Author's note: Hey everyone, thanks for reading! I'm sorry it's taking me a little longer to get the chapters up than usual- I seem to be having more writer's block with this story than with 'Return'. I think it's beacuse I'm trying to stay cannon, so I'm afraid to get creative. I'm willing to bet that I'll soon throw cannon out the window and just write my own version of what I want to see happen...

Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy it!

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

Belle woke up the next morning to see sunlight streaming through her bedroom window.

Smiling, she sat up, watching how the beams of light gave the cool, sterile, hospital room a warm glow.

Then she noticed the breakfast tray.

It was set up right next to her bed, waiting for her, but it didn't look like anything the hospital had given her before. A domed, silver cloche covered the food, so Belle couldn't see what was underneath. The cutlery was also silver, not plastic, and the rose that Mr. Gold had given her the previous day stood proudly in a tall, crystal vase which sat in the corner of the tray. Though now, it was accompanied by a second rose.

"Good morning, Belle."

Belle turned her head to see Mr. Gold standing shyly in the doorway of her room. His eyes looked tired, but he was still impeccably dressed and well groomed, as he had been every other time he'd visited her. Belle ran her fingers self consciously through her hair.

"Good morning, Mr. Gold," Belle greeted, straightening herself up as surreptitiously as possible. "You're here early."

Rumple noticed her efforts, but made no indication that he had. It didn't matter if Belle's hair wasn't brushed, she always looked beautiful.

Mr. Gold stepped into the room slowly, "I... thought you might like breakfast in bed," he gestured to the tray.

"Thank you," Belle was touched by the thought. "For the other rose too," she reached out to caress the soft petals gently.

"My pleasure," Rumple smiled with relief. He'd been afraid that the both the breakfast and the rose would make Belle push him further away, but he was thankful to see that she had apparently accepted his gift.

"So," Belle began shyly, "what's for breakfast?"

Smiling, Mr. Gold moved the tray to where Belle could easily reach it, and lifted the cloche slowly.

"Blueberry pancakes," he told her. "And," he added, "as promised, I will answer any questions that you have."

Belle smiled slightly as she placed her napkin on her lap. "I honestly don't know if anyone has ever made breakfast for me like this before."

"Well, no one you can remember," Mr. Gold said softly.

Blue eyes met dark brown, and Belle was glad that she was already sitting down, for the emotion in those dark eyes was so intense, she felt she would have fallen otherwise.

Mr. Gold blinked, averting his gaze as if he realised he'd let himself slip.

"Enjoy," he invited, gesturing to the small spread before Belle, "and ask away."

Belle picked up her knife and fork, thinking.

"What... what was that cup you showed me?" She asked softly as she cut a section of soft pancake.

Mr. Gold sighed.

"That was our cup," he answered.

Belle looked at him in confusion.

"You once worked for me," Mr. Gold began carefully. "You were the caretaker, in my home. That's how we got to know each other. And on your first day, you dropped a cup while serving tea, chipping it. You were afraid that you'd angered me." He smiled fondly at the memory. "You hadn't."

Mr. Gold took a slow breath.

"After you left my service," he continued hesitantly, 'Regina came to me, and told me that you had died..." He lowered his eyes, and Belle completely forgot about the food before her, focusing instead on the man, watching his expression crumple in remembered grief.

"That cup," he whispered. "Was the only thing I had to remind me of you."

Guilty tears filled Belle's eyes.

"And I broke it," her voice was barely a whisper.

"It wasn't your fault," Mr. Gold was quick to assure her, but Belle shook her head.

"I threw it across the room," she reminded him. "It most definitely was my fault."

"But you didn't know," Mr. Gold's voice was almost pleading, begging Belle not to blame herself. "I was pushing too hard, it's my fault. To you, now, it was just a cup."

Impulsively, Belle reached out to caress the man's cheek gently, and Mr. Gold froze at her touch.

"I'm so sorry," Belle whispered.

Gingerly, Mr. Gold reached a hand to cover Belle's own, wanting to savour the feel of her skin.

"It's alright, love," he told her. "You're alive, and that matters more than a cup."

As Belle slowly lowered her hand, Mr Gold caught her gaze.

"Before you lost your memory, you told me that, if you find something worth fighting for, you never give up." His voice was gentle, but there was strength behind his words.

"I hadn't believed anyone could love me, until you Belle. You never gave up on me. And now," he vowed, "I promise to never give up on you."

Mr. Gold took up Belle's free hand earnestly with both of his own.

"I will help you get your memories back, Belle," he swore. "And I promise: I will always take care of you."

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

Neal knocked on the apartment door before opening it.

"Tamara?" He called out, eyes roving over the funky red furniture and modern artwork that filled the room.

"Are you ready to go? The cab's here."

"Hey Neal," his fiancé called from her bedroom. "I'm nearly ready."

They had booked the first flight to Boston, and had rented a car for the last leg of the trip.

Tamara emerged from her room a few minutes later, dragging a large suitcase with her. Her purse was slung over her shoulder and a rolled up cloth tied with string was in her arms.

"What's all this?" Neal asked. "We're only going for a week."

"Unlike you, honey, I like to wear a different outfit every day, rather than recycle" Tamara replied breezily. "And this," she continued, holding up the rolled cloth, "is holding all of my paintbrushes."

Chuckling, Neal shook his head. His fiancé loved bright colours. Today, for example, she was wearing her favourite bright orange coat. Tamara was also very artistic, and when she wasn't cooking, she was painting. Many of the art pieces that decorated her apartment were ones that she had done herself.

"Do you really think you'll find artistic inspiration in Storybrooke Maine?"Neal asked patiently.

"I'm sure the place will be full of inspiration," she replied surely.

Knowing better than to argue, Neal simply nodded and took her suitcase for her.

"If you say so, babe," he told her, giving her a kiss.

"Well," Tamara added, "it's also a way I can stay busy and out of the way while you're spending time with your son and your father."

Neal remembered he was taking his fiancé to a place that had magic. Including two powerful, evil Queens who wanted to kill his father...

"You know," Neal said, "You haven't been able to do much art lately, so you're right. This should be perfect for you."

Tamara smiled.

She was always able to get what she wanted.

"Let's go."

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

Rumple's phone bleeped and he flicked it open to find that he had a text.

"What is it?" Belle asked, curious as to the smile spreading across the man's face.

"It's my son," he whispered fondly. "He's on his way here. He says he should be in Storybrooke by the afternoon."

"That's good," Belle said. "What's your son's name?"

"Baelfire," Rumple told her. "Though he changed it many years ago, and now wishes to be called Neal."

"So, what should I call him?" Belle asked. "I mean," she added quickly, "if I ever meet him."

Rumple smiled, hopeful. "I'd love for you to meet my son, Belle," he told her. "Though as he's bringing his fiancé with him, and she has no knowledge of magic, or where we come from...perhaps calling him Neal would be a better option. We need to keep our town safe."

"Okay," Belle nodded slowly, 'Neal then."

"And now," Rumple stood up reluctantly, "I'm afraid I must leave."

"What?" Belle didn't want him to go yet.

Rumple didn't want to leave either. He had answered more of Belle's questions, and she had paid keen attention. He truly began to feel hopeful...

"Cora and Regina still don't know I'm back yet," Rumple explained. "That's one of the reasons why I came to see you so early. I couldn't risk one of them seeing me."

"And," Belle said slowly, "now you have to hide?"

Rumple nodded reluctantly.

"But before I go," Rumple reached into the pocket of his jacket, "I have something for you."

Belle's eyes widened at the necklace he held out for her. It was made of pure gold, and had a single rose charm dangling from it.

"What's this for?" Belle asked, amazed at the gift.

"This," Mr. Gold told her simply, "is for you."

Belle's breath came out in a sigh.

"Thank you." Belle lifted her hair as Mr. Gold fastened it around her neck securely.

"It suits you," Mr. Gold whispered as he admired his gift on her.

Belle fingered the rose charm, a shy smile on her face.

"Now, I really do have to go," Rumple muttered, tearing his eyes away from his love with effort.

Pausing, he met Belle's gaze inquiringly.

"Would you mind if I left by magic?" He asked gently. "I really can't risk anyone seeing me..."

"I don't mind," Belle answered after a pause, grateful for another reminder that everything she had seen and heard was true.

Rumple smiled as he stepped into the middle of the room.

"Will you come back?" Belle asked quickly. "If you can?"

Rumple's eyes were soft as he gazed at the woman he loved.

"I'll bring you another rose," he promised her.

Belle gasped in wonder as Mr. Gold vanished in a swirl of purple smoke.

Rumple reappeared in his office moments later and had to put more weight onto his cane as he swayed slightly on his feet.

He had been awake all night, creating a protective barrier spell around his shop, in order to keep Regina and Cora out, as well as creating a protective charm for Belle, to keep her safe from being harmed by either of the two women as leverage against him.

He was afraid that Belle may refuse the gift, but as he had fastened the necklace, he could feel the magic he'd woven into the spun gold activate.

Even if Cora did gain control of him today, Rumple had at least ensured Belle would be safe.

And that knowledge soothed his heart more than sleep ever could.

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

Emma sat at the kitchen counter nursing a hot chocolate while Snow washed the breakfast dishes.

"Henry's still not talking to me," Emma spoke her thoughts aloud as her eyes travelled up the stairs to her son's room, where he sat, reading.

"You just need to give him time," Snow told her daughter. "Let him spend time with his father, when he arrives, show Henry you trust him."

"I do trust Henry," Emma said surely. "It's Neal I don't trust," she muttered as she took a sip, savouring the taste of cocoa and cinnamon on her tongue.

"You trusted Neal before," Snow put forward hesitantly.

"And look what happened," Emma said in frustration, "He broke my heart and I went to jail."

"And you had Henry," Snow reminded her.

"And did I mention that Neal's engaged?" Emma stood up and began pacing.

"Twice," Snow answered mildly, her eyes following her daughter as she circled the living room.

"I don't believe it," Emma appeared to be talking more to herself now. "I mean, looking at his apartment...It was a complete bachelor pad! No sign at all that he was in a relationship."

"Well, looks can be deceiving," Snow put forward.

"No kidding," Emma paused in the middle of the room and ran a hand through her hair.

"Hey Emma, I've just noticed," Snow asked her daughter curiously. "Where's your necklace?"

Emma's head snapped up.

"What?"

"Your necklace," Snow pointed. "You used to wear two, now there's only one. Where did the swan pendant go?"

Slowly, Emma brought her hand to rest on the place where her swan pendant used to lie.

"Oh," comprehension dawned in Snow's eyes as she watched the emotions passing over her daughter's face. "Neal gave it to you, didn't he?"

"I gave it back to him in New York."

"But you'd been wearing it all this time?' Snow queried.

"I wore it," Emma said quickly before her mother came to the wrong conclusion, "to remind me never to trust anyone again."

"Emma..." Snow came around from behind the kitchen bench to comfort her daughter, but Emma stepped back, not in the mood for soothing words.

"No," she told her mother firmly, raising a hand to stop her. "I don't want to be comforted right now. What I want is to rant."

"Alright." Snow gestured for Emma to go ahead, seeing her daughter wanted to let off some steam.

"I loved Neal,' Emma confessed as she began pacing again. "And he set me up to take the fall for his crime, and I spent eleven months in jail because of him! He said that he was trying to help me by getting me back home, but if he had actually cared about me, he could have done more than just leave me with a juvie record and a car, he could have done something!"

"I spent two years in Tallahassee, where we had planned on living, in the hope that he'd turn up, but he never did!" Tears were beginning to make their way down Emma's cheeks as she continued to release her emotions. "I even made it my job to find people, hoping that I would find him one day, if I couldn't find my parents."

"That's what made you start finding people?" Snow whispered. "You wanted to find Neal?"

"He was a thief," Emma explained. "That's how we lived, that's how we met. I stole the yellow bug, which Neal had already stolen."

"Sounds like how I met your father," Snow tried to make light of the realisation.

"But it doesn't matter, now," Emma began to pace again. "None of it matters now."

"Henry matters," Snow reminded her daughter.

"Henry is the only good thing that came from us being together." Emma insisted. "Neal doesn't care about me, he's been getting on with his life: he's engaged!"

Emma came to a halt, breathing hard, trying to get a hold on her emotions.

"And Tamara's perfectly free to have him."

However, as Emma made a seemingly flippant hand gesture to accompany her words, a vase that sat on the coffee table five feet away shattered, spilling glass, water and flowers everywhere.

Emma and Snow stared, shocked as Henry came down the stairs.

"What happened?" He asked as his eyes took in the broken glass.

Emma felt her jaw drop in shock as she watched water drip off the edge of the small table.

"I have no idea," She whispered.

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

Rumple was working in his office when he heard someone enter his shop.

He froze. He knew it couldn't be either Regina or Cora, as his protection spell should keep them out.

But they had the dagger...

"Gold?" A voice called.

Rumple sighed with relief. It was Emma calling.

Entering the store, Rumple found Emma, Snow and Henry making their way to the counter.

"You know, Miss Swan," Rumple began, "it would be wise for you to be laying low as well, for if Regina sees you here, well, she'll know I'm back also."

"Something weird just happened," Emma told him with something almost like fear in her eyes.

"Weird how?" Rumple asked calmly.

"Emma was talking to me," Snow explained as her daughter seemed lost for words, "and as she gestured with a hand, a vase shattered. When it was five feet away from her."

Rumple raised his eyebrows, intrigued.

"Really? How fascinating."

"Can you tell me why that happened?" Emma asked, anxious.

Rumple smiled.

"Magic, Miss Swan," he answered simply. "You're tapping into your power more easily."

"What?" Emma didn't understand. "How?"

Rumple carefully made his way around the counter to explain.

"You are the product of the most powerful magic in the world, Miss Swan," Rumple began. "You carry that power wherever you go, as we found out in New York. However," he cautioned, "while before you had to truly focus, or your power activated purely in self defence, now, your magic is flowing more freely. And that can be dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Henry spoke up, worried. "How?"

"Once a magician has first tapped into their power," Rumple continued, "before they are able to master it at will, the magic is triggered by emotion. So, if you were to find yourself in a strong emotional state, your power would rise to the surface...and then any word or gesture you make while in that state can become a spell."

A frown creased Emma's forehead as she began to absorb the implications behind that statement.

"Why do you think I'm so careful with words?" Rumple put forward. "Have you ever told anyone to 'drop dead' in a fit of anger?" Rumple's gaze was serious as Emma locked eyes with him. "You need to be careful, dearie. For you have access to magic, but can't control it yet. So, until you do, you need to be very careful with your emotions."

"I can do that," Emma said surely and Rumple laughed softly.

"Oh no, Miss Swan," he told her. "I don't mean to hide your emotions, or bottle them up. That'll only cause your power to explode later on, most likely at the worst time. No, it is important to release your emotion," he explained. "You just need to learn to aim it."

"And how do I do that?"

Rumple paused, thinking.

"I believe it would be wise," he began slowly, "for me to teach you how to control your power."

"Like how you taught Cora and Regina?" Emma asked sceptically. "No thanks."

"I needed Cora and Regina to do a specific job for me, so I taught them accordingly," Rumple explained smoothly. "You, on the other hand...well," he smiled. "I'll teach you properly."

Emma hesitated.

"If you don't learn to control your magic, it will just continue to grow and activate spontaneously," Rumple told her. "And if you ever find yourself in a strong emotional state, whatever it is, a single wrong word or gesture could end up hurting someone."

"Why do you have to teach Emma?" Snow asked, not liking the sound of her daughter learning magic from Rumplestiltskin.

"Can you think of a better person?" Rumple asked calmly. "I doubt Regina or Cora would be interested."

"What about the Blue fairy?" Snow suggested.

Rumple laughed, before raising a hand apologetically.

"The problem with fairy magic, is that it relies on fairy dust or a wand, in order to manifest," he explained. "You take a fairy's wand or dust away, and they're powerless. Your magic, however, is within you." Rumple explained, turning back to Emma. "It's a part of who you are. That why it's so connected with your emotions. You can't take that away. You can't learn to harness that kind of magic from a fairy." He said surely.

Emma took a deep breath, before raising her chin.

"What's your price for the lessons?"

Rumple smiled.

"Oh, I'm sure we can come up with something."

Emma raised her eyebrows, guessing what the price will be.

"Neal's already coming to Storybrooke," Emma told him. "And he's more open to talking to you, after you nearly died."

"True," Rumple answered smoothly. "But I'm not exactly free to have a family dinner at Granny's, now am I?"

Understanding arose in Emma's eyes.

"The dagger," she stated.

Rumple nodded. "If I try to confront Cora and Regina myself, they'll just use the dagger to control me. So, Miss Swan," Rumple smiled. "Here is the deal: If I teach you magic, you'll get my dagger back for me. "

Slowly, Emma held out her hand.

"Deal."

Snow watched apprehensively as they shook hands.

"So," Emma began. "When do the lessons start?"

Rumple smiled.

"Right now, if you like?"

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

Snow and Henry made their way to the car. Henry had wanted to stay and keep watching Emma's magic lessons, but after the first thirty minutes, and after watching Emma successfully light a candle without touching it, Snow felt that it was time to leave.

Snow still didn't like the idea of Emma learning magic from Rumplestiltskin, but she realised that her daughter did need to learn to master the power within her.

Snow could at least help by keeping Henry safe at home.

As she unlocked her car, however, she looked up to see something that froze her heart.

"Henry," she whispered to her grandson. "Get in the car now, and stay low."

"Why?" Henry looked around.

Seeing the problem, he quickly got into the car and hid on the floor in the back.

Closing the car door after her grandson, on the pretext of having just placed her bag on the seat, Snow nonchalantly made her way to the driver's side, pretending she hadn't seen the woman walking towards her. She had to get Henry away before-

"Miss Blanchard," Regina called.

Snow flinched before closing the car door and walking away from her car to meet the former Queen and Mayor halfway.

"Good morning, Regina," Snow said guardedly. "I'm surprised to see you out in the open."

"Why should I hide?" Regina smiled. "I have nothing to be afraid of. My mother and I are the only ones capable of performing magic at the moment, and as soon as Gold returns, he will be under my command. And I will win my son back."

"He's no longer yours to take," Snow told her. "You've lied and hurt so many people. How can you think he'll forgive you for that?"

Regina's gaze became harder as she locked eyes with her long time adversary.

"Has it ever occurred to you," she whispered as she stepped closer, "that I am a good person? No. I was simply a Queen back home. It was you who added Evil to my name."

"Blame me all you like," Snow granted. "But you're saying that you would enslave someone to kill other people for you...how can that possibly be seen as good?"

Regina opened her mouth to reply, when he eyes caught something over Snow's shoulder.

Snow turned just in time to see Henry's eyes duck back down below the back seat.

"Henry," Regina whispered, as Snow turned quickly back to face the Queen.

Regina's eyes were filled with anticipation as smiled into her step-daughter's face.

"They're back," she smiled.

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

Author's note: Okay, I know I said that Tamara and Neal would arrive in this chapter, but I'm a little iffy on what order to put scenes in for their arrival, and a lots going to happen once they do, so I think it's better that their arrival gets its own chapter.

But, what do you think?

Is Rumple trying too hard? I just want Belle to remember, already, and I think the best way is 'true love's kiss' like when Snow drank the potion to forget Charming. With the curse broken, it should work, Belle just needs to be open to the kiss first...

And I love the idea of Rumple being Emma's teacher. That scene was inspired by a quote I read as a spoiler for 'The Miller's daughter' saying: 'magic is about emotion'- is a lesson that multiple people learn in this episode.

Did anyone see the sneak peeks for Episode 15? Rumple appears to be shipping Neal/Emma! Or, he could just be twisting things to suit his agenda...I'm hoping for the former.

Also, in the promo pics we saw of Regina holding someone's heart in the Clock tower, I had thought that she had just ripped out Snow's heart to bargin for the dagger, as Charming was holding his wife protectively. However seeing the sneak peek of Johana in Storybrooke, maybe it was Johana's heart that Regina held?

They writers said there was going to be a minor death in The Queen is dead, and I always assumed they were referring to Snow's mother, as we all know she died, but maybe it was Johana?

Also, they say a main character death is going to happen in Miller's...I doubt it's Rumple, Henry, Neal, Emma or the Charmings, as they are WAY too important to kill off. Same thing with Regina. So, my guess is either Cora or Hook.

Any theories? I'll need to include a death in my story, and I have my own... but I'm open to other ideas.