Rumplestiltskin was an... interesting man, Alice a had decided. A year into their agreement and things were going rather well. He always paid up on his end and it felt freeing to use her powers more liberally.

In addition, with his morbid sense of humor the man was entertaining company.

Usually, she was helping persuade difficult clients to pay up or make them a tad more desperate but occasionally things got more interesting.

This time her job had her walking through a forest with him.

"You know you could tell me where we are going and what we're supposed to be doing," she said casually.

"Ah but where's the fun in that dearie?" he asked with a giggle.

"No fun really just my sense of self preservation."

"If you had a sense of self-preservation, you wouldn't have gone making deals with the Dark One dearie," snickered Rumple.

"Please you aren't as bad to deal with as you pretend if you've got more than half a brain in your head and knock it off with the dearie." Rumple giggled.

"Very well PIP Though people with more than half a brain are hard to come by," Alice rolled her eyes trying to decide if the nickname was better or worse then she smirked.

"Well, that's true enough RUM," now it was Rumplestiltskin's turn to narrow his eyes though she could have sworn he appeared startled for a half a moment.

"Careful there, Pip."

"Please, we can't use our magic to harm each other remember?" replied Alice. Rumplestiltskin looked a tad put out.

"One wouldn't have expected someone from Wonderland to have such a clear head when it came to negotiations." Alice laughed.

"A lack of sanity doesn't mean an abundance of stupidity."

"Perhaps not," replied Rumplestiltskin. "And in answer to your original question. We're going to fetch something rather interesting and I require back up of a particular kind."

"The almighty Dark One needs back up!?" she asked mockingly and he snorted.

"Let's just get on with it." They'd reached an oddly shaped circle of stones.

"Alright what do we need from the creep circle of stones?" asked Alice warily.

"I can only be activated by someone with the blood of another realm stepping inside." He answered. "Once you have, I'll be able to pass through the doorway that opens retrieve what I want and then get back."

"Why do I feel like this is going to be more complicated than just me stepping inside?" asked Alice warily. "I promised you my powers at your disposal."

"Oh there will likely be something that will make keeping the doorway open a challenge but I shouldn't worry too much." Alice glared considering her options. She didn't want to sour her relationship with Rumplestiltskin but at the same time she wasn't willing to risk her life purely for no good reason.

"Fine but I get extra gold for this one," she said with a glare before stepping inside the circle. Immediately a wind picked up whipping around them and then a spirally vortex opened in front Rumplestiltskin hurried through the doorway that appeared. She guessed it must be some kind of pocket dimension.

At first it didn't seem too troublesome. Well at least until the damn goblin like creatures started attacking with an internal groan Alice grabbed her pipe and let out a tune reaching into the creature's minds to discombobulate them. It worked at least for a few sending them reeling back with confused looks taking advantage of this she then whipped out a knife and lunged forward killing one and kicking him back into one of his fellows. A piercing whistle made them cover their ears and continued to give her advantage within the fight however more of the creatures continued to come and she worried she'd soon be overwhelmed.

Fortunately, just as she was wondering if she was going to be forced to leave Rumplestiltskin came pelting out of the portal and left the circle she followed suit causing whatever power opened the portal to die and the goblin creatures to scurry back to their hidey holes.

"What took you so long?" she said with a scowl. The imp was clutching an ancient tome.

"Well, I had to be sure not to damage what I was getting. And the other side wasn't much easier," he replied and she did note now he looked a little harried.

"NEXT TIME, tell me exactly what we're going up against." Rumplestiltskin cocked an eyebrow.

"Next time I know I will."

"What's so important about the book anyway?" she asked. Rumplestiltskin didn't look like he was going to respond so she glared.

"I just fought a load of goblins so you could get that book the least you can do is tell me the contents you irritating imp." Rumplestiltskin's mouth quirked upwards slightly and she realized he found her annoyance amusing.

"What?" she asked.

"Just now you looked like your many times over great grandmother," he responded sounding slightly more human.

"Oh." Alice didn't quite know how to answer that one.

"If you must know it's a book on the properties of true love."

"The most powerful magic of all," she said and Rumplestiltskin nodded.

"Indeed." Alice smiled.

"Those who find it are quite lucky."

"Wishful thinking?" asked the imp and she shook her head.

"I've not thought about it much. I suppose I don't imagine there's a man out there who'd love my...oddness." Well, that was one way to sum up her slightly bloodthirsty side. "Most people want someone with a modicum of sanity."

"You never know," shrugged Rumple. "True love can crop up in the strangest of places. It's what makes it so powerful."

"Speaking from experience?" asked Alice.

"Not in the way you're thinking of," answered Rumple shortly and Alice didn't pry. After all everyone deserved their secrets.

OUAT

God's she'd looked like Row in that moment as she spoke to him in irritation. It was rarely directed at him but when she became passionate his best friend would get the same fire in her grey eyes.

The fact that the Piper, or Alice, though he was only aware of her true name due to the contract she'd signed, had called him Rum had also caused him to once more draw the parallels. It had been centuries since someone had used the nickname.

Yet he couldn't bring himself to mind. Truth be told he liked her company. And not just because of who her ancestor was. Certainly, it had helped in making him agree to a favorable deal but Pip herself was a... unique soul. Like him she didn't mind getting her hands dirty for a job and she had a delightfully dark sense of humor when she wanted. There were few people that found quips about skinning people alive amusing.

Still, that didn't mean he was ready to trust her and when they drifted near the topic of Bae as she asked about true love he deflected. Yes, he'd known true love. The love a parent holds for a child. But he wasn't going to go into that with her.

Luckily, she was discreet enough not to push the topic and they made their way back to his castle in companionable silence.

Still the idea of her not thinking she could find true love twigged something inside him. And he filed the thought away for later usage. After all Rumple loved a challenge.

Author's Note: Sooo Rum starts getting the idea to play match maker! Next up our dear Hatter finally enters the tale! If you like the story PLEASE PLEASE take a moment to leave your thoughts below it really helps keep me motivated to keep going on the story. Until next time!