Chapter XIII
''Sidney!'' she yelled at her phone. ''Listen to me,'' she told him angrily. ''Just bring him to me! I don't care how dangerous and illegal it is, just do it!''
She threw the phone on the table and watched it enraged. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to cross realms immediately, but it would help her with getting her revenge and that was all she could think of right now. She shook her head and stalked out of the room.
The entire town had been covered by purple clouds just a few seconds ago, before they rose into the air and dissolved. People mumbled and rumours started to spread.
Everyone in the diner was troubled and a chaotic crowd started rushing outside.
''Belle, are you alright?'' Rumple asked concerned. He stood up and sat down next to her. She watched him unbelievably. ''Rumple,'' she gasped. ''You walked without your cane!'' she said with wide eyes.
Belle was right. Rumple's cane still stood against the wall opposite them. ''Your powers are back,'' Belle said softly, tears coming to her eyes. Rumple watched her sadly and hugged her tightly. ''I'm so sorry, Belle,'' he whispered. ''Please, help me stay on the right path.'' He pulled back and caressed her cheek.
Belle smiled and leaned into his hand. ''I'll always guide you,'' she stated, as the first tear trickled down her cheek.
After some more hugs Rumple proposed to go and check on Emma and Neal to make sure they were alright.
The entire town was uneased by the sudden and mysterious haze. ''We have to find out what happened!'' someone shouted. ''I bet it was the Evil Queen!'' someone else yelled. The crowd agreed with shouts and accusations.
''Wait!'' someone yelled suddenly. Rumple and Belle had been walking past them, but they weren't unnoticed. ''He's the Dark One,'' the man shouted, pointing at Rumple. ''Who knows, maybe he did this!''
The entire crowd roared in agreement. ''He didn't do this,'' Belle defended. ''I've been with him the entire time.'' She took his hand and squeezed it gently. ''He might've done it earlier, and this is what came from it,'' the man argued.
Rumple's grip on Belle's hand tightened, and she knew what that meant. Anger was rising inside him, and ready to burst out any moment.
''Come on, Rumple. Let's go,'' Belle appealed. Rumple turned to her with tears in his eyes and a frown on his face. ''You asked me to help you stay on the right path,'' she pleaded. ''Please,'' she whispered.
He looked her in the eyes and raised his hand. They were engulfed by red smoke. When it dissolved, they were home.
Belle smiled at him weakly. ''You've been strong,'' she said, throwing her arms around him. Tears trickled down her face as she remembered what had occured; their life wouldn't become easier now he had his powers back. ''Rumple,'' she said, pulling back. ''Those people will probably turn to you again, what will we do? Aren't they dangerous?'' she questioned.
Rumple shrugged. ''I don't know, Belle,'' he admitted. ''I don't know.'' He looked down at the ground and his face grew dark. ''I've been alive for many, many years. But in all those years, I've never been afraid of anyone, until now,'' he murmured. He looked up, his face was covered by tears and his look was filled with fear.
''I've never had people I cared about as much as I do now. People that could be used to hurt me. Weaknesses, as the Dark Ones call it,'' he told her. ''I won't slip back into my bad and evil habits. But if they're taking you or Bae or Emma away from me, they'll give me no choice but to use magic against them,'' he stated.
Belle shook her head. ''Rumple,'' she said softly, taking his hands. ''You don't need magic, to protect us.'' She smiled. ''You can tell them the truth, you haven't done this,'' she reassured him. ''You can do things without your power,'' she said. ''Look at what you've accomplished! You've found your son, and the savior who broke the curse, you've saved her without magic,'' she whispered.
When they had finally managed to contain their tears, they went upstairs to check on the teens.
''Papa!'' Bae exclaimed when Rumple and Belle entered Emma's room. Neal sprang up and ran to his father. ''What was that?'' he asked worriedly. ''That was magic,'' Rumple said slowly. Neal took a step back. ''Do you have magic again?'' he asked his eyes filled with terror.
Rumple made a book magically appear, which caused, both Emma and Bae to gasp. ''No,'' he said, tears coming to his eyes. ''Not again. What if the darkness takes over again. What if you choose power again?'' he asked hysterically. ''Bae, calm down.'' Rumple placed a hand on his shoulder. ''Belle's going to help me stay on the right path, I promise I'm not going to let you go again,'' he said.
Bae hugged him and burst into tears.
The townspeople had formed groups to find out what happened, and the sheriff was busier than ever. They started complaining about everything, and had two main targets who were most likely to have caused the purple haze: the Evil Queen or the Dark One.
Graham had visited Regina to investigate but she still had control over him by using his heart. He made people believe that Regina was innocent, so everyone turned to Rumplestiltskin and were furious at him. But still, they didn't dare to do something that could annoy him because he still was the Dark One, and who knows what he would do to get revenge.
Rumple himself was conflicted. He didn't know what to do; he knew something would happen quickly, that the people would find a way to hurt or control him, and he tried to resist the pull of his power and magic. His frustration grew and it must've shown on his face. ''Are you alright, Rumple?'' Belle asked, looking up from her book.
They sat together in the living room. Belle was reading a book and Rumple just sat in his chair. ''I'm fine,'' he mumbled. Belle slightly tilted her head. ''It's going to be fine,'' she reassured him. ''They're going to find out it was Regina, and then we won't have to worry anymore,'' she said. Rumple smiled weakly.
''I'm just afraid they're going to use you to hurt me,'' he admitted slowly. ''I don't want to lose you, not again.''
''You won't lose me,'' she said, standing up. ''Do you want a cup of tea?'' she asked. Rumple smiled and nodded. ''Yes, thank you.''
He sighed and leaned back in his chair.
Regina was pacing up and down the room, nervously waiting for Sidney to return with the only person that could help her cross realms.
The doorbell rang and Sidney entered. He was nervous and had a bruise on his face. With one hand he was pulling someone into the house and in the other he held a leather box. ''Here he is,'' he said curtly. He placed the box on the ground and pushed the man toward Regina and left the house.
The man had a sack on his head and was trying to pull it off. ''Get this thing off me!'' he bellowed. ''Calm down,'' Regina said, pulling it off. The man looked up and his fear turned into annoyance. ''You know,'' he said. ''You could try to call me, instead of abducting me.'' He stood up and wiped his sleeves. ''It might help you with your social life.''
''You haven't changed a bit, Jefferson,'' Regina said, rolling her eyes. ''Anyways, I need your help,'' she acknowledged. ''Of course, why else would I be here?'' he muttered. ''Just listen,'' she said, taking the leather box from the ground. ''Is that my hat?'' he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Regina opened the box and pulled out Jefferson's hat. ''So, you've had it all this time,'' he said. Regina watched him, smirking. ''Yes I did. But now I need you to cross realms to get me something.''
Jefferson turned around to leave. ''I'm not in this business anymore,'' he said walking toward the door. Regina grinned. ''Not even, if I reunite you with your daughter?'' she asked. Jefferson froze. ''Can you do that?'' he asked.
Regina knew she could persuade him by using his daughter as an alternative. ''Yes I can,'' she said smirking. He thought for a moment, but then turned around and approached her. ''What do I have to get?''
''I'll tell you later, first we have to make some arrangements,'' she said.
Rumple's mind hadn't eased much but Belle's words had managed to get him a bit less troubled. ''Here's your tea,'' she said, handing him a steaming cup. ''Thank you,'' he said with a smile. He watched the cup, and suddenly the chipped cup popped in his mind. ''Belle, I have something for you,'' he said, placing his cup on the coffee table.
He stood up and sat down next to her on the couch. ''Do you remember, before the curse was broken, you came to me and told me that you had dreamt about a cup?'' he asked, turning to her. Belle nodded, closing her book. ''Can you remember the details?'' he asked. Belle shook her head, ''No,'' she replied. ''Why?''
''Because I think I know what cup you've dreamt of,'' he said. Belle raised an eyebrow in confusion. ''Did you find it, then?'' she asked. ''It's more like it found me,'' he said smiling. Before Belle could answer, he waved his hand and the chipped cup appeared on the table. Belle gasped. ''But, Rumple,'' she said, taking the cup. ''Is this…''
Rumple smiled. ''Your chipped cup,'' he finished. Belle looked at him with tears in her eyes. ''Where did you get it?'' she asked, examining the chip. ''I don't know, it appeared in my shop,'' he admitted. ''I was just cleaning a cabinet in the back room when I noticed it, it had never been there. I'm sure, it's just like it had magically appeared, just like that book.''
She looked at him and smiled. She hugged him, careful not to damage the cup. ''Thank you,'' she whispered. ''Everything for you,'' he mumbled softly.
She pulled back and watched him, blushing. ''Do you still have that book?'' she asked curiously. ''Yes, it's upstairs. Why?''
Belle smiled. ''I thought, maybe we could read our story, together,'' she proposed. Rumple smiled and nodded. ''I'll go get it,'' he said, standing up.
Emma had a troubled sleep. Again, she had the same nightmare. The nightmare about Regina. She felt the knife against her throat, her chuckling and the drop of blood. She woke up and found herself covered by sweat and her heart was beating so fast, it sounded more like a buzz.
She blinked and breathed heavily. She sat upright and wiped her brow. Her mouth was dry and her chest hurt. She slowly rose and walked to the bathroom.
She splashed some water on her face and looked in the mirror. Dark circles hung under her eyes and the wound on her neck was red. She closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. Her eyes burned with tears.
''Emma?''
Rumple entered the bathroom. ''Are you alright?'' he asked, approaching her. Emma opened her eyes and tears started streaming immediately. ''Just a nightmare,'' she said, faking a smile. Rumple embraced her. ''Regina again?'' he asked. Emma nodded and closed her eyes. ''Do you want to talk about it? It might help,'' he proposed.
Emma pulled back and hesitated. She was searching for a way to start. ''It was in that room again, I was tied up to the chair. She was torturing me. Then you appeared in the room, but she had already slid the knife across my cheek, and I was bleeding to death,'' she said trembling. ''I don't know why I keep dreaming about it,'' she said hoarsely.
Rumple watched her sympathetically. She was looking miserably at her feet, a few tears trickled down her cheek. ''I'm sorry you had to experience that,'' he said. ''Do you want a cup of tea, to calm down a little?'' he asked. Emma shook her head. ''I'm alright,'' she said. ''I think I'll return to bed now,'' she said, yawning.
She wiped her face dry and cleared her throat. She walked past him. ''Goodnight,'' she muttered before she left the bathroom. ''Goodnight,'' Rumple replied.
She waited for him to return downstairs. When she heard his footsteps fade away she left her room and entered Neal's. ''Neal,'' she whispered. She entered the room and approached him. ''Neal, are you awake?'' she asked. He grumbled and turned to her. ''I am now. What's wrong?'' he asked sleepily. ''Nightmare,'' she replied. ''Do you mind if I stay with you tonight?'' she asked uncertain.
''Of course not, come,'' he said, shifting to make place. Emma quickly lay down next to him. ''Again the same nightmare?'' he asked. Emma nodded and felt her eyes water again. Neal embraced her. And for the first time since she was kidnapped, she felt safe. Safe in Neal's arms, safe at home. Safe with her family.
A/N: Another chapter done. OK, this time, I will ask you something, so please leave your opinion in the reviews or send me a PM, because I want to know what you prefer to have.
I was thinking to add Hook as a villain. A bad, evil villain. He won't have any relationship with Emma, and he's full-grown. I would really appreciate your opinion on this, because this will decide if I'll add him. He will stay evil, so he won't have a chance with Emma. Please, tell me what you think about it. It will be a bit easier to add some more drama if I could use him.