When Emma returned to the Gold house, she was immediately greeted with her son practically slamming into her in an embrace. When she got her breath back, she stroked his hair and watched Rumplestiltskin come to wait for her on the porch.

"I was so worried mom might do something," Henry whispered.

"She won't be able to, not without risking a whole lot of fallout," Emma told him.

She wrapped an arm around his shoulders protectively and walked him up the stairs to face a smirking Rumplestiltskin, "Hello Ms. Swan."

"Gold," Emma said tensely.

"You're in one piece, that's marvelous."

"Where's Mary Margaret?"

"She is apparently helping Belle get cleaned up. She's quite frightened with the new surroundings."

"Yeah," Emma watched, "So ABOUT this Belle.…"

"Perhaps you'd do well to bring in Henry's things."

"What for? We're not staying here."

"Well you can hardly go back home, it's not safe."

Emma could detect his sarcastic concerned, "I think we have it covered."

"Sheriff, I don't think you understand the gravity of what you're up against…or how easily accessible your house was before "

"Maybe not, but I understand it enough and August put a better lock on the door Emma kept her distance, "I know Regina's dangerous. I can gather enough of that from what she's done and the book. I know you've spent the past year stringing me along for your own plans."

"Sheriff-."

"And I know that that hasn't stopped yet But I also know I can't afford to lose your support since Regina is only intimidated by you. But I also know that while we're laying low and trying to figure out why this curse hasn't broken, we can't be seen here too much. It'll raise questions."

"Of course."

"So if you want to think keeping us close means you can manipulate us easier," Emma gave a smirk that she wasn't really feeling, "Think again."

Gold made a fake shocked expression, "Feeling spirited, are we?"

"You put me down an elevator with a dragon!"

"And I"m making up for it by representing you in getting your son back."

"Yeah, what's you making up for the rest of the manipulation?" Emma challenged.

"I have no idea whaty our'e talking about," Rumplestiltskin with that pretend innocent face that Emma already knew by heart.

"Henry," Emma said, "Why don't you go get some of your bags?"

"I thought we weren't staying," Henry said.

"Maybe for dinner, there's still some things Mr. Gold and I need to talk about," Emma sent him to go get his things and turned.

"What?" Rumple asked.

Emma walked up the last couple of stairs, "You know, I know what sort of person Regina is….but I really don't know a thing about you."

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, I do know a few things, the number one thing being that you always manage to come out on top. It's how you got out of going to jail for beating Moe French."

"Oh, that nasty night again."

"Stop changing the subject."

"On hindsight, I probably shouldn't have beaten his skull in now that I know the truth."

"What truth?"

"Doesn't matter."

Emma stopped, "That woman in there is the 'her' you were screaming about that night, isn't she?"

"Indeed."

"Who is she really?"

Rumplestiltskin stopped.

"Gold," Emma sighed, "We have to work together, I"d prefer if we did it willingly and not act like we're pulling teeth."

"That would require some trust."

"I can't trust you," Emma told him, "You haven't given me a lot of reason to. And there's no way I REMOTELY believe this curse rendered someone like you powerless. I think you're playing a long game."

"Oh do you?"

"Yeah" Emma smirked, "Wouldn't want to tell me what that is by any chance?"

Rumplestiltskin gave a smile, "The woman in the house is named Belle."

Emma's mind immediately went to the animated movie, "As in Beauty and the beast?"

"Indeed, as inaccurate as that movie is."

"So….does that make you the beast?" Emma tried not to burst out laughing at the mental image of him covered in body hair.

"Among other things.

"Did you have singing appliances?" Emma raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed NOT!" Rumplestiltskin snapped, "Regina made me believe she was dead for for years…when in fact, she was held prisoner and then our little Hatter friend got her out of the mental institution where she had been staying for 28 years. I only tell you this because I have the feeling you will not stop nattering until you know the truth."

Emma took a second to process all of it, "Oh."

"Though I believe your cursed mother turned roommate thinks she's some sort of mail order bride."

Ew. "Is she okay? Belle, I mean."

"She doesn't remember anything….and she doesn't have much of a personality with this curse. Though I suspect that was never Regina's intention ."

"Weill she be okay HERE?"

"Better than out there," Rumplestiltskin said, "But make no mistake about it, sheriff. Her life is just as much in danger as any of ours."

"Yeah, I"m picking up on that."

"Which means that if anything happens to her, anything that Moe French went through will pale in comparison."

"You can't do that."

"Watch me."

"We have laws."

"Are you forgetting what this town actually is now, Sheriff?"

"Yeah, cursed," Emma whispered, "Like it's always been."

"Are you guys done strategizing?" Henry yelled, "My arms are tired."

"Yes Henry," Rumplestiltskin yelled but didn't take his eyes off Emma, "We're done."

"Not by a long shot. I have a million questions," Emma hissed.

"I'm sure one day you might find some of the answers you seek."

"But not for you," Emma narrowed her eyes, "Not unless you benefit."

"Indeed."

"Well, now that we're on teh same page about what barely constitutes for our allaince," Emma muttered and went to help her son.