Here's the other chapter and second AU. "Here's To You" obviously takes place in the EF. "Then I Did" and "Feels Like Today" take place in season one. Enjoy!
HERE'S TO YOU
The truth of the matter was that the Dark One living on the mountain would be little without the people who came to him for help. He didn't like needing them, or even admitting them into his home, but for his reputation's sake he put up with them.
The girls who came looking for magic and miracles and occasionally even sex. It was the boys begging him for potions to help them get this girl or another. It was the parents who wanted their children back no matter the costs – these were the hardest – and it was the righteous, rich kings who came thundering in, dripping in jewels but still needing his assistance lest their kingdoms be destroyed.
He put up with every one of them, but they weren't at all memorable after so long a life as his.
But then a young woman with regal bearing wearing animal skins, a knife, and intelligent eyes stalked in, beautiful beyond what was normal and brighter a woman than he'd seen in a very long time… and he instantly knew that he'd remember her.
THEN I DID
Too many times, Rumplestiltskin had walked away from a possible happy ending. The first princess who had offered herself as his maid… that had been one of those times. She'd been a desperate runaway who'd wanted nothing more than to get away from Regina – not that he blamed her – but he'd sent her away.
Despite the things that he'd seen in her – the goodness, the beauty, the courage, the attraction between them that sparked every once in awhile – or perhaps because of them, he'd sent her away… and she'd ended up living with a bunch of dwarfs.
Until he saw her again in Storybrooke, recognizing her for who she was when he – but no one else – had woken up from the curse. There on the street was Snow White, pretty as ever and somehow looking equally unhappy with her cursed life. He nearly went to her… but he didn't... yet.
FEELS LIKE TODAY
For some reason that she could never decipher, Mary Margaret felt trapped almost daily. But today, today felt different somehow – like something was coming to save her.
And then came the most unexpected question when she was at the diner. "What would you say if I told you I could take away your misery, Ms. Blanchard?" Mr. Gold asked her cryptically.
She shrugged, wondering how he even knew she was unhappy.
"Do you trust me?"
"No."
His smile was a sad one then as he said, "Then suspend your mistrust for a moment and allow me a bit of liberty. It'll help, you have my word."
Before she could even form the words to ask him why he wanted to help her, he leaned forwards and kissed her, gently, lovingly.
She pulled away first, a tender smile on her face as she murmured, "Hello, Rumplestiltskin."