Hey, guys. Just want you to know that the Facebook page for the stories is up. The link to the page is on my profile. Now, back to the story.
After their disappearance stunt, Lily and Henry were both still punished. Henry got his video games and TV taken away for a week. Lily also got her TV taken for a week. They didn't care because they were finally allowed to be friends. Mr. Gold and Regina still like the idea of having to deal with each other more than they wanted, but they put up with each other for their children. The last thing they both wanted was to lose them again.
Mr. Gold continued to notice changes in Lily over the next month. She was growing more and more intelligent each day. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but he didn't like the idea of his little girl growing up just yet. It wasn't time for her to grow up yet. She was to stay the same. At least until the curse was broken. He wasn't ready for her to grow up yet.
"Daddy?" He was brought from his thoughts by his young daughter. He was doing paperwork in his office at the shop. Lily had been coloring in one of her coloring books with Lady napping next to her.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Are you sad?" He was confused at the question.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you look sad. When you work, you always look mad or really really focused. You look sad now. Are you sad?" He didn't realize he was making a sad face. He always did his best to hide his emotions when he was thinking. That, along with most of his other habits, went out the window when it came to the girl. He wasn't really sad as he was worried and slightly confused. He could barely say he was sad. Or at least that's what he told himself. He smiled at her in hopes to reassure her.
"No, darling. I'm not sad. I was just thinking. Nothing to worry yourself about." Lily didn't believe him. She knew her daddy enough to know his true emotions. He was sad and he didn't want her to know. She got up from her spot and walked over to him. He straightened up and watched her approach him. She climbed in his lap and hugged him. He was stunned for a moment before he returned the hug. They sat there in silence, just hugging each other.
"Are you because of me?" Gold was thrown off guard. Was she a mind reader? She was a seer in her past life, but that was something different.
"Of course not. What would make you think that?"
"Because I ran away with Henry. I made you scared because I left. I wasn't running away from you." He was still surprised of how observant and intelligent the child was sometimes.
"I know, flower. You were worried about your friend. I understand. I'm not upset with you." He really wasn't upset with her. He was scared out of his mind when she was gone. He was never once angry with her. He worried for her safety. It reminded him of the first time he lost her. On her birthday in the Enchanted Forest when she was chased by an angry mob. She was saved by her hunchback friend, but he still worried for her. He even thought of killing every one of the villagers that tried to hurt her, but getting her back home was more important.
"I won't leave again. I promise. I'll be with you forever because I love you." Her words struck his blackened heart. He wanted to believe her. He knew that she loved him, but even she couldn't be with him forever. Especially now that she was growing up and becoming more observant. Soon, she would learn of the real him. She would see the Dark One and the monster he truly was. She would leave him. She would hate him. Just like Baelfire did. Lily looked up at him and her bright emerald eyes widened in horror.
"Don't cry, Daddy! I really won't leave! I promise!" Gold didn't even realize that he was crying until she said something. He felt the hot tears fall down his cheeks. It was rare that he ever cried in front of her. He never wanted her to see him like that.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. It's okay. That's not why I'm crying." Her bright eyes were filled with worry.
"Why are you crying, then?" He couldn't mention Baelfire to her. She wouldn't remember who he was. She certainly wouldn't remember the other times he almost lost her. She wouldn't remember that either. He couldn't tell her of anything from the Enchanted Forest, yet he couldn't lie to her.
"I suppose...I'm just afraid of losing you. You're growing up so fast and I'm just not prepared for it."
"But isn't growing up a good thing?"
"Yes, it is, sweetheart. Growing up is apart of life and everyone has to do it sooner or later, but that's not what I mean. As a parent, it's hard watching your child grow up and change from what you're used to. Before you know it, they'll be all grown up and leave you behind. They'll be out of your life before you know it, but you'll have to let them. You can't keep them locked away. Soon, you'll have to let go of your child, but that doesn't make it easy." Lily didn't completely understand, but she knew it was because she wasn't a parent. She was still just a child, but she knew her father loved her and didn't want to lose her. She didn't want to lose him either.
"So, I'll just stop growing, then you won't have to worry about losing me." He chuckled at the naive little girl.
"It doesn't work that way, sweetheart. You can't stop growing. It's apart of life. There's nothing you can do about it." Before she could respond, the bell over the door rang, indicating someone entered the store. After drying his tears, he lifted Lily from his lap and placed her on the floor. "We'll finish this later, flower."
He stood from his chair and went out to the shop, leaving Lily to her thoughts. Her daddy didn't want her to grow up. It made him sad that she was. She thought he would be happy, but he wasn't. Lily hated to think that she made her daddy sad. It was rare that ever happened, but when it did, it broke her heart. How could she make him happy again? She thought on this. What could she do?
Later that night after Gold put Lily to bed, she patiently waited for him to go to bed. Around 1:00 am, she quietly got up and dressed herself. She packed her bag and crept out of her room. She went to Gold's room to make sure he was actually sleeping. He had a habit of sometimes working late in his home office. After seeing he was indeed sleeping, she made her way down the stairs and out the back door. It was the night when she would go see her mother. After giving Nurse Nancy her bribe of peanut butter fudge, she went to her mother's room.
"Hi, Mommy." Once again, Portia groaned and rolled her eyes at the child.
"Why do you keep coming back? Even when you're not mine anymore, you're still a pain in my ass!" Lily ignored her mother's venomous words as she began brushing out her hair.
"Daddy is sad because of me."
"Good! It means he finally realized how unnecessary you are. Maybe he'll toss aside like the piece of trash you are."
"No. He's sad because I'm growing up. He doesn't like it. I don't like making him sad."
"I know what you can do!"
"Really? What?"
"Fall off a cliff. Then, you'll never grow up." Lily sighed. She still didn't understand why her mother hated her so much and she figured she never would. No matter what she did, she could never please the woman. Many times, she thought it wasn't worth her time to visit her, but she kept coming back. She still cared and loved her no matter what she did in the past.
"I know what I'm going to do. That's why I can't stay too long." She put her long raven hair in a high ponytail. "Okay, I'm done. Do you want some fudge before I leave?"
"No! I don't want anything from you, you little brat! I tell you the same thing every time you ask me! You are so hard-headed!" Lily would've just accepted a simple 'no', but of course Portia would never settle for for that. She had to insult the child any chance she got.
"Fine. Bye." She left the room and locked the door. She then went to the next door. She pulled over the stool and climbed up to the small window. "Hello? Are you there?"
"Yes. I'm here." Lily took the fudge wrapped in a napkin and put it through the window.
"It's peanut butter fudge. I hope you like it. Me and Daddy made it together." The mystery woman took the treat from the girl.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I can't stay too long. I gotta go do something."
"I heard. I'm not sure what you're going to do, but whatever it is, make sure it's not something reckless and be careful."
"It's not and I will. Thank you. Oh! What do you want for next time?" The woman thought for a moment.
"Nothing in particular. As long as it has chocolate." Lily giggled. She didn't know much about the woman, but she knew she sure did love her chocolate.
"Okay. I'll make sure it has lots of chocolate for you."
"Thanks, Lily. Remember to be careful."
"I will. Bye." She got down from the stool and put it back in it's place. She left the hospital and made her way into the forest. After fifteen minutes of searching, she found what she was looking for. The well. The same well she wished she could always be friends with Henry. Maybe she could wish to stop growing or to make her daddy happy. She didn't really know what to wish for. If she wished to stop growing, then Henry would feel alone growing up while she stayed the same. If she didn't, her daddy would still be sad. What could she do?
"Well, fancy seeing you out here." Lily jumped at the sudden voice. She turned and saw Jefferson.
"Mr. Jefferson! What are you doing here?" He walked over and stood beside her.
"I should be asking you that. What are you doing out here in the middle of the night? You didn't run away again, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I just came to make a wish in the well." He chuckled.
"A wish, huh? You certainly came a special well for that."
"I know. Daddy told me all about it and it works! It really can make wishes come true!" Jefferson was intrigued. He knew the truth about the well and it's significance. Could she really get it to grant wishes?
"What do you mean? How do you know?"
"Because I wished on it before. I wished that Henry and I will always be friends no matter what and now I'm growing faster." So, that's what it was. He did notice the child growing, but couldn't quite figure out how she was able to manipulate the dark magic of the curse. Was the well all that he needed?
"Really? That's very interesting. How did you do it? You have to give the well something for it to grant your wish. What did you give it?" She unclasped her locket and held it up.
"This. I dropped it in the well and made my wish. When I woke up the next day, it was back and I started growing faster." So it was the locket, he thought. If she could tear a rift in the curse around her, maybe she could break it just as easily. She could send him back home with his daughter, Grace. All of it could be over with just a wish, but how could he get her to wish it? Her magic responds to her thoughts and desires. She would have to want the curse to break. Even if he told her about it, she would probably see it as just another fairy tale.
"Interesting. I wish I had something that valuable to give the well, but sadly I don't. I really want to make a wish too, but I don't think the well would like anything I give it. And I really only have one thing I truly want that I can't have." Lily was intrigued.
"What is it?" He had her.
"Well, I just want my daughter back." The young girl was surprised. She didn't know he had a daughter. She didn't see anyone besides him when she went to his house and there were no pictures of her anywhere.
"You have a daughter?"
"Yes, but she doesn't remember me. I want her to and I want her to come home. Unfortunately, I don't thing that will happen anytime soon." Lily saw how sad he was about his daughter. It reminded her of her own daddy. She couldn't imagine how upset and heart broken he would be if she ever forgot about him. Or if he sudden forgot about her. She would be devastated if that ever happened.
"Maybe I can wish it for you! Maybe the well can make two wishes come true at the same time!" It wasn't the response he was expecting and was curious. He didn't think the well worked that way. One item equals one wish. He then thought about it. Considering that the magic contained in her locket was stronger than the Dark One's, it was a possibility that it could work.
"I'm not sure it would work, but there's no harm in trying."
"Okay." She went to drop her locket, but stopped short.
"What's wrong?"
"I still don't know what to wish for. I made my first wish for Henry. If I make this wish for Daddy, then Henry will be sad. I don't know what my wish is." Jefferson thought about this. She was no threat to him and was trying to help him out of kindness. And he actually liked the little girl. He could at least help her out.
"How about this? You can ask the well to figure out a way so you'll always be close with your friend and your daddy can be happy. I'm sure it can make it happen."
"Will that work?"
"Only one way to find out." Lily hovered her locket over the well. She closed her eyes and made her two wishes. She then released the locket and let it drop into the waters below. After a few moments, nothing happened. "Now what?"
"I dunno. Last time, I just went home after I made my wish. Maybe the well needs more time since it was two wishes."
"I guess you're..." He was interrupted by a loud bubbling noise. He and Lily looked down into the well. It was too dark to see anything, but the bubbling grew louder. Suddenly, a large dark purple cloud quickly rose from the depths of the well. It knocked them both back and to the ground. They watched as the thick cloud rose from the well and spread out around it. The cloud then surrounded Lily. "Lily!"
He ran towards the cloud to pull her out, but it shocked him and shot him back. He watched as the thick cloud engulfed the small child. Moments later, the cloud dissipated and Lily was revealed lying on the ground. Jefferson immediately got up and ran over to check on her. "Lily? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. That felt really weird." He helped her to her feet and checked her for any injuries. As he checked her, he noticed her locket was back around her neck.
"Hey, your locket. Does that mean it worked?" She looked down and saw her locket. She ran her fingers over it and it glowed a bright pink.
"Woah." He reached for the locket and lifted it to examine it. As he touched it, it glowed brighter and he flinched back as it burned his finger. Lily didn't feel the burned as it rested back on her chest. When it stopped glowing, the imprint of a curvy knife was engraved on the heart. Jefferson's eyes widened in shock. He knew that object anywhere. It was the Dark One's dagger. "What's that? That didn't happen last time. I gotta tell Daddy about this!"
"No!" Lily jumped in surprise. Jefferson cleared his throat and knelt down to her level. "You can't tell anyone about what just happened, especially your dad."
"Why not?"
"Well...Because no one would believe you. I mean, would you? It seems crazy and made up, doesn't it?" Lily thought for a moment and he was right. If someone told her that, she wouldn't believe it. She was all for anything is possible if you believe, but even she knew there was a limit.
"I guess not."
"Exactly. This can be our little secret, okay?"
"Okay, but can I tell Henry? We tell each other everything." The only thing worse that the Dark One knowing about the situation was the Evil Queen knowing. Who knows what she would do to Lily if she found out.
"No. Not even Henry. We keep this between us, alright?" She didn't like it. She always shared secrets with Henry. He never told anyone their secrets, not even his own mom. She trusted him, but Mr. Jefferson really didn't want anyone to know about what happened.
"Okay. I promise I won't tell anyone." She lifted up her pinky. "Pinky Promise."
"Alright. Pinky Promise." He locked his pinky with hers. He smiled as he stood up. "Alright. It's late. You should be getting back home. I can drive you if you want."
"No, thank you. I don't want Daddy waking up. I can walk from here."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Plus, the sky is really pretty. I like looking at the stars when I walk." He chuckled. Only a child could find such wonder and beauty in the world no matter what. She reminded him of Grace when she was Lily's age. He missed his daughter terribly. He could only hope that the well granted his wish and Grace would be back with him. Only time will tell.
"Alright then. Have a safe trip back."
"I will. Bye, Mr. Jefferson." She left the woods and went back home. Jefferson turned and made his way back to his home.