Hey all, long chap. I appreciate the reviews, please keep them coming, it motivates me and makes so overjoyed you are reading my creation and taking the time. Bealfire will come back in fairytale land. Just be patient. I know I turned Jade into a sex addict psycho, but that unfortunately, is the Dark One's doing. I always wondered how a woman would be similar to the dark one. If she is not disturbing enough, let me know…PLEASE…REVIEW! This chapter was very hard to write, that's all I gotta say…. Remember Peeps…review karma.
Jades House
She called Evan. He picked up on the second ring.
"Oh, Hi Evan…yep, it's me…I'm fine, thanks. Oh, I have a last minute thing that came up; can I meet you at the fest? Okay. Great. Sorry. I can't wait either." She hung up, then sinking into her couch feeling pathetic and ashamed.
She was ready, she's been dressed to the nines, nails and hair done, and make up perfectly in place…for a few hours now. She just couldn't muster the courage to let him pick her up. She needed to procrastinate.
"I hate myself," she said out loud.
Harvest Fest*yes, I stole this event name from another fanfic, I am sorry, can't think of the author to give recognition to.* If your out there, I'm sorry. They live in a tiny ass town, what can they do for fun? Lol
"Come on Miss Jade! Just go over there, he is right there!" Henry and she stood over in a cluster of trees, hidden away from the view of most patrons at the fair. What alarmed her the most was the big wooden floor temporary placed on the grass, behind the floor, a small orchestra playing.
Jades mouth and throat went dry from simply looking at the beautiful set up. She should have told Evan beforehand…she couldn't dance to save her life.
"Miss Jade…he is right over there, come on already!"
"Exactly," was all she could manage to say to the boy. She gulped as she looked across the grounds to a tall, lean man wearing a brown, elbow length, nicely pressed dressed shirt, and a pair of nice black pants. His unruly, very thick, straight, dark brown hair, somehow looking managed.
"Wow…he went through all that trouble…for me," Jade thought. What made her lose her train of thought? He was holding a blood red Calla Lily, attached to a long, vibrant green stem.
"How did he end up picking out my favorite kind of flower?" This time, it was Henry's impatient voice that broke her thoughts up.
"Why are you so scared…he doesn't bite," he said, poking her in the waist, to get her attention.
"I…I don't know Henry, just nervous I guess. He looks so…perfect. Like a prince charming. I…I don't know if I would look good enough to be with the likes of a guy like him."
Henry rolled his eyes, poking her again.
"Miss Jade, you can do it! Quit being such a chicken!" She looked down at him, noticing his annoyed stance, arms crossed, eyes looking up. She felt like she was being pimped out by a ten year old…
"I am not being a chicken," she whispered.
"Yes…you are." The idea of a 26 year old arguing with a 10 year old made her feel foolish. She stepped back deeper into her sanctuary, in the form of the casted shadows from the trees. She looked down, playing with her silver charm bracelet.
"I…I just can't bring myself to it, Henry." She looked over at the boat dock in the distance. "Oh, let's go over there, yeah…we can hide!"
Henry went over to her, this time tugging at her waist.
"Miss Jade, you have to kiss him, remember? He could help break the spell; he could be your true love! Maybe you'll remember something important!" She nodded her head in disappointment.
"You no idea how much I remember, I am freaked out by it all ready." She looked down back at Henry, this time his foot was tapping.
"Oh, come on now Henry, what is it?"
"Miss Jade, I don't get you right now…you fought monsters, lived in a forest, stood up to Rumpelstiltskin, and here, now…you're afraid of a simple guy? You act if Mr. Gold is standing there waiting for you."
"No…but it could be his son, were looking at." Jade immediately regretted uttering that piece of information.
"What?" Henry couldn't believe what he just heard. He repeated himself.
"Wait…what?"
"Well, he his name was Baelfire, we kept it a secret, I promised not to tell Rumplestiltskin. I kept his secret…for Bealfires protection." Henry turned to her, still trying to process it all.
"So, your saying, while you were trying to make a happily ever after with him…um, Evan, his own Father took you as a prisoner," Henry confirmed.
"In a sense…yes." Jade felt like an idiot at the moment. She couldn't even deal with the confused look on Henry's face.
"Evan is his nephew though!" But then, Emma is Mary-margrettes daughter…If that sort of relation exists, and they don't know, then Evan's relations to Mr. Gold could be a strong possibility…oh boy this is crazy", he thought.
"Ok…now you really need to go to him! Miss Jade, you are officially being a chicken!"
"Excuse me little man," she playfully said. Henry threw her hands in the air.
"Ugh…that's it!" He yanked Jade by the wrist, wish all his strength, pulling her over to Evan. Startling Jade didn't help her resistance either.
In a matter of seconds, Evan turned around to hear rustling of 2 pairs of feet. It was her!
"Found her Mr. Gilt!" Jade smiled at Henrys salutation to Evan. It was weird hearing his last name, beginning with Mr. But that was Henry, ever so the little gentleman.
"Thanks Henry! What do I owe you?" Henry laughed. How could this be Rumpelstiltskins son…he offered things to owe.
"Oh, nothing, just treat her right, she is my friend you know!" Henry giggled as Evan playfully roughed his hair with his fist. It touched her how he seemed to be so at ease around Henry.
"You know I will treat her like royalty, little man."
"Ok, cya later, have fun!" Henry jogged off over to Emma from the boat dock.
Jade looked over to Evan, brow arched.
"What do you mean…"what do I owe you?" Nervously, Evan shuffled his feet.
"Well, I couldn't find you…and who better to help me, an energetic kid who knows you." He gave her a sweet look; she playfully slapped him on the shoulder before she hugged him.
"You stalker," she joked. He looked down at her as he moved a few lose strands from her neck to her back.
"You like it," he winked.
"Perhaps I do…" He stepped back losing his words as he looked at her in awe. She looked flawless in her new, strapless, dark violet dress, a simple black sash around her waist, leading him down to the dress's asymmetrical hem. He looked lower at her feet, adorned in a pair of elegant black sandals, a big change from her boots.
"Damn…you look gorgeous. And you are my date! I am the luckiest guy here!" Jade laughed at his modesty. They stopped conversing when the small band began to play the perfect melody, not to fast, not to slow. With hope in his eyes, he held his hand out to her.
"Can I…have the honor of dancing with you," he asked. Jade nearly squeaked trying to hold back the laughter. She took his hand as they walked to the floor.
"I can't dance Evan…I'm sorry, and I should have told you sooner", she confessed to him.
"That's ok, just follow my lead, ok?" "I really hope he knows what he's getting into, dancing with Miss two left feet."
As soon as they emerged the floor, Evan gently put his arm around her waist, then taking her hand in the other.
Nervously, she took a breath. All she managed to say was "alright". Her knees nearly buckled when he moved closer to her.
There were other couples around them, this intimidated her, and how they all moved with each other in perfect unison. For once, she felt like the nervous newbie on stage, for all to see and judge.
His voice broke her away from her self-judgment. Everything faded away when she looked up at him, into those dark, striking eyes, the ones that were with her at all times, in her dreams, her thoughts, and reality.
"Okay, now remember, just follow me. Do the best you can. Go left , go right…back up only 4 steps, now I'm going backwards, that's right, 4 steps to me…good!" He smiled down at her after he spoke to ease the tension.
She did the best she could to listen, knowing he was watching her every move.
"Alright, now let's try something slightly different. "Go left…now go right, good, good, now back up two paces, and let me pull you in." He grasped her, softly reeling her in. They continued their dance. Her nerves eased up. It was apparent she could trust him.
"I'm going to twirl you out, can you handle that yet?" Jade nodded her head.
He twirled her around, people watched as her skirt spun with the edges of her sash flying about, he pulled her back into his chest. She gasped from the soft impact and speed. He took her out once more, this time making her fall slightly backwards, dipping her down. She let out a happy laugh. He brought her back up, being sure she could make eye contact with him.
"Don't look down, always look at your partner…that way I can see your pretty face," he said as he winked.
He held onto her as their first phase of the dance.
"Okay, as we first did, to the left, then to the right, nice, good job, now back up, remember, 4 steps, next one will be two, great…now come towards me, I am going to twirl you now." Again, he spun her out and quickly spun her back in. She softly landed into him, a sincere grin plastered across her profile. She wanted to laugh at herself being so out of breath, compared to his composed demeanor.
"How…how do you dance so perfect" she asked. He held her in close, tilting her chin up. She felt butterflies assuming he wanted to kiss her.
"Remember, look up at me, not your feet, "out of sight, out of mind", remember that saying, OK?" Disappointment hit her, he was only correcting her.
He realized she was abit out of breath. He slowed down their dance as the melody did the same.
"To answer your question Jade, my guardians were dance teachers, if you couldn't tell by now…I have a fondness for teachers." He laughed.
"Oh…I had no idea you knew so much, you're a good teacher yourself."
"Oh, thank you. I only wanted to make you look good," he said.
The melody moved faster, he looked at her, challenging her. She smiled, holding on to him tighter.
"So…how do you know Henry?"
"Oh, I helped remodel the Mayors home last summer. He's a social little guy isn't he?"
She laughed.
"Yeah, I agree. He is so talented; I got to know him when I was his teacher. He is an excellent violinist. Rumor has it, he doesn't like his new teacher," she smirked.
He closed the gap between them, slowing them down, purposely, to get close to her.
"Well, considering his teacher probably looks nothing like you, I could see why."
"Your too kind, Evan. Are you sure you're not taken?"
"Yeah, I am sure. Trust me, I can be quite a weirdo when you really know me." She smiled before she said "I love weirdo's. Makes the world go round".
He twirled her out, drawing her quickly back in.
"Did your sword ever fall off your wall?" He opened their gap up, so they could move faster.
"No, it's pretty secure." She blushed at the vision she had when she touched it last.
"Sorry to change the subject so quickly, I take pride in my work." She softly giggled.
"That's ok," she simply replied.
"So…how have your dreams been, dream buddy?" He laughed.
"Wow…still weird stuff going on in my head."
"Like what B-, Evan." "What the, close call. I need to be more careful with names." She looked up at him, he simply smiled, not noticing a thing.
"Well, I dreamt we were sitting in a castle. I was reading on a sofa you were…wow, can't believe I'm saying this, spinning hay into gold on a spindle wheel. The odd part, it well, annoyed me. Like there was some symbolism behind the wheel I didn't like. Then I thought about that Rumelstiltskin fellow. I woke up from that. Then I feel back asleep. I also remember being a younger boy, I am guessing 15? I remember running off from my own home, hating whoever was with me. This feeling I had…it was the darkest, guiltiest, ugliest feeling I could ever measure. It was like I wanted to leave, but I didn't at the same time. I left a note on a pillow. Then I dreamt of you again. We were just underneath a tree conversing about random things. It was a beautiful day. Then I woke up. Truth be told, I didn't get much sleep. It didn't help that I was excited to see you." He twirled her around once more. They didn't realize it, but a lot of people were observing them. Jade didn't feel timid; she danced so perfectly alongside him, as if they did together for years. They appeared to be the best looking couple on the floor, waltzing so impeccably.
"When you told me you could have trouble sleeping over me that was corny, but earned you some points."
"Oh!" He snickered. "Please, tell me what I can redeem these points for!" She nearly tripped at his response.
"Why don't you top of the corny line. Do you have something up your sleeve?"
"Hymmm…well, Henry believes in this book…don't tell anyone." He seemed confused.
"Go on…"
"Well, he thinks I'm in the book, and you…oh, I can't bring myself to say it." He waltz her all over the floor, hoping she would say those words.
"Please…tell me."
"Eh, don't know Evan."
"Please…" He brought her in close, looking at her in such an intense manner.
"Well, he thinks you may be…my true love. Funny stuff, right?"
She didn't think it was funny, she hoped with all her heart this was true. He dipped her back, then pulled her back up, she smacked into him with a thud, usually he stopped her. He smiled, she said it!
He realized people were still watching them. He moved her around once more, this time at a steadier pace.
"Well…that is corny…but, not as corny as I." She laughed; relieved she didn't humiliate herself so badly.
"Now, how do we figure out if I am your true love?" She looked up at him stunned, knowing how to answer his question, but hesitant to as well.
"Well…see Evan…I need to kiss you." She looked down at the ground. He tilted her chin up. They still moved with each other.
"Remember, look at me." She did as her teacher commanded.
"So…I can kiss you."
"Oh," was all she could say. Somehow, as they moved so perfectly together, he tilted his head down, hers moved up, their lips met. Then something odd happened. The stood still. They couldn't move no matter how hard they tried. They saw the same thing.
She was kneeling on the ground, holding her bleeding, dying hunter in her embrace. She kept telling him, "Our love will save us Baelfire, things will be alright." She kissed him, so many times, chocking the sobs. Trying to not lose it, so she could fix this catastrophe she created. He was dying because of her. It was her fault; she caused all of this by association. "I love you Baelfire, I love you, I love you Baelfire, you are my true love, I will see you again. That's when she looked up at the sky, cursing his murderer, vowing vengeance, turning back to her sweet Baelfire, finally screaming…
After they pulled away, they looked at each other in a new light. They both were tongue tied, but Evan was the first to break the silence.
"Sweetheart?" That endearment, I've heard it before…not in this life though" she thought.
"Baelfire?" She looked around, trying to figure out what happened. He grabbed her one more time, giving her one more kiss. It felt like he was dreaming, it was all too familiar. He looked back at her.
"My sweetheart", he whispered.
"Evan, Bae-", she was cut off by him. He finally realized what happened. He was starting to remember things clearly…to crystal actually.
"There may be people here that could hear us…just call me Evan still. Please." Her heart broke. She loved to say his real name. She wanted Baelfire back…
In a way, he was back, so protective and aware of his surroundings.
"Okay," was all she could say.
"Where do we go from here?"
"Let's just stay here and…dance. I finally have you again," he kindly requested. She did as he asked.
"Evan…you can't do this to me…what did you see? I know you saw something! Please…tell me." Nodding his head, he went on.
"I was dying; you were there, trying to revive me. But what boggles my mind is…you were screaming at my father, as if he was to blame for my death." She closed her eyes, dreading what she was about to say.
"He was." He looked at her, pleading.
"I…I don't understand." She sighed. She could lose him again, not by death, but by anger this time.
"He…he knew me before I met you. He enchanted me, trapped me, he made me into a horrible person. I eventually…was enveloped in the dark."
"What exactly are you referring to when you say…"enveloped in the dark"?
"I mean, he cursed me the night before you died, took me, I didn't have a choice, then gave me some of his power. I became a evil, very powerful woman after you died."
"No," he denied.
"Yes, that's what I've put together." She looked around making sure no one could hear their hushed conversation.
"That's why you died, he found out I was in love with you…an ordinary man."
"Why would he kill his own son though, Sweetheart, I mean Jade. Sorry, old habits die hard."
"Don't kill that one, please. No, but he didn't know it was you. He created a beast, to kill you, he watched from afar."
"My gods…"
"Is he…around in this realm?"
"Yes, there is a possibility, I have someone in mind. He is very close to you as well. He has no idea, that's my assumption. We should keep it that way…for now."
"Yes…we need to sort this out. Take our time. But there is something we don't need to sort out."
"And what is that," she asked.
"That we love each other…right?" She smiled at him, giving the best poker face.
"Yes, that's how it's always been", she lied. "If only he knew of the curse", she thought.
"Evan, would you be willing to come over, spend the night, I can tell you everything?"
"Yes. I feel I need to know."
"Ok." They stopped speaking as soon as an older man's Scottish accent…could it possibly be?
"Mind if I cut in?" She gave Evan a pleading look. He let go of her stepping to the side, once again, her going back to the monster…Mr. Gold. Again, he took her away from her beloved, this time in the form of dance.
He twirled her around. Looking so interested, as if he suspected she was up to something. She looked him dead in the eyes.
"So…I take it your conversing with Evan…not such a good idea. He's bad news. I know your type…you need to go through the incident to learn your mistake. Trust me Dearie…don't go through with this one. You're wasting your time." She looked around; people were staring in shock, wondering how this woman went from kissing a man, to dancing with his uncle.
Distracting herself from the shame, she broke Evan's rule, "never look down at your feet when dancing".
"How are you dancing so gracefully with me? Don't you need a cane?"
"Ah, medication Dearie, wonderful substance, he laughed, than continued on.
"So, are we going to learn our lesson, or falter?"
"Cut the crap Rum, I know why you-", she couldn't say it. He can't know until Baelfire decides. She observed over her partner's shoulder, her beloved, standing there, looking at her so confused. It broke her heart.
Mr. Gold grinned, he almost made her crack. Suddenly, that feeling came back, she felt so heroic.
"You may have won before Rumplestiltskin, but not this time. I can break you in an instant. I could crush you." His dark eyes lit up.
"Na-ah-ah-ah, Dearie, correction is, I can crush you. I could do what I did before…take everything you love, and guess who you will succumb to again, for survival…me! I could do it if I wanted to. I own damn near everything in this tiny town."
She pulled him closer, whispering in his ear.
"I'd like to see you try." She tilted back, swaying with him.
"I noticed you are turning back into your old ways…good."
"I'm doing it to rid of you." He raised his brow, smiling, looking so sinister.
"Oh really? From what I remember, you didn't want to get rid of me…you couldn't get enough actually."
"You fucked me up, Rum, you did that. I was fine until you came back around…stalking me, taunting me, ruining me".
"What can I say Dearie, when I want something, I go after it." She smiled. He could have sworn he saw the gold in her eyes glitter.
"See, that's where you're wrong. I changed, see Rumpel Darling, I am persistent as you, especially when I want something…or someone gone. If only you knew the secrets I kept from you, I could ruin you in an instant." He looked at her; this time his stare sent shivers down her spine.
"Is that a threat, Dearie?"
"No…it's a guarantee. You had your fun with your selfish ways…now it's my turn."
They both stood still. He raised his hand, Jade stood there not blinking, expecting a slap. He did the opposite of something violent, he place his hand gently behind her head, pushing her forward, then kissed her quickly. The flutters came back. Her body fought her mind. She wanted him, her mind screamed for her to run. He walked off, a satisfied smirk on his face. If only the daggers she shot him could kill him, he'd be slaughtered in an instant. She stood there, hands balled in fists at her side. Evan ran to her, glaring at the onlookers.
"What the hell was that all about?"
"He knows," that's all she needed to say. She grabbed Evan by the hand.
"Let's go. I can't stay here anymore. Damage has been done." Evan smiled. She was slowly sounding like the woman he once knew.
They made their way up her porch, she unlocked her door. They went inside.
She held him by the hand, leading him up to her room. She didn't want to tell him anything. She would have rather lain beside him, to stare into his eyes. They needed to make up for so much lost time.
She stood by her bed, her eyes glazed over. She thought she saw his eyes wet as well. He walked up to her, saying nothing, just wrapping her arms around her.
"My sweetheart…why?"
"Ssshhh, were together now, worry later." He held onto her tighter, careful not to choke her. He was paranoid she would slip away.
"Let's just say Baelfire…you're here alive because of me."
The two looked adoringly at each other. Not caring anymore about the false pretenses, standing there, or being different, hiding herself from others.
She glided her hands around his waist, taking off his shirt. He looked at her, so surprised. She was aware he had the body of a god, but she wasn't looking at the perfectly chiseled man before her. She seemed to be in a trance. The tears finally streamed down. She closed the gap between them; he wiped away her tears with his thumb. It killed him to see her cry.
She took of her dress, and then sat on the bed, unbuckling her sandals. She was left in nothing but her matching black bra and underwear. He watched her curl under the sheets. She looked at him, he knew what she wanted. He slid behind her, his face nuzzled in her hair.
"Just…touch me Bealfire, I need you to really show me you're here." For the rest of the night, they simply held each other. They would figure things out in the morning.