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A strange silence reigned the Dark Castle's living room. A man and a teenager sat close to each other, on a couch opposite a burning fireplace. They relished the warmth it emanated. Watched the shadows dance in the yellow light produced by the flames. Rumpelstitlskin sat silent, struggling for the choice of words, trying to figure out how to start this conversation and tell everything to his son.

"You and Belle…" Baelfire whispered uncertain, his fingers intertwining nervously on his lap. The long silence was making him feel rather uncomfortable. "You are in love?"

"Yes." Rumpelstiltskin whispered back with a soft smile, glad his son had put the question out in the open and given him a lead to start on. "It came… rather unexpected. To both of us. It just…happened." He saw his son burrow his brow, a clear indication the boy found it hard to believe his father's words. "In the beginning, I was terrified by her. She was hard, cold and demanding. She was unforgiving, cruel,brutal." He remembered a time when the slightest mistake was enough to make the Dark One jump off her skin. He remembered the hard beating and the magical pain she was capable of causing. Her blue eyes cold as ice, blackened by pure hate and anger. A time he truly believed she was the devil and avoided her and her rage by all means. But that was a time he didn't know her, just like she didn't know him. "But then, later on, I got to see a different side of her." Baelfire widened his eyes slightly in curiosity. "I realized there was a human side in the Dark One. An ordinary woman, a human being like you and me, with feelings and dreams like anybody else. It's a hard life, even for the Dark One, to live with all this power and riches, but have nobody to share truth, she was nothing but lonely. But Belle didn't allow anybody to come close to her, so she couldn't get time, she slowly lowered her defenses and let me in. And I got to see her kind side. "Baelfire gave him the unbelievable and skeptic look again and Rumpelstitlskin's smiled amused. He caressed the boy's hair and spoke in a lower tone, like if he was revealing an important secret. "When she likes somebody, she is truthful, caring and loyal. There is so much love hidden in that dark heart. She can be really nice when she wants too." There followed another pause and Baelfire looked into his father's brown orbs. He knew he spoke the truth. He knew the feelings he had for this woman were real. But Baelfire still didn't trust the Dark One.

"And the baby?" Baelfire finally asked. He watched as his father let out a nervous sigh, give him both an apologizing and embarrassed look.

"Uh, mine…That was, eh ...also unexpected." He admitted with a shy smile."I guess you're having a little brother or sister." Baelfire's eyes widened at the meaning of these words. He still didn't know what to think about his father's relationship with the Dark One, but the idea of having a sibling somehow warmed his heart. He imagined himself cradling the baby, playing and teaching the small human being about life and the world. The boy couldn't hold back a happy smile to his father's relieve and contentment. Another long silence followed. Father and son stared at the dancing flames and listened to the cracking of wood, each one lost in their own thoughts. The yellow fire reminded Baelfire of something important.

"What about you? What happened earlier? You were… different. Y-You killed. "Rumpelstiltskin looked concerned at his son. The boy never had been scared of him, until now. The man sighed and looked at his folded hands on his lap.

"What you saw at Regina's castle…" He suddenly paused. He was afraid to scare his son about his nature. About the ancient and powerful bloodline that flew in their veins. How this discovery changed his life, his way of thinking. It would be difficult to explain to a stranger, even more to his own son. But it needed to be told. The boy had the right to know. So he took a deep breath, directed his eyes on the flames, everything to avoid his son's innocent gaze. "Belle knew the night I summoned her, I was different than the rest of the world…I had no idea. My father and grandfather had no idea. Many generations before us had no idea. They had forgotten…" He paused again. Hesitated. How to tell his son, they were children of the First People? How to tell his boy he had de capability of transforming himself into a full Primordial, a terrifying powerful creature? A Force of Nature?

"Forgot what, papa?" The teenager asked, feeling both scared and curious. Rumpelstitlskin finally dared to look at his son's eyes.

"Bae, we come from a great ancient bloodline, one that could handle magic as nobody else in this world ever could. Not even the Dark One. We are descendants of the Primordials."

"What?"Baelfire shuddered and stared with wide eyes at his father. "I thought that was a myth!"

"No, Bae. It's all true. I was born with magic. I lived with it, hidden, my whole life without knowing about it. But Belle managed to release it and teach me how to use it. When my magic is in its highest peak, I transform because then my powers are at their fullest point. The amount of magic is so great that it changes my body. At those times, I become much stronger, faster and leaner. My vision and hearing increase significantly. It's quite overwhelming."

"What about your mind?" Baelfire asked concerned. Rumpelstitlskin knew the boy meant the killings. He stared at the flames and gave no answer. "Papa, I've heard the stories. I saw what you did to Ocidas!"

"He deserved it! He was going to do to you what he did to me!" Rumpelstiltskin raised his voice, cracked and hurt. Baelfire could read the hate and pain in his eyes. He regretted his words immediately and looked apologetic. He could only imagine that, whatever Ocidas did to his father, had been unthinkably horrible. He swallowed dry.

"What about the Duke's men?"

"They deserved to die too." Rumpelstitlskin spoke coolly, the anger from a time when he was completely defenseless still stinging him painfully. "They abused those who were powerless and weak. They were cruel. Unjust."

"And you are just? It sounds more like revenge to me!"

"They were criminals protected from the law!They mistreated others all the time and always got away! Is that just?" He retorted angrily. Baelfire shuddered frightened. He could see the fireplace's flames reflected in his father's eyes. But then Rumpelstitlskin realized how harsh he had sounded and his son saw the anger subside quickly in his eyes. His father's eyes looked suddenly much spoke then with a softer voice. "As I said before, the power I have in me is overwhelming. Seductive. Tempting. I know I do not always use it in a good way… but believe me, I don't use it randomly." He paused with a sorrowful sight. "You must think of me as a monster."

"No papa! I know you are not a monster." Baelfire quickly said. "I just… I don't like the idea you hurt others. Please, can you stop hurting others with your new powers?"Rumpelstitlskinstared at those brown pleading eyes andnodded. He would do anything his son asked for. Anything for his happiness. He rested his hand under his son's chin and looked at his face lovingly. Baelfire smiled, feeling safe and warm under that gaze. Suddenly, a new thought popped into his head. "Papa? Do I have magic inside of me too?" He asked, unable to hide the fear in his voice.

"No. This is an inheritance that is passed from grandparent to grandchild. The magic always skips one generation. You will never be able to use magic because it doesn't exist in you. But, your children will."

"Sounds like a curse." Baelfirewhispered at the revelation.

"Maybe it is." Another long silence followed. Rumpelstiltskin sighed, feeling relieved he had told the truth to his son, but was mostly glad the boy had not freaked out. He was now ready to talk with Baelfire. "So…before I was captured by Regina, Belle had freed me from our deal. I went looking for you so I could tell you everything I told you today." Rumpelstitlskinlooked gravely at his son and swallowed dry. This was the moment to give the child a life's choice. "This castle has become my home. I have found happiness here with Belle. I'm staying with her, to raise our child together. And I would like you to live here in the castle too. With me. With your sibling. Have a new life with a new family. But I know you got a lot new information in one day. The reason why I don't want you to give me an answer right now. You can decide tomorrow, even a few days later, if you will. But if you wish, later on, to lead an independent life, I promise I will come and visit you as often as possible.I swear, I will never abandon you. I will never leave you again." Rumpelstitlskin spoke with watery eyes. "All I want for you is your happiness."

"And all I want is my father." Baelfire said smilingly, with a lump in his throat. He put his hands around his father's ones. "I don't even need to think about what you said, because I already know my choice. I want to be with you. I want us to be together."Rumpelstiltskin smiled widely at his boy's words and held him closely, releasing a joyful tear.

"Oh, my boy. My beautiful boy." He whispered and kissed Baelfire's head. They switched teary smiles and both had to laugh at their emotional state. But, above all, they relished the thought of being together once again.

…

Belle never had felt this nervous in her life. He entered the kitchen with the pretext of making tea. Of course that was a lie. She needed space. She needed time to be alone. To process what had just happened. Rumpelstitlskin was alive. She was happy with his return. Jubilant. Euphoric. But the thirst for revenge was already cooking in her veins. Darkness was already clouding her vision. Rumpelstitlskin was a victim of Regina. The Evil Queen was going to pay a high price for mistreating her love. The Dark One was already thinking of means in discovering if Regina had survived Rumpelstiltskin's fire. Would she live, then an adequate and well-deserved punishment would await her. The Dark One planned to leave Regina alone for a while, give the Queen the illusion of safety and then strike her with the cruelest of punishments. The Dark One would meanwhile take the time to figure out the ideal revenge. And once Regina would suffer her ruin, the Dark One would savor the moment with great smiled deviously at the thought. But the smile faded would deal with the Evil Queen another today she had a much more important matter in her mind.

Baelfire.

He was the reason of her anxiety. For her worries. For her fears. A mere teenager had managed, only by his presence in the castle, to put the Dark One in the most frantic state she have ever been in centuries. She groaned upset, realizing how ridiculous it was for her to be scared of the boy. Only this was no regular boy. This was Rumpelstitlskin's son. His air in the lungs. His reason to live. His happy ending. Belle was terrified. About what the boy would think, would say about her, about them, about the baby. With one word, Belle was certain Baelfire could make his father chose to leave her behind so he could stay with him. Rumpelstitlskin had promised her otherwise, but Belle knew better. The love for the new life growing inside of her had taught her nothing stood between a child and a parent. Not even True Love.

Several times had Belle summoned a tray with tea and cookies. Several times had Belle walked towards the living room. But each time she reached the door, she heard voices. She would then make the tea set vanish and return to the kitchen more worried and anxious than before. She didn't dare to interrupt them. She didn't dare to eavesdrop. But each second that went by caused a torturous sting in her heart. Her imagination ran wild. Her head was filled with the most horrible and tragic scenarios. All of them with her ending up alone in the large and cold castle. Again, she summoned tea. Again she paced silently to the door. Again she listened carefully. Silence. No words were being exchanged. Her heart raced madly with fear of what was about to come. Belle took a deep breath and opened the door magically, making enough noise for the males to know she had just entered the room.

"The tea is ready." She said with a surprisingly calm and joyful voice. Immediately two people stood up from the couch. One looking joyful, the other wary and shy. The happiness in Rumpelstiltskin's eyes and sincere smile made all Belle's earlier worries melt right away. She needed not to ask what Baelfire had answered his father. She knew instinctively they would stay.

"Take a seat, son." Rumpelstiltskin gestured the teenager to one of the chairs at the long table. Baelfire obeyed and sat down quietly.

"You too, Rumpel." Belle instructed. He looked a bit surprised her. This was quite a change of roles and he hesitated. "Sit down. You had a long day." She quietly insisted and the spinner sat looking both mystified and glad. He watched her pour the tea with wonder and then saw the cookies. He was suddenly reminded of weeks with food deprivation. He grabbed several pastries and devoured them avidly. He chocked in his rush in getting as much food as possible inside on him, quickly sunk tea down his throat and swallowed the rest of the food with it. Both Belle and Baelfire stared at him shocked. "Rumpel, no so fast! You'll get sick."

But the spinner didn't hear her. He heard nothing and saw nothing but the food in front of him. The nourishment his body so desperately wanted, so desperately needed. Belle didn't have the courage to stop him and so the small tray of cookies was emptied quickly. He served himself a second cup of tea and swallowed the rest down rapidly. He finally sat back and let a sigh of contentment and relieve. Only now did he notice Baelfire, who was sitting opposite him and was staring at him with wide eyes.

"That was gross!" The boy finally blurted. Rumpelstitlskin gave a confused look and seemed only then to realize what he had just done. He went red from embarrassment

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

"No need for that." Belle dismissed and summoned more tea, pastries for herself and Baelfire and sat at the top of the table. "Best is that you eat something light each hour, until your stomach becomes used to food again. Otherwise, you'll get really sick."

"I, uh…all right." Belle and Baelfire ate and drank in silence, none of them knowing what to say. Rumpelstitlskin stared from one to the other and decided to break the silence that was starting to drive him crazy. "Bae will need a room." He stated as a matter of fact. Both Belle and Baelfire lifted their heads to look at him and then at each other.

"Of course." Belle quietly said, taking a sip of her tea. "He can take the bedroom in the eastern wing."

"Perfect. It will suit you perfectly, Bae." Rumpelstitlskin said enthusiastically. "It catches the morning light and warms nicely in the winter. I can show it to you when you are finished."

"I am finished." Baelfire said without hesitation and stood up. Belle looked a bit surprised and knew she was the cause for the boy's urge to leave the table. Rumpelstiltskin too got up and looked at her. His look was one of understanding and she knew they would talk about this later on.

"Come on, Bae. Lets see your new room."

So... what are your thoughts about this chapter? I hope I didn't disapoint you.

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review, please ;)