So I wasn't really driven to tears by my other fic, "Sacrifice" which is a re-write of 5x11 Swan Song. This one however is a missing scene for said episode and a speculation of what will happen in the Season 5 finale. So this will be two parts...and I will mark it as in progress, especially if 5b proves to be a disappointment.

Anyway, here you go!


"Belle? Please say something."

Belle just stared at her husband. He had gone earlier and had met with Emma at his shop. Apparently, the saviour wanted to go to the Underworld to save Killian and Rumple's blood was the key in opening the portal to and from that place.

"Oh Rumple," began Belle, hugging him tight. "I'm very proud of you for doing the right thing."

Rumple was glad for the hug because Belle could not see the conflict in his eyes. He was going to tell her everything but not right now. At least he had one last day to be with her.

"You are a hero," said Belle as they broke apart. "I know you're going to get through this and do what's right."

Rumple nodded forcing himself to smile. "I know."

But doing what's right meant a huge sacrifice but Rumple didn't dare voice it out. Everything was at the right place and Rumplestiltskin could finally do what he had wanted to for so long. The only catch is, would he? Or would he chose what he wanted versus what was right? Was he really a hero?

He hugged Belle one last time and cherished the last few moments he had with her. There was no turning back once he opens the portal to the Underworld. Just like Neverland, it was going to be a one-way trip.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" asked Belle.

"No sweetheart," began Rumple as he put on his coat. "I'd rather you stay here. Things will get better, I promise."

"I'll see you soon, Rumplestiltskin," said Belle. "Maybe sooner than you think."

Rumple could only nod as Belle kissed him on the lips. One last moment, one last kiss. They broke apart and Rumple forced himself to smile, to be brave. He was doing all this for her, no matter what, it was for Belle.

Once a good distance from his home, he took the envelope he had inside his jacket and studied it. His last confession to the woman he loved. It broke his heart to write it, and it will probably break Belle's heart. May he come back from the Underworld or not, he knew one thing for sure, Belle would never forgive him for this last act of betrayal.

He used magic to hide the envelope in the shop where he knew Belle would find it once they had left. He sighed and made his way to the lake but someone stood in his way.

"Regina," said Rumple but he continued to walk forward. "If you're here to yell at me, can we do it there so you and Mary Margaret can do it at the same time. I'm hardly in the mood for a lecture."

Regina studied him but her expression wasn't that of hatred, in fact it was the opposite of what Emma had worn when she was in the shop earlier.

"You're tricking everyone again," said Regina, eyeing her old mentor. "I know you, Gold. You've always wanted to be rid of the Darkness. You didn't take it all in just because you wanted power."

"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think," said Rumple, ignoring his previous student and walking on. Regina followed him.

"What's your plan?"

"I don't have a plan," replied Rumple and he knew he shouldn't have answered that too quickly because Regina narrowed her eyes at him.

"You sound like you've given up," said Regina. "That doesn't sound like the man who just inherited an ocean of dark magic. And that's the thing as well, when you were full Dark One, your magic was just that, evil. Now, I look at you and it feel different. It isn't dark magic...but something else."

"You know," began Rumple turning to face her. "Of all the students I've had over the centuries, you Regina, have to be the one I am proudest of all." With that said, he teleported to the lake leaving a confused Regina.

Regina eyed where Gold had stood. Something was wrong and Emma was mistaken. Gold was the Dark One again but there was something else, something he was hiding and Regina was going to figure it out.


Belle,

I know whatever you read here will probably break your heart but you deserve to know the truth of what I am about to do.

The plan to trap all the Dark Ones in Excalibur and use that to stab the Dark One wouldn't have worked. It would have just given the person who used Excalibur all the powers of the Darkness, making an unstoppable Dark One. Emma had chosen to do be the sacrifice and Regina as the one to use the sword. I didn't want this to happen for one reason, Henry.

The boy has been through enough. He had lost his father and I would not let him witness one mother kill the other. So when the two asked for the sword, I enchanted it to transfer the Darkness to me. Then I would go to the Underworld and exchange my soul for Emma's, making sure all the Darkness inside of me will stay trapped in the Underworld forever. With me in the Underworld, no one can open the portal and the Darkness will be trapped forever.

I guess my plans are still the same, but instead of Emma, it will be Killian who I am exchanging my life for. A bit ironic if you take into account my feelings for the man. But I have to do this, it is the only way to make sure the Darkness doesn't destroy the world we live in, that you live in.

Emma and the others believed that I took on the Darkness because of power. It is the reason I put forward. After all the things I've done, I don't wish to be treated like a hero. I am only a man trying to make amends for everything horrible I've done in my life.

This trip is one-way for me. I did this when I thought you never wanted to see me again. I was too shocked when you came back. It was like fate was testing me. But every ounce of Darkness is inside of me, and to save the people I care about...I have to do this.

There's a whole world out there for you, Belle. Maybe one day, like Regina, you'll find another True Love. I am truly blessed that I was loved by a woman like you. I am sorry for everything.

With this last betrayal, I know you can never find it in your heart to forgive me. There's a potion in the shop which will make you forget about me. Make you forget about all the pain and betrayal, I've put you through.

You deserve to be happy, Belle. You deserve to be with someone who tells you the truth face to face and not in a letter.

Whatever happens, I love you Belle. With my dying breathe, I will love you. What makes me take a step forward in what I am doing is the knowledge that I am doing this to save you.

You said once before, "Do the brave thing and bravery will follow." Thank you for showing me that. For believing that a coward can be a hero.

I love you, Belle. Goodbye.

Rumple