Bae knew going after Regina would be a bad idea but he went anyway. His reasons were not solid and he knew the moment Emma found out she would kill him, assuming Regina didn't beat her to it. Still, his father had told everyone, long after he had sent Emma and Belle home, that he knew where Regina was hiding. It hadn't taken much more to convince Charming and his merry band of Prince's that they had to go track her down and bring her to Storybrooke. Justice, Charming had called it. Privately Bae thought it sounded more like stupidity but he was determined not to be left behind. All he wanted was a life with Emma and their son and he couldn't have that with Regina around.
In retrospect he supposed he should have realized his father had some sort of end game in mind when he informed Snow White that if anything happened to them, Belle would know what to do. It occurred to him now, considering Regina had locked them all up within moments of entering her lair. Rumple hadn't even tried to stop her.
Rumpelstiltskin had been placed in a separate cell from the rest of them, which Bae considered kind of Regina. Charming was itching to get his hands around Rumple's neck. They had bickered through most of the night, none of them willing to sleep. They all had the same fear that the girls would try and stage a rescue and get themselves killed. Bae was especially worried, Regina would kill Emma without a second thought, then him, and then continue raising his son.
His hope, through the night, was that Belle really did know what to do.
It wasn't until later the next day, when purple tendrils of magic began to snake into their dungeon, that Bae became really afraid. He looked over at his father whose face was lit up with glee. Was this Regina's doing, or had it been part of his plan all along?
"What is happening?" Charming shouted at Rumpelstiltskin.
Rumpelstiltskin was laughing, high pitched and disturbing, and if Bae didn't know him so well he would have been afraid.
"We're going home."
Charming exchanged a look with Bae before the purple smoke completely over took them and Bae was lost to the blackness.
He awoke to water splashing his face. He spluttered for a moment before he realized he didn't recognize his surroundings. His father was standing there looking serious as he spoke with Charming. Bae pinched himself momentarily, just to be certain he wasn't dreaming, and then rose to his feet.
"What's your price?" Charming asked. Bae took the moment to look around at the black, dingy dungeon they found themselves in.
"When you find my Belle, keep her safe," Rumpelstiltskin told the Prince with a sad smile. Charming nodded and Rumpelstiltskin motioned for Bae to follow him off to the side. He was still a little shocked to his papa like this, his skin a scaly greenish gold, his eyes large and amber, his hair wavy. It clashed against his suit which still looked nice, despite being wrinkled and dirty.
"You will keep her safe?" He asked his son, searching his face.
"You're not coming with us?" Bae was a little stunned that his father wasn't rushing after his wife like he usually did.
"There is something I first must do." Rumpelstiltskin turned to walk away but Bae caught his wrist quickly. Now that they were back Bae knew how alluring power could be. Would his father willingly give it up, or would he chose to keep it again.
"Don't forget our deal, papa," Bae told him softly. Rumple nodded and the turned away. He taunted Charming for a moment and then they were engulfed in magic again, this time transported to a forest Bae had never been to. Rumpelstiltskin himself did not join them and Bae couldn't help but wonder what was more important than him or Belle.
He stood off to the side as Charming and Snow had a touching reunion along with many of the princesses and their princes's. Neither Emma or Belle were among the group of girls and dwarves which instantly worried Bae. Snow explained how Emma and Belle had chosen to stay behind while Snow led a party to rescue the men. She surmised that Belle and Emma, along with Henry, must have found a way to send them all back. It didn't answer the question of where the three of them were now and Bae couldn't help how anxious he felt All he wanted was to find Emma and his son, everything else could wait.
Snow and Charming eventually decided to go to where their previous castle had been and see if t was still there. The hope was that Emma might be there as well. Bae wasn't sure about the theory but it was a start.
The walk took longer than he imagined and he found himself longing for Storybrooke's cars. It was dusk when they reached the paved road leading to the castle. Off in the distance he could see what looked like three figures sitting on stairs. Snow took off at a run, Charming not far behind her. Bae continue his pace, allowing them a little privacy before the rest of them reached the stairs. Emma was talking with her parents so instead he went to Belle who was watching him apprehensively. He led Belle away from everyone so they could speak privately.
"Is he here?"
She looked instantly worried. "No, I thought he would be with you."
Bae tried to reassure her. "He's safe, he's out. Back to old form. He said he had something he had to do but I assumed he would find you."
"He must have known I was okay," she told him firmly, visibly relaxing. The faith she had in him was a little inspiring. He wondered if Emma had the same faith in him.
People were starting to encroach on them so Bae whispered to her quickly, "I reminded him of our deal. He says he remembers."
She smiled. "I will hold him to it."
That was something Bae whole heartedly believed. Charming came over to Belle to tell her of the price he had agreed to in order to find Snow and declared they all would stay the night. Bae waited patiently for everyone to get settled before he slipped into Emma's room. She hadn't wanted to sleep in the room that had originally been hers and Snow had obliged although the pain on her face was obvious.
She was up, standing at a window. She turned when she saw him enter and went to him immediately, allowing him to wrap strong arms around her. She wasn't crying but her face was scrunched in a way that let him know she was holding it in.
"Where are we?" She asked, her face buried in his shoulder. He put a hand on the back of her head, let his fingers tangle in her blonde curls.
"I don't know." He had never seen anything outside of his own little village in the Frontlands.
They stood there for what felt like an eternity, two people who didn't know where they were or if they belonged. She finally pulled away and went to the bed.
"Stay?" She asked with a rare vulnerability. He could no sooner have cut off his own head than leave her, and he nodded as he walked to her. They didn't bother trying to find something to change into and eventually they made their way under blankets. Emma's head was resting on his chest and he held her loosely in his arms. He tried not to think about the repercussions of coming back. Eventually Emma would have to destroy Regina but not tonight. They still at had one more night.
