CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- In the courtyard of the Charming Castle, about eight years ago

"MOTHER!" Colette watched her mother disappear into the castle. Her hands were glowing as bright as the lightning that was beginning to crack across the sky. She had never been more scared in her life. Rain poured down over the courtyard and the wind was strewing leaves and flowers everywhere. She fell to her knees, screaming bloody murder, wishing for whatever was happening to her to stop.

"Dearie, listen to me." A voice spoke calmly in the midst of the storm. Colette could barely make out a figure in the darkness.

"Think of a happy moment. A friend, perhaps?" He reached out and touched her arm.

"I'm going to hurt you! Get away from me! I'm a monster!" Colette yelled at the stranger tearing her arm from his grip.

Rumple's heart broke hearing her call herself that. "Dearie, I can assure you that you are no monster, and you are not going to hurt me. Please, try and relax."

Colette was trying to take deep breaths. She thought of playing with Kendra, Liam, Oliver, and Neal in the great hall. She began to feel the heat in her hands subside, the light growing duller. Colette looked up at the sky, the clouds parted, revealing a once again blue sky.

"Very nice." Rumple knelt down beside her. "Are you hurt?"

"Who are you?" Colette pulled herself away from him.

"I'm an…acquaintance of your mother. I'm not going to hurt you, but you need to come with me. Belle asked me to help. You have quite a deal of magic within you that needs to be controlled. I can teach you how to do that. Don't worry. I'll take care of you." Rumple tried his best to assure her. He didn't think that it would be this painful to be so close to her for the first time. She looked even more like Belle than he even realized. He had spent so many days just watching her grow, her first words, her first steps, not being able to be there for any of them. So close, yet he couldn't tell her anything. It was like failing Baelfire all over again.

"Will I ever get to see my mother again, and my friends?" Colette looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Of course, dearie. It will only be for a short while, but I need you to trust me. Can you do that?" Rumple held out his hand.

"I…I think so." Colette grabbed his hand and he pulled her close. Rumple waved his hand, sending the both of them to his castle.

"Here we are. Why don't we get you cleaned up and ready for dinner?" Rumple put his arm around her leading her into his study. Various potions and other magical objects lined the room. A drawing of the dagger hung over the spinning wheel in the corner, a painful reminder of what had caused him to lose Belle and their unborn daughter in the first place.

"Wait a second! You're…you're the…" Colette pushed him back, and tripped over the rug in the middle of the floor.

"Dark One. I know. Like I said, you are safe. I am not going to hurt you." Rumple helped her off of the floor.

"Why? Why aren't you going to hurt me?" Colette's voice trembled.

"One, I have a deal with your mother. Two, the Dark One doesn't always hurt people. Three, I don't have most of my magic. I gave it up."

"Why?" Colette pried.

"Because, I tried getting someone I lost back. But, it was too late. I had lost them forever. Villains never get happy endings, dearie," Rumple said solemnly.

"We can change that. Mother says there's always hope for a happy ending," Colette smiled.

"Maybe…" Rumple looked at his daughter. "Now to get you cleaned up." He waved his hand, changing Colette into a new day dress, sky blue and white.

"Thank you. I'm Colette by the way, Colette Gold. We haven't been properly introduced and you've already invited me into your home." She curtseyed.

Belle had given her his last name. Maybe there was hope yet. "Rumplestiltskin, but you may call me Rumple if you wish." He bowed in return. "What would you like for dinner, anything in particular?"

"I want whatever's your favorite. You did kind of save me after all." Colette followed him towards the dining room.

"Then, roast lamb we shall have, dearie." Rumple opened the door for his daughter, gesturing her inside. "Be my guest."

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