Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or Tangled. If I did that would be awesome...

Deals

Thea felt peculiar, she stopped in the middle of main street, and stared. The town clock had...moved. A fuzzy feeling pressed against her head, she blinked twice. Thea looked back at the clock, of course it moved, that's what a clock does. It had moved her whole entire life in her little town of Storybrooke. Thea looked away from the clock, and continued down main street.

Eighteen years before in a place far far away...

Regina growled in frustration as her magic refused to do what she wanted.

"Why won't it work!" She exclaimed to Rumplestiltskin.

"You aren't trying hard enough, Dearie." Rumplestiltskin responded coldly. He had been working with Regina for hours today, and she had made little process.

"No! That's not it...let me use my mother's book. I will be able to do it then."

"That's cheating. You can't rely on the book all the time, otherwise you'll never learn." Rumplestiltskin said in a high pitched voice.

"I wish there was a way to store magic or enhance my magic, so I don't have to summon it from within me every time." Regina complained.

Rumplestiltskin tilted his head to the side, looking curiously at Regina.

"What?!" Regina said self consciously.

"I might have something that could do that..." Rumplestiltskin said slowly

"Show me!" Regina demanded

"...for a price." Rumplestiltskin's eye's danced as Regina deflated at his words.

"It will help me with my magic, make it so I will be able to store magic, correct?" Regina asked carefully.

"Yes, it will benefit your magical abilities." Rumplestiltskin said just as carefully as Regina had.

"Fine! What do you want?" Regina asked.

"The King must die" Rumplestiltskin whispered.

"What! I don't think I could take a life..." Regina looked conflicted

"You don't have to...just make sure he dies, it doesn't matter whether it is your hands or another."

Regina didn't answer.

"He doesn't love you. His heart lies with Snow White, as does the whole kingdom. He was the reason Daniel died. He deserves to die..." Rumplestiltskin whispered persuasively.

"I will do it..." Regina started.

"Good"

"...on my own time. I chose when it happens, but you have to give me the object now. Deal?"

"You are a tricky one" Rumplestiltskin smiled at Regina, "Deal...don't forget your part of the bargain."

"I won't" Regina said tersely. "Now your end..."

Rumplestiltskin gave a laugh, "Oh dearie, I don't have it yet."

"But-"

"I'll let you know when you know when I've got it."

"I am not going to kill the King, until I have it." Regina said stiffly

"I wouldn't want it any other way" Rumplestiltskin smiled, "you shouldn't trust me...but know this I never break deals." And Rumplestiltskin vanished.

"I hate it when he does that" Regina grumbled.

Rumplestiltskin walked down a corridor like he owned the place, when in fact he didn't.

"You can't be here sir" A guard had the audacity to try to block Rumplestiltskin from entering a door.

Rumplestiltskin barely gave the guard a glance, he just flicked his wrist, the guard was thrown backward ten feet slamming into the wall.

The room he entered was a magnificent throne room, there were lines of guards against the wall, and a King sitting on the throne at the very end of the room. The guards tried to capture Rumplestiltskin, but he vanished. Only to reappear behind the King holding a dagger to his throat.

"Get out of this room" Rumplestiltskin said softly.

The guards didn't move.

"I have business to discuss with your king. Leave." Rumplestiltskin demanded in his high pitched voice, removing the dagger from the king's throat.

"Go...I...I'll be fine" The king stammered.

The guards shuffled out of the throne room, glancing back every now and then. Rumplestiltskin raised his hand and the door shut behind them.

"Seems like you've increased security since I was here last." Rumplestiltskin commented with an evil smile.

"Most definitely" the King said with a grimace, his moustache twitched in agitation.

"Anyways, I came to see how your Queen is doing...did that flower I gave you help?" Rumplestiltskin asked

"Yes it helped her very much. She has had a great recovery. The kingdom of Corona is ever in your thanks."

"I don't want their thanks, if you remember we made a deal. If I remember correctly, and I always do, you said you would give anything to have your Queen safe and sound." Rumplestiltskin said dangerously.

"Ah...yes. I haven't forgotten about that." The king said nervously

"Your Queen she had her baby, while she was taking the flower...correct?" Rumplestiltskin asked

"Yes, I don't know what that has to do with anything. I have many of riches, I can offer you all of them." The king said, trying to distract Rumplestiltskin.

"Everyone forgets...I make gold!" Rumplestiltskin said, annoyed at the stupidity of this king. "No, I don't want your riches. I want your girl."

"What girl?" The king asked defensively.

"Your wife, she had a child did she not? And that child, was it not a girl?" Rumplestiltskin asked, twisting his hands about in the air.

"I...yes." The king sunk down in despair. "You don't mean to take her?"

"Haven't you heard the stories? I have a past of taking babies" Rumplestiltskin laughed.

"I can't just give you my only child."

"You said anything... are you going back on your side of the bargain? 'Cause if you do, I'll take back the life I saved." Rumplestiltskin threatened.

The pain and shock was visible of the poor king's face. It was clear he was not able to let his wife die.

"That's what I thought" Rumplestiltskin said smugly.

"Can you promise that wherever you take my daughter she will be safe, and no harm will come to her?"

"I can assure you that I will keep watch over her doings. But I cannot be held responsible for what others do to her. Understood?"

"Yes" the King got up, "Do you have to take her now?" He pleaded

"Yes. Lead the way."

Both men walked throughout the castle, the guards who were in the throne room looked after them in a confused manner, but didn't question the king, as it was not their place.

The King held a door open for Rumplestiltskin, who waltzed in with a childish glee.

"Ah M'lady you look so well" Rumplestiltskin said with a grand air, and swoop of his hands.

"I am thanks to you." The Queen said demurely, holding her child closer to her chest, as if she could prevent such a horrid creature as the Dark One from tainting her daughter. She shot a quizical look towards her husband. The King frowned, and shook his head slowly. Dread filled the Queen.

"Did you know that your dear husband promised me anything to heal you?" Rumplestiltskin asked coming closer to her.

"No I did not"

"Too bad for you, I've come to collect my prize."

"Your prize is?"

Rumplestiltskin pointed to the little bundle in the Queen's arms.

The Queen's face turned ashen gray with horror. "You don't mean..." The Queen glanced questionably at her husband. "Honey?" Her voice went up a pitch.

"It is the only way, he will take what he gave otherwise." The King pleaded with his wife coming up to her side. "He would take your life."

"And so you trade the life of our daughter!" The Queen said angrily

"No! I would never!"

"Actually I need her alive, in case you two were wondering. She will not come to any substantial harm while she is with me." Rumplestiltskin interrupted the arguing couple.

"Why should we trust you?!" The Queen shouted, "How dare you try to take away my only child!"

"I never break my deals. I am a man of my word." Rumplestiltskin tilted his head to the side.

The Queen tried to interrupt, "You could just-"

"I tire of this, clearly you don't know who you are dealing with." Rumplestiltskin snatched the child.

"No!" The Queen yelled, and she started to sob. The King rubbed her back awkwardly.

"It is for the best, my darling." He said stiffly, knowing that he couldn't live without her, but he was unsure if she could live with him after this.

"What a pretty daughter." Rumplestiltskin commented, staring at the little babe in his

arms. He fingered the blonde hair, glancing up at her parent's brunette hair.

The Queen sobbed harder, knowing there was nothing she could do.

"One last thing... What is her name?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"Her name is Rapunzel." The King said softly.

"A unique name for a unique girl...it fits." And Rumplestiltskin vanished, leaving the parents alone and childless.