Chapter 19: A Prophecy Spoken

Jennifer lied on her back, looking up at the dirt ceiling, her head in Rumplestiltskin's lap. He was combing his fingers through her hair while the other held her hand. They had sat like this in silence for the past several hours, just thinking, just enjoying the other lover's presence. She'd become reasonably silent as she thought of what the land would look like without any magic. It would be unfamiliar, but at least she would retain her memories.

Or was that a good thing, really?

"I met him," Jennifer mumbled softly, her eyes shifting from the ceiling to Rumplestiltskin, who looked at her curiously.

"Who?"

"The man that took Milah," Jennifer returned.

Rumplestiltskin looked a bit stumped, stopping the stroking of her hair and then after some time, he continued as though he didn't just appear to be stunned.

"When?" he asked.

"Some years ago," she responded. "While you were teaching Regina one of your longer lessons, I went out looking for my mother, but I didn't find her. I grabbed a drink before I came back home."

"Mmhmm..."

"And I saw him." Jennifer said.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Of course not—I didn't allow that to happen." Jennifer uttered softly. "He's a bit a flirt though."

Rumplestiltskin stopped stroking her hair completely, looking down at her unhappily.

"Why are you telling me this?" he questioned.

"I wanted you to know," Jennifer stated.

"Did you...like this pirate?" asked Rumplestiltskin, his tone was eerily calm.

"No. A pretty face is all he has. He couldn't have stolen my heart, no matter how hard he tried." Jennifer reassured.

Rumplestiltskin seemed to relax again. She sat up, and without a spoken word, Jennifer framed his jaw with her hands and kissed him. A lot harder than what might have been intended. There was an urgency in the way she kissed, as though there was not enough time spent between them to convey just how much she loved him. Rumplestiltskin pulled away from her.

"Jennifer, you don't have to say good-bye; we'll be together even after the Curse happens."

"How can you be sure?" Jennifer whispered. "I can retain my memories—since I'm obviously now a literal part of you—but how will I know for sure that I will be with you? This Curse is designed to rip away our happiness. My happiness is you. That can only mean that you'll be torn from me."

Rumplestiltskin understood her concern. Sure, they were in this cell together but that wasn't to say that after the Enchanted Forest gobbled them up and spit them out into the Land Without Magic that they would still be physically together. Not only would he have Baelfire to search for, he'd also be having to look for his True Love, for whom he could most certainly not live without.

"I'll find a way, my heart," Rumplestiltskin reassured her softly.

"You will?" Jennifer said, smiling at him.

"Dark One always finds a way."

They kissed again, but this time, Jennifer was more relaxed. Her mouth pressed against his upper lip, her tongue teasing him. When he kissed her back, she parted her lips for the invitation, and he more than happily obliged. Rumplestiltskin felt her body radiating heat as the kiss became deeper. He moved Jennifer on her back, and she emitted a dark, soft laugh that vibrated his entire being.

Jennifer felt his hands move up her dress, brushing the material above her panty lines so he could trace his fingertips slowly up and down the nakedness of her pale flesh. As he did this, Jennifer unbuttoned the front of his tunic, sliding her hands over the skin that became exposed...and neither of them broke the kiss between them.

"RUMPLESTILTSKIN!"

Jennifer scowled and she heard Rumplestiltskin sigh irritably.

"RUMPLESTILTSKIN!" the guard was heard shouting again.

"Isn't that always the way," Rumplestiltskin said sardonically, "You get in the mood and company shows up."

Jennifer and Rumplestiltskin stood to their feet. The guard shouted, "I HAVE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION!"

"Nooo," Rumplestiltskin uttered softly. "You don't. They do."

Jennifer saw two figures approaching with hoods over their heads, accompanied by the guard. Rumplestiltskin approached the cell, placing his hands on the bars, smiling.

"You insult me," Rumplestiltskin said pointedly. "Snow White and...Prince Charming. Now come on, take off those ridiculous robes."

Snow White and Prince Charming did so. Rumplestiltskin glanced behind him when Jennifer emitted a deep growl similar to what they'd all heard before. Snow White instinctively took a step back.

The guard began to speak, "They've come to ask—"

"YES YES I know why they are here!" Rumplestiltskin interrupted him. In a softer tone, he said, "You wanna know about the Queen's threat."

"Tell us what you know," demanded Snow.

"oohh," Rumplestiltskin drawled, "Tense, aren't we."

Snow White and Charming glanced at him uncertainly, then both warily to Jennifer who remained in the background, smirking at them. She simply sat on the large rock which had become something of a chair to them, crossing her legs, and watching unblinkingly at Snow White, who was very aware of Jennifer's unceasing glare. She glanced at Charming, who simply stood a little ways in front of her. Even with the cell imprisoning both Rumplestiltskin and Jennifer, Charming and Snow White were very much afraid.

This made Jennifer smile.

"Fear not," Rumplestiltskin said cheerily, "For I can ease your mind. But!" He held the bars, smiling at them. "It is going to cost you something in return."

"We're wasting our time," Charming whispered urgently.

"What do you want," Snow White overruled, stepping forward.

Rumplestiltskin smirked at her.

"Oh," he said, "the name of your unborn child?"

"Absolutely not!" Charming protested.

But once more, Snow White overruled, saying, "Deal! What do you know?"

More than satisfied with Snow's quick deal making, Rumplestiltskin sighed happily, and spoke. As he did, Jennifer listened. Although she had already known what the Curse entailed, there was still some of it she had not heard.

"How can we stop it?" Snow White asked.

"We can't do anything," Rumplestiltskin giggled.

"Who can?" she questioned.

"That thing," Rumplestiltskin answered slowly, reaching his hand out to touch Snow's stomach, "growing inside your belly."

Charming reacted; he smacked Rumplestiltskin's hand from his wife with the flat end of his sword, threatening, "Next time, I cut it off."

Jennifer hissed, stepping forward but Rumplestiltskin held his other hand up, indicating that the situation was still fine and she didn't have to be feel too overprotective. Charming and Snow glanced past Rumplestiltskin to see Jennifer sit back down, her eyes still holding the unblinking stare. It was quite unsettling. However, Rumplestiltskin pulled their attention away by speaking.

"Get the child to safety," Rumplestiltskin told them. He leaned further, saying, "Get the child to safety and on its 28th birthday...the child will return. The child will find you. And the final battle will begin." And then after, he started giggling like mad.

The conversation seemed to have ended there, and Jennifer watched as Charming told Snow White that he had heard enough, pulling her from the cage so they'd start walking back. Rumplestiltskin suddenly became enraged, demanding they had a deal and he wanted the child's name.

"WE HAD A DEAL! I WANT HER NAME! I WANT HER NAME! GIVE ME HER NAME!"

"Her?" Charming said over their shoulder, "It's a boy. Come on, Snow."

"Missy, missyyyy," cooed Rumplestiltskin, calming down. "You know I am right, don't you? Come on...what's her name?"

With much reluctance but knowing that she couldn't go back on the deal, Snow slowly turned around and said softly, "Emma. Her name is Emma."

Charming whisked his wife away so they could do whatever they thought needed to be done, heeding Rumplestiltskin's advice. As they walked away, the guard casting looks at the Dark couple, Rumplestiltskin repeated the child's name: "Emma."

Jennifer frowned.

"So they can have a daughter, and I can't?" Jennifer uttered grumpily. "Where's the fairness in that?"

Rumplestiltskin turned around to look at her. She looked awfully unhappy.

"Don't worry, dearie," Rumplestiltskin mused, strolling towards her.

Jennifer looked up at him as he stood before her.

"I don't get to have any memories with my child, Rumple, but the woman whose taken my own gets to have hers? I'm not worried. I'm angry."

"Well, here's something to calm that storm dwelling in your heart," Rumplestiltskin said, kneeling before her.

Jennifer watched him take her hands in his.

"Snow White and her Prince Charming will have made no happy memories with their child either," he offered to her softly. "You can take comfort in the fact that when the Savior does return, those two will have to work hard to be the parents she never had. And there's not a feeling that can make a child feel more distant to a parent than abandonment."

Jennifer smiled sadly, saying, "That's comforting, darling. But then we will have to face the same with Baelfire."

Rumplestiltskin shrugged, saying, "We'll find a solution to that problem when we get to it."

"We'll find one?" asked Jennifer, smirking.

"What?" asked Rumplestiltskin, curious to her question.

"You've always said 'you' will find a way. Never 'we'."

"Well," Rumplestiltskin stated, "the way I see it—I could do it by myself but I'm starting to think that I'll never be rid of you."

"Nope!" Jennifer sang, winking. "You're stuck with me for life."

"I thought so," Rumplestiltskin stated.

"You know you're happy about that," Jennifer returned knowingly.

"I'm not unhappy."

Jennifer giggled and he kissed her. And she kissed him back.