𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔤𝔬𝔩𝔡

━━━━━━━✧✧✧━━━━━━━

Elara eyes followed Rumpelstiltskin as he grinned and picked up the magical item from the ground, his eyes glimmering as he admired the fairy godmother's wand - the fairy godmother he had just poofed out of existence.

"What- What did you do?" The girl in front of them - Cinderella - asked.

"Now, now. I got what I wanted. There's no need to be frightened." Rumple grinned.

"No need?" Cinderella scoffed, "You just killed my fairy godmother. She was trying to help me."

Elara rolled her eyes, "He didn't kill her," She told the girl, "He merely evaporated her. There's a difference."

"Was she?" Rumple hummed, "Do you know what this is?" He asked, holding the wand up to her.

"Pure magic." Cinderella smiled.

Rumpelstiltskin narrowed his eyes, "Pure evil. Trust me – I've done you a favour. All magic comes with a price. Go on back to your life and thank your lucky stars you still got something to go back to."

"My life... It's wretched." Cinderella frowned.

"Then change it," Rumple shrugged, "You can't handle this."

Rumpelstiltskin and Elara turned to leave, but Cinderella called them back.

"Wait. Please, wait. I can handle it. Please. I will do anything to get out of here. Anything." She begged.

The pair smirked, turning on their heels.

"Anything?" Elara asked, raising an eyebrow,

"Do you know how to use that wand, Mr...?"

"Rumpelstiltskin," Rumple cut her off with a dramatic bow, "And yes, of course I do."

"Then help me." She told him.

"Well, if I do, and you can, indeed, shoulder the consequences, then you'll owe me a favour." Rumple grinned.

"Name it." Cinderella nodded, "What do you want?"

"Something...precious." Rumple grinned.

Cinderella frowned, "I have nothing."

"Oh, but you will." Elara smirked, circling the blonde, looking her up and down.

"With this wish, will come riches more than you know." Rumpelstiltskin told her.

"I care nothing for riches." Cinderella shook her head, "I'll give you anything you want. Just get me out of here."

Rumpelstiltskin grinned widely, "Now we're talking."

"Well, how does it work?" The woman wondered.

"Oh, you needn't worry about that." Elara told her, petting the blonde's hair.

"Fo fear not! My needs are small and all you have to do is sign on the dotted line," Rumpelstiltskin smiled, pulling out a long contract, "Do we have a deal?" He asked, as Elara held out a quill to Cinderella.

"Yes. Yes, thank you." The girl grinned, taking the quill from Elara and signing the contract - using Rumple's back to do so.

Handing the contract to Elara, the girl took the quill back and rolled the parchment up as Rumpelstiltskin waved the wand, engulfing the girl in a puff of dark purple smoke. Once it cleared, it revealed that Rumplestiltskin had turned her rags into a beautiful ball gown and next to her were a pair of delicate glass slippers.

"Ta-dah!" Rumple sung.

Cinderella studied the shoes, "Glass?"

"Every story needs a memorable detail," Rumple grinned with a pose, "Let's see how they fit, shall we?"

Cinderella took Elara's outstretched hand to stabilise herself as she stepped into the shoes - which were a perfect fit.

"Now, you have a good time. But be sure to watch the clock." Rumplestiltskin told her.

"And try not to cut yourself on those heels while you're at it." Elara smirked as she backed away to the creature's side, "You'll find they'll hurt way worse than a papercut."

Cinderella could only watch with a gasp as the pair disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

―

Once they were transported back to Rumplestiltskin's castle, Elara took a step back from him with a glare.

"Stop manipulating my emotions during deals." She told him, "You know they're all that's left that are mine."

Rumplestiltskin watched her storm away with a smirk, "Are they?"

━━━━━━━✧✧✧━━━━━━━

There was a knock on Mary Margaret's apartment door, the woman swinging it open to see a smiling Mr. Gold, with Lydia standing behind him.

"Hey." The blonde girl smiled.

"Miss Blanchard," Mr. Gold greeted the woman, "Is Miss Swan here?"

Emma got up from the dining table and came to the door as well, making Mr. Gold smile and shake her hand.

"Hi, my name's Mr. Gold. We met briefly on your arrival."

Emma nodded, "I remember."

"Good," The man smiled, "I have a proposition for you, Miss Swan. I, uh... I need your help. I'm looking for someone."

"Really? Um..." Emma hummed, glancing awkwardly at her friend.

"You know what? I'm going to go jump in the bath." Mary Margaret decided, walking further into her apartment, leaving the three standing by the door.

"I have a photo." Gold said, gesturing over to Lydia with a nod. The unfolded a photograph from her pocket, handing it to Emma, "Her name is Ashley Boyd. And she's taken something quite valuable of mine."

"So, why don't you just go to the police?" Emma asked.

Mr. Gold sighed, "Because, uh... She's a confused young woman. She's pregnant. Alone and scared. I don't want to ruin this young girl's life. But I just want my property returned."

Emma raised an eyebrow, "What is it?" She asked, making Lydia glance over at Gold.

"Well, one of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion." Gold said, "Let's just say it's a precious object and leave it at that."

"When'd you see her last?" Emma wondered.

"Last night. That's how we got these." Gold said, moving his hair to show Emma the cut on the side of his head, Lydia gesturing the bruise on her jaw from where she's been.

"The pregnant woman has a mean unintended right hook." Lydia said.

"It's so unlike her." Gold added, "She was quite wound up. Rambling on and on about changing her life. I have no idea what got into her. Miss Swan, please help me find her. My only other choice is the police, and I don't think anyone wants to see that baby born in jail now, do they?"

Emma rapidly shook her head, "No, of course not."

"So, you'll help us, then?" Lydia asked.

Emma gave them a look, "I will help her."

Mr. Gold grinned, "Grand."

Henry then walked into the apartment without knocking, "Hey, Emma. I was thinking we-" He froze when he saw Lydia and Gold.

Gold smiled at the boy, "Hey, Henry. How are you?"

"Okay?" Henry said confused.

"Good. Give my regards to your mother," The man nodded, before turning to Emma, "And, um, good luck, Miss Swan." He said, before leaving the apartment.

"Bye, Emma. See ya, Hen." Lydia smiled, ruffling the boy's hair, before following after Mr. Gold.

━━━━━━━✧✧✧━━━━━━━

Cinderella and Thomas were married, which caused for a kingdom wide celebration. The ball at the palace was in full swing, couples dancing and having fun.

Fleur smiled as she watched Snow White and Cinderella spin around the ornate ballroom as she took a sip from the drink in her hand.

"Do you ever regret it?" A voice asked, making the princess turn to see Elara standing next to her, "Leaving your kingdom?"

Fleur could only let out a small, humourless chuckle, "Do I regret taking control of my life? Never."

The purple haired girl smiled as she eyed Fleur, "Good."

Fleur turned away from Elara's intense gaze, "I thought you said you wouldn't be able to make it."

"I thought I wouldn't." Elara shrugged, turning her eyes to watch one particular pair on the ballroom floor, "Something changed."

Fleur followed her gaze, "How long do you have?"

Elara watched as Rumplestiltskin left a stunned Cinderella on the dancefloor. She felt a pull inside her, "I have one dance."

Fleur smiled, placing her glass down on a nearby table, "Then let's make it count." She said, taking the witch's hand and dragging her to dance with a giggle.

―

A pregnant Cinderella and Prince Thomas followed Prince Charming, Elara and Grumpy through the dungeons.

"Why are we down here?" Cinderella asked.

"We need a place to keep him." Her husband answered.

"Rumpelstiltskin is the most dangerous man in all the realms. He needs his own special prison." Elara stated, her eyebrows drawn together as she fought hard to keep a defence up against the pull inside of her.

"But you work for him," Cinderella said, "Why are you defying him like this?"

Elara frowned, "It's not out of choice." She said, glancing over at the expecting mother, "And trust me, if I were in full control of myself the night we met, I would have tried to stop you from signing that contract."

 "We used Elara's knowledge of him in order to convert the mines to hold him." Prince Charming told Cinderella.

"But how will we get him here?" Cinderella wondered, "He's eluded all forever."

"His strength is also his weakness." Grumpy said.

"His deals." Elara rolled her eyes, a grimace resting on her face.

"He can't resist making them." Grumpy continued, "And we already know who he wants to deal with next. You."

"We sent word with one of Snow's bluebirds." Charming told her, "He's accepted a meeting with you. You're going to tell him that Doc heard something with his stethoscope – two heart beats."

"You're going to tell him it's twins." Thomas said.

"And if he wants both-"

"Which he will." Elara cut Charming off.

"You propose a new deal. Grumpy."

They stopped walking as Grumpy took out a box and opened it, revealing a red quill inside.

Cinderella raised an eyebrow, "A quill? I-I don't understand."

"The Blue Fairy cast a spell on it." Grumpy told her, "Whoever signs with this will be frozen – their magic made impotent."

"All you must do is get him to sign the contract." Charming said, "Ella, this man is a scourge. You'll be doing the entire land a service."

"Should we even use magic?" Ella hesitated, "Isn't that what's causing these problems to begin with? What if this magic also has a price?"

"Then, I will pay it." Thomas declared, "I will do whatever is needed to save you and our child."

"Let's go." Charming said, the group venturing further into the dungeon until they came to a cell.

"Hope you like it." Grumpy said, "A lot of dwarf blood went into it."

Ella turned to them, "You sure this will work?"

"Once he's in there, he'll never get out." Elara assured her, "You and your child will be safe."

"We can do this, Ella." Thomas told her.

"Okay." Cinderella nodded determinedly, "Let's get him."

―

Cinderella stood in the forest, waiting for Rumpelstiltskin to show.

"Well, well, well!" His voice made her jump as she stood from the bench, turning around to see Elara and Rumpelstiltskin - who was drinking something from a glass bottle, "You're starting to show. A little bird told me you wanted to speak?"

"Yes." Ella nodded, "I'd like to alter the bargain."

Rumpelstiltskin chuckled darkly, "That's not what I do."

Cinderella matched his gaze, "I think you'll want to. I'm having twins."

Rumpelstiltskin let out a sound of glee, chucking the bottle behind him excitement, which Elara caught before chucking it behind her, "Is that so? Oooh! Let's have a look." He griined, bending down to examine her baby bump, "And you would, what? Give up both?"

Cinderella nodded, trying not to look over at Elara.

"Why is that, I wonder?" Rumple asked.

"My husband," Cinderella started her story, "He's... He's having a hard time. Our kingdom is poor, we're losing money, our crops are dying... We can't support ourselves or our people."

"And you would trade your other child for...comfort?" Rumple asked, making Elara wrinkle her nose up.

"I can always have more children, but I can't make crops grow where the soil is dead." Ella said, making a flurry of emotions flash over Rumpelstiltskin's eyes, "In exchange for our other child, you will see to it that our land is once again fertile. I think it's more than fair." She said, presenting a contract from her cloak.

"Yes!" Rumple grinned, examining the contract, "Yes, yes. It is. If what you're saying is true."

"It is," Ella nodded, holding out the red quill, "And all you have to do, is sign on the dotted line."

Rumpelstiltskin hummed, looking out the quill before plucking it out of her hand, examining it, "What a lovely quill! Wherever did you get it?"

"It's from our castle." Cinderella gulped.

Rumpelstiltskin eyed Cinderella, feeling the magical hum in the air, before glanced back over at Elara - who was stone faced. He faced the blonde woman in front of him, "You know, the only way to stop me, is through magic."

"I'm not trying to stop you." Cinderella denied.

"Of course you're not. Because, as we all know, all magic comes with a price. And if you were to use it to, say, imprison me, then your debts to me would only grow." His voice darkened as he eyed Cinderella, who didn't meet his gaze. He then turned to Elara, "And we wouldn't want that, now, would we?"

The girl kept her expression neutral, biting the inside of her cheek as she fought to keep her emotions hidden.

"Just sign the contract, please." Cinderella moved her head away from the quill that Rumplestiltskin was caressing her face with when he turned back to her.

Rumplestiltskin hummed, "Are you sure you're happy with this new arrangement?"

Cinderella's gaze hardened, holding up the contract once more. Rumpelstiltskin took it from her and went to sign it.

"Then so it shall be." Rumple signed the parchment and then his whole body was instantly frozen by the magic, all but his mouth.

"Thomas!" Cinderella cried for her husband, Elara rushing to the pregnant woman's side, heart racing as she put distance between the two of them and her teacher.

"No one breaks deals with me, dearie. No one." Rumpelstiltskin spat, "No matter where you are, no matter what land you find yourself in, I assure you – I will have your baby." He seethed, before glaring over at Elara, "And who would of thought that it'd be you of all people who betrayed me."

Elara glared back at him, "I should have been first on your suspect list."

"I saved your life."

"You trapped me." Elara countered, "And now it's your turn."

―

Elara watched as Rumpelstiltskin was being taken to a cell on the back of a carriage as Charming came to stand next her.

"Where's Ella?" He wondered.

"She had some stomach pains so Thomas went to go and find her some water, but the pain passed." Elara shrugged, not taking her eyes away from Rumpelstiltskin, who was glaring back at her, "She went to go and find him."

"Their love is special." David said.

"I suppose." Elara hummed.

"You need to stop looking at him." Charming tugged on the girl's arm, making her gaze move to him, "You're free now, Lara. You no longer have to fear him."

"I haven't felt freedom in centuries." Elara whispered, her gaze going back to Rumpelstiltskin in his cage, "And I'm still not feeling it now."

Charming went to respond, when a teary Cinderella ran back into the clearing, stalking over to the caged man, "What did you do?"

"Ella, what's wrong?" Charming asked her.

"Your Highness, what happened?" Grumpy asked, his hand on his sword.

"What did you do to my Thomas?" Ella sobbed, Charming and Elara rushing over to the pregnant woman, holding her from either side to keep the child safe.

"I haven't done anything," Rumplestiltskin grinned sickeningly, "I case you haven't noticed, I've been otherwise engaged."

"Something's happened to him. You know. Tell me!" Cinderella tried to move closer to him, only to be held back.

Rumpelstiltskin smiled darkly, "I have no idea, dearie. But I did warn you – all magic comes at a price. Looks like someone has just paid."

"Don't listen to him." Charming said, gently leading Ella away from Rumple, "We'll find Thomas."

"No, you won't. Until that debt is paid, until that baby is mine, you're never going to see him again. In this world or the next, Cinderella, I will have that baby!" He cried after them, before his eyes rested on Elara, "And you," He chuckled, "How naïve you are. Even if I'm imprisoned you will never be free from my grasp. I have your soul," He smirked his hands shaking the bars of the cage as Grumpy guided the girl away, "I have your soul!" 

━━━━━━━✧✧✧━━━━━━━

Mr. Gold and Lydia stood by the coffee machine in the hospital, the girl making a beverage as Emma walked up to him.

"Well, well. Must be my lucky day." Gold hummed, "Care for a cup, Miss Swan?"

"A baby? That's your merchandise? Why didn't you tell me?" Emma asked.

Lydia's movements slowed as she looked up from the drink she was making.

"Well because, at the time, you didn't need to know." Gold said.

Emma raised an eyebrow, "Really? Or you thought I wouldn't take the job?"

"On the contrary." Mr. Gold shook his head, "I thought it would be more effective if you found out yourself. After seeing Ashley's hard life, I thought it would make sense. Do you? I mean, if anyone could understand the reasons behind giving up a baby, I assumed it would be you."

Emma glared at him, "You're not getting that kid."

"Actually, we have an agreement." Gold smirked, "My agreements are always honoured. If not, I'm going to have to involve the police and that baby is going to end up in the system. And that would be a pity. You didn't enjoy your time in the system, did you, Emma?"

"You were after her baby?" Lydia asked Gold quietly, earning no response as the adults continued to talk.

"It's not going to happen." Emma spat.

Mr. Gold smiled, "I like your confidence. Charming. But all I have to do is press charges. She did, after all, break into my shop. And not only did she attack me, but Lydia as well."

"Let me guess – to steal a contract?" Emma asked.

Mr. Gold shrugged, "Who knows what she was after?"

"You know no jury in the world will put a woman in jail, whose only reason for breaking and entering was to keep her child." Emma glared at the man, "I'm willing to roll the dice that contract doesn't stand up. Are you? Not to mention what might come out about you in the process. Somehow, I suspect, there is more to you than a simple pawn broker. You really want to start that fight?"

Gold smiled, "I like you, Miss Swan. You're not afraid of me, and that's either cocky or presumptuous. Either way, I'd rather have you on my side."

"So, she can keep the baby?" Emma asked.

"Not just yet." Gold shook his head, "There's still the matter of my agreement with Miss Boyd."

"Tear it up." Emma ordered.

"That's not what I do." Gold shook his finger, "You see, contracts – deals – well, they're the very foundation of all civilized existence. So, I put it to you now. If you want Ashley to have that baby, are you willing to make a deal with me?"

"What do you want?" Emma asked.

"You'll owe him a favour." Lydia said, knowing the way in which her boss worked.

Emma looked over at Gold, "Deal."

Mr. Gold smirked, turning to Lydia and taking the coffee she'd held out to him, "I'll meet you in the car." He said, before walking away.

Emma studied the younger blonde, "Why do you serve him?"

"He saved my life." Lydia shrugged, "So, I owe him mine." She said, before following after the man.

Once she got into the passenger's seat of the car, a silence filled the vehicle.

"You're angry." Gold noticed.

"Why didn't you tell me you wanted her baby?"

"Because I knew how you'd react." Mr. Gold said, "I can't control how you feel about things. I knew you'd try and change what would happen."

Lydia looked over at him, "Next time, you tell me."

The man raised an eyebrow, "Even if you won't like it?"

"Even then." Lydia nodded, "I won't try and get in the way. But I don't want to be made to look like an idiot with my blind faith."

Mr. Gold started the car, "Never once has anyone thought you an idiot." He said before pulling out of the hospital carpark.