Neverland used to be a bright, peaceful place, the sun enlightening every part of the island, reflecting its beams in the pale blue waters of the sea. One who'd come those beautiful days wouldn't recognize it now. Now the night had fallen and every plants seemed to be condemned to an eternity of despair. This was to be his fate, too, he thought. Whatever the choice he would do. The boy had been clear enough though. He could live. He could leave this place, alive, his mind was shouting him. "Leave, and never come back", it was saying. That's what he would have done years ago – what he did years ago- but today something was holding him back. A tear escaped his eye and fell on the straw-made doll the Lost Boy had given him, so his head turned to look at it. In his hand, it was smaller than what he remembered, softer too. The last time he held it, he was only a young boy, and Rumple could perfectly recall how the straw, which now gently fit into his hand after years of spinning, used to tingle his skin. "Every one has a choice" he thought. His father made one once, as did he, and all that was left was loneliness and regrets.

He closed his eyes and thought about Belle, and it made him smile. He owed her a story, he remembered. The story he should have told her rather than throwing her out. The story of a coward who chose power over hapinness. Over his own son. Belle would have this story, he decided. Once the group would have found Storybrooke back, she would deserve this story. But it would have another ending... A fire flared up in his eyes. He stood up, more decided than he had ever been in his life. Because now, now he saw why this sacrifice was worth. So, he walked towards the Hanged-Man Tree.

Every one had gathered around the Tree. The Charmings, Regina and Hook were standing behind Emma, holding a sword in front of Pan who was wearing his usual grin. Rumple felt a wave of anger run through him.

"Emma Swan... The Savior... I knew you'd come. But I didn't know it would be so soon..." Pan was saying. "You're braver than what I thought... and yet so... flawed."

"Free my son now, Pan!"

"Or what? You'll use your... ''powers'' against me...? No, no... You'll have your son free, if you provide me with something..." Pan laughed.

"What do you want?"

"A heart."

"Then take mine but let my son go!"

Rumple heard Pan jerked.

"You see, the heart I need is the key to my youth. Whether I crash it and take the time of its previous owner, wheter I just keep it, control it... well, I know how heart things works, don't you? Your heart is powerful, Saviour, but not as powerful as I need. Not powerful as... his."

"No..." Emma said, ready to fight, but Rumple felt in her voice that hope was losing her.

"Well... What do you suggest Saviour? Even if I collected the heart of each of your... friends, it wouldn't be as powerful as the boy's one so..."

"Take mine"

Everyone turned as a voice had interrupted Pan in his speech. Rumple had walked out of the jungle to stand in front of every one, in the light of the fire camp.

"Ah, Dark One, I knew you would come... Enjoying our little party?" Pan grinned.

"She has been clear enough. Let him go."

"Then nothing's changed... I thought that since our last meetings centuries ago you would change your mind and join me but..."

"Me alive I will never join you." he answered full of anger.

"Then be reassured. If it is so, you won't live long from now on..."

"You have what you want. You defeated me. Free the boy and I'm yours"

"True that your heart is quite what I was looking for too..."

"No!" Henry cried to Rumple "No you can't do this. He is going to kill you. He needs me... He needs me to believe! He will spare my life, but he won't spare yours..."

"Listen to the boy, Dark One. It is your last chance..."

"My decision had been taken. Free the boy."

"If you insist..."

Peter Pan raised his hand and the lianas maintaining Henry released him. Rumple had kneed and welcomed the boy in his arms.

"I'm sorry..."

"Henry listen to me carefully."

"Are you afraid?" asked the boy, noticing Rumple's hands were shaking.

"Of course I am. You know, Death has always been the humankind's biggest fear. And I- I've lived through centuries mocking people trying to gain what seemed precious seconds in their lifes. But now that's it's my turn to die, I'm more afraid than any of them. Henry, I need you to be strong. For you and for me. And for all the people who love you and need you. Henry... There's one thing I want you to do."

"What is it?"

"I want you to find a way back home. I want you to find Belle and tell her that I'm sorry and that I..."

"That you are not the coward you think you are. That you saved me. And that you loved her."

"And that she was with me, in my heart, until the end" he smiled.

Henry had just the time to nod and smile back before Emma gently took his hand and brought him with her.

"Now, Dark One, you owe me something..." Pan said.

"Let them go. You can't do this in front of them. In front of the boy..."

"really?! Can't I?" Pan laughed.

"You really are a monster..."

"I'm not better than you", he spat "Come one, Rumple.. I thought you and I were both people you enjoyed... show?" he add, as he plunged his hand in Rumple's chest.

As the Dark One, he was used to take hearts. Used to see the face of his victims disfigured under the pain, but he never knew it was that painful, and even when Pan took it out, he didn't felt released by the burn he felt there. But then, when Pan opened his hand, cruelly smiling, all of them discovered that the heart he was holding was not as dark as every one thought it would be. Discovered that it could have been the heart of anyone, of Emma, David, or even Snow.

"How is it.." Pan started, more with astonishment than pure rage.

"Belle..." Rumple sighed.

"You tricked me Dark One this is not you're heart! I don't know which one of your little companion is going to die if I crush it, but..."

"Oh I assure you it is my heart, dearie..."

"What happened then?"

"What happened..." he said, turning to Henry, "...is that now... I'm a believer."