Dark Shades

Roland had a rough couple of days. He was questioning everything he knew. It would've been easy to join his brother in his quest to darken his soul but it really wasn't his nature. His way of coping was to just be alone or ride his horse or spend some time with the children at the orphanage. He pretty much just avoided his parents all together. They live in a castle so it really wasn't that difficult but he was ready to start really dealing with it.

Roland found Snow in the family room.

"Snow, can I talk to you?" Roland asked.

"Always." Snow replied as he sat next to her.

"How did you forgive mom for..."

He really could've been getting ready to say anything but she had a feeling she knew what would follow. "For killing my father?" Snow finished.

"Yeah..."

Snow took a deep breath. "I don't know. I didn't know at first, I think when I learned of it, I was able to forgive her because I realized how much pain she was in. My father kind of aided in making her miserable. I don't believe it was his intention but he did. Anyway, I knew the good person she was when I met her and when she changed, I guess I just tried to understand why. As time went on, it got harder to do that. I started to lose faith that I would ever get back the person I lost but the moment I began to lose hope was the moment it started to get worst."

"I know she's different now but nothing's ever affected me directly. It's my mother and she's the reason I don't know her. The past is the past but everything just feels different. It feels like a betrayal to love her but it doesn't change how good she's been to me my entire life."

"The best thing you can do in any situation is to keep love in your heart. Rumple used to say, love has killed more than any curse but the truth is love has healed more than any magic."

"It's the most powerful magic of all."

"Exactly. It's never wrong to love or forgive. They're the two most important things we're here to learn. We grow the most when we do it when it's hard. You can't get a happy ending being angry, bitter, vengeful, envious, and hateful and so on. It's all a contradiction of happiness so it can't coexist in the same soul."

"You're wise, sis. I'm glad I talked to you." He hugged her.

-v-

Bae and Hope were at Bedrock Diner sitting in a booth.

"You're going to have to come up with a more direct approach with Vella because popping up like this is borderline stalker-ish, therefore creepy." Hope said.

"I suppose you're right..." Then he got an idea and went over to the counter. "Are you hiring?" Bae inquired.

"Actually, one of our waiters just quit so yes. Do you have any experience?"

"As a waiter? Not exactly... But this is a job where you're of service to people. I do that all the time. I'm good with people and I'm a fast learner. Teach me and I promise I will learn it."

"Fine… I'll take a chance. When can you start?"

"Tod-" Bae looked over and saw Vella walk in with a pair of dark shades on. Her hair was straightened from her natural curls so it hung almost half way down her back. Her side bang was hanging in her face. "Tomorrow."

"Be here at eight am."

"Thank you." He went over to Vella at the booth she was in. She was still wearing the dark shades but had her school books on the table to do her homework. "Hello my lady."

She looked up at him with a smile, kind of caught off guard with 'my lady.' "Still have that old man thing working for ya. It's cute... I didn't think I'd see you again. Are you from Michigan?"

"No. I'm from... far away. You live here now?"

"I go to school here. I assume you don't go to Albion."

"No. I'm not in school."

"Good. I guess you won't be in debt up to your ears then."

"No. Education is free where I'm from."

"Really? Then I need to move there."

"Can you see with those glasses on?"

"Yeah! Just have a bit of a headache."

"Then why are you reading?"

"Homework won't do itself."

"So I don't get to see those pretty hazel eyes?"

"Baelfire..." She didn't want to be blushing right now but she was. This couldn't continue.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Baelfire, I have a boyfriend and isn't that girl over there, your girlfriend? I saw you with her the other day."

"What? No! That's my little sister!"

"Oh... I still have a boyfriend."

"So that means conversation is off limits?"

"It wouldn't be a good idea. I'm sorry."

"Are you happy Vella?" He could sense that she wasn't truly.

She didn't answer right away. She looked down for a moment. "Sure..." She replied unconvincingly.

Bae sighed then reached in his jacket to hide the magic he was about to do then pulled out a yellow rose which symbolized joy and happiness. "This is for you."

She finally looked at him again. She understood why he was giving her the yellow rose. He knew she was lying. How could some guy she barely knew see that but people who she saw everyday couldn't?"

"I guess I'll see you more often now. I start working here tomorrow. I better get back to my sister." Bae turned around but turned back to say one last thing. "Everyone deserves happiness and everyone can have it. See you later princess." He walked away.

Vella smelled the rose... "Wait. Where did he get a rose from?" Vella thought. She happened to glance toward the door and saw Damon headed in her direction so she quickly hid the rose behind her back. "Hey!"

Damon kissed her. "What did you just hide behind your back?"

"Does he have hawk eyes or something?" Vella thought. "Hide? I'm not hiding anything. It's a rose." She showed him.

"Where did you get a rose from?"

"I saw it on my way here in the rarest place. I thought, 'Wow, such beauty.'"

He just looked at her unconvinced then he noticed Bae glance back at them, well at Vella but he didn't say anything. He just picked up a menu and started reading.

-v-

Meanwhile, Emery was at the nearest nicest beach in New York in the most private place he could find. There was no one around so he blew into the shell Melody gave him. The days he spent without his love was more than his heart could bare. He missed her so. A few minutes later, the pretty mermaid popped her head out of the ocean then she came out of the water and her tail and scales disappeared which left her nude so Emery was ready with a towel and wrapped her in it. Then he waved his hand and put her in some clothes. They leaped into each other's arms and kissed.

"I'm so glad I got a man with magic. It really comes in handy." Melody said.

"I missed you!" Emery exclaimed.

"Not as much as I missed you." Melody replied then they sat on the sand. "How are things going here?"

"Fine. Bae found the girl he was looking for. Unfortunately, she's seeing someone but my guess is, not for long. It's an adjustment being here but I suppose it isn't so bad. Time moves much faster here. I'm still getting used to that... I do miss home. Speaking of, how are you? How's home?"

"I'm well. Things are fine at home. I hear Henry refuses to go home." Melody informed.

"He's still on that kick, huh? I hope he doesn't do anything stupid..." He held her close.

"Every moment is perfect when we're together. I want this to last forever." Melody expressed.

"Glad you said that." Emery said. It was a perfect moment. The sun was setting over the ocean. It looked absolutely beautiful. He got on one knee, reached in his pocket and pulled out a beautiful one of a kind pink sparkly ring. Melody liked pink and sparkly. "Melody will you marry me?"

"Absolutely!" Melody exclaimed. He put the ring on her finger and she threw her arms around him excitedly. "Where did you find such a rare jewel?"

"Let's just say there's perks for having dwarves for uncles and not getting the family ring because you're the youngest. I got to create my own ring to pass down to our future mermaid babies. It's made out of fairy dust."

Melody smiled. "I love you Emery."

"I love you too Mel... I'm sorry it'll be a while before we can actually marry since I'm here. I want Bae to have what we have. Everyone should have what we have."

"It's okay, my love. I will wait for you as long as it takes." Melody said.

-v-

Henry appeared in the castle's kitchen, stole some food and put it in the basket he brought. Then he appeared back at Goldie's small cottage in the woods. She said she trusted him to stay with her for a while. To his knowledge, she still had no clue that he was a prince and he wanted to keep it that way for now. They both indulged in the best meal they'd had in a while.

"How did you get this cottage?" Henry inquired.

"Well if you need something you better take it. I thought I'd get a few good meals out of the deal but those fools only had porridge. At least I got a warm place to stay."

"What happened to the previous owners?"

"I don't know, probably in the woods somewhere. You can't concern yourself with others. They'll never have concern for you." Goldie stated.

-v-

Rumple and Jane arrived on a jungle island. They found an habitable place to set up camp then began to explore their new environment. Jane never quite realized how much of a hoarder her father was until they had to pack things for this trip. Wow.

-v-

The next day, Bae started his first day as a waiter at Bedrock Diner. He was doing pretty well. His charm was really what worked in his favor, especially with the ladies and they all thought he was hot so that helped too.

He went over to a table full of college girls. "Hello beautiful ladies, I'm Bae. I'll be your waiter today. Can I start you off with drinks?"

All the girls started blushing. It took a few seconds for them to gather themselves and their hormones so that they could state their orders. When they finally did, he went to his next table. He didn't even notice it was Vella until he got there. She still had those shades on.

"Well aren't you a real Prince Charming?" She said because she heard how it went with the last few tables. If only she knew the irony in that statement.

He smiled. "Hello princess. How are you today? Still have that headache?"

"Yes I do."

He kind of figured the real headache was demon... Damon. She was probably just hiding behind the glasses or hiding something behind the glasses. She had an issue of Vogue lying on the table and she was on the cover. "Is that you?"

"Oh yeah." She replied nonchalantly.

"They really captured your beauty." He complimented and it was true but there was nothing but sadness in the eyes in the photo.

"Thanks... Do you know how to not do the Charming thing?"

"Well, I'm not trying... You don't like my charm Vella?" He asked, flirting.

She just smiled, blushed and looked down at the menu even though she already knew what she wanted. "I'll have a glass of water and the veggie burger special." She changed the subject.

He took her order then went to the counter. One of the girls sitting behind Vella tapped her shoulder.

"Clearly, he likes you. If you don't snatch him up, I will." The girl turned back around.

Vella looked over at him and smiled instantly. She stopped once she realized she was doing it. "What kind of freaky magic does he have?" She put her earphones on and played Pass You By by Boys II Men. She cut it off half way through. She didn't feel like crying...