A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, I didn't realize how short the chapter really was. FYI I'm sorry to say I most likely won't be posting again for a couple weeks, got some personal things happening. Please keep reviewing.

Disclaimer: same old same old.

Chapter 2

***************Storybrooke******************

Ruby made her rounds through the small diner, giving coffee to some people who were waiting out the weather. Walking back behind the counter she rested her elbows on the counter, in front of the stranger.

"And what can I get you?" She gave him her classic 'Ruby' smile. She thought he was really cute. He was fresh meat, someone new. Ruby couldn't remember the last time a stranger came to Storybrooke, but she did remember one thing, could remember she was good with any man, this one would be no exception.

"Uh, just some water I guess." Ruby frowned. He hardly looked at her, just stared off into the distance, like he had something important to do. She was annoyed, what would it take to get this man, she wondered? She went over to the tap and filled a cup with cool water.

What man would want just water? She thought to herself. No one just walks into a diner and just asks for water. Deciding that this would be a great time to start a conversation she walked back toward him.

She gave the man his water. Resting her elbows on the counter again she started.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" She asked in her best voice.

Looking up as if he hadn't notice her he just shook his head. "No, everything's fine."

Ruby stood up and pouted, this was going to be harder than she thought. "Well if you don't want anything to eat, you'll have to pay the penalty."

That got his attention, because he met her eyes, they seemed confused.

"You mean if I don't eat anything, I have to pay?" This was the opportunity she had been waiting for.

"No, but there is something you have to do instead."

"What?" The look on his face made her feel like this was too easy.

"You have to talk to a worker till you're ready to leave," she gave him a cheeky grin.

"Really?" Now he was getting it. "Alright, what do you want to talk about."

"Well for one thing, where are you eating, cause obviously we don't serve good enough food here." She grinned at him again.

Leaning back he matched her grin, but somehow it seemed forced. "No, you're food here is great, better than some places I've been to." He smiled

Ruby genuinely smiled. "And where is that?" She was getting interested.

Sitting up straighter he had a proud look on his face. "All over actually."

Ruby leaned in closer, eyes wide like a school child. "Any place interesting?" Looking down she muttered as if telling a bad secret. "I've never been out of Storybrooke."

The stranger grinned. "Well there's France, Italy, Greece, I spent some time in Mexico," his face became thoughtful. "But I think the best place I've been to was. . ." Ruby waited expectantly. "the tropics."

Ruby's eyes became wider, if at all possible. "The tropics?" She asked amused.

He nodded. "It was a little tropical island, somewhere off of Madagascar," he grinned, enjoying telling the story.

"Madagascar?" Ruby had never heard of the place, but it sounded interesting.

"Yeah, it's near Africa. It was beautiful, especially at night," he leaned forward and whispered. "It's when they like to come out."

"What?"

"The flying fox"

Ruby had never heard of a fox being able to fly, then again she had heard of a unicorn, but had yet to see one. "What's a flying fox?"

"It's a bat. You know the winged rats. One night I heard these noises so I went to investigate. I found these little creatures all around me."

"You must've been so terrified," Ruby commented breathlessly.

"At first I thought about vampires so I was kinda shaken but they turned out to be fruit eaters. It was very thrilling," he gave her a grin, and stood up. "Well I guess I paid, see ya later."

He said nothing more, he stood up, laid some money on the table, nodded toward her and walked out. Ruby was shaking with excitement from the story. Then she remembered where she lived, upset she just stared outside at the stupid weather. It fit her mood perfectly.

Her mind began to wander as customers left. She went to a sore subject of her Grandmother, she didn't like what Ruby was doing to her life, but as far as Ruby was concerned this was her life, not her Grandmother's.

She liked where she was, more or less. It was too late to change her life now. Staring out the window again she wished she could be somewhere different. Maybe even be someone new.

******************Enchanting Forest********************

Red awoke to birds chirping. Unfortunately that was the only cheery thing about that morning. This place was filthy, disgusting. But it was only drizzling outside so she decided to head back out.

Standing up she decided it would be best to just leave the blanket there. She then grabbed the basket to which was given to her by her Grandmother. She must've been about six or seven when she received it. It was very sentimental, that had been the last time she saw her parents, she lived with her Grandmother after that.

It happened a long time ago, but to Red it always seemed like yesterday.

It was just like any other night. Jeannette helped her mother fix supper, her father had went out hunting and caught a large deer for dinner. Making a nice stew, Jeannette, only about seven, was a nice cook. Her mother and father entered shushing each other.

Jeannette knew there was a secret being kept. Turning she smiled. "What is it mommy?" Her eyes widened innocently.

"Gale we have to tell her," her mother nudged her father.

"No Elizabeth, we have to wait," but that only made his grin bigger.

"Wait for what?" Jeannette was getting anxious, putting on a phony pouty face she huffed.

"Gale, we have to, think of how you would feel," her mother went over to hug her daughter.

"Please. . ." Jeanette and her mother pleaded, making their eyes big and sad.

Her father put his hand on his chin, thoughtfully. Then the grin returned, he went over and hugged his two girls. Swinging Jeannette around she started to giggle.

"Daddy, I'm dizzy," and with that her father put her down. "Now what's the surprise?"

Her mother stood up next to her father, her father's arm wrapping around her waist. Both having the same mischievous grins. "It's Granny."

Jeannette jumped up and down, "Really really? What about grammy?" Jeanette called her that when she hadn't seen her in a while.

"She sent you something," her mother said before her father disappeared into the other room.

Coming out he was holding a basket. Jeannette squealed. It was a beautiful basket. She loved anything and everything her granny ever gave her. Looking at it, her hand began to trace the weaves.

"But that's not all," her mother said with a playful tone.

Jeannette looked up, "What else?"

Her father nodded toward the basket. "Open it."

Opening the basket with great care, Jeannette squealed. Inside was a beautiful cloth. It was a deep beautiful red, crimson, her favorite color.

Picking up the fabric she noticed it was in two pieces, some was folded, but there was another piece of cloth under it. Picking it up Jeannette saw that it was a riding hood. Squealing like the little girl she was she put it on.

"It's pretty," she said in a tiny breathless voice.

Her mother picked up the folded cloth. "I guess she wants you to keep it for awhile. I swear Beth spoils her more than anything."

Jeannette began dancing around in circles. "I looooove it." It was so beautiful. Her grandmother had taken great care in the stitching, making intricate designs all over it. She felt the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. It was so soft and light and an amazing gift. She clasped the hood on and lifted the hood over her head. Grinning at her reflection in the looking glass over the fire, Jeanette began to twirl around in the garment, losing herself to the swirls of crimson cloth.

Her father caught her and put her on his shoulders. "Looks like you have a new name, Little Red."

Jeannette laughed, she had never really liked the name Jeannette. "Okay daddy, Little Red. I like it." Her mother laughed.

"Well Little Red, why don't you help set the table?"

Red pouted, "Do I havta?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes it's-" she was cut off by a blood curdling scream.

Her father put Red off his shoulders and stared at the door. Then at her mother. "Elizabeth?" Her mother nodded, and took Red's hand.

"Come on honey, let's play a game," her mother said, her tone strained. Red followed her blindly.

"What kinda game mommy?"

Her mother knelled down so she was eye to eye with her daughter. "Listen to me Little Red, it's a fun game. You go to that special room daddy and I showed you, do you understand?"

Red nodded her head.

"Good girl, now go and don't come out till we come get you."

Red moved into the room behind her closet. Crouching down low she peeked through the wood into the main room of their small cottage.

Her father opened up some of the floorboards. Revealing some of the weapons she knew her parents kept. Her parents were incredibly skilled fighters. They had even trained her, even at this young age.

She saw her father practice some swings with the sword, he had been slightly out of practice. Her mother picked up her bow, her best weapon.

Then, they came. They bursted through the door and were surprised by Red's parents. Her father was able to get two out at the door with the sword. Her mother had his back.

There were a lot of men, with a lot of weapons. Her mother shot more and more, most of them direct hits, but soon she ran out of arrows.

"Mommy!" Red screamed, immediately covering her mouth. No one else was supposed to know about the secret room.

It was too late, before she could grab a dagger her abdomen was greeted by the sword of one of the men. She fell over, sword still in her stomach. But she went down swinging, even to her last breath she was cutting men with one of her daggers. Till she fell over, completely stiff.

Red started crying, she had to help. 'But mommy said to stay put' Red had never disobeyed her mother, but didn't know whether to now.

With her thoughts swimming she continued to watch her father. Being so little she was unaware of what the outcome would be. She didn't know the odds were against her father.

Even the best of fighters can be overcome with numbers. The odds were 100 to 1, but they had lost some men, but it was no hope.

When Gale saw his wife fall he began to attack in blind rage. He had to kill them, kill them all. For Elizabeth, for Red. He gave a small smile at the remembrance of his daughters new name.

He swung his sword this was and that, he soon somehow obtained another sword, swinging them mirror of each other. But he didn't see it, Red did.

She watched as horrible men filled into her home. But there was one man who was standing away from the fight. Some were stealing, looking for something, what it could be Red didn't know.

But she saw that one man, the one with the whistle. It looked like the ones she and her mother would make from plants near the stream. She saw him place something sharp into the whistle. But before she could warn her father the strange man blew it, it hit her father in the neck.

Her father went down and the men started killing him. Red gave an agonizing scream of terror. She saw the men become quiet and looking around.

"Boys," Red heard one of the bigger men say. "I think she's still here."

Red covered her mouth before she gasped. How did they know about her. Then she saw the man walk toward the small fireplace. Looking at the pictures and drawings. He looked at the one of Red, smiling.

"Everyone fan out, don't leave this place till it's in shambles." He turned and started ripping up the floorboards. As his men fanned out he stood up and removed his helmet. He began to survey the place, till his eyes rested upon Red.

She knew not to move. There was no way for him to be able to see her, but if she moved he might hear her.

Red stayed deadly still, and held her breath. She heard crashing from one of the other rooms of the cottage. Till she heard people walking around in her room. She heard the scratching of boots on the floorboards. Red held her breath.

She looked into the eyes of the man staring at her. Could he see her? Red was answered by the man leaving and walking around.

"Find anything?"

She heard noises of distain and disappointment. What were they looking for? She heard more people walking into this room, she started to sweat, her lungs were screaming for air.

She turned to look through the secret door, it was covered by clothes, it blended in. She saw the man without a helmet. Terror gripped her as she saw his eyes, they were so dark and scary. She noticed his nose flaring, then she realized. He was smelling for her!

"I know you're here kid." Red's heartbeat escalated. He turned toward her direction. "I can hear your heart."

He slowly came upon her hiding place. He ripped open the small door and reached inside. Red was the farthest away from the door. She tried to remember what her parents had said about the secret room. But she was so scared.

"I can smell your fear." The man crooned as he tried to get into the door, but he was much too big.

"The door Little Red, use the door." Red heard her mother talking to her. And then she remembered the secret exit.

She crouched low and kicked at the opposite wall, the wood splintered easily. It was made of a special weak wood.

She heard the man curse. "She's going around the back. Someone get her."

Red fell into the yard. She took - what felt like the first time- a deep breath of fresh air. But she only had a moment before the she heard men running out of the house. She stood up and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her.

She ran into the woods near her house, she had an advantage. She knew these woods better than anyone. She felt like she was flying she was moving so fast. She ran on a path she knew the hunters wouldn't see, it was an animal trail.

She crouched in the crook of a tree, a hole she crawled into when playing hide and seek with her parents. The thought about her parents made her cry again.

"Hello dearie." Red jumped at the voice. She stayed still, not daring to even breath.

"No need to hide dearie, I can see you. I'm not one of those men." Red tried to hear where the voice was, it was coming from above her.

She slowly came out of the crook and looked up. She saw a man perched on a low tree limb, looking at her! His skin seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. Taken by surprise Red fell back.

The new man hopped dow and held out a hand to help her up. Red stared at the hand, then up at the man.

"Don't be afraid dearie, I don't bite."

Red grabbed his hand and he helped her up. "Seems you're in a bit of a jam, dearie."

Red nodded, tears pouring from her eyes. She heard the noise of men running and jumped. She started crying uncontrollably.

"There's no hope. I'm going to die, there's just to many of them."

"There, there, little red."

Red looked up, scared of how he knew her name.

"How-"

"Come now I know a lot of things. And one thing I know is that I can help you."

Red looked at the man. "You- you can help me?"

"Well certainly. But at a price."

"I have nothing to give you," Red's heart became beating louder and louder. The men were getting closer and closer. And then there was this weird gold man who said he could help her. She just wished she could go asleep and wake up with everything back to normal.

"Well, maybe not now. But one day you will, I'm sure. Now there are a lot of men, it's no doubt they'll cover this wood all over. I can save you, if you repay in time," he held out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

Red took his hand without a hesitation. "Deal," her little voice spoke.

And instantly the noise of the men were gone. Red looked at the man. "What happened?"

"Well there gone of course. Transported to another similar looking forest."

He put a piece of paper. "Now I know the deal was made, but in writing, please." He held out a quill.

Red looked at it reluctantly. Then took it and signed the paper.

'Red'

The man rolled up the paper and headed in the opposite direction. "Wait!" The man turned. "What is your name?"

He turned a scary grin on his face. "Rumpelstiltskin." And when Red blinked, he was gone.

She returned home to her parents. She cried and cried. She stayed with them for day's till someone from the town came by because of the raid. He had walked in and saw a small girl sitting and talking to her dead parents.

Red shook out of the flashback. It always made her. . . uneasy. She felt horrible about everything that happened. Sometimes she would be into tears and have no one to talk to. Her granny had tried to set hr with someone, but Red always turned them away.

She wished she at least had someone who would travel on the road with her. Just someone to talk to. Now whenever she thought about the deal her stomach did flips. Sometimes she thinks it was all a dream.

Word had been sent around about the attack. Her Granny eventually heard of the news and came as soon as she could. Most feared it was too late for her, she hadn't eaten or spoke since she had been found. But at the sight of her Granny everything seemed bearable. 'Granny' was actually the first word she spoke after the incident. She then lived with her Grandmother in the woods till she grew.

Red practiced weaponry, she was just as skilled as her parents once were. The dagger her favorite, it was always concealed in the layers of clothing she wore. She eventually grew up and set off into the world, but she always came back once a year to her Granny's to catch up and reconnect.

Red finished her packing and headed down the stairs. Walking through the same small tavern she was on her way out when the same man from last night stopped her.

"Well hello there little lady." Red almost gagged, the smell of beer was so strong on his breathe. His face was covered in grime, his eyes vacant from the affect of the alcohol. "Where you headed off to?"

Knowing she couldn't just go by him she decided to tell him that she had to go.

"I have somewhere I need to be."

That just seemed to humor the man. He came closer to her.

"You know you sure are pretty, but you also look kinda familiar. Have we met?"

Panic raising in her heart Red muttered, "No I'm pretty sure we haven't." She tried to get past him but he blocked her way.

Thinking quick she did the only thing she could think of. She kicked him in a place she really didn't want to, but it she knew it would temporarily weaken him.

As soon as he hit the ground she was off, running through the forest, not looking back.

********************Storybrooke*******************

Walking into the sheriff's office Emma saw the pawnshop owner in his cell. It was still very rainy but Emma had to come. Putting her stuff down she sat down and looked at him. He was in the same spot she had left him.

She really didn't like him, he was strange. He acted like he could do anything to anyone and wouldn't face the consequences. Well maybe that's what it was like before, but she was sheriff now, and things were gonna change.

It took her a moment to notice something different about the scene. He was holding something, a cup.

Now when would he get that. Even in her head people would notice the sarcasm. Regina. Thinking about the call she got the other day she stood up and walked over to the cell, he didn't even look up.

She unlocked the cell, she stood in the doorway.

"I got a call yesterday. They said that I have no grounds to hold you here. And the fact that Mr. French won't press charges helped." Staring at the man with her thumbs in her belt loops Emma waited.

Like broken out of a magic spell Gold looked up. After thinking about what she just said. Standing up and leaning on his cane he gave that same dirty Gold smile.

"Well thanks for letting me have a place to stay." Hobbling off, he dreaded walking outside. He always hated cold, wet, weather.

Emma watched him go and noticed his knuckles were white. From holding that cup? He was such a strange man.

Mary Margaret walked into the hospital, she had heard the news. Some of the trees around the hospital had been broken during the storm. Some had fallen and broken through windows. She was here as a volunteer to help.

One of the nurses asked her to check the perimeter and see what was all damaged. They said it involved a lot of paperwork. Something about insurance.

As Mary Margaret walked around her mind began to wonder. She thought about Valentine's Day, it had been about 3 days ago and she couldn't stop thinking about it.

She was too much into her thoughts because she almost tripped over a tree limb. Looking around she saw that a huge tree limb had crashed into windows near the bottom of the hospital.

That's weird. Why would the hospital have windows near the bottom? Getting a closer look she notices a small room. She didn't even knew the hospital had a downstairs. Mary Margaret took a closer look, making sure to stay away from the glass.

Crouching down carefully she got a closer look. It was empty. It looked like a cell. She saw a spot like a board for a bed. Trying to get a closer look she accidentally put her hand on the edge of the window.

"Ouch." she cringed in pain, cupping her hand.

She noticed she was bleeding, but something else caught her eye. Sure she was bleeding but there was more. On the broken glass there was a LOT of blood. Noticing the ground she saw a trail of glass and blood.

Weird. She was confused. Was there someone down there?

************************Enchanted Forest**********************

Walking into the kingdom with his guard uniform, Grey went to see the queen.

"Hello Your Majesty." he said as he bowed in front of the Queen.

This was the same man from the inn. It turns out he hadn't owned the inn, just resided there momentarily. He had asked the owner to open a room for that fiery woman.

"Good morning Wolf." the Queen retorted, with her sly smile.

Grey Wolfback was a guard of the Queen. He was one of her best assassins, he was her right hand man. He was like an animal, the one he was named for. He was like that, a wolf, he could track like an animal, he was wild. But when it came to the Queen he was as tame as a puppy.

"Always good to see you." Grey said. Kneeling down he kissed the Queen's hand. Laughing in a high-pitched voice the Queen returned her hand to her armrest.

"Now now Wolf. Acting like you don't want something is just making your desire more obvious." looking at her nails she continued. "So what is it I can do for you?"

Bowing his head in defeat Grey stood up and looked at his Queen.

"Simply a team. There is someone who I need to hunt."

Laughing again the woman looked at him with amusement.

"And can you not complete that yourself?" seeing the look on his face only made her amusement greater. "Oh I see. Another one of your conquests gone wrong?"

"All I need is a team, nothing more. Your Majesty."

"Alright fine. A team of five, your choosing." waving her hand in dismissal she continued. "Now if that's all you need be on your way."

Leaving the throne room, Grey Wolf went to find the team he would assemble to take down that ungrateful girl. He realized he didn't know her name. But he did know one thing, she wore a red hood, a Red Riding Hood.

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