Rose held her mother's hand tightly as they headed out to town. There were so many people there, and rose was rather nervous. She had never been around this many people before, and it was happening a little too quickly for the ten-year-old. Belle noticed her daughter's anxiety, so she squeezed the tiny fingers that held hers. Rose looked up at her.

"It's going to be alright, Rose. I won't let anything happen to you, alright?" Belle smiled. Rose nodded.

Belle was buying some groceries for their supper and Rose lost interest very quickly, but she was reluctant to leave her mother's side. Then she saw some boys playing ball in the streets, and she longed to play with them. One of the boys kicked the ball too far and it rolled to Rose's feet. She picked it up and looked back up at the boys.

"Oi! Give us the ball, will ya?" a boy called. Rose looked at the ball, to the boys, and to her mother. Belle smiled.

"Go on, you can go play with them," she said. "I'll be right over here if you need me."

Rose swallowed and slowly went over to the boys. A boy with wild red hair reached out for the ball.

"Ummm... can I play?" Rose asked. The redhead blinked and looked at her for a minute then looked at his friends. They looked a little nervous at the idea of playing with the Dark One's daughter.

"Well... ya can if ya promise your Da won't skin us," the boy said tentatively, as if she had magic too, and would turn him into a frog for insulting her.

"Don't worry, my Papa isn't mean to kids," Rose said. "Mama says I have him wrapped around my finger, so I'll make sure he's not mean to you."

"Well... Alright then," the boy said.

"I'm Rose," she smiled.

"Thomas," the boy nodded, and Rose started to play with the boys, while her mother watched her lovingly.

The rabbit was going to be fine. Just a few days rest and bandaging and he would be as good as he was before. Danielle was able to make it to school on time, and she was happy now. She walked up to her locker and began to unlock it.

"Well somebody's in a good mood today," a voice said. Danielle smiled and turned around. Behind her were her friends, all boys. Adam, Clive, Hugh, Freddy, Rodney, and the redhead, Todd. She smiled and went up to them.

"Any particular reason why you're all smiling this morning?" Clive asked.

"What, you get a new boyfriend?" Rodney teased.

"Hey, I thought Todd was you're boyfriend!" Freddy said and they all laughed.

"In your dreams!" Danielle said and she opened her locker. "I just helped a hurt animal on the way here, that's all."

"Oh, ain't that sweet," Adam said. "Danielle, the cuddly animal hero."

"Oh, get real," Danielle smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Well, I think it's good that Danny's helping animals," Hugh said. "Maybe she can be a vet, and when Rodney the Rat gets sick, she can fix him up."

All of them started laughing again and Rodney and Hugh had a short play fight by pushing each other around for a minute.

"Boys," Danielle rolled her eyes again laughing, and they headed to class.

Rose got pretty good at playing ball with the boys over the next few weeks, so good that she was starting to let it go to her head.

"Mama! Mama, I'm the best ball player in the land!" she sang as she skipped next to her mother on their way back to the castle. Belle smiled.

"So you have fun today?" she asked.

"Oh yes! Next time I want to bring some of my own toys for us to play with, okay?" Rose asked.

"Yes, yes, if you want to," her mother said.

"Yay!" Rose started dancing around her mother. Belle laughed, her laughter sounding like music.

Suddenly the sound of hoof beats pounding the ground behind them could be heard, and the two of them turned around. A large, black carriage surrounded by guards on horse back was riding up.

"Oh, no..." Belle said quietly. "Rose, stay close to me." And she held her daughter's hand tightly.

"Who is that, Mama?" Rose asked.

"The queen," Belle said.

The carriage pulled up to a stop and the door opened. A beautiful woman dressed in all black poked her head out.

"Why, Belle! What a lovely surprise," the woman smiled. "It's been a long time, dear."

"Regina..." Belle nodded.

"Where are you going on such a fine day?" Regina asked.

"Home," Belle said. "What do you want?"

Regina looked at her for a moment. "To stretch my legs with you, if you don't mind. I have a long journey ahead of me," she said, and she saw Rose next to Belle. "And who is this lovely little girl?"

"Rose, my daughter, now if you'd excuse us, we have to get home," Belle said and began to turn away from the queen.

"Oh let me walk with you for a little bit," Regina smiled and stepped out of the carriage. Belle seemed irritated and a little nervous as she swallowed. Rose was confused. What was this all about?

Regina walked beside the two of them, and she was awfully curious about Rose. Belle was very quiet and didn't even look at the queen. Rose wasn't sure what to say or do, what with the queens guards following them.

"So who's her father, darling Belle, hmm?" Regina smiled and then looked at Rose. "Who's your father sweetie?"

Belle was still silent, looking straight ahead. Rose swallowed and looked from her mother to the queen.

"Rum...Rumplestiltskin," Rose said slowly.

"Rose," Belle said sharply, gripping her daughter's hand tightly as a warning. But it was too late.

"Ahh, Rumple," Regina smiled. "Finally started a family, did he? What a shame I was not invited to the baby shower."

"You have no business in my husband's, my, or my daughter's life," Belle said.

"My, my, aren't we feisty today," Regina said.

"H-How do you know Papa?" Rose asked.

"Oh, we go way back, sweetie," Regina smiled. Rose didn't like that smile at all. "He's the one who taught me how to use magic."

"What?" Belle froze in her tracks and Regina looked at her, still wearing that smug grin.

"What, he never told you?" she asked. "He taught me magic a long time ago. He even taught my mother." Regina chuckled. "Honestly, child, do you even know him at all?"

"You taught Regina?"

"I don't see why you're so upset about this. I taught Regina and her mother Cora how to use magic. Why is it such a big deal?"

"Because it's one of the many secrets you haven't told me! What else are you hiding? Why do you hide things like this from me? Rumple, that woman tried to ruin our relationship and has done countless of horrible things!"

Rose stood outside of the closed door, listening to her parents on the other side of the door. Belle was furious that Rumple hadn't told her anything and that led to questions about what else he was keeping from her. After over ten years of being together, you'd think there would be no more secrets between them.

"Dearie, many of the things I've done don't concern you," Rumple said. "You should leave it at that."

Rose heard Belle sigh.

"Then why don't you tell me? We've been together for years and I still don't know you, and neither does your daughter. How can you expect to be her father when you won't be honest with either of us?"

"Belle, I have been honest with you. But there are certain things about me that... that you wouldn't understand..."

"How do you know if you won't even tell them to me?"

For a long time, there was silence. Rose wished she could see what was happening. Suddenly, by magic, the door swung open, and Belle and Rumple sat on the opposite side of the room.

"Rose, come here," Rumplestiltskin said, motioning for her to come closer. Rose went over to her mother and father. "Rose, your mother is right. I haven't been honest. With either of you. So, here it goes. All of this started when my first wife, Milah, disappeared..."

I want to appologize to everyone about that little hiccup i had when i posted the first chapter twice. i'm new to FF and i couldn't firgure out how to add a second chapter. but i have it up now!

i hope you don't mind filler stuff until we get Danielle to meet her dad again (oops, spoilers!). there's not going to be a whole lot of Danielle with her friends in the book so if they're annoying, they don't add much to the story, with the exception of Todd.

in this chapter, Regina reminds me of a nosy popular girl like some girls i knew in junior high, and i hope you can over look that. (man i appologize too mcuh)

so thanks for waiting so patiently for this next chapter. Hugs and loves!