I appologize for the very long wait. It has been disastrous for me to focus in this story for many different reasons. But I really want to finish it. So I'm doing my best to center my energy solely in Force of Nature until its ready, because I keep being sidetracked by other stories.

I am already working on the next chapter. (there is hope).


Thank you for your reviews: orthang1, Twyla Mercedes, Nami Swannn, xanimejunkie, Grace5231973, lollaughoutloud123 and Guest.

I do not own Once Upon a Time


"Belle, we need to talk."

Rumpelstiltskin said while he uncomfortably entered Belle's private chamber. Their private chamber. The division he had evaded for already nine days, preferring instead to sleep in the living room's couch. He noticed the nervous anxiety surrounding Belle. Her eyes lingered a short while on his figure and then she proceeded with folding her clothing, a task that had been shortly interrupted by her companion's visit. She silently tidied it up on the wardrobe. Afterwards, the beauty fidgeted her fingers, since they had nothing else to busy themselves. Belle ended up sitting down on the bed's edge, looking tranquil but unable to hide the anxiety behind her eyes. Rumpelstitlskin gulped. She wore her light blue nightgown, made of soft and slightly translucent cotton. How she looked absolutely beautiful in it. He turned his eyes to the side, as he felt a strange embarrassment invade his chest. Despite his anger, he was still very much attracted to the beauty. He still wanted, desired her, quite desperately. Since she chose not to say anything, he decided to continue. He inhaled deeply and chose his words carefully.

"You are a mother…" He started, his eyes still avoiding Belle.

"If this is about Cinderella…" The beauty interrupted but he lifted his hand, gesturing her to stop. She silenced again, their eyes finally meeting.

"I'm not talking about Cinderella. I'm talking about you. About us." Rumpelstiltskin noticed Belle's chest heave in a nervous sigh and proceeded. "Bae… He has accepted you as a mother."

At these words he read the surprise in the azure eyes, he saw the slightly departed rosy lips release a gasp of shock. Rumpelstiltskin took a few paces, until he stood in the middle of the room, closer to Belle. "Milah and I - there was not one day we wouldn't fight. I have no idea if Baelfire remembers, but I surely don't want him to have to remember now. I don't want Myrddin to grow up in such a sphere. I cannot accept the gruesome nature of your deal but I cannot bear the idea of hurting my sons because of our disagreement. We are a family."

Rumpelstitlskin paused, his eyes directed to his feet, at the stone floor, while he licked his lips in thought. Baelfire's words still burned his ears and soul. He lifted his head, his gaze seeking Belle's again. She looked pale and her eyes were watery. He swore her lips trembled and perhaps that was the reason she didn't utter a single word. She just sat there in an unnatural passivity and listened to his calm and warm voice fill the walls. He took a deep breath and decided to end his chain of thoughts.

"I know you don't really have a choice. You can't really help it. It's that horrible curse that has taken hold of your heart, of you mind! You're bonded to that dagger's dark powers, impotent to its corruption. And I hate it! But there is one thing I'm glad about its powers. That it gave you immortality so you could live long enough to find me. So I could love you, despite everything else. Belle, I know I have been distant these days, but I haven't stopped loving you. I still love you, I always do and I don't think I would ever be able to stop even if I wanted." Rumpelstiltskin confessed and Belle gasped. She quickly wiped some tears away, feeling silly for becoming emotional this easily and then smiled.

"I-I'm sorry. For ignoring you after our discussion." Belle apologized and then she chuckled at a realization. "I don't like when others oppose to me. Normally I transform them into a frog or something of the kind. But I would never have the heart to do that to you. And it has nothing to do with you being a Primordial." She lifted her eyes to meet his brown ones and smiled when she found the warm love in them. He was smiling back at her. "I love you Rumple. I don't want magic or deals to come between us." Her confession sounded like a heartbroken plea and Rumpelstiltskin walked over to her, ending the distance between them. He held her hands in his and sat on the bed next to her.

"Neither do I. I want us to be a family. The family I never had. The family you never had. We can make this work. For both of us. For our boys." Rumpelstiltskin said and Belle gleamed.

"For our boys." She whispered, her heart bouncing with love and happiness, the mere thought that Baelfire had accepted her as a mother, despite his background, his childhood memories, him becoming a young man; it was enough to make her speechless from joy. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

He sealed his love confession with a soft kiss. It was a peace offering. It was a testimony of his love, of his loyalty to her. They lingered a long while in the pleasures of tender kisses and sweet caresses, making up for the days of mutual coldness and distance. As the kisses deepened and the caresses grew in desire and lust, the couple surrendered to the love and the passion that united them. They danced under the sheets, under the taste of sweat and saliva. They confessed their love and need in moans and grunts, in notes that reached the ceiling and filled the room. They connected, they united and they forgave. They accepted their differences. And forbade any disagreement to separate them again. They were, after all, a family.

Riders on impressive steeds. Travelers on modest carriages. Poor wanderers on foot. Men with all kinds of backgrounds. The rich and the poor. The well-educated and the dirty drunkard. The young and the old. Many were foreigners from distant lands, their clothes and looks strange and exotic. Some sang old tales, others cursed while they moved in a determined and steady pace. But every one of these men grew silent as he reached the edge of the Infinity Forest. It was a moment of doubt, of hesitation that filled their hearts. A moment they wondered if all of this was real. A moment they wondered if they truly had to honor their ancestry. Dreams and fears, illusions and ambitions all mingled in the minds of the travelers. And then the moment of decision, a deep breath, a step forward and they would enter the mystical woods.

Why did these many men venture the mystical Infinity Forest? They answered to a calling. For in the last days, hundreds of carrier pigeons had flown over mountains, forests, fields and great lakes carrying a message with the seal of the Forest Hunter.

Even when storms are conquered

The ancient kin still remains.

The different men, from their different countries, with their different backgrounds all understood these words. It was a code. An ancient code forged centuries ago when peace befell in the Enchanted Forest. A code Hunters created with the hope of never having to use it. And during 500 years it wasn't. The Hunters read the calling they waited all their lives. Waited with fear. And hoped never to live to read these words. Mankind had been fortunate and given a life of peace and security during half a millennium. But the day had come to tell the world that Mankind had been living nothing but an illusion. The Hunters had failed. The Primordial still lived.

The many nameless men travelled alone or in small groups and would eventually cross paths in the magical forest. As they came closer to the final destination, more and more Hunters gathered and the group grew larger and larger. By the time they reached the meeting point, a few hundred men from all ages and statures concentrated around a large rock on the top of a high hill in the center of the Infinity Forest. The Hunters were the only people in the Enchanted Forest with the skill of travelling the ancient and magical woods without losing themselves. A knowledge that had been passed from father to son 500 years before and 500 years later.

The Hunters waited in silence for the one man who had summoned them with the cursed message. None spoke their fears. None spoke about their many questions and suspicions. It was like a storm that brewed itself and prepared to explore. Then they saw a tall man walk determined towards the center and climbed up the rock. He stood there high and stared at the hundreds of men circling him.

"Hunters of the Ancient. My brothers. I am Norman, Hunter of the Forest, descendant from the Spears and the Woods." The man with a scar on his face spoke loud and clear. "I have summoned you for the news I bring you is as terrible as it is real. One bloodline from the First People has managed to survive hidden during 500 years. For centuries, Primordials have lived unnoticed among us, eating our food, bedding our women. The monsters have blended in our society for a very long time, waiting for the ideal time to emerge in their full power. So they could, once again, sow terror in our villages. The Primordial has joined forces with the Dark One! You have heard the tales about him. You have heard the rumors about his terrifying powers. Well, these rumors are true. Rumpelstiltskin, the Dark One's messenger, is a Primordial from the House of Fire. At least in two occasions he had undergone the transformation. His fire is the most destructive, surpassing Maleficent's power by far."

A murmur grew among the many men. The sound rose louder and louder. Remarks of incredibility, fear, disdain and anger filled the silent forest like the thunderous roar that threatens a peaceful day. Yes, they had heard the rumors. Yes, they had heard about the powers of wildfire. Yes, they had heard about a dangerous creature with golden skin and magical eyes. But they had also heard only fragments of loose stories told by drunken men at night. And never considered it could be the return of the Primordial. Until now.

"We do not know for sure he's a Primordial." One tall red-haired man shouted.

"Yeah, we cannot start a Hunt without a proof!" Another man, this one with dark tanned skin added. Norman remained calm and gestured with his hands for the mob of Hunters to mellow.

"My brothers. This is a matter that concerns not only Men, but also fairies and sorceress." Norman spoke in an unwavering manner. "The reason why I've summoned Reul Ghorm to be with us today!"

As soon as the Fearless Woodcutter spoke these words a small but wonderful blue light crossed the air above the heads of the many men. They stared in surprise and awe. Their eyes followed the glow fascinated. They gasped and pointed at the happy glimmering dance. All men seemed to be hypnotized by the small spark that stopped next to Norman. Everybody stared in great expectation when they saw the tiny glow spark violently a glistering dust for some seconds and were absolutely marveled to see a beautiful woman present herself in a regal blue shiny dress.

"The Blue Fairy!"

The title was whispered repeatedly by hundreds with endless reverence and respect, for the Blue Fairy was the continuation of a very ancient line of great and powerful fairies. For the Blue Fairy was Reul Ghorm and Reul Ghorm was the ancient being that rules the night. The original power. The hunters all kneeled and rested on one knee in courtesy, their head low in submission.

"My dear Hunters, please, rise. You do not need to humble." Blue spoke in a soft melodious voice and some heads lifted in surprise. Slowly the men stood up one after the other.

"Please, pardon us. We can only feel humble before such a powerful and wise creature." One man told, while his hand rested on his chest, his heart right under it. Blue smiled sweetly but it lasted only some seconds, for her face became slowly darker.

"I must apologize I did not intervene earlier. I too had heard the rumors and I did fear the return of the Primordial, but the war between Snow White and the Evil Queen - It sidetracked me. I should have given more attention and investigated Rumplestiltskin closer." The Blue Fairy embarrassedly excused herself. "After Norman beckoned me, I secretly followed Rumpelstiltskin's moves." Reul Ghorm paused a moment and her face transpired concern. "I have seen with my very own eyes. I have witnessed myself the transformation. Rumpelstiltskin is a Primordial."

A loud murmur filled the air of the magical forest as the Hunters muttered their shock and unbelief. Fear, anger, revolt, loathing, all these emotions stirred inside these men. They grew up with the stories about the gruesome creatures that once had dominated the Enchanted Forest. They both feared and loathed the abysmal power these horrible beings possessed. It was revolting that these monsters were capable of decimating thousands of people with their magic and cruelty. It was infuriating that they could wipe out entire villages and towns without any regret or guilt. The First People were creatures from nightmares and hellish stories. The First People had no ethic, no moral compass. They were cruel, cold and selfish. Their only passion was power and they would destroy anything to achieve it. The Primordial was and would always be the Hunters' nemesis.

"Rumpelstitlskin must die!" A man yelled and others cheered him right away.

"We must act with caution!" A man with silver-hair spoke. "Not only are his powers legendarily deadly, but he is also the Dark One's messenger. Even if we succeed in defeating him, the Dark One will not take it lightly."

"He's right. We must have a plan." Another voice rose in the group. Whispers and murmurs expressed their fears of failure.

"Reul Ghorm, what should we do?" Somebody asked and all eyes turned the Blue Fairy. She looked horribly tensed. She uncomfortably looked at Norman, her eyes embarrassed and pleading.

"Rumpelstiltskin has a son." Norman declared, while Blue casted her eyes down shamefully. "His name is Baelfire and he is fifteen. It is only a matter of time, maybe a couple of years, before he starts his own family." A deadly silence filled the forest. The many Hunters stared pale at each other, their eyes filled with shock and anguish.

"Our battle is with the Primordial, not with children!" The silver-haired man shouted. "He has no powers! He is no threat to us!"

"His children will inherit their grandfather's powers!" The Fearless Woodcutter refuted. "If the boy dies, the threat of the reproduction of this species with end. As for Rumpelstitlskin, it will be easier to defeat him when he is mourning."

"We are the Hunters! We are the Guardians of the realm and we answer to a Code!" The man with silver hair argued, disgusted by the idea. "The plan you are suggesting is cruel and immoral." A loud roar filled the air as many man agreed with the elder man, but many others approved Norman's plan. Moral and fear divided the Hunters that started arguing their points of view.

"And I agree with you. I absolutely agree." Norman solemnly said, his voice rising above all other voices. The older man was silenced by surprise, just like the rest of the Hunters. "I too am a father. I once almost lost my daughter. I am against the killing of children, just like I find the idea of attacking a grieving father a sickening notion! But what other choice do we have? The History Annals are clear about how the Primordials were defeated. Rumpelstiltskin is simply too powerful. And we are too few and too weak. We have long forgotten how it is to fight. And even if we have fought battles in the past, war is nothing compared to the power of the original fire."

His words enticed another wave murmur. The Hunters were dissatisfied. The fear brew in their veins like poison, fogging their minds. Fear made them question what was one boy's life worth? Fear made them conclude it was only one life, but one that would save their own and their kin's.

"Blue Fairy, is there really no other option?" The silver-haired man insisted in a desperate plea and the magical woman looked grimly at him.

"Dear kind and wise Astor." She spoke in a warm and motherly voice. The silver-haired man was a bit taken aback that this mighty and majestic creature knew his name. But then, what did she not know? "I have pondered all options. Even if Rumpelstiltskin dies, his lineage will survive through his son. And even if his grandchildren and their grandchildren will not use their powers, they can rise one day again, just like Rumpelstiltskin did. Do not forget that the House of Fire survived 500 years under the guise of regular people. But now the threat is back." Blue paused for a moment and her eyes watered as it pained her greatly to vocalize the next words. "I'm afraid we must kill both of them. Father and son."

Astor took a step back, looking terribly shocked. Her words had hit hard like a violent slap. Voices rose louder and wilder around him. Fear had taken hold of the men. The Infinity Forest was filled by an incoherent blur of angry sounds, while the silver-haired man was frozen and silenced by his bafflement. Fear had conquered once again. The other Hunters shouted battle words. The clamor rose in the magical woods. It was a war cry. The verdict had been spoken. There would not be any pondering or any votes. An innocent and defenseless child would be sacrificed for the safety of the Enchanted Forest and its future generations. One life for millions. For the crime of carrying in his blood the ancient lineage of the House of Fire.

The silver-haired man locked his gaze with the Blue Fairy. His gray eyes accused her of murder and of unjust death. Reul Ghorm broke the gaze and looked to her side, unable to bear any longer that piercing look. She knew Astor was right. She knew they should look for other alternatives. But she had inherited the burden of keeping the Enchanted Forest safe. And this was the only option that offered a definitive end to this danger.

Norman rose his arm in the air, his hand holding his axe, while he roared encouraging words to the Hunters. Death to the Primordial. A horrible sentence that was repeated in a cheer by the hundreds of men. Astor remained frozen in his spot, his gaze unwavering and never leaving the Blue Fairy. Men moved around him and sometimes bumped accidentally against him. They slowly moved out of the forest and followed their new leader, Norman - the Fearless Woodcutter. The silver-haired man wondered if he was the only one who still possessed sense, moral and humanity in this crazy world.

Quickly, the sound of battle voices drifted away in the woods, until the contemplative silence of the Infinitive Forest returned. Astor and Blue were the only ones who remained behind, standing unmoved in their spots. The silver haired man held his breath when the Blue Fairy finally lifted his eyes to meet his again. They looked ancient and worn-out. Thousands of tiny sparkles surrounded her and in a sudden magical blast, she became a small glow again. Astor stared at the tiny winged woman and listened with a heavy heart to her last words before she disappeared as quickly has she had come.

"I am sorry. I truly am."