A/N- Hello! Once again, I own only the OCs, all rights go to ABC. Enjoy!

Rumple apologized to Lacey, and ran after Hope, calling her name.

She paused, and allowed Rumple to catch up.

"Hope!" Rumple scolded. "That was uncalled for. I'd like for you to apologize to Lacey. Now."

"I can't," Hope shook her head. "I can't see her like that. It hurts too much."

"I know," Rumple said gently, hesitantly resting his hand on Hopes's shoulder. "I know."

"No, I don't think you do," Hope denied, pulling away. "I need her more than ever, and she's gone! I need her, and she left, just like everybody else."

Rumple knew exactly what Hope was talking about, and why she needed Belle so much, but rather than mention it, he pulled his hand back, and started to walk away.

Then, he hesitated.

"We're going on a date," he called over his shoulder. "You can come, if you'd like. It can be like old times."

Hope just shook her head.

"It can never be like old times."

With that, Hope walked away, and Rumple walked home, feeling lost and upset that Hope didn't want anything to do with Lacey.

Three days later, Rumple was putting on his best tie, looking forlornly in the mirror. He was thinking about how much Belle had loved to do this for him. He looked once more in the mirror at his casual suit and fancy tie, and wondered if Lacey would like it as much as Belle had. Somehow, he knew that she wouldn't.

He drove over to Granny's, tapping anxiously on the steering wheel. Would Lacey like him? Would he be able to stomach seeing this completely different person who looked just like Belle? Did he really want to go out with Lacey at all, or did he just miss Belle?

Rumple couldn't answer any of these questions, but it scarcely mattered now. After all, he had arrived.

He walked into the restaurant, and waited for Lacey to arrive. She was late, which made his heart sink. Belle was never late for anything.

When she finally arrived, a full fifteen minutes after she was supposed to, Rumple stood and helped her with her coat, ever the gentleman.

He thought things were going alright, and he was even starting to see a bit of Belle in Lacey. However, his hopes died out when she flat out refused to eat a burger. His night got even worse, however, when he spilled wine all over her dress.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" he exclaimed. "Look, and now I've ruined your dress."

"Don't worry about it," she waved him off. "A bit of water, and it'll come right out. I'll just go clean up in the bathroom."

As Rumple waited for her to come back, Hope walked into the diner.

"Hope?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I thought about what you said," she answered carefully. "And you're right. Lacey is the new Belle, and I owe it to her to at least try to get to know her. Where is she?"

"She's in the bathroom," Rumple explained. "I spilled wine on her dress."

"Wine?" Hope asked incredulously. "Mama never drank wine. And is this chicken parmesan? I kind of assumed you guys would be getting burgers."

"Yeah, so did I," Rumple muttered, glancing at his watch,

"What's the matter?" Hope inquired, seeing him check his watch.

"It's just, she's been in there for a while. . ." Rumple trailed off worriedly.

"I'm sure she'll be back soon," Hope comforted.

However, they were both starting to get worried when she still hadn't returned after fifteen minutes.

"I'll go check on her," Hope suggested, and Rumple nodded in consent.

Hope returned from the bathroom five minutes later, her face furious.

"She's gone," she replied to his questioning look.

"She stood me up?" he asked, hurt filling his eyes. "No. She wouldn't do that. There must be another explanation."

"I'm sorry, Papa," she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He shrugged her off, and went outside. Hope followed him, and saw Lacey first. She tried to pull him back inside, but she was too late. He had already seen her and the sheriff of Nottingham.

"Why you little. . ." Rumple didn't even finish before he yanked the sheriff off of Lacey.

"Are you okay?" he demanded furiously. "Did he hurt you!?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied indignantly, pulling away from him.

"You wanted to be with him!" he realized, and a look of hurt flashed across his face before he was able to hide it. "But I thought our date was going well?"

"No, it wasn't," she explained. "Look, you're a real gentleman, but you're just not my type."

"Yeah, that's fine," he said nonchalantly, even though his heart was breaking. "It's no matter. Come on, Hope. We're not welcome here, anymore."

Hope followed him, but he stopped halfway to the car.

"Head on home, Hope," he commanded, his tone ice cold.

"Papa?" she sounded scared. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not quite finished here," he replied vaguely. "Just, go home. And don't wait up for me. I might be a while."

Hope didn't want to go, but Rumple was scaring her, so she turned and fled. If she would have known what was going to happen that night, she would never have left.

A/N- Thank you for reading! Please leave a review. I'll see you Tuesday, dearies!