I never asked about the set of boy clothes he kept laying out for me to put away. I knew he was doing it on purpose. I had been here long enough to learn that. It was not my place to ask. I smiled gently at the set of clothes, letting my mask fall for a brief moment. I put them away carefully and continued to clean this room. I only come in once a week, that's all he wanted.

Once I finished I shut the door softly behind me. "Did you clean it all, dearie?" He asked, his voice almost mocking. "Yes." I replied, knowing he was just waiting for me to ask about the clothes. "Everything is in proper order. Now if you'll excuse me. It is almost lunch time, and I must prepare your food." I stated, sidestepping him and heading to the kitchen.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

I felt him staring at me as I served his food. "Is there something you would like to ask?" I raised an eyebrow at him. He just grunted and turned away. I walked away to eat on my own in the kitchen. "Why don't you stay and have a chat?" Rumpelstiltskin offered, stopping me in my steps. What could it hurt?

We talked casually, enjoying the company of one another. The conversation flowed so easily. It was strange to say the least. It was like I knew him. Well, at least parts of me knew him. "We could continue this." He vaguely said as I cleared the table.

"Please be more specific, sir." I asked, stopping to listen to him. "We could eat together. What could it hurt?" He asked, using the question I had asked myself at the beginning of this night. I smirked to myself.

"You're right."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The more I got to know my employer the more my walls crumbled. The more the mask fell. Again I was in the room with the set if clothes for a young boy. They were laid on the bed, like every other time. I carefully picked them up and gently put them away.

My heart strangely ached for the man. Whoever he lost, I could feel it was a great loss. There was no need to pierce the veil for this. It was not my place to know. I carefully cleaned everything. How strange that I hurt for a man many would deem a monster.

As I turned to leave, I noticed Rumpelstiltskin leaning against the door frame. "Yes?" I quirked an eyebrow up. "You never ask." He stated, but I could feel an underlying question. I waited patiently. "Why?" He finally gave in and asked after a few minutes of silence.

"It is not for me to know. If you wanted me to, I would." I said, unsure of where this was going. "They all ask." Rumpelstiltskin muttered loud enough for me to hear. "Sorry to disappoint sir, but I am unlike any other." I smirked, brushing past him out of the room.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"It was my son's clothes." Rumpelstiltskin blurted during dinner the next day. "Oh." Was all I could say. What else could I say? Sorry? "I lost my boy by being a cowardly fool." His voice cracked, showing how human he really was.

He fidgeted, seeming to contemplate something. Rumpelstiltskin finally seemed to come to a conclusion. He wrung his hands a bit then took a deep breath. He calmed himself and told me his story, and I listened intently. My heart broke for this man. How could fate be so cruel? To take a child from their parent? A loving parent that would go to great lengths for their child?

As he finished his tale, he looked into my eyes, my emotions plane to see. Unshed tears lingering in the corners of my eyes. I brushed them away and steadied myself. "You have a plan though." I stated, knowing in my heart I was right. He looked taken aback. He slowly nodded, confirming my suspicions.

"Good." I smiled at him. A genuine smile. The first in years. He looked even more startled. "Why is that?" He asked, his tone unbelieving. I looked at the man, my head tilted. Why did I have such a strong need to see this man happy? I couldn't place why, and it confused me. I felt so strongly though, and I never doubt my instincts.

"I'm going to help you, of course."