Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for being my beta!

Belle was pleased with herself. She'd convinced Rumple to let her go with him to the palace to talk to Emma. That could only mean one thing. He believed she could help him. That made her smile and her heart swell in her chest. He trusted her to be there for him through this. It showed her his love even more than his words did.

She walked into his study and kissed him. She molded her body to his and rested in his arms. "I love you," she said in a whisper.

He tightened his arms around her and clung to her. "I love you too. I'm bringing you with me, but I want you to be careful. If something happens to you, there's no reason for me to get rid of The Dark One curse."

"I'll be okay, I promise. I'm ready when you are." She smiled at him, stepped back, and held his hand.

Rumple braced himself for the confrontation and took Belle with him to talk to Emma. He hoped she'd wait before she attacked him. When they arrived in the room with Emma, he faced her and stepped in between Emma and Belle. To his shock, Belle ran from behind him and positioned herself between him and Emma. He smiled as she disappeared in a swirl of red smoke and reappeared behind him. "Stay there!" He demanded.

"No! She won't hurt me," she said, and she darted in front of him again to shield him.

"Stop it!" He yelled in frustration as he used his magic to move her behind him again. "Stay where I put you. You'll be safe that way."

"I told you she's not going to hurt me!" Belle then, much to her embarrassment, stomped her foot like a child. "You are so bull-headed, Rumple! You don't have to protect me from her."

He turned his back to Emma. He was thoroughly distracted by Belle's fury. She looked beautiful when she was yelling at him. Her eyes had a fire in them, and her cheeks were flushed. "I won't have you hurt in the crossfire!"

"You told me you have no plan to attack her!" She yelled back at him.

"I'm not going to, but Emma or Regina could attack me!" He gestured wildly. "She'll be here soon too. She wouldn't let her protege fight without her." He huffed back at her.

Belle crossed her arms and tapped her foot, "I told you. They're heroes, and they don't do collateral damage!"

"I'm not taking that risk, Belle! I love you too much! Stay where I put you, dammit!" He threw up his arms in frustration.

She smiled sweetly at him and, in a tender voice, said, "You just yelled at me that you love me."

"So? You know I do." He looked at her in confusion.

"There are witnesses this time. It's… nice." She blushed.

"You like strange things." He reached up and caressed her cheek. "I don't deserve you."

Killian felt danger around Emma. He grabbed Regina and didn't even explain. He just said, "Something's wrong," and she followed him. She knew he was the fastest way to Emma right now. She didn't use her magic because she didn't know where she was.

When they got to Emma, The Dark One's back was to them, and he was arguing with a woman.

"Who's that, Love?"

"Belle. Her father is a king. She's a friend of mine. Apparently, she came here voluntarily with The Dark One." She motioned to them in the middle of their argument.

They were all shocked when they heard him yelling that he loved her. Regina snorted and said, "I can't believe he can fall in love."

When The Dark One turned around and faced her, Emma was perplexed. "What do you want?" She tried not to sound as thrown off as she was.

He growled out. "Your… help." He said the last word like he was trying not to choke on it.

Belle stepped to The Dark One's side. she didn't try to step in front of him, but she wanted to look Emma in the eyes. "You and I, we're friends. I need your help. Rumple wants to stop being The Dark One without having to die. I was hoping you could help us destroy the dagger and the power of the Dark One curse."

"Bloody hell! The final line of the prophecy." Killian looked at Emma in shock. "'Leading all into the light.'"

Her eyes grew wide. "The prophecy is about destroying the power and not the person?!" She looked at The Dark One. "You don't want power anymore?" She had a hard time believing that part.

"Of course I want power! Don't be ridiculous." He then took a deep breath and let it out. "I just want Belle more."

"You really love her that much?"

He nodded. "I do."

Belle walked forward quickly, hoping he wouldn't stop her, and clasped hands with Emma. "I need your help. Please, help me save my true love."

Emma embraced her and nodded. "Can I trust him?"

"No," Belle admitted. "But I can trust him, and I'll give you my word you'll be safe. He won't betray me." She promised with conviction.

Emma nodded, "It looks like-"

"No bloody way! He wanted his son to rape you!" Killian roared. "You can't possibly work with him!"

Regina nodded. "You're absolutely right, Killian. He's a monster. She should just fight him to the death instead. Of course, she could get herself hurt or killed, but it's more important that he tried to hurt her." She said condescendingly.

"Oh, shut up!" He grumbled. "Fine. You're right. It's safer to go along with this. Damn, I hate that we have to help him."

"I wasn't asking for your help, pirate." The Dark One spit out.

Killian glared at him. "And you'd let Belle get involved without you there? I don't think so. I'm with Emma whatever she does."

"So you admit that I love her?" Rumple countered to Killian.

Killian sighed, "Yes. I think I can recognize a villain who's fallen in love. That was me not that long ago."

"How can you be so sure?" Rumple asked in genuine interest.

"She asked you to come here to Emma for help, didn't she?" Rumple nodded. "Only love can make men like us do things we wouldn't normally do."

"You have to be kidding me. You're bonding?!" Regina scoffed. "This is ridiculous."

"It was your bloody prophecy that he's fulfilling." He countered. "I'm not bonding! I'm… I hate him!" He yelled in exasperation.

Belle tried to get everything back on track. "Emma. Will you help us destroy the dagger?"

"Yes." She answered Belle. "I'm… well, I can't say I'm exactly happy for you, but…" She shrugged. "Are you happy?"

"I'm very happy." She turned and looked at Rumple. "He really is doing this for me."

Emma looked at Regina. "Get Tinkerbell. We're going to The Dark One's estate now. If everyone figures out what I plan to do, they will be furious. Bring her with you. You know where it is."

She grabbed Killian's arm. "Don't worry. You don't have to say anything. I know that you're coming too."

"Who said you're invited?!" Rumple yelled. "Belle, tell them no."

She walked over to him. "Do calm down." She then looked at Emma. "We'd be happy to have you all there."

Killian grit his teeth as he saw Emma's white smoke encircling them. Suddenly they were standing in the hall of The Dark One's estate.

Rumple growled, "I found Walsh's dead body close to here, Killian."

"I killed him," Emma replied. "He was about to put a knife through Killian's back."

Rumple smiled despite himself. He was actually impressed with her.

Tinkerbell arrived with Regina, and she looked at The Dark One with shock. "You fell in love. That's so… weird. Icky. Unbelievable-"

"I get the point!" He said to cut her off.

She then shrunk down to fairy size and buzzed around him and Belle. She then sat on Belle's shoulder. She figured she'd be safest there. "She really is your true love. Didn't you draw the true love short straw, Belle?" She shuddered and shook her head. "Seriously, you get to have true love, but it's him. Yuck!"

"Watch what you say, fairy!" Rumple roared at her.

She snorted and then smirked, "There's a reason I'm sitting on Belle's shoulder. You won't attack me while I sit here."

"I have a very long memory." He shot back.

"And you're about to have no power to back up your threat." She said in a sickenly sweet tone. "Bring it on, crocodile."

"I could still swat you like a bug!"

Tinkerbell shrugged. "I'll take my chances. I have Emma on my side."

"Hey, don't bring me into this!" Emma announced. "Let's play nice, everyone."

"Why?" Tinkerbell asked. "He kidnapped you."

"Because think of everyone this will save." Emma countered. "There won't be a Dark One anymore. Ever."

"You have a point. Fine. I'll be nice." She stuck her tongue out at Rumple. "Do you like frogs?"

"Tinkerbell!" Regina yelled in expiration. "Let's get to work."

They all moved into Rumple's study. His books on The Dark One curse were already all in there.

Sophie brought everyone tea and biscuits to have while they did their research.

"Thank you, Miss Potts," Rumple said as she left the room. She was in shock. She couldn't believe he thanked her.

Belle smiled at him and patted his hand. "That was nice of you, Rumple."

"Damn," he muttered. "It was, wasn't it."

She shook her head in exasperation. "Soon, you'll see that kindness is a good thing."

His only response was to let out a long sigh and shake his head.

They each grabbed a book and started reading.