Hey guys. I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update, things have been crazy.

Here is the next chapter!

**IMPORTANT NOTE** This is AU after 2x10, with slight differences from what happened in that ep. I think it still makes sense though.

**OTHER IMPORTANT NOTE** This chapter is set entirely in the past. Like this whole chapter is a flashback. And there aren't any flashbacks in the flashback, because that is just too busy and complicated and we'll all get confused. But yeah, this is set pretty much after 2x10, which is approximately 2.5 or so years before the rest of this story is set. This is going to be like a belated holiday fic, too, because I meant to post it as one but got distracted but yeah now here it is. :D

Enjoy!

Chapter 7 The Question of Safety

Emma and Henry were sitting in the kitchen alone, silently eating breakfast. Henry was still very upset that Regina killed Archie. Charming and Snow were out at the sheriff station, keeping an eye on Regina and trying to gather evidence. Suddenly, there was a lot of knocking on the front door.

Puzzled, Emma looked to Henry. "Did you invite someone over?"

Henry shook his head. "No."

"Stay here," Emma said, cautiously getting up and going to the door. She looked through the peephole and relaxed. "Belle," she said, slightly surprised. "Is everything alright?"

"Sorry to intrude, but Rumple needs to see you," Belle said.

"What happened?" Emma asked, grabbing her coat.

"He doesn't think Regina killed Archie," Belle said. "He thinks it was Cora. He thinks she came here somehow."

"What?" Henry asked, appearing behind Emma.

"Come on, Rumple will explain in his shop," Belle said.

With that, they left and headed for Rumplestiltskin's shop.

-OUAT-

"What'd you see?" Emma asked, walking into the shop.

"Actually, Miss Lucas first noticed it," Rumple said. "Belle and I were reviewing Pongo's memories and Miss Lucas walked in and noticed Pongo behaving weirdly."

"He was distressed," Ruby said. "Disturbed, even. The same way wolves get around dark magic."

"So, what, Pongo sensed dark magic?" Emma asked.

Ruby nodded. "I think so."

"Regina has dark magic, though," Emma said. "Magic was killed to use Archie, it is in the memories."

"Yes, but Pongo barked as soon as Regina walked through the door," Rumple said. "We looked at some other memories, and he has never barked like that at her before. There had to have been dark magic already in use when this person walked through the door. And this dark magic could have been a disguise."

"You are the only other one with dark magic," Emma said, losing patience.

"Not exactly," Rumple said. "I believe Cora is here."

"I know," Emma said. "Belle told us. I don't see the connection between Pongo barking and Cora being here. How would she even get here?"

"Hook has a ship," Rumple said, hatred clearly in his tone when he spoke that name. "He also has magic. Combined, he and Cora must be so powerful that they can easily move between worlds."

"Why wouldn't they have done that before, though?" Emma asked. "Why go through all the trouble of trying to go through the well when they could have gone themselves?"

"They wanted to strand you and Snow there," Rumple said. "And the most likely didn't know they had power like they did until they truly needed it."

"How do we find her?" Henry spoke up. Emma looked at him, not quite believing everything that was going on. Henry turned to her directly. "If she did this, it wasn't Regina. But we can't free Regina until we catch her, because if we do she'll know we know she did it."

"He's right," Ruby added.

"I have a feeling Hook will find me," Rumple said. "Perhaps I can use him to get to Cora."

"Can you fight off Hook?" Emma asked.

"Yes, I can," Rumple replied grumpily. "I may not match his physical fighting abilities, but I can outwit him. Outwitting people is kind of my thing."

Belle scoffed and Ruby rolled her eyes.

"As for Cora," Rumple added, ignoring Belle and Ruby, "I think we should let Snow and Charming in on this little discovery. They can help formulate a plan."

"What, you won't help them?" Emma asked, almost angrily.

"I will," Rumple said. "But Hook is my priority. "He wants revenge on me, and to do that he will hurt the person I…" he cut himself off, stopping himself from raising his voice too high and revealing too much emotion. After a moment and a breath, he spoke again, softer this time. "He will hurt the person I love most. The only person who matters to me here. If I take care of Hook before you finish with Cora, I will help you. But Hook is my priority."

Emma looked from Rumple to Belle, then back to Rumple. "Okay," she said. "Protecting your loved ones. I get it. I'll go to Snow and Charming and we'll figure this out."

She turned and left, taking Henry with her.

"So Archie is alive?" Ruby asked Rumple.

He looked up at her. "Possibly."

"That's better than nothing," Ruby reasoned. "How do we find him?"

"I'm not sure," Rumple said. "But I do know one thing. Pirates tend to keep their stolen goods on their ships."

Ruby nodded, understanding. "So we have to find his ship."

"That's assuming he took the ship here," Belle pointed out. "And if he did, there is really only one place to keep a ship."

Rumple nodded in agreement. "The docks."

-OUAT-

Emma walked into the sheriff station. "David?" she called. "Mary Margaret?"

Emma walked around the station, looking for her parents but not finding them in the lobby, the bullpen, or the office.

"Henry, wait in the office," Emma said, fearing the worst – that Mary Margaret and David had already been taken and hurt.

Henry did as he was told. Emma heard a sound come from the supply closet and drew her gun.

She quietly went over to the door and whipped it open, pointing her gun right at whoever was inside causing the noise.

And the people inside happened to be a shirtless David and a disheveled-looking Mary Margaret.

"Emma!" Mary Margaret exclaimed.

"Oh my god," Emma said. "Again? At the house, I kind of get but at the office?"

Mary Margaret blushed and David had the decency to look ashamed.

"Put your clothes on and come to the office," Emma said. "We need to talk."

"Why?" David asked. "What happened?"

"We're not talking until you're clothed," Emma said, stepping away and closing the closet door.

A minute later, Mary Margaret and David walked into the office.

"What's going on?" David asked.

"Gold thinks Cora is here, with Hook," Emma explained, standing behind the desk.

"Why does he think that?" Mary Margaret asked.

"He and Ruby looked at more of Pongo's memories," Emma said. "Ruby noticed that Pongo reacted like there was dark magic, and since Regina doesn't use magic as soon as she walks into the room, we think Pongo was reacting to the magic used as a disguise. A disguise for Cora."

"So we would all blame Regina?" Mary Margaret asked. "Why would she do that? Her whole thing is to help Regina become more powerful. This takes her power."

Emma shrugged. "Maybe she wants Regina isolated and alienated from everyone."

David took this in. "That could make sense. That might make her turn to Cora when Cora revealed herself to Regina."

"What about Hook?" Mary Margaret asked. "Where does he fit in to this?"

"His ship can sail between worlds, when aided with a little magic," Emma said. "And he took Aurora's heart, so we know he has magic. Paired with Cora's magic, there is little they can't do."

"So how are we going to approach this?" David asked

"Hook came for Rumplestiltskin, plain and simple," Emma said. "I mean, he may be pissed at me too but Gold was always his top priority. So, Gold is going to handle him and we're going to take Cora."

"We need Regina," Mary Margaret said.

Emma nodded. "I agree."

"Well, there isn't any time to waste," Mary Margaret said. "Let's talk to her."

They all went to walk out the door, but Emma stopped them.

"I think Mary Margaret and I can handle this one," she said. "With four people it may feel like an ambush, and I think Mary Margaret and I know her best. I think we have the best shot of getting her to cooperate."

David clearly was not pleased, but he understood. He stayed back in the office with Henry.

Emma and Mary Margaret cautiously approached the cell Regina was in. Regina got up to stand on her side of the bars, while Emma and Mary Margaret stood on theirs.

"Well, well," Regina said. "Look who decided to step off her throne to come see me. And Miss Swan, it is always a pleasure."

Mary Margaret stopped herself from rolling her eyes and Emma spoke up.

"Look, there isn't much time to waste so we're just going to cut to the chase," she said. "We know you didn't kill Archie."

"No kidding," Regina said.

"We think Cora killed him."

This got Regina's attention. "How can that be?" she asked, dropping the sarcastic, angry tone and adopting one of genuine concern and fear. Her eyes flicked from the office – where she knew Henry was – back to Emma and Snow. "She is here?"

Emma nodded and explained the story.

"So you think she framed me for murder?" Regina said. She wanted to say that she wouldn't do that, that her mother cared about her, but she couldn't with a straight face. The evidence against her was too much.

"I know this is a lot to take in," Mary Margaret spoke up. "And we really are sorry for the trouble we've put you through in here. But we think she's going to strike soon, and we can't let her. There are too many people we care about here."

"We have to defeat her," Emma said.

Regina nodded. "I know." She sighed. "But how do we do that?"

"Cora is powerful," Snow said. "If we pit you against her there's no telling who would win. But if we let her believe that you two aren't fighting, it would be much easier."

"So I should betray her?" Regina asked, her voice catching. She wasn't exactly known for her morals in Storybrooke, but she really was conflicted.

"Regina, she already betrayed you," Emma pointed out. "And this is about so much more than the two of you now. She could hurt Henry."

Instantly any doubt Regina had went away. "Okay."

"So here's what I think we should do," Snow said, going into planning mode. "We fake your escape. Let Cora think you got out. If she thinks you got out, she'll come looking. So, we let her. She will inevitably have a big attack on us planned, so right when she is about to strike you get to her first."

"And by 'get to her first' you mean kill her," Regina asked.

"If it comes to that…" Snow trailed off.

Regina sighed. "Okay," she said. "Stand back, I'm going to use magic to get out of here."

"Could you have done that the whole time?" Emma asked.

Regina disappeared into a puff of purple smoke before answering.

-OUAT-

Rumple, Belle, and Ruby were on the docks, looking for the ship.

"I don't mean to point out the obvious," Rumple said. "But I don't see a ship."

Belle ignored him, scouring the dock in an attempt to see anything that wasn't blaringly obvious.

"That's weird," Ruby said. "I am picking up Archie's scent."

Belle turned to look at her. "That's weird," she said. "I thought if you didn't have something they owned, you could only catch the scents of people you knew really well?" She had a slight smirk on her face. Ruby shot her a look. "Right, not a good time."

"He's definitely here," Ruby said. "His scent was at the cemetery, too, though. Though this is stronger." She turned to Rumple. "If Cora could disguise herself, she could disguise someone else to look like Archie, right?"

Rumple nodded. "In theory, yes."

"That still means she killed someone else, though," Belle acknowledged.

"We'll leave that up to the sheriff to sort out," Rumple said.

Belle continued to look. She looked up and saw something curious – there were seagulls that appeared to be standing on air.

Belle took a handful of sand from the box on the dock and tossed it near the ground below where the birds stood.

"Aha," Belle said, smiling with accomplishment.

"Of course," Rumple said. "It is invisible."

"Let's go," Belle said, stepping onto the stairs to board the ship.

"Belle," Rumple said. "Should you go first?"

Belle gave him a stern look. "It is fine, Rumple. I can handle anything on this boat." She stepped onto the ship, followed by Rumple and Ruby.

"Whoa," Ruby said as she stepped on. Suddenly the whole ship appeared in front of her, no longer invisible.

"Archie would be hidden below deck," Belle said. "Ruby, you and I can go get him. Rumple, do you want to stay up here and look around? Maybe there is something up here to tell us where he is."

"What, like a map?" Rumple asked.

Belle gave him another stern look.

"I'll look around," Rumple said.

Belle and Ruby headed down the stairs.

They walked into the room with the hold and heard a voice call out "Hello?!"

"Over here," Ruby said, leading Belle to a compartment in the hold. She opened it hastily.

"Ruby?"

"Archie!" Ruby said. "You're okay!" She cut the ropes tying him to the ship and helped him up.

"Thank you," Archie said. "Thank you too, Belle."

"It was nothing," Belle said. "But you two should leave. I want to stay here with Rumple but you two should go. I'm sure Archie's had enough of this ship."

"Are you sure?" Ruby said. "I can stay."

Belle shook her head. "If Hook comes looking for a fight, it is between him and Rumple. I'm going to be here for Rumple, and I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

They heard footsteps above and could tell they weren't Rumple's.

"Go," Belle said. "Hurry."

Ruby and Archie complied, hurrying upstairs to get off the ship and get to safety.

Belle, meanwhile, looked around the hold for anything useful. After a few minutes, she found a sword. Well, it's been a while since I've had one of these, she thought to herself, and it definitely isn't as good as Mulan's, but f I need it this will have to do.

She took the sword and headed upstairs very quietly. When she got to the deck, she saw Hook and Rumple standing there. There was no sign of Ruby or Archie, so she assumed they got off safely.

Belle stood near the stairs to below deck, while Hook stood about twenty feet in front of her, facing Rumple, who was about ten feet beyond Hook.

"Well," Hook said, "this must be my lucky day. I get to skin myself the crocodile I always wanted."

"You can't kill me," Rumple said. "You are not equipped to. Besides, I have magic here."

"Oh Rumplestilskin," Hook said. "So quick to hide behind magic. I'm sure you can tell, I've brought some magic of my own. I can take hearts. You should know a bit something about that."

"Don't you dare bring her up," Rumple said angrily. "You stole her away. You took my wife from me, you took my son's mother!"

"She preferred me!" Hook said. "She chose me. She loved me." He stepped towards Rumple, rapidly shortening the distance between them. "And you killed her. You took her heart out right in front of me." He laughed. "And I'm the villain in this situation?"

"You're right," Rumple said with calm rage. "I'm not going to hide behind magic today." He picked up his cane and started to beat Hook with it.

Seeing this, Belle knew she had to put a stop to it. "Rumple!" she yelled, hurrying towards the two men. "Stop!"

Hook managed to look up at her. He looked back to Rumple, smirking. "Oh, brought your girlfriend, have you?"

With a flick of his wrist, Hook magically sent Belle flying toward the edge of the boat.

"Belle!" Rumple cried out.

-OUAT-

"I thought I'd find you here," Regina said, walking into the mayor's office.

Cora turned. "I see you've been sprung from prison."

Regina nodded. "I made it look like someone broke me out while the sheriffs were out. They don't know I have magic."

"Good," Cora said. "I'm glad to see you caught on to my plan so quickly."

Regina swallowed, trying to suppress her feelings of disgust toward her mother. "It was smart," she managed to say. "They won't catch on until it is too late."

"Of course it is smart," Cora said. "It was my plan. We may not be able to have you rule back in our land, but we can get you to rule here. Now that there is magic here, there is nothing we can't do. You'll be the queen I always aspired for you to be."

"How are we going to do that?"

"I've developed a spell that will allow me to take the hearts of large amounts of people at once without having the physically remove a heart from each person," Cora said.

Regina looked astounded. "How?"

"I'm the Queen of Hearts, dear," Cora reasoned.

"When will we do this?" Regina asked.

"I've been in town for a few days now, laying low and figuring out what will cause the most problems," Cora said. "I've taken care of everything except that Swan girl. Her heart can't be taken."

This was news to Regina. "How do we get around that?"

"We save her for last," Cora said. "If we take the hearts of everyone else she cares for here, we can use them to coerce her into doing what we want."

Regina nodded. "Ingenious," she forced herself to say.

"Anyway," Cora said. "We'll do this tonight."

"Tonight?" Regina asked. "Isn't that…soon?"

"They'll come looking for you," Cora said, like it was obvious. "The sooner we strike, the sooner we take power."

"Of course," Regina said.

"We need to get to a high point above town," Cora said. "I propose the roof of the library."

"What about Rumplestiltskin?" Regina asked. "He is usually there."

"Hook is taking care of him," Cora said. "Come, we should go."

Regina nodded, and followed her mother.

-OUAT-

"So we just wait?" Henry asked.

"I'm afraid so, kid," Emma replied. "We're trying to keep his under wraps from the people in town so they don't freak out, so we have to act like everything is normal and no one will get suspicious."

"Snow," Charming said quietly to his wife. "Is it really smart to leave our fate in the hands of Regina and Rumplestiltskin?"

"Do you have a better idea?" Snow asked.

"No, but these two historically are not the most trustworthy," Charming said.

"Emma is an excellent judge of character," Snow said. "And she's smart. If this is the best plan she can come up with, we should go with it."

"I can hear you," Emma said, turning to Snow and Charming. "I guess this savior thing never stops, huh?"

"Sorry," Snow offered.

Emma shrugged. "You fight to save the ones you love, right?" she said while ruffling Henry's hair.

-OUAT-

"I'm okay," Belle called to Rumple.

"Stay back, lass," Hook called. "This isn't your fight."

"Do not speak to her!" Rumple yelled, hitting Hook again with his cane.

"Kill me, you coward!" Hook yelled angrily at Rumple. "Do what you always have done, solve your problems with murder!"

"Rumple!" Belle called, managing to get up and come towards him. "Stop!"

"Belle, stay back!"

"You're a coward, Crocodile!" Hook bellowed. "Just finish this! Kill me like you killed her! Then I'll finally be back with her!"

Rumple dropped his cane and reached for Hook's heart.

"No!" Belle yelled, pulling Rumple back. "You are better than this! Do not kill him!"

"He deserves to die!" Rumple yelled.

"Does he?" Belle reasoned. "Killing him won't bring back your wife and it won't bring back Bae!"

"Are you sure you want to defend him, love?" Hook asked Belle. "Everyone who loves him ends up lost or dead."

Rumple, enraged, was about to go for Hook's heart again, but Belle stopped him.

"You aren't him anymore," Belle said, quickly but still trying to calm Rumple. "You aren't the man who does that. You aren't anymore."

"Belle…" Rumple said, wanting desperately to be the man Belle wants him to be but also wanting so badly to have his revenge on Hook.

While Rumple and Belle were distracted by their conversation, Hook swiftly reached up and grabbed the sword from Belle's belt.

Hearing the sound of the sword being unsheathed, Belle pushed Rumple away. At the same moment, Hook thrust the sword in their direction.

When he pulled the sword back, it was red with blood.

-OUAT-

"So, you saved me," Archie said to Ruby as they walked to his office. They were trying to be discreet; if too many people saw Archie alive there would be more explaining necessary than anyone could afford to do right then.

Ruby blushed. "It was mostly Belle and Gold," she said.

"You found me," Archie said. "I bet you put those wolf senses to good use and tracked me down."

Ruby smiled. "Yeah, I kind of did. I'm sorry I didn't think of it sooner, though. Maybe I-."

"Ruby," Archie said. "Don't worry about it. No one could have guessed that I was kidnapped. This isn't your fault. I am so grateful you rescued me."

"Then," Ruby said. "You're welcome."

They walked further in silence, then Ruby spoke up. "I know you probably want to go home, but I think there is a stop we should make first."

Archie looked at her quizzically. "Where is that?"

"Gold's shop," Ruby said. "Pongo is there."

Archie grinned widely. "You took care of him?"

"It was mostly Gold, who is surprisingly good with dogs, and Belle," Ruby admitted. "I did hang out with him for a bit, though."

"Well he loves you," Archie said. "So thanks for staying with him, even for a little bit."

Ruby grinned. "No problem."

They continued to Gold's shop.

-OUAT-

"So we wait until dark?" Regina asked.

Cora smirked. "Why wait when you have magic?" With a few dramatic hand gestures, the sky quickly darkened to appear as though it were midnight or later. People started coming into the streets to see what happened to the sky.

In the sheriff's station, the Charming family noticed the sky darken.

"I guess that means it's go time," Emma said. She went outside, followed by Snow, Charming, and Henry.

"There they are, on the library roof," Snow said, pointing.

"I'll go over," Emma said. "If worse comes to worse, I can try to use my magic on her."

"I want to go with you," Henry said.

Emma shook her head. "No, it is dangerous, kid. Stay here with Mary Margaret and David."

"Mom, please," Henry said, nearly begging.

Emma thought about this. If things went badly, this could be his last chance to see Regina, or Emma, now that she thought about it.

"Fine," Emma said. "But if it goes south, you run. You run back here to your grandparents, alright?"

Henry nodded.

"Okay," Emma said. "Let's go."

Back on the rooftop, Cora was doing final preparations n her spell.

Realization dawned on Regina. "You want everyone outside so it is easier to take their hearts," she said. "If you try to take a heart through a wall, it'll damage the heart, which could kill the person and you don't want to risk that on a heart like Snow White's or the Prince's."

"Good," Cora said with approval. "You're catching on quickly."

Another realization dawned on Regina as she watched the people fill the streets. "How are you going to stop my heart from being taken?"

"I can't make exceptions to the curse," Cora said. "It complicates it too much, it might reduce its potency. I'll give you your heart back."

Regina looked at her with astonishment. "No you won't."

Cora looked at her and laughed. "You can't kill me," Cora said. "You can't stop me. You can't stop me without my heart, which you don't have."

"I don't?" Regina challenged.

"It is in safekeeping," Cora said.

"It isn't," Regina said, producing a box from the bag on her hip. She opened it and revealed a heart inside.

"Regina," Cora said. "No."

"I'm sorry," Regina said. Quickly, before she could try any magic, Regina squeezed the heart until her mother was dead. To be extra safe, she destroyed the body with her magic. She also lightened up the sky so that it suited what the actual time was.

Henry, who was standing across the street from the library with a clear view of the roof, saw the whole thing.

"She killed her," he said. "She killed Cora."

"We're safe now," Emma said.

The two stood there in kind of shocked silence and waited for Regina to come down.

"Henry," Regina breathed once she saw him. She tentatively came toward him and wrapped him in a hug.

Henry allowed her to hug him for a few moments then stepped back. "You killed Cora."

"She was going to hurt everyone," Regina said. "She was going to hurt you. I couldn't let her. This was the only way to stop her from ever being able to hurt you."

"Thank you," Henry said. He turned to leave with Emma.

"Henry!" Regina called. "I'm trying," she said. "I'm trying to be better for you, I really am. I promise, you won't have to see me use magic to hurt people ever again."

Henry nodded. "Okay," he said.

Regina accepted this. It wasn't exactly the reaction she wanted, but she knew she would have to work for him to warm up to her. She looked at Emma. "Where's Hook?"

"At the docks," Emma said. "His fight is with Gold, so Gold is there fighting him."

Regina nodded. She looked back to Henry. "Well, it has been a long day. I think I'm going to head home."

"Get home safe," Emma said.

Regina gave her a smile. "Goodbye, Henry." She left.

"Come on, kid," Emma said, putting an arm around Henry's shoulder. "You've had a long day, too." They walked back to the loft.

-OUAT-

Belle stumbled backwards. "Rumple…" she said softly.

Rumple put a hand on Belle's back. When he pulled his hand back, it was red with blood.

"What did you do?!" he yelled at Hook.

"Well, I was aiming for her heart, but she turned away," Hook said.

Rumple quickly leaned over and punched Hook hard in the face. He snatched the sword from Hook and pointed it to his chin.

"Rumple," Belle said. "I'm okay. He didn't stab me, it just crazed my back."

"Grazed your back?" Rumple asked. "You're bleeding through your shirt!"

"A few stitches and I'll be fine," Belle said. "Don't kill him!"

Rumple was silent for a moment. "Belle, get off the ship."

"What?" Belle asked. "No."

"Belle, you need medical attention," Rumple said. "Get off the ship and get help. Please."

Belle clearly was weakening; she was losing more blood than she was willing to admit.

"I will not let you murder him," Belle said. "You may think he deserves to die, but no one does."

"I won't kill him," Rumple struggled to say. "I won't. Now, please, get off the ship."

Belle looked at him solemnly for a few moments, then left the ship.

"So, now that she's gone, you're going to kill me?" Hook asked.

"No," Rumple replied.

Hook's face contorted with anger and a bit of sadness. "Come on, you coward! Kill me!"

"No." In a flash, Hook was tied up to the mast of the ship.

"The last time you tied me to my ship, you killed someone I loved," Hook said. "There's no one left like that. What are you going to do, Crocodile?" He was taunting Rumple.

"I'm going to send you away," he replied. He stepped close to Hook, so that his face was only inches from the pirate's. "And if you even consider coming back here, for a moment, I will not hesitate to end you, do you understand?"

Hook said nothing, so Rumple slapped him in the face.

"Do you understand?!" Rumple repeated.

"Aye," Hook said, knowing he was defeated but not trying to let Rumple see it.

Rumple pulled a vial from his pocket and showed it to Hook. "This will ensure that you will never return here again. You will never again hurt the people I care about." He poured the contents of the vial on and around Hook.

"I wouldn't count on it," Hook said before he, the ship, and Rumple disappeared into a puff of smoke. Hook and the ship were transported to a different world, while Rumple appeared on the dock.

"Belle," Rumple said. "What are you still doing here? I thought you were getting help."

"Where did the ship go?" Belle asked. "Where is Hook?"

"I transported them to another world," Rumple said. "I know you don't want me using magic, but that was the only way short of killing him that I could think of to stop him from hurting you."

Belle leaned in and kissed Rumple on the cheek. "Thank you."

Rumple smiled, then put Belle's arm around him so he could support her. "Come on, let's get you to a doctor."

Belle's face fell and she looked terrified. "At the hospital?"

Rumple gave her a concerned look. "Yes," he said. "A doctor can fix you, good as new." He tried to put a positive spin on this, but knew Belle was incredibly reluctant to go to the hospital because of the twenty-eight years she spent captive there.

Belle still looked terrified though.

"The only other option is to fix it with magic," Rumple said. "And magic always comes at a price."

"Fairy dust," Belle said. "I used it once to break a curse on a man who was trapped in the body of a beast. It helped him, maybe it could heal me."

"Belle, fairy dust breaks curses," Rumple said gently. "It won't fix a wound from a sword. I'm sorry."

Belle was still clearly unsettled by the idea of the hospital.

"How about this," Rumple said. "I will take you home and try to get a doctor to make a house call. He should be able to treat you at home."

Belle smiled weakly. "Thank you."

They carried on walking toward Rumple's house as Rumple called the hospital from his phone and arranged for Doc to meet them at the house

-OUAT-

"Do you feel any pain?" Doc asked Belle.

"No," Belle said. "I can feel you moving the string and the needle, if that makes sense, but it doesn't hurt."

"Good," Doc said. "This will only take a few minutes. I brought some antibiotics I want you to take so that this doesn't get infected, especially since these aren't exactly the most sanitary conditions."

Rumple shot him a look.

"You will be fine, though," Doc assured her. "I will stop by again in a few days to see how you're healing. The stitches should be okay to come out in two weeks at most."

"Thank you, Doc," Belle said. Back in the old world, Belle and Doc met briefly. On the two occasions when Belle met Dreamy – now Grumpy – the other dwarves where there and met Belle, too. Belle liked him, like she liked all the dwarves. They were kind.

After another minute or so, Doc stood up from the chair he was sitting in while he worked. "All done," he said. He applied a bandage. "Keep the bandage on it, that will also help reduce the risk of infection. I brought you some bandages, too, so you have enough. Change them every day."

"Thank you," Belle said gratefully.

Doc packed up his things and got ready to leave. "Take care of her," he said to Rumplestiltskin. Rumple glared at him. "Sir. Take care of her, sir."

Belle chuckled. "Rumple, be nice," she said.

Rumple sighed slightly. He stuck his hand out for Doc to shake. "Thank you for taking care of her," he said sincerely.

"Not a problem," Doc said, shaking Rumple's hand. Then he left.

Rumple walked up the table Belle was laying on. He crouched down so he was at eye level with her.

"How do you feel?" Rumple asked.

"Doc numbed my back, so I can't feel any pain," she said. "I'm going to be fine," she assured him.

"I know," Rumple said. He kissed her forehead. "I just don't like seeing you in pain, dear."

"Well, don't worry about it," Belle said. "Because I am fine now."

Rumple smiled. "Well, let's get you up," he said after a moment, offering a hand to help Belle up with.

Belle smiled shyly. "Rumple…I'm not wearing a shirt. I had to take it off so Doc could get the clearest view of my back."

Rumple blushed. "Right. Well, I…uh…I will step outside and let you get dressed."

Belle blushed, too. "Thank you," she said.

-OUAT-

"So we're all safe?" Snow asked.

"Apparently so," Emma replied from across the table at the loft. "Gold sent Hook to another world and Regina killed Cora."

Charming and Snow shared a look.

"Is it right to send Hook to another world?" Charming asked. "He could just hurt the people there."

"I don't think he will," Emma said. "He's got the pirate's honor, or whatever he wants to call it. He won't hurt people who won't hurt him. Besides, there isn't a way for him to get back here. He can't travel between worlds without Cora and even if he could, the curse that is keeping us in town will keep him out."

"So we really are safe," Snow said. "That's new."

They all chuckled.

-OUAT-

A couple weeks later, it was the end of December. New Year's Eve was upon Storybrooke and there was a party at Granny's to celebrate. Belle's stitches had since healed and everyone was healthy and ready to have some fun.

Rumple was getting drinks – iced teas, of course – for himself, Belle, and Ruby, while Belle and Ruby waited in their booth and chatted.

"Archie's here," Belle said.

Ruby tried to hide her grin. "Yeah, I saw him walk in."

"Did you?" Belle asked.

Ruby blushed. "I mean, I wasn't looking. I just happened to be facing toward the door when he walked in. No biggie."

Belle gave her a questioning look.

"It is no big deal," Ruby clarified.

Snow came up to the booth and sat beside Ruby. "What's no big deal?"

"Ruby has eyes for Archie," Belle said with a conspiratorial smile.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "I should not have told you what that meant."

Snow laughed. "Well, I think you should go for it."

"I agree with Snow," Belle said. "So, majority rules. You should go talk to Archie."

"This isn't up to a vote!" Ruby said.

"Ruby," Snow began. "Anyone with eyes can tell you are into Archie. It's Christmas and it's New Years and this is the time to go after what you want."

"What is Christmas?" Belle asked.

Ruby turned to her. "It is a holiday celebrated in this world that involves putting a tree in your house and giving gifts to the people you care about."

"What kind of gifts?"

"Things you think they would like, like a book they are interested in or a sweater or something," Ruby replied.

"Try not to give socks or ties, though," Snow said. "Those don't seem to go over well."

"What an odd custom," Belle said.

"Speaking of customs," Snow began. "Archie is still standing near the door. There is mistletoe on the doorway above him."

Ruby blushed and her eyes got wide. "No."

Snow turned to Belle. "Another custom with Christmas is that you hang mistletoe from a doorway, and whoever stands under it has to kiss."

Belle's eyebrows shot up. "Oh?" she asked. "What if you stood under it accidentally?"

"It isn't obligatory," Snow said.

"Exactly-" Ruby was about to add, but Snow cut her off.

"But two people who want to kiss usually obey the rule of the mistletoe," Snow added.

Belle looked at Ruby, smirking. "Rules are rules."

Ruby sighed. "Fine, I'll go talk to him," she said. "No guarantees on the mistletoe, though."

"That is good enough," Snow said, getting out of the booth so Ruby can go to Archie.

Ruby sighed. "Here goes nothing," she said, then walked up to Archie.

Snow turned back to Belle. "Hey, Belle," she said. "I never really got a chance to thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Belle asked.

"You helped save us," Snow said. "You helped stop Hook. When Emma and I were trapped in our land, we met Hook and Emma more or less got on his bad side. He could have hurt her, but you Gold stopped him."

"Rumple did most of the work," Belle said. "But you're welcome." She looked around and saw that Charming was looking in their direction. Belle nodded towards him. "I think your prince would like you back."

Snow grinned. "Yeah, I should get back. I'll see you around, Belle."

"Okay," Belle said smiling. "Have a good night."

Soon after Snow rejoined Charming, Rumple rejoined Belle at the booth.

"Sorry it took so long to get drinks, dear," Rumple said. "Granny brewed it fresh just for you."

Belle grinned. "I'll make sure to thank her for that."

"What did Snow want?" Rumple asked, sitting down next to Belle.

"She thanked us," Belle said. "For stopping Hook. She was really grateful and appreciative."

"I'm glad she's appreciative, but I didn't do it for her."

Belle smiled and nuzzled up against Rumple's chest, with his arm around her shoulders.

"Where did Ruby go?" Rumple asked after a short while.

"Did you just notice she'd gone?" Belle asked with humor in her voice.

"No," Rumple asserted. "I just didn't want to disturb you while you looked so comfortable."

"Okay," Belle said. She gestured towards the door Archie and Ruby were still standing near. "Ruby is over there, talking with Archie. Snow and I want them to kiss under the mistletoe."

"Do you?" Rumple asked. He squinted. "Yes, I suppose I could see it. A wolf and a cricket. It isn't that much more unusual a combination than a beauty and a beast, eh?"

"You're not a beast, Rumple," Belle said.

"But you are very much a beauty," Rumple said, leaning down and kissing Belle's forehead.

They sat contentedly in their booth drinking iced tea for a while until the party waned down and people started to go home. They didn't really talk to anyone, or each other very much, but they were happy to be there, together, safe and a part of the community.

-OUAT-

Ruby, too, felt safe while talking with Archie, but also incredibly nervous. She'd spoken to Archie before, of course, but he was different. She felt things for him that she hadn't felt since Peter, and she couldn't bear to think about him for very long because of what she did to him in wolf form.

But, if she learned anything since the curse broke, it was that she shouldn't hate herself for being a wolf. She didn't choose it and she never intentionally hurt anyone with it. She could control it, too, with the hood, and she could control herself more when she was in wolf form. She didn't think of herself as a monster so much anymore, and it took a lot of time and work to come to that end.

Still, she hadn't been with anyone in a relationship since Peter. She flirted a lot in the curse years, like with August and Billy, but she was starting to come into her own and realize she wanted – and deserved – something more. Snow and Belle really helped her come to this conclusion and she was really grateful to them for it.

Gratitude aside, she would have to get them back later for essentially forcing her into a conversation with Archie, though.

"Hey, Archie," Ruby said as she came up to him.

"Ruby!" Archie said excitedly. "Hello. The, uh, the decorations in the diner look great tonight." He was clearly nervous, and Ruby thought that was cute.

"Thank you," she replied. They were quietly awkward for a little while, then Ruby spoke up. "I'm really glad you're okay."

Archie looked surprised for a quick moment, then smiled. "Thank you. I'm really glad you were there to save me." Ruby was about to speak up, but Archie spoke quickly before she could. "I know, Belle and Mr. Gold helped as well. But they came on the ship for Hook. You came for me. So, thank you."

Ruby blushed and smiled shyly. "You're welcome, then."

"So, Ruby, I was wondering," Archie began, returning to his nervous stammer. "Would you maybe like to eat with me?"

"Tonight?" Ruby asked. "It's pretty late, I think Granny already closed the kitchen for the night. I could get you a drink, though."

"I-I didn't mean tonight," Archie said. "I was thinking, maybe tomorrow night? Or if you're busy tomorrow, I understand, another night, then?"

Realization dawned on Ruby. "Archie, are you asking me out on a date?"

"No!" he said hurriedly. He saw Ruby's face fall. "I mean, yes! Of course! I don't know why I said no. It is a date if you want it to be. If you don't, I understand."

"Archie," Ruby began. "I would love to go on a date with you. And tomorrow night sounds perfect."

Archie broke out into a grin. "Wonderful. Thank you. I will pick you up at 7?"

"That sounds great," Ruby said.

"Great," Archie said, smiling.

"So," Ruby began nervously. "I don't know how familiar you are with the customs of this land, but we happen to be standing under mistletoe."

"We are?" Archie looked up. "Oh my. Yes, I am familiar with the custom."

"Have you ever kissed anyone under mistletoe before?" Ruby asked.

Archie shook his head. "No."

"Neither have I," Ruby said. "But there's a first time for everything, right?"

Archie blushed even more, but then smiled even wider. "Yes, there is." He pulled Ruby closer to him with one hand on her lower back and kissed her. Ruby gladly kissed him back and draped her arms around his neck.

-OUAT-

Later that evening, Rumple and Belle were getting ready for bed at the house. Rumple was in bed reading a book while Belle was brushing her teeth. They were calling to each other from the two rooms.

"You know, Belle, I never really had iced tea before," Rumple said. "I'm sure I had it at some point, but not very often. It is delicious."

"Isn't it?" Belle responded. "I was talking to Ruby the other day and she said she wants to get me to try a Long Island iced tea."

Rumple chuckled. "Oh my. I'm not sure that is such a great idea, dear."

"Why not?"

"It has more kinds of alcohol in it than I can name," Rumple replied. "And alcohol here is much different. We mostly just had beer, wine, and spirits in our world but here there are so many different kinds, and they are much more potent here than we are used to."

"Oh," Belle replied. "Speaking of good ideas, I think I have one."

"Oh?" Rumple asked, grinning. "Let's hear it."

In the bathroom, Belle took a deep breath and stepped outside into the bedroom. "I think you should see it, rather than hear it."

"Belle, you are barely wearing a shirt," Rumple said, knowing he should turn away but not wanting to. He looked Belle in the eyes as best he could.

"I know," she said. "Rumple, we've been here for months and we've been through so much and we love each other so much. I think we're ready for this."

"Belle," Rumple began. "I…I didn't think we were ever about…this."

Belle's face fell. "So you don't want to?"

Rumple's eyes widened. "No! No, of course I want to! I love you and you are so beautiful. I've thought about this before, but I didn't think you ever wanted to. Which is fine, I understand."

"Of course, this isn't what our relationship is all about," Belle said. "But we love each other. And I think this is a way for us to express that love. And I want to do this, with you."

Rumple got out of bed, with a little difficulty because of his bad leg, and walked up to Belle. He took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately.

"I love you, Belle," Rumple said softly.

"I love you too, Rumple," she replied.

"Stop me if I hurt you, okay?" Rumple said.

"You won't," Belle replied, honestly believing it.

"Belle, I don't want to hurt you-."

"I trust you, Rumple," Belle said, looking straight into his eyes. "Alright?"

"Alright." Rumple put his arm around Belle's back and led her to the bed.

-OUAT-

Regina silently walked alone in the dark through the cemetery. She came across the Mills family mausoleum and went inside.

Everyone else was at the party at Granny's, and Regina was invited, but she didn't want to go. She saved Henry and Emma and the two idiots and everyone else and yet she couldn't stand to be near any of them. She felt so conflicted about everything; she knew she did the right thing but at the end of the day she did kill her own mother.

She needed closure.

So, she was at the cemetery. She walked to the back of the mausoleum and faced the shelf. She had a single rose in her hand.

"I don't have any part of you to bury," Regina said. "But if I did, I don't even know if I would put them in here. I did what I did because I don't want to become you. I cannot become you. Your own child killed you, and I cannot and will not let myself get so evil that Henry will one day kill me.

"I am trying so hard to be better for Henry. I deserved that same effort from you, but I never got it. You framed me for murder and you tried to hurt the person I love most here, and all that only happened here. You did so much worse in our land, mother."

She laid the rose down on the shelf.

"But you are still my mother, and that won't change. That can't change. A lot of who I am is because of you. I loved you, Mother, but you made it so damn hard to not feel guilty for doing so. You were evil and you brought that evil here. And I cannot forgive you for that.

"You may have cared about me, but you never could show it properly. You just manipulated me for my entire life, you took away the things I loved and forced me into a life I didn't want. And that made me so…angry. And hurt. And alone.

"But, to be better for Henry, I have to let go of all that. I need to let go of that and I need to let go of you. So, goodbye Mother."

Regina softly touched the rose one last time, then let go and left.

She silently walked alone out of the cemetery and made sure no one was around to see her cry.

-OUAT-

Rumple woke up with a small smile on his face. He reached to put an arm over Belle but found the bed empty, his smile disappearing.

"Belle?" he called.

No, she can't have left, Rumple said. She wouldn't leave. Unless I hurt her. What if Hook came back somehow and took her? What if she is gone, again?

He quickly got out of bed and put on the first articles of clothing he could find.

"Belle?!" he called again. He saw that she wasn't upstairs and hurried downstairs. "Belle!"

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Belle said from behind the kitchen counter. "I was just making you some breakfast."

Rumple came up behind her and hugged her. "I thought you left."

"You thought I left?" Belle asked. "Rumple, I wouldn't. I'm not going to leave you, ever."

Rumple sighed in relief. "I'm sorry. I love you."

"I love you, too," Belle said. She smiled. "Now, sit down. Ruby taught me to make pancakes and I made some for you."

Rumple grinned and sat down. For the first time in a while, he felt safe and loved.

The end. This is the longest chapter I've ever added to the story; it is like twice as long as the average chapter in this story. There was a loooooot of stuff going on in this chapter but I hope y'all liked it!

Please leave a review!

Also! If you get a chance, please check out my one-shot about Red Cricket called "Running". It would really mean a lot if you checked it out and left a review, so please do!