Chapter 20: The Curse Is Coming

"Marry, fuck, or kill," Jennifer uttered. "Your choices are Snow White, Cinderella, and Me. Go!"

Rumplestiltskin stared at Jennifer as though she had lost her mind.

"You must be getting extremely bored," Rumplestiltskin told her.

He had been leaning against the cell, his fingers wrapped around the bars anticipating a visit from someone, but never told Jennifer whom. She had her back against the wall, her arms crossed staring at the ceiling until she suddenly thought of the game.

"It's an easy choice." Jennifer told him.

"Is it?" Rumplestiltskin responded, turning his head to look at her. "I do enjoy choices, but I know a bad one when I see one."

"Just answer the question," Jennifer insisted. "I'm not going to get mad."

"I know you a lot better than that, dearie," Rumplestiltskin chuckled. "And out of self-preservation, I'm going to pass."

"Fine—I'll just make the decision harder," Jennifer warned.

Rumplestiltskin turned to her completely.

"How so?"

"Look: It's not like I asked you to choose between Zelena, Cora, and myself."

"List all the women you wish," Rumplestiltskin mused, walking towards her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and and as she moved into him, her arms snaked around his neck. "No matter how many other candidates involved, I will always choose you, Love."

"Good answer. Do you want to ask me the same kind of question?"

"I'm afraid not," Rumplestiltskin told her.

"Why?" Jennifer asked. "Do you think my answer would change?"

"I already know the answer," Rumplestiltskin responded.

"You've been seeing into the future, haven't you?" Jennifer presumed.

"I can't see the future when it concerns you, Jennifer." Rumplestiltskin said lightly. "But I don't have to."

Jennifer mewed, "As if you would need to."

The back-and-forth between them was almost melodic. They were so in sync with the other, Rumplestiltskin felt as though he might as well had been talking to himself. They smiled at one another, and softly kissed. As always, the soft kiss evolved into furious snogging. Jennifer giggled when he pushed her back against the wall, his hands lifting her dress up just enough where he could move them underneath. Despite the anticipation of knowing someone would be visiting, Rumplestiltskin wasn't in the mood to have another interruption.

Jennifer felt his hands pull down her undergarments and she was making quick do of his pants, exposing the source of his impatience and frustration. Sparing no time at all, Jennifer wrapped her legs around Rumplestiltskin's lower back as he gripped the back of her thighs, and they moaned loudly in relief as he pushed inside of her.

"Don't be gentle," Jennifer mumbled as he had started moving in and out of her slowly.

Rumplestiltskin kissed her neck, and his lips lifted in a crooked smile, hearing her impatience.

"As you wish," Rumplestiltskin conceded.

He whisked her away from the wall, and roughly moved her, her back slapping onto the ground roughly. An evil little smile appeared on her face when Rumplestiltskin moved between her legs and snatching her wandering hands, he pinned them above her head. Despite her being a vampire with the impressive strength of fifty men, Jennifer was consistently impressed how she could barely fight off the strength of the Dark One. No matter how she wriggled her body or wrung her wrists, Jennifer was incapable of escaping his restraint.

He gave no warning as he thrust inside her, burrowing deep all the way to the hilt, feeling her body react to him so violently as she tightened around him. Rumplestiltskin moaned deeply, a surge of pleasure hitting throughout his body like a lightning bolt. Jennifer whimpered, but when he watched her expression, she was animatedly intoxicated by the same bolt of ecstasy. Even after all these years that have passed, Rumplestiltskin was consistently discovering more things about Jennifer. This time around—he realized that she enjoyed pain.

"Don't stop," Jennifer begged.

Rumplestiltskin grabbed her hips and pulled her closer to him, her back dragging across the floor; Jennifer's back arched when he thrusted inside and just barely pulled out before he shoved every part of him back. Jennifer's soft whimpers transitioned into that of a woman breaking under torture, her voice cracking even as she said his name.

Even then, she begged for more.

Rumplestiltskin released her hands, placing one of his own around her throat. Jennifer exhaled a sinister laugh as he kept it there the entire time. Even though she was begging for her release, and he was all the more eager to give it to her, Rumplestiltskin remained in control. Jennifer was pleading with him, her hands touching every part of him she could, those nails digging through the material of his clothes, even tearing it.

When her responses became aggressive, Rumplestiltskin restrained her again, grabbing her wrists. But as soon as they both could go no longer, and they felt the crashing waves of pleasure roll throughout every part of their being, Rumplestiltskin and Jennifer's hands both joined, their fingers lacing together as they both enjoyed the release. Rumplestiltskin relished her non-stop moans, the sound exhaling from her swollen lips as her head was tilted back, her back arching...it was always a beautiful sight.

In the next hour that followed, Rumplestiltskin fixed himself up and glanced at the corner of the cage to see Jennifer lying on her side, facing him, sleeping. He then heard a few squeaks from a mouse, and he chuckled.

"We're alone, dearie," Rumplestiltskin said to the mouse. "You can show yourself!"

From outside the cell, a mouse that had been roaming around and squeaking a few minutes ago turned to purple smoke and became a beautiful woman with dark brown eyes, raven hair, and dressed in an ensemble meant for an Evil Queen, which was befitting, considering that it was Regina.

"Ah, much better." Rumplestiltskin uttered.

Regina tilted her head to the side, popping her neck. Notably, being a mouse must have been uncomfortable.

She stepped forward.

"That Curse you gave me. It's not working," Regina said, unraveling the scroll.

"Ahh, so worried. So, so, worried." Rumplestiltskin said as he tapped his finger tips together. "Like Snow and her wonderful new husband."

In the flattest of tones, Regina muttered, "What."

Excitedly, Rumplestiltskin stepped forward, wrapping his fingers around the bars as he informed, "They paid me a visit as well. They were very anxious. About you. And the Curse."

Regina scowled, meeting him at the bars and questioned: "What did you tell them?"

"I told them the truth, of course." Rumplestiltskin said pointedly. "That nothing can stop the Darkness. Except their unborn child..."

Regina stared at him, not exactly enthusiastic.

"You see, all Curses can be broken," Rumplestiltskin reminded. "And their child is the key. Of course...the Curse has to be enacted first."

"Tell me what I did wrong," Regina instructed quietly.

"For that," Rumplestiltskin returned, "there's a price."

Hearing all of this before, Regina immediately said, "What do you want?"

"Simple," returned Rumplestiltskin soothingly. "In this new land, I want comfort. I want a good life..."

"Fine. You'll have an estate," Regina finalized. "You'll be rich."

"I wasn't finished yet!" Rumplestiltskin implored, grinning. "There's more."

"There always is with you."

"Yeah," agreed Rumplestiltskin, chuckling. "In this new land, should I ever come to you for any reason. You must heed my every request, and you must do whatever I say. So long as I say, please!"

"You do realize that should I succeed, you won't remember any of this." Regina reminded, enhancing the big picture.

"Well, then, what's the harm?" Rumplestiltskin said pointedly.

"What about her?" Regina asked, glancing into the cage to see Jennifer turning in her sleep.

"She comes with me," Rumplestiltskin said.

"She's special to you, isn't she," Regina muttered.

"I think that would be quite obvious," Rumplestiltskin replied coolly.

Regina realized there was just a few details in this deal of his and she waited for him to continue.

"Whatever cursed memories you may place," Rumplestiltskin said, "she will still be married to me. Whatever story you so desire for ours to be, you will keep her with me."

"A lot of orders coming from someone imprisoned in an underground hole," Regina responded scathingly.

"It's the deal, dearie," Rumplestiltskin mused. "Do we have one or not?"

Regina glanced back at Jennifer as though she was uncertain.

"If it makes you feel any better," Rumplestiltskin offered with a smile, "Jennifer holds a personal vendetta against Snow White."

"Really?" asked Regina, suddenly more accommodating. "Why?"

"It's a personal matter," Rumplestiltskin returned protectively.

"Hmmm..." Regina hummed, looking at Jennifer as the vampire hissed in her sleep; whatever dream that woman was having seemed to either be a devilishly sadistic one or a really bad nightmare. Finally, Regina, considering the fact that having Rumplestiltskin's wife as an ally may be beneficial to her in the next land (should everything fail) was a nice perk, Regina agreed to the deal.

"What must I do to enact this Curse?" Regina asked after the deal was struck.

"You must sacrifice a heart," Rumplestiltskin replied.

"I sacrificed my prized steed." Regina said.

Suddenly, Rumplestiltskin shot towards her, clutching her neck and Regina stared at him a bit shocked and a flicker of intimidation glinted in her eyes before the calm set in.

Rumplestiltskin said coldly, "A horse? This is the Curse to end all Curses! You think a horse is going to do? With great power comes great sacrifice. The heart must come from something far more precious."

Regina said slowly, "Tell me what will suffice."

"The heart of the thing you love most," Rumplestiltskin said.

Angrily, Regina smacked his arm away, snarling, "What I love most died because of Snow White!"

"Oh...is there no one else you twuly love?" Rumplestiltskin cooed, tracing her cheek with the back of his fingers. "This curse isn't going to be easy. Vengeance never is, dearie. You have to ask yourself a simple question. How far are you willing to go."

Getting closer to the bars and declaring with the utmost determination, Regina responded, "Whatever it takes."

"Then please stop wasting everyone's time and just do it." Rumplestiltskin stated. "You know what you love. Now go kill it."

Regina looked at him a long time before she turned on her heel and strode away. Rumplestiltskin watched after her, smiling.

000

"You spoke to Regina?" asked Jennifer. "When?"

"You were asleep, Doll," Rumplestiltskin answered, smiling.

"And she agreed to your conditions?"

"Of course—she had no choice."

Jennifer leaned forward against the bars. Whatever this new land held, it had to be better than this cage. She was dirty, and feeling more and more like an animal being cooped up inside a dirt hole. Only adding her to entrapment was the knowledge that this Curse was happening.

"So despite the ring and me being a part of you," Jennifer uttered, "We all will still be cursed?"

Rumplestiltskin heard the helplessness in her voice. She turned to him when he didn't say anything.

"Will I know you?" asked Jennifer.

"Yes, in a matter of speaking." Rumplestiltskin told her.

"But I won't know who you truly are," said Jennifer. "I won't know me. That's a fate worse than death, Rumple. I thought I could retain my memories—my past...it's just going to be wiped clean?"

"Not exactly," Rumplestiltskin replied calmly. "The fun part about knowing a name is the power it can possess."

"What?"

"Emma," Rumplestiltskin clarified. "Whenever I hear her name, Jennifer, I will get my memories back. And, since I have made you a part of me, you will too."

"How does knowing Emma's name make a difference?" she questioned.

"Names are my book and trade, dearie," Rumplestiltskin mused. "I consider them quite important. It holds more power than anything...well, except True Love, of course."

Jennifer fidgeted with her hands. Anxiously, she glanced outside the cage as though expecting some horrific flames to burst through and destroy them all. What she expected, she didn't know for sure, except only for the worst. Rumplestiltskin took her hands in his, placing them on his chest; in return, Jennifer gazed at him.

"These cursed memories are our own," Rumplestiltskin reassured her. "You will still be married to me and although you won't remember who you are nor remember me, we will still be together."

"And in love?" Jennifer asked quietly.

Rumplestiltskin could hear her uncertainty; he said, "Even if you were torn from me and placed in a different realm at a different Time, you'll always come back to me, Jennifer. Never underestimate the power of True Love."

"What about me being a vampire?" asked Jennifer. "If I don't know what I am, I will just walk out in the sun one day and 'poof'!"

"Vampires don't exist in the Land Without Magic, dearie," Rumplestiltskin said.

"Then how will I survive?" Jennifer asked.

"That part of you will simply become non-existent as Time," Rumplestiltskin explained. "You'll live as you always have lived."

Jennifer joked, "I just won't tan."

"I'd say that is the least of your worries, Darling."

Jennifer smiled at Rumplestiltskin.

Then, they heard screaming above ground.

Jennifer wrapped her arms around his middle, whispering, "Don't let go."

He promised, "Never."

As the smoke began filling the tunnel, Jennifer and Rumplestiltskin told one another they loved each other. The black smoke filled the cage, engulfing, Jennifer, Rumplestiltskin, and the rest of the Enchanted Forest. No matter what happened, they would forever be together. Both of them would die before they were ever separated. And when the Savior returned 28 years later, their mission to find Baelfire would resume.

Jennifer and Rumplestiltskin would find their son.

End of Part 1