Danielle stared in the mirror for another minute or two before she shook her head. Just because she and Mr. Gold had brown eyes didn't mean anything. Lots of people had brown eyes. She shook the idea out of her had and grabbed her purse. She was going to have some fun.

First: shopping. Usually Danielle didn't like shopping, but that was because she was only allowed to go with Regina, and Regina always picked out things for her. Danielle never agreed with anything that Regina got for her, and they would always argue before Regina gave up and said, "Just pick something, I don't even care anymore."

But now Danielle didn't have to argue to get the clothes she wanted. She could pick out whatever she felt like. She would just have to b careful to watch the prices now because her mom wasn't buying anymore.

After getting some new shirts and a scarf and a hat and a pair of shoes, she wondered where she should head next.

"Danny?" a voice asked. Danielle turned and saw Todd coming out of the video game shop down the street.

"Hey Todd," she smiled and waved.

"Been shopping?" he asked and went over to her, pointing at the shopping bags.

"Yep," Danielle smiled. "My mom can't control what I buy anymore."

"Don't you think that you should just go back and apologize?" he asked.

"No, I want her to realize how much she needs me, and then she'll beg me to come back," Danielle said.

"Ohhh, smart," Todd nodded. "Well... now that you're out here... join me to the ice cream shop?"

"Is this you asking me out on a date?" she teased.

"Maybe," he winked and held out his arm. She laughed and took his arm, and they headed to the ice cream shop across the street.

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One day it became lighter on the other side of the bars. Rose opened her eyes to see Regina the queen standing in front of the cell, smiling widely with two guards at her side, each holding torches.

"Hello my dears," she said. Belle woke up and looked at her.

"Let us go," she said.

"Please let us out," Rose said. "We didn't do anything wrong..."

"Oh, I know, sweetie," Regina said. "But I'm afraid I can't let you go."

"Why are we in here? We have done nothing to you," Belle said.

"You did nothing. It was him." Regina said. "He ruined my life. I tried taking his power from him, but he's stronger than I thought. So I have to make it personal. I can't take his power, but I can take away the things he loves most."

"So you take us and hold us captive for revenge?" Belle asked.

"Of course," Regina smiled. "And he doesn't suspect a thing. He's quite gullible for someone with that much power."

"You're going to regret this," Belle said.

"We shall see," Regina said, and she turned and left with her guards.

4 Years Later...

"Mama, I think I've got it! I've got it!" Rose said.

"Quiet! Quickly move it!" Belle said and moved to help her daughter. Rose knelt on the ground, moving a cell bar out of it's place. If they could get it out, there would be enough space for one of them to get out and escape.

They moved the bar back and forth, around and around. Finally it came loose.

"That's it! That's it, we've got it!" Belle exclaimed.

"Yes!" Rose jumped up.

They must have been heard, for there was the sound of a door opening far in the distance.

"It's the guards," Belle said. "Rose,quickly. You have to get out, do not let them catch you. Get out of the castle, get as far away from here as you can. Find your father, tell him what happened. He'll know what to do."

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine, now go. Go while you still can. Go!"

Rose nodded and squeezed through the bars. She looked at her mother one last time before she turned and ran. She ran and ran, never looking back. It was dark and she didn't know where she was going, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't let them catch her.

She want down many different hallways with no luck of escape. Finally she found a heavy wooden door and without hesitation she shoved it open.

Blinding sunlight shot into her face, and she screamed and shielded her eyes. She hadn't seen sunlight in four years and then suddenly having her face full of it blinded her for several minutes. But she had to keep going. Still half blind from the light, she shoved the door behind her closed and turned and ran again. Foggy shapes and blurry shadows were starting to form, and since no one stopped her, she kept running. She didn't look back, and she didn't think. There was only run. Just run.

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"So how's staying at the inn for free working out?" Todd asked.

"It's good but... I don't want everything to be awesome just because I'm the mayor's daughter." Danielle sighed.

"Hmm," Todd nodded and took a bite of his ice cream. The two of them were in the ice cream shop sharing a table. Todd had a banana split and Danielle had a chocolate blizzard. She was really enjoying this. Regina never let her outside just about at all, let alone with a friend. She never knew why, though.

"So you're just gonna hang out at the inn until your mom takes you back?" Todd asked.

"As long as it's free, yeah," she nodded. "I'm not going back until she admits that she needs me and that she was wrong."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Why you so concerned?"

"Come on, you're my friend. I don't want something bad to happen to you," Todd said. "I mean I... I like you."

Danielle froze and slowly looked up at him. "...What?" she asked quietly.

"I...I like you Danny," Todd said again. "I thought it was pretty obvious because the boys noticed and started pointing it out."

"So the weren't just joking?" she asked.

"Yeah... I wanted to tell you myself, but you know the guys..." he said. "I'm sorry. I know you don't feel the same and you don't have to. I just wanted you to know."

Danielle was quiet for a minute. "Todd I... I'm flattered that you like me, I am. But I'm just... not really ready or wanting a relationship right now. And honestly I like... us just the way it is. You understand, right?"

"Yeah, I know..."

"I'm sorry Todd."

"It's alright... Come on, let's finish our ice cream."

After that, not much was said between them.

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...well then... i guess the name calling can commince.

i'm sorry about that whole thing with Todd's heart being broken by Danielle, it's kinda just ... there. he doesn't add much to the story until later and event hen, it's not much. i'd just like there to be more human elements of the story, like Danielle just being a regular teen. so i guess that's just what happened.

on the other hand, Rose is free! now she just needs to find Rumple and everything will be alright, right? wrong. this is ONCE, people, nothing ever works out.

please check out my sister's work, LoquaciousQuibbler.

and another thing. i know there are some passionate readers out there, and i am flattered that you like the story so much, but can we please stop with the death threats. i know they're all in good jest and they make me laugh, but i think it's a little over the top. just a simple "Please update soon, i really like this story" type thing will be fine.

thank you. hugs and loves.