A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had this chapter almost finished a couple of nights ago, but my husband and I just got a new foster puppy and all writing went out the window for two days while we settled him in. I had some issues coming back to this chapter, so I apologize if it isn't up to par. Hopefully the next few are easier to work through. As usual, if you like what I do (or don't) hit me up in the reviews and let me know your thoughts or questions. See you guys in the next chapter.

Rumpelstiltskin was in a world of pain as he collapsed to the floor of his work room. He'd completely destroyed his tower in the blind rage that followed their trip and yet he was still reeling. What had he been thinking taking the boy to a deal in the Frontlands. Memories of that place and another young boy still haunted him daily, taking his apprentice to the area only dredged up his many past mistakes. But he hadn't been able to find a suitable reason to reject the boy's request. He'd been a fool, that much was certain. It was a wonder that no one else had mistaken the boy for his beloved son. Then again, they probably had. Cheshire might look different from Bae, but the similarities were there. It was an easy mistake to make. Morraine was simply the only one would have the courage or the inclination to say anything. She missed Bae as well.

Had it been anyone else, he would have delighted in killing them at once, but Morraine remined off limits. Had it been five years ago his anger would have consumed him feeding his curse and there would have been nothing left of the little village. Yet he had more control over the Dark One's whispering in his head now. He'd worked so very hard for any amount of control over the darkness. It had been impossible at first but losing Bae had given him the necessary purchase to gain a foothold against it. Rumpelstiltskin had learned to make agreements with the darkness to keep it satiated and his soul somewhat intact. It was a fine line he walked each day and today had been a narrow escape. He would never have forgiven himself for losing complete control and hurting Morraine or his newest apprentice.

His thoughts turned to the boy now under his tutelage. Understanding dawned on the imp as he thought back to the boy's reaction. He'd frightened the boy in his anger. At the time it hadn't mattered, but now Rumpelstiltskin berated himself further. Cheshire had been through so much already. The child didn't need any further trauma or instability. Rumpelstiltskin knew that he could not continue teaching the boy. The darkness that writhed within him caused him to act unpredictably at times. That paired with his desire to reach Baelfire and the need to distance himself from others created too many challenges for him to continue teaching the boy. Besides he'd already proven that he was a failure at raising children.

His curse generally hated the child anyway. It had always hated Baelfire as well, but this new boy was even more dangerous. Rumpelstiltskin held resolute faith that Bae would never attempt to control or hurt him. The curse might believe otherwise, but he knew. Cheshire on the other hand created a complication. He couldn't put such blind faith in a child he'd met only a few weeks prior. He was certainly fond of his apprentice, but he found it more difficult to silence the nagging suspicion that Cheshire would one day betray him. While his curse had at first been interested by the potential the child had, it had since seen that it's host had reservations about turning the boy towards darkness. The boy obviously saw the Dark One as something of a savior, a foolish notion in itself. Yet despite all evidence to the contrary the child seemed to believe he was safe with Rumpelstiltskin. The former spinner cherished Cheshire's belief in him. Still, his own paranoia and insecurities mixed with the curse created an increasingly dangerous situation for the child now in his care.

Rumpelstiltskin knew himself to well to believe the boy was safe with him. What if his curse got the better of him one day and Ches paid the price? No, the boy would have to leave. Rumpelstiltskin was too much of a monster to care for a child. Besides he had a goal to accomplish and the boy was simply in the way.

The imp held onto that notion, repeatedly telling himself the boy didn't matter, knowing that one day he might even come to believe it.

Cheshire sat at the furthest table from the door that the tavern could offer. Rumpelstiltskin had provided him with enough gold for the various supplies he'd sent Ches after, plus plenty of extra for the boy to spend as he saw fit. His mentor's uncanny ability to spin straw into gold did have its uses.

Once again, he'd attracted more than a few curious glances. The people of the small town knew that he'd apprenticed himself to the Dark One. They also knew his previous master and had occasionally seen the boy on the rare occasions that Silas allowed him to visit the area. It seemed that no one knew how to approach the boy without fear, which made sense considering the company he was known to keep. Not that such a thing bothered Ches anymore. He found that he rather enjoyed the distress his presence caused others. Tonight, that anxiety allowed him plenty of time to think over the events of the day.

Things had turned sour between he and his master so quickly it sent his head spinning. He still wasn't certain why the young woman's words had triggered such emotions in Rumpelstiltskin. But he knew that his persistence at prying into the incident allowed the Dark One to turn that fury onto him. It had been several hours since Rumpelstiltskin sent him to the town and yet Ches couldn't bring himself to call on his mentor. Surely the imp would no longer wish to keep the boy as his apprentice. He'd be sent to live out his life in a small village like this, wasting his talent as a glorified hedge witch or worse.

As he delved deeper into his own self-pity and insecurities, a brightly dressed woman sat herself at his table. It took the boy several moments to notice her but once he did, he couldn't look away. The woman had a maternal face that spoke of great power with a side of righteousness. However, that benevolently maternal look was oddly offset by the woman's revealing and sparkling blue dress. The hair piled messily on top of her head caused Cheshire even more confliction about who this woman was supposed to be.

"May I help you?" Cheshire asked in a voice he hoped wasn't too rude. It wouldn't do to start of with abject rudeness, that could always come later.

"Actually, I was hoping that I can help you," she replied in a sweet voice.

Cheshire pushed his empty plate aside and leaned forward feigning interest, "And what kind of help would you be providing?"

"I can see that there's a great darkness in your life child," she acknowledged. "The other fairies and I have taken notice of your predicament and want to help to you."

Before he could stop himself, Cheshire began laughing. Not his normal laugh, no this was maniacal and high pitched. A little too similar to a certain imp he'd spent the past two months learning from. The woman across from him looked shocked at the boy's eerie response to her offer. "You see darkness in my life eh," the boy asserted once he had control of himself again. "That's the biggest understatement I've ever heard lady."

The fairy gave him what might have been a pitying look if she had been able to hide the small traces of annoyance prevalent in her features. "I'm the blue fairy, you may call me Blue if you wish."

"What if I wish for you to leave?" he retorted leaning back and adopting the lazy smile he'd seen Rumpelstiltskin wear when the man was toying with visitors to the Dark Castle. It might have even been effective if he'd managed to make any form of eye contact with the woman. Or if he'd even been able to look her fully in the face.

The fairy in question bristled slightly at that comment but took a deep breath and attempted to reign the conversation in. "I wish to help you child. I understand that you have recently become an apprentice with the Dark One."

It hadn't been a question, but he suspected she was looking for some form of confirmation. "You understand correctly," Ches consented.

"We will help you out of whatever deal you or your parents made with him. We can get you to a safe place," Blue pledged with a tight but comforting smile.

So, the fairies knew that he was apprenticed to Rumpelstiltskin and they weren't happy about it. Cheshire looked down at his hands while he digested that information. "What about my magic? It's unpredictable without someone to train me."

The fairy studied him, obviously taken back at his refusal to immediately take her offer. "We will find someone to help you. But you will be instructed in light magic instead of the dark arts you're currently being exposed to." Cheshire refused to say anything else. He hoped to goad the fairy into divulging more information about her presence. She obviously thought of him as some poor unfortunate soul who would jump at her command. It was also apparent that she thought of him as a child and a rather stupid one at that. Did she believe he was with Rumpelstiltskin against his freewill? Her next statement answered that question for him. "If you're scared about leaving your current master, I can keep you safe. Whatever his deal was we will find a way to negate that. We promise not to let him hurt you."

The boy decided to play along and see what happened. If nothing else, toying with this fairy was becoming quite entertaining. "If I were to break a deal with the Dark One, how would you keep me safe? I've seen what he does to those who don't hold up their side of an agreement. And, personally, I'd really enjoy not spending the rest of my days as a small and easily crushed creature." Cheshire knew his tone was snarky, but today had been trying and he was enjoying venting some of that frustration onto someone else.

"We know of ways in which to control the Dark One. If you let me help you, we can protect you child." The fairies voice was full of compassion and if he'd been any other young man that voice would hold comfort as well. But life had taught him to always question the motives of those that offered help and he could tell that this fairy wanted something in return. However, he did file away her mention of ways to control the Dark One, he would definitely need to return to that piece of information. For now though, he needed to find the price for the Blue's offered aid.

"What would be the cost of you helping me?" he pondered aloud leaning forward once again attempting to display eagerness. He hoped to keep the woman off balance.

Sharp eyes appraised him in a new light. She hadn't expected him to be clever or to ask questions about the cost of such aid. Ches swallowed hard realizing that he might have over played his hand by demonstrating his intelligence too much, but it burned him that the fairy had yet to take him as a serious opponent. "You're a keen one," she admitted. The woman hesitated for several long moments before slowly divulging the information Ches so desperately wanted. "There is an object we require that's in the Dark One's possession. If you can procure it for us, we can save you."

"You want me to betray my master?" he asked carefully, consciously drawing his face into a blank stare.

"No, we want you to help us so that we can remove that monster's hold on you," Blue answered.

The anger that Cheshire had kept at bay began boiling over at that point. This sanctimonious bug had no clue who he was or what Rumpelstiltskin had saved him from. No matter how much she claimed to care about him, the boy understood that she had her own agenda.

"You know," he began in a dangerously quiet voice like what he'd heard his mentor employ earlier, "I've heard of you before. In the kingdom I grew up in fairies were all the rage. If you had a problem all you had to do was wish on a star and one would come to help you." She had the audacity to smile at that line, that is until Ches delivered his next line. "I used to call on the fairies every night. Hoping that one would come to save me."

Confusion crossed Blue's face for the first time that evening. "I'm afraid I don't understand child."

Ches was only too happy to aid her. "I spent six years as a prisoner in the Dark Castle under the 'tutelage' of a bastard of sorcerer. Six years," he emphasized the last by slamming his hand on the table. "Where were you during those six years? Where were you and your precious sisters while I was forced to work from dusk till dawn and then sent to my cell without food? Where were you when I was punished for some insignificant mistake or for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Where were you when I watched my parents die? I called for you and you didn't show." The table they sat at began shaking ever so slightly and the boy knew that he was close to losing control. Magic was tied to emotions and his were currently not under control.

The fairy's benevolent facade had fallen, pity taking its place. That incensed the boy further and he raged on. "Now that I have someone who's actually trying to help me, someone who cares about me, now you want to 'save me.' I. Don't. Need. You." With great effort Cheshire reigned in his anger and the table stopped its trembling much to his relief.

"I'm so sorry my child," Blue began. "We didn't know. The Dark Castle has so many wards around it, we could never have gotten to you or heard you. It's no excuse, but I am sorry."

Despite himself he believed the woman. But it didn't change his choice. "I don't need your pity. I need to get home," he said standing and dropping coins for his meal on the table.

She stood as well and blocked his path. "I can't in good conscious let you return to the Dark One. Especially now that I know how much you've suffered already."

Cheshire couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Lady I'm fine. I'm tired of this conversation, but really I'll be okay," He asserted slipping past her and out into the streets of the village. The sun was getting low and he could see the taverns caretaker lighting torches along the outside of the building. To his great annoyance the fairy followed him into the street.

"The Dark One does not care for you child. He doesn't have that ability," she attempted.

The irritated and tired young man turned on the annoying woman and snapped, "Rumpelstiltskin cares about me a damn site better than your lot does. I've made my choice now leave me alone." He purposefully emphasized his master's name. Hoping against hope that the call would work. The fairy was persistent, and he was slowly losing the will power to keep his powers in check.

"Rumpelstiltskin does not care about you child. He can't. Such feelings go against the very nature of what he is," the Fairy retorted in an almost smug voice.

"Is that so dearie?" A familiar high-pitched voice called from the alley in between the tavern and the bakery. To Cheshire's delight and immense relief, the slender figure of his mentor stepped out of the shadows. The older man cast a searching glance at his apprentice. Apparently noting that the boy had not come to any harm, he turned his attention to the fairy.

"Dark One," the Fairy acknowledged coldly her entire demeanor changing as she turned to face her antagonist.

"Reul Ghorm," Rumpelstiltskin spat in return, "you're a bit too close to my new home for my liking."

"Lucky for me you don't control who the fairies are allowed to help or where they're allowed to be," Blue chided before turning back to Cheshire attempting to ignore the man behind her. "Please remember my offer child."

"And what offer would that be," the imp challenged closing the distance between himself and the fairy.

"That really doesn't concern you, now does it," she answered refusing to back down.

Cheshire could feel the impressive amount of magic building within the tiny woman's form, be he could also feel the pure power radiating off Rumpelstiltskin as his mentor's rage built. Yet despite the man's harsh tone, the imp's outward appearance was calm and collected. Threatening for sure, but terrifyingly calm. "If you are offering something to my apprentice, then it most assuredly concerns me," the Dark One growled.

The fairy turned her attention back to Cheshire in lieu of addressing the Dark One. "Ask him what happened to the last boy left in his care, then call me when you're ready."

Anger the likes of which Ches had never glinted in his mentor's eyes and the boy could tell that the Dark One was seriously considering murder in that moment. "I think it's time for you to leave before I decide to make you."

"I'd enjoy seeing you try," the Blue fairy scoffed. Yet before Rumpelstiltskin could reply, Blue shrunk to her traditional size and flew away.

Rumpelstiltskin was seething as he watched the self-righteous gnat fly away. With a great effort he brought his anger back under control as he turned to his apprentice. He'd already snapped at Ches once today, he wouldn't do that again. "Let's walk," he commanded softly taking the lead out of town. It would be about an hour's journey or more back to the castle, but he desperately needed that time to clear his head.

"Well she was a bit much," Ches observed breaking the silence as they cleared the town.

"Now that's an understatement," the imp scoffed as he and the boy fell into a comfortable pace.

"Is it wrong that I kept thinking of her as a glorified mosquito?" Ches quipped.

To his great surprise Rumpelstiltskin felt a grin creep across his face and he couldn't hold back a light laugh. "Just a tad more glitter."

The boy beside him let out a chuckle as well and the imp felt his heart swell at the easy companionship they'd established. Of course, the boy was still a bit wary of his master at the moment, but the boy seemed to be trying to push past that. For a moment Rumpelstiltskin fooled himself into thinking that all might be forgiven from earlier. That is until his curse reminded him of the dangers of his companionship with the child. Kill him now, Nimue coerced, No one will see or know. Rumpelstiltskin shook his head to clear away those thoughts. "What did she offer you?" he asked turning to watch the boy's reaction.

"To help me, the innocent and ignorant child, escape from the clutches of the horrible and dangerous Dark One," Cheshire replied flippantly. The boy accentuated his comments with a familiar flourish of his hand. An act that firmly proved to the imp that he had far too much influence over his apprentice. Rumpelstiltskin must have paused for too long because the boy continued his assurance, "I advised her of where she could stick her offer and her little wand as well."

Despite himself Rumpelstiltskin laughed, "You didn't really?"

"Well maybe not in so many words," Cheshire consented a mischievous glint apparent in his eyes, "but she got the message all the same."

His apprentice was something else entirely the imp admitted to himself. Given time and the proper instruction this boy could become something amazing. Then he'll use that knowledge to betray us, the voices in his head whispered ominously. That thought brought Rumpelstiltskin back to the heart of the matter. Whatever this boy would become, he could no longer remain in under the tutelage of the Dark One. The boy doesn't matter, he told himself again.

"Maybe you should have accepted the fairy's proposal," the older man countered in a voice he hoped was cold rather than dejected. He looked over in time to catch the incredulous glare his companion shot him.

"Why would I do that? We have a deal and I'm not keen on breaking it," Cheshire rebutted cautiously.

"What if I let you out of that deal, no strings attached," the Dark One offered.

"I'd still stay," Cheshire replied earnestly. It was obvious that the boy saw where this conversation was headed.

"Ches- "

"You're not breaking our deal, are you?" the apprentice cut in. Rumpelstiltskin stopped walking and turned to face the child. The boy was making a valiant attempt at holding eye contact with his master. Something that greatly impressed the imp.

"I don't break deals," the Dark One bristled. "You've shown me the ins and outs of the castle and I no longer require a cook or aid cleaning the place. It's best we end our agreement."

"But I still have so much to learn!" Cheshire retorted defiantly. "You agreed that you would teach me, and I don't feel as though the terms of our deal have been fully met."

The boy was trying to appeal to the imp's logic and while Ches had a decent argument, the Dark One held the better argument at the moment. "I never specified and now I am. It's time for you to go. I'll let you gather your things tonight- "

"I'm not leaving," Ches barked making certain to keep his eyes locked on Rumpelstiltskin's face.

"Yes. You. Are," the imp asserted trying his best not to notice the tears forming in the boy's eyes.

"Why? I know it's been a weird day, but I told the fairy off. I've done everything that you've asked of me and I haven't complained. Why end it now?" The boy cried angrily brushing the tears from his face.

"Because I've decided I don't need you anymore," Rumpelstiltskin explained. His voice was still cold, but he could feel his resolve crumbling. He had ignored many a desperate soul questioning his motives over his five years as the Dark One. And yet a 15-year-old boy with messy hair and bright eyes was breaking him down. The small part of his soul that remembered being a father longed to wrap the boy in his arms and calm him down but giving in to those impulses would only put the boy in more danger.

Cheshire leveled him with a broken glare and leaned towards his mentor, "That's not the reason."

A bit unnerved at the boy's intuition, Rumpelstiltskin replied simply, "My reasons are my own."

"I've told you I don't have anywhere else to go," Ches tried for logic once more.

"We'll find your family,"

"I don't have a family. You're the closest thing I've got to that," the child answered in a quiet voice which ultimately broke Rumpelstiltskin's heart and the Dark One's hold on his resolve.

The imp placed his hands on the shoulders of his apprentice and looked down at the boy. "Ches, you can't stay with me. It's not safe," his noted that his voice sounded far more human than it had in years and cursed himself for his own weakness.

"I'll take my chances," the boy objected bravely. Cheshire must have seen something in his mentor's face which showed he was winning. "Why do you think it's not safe?"

"Because of what I am," Rumpelstiltskin confessed. "You can't trust me."

"Does this have something to do with what happened in the village today?" Ches guessed.

His apprentice never ceased to amaze him, then again it was a fairly obvious connection. Rumpelstiltskin took a deep breath and before he could stop himself the words tumbled from him, "I grew up in that village. It was the only home I knew for most of my life. While there I had a son and a few years ago I failed him. I kept him safe from everything but myself. I drove him away and then I lost him completely. Now I must find him again. Doing that is the most important thing and I can't let anything get in the way of that."

A long moment passed while Ches digested all that his master said and Rumpelstiltskin berated himself for divulging too much of his past. "What if I help you? You could have just said-" The boy began.

"Because I failed him, and I'll fail you too. I can't protect you from what I'll have to do to get to him."

"I can protect myself." Cheshire stressed. Rumpelstiltskin searched the boy's face as something incredibly dark danced across the child's features. "Silas gave me years of practice. I don't want to leave. I belong here."

"Ches this is a bad idea," the imp tried once more.

"I trust you. Please don't send me away. I have nothing else," tears rolled down Cheshire's face and Rumpelstiltskin could no longer push the boy away. He nodded simply. Suddenly the boy wrapped his arms around the imp catching him by surprise. He awkwardly patted the boy's back not sure how else to react.

Although Rumpelstiltskin knew that he might one day regret this decision, he couldn't help the warmth that spread through his chest as he accepted the boy's offer. It might end poorly but for now he would enjoy each moment with his apprentice.

Like I said I had some issues writing this chapter so if you notice any grammar issues or anything along those lines, definitely let me know!