"What do we do now?" Belle asked, walking up to him.
Rumple shrugged his shoulders. He was usually the one with a plan or idea and he was completely stumped.
"May I suggest we head to the diner and maybe start to sort through this? Maybe if we think hard enough we will be able to remember something," Charming said, he had walked up with Snow, one hand intertwined with his own.
"It would be nice to get off my feet," Snow responded. "And out of the open. If Zelena is behind this, we don't know where she is and we're all quite vulnerable out here in the street."
Belle nodded in agreement and the group headed towards the diner, Ruby and Baelfire leading the way. Rumple held the door open, ushering everyone in and taking one last look around before coming inside as well.
Belle and Snow were seated together in a booth with Charming sitting opposite them. Rumple sat down next to him.
"So now what?" Ruby asked, walking over. She looked to Rumple and then David.
"If we knew where she was, that would be more helpful," Rumple replied.
"Looking for me, daddy dearest?" an unfamiliar voice asked, coming from the front of the diner. Everyone turned to look who was talking and that's when Rumple jumped to his feet.
In front of the door stood a tall, beautiful woman with flaming red hair and lipstick to match. She wore a sparkling green emerald brooch on her jacket.
"Is that her?" Belle asked aloud.
Rumple turned his attention briefly to Belle and back at the woman. "Yes, this is Zelena."
"But she's not….." Belle started.
"Green dear? No, I'm not. Quite the observation. It's called magic," Zelena responded in a cold tone.
"What do you want Zelena?" Rumple asked.
"I came by to congratulate you. It looks like I have a new sibling on the way," she answered, peering over at Belle who had her hands placed protectively over her bulging stomach.
Baelfire came to stand in front of the booth, protecting the women. ""Oh and there's my big brother. A little protective aren't we?"
"What is it you really want?" Rumple asked. "Are you behind this?"
"Behind what?"
"Don't play coy with me dearie. I'm still more powerful than you. Did you curse us and bring us here?" Rumple asked, raising his voice.
"Ohhh that. Well yes, I did. All part of my plan."
"What plan?" Regina asked, walking up to the two of them.
"Hello there sister, so lovely to see you too," Zelena responded.
"What is your plan exactly?" Regina asked, getting right down to business.
"I'm going to take everything away from you, starting from the very beginning when our mother chose you over me. I was her first born; I should have been the only child. Instead, she discarded me like trash and gave you everything."
"Everything? I wouldn't be so sure. Growing up with Cora as a mother wasn't exactly a picnic," Regina replied.
"You are the Queen aren't you? That should have been me!" Zelena cried out, rage growing in her eyes.
Regina took a few steps back. "You would never have been Queen, look at who your father was. And you had your chance…but the prince saw you as damaged goods."
Zelena threw up her hands, sending Regina into the bar stools to the left of her. Regina bounced back up, getting to her feet and standing in a defensive mode, a fireball in her hands. She realized though that some innocent person could get caught in it and immediately it disappeared. "Why don't we take this outside, sis."
"With pleasure," Zelena replied, heading out the door with Regina fast on her heels.
Rumple started off after them. "Rumple no. This is between them," Belle yelled. Snow got up so Belle could scoot out of the booth and walk over to him.
"Belle, stay here. I'm going out there."
"And what exactly do you think you can do? Zelena isn't after you. I don't want you getting hurt," Belle replied.
Rumple placed a hand on her cheek and smiled. "My darling Belle, I won't get hurt I promise. Zelena won't harm me. We made amends a while ago."
"But what if she changes her mind? I need you. We….we need you," she said gesturing to her stomach.
Rumple placed his free hand on her small bump. "I will always be here for the both of you. Always. Baelfire will stay here with you but I need to go out and try to reason with her. I love you."
"I love you too," Belle said and watched as he walked outside.
"Don't worry about Papa, he can handle anything," Baelfire said, approaching her.
"I know that should reassure me but I can't help worrying," Belle replied, looking out the diner window.
As Rumple walked towards the middle of the street he had to dodge a fireball here and there. Zelena threw a spell back at her and Regina blocked it as best she could before delivering another blow of her own.
"ENOUGH!" Rumple shouted, getting in between the two. As he raised his arms, both Zelena and Regina were lifted off the ground.
"Put me down Stiltskin or you'll be sorry," Regina growled.
"If this is a battle over who's got the most power, I think it's safe to say I win. Zelena, you need to stop this…right now."
"You think just because you're my father that you have any say over this….at all? Where were you my whole life?" Zelena asked. "Why didn't you keep me either?"
And then it was clear that really Zelena was still holding him liable for everything that had happened to her. He gently placed both women back on the ground but held up his arms in a warning to keep them from firing off any more spells.
"It killed me; it truly did, to send you away. Your mother came to me in the middle of the night with this tiny little green baby and it was proof she had been lying to me. Our child she told, this was our child. And she thrust you into my arms and said 'Get rid of it' and then she was gone. What was I supposed to do? I had Mila and I had Bae, I didn't want to ruin the life I had."
"Ruin….your life? So you just threw me into the cyclone and sent me away without a second thought?" Zelena asked.
Rumple was quite for a few moments. "I had many second thoughts about it, I truly did. But in the end what kind of father could I have been to you? Mila would have left me and taken my son with her. I wasn't around much when he was little, I didn't know anything about taking care of a baby…"
"Well it looks like you'll have to learn about that quickly," Zelena interjected. "I'd love to play catch up with you daddy but I really came here for one thing and I need finish what I started, so if you'll excuse me….." she rushed towards Regina, a hand on her throat as she lifted her into the air. With her other she turned it towards a building across the street and as the window glass shattered, a figure appeared to be floating towards them.
"Henry?!" Regina screamed when she saw the familiar face floating towards them.
"I told you I was going to take everything away from you and I think I'll start with your son…." Zelena said, releasing Regina so she could focus all her power on Henry.
"Noooo!" Regina cried, lifting her arms to throw a spell at her sister when a bright blue flash filled the street and blinded everyone for a few seconds.
Rumpled shielded his eyes, trying to keep an eye on Zelena but the light was too bright. A few moments later it started to dissipate and Regina rushed over to hug Henry and she gasped.
Where Zelena had been standing just a few moments ago now stood a very young girl with firey red hair, sucking on her thumb.
"What in the world?" Rumple was bewildered.
"You're welcome," a voice sounded, coming closer to them.
Regina and Rumple turned to see the Blue Fairy standing there. She walked up to the small girl and lifted her into her arms.
"Welcome for what?" Regina asked. "Who's she?"
"Zelena. Or rather toddler Zelena. She's just about two years old right now," the Blue Fairy answered.
"What did you do?" Regina asked.
"I helped you by turning Zelena helpless. I took her back to an innocent age before she was able to remember be abandoned, before she wanted revenge," the Blue Fairy explained.
"And she's no longer green," Rumple observed.
"I thought it was better this way, it will help her to be raised more normally and be accepted."
"But she's going to grow up eventually and be hell bent on revenge…." Regina spoke.
The Blue Fairy shook her head. "On the contrary. Zelena will grow up with new memories, ones I have created for her. She's still going to be quite powerful but with her father there to help her control her powers and concentrate them, she'll grow up to use her powers for good surrounded by those who love her."
"So what exactly does she remember then? Regina asked, eying the small child suspiciously.
"For starters, she knows Rumple as her father and Belle as her mother. Or she will in a few moments when I program that in. If you want her to know you as her sister Regina I can do that too. She'll have only memories of being with you and happy memories at that."
"Sister….no…. I don't think so… I still haven't gotten use to the fact Cora lied to me about her all my life. How about..." she paused, "Aunt Regina…."
"That will do just fine. Rumplestiltskin, will that be ok with you?" the Blue Fairy said, turning to face him.
"I really should talk to Belle first; can this wait for a few minutes? I don't want to just overwhelm her with this without warning, not in her current state."
The Blue Fairy smiled, "That will be fine. I'll be out here waiting when you're ready."
Rumple collected his thoughts and what he wanted to say as he headed back inside the diner. He was immediately surrounded by the townsfolk asking what had happened. "Belle," he called out. "Can you please come with me?"
Belle made her way through the crowd and Rumple reached for her hand. "Now I need you to be optimistic about this and please tell me if this will be ok…."
"What is it Rumple? What happened? Is Regina ok? Zelena?" Belle asked.
"Everyone is fine, in fact the Blue Fairy found a solution that I think will work perfectly but you have to be open minded. "
Belle looked as confused as ever as Rumple led her over to where the rest of the group was still standing. "Who is that?" she asked, gesturing to the small girl in the fairy's arms.
"That's Zelena," Rumple answered.
"I don't understand," Belle said, looking back at him. "That little girl is your daughter? What happened?"
Rumple took her aside and explained everything that had just happened and how life could be if she said this was ok.
"Our daughter? She would be yours and mine?" Belle asked.
"She would have those memories and she would grow up loved and wanted and she would never know what it was like to be shunned or abandoned. She'll have a whole new life with us."
"Is this what you want?" Belle asked him.
"I want it if you want it and you are ok with it. You are going to be a wonderful mother, I already know that. I might need some help and guidance but I have you by my side. Zelena was born with great power and so she will need a teacher to help her control it. Who better than her own father?"
"Then let's do it Rumple. I love you more than anything in this world and I know I can love Zelena as my own as well. And she'll be a big sister soon. And have Baelfire as a wonderful big brother and protector."
Rumple leaned in and kissed her lips before turning to the Blue Fairy and nodding. The Blue Fairy took out her wand and with a small flick of her wrist, waved it over the small girl in her arms. Pixie dust poured over her and then disappeared. The little girl rubbed her eyes and then spotted Rumple and Belle.
"Papa! Mama!" she cried out, reaching her chubby little arms out to them and Rumple's heart melted.
"Come here my sweet girl," he said, taking her from the fairy's arms and feeling Zelena's small but tight grip wrap around him as much as she could.
"I love you Papa," she said nuzzling her head against his.
"And I love you," he said, hugging her back tightly.
Belle looked on at this beautiful image and it made her smile. "And you have the best Papa in all of the world," she told her new daughter.
"And the best Mama. And baby sister," Zelena replied.
"Baby sister?" Belle asked. "You think so?"
"Maybe she has my ability to see into the future," Rumple suggested.
"Well now, then I think I'm in big trouble. Two girls, what will I do with two little girls?" Belle asked with a small smile on her face.
"What will you do? What will I do? I have no idea what to do with one daughter let alone two," Rumple said, a bit of worry in his words.
Belle put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Whatever happens, we will tackle this together."