The Deal-Maker's Wife ch 2
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Here's a new chapter. Italics equal flashbacks!
Please review! Tell me if I'm doing okay in a new fandom!
~ Neve ~
Real World
Talia hated Mondays. Not because she had a job to go to, or anything, but because it was the day the rent was due. Half the time, she could barely make ends meet. She was thankful for the few shifts she got at the diner.
In perfect honesty, Talia was flat out broke. Which was why she was here, her gold necklace in her hand. Talia owned quite a bit of jewelry, and this was one of the most valuable in terms of money. In terms of sentiment, Talia's most valuable trinket was a simple silver ring on her right-hand ring finger, with two diamonds and an aquamarine set into the metal. Talia had no idea how the ring had come to be in her possession. She'd had it for as long as she could remember.
In her dreams, she wore the ring as a wedding ring – or perhaps a promise ring?
Her dreams were odd, and scared her greatly. She felt as though they were memories half the time. Sighing and clutching the gold chain in her hand, Talia pushed open the pawn shop door.
The place appeared deserted, so Talia doubled back and checked the sign. Yep. Open.
Talia browsed the store to kill time, until she sensed someone standing behind her. She whirled at once, dark hair swinging. It was Mr. Gold, the owner of the shop, the scariest man in Storybrooke, and, if she was perfectly frank, the man she couldn't stop thinking about.
"Something you need, my dear?" he asked softly.
She was in a castle… no. A dungeon. She was standing a few feet away from the cell door, but she knew that he knew she was there.
"Something you wanted, dearie?" he asked, voice quiet so as not to alert the sleeping guard. Drugged, more like. She turned to face him, stepped closer to the bars of the cell.
"I…"
Talia was jolted out of the flashback. Great. Now the dreams haunted her whilst awake?
"Huh?" she asked, blinking stupidly.
Mr Gold laughed at her. "I asked if there was something you needed."
"Pardon?" she said.
"I asked if there was something you needed… or perhaps… you wanted?" the prisoner in the cell said, and she stared at him in the dim light. He looked like… he looked like Mr Gold.
"I…" she was speechless.
Jolted back to reality again, Talia immediately stopped her hesitating.
"I had something I wanted to sell to you," she explained nervously.
He held out his hand to her and she stepped forward, dropping the chain into his palm. Mr Gold limped over to the counter to inspect the chain in closer detail.
"Where did you find something of such great value?" he asked curiously.
Talia shrugged. "I've had it for years. Apparently it was my mother's."
"If it belonged to your mother, why do you wish to be rid of it?" Mr Gold asked.
"I don't have a job. I don't wanna be evicted from another place." Talia admitted, ashamed. She hated admitting just how broke she was in front of the richest man in town – a man she liked quite a lot, if she was honest. He was staring at her.
"No job? How do you manage to pay rent?" he asked.
"The odd shift at the diner. Savings." Talia shrugged, fiddling with the ring on her finger. The ring did not go un-noticed by Mr Gold, who was beginning to wonder just how much Talia remembered about their past lives. She was staring at him, confusion clear on her face.
"Why do I feel as if I know you?" she asked, "do I know you?"
Mr Gold smiled sadly. "No, my dear. Not yet. But you will. I promise."
"What do you mean?" Talia asked.
"I mean, I've been looking for an assistant around the place. Perhaps you should like that position?" Mr Gold suggested.
Talia considered. "Oh, I shouldn't like to intrude!" she protested.
"Please."
"If you insist," Talia sighed, she couldn't refuse the man, "and thank you. So much."
He inclined his head. "I want you here at opening hours, Miss Ashsweep."
"Yessir!" Talia said eagerly.
xXxXx
"What are you doing here, Natalia?" the man asked.
"I… I wanted to see you," she admitted, her cheeks flushing rose-red. He raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I care about you," she replied matter-of-factly, and produced the key she had stolen from the guard, copied, then returned. She stepped into the cell.
"Why?" he repeated, "I'm a monster."
She stared at him, eyes wide, "I wouldn't be here if I thought that."
He chuckled darkly. "No. I don't suppose you would, lovely. But why drug the guard?"
She shrugged. "I thought it would be better."
He stared at her for a moment. "I could defile you, right now, and nobody would hear you scream."
She just laughed at him.
"I know that. I took my chances."
"Curious. Very curious. The question is… why?"
She stared at him silently, and then, very slowly, she closed the distance between them.
"You are not a monster," she breathed, so very close to him, "and I love you."
His lips touched hers, surprisingly gentle, startling her.
"You love me?" he repeated, pulling away a fraction of a centimetre.
"I love you, Rumplestiltskin," she repeated.
His lips met hers again, definitely more heated this time.
"I love you too, my lovely Natalia," he said softly before his mouth devoured her own.
Her eyes flew open; Talia sat bolt upright. God damn those dreams. Memories. They were memories, that much she was absolutely certain of. But… that must mean… Henry was right. The Curse. She wondered how she would ever sleep. No sooner than that thought crossed her mind, was Talia fast asleep again.
"The Curse is coming, lovely." Rumplestiltskin told her quietly, "And it will take us somewhere without magic…"
She stared at him, scared. "I don't want to forget. Is there a way?"
"Of course. For a price," he replied with a smirk.
"What have I gotta do?"
"When we meet again in the next world, you must trust me. And you must find what you desire, deep inside your soul. Once you understand this, you must come to me, and you must try to remember this deal. You must give me what will be, essentially, my heart's desire." Rumplestiltskin explained.
"Won't that be to have magic again?" she asked him.
"No. I will retain my magic, of sorts."
"Okay. Find what I'm missing inside my heart, and then give you your heart's desire. And I'll remember?" she questioned, confused.
"You will remember parts of this life, in dreams and memories, but your memory will return when you uphold your side of the deal."
"We have a deal," she said at once, and he leaned forwards to kiss her, essentially sealing their deal forever.
"Just remember that I love you, and I will find you. I will protect you. No matter what," Rumplestiltskin assured her.
"I love you. And I will come back to you one day. I swear it." Natalia whispered in response.
xXxXx
Talia's eyes shot open. It was day-time, and she had an hour before work. Shit! An hour before work! Talia shot out of bed, raking her hands through her hair as she headed for the shower, trying to make sense of the deal she had made.
It had to be true. The Curse. The book. Everything.
As she turned on the faucet, Talia mused over what she had to do. Find what she desired, deep inside her soul.
What did she desire? Happiness? She was content enough. Fortune? She had never been materialistic.
No. For as long as she could remember, she had wanted one thing, and one thing alone. Love.
Love.
It's him, she realised with a jolt, I love him. Mr Gold.
A wash of relief crashed over Talia as she admitted this to herself.
"I love Mr Gold," she said out loud, in a whisper, hugging her secret to herself, gleeful in the knowledge that she would remember everything soon. Then, perhaps, she might be able to help her friends remember too.
xXxXx
I may be able to update tomorrow.
In the meantime, please review. Next time, Emma, Henry, and some other Storybrooke characters make an appearance.
~ Neve ~
