Once Upon a Reaper

What's My Name?

"What can I help you with today?"

Tara startled as she looked to her side and saw a well-dressed man smiling at her. She'd stopped in the antique store looking for a gift for Gemma. She knew Jax's mother loved old jewelry and had hoped to find something for her there, but so far she was coming up empty.

Tara smiled as she nodded toward the display case in front of her. "I was looking for something for my mother-in-law for her birthday. Is this all you have?"

The man seemed to give it some thought before waving a hand toward a hallway. "I might have some interesting pieces in the back. Won't you follow me?"

Tara nodded before following him into a small back room. She frowned when he shut the door behind them, thinking that with him back there, anyone could rob him out front. The man smiled at her and Tara felt almost lulled into a peaceful feeling. He stepped closer and spoke quietly. 

"What is it that you really seek? What's your deepest desire? There must be something, Dr. Knowles." Tara shook her head as an image formed in her mind. She had been trying to get pregnant for months but it seemed that her body just wasn't cooperating with her. The man smiled wider and nodded. "I can do that for you, darling."

Tara frowned as she took a step backward toward the door. "No, I don't think you can help me after all."

As she reached for the door handle, the man gave a low chuckle. "Are you sure, pet? You'd be surprised what I can do." When Tara turned back to face the man, he was holding a long parchment in one hand and a quill pen in the other. "All you have to do is sign on the dotted line and all you desire will be yours."

Although deep in her mind, Tara knew that something was off about the man and his offer, she couldn't help but reach for the pen. She wanted a baby with Jax more than anything, and this man seemed to be offering her that. After all, if it was nonsense, then nothing would come of it and it wouldn't matter, but if he could really give her what she wanted...

"What's in it for you? I can't imagine that you would just offer to give me what I want out of the goodness of your heart."

The man chuckled and nodded as he waved a hand in a careless motion. "Well, there's always something, isn't there?" When he saw that she was indeed interested, he stepped closer. "I give you what you want, then let's say, a year from now, I ask you what my name is. You tell me and you've paid in full." He shrugged and winked. "Simple."

Tara stared at him for a moment before a small smirk appeared on her face. "That's too easy, Mr. Gold."

Mr. Gold chuckled and nodded. "It would be if that were indeed my name, darling. You have a year to figure it out. It shouldn't be hard for someone as clever as you." He held the paper aloft and smiled. "Now, it's as easy as can be. Just sign on the line, Tara. I'll change your life."

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A Year Later

Tara's eyes kept drawing to the calendar on the wall of the kitchen as she fed Thomas his morning bottle. She felt the familiar ball of tension in her stomach and tried to tell herself to relax, though it wasn't working. She knew that any day now, there would be a knock on the door and she would have to give an answer that she didn't know.

She'd tried, she really had. From the day she'd become pregnant with Thomas, she'd tried to figure out Mr. Gold's real name, but every path she took became blocked. She'd even asked Juice to run his background but he'd found nothing. It was like the man simply didn't exist before he set up shop in Charming.

Unable to stop the inevitable, she'd begun being nervous whenever she left the house, constantly watching over her shoulder as if some invisible spector would swoop down and take everything away from her. Gemma had noticed and tried to figure out what was wrong, which just added to her tension. Jax had even noticed that something was off with his wife, and had tried to help her, even though he had no clue how to do it.

As she was putting Thomas in his crib for a nap, she heard the doorbell and froze. She took a deep breath before nodding to herself and walking down the hall. As she opened the door, she saw Mr. Gold standing on the stoop, smiling at her. She sighed and stepped back, letting him in before shutting the door.

"Well, Dr, Knowles, have you put that brain of yours to work and figured out my name?"

Tara shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. If I just had a little more time... "

Mr. Gold frowned. "Tara, Tara, Tara. If I gave everyone more time, nothing would ever get done." He sighed and looked at her in a fatherly way, smiling slightly. "I'll tell you what I'll do. Because I like you, Tara, I'm willing to give you more time, but only three more days. On the third day, if you don't know my name, I'll collect on our contract."

Tara breathed a sigh of relief before something occurred to her. "Wait... you never said what I would owe you. If it's money, I'll need time to gather enough."

Mr. Gold chuckled and shook his head as he reached for the handle of the door. "Oh no, Dr., nothing as mundane as money." As he opened the door, he turned back to her with a sinister smile. "In three days, if you haven't figured out my name, I'll be collecting your firstborn. I'm sure Thomas is a fine little boy."

Tara stared in shock as he walked out into the bright sunshine, swinging his cane as he went.

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Three Days Later

Tig knocked on the door and waited for Tara to answer. Jax was on a run with the others, leaving Tig and Bobby behind to handle the homefront, and Tig was surprised to get a call that morning from Tara, asking him to come to the house alone. When she answered the door, he was taken aback by how scared she looked. She had bags under her eyes from not sleeping and was shaking as she waited for him to shut the door.

"What's up? I came as quickly as I could. Are you ok?"

Tara gave a short laugh and shook her head no as tears began to run silently down her face. "No, I'm not ok. I'm far from it." She swiped at her face with both hands before taking a deep breath. "I need you to take Thomas and Abel somewhere safe. Don't tell me where because I'm not sure that he can't read my mind."

Tig frowned and took a step closer, grabbing her arm as she turned toward the kitchen. "Woah, wait a minute! Who can read your mind? What the hell is going on, Tara?"

Tara laughed bitterly as she ran a hand through her hair. "You wouldn't believe me, Tig."

Tig shrugged. "Try me because I need some answers, doll."

Tara sighed before nodding and giving him the whole story. As Tig listened, his stomach dropped. Finally, when she was done, he nodded before leaning in to kiss her on the forehead and give her a grin.

"His name is Rumpelstiltskin."

Tara frowned. "What?"

Tig shrugged. "Mr. Gold. That's his name." He shook his head and smiled at her. "Don't worry. He's not going to take Thomas."

Tara just looked at him in shock before shaking her head. "But... how do you know his name?"

Tig sighed as a sad look came over his face. "Trust me, Tara. You're not the only one that ever made a deal with him."