Kay friends...half fluff, half insanity...lol. "What have you done" by Within Temptations helped me thoughout the writing of this chapter. Check out the song, it's awesome! Please review, it motivates me! :):) (sorry if I have any gramatical errors, I am very ill at the moment with ashtma, so I am hoppe up on meds, did my best.) lol

It was nearly nightfall. For once instead of tending to his wheel, Rumpelstiltskin sat next to Jade on the sofa, simply watching her fix the basket, weaving golden strands into the wicker as well. Ever since she told him those three words…he was her shadow. Never leaving her be.

"Why…I still don't understand Dearie, why would you fix something that's not broken?" She looked up at him and nodded her head. "Men…such confused creatures."

"It wasn't well made, and it was a pride thing at the moment when I got this thing. I am now making it better!" He tilted his head back, looking at her intrigued.

"Well, alright, if you say so, Dearie." Jade went back to her hobby, the Dark One leaned in, about to surprise her with a kiss. Instead, he was the one who was surprised.

"Someone's at the door", she exclaimed as she moved up, making him fall forward.

He looked up from his seat, on guard in case she needed help. He laughed as he saw her adjust her chest by lifting up her corset.

After opening the door, she greeted the guard with an amused smile. His uniform indicated he was part of the Evil Queen's Regime.

"Hello…what do I owe the pleasure, Darling?"

The guard held out a parchment, beginning to read. Rumpelstiltskin rose up, striding over to the door, attempting to stay out of view.

"On behalf of her Majesty, I am acquired to take you to the Palace as her prisoner on the grounds of Treason." Jade laughed.

"Treason? How so, please, enthrall me, Darling." The guard cleared his throat.

"On the grounds of giving the Queen false information, and the association you have with Lord Rumpelstiltskin." She yawned.

"I am losing my interest Guard, more specific please?" Rumpel smirked at the snarky demeanor of hers. The guard over looked the scroll.

"According to this, you told the queen you have no powers, when you do, and you certainly are the Lord's mistress. "

"So, she wants to arrest be because I am in love?" Rum wanted to jump around hearing her refer to an association like that with him.

"Furthermore…she wants me a prisoner to the fact I have powers? The old witch can't handle some competition?" She let out a disturbing high pitched laugh. The guard nearly jumped.

"Madame, please do not refer Her Majesty as a witch, and I cannot answer her questions," he said as he took out of sword.

"Now,if you'll come with me…"

She touched her chin with her finger, looking to the sky, making a decision.

"Eh, no, I think I will stay her with my lord, and l shall be the "naughtiest mistress"… It's more fun", she said in a mocking tone.

"Madame! Now! Come with me!"

She took four steps forward to the guard. Rum's jaw dropped, was she actually surrendering to a mere man? The guard gave off a timid look at the instant he saw her amused, hungry, expression as she came closer. Inches away from the guard, she looked up, again adjusting her corset, a tactic she was using to distract the guard, which was working. His eyes appeared to be glued to her chest.

"See, I told you my decision, now be a good boy and leave, and I will honor you in return by letting you live."

"Is that a threat Madame? You know you can be executed for threatening someone by the likes of me…such a shame, I'd hate to see a woman with your beauty get wasted in such a manner," he teased as he caressed her arm. She looked back at him in disgust.

Rumpel gave it his all not to turn this man into a snail and cook him alive. No one touched Jade but him, she was his, and always his possession…one of his most prized treasures. "I worked so hard to get her, no way in hell and the heavens will another take her from me so easily!"

Jade closed the space between her and the guard, then laying a quick, hard kiss on his lips. Laughing at his startled stare as she stepped back, she waived her hand in the air. Silvery white smoke enveloped the guard, and then disappeared as a "clink" sound hit the ground.

Jade let out a satisfied sigh as she picked up a golden chain with a large black diamond pendant in the shape of a heart.

Rum watched her in shock as she clasped it around her neck.

"Just what I needed for this dress", she said to herself walking back to tend to her basket. Eager to rejoin him, she looked over at the sofa.

"Rumpel Darling…where are you?"

"Behind you, Dearie." She turned around, un startled at his statement. He frowned at the fact he didn't make her jump.

In an instant, he grinned. He did his best to wipe the proud smile off his face while speaking.

"Did you just turn that man into a necklace?" She nodded.

"Well, of course my love, it's so much less of a mess after a kill. I needed something to go with my dress anyway, and I had nothing to match the ring you gave me", she said casually before making her way back to the sofa.

"Anyhow, he was getting on my nerves…" He sat back down beside her.

"That's my girl," he said.

She took his collar, leaning in, giving him a kiss.

"I'm glad I make you proud. You make me proud as well, Darling".

Rumpelstiltskin moved in closer, crushing his lips to hers. She threw her weight on top of him, he complied by laying down on his back.

Her hair tickled his face so bad, but he didn't care.

"Gods…I love you," he said before forcing his mouth to hers again.

"I love you too," she said back.

Using her magic, she transported him to their bed. Still on his back, her on top of him.

"Nicely done," he complimented.

"Thank you," she said, her mouth inches away from his. Taking her hand, she caressed his cheek. She leaned on her side, resting her head on his shoulder, and gliding her palm over his exposed chest. He wanted to laugh knowing she somehow undid his shirt with her magic. It was odd how she mimicked his powers so quickly.

"Rumpel…"

"Yes, My Dearie?"

"You can lift that curse off of me. You don't need it to keep me around. I do truly love you, you know." She closed her eyes, taking in the woodsy scent he always seemed to give off.

He did his best not to shift around from the discomfort and awkwardness she unintentionally bestowed upon him from her request.

"I'm…afraid I can't do that." She opened her eyes, this time simply staring into space.

"Why not?"

"It's not you…I just can't trust someone to give me such a guarantee." She moved her hand away from his chest, then into his hair, softly twirling the kinked strands around her index finger.

"But won't it make you so much happier knowing I don't need a spell to love you? I sometimes wonder if you think about that…"

"No, I don't Dearie. I have my reasons, therefore I cannot." This time she rose up a bit, her hand still in his hair, looking down at him.

"So…it is I…isn't it, Darling?"

"No…it's others, Dearie" Her brows slightly furrowed, her gaze now locked with his.

"Is it heartbreak you cannot take anymore of?"

He hesitated, closing his eyes, trying to kill the pain he felt. He could tell her why. In all, it was the other two before her… his wife and the Princess.

"I promise I won't give you any heartbreak, well, unless I die…that would be out of my control."

"You cannot die dearie; my powers run though you, you will live for all eternity."

"So…I want to be with you until time then stops…so why can't you do this small task for me?"

"I will not do it. I finally have you, I like it the way things are. Please, do not ruin this moment", he replied. For once, she didn't give him a fight.

Jade laid her hand back on his chest, sighing in disappointment.

"How else can I prove that I love you, Darling? I don't know what else I could do."

The Dark One hated to admit it, but it was his selfishness that stopped him. For once he had some woman to love him in return, things were going well. Little did she know, he made her curse far more powerful when he gave her some of his power. He designed it that way.

2 hours later

Jade woke up. Seeing he was asleep, she carefully slid off the bed. She's been feeling the urge to look at this one particular room. It was unlocked today.

"Why would he leave a room unlocked? That is not like Rum at all to forget even the smallest things…"

Jade looked around before entering the dark room. She quickly found an oil lamp on a table illuminated in the moonlight. Carefully, she lit it up. She gasped at what was laid before her.

There was a twin bed, the sheets tightly tucked into the mattress in an orderly fashion, as well as the pillows. On the dresser was a pile of folded clothes.

Curious, Jade went over to the pile, carefully lifting the first article, letting it unfold. The mysterious item was a tan, long sleeve canvas like shirt. It was…small?

Why would Rum have a child's bedroom like this, without a child?

Baelfire's voice boomed into her head.

"He was my father…" A huff escaped her body. She felt some sort of overwhelming emotion…something so sad and alone…it was sorrow.

"Baelfire, why do you have to be gone?" She folded the shirt back up, carefully placing it on the dresser to its original spot.

Taking a breath, she tried to calm down. "Stop the worries, he is in a better place now, no longer will he be on the run, you will get your revenge, wait, patience pays off."

Another feeling over took her mind…him…her companion. The lonely man, the monster, the Dark One, the one who trapped her. Now it appeared to be out of desperation to be loved. But the fact he did what he did, it sickened her to the core.

"What have you done?" she thought.

"He was my everything you know…I did all of it for him."

Jade jumped at his voice. How in heck did he always manage to creep around so quietly.

Jade did the best she could to pretend she never met him…it was so hard.

She walked up to him, simply holding his hand in hers.

"Tell me about him…please?"

"I…don't know if I could, Dearie."

"Please, Rumpel Darling, I want to know, I want to know what pains the man I love so much." He knew she knew how to get him to crack…with words such as that.

He leaned into the dresser, skimming his fingers across the pile of folded articles.

"Well, he was something. I would have sold my soul, gave up my life…just for him. My sweet Bae. He was my boy, my most treasured possession. He was with me until I…I emerged into my darkest days. I don't understand…I gave him everything. We were a hair away from beggars, we sold wool actually. It has only been the two of us. One day…he disappeared." Rum was too ashamed to admit Bae left him a farewell note, in this very room. Jade leaned into him, her head on his shoulder, and other arm around his waist. She smiled as she felt his curls brush her forehead.

"He was a smart one, very resourceful. He was my conscience really, stopped me from doing so many horrible things to others in retaliation. I used to be normal man, before all of this became of me. We lived in a tiny shack. He always seemed to be fixing something. When I got this castle, he was always around somewhere, trying to fill in a crack, or mend something. He was quite the repairer."

He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. Jade gave him a playful glare.

"And that's that…Dearie!" All she could do was nod her head. She did her best not to sob thinking of her lost love.

"Now…lets get out of this room…very depressing!" He tugged her by the wrist, leading her out. Watching him lock the door behind him, she took his other hand, leading to their room.

Before laying down, she removed most of her attire, until she was down to her petticoats. Getting underneath the covers, she pulled him down with her.

She then leaned into him, cupping his jaw with her hand, laying soft kisses on his face.

"I love you…no matter what", she said.

"I love you to Dearie, not matter what," he replied. He was startled by her furrowed expression.

"Something's on your mind, isn't there Dearie?"

"Yes…" She closed her eyes momentarily, taking a breath.

"Really Darling, there is nothing I can do to persuade you to lift my curse?" The way she called his spell a curse seemed to give him a blow. He thought of it as a spell, a curse was such a dark thing to have…more of a punishment in his eyes. Was that what she thought of it, a punishment?

"The spell" he corrected. "No Dearie, I have my reasons.

"But, I want to prove, and show you that I really care." He sighed.

"That's touching…but no." Her eyes lit up, she had an idea.

"But…what if I lifted it," she asked. In reaction to her question, he sat up. For a moment he looked threatened, and nervous, as if his happiness had been destroyed. He couldn't let her do it. She would ruin the paradise he created.

Suddenly, he went back to his whimsical expression.

"You couldn't do it, even if you tried…it's too complex for a beginner such as yourself, Dearie, why ruin something so great in the first place?"

"So…I can," she confirmed.

"NO…don't even try it."

"Why? Both our true loves are gone. We are happy together, so…just lift it, I am not going anywhere." He looked down at her, searching for the truth, expecting it to be lying in her eyes.

"No Dearie, I am not going to risk losing something so…precious. Not again."

She hovered over his mouth, giving him a soft kiss. At least his refusal was for a wholesome reason.

She leaned back down, her eyes closed.

"You won't lose me Rumpel, why would I leave someone I love?"

"Dearie, I will not break the spell…and, if you even figure it out, I will place it upon you again, making sure if is a strong one as well. Irritated and feeling defeated, she turned away from him, her back facing him. He felt horrible about it, but he had his motives.

"Very well then, Darling", she replied.