Gwen stood in the doorway of Rumples office watching the older man tinker with something that resembled a clock. Ten minutes had passed since her family had left and she still stood her just watching him. The faces he made amused her and occasionally she would let out a stray giggle or two only to be silenced with a glare from the Dark One. When she had first come in the clock majig was in one piece but after standing here for a while, it was almost completely disassembled. Her curiosity was obvious so she felt no need to ask what it was Rumple was doing, instead she just waited for him to tell her. He still hadn't.

She took another step closer and stood on her tiptoes to peer over the table at his working hands. Rumple let out an aggravated sigh and slammed the screwdriver down.

"Are you going to ask or not, dearie?"

Gwen smiled up at the nasty old man, "No. Are you going to tell me?"

Rumple huffed, "No."

"Fine." Silence befell the room again. Rumple resumed tinkering with whatever it was that was sitting on the table. Gears fell away with each screw he removed, panels and switchboards covered in colorful little metal things. Each time Rumple removed one he carefully placed it aside in an organized fashion, mumbling things to himself as he did so. Gwen watched for a while until her young mind grew bored and she couldn't keep still any longer. Sighing, she came around the table to drag a stool across the floor beside Rumbles. It was a challenge to climb up it considering that the stool was taller than she was but she managed, with only a little help from Rumple. She readjusted her turtle back pack and jacket, swinging her legs to and fro.

"So," Gwen leaned her chin on her fists, elbows propped on the table, "Do you think it worked?"

Rumple didn't lift his eyes from his project to address the child; he continued unscrewing small screws one by one, "Did what work?"

Gwen rolled her eyes and closed her two small hands around his bicep, pulling on it in and back and forth motion, "You know what grumpy pants! The plan! I did everything just like you said I should."

Rumple sighed and set his screwdriver back down, this time turning to face the child before he spoke and pulling her hands away from his tailored tress shirt before she wrinkled it, "I don't know child, that is your ridiculous family, only you would know if it worked."

"That's not true. Henry is technically your family too."

Rumple waved his hand around, rolling his eyes, "I never live by technicalities dear."

Gwen harrumphed and folded her arms across her small chest with a pout, "Rumple Grumpy Pants!"

"Stop calling me that you infernal-"

Gwen kicked Rumple in the knee with a stern look on her cute little face, "Don't be mean! You agreed to help me remember?"

Rumple growled under his breath and slowly stood to move towards his cabinet in the corner of the room, "Yes I remember. I'm beginning to think this was the worst deal I've ever made."

"I did everything like you said I should even though," Gwen dropped her eyes and fiddled with her hands in her lap, her lower lip caught between her teeth, "even though it felt wrong to do. I did it."

Rumple turned to survey the distress of the child and sighed. He had enough experience with children to know when one was about to cry but he really didn't feel up to comforting this one. However, he always had a soft spot for children. Damn them. He abandoned his plan for tea to limp back over to Gwen and place a reassuring hand on her shoulder, patting it softly.

"I know dearie, you did well. This was the only way, remember?"

Gwen sniffed and nodded but didn't lift her head, "When I came here from the future, I came to you first because I knew I'd need your help. You'd said you would help me as long as I told you what happens between you and your son in the future. I will I promise but this has to work first. I just…I wish I didn't have to do it this way Mr. Gold. I don't like lying to my family."

Rumple moved his hand to cup the back of the child's head and pulled her little body into his chest. She wrapped her wiry arms around him and began to shake with silent sobs. Tears soaked through the thin martial of his silk shirt, hitting his skin with an unpleasant warmness.

"We never do child but it was important," Rumple patted the back of Gwen's head, "Do you remember what I told you?"

Gwen sniffed and pulled back a little, looking up into Rumple's eyes with her wet ones, "You said I had to change their attitudes by lying. I had to lie to Emma about the book so she would find out from Mommy about Mommy's death. I had to lie to Mommy about Laina so that when she found out, it would make her closer to Mom. But Mr. Gold," Gwen bit into her bottom lip again, harder this time, "I don't understand why I had to lie to Henry."

"Your big brother isn't as close to his parents as you are to them Gwyneth. Henry still holds a small grudge against Emma for giving him away and he is still angry at Regina for all the evil she did. Your job was to tell him everything about the plan except my part in it because, now that he thinks I'm holding you hostage, he'll have to unite with his mothers to come save you."

"Oh," Gwen pulled away from Rumple with a contemplative look on her face, "That…should work."

"Right," Rumple slapped the handle of his cane, gripping it between both his hands and gave Gwen a toothy smile, "Go on and message your twin little one. And let me work in peace. I need to finish this before your mother's come here breaking down my door."

Gwen shucked her back pack off her shoulders, twisting it round so that it rested in her lap and unzipped it. She rummaged around inside until she found the radio sitting at the bottom. Carefully she pulled it out and checked it for any damage. Thankfully it still looked to be in functioning condition. Before leaving Henry had dung out his old radios he had used to keep in contact with Emma and gave them to the twins to use. Laina had spelled them to work even through the space of time so that they could remain in contact. Gwen hadn't tested them yet so it was all on a hope that they would work.

Clearing her throat, Gwen pressed down on the button, "Laina? You there? Sissy?"

Nothing but static as a reply. Gwen looked up at Rumple with an anxious face, tears already welling in her eyes again. Rumple rolled his eyes and waved his hand around.

"Try again."

Gwen nodded and pressed in the button again, "Laina? Come in, Laina?"

Silence for a long moment then the line crackled, "Gwen? Is that you?"

Gwen bounced in her seat, hugging the radio to her chest. She beamed at Rumple who shook his head fondly at the child's excitement.

"It's me Laina! I made it! Everything is going according to plan."

"That's good Sissy!"

"How is it on your end? Has anything changed yet?"

"No not yet but I have faith in you Gweny. If anyone can do it, it's you."

Gwen smiled sadly, "Thanks Sissy. I hope your okay. I miss you already."

"I miss you too! Are you being safe?"

"Super safe I promise!"

"Good 'cause you have to come back in one piece for this to work you know."

"I know. I will."

"Message me again later Gweny. I have to go now, the child protective service people are here again to pick a fight with Brother. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

"Bye."

Gwen dropped the radio into her lap with a shaky breath, her small hands trembling slightly. She looked up at Rumple who was already looking at her with fathomless eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked in a soft, kind voice that wasn't usually characteristic of him.

"I think so," She scooted closer to edge of her chair and laid her head against his arm, "This will work right Mr. Gold?"

"Yes it will."

"Good because it's my family's last chance."

Xx xX

"You did what!?" Regina practically screamed before Charming could even finish explaining the deal they had struck with Gold. Purple was swirling in her eyes, her fingers twitched from the magic pooling in her system that so badly wanted to be thrown at Charming and his incompetent wife.

"Regina just calm down-" Snow tried to speak but Regina silenced her with a sharp glare.

"You bargained my child with a mad man for what!? A bracelet!?"

"It will save your life though Regina isn't that-" Again Regina cut her off before Snow could even finish her sentence.

"Do you really think that's what I care about when you traded my daughter, a miracle child by any means, to Rumplestilskin?"

Emma shook her head, rubbing her thumbs hard into her temples to alleviate the stress build up there, "Seriously, Mom, what were you thinking?"

Charming threw a protective arm around his wife's shoulders and stared hard at his daughter, "It's the only thing we could do Emma."

Regina scoffed, "Yeah I'm sure-"

"Stop!" The four adults turned their attention to the prepubescent boy standing just a little ways away from them all. He looked upset and his eyes were wet but he was holding it together for the sake of his sister. Over and over he twisted his scarf between his hands, his eyes roving from one adult to the other. Emma sighed and moved towards him, taking a knee in front of him and reaching out to touch him but he stepped away.

"Henry-"

"No! You guys are wasting our time by fighting when we could be saving Gwen! What's wrong with you?" He glared mainly at his two mothers but made sure not to exclude his grandparents as well. Each one of them in turn was wise enough to show their shame at his truth.

"He's right," Charming turned to look at Regina, "I'm sorry for what we did but under the circumstances it was all we had available for us as an option. But none of that matters now, we should go save Gwen."

Emma sighed and stood up, "Alright I'm all in for saving the kid. Gina? Can you poof us there?"

Regina twirled her hand around and nodded, "I suppose," She glared at the Snowing couple, "But don't think we're past this, as soon as I am assured that Gwen is safe and in my arms again, I will be giving you two a serious talking too."

Snow opened her mouth to respond but Regina had already snapped her fingers and they were suddenly standing in Mr. Gold's shop. No one was currently in the shop area of the magical thrift store but that didn't deter Regina at all. She stormed right past the counter into the back room Rumple used as an office, Emma and Henry hot on her heels. Charming and Snow followed more cautiously, weary of any magical traps Rumple may have planed. Inside the office sat Rumple, sipping from a cup of tea as he watched Gwen play with a ratty rag doll may of cotton and red wool. Upon the arrival of her family Gwen lifted her head to them and cracked the biggest, brightest smile Regina had yet seen her give. She jumped to her feet and raced into Regina's waiting arms. Emma fell to her knees beside Regina and enveloped both girls in her arms, Henry moving to the other side to do the same. Charming and Snow stood awkwardly idol behind them, not really sure what to do with themselves while the reunited family hugged.

"Oh Gwen, I'm so glad your alright," Regina whispered into her daughters hair, planting a series of kisses all along the top of her head, "Did he hurt you? Did he force you to use any kind of magic?"

Gwen's giggle floated up from the hug to surround the family in a happy cocoon of her joy, "No, I'm alright Mommy. Nothing happened."

"Good," Emma growled, circling her arms tighter around her daughter and Regina, "I'd have to kill the toad."

"Be nice Mom."

Regina cleared her throat and pulled away from the group hug, holding Gwen's face between her hands to check for any damage. When she was pleased with the sight of a healthy face she stood to fire a flurry of verbal insults at Gold but found nothing there except an empty stool and an empty tea cup left behind. She let out a huff and shook her head. Naturally Rumple would have the foresight to flee before Regina had a chance to tear into him.

"It's okay Mommy," Gwen smiled and slipped her hand into Henry's hand, bumping their shoulders together, "Let's just go home."

"Yeah," Emma smiled and mirrored Gwen's actions by slipping her hand into Regina's, "Let's go home."

Truly Regina wanted to track Rumple down and do something horrible to him but with her family looking at her this way and with Emma's hand in her own, she couldn't do anything except nod and obey their wish. With a snap of her fingers she poofed them back to her mansion but only them. Purposefully she neglected to poof Charming and Snow along with them, leaving them standing there in Gold's shop.

Snow sighed, "We should probably start walking Charming."

David nodded and offered his hand for Snow which she gladly took, "Do you think she forgot us on purpose?"

"Definitely."

"I thought so."

Sorry guys! No big confrontation like I know you all wanted, I'm saving the real drama for later. And now you know, Gold is in on Gwen's plans too! The scheming little schemer. She's such a Mommy's girl. Sorry if it was total shite, I was kind of in a hurry to bang this chapter out. I promise better quality next time. Tootles for now!