The next morning, Rose awoke before the sun rose as she did every morning. The only difference was she still wasn't home. She was no longer in her own castle. She was in the castle of Snow White and Prince Charming. She still didn't know her way around the castle and she didn't know if they had a garden where she could watch the sunrise. As she climbed out of bed, the mirror caught her eye once again. She didn't like seeing herself in the reflective object. It made her uncomfortable and a bit sad. She went over to the mirror and turned it to face the wall. After that, her mind went back to the book she was reading the previous night. Charming interrupted her before she could finish. She wanted to go back to the library and finish it, but she then remembered what Charming told her about wandering without someone knowing where she was. She knew it was too early for anyone to be awake, but she didn't want to sit in that room and do nothing until someone did wake up.
She decided to leave a note. She went to the desk against the wall and pull out a some parchment. She found a blue quill and some ink in one of the drawers. She then carefully started to write. She had to make sure that whoever found it could read it. She did her best to write out "In the library." She then placed the note on the bed and left the room. It took her a few minutes, but she found the staircase that led up to the library. She went over to the fireplace where she last left the book, only to find it wasn't there. Did someone move it? She went back to the shelf where she first found it, but saw that it wasn't there either. She then started to look around the room for the mysterious book, but it wasn't there. Where was it? Did someone take it?
She continued to search for the book until a light got her attention. She looked out over the balcony and saw the sun rising over the horizon. Rose was in awe of watching the sun rise over the ocean. She marveled at how the sun reflected and shimmered over the water. It was truly beautiful and she was in the perfect place to watch it in all it's glory. She used her magic to push the armchair out on the balcony. She then climbed in the chair and continued to watch the sunrise. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She wished her mama and papa could be there to watch it with her. She knew that it would be impossible for Rumple to be with her, but she wondered about Belle. Rose had sent her a letter telling her that she got to the safe place, but she never got a letter back. Did she not get it? Did something happen to her? She worried that she may never see her mother again.
"Rose?" The voice brought her from her thoughts. She looked around the chair and saw Snow and Charming entering the library. "There you are. Didn't we talk about you wandering off by yourself last night?"
"I left a note on the bed. I was really careful so you can read it." Before he could respond, Snow cut him off.
"And we saw it. It's okay." Charming wanted to protest, but Snow gave him a look telling him to let it go. "What are you doing out here?"
"Watching the sunrise. It's so pretty here." Snow smiled as she sat on the arm of the chair.
"I know. It's beautiful. Do you always watch the sunrise?" She nodded.
"Every morning since I was two. I watched from the garden on a hill. Sometimes Papa watched it with me and combed out my hair." Snow and Charming couldn't imagine the Dark One enjoying a sunrise while combing a little girl's hair. It was almost comical. Snow saw the slight sadness in Rose's eyes. She could see that she missed being with her father. Neither Snow nor Charming could see anyone wanting to be with the Dark One, but it was obvious that he wasn't what they thought he was. The love Rose had for him was proof of that. Snow placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You know, we can take you to see him anytime you want. That was apart of our deal and I'm sure he'll want to see you." Of course Rumple would want to see his daughter. To Snow and Charming, it seemed that she was the only person he cared about other than himself. Rose looked up to them.
"Can I see him today?"
"Of course you can. Whenever you want."
"Can I go see him now?" Charming chuckled.
"How about after breakfast? We can go right after." She smiled.
"Okay."
The next few months were very unusual and interesting for everyone. For one thing, Snow and Charming took Rose to see Rumple everyday. She would stay with him for hours. Sometimes, the royals left her there so she could have private time with her father without them hovering over them. They had never seen an odder sight than Rumpelstiltskin, the all-powerful Dark One, playing Papa to a five-year-old girl. It was truly a sight to behold. It was a normal occurrence for Rose and she missed it. She still missed Belle terribly. Rumple tried to comfort her, telling her that Belle was okay and would be fine, but he worried as well. He couldn't be sure, but he didn't want his daughter to carry that worry.
When Rose wasn't with Rumple, she was with Snow or Charming or in the library. Along the way, she had made friends with the dwarfs, including Grumpy. He wouldn't admit it, but he grew fond of the young child. She even met Red Riding Hood and her granny. Snow decided it was best that they didn't know who Rose really was. After seeing what happened with the dwarfs, she didn't want Rose to have to go through that again. Rose had adjusted to her new life fairly well, but in the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn't last. She now knew of the curse that would change everything. As Snow White's due date for the baby grew closer, she knew the curse was getting even closer.
A loud scream brought Rose from the book she was reading in the library. It sounded like Snow. She closed the book and ran down the stairs to see what was going on. There was a bunch of commotion in the halls. She saw servants, knights, and a few of the dwarfs running down the hall. She caught up to one of the dwarfs. He looked at her and she saw that it was Happy.
"Happy! What happened? Why is everyone running?"
"It's Snow White! She's having the baby! Isn't that great?" He then ran off again. Rose grew worried and afraid. The day of the curse had come. The curse would hit not long after Snow White had the baby. She heard another scream and ran in the direction of it. She ran to Snow's and Charming's bed chambers. Snow was on the bed, writhing in pain. Charming was next to her holding her hand and trying to comfort her while Doc dipped a rag in a bowl of water beside them. She let out another scream.
"NO! I CAN'T...HAVE THIS BABY RIGHT NOW!" Charming looked to Doc.
"Doc, do something." Doc dabbed the damp rag on Snow's forehead. Charming kept comforting Snow. "It's gonna be okay. The wardrobe is almost finished. Just hold on."
"Snow?" They all turned and saw Rose standing in the doorway. Doc went over and urged her out of the room.
"Come now, Rose. You shouldn't be in here. This isn't something you should see."
"Is Snow going to be okay?"
"She'll be fine. Women have babies everyday. This is perfectly normal." He got her out the door, but she stopped him before he closed it.
"Wait. What can I do?" She bent over and made eye contact with her.
"Find someplace safe and stay there." He then closed the door. She was suddenly attacked with visions. She saw running black horses on a trail and Snow White in her room still screaming. She then saw a carriage making its way to the castle. Inside the carriage, she could see the evil queen. Some distance behind the carriage, she saw a familiar giant purple smoke. The visions then stopped and Rose gasped as she fell to her knees. The evil queen was coming. As she stood up, she saw Geppetto, an old wood carver, coming down the hall with a smile on his face. He didn't seem to see Rose as he passed her and opened the door to the royals' room. She looked in to see what was happening.
"It's ready." He must have meant the wardrobe. Rose knew all about it. She would sometimes be in the room while Geppetto and his son, Pinocchio, were building it. She sometimes even helped. Charming went to pick up Snow, but Doc stopped him.
"It's too late. We can't move her." Geppetto turned to leave and saw Rose standing in the door. He escorted her out as Snow began to push.
"You should not be in there. You need to find someplace safe." He then left her standing at the door. Someplace safe? There was no place safe. The curse was coming and nothing could stop it. She was worried. She worried for what the curse would bring. She worried for what would happen to everyone. She worried for her father and mother. She worried for herself. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know how long she was stuck in that spot, but a loud cry brought her from her thoughts. It was the sound of a baby's cry. She re-entered the room and saw Snow holding the baby in her arms. She ran over to see her. The tiny crying baby was wrapped in a handmade blanket with the name "Emma" embroidered on it. Rose smiled.
"She's cute." Snow looked up to Rose and smiled.
"She is." Rose's face then fell as she remembered something.
"Wait. I thought the wardrobe could only take one. If Emma's here, who's gonna go in it?" Snow and Charming then realized this and their joy was short lived. Snow looked up to Charming.
"It only takes one." They could hear the loud commotion outside.
"Then our plan has failed. At least we're together." Snow looked to baby Emma in sadness.
"No. You have to take her. Take the baby to the wardrobe." Charming and Rose were both in shock.
"Are you out of your mind?" Rose thought the same thing.
"It's the only way we have to save her."
"No, no, no. You don't know what you're saying."
"Yes, I do. I have to believe that she'll come back to us." She looked to Rose. "You've seen it. She will come back to us, won't she?"
"I..." Rose didn't know how to feel. Her visions never played out how she thought they would, but the end result was always the same. "I think she will. I don't know how, but she will."
"Then we have to. We have to give her her best chance." Snow and Charming were both in tears and Rose could understand why. They had to part with their baby right as she was born. She knew the pain of being separated from her parents. It had to be much more painful the other way around. Charming looked to Emma and kissed her forehead, as did Snow as she said her goodbye. Charming took Emma from Snow's arms and kissed her. He then took Emma and ran to the door, stopping to grab a sword. He then ran out to the halls. Rose hugged Snow as she cried over her daughter.
"I'm sorry." Snow hugged her as she cried. Rose felt sad and wished there was something she could do. She couldn't control her visions or change them. They happened whether she wanted them to or not. Snow looked to Rose.
"You...You have to get out of here. Find someplace safe."
"But what about you?"
"It's okay. I'll be fine, but you need to go. You can't let Regina find you. Even with this curse coming, she may still try to hurt you."
"But..." She shushed her.
"I've already lost one little girl that I love because of her. I am not going to lose another." Rose didn't want to leave Snow. She grew to love the woman as well. There were loud crashed and running footsteps outside the door. Snow looked Rose in the eyes. "Go and be safe."
"I..."
"Please, Rose. Go." With that, Rose hugged Snow one last time, then ran out the door. She saw the hall was clear and took off. As she ran, she saw Charming fighting with two of Regina's knights. He took them both down, but she saw he got stabbed in the shoulder. He was barely able to hold Emma. She ran to him as he kicked open the door to the nursery.
"Charming!" He turned and saw her.
"Rose! Get out of here! It's not safe!" Another one of the knights rounded the corner and saw them. Charming saw this and looked to Rose. "Rose!"
"Yeah?" He knelt down and pushed Emma into her arms.
"Put Emma to the wardrobe!" Before she could question him the knight ran and attacked Charming. He blocked his attack with his sword. She held onto Emma tightly so she wouldn't drop her. She used her magic to open the door to the wardrobe and she gently placed her in it.
"Find them, Emma. They need you. We all do." She closed the wardrobe and locked it. As she turned, she saw Charming get stabbed by one of the knights. She gasped in horror as he fell to the ground. She backed up against the wardrobe in fear. The knights then turned their attention to her. She was afraid and suddenly disappeared in a pink smoke. When the smoke cleared, she saw she was at the entrance of a familiar tunnel. Without the guards, she was able to enter. She ran until she rounded the corner and saw Rumple in his cell. His eyes widened in shock as he saw her.
"Rose? What are you doing down here?" She ran over to him in tears.
"Papa!" She stopped in front of the bars that separated them. "It...I...He..."
"Flower, calm yourself. What happened?"
"It's...the curse. Snow had Emma and...and...Charming...he...Papa, I don't want this curse!" He hated seeing her so pained and distressed. He wished there was another way to find his son, Baelfire, but the curse was the only way. He took her hand in his and looked in her eyes.
"I know it's scary, flower, but we both knew this was coming. Once the curse hits, you won't remember anything about it. No one will."
"Will we be together, Papa?" He didn't know the answer to that, but he felt it was most likely a no. He created the curse, but Regina had her own touches to it. The curse was meant to take away everyone's happiness, that included his own.
"I don't know, flower. We may not be." Rose fell to her knees and cried even more. She didn't want any of this. She wanted everything to go back to the way they were. She didn't want to be away from her father. She wanted her mother back. She didn't want to be without them. She looked up to him as her locket began to glow.
"Papa, I'm scared."
"I know, flower. To be honest, I am too. I don't know what will happen and that frightens me, but we have to hope that it will not be as bad as we think it will be." She just wanted it all to stop. She didn't want the curse. There was loud thunder outside the cave and Rose's locket grew brighter and brighter. He could see the purple curse clouds approaching them in the cave. "Rose..."
"I just want to be with you, Papa." As the clouds surrounded them, there was a flash of pink and white light.
Rumple awoke to the loud buzzing of his alarm clock. He groaned as he reached over and shut off the annoying device. He sat up and stretched his arms. He looked around and saw that he was no longer in his prison cell in the tunnels. He was in a large bedroom in a king-sized bed. He could also tell that he was no longer in the Enchanted Forest. Regina must have cast the curse successfully. The last thing he remembered was Rose coming to him in the tunnels, crying and afraid. He wondered if she was still his daughter in the new world.
He pulled off the sheets and went to stand, but there was a crippling pain from his ankle. It was the same ankle that he had purposely broken centuries ago. He already hated the new world. He saw a black cane with a golden handle leaning against the nightstand. He grabbed it and used it to pull himself to stand. He slipped on his slippers and left the room. Outside of his room, he saw a long hallway with a few doors. Regina did promise him comfort in the new land. He, once again, had a rather large estate. He preceded to open each door down the hall. He found a bathroom, a closet, and an empty bedroom. His hope began to dwindle. Perhaps Rose wasn't his daughter in this world. Maybe she was elsewhere, thinking she was someone else's child.
There was one last door to check. He walked over to it and saw it was cracked open. Prepared to have his hope crushed, he pushed the door open. It was another bedroom, but he saw a bulge from the bed. He slowly approached the bed and pulled back the sheet. He sighed in relief and smiled as he saw the heavenly face of his daughter. She was with him. She was his. He didn't bother to question it. He was just glad she was there. He knelt in front of her and tickled her nose. Her nose twitched a bit and he tickled it again. She let out a small giggle, but didn't wake up. He tickled it a third time and giggled herself awake. He was met with the bright emerald eyes he loved so much. He smiled at her.
"Good morning, sweetheart." She smiled back.
"Morning, Daddy." He thought it odd, but he figured it was normal in this world.
"Sweetheart, let me ask you a few questions. Answer them as best you can. Alright?"
"Okay."
"Alright. What's my name?"
"Mr. Gold." Really, Regina?, he thought. Was that the best she could come up with?
"Okay, good. What do I do?"
"You have a pawn shop and...a...is it a landlord?" It clicked in his mind. He was the most feared man in town. He practically owned the town.
"Very good. What is the name of the town?"
"Storybrooke." That was a curious name. Speaking of names, if his had changed, it was a good chance everyone's name was different.
"Alright, one last question. What is your name?"
"My name is Lily."
And that is the end of this story! Thank you all for following and loving this story. I enjoyed writing it for you guys and I hoped you guys enjoyed reading it even more.
And before you guys lose your minds, there is a sequel to this. Did you really think I would end it like this? That would be much too cruel. Look out for the continuation for Rumple's Rose. Coming soon to a computer near you!