Emma sat in shock on her bed; breathless, speechless – utterly confused at what Gold had just told her. For a moment she was relieved when he didn't say he wanted to end the relationship; then his words registered. She stared at the man who was staring intently at her, breathless himself as he waited for her response. What should she say? This is not something she was prepared to have to deal with. Belle was dead; he told her Belle was dead…he wasn't lying.

Gold felt weak; the energy of sitting against the headboard was draining what little strength he had. He stared at Emma intently with bated breath; she didn't look angry, but she was so still he might think she was a statue. Maybe he should have waited to tell her; but keeping one secret from Emma was bad enough; two would destroy him.

"Belle…" Emma said, finally shattering the silence. Gold met her eyes and nodded once. "Belle…as in Belle that you loved a long time ago who died; Belle?" Gold pressed his lips into a tight line, his heart racing.

"I thought – was told, she was dead…by Regina." The words caught in his throat as he spoke. Emma furrowed her eyebrows in confusion; why would Regina tell him she was dead?

"Just how far back does your little war with Regina go?" she asked, curious as to why anyone would go to such lengths to hurt another person.

"Oh, as long as I can remember it seems…"

"But why tell you she's dead?" Emma knew Regina had sociopathic tendencies; but to tell a man the woman he loved was dead? Then to keep her locked up just make her story more plausible…that's just cold and malicious.

"Because Regina likes to hurt people; to take from them what they love most. By keeping Belle alive, she not only hurts me by hurting her; but she has a rather effective bargaining chip…a last resort if you will." Gold spoke slowly; Emma could see the energy he was exerting trying to keep control of his emotions.

"So, what makes you think you found her? Where is she; what started this?"

"Well, uh, when you told me that Regina told you there was a psych ward here; I truly didn't know that. I didn't think much of it at first, but the more I thought about it; the more I realized the only reason to keep the secret is because she was hiding something – someone. I recruited a young lab tech who was behind on his rent to get me information on the patients, which he delivered this morning."

"So, you saw her picture or something; you know it's her?" Part of her wished this was all a case of mistaken identity. For the obvious reason that she didn't want to lose what she and Gold had; but also, because she truly hoped that some innocent woman hadn't been locked in a psych ward needlessly for decades.

"I didn't see her picture; but I know it's her. Call it intuition or whatever you like; but I know its Belle. I, uh, I spoke to Archie; he's going to see what he can do about getting her released."

"Wait; is that safe? I mean, most people are in psych wards for a reason." The words came out before she could stop them. Gold winced at her sharp words and Emma could see him struggling to contain his rage.

"She isn't crazy, Emma; even Archie agrees with me; though he didn't come right out and say it. Regina is making it look that way…" Emma scoffed, knowing full well Regina can do a hell of a frame job. If that was the case; the poor girl never stood a chance. There was really only question left to ask.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"At this point, Emma, it's impossible to say, love. I can guarantee you that Belle won't remember me; even if she does, Regina will have brainwashed her into hating me. Regardless; I can't let her stay locked up on my account. I treasure our time together, Emma, and I don't want to lose that – lose you. It's just…can we cross this bridge when we get to it?"

Emma was at a loss for words; what was the appropriate response? Just because Belle won't remember him; doesn't mean he hasn't remembered her; loved her – idolized her for years. Would he be able to stay away? Would he be drawn to her, or vice-versa? Emma knew one thing for sure; she didn't want to feel like she was a third wheel; more importantly, didn't want to feel like she was in competition for this man. Who was she to stand in the way of true love?

"For now, I will stay on one condition." Gold said nothing, waiting expectantly for her to continue. "If you feel that you want her more than me; despite if she remembers you yet or not; you have to tell me. I don't want to be the woman you settle for just because you can't have the woman you truly love. I will bow out gracefully and allow you to pursue the woman you want." Gold stared at her a moment; a look of wonder in his eyes. How did he get so lucky? He didn't deserve this woman before him; didn't deserve Belle when she was his.

"And if you're the woman I want?" Gold asked with a smile, though there was no teasing tone carried in his voice.

"Then by all means, pursue your heart out." Emma returned the smile in kind. It's all I want, she realized, to be the woman you want.

"Emma, just so you know, I'm not having her released in an effort to be with her. My only motivation is to give Belle her life back. It seemed wrong to turn a blind eye to avoid inconvenience."

"Oh, when you put it like that, you make me sound horrible." Gold held out his hand to Emma, pulling her to his side; hugging her tightly. She curled up beside him; sighing heavily as she rested against his chest.

"You aren't horrible, love. You just want to make sure I won't break your heart, and rightly so. I can make you no promises save one; that I will tell you if I want Belle more than you." While it wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear, it was honest; and it was good enough for now.

Gold held Emma tight against him; he expected this conversation to have been much worse. He was going to tell her he might be calling in his favor; but it was best to wait until he was positive that Belle was being released. He knew that he would have to decide sooner rather than later which one he wanted; and that would be no easy task. He loved both women deeply and for very different reasons. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he rubbed his eyes; he was getting far too ahead of himself.

Emma jumped slightly as her cell phone shattered the silence. "Emma Swan," The voice on the other line confirmed who the fingerprints on the box belonged to. Gold watched as the blood drained from Emma's face; her breathing intensified as she listened. "No, I'll inform Mayor Mills; thank you." Emma whispered hoarsely, hanging up the phone.

"What's wrong, Emma?" Gold asked concerned. Emma briefly met his eyes before she climbed off the bed. "Um, that was the lab; the fingerprints on the box with the heart inside…were Mary Margaret's." Gold feigned shock, horror and confusion.

"Did I miss something?" he whispered incredulously. Emma scoffed as she pulled on her boots. "Ruby found a box with a human heart inside. It's why I was able to come home; I was just waiting for the fingerprint results. And now that I have them, I have to go." Gold nodded as he slid from the bed.

"Well, I guess I'll head home for the night, then." He said, slowly rising to his feet. Emma moved to his side, pressing him back down to the bed.

"You don't have to leave right now; wait until you've rested. I don't want you crashing your car." Gold smiled at her concern for him as he rested his hands on her hips. He was silent as he held her; the smile slowly fading from his lips. Emma watched as the emotions flashed in his eyes; the control he exhibited all day was slipping.

"Thirty plus years, Emma; I've wanted this." He said slowly; his eyes locked with hers. They watered as the emotions overwhelmed him; until silent, burning tears fell from his haunted eyes.

"Thirty years of nightmares, regrets; of wishing I had the chance to apologize – to take it all back. Now it's here and I –" The sob that escaped his lips was barely audible, as he pulled Emma towards him; burying his face in her chest as he wept. Tears of joy, regret, hope and anger soaked through her shirt. Emma combed her fingers through his hair slowly; quiet, as she held him against her.

Emma remembered a time not so long ago that the man in her arms would have died before allowing her to see such a display of emotion. She had seen tears in his eyes before, even witnessed him cry over his son; but he was always guarded – always held something of himself back. Tonight was different as he was coming to pieces in her arms, wide open and vulnerable; throwing to the wind what remained of his pride. The tears filled her eyes as she whispered in his ear. So many nights recently, he'd held her; given her the comfort of his words, his touch – his presence. It was her turn to let him cry his fill; to accept him as he was; without judgment or worthless pity.

Emma couldn't even fathom what he was feeling right now; and there were no words she could think of to say. The fact that he had become so transparent; so broken in her arms spoke volumes for the changes in him. From her earliest memories of him when he was manipulative, cold and ruthless; to this very moment when he was vulnerable; broken in her arms.

A lifetime had passed since the last time Gold had wept this hard; and all of the locked up emotion came flooding out like a dam. After he stole Belle's life and gained her trust; he lied to her face; broke her heart and then sent her off, alone, to find her own way home. Why hadn't he transported her home? He knew the journey would have been long and filled with danger. Why not deliver her there himself? Yes, he was mad; but he didn't want her harmed. She left his castle in pain; but hopeful that she was regaining her freedom; only to have Regina steal it away again.

What lies did that witch convince her of before the curse brought them here? That he didn't love her; knew she was there and just didn't care enough to help her? It wouldn't have been hard to convince Belle of that, given their last encounters together. What evils had marred her soul; her skin? Belle was purity embodied; a beguiling mix of bravery, innocence, hope and stubbornness. Eyes of the brightest blue that shone with the light of life; gracing the darkest depths of his soul with light. Had they dimmed? Or was there a faint glimmer left of the woman he knew that may still be rescued?

The idea of Belle suffering the way Regina said made his stomach churn. There would be an answer to all of these questions; for now he had to be patient – to wait. That wouldn't be easy given this overwhelming desire to find Regina and choke the life out of her. The room was spinning; he needed to calm down before he passed out. His hands rested on the small of Emma's back; loosening his crushing grip as he breathed deeply.

The convulsing of his lungs slowed as the river of tears abated. The feel of delicate fingers tangled in his hair brought him back to the moment. He didn't deserve a happy ending; certainly didn't deserve the woman whose arms were offering him comfort, safety; peace. Emma's hands cradled his face as she pressed her lips to his forehead. His hands gripped her wrists as they held him; his eyes closed as she brushed the tears from his face. He was every bit the monster he was accused of being; destroying everyone he loves; he didn't deserve this – deserve Emma. Gently coaxing her hands from his face, Gold's eyes locked on hers once more.

"Thank you, Emma." He said, kissing her hands. It seemed terribly insufficient; but words were not his strong suit at the moment. For now, he needed to go; he couldn't risk hurting Emma. As he rose, she once again pressed him back down.

"I'm leaving anyway, Gold; please promise you'll stay a little while and rest before you go?" Emma pleaded softly. Gold reached his hand to her face, his finger tracing the path where her tears fell; a look of wonder on his face. Had she cried for him?

Knowing that Emma was truly stubborn, Gold relented in this small thing; lord knows he doesn't have another battle in him right now. "I promise, love. Now, I've kept you too long; go on. Good luck, breaking the news…and with everything else." He moved himself onto her bed, resting against the headboard. As Emma opened the door, Gold called from behind her.

"Emma…I know I have no right to ask, but could you –"

"I'll see you tonight, Gold." He closed his eyes as he smiled; nodding his head. "I'll leave the front door open for you…" he whispered, snuggling into her pillow. Emma smiled as she closed the door behind her, collapsing against it. Inhaling deeply; she moved for the front door; she needed air.

Emma knew exactly where Mary Margaret was and that's only because she knew exactly where David was. As she drove to the animal shelter, Emma felt as if the world were crashing down around her. Being in this town was making her question her sanity. Right now, she was about to arrest her best friend – who wouldn't hurt a fly – for cutting out a woman's heart. Not to mention, the time line for Gold and Belle was way off.

Thirty years, he said had transpired from when he lost Belle to now. Gold can't be more than fifty; so that would make him twenty when she left. However, Gold said he was married, and just returning from war at that age. So, how does Belle end up in a psych ward in Storybrooke, Maine? Regina and Gold obviously weren't from the same place given she doesn't have an accent. How is it they go so far back? What is this mutual hatred they have for each other?

The whole curse thing was actually beginning to sound real, and that wasn't good. She was supposed to be helping Henry move passed it; not join him in his psychosis. If things didn't improve, she would be taking her kid on an extended road trip; never to be heard from again. As Emma pulled up, she saw Mary and David…arguing? Or at the very least, David was still reeling from what he may have done and Mary is trying to console him. This is really going to suck… she thought, slipping from her car.

Mary and David stopped talking as Emma walked solemnly into the room, both sitting in chairs in the waiting room. Their faces fell as they looked at Emma; clearly she was doing a poor job of hiding the fact that something was wrong. When Emma was silent, David stood and broke the silence.

"What is it? Did you find her?" There was a spark of hope mingled with dread as David's eyes pleaded with Emma. Her stomach turned as she tried to find the words to tell him this; and that Mary Margaret had done it – at least, theoretically.

"We…found a; box." The words were hesitant as they escaped her lips; panting for breath as if she'd just ran a marathon. David stared at her confused as Mary rose to her feet.

"Wait – what does that mean?" David asked, resting his hands on his hips.

"We think it…with think that she…" Mary and David stared wide eyed as Emma struggled to find the words. "What…?" David whispered.

"There was…a human heart inside it." The tears filled David's eyes as he stepped backwards; covering his mouth to fight the bile rising in his throat. Mary's hands flew first to her pounding heart; then followed the same path to her mouth.

"Oh my God," she whispered, her fingers covering her lips as she stared at David. He was crouched beside a chair for support; biting his hand in an attempt not to scream.

"We're going to send it for some tests; but there aren't any other missing people." Emma and Mary both watched David weeping on the floor. "You should go…" Mary whispered, as she moved to stand beside David.

"There's more…" Emma began, taking a few steps towards them. "There were fingerprints on the lid of the box; I ran them against the records of everyone in town and there was a match." Mary stared incredulously at Emma; offended at the mere implication that Emma could think David had done this. At that, David rose to his feet.

"Arrest me…" he demanded, certain he killed his wife and simply couldn't remember it. He needed to be arrested before he hurt someone else. "Arrest me, Emma; do it."

"No…David –" Mary was cut off as she stood.

"David; they weren't yours. They were Mary Margaret's…" Mary stared in mute horror at Emma; completely confused by what she just heard. David looked at Mary; an unreadable expression in his tear-filled eyes. Was he accusing her?

"Now, listen, I know that it wasn't either of you. However, I'm the Sherriff; and with Regina gunning for me, I can't appear to be showing favoritism to anyone. So, Mary I'll book you; and we'll sort this whole mess out in the morning. Then, I'll find who really did this."

The flash of the camera went off again and Mary closed her eyes. "Turn to the right." Emma said softly. "Emma, I didn't kill Kathryn." Mary said as she turned to the right. The flash went off again as she pulled the film from the camera.

"I know; but I have to go where the evidence leads." The flash went off again and Emma pulled the film from the camera.

"And it leads to me?" Mary asked incredulously, approaching Emma at the desk. "Yesterday it was David; Emma, there's something not right here."

"I know but your fingerprints are on that box and his are not. If I don't book you, it's going to look like favoritism. Then Regina will have cause to fire me and she will find someone who will railroad you. I know this is difficult, and I promise I will sort this out. Just try to be patient and trust me. I haven't told Regina yet, so go home, get some rest and I'll ask you some questions in the morning."

Mary took a deep breath and nodded; at a loss for what else to do or say. Emma wrapped her arm around Mary Margaret as the two walked from the station. "I would go with you, but Gold is still in bad shape. I promised him I'd stay the night."

"What happened to him, Emma? I've never seen a man look like that; especially Gold."

"I'm still trying to figure that I out, Mare. I had to leave before I got all the answers." As they reached the parking lot, Emma pulled Mary into a hug. "I know you're innocent; we'll figure this out, I promise." Mary fought the tears and could only nod. Emma watched as Mary drove off into the night, certain that her friend was being framed. Now all she had to do was prove it.

All she wanted was to curl up in bed and sleep; but Gold needed her tonight, she wouldn't let him down. Besides, he probably has the most comfortable bed in that house in his room; which is exactly where she was heading. Somehow, she knows that Gold didn't stay two minutes longer at the apartment after she left.

Gold lay awake in his king size bed; the red silk sheets covering only his legs. The sound of his door opening barely registered as he stared into the darkness. The mattress shifted under Emma's weight as she crawled in beside him. Ah, she knew it; most comfortable bed in the house. Now if she could just find him…

"Hello, love," Gold said, rolling onto his back to hold her. Her hand moved over his stomach as she curled in against him. Oh…he's shirtless… she realized, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

"Hello, Gold," she yawned, "You're supposed to be sleeping."

"I rest easier when you're here." Gold tangled his fingers in her hair as Emma giggled lightly.

"Well, I'm here now, so go to sleep."

"I will…how'd it go?" This was getting harder with each passing day; to see Emma suffering because of something he helped orchestrate. It didn't matter, his motivations, all the mattered is that it was in his power to end this right now; and he wasn't doing it.

"Oh, god it was awful, Gold. I thought David was gonna pass out. Mary is so confused. I told her I'd interrogate her in the morning. I couldn't deal with that or Regina tonight."

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Regina was the one to frame her." Gold said nonchalantly, planting the seed in the back of her mind.

"Why would she do that?" Emma asked in the darkness. The thought crossed her mind that Gold was going to automatically accuse Regina of everything and anything, simply because she lied to him.

"Because Regina hates Mary Margaret; has for many years."

Well that's news… "Why?"

"Who knows…oh, and promise me one thing, Emma. Don't tell Regina that I know about Belle. Don't even hint that you know anything."

"Ok, why?" The more he spoke the more confused she became; the more questions she had.

"She needs to be caught off guard. See, if she sees it coming; it gives her a chance to lie; to find a way out of it. So, please, she can't even suspect that there's even a possibility I might know about Belle; or Regina might hurt her." He hoped by telling her all this, that Emma would start investigating Regina right off the bat.

"I promise…" she whispered against his skin. Emma sought his warmth as she curled herself closer against him. There weren't enough hours in a day to give her the amount of rest she needed. Gold leaned into her, placing a kiss to her forehead. The mingled scents of cinnamon and spice passed between them as they fell asleep, legs intertwined; hands clasped together.

A/N: I know it was short but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. As always please review... : )