Warning: Super big trigger warning due to sensitive content.

Chapter 10

Rumplestiltskin had had enough of letting Belle get in the way of what he really wanted to do. So as Hook walked into his shop that day, prepared to make new demands, he was ready to attack before the man could even blink. He gripped his cane and watched Hook carefully, tuning out most of the rambling that came from the disgusting pirate.

"I said, when are we going off to get Emma?" Hook spoke up loudly. "Is your hearing gone, as well as your sense of self-" Rumplestiltskin pinned him to the wall by his cane, cutting off both his words and his air supply.

"You will not touch Miss Swan again," he said quietly. "You disgust me." He grabbed Hook by the collar of his jacket and threw him to the floor. Belle heard the noise and ran into the room to see Hook on the floor.

"Rumple," she pleaded. "Don't do this. You-"

"No," he barked. "You don't know how he's hurt Miss Swan." He held his cane to Hook's throat once again and prepared to cast a spell. Hook grabbed it and threw it aside, throwing him off balance. Rumplestiltskin responded with a kick straight to his head, knocking him out cold on the floor. He grabbed his cane and pulled himself upright once again.

"What did he do…?" Belle asked carefully once the metaphorical dust had settled.

"That is personal," he responded. "Not for me, for her." He kicked at the unconscious body until it was behind his counter. Belle watched this nervously, like he may snap at any moment and revert to his Dark One ways.

"Where is Emma, by the way?" Belle asked at last.

"Even I know when to keep out of someone's business." He turned and walked off, leaving Belle to her own devices.

"Rumple!" she called desperately. "I really…" She was stunned to suddenly see him in front of her. "Sorry," she apologized. "I just…I really…miss you?" He merely looked at her his expression softening in small degrees. "Sorry. I won't bother you again." He gently wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Belle," he said softly. "If anyone has to be sorry here, it should be me. I need to…prioritize far better than I have been. I promise, once all this is over, we'll have some time to ourselves. It'll be just like old times." She winced as she remembered the Beast side of him. "What is it?"

"Just like old times?"

"Oh, don't go-"

"I can't help it." He sighed and resumed gazing into her fair face. Belle had a quiet beauty that was unavoidable, but what had caught his attention even more was the way she simply never gave up. Who knew someone so soft could also be so stubborn?

"Alright," he murmured, stepping back from her to give her a bit of space. "How about we start with dinner tonight at Granny's?"

"Table for two," Belle said. "Wear something nice. I'll meet you there at seven." With that, Belle left the shop.

Hook began to stir on the floor. Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes in mild irritation. He yanked that pathetic pirate to his feet by the collar of his shirt. Hook had trouble keeping his balance. The Dark Once glared into his face.

"It's about time you were taught a lesson, dearie. A lesson in respect." He reached into Hook's chest and pulled out his heart. "You're under my control now…Killian Jones. Every move, every breath, will be dictated by me. You're not allowed your own agency anymore for as long as I have your heart in my possession. Should I decide to crush it, your life will end." He nodded in satisfaction at his chosen words. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," Hook said in a trance-like tone.

"Excellent. Your first task…bring me Zelena."

"Where is she?"

"She should still be in the town jail. She won't be too hard to find." Rumplestiltskin had unfinished business with the witch. It was because of her that his son was gone, and she needed to pay. He tucked the heart into his coat pocket and walked with his new puppet over to the jail. Unfortunately, when they arrived, only Elsa was there.

"Where's Zelena?" he demanded.

"None of your business," Elsa replied coolly. Most of the ice and coldness in the jail had mysteriously melted away. The Arendelle queen still wore her light blue evening gown. It had become her signature look. Possibly her only look. For the time being, anyway.

"Tell me!" Rumplestiltskin demanded.

"Or what? You'll kill me? What do you want Zelena for?"

"Unfinished business, that's all you're going to know." Elsa scoffed and stepped back from the bars before Hook could bash her face in with his gleaming appendage.

"You might as well tell me," Elsa said. She laughed a bit. "I'm not afraid of you." She glanced nervously at Hook. The former captain lunged forward and pulled her right up to the bars using his hook. She stared into his face and tried to hide the fear growing in her eyes.

"Now," Rumplestiltskin said softly. "Are you going to tell me where she is? Or have my…hooks…not gotten deep enough into you yet?" Elsa shivered as the tip of the hook tore into her dress and poked at her flesh.

"F-fine," she stuttered in response. She slumped over in defeat. "Zelena is-" She spat in Hook's face and broke free while he was distracted. She managed to fish the huge ring of keys off of Rumplestiltskin. Within minutes, she was free. She took off before either of them were able to react.

"You're so fucking useless," Rumplestiltskin muttered to Hook. "If you can't help me find Zelena, I may as well kill you myself…put everyone out of their misery." He glanced at the pirate thoughtfully. "I'd kill you now, but I'm starting to have a little fun. Let's dance, pirate." He ordered for Hook to head to Granny's. "Right now, we've got a dinner to plan for Belle." He smirked to himself, walking behind his little puppet once again. He was the puppet master, and the strings were almost infinite. A tug here and he could make him run straight into traffic. A pull there, and he could make Hook start barking like a dog. The possibilities went on and on.

"Dinner?" Hook said.

"Yes, you cactus. Dinner."

Two days later…

Emma is released from the hospital. The journey back to Regina's is short, silent, and awkward. They were long overdue a Talk Featuring Henry. The talk that Emma knew would be an entire spoken novel she could easily title How Dare You Do That Emma, How Dare You, Written By Hurt Regina And Edited By Disappointed Henry.

Disappointment…she was a disappointment for sure. She couldn't even kill herself properly. What use was she to anyone? Her dark thoughts were shaken around by the slam of a door and high heels-her, it was always her, she could always sense her and feel her in way she could never explain in any words besides the one thing she refused to believe in: magic.

"Ahem," Regina said. Emma snapped out of it and climbed out of the car. She was right in Regina's personal space without meaning to be. Oh my god oh my god oh my-

"Inside the house. Now, please." She reluctantly followed the woman who raised Henry into the elegant household.

"Hi Mom," Henry chirped as soon as they were inside. "Hi, Mom!" Why were they both 'Mom', that could get confusing real quick.

"Sit down," Regina said without looking at either of them. Emma tried to keep her heartrate under control, with minimal success. Emma sat on the couch, Henry, on the floor nearby. There was a pause. Regina paced back and forth. Emma couldn't help but trace her movements.

"Emma…you nearly…died," she began awkwardly. "We…Henry would've lost you, and we can't have that happen again. Why did you do this?"

"Um…" Emma stared at Regina's feet. "Look, I've…been through a lot. I'm not the same I was before all of that. If you could stop blaming me for the way I feel, we could make a lot of progress here."

"Progress with what?"

"Being friends."

Oh right. Regina had said just friends.

"I suppose you're right. But what I was really trying to say was, I…we…care about you." The words were stiff, unfamiliar in the woman's mouth. But they were still there.

"You do?" Emma said softly. Regina nodded a bit. "Wow," she whispered. "What happens now then?"

"We have lunch!" Henry spoke up happily. "Come on, let's make sandwiches!" He pulled Emma to her feet and led her into the kitchen. Regina sighed as she watched the pair fool around. It didn't feel right to interrupt their moment. She headed into her office. Something had sparked in the blonde's eyes when she stated that she they cared about her. She wanted to keep that feeling there. She supposed she would have to really work in order to make that happen. Somehow, it felt worth it.