Thank you to Fiend89 for editing this chapter.

"You need to leave," Emma states, leaving no room for argument. She doesn't have time nor patience to deal with Neal. He could die for all she cared. She wants him back where he came from and stay there. Far away from here, and far away from Henry.

"Let me explain," Neal tries to reason with Emma. He knows that he had no right after what he did, but he had good reason. If only he can get Emma to listen to him.

"So you can lie to me?" Emma snaps at him. "I'm not going to be tricked by your charm again. You can take your excuses and shove them."

Who does he think he's trying to fool? There is nothing he can say that will make what he did better. It will be a waste of breath and time.

"It wasn't like it seemed," Neal points out, wincing at the memory and reason of why he let Emma take the fall for the stolen watches. "If you just give me five minutes, I could explain."

"You made me take the fall for the stolen watches, leaving me there to get arrested," Emma tells him, reminding him of what happened. "I went to jail because of you. Alone."

"And I'm sorry," Neal says honestly. "It should have been me."

"It should have been, but you decided to trick me to fall in love with you and then screw me over."

"I didn't trick you into loving me," Neal shakes his head. "I loved you too. And that's why I had to do what I had to do."

"And why's that?" Emma questions. If she had no choice but to listen, she would at least like to know the reason he left her to pay for his crime. "Did Rumpelstiltskin plan out your life too?"

"No," Neal replies quickly. "It was August who told me what you were destined for, and I couldn't stand in the way..."

Emma lets the words sink in. "You left me because August told you that I'm destined to be screwed over?" That makes everything better... NOT!

"You had to save this town, and I couldn't stop you from doing that," Neal explains.

"What did August say that convince you that fairy tales exist?"

"It's not what he said. It was he knows," Neal answers honestly.

Emma just stared at him in confusion, not understanding what he was meaning. "Please explain, because I'm more lost than finding out that Snow White and Prince Charming are my parents."

"I am Baelfire."

"Baelfire?" She doesn't remember reading about a Baelfire. Her knowledge of fairy tales aren't as great as Henry but she's sure that she never heard of a Baelfire.

"Rumpelstiltskin's son," Neal admits.

All she can think of after the news bomb, was that Henry wasn't something that Rumpelstiltskin map out. And that didn't settle right with her "Did you know who I was, where I was from, the whole time? Was this just some sort of sick, twisted plan? Did… Did you even care about me at all?

"If I knew who you were, I would have stayed away. I swear," Neal tells her.

"So you used me. To take the fall for all the watches you stole," Emma states. "A big coincidence."

"No. I still love you, I still want you. It was just the only way to make sure you fulfill what you were meant to do," Neal reaches for Emma's hand, to comfort her. "There are no coincidences. Everything that happened, happens by design, and there's nothing we can do about it. Forces greater than us conspire to make it happen. Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it. The point is… Maybe we met for a reason. Maybe something good came from us being together."

She rips her hand out of Neal's grip, not wanting to be touched by him. "That's why you are back?"

"I explained and apologized. I want to go back to what we had," Neal smiles at his once lover, hoping that she'll just admit her feelings back.

"What makes you think I want you?" Emma lifts an eyebrow in question.

"You can't say that you don't love me."

"I loved you. Once. But now..." Emma shakes her head. "Nope. I'm in love with someone else. My true love."

Neal is too shocked at how strong the words came out of Emma's mouth, stabbing him in the chest. He shaeks his head, he got this far, he won't stop until he gets what he wants. "I won't give up."

Emma is about to open her mouth when Henry enters the diner, running over to her. "Hey Emma!"

"Henry, shouldn't you be at school?" Emma turns her attention to her son, trying to get rid of him before Neal questions the boy.

"I'm on my way, thought you could walk me there," Henry scratches his neck sheepishly. "We haven't had time together..."

"Oh... I'm sorry kid," Emma apologizes, feeling guilty for not spending any time with her son. Regina makes parenting easy. "I'll tell you what, I'm going to walk you to school and pick you up."

"Awesome," Henry smiles, finally able to get time with at least one of his parents. He misses his mom. Since Cora is in town, he hasn't seen much of Regina. He can't wait until all of it is over. He wants to spend time with his moms.

"Wait for me outside," Emma orders, still wanting Henry to get away from Neal.

Nodding his head, his eyes notice the man sitting across from Emma. "Who's that?"

"I was wondering the same thing to you," Neal wonders out loud, staring at the kid curiously.

"Nobody," Emma answers both of them. "Meet me outside, Henry."

"How old are you?" Neal quickly shots out the question before the kid left.

"Don't answer him," Emma warns Henry.

"It's a simple question. Doesn't harm the kid," Neal argues. "How old are you?"

"Eleven," Henry answer, narrowing his eyes at the guy. "Ma?" Henry looks at Emma confused of what's going on.

Eyes widen, piecing the pieces together. "Is he... my son?" Neal whispers the question, afraid of the words that are coming out of his mouth.

"That's not possible. My dad was a fireman. He… He died," Henry shakes his head, not able to take in the news. "That's what you told me. You said…" Henry looks at Emma for answers, not understanding Neal's implications.

Emma opens her mouth but closes it again, not sure what to say at this point. She watches with pained eyes as Henry backs away from her reaching hand to comfort him. "Henry!" Emma calls after the boy, as he runs out of the diner and she chases after him, forgetting about Neal.

Neal sits in shock, not able to cope with finding out that he is a father. That he left Emma to go to jail pregnant. This doesn't change his plan to get Emma back, this just gives him the more reason to fight harder.

He will be there for his son unlike his father. He will have the family that he always wanted.

"Henry! Slow down! Please talk to me," Emma runs after the boy who she gave birth too. She's has to explain it, make him understand why she lied.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Henry demands an answer, as he stops suddenly and faces her.

"Because I never thought I would see him again. I never wanted to," Emma answers him truthfully. She knows if she lies, she'll lose Henry.

"Why not?"

"He was a thief, Henry. A liar, a bad guy, and he… He broke my heart," Emma tells him.

"I could have taken it, you know. The truth," Henry tells her.

"I know," Emma says. "He was just a part of my life I wanted to forget. That's why I didn't tell you. I was thinking of me, not you."

"And I thought mom lied to me, but I got to thinking and figure out that she never once lied. She spoke in half-truths, never completely lying but not completely telling the truth. She spoke in riddles when she answered about the fairy tale thing," Henry starts to rant. "But you are worst than her."

"...I'm so sorry..." Emma apologizes, hoping Henry will forgive her.

"I want to meet my dad," Henry states, making up his mind.

"Not happening," Emma shakes her head, dismissing the idea.

"It's either you let me or I'll do it behind your back," Henry reminds her what he did for her when Regina didn't let him see Emma.

Emma didn't like it but Henry was her son, and that means that once his mind was made up, there was no changing it unless something convinced him that he's doing wrong. And the past of Henry hating Regina proves it. Now she understands the how Regina felt when Henry went behind her back to visit her. "Okay, but on my terms."

Taking the first shift at the station wasn't what Red really wanted to do but Emma called saying she had to take of a problem. The father of Henry, which had drama written all over it. Emma wasn't happy about it and she's sure if Regina was around and more focused on Henry, she would be piss. Another person that can threaten to take away Henry, and she'll probably have no choice but to let him go.

And she thought her love life was hanging off by threads. Every day she visits, and every day it's the same thing. No matter how much she's trying, it feels as though she's getting further away from Belle. It's becoming stressful, but she won't quit. She'll always be by Belle's side.

She rubs her eyes, tired from the sleepless night. It was a full moon last night and she wandered around the forest, running free as her wolf half. After everything happened, she needed to release the bottled anger and become stress free. Getting in sync with nature and her true self.

She walks through the doorway, just sensing the unwanted, but familiar scent too late. Not able stop from getting knocked out from behind, she feels a sharp pain shot through her head, as the darkness overcame her, her body lands on the floor with a thud.

Hook smirks at the beauty that lies on the floor, unconscious. If he wasn't in a rush, he could think a few things he could do to that gorgeous body. Walking to the office, he opens the top draw, finding a black box. Opening the box, he finds the thing that's missing from his body.

"Hello oh dear pal of mine. Did you miss me? Because I sure did," Hook smiles as he replaces the fake hand with his hook. "Time to take down Rumpelstiltskin."

Snow went to visit an old friend of hers, back from her childhood, in hopes to clear her mind from bad memories. She hates this day of all years, her birthday, which includes the death of her mother. She walks to the backyard to find her old maid gardening her mother's favorite flowers.

"Johanna," Snow greets the older woman, smiling.

"Snow White, my dear, you have changed so much since the Enchanted Forest, the Fairy Tale Land," Johanna check how Snow White turned out from the Dark Curse.

"I questioned the short hair too at first but it grew on me," Snow admits. It was the only thing she likes about the curse, that and starting over away from all that is from their old land.

"I'm glad you are looking well, and wonderful," Johanna says.

"As wonderful as I ever will be," Snow sighs, stress catching up to her from the crazy week.

"What's wrong?"

"Regina," Snow states what should have been an obvious to her old dear friend.

"What did Regina do now?" Johanna questions, getting tired of how every problem Snow has is pointed back at Regina.

"She's plotting with her mother," Snow tells her, explaining what's been going on.

After listening to Snow catch her up with all that has happened since the return of their memories. "You should trust her when she asked you too," Johanna finally says something, standing up for the dark hair woman who once her queen.

"How can you say that after trying to kill me so many times?" Snow questions the older woman.

"You are letting a short time period blind your judgment," Johanna states. "You forget that Regina saved you and raised you like you were her own after what happened to Daniel."

"I was a child. She can't hold that against me forever," Snow points out. "She hated me. She never once loved me."

"Regina might have tried to kill you but she never successfully did," Johanna points out back. "And not because you were lucky."

"Are you on her side?" Snow can't believe Regina got to Johanna, manipulating her to believe her bullshit.

"Choosing a side is what finally broke Regina, Snow. Stop pushing her into a corner and tying her down."

"She tried to kill me. Multiple times," Snow says angrily.

"I'm pointing out the wrong you are doing. Reminding you how much Regina took and never gotten anything returned. You were just a child, hidden from what happened behind close doors. You don't know how much Regina went through, but she put a smile on her face everyday and acted like nothing was wrong," Johanna is finally opening Snow's eyes of what's been hidden from her.

"What are you trying to say?" Snow asks. Was Johanna trying to tell her something that she didn't know what happened in her castle?

"I'm saying that though Regina hates you, and can't stand that everything has to always be about you, she still cared and took care of you the best she could. Holding in everything in, not letting it out," Johanna defends the former queen. "A person can hold so much in before they explode."

When the king was killed, she knew it wasn't by Regina's hands as Snow accused her of. She's sure that Regina was part of it in a way but not physically or planning it. That's much she's sure of it. And she won't lie, she's glad the king Leopold has finally gotten what he deserve. Especially after every day she entered the queen's chambers, helping Regina back to her feet, hiding the pain he caused and giving her a chance of freedom.

She knew that Regina was learning magic, she even encouraged it. It helped Regina have a control over something, though it was dark. Especially how Regina kept living as if nothing was going on, still treating Snow as her own child, though it hurt her knowing she'll never bear a child of her own.

The day when Regina took control of the kingdom, she at first thought that things might get worse, but like always Regina proves her wrong. She displayed the strength that kept her from being darkened. She never once raise an iron hand, unless she had to get respect or if someone questioned her power. She has followers, an army that was the most powerful in the land. Even her elite soldiers could never be taken down. The Dark Forest protected the her kingdom.

"The reason Regina was never able to pull off in killing you, is because deep down she still loves you beside everything that happened to her. It was more fun and games to her to have someone to fight against and she can fight back," Johanna says, the most truthful thing since she found Regina broken and bleeding after Leopold's honeymoon night.

Snow doesn't know what to make with everything Johanna just said, but she knows that Regina is still fooling everyone to believe that she's the innocent one in their story. It's time she faces her former step mother.

"It doesn't make it ok after everything she did," Snow says darkly, leaving the old maid disappointed in the white queen. Eva would be not pleased to find out Snow letting the darkness float around in her heart and mind. Maybe if she speaks to Regina, she will help to stop Snow from darkening her heart.

Regina makes her way to the diner after hanging up the phone with Snow. Snow wanted to talk, even though it's supposedly about Henry, but she has a feeling she'll be getting a whining speech. Why else would Snow call for her presence?

Entering the diner, she sees Snow right away, making a beeline straight to the table, ignoring everyone in the diner. Not wanting to be seated, she stays standing, "how is Henry? Is he okay?"

Looking up from her mug, answering honestly, "he's fine."

Narrowing her eyes at her ex stepdaughter, "then why am I here?" Regina questions Snow, taking a seat at the other side of the booth. She never was a patient woman, she hates beating around the bush, and she's not going to start now. She doesn't have the energy or half a mind to play Snow's games today. Or any day for that matter.

"Because I know you've been lying," Snow looks staight into Regina's dark eyes. "I thought it's time we talk about it."

"I don't know what you are talking about..." Regina looks back at Snow, confuse as what Snow was referring to. Yes, she's been lying, but not to Snow White. The world didn't revolve around her, but of course when it came to her being the Evil Queen and Snow White's enemy, it has too.

"I know you are lying. I know you are teaming up with you mother. Fooling us to believe you're helping us, but instead planning to take us down," Snow reveals Regina's plan that she believes Regina was plotting.

"What I'm doing is my business," Regina states with a hard voice, glaring at her once stepdaughter. She asked Snow to trust her, and of course that was too much to ask the simple-minded woman. And to this day she wonders how she's still alive and hasn't killed her. What will it take to get her off her back... probably having her heart ripped out and her head on a platter.

"A war is starting Regina," Snow states an obvious.

Regina rolls her eyes, "that much I know, dear." Can someone tell her how Snow was able to run an army and a kingdom at the same time to take her down? Must have been pure luck...

Ignoring the older woman's sarcastic tone, she got to the reason she asked Regina here. "Lucky for you that you befriended enough good will with me to give you one last chance. A chance to choose the right side. The side of good," Snow tells Regina. One last test, and she hopes Regina will prove her wrong this time.

"Have you ever considered that maybe, perhaps, I am good," Regina says. "I was always the queen. It was you who added "Evil" to my name."

It's as if when she saved Snow from the horse accident and raising her as her own meant nothing to Snow. Even ignoring the fact that she taken care of the kingdom with kindness. That the people approved her as their queen, not questioning her once. There wasn't any reason to. She never lifted her finger to them. An army followed her every command, following her to the end. She brought wealth to the village. But of course it meant nothing to Snow.

"Good doesn't do what you do," Snow says. "Why? Regina, why go back being this way after how hard you tried?"

How dare her?! She can't believe how Snow could be questioning her, wasting her time with trying to guilt her up. She knows that Emma is not happy with her. She knows that if Henry doesn't understand what she did was to protect everyone, he'll never trust her again. She understands the risks, but there wasn't much she can do.

And let's say that it works as well as she planned it. It's not going to change anything. "And what will it get me? Dinner with a bunch of hypocrites who pretend they'll forgive me, when in their hearts they know... they never will," Regina says angrily. Let's get real. It might never happen. It hurts, but it's the truth.

Snow was about to say something, to protest, but they both know that Regina was telling the truth. That no matter how they look at it, it will always be. "It's a least a chance," Snow ends up shrugging. "It's better than nothing."

"You are giving me a chance? What about I give you one," Regina says serious. It's about time that Snow listens to her. "Stay out of my way."

She gets up, about to leave when Snow opens her mouth and say something that stops her. "Listening to your mother is a mistake, Regina," Snow sighs.

"Because listening to you has worked so much better?" Regina shoots back.

"She doesn't care about Henry. All she cares about is power. That's all she wants is power." That's the only thing that Snow was right about. And Regina hates admitting to that much.

"Power gets you things," Regina shrugs, quoting her mother and other villains she met in her life.

"She doesn't care about you," Snow points out another obvious.

"Really?" Regina's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Please, Regina," Snow tries one more time to get through the older woman.

"I don't have time to listen to your blabbing. I have things I must do," Regina says with mock annoyance. "Happy Birthday Snow," Regina whispers before leaving the raven head alone with her thoughts.

Rumpelstiltskin was about to head out to find his son, needing to confirm if the globe was right, that Bae is in town. It makes matters easier for him. He doesn't have to leave the magical comfort of the town and he can work on his relationship with his son.

Just as Rumpelstiltskin is about to walk out, Neal is waiting for him outside of the shop. "Hello papa."

"Bae?" Rumpelstiltskin smiles hopefully. He hasn't seen his boy in so long. And the last memory he remembers was Baelfire as a teen.

Neal sighs, he didn't want to do this. He could spend the rest of his life never seeing his father again. But knowing his father, sooner or later he'll have to talk to him. So, it'll be on his term and time. "Have a gut feeling that you would come looking for once you found out I'm in town. So here I am."

"I'm glad that you would give me time of the day."

"Something tells me that I won't have a choice," Neal points out. "I feel magic in this town. I wonder who brought it here," Neal stares hard at his father. After so long of being separated, nothing changed. Rumpelstiltskin is still the same. Power hungry.

"It's just an insurance, protection," Rumpelstiltskin tells his son. "I'll be a sitting duck in this town without it."

"So, you are only using magic to protect yourself?" Neal asks doubtfully.

"I haven't used magic since I released it in town. Except for small things, simple summoning," Rumpelstiltskin answers honestly.

"So you want me to believe that you haven't started to plot a grand scheme or something?" Neal questions his father as he looks around the pawn shop. He observes ittems of their old world. Home.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Emma."

"What about Miss. Swan?" Rumpelstiltskin asks, trying to get his son to just come out with it.

"Did you plan for us to meet before she came here?" Neal was almost afraid to ask, but he had to make sure.

"You meet Miss. Swan before? You know Miss. Swan?" Rumpelstiltskin questions, not seeing this coming.

"I'm the reason she went to jail and how it eventually led her to this town," Neal tells him, not wanting to go into detail.

Rumpelstiltskin tilts his head, trying to wrap his brain at this new information. He didn't see this coming. And he has the gift to see the future. "Are you telling me that you were the man who Emma had a love affair with?"

"I just found out that I have a son," Neal sighs, still not believing that he didn't know sooner. That his son lived without him. And he swears to never be like his father.

"Henry is your son?" That means he's the boy's grandfather... He's not sure what to do with that news.

"Yes, and unlike you, I'm going to be in his life," Neal declares out loud, making his father feel guilty.

"I regretted the moment I let go," Rumpelstiltskin apologizes. If he could turn back time, he would not have let go and went with Bae to the land of no magic. "Please give me a chance to prove how sorry I am."

"How are you going to do that? I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. Can you make up for that?" Neal shakes his head, there was no answer his father could give that will make it all better. "All I care about is getting Emma and Henry back. To be a family."

Baelfire didn't get his stubbornness from his mother. He won't quit. He'll find a way to make it up for his son. To have him to forgive him. "It's only fair, but I should warn you that you'll be going through Regina."

"Who's Regina?"

"Henry's other mother," Rumpelstiltskin answers Bae. "Emma gave Henry up, and it's Regina who adopted him and raised him for ten years. Emma just recently has been in the boy's life."

"This town doesn't exist in this world, so it's not seal and legal," Neal points out, thinking he has an upper hand.

"It's legal and binding," Rumpelstiltskin disappoints his son. "I was the one who took care of the deal. And you can't erase the person who raised you and took care of you. Even if the person is the Evil Queen."

All Neal got from what his father was telling him was that the woman who raised his son was the Evil Queen. "A cold-hearted witch raised my son?"

"Don't let this world's fairy tale stories fool you. She's not completely cold-hearted," Rumpelstiltskin defends Regina.

Regina might be a lot of things, but it doesn't give someone the right to disrespect her when they didn't know her. And she's his apprentice. She is more powerful than her own mother. Able to fight against darkness for so long, and keep fighting against it as it slowly consumed her heart. Even after her heart was blacken, she still use what little good in her to good use.

"Also she took well care of Henry. She might have been strict and stern but not once has she raised a finger or her temper. Never have she force him to do anything that he didn't want to do," Rumpelstiltskin states a fact that some people seem to ignore in this town. "She might have lost her way or don't know how to love well. Give her credit when she didn't have a good example to fall on."

"It doesn't matter. I'll get Emma and Henry in the end," Neal leaves his father, not wanting to stay anywhere near the man any longer. As he left he didn't notice the familiar man sneak out of the shadows, smiling wickedly, slowly making his way to his father.

Rumpelstiltskin watch his son leave his presence once more. And in the same state as before.

Unhappy.

He'll have to keep trying, hoping that an opportunity comes where Bae will need him, it he's lucky. He just has to keep being there and slowly prove to Bae he changed. It'll be hard, but his boy was worth it all.

Getting to Bae's good graces wasn't the only problem at hand. Another is Henry. His grandson.

He knew that he was more special than he thought. Even remembering when he gave Regina the baby boy and she whispered that he was a special and was born for great things, and she's proud to be in his life. To be honored to give everything she has.

It didn't make sense at first. He just knew that the boy will bring Emma here, but he didn't think he be able to pull off even more. And for that reason alone the seer's words repeat in his head. Henry will be his downfall...

Before he could think more about the situation, he feels an arm go around his neck, holding in place and a hook stabs him in the chest. Not once did he see this coming. And that's going to be the irony of his future. He'll never see it coming, the day he'll fall.

"Tick tock. Time's up, crocodile. You took Milah, my love, my happiness. And for that, I now take your life," Hook smiles evilly, digging his hook deeper in Rumpelstiltskin's chest.

Emma enters to demand answers but stops in her tracks, seeing Hook stab Rumpelstiltskin. Quickly acting on instinct, she grabs the nearest object and hits Hook in the back of the head, forcing the pirate to let go of the older man who falls to the floor, unconscious.

She rushes over to Rumpelstiltskin, who is now slumped on the floor. "Are you alright?"

Just as Rumpelstiltskin was about to reply weakly, Neal comes running back into the pawn shop, after hearing a commotion. He might be angry at his father, hate him with every fiber in his body, but he still is his father and had to check on him. "What the hell is going on?"

Emma was kinda surprise to see Neal here, but it struck her that Rumpelstiltskin is Neal's father. "One of your dad's enemies found us," Emma points to Hook's unconscious body.

Neal looks at the body, recognizing the man right away. "Hook."

'You know him?" Emma questions Neal.

"It's a long story. Short version, is that this world wasn't my first stop when I left home," Neal tells her.

Emma just raises an eyebrow, wanting to know more.

"If it was, I'd be a couple hundred years old by now," Neal answers the silent question.

Neal pulls his father's shirt apart, checking out the wound. A yellow-green color spread on his chest.

"What the hell is that?" Emma asks in disgust.

"It's poison. It's one of Hook's own making. There's no antidote in this world. It's… It's not from here," Rumpelstiltskin answers her when Neal wasn't able to give an explanation.

"There has to be a way to save you," Neal says.

"Unless you know Tinkerbell or Ursula, and are in good terms with them, than no."

"Are they in town?" Emma asks. She hasn't profile everyone yet. There are a lot of people here in Storybrooke that she didn't realize before. And it's hard to keep track who was who and is.

"Tinkerbell is still in Neverland I believe and Ursula would rather see me dead than help save my life," Rumpelstiltskin forces out as pain numbs his body.

"It wouldn't hurt to ask," Emma tries.

"It'll be a waste of the third sunset and deal," Rumpelstiltskin huffs. The damn fish woman is more contrasted with her deals than he was. "I don't want to be trapped and hers forever. Not worth it."

"There has to be a way, papa," Neal says, needing to do something to help. He feels useless as he cannot save his father was starting to make him feel guilty.

"The only thing that can be is to let my magic fight against it, but it won't last forever, it will just prolong the pain and suffering."

Emma thought the day couldn't get anymore crappier. Leave it up to men who wanted her ruin her life... Just great.

Regina magically poofs in the station, carefully looking around to make sure the coast is clear before coming out of the shadows. She quickly makes her way to the unconscious body on the floor. Kneeling down, she gently shakes the young woman awake.

"Red?" Regina voice wakes up the hybrid, bring her to consciousness. "Are you okay?"

She brings a hand to her throbbing head, Red slowly opens her eyes. "Damn, my head."

"You took a hard hit from behind," Regina explains the reason for the headache.

"Hook," Red growls, getting up from the floor. Now that it is wolftime, the wolf within her wanted to rip the man who took Belle's memory away and dared to attack her. The wolf or her were not too happy.

"He got his hook," Regina states, helping Red up to feet and to the nearest chair.

"How do you know?" Red questions, looking at the dark hair woman curiously.

"Its all part a plan. A plan which I'll need your help with," Regina tells her.

"Is Hook helping you?" Red asks, not understanding what the older woman was saying.

"My mother is planning to get Rumpelstiltskin's dagger and use it to destroy everyone, to have power over everyone," Regina brings Red up to date of what's been going on. "And I can't have that. That's why I'm planning a sneak attack to stop her."

Red nods her head in understanding. "What does that have to do with Hook getting his hook back?"

"To poison Rumpel," Regina says simply. She didn't want to double cross the imp after making a temporary truce, but she can't risk her mother questioning her motives.

"That leaves him vulnerable," Red says.

"I was able to convince Hook that my mother is playing him. And because of my talent of words, I was able to make him see that I can give him his revenge. Weakening Rumpelstiltskin will force my mother out of hiding and onto the battlefield. She'll want to take the Dark One's power and claim it as her own," Regina explains the complicated plan that strategically calculated.

"I'm having a real hard time of where to put my trust with you," Red scratches her head, trying to figure out what she's missing that Regina isn't saying.

"Trust me when I say that getting the dagger is the last thing on my mind, but Cora insists," Regina shakes her head at how things are turning out. She hasn't had a good night's rest since her mother has been in town. "But it's the only way to insure us that Cora will be out in the open. And that's where I'll need you."

Regina only has one shot at this. One time to be able to take down her mother. To put a stop to all the pain the Queen of Hearts has ever done. And to prove that she choose the right side. Her side.

"What you want me to do?"

"I need fairy dust, and lots of it," Regina smiles wickedly. The chess pieces are in place, soon the opponent will lose their most powerful piece which will leave the king to defend itself for a short bit. And if she knows her mother, which she does, her mother will fight back, using whatever at her disposal.

Meaning Emma and Henry, but especially Henry. That's why she gave them her magic to protect them. So, that'll take out two pawns. Henry will be nowhere near the battle and she'll make sure of that, being well protected. She'll just have to get rid of the Charmings. And they'll be easy. Just leaving her and Cora alone.

"I won't leave Henry out of my sight. I'll protect him with my life. I promise," Red vows. "I'll get Grumpy and I'll do what has to be done."

Neal and Emma help Rumpelstiltskin to the back room, getting him comfy on the small bed. Carefully setting down the old man, not wanting to cause more discomfort.

"I'll get the Blue Fairy and bring her here. Hopefully she'll know how to heal him," Emma says to Neal, trying to comfort him. It must be hard to see his father slowly dying in front of him, watching the poison race to his heart.

"You think she'll be able to help?"

"It doesn't hurt to ask," Emma smiles sadly before turning to leave father and son alone. As took a step forward, her phone rings. She picks it up, "Hello?"

"Emma, I have bad news."

"Red? Something wrong?" Emma had to ask, thinking of the worst scenario.

"Regina was here and warned me that Cora is planning to get Rumpelstiltskin's dagger," Red says through the line. "With the dagger, she can get the imp to do anything she ask or worse become the dark one."

"Did Regina say how we can stop her from finding it?" Emma asks. Even though Regina put a wall between them, she still trusts her. No matter the distance, she will follow Regina to hell and back.

"Not really. Just that Cora has her own agenda," Red answers.

"Rumpelstiltskin was poisoned by Hook. He's not in the best condition to defend himself," Emma sighs. She had to jinx herself earlier. She really needs to start learning from her mistakes and keep her mouth shut.

"Shit," Red curses in Emma's ear. "We need to beat them before they get their hands on it."

"Well, start tracking. You're the best tracker, if anyone can find it, it'll be you."

"Rumpelstiltskin is about three hundred years. If he lasted this long without anyone getting their hand on it, there's a reason why not even I can find it," Red points out the flaw in Emma's plan. "You'll have to ask him, and get your parents to go get it."

"I'll do my best to convince him," Emma says before hanging up, sighing as she went to the back room.

"That was fast," Neal says when Emma walks in the room. Seeing her face, he knew it wasn't good news. "Bad news?"

"Worst," Emma says, looking down at the slowly weakening Rumpelstiltskin. "Cora is looking for your dagger. And what I'm understanding is that she's close to finding it."

"The dagger has not left my possession for centuries. It's not about to now," Rumpelstiltskin states. The dagger is not safe in anyone's hands. Not even the Charming family. He rather have Cora control him. At least she'll take care of some problems in this town, taking down those he cares so little for.

"Are you really about to risk that?" Emma questions the wizard. "You are in no condition to defend yourself."

"How do I know that you wouldn't use it yourself?" Rumpelstiltskin brings up a very valid point.

Emma looks over to Neal, seeing the worry in his eyes as he stares at his father. Too many problems involves magic but none cannot be easily fixed with just a simple spell. Everything came with a price, and most than none, the problem isn't solved, it just gets worse.

"I have no use for it. It won't erase my problems away, just make matters worst," Emma says. "And I have my source of magic, and its pure. I don't need dark magic to cast it."

"Dark magic can creep up on you when you least expect it," Rumpelstiltskin points out to the beginner. "Only those who have the purest hearts can sustain against the dark spell. And there are very few left, but even so they can fall too. Regina the best example of that."

"I thought it's Snow White who has the purest heart of all the land?" Emma was still also trying to figure out this world had right about each character.

"More like naïve in all the land," Rumpelstiltskin rolls his eyes. "She never encounter dark magic, it's always been shielded from her."You really need to learn the true history of our land."

"Is there a 'insult my mother' club?" Emma says deadpan to herself, not really asking for an answer.

"Besides what my thoughts about your dear mother. I still don't trust your family," Rumpelstiltskin shrugs, not really caring, he wasn't going to change his mind.

"What about if I ask you to trust then?" Neal finally speaks up, making his concern known.

That got Rumpelstiltskin's attention. He stares at his son at first in shock but then it turned serious. "Would it put a stable ground between us? A beginning of a fresh start?"

"Yes," Neal answers serious. It's his papa, his flesh and blood.

Rumpelstiltskin nods sharply and he gazed back on the savior.

"It's in the clock tower, behind the hour arm," Emma's voice spoke through the phone.

"Alright, we are on are way," Charming hangs up on Emma, nodding to his wife, who nods back and race to the clock tower, praying that they make it before the dark witches.

Making their way to the clock tower, they enter and race up the stairs, making their way up to the top. Skipping the last set of stairs, Charming makes it to the landing first, going straight to the window behind the hour and minute arms. Opening one of the glasses, Charming finds the dagger attached behind the said hour arm.

"It's here," Charming states happily as he detaches it. "A clever hiding place for a very clever man," Charming says to Snow. He would have never guessed that Rumpelstiltskin would have kept the dagger close to him, but now thinking about it, that would have been the obvious thing. No wonder no one has been able to fool the man.

"We did it. We got it first," Snow gloats, happy that good always win in the end.

"Now the dark one can't be control," Charming says as the look at the dagger that can be Rumpelstiltskin's undoing.

"Oh, I would not celebrate just yet," Cora's voice snaps their attention away from the dagger as the Cora and Regina magically poof in the clock tower's room.

"Cora..." Snow finally faces the older woman since a very long time.

"You are too late," Charming states, not letting the two older powerful women make him feel intimidated.

"Actually it seems that we found you just in time," Cora smirks at the two idiots. They knew where the dagger was, but it seemed more interesting if they played a little to make the 'good' side thinking they are winning.

Snow eyes finally looks at the dark-haired woman, disappointed that she has been proven wrong once again. "I told you to choose your side carefully. Good has won, like it always done."

Cora rolls her eyes, "I think it's the day for an overdue lesson." She magically summons Johanna into the clock tower, joining the small group.

"Johanna," Snow whispers in surprise in seeing the maid.

"See, it isn't good or evil that wins, its power," Cora says to Snow as Regina rips Johanna's heart out.

Regina was as shock as Snow, maybe more when seeing Johanna behind her and her mother. But can't let it show or hesitate in risking of blowing her cover so Regina faces Johanna. She looks at the older woman that she felt was more of a mother than Cora ever will be. She silently apologizes to the maid, before ripping her heart out, carefully gripping it in her hand. Not wanting to cause too much discomfort.

"Your choice," Regina says to Snow, hoping Snow chooses to give the dagger to them.

"Don't harm her. She doesn't have anything to do with this," Snow begs to Regina and Cora to let Johanna go.

"Of course she does," Cora says.

Charming sets his jaw, quickly pulling his gun but before he was able to do anything, Cora swipes the gun out of his hand when Regina warns her.

Cora was becoming bored, losing her patience of Snow's hesitation. "Enough of this. Surrender the dagger," Cora says once more. "We all know that you'll follow your mother's example no matter the cost to always to be good."

Snow eyes narrow at hearing Cora speak familiar words she heard before. "Those words, where did you heard them?"

"Where do you think?" Cora smiles evilly.

"The blue fairy made me swear to never speak of that candle ever again. Not because it was a secret, because it wasn't her..." Snow realizes.

"The dagger, dear," Cora stretch out her hand.

"She didn't give me that candle, you did. My mother wasn't sick at all, was she?" Snow demands an answer from Cora.

"She was quite sick," Cora nods her head, smiling at Snow.

"You did all of this. You killed my mother," Snow growled at Cora.

"Actually the candle would've worked. You could have saved her," Cora points out.

"You know I wouldn't," Snow shakes her head. "Why? Why did you take her from me?"

"To make my daughter a queen," Cora shrugs her shoulder, as if it's not a big deal.

Regina turns her head to look at her mother. She knew that her mother was instrumental in how she turned out. But she never thought that everything was planned so meticulously. Thinking back, she hates herself for not realizing that Rumpelstiltskin wasn't the puppeteer in her life.

Not wanting to waste anymore time, needing to move out. "Hand over the dagger," Regina tells Snow.

"No. I won't let you win, not again," Snow declares, shaking her head.

Let her win? When has she won? Regina questions in her head. The curse doesn't count because it's ended up being broken.

"You already lost your mother. How many connections to her do you have left?" Cora questions Snow. "None."

"If you give up the dagger, we could still win," Charming assures Snow, vowing that there is still a chance.

"Here," Snow throws the dagger to the floor.

"Such a good girl," Cora smiles as she magically lifts the dagger, catching it in her hand.

"You have what you came for," Snow tells her. "Now free Johanna."

Regina mentally sighs in relief. Facing the older woman once more, she carefully puts the heart back.

"Not quite everything," Cora disagrees, she wants to cause more pain to the raven head. She flicks her wrist, sending Johanna flying out the window and disappearing in a cloud of smoke out of the clock tower to plan what her next move is.

Regina acts quickly but carefully, trying to not be noticed. She stretches out her hands at her side, stopping Johanna from reaching the cold gravel. She keeps her hovering above the sidewalk.

"See where good gets you?" Regina says before teleporting back home to her mother.

Snow doesn't waste time and rushes out of the clock tower. Just as she opens the door that led outside, her eyes widen. Johanna was brushing the shattered glass off of her.

"I... I...," Snow was at lost of words. She swears that from the window Johanna was dead, that it was impossible to survive a fall at that height.

"I told you to trust Regina, dear," Johanna states, pulling the young queen into a hug.

"She ripped your heart out!" Snow points out, coming out of her shock.

"It was all for show," Johanna tells Snow. "She just needs her mother to believe she's being manipulated."

"This whole time I thought it was Regina who should be blamed for my misery," Snow's tone is full of venom, still feeling the anger and hurt from hearing that it was Cora who killed her mother. "It's Cora who should be killed."

"You don't want to dirty your hands. Let Regina handle it," Johanna tries to get Snow to see reasoning.

"If she wants to darken my heart, well, she got her wish," Snow says darkly. "And she'll pay for what she wished for."