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Chapter 12:

The Next Morning

All night Elsa had been up in some shape. She'd wake up to get sick, have some tea, and then sleep for a little bit longer. The fever had only gotten worse and Belle was concerned. Belle had stayed in the loft with her, only going downstairs to clean out the bucket or get fresh water. And as dawn came it was Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire who started breakfast since Belle was still with their daughter.

When she came down the ladder just after breakfast was ready and Rumplestiltskin and Baelfire were eating, they both looked up at her.

"Is she alright?" Rumplestiltskin asked worriedly.

Looking over at her husband, Belle sighed. "She's got a fever still..." she said in a soft voice, holding the empty pot she'd been using for water. Walking over to the table, sitting the pot down and looking down at her son. "Bae would you go get some more water from the well for me?"

"Sure Mama." he said, putting his spoon down and standing up, walking to take their two water buckets and heading outside.

Once Baelfire was out of the house Belle took a seat where he'd been. Leaning her elbows against the table as her hands moved up to rub her eyes. She was exhausted, she only slept when Elsa did. It was like having an infant all over again.

Feeling her husbands hand on her wrist, she looked up at him and gave him a sad smile. "I don't know what else to do Rumple. I suppose we need to wait this out, wait for her fever to break. My poor baby...there isn't a thing I can do for her.." she said, glancing over towards the ladder. If she could take the sickness instead she gladly would. She would rather be sick and in pain than see Elsa in such a state.

"She'll be okay Belle. We've dealt with flu's before with Bae. She needs to rest. You're doing everything you can." he insisted. "Why don't you get some sleep? I can go up and sit with her.." he offered. It was hard for him to get up into the loft with his leg, but he would manage it for his children. And he had Baelfire to help out too.

"I couldn't sleep.." she said as she leaned her arms down to rest both against the table, leaning against it. "Besides Jefferson should be here sometime this morning.."

"Jefferson will understand dearest."

"But I promised we would look after Grace. I suppose we could still do that, she just can't go upstairs. Lord help us if she got sick on our watch. Poor Jeff, he's been through enough you know.." she muttered.

Gently he rubbed her arm and nodded. "He has. Well, you rest and when Jefferson gets here with Grace I'll have Bae wake you, how does that sound?"

"I'll be fine Rumple, I can't really sleep anyway. I'm too worried about our baby." she said slowly.

Nodding slowly as he sighed. "Yes but you need to keep up your strength as well dearest. Here, have some breakfast at least...make me feel better." he said as he stood up and took her bowl, starting to scoop the oatmeal they had for breakfast into it. Getting a spoon and sitting it down in front of Belle. "Eat." he instructed.

She looked up at him with a slight smile and a nod. "Alright alright, I'll eat." she said.

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That Afternoon

Rumplestiltskin ended up getting Belle to agree to take a nap after much arguments about it. He'd been sitting upstairs with his daughter. Baelfire had been a huge help, bringing clean water and herbs for teas since it was hard for Rumplestiltskin to get up and down the ladder.

He hated seeing his daughter this way. Elsa went from running a fever to being cold, and then running a fever again. It was unlike any cold he'd ever seen, and Baelfire had been through quite a few colds in his life. It was always a gamble for the poorer people of the village like them. Most people couldn't afford doctors, and they definitely couldn't. A doctor would have to come into town from another village, or they'd have to take Elsa on a journey. And really what sick child wanted to go on a journey to another village?

Looking down at his daughter as she slept, brushing his fingers through her hair. He said a prayer to any god that was listening to make his child okay.

Slowly Elsa shifted, opening her eyes halfway and looking up at her father. Her usually bright blue eyes were a bit dim with sickness, not as bright and cheerful as she usually was. "Pa-pa?" she asked softly.

"Yes my princess, Papa's right here." he assured her.

"Can I sit up Papa?" she asked.

"Do you think you can? You should rest Elsa..."

But she shook her head, slowly trying to sit herself up. "I wanna sit up Papa." she said.

Gently he moved his arm around her shoulders to help her. Shifting so he sat on her bed behind her so she could lean back against his chest. "Here you are, I'll hold you up then, just lean on me princess." he said, kissing the top of her head. "Are you feeling any better?"

"No...but...but I don't wanna lay down no more..." she muttered.

Sitting back against her father, she let out an exhausted breath. It hurt for her to even sit up. Looking down, she held her hands up and looked at her palms, seeming to examine her skin almost.

"Whats the matter honey?" he asked, looking over her shoulder at her palms. Lightly moving his hands to take hers and squeezing them a little. "Gods, you're freezing...lets get some more blankets on you." he suggested. Letting go of her hand to reach for one of the blankets he'd put to the side.

But Elsa shook her head. "I'm not cold though Papa...I'm fine.." she said. Dropping her hands, she leaned back against him. "Just tired.."

"Oh baby.." he said, moving to hug her and pull the blanket up over her, hugging her close to his chest.

Slowly she looked up at him, sniffling a bit, tears rimming her eyes as she stared up at him. "Whats happening Papa? I'm scared.." she said slowly.

"You're just sick is all. It'll be okay, you'll get better." he assured her. He had to appear certain for her, he couldn't let his doubt show through. In reality he was terrified. Terrified that he might lose his baby girl. He loved his family more than anything in the world and he felt powerless to protect her form whatever virus was overtaking her body.

Hearing a rustling on the ladder, they both glanced up. Seeing Baelfire climbing the ladder, peaking his head up. A smile formed over his lips when he saw them. "Elsa! You're awake!" he said happily.

"Bae you should stay downstairs, wouldn't want you sick too." Rumplestiltskin warned.

But Baelfire pouted as he climbed the rest of the way up the ladder. "But I got a present for Elsa. A get well present!" he said.

Crawling over to the bed, Baelfire held out a flower that he'd went out and found for her. It wasn't a weed found outside the cottage, he must have ventured out into the woods a bit, but not too far. Baelfire knew his limits. It was a beautiful blue flower that almost glimmered, Elsa had once picked it out on a walk and said she liked it..

Elsa looked at it, smiling a little weakly as she reached out to take it. "Thanks Bae..." she said, looking up at her brother.

He gave her a bright smile and nodded. "You're welcome Elsa. You have to get better. And you will!" he insisted.

"I'll try Bae..." she said, looking up at his face. "I hug you when I better." she insisted with a slight nod.

"Oh I'll hug you too! And we can play. I'll fix the swing out back." he said.

Rumplestiltskin watched his childrens interaction, chuckling and shaking his head. "Go on back downstairs Bae. Elsa needs rest."

"Okay Papa." he said, looking at his sister. "Feel better Elsa."

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After Belle had woken up, Rumplestiltskin insisted he was okay upstairs with Elsa on his own. So Belle could get a few things done that needed to be done. She wasn't even sure what time Jefferson was supposed to be there today. Though as the afternoon went by when there was a knock on the door she knew exactly who it was.

Walking up to the door and opening it, giving Jefferson a weak smile. "Hey there Jeff. Come on in." she said, opening the door a bit more.

"Hey there sweetling." he said with a smile, stepping up to hug her slowly. Once he leaned back, he looked at her face. "You look tired. What's the matter?" he asked concerned.

Hugging him back before she shook her head. "I'm fine. Just a long night." she said. Looking at Grace and smiling a bit. "Hello there Gracie! My you're getting so big." she said, moving to hug the little girl softly.

Grace gave a smile back as she hugged the older woman back. "Hi Belle. Is Baelfire here?" she asked almost excitedly.

Chuckling a bit, Belle nodded. "Indeed he is. He's out back. Why don't you go say hi?" she asked, brushing the girls hair back a bit as she ran off. Closing the door behind them, she looked up at Jefferson. "She is getting so big."

"Tell me about it," he laughed, shaking his head. "Looks so much like her mother.." he said almost longingly, looking after Grace as she walked out the back door.

Gently Belle touched Jefferson's arm, squeezing it a bit. "She's happy and healthy. Priscilla would want that. I would want that if something happened to me. I would want Rumplestiltskin to take care of Baelfire and Elsa, make them happy. And you're taking such good care of her.."

A few years ago, a bit before Elsa was born, Priscilla had died giving birth to her and Jefferson's second child. Both the baby and Priscilla had passed away, the baby had been too early and Priscilla had lost too much blood. Belle felt so bad for the man, he lost both his wife and new son in the same day.

"I try. She needs her mother sometimes, I haven't the slightest idea how to raise a child, much less a girl, on my own." he said, looking down a bit.

"I'll help in whatever ways I can." she said with a slight smile. "Come on, have a seat okay? I'll tell Rumple you're here."

"Where is Rumplestiltskin anyway?" he asked, slipping his jacket off and hanging it up.

Belle sighed a bit as she walked with him towards the chairs. "Well, Elsa got sick last night. I sat up with her all night and he's upstairs with her. So I'm afraid Elsa won't be joining us."

"Sick?" he asked almost alarmed, looking up at her. "Poor girl. I'd hoped to see how big she is."

"Well I'll assure you, she's quite big.." she said with a chuckle and the shake of her head. "She'll be fine, we've dealt with sickness before. Gracie can still stay here, we'll keep her away from Elsa so she doesn't get sick."

"Are you sure?" he asked, reaching to rest his hands on her shoulders. "I don't want to be a bother..."

She gave him a slight smile and another nod. "Of course I'm sure. I wrote you saying I would watch her. How long will you be gone this time?"

"A couple of days to a week I'd expect. You really are a lifesaver Belle...I wouldn't know what to do without you."

Patting his hands, she nodded a bit as she leaned away from him to go put on some tea. "Any time. You saved my life once too, remember? And besides, I like Gracie. I expect Baelfire does too you know.." she said with a slight smile.

He smiled a bit at the idea and shrugged. "I don't think I'd mind Baelfire liking my daughter. He's a fine young boy you know."

Pouring the tea into two cups, getting each ready Belle nodded. "He is. He's such a good boy. You know earlier this afternoon he went out of here so fast, I hadn't the slightest idea where he was going.." she said. Taking the tea cups, setting one in front of Jefferson. "He ran out, and come back a while later. He went out to find a flower Elsa had said she liked once. He went out all the way to the forest to get her a flower to make her feel better.."

"Like I said, a good boy." Jefferson said, reaching over and taking her hand, squeezing it a bit. "She will be okay.."

Slowly she looked up at him and nodded a bit. "I do hope so. You know a cold can be life or death out here."

"I do. But I also know that Elsa is your daughter, she's got fight, spirit. She'll be fine."

And she did hope he was right.

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One Week Later

Grace was still staying with them, Jefferson was apparently running late in getting back from his job. Though, Elsa was still sick in bed with Belle or Rumplestiltskin taking turns sitting up with her. The longer she stayed sick the longer they all worried about her. True to her word though Grace had stayed downstairs rather than going upstairs and seeing Elsa.

It was late at night one night, Rumplestiltskin having volunteered to take tonight laying with their daughter while Belle stayed downstairs. They usually switched off nights.

Elsa was fast asleep against her fathers chest, but at the same time she wasn't.

Her eyes opened slowly as she looked around, looking up at her father, blinking a bit as she watched him sleep just a few inches from her face.

"Papa?" she asked quietly, tilting her head to one side as she shifted to sit up. Though with how close she was she should have woken him with her movement, but she didn't. He was still fast asleep on the bed.

"Papa?" she asked again, moving to rest her hands on his arm.

"He can't hear you dear."

At the sound of the woman's voice Elsa jumped, looking towards the small woman that floated in the air just in front of her. The woman had tiny little wings and floated in mid-air. She wore a blue outfit with dark brown hair done up, curly strands escaping the binding and framing her face a little.

"Who are you?" Elsa asked curiously. Sitting up on her knees, one hand reached out to try and touch the woman but the woman leaned back from her, shaking her head.

"Such a curious child. My name is Rheul Ghorm, but you can call me Blue if you'd like." she said with a small smile to the child.

Tilting her head to one side as she sat back and nodded. "Okay. Hi Blue. I'm Elsa!"

"Oh I know sweetheart."

Glancing back towards her father, Elsa's eyes widened when she took in the sight. She saw her father laying there, -next to her.- She saw her own small sleeping form cuddled into her fathers chest. Quickly her eyes widened in panic, rushing to attempt to push her fathers arm. "Papa! Papa!" she said in a scared voice, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Shh, shh dear there is nothing to be scared of. He cannot hear you." Blue insisted.

Turning back to her, Elsa shook her head tears glimmering down her cheeks slowly. "But...but he has to! Papa has to! I can't be dead." she cried out.

"But you aren't dead."

Sniffling a little as she wiped her eyes and shook her head. "I don't understand..."

Blue gave her a small smile and nodded. "I know honey. You are far too young to be thrust upon this world."

"What world?" she asked curiously.

"Magic. The world of magic. My dear Elsa there are things beyond that you do not know, but you will. Fate has a destiny for you that is much greater than this place. You will go on to do great things. With magic." Blue said with a sigh. "You also have the potential to do very bad things.." she muttered, shooting a look up to Rumplestiltskin, her nose crinkling almost in distaste, as if she knew something nobody else did.

Blinking slowly as she listened, but she still didn't understand. "Magic..? I...I don't have magic. You're lying. How can you know the future?"

"Ah but you do little one. This isn't a flu child. This is your magic awakening. Your body isn't used to it and thus can cause you to get sick. Things will change for you my dear. Remember...magic can be either good or bad, it depends upon those who wield it. But it is addictive...do not let the magic control your mind." Blue said as her eyes flicked up to Rumplestiltskin's sleeping form. "I can see the future, visions of it in a way..."

But Elsa shook her head. "I don't want it! I just wanna be Elsa!" she insisted.

"You are Elsa honey. Please understand. You will be fine. The magic will grow within you. It'll only get stronger. There is beauty in it...you must learn to control it for fear will be your enemy."

The young girl looked up at the fairy through watery eyes, shaking her head. "I can't. I want my Papa.." she said, looking back at him.

Blue let out a sigh as she nodded. "Alright. You can go back to your father. I'd just wanted to warn you my dear. Please use the power wisely..."

Looking up at Blue, she nodded a bit with a sniffle. Feeling an odd tug as she laid backwards into the body she'd left.

When she opened her eyes this time she actually did. Taking in a sharp breath as she felt something surge through her. Looking up at her fathers face she almost felt like she couldn't move, couldn't breath as something choked through her body. Shuddering a bit as she felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

Slowly she took in a deep breath and let it out. Looking up, she could see the breath she'd let out almost as if she were outside in the cold. Her breaths drew in slower as she closed her eyes halfway. She could almost feel the magic swirl through her like Blue had said it would. Closing her eyes tightly, tears rimmed her eyes, slowly slipping down her cheeks and freezing as they slid down. Magic moved through her, her body finally embracing it as it flowed through her veins. Her hair slowly paled. She'd already had blonde hair but it was a pale blonde now, darker than it had been before.

Opening her eyes again as the feeling passed. Looking up at her father as he laid there, swallowing a bit and moving to sit up. Her stomach had been churning for days and suddenly it stopped. Maybe the fairy had been right, maybe it was the magic attempting to take hold of her.

"Papa?" she asked as she looked at him, reaching to push on his shoulder a bit. "Papa..."

As she pushed at him Rumplestiltskin opened his eyes, looking up at her. "E-Elsa?" he asked. Wiping his eyes as he sat up. "Elsa whats the matter?"

Sitting back a bit as she shook her head. "I don't know Papa..." she said, looking down at her hands. Magic? She had magic? She could almost feel it bubbling underneath her fingertips.

Gently he moved his hand to feel her forehead, shaking his head. "You're cold honey. Come on lets get you back under the covers."

"But Papa I'm not." she said, looking up at him slowly. "I'm fine Papa...it...it was..it was magic..."

"Magic?" he asked.

Nodding quickly as she looked down at her fingers, holding her hand up. "Magic. The blue fairy said so!"

"Blue fairy?" he asked, shaking his head. Was she hallucinating now? "Come on come back to sleep honey.."

"No!" she insisted, leaning back from his hand. Concentrating as she held her hand up, a small ball of magic formed within her hand, almost like a snowball. Throwing it up in the air the ball exploded and small snowflakes floated down through the air around them. They didn't stick, each snowflake melting as it hit the ground. "Magic Papa.."

Rumplestiltskin watched wide-eyed as the snow fell, looking down at his daughter. "How did you do that?"

"I saw a fairy Papa. She said...she said my sickness was my magic. I can feel it Papa.." she muttered. She couldn't quite explain what it felt like, the magic bubbling underneath her skin trying to burst to get out.

He looked at her almost skeptically as she spoke shaking his head a bit. "But you...how...and..." he muttered, not quite sure exactly where to begin.

Slowly her eyes turned up to look up at him almost pleadingly, sitting up a bit more in the bed. And he let out a sigh, shaking his head as he pulled her close to his chest to bring her into a hug. "But you're okay now, right? You don't feel sick anymore?"

"Uh uh, no Papa I don't." she confirmed as she looked up at him with a smile.

After letting out a sigh of relief he hug her tighter. "Thank the gods. Get some more sleep honey, I'll go on and speak with your mother.."

Nodding a bit almost reluctantly, Elsa laid back looking up at him. "Papa?"

"Yes dear?" he asked as he started to get up.

"I love you Papa."

A smile spread over his face as he nodded. "As I love you my Elsa. Sleep if you can." he insisted.

"I'll try Papa.." she said from her spot on the bed, looking up at the ceiling.

After he watched her for a few moments Rumplestiltskin carefully climbed down the ladder, taking his walking stick from the base and gripping it a little. Truthfully his leg was killing him going up and down that ladder. Usually he wouldn't go up there, but when one of his kids was asleep he would.

Carefully stepping towards their bed and looking down at Belle laying there with Baelfire and Grace. Gently he reached to shake her shoulder. "Belle?" he asked in a soft whisper. "Belle wake up dearest."

A yawn came from her as she shifted to lay on her back, opening her eyes halfway and looking up at him. "Mm...Rumple? What's the matter?"

"Come here sweetheart, lets talk hm?"

Confused, she slid to sit up. Reaching and taking her shawl and pulling it over her shoulders to ward off the slight chill. Making sure Baelfire was still asleep before she stood up and started to walk with him across the room and into the kitchen area. Gently hugging herself, she leaned back against the counter and looked up at him.

"Whats the matter? Is Elsa okay?" she asked almost worried.

Stepping next to her and nodding a bit. "Elsa is fine. Better then fine actually. She woke up without a fever..."

Belle's eyes widened as she moved to stand up straight. "Then I've got to go see her." she started.

But Rumplestiltskin took her arm and gently brought her back with a shake of his head. "She's different Belle..."

"How so? She's still our daughter.." she said as she looked at him, tilting her head to one side.

"Magic. She...she's got magic. She woke talking about a fairy told her that her sickness was magic in her body. She's got magic Belle. And she's cold, like her skin is colder than it should be but she says she's fine.."

Listening to him for a moment before she shrugged. "Rumple she's still our daughter. Magic or no magic, she's our baby." she said in a quiet voice as not to wake Baelfire.

"But what will we do here love? She's got magic...people will fear her or hate her or something. I don't want that for her." he insisted. He could see the problems caused by magic and he was worried for his daughter. For the most part the village treated Baelfire and Elsa well, but with Elsa getting powers would that change?

Slowly Belle let out a sigh, moving her arms to hug herself a little. "I don't know. I just know that she's my baby. Perhaps...perhaps the village doesn't need to know? Now I wouldn't dream of hiding it..but under the circumstances...at least until we figure out what's going on, perhaps its best people do not know.."

"Right. We can do that.." he said slowly, rubbing her arm a little. "I'm just worried for her.."

"I know you are sweetheart. But our daughter is okay, she's alive. That's what matters. No matter what she's our little girl."

Smiling slowly to his wife and nodding, leaning to kiss her cheek slowly. "Indeed she is. To hell with what the village thinks."

Giggling a bit Belle shook her head. "Rumple! Don't say such things with children in the house. Besides...we'll figure this out just like we've figured everything else out. Everything will be okay as long as our family is together. Nothing else matters but that, it never has."

"How did I ever get so lucky?" he asked with a slight smile.

"You walked into my fathers shop at the right time. Now, I'm going to go check on our little girl." she said, leaning to kiss him slowly.

Though as she kissed him he moved his hand up to cup the back of her head, holding her close for a moment. She couldn't help but giggle quietly against his lips. "Rumpleee, stop. I need to go check on her or I'll burst."

"Heaven forbid you burst dearest." he said as he slowly let go of her, watching as she walked towards the ladder that lead to the loft.

Walking up to the loft, Belle moved to carefully sit next to Elsa's bed, smiling as she looked down at her. "Hey there baby girl.." Belle said, reaching to brush Elsa's hair out of her face.

"Hi Mama." she said, opening her eyes and looking up at her mother.

"You feeling better?" Belle asked softly as she raked her fingers through Elsa's hair slowly and methodically.

Elsa nodded a bit, shifting in the bed. "Uh huh. I saw a fairy Mama.."

"A fairy huh?" Belle asked. Moving to lay on her side on the pallet bed next to Elsa and continuing to brush her fingers through Elsa's hair slowly, noting the lighter shade of blonde it was now.

"Uh huh, a fairy. A blue fairy Mama. Her real name is weird, but she said I could call her blue.." Elsa said. Cuddling into her mothers chest and looking up at her.

Belle smiled at her daughters enthusiasm when she spoke, nodding a bit along with her. "Well, this blue fairy sounds interesting. What did she say?"

Thinking for a moment, Elsa cuddled against her mother, her fingers moving up to play with Belle's shawl slowly. "She said...she said magic is pretty...and...magic can be good or bad and that she saw the future, my future Mama.."

As Elsa spoke Belle laid there, taking it all in with small nods to her daughter. "The future huh? Honey, the future is whatever we make of it. It isn't something that is set in stone. The future...it has various different things that can happen. It's quite complicated I'd expect..." she said slowly, thoughtfully.

"Can you see the future Mama?"

Chuckling a bit, Belle shook her head. "No human can see the future, not truly.." she said, looking down at her. "I suppose fairies can...but you must be careful of fairies. Some are good I'd expect, but I've heard stories of dreadful ones..."

"So fairies and magic are real!?" Elsa said almost excitedly, almost as if she didn't even believe the magic bubbling underneath her skin.

And Belle nodded to her question. "Oh my dear fairies and magic are quite real in this world. To be blessed with magic can be both a blessing and a curse. Magic can eat you alive, consume your soul..." she muttered thoughtfully as her eyes closed halfway as she thought.

Watching her mother for a moment, Elsa swallowed a bit. "Do you know anyone else with magic Mama?"

"I know...of those who have dabbled in it." she said with a sigh looking down at her daughter. "A girl in the village I grew up in dabbled in magic. People said it was such dark magic. I was but a child, but I'd watched as she was convicted of witchcraft for her evil acts.."

"But...but the fairy said magic could be evil or good.."

"I expect it could.." Belle said slowly, shaking her head. "Just ensure you use whatever magic you have for good, not evil. I won't let anyone hurt you for your magic my baby girl, I promise you that."

Chewing on her bottom lip Elsa shifted to rest her head on Belle's shoulder a bit more. "So...so you still love me Mama..?"

"Of course I do. No matter what happens I will always love you, your brother and your father. Dark magic could engulf our whole entire house and I'd still love you, never doubt my love." she assured, kissing the top of her head slowly. "But...but I'd expect it isn't a good idea to let other people know of your magic outside of us for now, hm? Until we learn what is going on."

"So...don't show anyone my magic..?" Elsa asked, nodding a little. "Okay Mama." she said, moving to hug her mother tightly.

Smiling as she watched her daughter, Belle nodded. "That's my girl. Shh, sleep honey. It'll be an early morning."

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The Next Morning

Everyone woke up early in the house. Belle had gotten little sleep but she was still awake with the sun, making breakfast for them. Laying the breakfast out on the table before glancing over towards Rumplestiltskin, Grace and Baelfire sitting around the fire. Elsa had yet to make it downstairs.

"Breakfast is ready. Elsa! Come along too!" she called.

Slowly Elsa peaked out from upstairs, going down the ladder carefully. She looked a ton better, her face was bright as it usually was and her blonde hair was done up in a braid she'd done herself.

Plopping down onto the floor, she looked up with a smile, "Hi Mama, Hi Papa." she said, running up to her father. Lunging herself at him and hugging his leg tightly. Good thing she'd gotten his good leg.

Chuckling a bit at his daughter, Rumplestiltskin shook his head. "Elsa Elsa, calm it down. My you've got energy...you should save that."

Baelfire looked up from his spot at the table blinking slowly. "E-Elsa?" he asked. Slowly moving to stand up and walking towards her, moving down onto his knees by her. "Are you really okay?" he asked in an awe. Just yesterday she'd been in her bed.

"Uh huh!" she said happily, letting her father go and jumping into her brothers arms to hug him tightly. He hadn't actually seen her since he'd given her that flower a week ago.

And Baelfire hugged his sister back tightly, pushing to stand up with Elsa in his arms as she giggled. "Good! Finally!" he said with a smile. Shifting his arms to hold her better against his side as he walked towards the table, looking at Grace. "Gracie...this is Elsa." he said happily. The two still hadn't met yet.

"Hi Elsa." Grace said.

Quietly Elsa waved back a little, hugging her brother a bit around his neck. She was a bright bubbly girl most times, but she was wary of strangers. She'd seen strangers be not so nice to her parents already even in her short life. Glancing towards her mother a bit and when Belle nodded Elsa smiled a bit more as she nodded too. "Hi Gracie."

Slowly Baelfire walked to the table, taking a seat and putting Elsa on his lap. Seeing this, Rumplestiltskin chuckled. "Bae you can sit her down so you all can eat breakfast." he insisted as he stepped up to the table, taking his seat.

"Fine Papa." Baelfire almost pouted, shifting to let Elsa down so she could take a seat at the table.

Elsa sat up in her chair, reaching to take her bowl and starting to eat. She hadn't eaten real food in days and if she had it usually came up not too long afterwards. But when she grabbed the bowl magic flowed through her fingers, freezing the object she'd touched almost instantly.

Gasping, Elsa yanked her hand back and hugged it to her chest, staring wide-eyed at the frozen bowl of food in front of her. Everyone turned to look at them and most at the table sat wide-eyed at the young girl and the frozen bowl.

It was Rumplestiltskin that spoke first. "Well now, thats okay honey..." he said, shifting his chair to sit next to her. Reaching and taking the frozen bowl and pushing it off to the side. Taking his own bowl of food and offering it to Elsa. "Here you are, you can have mine."

But Elsa looked up at him almost afraid, shaking her head. "But...but Papa...I..." she muttered, looking at the bowl of warm oatmeal in front of her.

"It's okay, it's okay honey. Don't worry, here take it." he said, reaching out to take her hand.

But when he did, she yanked back, staring up at him wide-eyed. She didn't want to hurt him...and what if she froze him? Quickly she stood up and bolted, running out the back door and into the back yard.

They all watched her for a moment. Belle sighed as she stood up. "I'll go after her.."

"No, I'll do it." Rumplestiltskin said. Standing up and nodding to his family. "You all wait here and have your breakfast." he said before he walked out the back door towards his daughter holding onto his walking stick as he walked.

Walking out, he saw Elsa sitting against the fence, hugging her knees to her chest and crying into her knees. Sighing a bit as he walked over. He hated seeing his daughter cry more than anything, and he wanted to stop it.

Carefully walking over, he winced as he took ahold of the fence to help himself sit down next to her, reaching and brushing her hair behind her ear. "Elsa honey? What's the matter? It was only a little accident.."

Yanking away quickly almost as if his fingers burnt her, she looked up at him tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "I coulda froze you Papa! Or...or Mama...or or Bae!" she cried out.

"You won't though." he said. Shifting to sit closer to her, he brought his arm around her and brought her close to his side, rubbing her arm as he gave her a small smile. "See? You're not freezing me. It'll be okay."

As she looked down she sniffled, her fists wiping her eyes and shaking her head. "But...but I could. And...and what if Bae's scared now?!" she asked.

"Bae isn't scared of you honey. He'll never be scared of you. He'll forever be your big brother, you know that." he insisted. Gently picking her up and sitting her on his lap as he moved his arms to hug her, rubbing her back slowly. "And you'll forever me my baby girl. Come now, no more tears for Papa?" he asked.

Slowly she looked up at him and sniffled, wiping her eyes. "But..but I don't know how..how to not do that. I...I can't...I can't control it Papa."

"I know honey. We'll figure it out okay? We'll figure everything out. I promise."

"Pinky promise?" she asked sheepishly.

And he chuckled at her words, giving her a slight nod. "Pinky promise." he said, holding up his pinky to her with a smile.

Looking at it for a moment before she took his pinky with hers, squeezing it a little as her other hand moved to wipe her eyes. When he let go of her pinky he slowly moved to wipe her cheeks. "There now, all better? Will you come back inside and eat breakfast?"

"But what if I freeze it again?" she asked with a pout.

"If you do I'll help you eat, okay?"

Seeming to mull it over for a moment she nodded, slowly moving to stand up. Rumplestiltskin used the fence to pull himself up and Elsa picked up his walking stick, offering it to him. Once he took it they both walked back towards the house, Elsa walking just in front of her father.

Walking in everything seemed back to normal. Belle had cleared away the frozen bowl and found another one to put a bit more food in and everyone was sitting and eating.

Elsa looked up at them sheepishly as she walked next to her father, nearly hiding in his leg as they walked up to the table. As they got to the table she moved to take her seat, looking down a little as Rumplestiltskin sat next to her, leaning his walking stick against the table. Reaching over without a word he took the bowl he'd offered Elsa earlier and offered it to her again.

Tentatively she looked at it, swallowing as she reached up to carefully take ahold of the spoon. Seeing it didn't freeze, she nodded accepting it and leaned to eat her breakfast.

Both Rumplestiltskin and Belle smiled at their daughter, and it was Baelfire who decided to lift the awkward feeling by speaking. "So Elsa...Gracie and I were gunna go out in the woods a bit and check the traps. Wanna come?" he asked, looking over at his sister and giving her a reassuring smile when she looked at him trying to tell her that no, he wasn't afraid of her.

Happily she smiled back at him and nodded, looking up at her father. "Can I Papa?"

"Well I suppose it'll be alright, so long as you stay with your brother and Grace."

"I will!"

Chuckling and nodding, "Alright then you can go." he said, looking at Baelfire. "You keep watch on your sister you hear? Don't let her wander off."

"I won't Papa." he said with a smile, finishing off his bowl.

"And Bae," Rumple started after he took a bite of food. "Be sure and attend to the sheep before you go, okay? Bring some wool in for me?"

Baelfire nodded. "Yes Papa, I'll go do that now." he said, putting his spoon in his bowl as he stood up, looking at Grace with a slight blush over his cheeks. "Um...um Grace, you uh..you wanna come too?"

"Sure." she said, flashing him a smile back as she stood up.

"Just leave the bowls, I'll get them. Go on." Belle insisted.

"Thanks Mama." Baelfire said as they walked out of the house and towards the sheep pen.

Everything seemed to just get back to normal in the small house. Though, Belle was getting worried about Jefferson. It'd been a week now and he hadn't been back, and the most it ever took him was a week. She didn't want to worry Grace at all though.

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A/N: Chapter Fin :-p. I hope ya'll enjoyed it! Little Elsa has magic! Yay? Nay? I thought it was an interesting way to introduce it, and I like it.

As always, read and review! Let me know what you think.