"This had better be good." Rumplestiltskin's gaze fixed on each of the people before him, "very good."
David, Emma, and Hook had entered the shop along with the deal-maker. Only the frantic texts, calls, and, of course, the snow all over Storybrooke got him away from his marriage bed.
"So," Rumplestiltskin gave Emma a tight smile, "What did you do now?"
She quickly explained what had transpired.
"And you didn't take my advice?"
"No," Emma muttered, "I couldn't let her die."
"Be that as it may," Rumplestiltskin sighed, "you would not have succeeded even if it was truly the archer's wife. Time balances out. If she was meant to die, she would have died. Maybe tripped in a freak accident on Main Street and broken her neck, it wouldn't matter how." He peered at the blonde, "Perhaps you can take comfort that the little boy didn't have to face that. But, as it is, not only did you NOT save a life, you took one, and," he gestured outside, "well, you see the other consequences." Eyeing Hook, "foolish enough to touch something in my room."
Hook looked away, but then, "Time balances out, so are you saying…"
"Yes. Zelena would never have succeeded. You see, that was the great flaw in her plan. Even had she gone back on the first try, she would not have been able to stop anything from happening that was supposed to. It would have balanced out."
"Then why didn't you . . ." Hook started.
"Tell you? If you recall, I was under her control, and when I thought she was defeated, there was no need. I had more pressing matters."
"Yes, yes," David said exasperated, "we can analyze all we want, but the question facing us is 'what do we do now?'"
"Now that is the question." Rumplestiltskin shook his head at Emma, "You are very lucky Regina fell in love with perhaps the only selfless man in The Enchanted Forest. Unlike you, Savior, he is a true do-gooder. He won't let her take revenge." He paused, "How is she?"
All looked down. Shamed silence.
"Not well," David finally said softly. "Not well at all. Snow was the only one of us they would talk to. She drove them to Regina's. They don't plan on coming out soon."
Rumplestiltskin nodded. A look. Sadness? Empathy? "Perhaps that is what we all should do, albeit for different reasons."
"What do you mean?" Emma asked.
"I mean, dearie, that it's time for us to get out our sweaters and sit tight. Whatever is facing Storybrooke will make itself known."
"So you aren't going to…"
"Do anything, dear Charming?" He shook his head, "I think we've all done quite enough for a day. Let's try inaction for once. 'Time will balance out.' What you brought will meet the fate that was destined. And there's nothing we can do about it."
"That's all well and good," David still insisted, "but what if it means something terrible…"
"Karma's a bitch, yes?" Rumplestiltskin looked at all in the room, "I think all of us are due some payback."
Yes, all of them.