"You met Mulan? How was she?" Belle asked, smiling warmly. She really wanted Snow to like her again, even after all these years. Maybe, that way, there'd be someone who could help everyone else understand that Rumpel wasn't so bad.

"She's… very dedicated to protecting Aurora." Snow murmured, raising her bow and firing at a tree. "Belle, is there something else on your mind? I know we haven't spoken since the ceremony where your father was given his county, but I did like talking with you then, and I thought of you as a friend."

"It's about Rumpelstiltskin—" Snow made a face. "Will you hear me out, please?"

"Look, I know you love him, but that's not going to change how people view him. He was the Dark One for centuries—"

"But people change!"

"I know that. But prejudices are not easily changed." Snow stiffened. "Don't move." Belle felt it too, a change in the air, and the presence of magic. Suddenly, both women were blasted back into the trees as a column of light erupted from the sky. As the light cleared, the two of them noticed a newly formed crater in front of them. "What… What is that?"

"I don't know." Belle took a few steps towards it.

"Don't go any closer!" warned Snow, but Belle ignored her.

"It's… it's a man. Come see!" She gestured for Snow, who reluctantly inched forward, keeping an arrow notched in her bow. Lying in the center of the crater was a man with pale skin and hair that made the night look bright by comparison. His nose was somewhat prominent, but it worked well with his angular features. "Do you think he's hurt?"

"I'm not sure," Snow replied, pulling out her little magic message box — cell phone, Belle corrected herself internally — and punching the buttons, "but I'm calling my family… And Rumpelstiltskin. He knows magic better than anyone else." She paused for a while. "Hello, Emma? Yes, we're fine, the light didn't hit us. Can you please get your father and Mr. Gold and— Yes, I know, but there's a stranger here, and that has to be our priority. Thank you. Yes, I love you. We'll see you in a few minutes." She slid the phone back into her pocket. "They'll be here—"

"Yes, I heard your half of the conversation," Belle replied, tentatively climbing over the edge and bending down to kneel by the man's side. "Hello? Can you hear me?" she asked, gently shaking him by the shoulders. "What do I do?"

"Open his mouth, tilt his head back, and pinch his nose." Snow instructed, climbing down next to her and locking her hands into a layered position. She placed them on the man's chest. "I'm going to push down three times, and when that's done, if he doesn't react, pinch his nose, and breathe into his mouth."

"You mean I have to kiss him?" Belle yelped, obeying the other directions.

"It's called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, Belle, it's a medical procedure. No one is going to get upset if you do. Now, are you ready?"

"Yes." She watched Snow push, giving a little grunt. On the third repetition, Belle bent over and pressed her mouth on top of the stranger's and exhaled. Snow pushed again and he coughed. Belle reeled back in shock. It had actually worked! "Oh, my gods, are you all right?"

"I don't know," he gasped, staring up at her with eyes the cool color of jade. "Who are you?"

"My name's Belle, this is Snow White. Who are you?"

He looked between the two of them, then up at the sky, and back to Belle. "I don't know. And you don't either? That's bad, isn't it?"

"Snow!"

"Charming!" Snow scrambled up to greet her approaching husband and daughter. "Emma! We're over here!"

"Belle! Sweetheart," Rumpel carefully made his way down the crater to her. "You're all right?"

"I'm fine, Rum, no magic needed." She smiled at him. "But I don't think he is. He doesn't remember anything. Not even his name. Can you help?" Rumpelstiltskin reached out his hand, the purple aura of magic radiating around it. After a moment, he jerked back, as of being bitten by a snake. "What is it?"

"Old magic. Older than any of our worlds. As old as the universe itself," Rumpel pronounced, rubbing his hand. "His memories are there, but there's a wall too strong for me to break. Someone wants to keep him ignorant."

"I know who he is. And he needs to go." Emma interrupted. All three people in the crater turned to see her pointing a gun at them. "Now."

"Emma, what are you doing?" David demanded, grabbing at his daughter's arm. Emma jerked away, scowling.

"Listen, this guy is wanted for war crimes that would sound crazy if you were anyone other than a bunch of fairy tale characters. He unleashed an alien army that invaded New York City last spring, he's responsible for death, and destruction, and a whole bunch of other shit I can't even remember. He needs to be taken there. Now."

"He doesn't remember anything, surely we don't have to take him to what would be his death!" Belle argued.

"I don't remember anything about what you said!" the man protested. "Please… don't kill me!"

"Emma, we are not taking anyone anywhere." Snow declared firmly. "He doesn't have any idea who he is, or why he's here, but the circumstances would suggest he's here for a reason. Put the gun away."

"But—"

"Emma Swan." Snow's tone stiffened and became more parental, which would have been comical if not for the imperious and utterly controlling way she was staring down her daughter. "Put the gun away this instant, help him into the sheriff's cruiser, and take him to the hospital."

"Da-ad," Emma whined, turning to her father.

"Oh, no, Emma, you're not pitting me against your mother. Do what she says."

"I've got to be the only sheriff who has to listen to her parents rather than just turn in a dangerous war criminal." Emma grumbled. "Okay, come on, mystery man, up you go."

"Can you stand?" Belle asked, draping one of the man's arms over her shoulders and pushing herself up. For someone so lanky, he was solidly built.

"Ah, got it," he grunted. "Thank you, Valkyrja."

"Valkyrja?" Belle repeated as Emma took over supporting him. "What does Valkyrja mean?"

"I don't know," he replied, pursing his lips in puzzlement. "It just slipped out of my mouth."

Rumpelstiltskin ran through his inventory again. Nothing! "Where the hell is that hammer?" he muttered. Perhaps it hadn't come over, and was still in the Dark Castle, back in the old land. He'd have to use something else to smash in the interloper's face. How dare he stare at Belle that way? And why the hell had Belle decided to go with him to the hospital?

"Well, someone seems frustrated." Regina's pleased voice entered the shop along with the jingle of the bells.

"Regina, the sign says closed. Get out," he growled, not even turning to look at her.

"Really, Rumpel, are you going to be so inhospitable? We don't often get strangers."

"This is one I could do without," he spat angrily. "He's unwanted, and our magic can't touch him. And he's close to Belle. If he hurts her, I won't be able to do anything about it. I will not let that happen. Not again." The not-so-subtle reminder of Belle's captivity hung in the air, until Regina waved it off dismissively.

"Well, then I suppose you're going to have to lock her up, because she hasn't left his bedside since they got him into the hospital. She just called our house to ask Henry to check out a book from the library and bring it to her."

"Belle?" Belle turned to see Henry holding up the book she'd asked for. "Is this the right one?"

"Yes, thank you, Henry." She accepted it from him with a smile. "Did you find him in your book?"

"Nope." The little boy shook his head, sitting in the chair on the opposite side. "But Mom says he's dangerous."

"I don't think Emma's right." Belle replied firmly, opening to the V's of the Encyclopedia Mythica. "Valkyrja. Valkyrie. 'Each of Odin's twelve handmaidens who conducted the slain warriors of their choice from the battlefield to Valhalla.' Hmmm."

"Does that make them like angels?" Henry asked.

"Maybe. I don't know what Valhalla is." She scanned the page until she found it. "'A hall in which heroes killed in battle were believed to feast with Odin for eternity.' Hm. I suppose it is, Henry. You're really quite clever, I hope you realize that. Very…" she paused, searching for the proper word. "Very precocious."

"Is that good?"

"Yes, it is." She reached over to ruffle his hair. Henry grinned at her, and opened his book. "Are you going to read to him?"

"No, I don't think he's in here. But you weren't either. Why is that? I thought everyone was, but since the curse broke, I've gotten confused."

Belle bit her lip. "I'm not in your book, because almost everyone thought I was still Rumpel's prisoner, and he thought I was dead. Because of what Regina told him." Henry's face fell a little. "Henry, I've forgiven your mother the wrongs she did me. You should do the same, she saved Emma and Snow's lives."

"I know… But she's done bad stuff, too."

"Everyone does bad things, Henry, the important thing is to realize that there is still good in them, and see that, instead. Do you understand me?"

"I… I think so."

"You're not half bad." They both looked up to see Archie standing in the ward entrance. "You trying to take my job, Miss French?"

"Actually, I chose a different surname when I registered at Town Hall, Dr. Hopper," she corrected gently. "I'm going as Belle Desrosiers now."

"Oh, I see." Archie wiped his brow. "Well, in any case, you have an interesting way of seeing people. It's refreshing. Maybe you could stop by at Regina's next session?"

"I'll see if someone can cover the library for me. I've yet to get an assistant."

Henry looked down at the sleeping stranger. "Maybe he could do it. Archie, what's the name of a person who looks after people just getting out of prison?"

"A parole officer?"

"Yeah, that! Belle could be his. He could work at the library, and she could be his parole officer, so he doesn't do anything bad if my mom's right!"

"I don't know, Henry. We can—" The stranger let out a little moan and turned towards her. "Are you awake?"

"I think so..." he mumbled, making everyone, including himself, laugh. "Tell me your name again?"

"It's Belle. But we need something to call you. Can you think of anything?"

He shook his head, furrowing his brow again. "I don't know why, but for some reason, I can't remember anything. I'm sorry."

"Then we'll give you a name." Belle said, smiling. "Don't worry. We'll have something to call you." She glanced down at the encyclopedia again, but something told her that it wouldn't do to look for a name in there. "Do you like Thomas… Wait, no, that's Ella's husband. Hmm… Adam. Does that sound good?"

"Adam," he repeated, as if testing it out, and smiled up at her. "Yes, I rather think I do. Adam it is then." Belle tried her best to ignore the little flutter that started inside her when he smiled. The easy grin seemed to take years off of him, giving him a playful, mischievous air, not unlike Rumpel when they'd first met. A man trapped by the evil of something else...