Author's note: Hello everybody! Thank you all for the reviews, and the theories. I love discussion! Here is my second chapter, hope you enjoy it!

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As they returned to Neal's apartment, Rumple, Neal, Emma and Henry each seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.

Emma put their takeaway order onto Neal's small kitchen counter and began handing out the food.

"Thanks for buying lunch, Mr. Gold," Henry said, munching on his blueberry pie.

"You're welcome," Rumple answered.

"I can check the internet for the next flight to Boston, if you like," Neal offered as he switched on his laptop.

"You want us to leave today, son?" Rumple didn't want to go so soon. Bae had said that he and Tamara would journey to Storybrooke after they'd secured their means to leave, but was Bae saying that just to make him leave?

'No', he told himself. 'He wants to see Henry, so he'll have to come.'

"Well, " Neal said thoughtfully as he waited for his laptop to power up, "The sooner you guys leave, the sooner I can get everything sorted for me and Tamara to leave, so, yeah," he answered with a smile. "I want you to leave today."

"How did you and Tamara meet?" Rumple asked after a moment's pause.

Neal fingers slowed in his typing.

"At the restaurant," he explained shortly. "Where else?"

He continued to type in his search entry.

"You said," Rumple continued, wanting to learn about this woman who his son loved, "that she wanted to run her own restaurant one day?"

"Yeah," Neal replied, not looking up from the computer screen. He didn't want to talk to his father. Especially about Tamara. He didn't want Tamara getting involved with anything to do with his old life, with magic, and Rumplestiltskin was both.

"She must be a good cook," Henry joined in, his eyes moving from Mr. Gold to Neal.

"Oh, she is, definitely," Neal told his son. "She makes the best soups, and her brownies are to die for."

"That's good," Emma spoke up, "'cause, as I recall, you can't cook."

"Hey," Neal objected. "Tamara's a good teacher. I can cook a few things now. I'm pretty good with stir fry."

"I'd like to try that," Henry said quickly.

"A family dinner at Storybrooke, then?" Rumple put forward, half joking, half hopeful.

"Won't that be fun?" Neal muttered. "Ah! Here we go. First flight from New York to Boston is in three and a half hours."

"Any free seats?" Rumple asked, moving over to view the computer screen.

"Yep," Neal stood up to give his father room.

Within a few moments, Rumple had booked and bought three plane tickets out of New York.

"I can pay for you and Tamara, if you like," Rumple put forward.

"We can pay for ourselves, thanks," Neal said firmly. "But my pay day isn't until tomorrow, so we'll buy our tickets and pay off the next rent then."

"As you wish," Rumple granted. He knew that it would take a while for Bae to open up to him again, but Rumple so wished that his son would at least give him a chance to help.

"With customs and security, as well as traffic,' Emma put forward, glancing anxiously at Gold, "we should probably get organised to leave now."

Rumple flinched inwardly. He was not looking forward to going through airport security again.

"I'll call you guys a cab," Neal offered again, reaching for his phone.

"Do we have to leave right now?" Henry had wanted to spend more time with his father, maybe explore New York a bit.

"Don't worry, Henry," Rumple told his grandson. "Bae will be at Storybrooke in a day or two, and you'll have plenty of time to get to know each other." Rumple wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Henry or himself of that.

As they were waiting for the taxi to arrive, Neal passed the time by having short, awkward conversations with his father and longer, but still awkward conversations with Emma.

But he loved talking with Henry most of all.

Henry had been a fantastic audience as Neal had told him how he and Emma had met, with Emma giving the odd, sharp comment from the window.

Rumple was also listening, but Neal tried hard not to look in his direction unless he spoke up.

Eventually, they heard a buzzer sound.

"That must be the taxi," Rumple stood up, heading for the door.

"Wait for me," Henry said quickly, gathering up the stuff he'd strewn across the floor as he told his father about his life in Storybrooke.

"Go ahead," Emma waved Gold out the door as she helped Henry get his story book into his bag. "We'll catch up to you."

Fearing this might be the last time he saw Bae before leaving New York, Rumple turned to his son.

"Bae, son," he began. "I'm glad to know that you're coming to Storybrooke."

"Yeah, but let's get one thing clear," Neal shot back firmly. "I'm going to Storybrooke for Henry. I'm going there for Emma...I'm not going for you."

Rumple swallowed.

"I'm just glad that you're coming, son." He whispered. Maybe, once Bae was at Storybrooke, they could have a chance...

As Rumple made his way down in the elevator, he was so deep in thought that he barely registered the elevator doors as they closed behind him in the lobby.

"Hello crocodile," a voice greeted.

Rumple's head shot up.

He couldn't believe it. Standing before him in the apartment lobby, in New York City, was none other than Captain Hook himself.

"How did you find me?" Rumple asked as he edged over to the intercom. Maybe he could warn Bae and Emma in time...

"You're magical globe," Hook grinned smugly. "You left it in your shop, Dark One. You should really be more careful about where you keep your maps." Hook's grin became wider as he brandished the hook on his hand which had earned him his name. "And look what else I found in your shop."

Rumple smiled ruefully into the eyes of the pirate.

"Are you here to kill me, Hook?" Rumple kept the pirate's gaze as he the button for 407.

"Absolutely," Hook stated plainly. "I've waited a long time for my vengeance, and I want to appreciate every moment. And," he continued, gloating, "since you are now powerless outside of Storybrooke, without your magical dagger, it's going to be so much easier for me."

Rumple's eyes widened.

"How did you find out about the dagger?" He demanded.

"Cora." Hook answered simply. "She and Regina are searching for it as we speak. They mean to use it to control you in order to get the boy, so, naturally, I knew I had to get to you first."

"They'll never find it," Rumple stated.

"Don't be so sure about that," Hook grinned like a cat who'd cornered a mouse as he stepped forward, ensuring the crocodile had no way to escape him this time.

"That map you left with your precious Belle?" Hook laughed at the fear that had surfaced in Rumple's eyes, "well, let's just say, a pirate's good at finding buried treasure."

Without warning, Rumple swung is cane.

But Hook was prepared this time. Blocking with one hand, the pirate stabbed his hook into Rumple's chest, the strength of the blow pinning Rumple against the elevator door.

Ripping his hook out of his enemy, Killian Jones stepped back to relish the lifeblood spreading across the crocodile's chest.

"You're a mortal man here, Dark One," The pirate whispered.

The elevator door opened suddenly, and Rumple fell back onto the floor.

"Oh, my god!" Neal and Emma knelt down to examine Rumple's wound.

"My vengeance is done," Neal looked up to see the pirate bow mockingly before walking calmly out the door.

"Hook, you bastard!" Neal made to follow, but Emma grabbed his arm.

"We need to save your father, Neal." She told him.

Watching his father bleeding on the floor, Neal didn't need any further encouragement.

"Let's get him upstairs."

Henry jumped as the door to Neal's apartment burst open and his parents entered, supporting his grandfather, who was clutching his hands over his chest, trying to stop the blood flowing.

"Hook did that?" Henry could feel panic rising in his chest as Neal and Emma carefully lowered Gold onto the couch. Neal hurried out of the room to return moments later carrying a large towel which he balled up and pressed into the wound.

"Should we call an ambulance?" Henry asked, his voice high.

"They won't get here in time," Rumple's voice shook as he clutched his son's hand over the towel.

"No," Neal objected. "There's got to be a way we save you."

"Bae," Rumple gasped through the pain. "I'm so sorry son. About everything."

"I know," Neal said, pressing the towel harder into the wound.

"All I ever wanted," Rumple met his son's eyes, "was to be a good father to you, Bae. And I failed miserably."

Neal could see the Dark One's mask had been torn away to be replaced by raw emotion.

He could see his father in those eyes...

"Just promise me you won't make the same mistake with Henry," Rumple pleaded.

"Of course," Bae whispered. "But don't worry. You'll live to redeem yourself. Just focus on breathing."

"What was that Hook said about a dagger?" Emma asked.

"Emma," Neal warned. "Not now!"

"Yes, now," Rumple said, for there may not be another chance. "The Dark One's dagger is what gives me my magic. Whoever has it can control or kill me."

"There's a dagger hidden somewhere in Storybrooke that's the source of all your power?" Emma asked, sounding strangely calm, almost numb.

Rumple's head fell back onto the couch. "Yes," he answered.

"So," Emma continued. "If that dagger is the thing that makes you immortal..."

"There's no magic here." Rumple told her. "I am mortal."

Neal began to pace, trying to think.

"What about you, Neal?" Emma asked.

"What?"

"We never heard Hook's name on the intercom," Emma said slowly. "Yet you knew his name."

Neal swallowed as he met Emma's gaze.

"You know Hook," Emma stated.

"It's a long story." Neal said quickly, confirming Emma's suspicions. "Short version: this world wasn't my first out when I left home."

"No?"

"Well if it was," Neal explained, "I'd be a couple hundred years old by now."

Emma sighed. Things were just getting more complicated.

"Warn them."

Emma turned to see Gold staring at her.

"What?"

"My dagger," Rumple reminded them. "Cora wants it and if I die here..."

"You won't," Neal was determined.

"If I do, I don't know how the dagger will be affected. Cora may be able to claim my power after I die."

"Henry," Emma handed her phone to her son, not wanting him to be in the room. "Go call David and Mary-Margret, okay?"

"Got it," Henry said nervously as he took the phone into Neal's bedroom and dialled.

Neal went back over to his father's side, reapplying pressure to the wound.

"Bae," Rumple whispered.

"You know," Neal said in a conversational tone, "I had always hated magic. For years, I never wanted to be near it, thinking it was wrong to want a magical cure for something...But now," Neal could feel tears welling up in his eyes, "for the first time, I wish magic was here."

Smiling slightly, Rumple shook his head. "No son, you were right," he told him. "Magic can't solve everything."

"Hey," Emma said gently, placing one hand on Neal's shoulder and her other hand on the towel, adding more pressure to stop the bleeding. "We'll get you home Gold."

"One way or the other?" Rumple mumbled, his breathing was becoming ragged.

"Belle," he gasped for breath. "Belle."

"You'll see her again," Emma told him. "You still have to help her get her memory back."

"Maybe it's better this way," Rumple was fighting to keep his eyes open now. "She can't miss me if she doesn't remember me."

"You're going to live, Papa," Neal said firmly.

Another smile crept across Rumple's face.

"Oh, my boy," he breathed. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear you call me that again."

"I'm so sorry son," Rumple said again, "for everything. I love you."

Bae watched as his father's eyes began to get misty.

No, this couldn't be happening. Yes, he had resented his father, yes, he'd spent years dreaming of that pit, yes, he had said that he didn't want his father in his life...

But now that his father was here, bleeding to death before his eyes, Bae realised that he couldn't let go.

"I forgive you, Papa." He whispered. "I love you too."

Neal hadn't realised that tears were beginning to fall, until he felt one drop from his chin to land on Emma's hand.

Remarkably, as soon as the tear fell, a golden light began to emanate from Emma's hand.

"What the-" Neal stammered as he tried to stand up, shocked, but Emma's hand held him firm.

'Magic.' Emma realised. Without thinking, she threw the towel aside and, gripping tighter to Neal's shoulder, she held her other hand over the wound and concentrated...

The gold light passed from Emma's hand into Rumple's chest, spreading throughout his body as he lay gasping.

Slowly, the glow of gold faded, and slowly, Rumple's breathing became slower and steadier.

Rumple opened his eyes to see his son and Emma staring down at him.

"Papa?" Neal whispered in shock.

Rumple placed his hands over his chest, where his wound had once been.

But it had healed.

"You really are the Saviour, Miss Swan." Rumple told her.

"How..." Emma asked, almost fearfully. "How did I do that?"

Rumple's mind was racing. Then he smiled as he came to the only conclusion he could think of.

"You are the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White," he told her. "You are the product of the most powerful magic in the world. So," he finished with relief. "You carry that magic wherever you go."

"I thought magic couldn't exist out of Storybrooke," Rumple explained as he sat up gingerly. "But you, it turns out...well, I'm glad you owed me that favour." He paused for a moment. "And I believe I owe you now, Miss Swan."

"Papa," Neal's eyes were wide as he regarded his father who, moments ago, had been on the verge of death.

"Son," Rumple reached for his boy, and was relieved when he felt his son's arms around him.

"You're alive," Neal whispered.

"Oh, my boy," Rumple sobbed, stroking his son's hair like he had when he was a child. "My beautiful boy. Can you really forgive me, son?"

Pulling back slightly, Neal met his father's eyes.

"I'll come to Storybrooke for you as well as Henry and Emma, now," he told him earnestly.

Rumple pulled his son in for another hug.

"You're okay!"

Everyone turned to see Henry run over from the bedroom, smiling.

"What happened?"

"Your mother saved my life, Henry," Rumple answered as he turned his gaze to Emma.

"Thank you," his voice was full of gratitude.

"You're welcome," Emma replied, still in shock about what just happened. She could always do magic?

"So..." Neal began, looking inquiringly at his father. "Who's Belle?"

~..~..~..~..

Tamara reached Neal's apartment building just as he was seeing his father, Emma and Henry into a taxi.

"Hey!" She waved eagerly, getting their attention before they got inside the car. "I'm glad I caught you before you left." She straightened her purse on her shoulder as she came to a stop on the pavement.

"Tamara!" Neal swept his fiancé into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm on my break," she laughed as she felt herself swing around in Neal's arms. "I just wanted to say goodbye before you left, as I won't see you for a couple of days."

"That's nice of you," Mr. Gold smiled at her.

"So, you're really going to be coming to Storybrooke with my dad?" Henry came over, his schoolbag on his shoulders as always.

"Of course I'm coming, Henry," Tamara assured the boy, placing an arm around his shoulders, "I have to."

"Well, so do we, and the plane leaves in a couple of hours," Emma interjected, waving Henry into the car. "Time to go."

"See you in a couple of days, son," Rumple gripped Neal's shoulder fondly. He had come so close to being separated from his son again, but now, Rumple truly had another chance. And he was determined to make good of it.

Neal nodded. "A couple of days," he echoed.

Rumple turned as Tamara hooked her arm with his son's. They looked so happy.

"I look forward to seeing you again, Tamara," he told the woman at Bae's side. "I'd like to learn more about the woman who was able to win my son."

"Oh, you'll learn everything, I'm sure," Tamara smiled.

As the taxi drove away, Neal waved goodbye before turning to give his fiancé a long kiss.

"What was that for?" She asked playfully.

"I love you so much," Neal told her. "And today, I realised just how important it is to focus on the good things in my life, not the bad."

Tamara reached up and fondly stroked Neal's face.

"You have plenty of good in your life, Neal," she told him. "Don't forget that."

Neal nodded, breathing deeply.

"You okay, sweetie?" She asked, watching the emotion pass across his face.

Neal nodded.

"I am now, thanks." He assured her.

"You know, you can talk to me about anything," she told him gently.

Neal nodded again. "I know."

Smiling, Tamara took a step back.

"Well, I'd better be heading back to the restaurant," she told him.

"Your break can't be finished already," Neal told her. It wasn't that far to the restaurant.

"I have to," Tamara explained. "They've got two new staff members this afternoon, and I have to train both."

Neal shook his head, smiling. "You work too hard," he told her.

"Well, I'll be on holiday soon, won't I?" She kissed her fiancé before turning to leave.

"Dinner at my place tonight," Neal called out. "I'll cook."

"No way, I'll be the one in the kitchen," Tamara called back over her shoulder, laughing.

As Tamara made her way back down the road, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been afraid that she'd miss his family leave, but was just in time.

As soon as she was free to take her afternoon break, Tamara had raced to her own apartment before going to Neal's.

Neal had mentioned moving in together before now, but Tamara couldn't take the risk of him finding out everything yet. But now that his father had found him, she knew it would have to be soon.

And he would most likely find out when they went to Storybrooke.

Tamara could feel fear creeping into her heart at the thought of what Neal would do when he found out. Would he hate her? Leave her?

Tamara exhaled, shaking her head to rid herself of the fear that had begun to fill her up. She didn't have to worry about it now. She may even be able to keep her secret while in Storybrooke.

She just needed to make sure she did her job first.

She had made the first step already. For there was something that she knew would have to get to Storybrooke before she did.

And she'd placed it in Henry's schoolbag.

~..~..~..~..

Author's note: So, what did you think?

When I saw the promo of Episode 15, and realised that Hook had somehow made it to New York, I couldn't think of how that could've happened...but then I remembered the globe that Cora gave Rumple, and how good Hook was at reading maps...

However, as much as I knew the writers couldn't kill Rumple off (let's face it, he's one of the main reasons many people watch the show), but I just couldn't see an ambulance arriving in time, if Hook stabbed him close to the heart. Then I remembered how Emma had made Jefferson's hat work when she touched Regina's shoulder when they were facing the wraith, and how Emma was the product of true love, who escaped the curse...

However, as Regina and Cora weren't affected by the curse, but would lose their magic crossing the town line, I don't really see how my scene above would work on the show, but it was the best I could come up with. Another theory was that, while not having magic, Rumple was still immotally tied to the dagger and so couldn't die...which would be another reason they would have to get home quickly, so he could heal himself with magic...but I just couldn't bring myself to write that.

I had wanted Rumple spend a bit more time in New York but, I think Rumple, Emma and Henry return in 'The Millar's daughter' but we don't see Neal and Tamara in Storybrooke until 'Brave, strong and true.'

I look forward to seeing how they save Rumple on the show! (Maybe they will just have an ambulance?)

Who can guess what Tamara slipped into Henry's bag?