Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 24 - The Maid

Henry and Emma walked briskly through Storybrook.
"Please let me help." pleaded Henry.
"No, it could be dangerous." said Emma.
"The pregnant maid is dangerous?"
"She assulted Mr. Gold." Emma argued.
"Cool."
"This isn't a game. She's desperate."
They walked towards Emma's car.
"How do you know?"
"Because I know." she walked over to the drivers side.
"Well then let's find her."
"No, no, no, no. There is no 'let's'. You cannot come with me." she walked over to Henry.
"Then I'll look for her myself."
"Then I'll find you and I'll bring you back."
"They you wouldn't be helping the maid." Henry pushed her on.
"I am just trying to be responsible here."
"And I'm just trying to spend time with you."
Henry opened the door and got into the passenger seat.
"Oh, that is really not fair." Emma got into the car.
"So, the maid, what's her story?"

******************************

Cinderella watched the fireworks from the castle, smiling happily. She no longer wore rags, but a beautiful wedding dress.
A man walked out onto the balcony next to her, also smiling. He looked at her. "What's wrong?"
She looked at him. "Nothing." she looked back at the fireworks. "Every year when I was growing up, I used to watch these fireworks from afar. I knew what they meant. That something special was happening at the palace. Now they're for me. For our wedding." she keep smiling.
He leaned forward and their lips touched.

Cinderella and her Prince walked hand in hand down the steps to the crowds of people down below, wearing fancy, colorful ball customs. The crowds cheered and clapped.
Snow and Charming walked over to them and greeted them.
"I'm so happy you could come." said Cinderella to Snow and she leaned forward and hugged her.
"You look so beautiful." said Snow hugging her.
The Prince's father walked over to him. "Son."
"Thank you, father." replyed the Prince.
The fireworks still went off, music was played and people talk and danced.
Cinderella danced gracefully with her father on law.
"My dear Ella, we are thrilled to have you join our family....." he said. "......and I hope our family will soon be growing."
Cinderella chuckled and they continued dancing.
"My darling." he went on.
"Congratulations, Ella. You two are going to be very happy." said Charming as he switched from Snow to her as his dancing partner.
"Why thank you, James."
Cinderella switched her dancing partner again, this time to her husband. They danced gracefully and beautifuly.
"Ella, dear." said Snow from behind her. Cinderella turned and pulled her away from her husband. "Sorry."
They chuckled happily and began to dance.
"This is truly a night for celebration." Snow went on. "Do you realise what an inspiration you are to everyone?"
"All I did was get married."
"All you did was show that anyone can change her life."
They curtsited to one another.
"I'm proud of you."
Cinderella turned to see Rumpelstiltskin dressed in a ball outfit. "I'm proud of you too." he said.
Cinderella stopped dancing. "You. What're you doing here?"
He began to dance with her. "I just wanted to make sure you're happy with your end of the bargain. You know, true love, riches. Happy endings. Did you get everything you desired?"
"Yes. Yes, now what do you want? What's your price? My jewels? The ring?"
"No, no, dear. Keep your baubles. What I want is something you don't yet possess, bit something I know is coming..... Your first-born." He spinned her around and walked away, leaving her in shock of his last words.

******************************

Cinderella rummaged around her room, collecting possessions, clothes and other beings and packing them in backs that lay on her bed. She wore a beautiful blue evening dress and her blond curlys lay below her shoulders.
Suddenly the door opened and her husband walked in.
"What are you doing?" he asked putting his bag down.
"I thought you were hunting."
"I was, but the weather wasn't agreeing, so we came back early. Are we going somewhere? "
She bent her head.
"Your going somewhere." he said. "Something's happened."
"What?"
Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm pregnant."
A smile grew on his face. "Ella, thats wonderful. " he walked over to her and reached out to her but she just walked away. "Why are you upset? This is what we wanted."
She shook her head and looked at him. "There's something else. When we met that night at the ball, it wasn't my fairy godmother who sent me."
His smile drifted away.
She continued. "It was Rumpelstiltskin."
He looked at her, confused.
"I made a deal with him for this life. I was stupid. I didn't understand the prise of magic. So I promised him something."
"What did you promise him?"
She walked away. "He tricked me. I thought he'd want our gold or jewels." she continued packing things away.
"What was it?"
Tears began to fill in her eyes and she held her stomach.
"Our baby?"
Tears began to rin down her face. "I'm sorry. And now I going to lose it all. My life, you." she sat down.
"No." he walked over to her and held up her chin. "I don't care what that imp said. Magic may have brought us together, but it didn't create this love."
"But I made a deal. I can't break that. He's too powerful."
"Then the anwser is simple. We make another deal."

******************************

Emma and Henry walked towards Granny's Diner, talking to the waitress.
"So this boyfriend of hers, you don't think he was involved in her disappearance."
The waitress turned from her customers to Emma. "That would mean he was involved with her at all, which he isn't. He left her in the lurch right after they found our they were expecting. Hasn't spoken to her since. Like I said......"
There was a crash from behind them, a man had let the waitress's red car fall a little from the toe truck, by the road.
The waitress walked quickly towards the guy. "Hey, hey, hey, Billy! Be careful."
The guy looked up.
"You almost shattered my wolf thing, Billy. It's good luck." she said, referring to a little ornament hanging from the mirror inside her car.
"I'm sorry, Ruby, but look, it's fine."
She smiled, looking him up and down.
"Ruby, what about her family?" asked Emma, interrupting her consecration on Billy.
She turned quickly around, out of her daze. "Oh......em...... She's got a stepmom and two step sisters that she doesn't talk to."
"Wait, stepmom, stepsisters, and she's a maid." interrupted Henry. "Henry, not now." said Emma.
"Look, I don't know what you've heard, but it's wrong. Everyone thinks she's not ready to have this kid, but she's trying. Taking night classes, trying to better herself, trying to get her life together. Can you understand that?"
"I think so."
"Then maybe you should just stay out of it. She's been through enough already."
"I've been through it, too, Ruby, and I can help her."
"Then try her ex."
"Where can I find him?"
"He lives with his dad."