Disclaimer: I don't own OUaT or otherwise Rumbelle wouldn't have been put through the hell they've been put through this past season.

AN: Here's another chapter! Enjoy! Thank you to those who have read and reviewed! It's much appreciated!

Katelyn looked around at the mess before her. Hook lay on the side of the road grunting and wincing in pain. Her father was trying to comfort her mother and healed her shoulder which only freaked her out more and then the Charming clan came driving in with their Sheriff cruiser. She didn't know what she was going to do. Her mother didn't remember who she or her father was. Hook had tried to kill her mother. Her father was going to try to kill Hook again and she knew it. She looked at him as he backed away from Belle. She snapped into action when Emma told him that he couldn't hurt Hook.

"Papa, stop, please stop!"

"You don't want her to see that," Emma said talking about Belle.

"I'm a stranger to her!" Rumple exclaimed. That hit Katelyn hard. Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Murder is a bad first impression," Emma said softly.

"What would Belle want you to do?" David asked him and Rumple allowed him to push him away from Hook and called to the paramedics, "Over here!"

Rumple walked over to his daughter who broke down the minute her father touched her shoulder. She buried her face into his stomach and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"It'll be okay, sweetheart. I promise that we'll get her back."

"How, Papa? You said yourself that what's done can't be undone. Mama is gone forever!"

"No, there has to be a way to reverse this. I'll find it."

"Where are they gonna take Mama? What are they going to do to her?"

"They're going to take her to the hospital, but, after that, I'm not sure."

"I'm scared, Papa."

"I know, but I'm right here with you and we'll get through this, okay?"

Katelyn nodded. Rumple led her to the car and they got in.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to the hospital to make sure your mother is okay. After that, I'm not sure."

"Papa, do you think they'll be a way to get her back?"

"I don't know, darling. I certainly hope so. If not, we'll try to help her as best we can, okay?"

Katelyn looked down at her hands and nodded as a tear fell down her cheek.

The ride to Storybrooke General was silent. Once they arrived, they saw them rushing the unknown man, Hook, and Belle into the emergency room. They follow after them. Katelyn held tightly to her father's hand.

"Belle. What is going on?!" he shouted.

"Get him out of here!" David shouted as he pushed at Rumple who forcibly moved his hand from his chest.

"What's happening?! Belle!" Rumple cried after her.

"I'd like to know that myself," Grumpy came up and looked around at the ruckus.

"Belle!" Rumple called one more time.

"Everybody, calm down. Mr. Gold, everything will be fine. She's in good hands here. I promise," Dr. Whale said as he walked over and put a hand on Rumple's shoulder.

Rumple shook Whale's hand off.

"I just want to see her and make sure that she's okay," Rumple said.

"Once she's in a room and settled, we'll let you in. Until then, everyone calmly take a seat in the waiting area and let me do my job," Whale said and he headed into triage to see what he was dealing with.

It was then that Rumple noticed that the small hand in his was shaking. He looked down at his daughter and he could see that the shaking extended to her whole body. He pulled his daughter over to one of the chairs and set her in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and began stroking her brown locks softly.

"Shh, it'll be okay. Shh, Papa's got you."

He berated himself as he remembered her fear of hospitals. She didn't care for them like her mother. Katelyn shook a little more. He trailed his hand down her back soothingly.

"Papa, I don't like this. Mama is here in the place she hates and she doesn't even remember it."

"I know, little one, I know."

A nurse came out and walked up to them.

"You can see her now. She's resting in a room upstairs. Follow me."

The nurse led them upstairs to a room that was very similar to the one that Henry was in. Katelyn followed closely beside her father. The nurse left them to be alone with Belle. Katelyn looked at her mother as she lay in bed with a yellow gown covering her. She shuddered more at the sight of it.

"Papa, she's just sleeping, right?"

"Yes, darling, she's just sleeping."

Katelyn watched as her father walked over and very gently kissed her mother. She saw the small smile and hoped that it meant that they shared True Love's Kiss and broke whatever memory curse her mother was under. Her hopes were dashed when her mother's face screwed up into a look of shock and fear and began screaming.

"No. No, no. Belle. No. No," he said as he slowly backed up to the door and two orderlies came in, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Katelyn was torn. Her father was so upset, but so was her mother. She didn't know which to go to. Her mother didn't remember her and had a whole team of nurses at her disposal and so she went after her father.

"Papa! Papa!"

He stopped and reached a hand out to her. She grasped it tightly as they headed down the stairs.

"Where are we going, Papa?"

"I don't know yet."

They walked down the steps when Whale walked over to Rumple.

"Gold. You fixed me. Now fix him. Please. It will take you seconds and cost you nothing," he asked.

"No," Rumple replied simply. Katelyn looked up at him.

"No. Just…no?" Whale asked surprised.

"Yes. I owe you nothing, Whale. I owe none of you anything. And some of you owe me. So yeah, just "No." Oh, and point of interest? The driver? He saw me throwing some magic. So instead of trying to get him outta here, you better be hoping he dies, because if he doesn't, he's gonna be driving tour buses up and down Main Street. So glad I don't give a damn," Rumple snarled and turned to leave.

"Papa!" Katelyn called after him.

"Come on, we're leaving," Rumple said.

Katelyn followed after him.

"That wasn't very nice," Katelyn told him once she caught up with him, "You do care, but you don't want them to know it, don't you?"

"Kate, at the moment, all I'm worried about is your safety, getting your mother's memories back, and finding your brother. That's all."

"It's also important to not let someone else die for the sake of protecting magic! One man's life isn't worth that!"

Rumple sighed and turned to his daughter.

"I know and I'm sorry he's hurt, but I have other things to worry about right now and cannot afford to waste any magic on someone who could ultimately hurt us in the end."

"That's wrong, Papa, and you know it!"

"Be that as it may, I'm not doing it."

"Well, I'll do it then! I'll try to heal him!"

"No, you won't. The price is too great and it could very well kill you."

"At least I'll die a hero. I'll have saved his life by giving mine."

"And damaging so much in the process! I'll not have you putting yourself in harm's way and we've already discussed this at length! Now, you're not using magic and you will let them do whatever it is they do without our interference. Is that understood, young lady?"

Katelyn looked at him with anger burning in her eyes. She then vanished before him.

"Katelyn! You get back here this instant!"

She appeared at Snow's apartment and knocked on the door. Granny answered it, holding her crossbow at the ready. She lowered it once she saw it was Katelyn.

"Hey, Pup, what's wrong?"

Katelyn's tears fell down her face.

"Come on, come in here," Granny said as she pulled Katelyn in and shut the door.

Granny led Katelyn to the bar and set her crossbow on the counter and began to fix some hot chocolate for her. Setting the steaming cup in front of Katelyn, she bent down to look at her better.

"What's happened, little one?"

Katelyn put her hands around the warm mug.

"Mama…she…she's…"

"Oh, Pup, calm down. You can hardly speak."

"Granny?" Henry called from upstairs.

"It's okay, Henry," she called back.

"Henry!" Katelyn cried.

Rapid footsteps could be heard as he made his way down the stairs.

"Kate! Kate, what's wrong? What's happened?" he asked as he came up next to her.

Katelyn jumped off the stool and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her tightly as she cried.

"Kate? What happened?" he asked as he pushed her back to look into her tear-filled eyes.

"Mama doesn't remember anything," she said.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean?" he asked.

Katelyn told him everything that had happened since she'd left him and Pongo. When she got to the point where her father said it would be better if the man died, her voice broke and she started crying all over again. Henry wrapped his arms tightly around his best friend and let her cry.

Granny walked away from them and went to call Snow to tell her who had shown up at her apartment. Katelyn saw her picking up the phone.

"Please don't call my Papa! I don't want to see him right now," Katelyn pleaded.

"I'm not, Pup. I'm calling Mary Margaret so that someone at least knows you're here," Granny said softly.

Katelyn nodded.

"Why don't you go upstairs with Henry and he can find you something to wear? You can stay here until you feel comfortable enough to go home, okay? I'm sure Mary Margaret, David, and Emma won't mind," she said.

"Thanks, Granny," she replied.

Henry guided her upstairs and went rummaging through his things to find something for Katelyn to wear to bed. He decided on one of his shirts and a pair of flannel pants similar to his own. He handed them to her and she went over to change in the bathroom.

"Thanks for this, Henry," Katelyn said as she returned.

"Anytime. You'd do the same for me," he replied.

"Yes, I would. I can't believe my Papa. After all this time, I was hoping he'd change and become the man I know he can be."

"I know, but he's a villain. He may never change."

"I can't believe that. I refuse to believe it. He can change. He just doesn't want to. Mama and I try to help him, but all he ever thinks of is himself!"

"Uh, Kate?"

Katelyn looked up at him.

"What?"

"Can you put that fire out?"

"What fire?"

Katelyn turned to see the flame rising up behind her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!"

She waved her hand and the flames went out leaving only a scorch mark on the floor.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know that would happen!"

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay. You've been through so much and you just lost control."

"Yes, but I could've hurt you or Granny or….Henry, where's Pongo?"

"Archie has him."

"Archie's….alive?!"

"Yeah, it turns out that Cora faked his death to frame my mom. Hook tortured him for information on how to hurt your dad."

"That's why he went after Mama! I hope that doesn't mean he'll try coming after me after he's out of the hospital."

"I don't know, but he may try going after your dad."

"I won't let him hurt my father! He's already taken my mother! He's not getting my father too!"

"Hey, it'll be okay. Settle down before you start another fire."

Henry wrapped his arms around her again. She hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry. I feel so lost, Henry. I feel like an orphan already."

"You're not. You still have a father and your mother is technically still alive."

"With no clue as to who I am!"

Katelyn pulled away from him and went to sit on the bed. He followed her and sat down beside her. He draped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.

"I don't know what to do, Henry."

"Let's sleep for now. We'll figure it out in the morning, okay?"

"Okay, thanks for being there for me."

"You're welcome."

He pulled back the covers and they crawled under them. She pillowed her head on his shoulder and he put his arm on hers. This was the way Granny found them when she'd come up to check on them. She smiled at the sight. She grabbed the camera and took a quick photo before heading back down the stairs.

The next morning, they woke to noise coming from downstairs. Katelyn looked up at him and smiled.

"I think your mom and grandparents are back home."

"I think so too."

"Should we go downstairs?"

"Yeah, we'll have to get ready for school here shortly."

"I don't know if I'm going to school."

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to go."

"You have to go."

"I don't have to do anything, Henry Mills!"

"You're right. I'm sorry. Let's go down there."

"Okay."

They climbed out of bed and headed down the stairs.

"You were out all night. Where were you? Granny wouldn't tell me anything. Did I miss it all?" Henry said as he came down the steps.

Katelyn giggled.

"Rumplestiltskin and Hook had a fight and someone got hurt," Snow said setting out three bowls of cereal.

"We weren't sure if Doctor Frankenstein could fix, but he did," Emma said as she began eating. Katelyn smirked.

"Doctor?" Henry asked puzzled, "Oh, that's who Whale is."

"Yeah, but without the neck bolts," Emma replied with a smirk.

"The monster had the bolts, not the doctor," Henry informed her.

"Right," Emma said, "But either way, some of us having known him, it's weird."

"It's not weird," Snow interjected, "We're past it. We were cursed."

"What are you talking about?" Henry asked.

"I'd like to know too," Katelyn said.

"Nothing," David said.

"Really, it's nothing," Snow added.

"Wait," Henry said as he got up and went to get the book and brought it back, "Frankenstein isn't in here. It's not even a fairytale. That means he comes from another land. With different stories."

"Eat," Emma said placing his bowl in front of him, "I really want to go to bed."

"If the curse went to places with other stories, then who knows who else is in this town?" Henry said speculative.

There's a knock on the door. They turn and look at it. Katelyn put her head down and went into Snow's room. They all watched and Emma walked over to open the door. Rumple is standing there.

"Gold. We've all had a long night," Emma said in lieu of greeting.

"You remember that favor you owe me, Miss Swan? I'm cashing it in," Rumple said.

"It's not a good…" Emma started.

"You do honor your agreements, don't you? I need to find someone, so we're leaving today. Pack your bag," Rumple said.

"Leaving?" Snow asked.

"Where?" Henry added.

"Wait, find someone? Who?" Emma asked.

"My son. It has to be today, because every minute I'm here, is a minute closer to me killing Hook. So it's really best for all concerned if I leave, and you're going to come with me. Oh, and, um, we have a long history. So know this, and know it to be true. If any harm comes to Belle while I'm gone, I'm killing all of you. I'll see you at noon," Rumple said and turned on his heel to leave.

"So now that Mama doesn't remember, you're back to the man you were before?!" Katelyn said.

He stopped and looked over at his daughter.

"I've been looking for you. I should've known you'd come here," Rumple said with a sneer at the Charmings, "Get your things. We're leaving."

"No, I'm not going."

"I don't recall giving you a choice, young lady. You will do as I say."

"And if I don't? You'll cast some spell over me that leaves me no choice?"

Rumple shuddered. He'd had this conversation before and it ended badly.

"No, I trust you'll do as I wish. I'm your father and you will mind me."

Katelyn dropped her head.

"Kate, it'll be okay. Just go with him. You need to talk to him," Henry said as he walked over and put an arm around her shoulders.

Katelyn sighed and nodded. She hugged Henry and went to gather her stuff. She came back down and thanked the Charmings and left with her father.

They got into the car and Katelyn turned away from him. He shook his head. It would take time for him to get into her good graces again, but at least she'd be safe.

"You're going with me."

She looked at him.

"To find your brother."

"I hadn't planned on leaving Mama here by herself."

"Kate, she's not alone."

"Yes, she is! She doesn't know who we are, who anyone is, for that matter! She is alone in a hospital full of strangers! And you don't care! All you care about is finding your precious son! That's why we're all here!"

"That's enough!"

Katelyn turned away from him again. He didn't miss the tears falling down her cheeks. She knew that she really couldn't blame her brother because he had no idea what has happened. She knew that it really wasn't all her Papa's fault too, but she was too angry to care.

"Katie, Charming and Ruby will look after her, I'm sure. They're heroes and will not let anything happen to her. Especially not after the threat I made."

"Yeah, about that, you do realize that you're including my best friend in that? If it comes down to that, I'll protect him and them. You know that."

"I do."

"Then it was an empty threat?"

"No, I was serious."

Katelyn scoffed and turned her head again.

"Stop doing that."

"What?"

"Ignoring me."

"I'm not. I just don't like you right now and I don't want to be here."

"You don't have a choice in this matter. Something bad has already happened to your mother…"

"Because of a feud you've had with the pirate!"

"He took away everything! He was the cause of me losing everything!"

"No, you did that! You killed Bae's mother as revenge! It's your fault!"

"I did it because she hurt Bae and she hurt me!"

"You didn't need to kill her!"

"What would you have had me do? Turn her into a snail?"

"It would've been better than killing her!"

"I was angry. It was unavoidable."

"No, you let the darkness make the choice for you."

"Technically, it was a fairy that started this all."

"What do you mean?"

Katelyn looked at him as he drove.

"The Blue Fairy gave your brother the magic bean that brought him here. If she hadn't of done that, I wouldn't have killed Milah. The only bad part out of all that is I probably wouldn't have met your mother and you would've had an entirely different father. It wouldn't have been a happy life either."

"The Blue Fairy started this?"

"She gave Bae the bean, yes."

"You broke the deal he made with you though. He wanted his father back. You said it was the only deal you ever broke."

"It was and I regret it every day. You're right, it's my fault. I can't change the past nor the present, but I can hope for the future."

"Papa, I'm sorry. I'm just…"

"Just what, love?"

"I miss Mama. I feel like I'm not just losing her, but you too. She doesn't know who I am and you're changing back to darkness."

Rumple gripped the wheel tightly and didn't say another word until they were at the manor. He got out and walked over to Katelyn as she got out of the car. He knelt down on his good leg.

"I'm so sorry, my sweet girl, for making you feel that way. I was so wrapped up in my own misery that I didn't care enough to see what you were going through. Can you ever forgive me for that?"

"Yes, as long as you aren't serious about killing my best friend and his family or the entire town should something happen to Mama. You know they won't let it."

"I know. They also know me to be ruthless and mean. It's who I am to them. If I change that now, they'll wonder if I'm up to something and never leave me be."

"You do that so that they'll leave you alone?"

"Yes, I do."

"Papa, you could just ask. It never hurts to ask."

Rumple smiled at her. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"I love you, Papa."

"I love you too, Katie."

She pulled back and looked at him.

"Am I going with you? I thought you only made enough potion for one."

"I did, but I made more quickly and now I'm going to enchant your book."

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't your copy of Beauty and the Beast the thing you hold most dear?"

"Actually, no, it's not."

She pulled out the necklace she had on and showed her father.

"Where did you get that?"

"Mama gave it to me before she left. She said it belonged to my grandmother. I wear it all the time. How did you not know?"

"To be honest, I guess I never thought to look."

Katelyn smiled.

"It's okay, Papa. I keep it tucked in so nothing bad happens to it. Not many people know I wear it."

"This is the object you hold most dear?"

"Yes, sir."

"This makes things so much easier. Now, we need to go pack. We have to pick up Miss Swan at noon."

"And you need to apologize for the threat."

"We'll see about that."

"Papa…"

"Like I said, we'll see."

Katelyn sighed. Sometimes you can't always get what you want.

Katelyn ran through the hallway and up to the tower where her mother was in the library. She saw Belle sitting in her favorite spot reading Pride and Prejudice.

"Mama, is it true you're going to see grandfather?"

Belle looked up from her book to her young daughter. She set the book aside and pulled Katelyn into her lap.

"Yes, sweetheart, your grandfather has requested I come and see him."

"Why, Mama?"

"He said he wasn't feeling very well and that he needed to see me."

"Oh, can I come with you?"

"No, darling, I'm afraid you can't."

"Why?"

"He's sick and I don't want you getting sick too."

"But I wanna go with you, Mama."

"I know, sweetheart, but you have to stay here with Papa."

"Will you be gone long?"

"I don't know. I hope not. I hope that Papa will feel better soon and that I'll be able to come home."

"I'll miss you, Mama."

"I'll miss you too, my sweet girl. I have something for you."

Katelyn's eyes lit up.

"What is it?"

Belle took off the necklace from around her neck and put it around Katelyn's.

"This belonged to my mother, your grandmother. It'll keep you safe, but you must take very good care of it, okay?"

"Okay, Mama, I'll keep it safe just like it will keep me safe."

Katelyn tucked the necklace into her dress and Belle smiled.

"Come on, little one. Let's go see what Papa is up to in his tower."

Katelyn giggled and hopped up, took her mother's hand, and they left the room to find Rumple.

A few days later, Belle left the castle and began the trek to Avonlea, but never made it. She'd stopped at a tavern for some food and drink when the Evil Queen intercepted her.

"No, stop, what are you doing?!" Belle shouted as the Queen's knights put her into a cart.

"I need leverage against your master, so I'm taking something he holds dear," Regina responded with a sneer.

"He'll never do what you want! He'll always be stronger than you!"

"Oh really, dear. We'll see about that," Regina replied coldly.

"I'll fight for him! I'll never stop fighting for him!"

Regina waved her hand and they were off to the Summer Palace where Belle would be held captive until the Dark Curse spread throughout the land.

Regina made her way into the Great Hall where she spotted Rumple spinning at his wheel in the corner. She also saw the tea service sitting on the table.

"Flimsy locks," she said smiling as she made her way to the table. Helping herself to the tea she continued, "I have a deal to discuss…a certain…mermaid."

Rumple never looked up from the wheel.

"I'm not dealing today."

"Are you angry with me? What is it this time?"

"Don't you have a princess to chase?"

"I do, but I've got another thing to do. So, where's the little maid? I've yet to see her today. Usually she's in and out of the room."

"She's away at the moment. Why? What are you planning?"

"So, it's true that she went to her father?"

"It's none of your business."

"Oh, so you haven't heard what happened?"

"What are you on about? What happened?"

"Oh, it's all over the land about how she went back and the tragedy that befell her."

Rumple stopped and looked at Regina. He gritted his teeth.

"What tragedy?"

"Well, when she arrived home, her fiancé had gone missing. Her father shunned her. He feared for her soul and sent her to clerics to cleanse her with scourges and flaying. When she couldn't stand the pain anymore, she threw herself off the tallest tower. She died."

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

"We're done. Get out."

Regina grinned and turned. Rumple stood at the door, urging her out. She ran a finger along the table and bringing it away dusty. She leaned over near him.

"Place is looking dusty, Rumple, you should get a new girl."

She left. He snarled after her. He walked over and picked up his walking stick and began to destroy the glass in the cabinet before him. After that was done, he flung the stick down, walked over to the tea service and threw all the cups against the pillar, including the sugar bowl and cream holder.

Once done with the destruction, he collapse into a chair and heard little footsteps running towards him. He cursed inwardly at waking her. He set about soothing her back to sleep.

Rumple put together another potion so that Katelyn could go with him to find Bae.

"Papa, what makes you sure that Bae wants to be found?"

"I don't know if he does, love, but I need to find him and tell him some things."

"Can we go visit Mama before we leave?"

Rumple thought about it.

"I don't know if she'll see us, but we can stop by, okay?"

"Okay."

They grabbed their overnight bags and left the house and headed to the hospital.

Rumple led Katelyn to Belle's room and knocked at the open door. Belle looked over from watching out the window. Her eyes widened in fear as she saw him standing there. She hoped he wasn't there to try to make her remember thing she couldn't. That was when she noticed the little girl that was with him. Rumple nudged Katelyn into the room. Katelyn looked at him and he nodded. She walked over to Belle and looked up at her from beneath her eyelashes.

"Hello, who are you?" Belle asked.

Katelyn looked at Rumple again.

"It's okay, love. Talk to her," he said softly.

Katelyn turned back to Belle.

"My name is Katelyn."

"Nice to meet you, Katelyn. What brings you here?"

"I wanted to…uh…see you before we left."

"You're leaving?" Belle asked Rumple.

"Just a short trip. We'll be back in a couple of days," Rumple replied.

She didn't know why she worried about them leaving.

"Well, okay," Belle said and then looked at Katelyn, "Be careful and mind your father."

Katelyn giggled and grinned up at Rumple.

"I will, Ma…Miss Belle."

The slip-up didn't go unnoticed by Belle.

"Can I give you a hug?" Katelyn asked.

Belle was taken aback at the girl's request. Why would she want a hug from a complete stranger? Then she thought about the girl's slip-up. Did this child really consider her a mother, her mother? She looked a little more closely at the girl and noticed several similarities between her and the girl. What if she was her daughter? What kind of mother was she if she didn't remember her own child?

She finally nodded and allowed Katelyn to wrap her arms around her neck and bury her little face into her shoulder. She felt something wet hit her shoulder. The girl's shoulders shook and she knew that the girl was crying. She looked over to Rumple who had a melancholy look to him. Belle returned the hug.

"Shh…it'll be okay," Belle said soothingly. Where had that come from?

Katelyn mumbled something into her shoulder. Belle sighed and pushed the girl back.

"What did you say?"

Katelyn sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve.

"I said 'it won't be okay unless you remember.'"

Belle sighed.

"I wish I could remember, but I can't."

Katelyn's eyes filled with tears again and she pulled away from Belle. She walked over and took Rumple's hand.

"I'm ready, Papa."

Rumple nodded and looked to Belle one last time.

"Goodbye, Belle."

"Goodbye."

They left and made their way back to the Charmings to pick up Emma and then to find Bae.

Rumple knocked on the door. Emma opened it, dressed warmly.

"Ready to go, Miss Swan?" Rumple asked.

"Almost," Emma replied as Henry walked over.

"Hey, Henry," Katelyn said.

"Hey. Do you think it'll be cold where we're going or warm?" Henry asked.

"I think layers are always a good idea," Emma said and Henry nodded.

Rumple looked at the boy and then to Emma.

"I thought the terms of our agreement were quite clear. You own me a favor; you alone." Rumple said, annoyance touching his tone.

"Papa, be nice," Katelyn hissed.

"I'm not leaving Henry here with Cora lurking about. So either we both go or we both stay," Emma said.

"Then, we'll have to purchase another plane ticket, won't we?" Rumple said with a smirk.

Emma looked shocked.

"Wait, we're flying?" Emma asked.

"Don't worry. I'm covering expenses. Even new ones," Rumple replied.

Snow walked over and helped Henry into his jacket as David came down the stairs to hand Emma a bag.

"You're a real gentleman, aren't you?" David said and walked over to Rumple, "Alright, Gold. You're going out there with my family. Just know, if anything happens to them—"

"Then you'll what? Cross the town line and David Nolan will hunt me down in his animal rescue van?" Rumple asked with a sneer.

"I'll be devastated," David said, "This isn't a threat. It's a request. Take care of them."

"I promise no harm will come to your family. After all…we have a deal," Rumple said.

"I'll make sure he takes care of them, David," Katelyn said glaring at her father. She wasn't pleased at all with his less than deplorable attitude.

"You're taking her with you?" Snow asked.

"Why would I leave her here? It's her brother we're going to find and her mother is in no state to look after her," Rumple replied.

"We could look after her," Snow offered.

"No, thank you. I'd rather have her with me. She's grounded anyways and she knew that when she showed up last night," Rumple replied, "I let it go due to the issues with her mother at the moment, but she's not leaving my sight any time soon."

Katelyn looked down as he looked over to her. She hated when her father was angry with her. She sighed and looked at Snow and David.

"Thanks for letting me stay over."

"Any time, sweetheart, any time," Snow replied.

Katelyn smiled and they all left for the airport.

Katelyn sat in the Great Hall. Her father had gone to get something and told her, in no uncertain terms, that she was to stay put in the castle. She wasn't to venture outside or to answer the door for anyone. She paced because she felt her father's distress and there was no way to go to him. She worried about him and whether she'd lose him like she had her mother. Well, her mother wasn't lost, but she was missing. She heard the door to castle open and ran to see who it was. She gasped as she saw an unfamiliar woman and man enter it.

"Are you certain that we should be here?" the woman asked, "It doesn't feel right to go through his things."

"He's locked away in the dungeon. He's restrained. He can't do anything. I just want to make sure he's not holding any prisoners or anything like that," the man replied.

"Charming, I don't know about this," the woman said.

"It'll be fine. Wait here and I'll go check the dungeon," the man, Charming, said.

She heard footsteps come her way and she gasped and quickly looked for a place to hide. She wasn't fast enough and Charming caught her. She fought against him. She didn't want to use her magic to hurt him, but she did anyway because she was scared and didn't know what to do.

"Hey!" the woman cried as she came in, "Let him go!"

Katelyn stopped the flow of electricity flowing through her and Charming collapsed in a heap. The woman ran to his side and knelt next to him.

"Charming, are you okay?"

He groaned in response.

"I…I…I'm…s….s…sorry," Katelyn stuttered out, terrified of the people who had entered her home uninvited, "Y…y…you sh…sh..shouldn't b..b…be h…h…here m…my Papa...he'll be back soon."

"Your papa?" the woman asked as she looked up at the little girl, "Who's your papa?"

Katelyn shied away and the woman put a hand out.

"It's okay. I'm sorry that we scared you. Can you tell me who your papa is?" the woman asked in a calm, even tone.

"His name is Rumplestiltskin. He's the Dark One," Katelyn replied.

"Rumplestiltskin is your father?" the woman asked in surprise. Katelyn nodded.

"He doesn't like people in his castle or people coming after me. You'd better go," Katelyn said as her voice steadied a little more, "I don't want him hurting anyone."

"You won't have to worry about that anymore," the woman said.

"What do you mean?"

"Your father is locked away where he can't hurt anyone anymore. It's okay. You're safe."

"What?! No! I need him! I'm not safe! I'm not safe without him! Take me to him!"

"I can't do that, but I can take you with me, with us, to our palace. You'll be safe there and not have anything to worry about."

"My Papa said never to go with strangers and never to trust anyone."

"If I can take you to him, will you come with me?"

Katelyn thought about it for a moment. She wanted so much to see him, to make sure he was okay, but she knew he'd be furious if she disobeyed him.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Snow White. This man, Charming, is my husband."

Katelyn gaped at her.

"What? Why are you looking at me that way?"

"You're Snow White?"

"Yes? Do I know you?"

"No, but I know you and know that I can trust you. Papa said I could. Can you please take me to him? I want to know he's okay."

Snow weighed her options and decided that she'd take the girl to see her father.

"Very well. Could you help me with him? What did you do to him?"

"I protected myself with my magic."

"You have magic."

Katelyn nodded.

"Yes, but I only use it when I need it. I was scared and so that's what happened."

"Can you fix him?"

"I can try."

Katelyn knelt next to Charming and closed her eyes, calling her magic to her. She put a hand over his body and projected her magic just as her father told her. Charming groaned again and opened his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You were electrocuted by a kid," Snow replied with a smirk.

"Powerful kid," he said as he looked at the girl, "Who are you?"

"My name's Katelyn," Katelyn replied.

"Well, it would be nice to meet you if I didn't have tiny dwarves hammering in my head," Charming said.

Katelyn giggled.

"Katelyn, are you here by yourself?" Snow asked as she looked around.

"Yes."

"Where's your Mama?" Charming asked.

"I don't know. She's been missing for a few years. I miss her so much. Papa hasn't been able to find her. I'm scared that something bad happened to her."

"You don't think…" Snow began.

"No! Papa wouldn't ever hurt Mama! He loves her and she loves him!"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that," Snow said softly.

"Can we go please? I really want to see him."

"Yes, we can go," Snow replied.

"Snow, it's too dangerous. What if he tries something?" Charming asked.

"He won't. I promise he won't," Katelyn said, "Please let me see him. I need my Papa."

Charming looked at Katelyn and then to Snow. He nodded and Snow helped him to his feet.

"We'll let you see him, but you have to promise that you won't do any magic. Promise?"Charming said.

"I promise."

"Alright, well, then, let's go," he said.

They left the Dark Castle and made their way back to the palace.

Katelyn was antsy in her seat as the carriage went on. What if Papa wasn't happy with her trusting Snow and Charming right now? What if he was hurt? What if he hurt someone else? Several more scenarios ran through her head. She began to shake.

"Katelyn, are you alright?" Snow asked as she put a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"I just need my Papa. I need him."

Katelyn broke down into tears and Snow pulled her to her. She rubbed her back gently.

"it'll be okay. Shhh, it's gonna be okay."

Charming watched the scene unfold and saw that his wife was taken with the little girl. He smiled as he thought about their child that was growing in her womb. He knew that this proved that she was going to be an amazing mother.

They arrived at the palace and Snow and Charming led Katelyn down to the darkened dungeon. She shivered at the cold and Charming put his cloak around her. She smiled her thanks and snuggled into it. They came to a corridor that had a cage at the end of it.

"He's in there. Are you sure about this?" Snow asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. He won't hurt me."

Katelyn walked over to the cage and put a hand on one of the bars.

"Well, what do we have here?" she heard her father's voice and then he turned around and gasped as his eyes laid on her, "Katie, what are you doing here?"

"I asked Snow and Charming to bring me to you, Papa. Are you okay? I was so scared that you'd…"

Katelyn's eyes filled with tears and Rumple reached out of the cage as one of the guards moved to intercede, Snow put up a hand and stopped him.

"Let them be," Snow said.

Rumple nodded his thanks to them and caressed his daughter's face. She leaned into his touch.

"Papa, what's going to happen?"

"A curse is going to take us from this land and put us into another one. We won't remember who we are until their baby breaks it. She's the key to it all."

"Why did they lock you up here?"

"Because I tried to collect on what's mine and they tricked me."

"How?"

"No need to worry about it, sweetheart. I'm okay."

"Papa, what am I supposed to do now?"

"I want you to stay with them."

"But I want you! I don't want to go away from you! I want you! Papa, I'm scared!"

"I know, darling, I know. I want to stay with you too, but it has to happen this way. We'll be together again, I promise. You be good for the royals. Act like I've taught you. Behave yourself and do as you're told."

"Papa, what about Mama? If she's missing, will she be with us in this other land?"

Rumple tried to swallow past the lump that formed in his throat.

"I hope so, love, I truly do. Now, go. It's too cold down here for you. We'll be together again."

"I love you, Papa."

"I love you too, my sweet girl."

Katelyn turned and walked back to Snow and Charming. They guided her out of the dungeon and up to the dining chamber.

"Are you hungry?" Snow asked.

"No."

"I could have someone get you something."

"No, I'm fine. You can send me back to the Dark Castle now. I don't want to be a bother. You don't have to do what Papa said."

"Oh, honey," Snow said as she faced the girl, "We're going to take care of you. I don't care who your father is, you're someone who needs help and we're going to give it to you."

"You don't like my father. You keep him trapped like an animal. Why would you want to care for me, his spawn?"

"Where have you heard that word?" Snow asked.

"The mean lady in the mirror, Regina."

"I should've known."

"She's not the only one. Everyone in our village calls me that when they think I'm not listening. I don't have any friends and Papa is all I have."

"Oh, don't listen to them. It doesn't matter if your family is different. People should care for others no matter who their parents are. Your father wants you to stay with us and that's where you'll stay. I'll have one of the dwarves prepare a room for you. What do you like?"

"My favorite story is Beauty and the Beast. I love to read and I love bears."

"Well, we'll see about a room full of books and bears then."

Katelyn giggled. Snow pulled the girl to her.

"You'll be safe here, sweetheart, I promise."

"Thank you, Snow."

"You're quite welcome. Oh, I meant to ask, who is your mother?"

"Princess Belle of Avonlea. She went missing three years ago and we haven't heard from her since."

"Belle's your mother?"

"You know Mama?"

"We were friends when we were children before my mother passed. How did Belle come to live in the Dark Castle with your father?"

"Well, it's a long story."

"I'd like to hear it."

Katelyn smiled and she and Snow walked through the castle as she told her all about how a princess went from being a princess to a maid and to a mother.