"Tomorrow then. Well I am going to go for a walk, sort through all of this. I'll see you two later," Baelfire replied, walking back inside the castle.
"He's not very happy with me right now," Rumple said, sitting down beside Belle.
"Do you blame him? He just found out he has an older sister and one who isn't the nicest of people. Rumple, what if she does something to him or to you or me? Or even Regina? There has been too much pain and terrible things happening and I for one can't take any more sadness," Belle turned to look at him.
Rumple took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze. "I don't know what she's up to but now that we're all back here, something tells me we won't have long to find out." He could see the worry in Belle's eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to you or to me. I never stopped thinking about you. You are what kept me going. There is nothing in this world or another that will pull us apart again. I promise."
Belle looked at him and smiled, leaning in to kiss his lips. "I still can't believe you're back. It feels like a dream."
Rumple held her in the kiss before slowly pulling back. "Did that feel like a dream?" he asked.
"Come true," she answered with a smile.
"Let's go back inside, it's getting late." Rumple stood up and extended his hand and she placed hers in his and they walked back into the castle hand in hand.
Ruby and Snow were in the main room when they returned. "What is wrong with your son?" Snow asked Rumple.
"What do you mean?" he asked, trying to play dumb.
"He stormed out of here saying he needed to think and wouldn't even answer us when we called after him. What happened?" Ruby asked.
"They deserve to know Rumple. This could affect them too," Belle told him.
"Yes, you're right. Well, I wasn't exactly forthcoming with my whereabouts these past few months and why I was stuck there…" he began,
By the end of the story Ruby and Snow's eyes were wide with surprise and unease. "So you're saying she's going to come here?" Snow asked.
"I don't know. I really don't. I know she was going to seek out Regina but where and when I would have no knowledge of."
"But you were her prisoner for months and you never heard talk or anything?" Ruby asked.
"I wasn't exactly kept close to her private quarters. Not for a while anyways, so no, I didn't hear anything," Rumpled answered.
"We have to warn Regina then. It's the only right thing to do. We just have no idea where she is," Snow replied.
"We had the same idea, Baelfire and I. We were going to leave in the morning with Rumple to seek her out and warn her," Belle chimed in.
Ruby nodded her head. "Count me in too."
Snow smiled. "I'm in and that will mean Charming will be too. Regina may not be my most favorite person in the world but even she deserves a warning."
"Then it's settled. We'll leave first thing in the morning. Might I suggest we all get some sleep though to prepare for the journey?" Rumple said. "You are all more than welcome to stay here of course. I have plenty of rooms."
"Someone should wait up and make sure Baelfire gets back," Belle suggested.
Ruby raised her hand. "I'll do that. I'm not really tired now anyways."
"I'll keep you company until Charming comes back," Snow spoke.
"I'll stay as well," Belle replied.
Snow gave her a sly smile. "No, why don't you go off to bed. It's been a very busy day and I am sure the next ones coming up will be even crazier."
"You heard the woman," Rumple whispered to her and Belle blushed but took his hand as they headed to his room.
He opened the door and stopped before entering. "It has been a very long time since I've set foot in here. I wasn't exactly sure I ever would again."
"I spent way too much time in here," Belle replied, walking in first.
"We can find a different room if you like? I'm sure we have plenty to spare," he reminded her.
"This will do for tonight Rumple. Just knowing you're next to me all night is all I need," she walked towards the bed and pulled back the covers and climbed in and over to her usual side in the bed.
Rumple followed suit and climbed in beside her, immediately wrapping his arms around her. "I have been dreaming of doing this every single night I was away from you. You are what kept me going. I knew I couldn't give up."
Belle snuggled up closer to him, breathing him in. He was here, he was really here. She closed her eyes, sighing deeply. And then the dream began.
"I'm going to take away your happy ending… if I don't get one, neither do you," the wicked witch cackled, thrusting a knife threw Rumple's chest.
"NO!" Belle cried out rushing over to him. "No! Rumple!"
"Nooo! Rumple! No!" Belle cried out loudly in her sleep.
Rumple awoke with a start, sitting up in bed and gently shaking her. "Belle, Belle, wake up. It's just a nightmare."
Belle sat up with a start and let out a terrified scream, visibly shaking and sweat covering her forehead. She was disoriented for a few moments and blinked her eyes several times. When Rumple put his arms around her she jumped a bit.
"Shhhh… shh… its only me. I'm here. A bad dream?" he asked, in a low soothing voice.
"Belle nodded her head. "Yes. I wish they would just stop. I've been having a lot ever since we returned."
Rumple tightened his grip around her and kissed her forehead. "I am right here, as always. Right….here," he said as his eyes adjusted. "But where is that exactly?"
"Rumple? What is it?" Belle asked and then her eyes had adjusted as well and she gasped. "Where are we? This is….your room… in Storybrooke…"
"This can't be. I don't remember anything except falling asleep with you in my arms. This morning we were to find Regina and warn her about Zelena."
Belle got out of bed with a start. The sun was slowly starting to rise, lighting up the room a bit at a time. She walked over to the window and looked out and sure enough, she saw the familiar alleyway. They were back in Storybrooke there was no mistaking that now.
Belle looked down at her dress, or what should have been the dress she had fallen asleep in but she found herself in pale blue pajamas and something was not right. She walked over to the mirror to get a better view. The pajama top felt much tighter on her than her other dress had. It made absolutely no sense considering she hadn't been eating much and had lost a considerable amount of weight.
"Rumple, something isn't right. Something is off. What is this?" she asked, turning to one side and then the other.
Rumple rushed out of bed, switching on the nearest light. He shielded his eyes for a moment as they adjusted to the brightness and then took a good look at his love.
Something was definitely different about her but he couldn't place it at first until her hands settled on the small but noticeable bump on her abdomen. She touched it once and removed her hands so quickly it was if it had burned her. She slowly put her hands back on it, rubbing it slightly and turning this way and that in the mirror to view all the angles. "Where did this come from?" she asked.
Rumple's eyes grew wide in a panicked state. "What is it?"
Belle turned to look at herself in the mirror, her hand rubbing the bump. "I think…..it's a baby."
"How is that even possible? Belle, we went to sleep in my castle last night. I can remember it clear as day. You and I were only together for that one night in three months. What is this?" his voice got a bit louder.
"What is what? Rumple I don't know what you're implying but I can assure you my state of losing you pretty much kept me isolated from the rest of the entire world. So whatever you're thinking you better stop and rethink it. If this is what I think it is, it's yours. Plain and simple."
Rumple walked over to her and placed his hand over hers cautiously. "Of course Belle, of course. I didn't mean… what I meant was… I just don't understand. How are we back here? How could 'this' happen overnight?" he said, gesturing to her stomach.
"Let me get dressed and we'll go outside. Maybe there are others," Belle replied. She went to her dresser which had always been hers in Storybrooke and took out a purple dress. She quickly changed into it and looked at her new figure in the mirror. "I don't understand this…"
"Come on, maybe someone can explain," Rumple said taking her hand and leading her outside.
As it turned out, they weren't the only ones who had arrived back in Storybrooke or the only ones awake and realizing it.
"Belle! Belle!" a familiar voice cried out. Belle saw Snow rushing towards her but she could tell something was much different about her too.
"You too?" Snow asked when she had reached her, touching her stomach lightly and then her own, slightly bigger bump.
"You're…pregnant… too?" Belle asked. "Is that what this is?"
"It would appear that way. I just don't know how. The last thing I remember is going to bed with Charming last night in Rumple's castle. And then I woke up in our apartment with this," she said, motioning to her stomach.
"Same with us. I fell asleep and woke up when I had a nightmare only we were here in Storybrooke. What is going on?" Belle asked.
"I wish I knew, I wish I knew," Rumple answered, not looking at her but looking at the commotion going on in the street as more and more fairytale characters made their way outside.
Ruby and Granny came out of the diner, dazed and confused until they spotted the group. "What the hell are we doing back here?" Ruby questioned loudly. She did a once over of Belle and Snow and her eyes widened as she took a few steps backwards. "And what happened to you two?"
Snow shrugged her shoulders. "We don't know. The only thing anyone remembers is going to sleep last night. When I woke up I was next to Charming back in our apartment and as you can see, I woke up in a much different state."
"But how is that possible overnight?" Ruby asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Archie asked as well. Each person turned to look at him. "A year has passed, at least. There's not logical explanation for any of this happening overnight."
"It's another curse!" cried out a voice from the crowd and murmurs started to arise from the others gathered around.
"Where is Regina? Did she do this?" someone asked aloud.
"I'm right here," Regina called out, coming up from behind everyone. "And no, I didn't do this. I'm just as shocked as you all are. I fell asleep in my castle and woke up at my house in Storybrooke. If this is a curse, it wasn't me."
"Then who was it?" someone asked. "Why are we back here?"
"Maybe my father can enlighten you all and tell you exactly what is going on." Belle turned to see Baelfire or Neal as he was known in this world, walking up to them.
Everyone immediately looked to Rumplestiltskin for answers. "What is this Gold? You better tell us now!"
"I don't know. I have no idea what this is. I woke up just as confused as everyone else. Bae, what are you getting at?" Rumple looked to his son.
Neal spoke one name and it was enough to send chills down Belle's spine.
"Zelena."
"Who or what in the world is Zelena?" Regina asked, she finally made it through the crowd and stood near Snow and Charming, staring at Rumple.
"Maybe we should go and speak somewhere more privately," Rumple answered.
"What is going on? Whatever it is, the rest of these people want answers too so spill it Rumplestiltskin," Regina replied.
"First you have to promise you'll remain calm about this. We had planned to tell you about this when we woke up this morning but as you can see, that is no longer an option."
"Just spill it," Regina pursed her lips. "Whatever it is, I'll try and refrain from killing you. Is that good enough?"
Belle frowned at her and stood in front of Rumple. "You'll have to get through me first," she replied becoming very protective over him.
"Relax preggo, I won't harm him. I'm much more civilized now. Those 3 months on my own really gave me some time to think. Now, get on with it," Regina returned her focus to Rumple.
"As you know, your mother and I had a bit of a relationship before she married your father. She had promised to come away with me and we had a contract that I would get our first born child. However, she went back on that promise or so I originally thought. Regina, you have a sister," Rumple got right down to it.
"A sister? That's impossible. I'm an only child. My mother never told me otherwise and I think she would have mentioned that."
"A half-sister, actually," Rumple explained. "She's just over 10 months older than you. Her name is Zelena and she is my daughter."
Regina didn't say anything for over a minute, letting the thought process in her head. She was also trying to think back if she had any clue or notion of this ever. Had her mother ever mentioned something? Had she ever overheard her say anything? She was drawing a blank.
"I don't know how that's possible. Why wouldn't she say anything about her?" Regina asked.
"Your sister wasn't born exactly…as normal as you were. Her appearance was different and so when she was born it was thought she was cursed. Your father banished her and refused to accept her as his child. He told Cora to get rid of her and she came to me in the middle of the night with the baby and told me to find a place for her. She also told me never to speak of her again. And your mother never acknowledged her after that moment, she never even asked about her. And she became pregnant again, with you, and we never spoke about Zelena."
"What did you do with her? And what does she have to do with us being back here?" Regina asked.
"I couldn't very well bring her home with me, not with Bae around. I didn't want him to know. I cast a spell to take her to another realm, a place called Oz. I thought there she might have the life she never would here," Rumple explained.
"You still haven't said why she is the reason we're all back in Storybrooke," Regina spoke, getting a bit annoyed.
"When I stabbed myself here, I was not killed. I put an enchantment on my dagger that I was not sure would work. It did, but it sent me to her world, Oz. Almost immediately my dagger was taken by her winged monsters and I was taken prisoner. She knew somehow I was coming. I think she might have my ability for seeing into the future. It took several weeks to convince her that I wasn't the enemy. I didn't abandon her on purpose; it was the prince who did that. He had shunned her and her mother had told me to get rid of her. Eventually she saw I was not a threat nor was I really to blame. But she sees you as such. She thinks you stole everything she should have had. She should have been Queen regardless if she was the child of Henry and Cora or not."
"She's also green and hell bent on getting revenge against you. He left that part out," Neal interrupted.
"So she's behind us being here? She wiped all of our memories? Well where is she? We might as well get this over with," Regina replied.
"I don't know of her whereabouts but I can only assume she was behind this newest curse. I do not know when or where she will show up but for now I think we need to take care of more pressing matters, like trying to figure out how much time has passed and what exactly happened. Do you have a spell for that?" Rumple asked.
"I would have to look into it. This is like nothing I have ever seen before. I would think you might know more than me when it comes to this?"
Rumple shook his head. "I don't but I can do some research into it as well. For now we should all just be on the alert and try to get back to a normal life."
"Without knowing what happened in the last year, how are we to just go back to normal?" Regina asked, turning around and walking away, heading to her vault to try and figure everything out.