Author's Note: Prepare yourself, because things go a little off course in this chapter.

1767 words this chapter

Chapter Ten

The next weekend Rumpelstiltskin himself paid them a visit.

"I'm so nervous," David said.

"He probably wants to give you a bonus," Mary-Margaret whispered.

Emma was a little surprised at his appearance. He wore a nice suit and long but well groomed hair. He walked with a cane topped by a glass ball holding a small spinning wheel inside.

He looked all business. He nodded to David and Mary-Margaret. He passed over Charlie. To Killian, however, he leveled a cold, even hateful glare.

Emma noticed it with concern and anger. Then he narrowed his eyes at her. "So this is the newcomer who's stirred the pot, eh?"

Emma heard Killian take in a deep breath. She noticed that he gripped his sword prop tightly.

"We've sold so many books thanks to her," said David proudly.

"Yes, we have," said Rumple. "I believe your reenactments are to blame."

"Blame?" asked Emma. "I thought selling books was good."

"As did I," he said ominously. "So, these little skits appear to be popular. I however will reserve my judgment until I've seen for myself."

There was silence in the booth.

"Um, sure," said Mary-Margaret. She nodded to the actors.

Emma and Charlie took their places, but KIllian stared for a moment at Rumplestilskin.

"KIllian," Emma whispered.

He slowly took his eyes from Rumple and joined Emma and Charlie. They acted out the attack on Graybeard, with Emma making the death blow.

A huge crowd had gathered as usual. Rumple didn't smile, just observed. He showed no emotion when they finished their scene.

He walked over to the book booth. When the first customer handed David the book to buy, Rumple did something alarming. He stopped the transaction by knocking the book out David's hands with the cane.

The boisterous crowd fell dead silent.

Rumplestilskin cleared his throat. "Hello. I'd like to introduce myself. I am the author of this work."

Applause exploded. He nodded graciously. "Thank you. I was wondering, how many people expect that scene to be in this book?"

Everyone cheered.

"Uh-oh," muttered Charlie.

Emma saw the color drain from David's face. Killian glared steadily at Rumple.

"I see. I'm sorry to inform you, that this little...play acting...is not a realistic representation of my novel."

The crowd murmured in disappointment.

"I do apologize. I encourage you to try my book. You will enjoy it far more," he said, glancing at the actors, "then this amateurish theater."

Killian muttered, "Amateurish. That guy wouldn't know quality if it slapped him in the face."

Emma grabbed his arm. He looked at her, then unclenched his fist and slipped his hand into hers.

Rumple worked the crowd. They sold a lot of books, but it wasn't the same huge sellout as before.

After the last customer left, he turned on them. "What the devil were you thinking? You are to enact scenes directly out of the book!"

"I'm sorry," said David. "We didn't mean any harm."

"You didn't, eh? Well, there's been a considerable amount of harm!" he cried, flailing about with the cane. He took several papers from his suit pocket.

"These are just a few of the many complaints I've received! There's been a flood of claims of misrepresentation! They expect your stupid actions to be mirrored by my book! I've had to refund money!"

He moved on Killian. "You did this," he snarled. "You're out to ruin me."

Killian scoffed. "You're paranoid."

"Am I? Who do you think you are?" Rumple sneered. "Allow me to enlighten you. You may fancy yourself an actor but you're nothing but a pretty face and biceps. Did you hear me? You're nothing."

"He is not nothing!" yelled Emma, her blood boiling.

Rumple laughed rudely. "And you. How dare you use my novel to make a name for yourself. I suggest you keep to the charms of your long limbs and ample bosom, you hussy."

Killian lunged at him, grabbing his throat. "Do not call her that or speak to her in that fashion! Ever!"

Emma pulled on his arm while Charlie dragged him back.

Rumple laughed, brushing off his coat.

Emma tried to control her rage, but it was useless. "If you had to refund money," she snarled, "maybe it's because you're a crappy writer!" He glared at her. "Of course you see me as a hussy," she cried, ruffling the short skirt. "That's what you wrote!"

Rumple took several steps back, chuckling. "You're fired," he told Emma. She scoffed. He looked to Killian, Charlie, David and Mary Margaret. "You're all fired."

"No!" cried Emma. "It was me! They had nothing to do with it."

"She's right that David, Mary-Margaret, and Charlie are all innocent. As for Emma, she's new. She didn't understand how things work. I'm to blame." He chuckled. "It's me you're after. So go ahead and fire me, but let the others keep their jobs."

Rumple sneered in his face. "How noble. Unfortunately that isn't good enough." He looked at Emma. "She was rude and insulting to me." Killian and Emma scoffed in unison. "As for David, he hired her." Rumple glanced at him. "True?"

David nodded.

"Then you are to blame. Your employment is hereby terminated. I'm cleaning house of the lot of you. You're all finished." He looked at Killian and rubbed his neck. "You're fortunate that I'm too busy fixing this mess to press charges against you."

Emma growled. "You're lucky that I don't charge you with sexual harassment, buddy!"

Rumple just laughed. He motioned to some security. "See they leave and do not reenter my booth."

Rumple took the seat behind the books. As they were marched out, a handsome but scrawny man in Killian's outfit and a busty blond wearing Emma's walked in. They looked sympathetically at them all.

Emma sighed as they gathered against the wall across from the booth. "I am so, so sorry."

"Don't," said David harshly.

"Honey, it isn't her fault."

"Yes it is," said Emma softly. She stared at Mary-Margaret's belly and felt tears well. "I should have kept quiet, from day one. You told me what to do and I was too stubborn and pig headed."

She stared at Rumplestilskin. "I can get your jobs back. I'll just apologize..." She took a step forward.

KIllian stopped her. "Don't you dare. I won't see you lower yourself to that..thing. He's bloody awful. You are so much better than him."

"So are you," she said softly.

David sighed. He looked at Mary-Margaret and hugged her. "I want to get out of here."

"David…"

He put his hand up and Emma shushed. She watched him leave, Mary-Margaret looking sadly over her shoulder at her.

"Well, that was...a drag," said Charlie.

"I am so sorry."

Charlie shook his head. "Emma, it's OK. I'm in a better place than the others. I have my new line at Wizard Effects plus other gigs. Unlike my mate, Killy, here, I wasn't exclusive to Rumple. Hey," he said, grabbing Killian's shoulder, "I can help you! Yeah, I'll spread the word to my contacts that you're a free man." He laughed. "You won't be for long. I can find David something too."

"You think so?" asked Emma hopefully.

"Sure! Don't you worry," he said, slapping KIllian's back.

"I've got contacts too," said Killian, "but the more people looking the better. Thanks, mate."

"Not a problem. It won't be hard to find other work. Every vendor in the circuit likes you guys and knows how hard you all work," Charlie said. He looked at Emma. "Don't you take that jerk's words to heart. He was way out of line. You are far from that vile word he called you. You made all those sales, with a much better character than that hack can write."

They swapped smiles and he left.

Killian turned to her. "He's right. I'd read a thousand books about Emma Swan."

She chuckled weakly. "I was trying to help and I got you all fired."

"No you didn't. Rumple is a creep. Besides, we wanted to get out of our contracts."

"Not like this," she said.

He chuckled. "OK, maybe not. Don't feel bad though, it's good that we're free."

She sighed. "It um, kind of seemed personal with you and him." He nodded. "You don't have tell me if you don't want to."

"Remember my first love?" he asked as she nodded. "The complication was Rumple." He took in a long sigh. "I dated his wife, before they married. Actually it was her and me first, then she met him. It kind of became a love triangle. Rumple hated me because I was younger…"

"And hotter," she added.

He laughed. "I guess I loved her more than she did me. She chose him."

Emma scoffed. "Why?"

He laughed. "Some people are attracted to different things. He had money, fame, I guess a certain charm. Anyway, he made a big show to her that we were ok, me and him. She was worried that he would fire me. He didn't. Instead…"

"He forced you to sign those contracts."

He sighed. "He said that he'd put the word out that I was impossible to work with. I'd never have another acting job. At the time he had the clout to do it. So I caved and signed. I warned Dve though. I told him to cut and run, but he's my mate. He signed too, with Mary-Margaret's blessing." He turned to her. "So you see, we all make mistakes."

"You were innocent! I'm not."

He scoffed. "What big bad crime did you commit? You jazzed up a tired, lackluster novel. So what? Rumple is a spiteful, entitled idiot! Finally I'm free of him."

"But like this?" She shook her head. "No, Killian. This is my fault. I made a bad situation for you so much worse."

"Emma…"

She fought back tears. "I'm so sorry it happened this way, and...I really liked working with you."

He stroked her cheek. "It doesn't have to end."

She shivered at his touch. Then she pulled away. "It has ended, Killian."

"Only with Rumple. We'll find other work."

"Of course you will. You're brilliant. David's a hard worker and dedicated. I just don't want to get in the way again."

"You won't. Emma, stop blaming yourself."

"No, it's better if the new job doesn't involve me."

"It isn't. Emma you brought us... magic."

She scoffed sadly. "The only magic I bring is bad. I'm...I'm a curse. I ruin everything I touch."

She walked away.

"Emma!" He took a few steps but decided to let her go.

End of Chapter Ten

Author's additional note: Rumple and 'his wife' are not meant to be taken as direct representations of Rumple and Milah from the show. Their depictions here could definitely be interpreted as anti, and I honestly mean know offense to their fans.