A/N: I can't believe that I actually churned this out tonight, but here is another chapter. Once I got started on this one though, I just couldn't stop. I may have made a few grammatical errors, but I got through a couple of edits so hopefully it's ok. Hope you enjoy!

His apprentice was most certainly distracted today. Rumpelstiltskin had given the teen, a simple locator spell to attempt and it was taking the boy an inordinate amount of time to complete. They worked in the tower today so that the Dark One could work while he instructed Ches. Normally quick to pick up on anything, Cheshire was currently cursing under his breath as the spell fizzled out of existence once again.

"What's troubling you today Ches?" Rumpelstiltskin asked as he perched himself on the stool before his spinning wheel.

The boy let his hands fall to his sides, keeping his eyes on the spot where the spell had recently vanished. Cheshire's fingers fiddled with the ends of his sleeves nervously. Noting these signs, the imp contemplated his student. It had been many months since the teenager had shown any fear or anxiety towards his mentor. Rumpelstiltskin had even managed to relax a bit around his apprentice. He'd thought that they had been forming something akin to a bond, so it made little sense for Ches to be so nervous at a minor failure. Something was troubling the young man.

"We can talk about it or you can mope. Your choice," the imp offered.

"Who was that visitor in your work room last night?" the boy asked taking the Dark One by surprise.

"Visitor?" Rumpelstiltskin implored terrified at what his apprentice might have witnessed.

"When I came to deliver the supplies you sent me after, there was a young man in the room. Who was he?" Ches looked his master straight in the face.

"You spying now?" the imp attempted to misdirect the conversation, throwing his hand out in a flippant manner.

The boy squared his shoulders as he continued the confrontation, "No. I heard him say my name, so I listened in. And I'm glad I did all things considering."

"Not spying just eavesdropping. Not sure which is worse," the imp sang out harshly. He didn't want to get riled up at the boy, but he was horrified at the notion that the boy had seen his shameful display with his father.

"It concerned me. He wants to know about me why?" The boy refused to back down.

"He's concerned with me, not you," the Dark One corrected.

"Sure sounded like he was interested in taking me off your hands. You aren't going to break our deal, are you?"

Cheshire knew too much, had seen too much. All the emotions that Rumpelstiltskin had managed to push down after his encounter with his father began to surface once again. Anger from his curse rose to squash out the grief. "You should learn to keep your nose out of places it doesn't belong."

Before he could display further anger, before the boy could even so much as respond Rumpelstiltskin teleported himself from the room. He would leave tonight and head to Avonlea. Ches's assumptions about his father's price might be correct, but for Baelfire, Rumpelstiltskin had to at least see what his father had to offer. He would do anything to get to his boy.

The little village of Avonlea had prospered greatly in the past few years. The town was well on it's way to becoming a center of importance. But even the greatest towns have poor sections. Areas that the rich refused to acknowledge and that the occupants were unable to leave. The sections that Rumpelstiltskin knew all too well. Both from the numerous desperate souls he'd encountered in such places and from his past experience as one such poor peasant. The seedy tavern his father had invited him to, was a ramshackle little place. Certainly, one that Malcolm would have felt right at home at. The type that still featured vividly in some of Rumpelstiltskin's worst nightmares.

No one noticed the dark cloaked figure which slunk through the dirty streets before slipping into said squalid building. Noise assailed the imp as soon as he stepped through the door. Some fool was moronically singing along as an equally idiotic individual played some manner of instrument. The other patrons were either raucously drunk or obnoxiously loud. This tavern hosted the lower echelon of the area, those who were there to drink their misery away or to swindle some poor sod out of the limited goods he had. Ironically Milah would have enjoyed the place as much as his father did.

The Dark One kept his hood well drawn as he searched the tables looking for the insufferable teenager he was here to meet. Normally when he entered a place like this, silence reigned. A fact that he'd come to cherish over his six-year tenure as the Dark One. But tonight, he hoped that no one payed attention to the fact that the Dark One was paying this little establishment a visit.

A loud burst of laughter rang out from the very center of the room and there right in the middle of everything was his father. Despite being dressed in colorfully expensive leather and silks, the teenager looked as if he belonged in the midst of the many burly and sleazy men surrounding him. Unsurprisingly the teen also had a woman draped over one arm. Malcom had always lived life to the fullest, that much Rumpelstiltskin couldn't argue.

The imp stalked quietly towards the party lingering behind them just long enough to catch Peter Pan's eye before seeking out a sheltered table in the back corner of the pub. Rumpelstiltskin made certain that his back was firmly placed in the corner so that he could keep watch over the occupants. It was an old habit that he'd picked up from his days as the town coward, avoiding those that might see him as an easy target. In retrospect it made sense for him to keep up that custom had come in handy. The Dark One had many enemies and the imp always enjoyed watching people anyway. The better to notice certain desperate souls.

"You showed up laddie," a boisterous voice called out pulling Rumpelstiltskin from his thoughts.

Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes as the teen fell into the chair opposite him, "Against my better judgement."

Peter Pan gave him a smile that on the surface was warm and friendly, but the darkness echoing from the chuckle that followed promised something far more malicious. "How about a drink then Rumple?" the younger/older man offered as he waved over a busty waitress.

"I'm quite fine," the imp replied.

"Oh lighten up won't you!" Peter insisted waving a hand at the Dark One. "Something to eat then?"

"No," Rumpelstiltskin growled already berating himself for agreeing to this meeting.

The waitress must have sensed some of the sinister power that resided within Rumpelstiltskin because her smile faltered as she approached. Choosing to stand closer to the real demon she flashed Peter Pan a charming smile. "What'll it be this time dear?"

"Just one pint of the finest ale you have," the teenager answered providing his own dashing smile. "My companion here isn't being much fun so he'll just be having his own bitterness." Peter winked at the girl, making her blush as she turned away to the bar. "Don't you just love places like this laddie?"

"I rather detest them. They remind me too much of you," the imp quipped darkly keeping his voice low.

Peter gave a snort of disbelief at that, "You used to love coming to this kind of tavern when you were a kid." The demon of Neverland was still looking around drinking in the merriment of the people around and enjoying every minute.

"I've never enjoyed bars full of drunk fools," that got his father's attention. Subconsciously Rumpelstiltskin assured himself that his hood obscured his face to the best of its ability, hiding himself from the full effect of his father's gaze.

"Course you did," Peter protested as the waitress returned with his drink. "You loved hanging around my coattails, watching the games, entertaining all those lads. You can't tell me we didn't have fun."

Rage that had nothing to do with his curse boiled through Rumpelstiltskin at his father's words. To have some of his worst memories debased and twisted by this man was almost too much. The imp leaned forward and before he could properly think about what to say the words spilled from his mouth. "Oh yes, you're right. I loved hanging around watching you drink and swindle people. Being forced to wait in the corner tables of who knows how many shit holes while you took swept some tramp of her feet. Dealing with your drunk ass night after night. Being sold off to whomever paid the most for whatever service they deemed appropriate without-"

Rumpelstiltskin cut himself off before his anger dove too deeply into the past. He'd boxed those memories away in the back of his mind long ago. He could feel his curse reveling in his fury and driving it forward. This was what it had felt like when he'd killed Milah and he had worked too hard for control to give into that now.

His father was staring at him through the eyes of the demon that had overtaken him. But then his father hadn't changed inwardly when he became Peter Pan. Only his outward appearance saw any transformation.

"You really have a way of twisting things don't you Rumple," Malcolm – for that disgusted smirk was pure Malcolm and not Peter Pan – reprimanded. The insufferable demon took a long drink before continuing, "I took care of you even being the ungrateful, spineless child you were, still are. You didn't deserve half of the kindness I showed you."

"I must have missed the kindness part," the imp retorted darkly even as his father's words cut him.

"You've always been a churlish little worm," Peter continued finishing his drink and waving at the waitress for another. "Even now that I've come to help you out of the mess you've created for yourself."

The spinner took a long breath as he discarded the words his father had said. It doesn't matter what he thinks he repeated to himself over and over knowing it would never be true. Regardless of what his father had done, he desperately yearned for the man's approval. "Yes, the deal you mentioned," Rumpelstiltskin conceded. "What do you want?"

After giving his son one more distasteful look the teenager leaned in so that the Dark One could hear his quiet voice. "There's talk of a man who found a magic bean after sneaking aboard a pirate ship. He's been moving around looking for an appropriate buyer and I happen to know that he will be in town a bit later tonight. Interested."

Of course he was interested but the Dark One knew he had to be careful. He was emotionally charged at the moment and decisions based on pure emotion never turned out well for him. Plus this was his father, a steep price would be required for any such agreement.

"Why would you help me?" Rumpelstiltskin inquired as he peered at his father over steepled fingers.

His father flashed him a dangerous smile and cocked his head. "I just want to help out my son," Peter intoned false affection seeping from his tongue. At a disbelieving snort and shadowed eye roll from his son Peter tried again, "Well there is a high price for this kind of information of course."

"There's the truth," the imp agreed. "What do you want?"

"It's a simple matter really," the teenager reasoned. "I'll provide you with a path to your son and you provide me with a new Lost Boy."

"You want me to collect minions for you?" Rumpelstiltskin did nothing to hide the disgust that colored his tone or face.

"Just one specific minion," Peter's face split into a huge grin as his son put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"You want my new apprentice," the Dark One asked leaning back in his seat and pulling a mask of indifference over his face.

"I want your new apprentice," his father concurred. "A life for a life. It's a fair trade."

"And if I say no?"

"Then I guess poor little Baelfire will never see his father again," Peter pouted before laughing at his son's current dilemma.

"I'll need time to think," the imp began.

"Ah, but you won't have that time dearie! The man in question is only here for tonight before he finds his way into obscurity once more. Is that a chance you're willing to take laddie?"

Rumpelstiltskin's head was spinning as he contemplated the deal his father was offering. His curse was finally on Ches's side. Wanting him to stay in the Enchanted Forrest and continue gaining power. Part of him agreed with his curse. He'd made a deal with Ches and like it or not he'd become attached to the child. But an even larger part of Rumpelstiltskin longed to be with his son again. Either way he was betraying someone and he'd already disappointed his son once.

"I want to see this man you speak of first," Rumpelstiltskin appealed. "If he has what you say he does then we can talk about an exchange."

Mischief shone from Peter Pan's eyes as he realized he'd won. "We have a deal then." Something dark and hungry darted across his father's features then. Something that unsettled Rumpelstiltskin to his core, but it was too late to back out now. He was in too deep.

They had sat at the tavern for several hours waiting for Pan's signal that their man had arrived. Rumpelstiltskin had refused to talk further with his father as they willed away the night. Pan eventually moved to another table to begin gambling while the Dark One sat deep in thought in the corner. It was close to morning when it was finally time to leave. The two walked side by side down several grimy streets until they came upon a dark alley leading to the docks.

Peter held up a hand stopping his son midstride. The imp looked out towards the docks and noted a little round man making his way from one of the ships. The man was absolutely ordinary in every way. From his wispy grey hair to his rather impressive gut, there was nothing extraordinary about this individual.

Slightly confused Rumpelstiltskin held out a hand pointing at the man in question. "That's your guy?"

A devilish smile crossed Pan's face and the imp's unease returned. "Of course not. I just needed you out of sight."

Before the Dark One could form any reply a black cuff appeared in Pan's hand and the teenager closed an impossibly strong hand around Rumpelstiltskin's extended wrist. The cuff burned ever so slightly as it touched the imp's wrist. Pan released him almost immediately. Once free Rumpelstiltskin reached for the bottomless ocean that was his magic, but for the first time in six years power didn't rush to his fingertips.

His eyes went wide with fear as he tried repeatedly to reach his magic. "What did you do?" he asked finally.

"Made it myself," Pan smirked. "It's a magic blocking cuff. Works on even the most powerful of practitioners."

"Why are-" Rumpelstiltskin began.

"Shh, shh," his father shushed him reaching up to place a hand on the Dark One's face. "Come on now Rumple, it's all part of the game."

Rumpelstiltskin backed away from his father as quick as possible and straight into the building behind him. "What game is that?" he tried to sneer but as terrified as he currently was, it didn't quite come across as dangerous.

"You never asked how those fairies got pixie dust did you?" Peter smirked. "How they knew it might stop you for a while."

"Why?" the imp breathed. From the corner of his eye he saw two large men walking towards them from his right. To his left were the docks, if he made a run for it now-

Obviously Pan saw his thoughts shift to escape because the teenager grabbed his son's shoulder and held him tightly. "I've sold you to the highest bidder again. Maybe this time I'll actually be free of you."

A final smile crossed Pan's face as a fist collided with Rumpelstiltskin's face knocking him to the ground. His head connected solidly with the ground and the Dark One knew no more.

It had been five days since he'd last seen Rumpelstiltskin and Ches was growing concerned. His mentor had been upset when he left but he'd never been gone this long without sending Ches some kind of message. Yet nothing arrived. Ches could only clean so much before worry began gnawing at him. He couldn't sleep, could barely eat. He'd been so angry when the Dark One left. Now though, he would take all that anger over the anxious fear he felt currently.

It was on the sixth day that the front doors burst open. Ches was sitting in the Great Hall cleaning the windows when he heard someone enter. Throwing down his supplies and sprinting to the Entrance Hall, Ches expected to give his master a thorough berating for leaving him to worry. He recognized the figure,

but it wasn't Rumpelstiltskin at the doors.

The former purple fairy stood expectantly waiting for him. "I see you haven't run off yet, kid."

At a loss for words he merely shook his head. She looked ridiculously different from the last time he'd seen her, a mere two weeks earlier. A long black dress covered her bodice showing off her slim lines. Atop her blonde hair sat a horned headdress that gave her a malevolent look. This woman was obviously no longer a fairy and revealing in that fact.

"You best come with me," Maleficent offered coming up close to the boy she barely knew.

"W-why?" Ches finally managed to stammer.

"Your fool of a master has gotten himself into deep trouble with some old acquaintances and he needs help. Again," she replied as if she were bored by the whole situation.

Ches nodded and grabbed his traveling cloak from coat rack by the door. The castle would care for itself while he and the Dark One were gone. Following behind the fairy turned evil sorcereress, Ches couldn't help but contemplate just how crazy his life had become since meeting Rumpelstiltskin.

A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger! Please don't throw things at me haha. Since this chapter and the last came out on the same day, I hope to have another one ready by next week. Thanks for reading and as always if you like (or dislike) what I do, feel free to let me know in the comments below. See you guys in the next chapter.

Also if you like this story, I'm planning a sequel that will take place in Storybrooke. It will most likely be a season 6 rewrite. I said that to say this, I posted the prologue over on AO3 under this pen name. It's called "Who in the World am I." My intent is to update the two stories as simultaneously as possible, but obviously that one will be a bit behind. There will be spoilers in that story for events that take place in this one, so beware! If there's enough interest though, I will post it on this site as well. Okay I'm done for real this time.