Chapter 6: The Comeback

"Emma," Graham repeated as he walked up to Emma.

"No, no, no," Emma said, "This can't be real...Graham, you're dead, you're—"

"I'm alive," Graham said.

"What's this about?" Emma asked Mr. Gold.

"Well, it's my surprise for you, because you've been a great help—"

"No, but, he's dead—"

"I survived," Graham said, "I was in the hospital, and...and I woke up...Good thing Mr. Gold was there...I wanted to call you, Emma, but I know she'd come after you. So I opted to stay in hiding first until he told me it's time—"

"You mean Regina doesn't know?"

"Of course she doesn't," Mr. Gold said, "If she did, you'd be so much more under her radar."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Didn't you just hear what I said?" Mr. Gold said.

"She's more evil than you think she is," Graham said.

"What do you mean?"

"The stories in Henry's book are true," Graham said, "All of them. I am the Huntsman, and Regina...She's the queen, she...took my heart and squeezed it so...so I got that heart attack, and I really thought I was dead and then...and then I found myself at the hospital—"

"Wait, Graham, you can't believe Henry's book, it's not—"

"It's all true," Mr. Gold said, "We're all fairytale characters trapped in this bloody town."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Emma," Graham held her hand, "No. It's all true. I know it's too much to take in but it's true."

Emma looked at Mr. Gold, "So Isabella, she's also a character in that book?"

"She's Belle," Mr. Gold said.

"Belle," Emma muttered, "You mean, Belle from Beauty and the beast?"

"If that's the way you know her, yes," Mr. Gold said.

Emma shook her head, "And you're...the beast?"

"Rumplestilskin's the beast," Mr. Gold said.

"You're Rumplestilskin?"

"Yes,"

"I can't...this is all crazy...I—"

"Regina...she doesn't want anyone to be happy," Mr. Gold said, "I thought we were friends, but apparently, she got threatened by my love for Belle...she wants to be the only powerful person in all the land, and she just...She doesn't see anyone as her friend."

"Why?"

"Because a long time ago, she lost the one she loved most."

"You mean...a man?"

"Yes," Mr. Gold said, "His name's Daniel...He died after saving Snow White from almost dying in a fire in the stable..."

"Oh my god," Emma said, "And Snow White's really—"

"Mary Margaret," Graham said, "Your mother."

"But that's impossible—"

"Emma, time was frozen here for 28 years until you arrived."

"She's my mom?" Emma cried, "She's my mom..."

"I was gonna take her away from you, that was the deal," Mr. gold said, "But you survived, you're here. So I will break my own rules. A bit. You still have to work for me, though. I mean, to protect Isabella."

"Does she know? Does everyone know?"

"Not everyone yet," Mr. Gold said, "But I have a feeling they will."

"And you and Isabella...When are you going to see her? Tell her everything?"

Mr. gold took a deep breath, "I think you should go home first, Miss Swan. Today's been rough. We'll talk tomorrow."

"But...I just...I can't even..."

"It will be fine," Graham said, "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"I'll pick you up," Mr. Gold said.

"You haven't told me the truth about you and Isabella, about what really happened, why you lost her—"

"Not tonight," Mr. Gold said.

"But—"

"I said not tonight, Emma," Mr. Gold said, "Now go home."

a/n: Okay guys...Stable Boy's not around yet, that's next week's episode as you may know, so the Daniel-Snow story is just a wild guess of mine about why Regina hates Snow so much...and yes...will update again soon. :)