****THIS CHAPTER MAY POSSIBLY CONTAIN UPCOMING SPOILERS (VERY MINOR) FOR THE UPCOMING SECOND HALF OF SEASON 3. IN NO WAY DO I KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THIS IS MY OWN INTERPRETATION. HAVING SAID THAT, THERE STILL COULD BE THINGS IN HERE THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SPOILERISH. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED…..****

Belle took a few more bites of food to satisfy her love and then she got down to asking more questions.

"So where exactly did you end up?"

"I was brought to a land called Oz. It's a really bright and magical world but unfortunately for me, I was left without much magic left."

"Oz? Why there?" Belle asked.

Rumple sighed. "It's a long story my dear and one I am sure isn't completely finished yet."

"We have all the time in the world now. What brought you there?" she pressured him again for answers because she could tell he was holding back.

"Belle, why is it so important to know everything right now? Why can't we just enjoy each other's company? I want to hear more about what happened here in my absence."

Belle got off his lap and stood near his chair. "You're hiding something from me. I can tell. Why can't you just tell me? You said it's a long story and it's not finished yet. What is that supposed to mean?"

Rumple could tell she was getting angry and that was the last thing he wanted right now after he just reunited with her. He stood up as well, taking her hands in his. "Let's not fight. I'll tell you everything but you have to promise me you won't get too upset and you'll let me tell Bae on my own."

Belle nodded, waiting for him to begin his story. What could have possibly happened over there?

"A long time ago as you know, Regina's mother and I… we had a past. She was my student of sorts."

"Cora, yes I remember. What about her?" Belle asked.

"Not even Baelfire knows this and what I'm about to say he needs to hear from me when the time is right…"

"Rumplestiltskin please just tell me…" Belle pleaded with her eyes, fearing the worst.

"Cora and I had a child. Before Regina was born. No one knew about her except for Cora and I."

Belle shook her head, hardly understanding what he just said. She blinked a few times. "Wait, what? A child? A daughter?"

Rumple nodded. "Her name is Zelena and she is less than a year older than Regina. Cora signed a contract with me and promised me our first born child in exchange for me teaching her how to spin gold."

"Zelena? Where is she?" Belle was taken aback by the news. Rumplestiltskin had another child; a daughter.

"She is in Oz. She was banished from this kingdom upon her birth," Rumple answered her.

"Why was she banished? Couldn't Cora have convinced the prince she was his own?"

Rumple shook his head. "You see… being the Dark One had some… effects on the unborn child…she inherited some of my powers and her physical appearance was a bit altered…"

"Altered? How?" Belle asked.

"Well when she was born….her skin was a pale shade of green. In the coming days after her birth the green color got a bit darker. The midwife had no idea what was wrong with her and she believed the child to be cursed. As soon as the prince said this, he banned the child from the kingdom, denying her any sort of royal title and denouncing her as his daughter. Cora was obviously devastated and I quickly swooped in and took the child away. There was no way I could keep her myself and raise her so I sent her to another realm...another land… where she wouldn't be ridiculed and laughed at. In Oz there were so many unique beings and creatures that I was sure she would be able to fit in."

"She's green? And she has magical powers? What ended up happening to her there?"

"I checked into her as much as I could without raising any suspicions with my own family at home. Soon after Cora gave birth to her, she found herself with child again, with the prince's true heir, Regina. She asked me about her whenever she saw me. I didn't know much about her, I couldn't go and visit her."

"Did you see her when you were in Oz?" Belle asked.

Rumple nodded his head. "Yes I did. She's….. much different than I expected. She wasn't exactly pleased to see me either…."

"What do you mean?"

"Belle… she held me captive when I arrived," Rumple confessed.

Belle's eyes widened. "What? You mean you weren't trying to get through to us this entire time? You were a prisoner? You lied to me!" she turned away from him, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I didn't want to upset you any more than you already were. I'm here now, that's all that matters," Rumple put a hand on her shoulder and felt her tense up.

"Why did she hold you prisoner? And why did she decide to let you go?" Belle asked.

Rumple was silent for a moment before speaking again. "She sees me as the one who banished her to this life of solitude I guess. She thinks I abandoned her. Her life wasn't as wonderful as I thought it was going to be. She was shunned in Oz just has she had been in this world. She held me for a while; during which time I explained to her I wasn't the real enemy here. I tried to protect her and give her a good life. She finally saw it that way after a few months but now I fear she's going to come looking for revenge…"

"Revenge from who? Both Cora and the King are dead."

"Her half-sister isn't…." Rumple replied.

"Regina doesn't even know she exists. Why would Zelena seek her revenge on her?"

"She sees Regina as robbing her of everything she was supposed to have. She knows the Prince was not her father but she still thinks she should have been Queen one day."

Belle shook her head. "That's not right. If anything she should have been upset with you for giving her that green skin."

"Believe me Belle, she was. And like I said, it took a lot of convincing. I am not out of the woods yet either."

"What do you mean? You just told me she was seeking revenge on Regina," Belle looked deep into his eyes and saw a flicker of fear.

"Because…. She has my dagger…."

"How did she end up with it?" Belle gasped. She knew anyone with it in their possession would be able to control Rumplestiltskin.

"Her wicked little winged monkeys flew off with it when I arrived and brought it right to her. She knew I was coming even before I did."

Belle walked away, to the window and looked out. "Baelfire will be back soon. You're going to have to explain all of this to him as well."

"Belle, don't be angry with me. Please. I need you," Rumple walked over to her, putting his arms around her waist.

"What if something happens? Something permanent this time? What if she makes you do something unspeakable?" Belle asked, dissolving into tears; covering her face in her hands.

"She let me come back to you. If she was planning on hurting me, she wouldn't have let me come home." He turned her around so he could wipe the tears from her eyes.

"But she still has the dagger, doesn't she?" Belle asked, raising her voice a bit.

"Who has the dagger?" Baelfire asked, walking into the main room just then.

Belle breathed deeply and started to walk away. "You two have a lot to talk about, I'll just leave you to it."

"Belle, stop. I want you to stay. I need you to stay here."

"Papa what is going on" Baelfire asked.

"Bae I have something to tell you and I am not entirely sure how you'll take it," Rumple started.

Belle kept on walking; she didn't want to hear any more. Just when she was starting to think everything was going to be alright and back to normal and in a heartbeat; all the fear came rushing back.

She headed out into the garden and sat down amongst the rosebushes, staring absentmindedly at them. A short while later she heard someone coming, and figured it was Rumple coming to look for her.

She was surprised when she looked up and saw Baelfire. "Everything ok?" she asked him.

He came to sit down next to her. "Not entirely… he just told me I have a crazy green sister whose hell bent on revenge and also is in possession of the dagger that controls him. I'd say everything is not ok."

"He didn't want to tell me at first but I made him. Now I kind of wish I didn't know anything," Belle responded.

"Just wait until Regina finds out…."

"Where is she anyway? Has anyone seen her?" Belle asked.

Baelfire shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of. But someone is going to have to warn her and I think it should be us."

"Us?" Belle asked.

"She's least likely to try and kill us. If Papa goes, it could get ugly. She's probably not going to just be happy to hear she has an older sister."

Belle heard someone else approaching and she looked up to see Rumple. "Bae, Belle, there you two are. I'm sorry, truly I am. I never thought anything like this would ever happen."

"But it has Papa. You could have at least had the decency to tell us about her. And now we have to go and warn Regina," Baelfire responded.

"I'll go with you. We can leave in the morning," Rumple insisted.