/ Apologies for the delay in chapter 14, college took over my life yesterday. Fear not I have returned! No idea where this chapter is going to lead but anyways, enjoy! :D
He watched her sleep throughout the remainder of the night, he could not sleep… This should be an easy decision for him but it wasn't… She wanted him to change for himself not for her… Everything he wanted to do was for her though… What did he want for him? He didn't know… As he lay there with his true love in his arms he felt like he had it all. Yet, since her return all he could think about was how he must look through her eyes. She was the same… Exactly the same, right down to how the curl formed in her fiery locks. He had aged… He was still him, but an older him… He must be the only immortal in history to manage to age. He remembered what it was like when he was a young man. How impulsive the both of them were… How happy the both of them were. He knew that even if he got his younger body back he would still be old. He would be an old man with a young exterior. That's what Grainne was, he knew that. But she made him feel so young. She made him feel like he was still in his 20's… If he wanted to do it for him what did he want? He had gotten used to this body… Yet, he had ached to be back to himself. His true self… What had changed? Belle… That girl had gotten into his mind in the worst way. Making him doubt himself, doubt his true natural nature. Together they were a dangerous force. They were strong, stronger than witches, stronger than wizards. If he was back to his original self they would be a force to be reckoned with. Would they be able to control their dark urges though? To totally give into the darkness in this world instead of their own could be very bad indeed.
He was pulled from his mental turmoil by the movements of his beautiful wife stirring above him. Feeling the warmth of her skin against his was like a dream come true. He had been with Belle, they had even been in bed like this but he always felt like something was missing. They never seemed to be an exact fit… He had treated her like a replacement instead of a promising new relationship. He didn't want a new relationship, he wanted his old one. He wanted her, always her. She consumed his every thought, his every move was motivated by how it would benefit his wife. Anything to make her happy. Yet all she wanted was him. How did a foolish man like him get so damn lucky? "I can feel your tension in my dreams" he heard the sleepy voice of Grainne croak. He laughed lightly his fingers trailing lazily up and down her back "sorry love, I must be thinking too hard" he smiled kissing the crown of her head. "What time is it?" She sighed nuzzling her head into his chest, his arms wound protectively around her. Holding her tightly to him. He could genuinely stay like that forever. "It's 6:30am" he sighed rubbing his eyes sleepily. She had distracted him from his ridiculous thoughts and relaxed him enough for him to finally feel tired. They could not sleep now though… It was practically time to get ready. "We should get up" she whispered placing a kiss on his chest. "Oh must we, I could stay like this all day long." He smirked looking down at her. "As tempting as that offer is I do not think my papa would appreciate it if we flake on him." She said sitting up in the bed sleep still evident in those magnificent crystal blue eyes of hers. "The quicker we do this the quicker we can relax. It will be like a small vacation for us both. Back in Castle Dracula after all these years." She smiled, she took the top sheet off the bed wrapping it around her bare body she went to her closet. It was an image he stored away in his memory banks for a later period. Sluggishly leaving the bed himself he flicked his wrist and in an instant was dressed in one of his many signature suits. Turning to look at Grainne it took everything in him to not let his jaw drop to the floor. There she was, in a pair of black leather pants that left no one damn thing to the imagination. Thank the gods she chose a less clingy satin black blouse to adorn her upper half. "Sweetheart are you trying to kill me dressing like that?" He said the longing in his eyes undeniable as he drank in her beautiful form. He knew she more than likely had planned to torture him throughout the course of the day but he never thought she would chose something so… Difficult. "Oh nonsense. I used to dress like this all the time back in the enchanted forest. You are just getting forgetful" She winked at him. "In my defence love, I don't think I could ever forget you wearing something like this." He smirked, she was trying to kill him. He was sure of it. "Well you tortured me in your leathers all those years, I am merely returning the favour in kind" yep, she was definitely choosing today to try and make his balls explode…
They were the first ones in the throne room for this damned council meeting, he had fond memories of this room… Giant oak thrones stood at the top of the hall. One had to climb at least 100 steps to reach them. The walls were covered in paintings of generation after generation of Tepes, Grainne and Cormac included. In the centre a huge mahogany table surrounded by chairs had been laid out. One throne like chair sat at the top of this table for his most feared father in law. He got along quite well with Grainne's father. He approved of their courtship from day one. On some level Rumple even suspected that he invited him to the ball that night because he knew him and his daughter would be such a good match. He watched as Grainne took a seat next to the chair at the head of the table where her father would be seated. Family was very important to his wife, he felt his heart swell at her obvious excitement at being reunited with her father after all this time. He took a seat next to her simply enjoying the beautiful expression on her face as she took in her homely surroundings for the first time in decades. He always felt a pang of guilt during moments like this, he should have looked for her. He should have fought every fibre in his body that forgot her and searched for her. He would never forgive himself, and he would never stop punishing Regina. The large doors finally creaked open and there he stood, the man responsible for Rumple meeting his wife. Her father.
He smirked watching as Grainne collided with her father practically diving into the mans arms. He looked just as intimidating as one might imagine. Tall, a stern face with dark eyes, jet black hair that went to just below his ears. He looked exceptionally like his own father. Yet, the moment he laid eyes on his daughter his entire face softened. Like a mask had been removed. This made Rumple's smile extend further, his wife was exceptional at revealing people's true faces. His included. He had a great deal of respect for his father in law. He was a good man. A fair man. The world perceived them as evil but it was their nature, they cannot be blamed for acting the only way they know how to. Grainne's family were the first family to fully accept him without a moment's notice. He cared deeply for them, he owed them a lot. As Grainne finally released Vlad from her iron grip they walked arm in arm to the table where Rumple had remained. "Rumpelstiltskin, reunited at last" Vlad said in a thick Romanian accent. "Oh, like I could stay away from my dear father in law." He smirked, they gripped each other's forearms firmly for a moment, a common form of greeting amongst covens. "So, are we ridiculously early or is everyone else ridiculously late?" Rumple asked as Grainne took a seat next to him once more linking her fingers with his own gripping his hand tightly. He tilted his head to the side in confusion, Vlad looked… Concerned? "No one else is coming, look… I know it may seems like you have been tricked but I needed you both here under the pretence of a council meeting because I did not want suspicions raised. There is going to be blood on the moon this weekend." He said gruffly. Rumple heard a soft gasp leave Grainne's lips. His hand squeezed hers tighter… He had not anticipated this. When there is a red hue around the moon, almost like a red aura it is known as blood on the moon. It is a celestial event that affects members of the supernatural community. Vampires submit to their true animalistic selves, werewolves cannot control how or when they turn… The entire community is affected and every couple of years it causes a massacre across the globe. Many humans perish. It is the one night that the laws that bind vampires to their pledge of not killing humans is lifted for the sole reason they have no control over their actions.
"This is a problem…" Grainne whispered, he saw the despair in her eyes… She was a control freak, it was one of the many reasons he loved her but when there was blood on the moon she had no control. Not over herself, not over anything. "It is an even bigger one than usual. Rogue covens are using this night to flout our law as a purge of sorts. They are going across the globe to various towns and cities where they have vendettas with the townsfolk and are planning on having a murder fest. This applies to you both because someone with a very large mouth that resides in Storybrooke has let it slip to one of the more… Elusive covens that the dark one and his wife are residing in Maine, I have been informed that they are planning to go there and destroy that quaint little place you have taken up residence in and kill you both as a stab at me. I would not be allowed execute the men responsible for killing my child and her husband because it was on the night where no laws apply to our race. So… You see the problem." Vlad sighed rubbing his temples in exasperation. Rumple felt his anger rise inside him, he would never let anyone touch a hair on Grainne's head… But he was not immune to this celestial event… He would fall into his true self. He wouldn't be Rumpelstiltskin. He would be the dark one. This meant he would be more possessive of her than he already is. With only his natural dark instincts fuelling him who knows who would get hit in his crossfire for even glancing at Grainne wrong… "Can you handle this?" The urgency in Vlad's voice brought him out of his trance. "We will take care of them papa. There are plenty of supernatural folk in that town. They will be feeling territorial over their home…" Grainne sighed, he was not anticipating that his loves reunion with her father would be tainted with such horrid news. "Don't worry Vlad, this will not be a problem. None of them will see the light of day again. And, if by some miracle they make it through the night we will be sure to return them to you immediately. I am sure we can pin something on them from a few weeks ago or something. Either way. Justice will be served." Rumple appeared calm and collected when saying this but he was not. He was in fact feeling more and more stressed by the second.
They had barely enough time to finish their conversation when Vlad was called away on more urgent business in the great hall. Cormac probably managed to drink himself into a slow death. "What about the humans of the town? Emma… The Charming's… Henry…" She whispered to him "What if we hurt them?" The anxiety was clearly eating his wife alive. "Sweetheart, I will not let that happen I promise." He said cupping her cheek in his hand. He would have to be at his best if he wanted to make it through the night without killing any of the locals. If there was blood on the moon in the enchanted forest it would have been a celebration. Giving into their desires… Being free to be their truest of true selves. Living for one night in total reckless abandon. In this world they would have to attempt to exercise some kind of restraint. This was going to be very very difficult indeed. He knew what he needed to do. He needed to be back to himself if he wanted to keep his Grainne safe. He had to be at the top of his game… In his prime… And he would be. Anything for her. But, it wasn't just for her anymore. He realised she was right. He had to want this for himself, and he did. He would become the man he was before, no one would walk all over him or her again. They would be one. They would be safe and he would be the most powerful he had been in centuries. He wanted this, he didn't realise until this moment that he needed this… "I have decided sweetheart… I cannot deny it a moment longer. I need to be back to my old self. I want you to give me my essence back… Its time I turn back into the man I was. The young man you met… We will need all the power we can get."
/ Ooh the next chapter is going to be interesting! Rumple back in his fine assed young man body just in time for him to go 100% Dark One in Storybrooke. And Grainne, fully vamping out… Prepare for a sexy gory time lads and lassies!