Chapter Nineteen.

The reaction that he was witnessing right then was the reason he preferred to work alone. Rumplestiltskin frowned at the way that the room had erupted. Utterly erupted. It was like these royals had never heard a bit of distasteful news in their lives. Blue wasn't helping things in the way she fanned the flames, apparently either not caring about her secrets as much as she'd indicated or simply aware that both Belle and David had come to him separately about her talk with them three days prior. The fact that he'd only kept Hook underwraps for three days after his initial panicked arrival meant he was slipping and he'd have none of that. It was time to take control of the situation as he'd always done before.

Zelena would be enraged, Blue assured the frightened royals - several of which she'd personally brought in that morning and likely thought would help push Rumple out of the conversation - and she would retaliate immediately. In turn, they could waste no more time in freeing Glinda and begging her help at any cost. Her dark, distrustful gaze slipped over to the former Dark One at those words and he resisted the urge to agree with her.

He'd been fitting, pulling apart, and then repositioning pieces of the future to find the right path to follow since Hook's arrival, but it kept shifting and changing as new people became aware of the information he'd brought with him and plans were made and unmade within five minutes of each other. David had brought up the fact that Snow wished to make a go for her childhood home and the current consensus seemed to be that with Glinda's help, they could win. No one seemed interested in the fact that Glinda wasn't powerful enough to get the job done. Oh, she might be a distraction, but that was about it. The witch had nothing on her western "sister." Blue, though, told them that she did, and for many that was all that it took.

As royals and nobles alike nodded and agreed with each other that Glinda could save them from Zelena - had everyone simply forgotten Pan? - Rumplestiltskin sat in the back of the room watching the puzzle pieces fit and unfit, move and reposition until he found it. A slow smile crept to his thin lips. A distraction indeed. The do-gooders might not like it, but that might just be the only way to avoid the particularly nasty flash that had ripped through his visions when David had first brought it up. That had been a body count that would leave his little family in shambles. He hadn't seen Bae or Belle there directly, but he'd certainly seen enough faces that he recognized to be willing to make a sacrifice of some witch that none of them knew in order to keep the others alive and keep that damn stone out of Zelena's hands. With only two, she would have to be truly desperate to try to use Henry to cast her spell.

"You'd think doomsday was coming," Bae muttered as he took a seat next to his father.

"With what Blue has been telling people, I'm not surprised that they feel that way," Belle whispered, leaning almost over Rumplestiltskin to keep her voice low enough that only the three of them could hear.

"Would you like to switch seats?"

His quip was met with a glare. "This is serious, Rumple. We knew she was trying to turn everyone here against you, but they've seen how much you've changed. She won't sway David, so now she's trying to convince others so that they'll force his hand."

"David's hand won't be forced," he answered her softly. "If anything, mine is the only one being forced."

Bae looked over at him, his eyes narrowed only a little. His gaze wasn't accusing, but it was questioning. "What do you mean, Papa?"

"Well I'm going along with this particularly stupid idea that I've tried to talk him out of. He'll hear none of it."

His son nodded, accepting the answer, but he didn't look especially pleased with it. Likely because he did trust in his father's foresight, unlike David, and Rumple hadn't hid his reasons from his son any more than he'd hid them from David. The fact that the prince refused to listen was hardly his fault, which only forced his hand more, but that was life. One move, another move, and while you could manipulate people, Rumplestiltskin was not a fan of out-and-out controlling them. Free will was a beautiful thing and he wouldn't be the one to steal it away. Everyone had a choice, even if he nudged them in one direction or the other.

Bae glanced back over to Belle. "What has she been telling the nobles?"

"Papa says that she's telling them that Rumple will end up betraying everyone and side with Pan." She winced, glancing at her love. "She's been telling them that he's your father."

"Well, the rumour was bound to spread. Not at all surprised that it's by her," Rumplestiltskin huffed unhappily. "It'll be alright, Belle. Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do."

"Then know that I'm not going to let us all walk in to a trap. I still have a few tricks to play and I've been saving them."

"Not going to tell us what they are, are you, Pop?"

The sorcerer flashed his son a smile. "You already know that I have one of the stones she was after."

"But she knows that as well," Belle pointed out.

"Knowing and possessing are entirely different, my dear. It's still a point in our direction. In this fiasco, you take them where you can."

"But you haven't told David about that have you?" Bae asked.

Rumple knew that his son disagreed with that decision, but he wouldn't take it out of his father's hands either. Once again he found Bae choosing to trust him. "You know I haven't. Not yet, anyway."

Belle reached forward, taking his hand in hers and interlocked their fingers. The ring that he'd given her upon their return - simple and small at her request - brushed against his skin and he pulled her hand up to press a kiss to the back of it.

Bae sighed from his place, dark eyes flickering up to where David was discussing openly with Regina just how many soldiers they might be able to transport through magic between herself, Rumplestiltskin, and - surprisingly - Maleficent. The sorceress wasn't interested in the actual fighting - though Rumple knew for certain that she could be damn good if she chose, especially if she chose to transform into a dragon - but this was her friend's castle they were trying to seize back, so she'd agreed to help them get there. What she did past that was anyone's guess, but at least they were mostly certain she wouldn't side with their enemies. Teleporting them in such a way would certainly take some of the strain off of the soldiers themselves, if not the magic users that were being asked to carry the burden. "What about your ankle, Pop?" Bae asked suddenly.

His father grimaced. He'd been avoided that particular thought since all the pieces started falling into place that morning and continued to do so throughout the afternoon. It had been easy enough to push aside with all of his own plans to lay in a tightly restrained amount of time, but now his son had brought his attention screaming back to the fact that he was still very much limping around the castle with his cane, unable to put much weight on in and, if they were honest, unable to stand on it at all for any reasonable length of time. Rumplestiltskin sighed. "A quick fix to it will do more damage in the long run, but I'd rather that than not being able to move. Pan will seek me out. He always does."

Baelfire nodded. "Guess Henry's magic lessons are going to have to wait, huh?"

"Sounds like it. You mentioned it to Emma, yes?"

"She's all for it, but none of us have said anything to Regina."

Rumple snorted and his lips quirked at the edges. It could wait until after they returned. It would have to at this point. While he'd given the boy a couple of light spells to unravel - in which he'd done so very quickly and with great talent - he hadn't gone into any lessons of depth yet. Regina would be in a fine mood once they'd won her castle back. They could bring it up then because he certainly didn't need her being his wildcard in the precarious stack that he seemed to have hastily thrown up. It would work. It had to work. If it didn't, everything would fall apart.

"You are aware that Henry has been practicing magic, aren't you?"

Regina couldn't have stopped quicker if the castle had decided to grow a wall in her path. She spun, dark eyes narrowed at her old friend. "What?"

Maleficent shrugged. "I thought you knew, but when I saw Rumple teaching him rather than you… Well, I was a little surprised."

If a wall might as well have grown up in front of her, Regina was now questioning if the floor had disappeared under her. "He's doing… what?" she managed.

"My, my, Regina. You really don't know much about your own son's whereabouts recently, do you? Too much time with that handsome outlaw you seem to have snagged? Not that I blame you."

Maleficent was teasing her, she knew, but fear gripped her and wouldn't let go. Why would Rumple have started teaching magic and why was everyone keeping it from her? If Emma knew and hadn't said anything, she was going to kill her and all the ways that could happen started filler her mind, causing her to nearly boil over as she stalked out of the room without so much as a by-your-leave of her friend.

"Regina?" Maleficent called after her, sounding genuinely startled by the sudden change in temperament.

The Evil Queen flashed her a dark smile, one reminiscent of the old days. "Excuse me, won't you? I have to pay my former teacher a visit."

In the years before she cast the Dark Curse, Regina had never been able to teleport within the walls of Rumplestiltskin's castle. His wards prevented her from using any magic at all, actually, while within the boundaries. It was self preservation, she knew, as he couldn't keep her out entirely. She made too many deals with him and, in the end, he needed her to cast his curse.

Now the castle was used to her. Now she could go anywhere she wanted, mostly. She made it halfway up the steps to his work tower that he was certain to be in after the absurdly long meeting they'd both been stuck in all day - funny thing about being the mayor, she'd attended precious few lengthy meetings. She controlled the time, so she kept them short and to the point - and hit one of his wards. It stung a bit, but wouldn't budge. The Evil Queen rolled her eyes. "Rumplestiltskin!" she growled.

"Can I help you, dearie?" came the sing-songy voice from above.

"Let me up."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you're wasting effort keeping me down here when you know I'll bust through anyway."

"I don't know that, and neither do you, dear, so I'd suggest if you really want some of my valuable time that you find something more convincing."

She let out a huff of frustration and battered against the walls for a moment before stopping to listen for a response. She knew that he felt it now that he didn't have his bottomless well of power to pull from, and she heard a grunt from the work room that brought a bit of satisfaction at least. She hit once more before he must have decided that it just wasn't worth it and they let her pass. A smirk played on her lips until she crossed the top step and saw the reason why he had let her through had nothing to do with her own power, but his distraction.

Rumplestiltskin risked a momentary break of concentration in the spell he was casting to glare at her, the very obvious command to be quiet if she must be in there resounding within the look. Once he was satisfied that she'd received the message he turned back to what he was doing. He was sitting on his long work bench, the boot that was meant for his right foot discarded on the floor and Regina could see the tight wrappings and splint still tied around the injured ankle. She could both see and feel his magic working around it and could almost hear the bones snapping painfully into their more-or-less correct positions. The spell was one that few sorcerers would have preferred to use if they knew what they were doing in regards to healing. The human body was simply not made to be put back together so quickly after an injury quite like he'd suffered, but he was bypassing all of that for the sake of what they were about to set out to do.

Strain showed in the lines that were a little deeper than usual in his face and Rumplestiltskin pulled in a deep breath, a cracking sound making it hitch mid-inhale and his dark eyes flew open. Regina waited with uncharacteristic patience. The man was in enough pain and even she wouldn't risk being the cause of a slip that would make it worse than it was already. He'd likely regain his limp again for good with this choice, unless he wished to re-break the bones entirely.

After a few moments he let out a shaky breath and turned his attention back to her. "You were here to yell dearie?"

The rage had washed away now and she took a seat on an empty chair. "That was foolish, Rumple."

"It was necessary. You'll need to fix those on your way out, by the way," he muttered, motioning to the wards.

"So that I can get back in."

"The way they were, if you please."

She chuckled and they both knew that he would never risk her slipping an exception in for herself. "I'm here about Henry."

He didn't look like he was expecting that and he grimaced, hands wrapped around his newly healed and apparently still hurting ankle. "Oh hell."

"Yes, I've been made aware that my son is receiving lessons at your hand. What could have possessed you to begin something like that without consulting me first?"

"I haven't begun anything in earnest, just a few spells for him to unravel. I'd like him to have some defences while we're all away and those will sharpen his natural reactions."

"Natural reactions? What more don't I know?"

The former Dark One winced again. "Henry attacked Zelena with pure light magic while we were away. It was reactionary, and you know as well as I that that can be dangerous if left untrained."

"And why should you train him? I'm his mother."

"Regina, you out and out refused to learn light magic when I taught you. You don't know how to train him and Henry doesn't need to touch anything else. I'm sure I have your agreement in that, at least."

"You do," she breathed, feeling a rush of irritation at her younger self's shortsightedness. "It was pure light magic?"

"It was," Rumple answered and she couldn't help but note how happy he sounded with it, even thought the pain. She never would have thought that he could have found it in himself to have been thrilled to think of anyone using only light magic and ignoring depth of power that dark magic provided one with. It wasn't as if he had stopped using it since his curse broke. Rumplestiltskin's skill, on a whole, would always be for the darker of magics. "Henry, apparently, is the product of True Love twice over, though we haven't broken the news to Emma yet, so I'd suggest keeping that bit to yourself."

"Emma and Neal?" Regina managed, having trouble wrapping her mind around it.

Rumplestiltskin, though, seemed very pleased by it. "Yes, of course."

"I'll be damned. You're not teaching him dark magic though?"

"No, and if you'd like to be along for the ride, as long as you don't interfere, you're welcome to sit in."

That, too, was an interesting change in her old mentor. Rumplestiltskin was not a man that cared to share, but in the recent months that they'd spent at the Dark Castle together, Regina had noticed the change that the breaking of his curse - or perhaps just the closeness of those he loved - had brought. He wasn't a different man. The curse and his own actions under it had left a stain on him that would never wash away, but she could see the signs of someone trying to be something better for those that they loved. She knew it because she'd seen it in herself and in that moment she couldn't shake the feeling that she and Rumplestiltskin were more alike than either of them cared to admit.

"Thank you," she said at last. "I appreciate that."

"You'll have to keep your trap shut," he said airily, "if you can manage. Those are my rules. Emma and Bae have been given the same."

"Putting restrictions on your own son?"

"I'm teaching Henry, not Bae. I'll do one thing right before I die, at least."

The words sent a cold chill through Regina, even if she knew they'd been meant as a jest. He was grinning his impish grin that had always irritated the hell out of her, even when she was young, but there was something lurking behind it that made her uncomfortable. It wasn't his own end he was looking at, or certainly he wouldn't have even allowed her in lest she break his concentration on finding a way around it, but there was something he wasn't saying. Something that he knew as going to happen that he wouldn't bother sharing. Well, at least some things would never change.

He called a book over to himself to focus his energies on while he was waiting to risk testing the newly healed ankle out and she knew she wasn't getting anything more out of him. After a moment, she bid him good evening and started back downstairs, wanting little more than to find Robin. If she were truly lucky - and sometimes she was - she'd find him with Roland and Henry and for a few moments on the eve before their plans were set into action, she could breathe in the feeling of belonging and love. It was worth the risk, she knew now, older and wiser, and it was a risk she was happy that she was taking.

Emma had done her best to ignore the competition that the Hook and Neal had seemed to have going in Neverland that had spilled into Storybrooke for the brief time that they were back there. She had no doubt that if Killian hadn't been turned into a monkey - and then wrangled into the employ of Neal's dad as a spy - that it would have continued on until she made a decision between them. Choosing neither had never been a real option, she knew.

She wouldn't say that she'd fallen for Neal instantly. No, that had taken some smooth - or really, not so smooth, as Neal had a habit of tripping over his words and phrases when he broke past his own first couple layers of protection - talking and that damn grin of his to get her to go out to drinks with him. She'd gone, they'd talked, and she'd fallen in love. Then he'd broken her heart.

After she'd gotten out of prison and tried to put her life on track she'd avoided anyone that remotely reminded her of Neal, so she'd fallen for guys like Hook. They knew all the right words, flashed a dazzling smile - not a lopsided grin - at all the right times, and were safe. They were safe because they were easy to leave and often were the ones doing the leaving. She had no reason to get attached.

Emma was pretty sure that Killian went quite a few layers deeper than any of those men, but in the end he was still the safe bet. When everything went to hell - and everything always went to hell - no one would complain. Her father didn't like him, her mother barely tolerated him, and Henry hadn't really had a chance to get to know him. Neal, on the other hand, was dangerous. He wasn't dangerous in the fear-for-your-life sort of way, but he'd left. He'd abandoned her. Then, worst of all, he'd come back and everything had tugged her back towards him like two magnets pulling together. Her parents' vote was clearly in his favour, and there was no question where Henry's loyalty lay. Up until very, very recently, Hook would have been the obvious choice, but he'd lost whatever round they were currently on. That much was evident enough by the man sleeping soundly in the bed next to her.

She'd always liked to watch Neal sleep. It might have been weird, but it seemed like the one time when everything really washed away. Knowing what she did now, especially, she knew that fewer men could have rolled with the punches he'd been dealt in his life quite like he had, but there was still some scarring left from it. Quite a bit, in fact, but when he was sleeping next to her it seemed to fade just a little. Emma liked to think it didn't with anyone else.

He stirred and Emma burrowed a little deeper into her pillow, waiting to see if he'd wake up or not. He settled back out though and she sighed, left again to the thoughts that had originally kept her awake, before she was distracted by him. The last days had been a little crazy with Hook's return followed immediately by Blue's. The fairy seemed to be the type that when a thought became wedged in her mind that nothing in all the worlds could shake it loose, even when the idea made no sense at all. Emma would be the first one to admit that she knew precious little about the place she and her son now called home, but people were people and she knew those pretty well. Even those with wings that glittered.

Mary Margaret had been pressuring David for a while now, Emma had found, to take back her childhood home from Zelena. Regina had been right there with her, so when Thomas' troops were relinquished to David's disposal, the plans that had been made began to fall into place. Blue was determined that Glinda was their saving grace and that she would beat Zelena back with her light magic. She'd explained that the Good Witch on the South had been banished to the northernmost reaches of the Enchanted Forest, but the clever witch had protected herself by creating a door that would allow only the purest of heart to enter. While Emma wasn't entirely sure she fit that bill, the fairy had assured her that no one would be more worthy to enter than the product of Snow White and Prince Charming's True Love. The blonde wondered if the fairy would be quite inclined to say that if she knew that that product of True Love was currently sleeping with the son of the former Dark One. Emma knew people, and she'd have bet a hefty sum that Blue would pitch a fit over it. It'd be funny to watch.

"What are you smiling about so hard at this hour?" Neal mumbled sleepily.

"The Blue Fairy's meltdown if she found out about us."

Neal chuckled, wrapping an arm around her pulling her closer so he could kiss the top if her head. She let him, his breath warm against her skin as he moved down to kiss her forehead and she shoved him a little, pulling a laugh from him in return. He was grinning at her when she looked up and she found herself smiling back. In the morning they'd split ways, leaving out in opposite directions to come back to wage war against Regina's crazy older sister. It sounded absolutely insane, but all of this was insane. "You think we can really win this?"

Neal was already inching back towards sleep, arms wrapped around her. "I do," he murmured. "Don't you?"

"I guess so. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one around here without this blinding optimism that seems to be going around. Maybe I'm not drinking the right water or something."

Neal chuckled, his eyes closed. "There's a few of us that don't drink the koolaid."

Emma snorted. "Even your dad who's been four-square against this whole thing from the get-go said something funny earlier."

"What's that?"

"I don't know, it was a little out of the blue. He just said that I was more powerful than I gave myself credit for and to remember who I wanted to protect. Any idea why he'd say that?"

"Papa's got it all worked out, and if there's one thing he's good at, it's making sure all the pieces are in place."

"Great. I'm a piece in his plan. Good to know nothing changes." She paused, watching him carefully. "Since when did you put so much faith in your dad?"

"Since he started earning it back."

Rumplestiltskin couldn't sleep. Between the terrible ache in his leg that he hoped would fade by morning and the fact that his mind was whipping about to make sure he hadn't missed any small yet significant pieces to his rather complicated puzzle, he'd finally given up on it. Somehow he'd managed to slip out without waking Belle and found himself pulled by his magic to a particularly long hallway in the west wing of his castle. Moonlight shone in through the oversized windows, illuminating the figure that stood with his hands clasped nervously behind his back, and he turned when he realized that the name he'd muttered really had summoned him.

"I wasn't sure that it would still work with your curse broken," Sir Maurice said quietly as he turned to face the window again, his gaze fixated on the courtyard below.

"When I choose."

"I hardly think you'd choose to listen to me if you'd known who it was," the landed knight grumbled and Rumplestiltskin smirked at that. He'd known perfectly well, no matter how subtle his fiance's father had tried to be. He'd failed terribly at that, but he was Belle's father, and every once and a while he thought he should try to remember that and play nice.

"And I hardly think you called me here for the company," the sorcerer answered evenly.

That brought a nervous sort of chuckle from Belle's father. "No, I shouldn't think it will ever come to that. It pains me - greatly - to ask you for a favour."

That was interesting. "And what sort of favour would you be desperate enough to call me for?"

"I need you to convince Belle to stay out of this mess tomorrow."

Rumplestiltskin stiffened at this, turning is dark eyes and finding Maurice looking at him. There was a lot of distrust and no small amount of dislike between them, but if they shared one thing, it was their love for Belle. It wasn't that he hadn't tried to talk her out of going himself, however briefly, but she'd been firm in her decision and he'd promised to respect it if she promised to where the protection charm necklace. She had very practically pointed out that she'd been training for a reason and he knew she liked fewer things less than the feeling of being useless.

Maurice would have approached Belle first, of course, and was only there because he felt he had no other way short of a truly foolish act like trying to kidnap her again, and even Rumplestiltskin was about certain by this point he'd learned that lesson.

"Belle makes her own decisions," he answered at last, the words slow and careful. "You and I both know that."

The woman in question's father huffed, unhappy with the answer that he must have known was true. Neither of them would ever convince Belle to be anything less than she was and she was nothing less than a brilliant, brave, and daring woman that would give anything to do what was right. Even so, Rumplestiltskin understood a parent's worry for their child. "She will be safe. I've made sure of it."

"You've set the board then, have you?"

The smaller man's expression glossed over immediately to remain carefully blank. He hadn't told a soul what he'd planned. Not even Belle. He didn't dare if he wanted it to work. Too many variables trying to take charge of the situation was how they'd gotten into this mess in the first place, so how this lumbering oaf had figured it out would be completely beyond him.

He watched him, looking for signs that the absurd fear was based in any sort of truth, and thankfully found none. Maurice was simply a man afraid for his daughter and grasping at the hope that he'd made sure that she'd be safe. He was right in thinking so, of course, but he had no idea how Rumplestiltskin had manipulated things. That was all well enough then.

"She told me that you asked for her hand and that she accepted," Maurice was saying and Rumple realized that he'd been thoroughly caught up in his thoughts.

"I did and she did."

"I don't know what she sees in you, but she does love you. She's never loved anyone like she loves you."

"Your daughter is a remarkable woman," Rumple answered softly, thoughts of Belle stealing away any harshness that might have made its way into his tone and turned the words down a gentler path. "I love her with everything I am and I will protect her with everything I have in me."

"That's all I need to know," Maurice answered with a nod. "It's time I realize my little girl grew up."

Rumplestiltskin didn't say anything and Maurice let out a long breath and turned, starting down the hall without another word. As he watched Maurice go he pushed back on a vision that tried to work its way into his mind, cutting it off before it got there. He would be riding in with them tomorrow, the sorcerer had heard from his fiance before they'd gone to bed and she to sleep, along with the troops that he'd offered for the battle. There wasn't a great deal that Rumple found in Maurice that deserved his respect, but the fact that he was just as willing to put his own life on the line as his men's had earned him some, but Rumple had learned the fact too late. It hadn't been worked into his already hastily constructed plan to keep them all above water in this mess and he didn't know if the man would make it out alive or not. The vision pushed at him again and this time he saw Belle, dressed all in white and smiling at him, but if she were on her father's arm or not he didn't dare note.

TBC

Notes: Well, I'm getting the chapter up. Later than usual, but up on Wednesday. Woot!

Next time - Emma finds out that she's stronger than she thought and Rumplestiltskin fights to make his plan work.