CHAPTER TWO: GRAHAM

"In trouble, again, Rosalie?"

She didn't answer him. There was no need to. He knew exactly what had happened. Besides, she didn't want to talk about. She knew that somehow, she always managed to get into trouble, but it wasn't always her fault!

He sat down by her feet on the couch. His face remained stoic as he spoke to her. "I have fed you, clothed you, and sheltered you. Now, I have decided on the price."

Rosalie jerked upright and stared at him with wide eyes. What was he going to want from her? She had nothing to give him.

"Your price is..."

"Hello."

Rosalie looked up from the book she had on the glass counter. She smiled and nodded at Graham.

"I see you have a new workplace, already. Granny's didn't work out for you?" he asked her, leaning on the counter.

She smiled and took out her notebook. That's not it, exactly. Mr. Gold said I got into too much trouble all the time, so he thought I'd probably be safer here.

"You have been in a lot of trouble since you came here, haven't you?" Graham raised an eyebrow at her. "Were you always such a troublemaker?"

Who knows? I don't remember.

"Right, sorry," he apologised.

She shook her head and waved her dismissively waved her hand. Are you looking for anything in particular?

"Yeah," he replied.

What are you looking for? Maybe I can help you.

"Oh, no." One side of his lips quirked upward. "I've already found what I was looking for."

This time, it was Rosalie would raised an eyebrow. Then where is it?

"Right here," he replied, his grin widening. "But, of course, I would like to relocate to Granny's after my... ah... acquirement."

Mr. Sheriff, are you asking me on a date?

"Depends. Are you interested in a date?"

Rosalie looked behind her to Mr. Gold who was in his office.

"No," he firmly stated before she could even ask him. "You're working here from nine to five. You've already taken your lunch break and I don't pay you to go on... dates."

Rosalie turned back to Graham and shrugged. After five?

"I'll pick you up, then," he whispered before disappearing out the door, again.

"Get back to the house by eight," Mr. Gold told her.

She sighed. How did he know everything? How good were his ears? She perked up. At least he was letting her out!

For the rest of the day, Rosalie was in a good mood. After work, she had something to look forward to. She hummed as she continued to read her book. No more visitors arrived for the rest of the day and Mr. Gold never left his office.

By the time it was finally five, Rosalie couldn't even concentrate on the book anymore. She was bouncing on the ball of her feet and fiddling with the numerous objects behind the counter.

"Would you stop that?"

She cringed and smiled sheepishly at Mr. Gold. The clanking must've finally worn his patience.

Her head turned to the door as it opened.

"Hey, beautiful," Graham greeted her.

She smiled and took his outstretched hand. Before they left, she peeked her head into Mr. Gold's office to inform him that she was leaving. She managed to catch his attention with a wave, which he promptly ignored.

"Granny's?"

She nodded.

He led her into the car, but she stopped him before he could drive off.

Aren't you worried that the mayor would find out?

He shrugged. "What's life without a bit of excitement?"

She was about to reply, but a familiar form caught her attention.

Graham noticed her lack of reply and followed her line of vision. In front of the car was the wolf with the mismatched eyes. It stared at them for a few seconds more before running off.

The sheriff looked at her. "Sorry, I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

Rosalie nodded. She, herself, was curious about the wolf. It helped her get out of the forest.

The drove off after it until it disappeared into the cemetery. When they got out of the car, a small drizzle had started. Graham looked indecisively between the cemetery and Rosalie whose hair was already damp and plastered on her face. She looked back at him expectantly, wondering what he was going to do.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "You're going to get sick in the rain. Besides, I can't see the wolf anymore." He pushed her back into the car before running to the driver's side. "We'll find him again, next time."

Are you sure? We can just go take a look.

"No, don't worry about it." He stole a kiss to her cheek and smiled.

She smiled back at him and gave him one in return.

"Sorry, I ruined our date," he apologised. "Tomorrow at five?"

She nodded. If Mr. Gold would allow me to go.

"He's not your father. Besides, you're only enough to go on a date... at five."

I know, but I promised.

"What did you promise him?"

Rosalie smiled. Don't worry about it. Want to take me back home?

"Yeah. Mr. Gold's, right?"

She nodded.

It was nearly eight by the time they arrived. Graham took off his jacket to shield the two of them from the rain.

Thank you. The notepad was slightly damp from the rain water.

"No, I didn't really do anything other than get you soaked."

Then thank you for agreeing to take me out again tomorrow.

Graham smiled. "No, thank you for giving me another chance." He held her hands into his. "I promise that tomorrow will be perfect."

I guess... Good night?

"Yeah..." He began to lean in and she held her breath.

Her eyes wandered to his lips and back into his eyes.

He gently pushed her against the door and just before their lips touched, the support behind her gave way. She fell backward on to the floor with Graham on top of her.

"It's eight, dearie."

Her eyes immediately met Mr. Gold's and her face flared up. She covered her face with her hands and shook her head. This was so embarrassing.

Graham quickly scrambled to his feet, his face as red as hers was. "G-Good evening, Mr. Gold," he stuttered while brushing off invisible specks of dust from his shirt. "I'll just be.. going, now." He gave Rosalie one last look before disappearing back into his car.

Mr. Gold promptly closed the door and stood in front of her form on the floor. He tilted his head to one side. "Did you know that he is sleeping with the mayor?"

Whatever she thought he was going to say, it was not that. She shook her head. It couldn't be. Why would he sleep with the mayor of all people?

He shrugged. "An odd taste in women? I would surely not be interested in... Regina Mills."

If he's sleeping with her, why is he asking me out? Could it be possible that Mr. Gold was wrong or lying to her? Maybe he just didn't want her to go out with Graham.

He shrugged at her. "I can't imagine he'd be too happy with Regina. No one is."

Rosalie twiddled her thumb. What should she do? I'm going to meet up with Graham tomorrow, again, and ask him about it. I need to know.

"Whatever you wish," he said, hobbling away. "But remember what you promised me."

She nodded, despite the fact that Mr. Gold was already out of sight.

What was going on?

During the time that Graham was driving her to Granny's. She could tell that he was on edge. He wouldn't stop shaking his legs up and down and his fingers were tapping restlessly on the steering wheel.

She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but she was also afraid that any sudden noise might cause him to crash the car. He was that on edge and it scared her. Graham had always been the cool-headed, flirty, pleasant kind of guy. So what happened between last night and now?

When they arrived at Granny's, they were quickly seated and Ruby gave her a questioning look, but she only shrugged.

"I have something to tell you," he said he in serious tone and she was certain that he was going to tell her about his nights with the mayor. "I think my heart is missing."

She gave him an incredulous look.

"No, hear me out. Well, I know you will. That's why I'm telling you this," he said, taking her hand into his. "I spoke to Henry today and he showed me his story book. I told him about the wolf and he showed me this picture. It looked just like him and... he was always with the Huntsman. You know, the one who went after Snow White?"

She nodded. Henry had also showed her that story.

"The story goes on saying that, the I - the Huntsman - allowed Snow White to escape, but the evil queen tore his heart out and kept it in this... this vault." He placed one hand above his heart and closed his eyes. "I think that's why I can't seem to feel anything."

She reached over and slipped her hand under his. Da. Dum. Da. Dum.

I can hear it.

"I know. I know, but..." He let her hand go to rub his face in frustration. "I just can't explain it. I've always felt that something was... missing and I think that's it."

How could we be sure?

"That wolf. I've seen it around everywhere, but not just on the streets - in my mind. I've tested it. Whenever I kiss Emma, I - "

You kissed Emma?!

"I..."

She abruptly stood up. Not only was he sleeping with the mayor, he was also kissing Emma? How many other women were he with?

"Rosalie, it's not like that!"

She looked at him sadly before running out the door.

"Rosalie!" He stood up, threw down several notes, and ran after her.

It didn't take him long to catch her. She was half a block away, walking briskly further and further into the distance. He grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Please, it's not like that."

Rosalie pursed her lips, a frown on her face. Then, she did something impulsive. She grabbed on to his hair and pulled his head down so that their lips were meshed together.

He was shocked at first, but quickly closed his eyes and held her closer. A part of him expected to see the same things as he did with Emma, but there was nothing. No, that wasn't true, either. Her lips felt soft and warm against his own and he deepened the kiss, biting her lower lip gently until she gave him entrance.

When they finally broke away, Rosalie had an expectant look on her face, but he wasn't quite sure what it meant.

Did you see anything?

"No, I didn't." He looked sadly back at her.

Rosalie looked disappointed. Maybe it was some kind of sign that he was meant to be with Emma.

Do you see anything when you're with the mayor?

"No, I - " He paused. "How did you know I was with Regina?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. Mr. Gold told me.

"Of course..." he replied with resignation. "He knows everything in this town. But listen, it's not like that at all. With either Emma or Regina. I just... I just want to feel something - anything."

Rosalie didn't know what to say. She wasn't even sure if she could believe him about his missing heart. Was it just an excuse? Did he say it to all the others?

She began to scrawl something into her notepad, but something caught her eye. It was the wolf and it was standing there, watching them. When it noticed that it had both of their attention, it ran off.

Rosalie and Graham shared a look before running off after it.

In their haste, they had abandoned the car in front of Granny's, but somehow - perhaps because the wolf allowed it - they were able to keep up.

Similar to last night, the wolf stopped in the cemetery. It howled at the Mills' mausoleum before padding off into the distance.

When Graham tried to find it, it was already gone.

"This is it," Graham whispered. "It's my heart. It's in there."

Rosalie looked at him and took his hand into hers. Graham pulled the flashlight from his back pocket and together, they walked in.

It was small, as most mausoleums were. A white tomb laid in the middle with trinkets on the shelves all around it. Graham searched frantically behind and inside anything he can move. "It's got to be in here, somewhere."

Rosalie helped him on the opposite side, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"There's got to be a hidden door - a lever."

She pushed things around looked for any hidden switches, but there was nothing. She walked over to Graham would looked as if he was about to throw the urn in his hand. With a hand on his hand, she managed to calm him down enough for him to put the object back down.

"Something," he whispered. "There has to be something. If there isn't, then..."

She patted his shoulder and nodded at him. There wasn't much else she could do, but watch him. She leaned against the tomb and sighed. Maybe after searching around a little more, he'd find the closure that he needed.

Da. Dum. Da. Dum. Da. Dum.

Rosalie frowned and looked around.

Da. Dum. Da. Dum. Da. Dum.

She began to search the shelves, again. Like last time, nothing, so where was it coming from?

"Where is it? Where is it?" There was such desperation in Graham's voice that it broke her heart. She placed her hand on his arms and motioned for him to be quiet. He looked at her with confusion, but halted his search.

Da, Dum. Da. Dum. Da. Dum.

She looked at him, wondering if he heard it. He didn't

She frowned and tried to figure out where it was coming from. She placed her ear on walls and she walked around outside, but she could only hear it when she was inside. The only place she hadn't checked was... She dropped to her knees and tilted her ear toward.

Da. Dum. Da. Dum. Da. Dum.

It was much louder down there. She looked at Graham and pointed downward.

"I knew it!" he breathed.

They began to search, once more, with fervour. Nothing. Nothing moved and there were no hidden switches.

In frustration, Graham kicked the tomb. They froze as a small crack appeared underneath. Sharing a look, they both began to push it. It slid to the side rather easily, revealing a set of stairs.

What was that doing here? Why was there a hidden chamber beneath the mausoleum? What was Regina doing with it? Could she really be the evil queen in Henry's story book?

When they made it all the way down the stairs, there was a vault-like wall in front of them. The heartbeats were obvious, now. Graham slowly walked over with a look of wonder on his face.

As he stood in front of the vault, one shelf opened up, revealing a box.

Rosalie walked over to him and watched as he carefully took the box out. With shaking hands, he opened the box.

Rosalie's hands shot up to cover her mouth. There was really a red, beating heart in the box.

"This is it..." he whispered. "This is my heart. I know it is." He sounded as if he was close to tears. He took the heart into his hands and looked at it uncertainly. How was he going to put it back inside himself?

Maybe there really is magic. Try placing it against your chest?

He did as she suggested, but nothing happened. He frowned and looked at her.

She looked back at him with the same uncertainty before slowly pushing his hand towards his heart. She held her breath as it sunk in until it disappeared completely.

Graham gasped and clutched his chest. He looked to be winded and Rosalie worried that maybe it wasn't his heart and maybe it was hurting him somehow.

She shook his shoulder to get his attention, wondering if he was alright.

After a moment, he finally caught his breath and looked at her with sparkling eyes. A wide grin began to spread across his face. "I can feel it! I can - " His around snaked around her waist and he crushed her against him. "I can love, again." He brought his lips crashing down to hers.

Rosalie moaned as he brought them even closer. Her heart was beating so hard and the blood was just rushing up to her head.

When they broke apart, smiles were on their faces.

"Come on, let's get out of here... Who knows when she might come back."

They quickly made their way back up the stairs and pushed the tomb back into place. Graham reached for her hand and they turned to leave.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

In front of them was Regina Mills with a small bouquet of flowers in her hand.

"We heard a disturbance and decided to check it out," Graham quickly lied. "It was probably just a wild animal."

Regina raised a dark eyebrow at them. "And why would she be here where you're the sheriff?"

"I bumped into Rosalie on the way here and I didn't want to leave her alone in case someone was really here."

The brunette sneered. "Well, I can take you home after I placed these flowers down." Regina made to grab on to Graham before she noticed the enlaced hands. "Oh, I see. A little tryst in the middle of the night in the cemetery?" Regina moved her face close to Rosalie's who flinched back. "He. Is. Mine."

"No," Graham interjected, causing both females to look at him. "I'm not going home with you."

Regina crossed her arms. "Oh? So, you're leaving me for her?"

He shook his head. "I'm leaving you for me."

"Graham, you're not thinking straight." Regina tried to convince him otherwise.

He shook his head. "Actually, for the first time, I am. I'd rather have nothing than settle for less." He squeezed Rosalie's hand. "And I think I've found something tonight. I need to feel something and with Rosalie..." He looked at the blonde and smiled.

"Graham - "

"I'm sorry. It's over." He brushed past Regina with Rosalie behind him.

She looked back to see the dark fury on the mayor's face. With how much that woman already hated her, she wondered what would happen, now, if they were ever to bump into each other again.

They hurriedly left the cemetery and back to Granny's where they entered Graham's car. The adrenaline was leaving their bodies, leaving them in a state of shock and disbelief.

"It was really there," Graham whispered, breaking the silence. "My heart. It was really there! And you found it for me..." He gently held her face in his hands. "It belongs to you, now."

She smiled and leaned in.


AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello, again! I initially actually wanted to update every week, but with how quickly the chapters are being done, I thought I'd do it whenever I felt like it.

So it seems like I'm going to start introducing romance with Graham, now! When I first started watching Once Upon a Time, I was completely shocked with how quickly they had killed him off. I thought his character had a lot of potential and really wanted to do something with it.

As the story progresses, I will also touch on other pairings and when everyone has been introduced, I will stop the voting and finalise the permanent pairing.

My appreciations to:

Chriswa27: Thank you for reviewing! I've taken your vote into account and in the chapters I'm writing now, you'll see Rumpel a lot more!

I'd also love to thank everyone who has read, favourited, and followed this story. It's always wonderful waking up and seeing those email notifications (I have no life and have nothing better to look forward to, so I actually check my emails several times a day for these...)

Love interest poll:

1.) Graham

2.) Hook

3.) Peter Pan

4.) Rumpel = 2

5.) Other?

6.) Permanent Triangle? (I've never/rarely seen a story actually end with the main character having both romantic interests. Since it's a fairy tale, I think I have a little more freedom in terms of morals and laws.

Seems like Rumpel is winning, right now! He's such a dynamic character in the show!

Please continue to vote for who you want the permanent love interest to be and you will eventually see the path the romance will take on.

Moving on, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask. I love constructive criticism and since I'm will working on the story, right now, it'd be great to hear from you guys. I also hope my grammar and spelling is alright. I type everything on my new iPad mini and the keyboard gets a bit spazzy sometimes...

And I'm still looking for something to replace the ellipsis line breaks. The fanfiction default one is too long and the ellipsis is a little too tiny? I'm not sure, but I can't seem to actually like them.

Anyway, until next time!

Echo