Jefferson hadn't started off with his quest meaning to kidnap the wife of Rumpelstiltskin. It had just…happened. It was one of those things that had seemed like a good idea at the time. There was only one person that scared Regina and that was Mr. Gold. He'd observed her discomfort and fear several times when they talked and he observed them with his telescope.
It had been a simple plan and he didn't stop to think about the repercussions when he was blinded by the hate he felt toward Regina for her double cross. He had let Belle go to get Rumpelstiltskin angry. But Gold, was he knew was Rumpelstiltskin would not do anything out of gratitude. Rumpelstiltskin never felt gratitude to anyone and he didn't like owing them. So rather than getting caught up in a deal where Rumpelstiltskin could rewrite Jefferson's history as anyway he saw fit…he did something he thought was better. His deal with Regina was still unfulfilled on her part. He would just go off that. He would use Rumpelstiltskin's anger toward Regina and hold Dagian here to make sure that Rumpelstiltskin used that fear Regina had on him to follow through on her deal and rewrite his and Grace's memories here.
It wasn't until she was talking to him about how his plan was flawed that he realized what a bad idea this was. If something went wrong….
And something did go wrong, just what on earth was this purple cloud surrounding them?
He sat tensely and was only slightly aware that her hand slipped away from his arm.
When the haze started to dissipate he looked at his…guest and sat that she was slumped over in her seat.
Oh no, no, no, no….
"Dawn?" he asked and pulled her back so she was laying against her seat. Something was wrong….
Oh that was just his luck.
He saw the water pooling between her legs and realized from his personal experiences with his wife and sister and other women heavy with child that her water had broken.
Oh Gods, everything WAS going wrong.
0000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000
Once Upon A Time
When Dagian first woke up the news about her village's slaughter and that of her family's was such a heavy crushing feeling on her chest that she couldn't move. She couldn't think. She could only stare ahead at the ceiling or the wall when the propped her up to try and get her to eat. She knew someone was barking commands somewhere and demanding that she answer some questions but she couldn't bring her mind to focus.
Everything she knew was gone. She'd watched her father…her strong general father get cut down just as the ogres fired arrows and spears at her. When she lay there holding his hand she was sure that she was going to die.
But here she was. She was certain someone had told her she was lucky but what did they know? It wasn't luck to survive when all your loved ones were dead and you had to watch. It was a horror.
It was the fourth day before she finally gave in and focused on the world that she felt like she was drifting in. Her throat was so dry and it hurt her because she refused to drink anything as well as eat. She must be running a fever as well because whoever rescued her had bundled her up so tight.
She recognized the man putting on a fresh tunic as the one that had found her. He had his back to her so that she couldn't see his face but she just…knew it was him. This was the man that saved her life.
He turned and realized she was watching him change and the first thing she noticed about him was his eyes. Big beautiful brown ones that softened as soon as they saw her.
He blushed and buttoned his tunic, "I should tell the doctors you're awake."
"Water-," she whispered and even that felt taxing.
He hesitated and then brought her a canteen and helped her sit up, "Don't drink it too fast and don't drink too much."
Her hand brushed against his and she didn't feel like she got enough before he pulled it away. HE was worried about giving her too much while she was dehydrated, she understood that. That didn't make her any less frustrated though.
The man seemed uncomfortable with being alone with her and stood up awkwardly when he realized that he was sitting on the bed with her, "I'm going to go…get someone who knows how to help you."
0000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000
With the time it came to recover, Dagian came to appreciate the man called Rumpelstiltskin. He was older than her, about mid-thirties while she was 20 but he blushed like a boy in his youth. She found it endearing especially with the way he stumbled over his words when they did talk. However most of the time it wasn't talking. Most days they'd sit in silence at the wheel together and as she got stronger then she'd help him. But sometimes she couldn't even do that. Sometimes the memories were too hard for her to bear so she…shut herself off and tried not to think or do anything because she was afraid she would break.
During those days when Rumpelstiltskin didn't talk to her or try to entertain her with stories, he just sat next to her and held her hand.
And then some time during her healing and the winter they'd spent in that house, Dagian fell in love with Rumpelstiltskin.
0000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000
Before Dagian was fully awake she felt someone was right next to her.
She was also aware that her head was turned in a painful position and it was hurting her neck.
"Wake up," she heard someone telling her, "Dawn…wake up."
Everything that she was just through came flooding back and instinct took over. Her eyes flew open and she saw the gun on the dash. IF she could get ahold of it then she could point it in his pretty boy face and demand he take her home.
The madman was faster however, grabbed her wrists and forced her backwards in the seat.
"Listen to me," he said and moved his hands from her wrists to her shoulders, "Your water has broken. Your baby is coming. I have to get you inside."
"You have to get me to the hospital," she said and gasped in pain at the contractions hit her hard.
"I don't think we'll have time for that," he said. His intent was clear though. She was going to stay up here until her purpose was served.
Oh, she was going to kill him if she survived this.
Another contraction hit her and more water pooled between her legs. It wouldn't stop and she felt disgusted and humiliated.
"I was there when my wife gave birth to my daughter," he told her as if that was meant to comfort her, "I delivered my daughter and some other children in my village. I know what to do."
She would rather have someone with a false memory deliver her daughter. At least Rumpelstiltskin would've been there.
He helped her up the stairs and pulled her inside.
And she was reminded how utterly alone she was.
