A/N - Okay, so I have absolutely no idea why my new chapter did not get posted earlier! It says there are 13 chapters but you could only access 12. It must either be because I was trapped in a giant blizzard or because 13 is just too unlucky. I don't know. Either way, I am so sorry for the inconvenience and I hope that it works this time!

Chapter 13

The construction of the duplicate vault was progressing nicely in the abandoned cannery. Jefferson and August had done a decent job recreating every detail they could find on the stolen blueprints and hacked security recordings.

The only thing missing was a hundred million dollars.

"I just got off the phone with Granny," Emma said to Gold as she grabbed her jacket. "They're in the Hotel room and setting up the equipment. I have to go help them connect all the wires. Those guys are useless when it comes to technology. I think August still uses a typewriter for goodness sakes!"

"Go ahead, dear," he replied, opening up a box of poker chips. They were not an exact match to Regina's but they would suit their purposes. "David is teaching Henry how to play blackjack. He'll be fine while you're gone."

She checked her watch and swore at the late hour. "Make sure Henry eats something healthy for supper, will you? Last time David watched him he ate nothing but cereal and drank coffee!"

Gold watched her fondly as she shrugged on her red leather coat and headed out the door. She was starting to trust him and Neal with Henry more and more. He could only hope that the truce between her and his son would grow into something more and they could finally have the family they all desperately wanted.

If nothing else good came out of this mission, he could rest easy knowing that he had at least given his son his best chance at righting some wrongs and finding happiness.

Perhaps he would be given the same chance.

His head shot up at the sound of the heavy loading door being slammed shut. Neal marched to his father's side, hands trembling, and grabbed the box of gaming chips. After tossing them onto the floor, he poked Gold hard in the chest.

"We need to talk," he grumbled quietly. At his father's questioning stare, he pointed his finger to the door and growled. "Now!"

"What is it, son?" Gold asked once they were outside and safely out of earshot of the others.

Neal paced the wharf agitatedly, running his hands through his slightly curly hair and pulling it at the roots. "Tell me this is not about her!" He looked down at the rolling Atlantic waves as the tide came crashing in, refusing to look at his father. "Tell me this is not about her or I'm walking right now!"

"Who?" asked Gold.

"Belle! That's who."

"Ah! Her," he whispered gently. "My wife."

"Ex-wife!" Neal growled. "Please tell me this has been about the money and not about her."

"It's not about her." He winced at the incredulous look his son threw his way and held his hands out in supplication. "Okay. It's not…entirely about her."

Neal snorted derisively and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why didn't you say something in the first place? I love my step-mother, you know that! Why keep this from me of all people?"

Gold sighed and placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "Because I was afraid. I thought that if I voiced it out loud I would be setting myself up for failure and infinite disappointment. Do you remember the first lesson I taught you when you were learning the con?"

"You told me to play the game like I had nothing to lose," he replied sadly.

"Well I lost something. And I'm not talking about my money or my home or even my freedom. I lost someone. That's why I'm here. I have lost so much that I have loved in my life…my parents, your mother, you twice; the first time when CPS took you away from me, the second when you were forced to flee to Canada. And then I lost my precious Belle, my one True Love, and it almost killed me."

Neal shook his head and sighed. "You should have been honest with her. She left because you lied. You promised that you were done with that life; no more tricks, no more deals. But you did it anyway."

"To save you! Don't forget, you were the one to get in over your head and I had to come out of retirement to keep you safe. Now I don't regret that, Bae; not for a second. That part of my life was indeed gone but you are my son, and I would do anything to protect you. Even if it meant spending the rest of my life behind bars. I just…I didn't want her to worry about us. I thought that I could take care of it without her having to find out."

"Belle would have understood, Papa. She's a good person who always saw the good in you, especially when you couldn't see it in yourself. If you had just told her what you had to do in the first place she would have supported you."

"I suppose I've always found it easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask permission." Gold shook his head sadly and sighed. "Money can be replaced. Possessions can be replaced. True Love cannot and I refuse to give up on it. I refuse to give up on her, son."

Neal ran his hand over his mouth. "Here's the problem. Now we're stealing two things. And when push comes to shove and you can't have both, what are you going to choose? And remember…Belle does not split 11 ways!"

"If everything goes according to plan, I won't be the one who has to make that choice."

~8~8~8~

Belle Gold pressed her palm against the electronic plate that scanned and analyzed her fingertips and punched in the six digit security number. Once the computer was satisfied that she really was the museum's caretaker, the hydraulic locks detached with a hiss and the heavy, bulletproof door slid slowly open to be hidden inside the tastefully decorated walls.

She smiled brightly when the spotlights engaged automatically, illuminating each priceless object and painting scattered about the large open room. It wasn't much…but it was all hers.

Her employment choices had, unfortunately, been rather limited after the very public conviction of her husband. No…ex-husband now, she reminded herself sadly.

She had been forced to sell everything they owned, including their beloved Golden Antiques shop, just to pay his exorbitant lawyer fees. People had no longer trusted her, believing that she would steal their precious treasures as soon as look at them. It had been a devastating blow to her career, as well as her self-esteem.

Regina was the only one brave enough to take a chance on her. She has been such an amazing friend these last couple of years, ever since Danny's incarceration; always so encouraging and supportive!

Belle had been astounded, to say the least, when Regina had given her the opportunity to not only manage the private collection, but also have a say in choosing what pieces were bought and displayed. While this was Regina's Casino and everything in it was bought with Regina's fortune, the museum was essentially Belle's to do with as she pleased.

It wasn't the same as working in the shop. She had loved working alongside him, buying and restoring precious art and books while he dealt with the other antiques. They had made an excellent team, both in their successful business and in their marriage.

But that life was over now.

She had given serious thought to moving back to her native Australia, where news of her husband's scandal would have gone unnoticed. Unfortunately, the only family she had left was her father, and their relationship over the last decade was fickle at best.

Moe French had not been pleased with his daughter's decision to make a new life for herself in America, married to a former Master Thief no less. He had always assumed she would stay home to take over the family flower business, Games of Thorns.

Moe had flown all the way to Boston to be with Belle during the trial, only to proudly announce 'I told you so!' once the conviction had been read.

She hadn't spoken to him since.

At thirty-three years old she could count the number of people that mattered in her life on one hand. While living in Storybrooke was not ideal, she at least had the loyal friendship and support of her boss, and the tentative romance with Gaston Chevalier.

Gaston. He had certainly taken her by surprise!

She hadn't had any desire to begin another relationship after her heartbreaking divorce and the brawny casino manager had certainly showed no interest in the shy bookworm that ran the small museum.

Belle was ashamed to admit that when she had first met her handsome co-worker, she had wondered if he even knew how to spell the word museum!

But then Regina had insisted the three of them have dinner every night to discuss the progress of their departments and she got to know him a bit better. Regina apparently thought very highly of him, always praising his work ethic and regaling her with tales of his past good deeds. Gaston had then started showing up at the gallery on his breaks, where he would stare at the paintings in silent contemplation, like he was trying to unlock their secrets.

Sometimes he even brought along a cup of tea just for her.

The fact that he knew exactly how she took her tea had left her speechless! He didn't drink the stuff himself, preferring energy drinks, which made the gesture all the more thoughtful.

She had gone out with him only at Regina's insistence that it would do her some good. They had struggled to find something to talk about the first date, which she chalked up to nerves. By the second date, however, he had her thoroughly impressed by reciting one of her favorite poems and even quoting A Midsummer Night's Dream!

During the times when she was completely honest with herself, she would admit she was slowly becoming smitten with him.

"Would the beautiful lady care for tea and some company?" asked a low voice behind her.

"Gaston!" She threw her head back to look up at his tall physique and smiled at his unexpected appearance.

He may not get her heart racing like the sound of a Scottish brogue, but she was pleased to see him. It was a start. "It's finally arrived! Come take a look."

She took him by the hand and led him through the gallery where a new arrival sat underneath two inches of bulletproof glass on a marble pedestal. She had been searching for this particular item for over a year now.

"Well," Belle asked, practically giddy with anticipation. "Do you like it?"

"I like that you like it," he replied diplomatically.

"Yes, but what do you think about it?"

"It's…um…" he stammered. He looked down at her tiny form quizzically. "It's a book."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "It's not just any book! This is a copy of the extremely rare First Folio: Comedies, Histories and Tragedies!"

At his blank expression she added. "William Shakespeare!"

"Sweetheart," he said slowly, "if you wanted a book on Shakespeare I'm sure I could have found you one on Amazon or eBay."

She swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment. Daniel would have understood immediately. "Gaston…this book was published in 1623! It's a collection of his best works. Only 750 copies were ever made and there are only a handful left in the entire world. This book is worth millions!"

"Whoa!" He nodded his head in approval and took a swig of Red Bull. "So… are there are some nice pictures in it or something?"

"No. Most people use their imagination," she replied dryly.

"I prefer TV," he said dismissively. "You get the same message ten times as quickly."

Belle winced as though she had been slapped. How could anyone choose TV over books?

"So the reason I'm here," he continued nonchalantly, "is to see if we're still on for tomorrow night. I thought we could have a Sylvester Stallone movie marathon. The more explosions the better!"

"Oh," she replied hesitantly. "I, uh, thought maybe we could go out for once. You know…leave the Casino."

Regina had given Belle her own suite in the hotel in which to live. Her reasoning was that it would be easier for her to restart her life if she wasn't burdened with paying rent and utilities or having to re-buy furniture. It had been a very generous gift. The problem, though, was that she basically spent every moment of her new life either on the Casino compound or visiting Gaston in his bachelor apartment.

"Yeah, well, Storybrooke's night life is severely…limited. Besides, we did what you wanted to do last time, sweetheart. It's only fair that we take turns."

"What, exactly, did I choose last time?"

"We had two movie choices; the original Karate Kid and the awesome new Karate Kid with Will Smith's kid. You chose the old one and I went along with it, like a real gentlemen. So now it's my turn."

Belle sighed and grinned sadly. "How silly of me. You're absolutely right. After all 'the course of true love never did run smooth.'"

"Huh? The course of what now?"

"True love." He continued to stare at her in confusion. "It's Shakespeare, dear. From your favorite play A Midsummer Night's Dream. Remember?"

He laughed heartily but it didn't seem to reach his eyes. "Ah! I knew that. Just checking to see if you did, my beauty. Will you be coming to the restaurant tonight?"

"Of course. Regina will want to hear all about the book and how much business it will bring to the museum." She raised herself up on the tips of her toes and reached her head out to kiss him goodbye. He quickly shook his head and raised his eyes to the ceiling, where one of a dozen domed security cameras resided.

"Never forget, Belle. In this Casino, there's always somebody watching. I'll see you at dinner."