When Micky left her, Rumpelstiltskin showed up. When the werewolf was gone, he always came back. Amber could never truly get rid of him. He was always there...hiding in the shadows.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"All this reading is useless. You should know by now that the dagger and myself are always going to be a part of you."</span><br/><br/>"Maybe...but if I can-"<br/><br/>Rumple cut Amber off.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Life will be easier for you once you embrace it. Why fight what you truly are?"</span><br/><br/>Amber frowned she didn't want to 'embrace' it. She wanted her old life back. She wanted her biggest worry to be about an end of the year exam, not if she couldn't control her anger and hurt someone she loved.<br/><br/>"I don't-"<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"You don't get to be normal again. The Dark One is what you are. What you'll always be, forever. The sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be."</span><br/><br/>Rumple said and he and Amber turned their heads when Micky returned. Rumpelstiltskin headed back into his shadows. Never far away. Amber sighed and pushed some of her dark hair off her face.<br/><br/>"Okay...I guess. There's no different answers...It seems the only way to get rid of that thing...."<br/><br/>Amber said nodding her head to the dagger that was sitting on the arm of couch.<br/><br/>"....Is death. I don't like that option."<br/><br/>Even then Amber didn't think she would be free. She was starting to believe her soul was tied to the dagger. Rumple was dead but he was still tied to it. If she died...would she be tied to it still? Appearing to the next Dark One? She took a cup of hot chocolate and said.<br/><br/>"Thanks. So, how do you handle all this cold weather?"<br/><br/>She'd never get used to it, she thought. She was used to the hot sun of LA.<br/><br/>---------------------------<br/><br/>Julia smiled back at Ashley. Despite the way things were going, she was glad she was here. She was glad she had found Ashley. Now, neither of them were alone.<br/><br/>"I wouldn't object to that."<br/><br/>Julia replied, she'd stay as long as Ashley wanted her too. Her feelings for the other dragon-kin were growing each day. When Ashley kissed her, she happily kissed her back.