I can't believe we're already on chapter 20! That's insane! Thank you for all those that have stuck with this story for the months I've been writing it- it means a lot :) Here's more Mayor French in Storybrooke... and another new character. Hope you like!

There was a knock on the grand oak doors of the town hall. Belle looked up from her paperwork and blinked, somewhat startled. There were dark circles set under her eyes, telltale signs of an overworked woman. How did Regina do this for twenty eight years?

Her heels clicked against the immaculate white tile floor as she strode across the open spaced room. The door was then pulled open to reveal a broad shouldered man with a gruff black beard- a man that, if weren't for his modern clothes, would look exactly the same as he did in the Enchanted Forest.

"Hood?" Her mouth was left open in shock after she spoke the unfamiliar name.
The man smiled, though it was rather tentative. "Good to see you again Belle. You're seeming rather... Productive,"

She was at a loss of what to say. The last (and only) time she had seen him, she aided him in an escape from Rumplestiltskin's castle. Never again did she think she would ever see him. For all she knew, he didn't make it up to the curse.

"What are you doing here?" Belle asked once she found her voice.

The man, Robin Hood, gave a rather sheepish smile as he stared directly into her eyes. "I had to come and see you. You're probably the most talked about person in this town nowadays."

Belle sighed as she ushered him towards a pale colored leather couch, her mind bubbling with an array of questions; she didn't particularly want to return to the stress and responsibility that loomed over her like a heavy storm cloud.

"Why didn't you come to me sooner?" Belle asked consolingly, "you could've at least told me you were okay."

Robin tossed her a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. I would have came to find you the minute the curse was lifted, but..."

"It was Rumplestiltskin, wasn't it?" Her brainy charm shone through the lack of sleep and bitter office coffee. His face squirmed slightly as she spoke the name.

"...he almost killed me, Belle. I've been through a lot in my days, and I sure as hell didn't want to get in his way again. You understand, right?"

Belle nodded. "Is it because of your child?" The words left her mouth before she realized what she was saying. She forgot it had been her and Rumple who were spying on him and the woman he was with.

Much to her relief, he didn't seem to catch on to that one. Still, he seemed sad.
"He was the sweetest little boy. But a couple weeks after the curse was lifted, he got... Sick. As did my wife. It was some rare disease, something Dr Whale couldn't even cure." He sucked in a deep breath, looking like something was hurting him physically by talking about it.

"They both passed away within hours of each other."

Belle's mouth opened slightly in shock, instantly reaching out her hand to hold his. She couldn't think of anything more horrible than having the woman you love and your child die both in the same day; the way he looked at her so lovingly... It just didn't seem right. Being trapped in a land frozen in perpetual time was bad enough.

"I'm... I'm so sorry Hood," she said, as genuinely as she could, not wanting her emotions to get the better of her.

"It was a while ago." He said simply, clearly begging for a new conversation.

"So, you've been... Hiding around Storybrooke for all this time?" Belle thankfully caught on, sending him a comforting smile as she spoke.

Robin let out a small laugh and nodded. "Basically. I did have a job at the mechanic's station for a while though."

Things got silent after he spoke, and they sat in a silence in each others company.

"Why are you really here?" She asked quietly, serious deepening her voice down a notch.

Robin studied her for a few moments. "To help you. To return the favor."
Belle soaked in his words, suddenly feeling like she was lifted up out of all her misery and condemnation. "I couldn't thank you more Robin."

He opened his eyes to find a world of darkness. Not only that, but he was completely immobilized. Then, after the natural will to escape sunk defeatedly like a weight on his chest. All the information of the Hun attack came flooding back to him.

"Neal? Neal are you there?" A terrified feminine voice asked from seemingly a few feet away.

Upon hearing another voice, Neal blew a relieved sigh. He wasn't alone.

"Aurora? Are you alright?" He asked in a raspy whisper.

"I'm fine," she replied quickly, finally giving up on fighting her restraints. "Wh- what do you think they want from us?"

Neal shook his head, though he knew it wouldn't do any good. "I have no idea."

Then, anger began churning inside of him. Why was it that he had to go through so much? Was it going to be this hard to get back to Emma and his son? Apparently so. Neal just hoped Henry was doing okay. He had only fallen through that portal what seemed like a short time ago- what could possibly happen?

"The Huns attacked the village where I lived when I was a child." Aurora's voice was an icy whirlwind of unearthed emotions. "They are horrible, horrible people..."

"Don't worry," Neal reassured her with hollow confidence, "they can't do anything to us unless we let them. They think I'm just a man from the Enchanted Forest. Lets make sure they keep thinking that."

Aurora frowned at him. "How are you so sure Mulan, Lancelot and Philip will find Merlin?"

"Just takes some belief." He said, his voice unwavering.

I know it's short but with school and everything this is what I ended up with. I'll make it up to you guys though, next chapter is going back to Snow and Rumple as they take on Ursula! ...I feel bad for having Robin's wife and son die, but I thought it was best. Do you want to see more of him in chapters later on? Leave a review and tell me!