Once Upon A Time

Rumpelstiltskin may have been a pacifist and later a coward but he knew very well that he should not feel wrong for going to search for his wife.

Filib lead him into the room that he'd rented where Bae slept. Filib's eyes grew when he saw the boy and he looked to glare at Rumpelstiltskin and Rumpelstiltskin glared back. No matter what the soldier said, he would hold his ground.

"You brought your son to this place?"

"Who else would watch him?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"You shouldn't' even be here," Filib snapped, "I told you to wait until I found her and brought her home."

Rumpelstiltskin found himself getting angry, "Despite what you would probably hope, Dagian is my wife, not yours. What I chose to do and where I chose to take my family is none of your concern. If I want to find my wife then I'm perfectly within my rights to do so."

"Oh don't pretend like I'm trying to send you running back home because I want to save the day or something," Filib snapped back, "I'm trying to keep you and your son alive. What are you hoping to do if you track them down? Beg for her back? Do you even know what it would cost you to get her back? The money would be far more than what you could find and if they don't want that then the captain will demand you fight for her. You're not a warrior Rumpelstiltskin. They'd kill you in front of Dagian and on the extremely likely chance they don't let Dagian keep her son, they'd sell your boy into slavery."

"Well what are you doing about it?" Rumpelstiltskin demanded.

"We've been pursuing the boat from all sides, they're about to sail into occupied waters and that's where we'll get them."

Rumpelstiltskin scoffed, "That long?"

"Quite a few kingdoms are out for the head of Killian Jones, we'll get him."

"And meanwhile Dagian is on that ship while you play your games-."

Filib shook his head, "We're doing this for her. Killian Jones is the best swordsman on the seas, if he thinks he has an advantage then my men will die. If he thinks he's outnumbered, he'll surrender. He likes to pretend that he's a gentleman but he just hides behind a wall of chivalry to block out what a coward he truly is."

Rumpelstiltskin cringed at the word, it was involuntary and Filib noticed it.

"You should know Rumpelstiltskin that you were never a coward for wht you did in the battlefield."

"I ran and men lost their lives," he said grimly, "I was a coward.'

"You lived," Filib told him, "You survived an unwinnable war to get home to your wife and your son and you brought in enough of a harvest to save your village…and you were willing to walk on a pirate ship to save your wife. what's so cowardly about that?"

He turned and walked to the door, he hesitated and turned back to Rumpelstiltskin, "YOu do know that with what they're doing to her….she'll probably never be the same?"

Rumpelstiltskin nodded, "I'm aware."

"She'll need someone to support her…and someone to be patient with her…I've seen what those pirates do and it's haunting."

Rumpelstiltskin felt his blood run cold, "I know."

"What I'm saying Rumpelstiltskin…with my work, I would never be able to do it. I'm glad she picked you."

Filib nodded and left a stunned Rumpelstiltskin in his room.

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Present Day

It was her naptime and Lily would not fall asleep.

Instead she just stared up at him. He tried to play with her and wear her down but she wasn't having it. He sang her twelve lullabies from the old world but she hardly blinked. She was exhausted, he could see that but she was fighting sleep.

She was going to be stubborn.

Her brown eyes met his and he wondered if she was mocking his failure thus far to get her to do what he wanted her to do

"Just like your mother," he whispered and wondered how many things Dagian blamed on his genetics when he wasn't around to defend himself. Probably everything he was blaming her for.

Instead, Lily wanted to look at his wedding ring on his right hand. He'd told Dagian that he wore it for remembrance because it was his favorite gift from her and that was partly true. He also couldn't get the thing off his finger.

"No Lily," He told her gently and put her down in her bassinet, perhaps if he ignored her then she'd drop off to sleep.

Lily began crying.

His heart broke at her whimpers when he tried to ignore her. This must've been what it was like for her trapped in that incubator. She probably spent gods knew how long crying before someone got to her.

He was there by her side within seconds when he thought about that, "Now Lily, what's the matter?"

She seemed to wait for him to pick her up but when he refused her lip quivered again and she started crying again.

Now she was just doing that on purpose.

He searched his pockets before he found the key ring to the shop, the cabin, the house, the car, and Dagian's house and car as well in case he was needed. Babies loved keys; at least that was what he was told in this world.

He jangled them and it got her attention. For about a few seconds because she realized he still wasn't going to lift her out of the carriage and she opened her mouth to let out an earsplitting yell.

"Gods!" he said angrily. He refused to believe Dagian could do this better than he could, "I'm not the one that you wrap around your finger. I'm your father! I don't have to put up with this, young lady. I have been a farmer, hunter, soldier, father, husband, and the dark one and don't you think you can intimidate me!"

The baby stopped and blinked at him. He smirked at his little victory and sat in the rocking chair, "Now Lily, which story does your mother like to read you to sleep?"

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Once Upon a Time

When Killian and another pirate by the name of James came up to her, the proposition they claimed they had for her was to prevent her from getting lice.

Dagian however, was not fooled. She knew enough about the area they were headed towards to know they were approaching more occupied waters and not occupied by king's men. It was quite easy to get boarded and if she was discovered…

It was better this way, she told herself; at least the captain was trying to protect her. She didn't press Killian to just admit that lice had nothing to do with it; she accepted his proposition as gracefully as she could. After the last incident where they'd scuffled because he'd kissed her he remained more cautious, he still made comments but maintained his distance. Once he made a comment about being unable to walk right after he'd pulled her on top of him. She'd blushed and the other pirates gawked, their minds went to all the wrong places. She let them speculate

He did allow her some dignity when he offered her this chance, Most of the men had their hair hacked off in deck and what the men couldn't throw overboard, the wind took care of. Killian allowed her to sit in his room but he had an old sail set under her chair to collect the hair when the procedure was done.

"Don't hurt her James," Killian said while poring over his maps, "She's a lady."

Dagian kept her eyes fixed on the wall ahead of her. She and Killian clashed over everything but this was something they were in agreement on. She wouldn't be safe if they were boarded and so she had to look like…one of them.

She heard the razor cut through her hair and when she saw a handful of her hair falling in her lap, she burst into tears. This was the last thing she truly had. They'd burned her clothes; Killian had nicked her ring until she had to give stories of herself to convince him to give it back. They'd taken her freedom and now this was happening. Her hair had always been what she thought made her beautiful, her vibrant red hair had always identified her and it's rarity out in the front lands made her feel special and lovely.

And now it was just something that would identify her as a woman.

James worked expertly while she cried silently, her hair fell in her lap and around her feet and she felt what little she had left of her resistance drain out.

Short hair, water proof clothes, a blade of her own (dagger, not sword)…they had taken her entire identity and made her into one of them.

He finished fifteen minutes later and her head felt unusually light. She didn't look down at the pile of hair at her feet; she didn't even bother to look in her lap as she brushed it off.

"Thank you," she said tersely.

The captain came over to her and for the first time since she got here, he looked genuinely compassionate and for the first time since she got here, she thought him genuinely handsome.

No, no she wouldn't think that. She couldn't give her last bit of her to him, there would be nothing left.

He brushed a tear away with his knuckle and she didn't pull away. She just felt…numb.

"There are strips of cloth waiting in your room," he told her, "You'll need to-."

"Bind my breasts," she said, not unkindly, "I know."

"We'll be out of these waters in a week," he said, "Short hair isn't horrible, you find it's easier to wash….and this makes your eyes look too big for your face.

Oh how wonderful.

He stared at her for a few seconds before declaring, "I think I like it better."

"Thank you," she replied and it would be up to him to decide if she thanked him for that or for going out of his way to protect her identity.

He gave her shoulder a rare gentle squeeze and walked out of the room.

Dagian stood, her hair would grow again, one day they would let her go or she'd escape and her hair would grow. They hadn't taken anything that couldn't be replaced. She had the ring her husband gave her and no matter how they shielded it from others, she still knew who she was. They'd never take that from her either.

She pulled herself together and returned to her room

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Present Day

Jefferson led Dagian to his living room and served her tea. Dagian clutched the cup in both hands while she looked around the living room. She'd been there a few times but it was usually for business. The paper wasn't going to run itself after all and focusing on that and talking about their children kept either one of them from talking about their pasts

Dagian knew that she should probably go home. Grace was still ill and Dagian hadn't had a night really to herself…how long ago? Well before the curse. Even when she moved out from Rumpelstiltskin's house after getting her memories back, she still felt like she had company because of the baby in her belly.

But then the idea of being alone in that house with the nightmares….

"So, you talked your husband into watching your daughter," he mused and poured her some more tea upon his return, "And so tell me why you're here instead of just soaking in your bathtub all night?"

"Water got cold," she said and took a sip, "Besides; I was worried about your daughter."

"Well, she seems to have liked the soup," Jefferson said, "Grace was never sick much, but when she was…but I imagine that you don't want to hear all the details."

Dagian smiled and fiddled with her cup. The fire was warm, it reminded her that it was also a bit cold outside and soon she'd have to get out in it soon.

"Oh," Jefferson said as if he'd thought of something, "Grace made all A's on her report card!"

Dagian smiled, "She did?"

Jefferson nodded and the pride showed on his face. Dagian smiled for him, he was practically beaming over his daughter's accomplishment.

"I'm glad you have her back," she told him and ignored the measures that he was willing to take. She wouldn't think about that now, not with them getting along so well.

Jefferson looked over at her and smiled, "Would you like to spend the night here?"

The question drove a punch to her gut and she nearly dropped the cup of tea. Her cheeks grew red and she cleared her throat, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why? Oh wait- You think that-?" he looked uncomfortable, "No. No, that's not what I'm looking for! That isn't why I would ask that you stay. Nothing would happen."

"It's just the way that we've been…affectionate and everything," she felt herself blush more, "If nothing happens then I'd like to stay…"

He stared at her a little longer than she felt comfortable with and stood, "I'll get some pillows.

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Rumpelstiltskin had just gotten comfortable for the evening. Lily was sleeping on his chest with her fist in her mouth and he was stretched out on the couch relaxing his bad leg when someone knocked on the door.

"Gods," he whispered. They could come back in the morning as far as he was concerned. This was his time with his daughter.

So maybe she did have him wrapped around her finger. He could already see it now. He was going to make Dagian be the firm one while he gushed with pride over his little girl.

They knocked again and he leaned to the right a bit to see Belle peeking through the glass. She spotted him and he waved for her to come in. The door was unlocked with a wave of his hand. He had to deal with people storming into his shop all day, he didn't want them intruding on his time with his daughter and Charming and Regina were dense enough to do that.

He supported his daughter and sat up when Belle came into the room. Her face brightened when she saw the baby, "That's Lily?"

"Yes," he effortlessly cradled his daughter so that Belle could see her. Belle would've seen her sooner but she was too scared of that hospital to step anywhere near it, "This is her."

Belle smiled radiantly at the baby…Rumpelstiltskin wondered when it'd been since she'd last seen a child up close. Wordlessly, he pulled her on the couch with him and began to hand her the baby.

"Rumpelstiltskin," her face when into a panic, "No."

"It's alright, I trust you," he said, "And Dagian won't care, she lets the hatter and the Mills boy hold Lily all the time."

Belle reluctantly accepted the baby and Rumpelstiltskin angled her elbow so that she was supporting Lily's head. When Belle was in a position to hold her right, Rumpelstiltskin sat back a little out of respect. Belle smiled down at the baby and he couldn't help but notice how natural Belle looked…

No, he wouldn't think about that. They still hadn't even taken steps through the 'friends' stage yet.

"Well," he muttered and smiled, "She likes you."

Belle blushed and then looked up at him, "I have the day off tomorrow."

"Really?" he asked, knowing what was coming."

"I'd be…I'd really like it if we met up at the diner…" her voice and body language turned teasing, "I've been holding off on having a hamburger until you were with me and I might now be able to resist much longer."

"I have no plans," he told her.

"Alright," she said and smiled happily. He'd come to miss that smile since she'd been gone, "I should…I should go…"

"No, stay for a few moments," He said and cleared his throat, "I don't…I don't mind. Besides…Lily's content right now. She'll cry if she's jostled again."

"Oh," Belle said doubtfully and he hoped that wasn't a lie. He didn't honestly know how hard Lily slept.

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It was like one of those preteen slumber parties that Dagian had heard so much about in this world.

Dawn had never had one. Dagian hadn't either. At least not in the way that most people recognized. She'd lived in a room with 12 other women though, when she was away from Rumpelstiltskin and working.

Jefferson had told her that he was going to get more tea. Upon his return, he was lugging in several comforters and pillows that he then laid out in front of the fireplace. When he looked at her shocked and confused face, he shrugged, "Guest rooms aren't comfortable."

And so she lay out with him in front of the fire. If he hadn't sworn to her that nothing would happen, she would he worried that he'd try and seduce her or something. Fortunately, he kept his distance. Which was unusual for him, normally he didn't know what personal space WAS.

"What are the worlds that you've been too like?" Dagian asked and took another sip from the cup.

Jefferson glanced at her and then back at the fire "Why do you want to know?"

She shrugged, "Just something to discuss. I've never been to another world before other than this one, what's it like?"

He smiled and he got a far off gaze in his eye, "Some of the worlds…are absolutely beautiful. You know the northern lights in this world?"

Dagian smiled, "Yes."

"Well there's one world that has those lights across the entire sky all night long. Constantly no matter where you go. In other worlds the glass ripples like water when you touch it. Creatures…that you couldn't even begin to understand walk around and interact with humans like it's nothing. Some worlds have colors that you couldn't even imagine."

"It sounds very beautiful."

He sat up and leaned towards her, as if he was sharing a secret, "Being a portal jumper is one of the best things in the world. I knew the realms better than its own people. Oh, in some places….you can fly."

That got Dagian's interest, "What's that like?"

He grinned excitedly, "It's the most exciting feeling in the world. You have this…sense of invincibility as you fly over trees and mountains and no one can touch you or harm you. The closest thing that can match is being in love. And luckily I can make that comparison because I've been there."

"As have I," Dagian said and tried not to think about how one love was dead and the other was definitely not the man she married.

Jefferson frowned too and he looked back into the fire, "I lost her because of my work. She was seven months pregnant…we thought we had time and so we crossed over. I needed someone to go into another world with me. Two go in, two go out and usually she stayed to wait until I returned. We didn't think much of it; she'd been travelling with me…the entire pregnancy. I was only gone for two days but when I got back…Grace was born and we had ourselves a bit of a problem."

"Two go in, two go out," she realized.

"And she wasn't about to leave our daughter, obviously," he said, "So I came back and searched desperately for someone to go into that world with…and when I did…my wife was gone."

"She-…" Dagian trailed off, confused. How could one just be gone like that? Especially if they were waiting for a husband to come back for them. She knew she shouldn't ask but she was curious

"Apparently, to hear the doctors tell it, my wife caught something that…in their world…is an illness like our common cold. However, she didn't have the strength to fight it nor did her immune system since it was an entirely new world…and she passed before I could get to her."

Dagian looked down, "I'm sorry."

"I've never told that to anyone…," he said, "Not even Grace."

"Why did you tell it to me?"

"Because…," he looked for a reason and then looked up at her as if something dawned on him, "I trust you."

Dagian looked down, "I don't see why you would."

"You could've told Rumpelstiltskin what I did…and you didn't, you kept it quiet and you protected me. No one's done that…for a very very long time."

Dagian blinked. She'd spent…the last few weeks unsure if she could really interact with people in the town, unsure if she could really make a difference because of who she was…not who Rumpelstiltskin was. They seemed to ignore that she was married to him once. They thought she'd been forced to her own unhappy ending like they had been. However, Dagian had never really been a social butterfly as this world put it so being so old and her anti-social problems just seemed to cement that. No one had told her they trusted her in a very long time without having some sort of agenda in mind, "Thank you."

Jefferson forced a smile but it didn't seem as sincere, "I'll tell you what…if we're ever able to find a way back home and if any of those worlds are left….I'll take you to see some of them. The safe ones of course, we'll need to take the kids as well."

Dagian smiled, "I'd like that."

"So would I," he said with a playful grin.

Dagian rolled on her side, "Perhaps when the kids get older we can leave them for a weekend, go to Oz, and jump on some flying monkeys."

"No, you don't want to jump on a flying monkey; those things will rip out your jugular."

Personal experience, huh? Dagian would've rather "Well, we'll do something a bit more dangerous before we get old."

He smiled, "I'll be there."

"Me too," Dagian said and looked at the dying fire, "You might want to throw some more kindling on that thing."

"I don't want to get up," he said.

Dagian pouted, "Me neither."

He gave her a separate blanket other than the one he had and she pulled it up around her shoulders.

"I should probably start getting ready for bed, myself," he took off his cravat and her eyes widened when she saw what he was using it for.

"Oh gods," she whispered and lightly brushed her fingers against the scar. She didn't mean to call attention to it…she just wasn't expecting it.

He looked ashamed, "Just one of the many regrets."

The scar ran deep…but whatever they'd put him through emotionally ran deeper, "Wonderland…they…they did this to you?"

"You could say that I lost my head," he told her wryly.

And then all the insults about his madness, including her calling him a madman when she was upset or scared weighed down on her and she felt truly guilty for it, "I'm sorry Jefferson."

He was quiet for a minute, "The queen of hearts has a very sick sense of humor."

Dagian lifted her hand from the neck scar and rested it on the side of his face as a way to comfort him, he watched her with a cautious expression on his face.

Dagian pulled down the side of her jeans low enough to expose her thigh, "I met Rumpelstiltskin when my village was ambushed by ogres. They did that to me," she showed him her leg and side, "And these as well."

She felt him tracing the scars that circled her wrists, those were hard to see unless one knew what to look for "We met again when assassins bound me and tried to trade me to him for a weapon that could control him. It didn't end well, as you can imagine."

"I don't think anyone ever has gotten anywhere close in killing him," Jefferson muttered.

Dagian clasped her hands in his, "Well here we are then, two broken scarred people who are constantly taken and humiliated and used as pawns."

"Seems that way," he muttered.

"I suppose the question we have to ask ourselves is what are we going to do to keep it from happening again?"

He smiled and brushed a knuckle against her face, he studied her features for a second before he swallowed and took a chance. He pressed his lips against hers; the shock caused Dagian to draw back.

"Oh gods, I'm sorry…I swear I didn't plan that," he said quickly.

Her mind took off, this was probably a bad idea…she was a new mother, she just got rid of one man and he was the mad hatter and he had a deceased wife and a daughter to raise and they both came with so much baggage that it'd take multiple therapists to get through them all.

Or maybe that was why they needed to be together. Both of them were broken, both were used by several people…but both had the ability to heal if they just let themselves be vulnerable instead of shutting all out.

So Dagian, not for the first time in her life, took a chance and she kissed him back. She felt his arms encircle her and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Dagian pulled back about the same time Jefferson did and they gazed at each other for several seconds as they tried to figure out what just happened.

"Perhaps we should…," she started.

"Take a few steps back and examine our relationship…." He finished

"…with a lot of conversations…"

"…a lot of conversations," he agreed, "About where this could go and…"

"…how it could end," she finished.

He nodded, "He nodded, "Because I have a daughter that I'm reconnecting with-."

Dagian understood. She didn't want to go that far that quickly either. She'd been used by so many men…Rumpelstiltskin, Zoso, Hook, the little puppet boy, even Jefferson but at least he truly regretted it "And I have a daughter that I'm connecting with for the first time."

He nodded again and gave her a mischievous smile, "I wouldn't say no to one more kiss though."

"Sorry," she whispered and gave him an understanding pout, "Only one possible relationship inducing kiss per day."

"Aw, what a shame," He teased, "I should tell you that you are missing out."

"I imagine I am," she smiled and propped her head up on her arms, "Tell me more about your career.

"Lot of stories."

Dagian shrugged, "I have a lot of time."

He gave her a smile and she thought it was handsome.

Until she fell asleep, they lay stretched out on the rug together and Jefferson told her as many stories as he could think of about the places he'd visited.

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Dagian slept with Lily in the bed so that she would know her daughter was there and safe.

Rumpelstiltskin did it for the same reasons, but also because it was far easier to just pick her up and go downstairs.

He'd done it twice last night, gotten up despite his protesting hip and fed her. He'd been worried when Dagian was pregnant that if he had Lily when she was this young then his leg might buckle under him and he'd drop her. However, he was pleasangly surprised to see that his leg was strong and he made it upstairs and down twice without even shaking.

Lily talking to herself in her own little baby language was the first thing he woke up to. She'd discovered her voice at an early age it seemed.

He gently lifted her up and kissed her. Lily smiled at him, no longer scared or crying since they made their peace earlier yesterday.

"Waking me up early to talk?" he whispered and cradled her, "Just like your mum."

He hoped that Dagian would never find out he said that.

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"Who are you?"

Dagian forced her eyes open and realized that she was lying on the white rug. And she was very very stiff. It took her a few minutes to remember where she was and how she got there.

Her neck hurt when she looked to her left to see that Jefferson was sound asleep next to her. She looked back to her right and saw that his daughter, Grace was standing there.

"What?" Dagian asked and rubbed her eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Dagian," she sat up and tried to stretch her stiff muscles, what time was it? "Friend of your father."

Grace studied her, Dagian wasn't sure if she trusted her or not, but she was thankfully saved when Jefferson jerked awake next to her and smiled warmly at his daughter, "Hi Grace, how are you feeling."

"Better," she said, her gaze brightened when she saw her father. Jefferson stood and kissed his daughter on the temple. Dagian watched the interaction and smiled at how warm they were to each other.

Jefferson turned to her, "Sorry…I was going to head to my bed but I dozed off right after you did."

"It's fine," Dagian said…she wasn't even sure she'd had any nightmares last night.

"You should stay for breakfast," Jefferson said, but all Dagian had to do was look at the uncertainty of Grace's face to know that they weren't at that stage yet.

"Actually…Rumpelstiltskin's probably tearing his hair out dealing with the baby," she cleared her throat, "I should probably…go get her."

Jefferson seemed disappointed in that but he nodded, "I'll see you later then."

"Yes," Dagian agreed, "We will."

a/N: Merry Christmas Everyone!

Just for fun; Jefferson or Rumpel?