He was so close to freedom. Maui's Hook was inches beyond his reach. He and Hook were both so close to having what they wanted, and that idiot pirate was about to throw it all away to have a duel!

"A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets. Remember, Dearie?" Rumple asked, shaking the bars of his cell. "So you have to ask yourself one question. What is it that you're fighting for? Your pride, or your daughter?"

Finally that seemed to break through to the pirate. He picked up Maui's hook from where it lay, just out of reach of Rumple. He used it to smash the bars, and Rumple stepped out. The Dark One took a breath, seeming to breathe in freedom as well as air.

"It's just as dank out here," Rumple said thoughtfully, then with a flick of his wrist, he broke Ahab's neck. Without even looking at the body he turned to Hook. The pirate was open mouthed, but followed when Rumple told him "Ready to leave when you are, Captain."

It was an easy matter to free Hook's daughter. Seeing the two of them together, with Alice able to leave the tower, stirred something in Rumple's heart. He'd thought it had been reduced to nothing more than a lump of coal long ago. Yet seeing them made him feel a warmth he hadn't felt since hearing news of Bae's death.

Bae. It had all been for nothing. All the centuries of trying to find him, never giving up, only to learn he had returned- from Neverland of all places- married Princess Emma, had a child with her, and died a hero soon after. To think he'd been on Neverland for so long! He could have reached him easily if he'd known he'd somehow ended up in a realm with magic! Those thoughts had driven him to the point where he only had the barest grip on any semblance of sanity.

He vanished away from the happy father and daughter, trying to think what to do next. He'd wanted to regain his freedom so badly after he'd learned there was no point anymore in trying to reach Bae. Regina had failed to cast the curse, and Bae was dead. There was no reason to leave himself locked up. But now that he had freedom, he wasn't sure what to do with it.

Go back to the castle and continue making deals? It would be empty with Belle dead, but he couldn't think of anything better to do at the moment. At least he could find the chipped cup. It should still be on the pedestal he'd put it on when Regina had told him Belle had thrown herself from the tower after her father had had her tortured to "cleanse her soul." He'd had nightmares of her in that tower many nights while in prison.

He wasn't back at the castle long before the vision came. It was so much like the dreams, and yet there was no doubt he was awake. Belle was in a tower. Or at least, he thought it was Belle. The woman was so thin it was hard to make out any recognizable facial features. She was little more than skin over bones. She was deathly pale. Even her hair was dull. She wasn't moving, and as he watched through the vision, she stopped breathing.

No! His visions were of the future, not the past or present. If he was seeing Belle die, that meant she was still alive! Not every vision had to be. Some only might be. If Belle was alive, she could be saved! He had to find her.

He'd been to Regina's castle often enough to recognize which tower Belle was in. When he transported himself to her, she looked almost as lifeless as in his vision. Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing. It wasn't too late! Or perhaps it was. She lay so still. What if he'd arrived just at the end?

"Nononononono!" Not now! Not when he'd finally found her again! "Belle!" He needed to see her eyes open, and they did. Unbelievably, he was looking into the beautiful blue eyes he had thought he would never see again. She was too weak to speak clearly, but she murmured something that could have been his name.

"Don't talk, Dearie." He picked her up carefully. Gods she was so light! A strong breeze could have crushed her. He transported them both to the castle, to the room he'd eventually given her. Her clothes were filthy, but in a blink he'd conjured a soft nightgown. She was shivering, but with a wave of his hand she was covered in layers of warm quilts. That brought her some comfort, but if she was going to survive, he needed to get some food in her fast.

She was too weak now to be made instantly healthy with magic. It would have been too much for her system. But he could add a few drops of a strengthening potion to the broth he made for her. He'd been terrified to leave her alone even long enough to get that, but she was holding on. He had to support her and lift the cup of broth to her mouth. He had to stroke her throat to help her swallow a few sips. But the spark of life in her seemed stronger.

She laid back down, but her eyes stayed focused on him for just a moment. There was more clarity in them. She closed her eyes again, but smiled. This time when she talked, her words were clear.

"I'm home."

Rumple was sure either he'd imagined that, or else she must be hallucinating that she was back in Avonlea. Surely she couldn't think the Dark Castle was home?

That made him wonder what she would do when she was well again. She'd almost certainly want to go back to her father, but he couldn't imagine letting her go back there. Regina had lied about what had happened after Belle left his castle, but it was true that by being associated with him, she would never be seen the same way by anyone else. If she left again, what was to say Regina's lie wouldn't come true after all? Yet could he force her to stay? The best he could do would probably be to keep careful watch over her without her knowing.

He watched her all night, glad Dark Ones didn't need to sleep. He hated to wake Belle up, but food was more important than sleep for her right now. So he woke her up at regular intervals to give her more broth. She seemed to be responding to the strengthening potion. Yet Rumple knew some people seemed stronger right before the end.

"No one decides your fate but you, remember?" he told her softly. "Don't let Regina have decided your fate for you now. Keep fighting."

He took her hand, and she squeezed it. He knew it was her answer.