When designing the curse, Rumpelstiltskin knew that most of the 'endings' would automatically fall into place. Snow and Charming wouldn't be together, Cinderella and her husband what's-his-name would be separated by his father due to their age and her status in the town. That sort of thing.
However, he made exceptions for some. As he'd planned, Regina was in a poor state for the power she had. He'd made sure that this curse wouldn't allow her to be loved nor to love and that was what she'd really wanted.
He'd also put his own ending in for his wife as well. She'd left him to raise their son alone on account of what the other villagers were feeling about the marriage and him being a coward. So his curse to her was simple yet effective. She had what she'd always wanted in terms of security and wealth but the cost was her being married to him and that meant she was an outcast.
And he'd tried to hate her; he tried to make her as miserable and unhappy as possible when this all began as revenge for what she'd put him through. In his mind she deserved it, but it was very hard to hate someone you were living with for 28 years.
So, a bit of a twisted friendship had formed between the two of them in an attempt to ease the loneliness they both felt. They always took the opportunity to insult each other when they got the chance, but they were still each other's sounding board and the closest thing each other had to a trusting friend. IT wasn't supposed to be what a marriage was meant for but since nothing was what it was supposed to be in this town he just went with it.
Around 7 in the morning, Dawn stirred from her spot on the bed beside him and opened her eyes, "Is it Friday yet?"
"Not yet."
She groaned and rolled over so that she was right against him, "It's going to be slow today. Sidney probably won't even call me in."
"As if that's a bad thing," he muttered. He hated her working at the newspaper but it eased her boredom and he didn't have to hear about it. It also helped that her working there got under Regina's skin. She had originally signed on Dawn to try and find a crack in the public bond that was the Gold relationship but she'd failed. Both he and his wife were skilled about keeping whatever problems or fights they had quiet. Dawn might not have understood what was going on between him and the mayor but she hated Regina almost as much as he did. And so she worked at the newspaper just for something to do and to irritate the mayor and the Ms. Mills had no choice but to smile and bear it because Sidney couldn't possibly do it all by himself.
"And how are you going to spend your time if you aren't called into work."
She smiled, for once her face looked radiant, "I'm thinking of getting the nursery set up today."
He just stared at her. She hadn't ever said anything like that before. For 28 years the others had been in a haze about how long they'd been alive. Ashley Boyd, the little Cinderella of their reality had been pregnant for 28 years. Dawn had waited with anticipation for her to give birth because the baby would go to them. But she had never made plans.
Was time starting to move again? This quickly? Emma hadn't been here two days.
He was going to be a father again. Interesting.
And speaking of Emma…
"I think you should talk to Henry's mother today," he said.
She blinked and then scoffed, "Tell me; why on Earth would I do that?"
She rolled over and grabbed the robe on the floor. He was quiet while she dressed. The scars on her side and shoulder always made him think about what could've happened a lifetime ago.
In her false memories, she thought an abusive father had attacked her.
Dawn realized that he was looking at her scars and pulled the robe on faster, "Why would I be friends with a woman who's probably going to be driven off as soon as Regina sticks her vampire soul sucking claws into her?"
"Oh dear, trust me. I don't think she's going to be chased out so easily."
"What angle are you playing at?"
"Now that offends me," he said with an ambiguous half-smile, "What makes you think I'd do anything with a hidden agenda in mind?"
"Because I know you," Dawn reminded him and kissed him.
"So then will you do it?"
"I'll think about it," Dawn said, "But I'm not promising anything."
"Of course dear," he said while keeping that little smile that he did so well.
