Andromeda was walking through the forest one day. Her father had taken Regina into the forest for one of their lessons and Andrea wanted to be nosey and see how it was going. "Regina is probably making a fool out of herself as usual," Andrea muttered to herself. She came upon a clearing in the woods and saw her father and Regina standing in front of a beautiful black unicorn.
The unicorn was rearing up on its hind legs and neighing as if it was frightened. "Now show me what you've learned," Rumple said as he looked at Regina, "Immobilize it." Regina thrust out her hands and the unicorn froze in midair, a blue essence of magic surrounding it. 'Beginner's luck!' thought Andrea as she hid behind a large boulder and some bushes. Rumple let out a high pitched giggle. "There I did it!" exclaimed Regina in delight. "Excellent work my apprentice, now there's just one last, tiny, tiny, teeny little detail," Rumple said with a mischievous grin, "Take its heart!" Regina looked at him in shock. "Like what my mother did to….." "OH! To your true love. Indeed. Then you already know how it's done!" said Rumple with a smile. Regina looked uncertainly at the unicorn and walked slowly towards it. "Gentle," said Rumple as Regina started to reach out her hand, "If you do it right, no harm will befall it; unless of course, you will it." Regina looked up in anguish and fear at the unicorn. She gasped and jerked her hand back. "I can't! It's innocent." Andrea delved into muffled giggles, "What a wuss" she whispered. Rumple cocked his head as if he heard something, but then turned back to Regina. "NOTHING, is innocent," spat Rumple.
"Andromeda! So glad to see you here my dear! How about you show the 'wuss' here how it's done!" Andromeda jumped, realizing she had been found out. She slowly came out of her hiding place. Then she saw the shocked expression on Regina's face, and her composure became snobbish instead of shy. "I would be happy to daddy!" said Andrea as she shook out her long flowing pink hair. Rumple was for a moment painfully reminded of another beautiful woman with long multi-colored hair. "Shame she takes after her mother," he thought. Andrea winked at her father and Regina as she strutted right up to the unicorn. She immaturely looked back at Regina and made a funny face at her. She then looked the unicorn right in the eyes and yanked its heart out. Andrea turned around and started tossing the heart up in the air and catching it, Regina wincing at every toss. "See?" Andrea said in a babying tone, "Not so hard is it?" Andrea turned around and put it back into the unicorn, then slinked past Regina. Regina with a look of embarrassment and annoyance on her face mumbled, "Brat!" under her breath. Andrea winked at her again.
Rumple smiled and then marched himself up to the unicorn and took the heart back out while giggling. Regina watched in horror as the unicorn unfroze and faltered to the ground. He sighed while holding the beating heart, "Now, it belongs to me." Regina looked at the twitching unicorn, "You see," said Rumple, "when you take a heart, it becomes enchanted. Stronger than a normal heart. You're not hurting the beast. You're controlling it. Now, show me you know what to do with that power." He tossed the heart to Regina. Andrea snorted from where she was sitting atop the boulder. "Yeah right," she laughed. Regina shot an angry glare at her, "If you don't shut your little….." "That's quite enough darling. May I continue with my lesson, or do I need to snap you back home?" said Rumple with a coy smile. Andrea mimicked zipping her lip and smiled. "Great," said Rumple. He looked back at Regina. "Now, kill it." "What?!" gasped Regina. "You've seen it done. Now do it yourself. SHOW me you can take the next step in your training, CRUSH it," said Rumple. Regina looked carefully down at the heart in her hands. She started to squeeze it while the unicorn gasped and neighed pitifully. Regina started to shake her head and look upset and stopped. The unicorn stood back up. "Dearie, dearie, dearie, and I had such high hopes." Andrea suppressed a laugh, "I don't know why….." she thought. Her father thought so much of this idiot woman. "I didn't sign up to kill unicorns," said Regina. "Magic is power! Until you can take power, you're not learning anything," snapped Rumple. "Do you want me to teach you or not?" "Yes!" exclaimed Regina. "Then there's one simple question for you to ponder," said Rumple. "I'll tell you anything," said Regina. Rumple laughed, "I don't need the answer. You do!" "What's holding you back?" Andrea watched the twisted expression on Regina's face with mild interest.
The next day, Andrea was in the library with her father and Regina. Her father was spinning at his wheel, something he loved to do and said helped him think. Andrea was flipping through some books on the shelves, and Regina was messing with some potion making things on the table. All of a sudden Regina cleared her throat and Andrea turned around. Regina was looking at Rumple and said, "Are you ready to begin?" Rumple smiled, "Oh, I've been ready. The question is, are you?" Regina looked blank for a moment then replied, "Yes, I am." Rumple stopped spinning and turned around and slapped his hands on his knees. "Tell me why you're really here." Andrea looked from her father to Regina like she was watching a game of catch. "For power, for….," started Regina. Rumple pointed hastily at Regina, "STOP wasting my time." Andrea nodded very fast and coyly toward Regina. "What is it you want? Come on. You've done all your soul searching," Rumple stood up, "Now, tell me," he said walking towards her. "Can you teach me how to use magic to bring back the dead?" exclaimed Regina. Andrea slapped her palm to her face. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her books in a huff. Daddy can sort her out. "That's what this is about? The STABLE boy?" sneered Rumple. "I want true happiness," sighed Regina. "Then find it elsewhere, dearie. Magic can do much, but not that!" exclaimed Rumple. Andrea nodded her head very fast. "Dead is dead." Regina leaned up against the table with a defeated look, "Then I am lost," she sighed. "And I've had my time wasted. I'm sorry, but, uh, transcending death is beyond even my reach," said Rumple with a wink.
"I thought nothing was beyond your reach," said a masculine voice. Andrea dropped her book and turned around so fast it was a wonder she didn't fall over. Standing in the doorway was a tall boy with short black hair, wearing a long black coat and a crimson red duvet. It was Jefferson, the boy she was in love with. She had met Jefferson about two years ago when her father started using his traveling services to collect certain objects he needed from other realms. The only issue was that Jefferson was 10 years older than her. He was a constant subject in Andrea's letters to her mother. She always gushed about how handsome and charming the 18 year old was and how she wished they could be in a relationship together. She knew Jefferson had similar feelings about her, but as he did not want to upset the Dark One, he did not act upon those feelings. Her mother had always told Andrea that, age may not be an issue in the realm of the Gods, but it was the custom in the land she lived in with her father. Jefferson was an adult and Andrea a child. In the realm of the Enchanted Forest, they would have to keep their feelings quiet, that is, if Andrea wanted to stay there. Which Andrea did, she did not want to leave her father and she most defiantly knew Jefferson could not join her if she went to live with her mother. Mortals were not permitted to live on Mount Olympus.
Jefferson met Andrea's eyes when he heard the book hit the floor. She smiled at him in a flirtatious manner. Jefferson looked over at Rumple and cleared his throat. Andrea looked hastily at her father. He was looking at her suspiciously, so she bent down and picked up her book, turned around and started flipping through it again. It was hard for Jefferson to keep his eyes off the Dark One's daughter. She may be only 8 years old, but her body was already beginning to fill out a little. She had curves to her hips, a nice, cute butt, and he could see her small developing breasts in the tight outfit she was wearing, what little outfit she had on. He had to keep mentally pinching himself as a reminder to how old she was and who her father was.
Rumple, on the other hand was no fool, he knew there was something going on between his daughter and Jefferson. He could, after all, sense these things and somewhat see the future. He could tell that these two had a potential for true love. This thought excited Rumple, at the same time, it worried him. Andromeda was his only daughter whom he loved with all his heart. Besides Bae, she was the only thing he loved other than himself and his power. The thought of her one day being tied to another man, let alone a man who was 10 years her senior, agitated him to no bounds. However, for the happiness of his daughter he kept quiet of the matter and just dared them to try anything at this point in time. This excited Rumple as well, as he knew true love was the most powerful magic in the world. Jefferson and his own daughter could possibly have it! But he knew he needed to wait. He really hated the thought of using his daughter for such things.
"Ah," said Rumple, trying to bring back a business like conversation. "Busy? Should I….?" remarked Jefferson. "No, no, nothing important going on here." Regina looked over at Jefferson with a confused expression. Rumple gestured for Jefferson to come towards him from across the room. "Rumpelstiltskin…" Regina began. "Ignore her," said Rumple. Andrea put her book back on the shelf slowly and moved towards the stair railing. She slowly leaned up against it and bit her lip as she gazed at Jefferson and her father. Why WAS Jefferson here? "I got what you wanted," said Jefferson in a knowing sort of tone. He pulled out a crystalline ball and held it out for Rumple to examine. Rumple looked at it and then asked, "What about the slippers?" "Oh. Couldn't find them. Heard talk they've already been moved to another land," said Jefferson. Andrea looked from Jefferson to her father. A ball? Slippers? What on earth was her father looking for? "That's what I needed to get to that other land," said Rumple. 'OOOH' thought Andrea. All of a sudden there was a clattering sound as Regina knocked over some glass bottles. Andrea threw a disgusted and impatient look at her. "Well, come with me in my hat. I'm sure we can work something out," suggested Jefferson. "No, no, your hat only transports between magical realms. I need to get to a land without magic." Andrea had no idea what her father was talking about, but she assumed it concerned finding Bae. She wished she could go traveling with Jefferson, but she knew her father would not allow it. "Why would anyone want that?" asked Jefferson. "My business," replied Rumple slyly. Jefferson sighed, looked at Andrea, then back to Rumple, "You want the ball or not?" Rumple looked at it for a minute, twiddling his fingers, "Mmmmm…..yes." Rumple took the ball from Jefferson and then said, "Help yourself to as much gold as you deem appropriate." 'I wish he could help himself to me' Andrea thought biting her lip again. Andrea then shook her head as if to banish the thought. She watched Jefferson walk over to the pile of gold next to the spinning wheel. Rumple walked towards Regina. "Oh, and you," Andrea spun her head around to look at her father and Regina, Regina looked up at Rumple and smiled expectantly, "you can let yourself out. Our work is done!" The smile vanished quickly from Regina's face, "Wait, so that's it? You're not going to teach me anymore?" "Thank Gods!" Andrea sighed. Rumple shot her a look and Andrea looked hastily over at Jefferson then walked over to where he was. "So long as you harbor foolish notions of bringing back the dead," said Rumple, "so long as you live in the past, you'll never find your future. Teaching you is a waste of time." "I could have told you that…" Andrea muttered. "One day that sass may get you in trouble young lady," said Rumple giving a coy look at his daughter, and walked down stairs. "He says that," Andrea said towards Jefferson, "but really, he finds me irresistibly adorable." Andrea grinned. Jefferson chuckled at her. Regina looked at the pair in confusion as they beamed at each other. Then all of a sudden there came a voice from downstairs, "ANDROMEDA! I NEED YOU WITH ME PLEASE!" It was Rumple. Andrea sighed and looked at Jefferson, "Best go see what he wants." Regina watched Andrea go down the staircase then looked down in anguish. Jefferson watched her for a minute then walked right up behind her and said, "PARDON me," Regina jumped, "for eavesdropping, but I think you need to look elsewhere for assistance." "What do you know about it?" inquired Regina. "I hear things. Jefferson's the name, and I'm a man who travels and sees much. And I know the man who can do what you want." At this moment, Andrea had completed the task her father had wanted and was sitting right under the landing of the stairs listening intently. "Bring back the dead," said Jefferson. 'What?' thought Andrea, there is no way to do that she thought. Her father had just said…. "He's, um, you might say…..a wizard. I can bring him to you." "At what price?" inquired Regina. "Always a price, indeed. So here's mine. Like I said, I'm a man of travels, and I've made many enemies along the way. And I'd like a royal passport, so I can have free reign to traverse your kingdom." Jefferson looked at Regina expectantly. "How would I do that?" said Regina, confused. Jefferson's eyes widened and he inhaled deeply, "Well, you're the Queen…..aren't you?" 'MY GOD IS SHE REALLY THAT STUPID? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?' Andrea thought.
Regina smiled deeply, "That's right I am." Andrea face palmed once again. "And this wizard…" said Regina, "can he really bring someone back from the dead?" "Well, if he can't, no one can." replied Jefferson. Jefferson went to grab his bag of gold and started towards the stairs. Andrea sensing him coming, quickly scrambled out the front door and into the gardens. As Jefferson himself came out of the castle, Andrea grabbed him into the garden with her, out of sight of any of the windows. Of course, her father would probably still be aware they were together out there, but at the moment she did not care. Jefferson looked at her with a surprised expression. "What's the matter?" he said to her with concern. "What is going on? I know you and Daddy are conspiring against Regina and I want in! If you two are taking her down I want a part in it!" said Andrea eagerly with a crazed grin on her face. Jefferson chuckled again and looked at her with admiration. He squatted down to her level and stroked her cheek. She was just so adorable and beautiful. He knew from the moment he first saw her that he loved her. If only he could tell her. "Andrea, sweetheart, if your father has not confided in you what the plan is, then I most definitely cannot, it is not my place." "Please tell me, he won't know." "Oh yes he will, I have a feeling he already knows about US. If I tell you the plan, how do you think he would react then?" Jefferson scoffed. Andrea sighed and kicked the dirt. 'Gods, she is so darn cute when she's frustrated.' Jefferson thought. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead then cupped her small face in his hands. "Don't worry, love. Just trust in your father. Whatever he has in store for Regina is what is best for you, and for all of us. Don't ask questions that you have no business asking." Andrea looked at him skeptically, "You know, sometimes I don't know whether you are treating me like a child or like an adult." Jefferson raised an eyebrow. "Well technically, sweetheart, you ARE a child. But don't worry you mean so much more to me than that." Jefferson exhaled deeply and stood up. "I really need to get going…" Andrea gave him a tortured look, begging him not to, "Don't worry we will see each other again soon." He gave her another quick peck on the head and then walked out of the garden. Andrea remained standing there, a bit confused.
Several days passed since the incident with Jefferson. Her father had been in and out of the Dark Fortress consistently. He still would not tell her what in Hades was going on. One morning he called to Andrea. "Andromeda, dearie, I was wondering if you would accompany me….erm…to finish up a business deal of mine." Andrea happy to be invited to accompany her father on one of his many journeys, hastily agreed. She went to go get dressed. She chose a slinky dress her mother had given her. It was deep velvet red with slits in the right places everywhere. It also stopped right above her knees in a loose way. She put bracelets on her wrists and an anklet on her ankle. She brushed out her hair and flipped it flirtatiously. She rarely went out with her father. When she rejoined her father in the foyer, he gave her a skeptical look, but said nothing about her attire. Unfortunately, he was used to her style of dress. After traveling a while, they arrived in an unfamiliar forest. She followed her father out of the carriage questioningly. They walked a bit deeper into the forest, until she heard voices. "Enough! I need to be taken home." This voice she did not recognize, but she could tell it was a man's voice. "Now! I have work to do and I believe our deal is done." "The deal isn't done until HE says it's done." Andrea recognized that voice, it was Jefferson. Her father looked back at her for a moment. "I see you dressed appropriately." He winked at her. Andrea looked at her father in shock. What was he implying? Did he actually approve of the inkling of a relationship between her and Jefferson? No….it was not possible. They walked into a clearing where Jefferson was standing with another man dressed in a straight looking brown suit. "Now, now, patience, please," said Rumple, "Our transaction is nearly complete." Andrea leaned up against a tree and folded her arms. She raised an eyebrow at Jefferson and he winked at her. "And are you satisfied with the results?" said the man in the brown suit. "She did seem rather…heartbroken," sneered Rumple. "She is," said the man as he cleared his throat, "She bought my failure." "You should've seen her tears" chimed in Jefferson. Andrea blinked at him. "I've seen the aftermath. Impressive," said Rumple. Jefferson took out a glowing box. "Now, my property?" said the man. "Yeah, here it is," Jefferson said as he handed the man the box. "You'll excuse me if I check?" The man squatted down and opened the box.
He looked inside the box, and saw a beating glowing heart. 'Whose heart is that?' wondered Andrea. She was so confused. He then closed the box and looked up at Rumple and Jefferson. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you." "Oh, the pleasure was mine. Thanks to your efforts, I've made my monster. Now I do hope you'll be able to make yours?" said Rumple. The man stood up, "I'm not making a monster," he said. "Sure you're not," said Rumple smartly, "Good luck!" "If these hearts are as strong as you say, I won't need luck," said the man. "Oh, just magic," said Rumple. "No," said the man smartly, "What I'm going to accomplish goes far beyond magic." "And yet," said Rumple, "You need a magical heart to do it." "So small minded," said the man, "I need my powers to transcend the limitations of your magic." Andrea looked at the man with shock on her face. 'What in the name of the Gods was this man talking about? "This must be quite a land you hail from, if you think your abilities are more, powerful," said Rumple. "They are," said the man. "Care to wager? I suspect someday, you'll see it my way," Rumple grinned. "I doubt it. Now, may we go?" said Viktor. Jefferson then motioned towards Andrea to come to him. She looked at her father and he nodded. She slinked over to Jefferson and he put her on his knee. The man looked taken aback at the beautiful girl. He had not noticed her being there, and she really was….gorgeous. Perhaps too gorgeous for how young she looked. Rumple noticed his quizzical stare. "This is my only daughter Viktor, Andromeda. I brought her along because Jefferson had needed to give her something. She is 8 years old by the way." Rumple smirked at the doctor and he coughed, "Oh! I…erm…" Viktor flustered, "delighted to meet you…erm." Andrea scoffed at him and rolled her eyes then looked at Jefferson. "You need to give me something?" Jefferson looked at her lovingly and nodded. He handed her a folded up piece of parchment. He then whispered to her privately, "No matter where I go, or what the future may hold, please know that I DO love you." Andrea turned to look at him and turned beet red. Her father coughed and acted like he wasn't paying attention. Andrea nodded, and Jefferson knew that she felt the same. Jefferson looked up at Rumple. Rumple looked at Viktor, then nodded at Jefferson. Jefferson gave Andrea a quick peck on the cheek then helped her off his knee. He stood up and took off his hat. Rumple looked at Viktor and said, "Careful, dearie, just remember. Whatever it is you traffic in, it comes with a price." As Rumple spoke, Jefferson tossed his hat on the ground and it became a portal. Andrea scurried up to stand next to her father. "We'll see!" said Viktor. Jefferson and Viktor jumped into the portal. After the portal closed, Rumple turned to look at his daughter. She had the most dumbfounded expression on her face as she clutched the piece of parchment Jefferson had given her to her chest. She then looked questioningly up at her father. "Don't worry I shall explain everything on the way home dearie."