Chapter Thirteen: Do Not Interfere

Years passed, and those that followed were more or less simple. Jennifer and Rumplestiltskin lived together in the Dark Castle, becoming accustomed to the marriage life. Rumor spread from only-gods-know-where about the marriage between the Dark One and his vampire bride. As Rumplestiltskin became widely known as the sorcerer who good do just about everything when it came to magic and, being a collector of all things magical and refined, could offer anything to a desperate soul who craved their heart's desires but just as he could offer anything, he could also ask for anything...sometimes, it meant the only thing a person had. And Rumplestiltskin's name was only whispered to those who desperately wished for his help as a last resort.

Rumplestiltskin always warned those who did deals with him, "Magic comes with a price". Sometimes, that price was steeper than they could ever pay in their lifetime or the next. Rumplestiltskin had a penchant for deals, and he couldn't resist making them.

Jennifer's reputation served her well. She was the Dark One's wife—and if that didn't make a man nervous, nothing would. Her ability to walk in the daylight, despite her legendary vampirism, seemed to not only amaze the darkest souls, but almost terrify them. For if the sun could no longer protect them, what would? Jennifer didn't conspire with anyone else, except her husband. But her association with the Dark One would earn her many enemies.
When Cora and Henry Sr. gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, they named her Regina. And she grew up to be a beautiful young woman, for save the fact that Cora was pushing every thing that Cora wanted down her daughter's throat. Rumplestiltskin said it was only a matter of time before Regina would be requesting his presence to change her future.

The Dark One and his beautiful vampire bride occupied the Dark Castle's uppermost floor where their bedroom was located. Rumplestiltskin had awakened Jennifer from her sleep as the sun rose to its highest peak—her day-to-day routine had become that of a mortal's sleep cycle as she now slept at night and lived by day thanks to her husband who had given her the second thing she most desperately desired—to be able to see the sun like a mortal, and yet keep her vampire senses and power.

Jennifer, dressed in a dark red satin night slip, slid out of the bed, the hem of the slip rising as she stood to her feet;Rumplestiltskin looked at her; she noticed his wandering eyes, and she smirked, pretending she 'didn't notice'. Rumplestiltskin asked her how she slept.

"Sleeping at night is a lot different than I remember," Jennifer uttered, brushing her hands like a natural comb through her messy raven-black locks.

"I'm sure it is," Rumplestiltskin replied, knowing she'd spent many years hunting during that time and perusing the daylight for her rest. He watched her still, as she pulled the night slip over her head and walked across the room in all of her wonderfully toned naked glory.

"How do you plan on getting Regina to enact this curse?" Jennifer asked, facing away from him as she opened the wardrobe and sifted through the many dresses.

Rumplestiltskin strolled over to her, and pulled out the one he'd always felt partial to as he said, "I don't plan on anything, dearie—here." He handed the dress to her and she glanced it curiously, looking at him.

"I like this one." Rumplestiltskin told her.

He held it out to her still. The dress was elegant as it was dark. A crimson flow of material that fell off the shoulders slightly, with see-through black mesh for sleeves, pulling skin-tight at her arms and only making her muscles more defined. The hem dropped just above her knees, showing off her well-toned calves; all the hunting and running she did had paid off the past several decades. The dress had to be laced in the back, starting from the waist, up to her neck.

He wiggled his eyebrows at her, and Jennifer giggled, taking the dress from him.

She pulled it over her head, sliding her hands through the sleeves so graciously that Rumplestiltskin had a thought she was teasing him, and—he was certain of it. Jennifer shook her hips to pull the dress down, and her twisting movements in collateral with her sheer naked form made Rumplestiltskin clear his throat to brush off the sexual feelings building inside of him. Jennifer pulled her hair up and over the collar, and looked at him imploringly.

"Oh, yes..." Rumplestiltskin purred, smiling as she turned from him so he could lace up the back of the dress. "You know, the world may think what they want. But in my opinion, you will always be the fairest of the land."

Jennifer turned around after he had finished, and he placed a hand just beneath her chin, grinning broadly at her. She returned it, a small little hue of pink tinging her cheeks as they always did when he made her feel extraordinarily special. They had come from a world that had made them feel useless, helpless, unloved, and unwanted. And now, when Rumplestiltskin looked at his bride and all the beauty that was encompassed inside her cerulean eyes, he knew that without her, he would feel like that all over again. And with her by his side, he knew he'd never have to feel what he had been made to feel all those years ago.

"And to answer your question," Rumplestiltskin stated, "I do have a plan, but it will take time for it to happen. Actually, by now, it won't take too much time at all."

"So, by that, I assume everything is going according to plan?"

"Correct," Rumplestiltskin returned.

"When will Regina cast it?"

"Whenever she's ready."

"Are you going to teach her how?" asked Jennifer.

"That depends."

"On?"

Rumplestiltskin smiled at her curiosity, saying, "Regina isn't aware of just how powerful she can be. She doesn't even know how to wield her own magical power."

"Cora is her mother," Jennifer stated, walking to the bay window in the room, as she looked out to see the sun beaming brightly. She'd seen it every morning for the past few decades, but knowing it was a gift to her made it more precious. Jennifer added pointedly, "Cora is a powerful witch—you taught her yourself. Surely, she'd be teaching her own daughter? At least, giving a few tips?"

"My legend precedes me," Rumplestiltskin returned, chuckling, "but that's not to say Regina will want to use magic."

"Why not?"

"Because of what happened with her Twue love." Rumplestiltskin uttered darkly, walking up behind Jennifer. He folded his arms around her stomach, his head balanced on the right hook of her shoulder. "She was in love with the Stable Boy. Unfortunately, for them, they were discovered."

"What did she do to him?" asked Jennifer.

"Ripped his heart out, of course," Rumplestiltskin answered. "And crushed it right in front of her."

Jennifer turned in his arms and Rumplestiltskin looked curiously at her. Jennifer always had the admiration for the darkness, even basked in it time to time. She'd tortured people just for the fun of it, just to hear them scream and beg for mercy and answered their cries happily with a slice to their throat or burying her hand deep into their guts before they passed out in shock, then in death. Rumplestiltskin had expected Jennifer to simply respond as though she would not have been bothered by it, but instead, she looked absolutely horrified—an expression he hadn't seen in...well, ever.

"Her mother killed her true love?" Jennifer asked quietly.

"It's tragic," Rumplestiltskin told her. "But it happens."

"'It happens'?" Jennifer repeated incredulously. "Oh my—Rumple, I know the Darkness can be overwhelming but going after a child's happiness?"

Rumplestiltskin watched Jennifer step away from him, turning from him as she absorbed this information. She was getting angry—that much, he could see. Jennifer suddenly turned on her heel—as though likely on an impulse (as she always behaved)-and walked out of the room. Rumplestiltskin looked up at the ceiling, rolling his eyes and went after her.

"Jennifer, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to kill that woman!" Jennifer returned viciously.

Rumplestiltskin realized he couldn't catch up to this fast-paced vampire, so he appeared in front of her instead inside a cloud of smoke; he grabbed her arm, and she naturally swung around, staring at him incredulously.

"You can't interfere," Rumplestiltskin warned. "Everything that is happening right now is happening for a reason."

"But her daughter, Rumple. That was her daughter's happiness."

"I told you," Rumplestiltskin responded firmly. "It is tragic. But it is necessary."

"Necessary?" Jennifer exclaimed. "Are you fucking kidding me, Rumple—Cora destroyed something her daughter wanted, and loved. How can you just accept that—accepting that even if it was necessary—which I personally doubt it is!"

Rumplestiltskin watched Jennifer begin her brisk walk again, those heels of hers just stabbing the floor as she made her way to the entrance of the Dark Castle with the intention of leaving and doing only-gods-know-what to Regina's mother. Sighing deeply, and wishing for the fifth time he had a less, strong-willed wife, Rumplestiltskin grabbed her wrist, holding her in place this time, no matter how wild she tried to jerk her arm away. Jennifer glared at him.

"I understand you're upset..." Rumplestiltskin began.

"Upset? Upset—no, Rumplestiltskin. I'm pissed off. I get the fact that we need Regina to cast the Dark Curse, but I cannot understand why we have to allow Cora to destroy the happiness of a young woman. Do you realize that she will probably never ever find another True Love? That would be like someone taking you away from me, Rumple. I can't have that happen!"

"It's already happened!" Rumplestiltskin told her—in a louder voice than what might have been necessary, but Jennifer was a hard woman to get through and volume seemed to work with her; if that didn't work, then magic was the only other way—he hoped it wouldn't get to that.

"So what if it has!" Jennifer growled. "Cora wants to rip a young boy's heart out? A boy with whom her daughter fell in love, then I'll do the same fucking thing to her, and see how she likes it."

"Jennifer..."

"Don't stop me, Rumple—I'm going to kill her."

"Jennifer!"

"WHAT!" Jennifer screamed, her eyes flickering to the bright yellow. He hadn't seen those in a while.

Rumplestiltskin never let go of her wrist, and she was glaring daggers at him. The fun part about being the Dark One and being married to a vampire was that these arguments could literally go on forever and while they could battle it out—with or without magic—the argument would still continue forever since both the husband and wife were capable of self-healing powers and had an incredible amount of stamina. Jennifer simply realized that Rumplestiltskin wasn't letting her go this time.

Her eyes flickered back to their cerulean blue and Rumplestiltskin was relieved that she had stopped fighting him, at least physically.

"Your anger is not for Cora," Rumplestiltskin told her.

"Of course it is," Jennifer snapped.

"It's not."

"It is."

"I highly doubt it."

"You've been wrong before," Jennifer retorted.

"It may be directed at her, but it isn't the source," Rumplestiltskin returned knowingly. He touched her face in an attempt to get her to focus. "You are angry with me."

"No, I'm not," Jennifer uttered, but her voice had lost its illustrious vigor. "Why would I be?"

"You're angry at me for having fallen in love with her all those years ago." Rumplestiltskin pointed out. "Your jealousy betrays you, dearie. This news has just given you a moralistic reason to go after her."

"It actually gives me two reasons, now that you reminded me."

"You don't need reminding," Rumplestiltskin stated, gesturing to her. "You're a jealous woman, Jennifer; you've never forgotten."

"I'm going after her because she hurt her child."

"You're going after her because you want revenge for when she distracted me from the person I love most," Rumplestiltskin told her factually. "And this news about Regina has given you a reason to fuel your rage. Face it, dearie. Your jealousy matches mine every step of the way."

Jennifer crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him.

"You make this about yourself all you want, Rumplestiltskin. I am going after that bitch." She stepped forward, and he stopped her again. Rumplestiltskin looked at her coolly, remarking in his own nonverbal way that she was way off base, but that didn't stop her from staring daggers at him.

Jennifer demanded coldly, "Do you still love her?"

"Oh my gods, not this again—Jennifer, how many times are we going to have this conversation?" Rumplestiltskin asked tiredly.

"I didn't bring this up, Rumple. You did." Jennifer reminded. "I was going to kill Cora because of what you just told me about Regina, but now I think I may do it just to spite her for taking you away from me. No one should destroy someone's happiness. And just as I am about to go, you are doing everything you can to stop me so I can only assume you love her, you want to protect her from me."

"First of all—my heart is yours," Rumplestiltskin stated as a fact, "And Cora doesn't need protection."

"Then why are you stopping me!" Jennifer snarled.

"I'm protecting you from her, more importantly from yourself." Rumplestiltskin responded hotly. "You said so yourself—I trained her. She's a powerful witch, that one, and if you string along your emotions—as you normally do— you're going to meet a really nasty end, sweetheart."

"Aw, how fucking touching, but that's not going to stop me from maiming her," Jennifer growled.

She tried to go around him, but Rumplestiltskin sighed sharply, and reluctantly snapped his fingers; and her feet became immobilized to the ground, a current of electric purple wrapping around each leg. Ignoring her vehement snarls, Rumplestiltskin resolved that this was the only way he could reason with his wife.

He said firmly, "Cora is an important person—important for what the future holds," Rumplestiltskin explained with a forced calm, having to overlook his wife's jealousy in order to talk some sense into her.

"She's not important to me. Obviously, she must be to you."

"She's important to the both of us," Rumplestiltskin retorted. Irritably, he added, "Have I ever told you how hard you are to talk to when you're angry?"

"Cora is causing people pain—causing her daughter pain. She has to be stopped."

"Pain is strength—Regina will see that when the time comes."

"She doesn't have to lose people..." Jennifer began.

"It's necessary, Jennifer." Rumplestiltskin argued. "The Dark Curse is not an easy spell to cast. Someone has to be a monster in order to cast it, dearie, and the only way for that to happen is to make it. Evil isn't born; it is made. And as terrible and horrific as it may be, it's what has to happen in order for us to get what we want."

Jennifer maintained her hard gaze, and Rumplestiltskin refused to back down.

"Let's say I let you go," Rumplestiltskin said with slighted irritation. "You manage to get past all the guards—hell, let's say you get through them all, and you confront Cora, who I taught personally. She would kill you in an instant, Jennifer."

"I don't care..."

"You don't, do you?" Rumplestiltskin replied. "You do realize you would never be with me again? Your true happiness?"

Jennifer stared at him.

"And you would never get to see Bae again either."

She seemed to simmer down a little, her eyes captivated in a soft sadness. The flame of anger still flickered but not as strongly as she thought of Baelfire.

Rumplestiltskin said, "This Curse is going to lead us to Bae. That is the goal, Jennifer—to see our son again. I told you—from the start—that finding him would not be easy."

"But you never said anything about—"

"I am prepared to do whatever it takes, dearie," Rumplestiltskin said, and he gesticulated towards her viciously, "that has never changed, Jennifer. You agreed to it."

And the fire rose once more.

Jennifer snarled, "I didn't agree to this—to ruining people's lives...I mean, Regina deserves to be happy! She's just a child, Rumple! She's just a child!"

"But she's not your child!" Rumplestiltskin snapped.

Jennifer suddenly lost what flame she had; and seeing this, Rumple waved his hand and the purple electricity keeping her immobilized freed her; she stepped back as though he had thrown a book at her. Rumplestiltskin exhaled deeply, stepping back as well. They had been only an inch from one another, yelling at the other's face, pointing fingers madly. Rumplestiltskin noticed that when the veil of anger was pulled from her face that a sadness loomed underneath. Before him was what he imagined would be the literal being of a shattered heart.

Jennifer looked as though she was about to cry. Rumplestiltskin sighed again, closing the distance between them, and wrapped his arms around her. Her face buried into his chest; he could feel cold droplets on his skin, her tears.

"I'm sorry..." Jennifer uttered softly.

Rumplestiltskin combed his hands gently through her hair, to comfort her as best as he could for words were not his first strength. There was a softness to her touch as she wrapped her arms around him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she cried softly. Rumplestiltskin had an idea as to why she'd broken.

Even though they hardly mentioned him—for good reason—Baelfire had opened a place in Jennifer's heart. A mother's love had developed in that amount of time when Baelfire taught her how to play 'war', and he'd introduced her to his 'friends' (few, he had) and made her more welcome, despite the wide berth the children gave her. What mother's love Baelfire had awakened was now a mother's loss. In Jennifer's mind, a little Regina had been replaced by a little Baelfire who had his happiness ripped from him by someone so vile and cruel. Such a vision would lead any woman to hold such hatred against Cora...and considering her personal vendetta against her for having stolen Rumplestiltskin's heart, albeit only temporary, had given Jennifer all the determination in the world to kill her.

Rumplestiltskin heard her cries subside, and placed his hand just underneath her chin, lifting it so her head tilted back.

"I find myself forgetting at times that you bear the emotions of a human as well as a vampire inside your heart," Rumplestiltskin said. "Not to mention your usual lack of impulse control."

"Maybe that's why you're here for me." Jennifer whispered. "To keep me from doing something the both of us would regret?"

"Not only that," Rumplestiltskin told her. "I'm the only one that can survive your rage."

Jennifer smiled.

"The situation remains," Rumplestiltskin stated. "You can't kill someone that is vital to Regina's transformation. She has to experience events in her life—events leading up to casting the Dark Curse. Then, when she has done it, we will be able to find Bae in this new land." He placed a lock of her hair behind her ear affectionately, adding, "And we can be a family again."

Jennifer beamed.

"Until then," Rumplestiltskin resumed. "You will have to find someone else to satisfy your pound of flesh."

Jennifer uttered unhappily, "I still don't like it. The thought of a mother killing her daughter's True Love. That's evil."

"It's a necessary evil," Rumplestiltskin returned. "Just like you, my dear."

"I'm not evil," Jennifer responded defensively.

"Well, you're not good either."

Jennifer shrugged modestly, saying, "I'm a flawed character."

"Very flawed." Rumplestiltskin stated, smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "But, you're perfect this way, Jennifer— you are an illuminating, pale, blood thirsty, and sadistic vampire..." Rumplestiltskin placed his arms around her waist "And yet, an emotionally-driven, stubborn, determined woman who can feel things so deeply and so strongly, she's willing to take on one of my own legends for a child she has never met...just for the sake of principle ."

"Is that how you see me?" asked Jennifer, smirking at him.

Rumplestiltskin softly kissed her bottom lip, holding the kiss until she kissed him back furtively. Smiling at her, he said, "That is exactly how I see you. You are flawed in every way possible, but designed perfectly to be a wife—to the Dark One, and to Rumplestiltskin."

"I'm not flawed in every way," Jennifer reminded. "Some of that isn't even my fault. A vampire turned me. And my parents practically drove me into your arms, you know."

"And are you complaining?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"Of course not. It led me to one of my happy endings—you." Jennifer said, her eyes twinkling.

"And how do you think Regina will become who we need her to be?" Rumplestiltskin returned.

"Oh...so Regina may find her happy ending too as I have found mine?" Jennifer inquired.

Rumplestiltskin said, "May be. But if you mess things up, Fate may have to change everything and then, so will we. And at that point, neither of us may get what we want." He grinned smugly, saying, "Now you see why you shouldn't interfere?"

Jennifer's lips parted in the shape of an 'O'.

"Have I ever told you how incredibly brilliant you are?" Jennifer breathed—her eyes mixed with that familiar dark fascination.

Rumplestiltskin smiled sheepishly, saying, "Many times." He winked, saying, "But I wouldn't mind hearing it again."

Jennifer giggled, and they kissed once more.