Once Upon A Time

The night winter winds brought chills down Dagian's back and arms despite the fact that she was wearing two layers of clothes and a cloak that was wrapped around herself and her four month old son.

It was a harsh biting winter and while a few of the men had finally returned, they were too traumatized and barely able to work. It was up to the wives and daughters to harvest most of the food and Dagian prayed they made a good deal at the market come spring. However that was unlikely if the other villages had suffered as much as they had.

Baelfire cried in her arms and shoved a handful of her hair in his mouth. He was a good baby but he weak from being born early. Dagian had feared several times that he wouldn't' survive the winter. The very idea of her son dying angered and upset her. He'd survived her stress and worry and it would be insulting that their son would die because a man who lived in the cowardice of recruitment put his hands on her.

She still hadn't told her husband about her encounter with Daius. Why would she? There was nothing he could do and aggravating Daius any further might get both of them recruited before their son reached half a year.

Besides, if she told him what happened then he would probably blame himself because Daius came looking for him. And he was already feeling guilty and humiliated for running.

There was still a tension between her and her husband that neither one could ease no matter how hard they tried. She thought that once her body had healed and they made love again and started reestablishing the connection they had... then things would be easier.

It hadn't.

Maybe it was her fault. Her emotions were settling back to normal and the baby was keeping her awake at night. Maybe when Bae actually slept throughout the night and she got more rest then things would be better as well.

Because it wasn't her husband's fault, Rumpelstiltskin did his best to make her happy and no matter what she did she couldn't quell the small voice in her mind screaming that she'd married a coward instead of a soldier.

No, that didn't matter. He was home. The war was pointless and as much as she wished she could shove those thoughts out of her mind she realized that it was easier said than done.

Bae finally yawned and rested his head on her shoulder.

Sometimes the house got far too heated sometimes during the winter. Her husband was a heavy sleeper but she and Bae weren't and sometimes one or both would wake up sweating.

"You ready to go inside?" she asked her son and kissed him affectionately, "I think we're ready to go inside."

A horse whinnied down the road and she froze. Horses were hard to come by in this part of the Realm but the horses that they did have were taken for the war.

Recruiters didn't come during this time of night either. The only people that would be coming through here would be pillagers.

She shifted her son in her other arm and reached for a large wooden branch that could serve as a club. Looters were always something her father feared after war. Her father had called them insane men who would rob, murder, and rape in an attempt to take advantage of the chaos that war caused.

But a light from a torch nearby caught the reflection of the man's face and she recognized him as Petyan. One of the shepherd's in a neighboring village.

He pulled the horse to a stop and slumped off the horse, Dagian grabbed him to keep him from stumbling completely to the ground.

"Dagian," he wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her cheek; "Dagian we did it."

"We won?" she asked.

"No," he whispered, "We survived. Dagian, they released us. We're coming home."


Once Upon A Time in Storybrooke

It was well past dark when Dawn heard the front door opening. She was getting ready for bed when her husband came in.

He looked at the clock and then looked at her, "Were you waiting on me?"

"Yeah the house is just…," she shrugged, "Too big. It's too quiet and I guess I'm not used to it yet."

"Well," he walked behind her and kissed the top of her head, "it has been less than a day, my dear. Your unease in a house when you've lived in an apartment all your life is understandable."

She walked to the window and looked out, "I did notice your bodyguard following me though."

He took off his jacket "Yes, I wanted to make sure you would be safe."

She smiled and shook her head, "If I didn't know any better I'd think you cared."

"I don't," he replied and started undressing. She blushed and turned to give him some privacy, "However I am invested in our future together and I wouldn't want anything to happen to my new wife the day after we're married."

"You really don't care?" she frowned.

"Your father cared and look what happened,"

She turned to glare at him and he shrugged and pulled on a long sleeve shirt over his t-shirt, "Emotional entanglements leads one down very dark paths. And I think you of all people would agree with me. Especially knowing what your father did to you and your mother even though he claimed to love you. All I'm saying my dear is that I don't mind treating you with affection and one day I'll even come to care about you. But don't mistake that I'll ever love you, it's just not in my nature anymore."

Dawn felt her chest tighten up involuntarily and she didn't understand why. She'd only married him because she wanted out of a bad situation, she didn't really expect to love him back either. She hadn't even expected him to keep her around that long but he kept saying that he was invested in their future which meant that he was making plans. Which meant that he was planning on keeping her around for at least awhile before he tossed her back as soon as he got bored with her.

And speaking of which, she might as well get this out in the open because she didn't want to spend however long she had here living in fear,

He pulled back the comforter and crawled into bed and she followed suit, "And how long are you thinking of keeping me here?"

He looked at her, "What?"

"How long until you get bored with me?"

He looked hurt, "You're not a pet or a toy darling. You're my wife and I'm going to hold you with more respect than that. I know that I'm hardly a gentleman but come on, you think I'm that low?"

"I've been disappointed before."

"Oh my dear," he shook his head, "We need to get you in some therapy or something to handle your trust issues because I'm not the kind of man that'll throw you back to the wolves as soon as I get what I want. Well, that's not entirely true…usually I am...but you're a different case darling. You're my wife."

She propped herself up on her elbow, she could be creeped out by this but she couldn't help but find this all fascinating, "So…you're not going to love me but you're not going to abandon me either."

"All I ask is for your loyalty."

She tried to process all of this. She didn't really expect any different from him off all people. Now that she admitted it, it was enough of a shocker that he admitted he would eventually care.

"Do you promise me that you won't abandon me?" she asked. He never went back on his word.

He nodded and brushed some hair out of her eyes, "I give you my word."

She didn't pull away at his touch, so he rested his hand on the side of her face and traced her cheekbone with his thumb

He smiled the first warm…ish looking smile he'd had since they married.

She couldn't deny that despite the fear and hate he caused around him the joy he derived from it that he was a very…attractive man in his own unique way. A bit rough around the edges and she had a feeling that those deep brown eyes of his hid things that she'd never understand. But while he wasn't drop dead gorgeous like the sheriff, he had his own attraction that she could help but admit she was drawn to.

"Well darling, we both have our own lives we need to get to tomorrow."

"What life?" she muttered and turned over.

"The life that you're going to have now that you're the new Mrs. Gold. I imagine our friendly journalist Mr. Glass will probably want a full interview."

"Screw him," she muttered, "If he tries then I'm telling him that you and I haven't slept in two nights and we had to pay a hefty fine because of all the noise we were making."

"Oh," he scooted behind her and she could practically hear the smirk in his voice, "Would you like to put that to the test?"

"Not yet darling," she buried her face in her pillow, "I don't think I like you that much yet."


Present Day

Dawn examined herself in the vanity and brushed some stray hairs off the shoulder of her suit jacket and smiled as her husband came into the room.

"Hey honey," she smiled when she saw her husband, "How was your morning?"

"Close your eyes."

"Hm?" she asked.

"Close your eyes. I have something for you."

"Oh?" she closed her eyes and smiled as he pushed her hair back and over her shoulder and pressed his lips against her throat, "Oh honey if you're just trying to seduce me it's going to have to wait till tonight because I just got dressed."

"Shh," she felt something small and cold against her throat and she opened her eyes.

A diamond necklace rested against her throat.

She touched it and looked at him, "What's the occasion?"

He kissed her cheek and rested his head next to hers so he could examine the necklace around her throat, "Just enjoying spoiling my beautiful wife."

"You've never bought me anything like this."

"You never ask for anything like this," he rubbed her shoulders, "It's just something from the payment of the land the town council bought which they're going to announce about today."

She sighed, knowing where he was going with this, "I was hoping to bribe work into giving me more hours today."

"Dear, the point of working is to make them pay you, not to pay them."

"I know what this is," she smiled and saw him smile as well, "You're hoping this will convince me to come to the council meeting with you without complaint."

"Not entirely."

"Yes you are," she teased, "This is exactly something you would do."

"Oh darling, this isn't a bribe." He kissed her cheek, "Because there's going to be a show today."

"Oh, a show?" she turned in her seat in mock intrigue, "Whose going to look like an idiot?"

"Grab a coat and you can come see."

"Oh, that's cold," she stood and followed him


As Dawn watched Emma talk about the plans for a supposed summer house in the woods, Dawn couldn't believe how easily she'd been duped.

Why would Emma believe someone that was so obviously working for Regina? The man was as transparent as well…glass.

Maybe it was because she knew Glass for far longer than Emma did. OR maybe it was because she was married to a man that liked to tell her about some of the inner workings of the town whenever he got bored and wanted to entertain her as well.

Regina smirked while Emma rambled on and she knew that the sheriff was about to be made a full out of.

Dawn looked down at her husband as he put his hand on her leg and tried not to smirk in a way that would give away some of his knowledge.

"I know this may seem like a dumb question," Dawn said as she leaned into his ear, "But why didn't you just clue her in?"

"She wouldn't believe me," he whispered back, "The best way to handle Emma is to let her realize that she can't do this without me."

"You know, sometimes your want for Emma to remove the mayor from her position is quite extreme. Will you ever tell me why you hate her so much?"

"Let's just say that it's very long and complicated."

She sighed, "Well that's more than what I normally get."

Regina held up a remote and clicked on the button, allowing the projector to show a representation of a playground that she'd had created.

"Oh my," Dawn muttered as she shook her head, "That's supposed to be better than the one by the water? IT's so….shoddy!"

Gold looked over toward Emma as the woman looked like she'd rather dig a hole in the ground and curl up there.

"I almost feel sorry for her," Dawn said.

"Yes," Mr. Gold said and his fingers curled around his cane, "So do I."


Once Upon A Time

Dagian wrapped her cloak around her body to shield her from the wind as she walked to the well that was on the outside of the village. She would normally go to the one in the center of the village but it was currently being swarmed by the other women who were trying to get water for their loved ones who had survived their time in the battle and the journey back.

This was much quieter, and she could avoid all their stares.

Rumpelstiltskin and what he did was accepted because some of the women felt safer with a man there regardless of his injury. But now that some of their men were back she was scared that they'd turn on him.

Things were about to get a lot worse she feared.

She pulled the bucket of water up from the well and emptied it into the pitcher that she carried with her.

They had three men from neighboring villages in their house. They were severely dehydrated and were in need of a good bath. That latter part would have to wait until the morning but she still knew that she wouldn't be getting any sleep that night.

"Hello Dagian,"

A man in a dark cloak appeared right behind her and she stumbled backwards and dropped the pitcher.

Her hand went to her dagger that she carried with her but before she unsheathed it, he waved his hand and the blade went flying out of her hand.

"No need for that, it wouldn't work on me anyway."

"Who are you?" she demanded and backed up until her back was pressed against the column of the well, "How do you know my name?"

"I know quite a lot about you, but name is unimportant at the moment. But in the years to come you and the others shall know me as the dark one."