Hola chicos! So this is the next chapter. But before that I do have a question for y'all:

**Would you guys be interested in flashback scenes?** I don't have any in this chapter, but I figured since this story is set like 3 years after the current season that is airing, flashbacks might fill the gaps better than straight up narration. So please! leave a review and let me know if you'd like to see flashbacks or not.

Cool. Anyway.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

Chapter 3 Things Seen and Unseen

Ruby went home late that night. She had fallen asleep on Snow's couch and lost track of time; by the time she woke up it was already well into the evening.

"Snow!" Ruby said when she woke up and saw what time it is. "Why did you let me sleep for so long?"

"Relax, Red," Snow said, walking into the room with two mugs of tea. She handed one to Red. "You looked exhausted earlier today. You've had a stressful few days, you needed the sleep. Something told me you didn't sleep much at your place."

"I didn't, at least not very well," Ruby admitted. She sat up and drank some tea. "Your couch is really comfortable."

"Thanks," Snow said. "Just a heads up, Charming will be home soon and he has the cat so…"

"Right," Ruby said, standing up. "I'm not really in the mood to throw up again, so I'm going to go."

"I can drive you," Snow said.

"Thank you," Ruby said.

"Look, Red," Snow began. "I know this is scary. And I obviously was not in the same situation with Emma as you are in now, so I can't even begin to imagine what this is like with…"

"The wolf thing," Ruby supplied.

"Yeah," Snow said. "I know you must be terrified, though, but I just want you to know that if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

Ruby smiled. "Thank you, Snow," she said. "My family has shifted and changed over the years as people have come and gone, and now it is growing. But you were always a constant in my family, and you always will be. You're like a sister to me, or sometimes even a mother figure if I need it."

"Well, now it's your turn to be the mother figure, right?"

"Yeah," Ruby said, smiling. "Snow, thank you. For today, I mean."

"Family takes care of family," Snow said, grinning.

Ruby nodded, still smiling. "Hey, do you think you could drop me off at Archie's office instead of at home? It is about time I talk to him."

-OUAT-

Rumple was sitting uncomfortably in a hard plastic chair in Belle's hospital room. He had Belle's hand in his and was just staring blankly, wanting Belle to wake up.

Without saying anything, he lowered his head to Belle's side. He wanted to feel close to her and he wanted to feel her on him. He missed her holding his hand and he missed her voice.

He sighed, hating the situation he was in.

"I hope you're not sighing because I'm boring you," Belle asked.

Rumple's head snapped up. "Belle?" he asked, not really believing what was happening.

Belle smiled. "Rumple."

"Oh, Belle," Rumple said, getting up and hugging her as best he could.

"Ah, careful, Rum," Belle said. "I was just in a car accident."

Rumple's face fell immediately. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Rumple, it is fine," Belle said. "We're both okay now."

Rumple smiled. "You're okay."

Belle nodded. "What about that boy on the road?" she asked, concerned. "Is he alright?"

Rumple smiled. "He's fine. He's, ah, actually my son. Bae."

Belle's eyes widened. "Bae?" she asked. "Bae is here?"

Rumple nodded. "Yes, he is. And I want you to meet him," he continued. "And he can be here for our wedding. He can be part of our family."

Belle smiled widely. "I would like that very much."

"You can have anything you'd like, Belle," Rumple said. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

Immediately after Rumple's lips made contact with Belle's forehead, her skin started to turn a sickly gold color.

"Rumple," Belle said, terrified. "Rumple, what is happening?"

"No," Rumple said. "No, this can't happen, not to you."

"Rumple!" Belle yelled as her whole body turned that golden hue. Her hair turned stringy and curled. "What is happening?"

"No!" Rumple yelled. "No!"

"Mr. Gold," a voice called. "Mr. Gold!"

Rumple woke up with a start, still sitting uncomfortably in the plastic chair. "What?" he asked, looking around, shocked and confused.

"Mr. Gold, you were screaming in your sleep," said the nurse in Belle's room.

Rumple looked around. Belle was still in her bed, looking just like her usual self.

"Belle," Rumple asked. "She's okay?"

"She's still stable," the nurse replied. "There haven't been any changes."

"Good," Rumple sighed. "Oh, good."

"Mr. Gold, maybe you should go home and get some sleep," the nurse suggested. "You've barely left this room in two days."

"I won't leave her here."

"She's safe here," the nurse said.

"She is terrified of hospitals," Rumple said. "So she isn't safe here. I will be here when she wakes up."

"If you insist," the nurse said. "Let me see if I can find some spare blankets or pillows, to make you more comfortable."

"Thank you," Rumple said.

-OUAT-

Ruby stood nervously outside the door to Archie's office. She was nervous to knock. Now that she had a grip on what was happening in her life, she felt embarrassed by her behavior. She was a little nervous to face that with Archie.

So she stood there, staring at the door, trying to work up the nerve to knock.

"Ruby?" came a voice from behind her.

Ruby turned. "Archie." She smiled widely.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked. "It is freezing!"

"I was just about to knock and see if you were here," Ruby said. "Which you are now."

"Yeah," Archie replied. He held up his car keys. "I was just at the house. I went there earlier, too, to see if you were gone during your shift. I saw your note and I just went back now to see if you were back yet. Then I came back here because I forgot my phone here and I wanted to have it in case you called."

Ruby pulled Archie in for a warm hug. "I'm sorry, Archie."

Archie looked at her, unsure of whether this was an apology for how she reacted or an apology for something she might have been about to do.

"I shouldn't have left," Ruby said.

Internally, Archie gave a sigh of relief. He thought she might have been apologizing before she left again, but this was a good thing.

"Ruby, it's okay," Archie said. "Come inside, we'll talk." He opened the door and went inside; Ruby followed.

Once inside, Ruby wrapped her arms around Archie and gave him a kiss.

After a few moments, Archie pulled back and chuckled. "What was that for?"

Ruby smiled. "I love you," she said. "I love us. I love that you put up with my craziness and that you are the greatest man I've ever known. And you'll be the greatest father." She reached into her bag and pulled out the ring box. She took out the ring and put it on.

Archie's smile grew even wider.

"Yes, Archie Hopper," Ruby said. "Otherwise known as Jiminy Cricket. I will marry you, because I love you and I love our family."

Archie put a hand on Ruby's stomach, which was still flat. "Our family."

Ruby grinned and kissed Archie again.

"I'm glad you're so happy, because tomorrow we tell Granny," Ruby said.

Archie's expression morphed into one of fear. "Does she still have the crossbow?"

Ruby smirked. "Oh yeah," she said. "And I don't know too much about this whole thing, so Belle did some research for me-."

"Belle knows?" Archie asked.

"Yeah," Ruby said. "Sorry. But when I first found out I was freaking out and when I saw her later she noticed so I told her and she offered to help find some information to calm me down."

"Okay," Archie said. "So we can go get that tomorrow."

Ruby grinned slyly. "I don't have work tomorrow, so we can do a lot of things tomorrow."

Archie blushed. "Ruby."

"Archie, if I have learned anything over the past few days it is that I love you so much," Ruby said. "That I don't want to waste any time I have with you."

She leaned in and kissed him again.

"I love you," Archie said.

Ruby leaned into Archie and nestled her head on his shoulder. "I love you, too."

-OUAT-

Emma locked her car and made her way to the entrance of the police station.

"Nice car," came that familiar voice from the shadows along the wall.

"Jesus Christ," Emma exclaimed. "You have got to stop doing that."

"Isn't me surprising you our thing?" Neal asked.

Emma rolled her eyes. "No," she said, not meaning it but not wanting to give Neal the satisfaction of the truth.

"Sorry," he said. He held out his hand, revealing a tray with three cups on it. "You said meet for coffee, so I got us coffee. But I remembered you also liked hot chocolate with cinnamon, so I got you one of those too."

"Thanks," Emma said. She unlocked the door and went inside. Neal followed.

They went to Emma's desk, where Emma sat down. Neal awkwardly took a seat on the other side of the desk.

Emma checked the inside of one of the cups to make sure it was coffee, and took a sip. Then another, a longer one.

Unsure of what to do in the silence, Neal took his coffee in his hands and held it, though he didn't drink it.

Emma finally set her coffee back down on the desk.

"You have five minutes to explain," Emma said.

"I don't think five minutes is enough time…" Neal said.

"Make it enough time," Emma said, both her voice and expression stern.

"Okay," Neal said. "One night in Portland, I met your boy August-."

"Who is not my boy," Emma pointed out.

Neal sighed. "I met August, who described himself as your guardian angel. He explained that the curse happened and that you had to be the one to save it. He told me that I was in the way of your destiny, that I had to let you do this. I told him he was wrong, that I was your destiny, that I wanted to be with you, but he convinced me the curse was true. So we set you up to get caught and August told me you'd be okay. I believed him. A couple months later, we met again and he said you were okay. He said he'd let me know when you had done what you were supposed to do, when all the craziness would be over he said he'd send a postcard. The money I made from the watches, I gave them to him to give to you. And the car, I gave him the keys for you. I knew I couldn't be with you but I wanted to make sure you'd be alright. A couple years ago I got a postcard from this town saying that the curse was broken, so I came."

"You came two years ago?" Emma asked.

"Yeah," Neal said. "But something kept me out, I guess the curse wasn't as broken as August thought it was. This town doesn't really exist on any map. I came to where the map said the town was but all I found were forests. I stayed, though. I kept trying to find this damn town. Then one day I could see it and come in. So I did."

"How did you get in?" Emma asked. "And what do you mean that you could suddenly see the town?"

"I don't know," Neal said. "It just appeared and I could enter."

"When was this?" Emma asked, gathering her things and getting up.

"Yesterday," Neal said. "As soon as I got into town I found you."

"You need to go," Emma said.

"What?" Neal asked, hurt.

"We'll finish talking later," Emma promised. "After the curse initially broke, parts of it still remained. No one from the other world could leave without losing all their memories of their old lives, and no one could enter. You got in, so something changed with the curse."

Neal stood up. "Where are you going?"

"I have to go talk to the woman who cast the curse," Emma said.

"Who, the evil queen?" Neal asked jokingly.

"Yeah," Emma said. She went to walk out.

"What about Henry?" Neal asked, calling after her. "I want to meet him."

"Later," Emma said. "We'll talk later."

-OUAT-

Emma knocked hastily on Regina's front door.

"Emma," Regina said when she opened the door. "Hello."

"Can I come in?" Emma asked. "We need to talk."

"Okay," Regina said cautiously, not sure where this was going. "What's going on?"

"There are new people in town," Emma said. "People have been able to get in."

"People?" Regina asked. "What people?"

"Don't freak out," Emma began. "But Henry's father is here."

"What?" Regina asked. "I thought he was dead."

"I lied about that," Emma said. "It's…it's complicated with him. He won't cause any trouble, but he's here."

"How did he get here?"

"He said August let him know when the curse broke, then he came," Emma said. "He couldn't get into town for years and then yesterday the town appeared and he could enter."

"He could enter town?" Regina asked. "How is that possible? The curse isn't broken completely."

"Apparently it is," Emma said. "Or at least more than we thought it was. But we need to figure out why and how. If the curse is broken, there might be new rules with the town boundary. We might be able to leave this place."

"I thought you could leave whenever you want to," Regina said, walking through the house toward the basement, with Emma following.

"I can," Emma said. "Henry, too, because we aren't from your world."

"Henry's father isn't from our world, either, so maybe that's why he could enter," Regina suggested.

"Maybe," Emma said. "But I don't think so. I'm not the magic expert here, but I have a feeling that this had something to do with the curse breaking, or at least weakening. People don't just come here."

"Are you suggesting that travel back to our world is possible?"

Emma shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know."

Regina stopped in front of the basement door and turned to face Emma.

"What I am about to show you is secret," Regina started. "Don't tell anyone."

"Okay," Emma began. She followed Regina into the basement, then into the small, windowless room.

"A hat," Emma said, when she saw it on the floor of the room.

"One of Jefferson's hats," Regina said. "He made it."

"Why?" Emma asked. "He has his daughter back, he's happy here."

"He wants everyone to be able to go home," Regina said. "So he made me a deal. He'll make the hat and I'll supply the magic and get everyone back."

"I thought you gave up magic," Emma said.

"I want redemption," Regina said. "And this is how I get it. If I find a way back home…"

"Regina," Emma said. "You've been forgiven. Maybe this isn't everyone's original home, but this is the place where everyone got their happy endings. This place became home."

"I know," Regina said. "I just…I want to make things right."

"How do you know things aren't right now?" Emma asked. Suddenly her phone rang. "Excuse me," she said, picking up the phone.

Emma spoke on the phone for a bit then turned to Regina.

"I have to go," she said. "An abandoned car was found on the side of the road. It looks like it was in a pretty bad crash. They think it is Gold's."

-OUAT-

Ruby and Archie walked hand in hand from their car to the library door.

"It's a good thing I was scheduled to be off today," Ruby said. "We can spend today together and talk to Granny later, after the diner is less busy."

"Looking forward to it," Archie said.

Ruby pulled on the library door. "That's weird," she said. "The library's closed."

Archie shrugged. "Maybe Belle left to go get lunch or something."

Ruby shook her head. "She never leaves during the library's open hours. Usually she brings lunch with her or Rumple will bring it to her from the diner."

"Maybe she went to Mr. Gold's store," Archie suggested.

"Can we check?" Ruby asked.

"Of course," Archie agreed.

Then went over to Gold's store. Archie tried to keep Ruby calm, but it wasn't working. She had a sense for when thing went wrong.

"She was working during the snow storm," Ruby said. "What if something happened when she was there, or when she was going home?!"

"Ruby, dear, it is okay," Archie said. "Don't panic, okay? It can't be good for the baby."

Ruby took a deep breath. "Sorry," she said. "I just…I can't shake this feeling that something is wrong."

"We'll get to the bottom of it," Archie said.

As the pulled in near Gold's shop, they noticed Emma's car. Emma was standing in front of the shop, trying to open the door.

"Mr. Gold!" Emma yelled. "Please open the door!"

"Emma, what's going on?" Ruby asked.

"Ruby," Emma said. "You're not working today?"

Ruby shook her head. "Look, Belle isn't at the library and she didn't answer her phone."

Emma was about to say something, but her phone rang.

"Hello?" she said. "Yes, this is Sheriff Swan. I called before about Mr. Gold…So he's there…Belle French is there? …I'll be over soon. Thank you very much."

"What's going on?" Ruby asked. "Where's Belle?"

"There was a car accident," Emma said. "She's in the hospital."

-OUAT-

Emma, Ruby, and Archie walked into the intensive care unit of the hospital.

"I'm looking for Belle French," Emma said to the nurse at the desk.

"Room 3," the nurse said. Emma went to go into the room and Ruby followed. "Only one is allowed in at a time."

Ruby stopped, wanting to go in anyways but knowing that she didn't want to disobey hospital rules. She went and stood with Archie.

Emma stood in the doorway of Belle's room.

"Mr. Gold," Emma began. "I need to speak with you."

Rumple looked up. "Why?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"I know you were in a car accident and didn't file a police report," Emma said. "I want to talk to you about that. You don't have to file a formal report, but we need to talk about what happened."

"Can't we talk here?" Rumple asked.

"No," Emma said. "I'm sorry. We can talk in my office, or even somewhere in the hospital, like the cafeteria."

Rumple didn't say anything.

"I get that you don't want to leave her alone," Emma said. "Ruby is here, she can keep an eye on Belle. She can stay with her, in case she wakes up."

Rumple sighed. "Alright."

He followed Emma out of the room.

"Ruby," Rumple said when he saw her. "Please go in with her. You're her friend."

Ruby nodded. "Of course."

"Let's go," Emma said. She and Rumple left.

"Ruby," Archie said. "I'm going to get some coffee, okay? I'll get you some tea."

"Thank you," Ruby said. She appreciated that Archie wanted to give her some time alone.

Archie kissed her forehead then left.

Ruby went into Belle's room. "Hey," she said softly, sitting down. "I don't know if you can hear me or not. I hope you can. I hope you wake up soon."

Ruby moved her chair closer to Belle and leaned on the bed. "I told Archie, about the baby." She laughed softly and touched her stomach. "You were right. Archie was thrilled, just like you said he'd be. I know I freaked out a lot, but I'm thrilled, too."

Ruby sighed. "I don't know how to do this," she said. "And I know Gold doesn't. We're used to sleeping spells and curses, not car crashes and comas. I don't know if I'm supposed to talk to you or just be here. Don't get me wrong, I want to be here for you. It's just…Rumplestiltskin is a mess. He needs you. We all do, so if you can try to wake up soon. Please."

Ruby leaned back in her chair bur still held Belle's hand. "So I guess that covers the sappy plea portion of this. I guess we can just pretend things are normal and we're having a regular conversation. I don't know, maybe that's what you need. Some normalcy through all this.

"Not that anything is normal," Ruby continued. "I mean, you're getting married. Archie and I are having a baby. Oh, and Archie proposed. He was apparently planning on it but me telling him I'm pregnant kind of messed up his plans. That night was…that night was a little intense. How about I tell you about it when you wake up? I think you'll like that story. It is crazy Ruby at her best."

Ruby paused to collect her thoughts. "Let's see, what else can I update you on…" she began. "Snow got a cat. Do you like cats? Apparently the baby doesn't because the smell of the cat set off my morning sickness." Ruby sighed again, but this time with excitement. "It is going to be an interesting nine months, Belle. And I really want you to be around for it. And for your wedding, and mine. Please be okay after all this."

With that, Ruby felt content to sit silently with Belle, keeping an eye on her and taking it all in. Ruby still was not at all comfortable in the situation and she still felt weight on her heart, but she felt okay to sit there and stay with Belle.

-OUAT-

"Mr. Gold, I know this is a bad time for you," Emma said. "I can't imagine what you are feeling right now. But you need to tell me what happened."

"I was driving Belle home from the library," Mr. Gold said. "The night of the blizzard. The weather was so bad I could barely see. Suddenly there was something on the road and I swerved to miss it, but the ice on the road carried us straight into a tree. It…it literally crushed Belle."

"What did you swerve to miss?" Emma asked.

"A boy," Rumple said after a moment.

"Do you know who?" Emma asked. "Did he look lost or like he ran away? Homeless, maybe?"

Rumple shook his head. "No, not exactly," he said. "He is my son."

"Where did he come from?" Emma asked. "Your world?"

Rumple shook his head again. "No, he didn't mention the place, but it wasn't our land. He said it was a place with boys who never grew up and only one adult, who they avoided. There were also fairies that could make them fly."

"Were these boys lost?" Emma asked.

"I suppose so," Rumple said.

"He came from Neverland," Emma said. "Your son is Peter Pan."

Rumple nodded. "I guessed as much, because I know a bit about Neverland. I've been keeping an eye on Hook for a while now."

"How did he get here, though?" Emma asked.

"I don't know," Rumple answered. "I'm sorry, but I honestly don't."

"Do you think he would talk to Regina?" Emma asked.

"Why?"

"Your son isn't the only new person in town," Emma said. "Henry's father is here."

Rumple looked surprised. "How?" he asked. "He is from this world, yes?"

Emma nodded. "I don't know how he got in. He said he could just magically see the town and could walk right on in. Regina and I are investigating. Do you want to help?"

Rumple shook his head. "I gave up magic long ago. I can't, I'm sorry."

"I understand," Emma said. "But do you think you could get your son to talk to Regina? Or me, even, if he isn't comfortable with Regina."

"I'll talk to him," Rumple said.

"Thank you," Emma said.

Rumple nodded, then got up to go back upstairs to Belle.

"Gold, wait," Emma said. He turned. Emma walked up to him and gave him a hug. "She's strong. She'll be okay."

"Thank you," Rumple said. He left to go back upstairs.

-OUAT-

Emma ran into Ruby and Archie in the lobby of the hospital.

"Hey," Emma said. "You alright?"

Ruby nodded, though her red, puffy eyes and slightly run mascara told a different story. "Yeah, I'm good," Ruby said. "It is just hard to see her like that, you know?"

Emma nodded. "Did you hear anything about how she is doing?"

"I spoke to the doctor," Ruby said. "He came in while I was with her. He said she's improving. He thinks she should be awake within the next week."

"A week?" Emma asked. "That's good?"

Archie spoke up. "With cases like this, awakening anytime in the first three weeks is seen as having a good chance for full recovery."

"Belle's a fighter," Ruby said. "She's going to pull through."

Emma nodded in agreement. "She's going to be okay."

"I know," Ruby said. "It is still scary, though."

"It is," Emma agreed. But she wasn't just talking about Belle. The whole situation in town was changing. Neal and Rumple's son managed to come to town and Belle almost died. Emma honestly didn't know what would happen, but wanted to believe the best. Right then, it was all she could do.

-OUAT-

Outside the building the Charming family lived in, Hook stood. He stood on the sidewalk, with a hat on cover his face and his hands in his pockets. Well, his hand and his hook. He faced the building and breathed in the wintery air, a small smirk on his face.

"Excuse me," an old woman said as she approached him. "I just parked down the street a bit to go to a shop, but I noticed you looked kind of lost. Do you need any help?"

"Ah, no," Hook said. "I am not lost at all. I am right where I'm supposed to be." He nodded towards the building.

"Oh, are you moving?" the woman asked.

"Yeah, you could say that," he said. "And this building happens to have everything I'm looking for."

Ah! Hook drama! He's figured out where Emma lives! Dun dun duuuun.

I'll try to post the next chapter soon. Please leave a review with anything you liked or disliked, or anything you want to see happen!

Also, please leave a review about whether or not you'd like to see flashbacks in this story!

Thanks again everyone :)