Another long chapter but it's one of my personal favorites.

It was sooooo fun to write and I hope you have as much fun reading it.

I do not own Once Upon a Time, or any of its characters. However, I adore them as if they were my own.

Gold received an urgent call from Regina a short time later. She told him to visit her immediately. As soon as he hung up, he chuckled to himself, knowing full well why she was panicking. What can he say? He knows all.

Walking into Regina's house, he found her sitting behind her desk with her fingers pressed to her forehead. She looked up and saw Mr. Gold, instantly dropping her fingers from her face to the table.

"Well, dearie, you look exasperated. What's wrong?" He asked, a smile forming on his lips.

"He knows," she replied darkly.

"What?"

"He knows! Killian Jones remembers who he is!" Regina screamed at him.

Gold dropped his cane in shock. He was honestly slightly relieved because that meant the curse was being shattered slowly. They'd have their happy endings before they knew it.

"Does he now? How?"

"The Swan girl. Don't ask me how but it was something she did that made him remember. This isn't supposed to happen, Gold!"

"Why not?"

"Because that's my happy ending they're ruining! If they remember, they'll go after me and that's it. I'm done for."

"You had it coming, dearie, let me tell you. You destroy Emma's happiness, ripping them apart from each other all because you were jealous of the girl and her mother because they got the life you wanted and then what, Regina? Did you expect to live in this utopia of yours forever?"

At this, she stayed quiet and looked down, knowing he was right. She couldn't believe she had actually thought that this would last forever. Who was she kidding?

"There's your answer. See, he remembered. As far as we know he's the only one, apart from you and I. Now the spell breaks if true love is restored. I found Lacey, who is actually Belle, and we're in love. That's one part. The Swan girl and Jones have found each other but they don't love each other. Not yet, at least." Gold told her coldly.

"Then help me stop this from happening," she pleaded.

"No, Regina. I want no part in this deal anymore. It's keeping me from being with Belle and I love her."

"Don't you want your power?"

"Yes. But at least I don't go around stealing joy to obtain it. We are done here, Your Highness."

Gold turned to leave and he heard her murmur,

"Good riddance, Rumplestiltskin."

At the same moment, Emma was at home, noticing David had left already. She plopped down on the couch, kicking off her boots and exhaling a frustrated breath. Still trying to wrap her head around what Regina had told her, Emma went to grab a bag of chips from the kitchen. Just as she opened the bag, Mary Margaret appeared. She jumped in surprise, knocking over a glass of water on the counter.

"Emma! I was… not expecting to see you here this early." She mustered out, clearly still in shock.

"Yeah, well," Emma popped a chip in her mouth. "It's not every day the mayor tells you not to do your work so…" She finished with her mouth full.

"What? Why on earth would she say that to you? Sit on the couch so we can have some quality girl talk here." Oh, how Mary Margaret loved those.

"I don't know. Apparently it had to do with Scott. Want one?" Emma inquired while holding the bag toward her best friend. Mary Margaret took one happily and bit into it.

"What does Scott have to do with you not working?"

"She said she didn't want me working with-slash-seeing him anymore. I don't know, I'm not fifteen and she's not my mother. That's my job and I shouldn't be told what I can and cannot do with it. Scott is my business right now."

Mary Margaret clapped a little for her friend. Emma rolled her eyes, thinking she was mocking her but she wasn't.

"Why didn't you tell her that?"

"I did! She wouldn't listen!"

"That last part about him being your business, did you tell her that?"

Emma grew quiet. "No…"

"Why didn't you?" Mary Margaret asked, with a shrug for emphasis.

Why hadn't she said that? She could've but why the hell not? Was it the look in his eyes? Was it because it had almost a moment of intimacy between the two of them when he quietly pleaded her to stay?

"I don't know," was all Emma could tell her.

Mary Margaret nodded to herself and then got up from the couch, holding out her hand to Emma.

"Come on, get up."

Emma looked at her with a puzzled expression, shooting glances between her hand and her friend's face.

"Look, Ruby invited us to a girl's night out at the bar tomorrow night and she even brought over some dresses that you might like so get out of those jeans and go try them on. Kay?"

She smiled at Mary Margaret; somehow she always knew what to say. She took her hand and was told to close her eyes. Before she could count to ten, Mary Margaret was holding up the most amazing little red dress she had seen: tight in all the right places and revealing in the nicest, most mysterious ways. Emma grinned at it and quickly snatched it from Mary Margaret's hand to put it on. Mary Margaret chuckled,

"Glad you liked it! Be sure to tell Ruby about it."

A minute later, Emma emerged from the bathroom wearing the red dress. Needless to say, Mary Margaret's jaw dropped when she laid eyes on her.

"You look… incredible, Emma."

"Thanks. You don't think it's too saucy?" she asked while turning to her backside.

"Of course not! It's so you."

"You think so?"

"Definitely. Red is definitely your color."

Emma smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She had always been comfortable with herself but for once she actually really did feel happy with herself. She knew that no matter what happened during the day tomorrow, the next night would be a very good one.

Lacey knocked on Gold's door twice and opened it before even getting a reply. She barged in and laid her hands flat on his table, making him jump up startled by her entrance.

"Lacey what the he—"

"Release Scott Knight from the Sheriff's cell." She cut him off.

"What? Why?"

"Because, Gold, as you may very well know: Emma can't work his case anymore. If Emma can't even do her job without Regina breathing down her neck, you might as well just have him released. It's pointless! And do you even really need the renovations for the store or was that just adding wood to his flame of anger?"

He'd never heard her sound so poetic when she was angry. At least not when she was Lacey. As Belle… that was a different story. Literally.

"Why should I release him if he stole money from me?"

"Oh you had it coming, Gold. Someone eventually was going to snap and have you pay for it. Be glad it was Scott and not someone else. Besides, this wouldn't be the first time someone's tried to assault you, right?"

Gold thought back to Ashley's incident. She had claimed she was trying to change her life but despite that, she had broken in. Much like Mr. Knight.

"Fine. I'll let him go. I'll tell Regina first thing in the mor—"

"No. Now. I don't want to see him spend another night in there," she cut him off once again. She was starting to sound more like Belle than Lacey. Had Scott remembering who he was have anything to do with this outburst?

Gold sighed, picking up his cane and set of keys, and walking out of his office. Lacey trailed close behind. She called out to him,

"And tell him it was my idea."

"Why?"

"Tell him that we're even. He'll understand why."

And with those words, Gold headed out to the Sheriff's Department. Upon arrival, Killian sat up in the cot, panicking about who could be breaking in.

"Hello?" he called out.

Gold emerged from the shadows.

"Yes, hello, Mr. Knight. I'm here to free you."

Killian scoffed and laughed mirthlessly at that.

"You? Free me? Why the hell would you do that? Didn't you get me in here… Crocodile?"

"Yes, I did. I'm not sorry for that. Now you," Gold told him, unlocking the cell door. "Should thank Lacey. It was her idea to free you. Not mine."

Lacey? Oh, right. Belle. Of course it would be her idea. She had grown on him during the times they'd shared at the bar. Smirking at Gold he said,

"Let me guess. We're even now."

"Yes that's what she told me to tell you."

"And that we are."

Finally freed, Killian sighed with relief, then looked down at his hands and saw that he had both of them. To his astonishment, Gold had almost read his mind.

"By the way, Killian, could you let the Crocodile thing go? I mean, you have both hands now."

Killian thought about it for a moment. He scratched his head and dropped his hand, limp at his side. His head cocked to the side and shrugged at the old man.

"Sure. As long as I get to keep them both! And as long as I keep earning my normal profits. Do we have a deal, Rumplestiltskin?"

Oh, how he loved making deals.

"Yes we do, Mr. Jones."

Tonight was the girl's night out at the bar. Emma was zipping up her crimson bombshell of a dress and stepping into her black heels. Oh how she hated wearing heels. She preferred the comfort of her brown boots and the way they acted as a second skin. But she was going to wear the heels, for Mary Margaret's sake, for Ruby's sake, and for Lacey's sake.

"Emma, are you done? Ruby just got here and she's already getting jumpy!" Mary Margaret yelled from the kitchen.

"I'll be down in a second," Emma yelled back as she decided on whether or not to put her hair up. She decided against it and she strutted out of her room. She wasn't even halfway down the stairs when she heard loud squeals coming from Ruby.

"Jesus, Ruby, how well do your lungs work?"

The tall and pretty brunette clapped excitedly, grinning widely and almost gaping at Emma's presence.

"Very well, as you can tell. But wow, Emma, you clean up good! That red looks great on you. But let's goooooo!"

Before Emma could murmur a 'thank you' to Ruby, she was being dragged out of the house by the wrist. And so the night began.

"Lacey called me and told me she'd meet us at the bar so don't worry, we got a pool table to ourselves." Ruby chattered on.

"Yeah and whoever else you decide to flirt with," Mary Margaret told her, teasingly.

Ruby's hazel eyes turned into daggers as she narrowed them.

"I can't help it. I'm kind of a man-eater. I just need to find the right one for me. Besides, flirting never hurt anyone." She said as she turned her stare to Emma. The blonde shrugged at her,

"What? Do I have to?"

"Why not? You never know, honey." Ruby giggled as they parked and she opened the door. Emma took a deep breath, holding the front seat firmly.

You can do this, Emma. A little fun once in a while never hurt anyone, got it? she thought. The door burst open and you could hear the booming of the beat of the music inside. One more deep breath and Emma walked in bravely.

Lacey was sitting at the bar, a string of drinks in front of her. She looked bored as she played with a loose lock of her updo. She stopped as soon as she heard Ruby's loud squeal. That was basically Ruby's entrance signal. You heard that squeal and you knew who had arrived. Out of the four of them, Ruby was the youngest. Not even old enough to drink yet but what were fake I.D's for?

"Lacey!"

"Oh hi Ruby! Look I got you girls some drinks. But don't let the bartenders see you drinking, they'll kick me out."

"Yeah yeah, whatever." Ruby waved her off, taking a shot glass and drinking it.

All eyes turned to Emma for a second and she had no idea why.

"Emma you should wear dresses more often. You look spectacular in them."

"Everyone keeps saying that, thanks Lacey," she said with a laugh, grabbing a bottle of beer and taking a swig.

"Well, Swan, I didn't know you could drink like that," a voice said.

Emma dropped the beer bottle so fast she was amazed it hadn't broken. She turned around blindingly fast with her hair whipping back with her movement. Her mouth slightly opened and eyes wide, she was not expecting to see Scott there. Why had her pulse quickened?

"Scott… Uh what are you doing here? I haven't let you out. Hell, I didn't come in to work today."

Internally, he cringed at the sound of his cursed name coming from her lips. Outwardly, he smirked with his hands in his pockets and took a step closer to her.

"Well, Mr. Gold let me out thanks to Lacey over here. Thank you, by the way."

Lacey shrugged.

"We're even now."

Even? What was going on? How did they know each other?

"Anyway, lass, I wasn't expecting to see you here. I didn't exactly think you were a bar type of girl."

"And what type of girl did you expect I was?"

He laughed because the Emma he knew was shining through this version of her. Come on, love, come out. he thought.

"A badass. Motorcycle revving, independent, stubborn, tough lass that doesn't tend to hang out at bars."

Shit. He saw right through her but she couldn't let him see that. She smiled coyly at him, cocking her head to the side.

"I don't own a motorcycle."

"Does it matter?" he asked, taking his hands out of his pockets and raising them to his sides while shrugging. He stared into her eyes, praying she'd remember something. She stared back and never backing down from his gaze. Mary Margaret looked at Emma, then at Scott, back to Emma. She sensed a connection but she didn't say anything. Letting them have their fun. Taking Ruby and Lacey by the arms, she motioned them away and said,

"Emma, we'll be playing pool over there. Come and find us when you're done."

Emma smiled and nodded at her absentmindedly, still focusing on him. He took another step, closing the space between them, leaving only a few inches of space.

"How about I buy you a drink?"

She hesitated for a moment. What if there was more bad than good in him and she ended up getting hurt again? What if she decided to try again only to have him disappear from her life too? All of these questions soared through her head and she blurted out the opposite to what she was actually going to say.

"Sure."

Oh she was in for it now.

He ordered two beers even though she hadn't finished the one she had been having when he showed up. Emma kept sipping her first one as he got his.

"Don't have to pay me back. It's on me."

"That's generally what 'buying me a drink' means, right?"

"Ooh, I was right. You are a tough one," he remarked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Well, sarcastic actually."

"Ah, what's the difference? I still like that about you."

Emma almost spit out her beer. Her eyes widened for the second time that night at him and she swallowed hard. She had not been expecting that from him. But then again, he was a wild card. Everything about him was unexpected and she was starting to like it… or maybe it was the alcohol making her feel hazy.

A couple of more drinks later, they had kept talking. Emma had been careful not to reveal too much of herself while he listened intently. Really listened, unlike so many others before. At the spur of the moment, a song started playing and she laid a hand on his arm.

"Let's go dance."

"What?"

"Dance with me!"

"Okay, Swan, you're clearly very intoxicated."

"Be quiet and come on, will you?"

Yes. Very drunk. He figured one song and then sit her down again. Her friends would kill him if they saw them like that or maybe they'd be proud of him for helping her let loose a little. Whatever it was, Killian was going to keep a close eye on her.

Emma moved to the beat of the music with her eyes closed and a smile dancing upon her lips. Then she opened her eyes and took his hand. Shocked, he tried to resist but she wouldn't let him. Looks like drunken Emma was far less worrisome about being physical with him than her sober self.

She pulled him close, laughing quietly. Killian could feel her breath on his neck as she closed the space between them. He put his arm around her waist and she grinned. Emma Swan liked it and she wasn't going to make him stop. Not now. They danced way more than just one song until she dragged him away from the floor and into the pool hall.

Great. All her friends will think he drugged her or something. This was not going to be good at all. Killian was bracing himself for the worst when he heard Ruby laughing and pointing at Emma. Bel—Lacey nodded, clapping slowly at him then shouting over the music,

"Congratulations! You did what none of us have ever done before. She let go a little."

Emma laughed loudly, "A little? I lost count of how many beers I had, okay? I let go a lot."

Killian bit his lower lip, eyes widening and trying not to look panicked. Emma had gotten one of the pool balls and was aiming it at a wall. He quickly ran over to her and took it out of her hand.

"Now, Swan. Don't act like a five year old, that's not very attractive."

"You are though," she playfully ran a finger down his chest while smiling at him. He felt his cheeks heating up and he took her by the hand. Mary Margaret put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. He turned to look at her.

"Scott, could you do me a favor and take her to our place? She should have her keys in her purse."

He nodded slowly at first. Home? What was she going to say tomorrow? Bloody hell.

"I'll take her, don't worry. You stay here and enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Thank you! You're quite the gentleman, Scott."

Killian smiled despite himself and told her, "Aye, that I am, Mary Margaret. You're welcome and good night."

He put his arm around Emma's waist and guided her to his car. He figured it would be better if she lie in the back than sit in the front and become dizzier than she already was. Before getting in the car, Killian took off his black leather jacket and threw it over her shoulders. She murmured a sleepy, unfinished "thank you" and closed her eyes.

They arrived at Emma's house and he shook her to try to wake her twice, but she wouldn't wake up. Killian sighed, picking her up, bridal style, and carrying her to the front door. He fumbled for the key that he had taken from her purse. The door opened with a click and he picked her up once again. This time Emma giggled quietly.

"Alright, Emma, do me a favor and tell me where your room is."

Groggily, she pointed up the stairs and told him, "Second door to the right."

"Thanks, love."

Killian gingerly put Emma down on her bed and took off her black heels. How she was able to dance in those, he had no idea. He pulled the covers over her and smiled when he realized she was still wearing his jacket. He turned to leave when he heard her sit up behind him and call out to him.

"Wait! Don't go."

"You need to rest, Emma."

"Don't be like Graham. Don't leave me. Stay with me… please?" her voice breaking at the end for a second.

Graham? Who's Graham? Jealousy boiled in him for a second and then he realized she was drunk, half asleep and cursed so this was not the time to be angry with her. Killian's stare softened as he sighed, kicking off his shoes and removing his red plaid shirt, leaving him in his undershirt and jeans.

"Alright, Swan. I'll stay."

He crawled into bed next to Emma and she immediately moved closer to him. Killian put his hand on the small of her back, rubbing it gently to soothe her sudden outburst.

"Thank you," she whispered into his chest.

"You're welcome… Emma."

At that, Killian fell asleep with a smile on his face because whether or not she was cursed, for the first time in who knows how long, Emma was back where she belonged: safe and sound in his arms.