What we wait around a lifetime for with one person, we can find in a moment with someone else.
"This will be hard to hear."
It was this sentence that Lucy knew something was wrong. She felt her husband grab her hand, squeezing it lightly, his own fear evident.
"Mrs. Heart, your age has a significant impact on your ability to conceive children. Your almost fifty and your egg quality, and quantity has dropped severely. This is very normal and I wish it was the only reason having a child is so difficult for you. However after running the blood tests and ultrasound its become clear that your age is only part of the problem. Your ovaries are blocked by tissue that stops eggs from being able to be fertilized. Had we been able to treat this when you were younger the possibilities of you having a child would be better.
Lucy licked her lips and began rubbing her hands in a nervous fashion. "So, exactly what are you saying?"
The doctor sighed and folded his hands on his desk. "Im saying that the chances of you having a child is slim to none. In most cases we would suggest surgery to remove the tissue however your age makes the percent of that even working drop to seven percent. Im sorry."
Lucy cried herself to sleep that night. Tom did his best to comfort his wife, as he was disappointed as well. Days seemed a little longer, nights a little shorter, petty arguments seemed to turn into wars. Its said that people stand in bad situations because a relationship like that gets turned up by degrees. It is said that a frog will jump out of a pot of boiling water but place him in a pot and turn it up a little at a time, and he will stay until he is boiled to death. Lucy and Tom's relationship was slowly coming to a boil.
"You could always adopt." Mary Margaret suggested. Lucy shook her head and took a sip of her hot cocoa. Being in Mary's home always felt comforting in a way. It was small and homey. Plus she made great hot cocoa.
"I think Tom's going to leave me." Mary sat down her cup of hot cocoa and moved closer to her friend. "Why would you think that?"
Lucy shrugged. It was just a feeling really. Ever since the doctor appointment it was as if everything was falling apart. How could that happen? "Its like he's just staying with me because he feels bad. Like he knows leaving me now would make him look like a bad guy."
Mary scoffed. "Because it would! What? Just because you can't have kids means that he doesn't want to be with you anymore? Does Tom really find it that easy to just give up? After everything you guys have been through?"
"What have we been through?" Lucy asked. She really wanted to know what hardships they had faced that made Mary believe they could overcome this.
Mary Margaret froze for a moment. "I...well you...you guys are married...that has to count for something."
Lucy blinked a few times, she could feel herself becoming sad again.
"Its funny really. I remember Loving Tom. I remember being in love with him, wanting him. What I don't seem to remember is why. He was sweet and he was gentle, handsome. There has to be more though right? There has to be something unique about him that would cause me to think...I want to spend the rest of my life with this man. I cant think of anything though."
Mary took in Lucy's words, trying to think of something uplifting to say. Mary Margaret was a firm believer in love, that people should they truly love one another would always find a way to be together even when the odds seem to pull them apart. However, what Lucy was describing, was not love. It was content. It was being with someone so your not alone.
"Maybe, this is good then." She said slowly. Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Mary put her hands up in slight defense. "Just hear me out. Maybe you finding out that...you cant have children is a good thing. Now you see that you and Tom don't actually go as well together as you might have thought in the beginning. I mean, love is about accepting someone, even in their flaws, even with their less than good side, to know who they are completely and even if you see things you don't like, staying with them anyway because those things don't matter. The make the person you love who they are and you can appreciate that. If Tom can't accept you because you can't have children he doesn't deserve your love Lucy. It is this misfortune that has brought to light that you deserve so much more in life, now you just need to find it."
Lucy smiled. "Isnt me who is usually giving you wise advice?" Mary shrugged. "Maybe, but I think its my turn."
Later on Lucy found herself walking into Mr Golds Pawn shop with a smile on her face. Mary Margaret had done a good job at putting her in a better mood, and Lucy knew she was right. She did deserve better, she was a grown woman and did not have time for her husband's pity love. After her talk she drove home and told Tom she wanted a divorce. Tom was shocked to say the least, and when she called him out on his behavior the last few weeks he of course responded defensively. Lucy decided she was no longer going to mope around with self pity and instead was going to perk up. Be happy with herself, and make time for those she cared about, letting them know she was going to be just fine.
"Ah, well someone is looking chipper today." Mr Gold said, a slight smile on his face. He of course had been quite concerned over Lucy as of late, it was nice to see a smile on her face again.
"I take it your out of your funk. I don't know what was going on with you but Mary was pretty worried when I spoke to her. Im glad your doing better." Emma spoke, as she had been having a conversation with Mr Gold just before Lucy walked in.
"Thank you both as I am indeed feeling much better. In fact Im getting Divorced." Lucy said with a confident smile.
Emma raised an eyebrow. "That's not usually something people are too happy about."
"Well I think its great, I never did like that Tom." Mr. Gold said calmly.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Oh really now?" Mr Gold gave her a wink and then turned back to Emma. "I was just telling Miss Swan here that she should run for sheriff."
Ah yes, Lucy had almost forgotten that Graham had died almost two weeks ago. Guilt ran though Lucy. She had been so preoccupied with her own problems that she had not even gave the loss of their old sheriff much thought at all. How selfish of her.
"Who else is running?" Mr Gold gave her a slight chuckle. "My dear where have you been?"
"Sidney. He is running for Sheriff." Emma answered.
"Sidney? He's a reporter...how would he even qualify for a sheriff position?" Lucy asked confused.
Emma shrugged. "I don't know but he has the Mayor support, and to be honest I think it was her idea to begin with. She needs someone she can control."
"Which is exactly why Emma should run instead." Mr Gold pointed out. "With my help of course."
Emma claims she wants to beat Regina fair and square, just to show her the power of doing things right. When she leaves Lucy is left with Mr Gold, wondering about his intentions.
"Why do you want her to be sheriff so bad?" Lucy asked, leaning against the counter.
"Why wouldn't I? She is perfect for the job."
Lucy's eyes squinted and her mouth brought up a tight smile.
"Ummm, Yeahhhh, but its more than that."
Mr Gold chuckled. "Oh really and what gives you that idea?"
"Just that I think I know your pretty well. Well enough to know that you don't do anything without having some deeper meaning behind it"
"Why are you getting divorced?" Mr Gold asked, taking Lucy by surprise.
"I thought you were happy about it?"
"I am, as I said I never really liked the man, but you did."
Lucy cocked her head to the side. "Why didn't you like him?"
"You tell me dearie, your divorcing him."
Lucy sighed. Always so transparent this man.
"I guess you could say we had trouble synchronizing. You know that carnival ride where two cages swing in opposite directions, going higher and higher until they go over the top? That was us. We passed each other all the time, but we never actually stopped in the same place until it was time to get off the ride."
"You seemed happy."
"I thought I was. Im missing something."
"A child?" Mr Gold suggested, given the circumstances.
"No." Lucy shook her head. "Motherhood was never in my cards, this upset me at first, but I accept that now I just wasn't meant to be a mother."
"Maybe not, but Lucy dear, I have no doubt in my mind that had things been different, you would have made a great one."
Enchanted Forest
Rumpelstiltskin watched the soldiers with great worry. The oger wars had once again come forth, and those young as fourteen where sent to battle. He glanced toward Lucia who was holding his son Baelfire near as they gathered men and boys. Rumpel walked toward them, seeing the fear in his eyes.
"They are taking them so young." Lucia said quietly.
"Are they going to take me?" Bae asked looking between his father and Lucia.
"No one is taking you anywhere Baelfire." Rumpelstiltskin said, trying to calm not only his son's nerves but his own.
"Your fathers right. Your not fourteen yet. They won't take you. We won't let them."
When nightfall came Rumpelstiltskin sat quietly with Lucia. He worried for his son safety, as his birthday was only a few days away.
"What am I going to do Lucia. I've seen this war, he will die if they send him out there. I can't lose him."
Lucia shook her head. "You won't lose him Rumpel, we'll figure something out."
"What!? What can be done Lucia?!" He exclaimed.
"Rumpelstiltskin! You hush now." Lucia said sharply. Baelfire was in the other room. She didn't want Rumpel scaring him with his own fear.
"Im sorry Lucia...I just.."
"I know Rumpel, I know." Lucia sighed and put her head in her hands.
"We have to leave." Rumpel said quietly. Lucia raised her head as well as an eyebrow. "What?"
"It's the only way...We have to leave, get far far away from here...tonight."
Lucia bit her lip. The idea was crazy. Leave? Just like that? They had practically no money, no transportation. How far did he expect to get on foot? What if they were caught? But what if they weren't? What if they got away? Baelfire would be safe, Rumpel wouldn't have to worry about being known as the town coward. Things could be better.
"Do you really think it's possible...that we could make it?" She asked with uncertainty.
Rumpel swallowed. "What other choice do we have?"
That night Rumpelstiltskin told Baelfire they would be leaving, he and Lucia gathered a few things together for travel but not much, as they needed to move quickly. The even gave what little money the had to a poor beggar on the side of the road. Unfortunately things went south quickly, as a group of guards found them.
"And just where do you think your going?" The leader asked. He stood tall above his horse, intimidating the group below him.
Rumpel quickly replied, trying to convince the guards that they had wool to take and sell. It was however obvious to the guards that he was lying, calling him out on such. The mocked him, asking his name, but guessing things such as hobble-foot.
"His name is Rumpelstiltskin!" Baelfire said, outraged by the guard treatment of his dear father. Rumpel quietly tried to hush Baelfire in fear.
"Rumpelstiltskin, the man who ran! I should have figured it was you. Did you teach your boy to run also? Did he tell you boy? Did he tell you how he ran from battle while the others died? How his own wife couldn't bare to married to such a coward!?"
Rumpel looked at the man with pleading eyes. "Please don't talk to my boy like that."
"And look, the only woman to be by his side is this useless hag. Couldn't even do her one job as a woman and produce a child!"
Lucia glared at the man, angry tears formed in her eyes.
"Now you listen here you scoundrel!"
"No you listen bitch, its so obvious your trying to avoid the war. Whats your name boy? How old are you?
"My name is Baelfire and im thirteen!" Shouted with his own sense of bravery.
"When is your birthday?"
"In two days time!" Lucia squeezed her eyes shut and Rumpel shushed him again.
"Avoiding the war is treason, take the boy now."
"No!" Lucia shouted grabbing on the baelfire as if her life depended on it.
"No! Please! Not my boy! I'll give you anything!" Rumpelstiltskin pleaded.
The guard scoffed. "You have no money, no land, no influence, no power. You have nothing to offer."
"Please...I beg you."
The guard smirked. "Kiss my boot."
It was a horrid thing to ask, no, demand. To want to cause one person such humiliation in front of his child was in Lucia's mind despicable.
"Don't Rumple! Don't give him such satisfaction!"
"Shut up bitch! Or we'll take you as well. Im sure lots of the men would love being able to get their hands on a woman, knowing they wouldn't have to worry about any little bastard becoming of it."
Rumpel had heard enough. He hated the idea of his son and Lucia seeing him do something so humiliating. The man was supposed to be strong, he was supposed to be able to protect those he cared about. But Rumpelstiltskin was not strong, he was a weak man, a cowardice man, and he could only hope that it would be enough to keep them safe. So he bowed down before the guard and brought his lips to his foot.
The guards laughed as Lucia and Bae watched in horror. The leader then swung his foot up, kicking Rumpelstiltskin in the face. Lucia and Baelfire rushed to his side. When the guards left the beggar they had helped before rushed over.
"Its alright, its okay, here." He said holding his hand out to help Rumple up.
"Thank you." Lucia said softly.
It was of course a mistake to thank this man, as he was not who he appeared to be. This man was none other than Zoso, the dark one. Of course Rumpelstiltskin, nore Lucia, nore Baelfire knew of this at the time. It was the dark one himself that convinced Rumpelstiltskin that the only way he would be able to save his son, is if he had control of the dark one. The next night Rumpel took his first step into the darkness, for he did not simply take control of the dark one, he became the dark one himself. And although this was done by accident, Rumpelstiltskin could not help but relish in the feel of power. In the morning when the guards came to take baelfire away, Rumpel returned to see Lucia holding him tightly, as if she truly thought she could protect him.
Rumpelstiltskin, no longer afraid, no longer weak, killed the guards, stopping them from taking bae and anyone else. However Lucia and baelfire could not help but feel horrified that their sweet Rumpelstiltskin was now the dark one. He claimed to intend to use his powers for good, that things would be better for them. Lucia and Baelfire knew however, that things were never that simple. The dark one was called such for a reason, and nothing good would come of this new found power.