It is time for another time jump! This chapter takes place a day before Kendra's eighth birthday. Enjoy getting a bit of Colette's background!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN- In the courtyard of the Charming Castle, About eight years into the future

Colette and Belle were out in the courtyard, one of Colette's favorite places in the entire castle, reading their latest finds in the royal library. Colette looked up from her book, The Littlest Princess, seeing her mother greatly immersed in the one she was reading. She had to ask before she headed off tomorrow with Killian and Kendra on The Jolly Roger.

"Mother?" Colette's voice shook.

"What is it, dear?" Belle's eyes didn't leave the pages of her novel.

"Well, I'm going to be ten soon, and I was just wondering, maybe if you…" Colette took a deep breath, "could tell me who my father is?"

Belle slowly set the book aside. She knew this question would be brought up eventually, but she didn't know quite what to tell her daughter. How could she tell her that her father was the backstabbing, villainous, well beast that she had fallen in love with and married? Tell her that she was, in fact, the Dark One's daughter?

"Colette, I think it's for the best if you don't know. Your father and I didn't exactly end on good terms and I don't want to disappoint you with some sob story," Belle choked.

"Is he still alive?" Colette asked.

"Yes, dear, he is," Belle answered quickly.

"Does he know that I exist?" Colette ached for every bit of information she could get about him.

"Yes…he does," Belle's eyes were watering.

"How do you know? Do you think he wants to meet me? What if he does? Do you think I ever will? Will he love me if I do meet him? Did you love him? I bet you did. Is his last name Gold? Is that why my last name is different than yours?" Colette listed off every question that came to mind.

"Colette, please, I don't want to talk about it," Belle was crying now.

"You don't want to talk about it. That's why you won't tell me." Colette looked at her mother.

"Colette…" Belle got up, turning away from her daughter so she wouldn't see her break down.

"THAT'S EXACTLY IT! YOU REFUSE TO TELL ME ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM! YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR ME, BUT ALL I REALLY WANT IS A NAME, ANYTHING!" Colette looked down and her hands were glowing. They were glowing… "Mom…" Colette whimpered. Storm clouds churned overhead, the once blue sky now as black as the darkest heart.

"WHAT?" Belle turned around to see her daughter in a full panic. "Oh, Colette…" Belle knew that she would not be able to calm her down. She ran into the corridor not knowing what else to do. "RUMPLESTILTSKIN!"

A letter appeared in front of Belle almost instantly and she picked it up shakily. The seal on the letter, with a very distinguishable dagger in the middle, was one she knew all too well. She read it with her vision blurred by tears. She could hear the storm begin to subside outside.

Belle,

I am so sorry this happened. I am currently getting her powers under control. I know we have discussed in previous letters what would be done should she ever develop magic. I will take her to my castle and begin giving her basic lessons. She will, as we discussed, not be told that I am her father. That will forever be your right to tell. I will explain that you did ask for my help and she will be safe with me. You are free to come to the castle, but you do not have to see me. You may bring along Mrs. Jones or anyone else you would like for comfort or to be a middleman of sorts between you and I. You may take her home as soon as I know that she has at least some handling on her skills. I need you to know that I love her with all my heart and will not let anything happen to her. I know that you would prefer that I have no interaction with her whatsoever, but I am glad that I will at least get to meet her. I am in no way asking for a relationship with her. I will respect any further decisions you make about her future.

Signed,

Rumplestiltskin

P.S. I also ask you to warn Mr. and Mrs. Jones regarding Liam and Kendra. I fear that one, if not both, of their twins could eventually develop magic. Being that their mother is the savior, I would almost count on their magic being unpredictable, powerful, and potentially dangerous. I would encourage them to consider, although I know their father will most definitely be against it, me teaching them should they acquire such abilities.

Belle stumbled back out to the courtyard to find that they were already gone. She fell to her knees and sobbed for what seemed like hours before falling asleep on the soaked ground.

"Belle?" Emma shook her awake. "What happened?" It was already the next morning.

Belle sat up and handed the wet letter to Emma, solemnly recounting the events of the previous day.

"Is that what that storm was yesterday?" Emma handed the document back to Belle.

"Yes. I didn't know what else to do. She is probably so scared." Belle started to cry again.

Emma laid her hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll take you to the castle today. I can make sure that she is okay for you."

"But today is Liam and Kendra's birthday, I can't ask you to do that." Belle looked up at Emma.

"I know, but this is more important right now. Liam is going camping with my father and Kendra is going on a sailing expedition with Killian. It will be fine," Emma assured Belle.

"Thank you…"

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