Rumpelstiltskin stalked carefully through the gardens. He had been searching for someone wandering around. He listened for any sound that would stand out. He looked through the fruit trees and statue garden.
"I know you're there, dearie. I will find you." He heard a soft rustle in one of the flower beds. He smirked as he quietly approached it. He reached in and grabbed the hider. "There you are!"
"AHH!" He pulled out the giggling four-year-old child with long brown hair and bright emerald eyes. "You found me, Papa."
"I knew I would. So, that's five for me and three for you." He put her on the ground and she looked up at him.
"Again. Again. You hide this time." He kneeled down to eye level with her and took her soft hands in his rough ones.
"I would love to, flower, but I have some to do in my tower." She pouted.
"Please, Papa. Just one more game."
"I'm sorry, but I put off this work long enough. We'll play more when I'm done, okay?"
"You promise?"
"I promise. You can find something to do until then, can't you?" She gave him a sad look, but nodded. "I know you want to play with Papa more, but you know how important my work is."
"I know." He saw that she wanted to say more.
"What is it, flower? You can tell me." She looked at him for a moment.
"I wish you didn't leave me alone. I don't like being by myself all the time." Rumple always kind of knew she felt this way. Being the Dark One still took up a lot of his time. As she got older, he ended up leaving the castle more often. She was usually alone in the castle. If he was there, a lot of his time would be in his tower working on a potion or working on a spell. Rose took all the time she could get with her Papa. Sometimes when he came home late and was tired, he would go straight to bed. If she was still awake, she would grab her rose blanket and climb into bed with him. He would kiss her forehead and held her close until they both fell asleep. They both cherished those tender moments together.
"Oh, Rose. Come here." He stood and led her over to a bench. He sat down and pulled her into his lap. He held her hands as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Sweetheart, I know you're lonely here. I don't like leaving you here by yourself, but I can't ignore when people call me for help. I would love to stay here with you all the time, but if I did people would just come to the castle and I can't risk someone finding out about you."
"Why not?" He didn't want to have to explain this to her, especially at this age. He knew if he didn't answer her she would never let it go. She had the right to know why she couldn't leave or be seen by anyone that came to the castle.
"Because I've been doing this work long before you were even born. Over the years, I made a lot of enemies. A lot of people would do anything to hurt me. If they were to find out about you, they could hurt you to hurt me and I can't let that happen. You're too precious to me and it's my job as your papa to protect you. Do you understand?" She nodded.
"Yes, Papa." They sat there for a minute, neither saying anything. Rose then reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that was folded.
"What's that?" She unfolded it and showed it to him.
"It's a picture I drew." He took it and examined it. She drew the both of them holding hands, but he noticed there was an extra person in the picture. It was a woman. She was drawn with blue eyes, curly brown hair, and wore a blue dress.
"Flower, who is that woman?"
"My mama." He turned his eyes to her, but she kept her eyes on the drawing.
"What do you mean your mama?"
"If I had a mama, that's what I want her to look like." He looked at the picture again. That's what Rose really wanted and needed. A mother. He certainly wasn't going to return her real mother back to her human form. The woman wouldn't care about Rose. She certainly wouldn't love her either. A mother needed to love and want her child. The woman may have given birth to her, but she was no mother. He put the drawing down and turned back to Rose, who was now looking up at him.
"Why don't you tell me more about her. What do you want your mama to be like?"
"She would be pretty and nice and smart and would love both of us."
"She sounds wonderful."
"She is. Can you make me a mama, Papa?" Rumple's heart dropped. His daughter was missing the one thing that he could never give her. He could find a woman that would look the way Rose wanted her to. She could be pretty, nice, and smart. There was no reason for her not to learn to love Rose. The child was sweet and lovable. He could find a woman that would be all of those things, but she would never love him. No woman in her right mind would. He was a monster to everyone in the Enchanted Forest.
"I'm afraid not, flower. My magic can do many things, but I can't create a person."
"Then maybe you can find her."
"It's not that simple." She wanted to ask why, but something flying towards them caught her attention. She loved up and saw a white dove coming down.
"Look, Papa. A messenger bird." He looked up and saw the bird. It landed next to them on the bench. Rumple picked up the bird and removed the message from it's leg. He then handed Rose the bird. She petted the cooing bird while her papa read the letter. "What does it say?"
"I'm needed in Avolonea." Rose lowered her gaze to the bird in her arms. Rumple knew she was upset he was leaving again. He held her closer. "I know you don't want me to leave, but I have to. Avolonea isn't that far, so the trip shouldn't take long. I'll be back by dinner time, okay?"
"Okay." He kissed her forehead and placed her on the bench. He stood and headed into the castle, but stopped at the door. He watched his sad daughter continue to pet the dove.
"Rose, darling." She looked up to him.
"I love you." She gave him a sad smile.
"I love you too, Papa." He went inside to prepare for his journey. She sat on the bench for a little while longer still petting the bird. After a few minutes, she stood up and released the bird. She went back inside and saw Rumple as he was leaving. He motioned for her to come by him. She walked over to him as he kneeled to her eye level.
"Remember what I told you?"
"Don't step outside the castle walls. Don't let anyone in. And if someone breaks in, hide and let the castle handle it."
"Yes, but don't forget about why I'm doing this. I'm doing my very best to protect you. I know you hate being alone, but I will try to make it up to you. I promise."
"And you never break a promise." She smiled at her.
"That's right. I'll be back by dinner." He kissed and hugged her. "I love you, flower."
"I love you too, Papa." He stood and disappeared in a purple smoke.
Rose spent most of the day between the garden and her room. Even with all of the toys that she had, she preferred the two dolls that she's had as long as she could remember. They were first toys her papa gave her. She played with them the most. She played until she fell asleep on the floor on her rose blanket. She was awakened by the sound of the doors opening and closing. Her papa rarely used the doors since he could transport himself in and out of the castle all he wanted. She didn't move from her spot in case it was someone breaking in. She listened closely. She didn't hear a loud crash, slam, or screaming. No one was breaking in. Her papa was home. She left her room and headed down to greet him. She went to the main room, but didn't see him.
"Papa? Are you home?" She got no reply. Was her mind playing tricks on her? She didn't even hear the doors? Maybe she was just anxious. He said he would be home for dinner. She turned to go back to her room when she saw her papa enter the room. "Papa!"
"In the flesh." She ran to him and he picked her up. "Sorry I'm a bit late. It took a while to get my trade here."
"What was it this time?"
"It's a surprise. I'll show you after dinner." He prepared lamb stew, Rose's favorite. Rumple asked her what she did for the rest of the day. She told him about the new games she played with her doll and the pictures she drew. She kept asking him about the surprise he brought home. He told her she would have to wait for it. They finished dinner and Rumple cleaned up with a flick of the wrist.
"Okay. Can I see the surprise now? Please?" He chuckled at her impatience.
"Alright, sweetheart, but I should warn you that this new trade isn't like the others I've brought home. This one is very different." She grew worried.
"Is it bad?"
"Not at all. It's not bad or dangerous. Hopefully, it'll help make up for you having to be alone. With it, you shall never be alone in this castle ever again."
"Really?"
"Really. You stay here while I go fetch it." He rose from the table and went down into the dungeons. Rose wondered why he put it down there. If it wasn't bad or dangerous, why did it need to be in the dungeon? It was a couple of minutes before Rumple returned. He stood halfway in the doorway. "Are you ready for your surprise?"
"Yes! What is it?!" Rumple entered the room fully, but he wasn't alone. He brought with him a woman. She had bright blue eyes, long curly brown hair, and wore a elegant gold dress. Rumple led her over to Rose.
"Rose, this is Belle. She's agreed to come here with us. She's going to take care of the castle. She's going to cook and clean for us. And most importantly, she's going to take care of you when I'm not around." Rose was at a loss for words. Not only is Belle the first person she's met, but she was exactly what she wanted her mama to look like. "What do you think, flower?"
She ran to him and hugged his legs. "Thank you, Papa. I like her."
"I'm glad you do." He lifted her in his arms and turned to Belle. "Aside from the castle, your number one priority is to keep my daughter happy and attended to. If she's not, I won't hesitate punishment. Do you understand?"
"Y..Yes. I just...I didn't know you had a child."
"Then I've done a good job at keeping her secret. Now, it's near her bedtime. Prepare my tea while I put her to sleep." Belle nodded and headed towards the kitchen. Rumple took Rose to her room and prepared her for bed.
"Papa, you found her."
"Found who, flower?"
"My mama. She looks like I wanted her to." Rumple paused for a moment. He had to admit she had the same eyes, hair, and beauty that Rose wanted, but there was no way the woman would love him in anyway. He sentenced her to a life of isolation away from her family and friends. She would learn to love Rose, but not him. He wasn't looking for love, so it didn't matter. The only love he had was for his magic and his children.
"Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. She's just the maid. I can't guarantee she'll be mother material." He tucked her in with her blanket and dolls. She yawned and started to slowly drift off.
"I think...she will be." She nodded off to sleep. He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, flower." He went back downstairs where Belle emerged from the kitchen with the tea tray. "I see you found everything."
"Yes. Your daughter's very cute. She seems sweet." She started to pour the tea into a cup.
"She is. And I expect you to keep her happy and safe. Neither of you are to leave the castle. Ever!" She nodded.
"I understand. Is...Is she yours by blood?"
"No. I skinned her parents and stole her from her crib as a baby." Shocked, Belle dropped the teacup she was holding. Rumple smiled wickedly at her.
"That was a quip. Not serious." He giggled at her. She let out a small laugh as she reached down up pick up the teacup.
"Oh. I'm so sorry, but it's chipped. You can hardly see it." Rumple knitted his eyebrows. Why was she getting so worked up over such a little thing.
"It's just a cup."
"Right." She placed the cup back on the tray and poured a different one. Having her there was going to be interesting for all parties.