Love Lingers, Lost
A Once Upon a Time Tale
By; KatsWords141

A.N. Because of how the first season ended, and how the second season started, I've decided to do some chapter swapping and change a few scenes to make the story just a tad more cannon. Now, naturally, any events that include my OC violate cannon, but I am trying my best not to change fixed points in time...er, so to speak. ANNNNDDDD, I know that it may seem a tad confusing at first, but bear with me! I promise I wont disappoint... Mkay, so hopefully ya'll like the changes! Enjoy!

Disclaimer; No... no. Mis'er Superman no here...

"You come to love, not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person, perfectly." ~Sam Keen

Prologue

Her ears were ringing. The spinning sensation was beginning to slow to a stop, but the pain in chest was steady. Gwendolyn shuddered, finally opening her eyes and allowing the skewed blur of the world to come back into focus. Using her hands to push herself up from the cold, stone floor; she spit out the thick, metallic taste that lingered in her mouth. Staring down at the sticky red substance that had come from her lips, Gwen shakily rose to her feet, and stifled a pained sigh.

"Do not forget about us, little one…"

Gwen lifted her hand to her side, attempting to stem the warm blood that drained from beneath her torn tunic. Taking a deep breath, her eyes quickly scanned the brightly colored nursery. The nameless soldier that had rushed her was lying face down on the floor by her feet. Gwen swallowed back the knot in her throat and forced her feet to move.

The magical wardrobe stood, un-phased by the commotion that had gone on after Gwen had placed baby Emma within its confines. But Gwen's eyes scanned the base of the wooden trunk, anxiously searching for the one thing that might have saved her from this slash in her side. Carefully bending, one hand on her side, her fingers brushed the ground—for it would not be the first time her eyes failed her. Alas, the smooth stone floor and rough roots of the wardrobe provided no comfort; no stray object rested around its perimeter. Gwen stood, leaning heavily against the tall trunk: it was no use-she must have dropped it into the wardrobe with Emma when the Evil Queen's soldier surprised her. If she had, the delicately carved branch would now be with the child in the 'land without magic', useless and ordinary.
Gwendolyn cursed silently to herself...

She could hear the faint clatter of metal weapons echoing from the other sections of the castle. Snow's resistance had proved to be an utter bloodbath; the Evil Queen's men out numbered Snows' ten to one. Not a single mortal was resistant to magic, however, and that at least had allowed Gwen to complete her one assigned job without much opposition. Gwen's promise had been fulfilled, she had done all she could to aid her queen. But it was not to Snow White that she'd pled her allegiance to; she had long sworn to him that the baby would be kept safe.

Gwendolyn stumbled across the room, stray tears of pain nearly blinding her. She didn't bother grabbing the, now dead, dark soldier's weapon—she didn't know how to really use it anyway. It had been a sheer miracle that she had come out on top of their scramble in the first place. The heavy metal of his sword would have just slowed her down.

The stairs leading to ground floor were within her sights, and she held fast to railing with a free hand before descending. Gwen could feel the life slowly seep from her with every step, but she would be damned to die without seeing his silly old face, one last time.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The cavern's corridor was eerily deserted and dark. Gwen struggled to lift one of the lit torches from the sconce on the wall. It had appeared as if the others, down the way, had long burned out. Forcing herself to continue forward, Gwen limped to the only cage at the very end. Just a little further, she cooed to herself.

When its teeth-like bars finally came into view, her heart stopped—with her feet—until a figure in the shadow of the prison stirred and stepped forward to clutch at the bars.

Gwen could have let out a breathy laugh, were it not for the stitch in her side. Dropping the heavy torch to the floor, she listened to it clank and roll to a stop. The flames flickered, but did not go out.

She awkwardly dragged herself near the cage and leaned herself against the wall beside them. The great weight on her shoulders eased; finally, she could rest.

The lone torch provided a soft glow within the circular room, tossing dancing silhouettes of the long dead upon any surface. The dirt singed and crackled under the dull flames.

Rumpelstiltskin clambered along the thick bars until he was as close as he could get to her. Peering out of his prison at Gwendolyn, he crouched slowly with her, as she slid down to the floor using her hands for support against the wall and the stone bars.

"The Castle's under siege." She whispered, once her shaking legs settled out before her. Gwen lolled her head to the side to better look her old friend.

"Yes, yes. But Emma…?" He inquired eagerly, gesturing with his long, gold fingers through his cage.

Gwen blinked at him and swallowed back the taste of blood in her mouth. "I made sure that she made it."

His wide irises stared at her for a long moment. "Then… why are you here?"

"Thought," She started, throwing him a forced smile, "I could make one last attempt to break you out."

Rumpelstiltskin squinted at her, scrutinizing. "You never were very good at lying." He whispered, not falling for her feeble attempt to dodge the real reason for her sudden appearance.

She smirked, and slowly rolled her head on the wall, leaving his knowing gaze. She did her best to hide the misting in her eyes. The insistent throbbing in her side was beginning to fan out to her chest and legs. The long trek from the castle was catching up with her. "I belong here." She answered quietly after a long moment of silence between them.

"That is precisely why I told you where you have to be when the curse overtakes—"

"—With you." Gwen finished, her voice straining beneath his. "I belong with you."

Rumpelstiltskin went from his crouch to the ground, crossing his legs, his eyes never leaving her.

By his silence, Gwen knew he was taken-aback by her response. She moistened her lips, and clarified. "By your side." Her hand tightened its pressure on her wounded side as she watched the flames of the forgotten torch. The flickering light taunted her; you are not visiting his prison, it told her, you have come to your tomb.

"Gwendolyn..."

"This curse…" She interrupted, catching his softened stare. "What's going to happen to us?"

He didn't even skip a beat. "It will rob us of our 'happily ever after's'."

Gwen laughed, but a wetness in her chest stole it away into a cough. "So, will we just be extra miserable then?"

Rumpelstiltskin remained silent, watching her struggle to regain her breath. "Are you not happy?"

Slouching nearer to the cage, Gwen rested her head against the bars. Her tunic and trousers stuck to her skin and the sticky blood trickled onto the dirt floor. She was so tired...
Swallowing, Gwen tried to fight back the tears as she confessed her heart to him. "Are you kidding?" It was disheartening, Gwen realized, as she was unable to raise her voice beyond a whisper. "I've never been more content." Her weary eyes sought his golden orbs, and she chewed nervously on her dry lips. "That doesn't mean I'm meant to have a happy ending, though."

The air was starting to thicken, and it began to become more difficult to draw deep breathes. She could taste the electricity in the air, a clear sign that the curse was close to being upon them.

He whispered her name before reaching through the bars to caress her face. "You were free to leave me long ago, dearie…"

"I know." Her eyes closed as she relished what would possibly be his last touch. "But I can't. Can't you see that I can't?" She hiccupped as the sobs threatened to break through. It was all becoming too much; her body wanted to reel in both emotional and physical pain, but didn't have the strength.

His hand turned her face up to his, but she did not open her eyes to him.

"I…" She choked out, "I love y—"

Before she could finish, his hand slipped behind her head and he pressed his soft lips against hers. Gwen's eyes flew open and caught his gaze as he pulled himself closer to her, kissing her as though there were no bars between them. Shakily, she used what last strength she had to take her hand from her side and gently hold his face to hers. The blood that stained her hand trailed streaks of bright red on his gold cheek.

Gwen felt his arms wrap tightly around her, and she felt the cold stone bars against her body. The sensation on her lips was enough to send a spark down her spine, but her stomach knotted and sank. Her vision blurred—he blurred. It was time, though Gwen fought to stay. The ground began to rumble and the faint light from that lone torch flickered out.

The air escaped her lungs and refused to bring it back.

When he called her name, his voice vibrated against her cheeks. "I will find you in that world. That, I swear."

And too soon, before she could tighten her hold on him, the only sensation she was left with was that temporary spark from her chapped lips.