Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN: Yeah, excuses, apologies, guilt...now that we're past that! Enjoy the latest chapter!

They walked outside the shop and Katelyn looked at her father.

"Papa, how are we going to get home when your car is still at the airport?"

Rumple waved his hand and his Cadillac was right in front of them. He looked over to his daughter and grinned.

"I'm glad you're okay, Papa."

"Me too, love, me too."

They got into the car and left. The ride home was quiet and Katelyn kept looking over to her father every couple of seconds.

Rumple sighed at the last time he caught her staring.

"I'm not going anywhere, Katie. I'm fully healed."

"It's just…I was so scared and now you're better."

"I know. I'm sorry it happened the way it did. I wish Cora didn't have to die for me to live."

Katelyn looked over at her father. She studied his face and listened to his voice when he spoke of Cora. It was almost as if he were talking about her mother.

"You loved Cora, didn't you?"

Rumple looked at her daughter. She was definitely her mother's child. He couldn't hide anything from her just as he couldn't hide anything from Belle.

"I did, but it was a long time ago. It was before I met your mother. I'd fallen in love with her, she broke my heart, and tore her own out to avoid any feelings."

"Why?"

"She wanted nothing more than to be queen and she wanted to see people suffer, but she couldn't do that if she wasn't ruthless. She tore her heart out to become cold and work her way to become queen."

"Did she ever become queen of the realm?"

"No, she raised Regina and was ruthless with her and groomed her for the crown so that she could live vicariously through her. It's a really long story."

"Is that why Regina is the way she is?"

"Kind of."

"But Papa…"

"Katelyn, I'll tell you the whole story some day, but not tonight, okay? I'm tired and you're tired. Let's just have dinner and go to bed. We'll talk in the morning."

"Okay, Papa."

They pulled up to the house and went inside. Rumple fixed them grilled cheese and soup. Katelyn looked at her bowl as a tear slipped down her cheek. Rumple looked at her.

"Sweetheart, what is it?"

"This is the first meal Mama learned to cook here."

Rumple looked at his plate and then back to his daughter. He put a hand over hers and she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"We'll get her back, Katelyn. I promise you that we will get her back."

Katelyn got up and climbed up into his lap. He hugged her close.

"You need to eat something, love."

"I'm not really hungry."

"Please try. Mama would want you to."

She looked at him and nodded. She got down and went back to her own chair. She took a bite of her grilled cheese. She then dipped it into the soup and took another bite. Before she knew it, she'd finished the whole thing.

"I guess I was hungry."

She giggled. He smiled at her.

"Go ahead and get into the shower. I'll be up to tuck you in when you're done, okay?"

"Okay."

Katelyn ran upstairs while Rumple cleaned up the dishes. He then went down to the basement for a bit.

Katelyn got into the shower. It was nice and warm. She was still in shock that she'd almost lost her father today. The tears came and she was overwhelmed. She sat in the shower until the water ran cold. That was how Rumple found her.

"Oh, sweetheart, come on, let's get you warm and into some pajamas."

He pulled her from the tub and wrapped a towel around her. He ignored his knee and lifted her into his arms and carried her to her room. He set her on the bed and turned to her dresser. He pulled out some flannel pajamas and a shirt that said "Princess." He dressed her and then brushed out her curls. She sat there and let him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"It's not important. It's over and It didn't happen."

"What didn't?"

"I didn't become an orphan. You didn't die."

"No, no, I didn't."

"I guess it just really hit me all at once. Everything that happened the last few days, it all hit me. I'm really tired."

"I'm sure you are. Come on, go brush your teeth and I'll tuck you in."

She brushed her teeth and walked back into her room. Her bed was already turned down and her father was in his spot with a book in his lap. She climbed up next to him and snuggled against him.

"What are we reading?"

"Alice in Wonderland."

"Why that one?"

"It's been a few crazy days so why not get lost in a crazy book?"

She giggled and settled as he began to read softly to her. He barely got through the first chapter before she was already asleep. He smiled at her. He got up, set the book on the bedside table, and pulled the blankets up to her chin. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"I love you so much, Katelyn. I'm going to do everything I can to bring your mother back and to reconcile with your brother."

Rumple walked out of her room and made his way down to the basement. He poured him a tumbler of whiskey. He let the liquid burn down his throat as he knew that there was no way for him to get drunk due to being the Dark One. He sat down on the stool and stared at the photos before him, one of young Bae and the other of Belle and Katelyn before the whole mess happened.

"I will bring you back, my loves. I will have my family whole once again."

The next morning, Rumple woke to Katelyn tapping on his shoulder. He'd fallen asleep on the couch. He groaned and cracked an eye open.

"Papa, it's time to get up! I don't want to be unprepared when Regina comes."

"Regina isn't going to get to you, love. She's more concerned with Snow White."

"All the more reason to get up and put a wrench in her plans, now come on!"

She tapped his shoulder again.

"What makes you think I want to help the Charmings?"

"I don't know, maybe because they helped you and they're family."

Rumple opened his other eye and looked at his daughter. He sighed as he saw his Belle standing before him. Katelyn had her hair pinned back like her mother usually did and her curls fell over her shoulders. She stood over him with her hands on her hips and a stern look on her young face that mimicked her mother's.

"Alright, I'm up. I'll do it for you."

Katelyn grinned and scampered off to the kitchen.

Rumple groaned and sat up. Next time, he would not drink much and he would be sure to make it to his bed. Now he had to face Regina with a sore back and throbbing ankle. This was going to be a horrible day.

After breakfast, Katelyn ran upstairs and began getting ready for the day. As she came out of her room, Rumple stopped her in the doorway. She looked up at him.

"No, I'm going."

"Not this time, little one. Any other time, yes, but Regina is on the warpath and I will not put you in the line of fire."

"But Papa…"

"No. I mean it and you will not follow me."

"Well, can I at least go to Henry?"

"No, because he's most likely at the loft with Snow White and she is Regina's target at the moment."

"But…"

"No, I think you can go stay with your brother."

"I don't even know what room he's in!"

"Room 8 at Granny's."

"Of course you'd know."

"Go on now. I'll come get you when it's clear."

"Does Bae know I'm coming?"

"No, but I'm sure you'll find a way to surprise him."

Katelyn giggled. She hugged her father.

"Be careful, Papa."

"I will. I love you, my darling girl."

"I love you too."

Rumple kissed Katelyn's forehead and sent her off in a puff of smoke.

Katelyn looked up as her father's smoke cleared and saw she was standing just outside Room 8. She sighed, raised her hand, and knocked on the door. She waited as she heard movement inside and the doorknob opened to her brother standing there, fully dressed as if he was going somewhere.

"Katelyn, what's up?"

"Papa told me I had to come stay with you. He's gone to visit Regina to find out her plans for Snow."

"Not even a brother for 2 days and I'm already on babysitting duty."

"I'm not a baby and am quite capable of taking care of myself! He sent me here and I don't have to stay. I just wanted to see if my big brother wanted to spend some time with me, but I guess not!"

Katelyn turned to walk away, but Neal caught her shoulder.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I was just heading down for some breakfast. Wanna come?"

"I had breakfast at home, but it would be nice to talk and get to know you from you."

"What do you mean?"

"Papa has told me a lot about you."

"Oh…"

"Not bad. Well, there was that incident of you running naked through the village, but I think we can overlook that."

Katelyn giggled and Neal turned red.

"He swore he'd never tell anyone that story!"

"I can only imagine 8 year old Baelfire running around for all to see. Better yet, better not."

Neal reached out and tickled her sides. She squealed as she fought to get away from her brother's fingers. He laughed at her and she punched his arm lightly.

"Alright, let's head downstairs. I'm starving."

They headed downstairs to the diner.

Neal chose a booth about halfway in and took a seat with his back to the door. Katelyn sat across from him. Ruby sauntered over with a smile on her face.

"Hello, what can I get for you?" she asked.

"Ruby…" Katelyn said with a groan.

Ruby looked at Katelyn with a blush in her cheeks.

"Hey, Kate, what're you doing?" Ruby asked.

"I'm spending time with my brother."

Ruby looked at Neal and back at Katelyn.

"Oh…what can I get for you?" Ruby said with a little less enthusiasm.

Neal chuckled and placed his order. Ruby walked off.

"What was that about?"

"It's nothing."

"No? It seemed like something."

"She has this need to walk up to every guy she sees and flirt with them mercilessly. I don't know if she does it because that was who she was cursed as or if she is trying to hide behind that mask still."

"You know, you're kind of deep for a kid."

"I know. I read a lot."

"Like what?"

Katelyn looked down and wringed her fingers together. Neal noticed her discomfort.

"What?"

"You'll laugh at me."

"No, I won't. I promise."

"Well, I read fairy tales mostly. My favorite is Beauty and the Beast."

Neal wrinkled his brow.

"You mean, your favorite is your mother's and Papa's story?"

"Yeah, the book is entirely different than what actually happened, but there are some similarities. Did Papa ever read to you as a kid?"

"He did until I was old enough to read to myself. Then I just took over from there."

"Why do you go by Neal here?"

"Well, Baelfire is out of place here. I wanted to lay low so I chose a name that wouldn't get noticed much. How did you get your name?"

"Mama named me. Papa was just glad I was healthy and let her name me anything she wanted. She named me Katelyn. My full name is Katelyn Jane Gold…well, it is now."

"It wasn't always?"

"No, when the curse was cast, Regina separated Mama, Papa, and I. I lived with a nice couple until Papa got his memory back."

"Only Papa?"

Katelyn looked at him.

"Of course. He put a back-up plan in the curse before he handed it to Regina to be cast. His memories returned once he heard Emma's name from her mouth."

"Emma broke Papa's curse?"

"Yeah, he knew she was destined to be the Savior."

"How?"

Katelyn looked at him again.

"Never mind."

Katelyn giggled.

Ruby came back with Neal's breakfast and set a chocolate milk in front of Katelyn.

"I didn't order that."

"It's cool, Bae."

"Yeah, she's good," Ruby said, "It's a thing we have."

Neal nodded and Ruby walked away.

"Could you really try to call me Neal? I don't really answer to my Enchanted Forest name anymore."

"I can try, but you've been Bae my whole life. It's really hard to change that now. I know for certain that Papa won't ever call you Neal."

"I know, but please try."

"Okay, Neal, I'll try."

"So what's that with you and Ruby?"

"Oh, she notices that when I'm in a mood or, recently, when Papa sends me away that chocolate makes me feel better. She does that and never charges me for it. It makes her happy to look after me especially after she became friends with Mama."

"She and your mother are friends?"

"Yeah, before Mama lost her memory, Ruby helped her out."

"Wow, you've got friends everywhere. It was hard for me to make any with Papa being the Dark One."

"I don't really have that many friends."

"You could've fooled me."

Katelyn cocked her head in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, since we've came down the steps, everyone hasn't stopped staring at us, particularly me. They seem ready to jump at the sign of trouble."

Katelyn took a look around the diner. Granny was by the register peering over her glasses. Grumpy sat in the corner, seeming to read the paper with Doc and Dopey next to him. The Hatter sat nearby as well with his daughter, Grace. Not to mention Michael and his twins sitting at a booth opposite the Dwarves.

"Huh, I guess I just didn't notice. I bet it's more that they don't want anything to happen to me because they're afraid of Papa not because they're my friends. Any other time most of them wouldn't care except Jeff, Ruby, Granny, and Grumpy. They others could care less."

"What about the girl? Is she not a friend?"

"Grace? Not really. She's friends with Henry more than me. We talk a bit, but we don't really spend time together."

"So my son, your nephew, is your only true friend?"

"For the most part, yes. I don't really have friends my age because they're afraid of me and of Papa."

"Because of the magic?"

"More or less. People fear what they don't understand."

"What about your relationship with Emma? Are you guys friends?"

"Before I got my memory back, she was the one who helped me and Henry figure out a lot of the curse stuff. I got close to her, but after I found out about what she had done by lying to him, I lost my trust in her. Now, I guess we're friends because she helped Papa and is trying to make amends with Henry."

"What exactly did she tell him?"

"That you were a fireman and you died in an accident."

"So that's what he meant back at the apartment."

"Yep. Now we both know the truth."

Neal chuckled.

"So how did you and Henry become best friends?"

"When he was old enough to come to school, I looked after him. I thought it strange that he was getting older when none of the rest of us was. When he got older than me, the roles seemed to switch. That was when Snow gave him the book and he went to find Emma. When she came back to town, my then nightmares started. I didn't know they were memories until later when they all came back after overhearing Papa face down Regina over my Mama's special tea cup."

"What was so special about the cup?"

"It was the cup she chipped when she first came to Papa's castle. It was when she first realized that all the bluster Papa works up is a mask to protect himself. It's also a symbol of their love."

Neal nodded as his cell rang.

"It's Emma. Hold on."

He answered the phone as Katelyn looked around again at the not so subtle patrons of the diner. He snapped the phone shut.

"What's up?"

"Regina is after Snow to cast a curse on Henry to make him think he loves her. Emma wants me to take him to New York with me."

"What?! No! I can protect him! He doesn't have to go anywhere!"

"It's already been decided, Kate. I'm sorry, but it's best for him. I'm sure if you ask Papa he'll let you come too."

"Away from Storybrooke and the power of the Dark One? The one place he feels he can protect me? I don't think so! I can help if you let me! Regina doesn't dare mess with me, especially since I've already knocked her on her arse."

"Hey, language! I'm sorry, but Emma and I agree that it's best."

Neal waved Ruby over and ordered a sundae with extra everything on it.

"He doesn't know! You're bribing him! He won't fall for it!"

"Yeah, he will."

"We'll see."

The door opened to Emma and Henry walking into the diner. Henry looked reluctant to be there. Emma moved him over to where they were. Neal turned in his seat.

"Hey, buddy! Saved you a seat."

"I'm gonna get a coffee," Emma said.

"Yeah," Neal replied as Henry moved to sit down next to Katelyn.

"Hey, Henry."

"Hey."

Ruby came over with the sundae on a tray.

"Here you go. One large sundae. Extra everything."

"Thanks Ruby," Neal said as he pushed the sundae to sit in front of Henry.

"Extra everything?"

"What?"

"You think I don't know a bribe when I see one?"

Katelyn snorted and Neal looked over at her.

"I told you he would know what you're trying to do," she said grinning.

"That obvious, huh?" Neal asked.

"Duh…"Katelyn said and looked at Henry who had pushed the sundae away and folded his hands on the table.

"So what do you want?" Henry asked.

"Well, your mom had told me about what's been going on, and we thought that Storybrooke might not be the safest place for you right now. So I was thinking…Why don't we go to New York?"

"New York?" Henry said in disbelief.

"Well, Regina can't cast that curse if you're in New York. There's no magic there."

"Someone should try to find a way to get rid of magic here. My mom wouldn't be able to cast the curse. My family wouldn't wanna kill her. It'd—It'd solve everything."

"I don't think it's that easy," Katelyn said. Neal looked at her.

"Yeah. You know what? You're right. But until then, why don't you come with me?"

Henry thought a moment and nodded.

"I need to go to the bathroom first," Henry replied, "I'll be right back."

Henry got up and went to the bathroom. Katelyn watched him go.

"See? He does want to come with me."

"I didn't say he wouldn't want to. I said he'd recognize the bribe. I'm going to go check on him."

Katelyn got up and followed after him, knowing that he had run. She looked outside the back of the diner to see that he'd gotten a good head start. She took off after him. It seemed like she was running forever until she saw him run into the stranger that had been wandering around town. Something about the man seemed off to Katelyn, but she shrugged it off and walked over to them.

"Henry, there you are!"

"Kate, you following me?"

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

She eyed the stranger as he leaned down to grab Henry's bag and handed it to him.

"Good luck on your merit badge," he said as he walked off.

Katelyn turned and looked at him.

"Merit badge? What is he talking about?"

"I told him I was a Boy Scout. If you're coming with me, we need to go. They'll be catching up soon."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to destroy magic."

"What? Henry, that's not the answer!"

"It is if it'll stop my family from wanting to kill each other! Are you coming or not?"

Henry took off again. Katelyn sighed and ran after him. They went to the mines.

"What do we need here?" Katelyn asked.

"Dynamite. I'm going to blow up the well."

"You think that'll get rid of magic?"

"I don't know, but it's worth a shot."

"Henry, what about the good magic?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's good magic here too."

"Good or bad, magic is still ruining my family!"

"And it hasn't ruined mine?!"

Henry ran faster as he got to the well first and took the dynamite out to place it on the well. Katelyn caught up with him.

"If the Dark One didn't exist, Bae…Neal might have never been drafted to the Ogres War! If that curse hadn't existed, my Papa wouldn't be who he is today! If the Blue Fairy hadn't stuck her nose where it didn't belong, Neal wouldn't have been sent to this world! Papa wouldn't have to have had Regina cast that curse! Cora would've probably had true love! Mama might've been married to Gaston and I probably might not have been born! Magic has ruined both our lives, but I can't give it up because it's a part of me!"

"You could try!"

"No, I couldn't! It would be like asking you not to breathe!"

At that moment, Regina stepped out of the shadows as he struck a match to light the dynamite.

"Henry?"

She came out with her hands raised in surrender. Katelyn turned and looked at her, placing herself between her nephew and the Evil Queen.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she walked closer.

Henry picked up the dynamite.

"I'm getting rid of magic. I-It's ruining everything, and you can't stop me."

"All that's gonna do is get you killed."

"You just say that because you need magic. So you can cast that curse on me."

Henry struck another match and just as he was about to light it, Regina waved her hand and the dynamite disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

"I can't lose you, Henry," she said as she walked closer. Katelyn put her hand out which stopped Regina momentarily. Katelyn looked at the Evil Queen, but at that moment she didn't see the Evil Queen. She saw the concerned mother who loved her son and didn't want to lose him. She put her hand down as she continued forward. "You mean too much to me."

"Then don't cast the curse. Don't kill Mary Margaret."

"Henry, she has to pay."

"The curse—it won't make me love you for real. It'll be fake."

"But it will be something. I know it's hard for you to understand right now, but you'll see. We can be happy. We can have everything."

Henry shook his head as he stepped back. "Not like this."

"Hey, Regina! Get away from my son!" Emma shouted.

Regina pushed Henry behind her. Katelyn stood between her, the Charmings and her brother.

"He's not yours, he's mine. And after I cast this, you'll never see him again."

"That's never gonna happen," David said.

"You wanna kill Mary Margaret, you're gonna have to go through us," Emma replied.

"Okay," Regina said with a smirk as she conjured a fireball in her hand as David pulled his gun and cocked back the hammer.

Henry ran between them. Katelyn took one of his outstretched hands in hers and put a shield around them.

"Stop!"Henry yelled.

"Henry, get out of the way!" Neal yelled trying to get to him.

"No! Not until someone helps me destroy magic!"

"There's no way to get rid of it. You can't just blow it up," Regina said. Katelyn saw the battle raging between the Evil Queen and Regina behind her eyes.

"Magic isn't the problem, kid," Emma said stretching her hand out to them, "It's her."

"It's not just her. It's everyone. Look what magic did to Mary Margaret," he said and turned to Regina, "Look at what it did to you. It's ruining everything. It makes good people do terrible things."

Katelyn looked at him.

"And bad people," Emma said desperately wanting him to take her hand.

He turned and moved towards Regina. Katelyn let the shield down as she knew that no one was going to hurt anyone else.

"Please," he said, "It's gonna destroy my family. Help me get rid of it."

Regina looked at him.

"I can't do that, Henry. But there is something I can do," she said as she took the curse, held it over the fireball she still held, and dropped it in.

"Thank you," he said as he turned and went to Emma.

Katelyn went to her brother and they all walked away from Regina.

"What were you two thinking?!" Emma yelled.

"I was trying to keep him from getting himself killed," Katelyn replied.

"So, you were going to let him blow himself up?!" Emma yelled.

"No! I wouldn't let him do it! You couldn't see it, but I was protecting him the whole time!" Katelyn yelled back.

"Guys, come on," Neal said, "You both were trying to look after Henry."

"I have to go," Katelyn said, "Papa's calling me."

"I didn't hear a phone ring," Emma said.

Katelyn looked at her and she nodded.

She vanished in a puff of pink smoke and appeared at home in front of her father.

He crossed his arms and glared at her.

"I told you to stay with your brother and then I hear you took off with Henry and faced down Regina! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I did what I thought what was right! I was helping my nephew, your grandson!"

"Don't raise your voice to me, young lady! You could've been killed! You never think about things before you do them! You're just like your mother!"

"At least one of us is!"

Katelyn stormed upstairs and slammed her door. Rumple groaned and dropped himself on the couch. He shouldn't have lost his temper. Now he had to fix things with her again. He felt like he was failing as a father. He got up and fixed him a glass of whiskey on the rocks. He downed it and set the glass down. He walked up the stairs, his cane thumping with each step.

Katelyn threw herself on her bed and sobbed. It was times like these that she needed her mother as the voice of reason and, yes, to referee them. She was tired of her father treating her like a baby. She could take care of herself.

A knock came on the door and she raised her head.

"Go away, Papa!"

Katelyn flipped the lock on the door as he began to turn the knob.

"You should know that won't keep me out, but I'll give you the chance to unlock it yourself before I do it and you'll be in more trouble."

Katelyn raised her hand again, but buried her face further into her pillows. He came in and sat down on the bed next to her.

"Please sit up. I don't wish to have this conversation with the back of your head."

Katelyn sat up. Her cheeks stained with her tears and her eyes red. She sniffled and kept her head down, not looking her father in the eye.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice at you. I was scared when the shepherd told me what happened at the well. I told you not to put yourself in danger. I told you to stay with your brother. Why did you disobey me?"

"Henry…he needed me. He was going to get himself killed. He was hurting and I wanted to help him."

"Every time you put yourself in danger, it's because of that boy! If he wasn't family, I'd have made a way for you to never see him again!"

"Even if he wasn't family, you wouldn't have stopped me from seeing him! I'd have found a way!"

"Don't take that tone with me, young lady!"

Rumple took a deep breath and Katelyn turned away from him again as a fresh batch of tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Katelyn, you know I can't lose you and every time you go off and put yourself in danger…"

"I had to protect Henry…he's not just family. He's my best friend. I love him! I couldn't let him do anything like that alone!"

Rumple pulled her to him. She stiffened a little. He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She relaxed against him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Please don't do that again. I know your need to protect Henry, but I need you to think of yourself too. I need you to not intentionally put yourself in harm's way."

"I'll try, Papa, but I can't always guarantee that it'll work out that way. A hero always faces their problems and helps the innocent."

"You consider yourself a hero?"

Katelyn nodded. Rumple tried to hide his grin, but he was so happy that she took after her mother. Though she had dark magic running through her veins, she was choosing the light. He couldn't have been more proud of her. He knew her mother would be proud too.

"I'm so proud of you. I love you so much, little one."

"I love you too, Papa."