My first Once Upon A Time fanfic. I didn't intend this to be multiple chapters but I will do so if I get enough encouraging reviews. Anyway, enjoy the read! -KS

SNAP!
The noise came from upstairs. Evidently whatever had been snapped had snapped in midair because it was followed by a loud thump. Which was then followed by a string of loud Highland curses.
"Who could that be, I wonder?" thought Rumpelstiltskin as he sat as his wheel and spun. "I haven't had any visitors besides the Queen since..." He trailed off with a sad look on his face as a bouncy, decidedly female form bounded down his stairs.
"Hi! Where am I? Who are you? I'm Lauren. At least, part of me is. Well, more than part. Well, sometimes. Well..." She trailed off with a funny look on her face.
"Erm, are you okay, dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin was rather confused about this girl, which was new for him. He decided to take her hopefully brief confusion as an opportunity to study her. She had strawberry blonde hair that was cut very short and had been ruffled up by the turbulence of travel. Her eyes were an adorable puppy dog brown with some brick red coloration. She was very slightly curvy and her moss-green dress hugged her nicely. All in all, she was a cute little thing.
He snapped back to reality when he realized that she was muttering to herself.
"Lauren, dearie, are you talking to yourself?"
"BURN THE WITCHES!" yelled Lauren. Only it wasn't her voice. It was a thick Scottish brogue. "What're ye gawkin' at, laddie? Me heed mayn't be whole nae more but me eyes're still keen. What the bluidy hell's sae funny, noo?"
Halfway through her rant he had started to giggle like a deranged tomcat. "Not a thing, dearie! I've just heard many things about your clan. The Hightops, correct?"
"Aye, lad. We be a hatting family to thae end," she eyed him wearily. "How'd ye ken me clan? Hae ye been watchin' us, then?"
"No no, of COURSE not, dearie! I just know these things. Also, it's rather common knowledge that the Hightop clan have been with shattered mind since Alice's time. Speaking of your mind, where have you put little Lauren?"
She snorted. "Weel, wouldnae yoo liek ta know? Roit, I'll leet her oot." She grimaced as her eyes changed from brick red to chocolate brown.
"What, where, hello! I'm back. Sorry 'bout that. Fiona gets possessive sometimes and just takes over the place."
She paused as the air began to sizzle around her.
"No! Wait!" she shouted. "What's your name?"
He pulled a deep bow and plastered a Cheshire grin on his face.
"Rumpelstiltskin."
She left with another loud SNAP, but before she was fully gone, he swore he could hear a bubbly, boistrous laugh escape the little ginger.
"Ah, the heads of Underland will be finely attired with that little thing on the case. She has enough insanity to create a grand array of toppers".
And for the first time in a long while, the giggle that escaped his lips was more or less genuine.
END