Replies to reviews...

.kanobi: Just because they aren't going to be happy together doesn't mean there still isn't stuff that needs to be said.

lulu2613: Rumple does know the pain of losing a child but that has never kept him from inflicting that pain on others. He manipulated Snow and Charming's lives specifically so they would lose Emma and she would break the curse. When they first met he took Belle away from her father with the intention of never returning her.

authorlouise: You're right as much as an awesome twist that would be I could never do that to cute little Roland!

Okay so here's chapter 13. It contains a snippet of our favorite adorable baby hobbit and a long overdue Rumbelle conversation. Enjoy!

Belle had managed to get everyone to give her a few hours by herself before they met with Rumpelstiltskin. Not that they would have denied her anything at this point. She decided to head back to Regina's mansion sit on the back porch. She just wanted to take a moment and feel the open air. She doubt she'd get the chance to do that again anytime soon. It was like she was back at the beginning of her story, giving up her freedom to a beast. She dreaded being trapped by Rumpelstiltskin again but it was worth it to make sure Roland was returned. She looked out on the horizon. It was like she'd never seen the sun determined to set before. Soon it was time for them to go.

"Are you ready?" asked Regina.

"No," she said standing up. "But I don't suppose this is something you can really be ready for."

"I'm so sorry Belle," said Regina sadly. She had promised Belle a safe place to get away from Rumpelstiltskin and now she was handing her over in a deal with the devil.

"Don't be," said Belle earnestly. "You have to save that little boy."

No part of her blamed Regina for the situation that she was in. She had come so far from the woman who had locked her away. Belle knew that if Regina had it her way both she and Roland would be safe in the mansion by now.

"We should go," she said solemnly. Regina only nodded. As they made their way to the door they soon heard the rapid thunder of Henry running down the stairs.

"Wait!" he cried. "Don't leave yet!"

"Henry," said Regina sorrowfully. "You know the deal. You can't come with us."

"I know," he said sadly. "I just wanted to give Belle something."

He then handed her a thick, leather-bound journal complete with a locking strap. Belle held the journal and looked at him curiously.

"Well I know you won't have many people to talk to once this is done. So this is just a place to put your thoughts." He said quietly.

"Thank you Henry. That's so kind of you." Said Belle tearfully hugging him. She doubted that she would have the time to journal but it was still a beautiful gesture.

"Don't worry about me," she whispered. "I'll be back in time for your next date."

"I know," he said letting her go.

"Okay," said Belle turning to Regina. "Now I'm ready to go."

The forest was silent when the two women arrived at the meeting spot. It was as if even the birds didn't dare to speak. As they walked into the clearing the air felt heavy with tension. Regina looked at Belle with questioning eyes silently communicating her thoughts. Are you sure? Belle nodded her head.

"Rumpelstiltskin! I summon thee!" called out Regina.

"You don't have to shout dearie. I was already on my way." said the sorcerer materializing. He turned his eyes toward his wife. "Belle it's good to see you."

She only glared in return. "I'm here just like you wanted. Now where is Roland?"

With a wave of Rumpelstiltskin's hand Roland appeared in the clearing. He was clearly terrified but physically he looked no worse for wear. His eyes lit up when he saw Regina. "Gina!"

Rumple froze his feet before he could run to her. "Not so fast," he tittered. "Belle comes to me first."

Regina and Belle shared one last look before she crossed over the clearing. Only when she reached Rumpelstiltskin's side did he release Roland. He ran to Regina as fast as he could and she threw her arms around him in relief.

"Roland! Sweetheart are you alright?" she said checking him for scars and marks.

He nodded frantically. "I was scared but I knew you would save me. I missed you Gina."

"I missed you too Roland." She said hugging him.

Belle watched their reunion unfold with a smile. Roland was safe and that made her own sacrifice worth everything.

"Okay Roland. I need you to stand still for me because I'm going to send you back to your daddy okay?" said Regina.

"Okay." He said. She kissed his forehead before sending him to the loft where Robin and Marian were waiting for him. Once he was gone she turned to Rumpelstiltskin with a scowl on her face.

"This isn't over imp!" she growled. "I don't care what you have up your sleeve. I'll find a way to get back Belle and protect her from you!"

"She needs no protection from me," said Rumpelstiltskin smugly. "Besides even if she did why would she come to you? You couldn't even protect your own sister."

Regina's eyes widened at the mention of Zelena. "What are you talking about?"

Rumple chuckled at her. "Come on Regina. Did you really believe that she killed herself? You and I both know how easy it is for a magician to alter a security tape."

Regina's chest heaved with rage as she realized what he was admitting. "You… murdered my sister!" she seethed.

The imp just smiled at her. "Yes I did. And you wouldn't believe how easy it was."

Belle stared at Rumple in shock. She had never been more disturbed by him her entire life. She watched as he taunted his former apprentice about the death of her sister. Even Regina was stunned into silence.

"Well we better be off," he said grabbing Belle's hand. "I'll see you around Regina. It's always such a pleasure to do business with you."

And with that he and Belle swirled away leaving Regina alone in the clearing. As soon as they were gone she cried out in fury and hurled several fireballs into the air.

Belle and Rumple materialized in the mansion where they had spent their honeymoon a second later. As soon as she felt her feet on solid ground she ripped her hand from his.

"Let go of me," she said walking away from him.

"Now wait just a minute darling," said Rumple freezing her feet. "I think it's time we had a talk."

She glared at her former husband. "I may have to stay here with you but that does not mean I have to acknowledge your presence."

"Oh I beg to differ," he said releasing her. "I know that you're angry at me right me now but I brought you here so we can work out our differences."

"I don't want to work out our differences," said Belle heading for the stairs. "It is quite clear to me that they are irreconcilable."

"Belle please," said Rumple. "Are you really willing to throw away our marriage over a few mistakes?"

That made her stop in her tracks. Belle didn't want to give him the satisfaction of her attention but that sentence was something that she just couldn't let pass. She faced him with incredulity on her face. "Excuse me? Did you just say that I'm the one who threw away our marriage?"

"You are the one who left me Belle," he said with a straight face.

"Oh my god," she said. He was actually trying to put the blame on her. "Rumple you're the one who threw away this marriage before it even started. We were doomed the minute you killed Zelena."

"She murdered my son," he said venomously. "Are you really going to stand there and pretend that her death was such a tragedy?"

"HER DEATH WAS NOT THE ISSUE!" shouted Belle. She took a deep breath before continuing. "That day in the shop when I gave you the dagger I handed you all my faith and all my trust. I believed in you with everything I had. I loved you. When you gave it back to me I thought it was sign of trust. Proof that you believed in my love for you just as much as I did. But now I know that it was fake. You knew you were going to kill Zelena long before I walked in. So you decided to trick me. You gave me a fake dagger to fool everyone into thinking you were under my control. You took my love and my trust in you and you used it as an alibi. You once said that you couldn't comprehend why after everything that you'd done I still remained by your side. Well now, neither can I."

Rumple at least had the decency to look ashamed as his former wife pointed out his treachery. She was right. He was the reason that their marriage crumbled but that didn't mean he was giving up on them. Belle was his light. And so long as he was in the darkness he would never stop reaching for her.

"I am sorry Belle," he said. "I truly am but I won't give up on you. I love you too much for that."

"I know you do," she said sadly. "But I also know that your love for me will never be enough to bring you out of the darkness. I don't love you anymore Rumpelstiltskin. And now that I've seen you for what you are I never will again."

"I know you don't," he said resignedly. "But I can make you."

Belle's eyes widened as he pulled a purple stone out of his pocket. "Is that-"

"A memory stone? Yes it is." he said holding it out. "Once I use this you will forget all my pesky misdeeds and you will love me just as you did before."

Belle suddenly felt extremely nauseous. It was like she was once again in a cart racing for the town line being forced to lose her memories.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to use it just yet." Said Rumple shoving the stone back in his pocket. "I still have a few errands to run first."

She stared at him horror. What else could he possibly have planned? She looked around the mansion trying to find a reasonable exit.

"If you're planning on escaping you should know that all the exits are sealed with blood magic," he said.

"Whatever it is you're planning you won't get away with it. I won't let you!" she cried. She then shivered as he caressed her cheek.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about that dearie," he said creepily. "Once I come back you and I will have the life we have always wanted."

He smoked out of the room leaving Belle alone and frightened. She futilely tried to open the doors only to be knocked back by Rumple's dark magic. She thought about phoning someone for help but realized that Rumple had blocked any kind of cell reception. She was trapped in the mansion with no way out.

Well if I can't warn the others, she thought, maybe I can warn myself. She grabbed the journal that Henry had given her and sat down to write a note to her future self revealing all of Rumpelstiltskin's treachery. However, when she opened the diary she found that all the pages had been cut out. Inside the hollow book she found Henry's medallion homing device.

"Oh Henry!" she whispered. "You magnificent genius!"

She held the medallion close and pressed down on the stone as hard as she could while closing her eyes.

"Take me home," she whispered hopefully.

Looks like Rumple's still got one trick up his sleeve. What ever could it be? Stay tuned to find out!

Please review!