The baby was still. She had yet to move, yet to make a sound, as the man walked purposefully through the forest. He had expected her to cry, protesting the arms she didn't know.
A sudden breeze caused the tiniest of noises to come from her throat, but she did not wake up. The man adjusted her thick brown hair as it blew over her eyes and fixed her clothes - clothes for a princess. He almost felt guilty taking her from her perfect world of riches and fortune. Almost.
But this was what needed to be done. His actions today would begin a long chain of events that would allow him to get what he wanted, that would allow him to fix his greatest mistake.
They were almost at the end of their journey now. The man could hear the water moving close by, the sounds of frogs echoing in the dead of night. The man turned from his dirt-ridden trail, stepping through the brush, careful not to scratch the child's face. His leather boots crunched against gravel as his eyes took in the lake before him. Yes, this would do.
He located the largest stone, just beside the river bed, recognizing it immediately. The moonlight was reflecting off its surface, and the man laughed quietly to himself before placing the baby in the center.
And now he was done. He would have to wait years before he could get what he wanted. But he had waited decades already. What was another few years?
The little girl began to squirm, and it was precisely eight minutes and fifteen seconds before she woke, her cries shattering the silence.
Rumpelstiltskin waited patiently, his eagerness outweighing his annoyance with the noise.
A howl ripped through the darkness, and that was his cue to depart the scene. A pinkish cloud enveloped him, and the Dark One vanished, leaving no trace of his presence.
Seconds later, a wolf burst through the clearing, its large black ears perked up as it tried to locate the source of the sound.
Large paws ran to the river bed, stopping to stare curiously down at a baby girl. A royal.
A snarl caught in the back of its throat; it knew exactly what kind of trouble this would bring. But the wolf could no longer abandon it now that it had a pup of its own.
It lifted its head to try and find a scent, but a hand reached out for its muzzle, a curiosity lighting up the baby's bright blue eyes.
The wolf bent down cautiously and lifted the baby by the collar of its shirt.
A cold breeze suddenly blew through the open space, ruffling the wolf's fur, and it ran as carefully as it could, returning to its den.
The baby had somehow fallen asleep on the journey, and the wolf's eyes softened as it scratched at the hidden trap door, long nails scraping against the wood twice, then after a pause, once more.
It took only a few seconds before the door burst open, revealing the bright face of Quinn. "Who is that?" he asked eagerly.
The wolf patiently held the girl out to him. His little hands took her carefully, staring curiously down at her.
"She's not like us," he mumbled.
"No, she's not," the wolf replied, rising to her now human feet. "What are you doing answering the door, Quinn? You are not old enough."
"I'm four," he protested, a stubborn pout crossing over his handsome features.
The woman rolled her eyes and took the baby back, now cradling it in her arms. "And that is not old enough," she insisted, stepping into the hole behind him. "Where is your mother?"
"She went out to run."
"I thought I told her to stay here with you."
"She was going crazy," Quinn shrugged.
The trap door closed over them, and for a moment, they were shrouded in darkness, but it made no difference, their senses guiding them down the spiral stone steps. The rest of her pack was still out running, which meant she had to prolong the announcement that she had brought a human back. They would not be happy, but she didn't care. She was the alpha, so they had to listen to her. And they would.
The tall woman crossed the room to her bed, which lay next to a hand-made crib, built from the strongest wood in the forest.
She bent her head over it and smiled in relief when she saw her beautiful baby girl still sound asleep, her hair as black as her mother's, her nose as pointed as her father's.
"Did she wake after we left, Quinn?" she called over her shoulder.
"Nope," he replied, running up to her. "Red's a quiet baby."
"Yes, she is," the woman smiled wider.
"Anita!" A familiar male voice entered the room. "Where did you go?! I was worried sick!" The woman spun around as she was engulfed in a warm pair of arms.
"Careful," she whispered, glancing down at the baby, the fear rising in her heart.
"Nita ... who is this?" The man's voice was soft and questioning as his hand fell from her long black hair.
"I found her," she replied. "She didn't have anyone." Anita searched his hazel eyes desperately, watching the debate ensuing in his mind.
"And you thought bringing her here was a good idea?"
"I couldn't leave her," she whispered, glancing back at the crib. "What if that had been Red?"
His gaze softened, and he gripped her forearms lightly, pressing a firm kiss to her forehead. "Then we shall keep her."
Anita looked up at him, her eyes wet and surprised. "Really?"
"Of course." He was staring down at the baby affectionately now. "We'll have to think of a name for her."
She thought for a moment before settling on, "Belle."
"It's perfect."
"You think so?"
"I do." He kissed her lips this time, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "She's beautiful."
Her mate bent down over Red's crib and picked her up gently, almost as if he was afraid he might break her.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Kaleb?" Anita whispered, her heart bursting as she watched her love.
"If this is what you want, then this is what we shall do," he smiled. "She is a part of our family now."