Chapter 8
Teenager Odette - Hailee Steinfeld
Present
Amir was completely glad that Graham was gone for now, but unfortunately, there was another problem—Emma Swan. He wasn't at all pleased that he had been seeing her wearing the sheriff's badge. With Graham, he was predictable, but Emma, on the other hand, he couldn't figure her out. That was what made her even more dangerous. He needed to know her every move so that she would never pick up whatever he was up to just like how he ran circles around Graham, which was why he instructed his employees to watch Emma with a careful eye by telling him her every move.
Still, that didn't mean that he couldn't mess with her a bit. It seemed proper protocol for the sheriff to receive such a welcome from Amir as his eyes glinted with mischief when he approached the new sheriff. Emma raised a quizzical brow at him when she finally noticed him as he drew nearer to her while she was walking down the sidewalk.
"You're taking your role seriously," he commented. "It's been two weeks since Humbert left. No one seems to know where he is. He didn't tell you anything, did he?"
"No. He didn't. All he left me was a note telling me that I was sheriff."
His eyes piqued with interest as he replied, "A little strange, though—the way he took off, and yet he wanted you to be sheriff. Why is that?"
Emma just stared at him hard with malcontent since she didn't particularly like Amir. "He trusted me I guess."
"You...guess?" Amir snickered as he told her, "He trusted you enough alright to make you sheriff."
"Well, he thinks I can make this town better than him."
At that moment, Amir saw the look in her eyes-the one that was determined and refused to back down. It was clear that she didn't trust him, and she had a right to be. After all, their first encounter wasn't exactly pleasant.
"And you think you can?" Amir asked with a hint of amusement.
"I can try."
With her final words, Amir knew right then and there that Emma had no intention to leave this town as what he liked. Instead, she was staying to help the people here. He knew if Regina hadn't antagonized her so much, then they would've never had to have seen the Savior again, but with Emma being the sheriff, it complicated things, especially when it came to Amir. If there was one thing Amir liked, it was knowing his opponent, and Emma was willing to do whatever it took for the sake of her son by making this town a better place, which was why it made Emma too dangerous to have her around.
Amir then bid her his goodbye by making an excuse by saying that he should get back to his bar before wishing her well as the new sheriff. When Amir called Regina in the back alley that led to the back entrance of his bar, he heard his phone ring three times before she finally picked up, "What is it?"
"What are we going to do about Swan? She's been sheriff for already two weeks." He got straight to the point.
"I already have everything planned out." Regina told him. "I'm going to make Sidney Glass the next sheriff."
He wasn't Amir's ideal choice, but he was a perfect puppet to do anything Regina said. "About time. I was going to step in if you couldn't figure it out."
There was a pause for a while until Regina finally popped the question with such disdain. "Don't tell me you were planning to involve her in your disgusting little hobby."
He smirked through the line as he answered, "Tempting thought, but not who I had in mind. I was thinking of making her disappear for good, but it seems you have it under control now, so I'd say that there's no need to worry. She'll soon be packing her bags to Boston before you know it."
"Just out of curiosity, when you said that Miss Swan wasn't who you had in mind, then who were you planning to use?"
"Oh,...I don't kiss and tell. Now if you'll excuse me, I have my own business to run."
As Amir hung up, he started to think about his next move, and he knew exactly who to approach.
Past
Young Odette was in her small hut, sitting on her stool and sewing fabric. She was careful not to prick herself as the needle moved swiftly yet delicately through the material. Odette never forgot when her father first taught her at nine years old. He was incredibly patient with her and was very gentle as he soothed her with sweet words whenever she accidentally pricked her fingers, so her father always wrapped them with cloth to stop the bleeding and kissed them to make her tears go away.
Ever since her mother was stolen by pirates and killed by them as the necklace around her neck reminded her of her, it was left to Odette to help her father earn money. No matter how many times Rumplestiltskin was against it, Odette always told him that they needed the money to survive, especially with The Ogre Wars brewing.
Odette didn't know what to make of the war at first. The ogres were ruthless and terrifying from what Odette heard. There were tall tales of an ogre dismembering a soldier limb from limb and another account where an ogre crushed a man's skull with its bare hands that his eyeballs popped from their sockets. It shook Odette to her core thinking that someday her and her twin brother would be listed to go. They were only thirteen years old, and their birthdays were only a couple of days away. After that, it would be another year when they would be fifteen to be listed in The Ogre Wars, but Odette didn't want to go because she was not only worried about her and her brother's safety, but she also didn't want to leave her father behind, knowing that he would be all alone.
She loved her father dearly, and he was already suffering enough after he lost his wife. Most of the villagers already held some sort of resentment to him for some reason. Her brother, Baelfire, kept telling her that she was just imagining it once, but Odette knew that they didn't like Rumplestiltskin, especially the men, and she couldn't understand why.
"Odette." She looked up to see her father standing by the doorway with a long stick acting as a crutch when he limped his way towards her. "Why aren't you with Bae and everyone else?"
Odette looked back at her work as her hand got to work again. "I didn't want to leave all this work to you, Papa."
He truly admired her selflessness, but he wanted her to be a child, not be an adult so quickly. "You don't have to do that, Odette. I-I told you that I could do it."
"I know you can, but I want to help," she argued.
Rumplestiltskin looked at the pile of work she had already done, and smiled warmly, knowing how hard she was working to help her family. Still, she would always be his little girl, and he wanted her to remain that way instead of working all the time like what her mother did. That was why he grabbed her hand when she finished a stitch in the fabric and told her, "The work's nearly done. I'll finish the rest." Before Odette had a chance to say anything, he insisted, "Go on now. Go be with Bae and your friends."
She willingly put her needle and thread to the side as her father got on his stool and began spinning from his wheel after they looked at each other one last time and smiled before Odette headed outside. Rumplestiltskin loved his children dearly, but he especially had a place in his heart for Odette. She carried a tender heart, and she looked very much like her mother, except her eyes as they resembled her father. However, many people believed that Odette was much more beautiful than Milah, especially with how she carried herself. Her doe eyes were much more gentler and welcoming as opposed to her mother's piercing blue eyes. She was so full of life and was such a spirited young child. Rumplestiltskin would do anything to ensure his daughter's happiness since it was his right as a father to protect her from those who would seek harm to her.
When Odette went through the village, she noticed how the villagers were working diligently to keep with the demand of their lord. They were all suffering by slaving away at his expense. That was why Odette wanted to run away as she watched the ships set sail on the docks. She used to have a childish idea of going on one of those boats to see far off places and see what other lands there were. It was her dream to be an explorer as she heard about strange new worlds from distant travelers who stopped in the village to rest and drink merrily to their hearts content, but that was all it would ever be now-a hopeless dream.
"I thought you might be here." Odette looked to see her twin brother, Baelfire, approaching her. "You were working all day. You know you don't have to do that."
"I know, but I want to make it easier for Papa."
"Come on. Let's go," he said.
Odette willingly got up from the crate she was sitting on and followed him as they left the dock. Their conversation was normal as she asked Baelfire how his day was while she was working. He told her that he didn't really do much, just playing with some of the boys in the woods by using their sticks as swords. Odette didn't think it was funny though when Bae started laughing by recounting when he knocked his opponent in the river and thought he was drowning only for the boys to tell him that he wasn't as he stood and noticed that he was at the shallow end.
They made it back to the village and noticed the knights, and both Bae and Odette froze as they watched their leader go into Morraine's house-Odette and Baelfire's best friend, so they rushed back home as their father stopped spinning straw when he heard his children practically crying out, "Papa! Papa!"
"What is it?" he asked.
He then got up with his stick as Baelfire told him, "They've come for Morraine."
They followed their father by his side as they went outside only to see the knights dragging their friend away with her parents pleading to let her go. The lead knight who rode on his horse named Hordor smirked at the family by saying that she would make a fine warrior. Morraine's father insisted that it wasn't right as the law states that she was not of age by pointing out that Morraine was turning fourteen.
However, Odette and Baelfire were horrified when they heard Hordor say, "Orders of the Duke! The Ogre Wars have taken a toll this season. More troops will turn the tide."
Odette then turned to her father with a grim expression on her face as she told him, "They lowered the age again. It's not fair, Papa."
"I know," he said, wrapping his arm around her to comfort her.
Odette couldn't believe when the knights just took her best friend as they pushed her parents away and lifted her on Hordor's horse so that she would ride with him. Odette practically buried her face in her father's chest to avoid watching, while Baelfire stared at the scene unfolding in front of him. However, Morraine's parents weren't ready to let her go just yet, as her mother pulled out a knife to attack the knight, but they were no match for The Dark One, who rode on his horse behind them and used his magic to strangle her parents and brought them to their knees.
As they gagged, Hordor gave them a malicious grin and told them, "The Dark One seems to think I can."
He then nodded off to The Dark One, who let her parents go, so that they could ride away together, while her parents cried for losing their daughter. Odette still couldn't believe that her best friend was gone just like that. It was completely unfair how the law kept changing.
"Our birthdays in three days," Baelfire reminded Rumple. "They'll come for Odette and me in three days."
"We'll find a way," Rumple said immediately to comfort his children when he saw their faces. "We'll find a way."
Present
As Emma made her way back inside the sheriff station, she froze when she saw the mayor standing by her desk. Emma didn't know why she was here, but her cheeky grin told her that Regina was up to something, so Emma put her keys on her desk while Regina looked at the sheriff badge that Emma was wearing.
"I'm sorry, Miss Swan, but that's not for you." Regina gestured to the sheriff badge.
Emma wasn't going to let the badge go without a fight as she argued, "Graham promoted me to sheriff."
"Graham Humbert has no jurisdiction over that matter. Only the mayor can appoint someone else, which I'm doing today."
"So who's it gonna be?"
"After due reflection: Sidney Glass."
Emma was surprised to hear this as she argued, "Sidney from the newspaper? How does that even make sense?"
"Well, he's covered the sheriff's office for as long as anyone can remember."
At that moment, Emma knew why Regina picked him as she pointed out, "And he'll do whatever you want him to. You just cannot stand the fact that things have been getting better around here, can you?"
Regina seemed insulted by that question as she asked, "Better? Are you referring to Graham's disappearance better?"
"No," Emma said softly.
It was true. No one had seen Graham or contacted him in over two weeks. Some people claimed he ran away, but that was just a rumor. Others said that he left Emma a note before he committed suicide. That was an even worse rumor. Regina even instructed Amir to find him, but unfortunately, not him or his employees could find him. Graham Humbert vanished without a trace, and Amir told Regina once that it was most likely because Graham didn't want to be found.
Emma didn't like how Regina raised her tone as she told her off, "He was a good man, Miss Swan. He made this town safe. And, forgive me for saying this, you have not earned the right of wearing his badge."
"Graham picked me to be deputy."
"He was wrong."
"No, he knew what he was doing. He freed this office from your leash. You're not getting it back."
"Actually, I just did. Miss Swan, you're fired."
She watched Regina take the badge away from Emma and walked out of the sheriff's office without saying another word, leaving Emma alone with her frustration.
Meanwhile, Nora headed inside Granny's Diner to get the lunch that she ordered over the phone. Granny welcomed her as usual as Nora went to the counter where Ruby and Ashley were waiting. Ashley was already sitting on a stool eating a salad, while Ruby was just talking to her until she noticed Nora and greeted her with a friendly smile.
Ruby then handed her a brown paper bag containing her order of a grilled cheese sandwich and a small bowl of tomato soup. "Thanks, Ruby," Nora said before handing her the money to pay for her meal. "You can keep the change."
Ashley then got Nora's attention as she said, "Hey, Nora. Do you mind fixing a tear in my apron. My keys and my phone kept falling out of my pocket yesterday."
When Ashley handed her the apron, Nora nodded her head and replied, "Okay, but it's going to have to wait for a while if that's okay."
Her friends noticed Nora's concerned expression as Ashey asked, "Sure, but you look upset about something. Is everything okay?"
Nora gave them a defeated sigh and admitted, "My sewing machine. It's been broken down for over a week now. I've been doing all of my work by hand, and it's taking me forever. I have all these deadlines that I don't think I'll make in time at this pace."
"Why not just buy a new sewing machine?" Ruby asked.
"Because I can't afford one. They're too expensive."
"You could always ask, Gold. He is in love with you."
Nora rolled her eyes at her cheeky comment by addressing the ridiculous rumor about her and Gold. "Very funny."
"I'm serious though. He extends your rent, and he helped fix your store a couple of times, so why not just ask him for money."
It was a tempting thought, but it didn't feel right to Nora. She didn't want to keep burdening Mr. Gold with her problems. She even knew that if she did go to him, he was sure to go out of his way to help her so that she could make profit quicker. This time, Nora wanted to find a way herself, and she expressed that with Ashley and Ruby. Ruby, however, wasn't too keen on Nora looking for the solution herself as she told her that it would be better to go to Gold since they all know that he holds the power since he's their landlord.
When Ruby walked away to take a customer's order, Ashley gave her an encouraging smile and told her, "Don't worry, Nora. You'll find a way."
"Thanks."
As Nora wished her friends well, she walked out of the diner with her food in her hand, unaware that she was being watched by William Smith as he heard everything.
Past
It was late at night, and Odette and Baelfire slept soundly in their beds. They weren't the most comfortable, but they got used to them just like everyone else. It was expected since they were very poor, but as long as their family was safe, they didn't care.
Odette soon felt her body being shaken as she was turned around, so her eyes widened to see her father panicking and holding a lantern. "Wake up, dear. We're going now." Once she was awake, he then turned to Baelfire and did the same until he woke up. "Come on. Wake up, son. We're going now. We're going now, son."
The twins didn't know what to do, but they did what their father wanted by rushing to wear their cloaks. They didn't even bother making their bed as their father told them to hurry, so packed whatever they needed in their satchels before rushing out the door. Both Odette and Baelfire didn't want to leave their home, but at the same time, Odette didn't want to go to war because she didn't want to part ways with her father, while Baelfire was more upset about running away because they were breaking the law.
"It feels wrong to run away," Baelfire told them.
Rumple then turned to his son and reminded him, "It's worse to die, son. I'm not having you and your sister being taken away to The Ogre Wars."
Odette saw that her brother disagreed with their father from the look on his face, so Odette took his hand as he turned to her when he heard her say, "At least we're all together."
He gave her a small smile as she did, and all Rumple did was smile at the pair as he listened to his daughter's sweet voice. She always did try to see the good in everything, and it made Rumple love her even more for her optimism as she inspired hope. Baelfire, on the other hand, wished that she learned to stick up for herself more. She tended to put others before herself even though Bae kept telling her to be selfish once in a while by saying what she wanted like when she promised she would watch one of the villager's children when the children's mother went to go fill up water from the well instead of playing with Morraine as Odette told her that she would meet her soon.
As they passed by a lonely beggar on the street, he held out his hand and pleaded, "Alms? Alms for the poor? Alms for the poor?"
Rumple was considering giving him money, especially when Odette stepped in. "Can't we give him some money, Papa?"
One look at her face, and Rumple couldn't refuse. "Alright."
When he gave him a few coins, the beggar thanked them before Odette and her family continued down the path as Baelfire held the lantern to light their way. "Are you sure there's no other way?" Bae asked.
Rumple limped his way forward as he expressed his worries to his children, "Oh, I can't lose you. You two are all I've got left. You don't understand what war is like-what they do to you." When there was galloping in the distance nearby, Rumple turned and panicked as he practically tried pushing them off the road and warned them, "Quick, hide! In the ditch, hide! " As the knights became clearer to Odette and Bae, their father pleaded, "Go, go! Go!"
It was too late though as the knights saw them before Odette and Bae had a chance to run away, and their leader, Hordor, commanded them to stop where they were. It didn't take long before the knights soon surrounded them to keep them from leaving. Rumple wrapped his arm around his daughter's shoulders to keep her close to him, while Baelfire stood his ground in defiance as the lead knight asked, "What are you doing on the King's road?"
Rumplestiltskin felt the need to speak up, so he did, "We have some wool to sell at the fair at Longbourne, sir."
As the leader looked between Odette and Baelfire, she kept her eyes low by refusing to meet his gaze. She surely thought that her heart was going to beat out of her chest at a rapid pace. Running away from being taken into the battlefield of The Ogre Wars was a punishable offense, and if the knights found out what they were doing, then they would surely take her and her twin brother away and possibly make their father suffer by beating him to the ground. Odette didn't want to see that, which was why she wanted to draw little attention as possible.
When Hordor then turned back to Rumplestiltskin, he gave him a puzzled expression before lowering himself from his horse as he addressed him, "I know you, don't I?" He then walked over to him and gave him a wicked smirk. "What was your name? Hmm? Spindleshanks? Threadwhistle? Hobblefoot?"
Both Odette and Bae didn't like how the soldier was making fun of their father, but Odette didn't have the nerve to stand up to him unlike her twin as he stepped forward. "His name's Rumplestiltskin."
As Rumple told him to hush, Odette couldn't believe that Bae spoke against the knight like that as her eyes widened, thinking that the knight would take them for his defiance, but surprisingly, Hordor's eyes piqued with interest as he turned back to their father. "Rumple-Ah! The man who ran." Both Odette and Bae didn't know what the knight was talking about, and Odette felt like running away when she heard Hordor questioning, "So these are your children?" He then looked back at Bae and asked him, "What's your name, boy, and how old are you?"
Odette wished that her brother held his tongue as he glared at the knight's leader. "I'm Baelfire, and I'm thirteen."
"When's your birthday?"
"In two days time."
Rumple told him to hush again, but it was too late. Now that Hordor knew, it meant that there was no escape. Odette's nerves only grew when he finally noticed her by taking a step towards her when he saw her trying to avoid making eye contact with him. "And you, girl?" She nearly gasped when he addressed her and wanted to shrivel into the ground to hide from Hordor's piercing gaze as his authoritative voice commanded her, "Look at me." She didn't want to, but she was worried that if she did, then her family would pay the price, so she did as she was told and met Hordor directly in the eye, and he smirked when he saw her eyes glistening yet her tears refused to fall for she did not want to give them the satisfaction. "Name."
It took her a moment to finally tell him, "Odette."
"And are you older than your brother?"
She wanted his line of questioning to end. Even her father didn't like it since he knew the wrong answer could take his children away from him. He tried to step in again by pleading to Hordor, "Please. There's no need for this."
At that moment, Hordor stared at Rumplestiltskin menacingly and made him go quiet by telling him off, "Actually, there is."
He then turned back to Odette, waiting for her answer, and Odette looked away, almost in shame to admit, "I'm his twin, sir."
"Twins? And did you teach your children how to run as well, Rumplestiltskin?" Her and her brother were very confused, and their father was rather uncomfortable, and they couldn't understand why until Hordor turned to Rumple's children to ask them, "Did he tell you? Did he tell you how he ran and the ogres turned the tide of the battle, and all the others were killed, and he returned home to a wife who could not bear the sight of him?" Rumple pleaded for him to stop, but he kept going, "You see, women do not like to be married to cowards."
Both Odette and Baelfire couldn't keep their eyes off Hordor as he enjoyed to see their puzzled reactions, while Rumple whispered softly, "Please don't speak to my children like that."
"It's treason to avoid service." Odette believed that her and her brother were going to be taken, but Hordor had a wicked idea in mind as he told him, "Choose which of your children will be sent now, and we will come back and take the other one on their birthday."
Rumple and his children were shocked, thinking that either Odette and Baelfire were going to be separated by the knights at this moment, and their father was going to be the one to choose, but he could never pick between his two children. "No. No. I can't."
Odette and Baelfire grabbed each other's hands, refusing to let go as they didn't want to part with each other, but their father's refusal didn't satisfy Hordor as he told him in a low, threatening voice, "You have to choose."
"No, please. I can't. I-"
"If you don't, I'll send both of them right now."
Odette sucked in a breath as she knew that he would make good on his word, but Rumple still couldn't as he shook his head and pleaded to not take his children. Hordor was growing more agitated though as he commanded his knights to take both Odette and Baelfire away, causing Odette to gasp as the knights drew closer to them. Finally, their father stepped forward and pleaded, "No. No! Please! Please! What can I give you to not take them?"
"What you can give me?" Hordor smirked. "You have no money, no influence, no land, no title, no power. The truth is, all you really have is fealty. Kiss my boot."
"I don't understand."
"You asked my price." Hordor sneered at him. "Kiss my boot."
Odette felt her father's hold on her tighten, so she looked to see his lip quivering when he pleaded to the knight, "Not in front of my children."
Hordor finally snapped as he almost took his sword out of its sheath and roared out, "Kiss my boot!"
Bae and Odette watched their father fall down to his knees and crawled to the man's feet as his children watched pitifully at the cruel treatment Hordor was giving him as Rumple kissed his boot, causing the knights and Hordor to laugh before Hordor kicked his stomach with such force and brutality.
"Papa!" Odette cried out as she got on her knees to see if he was okay and held onto his hand for support as he winced in pain, while Baelfire just stood there glaring back at the knight who hurt his father.
They then watched Hordor climb back on his horse as he left with his knights behind him. She couldn't stand anyone who believed they were far more superior than others. It was inhumane with the way how they treated the innocent. That was why Odette believed if people showed more compassion, then the world be a far better place.
Before they knew it, the beggar from before rushed over to them and offered a hand to Rumple to help him up. "It's okay. Let me help you home."
Odette thanked the man for helping her father before Rumple addressed the beggar, "I don't have any money to pay you."
"I can think of another way. You just leave me whatever you can spare, and I'll find a way to be your benefactor. Come."
So, they followed the beggar as he beckoned them to his home nearby. Baelfire then looked to his sister and saw how she was gazing at the ground and clung her cloak tighter against her body. He knew that she was still shook over what happened, so he comforted her by reaching out and taking her hand, making her look at him, and he expressed through his eyes that he was going to be there for her every step of the way to which she was grateful for.
Present
The Moonlight Mirage was as rowdy as ever, and Nora gave Ruby a cheeky grin when she saw her throw down a shot. "Easy, Ruby. That's your fifth one. I don't want to carry you back."
"Just live a little."
Nora smirked at Ruby's cheekiness as she took a sip of her martini that the bartender made for her, but their smiles soon faded when they saw Amir heading their way with a glass of scotch in his hand. "Looks like you two are having fun."
Ruby smirked, but her eyes didn't express anything but kindness as she told him, "We were...until you showed up."
"Oh, come on, Ruby. You know I'm not so bad." Amir then looked over at Nora, causing her to get surprised a bit when he addressed her, "What about you, Moon. What do you think about me?"
She didn't know how to respond since he caught her off guard, but she quickly composed herself as she was candid in her response, "I think anyone can be good. I just don't like superiority."
His grin couldn't have stretched any further as he told her, "Looks like we have something in common then."
Nora wouldn't know if she would say that about him. After all, he did everything he could to get under Graham's skin when they went out on their date. Amir was definitely the type who believed he was above others by intimidating or mocking them. That was why she let him know. "We?"
Amir definitely knew what she was implying to as he smirked at her. "Why don't I prove myself then?" Both Ruby and Nora looked to see him get his wallet out to take out his business card as he handed it to Nora, and Ruby looked back at Amir as she gave him a nasty glare. "I've actually been looking for someone to make me a suit, and I have to say that I pay very generously. Just name your price." Nora hesitated to take it at first until he added, "Don't worry. I don't mix business with pleasure."
When Nora took his business card, she was surprised to see Ruby stepping in, "Good thing she won't call you."
Even though Amir had his signature smirk, his tone was anything but kind. "I'd rather discuss it with Nora if you don't mind." He then looked back at Nora as he asked, "So, what do you say?"
She was heavily considering it as she thought about her situation with her sewing machine. Everyone in Storybrooke knew about Amir's reputation but also how rich he was. His business was booming, and it showed since he had money to burn. If there was one thing Nora couldn't deny, he was a businessman. However, at the same time, she didn't want to upset Ruby knowing how much she despised him.
"I'll think about it," Nora replied.
Amir nodded his head and looked between Ruby and Nora before he wished Nora well and hoped that she would take the job offer and walked away. "You're not seriously considering it, right?" Ruby turned to her.
Nora understood that Ruby couldn't stand Amir, but if she didn't do business with someone she didn't like, then that was no way to run a business, especially since she needed the money. "I am actually."
"Don't." Nora was surprised that Ruby gave her a stern warning. "You can't do it."
Raising a quizzical brow, she asked, "Why not?"
"Because..." Ruby shut her mouth right away, and at that moment, Nora knew that she was conflicted to tell her something, but she had no idea what. "He's trouble, Nora. Just trust me, okay?"
She wanted to keep asking her, but from the looks of it, Ruby didn't seem like she was going to tell her why. She was hiding something from her, which was strange. Ruby wasn't the type to keep secrets unless if she was protecting someone. It wouldn't make sense for her to protect Amir since she didn't like him, but it was clear to Nora that Ruby knew something about Amir but she couldn't tell Nora for some reason.
Nora, however, eventually nodded her head so that she wouldn't argue with her. "Okay. I won't do it."
"Good," Ruby said before taking a sip of her martini.
Past
It was the break of dawn, and Baelfire was soaking wool in hot sheep's fat from the pot outside their home, while Rumple and Odette winded wool up on short sticks. "We're nearly there, Odette," Rumple told his daughter proudly when he saw the small pile next to them before he turned to his son. "Keep that fire good and stoked, Bae. The sheep's fat needs to be liquid and get that wool good and soaked."
Odette didn't understand why they were doing this as she asked him, "Why are we doing this, Papa? This is good wool. We can spin and sell-"
"These are our keys to the castle, dear. And once I'm inside there's something I have to take."
"What do you need to take?" Bae jumped in.
"That old beggar? He told me a fine tale – about the Duke and his magical dagger."
Both Odette and Baelfire were heavily invested in the story as they looked at each other, wanting to know more. "What does it do?"
Rumplestiltskin stopped wrapping the wool and had a bright smile on his face, and Odette soon got worried as he explained, "If I own that dagger, I control The Dark One. If I kill The Dark One with the dagger, I take his powers." Even though Baelfire and Rumplestiltskin seemed happy about this whole ordeal, Odette wasn't so pleased to hear it, especially when her father boasted, "Imagine me with those powers. Can you imagine me with those powers? I could get to redeem myself. I could turn it towards good. I'll save all the children of the Frontlands–not just you both."
As much as Odette would like to see the children be free, she was rather skeptical about this. She didn't know what would happen to her father if he all of a sudden wielded magic. That kind of power sounded great, but everyone in the village was afraid of The Dark One's powers for good reason. If her father carried terrific yet frightening magic, Odette wouldn't know what to make of it. That was why she asked him, "Papa, are you sure you want to do that?"
He then looked at her and was surprised to hear her question him with concern. "Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"
Odette then stopped spinning the wool as she expressed her worries, "Well, it's The Dark One's magic. Everyone's already afraid of him, and if you take his powers, then...what if you end up like him? What if you turn bad?"
When he saw his daughter's heart-stricken face, he took her shoulder and assured her in his sweet fatherly voice, "I would never change. I just want to make sure that you and Bae are safe."
The more Bae heard his sister's argument, the more he realized that she may have brought up a good point, causing Rumple and Odette to turn to him. "Maybe Odette's right, Papa. I mean...if the law says we are to fight, then we can fight."
"No, no, no! The law doesn't want you to fight. The law wants you to die. That's not battle – that's sacrifice." Odette and Baelfire then looked at the sky when their father pointed it out. "You look at that red in the sky. That's not the...The fires of the battlefields–that's the blood of our people. It's the blood of children. The blood of children like you. I mean, what sane person would want to get involved with that?"
At that moment, both Baelfire and Odette realized what their father was implying to as they realized that Hordor wasn't lying in the woods. "So, it's true." Bae asked.
Rumple stopped working on the wool again as he turned to his son. "What?"
"You ran from the war, didn't you?" Odette answered. He looked between his children and saw their pitiful expressions before shaking his head as he told them that he had no choice, which left Odette even more upset as she brought up, "What about Mother then? Did she really leave you like what the knight said?" When her father didn't answer, she pressed, "You told us she was dead."
Rumple then looked away with disappointment settling in his eyes as he was ashamed to admit in a low voice, "She is dead."
The twins then looked at each other, believing their father, and they both had the same thought that they didn't want him to do this on his own, so they both slowly made their way over to him as Bae asked, "So, what do we need to do?"
Their father smiled down at them before kneeling down to inform them, "The duke's castle is made of stone, but the floors and the rafters are made of wood."
"Why does that matter?" Odette asked.
Rumple smirked as he reminded her, "Because wood burns."
Present
After the fire incident in the mayor's office, Emma was deemed a hero. It was written all over the newspaper. Even though Nora didn't know Emma too well, she knew that Emma was a good person from the moment she realized that she was in Storybrooke for her son. They were even talking about it with Mary Margaret and Emma as Nora knocked on her neighbor's door to congratulate Emma. Nora couldn't help but notice though that Emma seemed upset about something. Even Mary Margaret noticed, which was why she asked her if anything was wrong, but Emma told them that she was fine.
It was blatantly obvious to both women that Emma was lying, but they couldn't force her to tell the truth, so they let the issue go. "Well, good luck at the debate, Emma," Nora said before getting up. "Thanks for the coffee by the way, Mary Margaret."
Both Mary Margaret and Emma wished her well as she walked out the door. She then headed to Granny's Diner to look for Ashley, who was with Ruby as usual before she always started with work. They greeted each other as usual, and Nora smiled at Ashley when she took out her apron.
Ashley's eyes widened as she took the apron and looked it over before giving her a grateful smile. "Oh, thank you, Nora." She then froze when she realized as she brought up, "Wait. I thought you told me to wait a while."
"I did, but I thought I might as well work on almost everything I could all night to get as much of my work done."
Ashley didn't hesitate to put on her apron. "Thanks, Nora."
Nora smiled when she heard Ruby say, "All you ever do is work, Nora."
"Well, I like to make an honest living," Nora reminded her. "It wouldn't be good business if I fell behind on my deadlines when I promised my clients that I would get them done on time."
"You're such a goody-two shoes."
Nora couldn't help but smirk and roll her eyes at Ruby's comment. She didn't care whatever people thought of her just as long as she was true to herself. As long as she could make others happy, then she didn't mind doing extra work to make her customers happy. After all, she had a business to run, which was why she tended to put her clients first before herself as Nora won't tolerate any excuse. She just knew that she had work to be done. That was why Nora believed that the world would be a better place if everyone treated each other with such compassion since Nora hadn't experienced it so often from her abusive father.
A part of her did wonder whatever became of him, but perhaps it was best if she didn't. She still bared the scars from the torture and torment that he displayed on her. She never forgot that awful day when he brought one of his friends over to beat her but avoided her face because he said that he liked her pretty. He then had his friend tear the dress that she was wearing because her father's excuse was that she was too overdressed even though she was wearing a simple summer dress. Thankfully, he didn't do anything else until when Nora thought enough was enough and ran away only for her to get caught about two weeks later as he threw on her bed, restrained her so that she laid flat on her stomach and used his belt to lash her feet. Every time she walked, it left a bloody trail. She was just glad that she was safe and away from him.
"Well, I better get going to get started on the laundry," Ashley said as she got up before thanking Nora again and went into the back room, leaving Nora and Ruby.
Nora was ready to leave as she told Ruby that she needed to get going too so that she could open up her store, but Ruby stopped her. "Hey, Nora. Did you find a way to get more money for the sewing machine?"
"No, but it's okay. I'll figure out something."
Ruby then caught Nora by surprise as she blurted out right at the moment when Nora turned away again to leave. "Because I was thinking...if you still need the money, then you should ask Khan...if you still want to do business with him."
Raising a quizzical brow, Nora asked, "You're sure?" Even though Ruby nodded her head, Nora saw that she seemed to be holding back about something, which made Nora question, "I don't understand. You told me that I shouldn't, and now, all of a sudden, you're saying that I should do it. Why this change?"
At that moment, something flashed in Ruby's eyes—something that showed sympathy for Nora for some reason, but Nora couldn't figure out why until she heard Ruby's explanation, "Because I realized that I was being too selfish, and I don't want you to overwork yourself. You're working enough as it is. I don't want to make it difficult for you."
Nora thought this sudden shift was strange, but she quickly let it go when she believed that Ruby was probably telling her the truth since they were dear friends and they would do anything for one another. "Alright. I better get going now. I need to get started on my work since I'm almost done."
As soon as Nora left Granny's Diner to go to her store, Ruby then went behind the counter to make sure no one was looking when she pulled her phone out as she read an unknown message she received last night when she got home, but Ruby knew exactly who it was as she reread it again:
Convince Nora, or I'll expose you!
When Nora makes it to her shop, she unlocked the doors and headed inside by turning on the lights. She then went to the back room to see her broken sewing machine and the remaining pile of the work that needed to be done. She looked over all of them when they were due and thought about what Ruby said as she took out Amir's business card and stared at it. She truly didn't want to do all of this work overnight by hand. It would be a grueling process. That was why she decided to take Ruby's advice by taking a deep sigh and went to Amir's bar to look for him.
Unfortunately, he wasn't anywhere to be found, so she stopped William Smith, who seemed surprised that she showed up. "Do you know where Amir is?"
"Oh, uh, Mr. Khan? You're looking for him?" Nora waited patiently when she saw her nervous he was through his stuttering. "He's at the church with Mother Superior."
That caught Nora by surprise. She never would have thought Amir would be there of all places. Still, now that she knew where he was, she thanked Smith and headed to the church where she saw Amir coming out with Mother Superior.
"Thank you again, Mr. Khan, for your generous donation."
For once, Nora saw how someone actually enjoyed being in Amir's company as he gave her a genuine smile instead of one that crooks normally wore. "Well, what can I say? The world would be a better place if the world had more compassion."
When he looked past her shoulder to see Nora, his eyes piqued with interest, which forced Mother Superior to glance over and see Nora. She then excused herself before thanking Khan again as he nodded his head to her when he watched her head back inside the church.
He then looked back Nora and smirked as he made his way over to her. "Moon, came here to pray?"
"No. One of your employees told me where to find you." She then gestured to the church as she pointed out, "I didn't think you would do something like this."
"Like what?" Nora was about to answer until he smirked and continued by snapping his fingers. "Oh, that? They do more good in this town I have to say than most people here, but that doesn't necessarily make them all good now, does it?" She was confused until he explained himself, "You see, the nuns here do an amount of charitable work so that they could earn donations from the people in Storybrooke to pay for the rent, which is where I come in. Almost everyone knows that whatever they need, I'm the man that provides. Everyone has a plan to achieve their goal, and no one takes a step unless it coincides with their plan."
She practically narrowed her eyes at him as she asked him, "Does that include this conversation?"
He nearly chuckled as if he found her question humorous. "Let me ask you this then: why did you come looking for me?"
Nora wanted to admit that she went looking for Khan to do business with him, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction as he would make his point to her, so she shook her head since she couldn't stand his pretension by thinking that Ruby may have been right after all. "This was a mistake. I have to go."
As she was ready to leave, Amir stopped her by grabbing her arm and rushing in front of her, "Wait. Wait. I didn't mean to be-"
"Arrogant?"
He looked away with a smirk, knowing she was right. "Yeah." Before Nora had a chance to walk away again, she was surprised when she heard him say, "I'm sorry. To be honest, I'm actually not so bad if you really get to know me. People in this town tend to judge others before getting to know them."
She looked away since she knew he was right as she thought about Gold and how he had been treated from everyone in Storybrooke as Nora's eyes expressed sympathy when she heard Amir's explanation. "You're right," she agreed.
He gave her a small smile and walked beside her while Nora walked with him and crossed her arms to give herself comfort as she heard him say, "I'm also sorry about what happened between you and Humbert. Going behind your back to have an affair with Mayor Mills, and then not to mention that he was so desperate enough to get back together with you by kissing you in public."
Nora looked down in shame at the memory as she told him, "Looks like everyone knows by now."
"Storybrooke's a small town. It was bound to spread sooner or later."
As Nora walked through a field with him, she was curious to ask him, "So are the rumors true about you?"
He looked at her then and asked, "Which rumor are you referring to?"
"Any of them." Nora shrugged.
He smirked as he answered, "I don't kiss and tell." Amir then looked over, and his grin couldn't have been any wider when he saw a small smile on her face for his cheeky answer. "Oh? What's this? You're actually smiling at me? Must be a miracle for someone so angelic thinks that a devil like me could be great company."
Her heart nearly skipped a beat when he complimented her, but she soon shook her head with a cheeky grin on her face as she disagreed with him, "You're not a devil."
He smirked as he argued, "Careful who you say that to."
She thought it was a shame that Amir saw himself that way, but then again, Nora believed that everyone had that perspective of him, which was why she remembered Gold's words as she advised Amir, "Just because you may have done bad things in your life, it doesn't make you a bad person. That's why perception is blind to the truth."
"Did you come up with that?"
She looked back at Amir and smiled as she remembered Mr. Gold's words of wisdom. "A friend did."
"Must sound nice." Nora then had a puzzled expression on her face until she heard him say, "Having a friend."
"You're telling me that you don't have anyone you like talking to?" When he didn't answer, she pressed, "What about your employees?"
"Just because they're my employees, it doesn't make them my friends. At the end of the day, they all want something from me whether it's my check or any information I can provide. Not that it really matters though." Nora didn't understand what he meant until he continued, "I came here to make something out of myself by living a better life—a life that I would be proud of."
As he spoke, there was something Nora realized as she brought up, "What about your home? Don't you have any family?"
At that moment, his smile turned sad as he told her, "I honestly don't know. I may miss my them, but I don't regret running away. My father, you see, wanted me to be somebody that I'm not, so I left, because I won't let anyone dictate what to do with my life. Anyone can make something out of themselves, but it's up to you decide what you want to do with your life by asking yourself how much you really want it."
As she listened to him, she couldn't help but think how his upbringing sounded somewhat similar to hers by having a controlling father. Even his philosophy is the same as Nora's as she also believes that you have to work hard in life to get what you want and not let anyone tell you was why she thought that maybe she should work with him for she truly believed that maybe she could make a friend out of him just like what she did with Mr. Gold.
"I was thinking..." Amir looked at her when she paused for a moment to say, "I'd like to take you up on your offer. If that's still okay."
He then smiled at her as he replied, "Of course it is, but if you don't mind me asking, what made you change your mind?"
"Well, after listening to you, I thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad, and..."
"And?"
She sighed as she was honest with her answer, "And I really need the money to get a new sewing machine"
"Oof! How are you managing to do your work?"
"By hand."
He shook his head with a cheeky grin on his face. "I'm not going to lie. That sounds grueling."
"Well, I worked all night to get what I can done."
"You don't have to say anymore. I'll give you enough money. Let's meet at my bar tomorrow so that you could take my measurements."
She raised a quizzical brow when she heard him say that. "Your bar? Why not your house?"
"Because unfortunately, I'm going to be extremely busy all week, so I have to make sure that everything's in order."
She then smirked at him as she stopped walking to tell him, "And you don't think that I may distract you from your work?"
"Actually, I would be looking forward to it."
His whispered, sultry voice made her face flush, but she quickly composed herself as she gave him small smile. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."
As she walked away from him, she heard him call out, "It's a date!" and imagined a cheeky grin extending from ear to ear on his face and shook her head at him with a sheepish grin of her own.
As soon as Nora was out of sight, Amir smirked as he took his cell phone out and dialed a number as he waited for the person to pick up and smirked when she did as he knew how frustrated she would be when she answered, "Why are you calling me? I did what you asked."
"I know, Ruby. That's why I called you to let you know what a good job you did."
She froze on the line, but she soon spoke up when she asked, "Are you going to keep your word?"
"If I get what I want, then yes." Before he hung up, he wanted to make sure he made good in his threat as he reminded her in a firm tone, "Oh, and Ruby, don't ever get involved in my business again."
Ruby didn't say anything, but he imagined that she was so frustrated that he got the best of her, and he hung up to remind her who held the power. Amir truly wanted Nora Moon, and he wasn't going to allow anyone to interfere in his affairs.
Past
Odette was relieved to see that her father made it out of the duke's castle safely with the dagger. All that was left was to summon The Dark One as he instructed his children to return home so that he would meet them later. However, Odette was incredibly wary. Even though the dagger may control The Dark One, she didn't want her father to get hurt by being tricked by The Dark One so that he would hurt him, or worse, having her father become The Dark One himself.
He promised her that he would never change, but it made Odette speculate since she was aware that he couldn't possibly make a promise he couldn't keep. The Dark One was believed to be so evil that there was not a shed of light within his heart. It frightened her to believe that the kind and gentle father whom she loved dearly would not be the same anymore. That was why she was out on the field near her home, laying on a bed of grass and looking out into the stars and clutching onto her mother's necklace as she silently prayed for all to be well. It frightened her to think that something awful would happen to her father or if her brother and her were taken, then her father would be all alone and Odette would be forced to witness the horrors of the war by potentially seeing her friends and her brother die.
It wasn't as if she wasn't afraid to lose her life. She was, but if she had a choice to sacrifice herself to save her family, then she wouldn't hesitate to take it. She would do anything for them, which probably explained why her father was going through such lengths to protect his children. Rumple just wanted to ensure that they wouldn't die in the battlefield.
"Odette," She jolted and quickly looked to see her twin brother staring down at her. "You should be sleeping."
She rested her head back on the grass as she whispered but loud enough for him to hear, "Tomorrow's our birthdays, Bae." He looked away, knowing what she was implying to, so he laid down next to her and stared at the sky like what she did, but he soon snapped his eyes at her when he heard her say, "What if Papa doesn't come back, or what if he succeeds when he kills The Dark One and then he's not the same?"
"Don't say that!" Bae snapped. "He promised he would never change. He'll come back. You'll see."
Odette wanted to argue with him, she stayed silent because she knew that Baelfire would respond back. As much as she loved her brother, he tended to be too stubborn to listen—a trait he inherited from their mother as Rumple once told Odette in private because he didn't want to hurt his son's feelings if he said it in front of him. However, one things Rumple did admit to Odette was that Baelfire was strong just like Milah. In fact, Odette was too, but Rumple once told Odette that she possessed her own strength that not many were aware of.
She acted more like her father than she knew by looking out for others instead of her own, to which Bae reprimanded her for many times as he wanted her to look after herself mor. Odette did whatever she could to please others while getting her work done. Even though Baelfire tended to skip doing his chores, Odette didn't mind doing them since it brought her closer to her father as he remained in the hut and bonded with her by teaching her how to sew. She truly carried a tender heart as the villagers and her father complimented her for it.
"Do you really want to go to The Ogre Wars, Bae?" she asked, catching him off guard.
"Well, if the law says we can, then we can. It's wrong if we don't, isn't it?" Odette didn't respond, which made her brother suspicious as he questioned her, "You're afraid of going, aren't you?" When Bae took her hand she looked at it as he told her, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
"To be honest, I am afraid of dying, but I'm more afraid of losing you and Papa. We already lost Mama to pirates. How many more of the people I care about do I have to lose?" Bae's expression turned sad until she continued, "When she died, I was left to take care of all of the work with Papa while you went out playing with your friends."
He then narrowed his eyes at her as he told his sister off, "No one asked you to do it."
She then sat up and shared the same expression by reminding him, "No one had to, because I was always there if Papa needed me. Someone had to be there for him."
Baelfire certainly didn't like what she said as he sat up to face her. "You think I'm not there for him?"
Odette wished that her brother understood, but sometimes, he thought he knew better than her. "I'm not saying you don't care about him. I know you do, but don't you think it would be better if you helped us every once in a while?" She noticed the guilty look on his face, so she told him, "I'm not trying to make you feel bad, Bae, but Papa needs us. Now more than ever. Please. Do it for him."
He eventually nodded his head as he finally submitted to his sister. "Okay. I'll try to do better to help."
She smiled gratefully at him before extending her hand out as he smiled back and took it before they stared out at the stars and told stories by seeing what they formed. Even though he found his older twin sister irritating at times, he knew that she meant well. She always looked out for Bae just as he always stuck up for her whenever any of the boys made fun of her like when he wrestled one of them into the mud and muck when they insulted her from the moment their backs were turned. Odette did tell him not to get involved, but Baelfire felt the need to protect her since she was his sister, and he was never going to allow anyone to disrespect or hurt her.
Present
Nora still couldn't believe that Emma won. The result was bittersweet considering what happened at the debate. After Emma admitted that Mr. Gold started the fire, Nora watched him walk out. She didn't want to believe that he would ever do something like this where someone could potentially get hurt only for his personal gain by having Emma beat Regina. It didn't even help her feelings when she heard people whisper about Gold by saying that they weren't surprised he did such a thing. Nora, on the other hand, would have never believed that he would ever do this.
Still, she wasn't going to let this get in the way of her work as she headed to The Moonlight Mirage, where his employee led her to the VIP room. It was a room caked in red and decorated with artwork. The VIP room was more of a sitting area with a bottle of champagne and wine on the counter for Amir's special clients to enjoy. Nora did think it was a bit strange that she met Amir here as he was already sitting on the loveseat, smoking a cigarette.
Smith, who led her inside, quickly apologized for intruding since all of his employees were aware not to disturb him unless it was important business, so Amir forgave him quickly when he saw Nora behind him as he quickly put out his cigarette in the ashtray. "It's alright, Smith. Let her in." William wished her well and shut the door as he led himself out, leaving Nora and Amir alone together. "I normally don't like people seeing me smoke. Old habits die hard."
She shook off the pungent odor hanging in the air as she told him, "It's okay. Why don't we just start with the measurements?"
Without any hesitation, he got up and unbuttoned his shirt as he tossed it on the couch while Nora got herself ready with her measuring tape, but she soon froze when she noticed his chest. It was rather well-defined and toned, but it wasn't until when she noticed something peculiar. There from the crook of his shoulder blade to his breast plate was a scar-similar to his face but what was different was that it looked much deeper.
Amir noticed how she couldn't keep her eyes off him as he smirked at her. "Are you going to keep staring, or are you here to work? Frankly, I don't mind if you stare."
She swallowed the small lump in her throat and slowly made her way over to him before taking her tape measure out and stretched it out to measure his body. Nora did her best to ignore the awful beating in her chest, but it was a little hard to ignore, especially when she couldn't stand the cheeky grin on his face as he commented, "I think your face is flushing, Moon."
When her hand slowly went over the scar on his shoulder blade, she couldn't help but stare at it, thinking what on earth caused it, but her thoughts were quickly cast aside when she heard him, "Curious?"
She stepped back to write down one of his measurements before gesturing to the scar on his body, "What happened there if you don't mind me asking?"
He smirked as if he thought it was humorous and vaguely answered, "It's a long story, and you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
He welcomed the challenge as he told her, "Got caught with a nasty hook." Nora couldn't help but chuckle a bit since it did sound ridiculous, and Amir simply looked away, with a smirk crossing his face, knowing how she would react. "Alright. Alright. Keep laughing. It really hurt like a bitch."
"Alright, but what about your face?" At that moment, he froze, and Nora quickly caught on that he seemed uncomfortable by the topic. "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"No. It's fine." She waited for him to say as he let out a big sigh before explaining, "I got into a pretty big fight one day. He humiliated me in front of everyone after he didn't listen to me, so we went at it, and in the end, my face is a reminder of it. He was so proud of what he did too."
Nora's smile quickly faded as she already felt bad for him when she heard his story. "If this man is still out there though, then why didn't you just have him arrested?" Nora asked.
"What good would that do? There's no point, and besides, it happened a long time ago. I doubt he would ever come back."
"You don't know that though," Nora argued.
"Let's hope not." When Nora let him know that she finished his measurements, he gave her a cheeky grin and took a one of the glasses from the counter after he put his shirt back on. "Why don't you stay for a drink?"
She was a bit taken aback by his request, and she shook her head, realizing how inappropriate it would be. "No. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Because it wouldn't be professional."
He gave her a sly smirk as he told her, "Except, you just finished your work." Before Nora had a chance to refuse, he added, "Come on, Moon. Am I really that bad?"
After hearing his story yesterday, she admitted, "No."
When he extended the glass to her again, she pondered on the thought. Normally, Nora would never think about procrastinating, but she had to admit that Amir was persuasive. He almost reminded her of Gold, except that Mr. Gold actually showed his genuine concern for her while Amir was much more cryptic with his words—almost as if he was concerned of the people around him. Nora did see a different side of Amir when they were walking together yesterday. She thought that it might be alright if she stayed to have one drink.
Against her better judgement, she took the glass and watched him fill it up with champagne as he toasted when he filled his own glass. "To new beginnings."
She smiled as she repeated, "To new beginnings," before clinking her glass with his and they both took a sip of their drinks with his eyes staring intensely into hers.
He then gestured for her to sit on the couch, and she did as he sat comfortably right next to her. "So, were you surprised about the debate?"
Nora knew exactly what he was referring to as everyone couldn't stop talking about what Mr. Gold did. Her heart clenched when she heard Emma's confession, because she never thought that Gold would pull off such a stunt to help Emma win. Nora couldn't even talk to Gold after the incident since she had never been so disappointed in him. She always defended Mr. Gold from others by saying that he was misunderstood and a genuinely caring person from the way he treated Nora, but this was something she couldn't possibly defend him for.
Still, it didn't mean that it didn't bother her whenever people were talking about him. They may say whatever they wanted about Gold, but it didn't mean that Nora didn't care about him. She always had some sort of connection with Gold that she couldn't explain. It was similar to what she had with Graham when she first met him, but with Gold, she was drawn to him differently.
That was why it bothered her to hear Amir bring it up. "Can we please not talk about it?"
He saw how upset she was getting, so he assured her, "I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be so out of line to talk about it."
She then stared into her glass, thinking about it. "I just don't like it whenever people talk about him."
"You know, just because someone intentionally did something bad, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're bad. Sometimes people are too desperate to get what they want." Nora knew he was trying to cheer her up, and she was grateful for that, but she was soon caught off guard when he asked her, "So, are there any stories you like to tell me?"
She chuckled a bit before telling him, "I don't have any stories?"
"Of course you do. Everyone does. I told you my story, so why not tell me yours?"
She shook her head and thought about it for a moment, but she still wasn't sure if he was ready to hear it as she let him know, "It's not exactly a pleasant story."
"Because mine was?"
She couldn't help but smile at his response as he made valid point, so she made sure to tell him enough but not go too much in detail since talking about always brought back those painful memories. "Honestly, it's something I don't like to remember. I had a father who wasn't exactly the best, so I left him."
"What exactly did he do?"
"He was abusive...both physically and mentally. He did things to me that were too cruel by doing whatever he could to get me to submit to him whether it was beating me such as leaving scars on my feet so that I wouldn't run away or humiliating me by tearing off my clothes, I felt like there wasn't any escape." When she noticed that he was intentionally staring at her, she stopped herself when he reached up to wipe a tear off the corner of her eye as it slowly trailed down her cheek, so she wiped her eyes, telling him, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten carried away like that."
Amir didn't say anything. All he did was stare at her, but Nora noticed that for a split second, his eyes flashed with sympathy, and he looked away for a moment before telling her that he was sorry for what happened to her, which surprised Nora. He then did something unexpected. He leaned in and kissed Nora, catching her off guard. She didn't kiss him back since she was so surprised by his action, and he seemed to have noticed as he quickly pulled away with his hand caressing her face. "I'm sorry. What am I doing when you just broke up with Humbert?" he asked himself.
She couldn't help but smile softly at him, telling him, "It's okay."
Amir looked back at her at that moment, and Nora couldn't help but think that maybe it would have been alright to forget everything that transpired in her life. She just wanted one moment to let everything go since everything that happened turned from bad to worse, especially with what happened with Graham. That was why she leaned in and kissed Amir.
She didn't necessarily wanted to move on with Amir Khan, but she thought that he would help alleviate the scars in her mind from her father to Graham's affair. It didn't take long for Amir to welcome her touch as he kissed her deeper and lowered her onto the couch with their lips never leaving each other until her back hit the soft cushion, causing him to grope her breast, letting a soft moan escape her lips.
He soon raised her head, making her look up to question him only to notice that his eyes were hungry for her, but she was pleased that he asked, "Are you sure?"
It took her a moment to realize what was about to happen. Graham told her to wait so that he would have the opportunity to explain himself, but Nora was tired of waiting. She was too frustrated with him to even care at this moment. Whatever was going to happen between herself and Amir, she was going to make sure that it remained between them as she nodded her head and cupped his face to kiss him again, giving him confirmation to take off his shirt as he unbuttoned it before tossing it to the floor before helping her with her clothes as Nora was caught in a sea of ecstasy that plagued her mind.
Past
Today was a dreadful day-Odette and Baelfire's birthdays. Their father still hadn't made it back yet. They had no idea if he was safe after he retrieved the dagger from the duke's castle. A horrible thought soon came to Odette's mind as she started to believe that maybe The Dark One outsmarted him somehow and retrieved the dagger. She didn't want to think about it, but the possibility was very likely considering how powerful The Dark One was, but Baelfire assured her that he would return for them.
It didn't take long before the knights soon came as they barged through their hut to get to Odette and Baelfire. Odette nearly cried out when one of the knights grabbed her and pulled her towards him, while Baelfire struggled against his captor's hold when he saw his sister in distress. She didn't want to be taken without knowing if her father was safe. She needed to know if he was fine. It wasn't fair to be taken like this without saying goodbye.
Hordor looked around though and started laughing when he noticed that no one was in sight to witness Odette and Baelfire being taken away as he remarked, "Everyone's watching from behind their curtains today." He soon froze though when the knight who held his horse's reins groaned in pain before falling to the ground, revealing a man with bronze-like skin, eyes filled with rage, and a dagger in his hand, so Hordor bowed his head and got on his knee right away. "Dark One." At that moment, Odette and Baelfire were surprised as they noticed that the man was none other than their father when he drew himself nearer to Hordor. However, Hordor didn't seem to recognize him as he gave him a questionable look. "No...who are you?"
"Have you forgotten me already? What was it you used to call me again? Spindleshanks?" Rumple then snapped his fingers before saying, "Hobblefoot."
Odette and Baelfire didn't like their father's tone as a sickening grin slowly crept up his face as he showed off his dagger to reveal his name to Hordor as he gasped and whispered, "Rumplestiltskin."
"Wonderful. And now, you shall know me as the new Dark One. How about a little fealty?" Rumple brought his foot forward as he sneered down at Hordor. "Kiss. My. Boot."
Odette's lips slightly parted when she heard the venom in her father's voice. He never sounded like this before. It was as if he became a completely different person, and he didn't care that his children saw him this way.
Things soon took a turn for the worse when Hordor leaned down to kiss Rumple's boot only for their father to grab his head and snap his neck, causing Odette and Baelfire to plead to their father to stop. It was pointless though. When the soldiers took out their sword to fight him, they were no match when their father used his dagger to kill every last soldier. The twins could've sworn that they saw that he was enjoying the kill. It brought him thrill, and it terrified them to see him this way. This was exactly what Odette feared. The Dark One's magic consumed his heart to be lost in darkness, and both Odette and Baelfire didn't know what to do.
"Papa, what has happened to you?" Baelfire asked.
"You're both safe now. Do you feel safe?"
Both Odette and Baelfire took a step away from their father when he stepped forward to them, and Odette took her brother's hand and gripped tightly when she saw the blood trickling down from his dagger. "Papa, you're scaring us," Odette told him.
His grin stretched from ear to ear, revealing his crooked, yellow teeth. "I'm not. I protected what belongs to me and I'm not scared of anything."
The twins didn't know what to make of this. The kind father who they once loved was now The Dark One. He truly was gone with the lifeless bodies laid out on the ground as their witnesses.
Present
After Nora got dressed, she glanced at Amir who was buttoning up his shirt. She admitted that it was nice to forget about everything that transpired between her and Graham by moving on somehow, but when she was with Amir, she couldn't help but feel a bit regretful. Her heart clenched thinking that she betrayed Graham. Instead of waiting to hear what he had to say, she decided to be intimate with Amir. She definitely wasn't thinking what she was doing. At least, it was only once, and she wanted to make sure that no one knew about this.
She was surprised though when Amir came over to her with a wad of cash and told her, "Hope this helps."
When Nora took the money, she slowly counted it and realized that he gave her over seven hundred dollars. "Amir,...what's this-"
"I wanted to make sure that you had enough for your sewing machine so that you could finish your work quickly." Her eyes widened at his generosity as he continued, "This should cover it, right? Or, do you need more?"
Maybe Nora was right about Amir. Maybe he wasn't so bad as what people believed him to be. He was just misunderstood from what she could tell. That was why she gave him a small smile and told him, "No. This should be enough. Thank you."
"My pleasure," he replied, giving her a cheeky grin. "And I'll be sure to pay you when you're done."
When he opened the door for her, she was ready to walk out but turned back to face him to tell him, "Amir, do you mind if no one knows about this? I just want to keep it professional from now on."
Nora could've sworn that there was a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but his smile still remained. "You don't have to worry."
She thanked him again and wished him well before walking out, while Amir watched her go. However, Nora should have stayed to see William Smith coming out of Amir's office with a video camera in his hand and headed over to him. Amir smirked at him and grabbed the camera as if it was some sort of prized possession.
"How much of it did you get?"
Amir could care less how uncomfortable his employee was as he responded, "Everything."
His grin stretched even further as he looked at Smith and told him, "I think it's time for another drink."
Meanwhile, Emma was at the sheriff's station after she won the election. She wasn't going to allow Gold to do what he did and not pay the consequences for it. If Emma were to win, then she had to do it the right way instead of going down the path of corruption. When she set her keys and folder on her new desk, she couldn't help but wonder when Graham would come back as she let out a deep sigh.
"Troubled already?" Emma was startled until she looked at the doorway to see Gold idly standing there with a folder in his hand. "I thought you'd be happy that you won the election."
"You do know I'm armed, right?"
Gold smiled as he entered the room. "So part of the act, my dear. Political theater in an actual theater. I knew no one was going to vote for you unless we gave you some kind of extraordinary quality. And I'm afraid saving old Regina's arse from the fire just wasn't gonna do now. We had to give you a higher form of bravery. They had to see you defy me. And they did."
Emma's eyes widened, not believing what he was saying as she crossed her arms and replied, "No way. There's no way you planned that."
"Everyone's afraid of Regina. But they are more afraid of me. By standing up to me, you won them over. It was the only way."
"You knew I'd agree."
"Oh yeah." Gold nodded. "I know how to recognize a desperate soul."
Both of them stayed silent for a moment as Emma still couldn't believe it. How on earth did Gold plan everything? It was amazing yet unbelievable the kind of power he had over this town. It made Emma even more wary of him.
"Why did you do this?"
"We made a deal sometime back, Miss Swan. We established that you owed me a favor. I know that can be a bad feeling - owing someone. Now that you're sheriff, I'm sure we'll find some way for you to pay back what you owe me." He headed towards the door but soon stopped when he turned back to her, causing Emma to look at him when he extended his arm out to give her the file in his hand. "Your first case."
Emma took the file from him and opened it to find a picture of Amir Khan and many reports filed against him only for the charges to be dropped. She already knew about this when Graham told her about him as Graham admitted that he had been trying to catch Khan for a long time only to fail. When she looked back at Gold, she noticed that he was intensely staring at her as Emma speculated, "I'm guessing this is the favor? You want me to arrest Amir?"
"Oh no, Miss Swan. I'm saving your payment for another time." Emma still didn't understand why Gold of all people would have a file against Amir until he explained, "Amir Khan has done more damage to this town than people are aware of. That is why it is best if someone could finally catch him-someone who's not afraid of anything."
Emma practically tossed the file on her desk as she crossed her arms, thinking there was going to be any point to do look into Amir. "Except all of the charges have been dropped against him."
"Which is why you need to do your investigation by continuing Mr. Humbert's work."
As Gold and Emma stared at each other, Emma couldn't help but wonder why Gold sounded more irritated the more he talked about Amir. Perhaps they had some sort past that Gold just didn't like talking about, but Emma had no idea. She didn't understand why he was insistent for Emma to catch Khan. One look in Gold's eyes though, and Emma saw how serious he was, so she agreed to the case. "Fine. I'll look into him."
Mr. Gold nodded his head before walking out of the sheriff's office as he told her, "Good luck," leaving Emma confused as she looked between Amir's photo in the file and then at Gold, wondering why on earth he wanted him behind bars.
I know all of you must be disappointed what Nora did with Amir, but trust me when I say that the games are just beginning as there are a whole bunch of surprises and twists I'll be adding as I keep going that I hope you all will like. That being said, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you all think in the review section, and stay tuned for more chapters!