Belle wakes up in a very unfamiliar bed. Now the guilt kicks in. Henry finally hears from Killian, who knows nothing about Ingrid's potion and Emma's regrets, but does know that two very familiar Storybrooke faces have now appeared close by. And Henry starts to put in motion the plans to save his parents' marriages.

Portland – The following morning

Belle started to wake to the strangest of sensations.

Was she being rocked?

Before she opened her eyes, she felt the warmth of a body beside her. She was clearly resting against a chest. A harder chest, with hair brushing the side of her face, and the unexpected feeling of an arm and shoulder under her head, a hand coiled around and resting on her side. And for the briefest moment, she imagined she was in Rumple's safe, protective care.

Then the rocking started again. And the sound of people moving around close by?

Slowly opening her eyes, it dawned on her that she was resting against the chest of a very different, younger man. A man with whom she'd had sex last night. And the same man was now looking straight back at her, smiling!

"Bonjour, ma petite. Sleep well?"

She instantly stiffened in shock, pulling her head back. "Jerard?"

"C'est moi." He seemed a lot calmer than her, considering they were both very much naked. "There's no need to get up just yet. Ruby's in the galley making coffee, and Livvy's out getting fresh milk and bread. Stay and rest if you want?"

"Erm…" Until last night, Belle had never even been with another man intimately, apart from Rumple. Yet here she was, sharing a bed with one at least twenty years younger? She felt herself starting to panic.

"No, I think I'd better..." She desperately scanned the room for her underwear as she pulled the sheet up a little higher to hide her nakedness. "Would you hand me my clothes? Please? I think they're at the foot of the bed."

He could tell by the tone of her voice she was embarrassed. "Certainly. One moment." He turned and slid out from under the sheets. And as he did, Belle caught herself staring at the tight, taught buttocks and slim waist below a clearly well-developed torso. He really did have a great body, and she had to shake herself out of it as she realised what she'd been doing with that same body last night! And the body of the man's girlfriend.

Ruby, now wearing just her bikini bottom from yesterday under what looked like a silk wrap, with her chest exposed, walked in on them just as Jerard was handing over Belle's bra and knickers, having gathered them from the floor.

"Good morning, gorgeous!" She sounded as carefree as always. "Coffee's made, and Livvy should be back with the milk any minute. How are you feeling, babe?"

"Okay, I guess." Seeing Ruby still topless in front of him, she resigned herself to just dropping the bed sheet that barely hid her modesty, reluctantly climbing out from under it to put her underwear back on, while he fished for a pair of boxers in a drawer nearby. "Excuse me, I just need to use the bathroom?"

"Brilliant night, wasn't it?" Ruby smirked at her, winking at the man as Belle walked past, admiring the sight as he slipped his boxers on, following by a tight blue T-shirt.

"Wonderful," Jerard agreed. "I've never experienced an evening like it. It'll remain in my dreams for as long as I live." As he spoke, he could just about hear Belle starting to throw up as soon as she reached the bathroom nearby. "Sadly, I'm not so sure Lady Belle would agree with you. I suspect she may have regrets?"

"Don't worry about it. It's just…all new to her. She's just come out of a really bad relationship and had to leave in a hurry."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. She seems an extraordinary woman. And you Ruby? Do you have any regrets about what happened?"

"None whatsoever!" She moved closer, wresting her arms on his hips before stroking a hand under his T-shirt and through his chest hairs. "In fact, I'd be more than happy to repeat the experience. If Olivia was agreeable, of course."

He sniggered, bringing a hand up to stroke through dark locks before pecking her lips lightly. "I'm sure she'd be more than happy to hear that. Although we're only here for a few days before we sail on Saturday."

"Where are you heading? What's next for you guys?"

"South for the next month. We'll call into New York for a few days then on to Norfolk and a few other places, then on to Miami and the Keys. Livvy tells me it's beautiful down there. We'll finally wind up in Havana. You ever been to Cuba, Ruby?"

"Nope. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I've never really travelled far from home. I'd love to see it all though. I've read stuff on Cuba and it seems…fantastic."

"It really is. The waterfalls around the Sierra Maestra mountains are perfect for painting, and the scenery's breath taking."

"So that's what you do all the time, the two of you? Just travel? Swan around? Don't you need to go to work? Earn money? After all, this boat must have cost you a fortune!"

"Fortunately, that's not an issue. I come from a fairly wealthy background. My family built up several vineyards back in France. Sadly, my father passed away some three years ago and left the business to ma mere, me and my older siblings. That's when I used some of my share to buy this boat. I've always wanted to travel. To spend time on the ocean. That's why we're here."

"And Olivia? Is her family rich too?"

"Hardly!" He grinned. "We met her a few years ago when she was in a very unhappy marriage. She's a wild soul, never one to be tamed! That's probably why we get along so well. Her own parents are long dead, and she basically lived with her grandmother."

"Sounds like we have a lot in common! I never even knew my parents, and I was brought up by my granny too. But…very recently she threw me out, because…well, it's not important right now. I was married to someone. Technically, I still am." Her smile disappeared, replaced by a look of sadness." But things didn't work out. It's my fault, not hers. But, well let's just say it turns out I'm not the marrying type?" As she spoke, Jerard pulled her in a little closer, his hand gently but firmly resting her head against his shoulder. "Perhaps I'm not a single soulmate-type type girl, either."

"Sounds like you'd fit right in here, Ruby!" said a new voice from the galley as Olivia appeared, dropping a shopping bag on the table. "Neither of us are the marrying type, either. We both tried it. Doesn't work."

"I never heard you come in, ma chérie," Jerard grinned back at his lover, completely unphased, but didn't let go of Ruby, instead kissing her forehead. "Were you spying on us?"

"Why would I do that?" Olivia sniggered as Ruby, now feeling a little awkward, gently eased herself back from his chest. "From the window as I walked in, I spotted my boyfriend hugging a topless woman. A woman with killer legs to die for…" But instead of looking cross or annoyed, she merely stepped up to the two of them, pecking his cheek and putting an arm around his waist as she looked at Ruby. "But don't mind me; he is rather delicious after all." She glanced down at the exposed breasts. "Besides, I was also just enjoying the view. Please don't stop on my account?"

Ruby's awkward moment was interrupted by the toilet flushing in the little bathroom on the other side of the galley. So, she took the moment to undo the silk wrap on her waist, twisting and turning it into a makeshift top, and cover her upper half as the bathroom door opened.

Belle had woken minutes earlier, to the heavy realisation of what she'd done, and the feeling of guilt was overwhelming. Although she'd enjoyed herself just as much as the others last night, a part of her felt that what she'd done was just plain wrong. She'd taken part, willingly, in an orgy? While technically, still married to a husband who'd banished her for adultery. What sort of woman had she now become? She wasn't like Ruby, was she? Her friend would sleep with anyone, screw anyone, just for fun. Even though she was married too. And Belle never said anything, never condemned her friend for her adulterous behaviour. And why? Because she too had enjoyed sex with her, just for fun, almost on a monthly basis, for four years. But she'd always assumed, always imagined, she had a higher morality than Ruby. She had a son, for god's sake! But now she realised that, for all her hectoring of Rumple for his previous antisocial and unkind behaviour, sometimes even to her, she was no better. In many ways she was worse. And a hypocrite. Why had she destroyed such a good marriage? For sex? For a thrill? In her heart she knew that he would, somehow find out what she'd done. And he'd be disgusted. But not as disgusted as she was with herself right now.

And it was that self-loathing had made her hurl the contents of her stomach into the toilet, where she stayed clinging to the porcelain bowl as she imagined the looks the people she loved would be giving her. Hell, even her father would be disgusted at the fact she'd willingly had sex with three people, all together, and enjoyed it. And now, as she left the bathroom after rinsing her mouth, it was to see the same three people staring at her! Olivia was the first to say something, breaking away to move to her.

"Belle, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I think something disagreed with me from the food last night. Maybe one or two of the moules were off…" she lied as the chestnut-haired woman rested a palm on her brow.

"That's bad luck. Mine were fine but it can happen from time to time. You feel okay for coffee and croissants before you go? I remember you said last night you had to get back to your hotel early?"

"I should really get going. So should Ruby, really. We have some people from our old place sort of…bringing some stuff over?"

"That's a shame. You'll miss seeing this amazingly sexy guy I just met!" Olivia looked across at her boyfriend. "He owns that bloody great ship that came in last night? The galleon? She sounded excited. "He is absolutely gorgeous! Jerard, I think he's your type too! He's got the most lovely smouldering blue eyes. Don't know whether he's married or not but he's got this little three-year-old blonde cutie of a daughter with him. Shame about his left hand, though. What with that, and the ship, Killian's like a really sexy Captain Hook!"

As she said the name, Ruby and Belle froze, eyes as wide as saucers as they exchanged looks. "Killian, you say?" Olivia nodded. "With one hand? Was the girl's name Hope?"

"Yup, that's her. Why, you know them?"

Storybrooke – Mifflin Street

Around the same time as events in Portland were unfolding, sixty miles north Regina Locksley (provided the divorce papers hadn't yet been served on Robin – another dreadful error) stood looking at herself in her vanity mirror. After nearly three weeks without magic, she now looked at least twenty years older than when she'd left, and grey was starting to show in her hair. Her roots needed doing. Without magic, she couldn't so easily hide the crows' feet and usual signs of ageing that were starting to appear all over her face. And in her mind, she looked hideous.

Last night she'd broken the news to Robin that she was pregnant, just before leaving. Unfortunately, the fact she'd virtually shouted it at him, meant Henry and everyone in the bar had heard it too! So much so, that when she left her still-stunned husband, it was blatantly obvious from the hushed whispers outside that she was, once again, going to be the primary topic of conversation.

Sheriff Hank Morgan had promptly arrested her, on a charge of enslavement of Sidney Glass, and despite Henry's efforts, driven her to the Sheriff's Office for questioning. She'd come quietly without any argument, and had sat in one of the cells patiently for a good hour before he was ready to take her statement. But what she hadn't expected was for her son to reappear. Henry had pleaded with the Sheriff that she be allowed to come home before any formal charge was issued. He'd even stood as a guarantor for the bail, using funds she didn't even realise he had. He'd pleaded on the grounds that she had been under the influence of a potion and not fully responsible for her actions. As had been the case with Emma and Snow. Surprisingly for a former Knight of the Round Table, Morgan had finally consented to releasing her, but insisted that, in addition to the bail being agreed, she would not leave Storybrooke and that Henry would not remove that accursed bracelet that seems to stop her magic. So after completing numerous forms, she was finally released into her son's care.

"Okay mum," she heard his voice as he knocked on the bedroom door, before entering. "I've made you coffee. Ma's already downstairs. Come have some breakfast."

"I couldn't eat a thing, Henry. But you go ahead without me."

"No mum, I'm not asking, I'm insisting!" He stood in the doorway, looking at her as she stared back at her reflection. "You barely ate yesterday, or any time since you got back, for that matter; and you're carrying my little brother or sister in there!" He looked down at her stomach. "So come on, I need you to eat. I'll make pancakes but I've also got you fruit and granola and stuff for both of you."

"Since when did you switch from becoming my son to my parent?"

"Since you both went off the rails and needed me to take over! Come on, I swore to Morgan I'd take care of you."

"Oh, very well," she gave him a sad smile. "It's not like there's much else to look forward to today, is there?"

"Well…you did the worst bit last night, facing Robin. And while he hasn't exactly forgiven you yet, I know he will, eventually. Rolly will too."

"What makes you so sure?"

"He still loves you, despite everything. And you're carrying his baby. He's just got a lot to think about. I can help when it comes to Roland. I got thumped too, remember?"

"All too painfully. And how is Emma?"

"Same state as you, I guess. She got back late from the hospital. Fortunately, Morgan didn't know she was there to pick her up and he was too busy dealing with you. I asked her about grandma, but she wouldn't say. Now stop delaying it, come on, I want to see you eat!"

"Yes, sir!" She arched a brow, trying to be intimidating, but failing miserably. "Coming, sir!"

~oOo~

It was twenty minutes later, as he sat at the end of the table, with his mothers either side of him eating the pancakes he'd just served, that Henry dropped the bombshell.

"Just so you know ma, I spoke to Killian last night."

"YOU WHAT?" A large lump of pancake fell out of Emma's mouth and onto the plate in shock. "YOU SPOKE TO HIM?"

"Yeah," he then just carried on eating, as though nothing had happened. "He sailed back last night. Hope's fine, too."

"He's really here?"

"Not here, he's down in Portland. He sailed in from the south."

"You knew where he was? All this time? But you never told me?"

"No, I didn't. Robin did. They've been keeping in touch since you two left them. Robin spoke to him last night after mum left The Locksley with Morgan, and told him what he knew. Then Killian rang me. I'm heading down there to see him in a couple of hours."

"Then I'm going with you! I can-"

"No ma, you can't! I promised Killian I'd come without you. And you promised Hank you'd stay this side of the line? Break that, you'll definitely get arrested and stay behind bars! Besides, Killian has no idea about Ingrid's potion, the dream catcher, or anything that's happened."

"Henry, he has your sister with him! My daughter! The daughter I haven't seen for over three weeks?"

"Yeah, but be fair, the last time you saw her you tried to choke him to death in front of her, didn't you? What's to say you won't scare her again?"

That stung Emma more than he could possibly imagine. "But I don't have any-" she stopped herself when Regina rested a hand on her own, squeezing it.

"Emma, let's finally have the sense to trust our son to do what he has to do? It's probably for the best. And let's face it, we're not exactly trusted ourselves right now, are we?"

"It doesn't sound like I have much choice, does it?" Emma grumbled, knowing she had a point. "So you're going there on your own?"

"No. Merlin's coming with me. He thinks he can help with Ruby's identity. And persuade grandpa Gold to let us take Gideon to see Belle?"

"I can't see that happening. She can't blame what she did on any potion and if you're right, she's been carrying on with Ruby behind his back for four years? She should think herself lucky she's alive!"

Meanwhile, on a schooner in Portland Dock…

"Yup, that's her. Why, you know them?"

The moment she realised Killian Jones had arrived, Belle's mind was swimming. She knew his former pirate ship, the Jolly Roger, was enchanted. It could pass through realms, after all. Could it be the way to get into Storybrooke, to Gideon? Rumple wouldn't kill her if she did, surely? Ruby yes, but not her. The Dark One had vowed never to harm her, and maybe Henry could somehow persuade him to see reason?

"Yes," Ruby answered for her "We kinda know him."

"Well, I only had a quick chat with him cos he was kinda busy. But Jer, you've got to come see this ship? It's one of the best replicas I've ever seen."

~oOo~

No more than a hundred yards away, Killian Jones scanned the port as he drank his coffee on the deck, enjoying the gentle warmth of the morning sun, as his crew prepared to leave the ancient vessel for the morning.

His precious three-year-old had just gone back down below, to get herself something to eat. Once again, she'd woken early, before sunrise, something she'd never done until Emma had betrayed them nearly three weeks ago. Hope could sleep through a hurricane, normally. But now, every night since, she'd almost insisted on sleeping in the same room as her father; no doubt fearful after seeing what her mother had done to him. To them. Killian hadn't slept much better in recent weeks, as he replayed everything that had happened. He'd vowed to himself to keep her safe after Emma had nearly killed him in front of her. And the best way to do that was to get away, and stay away, at least until he figured out what to do. He'd even considered jumping realms at one point, but it was only the thought of keeping her away from her brother that had made him to decide to stay in this one.

But yesterday's call from Robin Locksley, on the satellite phone he'd installed just two weeks earlier, had given him a small glimmer of hope. The line quality was bad, and the call short:

Last night:

"Where are you? Are you in this realm?"

"This bloody phone wouldn't be working if I was! I'm about fifty miles south-east of you. Why?"

"They were under the influence of a potion! Regina and Emma. But it's worn off."

"Who told you that? Henry? The Crocodile?"

"Regina. I'm in the pub. She was here just now, in tears."

"And Emma?"

"With her mother. Snow was under it too. She even tried to kill herself."

"Eh?" The line quality was getting worse, but he could have sword Robin said she tried to kill herself? "What? Emma tried to kill herself? Repeat!"

"Not Emma, Snow. Emma's with her at the hospital. Just – I can hardly hear you. Just get back in to port and phone me, okay?"

"Just like that? Fifty nautical miles in this realm? I'll never get to you before low tide."

"Well get to the nearest port and phone me? Or better still, phone Henry."

"Okay, but I'm not bringing her anywhere with magic! It's way too risky."

"All right, all right! But call him! There's a lot to tell you. The potion's worn off and-" The the line suddenly went dead. He tried calling back at least half a dozen times, but it was no good.

"Bugger!"

He finally managed to hold of Henry when he was only half an hour from the nearest port capable of taking the Jolly Roger.

"Henry, it's Killian. I had word from Locksley. I gather there's been a change?"

"Holy crap! Yeah, not half. where are you?"

"Still offshore. What's happened?"

"It's a long story and a bit hard to explain, and I've been busy bailing out mum from custody. She got arrested and-"

"Emma's been arrested?"

"No, Regina. But Emma's going to be too, if I don't stop Hank Morgan from pulling her in once she leaves the hospital."

"What's a deputy doing arresting the Sheriff?"

"Because she's no longer-" Henry frowned, rolling his eyes as he sat in his car outside the station where his mother's paperwork was being processed. "Look, it's gonna be a long night over here, and a lot's happened, a bit too much for a call. You need to get back here."

"No chance, not till I know it's safe for Hope not being taken. I told Robin I'm heading for Portland and should just get in on the late tide, fingers crossed."

"Portland? You too? Look…okay, that's about an hour for me and it's going to be a long night. I'll get over there in the morning, okay? How will I find you?"

It was Killian's turn to roll his eyes. "How many 18th-Century royal naval sailing ships do you come across, Henry?"

"Okay, stupid question, fair enough…" Henry chuckled, the first time for days. "I'll get over early. I might bring someone with me."

"NOT EMMA!" Bring her lad, and I'll leave on the next tide!"

"Okay, not Emma. Look, just stay there till we've talked? Neither of my mums have their magic right now anyway, so it's safe. As I said, a hell of a lot's happened. How's my little sister?"

"Missing her big brother. I know she'll be pleased to see you."

"I missed her too. Just hold tight there, okay?"

~oOo~

That was last night. And now, as the ship lay berthed in Portland Harbour, Killian's thoughts were interrupted by one of the crew:

"Beggin' your pardon, Capt'n!" His faithful old boatswain, Jack Thomson, looked up at him. "Me and the boys are off to find a half-decent breakfast around 'ere. I checked in on our little admiral, and I found her fallen asleep over her grub in the galley! There's need to worry, as I lifted her into yer cot, after takin' her shoes off. She's sleepin' sound. Anything ye need before I leave? Or should I bring summat back for ye?"

"No thank you, Mr. Thomson. I'll pop down there in half an hour to check on her. You go. But let me know where you wind up, if you would? If it's any good, I may well take her along myself. And do try to persuade Hawkins to avoid the ale this time? It's quite possible we may have to sail on the evening tide, and I hardly need a half-pissed midshipman if we do. I should have my stepson arriving here at ten, so I may be otherwise engaged."

Once Thomson and the men left, Killian sat looking out over the vessels moored up. One vessel in particular. A fairly-modern two-masted schooner, that a very attractive chestnut-haired woman had walked back to, after talking to him when he first came on deck, twenty minutes earlier. A woman who'd flirted with him rather blatantly and made it pretty clear she was interested in him. In earlier years he would have taken her up on her kind offer to join her for coffee along with her friends. However that was before he found the love of his life and married her. He never wanted for anyone else and barely looked at another woman. But now? Even he could appreciate the interest.

As he looked over the schooner, a woman walked out on deck. Then a second woman, followed by a third. The first, he recognised as the chestnut-haired beauty from earlier. The second a brunette, slighter shorter, who appeared to be wearing what looked like a white bikini similar to one Emma used to have. At seven thirty in the morning? She also sported delightfully long legs and from a distance, she seemed vaguely familiar? The third, shorter woman, also seemed to be wearing a bathing costume of sorts, which also seemed a bit odd when there was a morning breeze in the air. He may be married, just about, but he was a man after all; so he couldn't resist picking up his powerful binoculars, a birthday present from his in-laws, to adjust the zoom and take a closer look.

But gasped in surprise as he immediately recognised two of the three women, as a blonde-haired man came up to join them on deck!

"Ruby and Belle Gold? No, what the hell would they be doing out here?"

He watched closely as all four came off the boat on to the harbourside.

~oOo~

"Last night was brilliant!" Olivia pulled Belle into her chest, giving her a hug. "Listen, if you want to come out with us tomorrow, just let me know by eight, okay? Jer and I are going to go out and explore what's around here tonight, after that. But you're welcome to join us?"

"Thanks," unlike Ruby, Belle was hesitant. There was still the possibility Henry might help her get back to Storybrooke. "But I've got someone coming down here to see me this morning. Family stuff? It's complicated? So, I'll let you, or Ruby, know later?"

"I'm gonna hold you to that! Don't forget, yeah?"

Then, without asking for permission, Olivia put her hands on her cheeks, bringing her lips down and giving Belle an enthusiastic, open-mouthed kiss. Much to Belle's surprise! It was a shock, but a pleasant one. She'd already experienced that mouth on many places last night so it shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise.

"Well, count me in! I'm keen to go sailing tomorrow, even if she isn't." Ruby grinned, before pulling Jerard into a similarly keen embrace. "You, Mr. Romantic Frenchie, have restored my faith in men; even if it has been a while!" She followed it up with a kiss every bit as enthusiastic as Olivia's.

"I am delighted to have risen to the occasion, madame."

"Oh, he's never had any problems in that department!" Olivia grinned back as she pulled Ruby away from him, releasing Belle into the arms of her lover.

"Lady Belle," instead of kissing her on the lips, Jerard instead took her hand, as he did last night, kissing the back of it. "I sense you're moving out of a difficult relationship and may be having some regrets for last night? Despite it being…extraordinaire?" He'd already noticed the slightly pale mark on her ring finger. "You take all the time you need, ma cherie, to achieve your…balance." The gallic pronunciation of the word made something tingle inside her. "I know Livvy felt something, too. If you are able to find peace, I wish you well for the rest of your days. But if not, you and Ruby are always welcome to join us, in whatever form you wish."

As she smiled up at him, it was Belle this time that took the initiative, pulling herself into him to seize his lips.

As all this was going on, Killian watched through binoculars in apparent disbelief, even imagining whether he was seeing identical twins or doppelg ängers of the librarian and waitress. It was only after the four made their farewells and the two women in question walked closer to the ship, he decided to call out to them, making both women freeze. It was the embarrassed wave Belle gave him that told him for sure.

It's them all right! If the Crocodile saw anyone kissing his girl like they were, they'd be dead in a heartbeat!

Storybrooke

It was the sound of a cock crowing in the distance loudly outside finally pulled Lilith Page out of her sleep. Since she'd been diagnosed with cancer over a year ago, she'd gradually grown weaker and slept more every day. Partly the effects of her illness, but also the painkillers and drugs she was being given. But the sleep was often fitful, and she'd wake up tired, in a never ending circle she knew would only finally end on her death.

But now, having left the hospital yesterday with her mother, supposedly cured, and after having spent a wonderful evening in a pub in the forest; making new friends and feeling lighter than she had in years, she ruined the evening by having too much alcohol. Everything after that became a blur. So much so, that it took a minute to re-orientate herself. The sound of lambs bleating in the distance told her so probably wasn't in her mother's magically hidden home. The sheets were too soft for a start, and the smell of bacon wafting up from somewhere was another clue. So where the hell am I?

She slowly opened her eyes to find another pair of beautiful brown ones staring back at her, resting on the pillow beside her.

"Good morning. Sleep well?"

"Dorothy?"

~oOo~

In the kitchen downstairs, David was busy making breakfast for his son, who was staring hard at a pancake that was apparently levitating several inches above the others over the serving plate.

"Neal, my boy," the moment he looked up at his father as he brought his coffee pot to the table, the floating pancake flopped back down on the plate. "While that's very impressive, but please wait till tomorrow when Merlin gets back, so he can teach you how to use that magic properly?

"Sorry dad." His father's requests, rather than his mother's reprimands when Emma, or Regina, used magic in their home, usually had more of an effect. He rarely got angry and his disappointed look usually brought better results from both his children. "I can't help it, I'm just tingling, you know?"

"I understand, though I can't say I've experienced it myself. Just hang on a day or so? I remember when your sister realised she had it, it was a huge shock for her, and she needed help. Let's make sure we get it right, yeah?"

"Okay. I wish Em was here now, or Gina. They understood this stuff."

"I know. But I-" He was interrupted by his phone ringing. And the personal ringtone, though he hadn't heard it for nearly a month. He immediately skipped to the worktop to get it.

"EMMA?" At her mention, Neal immediately looked up. "Where are you?"

"Hi dad!" She sounded nervous. "Sorry I haven't been in touch! I've been…er…busy?"

"I know. Henry's kept me abreast of some of it, but I haven't spoken to him for a day or so. He said you had problems getting back over the town line. Did he manage to bring you back, or are you still in Portland?"

"Yeah, I'm here. I'm at Regina's place. But we're both under a sort of house arrest in Mifflin Street."

"House arrest? What are you talking about? Who did this?"

"Hank Morgan. I got kicked out of the Sheriff's Office, remember? Now just a member of the public like everyone else. A member who's due to be arrested for attacking Roland and his father in the diner? Henry's already paid bail for Regina, and he spoke to Hank about me. If I leave here before he's interviewed me under caution, I'll be arrested and probably put in the cells till this gets sorted out."

"I'm coming over."

"No dad, don't! Please? Get over to the hospital instead? I went there last night and just stopped mum in time before she took another overdose!"

"Again? Shit!" He looked across at his son. "Sorry."

"Just…get over to check on her, please? I'm scared she'll try something again. Can you get them to put some sort of suicide watch on her, or something? Or call Archie?"

"He's due to call her, but I'll see what I can do. Emma, you know about your mum and me?"

"Yeah, kinda. She said." The line went quiet for a moment. "She still loves you, you know? Despite everything. She loves you…not Ruby."

"I know."

Portland Harbour

"PERMISSION TO BOARD, CAPTAIN JONES?" Killian heard the yell from inside the galley. A voice he recognised but was surprised to hear.

"Permission granted!" He called back, as he climbed up the steps to meet the arrival, followed a few steps later by his daughter. "Merlin? What on earth brings you here?" As he spoke, he saw his stepson walking gingerly onto the gangplank to come aboard.

"HENRY!" Hope yelled, breaking into a beaming smile at the sight of her older brother coming on board, immediately running toward him as he dropped the bags, lowering himself, ready to take her into a hug. At six foot five, he was now even taller than his famous grandfather. "I missed you!"

"And I really missed you, sis!" He hugged her gently, kissing her cheek as he rested her head against his shoulder. "You're looking good!" He looked across at Killian. "How you both been?"

"As well as could be expected, given the circumstances?" But he got straight to the point, as usual. "I gather you have news? About Emma?" And before Henry had a chance to respond. "And why on earth have you brought The Sorcerer with you, if it isn't bad? And before you answer, you should know I'm not releasing my girl into anyone's custody!"

"Calm yourself, my dear chap!" Merlin rested a hand on his shoulder. "I've actually come to assist Henry in another matter, regarding two of Storybrooke's recent…outcasts."

"Outcasts?" His mind went back to what he'd seen earlier. "You mean Ruby and Belle?"

"How'd you know about that?" Henry was puzzled. "I know I told you about my mums, but I never mentioned those two? Did Robin say anything?"

"No lad, I saw them less than an hour ago, walking off that boat over there…" He pointed to the schooner. "…along with a couple. When I called them they looked rather…sheepish. Not like them at all. Why are they here?"

"Grandpa Gold threw them over the town line. His magic's stopping them going back."

"Both of them? The Crocodile threw Belle out? I can't believe it! Not her!"

"It's true, Kill. And he's on his way here now. With Gideon."

~oOo~