King Leopold walked briskly toward the room at the end of the hall, his heart pounding in his ears. He went to push open the doors but the guards stepped in his way. "The Queen has asked not to see anyone," one of them said.

"She'll see me," Leopold insisted. The guards heard the urgency in his town and stepped aside. He opened the double doors and headed into the Queen's chambers. He found his wife in a heap in the middle of the floor, her head in her hands. He rushed to kneel beside her, gently wrapping his arm around her in a desperate attempt at comfort.

After a moment she finally looked up at him. Her face was red and streaked with tears. "This is the third time in the past two years," Eva sobbed.

"I know," Leopold muttered. He began to stroke her hair with his free hand gently.

"Why us?" She cried. "Why can't we just get our chance to be happy?"

"I don't know," Leopold admitted. "But I know we will find a way my love. We will have our child."

Ana walked down Main Street, her long overcoat billowing in the wind. She was on her way over to the sheriff's station to speak with Emma. She had told her the basics of her kidnaping the previous day, but Emma had asked to come in the following morning to hash out the details then, giving her the day to rest.

As she walked by Granny's she heard a familiarly cheery voice calling her name. She stopped and turned to see Ruby rushing over to her. She greeted her with a welcoming hug, which Ana returned despite being caught off guard.

"Granny told me she saw you in here yesterday, I'm sorry I missed you guys," she said. "I was actually down at the mechanic's shop, and I got something I'm sure you'll be glad to have back." She dangled a key ring in front of her, which Ana recognized as the keys to her Prius. "It's parked around back."

"Thank you so much," Ana said as she accepted the keychain. "How much do I owe you?"

"I didn't pay for it," Ruby said with a hint of a smirk.

Ana gave her a quizzical look. "Well if you didn't who did?"

"A not-so-secret admirer of sorts." Her gaze flicked over to something to her left, and Ana followed to find Jefferson walking with Grace on the other side of the street, at which point Ana made the connection. They spotted them and paused to wave, Jefferson offering Ana a small smile, which she returned, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. Unfortunately it wasn't faint enough, for once the pair had continued on their way Ruby began to question her.

"So what's going on between you two?"

"Nothing," Ana said unconvincingly. "Things are still complicated right now."

"Why?" Ruby asked. "You like him that much is obvious." At that remark Ana's rosy cheeks turned crimson. "And he clearly likes you, so who's to let things make it complicated?"

Ana turned and stared off in the direction Jefferson had disappeared in and began to chew her lip in contemplation. Slowly, all the things that had been holding her back from letting him in began to disappear from her mind and she began to consider Ruby's point herself.

It was the dead of night as Eva headed out on to her balcony. She stepped lightly, so to avoid waking her sleeping husband. Once she was outside she closed the doors behind her and turned out to face the night sky. She closed her eyes and scrunched up her nose as she silently called out into the night. A moment later her prayer was answered as the Blue Fairy came floating down from the stars to hover just of her balcony.

"Your majesty," she greeted with a bow of her head which the Queen returned. "I believe I know why you have called me here." Eva looked up her expectantly. "You wish for me to help you bear a child."

"Yes," Eva said, tears beginning to reform in her eyes. "Please, you must help me."

"I am afraid the most I can do is bestow a blessing upon you, but it cannot guarantee you will be able to conceive a child," the fairy informed her.

The queen looked down in despair. "Then my hope is lost."

The Blue Fairy hesitated, but ended up adding, "Not necessarily. There is one man whose powers may be help you, but I need to warn you it will come at a price."

Eva looked up, her eyes beginning to light up with anticipation. "I will pay whatever it takes," she declared. "Who is this man?"

"Once you hear is offer you may not be so certain," the fairy cautioned, but Eva did not back down. "The man you must seek," she paused before continuing.

"Is Rumpelstiltskin."

Ana exhaled deeply as she stepped out of her car and looked up at the pawn shop. The interview with Emma had gone smoothly. She'd told her what she knew to the best of her ability. Emma had seemed particularly interested in the fact that Hook was in Storybrooke. When they had finished Emma left to investigate the matter further, and Ana had considered going to help, but she had an investigation of her own to conduct.

She headed into the store, the silent atmosphere of the shop disturbed by the tinkling of the bell above the door. She walked as if on eggshells through the shop, glancing over her shoulder occasionally in case Gold should appear out of nowhere again.

After a minute she heard some rustling coming from the back of the store before Gold came limping out. His eyes filled with curiosity when he saw her. "Ah, Ana, is it not?" When she nodded he continued, "What brings you in?"

"Ar-are you Rumplestiltskin?" She asked, swallowing the lump in her throat before adding, "The Dark One?"

A sideways smile formed on his lips as she used is old title. "I've been called that, among other things. How can I be of assistance?"

"A certain pirate has led me to believe you might know something of my childhood," Ana said, trying her hardest to sound confident despite the knot of nerves in her stomach. "Is that true?"

Gold's grin grew to the point where almost resembled his old self as he said coyly, "What would you like to know?"

Eva drew her hood up as she walked through the Enchanted Forest, cursing under her breath in a very un-queen-like manner as she stumbled on the uneven ground. When she reached a clearing she paused to catch her breath. She wasn't entirely sure where she was supposed to looking, but the Blue Fairy assured her the man she was searching for wouldn't be hard to find if she looked hard enough.

"Quite far from home aren't we dearie?"

Eva jumped and spun around to see the source of the voice. He was a rather short man, his gold flecked skin covered in an absurd amount of leather. He was leaning against the trunk of a tree casually, grinning at her in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

She rolled back her shoulders as she tried to disguise her unease with confidence. "Are you Rumplestiltskin?"

He made a grand bow at her as he said, "In the flesh." Eva narrowed her eyes slightly, not entirely sure she would use the term 'flesh'.

"I was hoping you could help me," she said. "I want…"

"I know what you want," Rumplestiltskin cut her off impatiently. "I think what you ought to be considered about right now is what I want." He poked himself in the chest with his long black nail when he said the word 'I' to emphasize his point.

"You mean you can help me?" Eva asked, her heart starting to pound in excitement.

"Yes, yes, of course," he stated as if it were obvious. "For a price."

"Name it," Eva said boldly. "My kingdom can afford whatever amount you desire."

Rumplestiltskin shook his head at her ignorance. "No, no, no. You see, gold has no importance to me. What I want is much more… valuable." He began to approach her as he spoke, but Eva did not back away. She held her ground as he placed a hand on her stomach, his stained teeth right in her face as he said, "What I want is your firstborn."

A mixture of horror and disgust flashed in Eva's eyes at the words, but she quickly turned her gaze stony again. "What would you possibly do with a child?" She spat.

"My business," he snapped. "Let's just say she'll be important later on."

"She?" Eva questioned. "How do you know it will be a girl?"

Rumplestiltskin smirked. "A little bird told me."

"Why should I give her to you?" Eva demanded.

"Because," Rumplestiltskin said simply. "You can have more children, but without my help, you may not have any at all. Now do we have a deal?" He extended his hand in anticipation. Eva looked down at it and contemplated the matter before taking it. As soon as she touched him she felt a wave of magic course through her body causing her to shiver. Rumplestiltskin giggled, waggling his fingers in amusement. "I suggest you go spend some time with your husband. I'll be back in nine to ten months." And with that he disappeared in a flash of purple smoke.

When Ana left the pawnshop her mind was reeling from the information she had received. Her hands shook as she opened the door to her car and got in. Placed her key in the ignition but did not turn it. Her childhood had always been a mystery to her, one she'd spent her younger days dreaming up answers to. She'd never thought she would discover the truth, but now that she had she was having trouble coming to terms with it. She never could have imagined how bittersweet the knowledge would be.

She stared at the road in front of her knowing that should she go down it it would take her away from here, away from the truth. She'd spent her more recent years running to get ahead, and it had kept her safe. Safe from the things she believed would hurt her.

She looked down that road, and as she did her hand found the key in the ignition and turned it.

9 Months Later

"Come on your majesty, you're almost there!"

Eva let out a scream as she gave a final push. The room was then filled with the sound of a child's cries as her daughter was brought into this world. Eva collapsed back against the bed in relief, as her handmaiden Johanna held up her crying child. Tears began to form in her eyes as she saw her and how tiny she was. Johanna cleaned her off and wrapped her in a blanket before bring her back to the queen's side.

"Here you are your majesty," she said as she placed the baby in her arms. Eva looked down at her delicate face, her crying stopping as she looked up at her mother. "She's beautiful," Johanna complimented. "Are you sure you don't want to tell the king when he returns in a couple of days? I'm sure he'd be overjoyed."

Eva shook her head at her question, never once taking her eyes off of her daughter. "No," she stated. "No one must know about this Johanna."

Johanna bowed her head respectively. "As you wish your majesty," she said before leaving to give her queen her privacy. Eva bounced her baby in her arms gently, hot tears beginning to roll down her cheeks in a mixture of joy and sorrow.

"She has your nose don't you think?"

Eva glanced up at that high pitched voice that floated across the room to see Rumplestiltskin standing in the corner, watching the two of them. She felt her heart begin to pound as the imp made his way over to them, but she maintained a calm demeanor. "Yes, I suppose she does," she replied.

"What's her name?" Rumplestiltskin asked once he was by her side.

"Diana," Eva replied, a smile forming as the word fell from her lips.

"Diana," the sorcerer repeated. "A good, strong name," he said, dropping the pitch of his voice on the word strong. "Though not exactly a name for a child," he added. "I think I'll call her…Ana."

Eva's gaze dropped back to her daughter. "Ana." The name rolled off her tongue, and it seemed more suiting for the girl in her arms.

Rumplestiltskin cleared his throat after a moment to redirect her attention. "May I?" He asked, directing his long claw down at her daughter.

Eva looked down at the child. "Do you promise she'll be safe?" Rumplestiltskin seemed to understand she didn't only mean when he held her as he raised his right hand.

"You have my word." At that the queen gently passed her into his arms. She was surprised by how natural he appeared holding her as he gently rocked her back and forth. Eva watched them for a minute before she was forced to drop her gaze lest she start crying again.

"Is there no other way for me to pay my debt?" Eva tried, but her voice was weak with doubt.

"I'm afraid not dearie," Rumplestiltskin said with the closest thing to pity he could muster.

Eva nodded regretfully. "At least give me a chance to say goodbye," she begged. Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes, getting tired of the sentimental business, but handed her back her daughter for one last moment. Eva kissed her daughter on the forehead before whispering her farewells.

"Goodbye, my princess."

The sun was starting to set when Ana pulled up in front of a small roadside diner. She slowed to a stop on the side of the road and put her car in park. With an exasperated sigh she collapsed back in her seat. She stared out from behind the windshield at the people eating and talking on the porch of the diner. Not many turned her way, and none paid her any mind for more than a second or two.

As she sat there she felt the tears she'd been on the verge of begin to flow. For most of her adult life she'd been lead to believe that Jefferson's abandonment of her had been the greatest betrayal she'd ever faced, and now she came to discover that her own mother had left her as well. Left her to the terrible childhood she been dealt. Mr. Gold had explained that her mother hadn't had much of a choice in the matter, but the fact still felt like a sharp knife in her chest.

She sat there crying, feeling rather ridiculous doing so but for once in her life not caring. She knew she only had two options: she could continue to run from her fears, or she could turn around and face them. Face… her.

Her wallowing was interrupted by the sound of her phone vibrating on the passenger's seat. She glanced over at it and saw it read:

Hey Ana? It's Jefferson. I got your number from Emma. Just wondering if you'd like to get together sometime?

She stared at the message until the screen went dark. She pictured Jefferson and his daughter, how happy the two of them were together and heart began to ache. She wanted that. She'd waited years to get Jefferson back, and she couldn't bring herself to throw away what might be because she didn't want to face the truth. With one final glance at her phone, she put her car in reverse.

When Rumplestiltskin returned to the Dark Castle he found his visitor was already waiting for him in his hall.

"I see you've succeeded," her icy voice rang throughout the room. "Is that the child?" She asked in reference to the bundle in his arms.

"No I just found this one on the side of the road," Rumplestiltskin quipped. Cora's cold gaze narrowed disapprovingly. "Perhaps you'll get it later," he suggested.

Cora turned away from him, walking over to examine the large hearth on the side of the room. She ran her finger along the mantle and crinkled her nose in disgust when it came away dirty. "I believe you owe me a favor now Rumple," she called over her shoulder. "And a rather large one at that. I can't stand that Blue Fairy's outfit. How much tighter could she get her corset?"

Rumplestiltskin giggled in absurdity. "Me? Owe you?" He remarked. "I believe we agreed that this," he said, pointing down at the child that had dozed off in his arms. "Benefits both of us. And in that case, I owe you nothing."

Cora smirked slightly as she said, "You always were a tricky one Rumple. Just how is the child important to me?"

"You'll see," Rumplestiltskin replied. "In time. But if I were you I'd be more concerned with her sister at this point."

Cora looked confused. "There's another one?"

"Well no not yet," he explained. "But there will be. And she's your real problem."

Cora dropped the topic and came over to Rumplestiltskin's side. As she looked down at the child in his arms he asked, "Do you ever regret it Rumple? That we never got to have our child?"

"There aren't many things I regret," he sneered. "But I can guarantee you aren't one of them."

A devilish grin formed on Hook's lips as he stared at the crocodile holding his love in his arms as smoke billowed from the barrel of the gun in his hands. "Now you know how it feels," he mumbled. His victory was short lived when he was suddenly blinded by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. He barely had time to jump before he and the machine collided.

000

Ana was almost to the town line when she heard her phone buzzing again. Curiosity got the best of her and she glanced down to read it. She only had time to read Jefferson's name on the screen before the sound of glass breaking filled the air and everything went black.