So this is really supposed to be short. This is the "not so happy ending but gives you hope" chapter. And in a way, ties this up with how the next half of the season would be based on A&E's plot. And no, I didn't just want to write Belle lecturing the heroes again. (Although that was a bonus.)
The next chapter is the truly happy ending one.
"You're joking right?" asked Regina as she, Robin, the Charmings, Emma, Killian and Henry stood and stared at Belle who had placed Rumple's bloodied coat on the table of Regina's house. "He saved us from a trip to the Underworld, Belle and now you're suggesting we go there willingly."
"I'm not joking and we're going to do this," said Belle defiantly as she glared at Regina.
"Belle I understand what you must feel," began Snow but Belle raised a hand.
"You have no idea what I feel," hissed Belle. "When you," she growled at Emma. "Took Rumple away, not one of you wanted to help find him. Now he's made another sacrifice, just like what he did with Pan, and you still do not want to help him. You call him your family when you need something but when I need something, you turn your back."
"He's done a lot of terrible things," began David.
"Like making sure you and Mary Margaret end up together?" retorted Belle. "You're right that is such a terrible thing. I forget, how many times did you ask for his help?"
"It's not just that," began Mary Margaret.
"You all looked the other way when Emma was the Dark One but not when it was Rumple," accused Belle. "Why? Because you knew her. If you had known who Rumple was before the curse, things would be different."
"She's right," began Killian as eyes turned on him. "Based on experience with the spinner and being the Dark One myself, the curse changes the person."
"Fighting it was hard," whispered Emma. "Gold did it for 3 centuries…I don't think I'd be able to last that long. He didn't even try to snuff out the light. He just wanted to make sure his son was safe. The voice wouldn't have left him alone."
"That's true," said Killian. They had explained to everyone else what had happened when they were the Dark One, how the voice of the previous Dark Ones would surface and, in a way, manipulate them into doing its bidding. You can fight it…but it was hard.
"And yet even with the Darkness," began Belle. "Rumple still made right decisions. Decisions which you wish to ignore."
She let her words sink in before standing and taking the coat with her. "If you won't help then fine. I'll do it by myself."
"Belle, wait," said Henry standing as well. "I'm coming with you."
"Henry!" came the call from both her mothers and grandmother.
"He's my grandfather," explained Henry. "He did what he did for me. If there's a chance that I can save him, then I'll do it. If dad was here, he'd do the same." He addressed the last part to everyone but his gaze was on Emma.
"I'm in," replied Regina all of a sudden and the Charmings all stared at her. "What? Rumplestiltskin was the most annoying imp I have ever regretted meeting." Henry glared at his mom. "But," began Regina. "He was like a second father to me. I never imagined a world without him." She stood and walked to stand beside Belle. "Besides, what a great way to get him to owe me."
"If she's in then so am I," replied Robin. "But I'm doing this more because of you, Belle. And as Henry said, Baelfire would have wanted to do the same thing."
"I may not be the greatest person to speak up," said Killian. He stood leaning on the wall near Emma's chair. "But the bloody crocodile has changed. He could have killed me back on my ship but he didn't He could have let Emma kill me but he didn't. He's come a long way and what happened to him is unfair."
They all stared at him in surprise. "I'm not saying I agree with your plan. I'm going to go ahead with whatever you want love," he said to Emma. "But if the situations were reversed, you, Emma, would be asking him the same thing. If I was the one in the Underworld, you would be asking Gold for his blood to open the portal."
Emma turned from Killian to Belle then finally her eyes settled on her son's determined face. It was there that she thought she saw Neal staring back and she sighed. She may have a love/hate relationship with Gold, but it was her actions that turned him into a hero. It was her that pushed him to make the sacrifice.
"Gold turned me into a savior," began Emma, standing from her chair. "It's only right that I save him. We're going to the Underworld."
And that was hot it was settled. They all stood near the lake where the portal to the Underworld was. Belle offered Rumple's coat to Regina who used her magic to get the dried blood from it and drop it towards the lake.
"Are we ready?" called Emma and they all nodded. "We're going to Hell."
The ferryman stopped a few meters from them and Henry led the way, Belle the last person of their party. "I'm going to bring you home, Rumplestiltskin. I will save you."