Mr. Gold was kindly organizing his store when the bell chimed. Naturally he wasn't used to a lot of visitors when the curse was lifted. His curiosity was obviously peaked. He turned around and stared at the two brunettes in his shop. They were Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Though they looked older and a little less aware of whom they were. Robin kept giving everything a careful check before allowing Marian through. He looked at everything like it was a threat including Mr. Gold. Marian looked strong and powerful. She seemed to have a certain confidence in the way she moved. It was almost as though she was accustomed to power like her sister. There was even a subtle current of evil crawling through her skin. That was new.

"Can I help you?" Gold asked trying not to stare at the couple too much.

"Yes," Robin supplied, "my wife and I are…"

"NO," Gold shook his head, "Don't insult me with whatever lie you're coming up with. I can tell you're not married. Though you two probably can't."

"Excuse me?" Marian growled, "I'd like you to keep your opinions to yourself, Mr. Gold."

"This is Sophie Mills, the former mayor's sister," Robin introduced, "I'm Nathan Ford-"

"Oh I believe you're Nathan Ford but her name is definitely not Sophie Mills," Mr. Gold smiled at their game, "Something tells me it hasn't been for a very long time."

Marian rolled her eyes at the little statement. Then she looked alarmed at Robin who looked at her through narrowed slits of eyes.

"He's got a way with names," she explained, "And Sophie's my middle name not my first name. I don't go by my given name."

"Not what I'm talking about," Mr. Gold laughed at their interaction. They clearly didn't trust each other whoever these two were. Well, at least they didn't trust each other with the truth; their lives were a completely different matter.

"You've been going by a different name since you left us," he finished, "Somehow that's become your real one. How did you pull that off?"

"Sophie Devereaux," she supplied, "I've been going by Sophie Devereaux."

Mr. Gold nodded. "That is definitely your name," he said, "So how can I help you?"

"We're just looking," Nathan Ford responded, "Thinking about buying her something but I'm not quite sure yet."

"Why is everybody giving you the cold shoulder?" Sophie asked softly, "I mean usually you're the one everybody avoids. Now they're just starting to give you a wide berth no matter what. It's like you're the plague and I haven't seen you leave this place at all today."

"You know how often I'm out of my shop?" Mr. Gold asked amused, "You haven't even lived here for twenty-eight years."

"I asked Granny for an update," Sophie grinned.

"What exactly do you want to know?" Mr. Gold demanded with another laugh, "Are you wondering why everybody has suddenly discovered that I am up to no good? Because I could tell you and you would not be very happy with it."

"We're just looking around," Nathan growled. It was such an un-Robin thing to do. Apparently the curse still had them under its effect. That did not go with the plans.

"I heard you have a new love interest," Sophie explained. She at least sounded a little bit like Marian once had though far more broken. That was exploitable. "And that she's helping you be a better man. Could you elaborate on that?"

"I'm not going to harm anyone, dearie," Gold replied, "Now take your boyfriend and get out of here."

"He's not my boyfriend," Sophie huffed, "and I don't care if you're going to harm people. I want to make certain you're not going to destroy them financially like you used to."

Mr. Gold bit back a very wonderful retort and ignored the magic coursing through his veins. The last thing he wanted to do was bring back Marian's memory. No, that would only make matters worse. That woman was far too powerful to be in this world. He would bite his tongue and allow her the power she deserved. Her magic was too much of a gamble right now.

"Belle's changed me for the better," he explained, "And our new sheriff has done a wonderful job of taking your sister's corruption down. Speaking of, have you paid her a visit yet? I'm sure she would love to see you."

"She's next on our list," Nathan replied. Ooh, there was even a hint of jealousy and warning there. Clearly Marian's sister was still a sore subject in this world. That was going to be full of fireworks later on.

"Thank you for allowing us to take up a few moments of your valuable time," Sophie finished. Her smile was fake but that didn't matter. All of her efforts were being put to use in securing Robin's trust again. That was very good information.

"My pleasure," Mr. Gold bowed, "and be certain to tell your friends to stop by. You know how much I like new visitors."

"Will do," Nathan nodded, "but I must warn you that Eliot isn't easy to handle."

Then they were out of the store and the bell sounded off. Mr. Gold watched them head towards another shop in town. They seemed to be on the hunt for information at the moment. That was fine with him. For once he had nothing to hide. Although something odd did happen when they mentioned their friend Eliot. That was not his name. He was going to be an interesting person to talk to indeed.

Maybe she subconsciously kept our deal, Rumpelstilskin mused, it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

The loan shark/shop keeper laughed at the possibility. Then he quickly did his job of closing up shop. He had a date with a wonderful librarian. He had to hurry if he wanted to get her away from those books in a timely fashion. That woman loved to read. Plus, he could get a good look at the other visitors to the town. Rumor had it that they were an interesting couple to behold.

%

"Marian, we need to talk."

Marian dropped the apple she was about to eat and stared at the source of noise. Sure enough Sir Robin of Loxley was there, standing in her bedchamber window with an annoyed smile on his face. The black-eyed woman squealed as she quickly went to work hiding herself behind some sheets. She was only in her sleeping clothes and here was a man standing in her bedchamber.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded bitterly. She was holding a pink sheet in some bizarre attempt to shield herself from him.

"We need to talk," Robin replied. He started walking towards her but the woman was having none of that.

"You stay there!" Marian cried, backing slowly towards her changing shades to avoid being seen.

"You're only in your nightclothes," Robin said rolling his eyes at her behavior. "I'm not going to see anything I haven't seen already."

Marian looked down at her outfit and grimaced. He was right. The bedsheet didn't even hide a quarter of the nightgown she was wearing. She threw the sheet to the side and stubbornly stared the man before her straight in the eyes.

"What do you want?" She asked trying to look more demure than she had only moments before.

"I've already told you. I just want to talk." As Robin spoke he walked closer and closer to her until he was standing directly in front of her. They were so close one could move forward and they would be touching completely.

"Talk then," Marian squeaked moving away from the man as quickly as possible, "I'm in no rush."

"You've been avoiding me, Marian," Robin said watching the woman move around the room with heavy eyes. He looked angry too, far more angry than he should have been. "I want to know why."

"Why what?" Marian asked. She was only partly confused. She knew he was angry and she knew why but she made a promise. If he stormed out she could at least tell Snow she stopped it.

"You know what," Robin growled. He was moving towards her again and this time he was quicker. In fact he was right in front of her before she could even register a good plan to dodge him. Then his hands were holding her in place keeping her from escape. "Why won't you talk to me?"

"Why does it matter?" She asked.

Robin stared at her with such intensity she didn't know what to do. It looked like he was considering shaking her silly he was so angry. Instead he released her as if he had been burned. That hurt more than it should have.

"Because I've fallen in love with you," he admitted softly.

Marian's black eyes grew wide at his statement. Her mouth grew slack and every bone in her body felt like jelly. She suddenly couldn't breathe anymore but it felt like she could breathe easier too. It was as though her whole world turned upside down. Then she quickly sat down on the first piece of furniture she could find.

"You've fallen in love with me?" She asked slowly. Why she asked so slowly was beyond her but she needed clarification. Her head was swimming from the idea of it.

Robin was suddenly right there in front of her, kneeling at her feet and holding her hands. He was gazing up at her with such gorgeous blue eyes, bluer than the sky or sea. He was staring at her with pure adoration, not like Snow gazed upon him. No, he was staring at her as if she was the answer to life. He was staring at her as if she was Earth's greatest treasure, the fairest of them all.

"I've upset you," he said, "I should leave." Then he made to stand to his feet.

"No!" Marian shouted. She'd never heard such desperation in her voice before. She latched onto his biceps and forced him back to his knees. She was using him for support now and she couldn't understand what was going on.

"Don't go."

Robin looked at her with such a smile, it could melt ice it was so bright. Then he was clasping her fingers again, gazing into her eyes like his world was finally complete. Marian didn't know what to do about that so she just sat back down and stared. Her heart was pounding furiously fast.

"I'll never leave if you don't want me to," he promised her softly.

Marian felt the tears prickle her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak and was stunned to find the words couldn't form. Then she grasped the hands clinging to her and squeezed them lightly.

"I can't," she said, releasing his warm hands so she could escort him towards the window.

"Why not?" Robin demanded of the woman briskly. He was on the verge of shouting he said it so loud.

"Please, don't wake the others," Marian begged quietly, "They don't need to know, especially Snow. She's got such a crush on you."

"She's just a child," Robin explained, "She'll grow out of it."

"I promised her we wouldn't be alone together," Marian cried. This was the hardest decision she had ever made in her life. She should have known this would happen.

"You promised her," Robin nodded at her statement.

Then he started towards the window with a heavy heart. He crashed through the doors and refused to stop. Marian had to struggle just to keep up.

"Robin, wait!"

"I pledged my heart to you and you can't because of some promise to a child!"

He was staring at her with such betrayal. His fists were shaking at his sides and he looked for all the world like a lost puppy. His lady had refused him and he was angry because of it.

"She lost her mother and I know what that's like now," Marian explained softly. She was shaking as well. She didn't understand why though. It wasn't even cold, but her heart hurt more and more with each step away from her he took.

"She needs me to be there for her when Regina can't. She needs a friend."

"Regina is supposed to be her mother!" Robin was quaking with frustration and pain. His eyes glistened in the moonlight and his hair sparkled.

"Regina has our father!" Marian screamed back. She was fighting back tears at what she was saying, at what she was doing. This was just as painful for her as it was for him.

"But I don't," she finished, "I have nothing. I'm nothing without my mother. I'm nothing without Regina. I am nothing without that little girl's love! Do you hear me? I'm nothing!"

Robin stared at her with a broken expression. He slowly moved towards her with careful steps. Then his warm hands were on her arms holding her together and yet far apart.

"You are everything," he said.

Then his hand was on her cheek and he was moving towards her again. Their lips met in another passionate kiss, this one bigger and better than the last. Their lips moved in a rhythm of perfection. They parted breathless and wishing for more, yearning for more.

"Please go," Marian begged softly.

Robin looked at her in shock of the suggestion. He was shaking his head and trying to chase after her lips again. Her hand stopped his progression though. His lady shook her beautiful brown locks and told him to leave once again. She was stepping back, away from him. Tears were stuck in her eyes but she was still shaking her head.

"As you wish," he said.

The knight of Sherwood Forest bowed down to his dear and retreated to the grounds below. Marian watched him go with a heavy heart. And when he was finally gone into the horizon, she burst into a bout of terrible sobs. She fell to her knees and spent the rest of her evening mourning the loss of a love she would never know.

Snow White watched this from the hallway outside her favorite aunt's room. Tears of hurt and horror were in her eyes as she continued to watch her mentor fall apart. She backed away from there and returned to her bedchambers, her head hung low. She was the reason for such heart ache and pain. She was the one who caused that. She had destroyed her best friend and she was the only one who could put it right.