"If all of our days have no more light,
And all of our dreams are lost tonight,
The stars can all fall,
And everything turn to grey,
I will stay."

We Are The Fallen - I Will Stay


Morning had quickly snuck upon the two lovers, soft sunlight making an unwelcome appearance through the curtains. Rumpelstiltskin awoke first, the sun ticking his face. Last night was still etched in his mind- the images of Belle's body illuminated by the firelight. How receptive she had been to his touch, how she welcomed it. He looked slightly to his side, his sleeping angel still glowing. As beautiful as she looked- glowing or not- he still felt a dark emptiness inside him- a sense of disgust.

The mighty Rumpelstiltskin. The mighty Dark One- still tearing wings off butterflies. Taking away angel wings and forcing them out of the light and into the deepest darkness.

He felt ashamed, in a way. But the satisfaction and happiness he felt greatly outweighed the shame. He moved to stroke her hair, smiling at that one lock that never seemed to stay in place. The silver light around Belle wisped its way up his finger, curling about it gently.

He felt the warmth of the silver light, felt the purest form of magic- untainted and powerful. Beautiful.

Belle moaned softly in her sleep, moving closer to Rumpelstiltskin. The light that had wisped its way up to Rumpelstiltskin's hand faded, as did the light surrounding Belle. With the slightest amount of regret, he vanished. He had a long day of deals ahead of him.

The sudden emptiness of the room caused Belle to wake. Her body was sore, not used to...to the experience of last night. She stretched, her body rolling over to the side the Dark One had slept. She could still smell him- a spicy fragrance filled with ambition and power. It intoxicated her.

Belle smiled contentedly, feeling such peace in her soul. Still, she had to get out of bed and get to her duties.

She wrapped a silk blanket around her, searching for her dressings from last night. Belle saw the small stuffed animal on the mantle and walked over to it. She held it close to her and was suddenly overcome by memories and feelings.

Loss. Anger. Regret. Lies. Deception. But...love. Devotion. A deep bond. A little boy with brown hair and eyes laughing at his father. A man with a staff smiling at the young boy, a fatherly look of love and devotion in his face and written on his eyes.

Belle shook the vision quickly as she put the animal back on the mantle.

It had been his son that she'd seen- the one he had spoken of- and Rumpelstiltskin as he once was- a man. A father.

At least now she understoof a small source of his pain. She understood the lengths one would go to in order to save their loved ones- hadn't she done the very same, albeit in a different way?

Belle sighed, tears forming in her eyes. He had lost so much and it hurt. She wished, more than anything, that she could have helped.


The dark haired woman in the red cloak had woken up far earlier than the other members of the camp. It was her responsibility and one she would not neglect.

She smiled at the red-haired man across the way as he saddled two horses.

"Good morning, Jiminy," she said, leaping across the fire pit to him.

He turned around in time just to catch her in his embrace, laughing at her.

"Good morning, Red. Did you sleep well?" he asked, still holding her.

Red nodded and smiled against his neck.

For the past years, they had been pariahs in a sense- both cursed in different ways. He was bound to his past and she to the moon.

Red was a wereworlf- a curse passed down from her mother. She never left anywhere without the red cloak...unless the situation warranted it. Jiminy's parents were...while not essentially evil, were self-serving and selfish. Jiminy had a burden of sin he felt compelled to atone for, even though he had found atonement long ago.

"Well now, isn't this such a pleasant scene?" a voice chirped.

Red whirled around, knowing the voice anywhere.

"Rumpelstiltskin," she said, no fear in her voice. "And to what do we owe this great honor?" she asked sardonically.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, young lady. Have you no respect for your elders?" he asked.

"Only when respect is earned," she shot back.

"Ah, let's not quabble with insignificant banter."

"Have you come to collect?" Red asked.

"No. At least, not yet. I merely desired to know how the deal is working out, dearie."

Red eyed Rumpelstiltskin, sending him silent signals.

"Well, indeed," she said curtly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a camp to maintain," she said.

"Ah, I see. Merrily hopping on the way, I suppose?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, his voice gleeful as he vanished with a loud crack.

Red's fists clenched and unclenched, her brown eyes turning to topaz.

Juminy noticed the sudden change in her and put a calming hand on her shoulder.

"Pace, iubi meu," he said, turning her to face him.

The words he had spoken brought her back to herself. She sighed heavily, leaning into his shoulders and wrapping her arms around him.

"It's still so difficult to learn to control, especially concerning that little imp" she said against him. Jiminy rubbed her back and shoulders, understanding her burden.

"Control is always difficult, love," he said as he kissed her softly. Red smiled against his lips, feeling at peace and in control.


Belle had spent the past few hours cleaning and tidying the Dark Castle, singing to herself.

Her thoughts kept wandering back to the stuffed animal. He had spoken to her of his son, briefly- stating nothing more than he had lost him.

Her curiousity had been aroused as she cleaned further, wanting to know more of the young man with his father's face.

And to why Rumpelstiltskin barely mentioned him.

Perhaps the pain of the loss had been too much to even speak of. Then again, wasn't any loss painful to even think of?

She sighed and planted the notions out of her head. She'd much rather remember last night.

How tender he'd been with her.

She had worried she wouldn't know how to please him, but the memories of his hands on her skin, his lips against hers- caused the worries to vanish.

It had been a beautiful night. A beautiful dance with darkness.

And one she wouldn't mind experiencing again.


Rumpelstiltskin laughed at the seemingly ridiculous request Regina had made.

"A mere book, Your Majesty?" he laughed.

Regina looked at him darkly. She hated how much more power he had than her, hated how he played games with her.

"Has your hearing gone, as well as your mind, you evil little imp? You heard me."

"And what book would this be?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"A book of ancient magic. No, not spells. I suppose you could say it's more of an...appendice of magical powers in our land," she smiled, white teeth against crimson lips.

Rumpelstiltskin cocked an eyebrow. "And what makes you think such a book exists?"

"Not all your mirrors are covered, Dark One. Get me the book."

"Hm. A mere book? Why, Your Majesty, have you not found it yourself, as powerful as you are?" Rumpelstiltskin said sarcastically. "What would you be willing to give in exchange...hm? That's what makes dealing fun, dearie," he said.

Regina froze. His deals had always come with a price- this she knew. She also knew he had upped the stakes with regards to her.

"What would you ask?"

"Ah. So much. So much,"he tittered. "We'll discuss this later. I must get going. I have another mirror to bury."


Rumpelstiltskin appeared in the main hall of the Dark Castle. He felt light-hearted and mischievous, an effect from the deals of the day.

He walked to the spinning room and saw Belle sleeping on the chaise, her work obviously done for the day.

"Dearie...the things I could do to you," he whispered, smiling. He wondered what she was dreaming of.

The Dark One walked over to her silently, wanting to play a small game with his lovely Belle.

He began to think of last night to the point he could almost feel the sensations of their bodies together.

Not touching her, but looking at her sleeping form, he thought and focused, smiling when he began to see Belle's eyes flutter and her chest heave up and down.

She moaned softly, her body beginning to twist and turn, completely unaware of Rumpelstiltskin's game.

He moved closer to her, his body mere inches away from hers. Her body began to react responsively, sensing the change in the position.

Barely grazing her lips, Belle whimpered, feeling slightly empty in her sleep.

"Oh, Belle," he chimed, his index finger stroking her cheek.

Belle's body lurched upwards suddenly, momentarily startling the Dark One.

She scoffed at him and then laughed.

"Having fun, I suspect?" she laughed.

"Perhaps," he replied, his eyes dancing.