Chapter One: Worth it

Years passed, and I eventually settled into a village with Rumpel I could call home. I left behind some friends, but then again, we were all going our separate ways sooner or later. I had to say that my life was wonderful with him. Very often though, I saw a change in Rumpelstiltskin. He seemed different now that I was with him. Perhaps he thought marriage was not anything like when we were dating at all.

"Rumpel," I said softly one night when I could take it no longer. "What is wrong? You seem like you've become distracted." He was standing at his wheel where for once, regular silk was being spun.

I got no reply and this told me that there was something truly wrong with him. Rumpel just gave me this intent stare, as if I were some apparition or a ghost. Sighing, he returned to his work.

"Come on...say something," I pleaded with him, sitting in the hay. We were inside the house.

"Maria..." he ceased his work and looked up at me. "...there are some things better left undiscussed."

"Why aren't you spinning straw into gold...like you always did to fascinate me?" I asked. Once more, I received no reply and then it dawned upon me. I used a simple trick to hold the wheel in place.

Rumpelstiltskin stared at the ground...

"Where is your magic?" I asked, wearily. "You always repel my little tricks... Rumpelstiltskin..." I stood up, thinking perhaps he had lost it, though I didn't see how. He'd used it almost every day...when he had it.

I walked towards him, ready to apologize. "I am so sorry-"

"No no...Maria, it's okay," Rumpel interrupted. Then, more silence as I stopped, staring at him, but he still at the floor. "It was a price I was willing to pay."

"What price?" I demanded to know. Magic was a large part of his life, and now just to have it taken away, without any reason, seemed morally wrong. Not to mention suspicious.

"Look, I did this for us," he explained, coming towards me and placing a hand to my stomach. "To protect him..."

"Him?" I asked. "I'm confused. Rumpel, I'm not pregnant-"

"Oh, but you are," Rumpel corrected me. "I could see the future, dearie, and things aren't looking too good."

"What do you mean?" I asked, worried. Having known no information on the subject before, Rumpelstiltskin tried to explain something to me.

"Here's the thing, all right? There will be dark magic...coming sooner than I'd like. I want to be prepared-Let me finish," he held up a finger, knowing me too well. "I have foreseen it. There will be a cast of shadows placed upon the lands, and the Evil Queen will be the one to enact it...I already made her that deal."

"Rumpel," I couldn't help it, now I was right next to him, taking his hand and asking him to tell me everything else.

"I traded my magic for your safety," Rumpel finally told me. I gasped. "I told her I intended to protect you and she kind of looked at me in an odd fashion, but she agreed. She took my magic... and now you will be safe."

"What of you and this child I am supposed to have?" I asked, beginning to become riled up and concerned for him.

"Do not worry about me and Baelfire. I will find a way," he replied.

"Baelfire?" I asked. "What a unique name...I suppose I could go along with that... Rumpel, that's not the point! How could you do such a thing? What will happen to you. How will Baelfire fare out?"

"I was planning that for later," Rumpel told me. "I hadn't foreseen that far, but I do know one thing Maria...I love you with everything I have, which isn't much now, I realize that. I'm sorry if what I did was wrong, but I couldn't let the Evil Queen take you away from me..." I saw that glossy look about his eyes, so I embraced him in a hug, hoping he'd feel less weak.

I couldn't imagine what it was like. He had all that magic, and he gave it all away for some vision, just to keep me safe. Feeling lucky yet sorrowful, I looked at my stomach. Was I really pregnant?

"You didn't do anything wrong," I soothed, shutting my eyes to let tears run freely. "I will not let you and...Bae...be left alone."

At the time, I did not realize that there was no way I could keep the entirety of that promise.