LONG STORY SHORT ~ Emma Swan and Killian Jones

THE PRICE OF GOLD

"Rumplestiltskin!"

Jo called out for the third time. Leaning back on a nearby tree she let out a groan. She didn't have time for his games. She had to get back to her siblings before dark.

Suddenly, Rumplestiltskin appeared in a dark smoke. Standing from the tree, she stood there, waiting for his acknowledgment.

"Patience, dearie." He told her. "What do you want?"

There was something in his voice.

"Our lesson." She said sternly, taking a step towards him. "I do not have forever."

"Did you do as I asked?" He questioned, stepping closer to her.

They were only a few steps away from each other. Jo knew he didn't think she had it in her. To take the heart of a stranger. As she drew a make shift container out of her bag, his interest perked. Opening the container, Jo revealed the glowing red heart.

"Here." She told him, passing the heart to him and stuffing the container back in her bag. "His name was-"

"I do not need to know." Rumplestiltskin interrupted, passing the heart back to her. Taking it from him, she sent him a look and there it was; that look in his eyes. Her price wasn't paid yet. "Crush it."

"Kill the man?" Rumplestiltskin nodded.

Jo thought on it, kill a man for her own knowledge and power? That wasn't like her. She loved gaining power, but she only killed if neccessary to protect her siblings. However, Rumplestiltskin was the dark one, he had power she could not get from anywhere else. Tightening her grip on the heart, it broke down into dust and fell through her fingers.

"There. He's dead." Jo said, and a nasty smile formed on her teacher's face. "What's next?"

***

Josie was riding passenger of Graham's police car.

He had picked her up that morning, as nothing has needed him in the town, and her salon wasn't open that day. They had the morning to themselves, taking Bayard for a stroll in the woods early that morning before having breakfast by the water. However, they can't live in their own world forever.

"Graham, just let him in the front seat!" Josie exclaimed, reaching behind her to pet Bayard.

"Josie, he will accidentally hit something and mess things up." Graham argued, and she rolled her eyes. "You know I am right."

"My dog is not going to mess up any of your sheriff-y things." She defended, leaning her head back on the seat.

"Sheriff-y things?" He mocked, glancing to her with an eyebrow raised. Josie shrugged, just as Grahams attention was back in front of them and he was pulling a corner with the siren on. "Do not bring your dog up here." He scolded before getting out of the car.

Josie rolled down her window to get a better look at the blonde on the sidewalk. Graham had been planning on speaking with Emma all day, now was his time, she guessed. Probably just so he could get out of the Bayard argument. She thought.

"What's with the siren?" Emma scoffed as Graham shut his car door and headed around to the passenger side.

"It's so hard to get your attention." He told her.

Josie leaned on the window seal with her head on her arms.

"Well you got it, are you arresting me again?" Emma asked.

"No, no." Josie interrupted, rolling the back window down to let Bayard stick his head out the window. "As you can see, he already has his prisoner of the day." She remarked, glaring to Graham who just shook his head. "Hey, blondie." Josie greeted, smiling to Emma.