'For my plan to work, it doesn't matter where Emma turns dark, dearie. The spark is now in her and she will turn dark, either in Storybrooke or elsewhere,' Rumpelstiltskin said to Maleficent.

She didn't answer him and simply disappeared in a cloud of grey smoke.

He could see that she was not convinced and that she was growing more impatient each day, quite understandably so. He had felt the same impatience when the curse had broken and he had to wait for things to fall into place in order to be able to go and track down Bae.

Memories of Hook shooting Belle at the town line flooded back. Belle in hospital, then. And Belle in hospital now, at the mercy of a crazed Regina who would take a heart across into a land without magic without thinking it through.

Rumple's phone hardly rang once and he had already answered it. It was Snow. 'They've taken Belle to the hospital. Room 405. Her breathing has improved and there is brain activity. But she's still unconscious.'

'And her heart?'

There was a pause at the other end of the line. 'It's back in Storybrooke. It's safe. I promise we'll give it back to Belle once Regina tells us to do so, once she's got Robin and Roland away from Zelena.'

Rumple only grunted in response.

'I have to go. Hope Belle feels like her old self again soon', said Snow and it sounded like she meant it.

'Thank you for standing up for Belle,' said Rumple before hanging up and transporting himself to the hospital.

He appeared outside Belle's room, nearly causing a nurse to drop a tray. He just glared at her and quickly entered Belle's room. She was not alone.

Ariel was there with her. Rumple hadn't seen her since she had relayed messages between Belle and him when they were trying to rescue Henry from Peter Pan. Belle had told him Ariel had not come back to Storybrooke from the Enchanted Forest when the second curse was enacted. So how did she get here?

'Oh, hi', said Ariel rather nervously as she stood up from the chair next to Belle's bed.

'Ariel', said Rumple. 'How is she doing? Any improvements?' He could see for himself that there weren't any but he felt he had to do something, to say something to keep himself from rushing over to Belle and cradle her into his arms.

'The doctors say they can't do much for her - until her heart is returned.' Ariel made for the door. Then she turned back to Gold, a determined look on her face.

'I need to show you something', she said. She closed her eyes and with a look of concentration and pain put the fingertips of both her index fingers up to her temples. Was she really…? Before Gold could finish his thought, she had performed the ancient mermaid magic and pulled several small pearls from her temples.

She held one out on her outstretched palm and images started to form. Of Ariel walking behind a dwarf - Grumpy - into Granny's diner. Belle was sitting there with Archie, having a conversation:

'All I did was pour a potion over some rocks,' Belle said. 'The dwarves did all the hard work.'

Archie answered: 'Hey, you wanted to be a hero. Sounds like you were. You kept the bad guys out!'

'What bad guys? Come on, face it. Nobody's coming here. I wasn't on that ship because he doesn't need me.'

Rumple's eyes shot up to Ariel's for a brief moment. All he had wanted was to keep her safe. And not have to watch him die. Had he really given Belle the impression that he didn't need her?

'There's more', said Ariel. 'Keep watching!'

'So who are you? Why are you here?' asked Belle.

'I came from Neverland. Rumpelstiltskin sent me.'

'Wait, wait, wait… He's alive?' said Belle, her eyes filling up with tears.

'And he wanted me to give you this,' said Ariel holding out the enchanted shell which Belle took with trembling hands.

The memory faded into thin air. Ariel held out the second pearl and replayed another memory for Rumple, one of Belle listening to his message, her hand shooting up to touch his image coming from the shell as he said her name and whispering 'Rumple' as if he could hear her.

'I told you I was going to my death. I found another way: I can defeat Pan and live... but only if you get me something from the shop. The object I need is hidden but I know that with the strength of our love you'll find it.'

When Belle turned to face Ariel, relief was writ large across her face. She exclaimed: 'He wants my help! He wants me to save him, Henry, everyone!'

Rumple shook his head in disbelief. How could Belle think back then that he didn't need her help? That he didn't need her? When it had been the thought of her that had kept him going, that had kept him sane in Neverland?

The next memory pearl showed Belle gently picking up the chipped cup ('I worry I threw out the chipped cup too soon' - those cruel words echoed in his head) and saying:

'No matter how much this thing has been through it's survived. Just like our love.'

'So what now', asked Ariel. 'Do we make tea?'

'Not sure', said Belle as she walked towards the closet. 'Rumple used to keep it in here.' She put the cup onto the saucer and immediately a sparkly trail of magic appeared that led her to Pandora's box.

'And a final one', said Ariel.

Ariel was walking up the main street towards the library. Just as she was about to open the door, it opened from the inside and Belle stood there, balancing a pile of books on one arm. The books collapsed onto the floor as Belle rushed to hug Ariel.

'So good to see you. Where have you been? Did you find Eric? How come you're back here. Is he with you? Sorry, too many questions…'

'Yes. I found him. We were happily living together until the second curse broke and I got shrunk and trapped inside a bottle with Hook's ship. He just released me and I immediately asked about you. Hook quickly told me what happened between Gold and you…'

Belle's expression was difficult to read. She grabbed her left ring finger and rubbed it absentmindedly

'Turns out I was right then, when we first met: he didn't need me after all. Or not as much as he needs magic, power, the thrill of manipulating other people. I don't know… I tried to be everything for him. But I simply wasn't enough.

'How do you feel now that Gold is back in Storybrooke?' asked Ariel.

Belle smiled a sad smile.

'Relieved because I know he's OK. I was worrying about him every day, despite everything. Angry that he has deceived me again when he disguised as Hook and got his dagger back. Scared to see him again, scared of what he is plotting now, of what he has in store for me and the entire town. In short, confused!'

'And this Will guy?' Ariel asked.

'Wow! News does travel fast. It just happened, completely out of the blue. For weeks, I was sobbing over my journal and all that was keeping me in Storybrooke was the obligation I felt to get the fairies out of the Sorcerer's Hat. To right some of the wrong my husband has done, you know. But all that time I was obsessing about Rumple. Was he OK? Had I been too harsh? Part of me even wanted to go after him, despite everything… And then, one day, I meet Will. Boom. He makes me laugh. And feel good about myself. And he's suffered a lot, too… '

Belle suddenly realized that she was still touching her bare left ring finger and quickly moved her hand into her hair to straighten it.

'But enough about me… Tell me more about you and Eric! A much happier story, I'm sure!

The memory faded. Gold swallowed hard but the lump in his throat would not clear.

'I'll leave you and Belle alone now,' said Ariel. 'Just thought you should know how useless you made her feel - even back when she was sure of your love. And how much you hurt her.'

Gold nodded slightly before turning away from Ariel and sitting down next to Belle. He took her hand and squeezed it slightly, mulling over the mermaid's memories and the feelings they had caused in him.