Chapter Twelve: A Sun's Kiss

A/N: Okay, so to put the facts out there for those who want the timeline. As of the last chapter, Jennifer and Rumplestiltskin are pretty much the same age. Up to this chapter, I've estimated Jennifer to be about 92 years old. And, having been turned at 18, she's been a vampire nearly 74 years. A Sidenote: For those who still don't get it: RUMBELLE is non-existent in this fanfiction. I did this by design, people. Okay. Anger gone. Enjoy the story :-)

Jennifer walked down the halls of the Dark Castle, a little bit of a pep in her step. The castle echoed with the clicking of her high heels on her stroll. She was a bit excited for tonight. Rumplestiltskin had promised her a night together as she had previously suggested, and now it was finally happening. He had made himself scarce, oddly enough, but Jennifer figured it was just a simple ruse to make her enjoy the surprise a little more. He hadn't given her any details—but she had worked out the better part for herself. She heard a soft sound suddenly, and she turned towards the direction, following it. She recognized it as an instrument.

While she thought it had only been a few feet away, her vampire senses always underestimated the distances, making it appear a lot closer than what she had originally thought. She walked through five corridors and up the stairs before getting presumably closer to the sound, becoming louder as she approached the double doors that led to his bedroom; chuckling, she opened the doors, but saw no one.

However, it did solve the riddle of the mysterious music.

A record player was moving, the music coming from that. She walked over to where it stood, glancing down at the album for a moment before slowly turning to see Rumplestiltskin standing at the doors, having appeared there through his magic; she knew it had to be the latter for she hadn't heard any footsteps. Curiously, Jennifer watched him wordlessly stroll towards her, his hands behind his back with a smile on his face as though he could barely contain his excitement.

"I thought you'd hear the music," Rumplestiltskin stated.

"I did hear it," Jennifer returned, looking at it. "Violins?"

"Your hearing is as sharp as ever," he complimented. He revealed his hands, holding a rose to her.

"Oh!" Jennifer gasped. She took it, smiling at him. "Thank you."

"Just so you know," Rumplestiltskin said with a giggle, "That is not the surprise."

"It's beautiful either way," Jennifer replied, still grateful for the flower.

"Come with me," Rumplestiltskin told her, holding out his hand, palm facing up.

She knew that he was planning a surprise for her but now Jennifer wondered just what his surprise would be. He was acting so secretive, so mysterious, eluding to the idea that she would be so enthralled with it—he could hardly contain his anticipation. Curious, Jennifer took his hand. In a cloud of smoke, they were gone.

000

And they appeared on the rooftop of the highest tower in the castle. The sudden height difference gave Jennifer's heart a mad flutter, and she quickly grabbed onto Rumplestiltskin, who giggled. Her nails had dug into the leather tunic, and he wouldn't be at all surprised if she had drawn blood. When the surprise wore off, Jennifer cleared her throat, pretending she hadn't been scared at all. Jennifer still held the flower close to her heart.

"Why are we up here?" asked Jennifer, looking around, but she was impressed with the scenery it offered.

She could see other castles miles and miles away. Maybe it was the height that gave her such a clear view, or maybe it was her vampire sight—she couldn't really tell the difference, nor did she care. The lush forests, the beautiful blue oceans, and the birds that flew just under the low rising moon took her breath away. Rumplestiltskin moved behind Jennifer, placing his arms around her, his hands folding just underneath her stomach.

"Tell me, Jennifer," Rumplestiltskin whispered. "What is your heart's desire?"

Jennifer tilted her head to the side so her eyes met his, then she looked back at the scene before her. And she whispered, "You are, Rumple. You're my heart's desire."

"Good answer, but not the one I am looking for," Rumplestiltskin mused. "You don't have to flatter me, Doll, to get what you want tonight. That is already happening."

"What other answer do you want?" asked Jennifer quietly, giggling.

"Other than myself, what does your heart twuly want?" he paraphrased the question.

Jennifer began to turn but he didn't move his arms for her to do so, instead, he said, "A-ta-ta-ta-ta—keep looking."

"It's almost sunrise," Jennifer reminded.

"And what is wrong with that?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

She turned in his arms, staring at him incredulously.

"Seriously, Rumple? I will burn."

"Why?" Rumplestiltskin asked, feigning puzzlement.

"You know why," Jennifer stated.

Why the hell was he now playing ignorant. Obviously, this had to something with the surprise. So she played his game and when Rumplestiltskin saw that she had caught on, he simply grinned mischievously at her. So Jennifer reluctantly turned back in his arms so her back rested against his chest; his exposed skin against the backless dress—his warm flesh against her cold back—was almost distracting...almost. Jennifer felt his lips on the nape of her neck; she could feel him kissing her shoulder.

Jennifer felt her legs begin to weaken, turning to jell-o.

"I can't be exposed to sunlight..." Jennifer uttered quietly—not out of shame, but distraction; his kisses left a fire on her skin even after his lips had long left the area of exposed flesh. As she spoke, Jennifer became further distracted when his hands lowered from their initial placement on her stomach, to her thighs.

"Because of what I am," Jennifer mumbled.

"And what are you, my dear?" Rumplestiltskin whispered, his voice deeper than usual.

She hitched a breath when his hands took handfuls of her dress, pulling it up high enough so he could move them underneath; feeling the naked flesh of her thighs, the muscles twitched in them when his fingertips grazed the innermost flesh.

"A vampire..." Jennifer managed—she didn't notice that her voice shook or that her breathing had quickened; the rose, long forgotten, had dropped to the surface on which they stood, as her arms moved behind her and Rumplestiltskin's head, loosely linked around his neck so as to keep herself from completely falling for his seduction.

"You can never see the day," Rumplestiltskin said lightly. "Nor feel the sunlight warm your skin, or see the soft orange light peeking through the curtains..." his lips moved just underneath her right earlobe; Jennifer became weak, her head tilting to the left, allowing him access to the jugular of her neck. Rumplestiltskin kissed her where the bite marks remained still as gray as ever, and the touch of his tongue against her skin made his little vampire shiver pleasurably.

Jennifer's lips parted slightly when she felt the hand under her dress move between her legs, his fingers bypassing the bright red lace of her underwear, touching her through the silky fabric, teasing her. Jennifer moaned softly, the sound escaping from her lips; Rumplestiltskin smiled at her reaction.

"You have never thought it possible," Rumplestiltskin uttered calmly (although his voice was laced with lust), "to ever see the sun again...so you placed this desire somewhere else...deep into the back of your mind where no one will ever be able to reach it, or see it...not even you."

Jennifer felt his lips against her ear, and he whispered: "Until now."

The words caught her.

He moved his hands from her as Jennifer slowly turned to look at him, although her arms remained linked around his neck. As expected, Rumplestiltskin saw her staring at him, confused.

"I'm a vampire, Rumple. I can't ever see the sun."

"You underestimate what I'm willing to do just to see you smile, Jennifer." Rumplestiltskin told her pointedly. He placed his hands along her hips, and pulled her closer to him.

"Even the Dark One has limits," Jennifer reminded.

"However, small, those limits are." Rumplestiltskin returned smartly.

Jennifer's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to understand how he would possibly be able to allow a vampire to walk in the sun. If people thought she was dangerous now—phew, look out world. Jennifer watched him hold his hand out, palm face up, and with a gesture, smoke clouded over the center, and from the cloud was a simple ring. The band itself was black metal, and throughout it ran a thin line of glowing, sparkling red. In the center was the same color red, a ruby or maybe something similar to a ruby. Jennifer gave it a look, then turned to Rumplestiltskin curiously.

"This," Rumplestiltskin said gently, "is the surprise."

"What is it?"

"Magic," Rumplestiltskin stated.

"That's worrisome." Jennifer pointed out.

"How come?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"'Magic comes with a price'," Jennifer uttered, quoting him.

"Ah—finally, someone listens to me." Rumplestiltskin stated, chuckling.

"What price is there to pay?" Jennifer asked.

Rumplestiltskin looked at her but didn't answer right away; he took her left hand in his right, and placed the ring on the finger closest to her pinky. The simple gesture made Jennifer look at Rumplestiltskin with a new expression.

"You are my heart," Rumplestiltskin told her. "You always have been, and—if you'll have me—always will be."

Jennifer grinned widely, saying, "If that's a marriage proposal, then my answer is 'yes'." She held up the ring curiously, saying, "But you haven't answered my question."

"The price of this ring is not yours to pay, Jennifer."

She looked worried, but he put her concerns to rest.

Rumplestiltskin told her: "I could have found something as simple as any normal wedding ring, but for you—I go out of my way to find something worth my time and efforts, and yours as well. And between us, plenty of time has passed." He pointed to the red jewel. This gem you wear on your finger is called a Sun's Kiss. Combined with the power of a Dark One and pixie dust, this ring places a force field around you. You will not be harmed by the sun...no matter how long you are exposed to it."

Jennifer said quietly, "I can walk in..."

"The sun, yes," Rumplestiltskin finished for her.

"And I..."

"You won't die. You won't even tan." Rumplestiltskin said softly. "I wouldn't worry about that part though; your skin has a light pallor glow to which I have grown accustomed."

"Did you..."

"No." Rumplestiltskin answered quickly.

"You don't even know what I'm going to say," Jennifer told him.

"Oh, yes I do."

"What, did you see it in one of your visions?" Jennifer teased.

Rumplestiltskin chuckled, saying, "I know what you're about to ask. You were going to ask if I hurt myself in order to wield some of my power into an object that has surpassed every rule in ancient vampire legends."

Jennifer's mouth was open in a bit of shock. Rumplestiltskin leaned forward, saying, "Just as have gotten to know me a great deal, Jennifer, I have gotten to know you too. Your concern for my safety—however remote—betrays you constantly."

Jennifer smirked at him, saying, "Well, did you?"

"No." Rumplestiltskin answered. "But the ring wasn't going to work without a little effort on my part."

"Why?"

"Well, as you know, vampires are dark creatures. Pixie dust is strong, but it doesn't tend to favor the 'creatures of the night'. I just did a little of this and a little of that in order to give it that ol' extra kick." Rumplestiltskin explained.

Jennifer beamed at him. She looked so happy, she looked like she was about to cry. Rumplestiltskin grinned, winking at her, saying, "I said you would like the surprise, now, didn't I?"

"I love it, Rumple," Jennifer said happily.

They kissed, and Rumplestiltskin stopped her. She looked at him curiously, and he pointed behind her. She turned to see the sun rising up from the horizon, turning the sky a bit of gold and pink along the blue sky. Jennifer giggled, squinting a little; she hadn't seen the sun in such a long time, it took her breath away.

"Stay up here as long as you like," Rumplestiltskin said to her. He kissed her cheek and walked down the stairs that led out below.

A tear rolled down her face. Jennifer looked down at her hand, the red gem glowing against the partnered black metal. It had been the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her, and on that day, Jennifer not only saw the sun for its beauty for the first time in 74 years, but now she had also seen a side of Rumplestiltskin that no one else would ever be able to witness. And she would keep that her own little secret to heart. For he was hers.

He always had been.

And always will be.