all of this was happening in the first place. If she had of kept her mouth shut, Daniel would still be alive and she and him would have their daughter in a safe location away from all of this. Regina's heart began going dark again but that's when Goldilocks began to cry. Regina's heart swelled with love and protection as Goldilocks cried. She cradled her close in her arms and began rocking her back and forth as she sang a lullaby. Goldilocks quieted just as Johanna, Snow and the two guards came through the door. "Have you made a decision you're majesty?" Johanna asked.

Regina stopped singing as she looked at Johanna and then at Snow. She then looked down at Goldilocks who was cooing and reaching for her mother's finger yet again. Regina put her finger down as Goldilocks latched on yet again. "I have." Regina said as she sniffled a bit before looking to Johanna, "You have to promise me she's going to be safe."

"I promise you that, you're majesty." Johanna said, "I'd die myself before a blade came an inch to her skin."

Regina nodded her head as she looked at Snow. She blamed the child for all of this but Snow looked at Goldilocks like a little sister. The way she spoke of the child before she was even born, Regina knew she loved her. Though Snow did know she was not her sister by blood. Regina motioned Snow over with a small nod. Snow walked over beside her as Regina gave her the baby. Snow cradled her close as she looked at Regina. Both in shock and sympathy for even as a child she knew what was happening. "Stand over by the guards with her." Regina said, "If the door opens do not think twice. Hand her over to Johanna as quick as you can."

"You have my word." Snow said as she walked over with Goldilocks in her arms and over to where the guards stood. Regina pushed the blankets off of her as she stood. "You shouldn't be moving, ma'am." Johanna pleaded.

"I'll be fine." Regina said as she walked over to her dresser.

Johanna pursed her lips in to a thin line. Regina said it nicely the first time but Johanna knew if she pressed on that Regina wouldn't be so nice a second time. Regina opened up a drawer and took out some parchment. She sat down at her table and took a quill in hand as she wrote a letter. She then took out a satchel that had Daniels name on it and put the letter inside along with a necklace Regina had taken off just now. She grabbed a baby blanket as well that was knitted by Cora when she was just a baby. "Cora may be no kind of a grandmother but she is still your grandmother no matter what." Regina said as she put that in as well.

Prince Henry ran inside as Snow not knowing who it was, went over and passed the baby to Johanna. "There is so much blood shed." Prince Henry said, "What ever it is you're doing you must do it quickly. They are almost here."

Regina nodded her head before walking over to Johanna and handing her the satchel. "If anyone besides Goldilocks reads the letter inside or wears the necklace inside I will make it my personal duty to find them and murder them." Regina said, "This letter will ensure that I will one day be reunited with my daughter. But only if it is only her that reads it. You must make this clear to whoever is taking care of her."

Johanna nodded her head before scrunching her eyebrows. "Wouldn't it be easier to tell you who I'm sending her off with?" Johanna asked.

Regina shook her head. "It is better and safer for her if I never know where she is and if she never knows who I am." Regina said.

"But the letter?" A confused Johanna asked.

"It doesn't give any information about me." Regina said as she took Goldilocks in her arms.

Regina turned away from everyone with her infant child as she looked at her. "One day my darling daughter, we will be reunited. And that day will be the happiest day I know. I love you." Regina kissed her forehead before turning and handing her back to Johanna.

They could all hear the fighting getting closer and closer. Regina led Johanna over by the guards. "My magic is strong enough to get the four of you to the path outside of the castle." Regina said, "You must take it from there and please don't let anything happen to her."

"You can count on me, ma'am." Johanna said.

Regina usually never trusted anyone but the look in Johanna's eyes spoke business when it came to a child. Regina looked at Goldilocks for the last time. "Goodbye, my Goldilocks." Regina said, sadly as she waved her hand over her, Johanna and the guards and they disappeared.

Not five seconds later the men broke in to the room. They looked around as one grabbed Regina by the arm. "Where is she?!" He demanded.

"Safe." Regina said with a cocky smile.

The man let go of Regina. He wasn't at all happy as he walked over to her mirror and looked inside of it. "The child is gone!" He exclaimed, although all he could see was his own reflection. He knew the Dark One would be watching.

And indeed he was. Rumplestiltskin sat at his table looking at his own mirror, at the guard with a twisted and dark smile. "Excellent!" He said with his trademark laugh, that no one could hear but he, himself.