A/N: I've got my reservations on pushing forward after this chapter because I honestly do not know what direction Season 2 will take. I will do my best to come up with brilliant scenarios, which means I will be taking longer to update in order to bring you an original update of Season 2's Once Upon A Time. I only hope I can be as creative and similar to their plotline. Anyways, enjoy the update! Love, Joanne.

37. The Magic Returns

Mr. Gold took my hand in his as we quickly walked to his house. As soon as we entered, he led me towards the bathroom, turning the taps on for a warm bath. "I'll go get you some clothes," Mr. Gold said as he kissed me before parting.

I took a deep breath, and began to take off my hospital gown and underwear. I looked at myself in the mirror, and saw that I had lost a considerable amount of weight. My eyes had dark circles underneath them, and I looked extremely pale and fragile. My arms were covered with dark purple and green bruises from the many injections that I had taken in the hospital. I leaned on the sink, my knees getting weak, and I looked down at the floor. I looked back up at my reflection, and locked eyes with Aurelius, who had returned with a change of clothes for me.

His face was enraged as he took in my bruised and emaciated body. Mr. Gold gently placed the clothes on the bathroom counter in front of me. "I am so sorry, Belle," he said softly as he turned off the water. "I am sorry for everything you've had to endure. I'm sorry for inviting Regina into my home, and for kissing her. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to make you suffer, Regina did."

I got into the tub, and wrapped my arms around my knees. "I know," I whispered. "It's not your fault… Don't ever feel sorry, my love."

I watched as tears fell down his face, feeling hopeless that he could do nothing more to ease my pain. "Belle, I must run a quick errand," Aurelius Gold sighed. "I will make sure my security measures are up, and that the house is locked up tightly. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I will be back shortly, my heart's desire."

"I will wait for you," I said, cracking a small, sad smile. "I will miss you."

"I love you, Belle," said Mr. Gold before he left me to bathe.

. . .

Mr. Gold, despite the horrible limp, strode purposefully towards Storybrook's former library. He had been determined that he would get his long lost potion, and that Emma would be the one to slay the dragon Maleficent, and find it buried within her gills. He found Madam Mayor awaiting Emma's return from the depths of the basement, and, since she had been preoccupied with looking down the shaft, she did not see Aurelius sneak up behind her.

With a whack of his cane, he knocked Regina out, and quickly began to tie her up and duck tape her mouth shut. Once he had finished, he heard Emma's voice. "Regina! I did it! I slayed the dragon! I found the magic potion that will bring Henry back."

Gold felt unsettled. Although he had told both Regina and Emma about the magic love potion he had made from Snow White and Prince Charming's hairs, he did not say that he would use the potion to save Henry. They'll find another way, Mr. Gold thought to himself. There is always another way. This love potion has a better purpose to attend to…

"Emma," Aurelius Gold said, looking down the shaft. He saw that she was stuck, and, like the mischievous little imp he always was, he came up with a clever lie. "Regina's gone. I just came by to check on you, and I found the place deserted."

"Okay, so how am I going to get up with the potion and myself both intact?" Emma asked.

"Toss the potion up to me, and climb the rest of the way!" Mr. Gold beckoned. Emma tossed the potion, encased in a rather large golden egg, and he caught it, and walked out of the building as quickly as he could.

He hobbled back home, his knee screaming, and he opened the egg as soon as he entered the security password on his front door. It was just as he remembered, and time was ticking. He needed to act now.

"Belle?" he called, wondering if she had finished her bath. The sight of her naked body earlier, which would once have made him want to ravish her right then and there, now brought him only sadness and anger at the monster who had done this to his beloved. He had lovingly drawn her a bath, the only thing he could do to ease her pain, and was still currently debating whether or not he should have Belle see Doctor Hopper to relieve some of her mental anguish.

Aurelius turned to walk into the kitchen, and sighed as he saw Belle munching on a sandwich. Her hair had been brushed out, and she was starting to look like herself again.

. . .

After my bath, I put on a pair of light wash blue jeans and a baggy light blue t-shirt. I brushed out the tangled knots in my hair, and soon, my hair returned back to its usual curly self.

I walked to the kitchen, my stomach growling like a vicious monster. I helped myself to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, deciding it was best not to overindulge myself in rich food for fear of getting sick. I heard Aurelius call my name, and I looked up just as he spotted me eating inside the kitchen.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly as he watched me nibble at the bread cautiously.

"A little better," I said as I poured myself a glass of water. "It's going to take time, but these bruises will fade, and I will be like myself in time…"

I finished my sandwich, and wiped my mouth with a napkin. Mr. Gold walked slowly towards me, his cane tapping at the kitchen floor. Before I could set my dishes in the sink to wash, he gently took my hands in his. "There's no need, darling," Aurelius said kindly. "I will take care of it later. There is something I must do, and it would be best if you come with me, my love."

I held his hand as we walked out of the house, and towards the wooded back behind it. We walked along the trail for about several minutes until we came to a clearing in the middle of the forest. A wishing well, plain and painted white with a small wooden bucket to draw water, was there, and Aurelius walked us over to the well. "What's going on?" I asked curiously.

"Lots of things have been happening since you've been gone, dearie," Mr. Gold replied as I looked into his green eyes. "The Savior, the person who can take us back to fairy world, had arrived in town a few months ago, and she is starting to realize who she is. But the problem is, many of the others in town do not remember who they are, or what Regina has done…"

"How come you and I remember?" I asked.

"Because true love never can be parted," Aurelius said as he smiled back at me. "I am here, as Rumplestilzkin, and it is my duty to return the townspeople's lives back, as well as a little added extra…" I watched as Mr. Gold took out a vial from his jacket pocket, opened it, and poured the contents of it down the well. "That vial contained the magic of true love, the most powerful magic in the universe. I created this using the hairs of Snow White and Prince Charming."

"Why would you pour something so precious down a well?" I asked, realizing the importance of the potion.

"Watch," Mr. Gold said gently as he stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "This is a magical well, a well that brings back what was once lost…"

As he spoke, purple clouds of thick smoke bellowed out of the well, and I became frightened. I turned towards Mr. Gold, and he held me tightly, sensing my fear. "I will protect you, Belle. The magic won't hurt you. I promise."

The dark purple clouds continued to spread out over town until everything was engulfed in a thick purple fog.

"Rumplestilzkin," I sighed against his chest. "What have you done?"

"I've just brought back magic," Rumplestilzkin said with an impish chuckle.

A/N: Rumple's bringing magic back! Woohoo! Now the fun can truly begin!