In this chapter, we learn how Rumple survived the first few hours of his banishment and some people of Storybrooke learn about Rumple's return.

Chapter 4

Somewhere in the Land Without Magic, just a few miles away from Stoyrbrooke during the Second Curse

He didn't know what possessed him to do so, but there he was settling the belongings he had brought along with his trip, watching the other man sleep soundly on one of the two beds in the room he had rented for the night.

He couldn't really just drive the whole way back to Boston, especially know that he couldn't really fly the man back to New York with him without raising a few suspicions.

Rumplestiltskin didn't have anything on him but the clothes on his back. He had a wallet yes, but there was nothing inside but his driver's license, which surprised him more than anything.

Apparently, the Dark One was now going by the name of R. Gold, residing in a town called Storybrooke. But he knew that the man sleeping in front of him was no one else but Rumplestiltskin.

Sighing, he sat back down on the other bed.

This was certainly not what he had imagined when he followed his instincts and headed out of the busy streets of New York for a while.

He knew that it was possible for the Dark One to show up here, especially given his own encounter with the Dark One's son...but for it to happen during this lifetime was a bit if a shock. He thought it would be Rumplestiltskin meeting his future grandson that would transpire...not actually having him reunite with his son…

He knew of the Dark Curse. He's research on the Author gave him some information on other things...like the different books and artifacts found in the midtown library of New York.

If Rumpelstiltskin was the gut feeling he had, what in all the realms was he supposed to do now? It's not like he would willingly help the other-well he wasn't necessarily a man back in the Enchanted Forest, but he was certainly one now.

The man didn't even stir when he placed a slight dreamless sleeping spell on him. Not that he didn't want the Dark One for company, but he needed time to think and decide what to do before facing the most feared being in the Enchanted Forest...who didn't look like that at all right at this moment.

He sighed and studied the unconscious man once again. He trusted his instincts every time...and he was never wrong.

But as the saying in this realm went...there was a first time for everything. He prayed that wasn't the case now as he decided to help Rumplestiltskin.

"So what are we going to do?" asked Mary Margaret as they met in Regina's office. So far it was only the Charmings plus Regina. "And why didn't you have Henry talk to him?"

"How would you feel if you found out your grandfather has a new whole life?" asked Emma. "A new happier life, without him."

Regina cringed. That was a question for most of them, she guessed.

She would admit...life without Rumplestiltskin in town wasn't actually what she had expected. Everyone thought they were better off without him, but that turned to be the complete opposite. They barely made it out with the whole Zelena and the author fiasco, and everything else just spiralled out of their control…

"Regina?"

She blinked and looked up to see everyone looking at her.

"I asked when do we expect them to arrive," began David, giving her a worried look.

"Lost in thought," replied Regina as she sat behind her desk. "Rumple wanted his daughter to attend her graduation ceremony but she didn't want to put off their plans and that led to a verbal argument on their end..."

"So we don't really know," continued Emma. "Gold just said they'd call again before they do leave for Storybrooke."

"You have to tell Henry," began Mary Margaret. "And Belle."

"And I'm not saying we shouldn't," raised Emma. "I just...I don't know how to breach this particular subject to both of them."

"Dove offered to speak to Belle," began Regina. "But I still think one of us needs to talk her seeing as we were the ones that spoke to Rumple."

Emma sighed and crossed her arms in front of her, deep in thought. "You take Belle and I take Henry?"

"I don't think the bookworm would like me to talk to her about her ex-husband," argued Regina. "And it's not like Henry will just listen to you talk about his paternal grandfather without raising an argument."

"I think it'd be better if Regina talked to Henry, Emma," began David but before his daughter could protest, the king held out his hands. "Look, hear me out for a second. Henry has already mentioned that when it comes to his father's side of the family, you are a little biased." He then turned to Regina. "And I don't think it's a great idea for Regina to talk to Belle, since the last time they were alone in the same room together, the entire town heard their exchange."

Regina glared at her stepson-in-law. But even though she hated it, his words were nevertheless true. Regina was very vocal of her opinion on what Belle did to Rumplestiltskin, and she made it her mission to remind the bookworm of it, especially since they needed the Dark One's help most of the time for the past 5 years.

"I'd offer that we do it," continued David, motioning towards himself and Mary Margaret. "But as you pointed out Regina, it'd be better if Henry and Belle heard it from the people who actually got to talk to Gold himself."

"Then why don't we just call him again?" asked Emma, looking from Regina to her father.

"And say what exactly?" argued Regina. "Hey Rumple, we're having some trouble figuring out what we're going to tell your ex-wife and grandson. Any tips?"

"Regina," warned Mary Margaret.

"Look," began Regina, leaning forward on her desk. "We manage to survive for the last five years without his help, even when we badly needed it." She gave each of the Charming clan a hard stare. "Now that we found out he's alive, we're just going to push all our problems on him again? It's no wonder Dove didn't tell us."

"Actually," began Mary Margaret as she stood from where she sat on one of the lounges in front of Regina's desk. "We got all our help and answers from Belle's research of Gold's old notes and books." She turned to Emma and David. "Technically, he still saved us even if he wasn't here."

"Let's not dwell on that," began David after a few moments of silence. "What about why they're coming here in the first place...what's our stand?"

Regina glared at him but David just returned her hard stare. "Look, I should probably mind my own business...but Gold does deserve to have a say to where his own son is buried."

"Neal's family is right here," argued Emma.

"We're not Neal's only family," replied Regina sharply.

"Then why doesn't he just come back," said Emma, not really in the mood to discuss about this topic since she herself was on the crossroads. She was lashing out because she knew that if Gold succeeds in transferring Neal's remains to anywhere outside Storybrooke, Henry would want to leave as well.

"If you were in his shoes, would you even consider returning to the town where pretty much everyone hates you?" challenged Regina. "A town which pretty much reminds him of all the bad things that have happened in his life."

She paused and let her words sink in and when Emma bowed her head, Regina sighed. "Look Emma, I get it. I know why you're strongly against this. But I think when Rumple arrives, he might be able to talk to Henry-"

"I know," whined Emma slightly, sighing in defeat. "I get it, I really do...it's just-" She paused. Honestly, she didn't know what to do or say, she just needed a breather. She needed time to sort through everything she had just found out. This meeting wasn't helping. "I need some air. I'm sorry...I just need time to think."

With that she abruptly left the office, her parents and Regina all exchanging worried looks.

"What are we going to do?" asked Mary Margaret, turning from David to Regina.

Regina sighed. "Honestly," she began. "I have no idea."

Rumplestiltskin was a very different man these days…

He usually had to force himself not to think about the little concealed town in Maine but these days he hardly gave them a second thought.

Ever since he had learned that Belle was seeing someone new...he always told himself that she was finally living the life she wanted. She was finally fulfilling her dream...she was finally free of the beast.

He focused all his attention towards his step-daughter from then on or rather he focused on what was right in front of him. That was the problem before...he was too focused on what was out there that he neglected what was already in front of him.

He vowed he wouldn't do that now, especially not to Emily who had already lost so much.

He realized that he was fidgeting with the band again. Emily was right, he'd always do that when he was lost in thought. The band had not been removed ever since he received it roughly five years ago. Mr. Yao had enchanted it that it wouldn't be damaged even if he wore it in the shower.

It was a small simple object but the power behind it was immense and Rumple wouldn't let himself think of what would happen if he would remove it now...or what would happen once he returns to Storybrooke.

He shifted his attention from the band to the peaceful scenery the balcony of his home had to offer. The house wasn't cheap but he maximized the wealth he had gathered from 28 years of routine life.

If there was one thing he liked about being the Dark One, it was how careful he had planned out everything with the search for his son. Even without access to his memories, he still made sure he had enough resources to do what he wanted once the curse did break and he could roam around the realm freely.

His cursed persona was a man of a certain lifestyle but he wasn't an ordinary rich businessman. He takes what he was owed yes, but he wasn't a man who would waste it all away or take just for the sake of doing it.

He was ruthless for a reason. People didn't follow their own terms or when people tried to con him.

But a part of his spinner self still influenced his cursed persona in a way. Gold kept a lot of sentimental things, gave some things away, especially when he knew he wouldn't have need of it but some people would have. He wasn't that heartless, no matter what other people in that town wanted to believe.

The bank accounts were merged into one in New York when he was finally able to cross the townline and had found his son. He found a man who didn't ask too many questions and worked as long as everything was legal [in a sense it was, he didn't just magic himself the money].

He wasn't really sure how long he could live using the resources he had left but then Mr. Sullivan told him that even if he did withdrew a big amount, the steady flow of money that Dove deposited would be able to sustain it.

That was when he learned that Dove still collected rent and apparently Belle had allowed him half of it. To be honest, he should have wrote her a letter or an email expressing his thanks but then Emily had learned from Dove that she was seeing someone and just let the matter drop.

That could have been the final nail in the coffin of burying his old life. His decision to move was set in stone shortly after that and he had no more doubts in purchasing the spacious house he now currently lived in.

But of course there was still a part of him that wished that things had turned out differently. He lifted the ball chain around his neck where he now wore his wedding ring. He couldn't bear to sell it. He was a fool to even think about wearing it on his finger...and so Emily just gave him the chain.

She had pointed out that it was better if he just kept it somewhere but she knew better than anyone to force some things on her father.

Rumple sighed and placed the ring under his shirt again. He wasn't ready to see Belle wrapped in the arms of another man to be honest...but he was going back to Storybrooke for Baelfire, nothing else.

"He's...I mean, he's…"

Dove sighed and wished he could do anything to help her but there no other way to break the news to her unless he would withhold the information and Dove knew that wasn't an option, especially if Rumplestiltskin was heading back to town.

"You spoke to him?' asked Belle, finally able to form a sentence. They were at the backroom of the pawnshop and Dove had asked her to take a seat and he was glad she had taken that advice. All color had drained from her face when Dove had told her that Rumplestiltskin had called the mayor and sheriff and had made plans to visit town.

"Mayor Mills and Sheriff Swan did," answered Dove. "I believe they will speak to you on the matter as well-"

"Of course they didn't think to tell me first," sighed Belle, bowing her head as to not let Dove see the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Not to defend them, Ms. Belle," began Dove. "But I think they were just too surprised and were at a loss for words."

Belle stood and walked over to stand by the back wall of the shop front, arms crossed in front of her. "Did they say why he was coming back?"

Dove nodded and sighed. "Rumplestiltskin wishes to transfer the remains of his son to his current country of residence."

"Well I suppose that's reaso-wait, did you say current country of residence?" asked Belle in shock as she turned to Dove who was regretting his choice of words. "He's not living close by?"

"He lives in Scotland." answered Dove. "Has been for three years, I believe."

"Scotland. Three years?" began Belle, shocked by the sudden knowledge. She could forgive Regina and Emma for not telling her then...even she herself would need time to process that information. "He's been leaving alone in a different country for three years…"

She caught the expression the briefly flashed on Dove's face and knew there was more than just Rumple moving to Scotland to get far away as possible from Storybrooke. "Ethan, what else."

"I don't think I'm-"

"Ethan," began Belle and her tone of voice making no more room for any arguments. "What else?"

Dove gave her an apologetic look but sighed and began, "Rumplestiltskin has a stepdaughter named Emily."

Belle's eyes widened and words failed her. Rumple had a stepdaughter...he had a family. A family that did not include her.

"Oh…" was all she could muster after a few more breaths. "That...well that sounds wonderful."

"Ms. Belle-"

"I have to go." said Belle, shaking her head and putting on a smile for Dove. "I'll...I'll see you later about the rent collection, Ethan."

She all but ran out of the shop and did not dare look back at Dove because her tears were already falling.