Once Upon A Time

Dagian's neck and back hurt.

She opened her eyes to find that she was leaning over the tub and had fallen asleep while she worked. With a curse, she lit the fire under the kettles so that she could get back to work. She had been sick for the past two months and while most people had been patient, her work was piling up.

She would never get done at this rate.

Dagian tried to remember the past two months but it was a blur….what was she even ill with?

Oh Gods, probably some sickness that the soldiers brought home with them.

She warmed the waters again and began her duties as the laundress.

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The days blended in together for Filib, just like they always did in war.

The faces…they could never be forgotten.

He didn't know why he agreed to serve on the lines this time around. He'd already had served more than one tour since this business began and he'd earned his way to becoming a recruiter. Why was he on the front lines now?

A stupid reckless mistake no doubt, he wished he could remember his reasoning as to why he volunteered.

The Ogre's came at them with clubs. Some men, the farmers and the peasants, understandably scattered in terror.

Fearlessly, Filib raised his bow and fired.

Present Day

"Have you talked to Rumpelstiltskin at all?"

Dagian pulled her gaze away from the window and settled on the cricket therapist as he tried to work with her to get her to open up. She had told him what happened the other day and why she was delayed. She had apologized and rescheduled despite his gentle insistence that she could tell him that same day what had happened. Appointments usually meant little and he had no one else to see that day.

Dagian had refused. She needed to let what happened sink in. She needed to go home and see to her daughter. She had to remind herself that her husband was still the dark one. He may love his daughter and Belle and Bae unconditionally while deeply caring about her but right underneath that affection lurked the dark one. She had needed to be reminded of that and the reminder had come. It hit her full force when she got home. Dagian had cried herself to sleep that night and was late getting into the newspaper office. Jefferson had asked to see her but she hid behind the excuse of trying to get the next edition ready. It wasn't a lie and Jefferson didn't push. He left her a white rose and went on his way. He romanced her by giving her a different flower every day until they found one that they could call their own.

"No," she answered his question quietly, "He hasn't called either."

"Would you pick up if he had?"

Dagian wanted to say no and be honest. She also wanted to say yes because it was the right thing that he would want to hear. Instead she just sighed and looked out the window, "I don't know."

"Do you believe that he was trying to stop the portal to protect you, Belle, and your daughter?"

"That's not why I'm angry," Dagian rubbed her eyes, "I understand why he did that; far more than what he seems to think I do. I'm angry because of how he treated me. I was under a sleeping curse for 400 years. I was trapped in a maze filled with my own regrets for several human lifetimes. I have vicious nightmares from that. And like everyone else, I was asleep for 28 years here while he played house with my body. When I woke up, he apologized and told me that he wanted to change and do better by me and the baby. Then Belle came along and he started trying for her as well…however when it came down to it, he used sleep…a weapon that I couldn't fight against…to put me down. I am not his pawn anymore. He's still clinging to magic; he still resorts to it when he feels like he's powerless. I'm not a nice person, I can be…temperamental and hard headed just as much as he can, but that doesn't mean he had any right to do that to me. I mean, if he's willing to put me down that easily then what kind of a father will he be when Lily gets to be the age when she begins to defy him?"

Archie was quiet while she ranted.

"And I remember everything now," Dagian continued, "He held it over my head that I left all the while he knew that I wanted to come back but was unable to."

"Perhaps he didn't know."

"The Dark Ones share each other's memories so they don't have to learn spells all over again. He knew. But he doesn't want to face the fact that I couldn't come home, despite my wanting to. He just wants to hold onto the argument that I left in the first place. I spent years hating myself for that decision and he knew the truth and he said nothing. I deserve some of the guilt that he heaped on me but I certainly don't deserve all of it."

"Perhaps you should find a way to tell him this."

"He knows," Dagian told him, "He does. There's nothing that I won't tell him that he hasn't already told himself. And I know what'll happen when we talk again. He'll apologize, he'll claim that he wants to change but he hit a bump. And I'll believe him and hope he can do better and we'll continue the same dance that we always do. I'll tell myself that it's best for the baby and it'll be good for him since he's already separated from one child he loves. I'll tell myself that he won't change unless someone gives him a reason to and the dance will begin again. I don't know, maybe he did think it was best to put me under…maybe he didn't do it for an easy way. I understand that he thought he was protecting us but I just don't see why he couldn't pop Cora's head off as soon as she crawled out of that well. I honestly don't."

"Well, from what I understand, Hook was with her…you weren't worried about him?"

Dagian smirked, "I honestly don't see a one handed pirate crawling out of a well in time to avoid a large rock being dropped on him, do you?"

Archie blushed and stuttered. Dagian made no attempt to hide her vicious hate for that pirate and her glee that would come if something bad were to happen. Archie never judged her, but he didn't seem comfortable when she brought it up either, "Have you thought about what your next move would be?"

And that was exactly one of the reasons why Dagian was here, "Jefferson and I walked down to the docks today…we were trying to decide what we were going to do. I think that since we're together that I should include him in my decisions. The term of elopement was brought up, I mean, we would tease each other with the idea earlier but now…it just seemed tempting. You know the Enchanted Forest marriage laws of course…and Rumpelstiltskin still thinks they hold up but I don't know why…I suppose it's about control. Marrying someone else would break away that last bit of hold he has over me that doesn't have to do with our children."

"It seems like you might be trading one set of problems or another."

"I know," Dagian said and dug the palms of her hands against her eyes, "I Know that it's temping, and I know I'm only considering it because of how angry I am with Rumpelstiltskin right now. It's almost been two months since I met him and even though the world tells me that it's far too soon, our people have fallen in love and married a lot faster than two months."

"Do you love him?"

Dagian rubbed her temples, "I'm not sure. I thought I was in love with Rumpelstiltskin once…and then I loved Filib but that was so long ago that I don't remember what that felt like…and it was a good offer. I mean, we discussed it in full length. I wouldn't have to move in with him or be a mother to his daughter yet. I could stay in the house with my daughter and work and earn my own way. We could still work slowly to the point we wanted to be at….I would just have his name next to mine on a contract. And it's not like we'd marry…today or anything. He would want me to meet and get to know Grace first"

"But there are downsides to that."

"As I'm aware," Dagian muttered, "He still tenses when Grace is brought up and I have yet to really meet her, so I don't think I can be a stepmother to a child that hasn't accepted me. Even if I would only be a stepmother to her in name."

"Why would he suggest that then?"

Dagian shrugged, "HE's still the Mad Hatter; he genuinely thought that he was trying to help. Besides, I'm not exactly crazy on the idea of being married yet. And I'm aware that if it doesn't work out then I'm stuck with the same problem but with a different man."

"So you told him 'no'."

Dagian was quiet and she remembered how easily his face fell when they talked and both went over the things that could go wrong. He'd been worried that Rumpelstiltskin would hurt or kill him if he took up with Dagian in a way that was more than handholding and kisses. She couldn't say his fears were entirely unfounded. Especially if Rumpelstiltskin thought he might be replaced as a father.

But Dagian couldn't base her life on how her ex-husband would react.

"I told him I would think about it," Dagian told him honestly, "And then Jefferson walked me home."

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Once Upon A Time

Bae wanted to go home and Rumpelstiltskin could understand why. Filib had set it up to where Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't have to pay to stay there. Apparently Filib was good friends with the innkeeper and it was a favor to him. Rumpelstiltskin worked though. He turned wool into yarn to earn his keep while his son struggled to sleep in between the thin walls, breaking glass and drunken songs.

And then one day, the innkeeper brought Rumpelstiltskin a letter. It was attached to a pigeon's leg he was told. One that Filib had bought from here.

Dagian found. Bringing home.

Rumpelstiltskin was so excited that he didn't sleep that night. He told Bae stories about his mother and promised him that no matter what happened, she would be home and whatever they agreed their relationship would be, they would make it work.

The first week passed without any word.

The second week, he was despairing. He wrote letters trying to find Filib but with no idea where they were, it was impossible to find them.

And then the third week, he returned home with his son in tow. He had accepted it the first week he found out. Filib had found Dagian, but they hadn't wanted anything to do with him after all. And why should she want him? The coward that didn't fight pirates for her was far less appealing than the soldier that would.

He gave no sign of distress during the day.

At night, Baelfire is the only one that heard him cry over Dagian's recent betrayal.

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Present Day

The Dark One in his mind tempted him.

He tormented him night and day for the two days that he and Dagian refused to speak to each other. He didn't go to her; he wouldn't even try to make contact. He knew that she would be angry but she would forgive him as she always had for the sake of the baby and Bae and because they were trapped in a snow globe with each other and would see each other every day until he got them out of it.

But the thing was, he didn't want her to forgive him. He had used her like a puppet and moved her out of the way the way when she was a bother. She had every right to be angry at that and he didn't want her to forget.

The Dark One mocked him. He reminded him that he'd done far worse to Dagian in the past and if she got over those then she could get over this. But she hadn't really gotten over them, had she? She just endured it and survived…which was a major reason she was in therapy now.

The Dark One tempted him by saying that she had his baby. She was carrying around his daughter and allowing a madman to have access to her. The Dark One told him that Dagian was still a human woman and she knew little about being a mother. She'd left Bae, hadn't she? He should storm up to her house and demand to see his daughter. If she refused then he should tear the house apart, toss her aside like the pitiful human that she as and leave with his daughter.

And then he got ahold of his senses. Dagian was his wife…ex-wife with these laws; three months ago she slept beside him. She held his hand and told him she loved him. Not Dawn…Dagian as there was a difference. Three months ago, he had tried to find a way to keep her by his side.

It felt like such an eternity ago, had everything really changed that much?

He told Belle what he had done yesterday. He justified destroying the portal, but he didn't justify what he'd done to his wife. Belle listened, like she always did, and encouraged him to make it right. She pulled away when he tried to grab her hand though. Her thoughts were the same as his sometimes…if he could do that to a woman he loved once, then what might he do to her? He liked to think that he wouldn't. That this was a one-time screw up but he wasn't sure. He'd fallen immediately on magic when it convenience him…and now he might lose his family.

And his spies told him that Dagian and Jefferson were seen on the docks talking about eloping.

As if that madman could offer stability. He moved on with Belle as fast as he had because they were true loves and loved each other before the curse hit. Jefferson, well intentioned as he was, barely knew Dagian. IT would be a disaster.

Yes, because his and Belle's relationship was so stable.

But never the less, he put it in his mind that the only way to save his relationship with Belle is to make it right with Dagian and he parked at her house and waited for her to come home.

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When Dagian said goodbye to Dr. Hopper, she met Jefferson outside. He held the baby; he'd taken her from Granny so that they could close up shop.

"Sorry I took so long," she greeted and kissed him. He returned the kiss and put his arm around her. Lily was content in his arms, and Dagian saw no advantage in jostling her, "A lot to talk about."

"I would imagine so," he replied. He didn't ask what they talked about nor did he bring up the conversation that they had earlier today. He just enjoys the moment of quiet.

"Where's Grace?" Dagian asked.

"Her adopted brother is working on a project, she's over at their house helping," he didn't bother to hide the jealousy.

Dagian rested her head on his shoulder. She wanted him to walk her home but she still had a few last adjustments of the next edition to complete.

Jefferson cut her off before she could tell him that she needed to work and ask him to keep her company, "Would you like to have breakfast with Grace and me tomorrow?"

The question took Dagian back, "I thought you said that you didn't feel comfortable yet."

"I asked you to marry me today," he shrugged, "I think meeting my daughter might be a logical step."

Dagian smiled, "Then I would like to."

They heard the clicking of angry heels behind then and without looking Dagian knew it was Regina. Jefferson turned and looked; Dagian slipped her hand into his and continued to pull him along.

No confrontations. Not tonight. She just wanted to work and go home.