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Regina took almost an hour to complete the protection of the castle. When she went back in, everyone was waiting for her in Maleficent's throne room. They were all quiet and still waiting for Regina to talk first, everyone was looking at her with a strange expression and she immediately thought it was fear but it wasn't, it was confidence and trust. She had never been treated like. People had always fear her, they obeyed her because they were afraid not because they respect her, until that moment.

She walked trough the room with such grace that she seemed to be flying, in her eyes they could all see determination and power, she had always had that look but there was something new in those brown big eyes, there was love and responsibility. In that moment at everyone's eyes she looked like a Queen, a true Queen.

"Pan is coming, I can't tell you when or how he will attack us but he will, we need to be together, we need to be strong. I need to tell you all one thing, he's coming for me, not for you but he will hurt you without thinking twice. Now I need you all to make a choice, you can be here and fight or you can hide, Maleficent has a secret room in this castle that only she and me knew about, anyone who wants can hide there, you don't need to fight!" she looked at all of them.

Granny was the first to talk "And if we don't fight and he chase us, we would be lost..." Regina smiled with a worry but strong smile "He would not" Was time for Archie to speak "How can you be so sure?" Regina's smile disappeared and her eyes shined like two flames "Because... I'm here and I'll protect you all, I would not let him hurt anyone else!" Archie insisted "And if you lose?"

"I'll not lose, I'll defeat him even if I need to die to do it" The shock was visible in everyone's face

"Why?" said one of the dwarfs, Regina looked at Henry smiling "You're family, the only one I have". Granny's answer was fast "So our answer is obvious... We'll stay and fight!" everyone nodded in agreement.

Regina was the one shocked this time but she didn't say a thing until she was already on the rooms door almost leaving "So be prepare!". Regina had already left the room when Belle appeared in front of her "Regina..." Regina looked at her and smiled "I know, let's go" they both got down to the dungeons and found Rumple in one of the cells still unconscious. Belle entered the cell and sat on the floor putting Rumple's head in her lap "Can you do something for him?" Regina's voice sounded sad "I can break the connection between him and his dagger for some time but it will not last" Belle was almost crying "So do it, I need to talk to him even for only a few seconds, please" the Queen raised her hand to Rumple's heart and a ray of magic rounded the man and he woke up "Belle.." He was still dizzy "I'll let you both alone for a moment" "No!" Rumple's voice was full of fear "Take Belle out of here, I can hurt her!" Regina answered with her typical sassy voice "You're really a pain in my ass, I'm not idiot hun, my spell will last for at least one hour and when he losses his power you'll faint again, Belle is safe" Rumple wasn't expecting that "You do that for us?"

Regina looked at him with impatience "Yeah yeah, I'm awesome now I think it's better for you to enjoy the moment cause, the best moments passes fast" She was thinking about her earlier kiss with Emma. "Thank you Regina" Belle was smiling so brightly that Regina was surprised that she was smiling to her "No problem" and she left.

-/-

Belle kissed Rumple with such love that he almost forgot the dangerous situation he was into, Belle was always is light, is true love. The light who turned the beast into a man, who turned hate into love, who turned him into something better. They were still kissing when he felt his face wet, Belle was crying while kissing him, he broke the kiss and looked at her for a second that seemed too long "I'm sorry Belle" she hugged him desperately "Don't you ever leave me again like that!" Her cry was laugh and intense she was sobbing against his chest. He caressed her hair slowly "I was so afraid, when you disappeared in front of us in storybrooke..." she was sobbing harder "I thought I had lost you forever, I wasn't capable of breathing, I felt lie suffocating, like I was lost" she was inconsolable "I don't want to lose you, I can't be without you, I love you!" He hugged her stronger and kissed her in the cheek "Don't cry my sweet Belle, I'm here, please rest..."

Belle was really tired and all the fear, pain and despair she was full of since Rumple's disappearing were too much for her, she fell asleep in Rumple's arms, and for half an hour he watched his love sleep in his arms and he wished the time friezes and that they could stay like that forever. "I'm sorry Belle, but I'll not be here when you wake up, I can't stay here, I can't risk hurting you", he laid her in the bed and kissed her forehead "Goodbye, I love you..." the door of the cell was open and he was walking to it when something pushed him again against the bed "Where do you think you're going?" Regina was angry "Are you really that stupid?!" Rumple looked at her with tired eyes "I need to go, I can't risk hurting her, I love her, I care for her" Regina was really mad "You're an idiot! What do you think she would feel if she woke up and you were gone?"

"I know she would be hurt but that's my best option, I can't risk, I love her" he was getting angry too "I love her, you couldn't understand..." Regina snapped completely "I DO!" She walked to him and pushed him against the wall "I know what it's like to care about someone more than we care about us, I know what it's like to love someone more than you love your happiness, and in this moment my love is away from me, in danger trying to get something that will help me save you all while I'm here having this stupid discussion with you" She pushed him harder "So shut the hell up and be with Belle because you have that chance!" Rumple's mouth was open "You really love Emma don't you?" Regina nodded and touched Rumple's shoulder "Be with her while you can, I promise you I'll protect her no matter what, and I'll free you" Rumple only asked one question "Why?" Regina turned her back on him "Because I'm tired of ruining everything, I'll fix everything and I'll be happy and so will you" She left and locked the door "When Belle wakes up I'll open this"

"Thank you Regina" The woman didn't answer, but when she walked away she was smiling.