Masquerades

Piper hummed lightly to herself as she sat at the table in the main hall of the Dark Castle, her feet up on the table, sharpening a set of knives on a whetstone, though only half the knives were to be sharpened. It seemed the Dark One had taken her remarks that a blunt knife caused the most prolonged suffering to heart, he now wanted a range of different knives of varying sharpness at his disposal. She was all too happy to oblige his request.

It…was oddly touching, that he was allowing her to sharpen the blades. Most men would hardly dare let someone that was 'captive' in their home near anything they could use as a weapon against them. But this was the Dark One, this was her Rummy, and, despite her voice and magic that could be used as a weapon whenever she pleased further emphasizing the point that she remained there of her own free will, he had already given her the most dangerous weapon possible. His Dagger. He had given her the Dagger of the Dark One, the blade the controlled his magic, that could be used to control him as well. Her magic would be enough to sway him to do things if she wished, but the dagger offered her unparalleled control over him, complete control. With it she could order him to do anything at all, even squawk like a chicken and he would be compelled to do it.

She held the most powerful weapon pressed against her leg, in her boot.

And she would never ever use it.

As far as weapons went, it was more a shackle on him than anything and she had given her word that she would never, EVER use it to control him. Even if HE had been the one to beg her to use the dagger, he would have to make a very strong case for her to be brought to the point of using it against him. Not ever would she use that method to force his hand, not ever. Her music though…she smirked at that, he had, a time or two, requested she use her magic on him, so that he could understand it better.

That was something hardly anyone ever asked, for her to actually use her magic on them. There had been once or twice in the past that she'd had to use it on her cousin, Snow White, to calm her down or ease her worries, especially after she had lost her mother, she would help the girl sleep at night, hum a gentle lullaby for her. But beyond that, Snow White had never asked for her to use her magic on her, nor had she thought to do such a thing.

She truly hadn't thought to use her music to control people till after her kingdom had fallen. Her father had impressed upon her the responsibility that came with magic like hers, how she must be wise in how she used it, considerate, understanding of others. She didn't care anymore, about anyone save her cousin and her true love. Beyond that, she would use her magic as she saw fit, against anyone she needed to to any end. The Dark One though…he had been interesting, he'd experienced a range of emotion and manipulation while under the spells of her songs, always short lived, never anything too traumatic to do, some even rather…pleasurable for them both.

She smirked wider at that thought, setting down one of the knives and picking up the next one, working on sharpening that, her thoughts drifting back to the task at hand with the motion. Many would see her as a captive, would wonder why she held these knives in her hand and didn't use them to attack the Dark One and escape. They would be fools to try such a thing, he was impervious to all manner of weaponry save his dagger, he could only be killed by that blade and that blade alone.

And she wouldn't use it like that, why would she? Why kill her true love?

Her smirk morphed into a more gentle smile at that thought, her true love. SHE had a true love, the Pied Piper. When she had been younger, more innocent, when she and Snow White would talk about the future, she could admit there was a small part of her that wondered what her true love would be like. It was a part of her that died when she cast off the title of Rose Red and became the Piper. There was no one, she thought, she believed, that could love her as she was, and then…there was the Dark One.

And he did.

Somehow, beyond all reason, he loved her.

She tilted her head, her green eyes sparkling as she took in the sharp edge of the blade, reaching out to touch it gently to test the edge of it, and didn't even flinch as it drew blood, cutting her finger.

She had hardly a moment to even really react, to pull her hand back and put her finger in her mouth or tear a small scrap off her shirt to bind it when someone else took her hand in theirs, hands that had what looked like sparkling skin made up of the smallest of scales. Her gaze drifted up as her hand was lifted to the lips of the Dark One himself, the man pressing a gentle kiss to her finger, his magic brushing across his lips to her finger, healing her skin instantly.

"Rummy," she smiled at him.

"Pip," he returned her grin, shifting to sit on the table, automatically moving her feet to have more room but instead of shoving them off the table, he merely placed them on his lap, "I…have a proposition for you, dearie," he giggled.

"And what does this proposition entail?" she asked.

"Be my escort for the night."

"Where would you, of all people, require an escort?"

"I thought I'd pop in and see how Belle's father, the king, is doing with his kingdom now that the ogres have been dealt with," he stated, a dangerous grin coming to his face, "I think it's high time I remind him that his debt to me is still, technically, unpaid."

Piper shook her head at that, thinking back to the Princess Belle, having met the girl only briefly when she came to the castle to offer her services as caretaker in place of the Princess. She didn't like the girl, looking back on that encounter, on what she knew of the woman's feelings for Rumpelstiltskin…she was even less favorable of her now.

"Will the princess be there?"

"Hmm, I haven't the faintest," Rumpelstiltskin shrugged, genuinely not caring, "I go for her father regardless."

Piper considered it a moment, "Do you require my help to sway him?"

"Nope."

"To…draw a truth from him?"

"Nuh-uh," he shook his head.

"To make him scream?"

"Possibly," he considered it, "Depending how the night goes."

Piper's eyes narrowed only slightly, more in confusion than suspicion, "I am not certain I understand my role or necessity in this deal."

"It's not quite a deal, dearie," he remarked, "It's more a debt collection," his smile almost seemed to slip for a moment before a forced one took its place, "One I should be able to handle fairly well on my own if you don't wish to go…"

"I never said I wished not to join you," she cut in, "I merely wish to know more about what shall be expected of me."

"Nothing at all Pip," he assured her, "Just be your stunning self, that's all I require."

Piper still wasn't sure what the point of her going would be then if she was to do nothing at all, but she gave a small nod, agreeing to go nonetheless.

Rumpelstiltskin giggled happily at that, clapping his hands in an excited fashion.

~8~

Piper took a deep breath as she walked down a regally styled hall with the Dark One. He could have just magiced them inside, cause a commotion by appearing in a swirl of his favored red smoke, but he was choosing a different grand entrance this time. She was…nervous. She would admit, just the tiniest bit, not for the reason most would guess.

She wasn't nervous to be there with the Dark One, on his arm, or even the reaction of the others. She wasn't nervous that she would muck up his grand plan as he had said there was nothing that she need do while there. She wasn't even nervous to be around so many other royals either, Rumpelstiltskin had sworn to her that he had used his magic, enchanted her image, to appear different to others. She looked very much like she had when the Evil Queen had visited after Belle departed, had run into the timid red-haired new caretaker. They both doubted the Queen would be there, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

She wasn't nervous about all of that.

She was nervous about her gown.

Of all the silly things in the world to fret over, she was shifting in discomfort because of a dress.

It was a lovely dress, Rumpelstiltskin had magiced it himself…and stared at her for quite a long while with such inordinate appreciation in his eyes that she had actually flushed scarlet when his eyes met hers afterwards. It was forest green, something that complimented the red hair others would see, but that she knew matched her eyes and that was the reason he'd selected that color. It was strapless, corseted on the top, flowing at the waist, with the most intricate embroidery she'd ever seen along the hemline. There were small swirls that, only when looked at closely, did one realize they were flowers, roses to be exact, and the leaves, the leaves of the roses, when turned on another angle were music notes. It was exquisite and impeccably tailored and…regal.

It was the sort of dress that a queen would wear, so much so that she could almost feel the weight of a non-existent crown upon her head.

She was walking straighter because of it, all those years of lessons drilled into her by her mother and Aunt Eva and her father and Uncle and tutors and Snow and…everyone, everyone with so many expectations of her. When she'd been growing, every year it got easier to wear the gowns and parade around as the smiling princess. Every year she cared less and less whether the visitors and guests thought her smile was fake or not, whether they saw the coldness growing in her eyes. She'd attend, put on airs, and that would be it.

But that was Rose Red.

And she was not her any longer.

The gown felt off on her, it felt foreign, walking the way she was…even though she was naturally poised and with her chin in the air, it felt different now. She couldn't help but think back to her life as a princess, walking towards the grand hall for a ball. And this was…this was so much like it that she couldn't seem to reconcile what she was supposed to do, who she was supposed to be. Did she play the role of Rose Red? Blend in with the other royals? Did she stand out as the Piper? Remain cold and closed off?

She hardly had a moment to question anything when the doors were thrown open. Rumpelstiltskin flicked his wrist, adding their names to a list of attendants, which was called off only seconds later.

"The…" the announcer faulted, his eyes wide as he gaped at the name written on his parchment, but cleared his throat when he saw the look Rumpelstiltskin was giving him, "The Most Dark of Sorcerers," he called out, "Rumpelstiltskin," the room went silent, and, of course, that had to be when he continued, "And his…lovely Caretaker, er…" he frowned, but kept silent as he saw no other name listed there to read.

Rumpelstiltskin just giggled, "Hello dears," he greeted the crowd as they looked up at him, "So glad I could make it," he looked over at the King, standing there with wide eyes, "Seems the royal scribes forgot to send out my invitation to this…lovely event," he sneered.

Piper glanced over at that, not at all perturbed (actually quite grateful) that no name had been given for her. Now that she and the Dark One had become…more than business partners, they had agreed to try and keep her appearances to deal-only situations, at least as the Piper. All other times she adopted the red haired appearance, the last thing they needed was for anyone to discover Rumpelstiltskin had a true love, or that he was hers, the implications, the dangers and threats to each other if the wrong person found out…it could be disastrous. But that wasn't why she'd looked over, no, it was the fact that this wasn't just dropping in to see the king, this was an event going on, with half the kingdom in attendance along with some other royals though she didn't see Snow or Prince there which was a blessing. And then she noticed Belle was standing beside her father, another man, with rather mousy brown curly hair and a large nose and equally large gut beside her, his hand on the small of her back, freckles scattered across his face…or perhaps they were pimples, she couldn't tell from that distance.

She doubted it was a birthday celebration, it did not seem the sort of event that would be hosted like this…but more…a betrothal announcement.

It made sense, from what she knew, Belle's prior fiancé had been turned into a rose and left to wilt and die. It appeared the king was trying to secure another ally and use his daughter to do so. She almost pitied the girl, the man beside her was…well, she imagined he was rather lacking in quite a few areas, especially self-control if he had a gut like he did already while being so young. Almost pitied her, but not quite.

She turned and walked down the steps with Rumpelstiltskin, the man smirking and giggling at the partygoers, "Oh, I'm sorry, have I introduced my new caretaker?" he gestured to Piper.

"How do you do?" she put on the same timid airs as for the Queen, curtsying to the king and biting her tongue not to say anything else when Belle gave her a confused look for a moment, before smiling at her, glancing between her and Rumpelstiltskin as though in relief.

"Don't mind us," Rumpelstiltskin waved them on, "Play on, play on," he snapped his fingers and the instruments that a small band of musicians were holding started to play themselves, "I only came to settle a debt," he grinned at the king dangerously.

~8~

When Rumpelstiltskin had said that there was nothing he expected of her to do for the night, Piper hadn't quite thought he was being entirely literal about it. But the moment he'd mentioned an unsettled debt, the King had quickly hurried the imp out of the room to discuss the payment or what was expected. Well, he hadn't hurried Rumpelstiltskin out of the room, more like requested, as it was a special night for his daughter, to have the conversation in private. Rumpelstiltskin seemed to be in a rather good mood and agreed, though Piper was oddly suspicious it was because of her that he was in a good mood. He looked at her, standing beside him, and it was as though just the sight of her in her gown and being there with him had made him more agreeable.

So it was likely a good thing he'd gone with the King alone lest he get too agreeable and settle for less than he wished in terms of the debt.

She supposed she should appreciate how they had entered after all, to see them both appear together, walk down the stairs, to have her stand beside the Dark One…no one sought her out after that. If they'd just appeared, some might assume she'd been captured or taken there against her will, but to walk in with him gave the impression she was there willingly, which she was, and so most stayed away from her. A servant or two dared to come to her and offer her a refreshment of wine or slices of meat, but she turned them down, taking only the goblet of wine so as to have something to do with her hands lest she grab her pipe and reveal herself.

She stood closer to the musicians, now playing their instruments on their own after the nudge from Rumpelstiltskin to begin playing, paying particular attention to the pipe player and harp player, listening intently to the songs in general, hoping for some new tune to amuse her, but they were all such old rhythms that she found herself bored far too quickly.

Her expression must have shown as much for Belle made her way over to her, a small smile on her face.

Piper took a deep breath and forced herself to curtsy, "Princess."

Belle gave a half-nod, half-curtsy in response, "I hope you don't mind my asking," she began, "But…you're the Dark One's new caretaker?"

"I am," she nodded, trying to keep her answers short but also polite…as much as that last part killed her.

"I thought…" Belle chuckled a bit, "It's silly of me but…when I was Rumple's caretaker, it seemed like a blonde woman was set to replace me."

"Was she?"

"Yes," Belle nodded, "Did she take her leave of the Dark Castle?"

"I am afraid I do not know, my Lady," she answered, "When I was selected for the position, there was no one in the castle but me."

"Oh," Belle murmured, looking down before back up to her, "You must think I'm silly, asking about caretakers and whatnot," she shrugged, "It's just…I was caretaker there."

"As you said," Piper only barely managed to keep that answer a degree shy of rude.

"I don't know what it was," Belle murmured in thought, "But…there was something about it, about being there, being around the great and terrible Dark One," Piper's lips pursed slightly at how Belle sounded more amused than reverent of the title, as though she didn't think him dark at all, "Getting to know him, the real him, the one beneath the curse…" she sighed, "I would have liked to stay there."

Piper's lips were nearly paper thin with how pressed together they were at Belle's words. Getting to know the him beneath the curse? Belle clearly did not understand anything about the Dark One at all if she truly believed the man she had lived among was not the man Rumpelstiltskin was. She knew he hadn't always been the Dark One, he had told her of his life before he'd taken the Dark One's powers for himself. It was over 300 years ago.

300 years was more than enough time to change, to become a new person.

And that man he was now, it was WHO he was. It was who and what he was, it was both, HE was both, he was Rumpelstiltskin and the Dark One, they were the same now…and Belle was treating it like there was a man hiding under the darkness fighting to push against it when really, it was a man who had taken the darkness in and become one with it.

But she forced her expression into a small smile when Belle looked at her, "Why did you leave?" she asked instead, curious to see what story Belle would spin, what tale she'd likely told everyone else.

Belle sighed, "The blonde woman, she showed up, convinced Rumple that I was trying to trick him, deceive him, shouted that I didn't truly love him even though my kiss was breaking his curse. He threw me out," she frowned at that, "I wandered a little, to a tavern, met a prince turned Yaoguai," she chuckled at the memory, "And…made my way back here," she glanced around, "A home I never thought I'd see again. A home I left to protect. And now I'm back, all because the Dark One chose his curse over letting me free him from it. I just don't understand," she looked at Piper, "It was actually working, you know, my kiss, it was breaking the curse…"

"Because you loved him."

"Yes."

"Did he love you?"

"That's usually how true love's kiss works," Belle gave a little laugh.

No, it wasn't actually. Love came in many forms, platonic, familial, unrequited even. You could truly love someone and have them not love you back. It didn't make the love meaningless in terms of the magic it could create. She was sure that there could be someone out there that loved another who did not return their feelings yet they'd still be able to manage light magic if it meant saving the person that felt nothing for them.

Just because Belle's kiss worked on Rumpelstiltskin, did not mean that Rumpelstiltskin's kiss would have worked on Belle. And just because it started to work didn't mean it really would have. Belle felt she truly loved Rumpelstiltskin, she loved something about him, whether it was the idea of saving him as she had said herself or whatever it might be, Belle did love something in him, she could admit that. But, again, there were many types of love, many ways to truly love someone, not all of them could be healthy or good though. Belle loved the idea of the Dark One, of 'redeeming' him, she loved who she thought the man 'beneath' the curse was, and it was enough to start to break the curse. But she had her doubts it would have actually worked as completely as Belle seemed to think. Belle could not truly love Rumpelstiltskin if she did not accept all of him, a very wise princess had told her that once and she believed it with her whole heart. The kiss would not have completely worked, it would start to, then likely retract, the fact that the Dark One was still the Dark One meant something. It had nothing to do with Rumpelstiltskin pulling again, that wasn't what kept the curse from breaking. Once true love's kiss had been given, it was an instant reversal to a curse, not slow acting. If it began to change him but ceased, that spoke volumes about how true the love was if it did not instantly change him back nor even finish the task.

But she couldn't say that without it sounding too suspicious so she racked her brain for something to say to her to keep the conversation from venturing down a path of questions she didn't want to answer…when, luckily (or unluckily depending on what would happen next), the king stepped into the room again, giving his people a smile and a light nod, as though telling them all was well, causing cheers and claps to erupt around them.

The man made his way over to his daughter, sighing in relief and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Father?" Belle looked at him with wide eyes.

"All is well, my daughter," he smiled, though he glanced at Piper, "My lady," he held out a hand to her, "Might I humbly request a dance?"

Piper blinked at that, her eyes shooting up and glancing around the room for Rumpelstiltskin a moment before she hesitantly accepted, seeing him nowhere to help ward off the king before he led her onto the dance floor.

She was almost wishing that she'd stayed and talked with Belle longer when she heard the king whispering to her a minute later, while the song of the minstrels grew louder.

"Do you need help?" he spoke softly to her, having to lean in uncomfortably close for her to hear him.

"I beg your pardon?" she blinked.

The king glanced around and back to her, his eyes soft and almost pleading, "Is the Dark One holding you captive? Like he did my Belle? Has he…has he harmed you? Threatened you? Please," he spoke quickly, "You must tell me."

"I do not understand…"

"I can help you escape," the king informed her, "I can…I can help you be free of him."

"Free of him," she repeated.

"Yes," he breathed, "He is…a dangerous man. Dark, twisted, corruptive," he glanced at Belle who appeared trying to smile and dance with her new fiancé but was not having a good time of it, "He'll turn even the kindest of hearts into a monster…"

"I see," Piper nodded slowly, "Unfortunately I must decline."

The king's gaze snapped up to her so quickly at her calm tone she would have thought he'd injured himself, "What…" he gape at her, shaking his head, "Did you not hear me? He's…"

"I heard you perfectly well," she cut in, no longer able to keep up her masquerade of the timid maid, not when the man was speaking of her true love, trying to lure her away from him, she would not have it, "He is dangerous, dark, twisted, corruptive, and will turn me into a monster."

"And yet you refuse to leave his service?"

She nearly snorted, "It would hardly make sense to do so when I am already equally as dangerous as he is, just as dark and twisted and corruptive, perhaps even more corruptive, and if you think I am not as much a monster as he is, well," she smirked, "You should get out of your palace a bit more and find out exactly who the Dark One employs to see his deals done."

She could see it though, the moment he realized exactly who he was talking to, that she was no more a caretaker than he was a knight, but instead that she was the Pied Piper that people whispered worked with the Dark One now.

"I have turned men, women, and children alike into monsters far more quickly and easily than even the Dark One could muster," she leaned in, "And if you think me so easily swayed that I would take my leave of him…it makes me curious just how easily swayed your people would be to revolt against you," she leaned back, "What do you think Rummy?" she inquired, waiting only a moment before looking over her shoulder where the Dark One himself had appeared.

"I would love to find out," Rumpelstiltskin giggled.

"No," the king breathed, looking around for help, though it seemed like no one noticed what was going on, like no one could hear them, it had to be magic, "No, please…"

"Luckily for you, dearie," Rumpelstiltskin replied, "I'm in a rather good mood this night," he threw his hands up with a flourish, "I'll spare you and your pathetic kingdom from seeing the true devastation the Piper can cause with a mere whistle on one condition."

"Anything," he promised.

"You forget you ever met her," Rumpelstiltskin stated, reaching out to take Piper's hand, gently leading her back to his side, lifting her hand to press a kiss to the back of it, content that no one would be the wiser in seeing his actions, such was the power of magic and glamors, "You forget the Piper ever came here, that she ever had red hair, that she ever spoke to you. You breathe not a word of this to anyone, especially the Queen, and your kingdom shall be safe."

"Understood," the king nodded frantically, "Not a word."

"Well then," Rumpelstiltskin looked at Piper, "What say you Pip? Shall we retire for the evening?"

"I would welcome that," she nodded, "I wish to return home."

He grinned at that, at her calling his castle home, and giggled, waving his hand and surrounding them in a swirl of red smoke, the last few wisps of it disappearing to reveal them back in his main hall once more.

"There's no place like home," he giggled, turning to look at her, "Did you have fun tonight Pip?"

She hummed, "Frightening a king so much that he likely has to change his trousers was entertaining," she remarked.

His expression actually fell at that when she offered nothing else, "And the rest of the night?"

She shrugged, "It was…bearable."

"But not…entertaining? Not…you didn't…you weren't enjoying it?"

She blinked and looked at him closely, seeing him staring at her with a small frown, "Not much, no."

"Oh," he tilted his head, confused.

"Why did you wish me to attend such an event?" Piper asked, observing him, he genuinely seemed both disappointed and puzzled by her reaction.

"I…merely thought you would enjoy leaving the castle for a spell," he offered, making her eyes narrow as she detected the slightest of lies in his words, "You've done an excellent job of caring for my home, Pip, I thought a reward was in order."

"No," she said slowly, stepping closer to him, "That is not it…"

"It is," he insisted, not moving back the nearer she came till she was standing almost nose to nose with him.

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Liar."

"Dark One," he gestured at himself, "Lies are my trade."

"But not to me," she shook her head, tilting it a bit to look into his eyes more, "Tell me truly, Rummy, what reason had you for me to join you this night?"

He was silent a moment, his eyes searching hers, seeming like he was debating with speaking more or not, before he sighed, "It was a ball."

"Yes," she nodded slowly, "I was aware."

"It was a ball, in a castle."

"And?" this time it was her turn to be confused.

He let out a long breath, "It was a ball, in a castle, with…people, with royals. It was an event, a betrothal, it was a grand celebration. In a castle, full of people, nobles, in a kingdom, with villagers and servants and…"

"Rummy," she reached out to take his hand, "I do not understand."

He looked down a moment, off to the side, "I…can't give you that."

She blinked but said nothing.

"You were a princess," he looked at her, "You had a kingdom, people, servants, a castle full of life, balls and parties and stables with horses and fountains and gardens and jewelry, finery and buffets of food. You were a princess," he repeated, "And now you're here. With me. In a castle of two, dull and lifeless and lonely, and while I can give you all the jewels you would desire and finery beyond your imagination, foods from realms you've never even heard of…I cannot give you your kingdom back. I cannot give you that life back. I lost my boy and my wife, my humanity, all the light in my life. And you gave me most of it back," he shook his head as he observed her, lifting his free hand to touch her cheek gently, "You gave me true love, you make me feel less a monster because you don't see my actions as evil, you understand me and I feel as though there is some sort of light returning to me, through you. You lost everything, your home, your people, your title, your family, and I can give you nothing in return, nothing to equal what you have given me."

Piper was silent a long while, processing everything he had said to her…

Before she smiled.

"Rummy," she shook her head fondly, "Oh Rumpelstiltskin. My foolish Dark One."

He looked away at that so she mimicked his actions, lifting her hand to his cheek to direct his gaze back to her, "I do not want that," she told him, making sure he was looking into her eyes as she said it, "I have no desire any longer for a kingdom or a people to rule. I have no need of servants or a castle full of bustling songs keeping me up at all hours of the night," she managed to get a small smirk out of him for that, "I was never one for balls or parties, for horses and fountains and gardens, jewelry or finery or exotic foods. All I need, all I shall ever need…you HAVE given me," she told him, tears actually starting to form in her eyes, startling him to see, "My home is with YOU, wherever you are, that is my home now. You have given me freedom to make what deals I wish, to do my business and not hold me back. You have given me a new title," she dared to tease, "Mistress of the Dark Castle…"

"Holder of the Dark One's Dagger," he added quietly.

"Yes," she nodded, "And while I would love to be with my cousin again, my distance is what keeps her safe and that is all I want. Your protection keeps me safe, which keeps her safe. I have chosen to keep from her, you had no say in that choice nor knowledge that I had made it. It does not fall upon you to feel the burden of keeping my family from me. You…YOU have become my family now," she blinked, a tear falling from her eye that he quickly caught with his thumb, "Whether we can grow our family with children of our own, or whether we have to steal one," she said that last part in a teasing tone, both of them knowing that if they truly stole a child then the parents and village and half the realm would come for them with pitchforks and torches, "It matters not to me."

"Pip…" he breathed.

"So long as I have you, Rumpelstiltskin, I have everything I need."

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head slowly at her words, at the truth and emotion and power behind what she'd said. He had been thinking lately, ever since he'd seen her at Cinderella's wedding, when he'd seen her standing in the shadows as the ball went on, when he saw her watching her cousin, that even if he hadn't taken all that from her, he was still holding her from returning to it. He'd thought that…he'd felt guilty that such a large part of her life had been taken and that she hadn't even said a word about going back to it. He'd thought she kept her silence about it because she did not want to think on it, even now she did not speak much about her life as Rose Red, he thought it meant it pained her to look back on, that if she did she'd feel regret for the choices she made. He thought she was silent because she did not want to speak of what she longed for but thought she could never have.

He had been wrong.

She had been silent because she already had everything she longed for, in him.

He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a firm, desperate, emotional kiss, something he was sure no one would believe possible between the Dark One and the Pied Piper had they not witnessed it themselves. He slid his hand from her cheek to her hair, burying it in her golden waves, angling her to deepen the kiss, feeling his heart thud against his chest as she wound her arm around his neck, pulling him closer as well.

They pulled apart seconds after oxygen became an issue, neither one wanting the moment to end, and so it didn't, for they spoke not another word, merely rested their foreheads together, swaying slightly, till his arm drifted down to her waist instead, his other hand still holding hers as it had been since the moment she'd taken it, lifting it so they were dancing a slow waltz to no music, not that they needed it.

After all, they hadn't gotten to dance at the ball, which was just as well. They didn't need to dance in the middle of a crowd, they only needed each other.

A/N: Aww :') I feel like, in many a relationship, there's always a moment of wondering if you're really the best person for your partner, if you're doing all you can to make them happy, or if you're being too selfish in wanting to keep them with you. I wanted to show a moment of vulnerability for the 'great and terrible' Dark One and the hardened and cold Pied Piper. I like that they're so cold and harsh to others, but with each other, the depth of their understanding of each other, makes them softer :)

And, I know that Belle was captured by Regina and that when Hook came to try and use her to kill the Dark One that was when she hired him to go to Wonderland. In this story though, since Belle had been replaced and Regina knew it, she didn't see the point in capturing Belle because she was clearly easily replaceable to the Dark One at that point and didn't seem as valuable an asset, so Belle returned home. Later, when it would be time to send someone to Wonderland, Regina selected Hook and had her Black Knights bring him to her ;)

Some notes on reviews...

A few of you are curious if Piper might be pregnant because she got winded so quickly. She could be, or she might not be }:) She could just as easily have just fallen behind and Emma and Charming were just as winded, but they had the adrenaline going for them that Piper lacked (as she didn't really care if Hook or Elsa, at that point, got hurt) so she wasn't feeling that extra kick to run faster and last longer than they were or even that she was still feeling the leftover exhaustion from using her magic to break at the ice wall ;) We'll have to wait and see if this might be the story where Rummy and Piper finally have that child they've been talking about since Season 1 lol ;) I know I want it to happen and they want it to happen...but we've also both wanted it to happen since season 1 and it's going on 4 seasons now so you never know, could be next season or the one after at that rate }:)

I agree, slowly Emma is coming around to the fact that she made a BIG boo-boo in the past with altering time :) I'm glad you liked Piper's reactions to the Elsa-Anna situation and her reaction to Gold, she'll slowly warm up to Elsa a little bit more, but she'd pick Gold over Elsa in terms of who's side she's on any day ;) I can say that Snow's issue with Piper and Neal was triggered a little by what Marian said, but I won't say what it actually made her think or feel just yet }:) Elsa might just mention what Gold said yup, but whether Emma hears it or not is another thing ;) I can say that the winded didn't come from the Snow Monster nope, I think Gold would have used magic to heal her if he saw her hurt afterwards :) She was very tired from trying to break down the ice wall the night before, which could have been a reason for the windedness ;) And thank you! I didn't get a chance to get on my tumblr last night, but I plan to be on today, I can't wait to see your picture! ^-^ And I fully understand privacy. I think it took about 2 years before people managed to guess my real name and got me to admit what it was in a guessing game lol, though they've been very kind and understanding in still referring to me as Lizze as I'm not fully comfortable with seeing my name pop up just yet ;)

We'll have to wait and see who might betray who ;)

That's ok ;) I'm sure the other story is wonderful ;) As for whether the Charmings (or Charming himself) will do something to set Piper off, we'll have to wait and see }:) Just because Gold has no intentions to betray Piper doesn't mean something won't severely force his hand }:D

We'll have to wait and see what might become of Piper's heart. This will definitely be a story of strained relationships and tests of loyalty though ;) I'm actually very much looking forward to the Shattered Sight curse, but as for the townline, my lips are sealed about that moment ;)