Rumplestiltskin sits in the darkness of his castle. He has just returned from speaking to Regina. She was livid after what he had done to her, preventing her from harming Snow or Charming in this land ever again. Until he told her, nothing would prevent her from harming them in another land. He knew this would send her to retrieve the dark curse she had given to Maleficent.
It would take her several months of preparation time to cast it. In the meantime, he would put the final necessary steps into action. He could see that Snow was pregnant, now he would arrange his capture so everyone would think him defeated. Then, he could manipulate Snow and Regina into giving up the final pieces he would need to ensure the curse was broken, and he could go search for his son.
It was here his vision grew dark, he only saw that the child would escape the curse and she would return to find her parents on her twenty-eighth birthday. Then she would tell him her name and he would regain his memories and see to it the curse was broken. He wondered why he couldn't see more clearly, but figured it must be because the land they were going to didn't have magic.
Someone knocking on the door of his castle interrupts his thoughts.
"Who would be so foolish as to come to my castle without an invitation?" Rumplestiltskin asks aloud in disbelief. The last person to do so was Gaston, trying to rescue Be... He pushes that thought out of his mind immediately, best not to think of her and focus on reuniting with Bae.
He opens the door to find a young maiden dressed in rags standing there.
"Please you have to help me," the girl says. "Regina is trying to kill me."
"I don't have to do anything," Rumplestiltskin says, "and judging from the state of your dress, you have nothing to offer me in return for my help."
"I have information for you," the girl says. "I worked at Regina's castle before I made a mistake and incurred her wrath and I discovered information about a plan she's developing to bring about your downfall. She doesn't know I learned this and you could use it to your advantage."
"Hmm," Rumplestiltskin says. He doubts that Regina could have anything planned that could harm him, but still now that's he's so close to his endgame he doesn't want to take any chances. "Very well dearie. Give me your information and I promise you that the queen will never find you."
"I know of your dealings with the queen and know how you make your deals," the girl says. "I want to be sure that you won't turn me into a toad or a bug or something or hide me in a horrible dungeon."
Rumplestiltskin laughs. "It's been a long time since I've had someone clever make a deal," he says. "Very well, I will simply give you a new identity. I can morph your features and cast a spell on you so that no tracking spell can find you."
"Thank you," the girl says. "The information I have concerns a young woman. The queen captured her and put her in a special cell that no magical tracking spell can pierce. For some reason she thinks that this girl is special to you."
Rumplestiltskin's heart nearly stops. It couldn't be, he thinks. "Her name, what is her name?" he asks in a low tone.
"I believe it is Belle," the girl says.
Rumplestiltskin explodes into a rage. "Regina captured Belle and told me she was dead!" he screams. "I'll kill her! I'll rip out her heart and crush it!"
Even as he says it, part of him knows, he cannot do it. He's so close to finding his son. If he kills Regina, it will take centuries for him to recreate his plan, but he can't let Belle remain in Regina's hands. His only option is to engage plan B.
"Your information has proved very valuable." Rumplestiltskin then waves his hands and morphs the woman's features into a new face and replaces her clothes with that of a noble woman. Before her was a trunk filled with gold. "There is a carriage outside that will take you to a faraway kingdom that owes me a favor. You will be treated as a noblewoman for the rest of your life in this realm and in the next one."
"Next one?" she asks in confusion.
"Nothing you need to worry about dearie," Rumplestiltskin says.
The woman leaves and Rumplestiltskin begins his plans, taking out the modified version of his curse. The one that's slightly riskier, but that will ensure Belle will be his and that Regina will suffer.
Eighteen years later
Emma and Neal watch as the family leaves their hotel room. They quickly rush into the room and put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.
"Want to shower first?" Neal asks as Emma dumps the contents of their latest heist on the bed.
"Oh look the Granoli family left this," Emma says.
"What is it?" Neal asks.
"It's a native American dream catcher," Emma explains. "It's supposed to keep all the nightmares out and only let the good dreams in to protect your home."
"It's flypaper for nightmares?" Neal asks.
"Mm-hmm," Emma answers.
"Let's keep it," Neal says.
"Yeah, and hang it where the car?" Emma asks sarcastically.
"It's not much of a home," Neal says. "Maybe it's time to get a real place."
"Are you saying...?" Emma asks.
"Why not?" Neal says. "We've been on the road long enough. Maybe it's time we retire the Bonnie and Clyde act and settle down."
"Together?" Emma asks.
"If that's what you want," Neal says.
"Like where, Neverland?" Emma asks.
"I'm serious," Neal says. "We can do this."
"Where?" Emma asks.
Neal then notices a nearby map and picks it up. "Where? I'll tell you where," he says, placing the map on the bed. "Close your eyes and point. Whichever spot you pick is our home."
Emma then closes her eyes and points to a spot on the map.
She opens her eyes and looks at the spot she's chosen. "Storybrooke, Maine," Emma says. "I never heard of it. All the other places on this map are major cities it doesn't make sense to have a small town like this is on it."
"Hmm," Neal says studying the map. "The map says made in the USA, so maybe Storybrooke is where it was printed."
"You're probably right," Emma says. "You know I always wanted to live in a small town, one where everyone knows each other, like in those old sitcoms."
"It must be fate then," Neal says. "So what do you say, do you want to give up this life of crime and settle down?"
Emma nods. "Storybrooke it is then," Emma says, putting her hands around Neal's neck. "But, are you sure about this? Is that what you really want?"
"What I really want is you," Neal says. They kiss, each of them thinking they finally found what they were looking for all their lives.