RUMPELSTILTSKIN

I stared at my hands which were bleeding from the split skin where I had hit the pavement. Tears pooled from my eyes, as I thought of how I lost another child. The look in Joy's eyes as she called out for me, and I was unable to, once again, not protect my child. It was the entire reason I became the dark one, was to save Balefire; that caused me to loose him, then I created this curse to find my son and in the end lost my daughter. Belle petted my hair gently. Suddenly Regina spoke;

"August, how did you escape?" Her voice grated on my nerves. It was between sarcasm and whining, it had always wanted to make me...wait she said August! My head snapped up, he was looking at me with an intent stare. I growled warning him back, but he moved forward. I tried to lunge forward, however, my weak leg and Belle were holding me back. He didn't stop until he was standing before me, then knelt down to my level took my hand and placed a clearish blue bean in the open palm.

"You DO know my son," my voice caught on a sob.

"I was sent here to find you and bring you back to Ba," August paused "but only if you changed. And what I witnessed in the forest by the cottage made me believe that you have."

Regina's jaw tightened. "Rumpel you have a son?"

"And a daughter," August stood offering his hand to me. I took the hand. Belle stood beside me quietly, content to holding my hand. "Which I expect her to be missing her father, so we should hurry to get you back to her, since Ba knows away."

Regina stepped forward, "So how are we getting there?"

All three of us slowly looked at her. "We?" We asked in unison.

"You cannot just leave me here," she huffed.

"Just watch me," I stated as I limped forward towards the town, expecting to get preparations for the trip. Belle and August supported me. Regina continued to follow bitching the entire way. I started to walk up the steps when Regina cried out to me. I looked back at her, feeling nothing for her. Until, I saw tears, Regina hardly ever cried. I never had seen it, but I knew it happened.

"Please don't leave me here? I have no one now, my son is gone, and so is my town," her voice cracked "I have nothing now! Take me back to fairyland with you, I swear I'll just hide myself away, just don't leave me here please?"

I sighed, the look on her face made me bend. "Fine the deal has been struck. You Regina in return of getting you back to Fairyland will be no more of a nuisance." She nodded, and I don't like going back on deals. In the house I grabbed some of my healing magic I had saved from Fairyland. August told me that we needed a flight to Normandy Tennessee, with the wealth I had gained from both the fairyland years and the years in this land, I was able to get four plan tickets; and still have millions left. The flight was booked for tomorrow at eight am, Belle suggested that we all grab a room and rest since we all had a very rough long day. The mutual agreement was quick, and so was the sleep that followed.

JOY

Something tugged on the covers, I slowly started to awaken. I found Henry sleeping besides me on top of the covers. I rolled over to see an elf laying awake staring at me, I shot from the bed without touching the ground grabbed Father's dagger, only to have it stilled. The elf bent over me, his antlers cast shadows on the floor.

"What do you want Erlkonig?" Breath hissed between my gritted teeth. The prince of the never ending forest got really close to me.

"To present you a message and a personal gift," his voice was sickly sweet, it is the voice he used to lure people into the depths of the forest and death. For me it was easy to ignore. His kind of magic would never work on me. He pulled forth a green velvet envelope. There was gold writing on it, it was addressed to me, I took the message.

"Alright, what is the personal gift?" I hesitated being so straight forward, his kind are more tricky than the Norse gods. He gave me a wicked grin, "Patience magic princess, read first then ask."

I backed away from and headed to my reading desk lite a candle and preceded to untie the leather straps. The parchment fell onto the table the edges lined with gold, I unfolded the message it read:

Dear Rumpelstiltskin Joy,

We are in your debt, so we wish to invite you and two companions,granted safe passage, to come to our kingdom so that we may repay you. We found away to get your family back, please come quickly, us fae folk hate having a debt for to long.

Yours regrettably,

Queen Titania and Consort Oberon

I pushed myself directly from my chair shocked at what I read and re-read. They had found a way to my family, but is that away to get to my family or away to bring them here? I looked at the mischievous Erlkonig, with somewhat new respect.

"So, then what are you giving me personally?" I again bluntly asked. He pointed to a spot of air and a new parchment appeared before her.

"Write him a letter, tell him anything, but briefly, then once you are done it will be sent to him."

I had no idea what to write him, so instead I woke up Henry told him to bring his mom to my father's study as quickly as possible there was something important that needed discussing. Henry left without even spotting Erlkonig either by the fae's own doing or by mere lack of awareness, I don't think I will ever know. I headed to my study, Erlkonig following close behind.

"You know, there is a regalness that breathes from your being." I brushed off the quip. I knew he was trying to get me riled up. Erlkonig is just as bad as is 'brother' Puck. I opened my studies door, and went to my writing quill, I still had no idea what to write him. Emma burst into the study sword drawn, her alarm was unquestionable.

"Joy, who the hell is raindeer games?" She pointed the sword at Erlkonig. Who glared at her after the name call. I smiled fondly.

"Emma, its alright, he has come to take me to the never ending forest, his people have found away to my father." I motioned for her to put the sword down, she did it painstakingly slow. Henry rushed to me, and grabbed my hand trying to be like his Grandfather, Prince Charming. He doesn't realize that I've been this age for a very long time, we would never be the same age unless by some feet I started growing at his rate...which even if I did, I would probably age to my actually year and be way beyond his years. We wouldn't even meet half way, I will always be getting older, but he will grow older.

"Joy, how do you know he is telling you the truth?" Emma was concerned.

I smiled, that was easy "Because he's not the one that told me." I opened up the invitation and handed it to her, her eyes skimmed over the very few words. She was trying to analyze it I could tell.

"What makes the difference between him telling you and them writing you?" It was a good question, but an easy one.

"Fairies and Elves have this credo of having to follow what they promise if written out, it is almost like a contract that they sign," I explained. Emma nodded slowly. "Emma I am going, I want you and Henry to feel free to stay here if you wish of course." Henry's hand tightened around mine. I looked at his determined look and knew exactly what he was going to say.

"I am going with." I winced because I knew the answer I was going to give him. However, before I could Emma spoke up.

"As am I."

My eyes narrowed. "What are you two talking about? This is the forest that only magical beings can find their way out of."

Emma quirked a smile, "If you recall the invitation says that you can bring two companions, that are granted safe passage. We are going."

I growled, "Stubborn humans." Yet, deep inside I was happy that they wanted to stay with me. "Okay pack a change of clothes, and your necessities, I want to leave yesterday." They smiled at my mock sternness. Yeah, even older than Emma and I get treated like a child still, curse this damned body of mine. I went to my quill and wrote a quick message. After I signed the parchment it vanished in a puff of fairy dust. Damn glamour magic always leaving glitter everywhere. Then I went to pack.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN

I finally stood outside of my sons house. My heart skipped multiple beats as I had counted down the miles to get there. The house was a cabin, much like the one we owned back in fairyland. There was even a spinning wheel in the front yard. Belle held my hand tight giving me a encouraging smile. August walked up to the door and knocked four short soft knocks then three rapid loud knocks. It was a code. A man with a head full of black-brown curls and green eyes answered the door. He was a good six feet tall possibly taller.

"Hello, can I help you?" The man was polite and kind, he had a winning smile. Regina gasped at the sight of this man. That is when he turned to August with a bigger grin, turning his face boyish. He looked so much younger than I had thought. My voice caught in my throat when I tried to speak, Belle gently lead me forward.

"Hullo, young man, I believe you know this man," her accent was still so thick, I loved it and it just made her sound more polite. I limped forward towards the cabins porch, but not on it, to rude to just think I am invited. The man took a hesitant step forward to get a better look at my face.

"Papa?" His voice quivered. I wasn't hoping for him to accept me back or forgive me in anyway.

I nodded, "Yes, Baelfire?"

The man rushed forward and wrapped me in a big hug. I wasn't sure what to do, I was to overcome with the love of my son, again I started crying. This way my boy, I could sense it, I felt whole again. Well, not a hundred percent. I slowly detached myself from my son, and looked at him, I opened my mouth to apologize. He shook his head.

"No, father, you came after me that is all that matters." He invited us all inside for tea he had just made. Just then a piece of parchment shimmered into being. Bae grabbed it from the air then turned to me with a questioning look, I shook my head. I had not summoned anything. He opened it, then turned towards me, "It is for you father."

I slowly took the magic parchment, it was addressed to me. It only read:

Dear Rumpelstiltskin,

I am coming.

-Joy