AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize for the long delay in posting the next chapter. It was ready to go, just never posted. Obviously, the second season is now over (in the US). I may write more based on second season events, but we'll see how things go.

He had no time to waste. Now that he saw how deep Regina's deception had gone, he wanted – needed – to do this more than ever. True, he wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen, but it couldn't make things worse than they already were. Now he wasn't just out to find his son; he needed to protect Belle as well. Who knew what Regina would do once she found out he had Belle with him and knew that she was responsible for everything that happened to the girl after she left his castle. If ever he needed magic, it was now.

He could hear Belle behind him as they climbed the hill. She hadn't spoken much since they met in his shop, but she did stay close to him and kept looking around her nervously. He couldn't blame her. She was probably still in shock herself, having just been released from nearly three decades of imprisonment. He couldn't help grinding his teeth at the thought. There was no way he was going to allow Regina to get away with what she had done.

If there had been time, he would have taken Belle to the safety of his home and allowed her the chance to slowly adjust to the sudden change in her life. Truth be told, he was still in shock as well. How tempting it was just to hold Belle, to gaze into her face and feel her hair, to reassure himself that she was, indeed, alive and with him again. But this was more important at the moment. There would be time for the rest once this was done. Then he could build up for his next move.

The wind picked up and swirled the leaves at his feet, and it died down just as quickly. They weren't far from the well now. Everything was coming together far better than he had ever hoped.

"Wait!" he heard Belle call out.

He kept walking. "No, no. We're very close," he said. Nothing could stop him.

"Rumpelstiltskin, wait."

He stopped, and his heart paused a moment as well, jumping into his throat. If she knew his name, then...

Slowly he turned. This could be very good, or this could be very bad. He held his breath, not knowing which it would be. As she approached him, she smiled.

"I-I remember," she said, and compassion filled her eyes. "I love you."

Elation flowed through him, and he could breathe again. As she reached for him, he reached for her, and they embraced for a long moment. "Yes," he murmured, melting into her arms. "Yes, and I love you, too." It was the first chance he had to confess that to her, and he wanted to make sure she knew. When they pulled back, both of them had tears in their eyes. "But hey, there will be time for that." He reached up to touch her hair and hold her face. "There will be time for everything. But first," he started to pull away, "there's something I must do."

Confusion crossed her face, but she followed him as before.

As they drew near the wishing well, he reached out for her arm. Belle stared at the well curiously and asked, "What is this?"

"This is a very special place, Belle," he explained as he pointed at it. "The waters that run below are said to have the power to return that which one has lost." So many things had been lost, and he already had one of them back—the one he never expected to have back.

This was it. The time had come. Leaning on his cane, he made his way up to the well's edge, reaching into his pocket for the vial. As Belle drew closer, he removed the stopper and moved as if to pour the contents into the well. However, he couldn't risk not offering enough, so he dropped the whole vial instead. They both leaned forward to watch it fall to the bottom. As it splashed in the waters below, a breeze from deep within the well flew up and ruffled their hair, and both stepped back. He reached out for her arm again, longing for that confirmation of her presence with him. Deep violet smoke began pouring from the well, covering the ground and pooling about their feet. It continued to spread, flowing down the hill toward Storybrooke.

"I-I don't understand," Belle stammered, looking rather worried.

"We're in a land without magic, Belle," he told her, and then he grinned. "And I'm bringing it. Magic..." he said, the thrill of it filling him with strength, "...is coming."

She shook her head, not looking very pleased. "Why?"

"Why?" he repeated, unable to stop grinning. "Because magic," he purred, turning his gaze to her, "is power."