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Fairytale land/ Temporary Inn

Jade woke up to the sounds of the songbirds gathering from the tree outside. Feeling well rested, she quickly sat up, eager to go to the pub next door and get something for breakfast. Feeling the other side of the bed shaking, she turned, dreading to see what was there, but then she calmed down and remembered last night…which brought a smile to her lips.

Baelfire snored softly, still in his pants and boots, shirtless. That quickly answered her question in which did they, or didn't they take it fully to the highest level last night. All she recalled was how they spoken about anything, and everything, sharing those passionate kisses, holding each other, looking into each other's eyes. She just observed in what she could, watching this handsome, lonely hunter as he slept; his long, black eyelashes resting on his sun damaged, dried, nearly tan complexion, his already thick, crazy hair, more chaotic than ever, the way his tight, powerful, chest heaved up and down, she remembered touching him there last night, recalling how he closed his eyes, almost in ecstasy. Then those brawny arms, how good it felt to be embraced in them, judging by his frame overall, he must have been active most of the day.

For once," she thought to herself, "it was nice to feel loved." Careful not to awake him, she crept out of bed, to go sit on the bench in the corner and brush her hair. Rummaging though her nap sack was quite noisy, hopefully all the clattering of her things wouldn't wake him up.

"oh…good morning, Jade." She tilted her head towards his voice, trying to hide the scarlet in her face.

"Did you sleep well," she asked him. He sat up, throwing his feet over the edge of the bed, trying to pat down his out of control hair.

"Yes…haven't slept this great in ages." He looked at her, just watching her. He asked her to come back to him. Setting down her brush, and then leaving the bench, she did as he asked. Intentionally going down to sit next to him, she was started when his rough hands grabbed her by the waist, setting her on his lap.

"My goodness, you are heavy," he joked. She playfully kicked him with the back of her heal.

"That's not nice, Baelfire," she giggled. He tilted her by the chin with his index finger and thumb, giving her a sweet, short kiss. He smiled when he saw she had her eyes shut.

"So…I have some venison in my pouch on my belt…sorry, I normally don't plan on meeting the perfect woman and staying with her the whole night." Jade laughed.

"Actually, I was getting some breakfast at the inn, then going to the market for some thread. Would you like to join me," she said with a soft plea.

"Anything for you," he replied.

A couple months past

Jade now was in her very own castle. Rumplestiltskin quit the visits, she thought perhaps he caught on she was in love with someone.

She thought it would be difficult to find someone willing to take spun gold for payment when it came to paying for a home…but she didn't realize how many people would have loved to have spum gold. She found a very wealthy lord on the outskirts of the town that needed to rid of some land and a small castle. She made sure it was at least half a day's journey from the Queen's palace. Deep down, she hoped Rumple wouldn't find her. She hated to admit it, but she did sort of miss that pest, but then there was Baelfire, ever so the gentle man he was.

Jade invited him to live with her in her dark, elegant, 4 story , 20 room castle, but he felt it was too soon for that. He wanted to give her space. On the other hand, it made her wonder if he slightly distanced himself from her being she was part evil, but he didn't understand what they had in common either, which could have brought them closer. They both left their parents, one from fear, and the other from hate.

Jade desired him very much to stay with her, she loved getting affection and attention from him. Those nights when she would crawl into her bed alone, so cold, she would think about him. But…he had to be a gentleman and live in that tiny cottage, hunt for his food, and sell his pelts for an income...when he had a wealthy woman under his nose offering him shelter and the best meals possible. "Men," she thought," I will never understand them, such complicating creatures."

Later on in the night

Jade sat at her wheel, spinning her thread into gold, a usual 3 hour habit in her evening. Baelfire wouldn't be back for a few days. She had more gold then a wealthy woman could ask for. Looking at her wheel, she huffed in annoyance. "Maybe I will work on that basket," she thought.

Jade went to a chest in the corner, taking the partially finished basket, making herself comfortable in her chair. All her worries of Baelfire eased away as she weaved. She didn't know what this big basket would be used for, she just have found weaving a nice little hobby.

"Ello Dearie," a voice said near her doorway. No…it couldn't be!

She spins herself towards him, still weaving.

"Seriously…really? How in hell did you manage to find me? I am in this place, the walls are nearly 3 feet thick! How did you even track me down? I didn't even think you'd visit me again…haven't seen you in a couple months, Rum." He stood there, struggling to stand still, as usual.

"So you missed me then, my sweet?" She raised one brow.

"Let's not discuss that," she replied. Then she went back to her work.

"To answer your questions Dearie, I can do anything, like a God." She put her basket to the floor, clasped her hands together in her lap, showing him her undivided attention.

"I actually never believed in God's or the Afterlife…until I met you. You have to be some form of the devil," she menaced. Rumple walked over to her, slightly bent in, hands on knees, to be eye level with her.

"Awe…cheer up girl!"

"I'm assuming you know my next question," she said.

"What do you want," he mocked. She hesitated before replying.

"Yes." Jade hated it when he was right, or even correct. He pulled her out of her chair, taking her into a waltz like dance, against her will. He held tight on her hand, and the other on her waist, she tried to not show her discomfort, he'd like that.

"I came to extend you an invitation…to my home, 6 nights from today. Dinner perhaps?"

"So…you've come to call on me," she replied.

"Precisely, Dearie." She was taken aghast at his request. Baelfire warned her, but then she felt she needed to remain on his good graces for survival.

"Why," was all she could manage to say.

"Can't I ask a lovely women to keep me company one evening…maybe the whole night?" He gave her a naughty stare. Jade broke off their dance, nearly hitting the wall from her bad break off.

"Why Rum…why? I know you, there is always a motive, or agenda with you." He was about to say another excuse, but then he saw her expression. A kind of look that called him bluff.

"Alright, I have a proposal…you couldn't resist." Now her heart echoed through her whole body. "Don't offer him anything else," Baelfires statement lingered in her head. She was so curious though, as to what he would have to offer her.

She didn't realize it, but he walked her into a corner, playing with her hair, almost feeling his breath on her neck.

"You imp, you drive me to madness sometimes. But I guess I could tolerate you." Lovingly, he smiled.

"You know you like it," he retorted.

"I guess…not quite sure," she replied. He held her in closer, crushing his lips on hers, giving her such a sweet kiss, something she wouldn't expect from someone like him…a moment like this.

She looked up at him, not sure how to react. For once she wasn't compelled to strike him, that freighted her, how she could let her guard down around him right now.

"What time," she stammered, distracting herself from the denial, at the thought she could have cared like that for him.

"Seven o'clock…Wednesday night. He took her hand, kissing her knuckles, and then disappeared.

Later that night

There was a knock at her door. "Who could that be at this time." She thought to herself. She took her sword, then ran to the door.

Carefully opening it, it was a tall man in a cloak. A surge of excitement grew within her when she realized it was him…it was Baelfire.

"Come in," she welcomed. He entered, taking off his cloak, hanging it on the wall.

"I…I'd like to talk to you, Jade." She wasn't sure what to think with that statement.

They sat down in her main room, he grimaced when he saw her wheel. In his eyes, it symbolized his father.

"Jade, I want to ask you this question…but there are some things you need to say yes to, in order for me to ask you this question. But…there is something I have to tell you above all." Now she became worried.

"There is a reason why I know Rumplestiltskin."

"Oh?" was all she managed to say. He took a deep breath, then exhaled, acting as this was his final statement before dying.

"He... is my father." She really didn't know how to adjust with what he just said.

"How is that so…he, he is nothing like you!" She had to deny it, it didn't make sense.

"He used to be a good man, cared nothing but for the best of his family. It all came to the end, when they took my sister off to fight, then I a couple days later. He did something…have you ever heard of
"The dark one?"

"Yes, I have," she replied.

"Well, my father killed him, to possess the power. He had intentions on using it for good, but he didn't realize how enormous of a task is was to have it." He sat on the chair next to hers, taking her hand.

"He became such a nightmare to live with, he dealed, what he asked for wasn't money, it was more of a precious possession, examples like first born's, souls, you name is, he's dealt it. I felt like I was living with a stranger, I didn't even see my father in that monster anymore." Jade sighed, still not knowing what to say.

"and to think, he knows you…"

"Small world, isn't it," Jade replied.

"I felt like you deserved to know where I came from, but, if you could keep your connection to me under wraps. I may seek him and tell him, but in the meantime, not now…not yet. I hope you don't think differently of me." Giving him a reassuring stare, she shook her head no.

"Now…for the questions." She couldn't understand what he was getting at.

"This question I ask you, it's very important to me, but I need to know your answers to the others. I never believed in love until I met you, and it's been the best few months I could ever ask for. Do…you love me?" He looked at her, in a timid way.

"Yes, Baelfire, I love you." He turned in to her, this time holding both her hands, tighter.

"Now…now, would you be willing to be with me…until you die?"

"Yes, of course," she replied, still oblivious to what his context was.

"Would you be willing to see me when you first awake, and the last one you see before you fall asleep every night?" Jade smiled and gave him a look like he was an idiot.

"Of course I'd want that."

"Well then," he said and he got up, then kneeling to the ground, taking out a silver, etched band with a filigree etched print, with a heart shaped diamond. He offered it to her.

"Then, would you be willing to m-marry me?" Jade chocked back her sobs as she nodded her head.

"Yes, I will." He slid it on her finger, and then he rose up, grabbing her off the bed, into his arms.

"Thank you, thank you, you have no idea how happy you just made me," he said between kisses.