A/N: This story lives! I swear I've not abandoned it, it's just really hard to write sometimes because of the mindset necessary. That being said, I've got so much of this story mapped out all it is going to take is me dedicating the time necessary for it. So, bear with me you guys! I'm going to try for a once a month update for this one. Because these chapters are so ridiculously long, I think that is all I will be able to manage. Thank you so much to everyone who has hung in there with this story, we are not done yet and it's got to get a bit darker before we can hit the light, but I threw in some fluff and sarcasm to keep a bit lighter.
Also, I am in the market for a beta. If you know of anyone or you are interested, please shoot me a message! Hope you guys enjoy.
The house creaked in a still unfamiliar manner as night descended further around it. Sitting on the couch and looking out at the harbor, Emma found that she didn't mind the noisy old joints as they settled around her. This house was meant to be the start of something more for her. A happy beginning.
And yet tonight she found herself plagued once more by dreams she couldn't silence. Nightmares -if they could even be called such - continued to dog her every attempt at sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she dreamed of the damned sword. Each night she visited the darkened streets of Main Street and found herself crouching over the weapon in front of the library.
On some nights she merely looked at the blade, on others she reached out to touch it, and on a few rare occasions she'd even wielded the weapon for a few moments before waking. In the instances where she'd held the sword, Emma could feel sheer power thrumming through the blade. Immensely powerful though it was, the sword felt right in her inexperienced hands.
The only constant with the dreams was the urgent sense of foreboding that filled her as she neared the weapon. Brief flashes of obscure visions danced at the edge of her comprehension. In her hands the sword felt right, but something told her that it could not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
"Love?" A soft voice called to her, pulling the savior from her thoughts.
Looking up she noticed Killian standing in front of her peering down worriedly. Dressed in a t-shirt and flannel pants, her True Love's domestic look drove some of the trepidation from her. The soft smile she offered apparently did little to assuage her True Love.
"What's wrong Emma?" He asked concern lacing his words as he fell onto the seat beside her.
"Nothing," she shrugged.
Killian obviously wasn't fooled. Taking her hand into his he pried further. "Nothing usually doesn't keep you up at all hours of the night."
Fixing her eyes on their intertwined hands, Emma allowed her mind to work. These dreams were probably nothing more than some subconscious fear manifesting itself. It couldn't hurt to share her troubles with the man she'd literally gone through hell with. And yet... sharing her feelings had never been a strong suit of hers.
"It's just dreams, that's all," replied Emma, settling on a half-truth.
"Anything too troubling?"
Emma shook her head and leaned into Killian. "Just the usual." Gods knew she had enough memories to warrant such terrifying dreams. Thankfully Killian didn't pry any further.
A quick kiss was planted on the top of her head as he settled in against her. "Why don't we go back to bed then?"
Emma had to admit the idea had some merit, but so did remaining in their cozy spot curled up on the couch. In the arms of her True Love, dreamless sleep finally found Emma.
Objectively, Henry knew that Hook was only trying to bond with him. In reality though, the pirate was driving him absolutely insane. He and Hook might never have the father-son bond that Hook was obviously striving for, but Henry liked the man well enough. Or at least he no longer harbored any real resentment towards Hook. Like all things worthwhile their relationship just needed time and effort to work.
Hook, however, didn't seem to understand that. Since announcing his plans to marry Emma, Hook had taken to constant awkward attempts at bonding with him. Not that Henry minded the attention all that much, but the insipid pirate kept trying to monopolize his time. Between sailing lessons, homework, and working on his swordsmanship – with both gramps and Hook – Henry found barely any time to socialize. Which meant that his relationship with Violet was on the rocks once again and he hadn't gotten to spend any time at all with his only other friend.
Sulking his way down Main Street, Henry did his best to avoid Hook's attention today. He'd spent the evening at Regina's mansion, away from crying newborns and embarrassing situations with Emma and Hook. Which meant that he'd gone to sleep at a reasonable hour and awoken early enough to grab a quick breakfast to go at Granny's and make his way to the library.
While a deep-seated love of the written word had driven him into the library often enough, that wasn't his goal for today. No, today he had a very important meeting with the only teenager his age – well at least in looks – that he actually got along with.
"Henry," Cheshire called from the bowels of library shelves.
Holding up the sack of bagels, Henry smiled in the direction of his friend's voice. "I brought breakfast."
A large manic grin was the first thing that alerted Henry to Cheshire's location. "And what, might I ask, is your price for such kindness," Ches asked sauntering out of the shelves and over to the circulation desk.
"Who says there's a price involved at all."
"Everything comes with a price."
Plopping the bag of food onto the circulation desk, Henry pulled himself onto the counter and stared his friend down. Something about Cheshire had struck a chord of familiarity within Henry since the moment he'd met him. That chord vibrated once more at the boy's words. Cheshire hadn't explained much of his past yet, but Henry hoped that he could get the mysterious boy to open up sooner rather than later.
Throwing on a quick smile to hide his true thoughts, Henry hummed to himself as he pretended to make up his mind. "How about in exchange for some of Granny's best bagels, you beguile me with stories of Wonderland."
A pleased shift in Cheshire's expression told Henry that he'd won a round. "Best bagels you say?"
"According to Granny at least."
"Well then I guess you have yourself a deal."
Smiling to himself, Henry hopped over the counter and slid into the rolling chair. Propping his feet up onto the counter he made himself comfortable and picked a bagel from the bag. Cheshire sprawled back on the top of the desk and caught the bag of bagels when Henry tossed it.
"So… Wonderland then."
For the first time since her return, Belle walked into the library fully rested. It was quite marvelous just how much a good night's sleep could change her attitude. Sauntering in through the front door the first noise that reached her ears was laughter.
"Then the girl dives behind a pillar and when the monster rounds the corner - moments before it snaps her up in her in its jaws - the girl swung her mighty sword and ran it into the beast's gullet. Pinning it to the wall with the vorpal blade for all eternity." Cheshire was perched lazily on the circulation desk as he animatedly told his story to his captive audience. In this position it was the simplest thing to picture him as a cat.
"So, what you're saying is that you defeated the Jabberwock?" Henry asked with huge eyes trained on Ches. Belle could detect only the slightest hint of disbelief coloring the younger boy's voice.
"Course not," Ches scoffed with a bat of his hand. "I'm merely saying that without my deal, Alice would've been food for the jubjub birds."
"What if I say I don't believe you? And that I think you're nuts?" Henry countered. And Belle knew that tone, the boy would be researching his storybook tonight without question.
From her position by the door, Belle couldn't see Ches's face, but she could hear the smile that must have extended across his face. "To start with, I'd say you weren't to the first to imply that I'm mad. And then I'd follow that by stating that you don't have to believe in something for it to be the truth. Many people see the truth around them daily and choose ignore it completely."
Finding herself incapable of holding her tongue any longer, Belle stepped forward startling the two boys. "I can't tell if that's the wisest thing I've heard or the dumbest," she announced eliciting a snicker from Henry. "I didn't know I was paying you to sit around and gossip?" She quipped with a smile.
"Looks like the slave driver's arrived," Henry muttered to his friend with a glint of mischief flashing through his eyes.
"Slave driver?" Belle laughed. "Is that what he calls me behind my back?"
Shooting a wink at Henry and turning a wicked grin on her, Ches kept lightly off the desk and danced over to her in a manner that momentarily took Belle's breath away by its obvious familiarity.
"Mistress Belle," Ches said, "such horrible words do not do someone such as you justice. Of course, no one would refer to you in such a manner. My poor deluded friend here-" to which Henry cut in with a loud "hey" and by throwing a wad of paper at Ches "- doesn't know what he's talking about. You're no slave driver. More a benevolent guardian of the written treasure."
The words flowed like silk from his tongue even as he took her hand and cheekily planted a kiss on it. For the first time, Belle wondered if perhaps Rumpelstiltskin's warning about the boy might hold some weight. Certainly, he was just joking in this moment, but what about when he turned on his charms for real? This boy could be trouble. Long months of living with a manipulative master mind helped Belle to keep all these thoughts behind a mask of sarcastic exasperation.
Leaning towards him she stage whispered, "flattery will only get you so far in life. One day pretty words won't be enough to get you out of trouble."
"I like my chances," Cheshire shrugged with a wink and a bow that she could tell he'd immolated from someone else.
With a quick reminder that she'd chosen to keep Cheshire as help despite knowing his background, Belle rolled her eyes to mask her quaking heart. "Well what are the chances of you two helping me take inventory for the rest of the day?"
Both boys shot her identical smiles as they shot to her side. "Your chances look pretty good," Henry acknowledged.
By keeping her hands and mind busy, Belle managed to drown her sorrows and anger while in the company of two overly rambunctious teenage boys.
"Let me get this straight. You think that the Dark One has Jafar's lamp in his pawn shop and you want to sneak in and steal it?" Jasmine could hear the blatant disbelief coloring her voice and she only hoped Aladdin could as well.
"No," he replied with a smile, momentarily relieving her of her fears. "I think there's a chance the Dark One has the lamp and I want for us to sneak in and steal it." That infuriating smile of his did little to assuage the princess's fears.
Burying her head in her hands, Jasmine sighed as her hopes of a quiet evening were dashed. "Aladdin that's insane. He's the Dark One if he catches us…"
"Who says he'll catch us?" Before she could even attempt to answer, Aladdin pulled her hands into his and quickly reassured her. "Jas, I'm the best thief in all the realms-"
"That's rather a presumptuous title."
"-without question," he continued as if she hadn't interrupted. "If anyone can do this its me. Besides, I though you were always up for an adventure Princess."
"An adventure sure. But this is suicide!"
"Only if he catches us."
"And you might be a thief, but I'm certainly not. I'm dead clumsy. What if I knock something over, or trip and alert him, or something equally as awful?"
"That's why you're the look out," he smiled undaunted in the face of her protests.
The two sat in silence for several long moments as Jasmine contemplated each and every manner in which his plan could go wrong. The quaint graveyard in which they sat seemed to mock their very thoughts. This is suicide she screamed internally.
Apparently, her face displayed just how little confidence she had in this plan because Aladdin gripped her hands tighter and attempted comforting her once again. "Look it's a simple plan Princess. In my experience the simpler the plan the less likely it is to go wrong. We wait for darkness, wait for him to head home, then I sneak in, find the lamp, and we're out. Easy as cake."
"It is a good plan," an unfamiliar voice called over to the huddled plotters, causing them both to freeze, "but I wonder if that's the best you can come up with?"
A beautiful woman with mousy brown hair pulled into a tight bun stepped out of the shadows of the graveyard. The maternal smile she wore seemed at odds with the somewhat darker gleam apparent in her eyes. A chill traveled slowly down Jasmine's spine at the sight of the woman. However, she wasn't certain if the chill was from the fact that they'd been caught or the almost obnoxious piety that seemed to cling to the woman's frame.
To her surprise, Aladdin smiled at the sight of the mysterious woman. "Hello Blue," he called, beckoning the stranger closer. "Fancy seeing you here."
"At my own convent?" Blue asked in a motherly laugh. "I'm sorry I don't believe we've met," she continued turning her attention to Jasmine.
Grinning in spite of her discomfort, Jasmine introduced herself to the strange woman. "Hi, I'm Jasmine of Agrabah. I came over with the others from the Land of Untold Stories." The words had become rote memorization for her over the past few days as she continuously introduced herself to the many denizens of Storybrooke.
"Well met, Jasmine. I'm glad to see you've found someone to show you the ins and outs of our quaint little town," Blue replied with a smile that might have been kind if it had ever reached her eyes. "I'm the Blue Fairy, though most just call me Blue."
Jasmine's eyes widened with shock at that name. She'd heard of the Blue Fairy repeatedly as a child. Fairies were common to all realms and Agrabah had not been excluded from their magic. Her own patron fairy had been the one to gift Jasmine with the knowledge of the Land of Untold Stories when her father had become so sick. To meet the patron mother of all fairies was a privilege the young princess did not think she'd ever be granted.
"I'm honored to meet you," Jasmine answered with every ounce of gracious civility she could manage.
The Blue Fairy turned her attention back to Aladdin. "As I was saying your plan is decent, but I wonder if you couldn't use a little help in tweaking it just a bit."
A dashingly rogue smile split Aladdin's face. "What exactly were you thinking Blue?"
"I was thinking that I could use the aid of a master thief like yourself," said Blue in what might possibly have been a charming voice. "And we happen to be looking for objects in the same place."
"You need to steal from the Dark One," Jasmine interjected. What could the Blue Fairy possibly need to steal from the darkest of creatures?
The motherly look Blue turned on her was anything other than comforting. "I do. He has possession of Pandora's Box and has mishandled the device on far too many occasions. Several innocents have found themselves trapped in that box at his hands. It's time it was placed in capable hands once more."
Aladdin nodded at the sage woman's words, but the odd feeling that had plagued her since meeting the fairy urged a chill up Jasmine's spine. Something about this situation troubled the princess.
"Well I'm the man for the job, love. What is you need?"
"If you can break into the pawnshop, I can provide a viable distraction."
Noting the twinkle in Aladdin's eye that promised he was about to jump head first into something, Jasmine pulled the reigns. "What kind of distraction will you be providing and how do we know it will be enough time? Or that he will even fall for it?"
A darkness that had no business crossing the head fairy's face twitched across her expression. "The Dark One has one exceedingly reliable weakness," Blue informed the two thieves. "Push that nerve and he will jump every time. Besides, this particular weakness owes me a favor."
Jasmine could tell that the Blue Fairy's words affected Aladdin in much the same way they were affecting her, but neither of them could pass up this possible opportunity. They had to prevent Jafar from gaining power or being released. If they didn't, the Storybrooke would be facing yet another villain.
Desperate and out of options, Aladdin and Jasmine took the Blue Fairy's offer. Under the circumstances, what else could they do.
After several hours of checking and sorting through books and the three library workers decided it was time for a well-deserved break. With Chinese food delivered from Mushu's the three companions settled down for a moment of rest and relaxation.
Legs propped onto the table and leaning his chair back on two legs, Cheshire decided the current setting would allow for a proper bit of pot stirring. "So, Henry," Ches purred "what are the females like in this land?"
Both Belle and Henry guffawed at his boldness. Henry turned an excellent shade of red at the same time Belle choked on her food. "Sorry?" Henry squeaked.
Throwing on his best wicked grin, Cheshire tried again. "I simply asked what the girls are like in this land? You know, what are the rules for courting someone, are they beholden to any stations or rules. That kind of thing." If possible, Henry's face turned an even deeper shade of red, much to the former cat's pleasure. "But perhaps you're just untried in such areas, my mistake."
"I'm not untried," Henry protested in a high breaking voice.
A snort from the librarian alerted Ches to her attempts to hide her laughter behind her box of take out. Feeling further emboldened, Cheshire persisted. "Well then do tell. Can't keep all of them for yourself."
"There aren't… I mean of course, that is to say…" Henry spluttered incoherently. "What I mean is…"
It took every ounce of will power to keep his laughter contained at the teens struggles. Unfortunately, Belle took pity on Henry.
"There aren't any stations or caste systems in this world Ches," Belle supplied with a wink at Henry. "Some, especially former royalty, do tend to cling to some of the old ways. But most everyone sticks to the principles of this world. As long as you love each other you're usually set. Though it's typically tradition for a suitor to ask permission from their intendeds' father or mother before anything as serious as a wedding."
"Yeah," Henry added as he came back on balance, "most people are just looking for happiness."
"Are you most people Henry?" Cheshire asked shooting a wink at Belle who once again had to stifle her laughter. "Just looking for happiness?"
Henry blushed. "Maybe," he answered defiantly.
This didn't shock Cheshire at all. "So, you do have a young lady in your life? I knew it. Does she have any friends?"
This time Belle couldn't choke back her laugh quickly enough. "Aren't you rather old for any of the girls Henry knows?" the nosey bookworm questioned.
"I'm mentally mature," he answered easily with a waggle of his eyebrows at the still blushing teenager. "Tell me about your lady Henry."
Henry's eyes danced across to Belle narrowing at her obvious enjoyment of his discomfort before they alighted on Cheshire. However, his voice remained surprisingly even when he responded. "Her name is Violet. She's from Camelot and yes, she does have friends. Though a few of them are allergic to cats."
The legs of Cheshire's chair slammed into the floor as he found himself on the receiving end of Henry's teasing. Belle's giggling brought a small bubble of laughter from Ches as well.
Belle interjected before Cheshire was able to fully recover from his shock. "Oh, Henry don't be so dour. I'm sure Violet has many friends who love cats. Ches here will be an obvious catch. Plus, he's traveled the realms and he's mentally mature."
Gentle teasing from both of his companions left a strange feeling of warmth spreading through Cheshire's chest. He wasn't accustomed to such easy companionship. Mentally shaking himself he brought himself back on balance. He couldn't allow his feelings to get in the way. These two were pawns, and one didn't get attached to pawns.
"Belle makes valid points Henry," Cheshire admitted retaining their light tone. "I am quite the catch. You'll have to introduce me to your lady and her friends sometime soon." Henry's face fell ever so slightly at that proposition. "Something wrong?" Cheshire asked bluntly before he could stop himself.
Shifting uncomfortably Henry ducked his head into his box of take out. "I'm sorry," said Ches hurriedly. "It's none of my business of course. I just-"
"No," Henry interjected, "it's okay. We just… never have time for each other. Between a new town crisis every week and school and everything… it's just hard."
"That's tough mate," Cheshire said reaching over and patting Henry on the shoulder.
"Hook," Henry breathed then corrected himself, "Killian, thinks that a bit of space is good for a relationship."
This time it was Belle's turn to jump into the conversation without thinking. "You're taking dating advice from Killian? Henry, we need to have a serious conversation."
To Cheshire's surprise Henry smiled at that. "I know the difference between good advice and grey areas."
"Good," Belle replied simply.
"So, Hook is your wingman then?" Cheshire asked, digging further into his companion's life.
Henry shrugged. "More like he's my older brother trying his best to get me a girl."
"Sounds like a lovely relationship," Cheshire quipped.
Worry sifted through Belle's expression allowing Ches to read her like the book's she clung to. He knew what direction the bookworm was going to take the conversation before she ever opened her mouth. "How are things going with Killian in that department?"
Henry busied his hands by idly spinning his take-out box on the table. A truncated silence filled the room as the teen tried to find the right words. "Things are… okay, I guess. He's not trying to take my dad's spot…but he's trying too hard to be my friend."
"At least he's trying," Belle offered gently. Oddly enough the bookworm's eyes had misted over.
Seeing an opportunity too perfect to pass up, Cheshire decided to crack open the door to his past. "You're lucky Henry," Ches began in a somber tone. "To have someone trying to watch out for you. Even if he's doing a crap job sometimes."
"I know," said Henry as he fixed his gaze on the table. "Plus, with my mom's, I have it good. I just don't want him to try taking over as my dad. Because he's not. He never will be…"
Belle swiped quickly at her cheeks dispelling those tears that had not been able to mind themselves. Her voice was thick with emotion when she spoke. "Killian's done a lot of questionable things in his life, but he truly cared about your father, Henry. I don't think he'd ever try and take Bae's place."
Hearing the name of the boy whose memory he'd competed with filled Cheshire with a fierce anger he hadn't known for many years. But the former cat was far too well practiced to allow such feelings to show through.
Luckily Henry spoke up again. "I know he won't. He's one of the only people I can even talk to about my dad anyway. My mom talks about him sometimes, but she only knew him when he was older. No one else really knew him other than grandpa. And I can't really talk with him," Henry shot a nervous look at Belle as he realized the sensitive nature of his words.
For Cheshire it was as if Christmas had come early. Keeping his countenance serious, Cheshire watched the emotional interaction avidly.
Belle stared intently at Henry for several beats before she seemingly found the right words. "If anyone could talk to him about Bae, it would be you. Not that I would recommend it, but Rumple would tell you anything you asked." For half a second, Cheshire worried that the charm he'd given Belle wasn't working properly. Her voice and expression carried too much hope and love, but then a bitterness filled her voice as she added, "At least in that department he'd be honest."
Worries evaded for the moment, Cheshire decided to get the topic out of dangerous waters. "If either of you ever tell him I said this, I'll both deny it and seek immediate retribution," Ches paused to allow his words to sink in. "But… deep, deep down, Killian is good guy. He's forgotten that a few times and he's a complete asshole. But he's a good guy."
Belle and Henry both nodded in return. "Well," Belle said pulling everyone from their thoughts, "I don't think those books are going to count themselves."
As the three got back to work, Cheshire saw an odd expression cross Belle's face as she checked her phone. A few strokes of the keyboard later and the librarian returned to her task. Yet the former cat couldn't shake the idea that something important was afoot.
"Alright he's gone," Jasmine whispered from her spot at the end of the alley.
They'd sat in the alley watching for the moment when Blue's plan would be put into action. The fairy had promised them fifteen minutes at most and absolutely no more. Following Aladdin into the shop, Jasmine took her place near the windows as lookout. Cocky bastard that the thief was, he shot her a wink as he began methodically searching the shop. Rolling her eyes, Jasmine played her part and watched the doors to library carefully.
After ten of the allotted fifteen minutes had passed without turning up anything, the librarian herself entered the building. Figuring that they had just gained an extra five minutes, Jasmine was surprised to see the Dark One stalking away from the library a few moments later.
Her blood ran cold as she ran to the back of the shop and grabbed Aladdin by the arm. "It's time to go," she whispered urgently.
"But I haven't found anything," he answered. Shock at his own failure colored every ounce of his body language.
"Doesn't matter," Jasmine said with a shake of her head. "We're out of time."
The two thieves stole away from the shop as quickly as they could empty handed. It seemed as though the Dark One was just as clueless to the whereabouts of Jafar as they were.
The message he'd received from Belle had been both surprising and terrifying at the same time. She'd asked him to stop by for just a few minutes. Naturally he'd been unable to reject such a request. Most likely Belle would spend the time berating him once more, but he couldn't quite suppress the hope that she wanted to actually talk with him. To talk and listen.
"Well if it isn't the man of the hour," an all too familiar voice called as he passed through the library's doors. Cheshire materialized in front of him, lazily perched on the circulation desk, as if he sat there every day in such a manner.
Rumpelstiltskin's blood froze as he stared into the face of the young man he'd once considered almost family. Yet another young man he'd failed and hurt unforgivably.
"Cheshire," Rumpelstiltskin replied without a trace of the emotions he harbored.
"Surprised to see me," the boy asked wearing that ridiculously famous grin of his. "Didn't expect me to show back up?"
Rumpelstiltskin pulled on the darkness that shrouded his every step. "More like hoped you wouldn't," he said taking on the impish affect he'd utilized for so many years.
The boy batted a hand to his chest as he slid gracefully off the desk. "You wound me with your harsh words. There's no need to be petty."
"What are you doing here in Cheshire?" He asked cutting to the quick.
Cheshire took on the look of innocence and ignorance he'd obviously perfected over the years. "Working in the library. Mingling with the other story book characters. Finding my way towards a second chance."
"Let's try the truth this time," the Dark One snorted. "What are you doing here?"
"You look different in this world, Dark One." Cheshire observed. The boy's head quirked to the side looking every inch the cat he'd been for two centuries. "No scales, no claws, you look decidedly human. Must make it easier for to lure in your prey."
"Stop diverting the conversation Ches and answer the question."
Real anger flashed through the boy's face showcasing the darkness that hid within. "You don't get to call me that anymore." An undeniable power strained the air between them crackling at his skin and shaking the room. Just as quickly as built the darkness was suppressed and the moment passed.
Despite himself, Rumple was impressed with the boy's strength and control. Unhampered by the tantrum, the Dark One asked his question once more. Slowly and deliberately this time. "What. Are you. Doing here?"
"I think you know."
"You want your revenge how very unoriginal. If that's what you here for, I'm afraid you'll have to get in line."
"I'm not here for something as petty as revenge," Cheshire said throwing his head back with a cold laugh. "Though I do intend on making you suffer. No, I'm here to set you free Rumple. I can put an end to that darkness you carry around with you."
"That comes at a hefty price. One I'm certain you won't want to pay."
"Oh, I don't need your little knife. I don't want to take on your powers. I want to erase them."
An unfamiliar fanaticism filled the boy he'd once known so well. Those ideas and words weren't his, they'd been taught to him over the course of years spent in torment. Years Ches had experienced because of Rumpelstiltskin's foolishness. Though he maintained the level of severity in his tone, he couldn't quite manage to keep it from softening in the face of his failure. "Those clerics of yours tried something similar once. It didn't end well for them."
Cheshire brushed his threat aside. "The clerics are an unimaginative bunch. They don't know how to persuade a person to see reason. You see the problem is that most people don't believe the big bad Dark One can care about someone. But you and I both know differently."
"How touching that you believe me to be capable of such feelings."
"I've known you for too long, Rumple. You might not be able to actually love something, gods know nothing can love you, but you do have a few things you care about."
"Like you?" Rumpelstiltskin sneered as the boy hit a nerve.
Cheshire scoffed. "No certainly not me. You proved that when your cursed me Dark One. But there are others…"
The boy stopped directly in front of him now. Sizing up his opponent. Belatedly Rumpelstiltskin noted that the boy he'd known had grown several inches and now stood slightly taller than him. The teenager he should have known, had grown up. But none of that mattered when the boy was threatening all that Rumple had left. "Leave my family alone."
"I don't care about your pretty wife or your little spawn. Though I did hope to meet Baelfire." Rumpelstiltskin tensed at the mention of Bae. For anyone else the barest hint of movement would have been invisible, but Ches saw straight through that. "Touchy subject then? Did you run him off?" When the older man refused to acknowledge Ches's smile grew even wider.
"A riddle then? I do so love those," the boy began circling him, a predator taking stock of his prey. "He see you for what you really are? A washed up old monster, too afraid of risking his fragile self-esteem to actually love someone. Or did he refuse to talk with you? I know I would have." An evil glint appeared in Ches's eyes as a new thought took the forefront of his mind. "Or is it that he's not around because you hurt him? Is he stuck in the ground somewhere? Food for the worms and-"
"Enough," the Dark One hissed spinning to face his former apprentice.
Smugness cloaked the boy as he locked eyes with his former master. Rumpelstiltskin knew he shouldn't have reacted, but it was all becoming too much.
It was Ches who broke the silence. "So, he's dead then?"
"Let's not pretend you didn't know that already."
"Course I did. Did you ever know me to not do my homework? You killed him." The last was a statement, an accusation that hit far too close to the truth.
"I think you're confusing me for the psychopathic witch."
"Let's not pretend Rumple. You killed him the moment you let him go. But it's more than that isn't it? The 'psychopathic witch,' as you put it, wouldn't have even noticed Bae if he hadn't been so important to you. He's dead and it's your fault." Cheshire paused for several long moments allowing his words to sink in. "How does that feel? Must not be too guilty since you've a new one on the way. Who needs the old reminder of your worst moment when you can start all over again?"
Even if his last comment was completely false, Ches's words dug into the Dark One deeper and more acutely than any knife could. Each accusation he knew to be true struck hard. Chipping away at the light. But he couldn't react, couldn't allow this young man to know just how right he was. Baelfire died because his father was too much of a coward to hold on to him when he could. He'd died because his father was a monster. Rumpelstiltskin knew it was his fault. He'd carried that heavy burden for some time now. But hearing it spoken by another made it all the more real.
Cheshire, however, wasn't done.
"It's not just your son though is it? Hyde told me you were married. That he hoped to use the woman against you. He was never going to succeed of course, but his information was invaluable. The Dark One with someone else he cared about. Who would have thought?" Ches shot him an infuriating wink. "My plan was to come here and pull Bae and this woman away from you. Expose you for the monster you are, but it seems like you've done a marvelous job of that yourself. She can't stand you, can she? Not surprising given who you are. Still though, you really tried to start a family didn't you. I'm impressed, really."
Rumpelstiltskin leaned in close to the demonic boy, ready to show him how dangerous it was to provoke the Dark One when Ches's entire affect changed in a heartbeat. "I, I, I'm s-sorry Mr. Gold," This was the stammering terrified boy he remembered. The one who couldn't make eye contact and who flinched at loud noises. It shocked Rumpelstiltskin into silence for a moment too long. "I didn't... I didn't mean any offense... just..."
"What's going on here?" An oh so familiar voice called from the door behind him.
Rumpelstiltskin felt his stomach drop to his knees. Now it all made sense. "Belle," he breathed as he turned to face her.
Angry didn't begin to describe his wife in that moment. Her jaw was clenched and her hands in fists at her sides. Fury rolled from the tiny woman in waves, assaulting him from where she stood. Belle would believe Cheshire. And why shouldn't she? He'd given her no reason to trust him.
The pawnbroker got no further than, "Let me explain-"
"No, I don't want any explanations or excuses Rumpelstiltskin. I want you to leave."
"I just came to apologize,-"
She cut him off once again, "and decided to terrorize my new employee instead."
"I wasn't-"
"Turning him into a cat wasn't enough?"
"Belle-"
"No, get out."
She stood aside and fixed him with a look she usually reserved for those she detested. He was less than nothing to her right then and nothing he could say would sway her.
Slowly the Dark One made his way to the door. Stopping with his hand on the handle he turned back. "I'm sorry," he whispered. From behind Belle's back he saw the twinkling smirk Ches shot his way.
Belle was oblivious. "Go," she ordered.
So, he went.
Since her return to Storybrooke, Ruby had yet to regret the decision to find her wolf pack and bring them here. The modern world accepted werewolves far more readily than the villages of the Enchanted Forest. After her own dealings with George and the mob, Ruby found that the denizens of Storybrooke were far more inclined to accept her than harass her.
Her brothers and sisters had found similar experiences. For whatever reason, it was now fashionable to hang around with the werewolf pack. Despite all the extra attention, Ruby couldn't find it in herself to regret that decision.
Another perk of being a so called "dark creature" was that others similar to their kind had flocked to them. Such as the young woman currently sitting across from Ruby at Granny's.
"You've seen them too then," Lily asked once again.
Glancing around nervously to make certain no one was listening in to their conversation, Ruby whispered back. "Yes, I have. The other wolves noticed them earlier in the week."
"Are they following you as well?"
Ruby simply nodded.
Though mostly pleasant in its inception, the move to Storybrooke had apparently garnered them a bit of extra attention. Men in dark clothing had been seen following various members of the pack a number of different times. Nothing terrible had happened as of yet and there was very little proof that they were being followed, but it was enough to raise Ruby's hackles.
Lily's confirmation that she had been experiencing similar treatment, confirmed the worst for Ruby. It was time to talk to Emma.
Before she could come up with any concrete plans, their booth was invaded by one of her favorite thieves and his apparent love interest.
"Al," she extoled as he slid into the seat beside her.
"Hey there Ruby," Al greeted.
She could tell that there was something wrong almost immediately. Their stony expressions and furtive glances told her everything she needed to know. That and they both reeked of fear. "What's up Al?"
"Ruby," Al stammered, "I think something bad might be about to happen."
The werewolf's blood ran cold at his words. Had he seen them to?
Luckily Lily broke in giving Ruby time to collect herself. "What the hell are you talking about? And who are you anyway?"
"Aladdin and Jasmine of Agrabah," the tenacious princess supplied without hesitation.
Ruby found she rather liked this one. She, at least, seemed able to keep up with Al.
Al picked up where his princess left off. "Do you know anything about genies Ruby?"
"Not much," Ruby admitted. "But I know someone who will."
Jasmine and Aladdin shared an unreadable look before Jasmine took the helm once more. "Then we need to talk with that person soon."
"Is now good?" Ruby asked. Looking relieved the other two nodded. "Let me tell Granny I'm heading out and then we'll go."
Leading the way to the library, Ruby felt the air twitching around her. Jasmine and Aladdin were right, something big was about to happen.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you guys think in the reviews/comments and as always, I'll see you guys in the next chapter!