Snow didn't know how many accidents that she nearly got into as she raced to the hospital where the ambulance had taken Henry but she was certain that she'd turn part of her own bumper off on the way.
Everything was chaos when she arrived. Snow raced through the glass doors that separated the hospital from the world. There was a crowd already bent over Henry. Snow stood on her tiptoes and she gave a sigh of relief when she saw the blonde curls of her daughter.
"His airway's clear. Did he vomit? Any convulsion or disorientation?" Whale asked.
"He took a bite of this, and then he just collapsed," Emma held up some sort of food that she'd put in a plastic baggy, "So, run the test for arsenic, or bleach, or Drano, or whatever could've done this to him!"
"The boy is showing no symptoms that would suggest neurotoxins. So, whatever's going on, this is not the culprit," Whale snapped.
Snow put her hand over her mouth in horror as the weight of the situation came down on her. This wasn't just any normal poison, this was a sleeping spell.
But how did Regina get a sleeping spell in a land without magic?
"Well, what else could it be?" Emma demanded
"I don't know," He moved around her, "That's what I'm trying to find out."
"He's going to be okay, though, right?" Snow asked.
"Right now, we just need to stabilize him, cause he's slipping away," Whale told them and Snow let out a gasp of fear, "Is there anything else that you can remember? Any little detail?"
"I already told you everything. Do something!" Emma snapped and walked over to his backpack.
"Look," Whale screamed over his shoulder, "I understand you're frustrated, Miss Swan, I do. But I need something to treat. And, right now, there is no explanation. It's like…"
Snow walked over and helped Emma dump out his things on the table. The book fell with a loud thud.
"Like magic," Emma whispered and picked up the book. Snow watched as Emma jerked as if she'd been shocked.
"Emma?" Snow asked, "Are you alright?"
Emma looked at Snow in something like awe and terror.
Behind Emma, the door opened. Snow looked up as Regina rushed towards the bed.
"Where's my son?"
Emma's eyes immediately darkened and she looked furious, "You did this."
Snow watched as Emma stormed over to Regina, grabbed her, and dragged her to the nearby closet. She heard something slam like one of them had been thrown into something.
God, they didn't have time for this, they needed to save Henry.
She started to go over to open the door but a better thought occurred to her.
Rumpelstiltskin. He liked Henry and Snow never recalled him making children suffer, surely he could help.
She grabbed her coat and rushed out of the room and onto the street. She could make it to Rumpelstiltskin's faster if she took the jeep. That way if she needed to bring him, she could.
He created the curse; he helped take her daughter away from her for his own agenda. He at least owed her this.
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David found her as she was unlocking her car, "Hey."
Snow cringed, "Now's not the time, David."
He put his hand on hers, "I was wrong. About you, about me, about… Everything. I didn't believe in you, and I wish I had a good reason why. But, it's like I keep making these wrong decisions, and I don't understand why they keep happening. You know, ever since I woke up from that coma, my life hasn't made a lick of sense. Except for you… And what I'm feeling? It's love, Mary Margaret."
This really wasn't the time, "David, why are you here?"
"Because Kathryn put a down payment on an apartment in Boston. She's not going to use it, but I am. Unless, you give me a reason to stay."
She couldn't even think about this, she needed to save her grandson.
But if he left…if he went to the border then something would happen to him and if that came to pass, she'd never see him again, "David… I don't want you to go."
He burst into a smile, "Really?"
"But I can't talk about this now, I have to go," she climbed in the jeep.
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Rumpelstiltskin was wiping down the counter when Snow walked in. He gave her a careful look and then went about working, "So, you've finally decided to forgive me?"
"Where did Regina get that sleeping curse?" Snow demanded.
He looked up, "Not from me."
It felt like a punch to the gut, "You knew?"
"Just recently. Know that I had no part in it. Fear not, Snow. Your grandson will kiss his mother, and wake her up and the curse will be broken. IT's only a matter of time now."
"No, no, no it's not," she glared at him, "Because Henry ate it."
Rumpelstiltskin blinked. She watched as the terror spread across his face, "What? '
"He ate it, and now he's not waking up," She leaned forward, "You need to make this right,"
"I had nothing to do with this."
"I don't believe you! How can I? After how you controlled my life and how you controlled Emma's to do what you wanted…."
"Funny how you forgot Regina was a part of that too."
"I don't forget, I'm reminded every moment!"
"And yet you forgive her before me," he sneered.
"Your betrayal is worse," Snow snapped, "I knew for years that she betrayed me and would continue doing so but you…I trusted you. We were working together, we were friends!"
He blinked "Friends?"
Snow ran her hand through her hair, "That's not the point! My daughter would've taken the sleeping curse and you knew and didn't tell me!"
"Would you have answered the phone if I had?"
Snow blinked, "I've been listening to your messages."
"How was I to know that?"
"You could've taken the risk."
"If I took that risk then you would've stopped Emma and we'd have lost yet another opportunity to break the curse."
"Yes, and in doing so, I would've kept Henry from eating it too," she snapped.
He looked solemn and he nodded, "Yes, that's true."
They heard a car driving up. Snow looked over to see that it was the yellow bug.
"Go out the back."
"No, I'm not leaving."
"If your daughter knows that you've been awake this whole time then she'll never forgive you," he told her, "Go out the back and see to the boy while they're gone from the hospital."
Snow hesitated just for a second and then slipped through the curtain even before Emma and Regina got out of the car.
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Rumpelstiltskin made sure that he looked inconspicuous when Emma and Regina came in.
He wasn't sure if Snow knew yet but he could tell immediately from the careful but angry look that Emma gave him that she now believed.
He gave that small grin that he knew infuriated Regina most of all, "Do my eyes deceive me, or is that the look of a believer?"
Emma walked right up to him. There was no fear in her eyes like there was for everyone else when they knew who he was, "We need your help."
"Indeed, you do. It seems quite the tragic ailment has befallen our young friend. I told you, magic comes with a price."
"Henry shouldn't have to pay it," Regina said.
"No, you should," he snapped, "but alas, we are where we are."
"Can you help us?" Emma asked
"Of course. True love, Miss Swan… The only magic powerful enough to transcend realms and break any curse," he smiled a bit. He'd only came up with the plan when he was talking with Snow. He'd been looking for a way to get Emma down to those mines for a while now and this was a good opportunity. She'd get the magic and he'd be able to weaken the curse considerably if Emma failed, "Luckily for you, I happen to have bottled some."
Emma's eyes widened, "You did?"
"Oh, yes," he said and gave a far off smile; it all seemed so long ago, "From strands of your parents' hair, I made the most powerful potion in all the realms. So powerful, that when I created the dark curse, I placed a single drop on the parchment. Just a little safety valve."
Emma looked stunned. She braced herself against the desk, "That's why I'm the savior. That's why I can break the curse."
"Now you're getting it."
"I don't care about breaking the curse," Emma snapped, "All I care about is saving Henry."
"Which is why it's your lucky day. I didn't use all the potion. I saved some… For a rainy day."
"Well, it's storming like a-," Emma said something unprincesslike; the heathen, "Where is it?"
"Where it is isn't the problem," he told them both, "Getting it is what should worry you."
"Enough riddles," Regina snapped, "What do we do?"
He gave Regina an annoyed look, "You do nothing. It has to be Miss Swan."
"He's my son. It should be me."
As far as Rumpelstiltskin was concerned, Regina should have lost her custody rights a long time ago for what she put that poor boy through, "All due respect, but it's her son. And it has to be her. She's the product of the magic. She must be the one to find it."
"I can do it," Emma nodded.
Regina looked at Emma, "Don't trust him."
"What choice do we have?" Emma demanded.
"That's right, dearie," he gave Regina a smirk, "What choice do you have?"
"Where is this magic?" Emma asked.
By way of answering, Rumpelstiltskin looked at the sorceress, "Tell me, Your Majesty, is our friend still in the basement?"
Horror dawned on Regina's face, "Oh, you twisted little imp. You hid it with her?"
"Oh, no, no. Not with her," he paused for dramatic effect, "In her. I knew you couldn't resist bringing her over."
"Who is 'her'?" Emma asked.
"Someone you should be prepared for," he told Emma, "Where you're going, you're going to need this."
He ran the dust rag over the box that he'd dragged out when Regina revealed her bringing the sleeping curse. He opened it and Emma looked horrified
(He opens a long box on the counter, revealing a sword and a scabbard.)
"What is that?"
IT was sort of obvious, but he didn't say anything insulting to the poor child, she was already going through enough, "Your father's sword."
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Snow was sitting by Henry's side until Emma had come back and asked to speak with him for a few moments. Snow embraced her daughter and left the room where Regina was standing.
They stood tensely there for a few minutes before Snow drew a breath, "What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure you'd understand."
"Why does she have a sword?" Snow demanded.
"Once again, not something your little mind could comprehend."
Snow shot her an angry look, "You better bring her back."
Regina scoffed, "Or what?"
"Or I'll make sure the next execution sticks," Snow hissed.
Regina looked up and horror crossed her face, "You're awake?"
Snow held her gaze, "You tried to kill my daughter. You don't come back with her in one piece then don't come back at all.
Regina's gaze darkened. She looked over at the door as Emma was leaving the room and went inside.
Emma stopped when she saw Snow and drew in a breath, "Stay with him."
"I will."
Emma nodded, "Thank you. If I don't…come back."
'You will-."
"I don't know what I'm headed into," Emma said and Snow heard her voice was shaking, "Please watch him….make sure he gets through this."
"I will," Snow whispered.
Emma wrapped her arms around Snow's neck.
"I love you, Emma," Snow whispered.
Emma didn't say anything, she just clung tighter, "Read him his book, he likes that."
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Snow didn't know where her daughter was doing but with a sword in hand, Snow knew that Emma wasn't headed anywhere good. She was scared, she didn't think she'd come back.
Snow should have told her. She should have told her about her identity but she hadn't wanted to put that on Emma's mind just as she was about to do what was needed to. Snow knew it was right but she couldn't focus. She tried distracting herself as she read to Henry but she had been on the same page for an hour. She forced herself to stop looking at the clock and focused on the book in front of her, "And, yes, she was beyond hope. Beyond saving. This was her end. When Prince Charming saw his beloved Snow White in her glass coffin, he knew all that was left was to say goodbye. He had to give her one last kiss. And when he did, true love proved more powerful than any curse. A pulse of pure love shuddered out and engulfed the land, waking up Snow White and bringing light to the darkness."
Her voice cracked and she closed the book and drew a breath, "Henry… When I- when Mary gave you this book, it was because she knew… she knows life doesn't always have a happy end. But she thought…"
The machines interrupted her. Snow felt panic as she stared at the flickering lines and she started sobbing, "What is it? Dr. Whale?"
They rushed all around her. No, she was supposed to watch him and protect him for when Emma came back! "Dr. Whale, what is that? What… What… what's wrong?"
"Nurse, get her out of here now!" Whale snapped.
Snow struggled against the nurse. She needed to leave, to go find Emma, but she'd promised that she'd stay, "What is it? What is it?"
"His heart rate's falling. Come on, Henry."
Snow watched from the other side of the glass door as they started CPR.
No, no, no, no.
Snow tried her cell for her daughter but there was no answer. She looked behind her for any sign of them coming.
For a second, she thought she saw Jefferson walking to that door that's always locked and punched in a few keys. She squinted but then he was already inside.
No, it couldn't be him.
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Rumpelstiltskin had waited an hour before he followed them to the library. The mines were deep; it would take them about that long to get down there anyway.
It hadn't been hard to slip in through the door. Regina was distracted and waiting at the entrance to the elevator. As he got closer, he heard her muttering under her breath and giving him a few choice words.
He slammed her upside the head with the cane and she crumbled. He struggled with her dead weight and sat her upright in the chair. He shoved the tape over her mouth (About time someone did) and made sure she couldn't move.
It was about another hour (Full of muffled curses by Regina when she woke up) before he heard the creaks and moans of the elevator as it rose towards them. He peeked through the open door and waited until the distance was about right before he turned the lever to stop it.
"Regina! What was that? Regina!"
Rumpelstiltskin appeared on the edge and looked down at her. She looked like a caged trapped animal in that thing. He gave a grin when he saw it, "Miss Swan? You got it?"
Emma started to climb, "Mr. Gold. What are you doing here?"
"I've come to check on you. I'm glad I did. Regina abandoned you and sabotaged the elevator."
"What? I'm coming up."
Uh oh, she'd see Regina if that was the case, "Now, there's… There's no time for this. You can't possibly scale the wall and carry that."
"Yeah?" Emma took it as a challenge immediately, "Well, I can try."
As amusing as that would be, there was little time. He had sent her down there to get magic and so he could force her to stall until Henry was in his last few moments because he knew that if she had no hope then that would be the only time he could illicit the emotion needed to break the curse. It was cruel and he was aware of that, but Emma needed to come to terms with her motherhood and breaking the curse, "No, you can't. Just toss it up. Your boy's going to be fine. I promise. We're running out of time. Toss it up."
He saw the doubt in Emma's mind, "You hold on to it. I'll be right up."
She tossed him the egg and he caught it easily. He stared at it and smiled. He had it! He had magic in his hands. She'd done it.
He turned and walked away. He ignored her panicked calls behind him
He had to bring magic back.
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Rumpelstiltskin was so close now, so close to finding his boy and he wasn't going to let anything stop it now. He'd bring magic back and he'd have his strengths to take care of Bae when he came back.
He lifted up the potion and stared at it. Yes, there should be enough to bring magic back. None of it had been lost over the years, that was good. He'd been worried.
He shoved the vial in his pocket and searched around for his keys. Magic was coming back, people would want magical items. He had to at least lock up and pray they didn't break the glass.
"Um, excuse me? Are you Mr. Gold?"
He sighed. He should have thought to lock that door. Now people were coming in and bothering him. And who didn't know who he was? "Yes, I am. But I'm afraid the shop's closed…"
He turned to look at the intruder and froze when he saw her.
Belle.
Looking at her face, it felt like he'd been punched in the face and had his entire body ripped apart at the same time. She was standing across from him-
No, this was a trick. Another illusion, another dream, another nightmare…
"I was, uh… I was told to… To find you and… Tell you that Regina locked me up. Does… Does that mean anything to you?"
She wasn't real. She couldn't be. But he reached out and grasped her shoulder anyway. She didn't disappear like she did when he dreamt about her, "You're real. You're alive."
Belle looked cautious and he studied her face. He just realized that she'd been talking about Regina, "She did this to you?"
"I was told you'd protect me."
And someone needing him to protect them was precisely what he needed to hear. To hear her say it just…he crumbled and wrapped his arms around her, "Oh, yes. Yes, I'll protect you."
He felt her go completely tense and he realized that she didn't know him. Of course he should have realized but he was just so…so many thoughts were going through his head, "Um, I'm sorry. Do… Do I know you?"
It hurt him even as she said it, "No. But you will."
He couldn't let this distract him though. He needed to bring magic.
He took Belle's hand gently, "Come with me."
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Snow looked everywhere she could think of and she couldn't find Emma. She looked at the Inn for any sign of her, she looked at the house, she looked at Jefferson's house and she even went back to the shop.
No one was there. Everyone was gone.
She needed to find her daughter. She needed to let her know…she wanted to let her know about her son but it was morning now…and Emma would probably already know.
It occurred to her now that she was just walking around in a daze.
They'd lost. She made a big gamble and she lost.
IT served her right, playing this little game with innocent lives. She'd told herself that it was for the best but she'd been wrong. All actions had consequences and hers had led to Henry getting hurt or possibly killed.
How did she make this right with Emma? How did she beg her forgiveness?
"SNOW!"
Snow stopped when she heard the voice. She'd heard Rumpelstiltskin use her name so much that she was used to it but when she heard that familiar voice scream it …so passionately she stopped
There was something different about David Nolan. He was walking straighter. His shoulders weren't as hunched or tense. His eyes were clear. He was grinning at her. And not the way that David grinned, the way Charming grinned.
It was him.
"Charming," she breathed.
The curse was broken. But how?
She raced forward into his arms and stared into those clear blue eyes that held pure unadulterated love. She took his beautiful face in her hands, "You found me."
He gave her a gently smile, "Did you ever doubt I would?"
Snow grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss that she never wanted to pull away from.
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Rumpelstiltskin didn't want to bring Belle out here with him but he wanted her with him at all times now. He was terrified that if he lost sight of her then the moment would be ruined and he'd somehow lose her. Like she wouldn't be real anymore.
"Wait."
"No, no, we're very close," He told her.
"Rumpelstiltskin, wait," she called.
He stopped at his name he turned around.
Emma had done it. She broke the curse and Belle remembered.
He'd betrayed her in the worst way possible. He had left her…he had abandoned her because he believed that life could never give him as good a person as Belle. He turned to face his punishment.
She gave him such a happy smile as she walked forward, "I-I remember. I… I love you."
And that was it. Someone loved him. Someone loved him purely for him. She didn't need false memories to love him, no one told her to love him. She just did.
He wrapped his arms around her. She held him in her own suffocating hug.
"Yes. Yes. And I love you, too," he pulled away and touched her face, "But, hey… There'll be time for that. There'll be time for everything. But first… There's something I must do."
He led her to the well that he had been guiding her to. He could have it all. He could have everything still.
"What is this?" Belle asked.
He pulled her beside him, "This is a very special place, Belle. The waters that run below are said to have the power to return that which one has lost."
She stayed beside him as they both leaned over the well. He took out the vial and let it fall. A draft from the well blew his hair back and he quickly moved Belle backwards and away from the purple cloud that rose from the well and spread at their feet.
"I-I don't understand," Belle looked at him.
"We're in a land without magic, Belle," he couldn't look at her; he was too busy focusing on the power around him. He could feel it now…like electricity, "And I'm bringing it. Magic… Is coming."
He felt Belle tense, "Why?"
"Why?" he laughed and looked at her. Didn't she know by now? "Because magic… Is power."
He could truly have everything.
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Snow clutched Charming's jacket as the purple cloud poured towards him. Snow gasped as it blanketed everything in the street. Snow rushed against Charming's chest. He wrapped his arms around her. Snow gave a final look at the cloud rushing towards them and buried her face in her husband's neck.
And the cloud consumed them.