A guard moved through the dungeons of a castle, his stride long and rushed. He shivered at the feeling of slimy, oppressive darkness sliding over his figure the further into the dungeon he moved.
"Are you sure you want to proceed, your Highness?" The guard wondered as he slowed to a stop in front of a large oaken door. "They're some of the darkest beings in the land."
Behind him, Snow White and Prince Charming, shrouded in rags, shared a nervous look. Their initial desperation had worn off and slowly been replaced with a deep sense of dread and fear as they stared at the door in front of them. Covered in sigils from the fairies, the darkness lying beyond it was more than unsettling for the royals.
Then, Snow White's hand dropped to her stomach, protruding with the signs of pregnancy. If she couldn't do this for their child, she was already quite a failure at parenthood, wasn't she?
So, she straightened her spine and donned an expression of false confidence. "Their darkness may be the only way to circumvent the queen's threat," Snow murmured, her voice calm and collected.
The guard nodded in understanding and reached out to touch the door, which glowed for a moment as it recognized the guard. Then, with a low creak that forced the cave-like walls of the dungeon to vibrate wildly, the door swung open to reveal a void-like tunnel beyond it.
"When we reach the cell, stay out of the light, and whatever you do, do not let him know your name, and do not let her touch you," The guard ordered, grabbing a torch from the wall just in front of the door to better light his path.
Charming's eyes narrowed. "Their magic isn't fully neutralized?"
"You are not the first to try and subdue the Dark One, or a Witch of the North," The guard replied while walking into the dark tunnel, "And while you somewhat succeeded, their magic is harder to tame than their physical forms."
"Then we can't go in," Charming argued. "It's way too dangerous!"
Snow White turned to her husband with wide eyes. "But, our child-"
"Our child isn't safe around those freaks," Charming interjected, "Not if their magic can still work to any extent."
"They can't cast spells," The guard commented, "Their magic can only sense your essences, feel your presence. The real danger is if you get close enough for them to physically touch you."
Snow White grimaced at his words, remembering the guard who had been brought before them only a week prior. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing her mind to banish the images of the guard, his throat torn out and blood pouring from his wounds. According to the prisoners, the injury had been well deserved.
"So, if we keep enough distance, nothing will happen?" Charming wondered, his expression still uneasy.
"Yes," The guard affirmed. "And if you want extra protection, do not reveal your name. The Witch's magic can touch you, you can't avoid that, but the power of the Dark One is only aided by names."
Charming and Snow White each nodded in reply and steeled their nerves as they came to a stop in front of a second door, this one covered in nearly twice the amount of sigils. Snow White let herself feel a modicum of comfort at the familiar uplifting feeling of the Blue Fairy's magic emanating from the door. They were protected here, she reminded herself. This was her dungeon, she had the upper hand.
With a final glance at the royals, the guard took a deep breath before pushing the door open. "Rumpelstiltskin. Rumpelstiltskin!" He shouted, "I have a question for you."
A shrill giggle erupted from the cell. Snow White gasped at the sound, goosebumps erupting on her skin. Charming instinctively took a step back, his hand wrapping around Snow's arm to pull her back into the shadows.
"No, you don't. They do," A soft, growl of a voice mumbled.
Then, the sound of leather rubbing against metal filled the room as a figure lowered itself from the ceiling, gripping the bars with reptilian fingers. With a smirk, Rumplestiltskin glanced at the three figures within the cell.
"Snow White—and Prince Charming!" He cheered, cackling in delight.
"Our precious royal darlings," A second voice echoed through the cell. "What an honor for you to visit our humble abode."
Charming's eyes narrowed as a chilling touch began to slide over his robes. "Reveal yourself, Witch!" He shouted.
"After you, your Highness," The woman's voice replied, sickeningly sweet as her magic continued to slide across him before moving the Snow White, who gasped at the shocking chill. "After all, you insulted us first by hiding yourselves."
"Step into the light, and take off those ridiculous robes," Rumplestiltskin spat, grinning as they immediately followed his command.
"Ah, ha-ha-ha... that's much better, don't you think dearie?" The woman continued.
Snow White gulped in fear as a woman with white hair moved out from the shadows to stand behind the man. Despite her petite stature and wide eyes that perpetuated a fake impression of innocence, the blood coating the front of her white dress made her more than a little terrifying.
"Indeed, Melantha, indeed," Rumplestiltskin replied, shivering with delight as the witch moved closer, pressing herself against his back.
"Such pretty little things," Melantha cooed, wrapping her arms around Rumpelstiltskin's neck from behind and bringing her legs up to wrap around his waist. Her eyes locked on Snow White, who flinched away. "Especially the Fairest One of All."
Rumplestiltskin's grin widened, his hand dropping from the bar to idly stroke the woman's leg as he assessed the monarchs. They were terrified, he could practically smell it.
Good.
"We've come to ask you about the-" Charming started until Rumplestiltskin's shouting quickly cut him off.
"Yes, yes, I know why you're here!" Rumplestiltskin panted as he snarled at the royals.
The woman quickly shushed him, whispering into his ear soothingly. "Remember why we're here," Her eyes glittered with delight at Charming and Snow's unease at her whispering, "Don't lose control just yet my darling."
Then, Melantha pulled away to stare at the royals with a smile riddled with false kindness. "Regina must have made quite the performance for you to be worked up about her little threat," She pointed out.
The hand on her leg tightened, bringing a shiver down her spine and a smile to her plump lips. They both could feel it, how much closer they were to their goal. Now, all they needed was a cooperative Savior.
"Tell us what you know," Snow White demanded, revulsion filling herself at the sight of the two mages.
"Careful, your Highness," Melantha sneered, glaring violently at the queen. "You're not all-powerful when it comes to our knowledge."
"Answer her," Charming started as he strode forward, his hand reaching for his sword, "Or you'll suffer the consequences."
Rumplestiltskin's eyes narrowed. "Touch her, and you'll see exactly how restrained we really are in this cage," He snarled.
Charming blinked at that and opened his mouth to reply, but thought better of it at the building fury in Rumplestiltskin's gaze. As he took a step back, Rumplestiltskin's expression abruptly shifted to a blinding grin.
"Fear not: for I can ease your mind!" He cheered, releasing the woman's leg and grabbing the bars again, "But. It's gonna cost you something in return," He murmured softly.
"No. This is a waste of time," Charming snapped, turning away and attempting to pull Snow with him until she wrenched herself away.
"What do you want?" She demanded, glaring at the two prisoners.
She hated having to operate by their terms. However, the gift of foresight that Rumplestiltskin possessed, combined with the amplifying magic a Witch of the North could provide, it was too valuable an opportunity to pass up. Her family would only be better off with the assistance that these two beings of darkness could provide.
"Oh… we could take many things," Melantha mused as she leaned closer to the bars, "A bucket of your blood, the skin off your back, those wonderful green eyes of yours…"
Snow White and Charming paled at the very real threats Melantha threw into the air and glanced at Rumplestiltskin, who didn't seem inclined to stop his lover's musings. In fact, he was downright enjoying them with a wide, mildly perverse smile.
Melantha giggled. "But, I think," her lips curved into a sadistic smile, her onyx eyes flashing in the torchlight, "That the name of your unborn child will do quite nicely."
"Absolutely not!" Charming shouted, glaring at the woman pressed against the bars.
"I believe she just named the price, dearie," Rumplestiltskin pointed out while gliding his fingers through the wild mane of white curls atop Melantha's head. "Take it, or leave it."
"Deal! What do you know?" Snow interjected, desperation filling her voice.
"Ah," Rumplestiltskin leaned back into the bars, smiling as Snow crept closer, "The Queen has created a powerful curse. And it's coming."
"The bars of time will rise up, closing us into cages like rats," Melantha continued, her eyes turning distant as her magic moved to mix with Rumplestiltskin's, "Our lives, rewritten and reconstructed by the Queen, will become a torturous hell in which everything is stolen from us."
She could it stretching out in front of her, as real as the bars of their cell. There was nothing any of them could do, not without some amount of leverage over Regina herself. All that remained was to resign themselves to this impending doom, to hope and pray.
"While the Queen celebrates, victorious at last!" Rumplestiltskin finished with a shrill giggle.
"...No more happy endings," Melantha finished, her eyes refocusing on the royals, "That is what awaits you, paragons of the light, and all of your loyal subjects in this world."
"What can we do?" Snow begged, moving a few inches closer and pleading with her eyes. "There must be something, anything-"
"No!" Rumplestiltskin snapped, tightening his grip on his cellmate. "There is nothing, no potion, no cure, nothing we can do."
"Who can?" Snow whispered, a tear falling down her face slowly as she put together the pieces in her mind.
"That little thing. Growing inside your belly," The white-haired witch whispered, grazing the Queen's stomach gently before the sting of Charming's sword sent her hand shrinking back behind the bars.
"Next time, I cut it off," The Prince snarled, pulling Snow away a tad. "It's the least you deserve."
"Tk, tk, tk, tk, tk," Rumplestiltskin grumbled, cradling Melantha's hand in his as she continued, her eyes growing distant once more.
"Your child is the only light in the coming darkness. Get it outside the bounds of this curse, and on its…" She then turned towards Rumplestiltskin who scrunched his eyes shut in thought.
"Twenty-eighth birthday, the child will return. The child will find you—and the final battle will begin!" He finished with cackles streaming from his cracked lips.
"Heard enough. We're leaving," Charming said gruffly, dragging Snow White away, much to the other couple's displeasure, their cackles turning to snarls and screams in the monarchs' wake.
"Hey! No! We made a deal! I want her name! We had a deal—I. Need. Her. Name! I want her name!" Rumplestiltskin shrieked, his companion rattling the bars restlessly and panting as they retreated.
"Her? It's a boy," Charming retorted, continuing on while Snow remained, Rumplestiltskin's words reverberating in her skull.
"Missy, missy—you know he's right. Tell us. What's her name?" Melantha crooned, climbing the bars and dangling with ease.
"Emma. Her name is Emma," Snow whispered, wincing as the two creatures whispered her baby's name to themselves, swirling it between their silver tongues and lips of poison with a deadly smile.
OUAT
A small yellow car made its way down the streets of Storybrooke, Maine. The journey it had made from Boston had been long, and the awkward dynamic between its passengers was nothing to sneeze at. After all, Emma Swan had not been expecting her biological son, Henry, to show up at her doorstep.
"Okay, kid, how about an address?" She asked, glaring at the child beside her with incredibly pertinent frustration.
This had not been how she'd wanted to spend her 28th birthday. A glass of wine, her cupcake, maybe a night of trash television, all her plans had been laid out. Sure, she hadn't been thrilled about being alone on her birthday, but her son hadn't been on her list of possible people to celebrate with her.
"Forty-four, not-telling-you street," Henry replied, smirking at her in supposed triumph, only fueling her frustration.
Emma quickly pulled over and stopped her car before hopping out and running her hands through her hair. All she wanted was to go home at this point. She didn't need Henry's family calling the cops or any other kind of trouble for his decision to come and find her.
"Look, it's been a long night, and it's almost," She paused, staring up at the clock tower, "—eight-fifteen?"
Her brows furrowed in confusion, her eyes stared at the clock intently as her son exited the car and moved to stand beside her. What kind of crazy place was this? Who names a town 'Storybrooke'?
"That clock hasn't moved my whole life. Time's frozen here," He explained, leaning against the outside of the car with a resigned stare at the timepiece.
Emma scoffed and turned on the boy with a glare. "Excuse me?" She demanded, her arms crossed across her chest and an eyebrow raised.
"The Evil Queen did it with her curse. She sent everyone from the Enchanted Forest here," Henry continued, annoyed she was still refusing to listen.
"Hang on. The Evil Queen sent a bunch of fairytale characters here?" Emma questioned, more than a little skeptical.
"Yeah. And now they're trapped," Henry reiterated, rolling his eyes almost audibly.
"Frozen in time, stuck in Storybrooke, Maine. That's what you're going with?" She deadpanned, staring down at the boy.
"It's true!" He retorted with an upward glare at her disbelieving face.
"Then why doesn't everybody just leave?" She replied, gesturing towards the exit of the town.
"They can't. If they try, bad things happen," Henry replied, looking down at the ground until a new voice distracted the pair.
"Henry!" A young, red-headed man called out, a dalmatian in tow and an umbrella in his other hand. "What are you doing here? Is everything alright?" He demanded, crouching before Henry.
"I'm fine, Archie," He mumbled, petting the sweet Dalmatian idly while avoiding eye contact with the two adults.
"Who's this?" Archie asked, standing up to shake Emma's hand firmly.
"Just someone trying to give him a ride home," She explained while shaking his hand, only to be cut off by Henry.
"She's my mom, Archie," He explained, frowning to himself at her lack of enthusiasm towards their relationship.
He knew he had turned up out of the blue, but weren't birth mothers usually excited to see their children again? Henry forced himself to push back the sting of hurt in his chest at how eager Emma seemed to be to push him away. It had to be a fluke, she was just in a lot of shock now, he told himself.
"Oh... I see," Archie murmured, trailing off at the morose expression on Henry's face.
"You know where he lives?" Emma demanded.
God did she want to go home. The less time she spent with Henry, the less she'd be attached, and then she could go back to normal. Push away the hurt she had carried since giving him up, stick it back in the little drawer in her heart and go back to forgetting it existed.
"Oh. Yeah, sure, just uh, right up on Mifflin Street; the Mayor's house is the biggest one on the block," Archie stammered out, fiddling with his umbrella as his dog started fidgeting.
"You're the mayor's kid?" Emma asked, her eyes wide and her mouth open in horror.
Oh, this was bad. She was going to get raked over the coals for having Henry in her possession. With a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down. This wasn't the time to freak out.
"Uh. Maybe?" Henry mumbled, his eyes firmly trained on the pavement beneath his shoes.
"Hey. Where were you today, Henry, because you missed our session," Archie suddenly remembered, a troubled frown marring his kind features, "Ms. Melanie was worried too when you didn't come home from school."
Henry paled. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I went on a field trip," He stuttered, fiddling with his hands and avoiding all eye contact as best he could as Archie crouched to meet his eyes.
"Henry, what'd I tell you about lying? Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything," Archie reminded the boy, disappointment in his limpid eyes.
"O-kay! Well, I really should be getting him home," Emma suddenly said, her urge to flee the town mounting with each passing second.
"Yeah. Sure. Well, listen—have a good night, and uh, you be good, Henry," Archie whispered, patting Henry on his slim shoulders before making his way home.
"So that's your shrink," Emma commented, staring down at Henry.
"I'm not crazy," He spat, scowling at his birth mother.
"Didn't say that," She replied, raising her hands non-threateningly, "Just—he doesn't seem cursed to me. Maybe he's just trying to help you," She mused, leaning back against her car in exhaustion.
"He's the one who needs help. Because he doesn't know," Henry's retort was silenced by his mother.
"That he's a fairytale character," Emma finished, her eyebrows almost merging with her hairline in her astonishment.
"None of them do. They don't remember who they are," Henry explained while walking back to the passenger door.
"Convenient. All right. I'll play," She murmured, resigned to this topic of conversation as she climbed back into the car, "Who's he supposed to be?" She asked while she turned the car on and began the rest of the drive back to Henry's house.
"Jiminy Cricket!" Henry stated, his eyes bored at her surmised obliviousness.
"Right. The lying thing. Thought your nose grew a little bit," She teased, smiling at the boy next to her.
"I'm not Pinocchio!" Henry retorted, outraged at the very concept, much to her amusement.
"'Course you're not. 'Cause that would be ridiculous," She muttered to herself, making a turn onto a one-way street.
OUAT
"Please don't take me back there," Henry begged as they made their way up the long path to the front door of Henry's home.
"I have to. I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you," His mom explained, her hands firmly in her pockets.
"I don't have parents. I just have a mom, and she's evil," Henry spat, glaring at the ground as they maintained a slow pace.
"Evil. That's a bit extreme, isn't it?" His mother asked, frowning at Henry's description of his adoptive mom. "Besides, your shrink mentioned a Miss Melanie, what about her?"
"She's my nanny," Henry explained, his voice softening slightly, "Well, now she's my babysitter."
"It seems like you like her," Emma pointed out.
"Yeah, but she's not my mom. My mom, Regina, is evil. She doesn't love me; she only pretends to," He whimpered, his eyes slightly glassy and sending a pang of emotion through his birth mother.
"Kid. I'm sure that's not true," She murmured, about to rub the boy's hair soothingly when the door opened to reveal two women and a sheriff of sorts.
"Henry? Oh! Henry!" A dark-haired woman, Regina, ran out, clasping Henry to her chest tightly as the other one stood in the doorway silently.
"Are you okay? Where have you been? What happened?" Regina demanded, her eyes filled with worried tears.
"I found my real mom!" Henry snapped, shrugging the woman off and sprinting up the steps and into the house, past the pale-haired woman and the sheriff in the door.
"Henry!" The other woman called out desperately, but there was no response. "Regina-"
Emma watched as Henry's mother took a deep breath and turned to the white-haired woman in the doorway. "Melanie, can you-"
"Of course," Melanie agreed with ease, ducking back into the house as quick as light.
Then, Regina turned back to assess the woman standing in front of her. Despite Henry's claims, this woman didn't look anything like her son. Then, on a second glance, she could pick out the subtle curve of her son's eyebrows in this woman's face, and the strong straight nose they shared. With a shuddering breath, Regina forced herself to compose herself somewhat.
"You're Henry's birth mother?" Regina demanded.
The woman in question nodded at Henry's mom's words. "Hi, Emma Swan," She introduced, shaking Regina's hand with an embarrassed smile.
OUAT
Meanwhile, within the opulent house that he called home, Henry lay on his bed, his eyes stinging with tears. None of this had gone right. There was no tearful reunion, Emma didn't tell him that she had been looking for him all this time, no part of this was how he imagined it would be.
His eyes widened as a soft knock rang out from his door.
"Henry?" Melanie called out, "Henry, can I come in?"
He took a deep breath and sat up, furiously wiping at his eyes. "Yeah," He swallowed as his voice cracked.
Henry looked up from his bedspread as Melanie slowly opened the door to his bedroom, a sad smile on her face as she regarded the boy. He didn't know this, but every time she looked at him she could see the son she'd once had. The same unruly, fluffy hair, the same doe-like eyes full of emotion, it sometimes startled her when she looked at him.
And it was with that care, as if he truly was her son, she made her way over to the bed. "You gave us a right scare honey," She murmured, crouching down in front of him.
A sigh escaped Henry as he locked eyes with Melanie's onyx orbs, a single tear falling down his face. There was no anger in her gaze, merely sadness with a trace of fear that he knew only came from a place of concern. She had always been this way with him, endlessly caring and understanding.
"I'm sorry," He whispered, throwing his arms around the woman before him.
Melanie instantly wrapped her arms around him in turn and reached up to gently card her fingers through his hair. "Oh honey," Melanie breathed out, "I'm not mad at you, I was just worried."
Henry sniffled softly and buried his head in her shoulder. "I just wanted to know who she was, where she was," He mumbled, tears choking his voice off.
Melanie continued to slowly stroke the boy's hair, her voice crooning in his ear until he found himself immersed in the realm of dreams. She then removed Henry's shoes and jacket, setting them aside before lifting the blankets over him and tucking him into bed for the night. On her way out from the room, she flicked the light switch and then slowly closed the door with a barely audible click.
"Regina," The woman looked up at Melanie as she slowly descended the stairs, "Henry's fine, just very tired," She explained.
"Thank you, Melanie," Regina replied, hugging the woman tightly.
A few seconds passed before Melanie pulled away and made her way out of the house. Emma raised an eyebrow at the closeness between the two women, staring at Regina as the door shut a moment later.
"Melanie is an old family friend," Regina explained, turning back to Emma with a glass of brandy in her hand. "Now, let's talk." She muttered, walking back into the drawing-room.
OUAT
Melanie smiled as she pushed open the door to her home, the sound of a cane hitting the wood a welcome one. She slowly removed her coat and hung it on the coat rack before removing her heels, letting out a relieved sigh at their removal.
"Is that you Mellie?" A Scottish brogue called out as a man with long brown hair and a limp made his way down the stairs, wincing in pain every so often.
Melanie beamed at the sight of her husband. In all the years they had been married, they never failed to greet the other when they returned after a long day, and it was always a comfort to see them come home.
"Tis I, Mister Gold," She replied while sweeping into a grandiose bow as her voice adopted a teasing lilt, "And how have you been faring in my absence?"
The man scowled at her words or rather, pouted in the same manner of a petulant child. "I had several consultations, nothing too horrible, but you would've been of use to me," He muttered, crossing the foyer to stand before her.
She smiled sadly as she rose from her bow and cupped his cheeks in her hands. "Well, I do have to maintain Regina's friendship in some form or fashion," Melanie whispered, running her hands through his hair.
"And what conundrum was it this time?" He asked, staring down at her.
"Henry ran away to find his birth mother in Boston," She explained, her hands running down to his shoulders, "But I don't want to talk about her."
Mr. Gold smirked, running one of his hands up and down Melanie's back slowly. "And what would you like to discuss dearie?" He asked, slowly pushing her up against the wall.
Melanie grinned and pulled him into a passionate kiss, losing herself in the pleasure of her husband.
OUAT
The sound of their phone ringing was the reason Melanie Gold awoke that next morning, displeasure rolling off of her in waves as she slowly sat up and grabbed the nearest phone.
"Melanie Gold, who is this?" She asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Melanie, it's Regina, Henry's gone again and he's not with his birth mother, I need your help in finding him."
Melanie immediately leaped from the bed, taking care not to disturb her sleeping spouse. "I can be at your house in twenty minutes, is that alright?" She asked, scampering to the bathroom to take a quick shower and ready herself.
"Yes, just get here as soon as you can," Regina replied before ending the call.
Melanie finished her shower within ten minutes, her hair taking another few minutes to pull up into a ponytail as she attempted to ready herself and get dressed.
"Going somewhere?" Her husband asked, materializing in the doorway out of seemingly thin air.
"Henry's gone again and Regina needs me to help out," She explained, slipping on her necklace once she was fully clothed. Her husband scoffed, clearly disappointed by her words.
"I'm not working today, so I will come back to the shop as soon as I am done with this matter," Melanie promised, fitting a pair of dark green flats onto her feet before running out the door and to the car.
Mr. Gold sighed as he watched her leave, knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop her, even if he tried like hell. She loved that little boy immensely, after all, and would give him the moon on a string if he so desired.
OUAT
"Smart kid. Cleared his inbox," Emma explained to Regina and Sheriff Graham as she investigated Henry's computer for clues, "I'm smart too, a little hard disk recovery utility I like to use."
Melanie entered the room a mere moment later. "Have you found anything?" She asked, rushing over to comfort Regina and stare at the computer that Emma was working on.
"Nothing yet, but we're getting somewhere," Emma muttered, the woman's presence unnerving her for some reason.
She knew Henry liked her, that Melanie was his nanny and now babysitter, but the woman just seemed off. There was a residual chill around her as if she emanated a brisk draft from her own body.
"I'm a bit more old-fashioned, in my techniques. Pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, that sort of thing," The sheriff commented, leaning over Emma's shoulder to take a closer look at the screen.
Melanie frowned as she watched them work, worry for Henry bubbling within her. "Did the school call, say he was missing?" She wondered.
Regina's eyes narrowed. "No, they did not," She admitted.
"You're on salary; I get paid for delivery. Pounding pavement is not a luxury that I get," Emma retorted, her eyes fixed on her work. "Ah, there's a receipt for a website, —it's expensive."
Melanie stared at the website Emma had pulled up before turning to Regina. "He has a credit card?" She asked, stunned.
"He's ten," Regina snapped, glaring at her friend who sent her an apologetic glance and fiddled with a strand of her hair.
"Well, he used one, let's pull up a transaction record," Emma commented, clicking a few more buttons, "Mary Margaret Blanchard, who's Mary Margaret Blanchard?" She asked, turning to the two women behind her with a raised eyebrow.
"Henry's teacher," Regina spat out in disgust before quickly making her way out of the house to confront the woman.
"Regina she probably has no clue," Melanie pointed out.
"I don't care," Regina snapped, "Somehow, whether voluntarily or through incompetence, her credit card ended up with Henry."
Melanie took a deep breath and nodded. "Would you like me to stay here in case Henry comes home?" She asked.
"Yes, I would really appreciate that," Regina affirmed, slipping a blazer on over her blouse. "And call me if he does come back while we're gone."
"Of course Regina, I'll get something prepared for your lunch too so that you don't have to stress about it," Melanie replied, removing her shoes and heading into the kitchen as they departed.
An hour or so later, Regina returned without Henry. Melanie's eyes dimmed with disappointment and worry. She knew he could get around Storybrooke with ease, what terrified her now was that he was capable of leaving the town.
"No luck?" Melanie asked sadly.
"His teacher was absolutely unhelpful, so Emma and the Sheriff are looking now," she explained, taking a seat at the kitchen island as Melanie continued to prepare food. The latter turned to look at Regina.
"I wish he could talk about his emotions with us, instead of being so scared and distant all the time," She murmured, stirring a pot of pasta with some cream and cheese. Regina sighed and nodded in agreement.
"Unfortunately our relationship is not an easy one. I spend so much time away because of work, he's pining for his birth mother," Melanie cut off Regina abruptly.
"As your friend, I must tell you, never blame your children for the problems in your relationship," She murmured, looking down at the necklace resting on her chest.
Regina rested her head on her hands, frustration overwhelming her whole being as she squeezed her eyes shut. She knew Melanie was right, but that didn't mean her pride would allow her to admit it. Regina had never been good at putting her pride to side in any situation, let alone when it came to her parenting and her son.
"I just wish we could have an effortless relationship. That we were close, trusting, and communicative," She murmured, shaking her head.
Melanie sighed as she packed the food into the fridge and then started to clear away the dishes silently.
Regina frowned at the sigh, "What do you think?" She asked, watching Melanie's every move across her kitchen.
"I think you're expecting too much from Henry, especially since he doesn't come from the picture-perfect family," Melanie explained, sitting down across from Regina, "You need to be more understanding with his need to know more about where he came from, instead of isolating him," She finished, staring at the Mayor who had settled on an intense glare at her words.
"Well, you've made your opinion, and I think I need to think about this alone," Regina muttered, standing from her spot and turning away from Melanie, who merely sighed in resignation.
"I will see Henry this evening then unless you no longer need me to watch him?" Melanie checked as she put her shoes back on and grabbed her purse.
"I'll let you know once we find him," Regina muttered.
Melanie nodded once. "I'll keep my fingers crossed, Regina."
The Mayor said nothing as her friend departed, the door clicking shut a moment later.
OUAT
Hours later, Mr. Gold began his rounds as usual on the first of each month, the day the rent was due for everyone that happened to be a tenant of his. His first stop was Granny's Diner/Inn, where Melanie had been collecting some take-out for dinner. Upon his arrival, he saw a stranger talking to Granny about renting a room at the inn, a woman named Emma.
"Emma… What a lovely name," He chimed in, approaching the counter slowly and with a smirk firmly in place on his thin lips.
"Thanks," She replied, her voice filled with caution and her eyes suspicious. Mr. Gold merely smiled at the woman as he turned his attention to the operator of the establishment, Granny, who was in the process of taking out her cash payment for her rent.
"It's all here," She spat, glaring at the man before her as she passed him a roll of bills.
Mr. Gold smiled and accepted it, the grin widening as Mellie entered the foyer from the diner, interlocking her arm with his.
"Yes, yes, of course it is, dear. Thank you," He replied to Granny, smiling down at his wife.
"I know you, you're friends with Regina," Emma remarked, staring at the white-haired woman.
"This is my wife, Melanie Gold," Mr. Gold explained, gesturing at his lovely spouse, "You enjoy your stay, Emma," He murmured as they departed, many a thought running across his mind.
"So that's Henry's birth mother?" He asked, looking over at his wife.
Melanie nodded. "Yes, darling."
Mr. Gold said nothing for several moments, merely smiled sadly to himself. "It's always lovely when children reunite with their parents."
His wife hummed and squeezed his hand once. "Indeed you're right, darling."
That night, Melanie found herself in the realm of dreams, in a place she did not recognize, but with people she definitely knew...
A scream echoed in the streets of an impoverished village, leaping from the lips of a small boy as he found himself being kicked in the ribs by a drunkard. The boy stumbled away, clutching his side as tears flooded his eyes and submerged his cheeks, blurring his vision and causing him to trip on a stray stone. He quickly righted himself and kept running until he finally saw his father hobbling towards him, fear and deep anger settled upon his angular features.
"Baelfire!" He shouted, grabbing the small child and inspecting him carefully.
"Papa," Baelfire sobbed, pointing to his ribs as he wiped his eyes fitfully. His father slowly lifted up the child's tunic and gasped in horror at the rapidly developing bruises.
"Oh my dear boy," He sobbed, clutching his son close to his chest as he hobbled back towards their house, his leg aching in pain with each step. As they walked, Baelfire began to ache more and more, and his father eventually collapsed on the dirt road in front of a house, tears streaming down his face.
"Oh dear," A soft voice resounded from the now opened door of the cottage, a beam of light accompanying it from the inside of their house.
The man turned his head slightly to see a woman with white-blonde hair that trailed onto the ground and a pair of onyx-black eyes sitting in her petite face, staring at him and his son in shock and horror.
"Please, come in," She murmured, holding a hand out to the young boy before her. His father immediately pulled him back, clutching the boy to his chest once again.
"I do not mean you harm, I merely wish to heal your son's wounds," The woman explained, drawing back in an attempt to appease the worried parent, who grew suspicious at her words.
"How do you know he was hurt?" He demanded, glaring at the woman.
"I heard his scream and saw him run from my window," She explained, her eyes focused on his, "The wound was evident from the way he stumbled." The father sighed in resignation, tears trailing down his cheek.
"How would you help him?" He demanded, slowly rising to his feet.
"My home is closer than yours, you may rest here for tonight," She offered, "I also have a salve that will soothe the bruising and aching." The man looked down at Baelfire, who had intermittently whimpered in pain.
"Thank you, we'd appreciate it," He whispered, looking down at the ground as the woman smiled at him.
"Please come on in," She murmured, making her way back inside and over to a box that was locked in three places while the two of them sat down on a wide chair with enough room for the both of them. Her fingers deftly removed the locks, a dark purple glow forming at her fingertips as she fished through the many bottles in the chest. Finally, she pulled out a small jar with a dark green paste within and made her way back to them.
"What are your names?" She asked, removing the lid from the jar and setting it aside.
"I am Rumpelstiltskin, and this is my son Baelfire," The man whispered, pointing at the small child as the woman rubbed the salve between her hands to warm it up, "What is yours?" He asked, his eyes fixed on her every move.
"My name is Melantha," She replied, "I'm going to need you to raise your shirt for me Baelfire," Melantha whispered soothingly, smiling gently at the little boy in front of her. Rumpelstiltskin smiled at his son and helped him raise his shirt, the smile faltering at the sight of the dark blue bruises.
"This might ache a little, darling, but it'll be very quick," Melantha crooned as she massaged the ointment onto Baelfire's skin with slow and firm motions. The boy whimpered once, but let out a sigh of relief as the pain slowly started to disappear. Rumpelstiltskin's eyes widened as he watched the wounds leave his son's skin right before his very eyes, the sight bringing a smile to Melantha's lips.
"There you go," She whispered, "All better." Baelfire grinned up at the woman as she wiped her hands and stood up.
"How did you do that?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, gaping at Melantha's retreating figure.
"I have a talent for magic, especially in healing and potion-making," She explained, locking the salve away and tucking the box back into a corner of the house.
"Magic?" He asked, his suspicion returning quickly at her response.
"Yes, but not the magic that plagues the lives of many others. Mine is used only to help and heal," Melantha murmured, slowly sinking into a chair opposite him. "At least, unless someone does something truly vile," She mused, "Then it can become quite a vengeful force." Her eyes flicked to the open window, a dangerous gleam entering them.
"The man that hurt your son," Rumpelstiltskin's hands clenched into fists at the thought of him, "He mistreats many, and atones for nothing," Melantha explained, "I would like to enact a similar pain on that man." The father raised an eyebrow at her, leaning in slightly as Baelfire watched in confusion.
"How would you go about this?" He asked, his eyes searching hers for any lies he could spot.
"Not all potions heal, some are meant to cause quite a bit of pain," Melantha hinted, smiling at the father and son sweetly.
"What would I owe you in return?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, the favor gleaming before him in such tantalizing proximity.
"Merely your friendship," Melantha said as the familiar feeling of loneliness coating her body and soul. Baelfire looked at his father, a sweet smile on his face.
"I wanna be her friend!" He crowed, bouncing excitedly and eliciting a giggle from the witch. Rumpelstiltskin chuckled and smiled down at his son.
"Well then, you have a very special friend. She's going to make sure no one can hurt you," He whispered, the vow filled with love and protection. Melantha nodded at his words and held out her hand to the spinner. Rumpelstiltskin stared at her hand hesitantly before he shook it firmly, his first deal struck.
Hello everyone! So, just to clear some things up, I am revising this story and republishing each chapter as I do so. This is for a better flow of the story and the characters as I hadn't been quite happy with my previous work.
If you can, please leave a review or a favorite/follow, I love knowing what my readers think of my work. Otherwise, have a fantastic day!