A/N: I know most of you have already read this chapter, but my super awesome mega foxy hot beta fixed all my mistakes and helped me work through a plot hole or two. So if you re-read it you might notice it's been tweaked. Also, more excitingly, the next chapter will be up later tonight! Hooray! It is full of dramatic moments, and sad moments. I hope you all love this chapter, the next one, and the others that follow (I have the next two already written and will have them out sooner rather than later.)! My beta (in case you forgot, she is Earthgurdaian) just graduated as well, so lets give her lots and lots of love!

Also, I wanted to let you all know that I plan on keeping this story going for a bit longer, so we all get our OUAT fix since it is gone for the summer :(. You can ask/tell me anything, I consider everyone's ideas. Also, kudos to you for 100 reviews! Woooo! Alright, onward with the story!

Belle was sitting in the sheriff's office when Rumple burst in. "Follow me," he told her, holding out his hand. She stared at his hand and then up to his face. Belle had been at work all day and had not seen him since the night before, when she had been sick outside Granny's diner. He had come in late, and spoken with her briefly, and the mood had been tense although he didn't say what was on his mind. Now he was here, and she was worried.

"What's going on?"

"There isn't time for that. Follow me."

Belle narrowed her eyes for a moment, but took his hand only to be dragged out quickly. They began walking towards the forest.

"What is going on?" She demanded, wanting to dig her heels in but Rumple was in a hurry and she knew he wasn't going to let her resist.

"Henry is in the hospital. Emma and Regina are en route," he said evasively as they plunged into the woods.

"Is everything okay?" She stopped and looked over at him, a little afraid.

"Everything is changing," he told her, and then began walking again. They were silent, but Belle felt it, as a wind blows through her hair, the feel of magic.

"The curse..." she whispered as they reached a well." What is this?"

"They say the water will return that which was once lost."

Belle watched him uncap a bottle containing a purple liquid and then drop it into the well. "I don't understand," she told him as purple smoke began to pour out of it.

"Magic."

"Magic doesn't exist in this land," she said, but he didn't appear to be listening as he grinned at her. His smile was very Rumple-esque.

"I am bringing it back."

"Why?"

"Because," his grin widened as she looked at him. "Magic is power."

The purple smoke engulfed them and began racing towards the town. She couldn't see anything in front of her, but Rumples grip on her hand tightened and she felt safe. She was afraid of what she was going to see when the smoke cleared. Would he be green and gold again? What kind of havoc would magic wreak here? Her mind flashed to previous conversations she had had with him, but he had never promised he wouldn't pick magic over her. Surely now he would, what with having Bae and her back and their unborn child.

The smoke cleared and Belle immediately looked over at her husband. He looked exactly the same and totally different at the same time. He looked over at her and brushed a strand of hair from her face and she could feel it. He had his magic back. He looked wild and dangerous, and she was a little afraid.

"What have you done?" She whispered, catching his hand and pressing it to her lips. He grinned down at her but didn't respond, leading her back out of the forest. She followed him, trying not to think about anything she had just seen, and afraid of what she would find.

"Everything looks the same," she breathed when they stepped back into town.

"Of course it does my dear. What did you think?" He asked her gently. People were milling around, looking confused but Rumple just ignored them, his grip still tight on her hand.

"Why didn't we go back?" She asked as they walked back into his shop.

"The battle must happen first," he smiled gleefully.

"And whose side are you on?" She stared at him. "Now that it has come down to picking a side. Are you on Regina's or are you on the side of good?"

Rumple, who had begun to walk behind his counter stopped, turned to face her, and then walked in front of her. He put both hands on either side of her face. "Do you think I forgot what she did to you? How she kept you locked up like an animal. I am forever on your side, dearie. No matter what happens, or what you may think, I am always firmly on your side."

She tilted her head and kissed him softly. "I love you." He sighed and put a hand on the back of her head as he drew her close to him. At that moment the door flew open and Emma strode in, Henry at her heels.

"You tricked me!" She shouted. Belle did not pull away from Rumple, allowing him to keep an arm firmly around her waist.

"A necessary evil, love," he told her, shrugging it off. "I knew you could break the curse without help from magic. I had already told you how. True love is the most powerful magic, remember?"

"Then why send me to the dragon in the first place?" Emma's eyes were filled with fury. Belle looked at her, confused. What dragon?

"You are the only one who could retrieve the magic for me," he responded simply. Belle could tell Rumple was enjoying this, maybe a little too much. Emma shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and Belle realized Emma was confused.

"Now what? What happens now?" Emma asked him. "And how can I trust you?"

"You can trust him because of her!" Henry interjected, staring at Belle.

"Your boy is right you know," Rumple told her. "So long as my Belle lives, you know my side."

Belle shrugged and looked at Emma. They had formed a friendship this last year, Belle hoped that Emma would still trust her now that the pieces on the board had shifted.

"How do I know you aren't just in it for yourself? How do I know you aren't tricking us all and you're going to take her along with you?"

"Well now...you can't," he said, flashing her a grin. "But you need me."

Emma's eyes flashed dangerously. "Why?"

"Because I have magic, and you do not. And you can bet Regina will be using magic as well."

"EMMA!" Snow Whites voice was shouting through the street, causing all of them to stare at the door. Emma's eyes met Belle's, who broke away from Rumples grasp and put both hands on Emma's had absently just realize Rumple was no longer using his cane. Had the magic fixed his bad leg? She made a mental note to pay attention to his, and perhaps ask later.

"You can do this," Belle told her fiercely, looking into her eyes.

"I can't, I can't do this," Emma shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "You can. You're brave and honest, and they love you.

They have been waiting for you for twenty eight years. Come on," Belle took Emma's hand, Henry took her other. Rumple followed silently behind them as they exited the shop and walked out into the street. The four looked a little bit down the street to see Snow White and Prince James standing there, looking at her.

"Go," Henry nudged. "Go see your parents."

Emma looked from Belle down to her son, and then took a step forward. Snow and James, hands joined, ran at her, and in a moment were reunited with their daughter. Snow was crying, her hand in Emma's hair, and James had his arms both around his wife and his daughter. They stayed this way for a long time, laughing and crying, as everyone else gathered to watch. Finally, they broke apart. Snow's eyes roamed Emma's as if she could never get enough.

"I knew you'd find us," she said through her tears, causing Emma to cry a little harder.

"We are so proud of you," James told her. Belle put a hand to her mouth, tears forming in her own eyes. The moment was touching. As they all stood there, people reunited with loved ones as the curse had been broken, a dark cloud began forming. Belle knew what Rumple had done, but no one else did. What he really did was even the playing field for Regina. She could use magic just as well as he could, and even as they stood there she could feel it pulsing through him as it had back in their days in the castle.

"Emma!" Belle turned and saw Bae running down the street. She looked at him and then over at Henry, who looked confused. Breaking apart from her parents, she knelt in front of her son.

"Henry, I have to tell you something," she said, her voice cracking a little. "When I told you your father died, I lied. He is alive."

"Who?" Henry asked, looking at her desperately.

"It's me. I am," Bae said, stepping forward. "And I have been looking for you two for a long time."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Henry asked her as Bae knelt next to Emma. Snow and James watched, smiling at each other. Three generations all stood in front of each other.

"Don't be mad at her, Henry. She was only trying to protect you," Bae told her. Belle was consistently amazed at Baelfire's ability to forgive. Henry looked at his father, and then at his mother, and launched himself into Bae's arms. Bae hesitated for a moment and then wrapped both arms around Henry.

"Who are you?" James couldn't help but ask after Henry and Bae hugged for a moment. "I don't recognize your face."

"Baelfire, son of Rumpelstiltskin," Bae said proudly, standing before Prince James. There was no fear in his face as he stood there. James and Snow exchanged a glance and then everyone's eyes turned to Rumple, a man who, for the last twenty eight years, had owned everything but their very existence.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" James said slowly, looking at Rumple. Belle grabbed his hand tightly, wanting to put herself between them but Rumple nudged her slightly behind him. "Did you orchestrate this?" James asked, indicating Henry. Rumple just laughed, looking at the Prince with amusement.

"Even I could not have planned something so magnificent."

"He had nothing to do with Emma and me," Bae told James.

"It makes him family," Snow told James softly, putting her hand on James' arm.

"And if you recall dearie, you would not have your happy ending with the lovely Snow White without me," Rumple reminded James. Belle made a mental note to ask Rumple about that. There was so much she didn't know, having been locked up.

"And you," James rounded on Belle, still slightly shielded by Rumples body. "Who are you? Have you also been in on this the entire time?"

Belle shook her head, her brown hair blowing in the wind. "I am the daughter of Sir Maurice. He ruled over a village surrounded by the Endless Ocean," she began. "I made a deal with Rumpelstiltskin a long time ago to end the Ogre Wars in my village, which was killing my people."

"What deal?" Snow asked; her eyes filled with pity.

"To be the care taker of the Dark Castle, in exchange for the end of the war," Belle said softly, remembering that night.

"And you have remembered, the entire time?" Snow asked her. Belle shook her head.

"I was cast out of the Dark Castle after...Regina interfered," Belle said delicately. She could feel Rumple stiffen next to her at the memory; she rubbed her thumb back and forth on his hand as she continued on. "Regina captured me and kept me captive."

"To use against him?" James asked, trying to keep up.

"Because I loved her," Rumple told him. "When she escaped from Regina's clutches I aided her in her memories. Belle had never been anything but pure in her intentions."

"Then what is she doing with you?" James asked angrily.

"Beauty is more than skin deep," Belle cut in. "And what you see and what I see, what is there, are two different things."

"Belle can be trusted," Emma told them. "She was sometimes one of the only friends I had...friends." Emma's face was stricken by a thought. "August." Belle looked at her, alarmed.

"Where is he?"

"Right here." Belle and Emma both turned to see August, fully human, walking towards them. "You did it. You broke the curse."

"I saw you...turn to wood," Emma said, looking him up and down.

"Magic," he said, spinning somewhat sarcastically in a circle.

"Pinocchio. My boy." Everyone watched as Jiminy Cricket, the Blue Fairy, and Geppetto engulfed August in a hug. Everywhere Belle looked people were standing embracing their loved ones. She saw Jefferson holding a little girl, tears in his eyes. Ariel and Eric embracing each other tightly. Cinderella and Prince Thomas holding hands and staring down at their little Alexandra. It felt like everyone was finally getting the happy ending that had been so denied them these last twenty eight years; denied them by Regina. Regina. Belle looked around wildly, expecting at any moment to see Regina walking down the street to smite them all.

"Where is Regina?" Belle voiced aloud, afraid that their happy moment could be ruined by the Evil Queen. After all, since Rumple had brought magic to this land, Regina was more dangerous and more powerful than she had ever been.

"Regina won't be showing her face around here for a while," the Blue Fairy informed her. "But you're right. We must prepare a defense for when she does. She won't go down without a fight."

"Bring it on," Emma said bravely.

"I think we should elect a new leader," Red crossed the street with Granny at her side. "Someone we can all trust."

"I think it's obvious; Snow White," Cinderella and Thomas had also come over. Jefferson and his daughter were joining them along with many others.

"I agree," Belle said.

"Let's take a vote," James said, a smile playing on his lips. "All for Snow say 'here here'."

The sound was loud and unanimous. Snow had been their leader back in The Enchanted Forest, it was fitting she would lead them here.

"I can't defeat Regina," Snow told everyone. "Only Emma can."

"I'll need your help," Emma said, desperation creeping into her voice. Belle let go of Rumple's hand and walked over to her and grabbed her hand.

"Look around. Everyone here is here to help you. You don't have to do this alone."

"You never have to be alone," Snow was at her other side. James followed Snow. Belle looked behind them to see Henry standing in front of Bae, who had one hand across Henry's chest, pulling him close to him. Emma seemed to be taking in everyone's support.

"Okay. How do we take her down?"

That seemed to be the million dollar question. Jefferson immediately offered up his residence, the second largest home in Storybrooke, as their official meeting place. Emma reminded everyone of Regina's skeleton key, and Geppetto agreed to make a new door, with Pinocchio's help, immediately. They also agreed that a new council needed to be formed. Snow wanted her old friends, the dwarves, Red and Granny, the Blue Fairy, Jiminy, and Geppetto, but Emma objected.

"I need my own council," she said as they all sat in Jefferson's large basement. It was the only room large enough to house everyone who showed up.

"You can trust these people," Snow insisted, but Emma shook her head.

"No."

"Then who?" James asked her.

"You, and Snow of course," Emma said, swallowing a little. "I also want Henry, and August, Belle and Mr...Rumpelstiltskin."

"No dice dearie. I'll play on your side, but I'm not joining your little war tribunal," Rumple was standing on the outskirts of the group.

"I still don't think you can trust him!" James said.

"He's never lied to me," Emma told her father. Belle and August had both stepped forward, Emma's two closest friends in Storybrooke.

"You can trust him," Belle said firmly. "If he betrays you with magic, I will pay the price." Her eyes met Rumple's and she saw regret pass across his face. She was holding him accountable. If he did anything with magic that caused them harm, it would directly harm her. James relaxed a little and Snow continued to look serene.

"Pinocchio and Belle have been my closest confidants here," Emma told them. "I can't do this without them."

Pinocchio reached down and gripped Belle's hand, squeezing for a moment. The time had come at long last, and they were going to help.

Belle sat and listened as everyone caught everyone up on what had been going on. She was mostly fascinated with the individual stories. Grumpy sat next to her, having recognized her from a meeting they had in a pub a long time ago. Back then he had been Dreamy, and she was curious how he had become Grumpy. Did it have something to do with his love? If it did he didn't mention it, and she didn't ask. She frequently looked over to Rumple, who stood near the door with Bae. Everyone was making plans on where to stay. Jefferson had agreed to allow Snow and James to stay with him, but Emma was adamant on living in her shared apartment until the Blue Fairy reminded her that Regina would look there for Emma first. It was imperative to keep Emma alive at any cost. Belle wondered how many would die to achieve this end. Would she? Somehow she knew Rumple would sacrifice everyone else to keep her alive. She knew she was safe with Rumple, so she would be staying with him.

As everyone got up to leave James grabbed Belle's arm and pulled her aside. The Blue Fairy was standing there next to him, watching her intently.

"Can we trust him?" He asked her in low tones so not to be over heard. Belle looked up at him as his eyes searched hers. "Honestly."

"He had not changed at all in his time here," The Blue Fairy said to the both of them. "He's still just as evil as he ever was."

"He was never evil," Belle insisted. "Has he ever lied to you?" She challenged, knowing full well that Rumpelstiltskin had never told a lie. He was evasive and a trickster, but he didn't lie.

"You are blinded by love," James told her. "But lives are at stake here."

"So long as I help Emma, he will as well."

"As long as it serves him," The Blue Fairy said a little too astutely. "He created this curse, Belle. Don't let him fool you."

"I think I know him much better than anyone here," Belle said fiercely. "And I know he created the curse. If you know he created it then you also must know why he created it!"

"To find his son," The Blue Fairy said. "I know well."

"He has his son now. Regina is the enemy. She took everyone's lives from them for twenty eight years. Let's not forget that."

"Are you prepared to pay if he crosses us all?" James asked her.

"I am. He won't. Trust me."

"I do trust you," James confessed.

"Then you let me worry about Rumpelstiltskin. We are going to win this, and in order to that we need him," she reaffirmed.

"She's right. We will need his help," The Blue Fairy conceded.

"I hope you're right," James said.

"I am right."