Jefferson had a daughter named Grace. She was a few years younger than Rose, but she was very friendly and warmed up to Rose right away. Jefferson was quiet and preferred to sit and observe them.

"I was just about to play tea party," Grace smiled. "Would you care to join me?"

"I would love to," Rose said. "Um, but first, I was wondering if I could was up... and eat..."

"Okay," Grace said and nodded. Jefferson also nodded and got some food for Rose. Then he got a bucket of water and some soap. Rose washed her hands and face and hair, and Grace helped her brush and brain her hair back. Rose then ate hungrily. Finally Jefferson began to speak.

"Where are you coming from?" he asked. Rose swallowed her bit of food and hesitated. She didn't want to lie, but if they knew she had just escaped from a dungeon, they might think she was a criminal. She took a deep breath. No. She couldn't lie.

"I'm... I escaped," she said slowly. "I've been in the queen's dungeons with my mother for the past four years. But we didn't do anything wrong!"

"The queen? You mean Regina?"

"You know her?"
"Everyone knows Regina... Why did she lock you up?"

"For revenge on my father," Rose explained. "My mother, Belle, is still down there, and I have to find my father and tell him what happened. But I'm so lost. I don't know where anything is, and it will take forever to find him."

"...Who is your father?" Jefferson asked.

Rose hesitated again. She had already told him so much. What if he worked for the queen? Or what if he didn't? What if he could help? She took a deep breath and spoke in a whisper.

"...Rum... Rumplestiltskin."

Jefferson's eyebrows went up, but other than that, his face didn't show much reaction. Rose swallowed, not knowing what to expect. Would he throw her out? Would he give her to Regina? Would he help?

"He is rather hard to find," he said. "Nobody had heard from him in a while."

"...I don't know what I'm supposed to do. He could be anywhere," she said.

Jefferson thought for a moment, and then he said, "I think I know a man who can help find him."

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Danielle got news from David that Lucky was fully recovered, and that he was ready for release. She wanted to personally let him go, and she thought the forest was the best place to put him. But she didn't have a car. Mr. Gold, on the other hand, did.

It was a little awkward for Danielle when she went to the back of the shop where he was working. She hoped this wasn't too much to ask from her boss.

"Um... Mr. Gold?" she asked and she poked her head through the curtain to his office. He was at his desk doing some paper work. He looked up at her.

"Yes Miss Danielle?" he asked.

"Um... Last week, I found a rabbit with an injured leg," she explained. "So I took him to the animal shelter. He's all healed now, and I wanted to turn him loose in the forest, but I'd have to drive. And um...well you have a car, so I was wondering... Do you think you could drive me there so I can set him free? Please?"

Mr. Gold looked at her for a moment with an unsure look on his face. Danielle swallowed and waited for his answer. Then he stood up and grabbed his cane.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to go on a little hike," he said. Danielle smiled.

"Thanks, boss," she said.

The two of them went out to his car and he drove her to the shelter. Lucky was given to Danielle in a green towel, and Gold drove them to the forest.

"Alright, Lucky, you be good now, and watch out for those traps and big dogs," Danielle said to the rabbit as she and Gold got out of the car. Lucky looked at her and his nose twitched. She smiled and patted his head. She then knelt down, unwrapped him, and set him on the ground. He looked at her for a moment before he dashed away. It was a little sad for Danielle to watch him go and for a moment she just stared after him. Then Gold patted her shoulder and they got back in the car, and drove back to town. And to make her feel better, Gold bought her some ice cream.

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Rose couldn't sleep that night. Part of her was afraid that if she woke up, she would still be in the dungeon trying to escape. And then there was what Jefferson had told her.

"There is a man who lives in the forest," he had said. "He lives with the wolves and he is known for his hunting and tracking. It's said that he could find anyone or anything."

"You think he could find my Papa?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," he said. "But the least he could do is escort you home. I'll see what I can do tomorrow."

"Who is he?"

"...They call him the Huntsman."

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One day Regina came into the shop when Gold was in the back. Danielle was wiping down the display cases when she came in.

"Danielle?! What are you doing here?!" she cried.

"Oh, hi Mom," Danielle smiled. "I work here now."

"You what?!"

"She works for me," Gold said as he came out of the office.

"She works for you?!" Regina cried as if it was unbelievable.

"Is there an echo in here?" Gold smirked. Danielle stifled her laughter.

"Why does she work for you?" Regina asked, storming up to Gold.

"I offered her the job and she took it, it's not all that complicated, Madame Mayor," Gold shrugged. Regina turned to Danielle.

"I told you to stay away from him. And why haven't you come home yet?" she snapped.

"Home? What home? That house where I do all the chores while you're gone? That prison where I am never allowed to go outside the yard? No," Danielle shook her head. "No, I don't want to go back. Why would I?"

"It's your home," Regina said. "And I think it's time you came back."

This was it. Regina was asking her to come back. She couldn't live without her. This was what Danielle had been planning for. But... What about her job? She glanced at Gold, who seemed unphased. She looked at Regina.

"Then no," she said. "I'm not going back. I like my life working with Mr. Gold, and staying at the inn, and living how I want to. I like my life without you in it."

Mr. Gold smirked and Regina started wide-eyed at the young, determined woman who used to be her daughter.

"Now would you liked to buy something Madame Mayor?" Danielle smiled. Regina slowly shook her head and left. Danielle and Gold smiled at each other and got back to work.

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The next morning Jefferson brought a man to Rose. He was tall with dark hair and heard. He was dressed in fur coats and slung across his shoulder was a bow and a sheath of arrows. And at his side was a gray wolf, one eye red, the other black.

"Jefferson tells me that you're trying to find your father," the Huntsman said.

"Yes," Rose nodded. "I've been in the queen's dungeons for four years, and I don't know where to start..."

"Well we should be able to help."

"Thank you sir, thank you so much."

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It was so dark. It had been such a bad decision. When Rose had escaped, Belle had tried to distract the guards b getting out and running the other way. She actually almost escaped, but they caught her. They locked her in a different cell, and had chained her to the wall. There would be no hope for escape now. Only Rose. Belle had to pray that her daughter had escaped and that she would find Rumple.

Rumple...

If Belle ever saw him again, she was going to apologize for everything, and hope that he would forgive her one day. Then she thought; what if he didn't even come? What if he just took Rose back and left her in the dungeon? He wouldn't do that... would he?

"You must be Belle," a voice said. "Rose looks just like you."

Belle lifted her head. Standing in front of her cell was a man with messy long hair and unusual clothing.

"Who-Who are you?" Belle asked.

"My name is Jefferson. I know your daughter Rose."

"Rose? Is she alright?"

"She's fine. She stayed at my cottage last night, and I got her someone to help her find her father."

"Thank you," Belle said, her eyes lining with tears."Thank you so so much."

"I wish I could be of more help," he said. "But the queen would take my own daughter away if I made an attempt to get you out of here. I'm sorry."

"I... I understand," she said. "I just want to make sure that my Rose is safe."

"She's in good hands... and paws."

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Danielle was running. She was running down long hallways, laughing. She kept looking over her shoulder, but there was no one there. Then she turned a corner and she ran into the arms of some adult. She giggled and hugged the adult.

"Rose, it's time for bed," a woman's voice said. She was lifted up and carried into a wonderful bedroom decorated with purple and gold. She was lifted into a plush bed and tucked in, patted and kissed on the head. She smiled and looked up.

Above her stood a man and a woman. The woman had long brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. The man had wavy brown hair and brown eyes. Like her.

Like Mr. Gold.

He looked like Mr. Gold.

Danielle woke up.

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helloooooooooooooo everybody! i have a new chapter up, yay! sorry i've been taking so long, graduation is coming up and i've been sick and yeah, life sucks. but here's another chapter for you to read, we definately need it after the newest episode. i don't want to deal with that right now...

enjoy new chapter!

hugs and loves,

darkonesroses