Pepper's Tavern

At the tavern Michaela sat down in the far corner nervously, searching for him, but he hadn't arrived yet. Hoping to calm her nerves, she decided to drink the stout she had bought. It did nothing to ease her fear, but at least it was numbing just a tad. Once finished, she went back to the front and picked up another mug.

He was calmly sitting at the table she had just left. The imp was cloaked in red and gold, but she saw his reptilian skin peek through the hood. "Glad you're having a good time dearie."

Her stomach lurched, she had hoped never to see again. She had done her part in their deal, but she got the feeling that he didn't feel the same way. Trying to limit the time she spent with him, she handed him her satchel. "I have what you want."

"No, you don't." He corrected her. "I wanted the baby, but I'm settling for her linens." He opened the bag to inspect what she bought.

"But our deal only had me changing the blankets to what you had given me. I did that. I'm innocent."

"No one is innocent." He points his finger straight at her. "Especially not someone like you." As to demonstrate he points to a few drops of blood on one of the otherwise white sheets."What is this?"

Michaela looked sick. That's Rose's." It happened toward the end of the baby's suffering. When Rose's throat was raw from coughing so much, little specks of blood came out. When she first saw the infant struggle Michaela felt guilty, but she kept reassuring herself that the baby wasn't going to truly die. It was a small comfort as the royal family was in turmoil that entire time.

"Yes, that's from a baby. A baby you were willing to let suffer so you could get out of your engagement." He chastised her. "So please don't act as if you're the victim. I'm sure the king and queen would argue otherwise."

She swallowed hard and another regretful knot formed in her stomach. The linen-maid witnessed Queen Regina became despondent, hiding in her chambers most days. King Leopold resumed his public duties, becoming detached. All the while Snow struggled mightily as another loved one's death entered into her life much too soon.

Having sufficiently rubbed her actions in her face, Rumpelstiltskin moved on to other pressing matters. "How did you get these sheets without the palace knowing?" He had to make sure this wouldn't get traced back to him.

The last thing he needed was Regina's full wrath directed at him.

"My lady the Queen requested that every single item from the nursery be destroyed. I grabbed some of the sheets before they threw it in the fire. No one noticed them missing." Curiosity with a mix of the alcohol she just chugged got the best of her. "Why do you need them?"

"That's my business dearie. Speaking of which, ours has concluded."

She exhaled, visibly relaxing at the news. "Then I'm free?"

"You'll never have to see me again." He giggled as he bowed.

She drank the rest of her drink merrily as the imp left the establishment. She didn't noticed that he stopped ever so briefly to talk with the owner.

"Did you handle your part?" He asked.

"Yes, sir. The poison was placed in her drinks."

"Good. Our deal is done then."

The Enchanted Forest

She cautiously approached the clearing in the woods. Granny had left Red with some neighbors while she made this dangerous trip. She hoped that the girl would never find out about the purpose behind the voyage.

Stepping out of the shadows,Rumpelstiltskin asked her. "How's your granddaughter doing?"

"You know how's she's doing." She knows that this monster could destroy her with a flick of his wrist, but she didn't care. She had no time for his games. "It's why you're here." She knew that he had a penchant for making deals and she was prepared. She bought her a bag filled with all the gold she had.

"Ah, yes." He wagged his finger. "Your granddaughter has picked up the family trait." He looked at the tiny bag in her hand and snorted. "I have no need of gold, especially the pittance you've bought."

Her heart sank. She had nothing else to offer him "I need your help."

Playing the game, he inquired, "What are you looking for?"

"I need a potion to cure her. I don't want her to go through what I had to endure."

"Can you be more specific? " He teased the older woman."Do you mean you want her to not be a werewolf or you don't want her to become like her mother and leave you?"

She pulled up her crossbow and aimed it directly at his face. "Don't you ever bring up my daughter Anita!"

He pushed the arrow back with his finger. "Point taken." He giggled, though the weapon posed no real threat to him, he had a certain amount of respect for her gumption. "There is no potion to cure your granddaughter, but I do have a solution for your problem." He lifted his hand and with a puff of purple smoke, a beautiful red cloak appeared. "This will help your granddaughter. Whenever it's wolf's time, if she's wearing this enchanted cloak, she won't change. "

l. would have to do, but she eyed him suspiciously. He never did any favors without expecting something in return. "All of your magic comes with a price, Rumpelstiltskin. What do you want?"

"Glad you ask." He bowed low and extended her arms wide. He got up and pointed at her. "I need your special skills to find something precious to me." She didn't transform to a wolf anymore, but she still had some of her heightened senses.

Granny shook her head. She knew better than to rush into a deal with him without knowing all the details. "I'm no fool. I know you're hiding something. What is the item you're looking for?"

He theatrically clutched his heart in a mock pain. "I'm hurt that you think that about me." When he saw Granny wasn't amused, he took on a more serious tone. "Fine, dearie. I'll tell you. Someone took my child from me and I want her back."

Granny wasn't fooled by his lie. She couldn't picture anyone loving him, a monster who preyed on the weak. "You don't have a child." Probably some poor soul who was desperate to make a deal. "This baby belongs to someone else.'

"That's where you're wrong. She's mine. Her mother forfeited her when she made a deal with him." He chose his words carefully; as far as he was concerned when Regina decided to become his apprentice and made a deal to fulfill a favor for him, she gave up all rights to the child. "Believe me when I say the girl is better off with me than her mother."

While Granny would do almost anything to protect her precious Red, she wasn't willing to sacrifice another family's happiness for that. "I won't steal a child from her own crossed her arms. "Go find another soul to do your dirty work."

"Hmmrph..aren't we so sure of ourselves." He muttered. "The girl is not with her family. She was stolen by someone else to be used for some nefarious purpose."

"Unlike you, who would raise her with love?"

"Watch your tongue or I'll take it from you!" He snapped. The older woman was much more mouthy than he heard. "I'm not going to debate with you all day. The deal is simple - I'm offering you a chance to keep Red safe in exchange, you will find this child for me."

Granny considered the offer. She really had no other options, she needed his red cloak.

"Why do you need her?"

"What is it with everyone being so nosy?" Rumpelstiltskin placed his hand out to let her that he wasn't going to share. But he conceded, "If you it makes you feel better, I give you my word, I will not harm the child." He lifted his right hand as he made the vow. "Do we have a deal?"