Anna looked up at the ice wall. Even though she had spent 30 years frozen and had no desire to see ice again – a slight problem considering Kristoff's job – she had to admit that it was an awe-inspiring sight. Admittedly, it wasn't as impressive as some of the things she'd seen Elsa create, but it was still something. "Wow. That is a lot of ice," she commented, looking over at Emma and Elsa.

"And it's time for it to come down," Elsa said. Maybe today was the day she would finally be able to take down the ice wall her aunt had created. She raised her hands and brought the wall down. Ice fractals swirled around them before they disappeared completely.

Emma smiled as she viewed the world behind Storybrooke once again. The red line at the town line once again was visible. Though she frowned a bit, sensing magic across the line, she should have known that this wouldn't be easy.

"Okay. Now can we go home?" Anna asked as she skipped towards the line.

"Stop!" Emma called, grabbing her arm. "Don't take another step. That's the town line."

"Right," Anna nodded, turning back to look at Emma. "But I want to leave town. Didn't I just say that?"

"The wall may be down," Emma replied, and she approached the town line herself. "But I sense that some of Ingrid's magic remains," she added. She raised her hand and reached over to the line, where she felt a forcefield on the town's edge. It felt different than usual. "Yeah, leaving this town has never been simple. And Ingrid? She didn't change things. She wanted to be here alone, with you and me. She wanted to make Storybrooke her ice castle, and clearly, she wanted to protect it."

"So, how do we get home?" Anna asked with a frown. They needed to get back to Arendelle soon. Otherwise, there may not be a Kingdom for them to return to.

"Walking wouldn't get us there anyway," Elsa replied. "We're in a different realm."

"We need to find a portal. Or magic beans," Emma sighed. "Or something. Maybe the TARDIS?"

"Okay, now I'm lost," Kristoff commented, looking between the three women. "What's a TARDIS?"

"Something that may be able to get you home."

"Well then, let's go," Anna implored. "We have to hurry."

Elsa smiled indulgently at her sister. She had always been impatient when she wanted something. And she didn't blame her. She wanted to go home too. It had been too long since she was last in her castle. "There's no need to rush," she said, placing a hand on Anna's shoulder. "We need to be careful," she added. If they rushed this, there was no telling when they would get back. "Arendelle will still be there while we figure this out."

"It might not," Anna commented, drawing a concerned look from Elsa. Then, ignoring it, Anna spun around to face Kristoff. "Did we forget to tell her?"

"A lot of stuff was going on," Kristoff replied.

"Tell me what?" Elsa asked, her gaze flicking between the couple.

"Arendelle's been conquered," Anna said hesitantly. "By Hans and his 12 brothers," she added, watching as Elsa seemed to pale instantly.

"Emma, we need to go. Now." Elsa said, turning to look at her new friend.

"We'll do our best," Emma said with a weak smile.

Mr Gold summoned Hook back to the pawn shop, where he demanded the pirate tell him what had been happening with the guests from Arendelle. "They didn't leave," Hook said with a groan, feeling the pressure from his heart that Mr Gold had just squeezed. "The Snow Queen mucked up the border," he added by way of explanation. "Once you cross it, there's no coming back."

At his words, Mr Gold couldn't help but frown. Not that he was planning on returning to Storybrooke once he left, but Belle might want to. Not to mention the fly in the ointment, Elsa's sister, Anna. "If only the Snow Queen had succeeded," he sighed. "Everything would be much simpler."

"Yes. The perfect cover for your exit," Hook remarked dryly. "But everyone survived. Sorry for the inconvenience."

"What about our friends from Arendelle?" Mr Gold asked. He needed to know if they would be returning to their realm or staying in Storybrooke. The latter posed more of a problem than the former.

"It appears they are trying to find the Doctor as we speak," Hook replied. "He can use his TARDIS to transport them back to Arendelle."

"Well now, that is quite a solution," Mr Gold commented. The Doctor and the Professor could transport Elsa, Anna and Kristoff back to Arendelle while he stayed in Storybrooke and enacted his plan. They didn't need to know what he had been planning—just a slimmed-down version of the facts. "We can't have that Anna running around town. She talks too much, doesn't she?"

Hook frowned for a moment, wondering just what kind of history he had with the Princess of Arendelle before he realised what Mr Gold was hinting at. "She knows, doesn't she?" he asked. "She knows what you're doing. Cleaving yourself from the dagger so you can leave with your power," he added. "Emma told me that Belle confessed to knowing Anna."

"Still. That's quite the supposition," Mr Gold commented with his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why else would you care?" Hook asked. "Anna's a danger to you. You can't have your blissfully ignorant wife..."

"Lose her bliss or ignorance," Mr Gold interrupted, cutting him off. "Watch Anna. Make sure she comes nowhere near the shop."

"But if I had the choice..."

"Well, you don't," Mr Gold smiled. "Your usefulness was unexpectedly extended," he added. "But tonight, when the stars align with the stars in the Sorcerer's hat, I will finally do what I should have done so many years ago," he said with a malevolent smile. "I will crush your heart."

"And while I'm doing your dirty work, what will you do?" Hook asked.

"That's quite simple, dearie. I am going to prepare for what I need to do," Mr Gold answered. "And you need to prepare for what you're gonna do."

Marian lay on a bed in Regina's vault. Regina stood over her, as did Robin too. Now that the Snow Queen was dead, maybe that meant the magic she had used to curse magic was gone, too. But, on the other hand, Marian wasn't iced over anymore, which was a good sign.

Regina removed Marian's heart from a small box and gently held it in her hands. She took a deep breath before pushing it back into Marian's body. Marian gasped when the heart was back inside her, and her eyes opened. She sat up and looked at both Regina and Robin. Then, smiling, she stood up and hugged Robin.

Not long after, Regina left her vault. She didn't want to see Robin with Marian any longer. She still loved Robin, but while Robin and Marian were still married, she didn't want to be in the way. It was easier for her and Robin to stop seeing each other.

Regina sat at the counter of Granny's diner, looking at her cup of coffee when someone came in and sat beside her. She sighed. She wanted to be left alone. "Please. I'd rather be alone."

"I thought we should talk."

Regina looked up. It sounded like Marian. She turned around. It was. What was she doing here?

"Thank you for saving my life," Marian continued. "Twice."

"Forget about it."

"I can't because Robin can't. I see the way you two look at one another. And I understand. For me, it's only been a short time since I've been away. But for him, years have passed. His heart moved on. He's in love with you, Regina. And I think you're in love with him."

Regina sighed deeply. "Well, it doesn't matter. He's a man of honour. He made a vow to you, and he will keep it."

"I don't want him to be with me out of obligation. I want to be chosen. Suppose his heart leads him to me, fine. But if it does what I suspect and leads you, I will step out of the way." Marian got up from her seat at the counter and left the diner, leaving Regina to think about what had been said.

Belle looked at the suitcase she'd pulled down and wondered if it would be big enough. She didn't know just how long they'd be gone. Mr Gold hadn't given her any indication as to a time frame. As she heard the door to the shop open, she turned around to see Henry walking into the backroom.

"Hey, Grandma," he said as he approached her. "Are you taking a trip?"

"Oh, Rumple's taking me on our honeymoon," Belle replied with a small smile. "I just wish that I knew what he had planned."

"But the Snow Queen left a spell on the town line," Henry frowned. "Anyone who goes can't return. Didn't you hear?"

"No, I…I didn't," Belle commented. "But I'm sure he must have a way to remove it," she added as she noticed the slight frown on Henry's face. "Hey. What's wrong?"

Henry put his storybook onto the counter so that Belle could see it. "This book. It's got all of your stories in it. It started all this. And my mum … Lot of bad things happen to her in it."

Belle smiled over at Henry. "Well, that doesn't mean they'll always happen to her that way," she said. "I wouldn't worry. She's on a much better path now," she added, smiling as she recalled how far Regina had come since the curse had broken.

"Thanks, Grandma."

"Yeah, you know … Belle's good," Belle replied with a tight smile. She didn't feel comfortable being referred to as that. Not when she was still in her early thirties.

"Got it," Henry smiled.

"Okay, so I need another suitcase," Belle commented. "Help me look?"

Henry nodded as he pulled off his backpack and set it down. He looked around the room, trying to see if he could find one somewhere easy to reach. Then, realising that that wasn't likely, he climbed the step ladder in the corner.

"You know, if you head to New York, you have to go to the public library," Henry said as he walked over to it and climbed up, noticing the handle of a suitcase buried underneath a mass of items. "No offence, but it blows the one here away," he added as he reached for the suitcase handle. "It's got these lions outside of it."

Belle looked up at the sound of a loud crash. She couldn't help but let out a small smile as she realised what had happened when Henry had reached for the suitcase. "Are you okay?" she asked as she walked over to him.

"Sorry," he said as he climbed down. "Let me get those," he added as he crouched down and began looking at the objects. "Huh. He keeps some strange things in here," he said as he picked up an old teddy bear. He looked over at Belle, who was crouched opposite with a frown. "What's wrong? I can clean it up," he said as he began looking for the broom.

"No, no, no! It's okay. I got it," Belle smiled tightly, returning to herself as she picked up the gauntlet. "It's just, I...I didn't expect to see this here," she added. Though a few dark thoughts niggled at the back of her mind, Belle couldn't help but think that there might be some other explanation as to how the gauntlet was here that didn't mean Rumple had been lying to her.

Regina and Robin sat on a park bench, watching Marian and Roland feed the ducks. Regina smiled at the sight of the mother and son up ahead. "They look happy," she commented.

Robin nodded. "Having Marian back in his life means so much to Roland."

"I understand," Regina said with a nod. "At the end of the day, our children come first."

Robin turned to Regina. "Regina …" he began.

"She's his mother," Regina interrupted.

"I choose you."

Regina scoffed. She hadn't thought that Robin would choose her. Not while Marian was still around. "But … But Roland. What would this look like to him?"

"It's going to look like a messy, complicated situation, which it is. But if I went back to my life with Marian, I'd be living a lie. The best example I can set for my son is to live truthfully. To follow my heart. To you." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded paper. The other page 23. He unfolded it and showed the image to Regina.

Regina let out a laugh, but the two were interrupted by the cries of Roland.

"Papa! Papa!" the young boy called out. "Help! Help, Papa!"

Regina and Robin turned their heads, where they saw Marian lying on the ground. They raced over to them and saw Marian starting to frost over with ice again.

"I thought she was cured," Robin exclaimed.

"There must be some remnant of that spell still inside her," Regina explained. "Even by now, her heart should be infected."

Robin looked up at Regina. "So, there's no hope?"

Regina sighed. "There may be another way to save her. Now that the ice wall is down, she could leave Storybrooke. She can cross the town line and enter a world without magic. Without magic, the harm to her would end."

"So, let's get her to the town line."

"Robin, you need to know something. It's a one-way trip. There's a curse on the town line, and once you leave, that's it."

Robin stared blankly at Regina. "So, you're saying …."

"I'm saying that we can't just send Marian into an unknown world. Someone has to go with her." As much as it would pain her. "You and Roland. And once you do go … You can never come back."

Regina soon drove Robin, Roland and Marian to the town line (after letting them pack a few of their belongings). The three of them got out of the car. There, they were met by the Merry Men and began to say their goodbyes. However, Regina didn't get out of her vehicle. She stayed behind. She was upset that she still didn't get her happy ending. She thought she would have, but fate appeared to have other ideas. How could she have hope when fate was always against her?

The sound of the passenger seat door opening caused Regina to turn around. As she did so, she caught sight of Mr Gold sitting beside her.

"I hate goodbyes. Don't you?" Mr Gold asked. Goodbye was just another word for an ending. It was something that he had learnt from the Doctor.

Regina was silent for a moment and didn't look his way. "If you've come here to gloat, I'm not in the mood. What do you want?"

"Belle and I are taking a trip," Mr Gold replied. "I came to bid you farewell."

"Have you been under a rock all day?" Regina asked. "There's a curse on the town line. If you leave, you can never come back."

"Hence the goodbye," Mr Gold smiled. "But before I go, could you pass something on to my grandson?" he asked. "Tell Henry I'll miss him. And his charming attempts at snooping around my shop."

"You knew?" Regina commented with a tilt of her head.

"Oh, I knew," Mr Gold nodded. "Perhaps you could tell me why."

"He was looking for the impossible," Regina replied with a shrug. "My happy ending. The storybook has me written as a villain, and villains always lose, so he thought you might know who the author is, so I can make him change that."

"Intriguing idea," Mr Gold mused. "But, alas, I have no clue about his identity."

Regina studied him closely. Years of being trained by him had taught her how to spot when he was lying. However, this time she knew he was telling the truth. "I know. Villains don't get happy endings."

"It would appear in your case that that's true."

Regina was silent for a moment before looking over at Mr Gold. He had gotten his happy ending, though. He was married. And had friends who loved him. He had everything he ever wanted. "You and Belle seem … Content. How were you able to get one?"

"Because I took it," Mr Gold said with a shrug. "And quite frankly, you should stop moping and do the same thing. If this Marian died, all would be well, would it not?"

Regina shook her head. "No. That's no longer me." She didn't feed on the darkness inside of her anymore.

"Being good doesn't mean good things will happen."

"This sounds like the old Rumplestiltskin talking. I thought you changed."

But the voices inside Mr Gold's head had been chattering for a long time. Trying to steer him in the direction they wanted him to go until he realised they were right. Of course, that meant losing his son again, but he managed to avenge that. And Missy – or the Master – was now where he wanted her. Trapped with no way out. "More like evolved," Mr Gold corrected. He and the voices were one person – just like what any Dark One should be. "Coming back from the dead and being a slave to the Wicked Witch tends to do that to you." A torture that took a toll on him and one that he would make sure never happened again.

"But if you don't think villains can get happy endings," Mr Gold continued, "just watch me take one. There's no author of my fate. No Storybook with my destiny. I have been a villain a thousand times over, and yet I'm about to get everything I desire." He took Regina's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "As unbelievable as it sounds, I want the same for you." No matter how long it takes.

Mr Gold let go of Regina's hand and got out of the car before walking back towards the town.

Regina watched him walk off in the rear-view mirror and was silent while she let his words sink in. Maybe he was right. Perhaps she should let herself take a happy ending?

She got out of the car and walked over to where Robin stood. She sighed. She couldn't believe she was doing this. "The diner I told you about is just a few miles down the road."

Robin nodded. "Right. Uh, Regina …"

"And you have the map I gave you?" Regina interrupted. "And the money. So that should be plenty to get you started."

"Yes. But …"

"Good." Regina nodded. "Then you should go."

"Thank you," Robin said, then heard Marian shiver and groan behind him. He rushed to her side so she could lean on him for support."

Regina looked over at her. "She needs to cross the line. Now!"

Robin looked at Marian and Roland. "Okay. You guys, go. I'll be right behind you. I promise. I just need a moment, okay?"

Marian nodded. "Of course." Then she looked at Regina. "Thank you." Then she took Roland's hand, turned around, and walked across the town line again. And once she did, she felt better. No more shivering and feeling cold from the curse placed on her. She smiled and picked up her son, hugging him. But when she turned around to look back at Robin and the others, she couldn't see them anymore.

"Robin?" Marian called out.

"Your family is waiting," Regina said to Robin. "Go."

Robin walked towards the town line and then looked back at Regina. He didn't want this to be the last time he saw her. And he didn't want it to end like this. So he went back to where Regina stood and kissed her deeply. For one last time. A soft, lingering kiss. "I …" he began as he felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"I know," Regina whispered as Robin slowly walked across the town line. She watched as Robin embraced his son and picked him up. Both were sad. Both didn't want this to happen, but it was the right thing to do.

Regina watched as Robin began walking off down the road, and she pulled the folded extra page 23 out of her pocket. She looked down at what could have been before ripping it into many pieces and scattering them on the ground.

That night, Hook followed Mr Gold up the clock tower stairs, not that he had any choice. He only wished he could have seen Emma one last time. As they reached the spot behind the clock face, Mr Gold pulled the hat out of his jacket pocket and set it down on the ground before he pushed open the clock face to better view the night sky.

"When the stars on the hat align with those in the sky," Mr Gold began as he turned back to face Hook. He gave the pirate a slight nod. "We shall begin."

"You mean I shall end," Hook commented with a glare. "Let's not start mincing our words now."

"Oh, how brave," Mr Gold commented. "I half expected you to crumble at the precipice of your demise."

"I'm not the one who's a coward," Hook replied. Though he didn't want to die, so be it if it happened.

"Well then," Mr Gold said with a shrug and a nasty smile. "You'll enjoy watching this coward crush your heart," he added, indicating himself before turning to look out of the clock tower. He then looked up at the metallic dome ceiling above them and waved his hand over it. As soon as he did, gears started creaking as the centre of the roof peeled back, and Mr Gold stared up at the waning moon.

Mary Margaret, David, Anna, Emma, Elsa, Kristoff and Henry walked along Main Street until they stood outside Granny's Diner. And parked by the entrance was the TARDIS. Once they got there, the doors opened, and the Doctor exited – followed by the Professor.

"So, are we ready to go?" the Doctor asked.

The door was slightly ajar, enough for Anna to have a peek inside. "Is that magic?" she asked.

"If you want it to be," the Doctor told her and gave her a slight wink.

"So, this is it," Elsa smiled as she turned to look at Emma.

"Appears so," Emma replied.

"Thank you for taking such good care of my sister," Anna commented as she threw her arms around Emma and hugged her tightly.

"It's kind of what we do," Emma commented.

"It was our pleasure," Mary Margaret smiled as she hugged Anna. "Now, don't you have a Kingdom to go save?"

"We sure do," Anna nodded. "I hope Hans isn't too comfortable on that throne, 'cause I'm gonna knock him right off it the minute we get back."

"And the second minute we're back," Kristoff commented as he finished saying goodbye to David and turned to look at Anna, "maybe we could get married? Just a thought," he added. Anna smiled brightly at him as she nodded. They'd been putting off the wedding for thirty years. It was only fitting.

"Thank you all for everything," Elsa said. "You've done so much." She turned to the Doctor. "Even you. You were the first person I met who helped me make sense of this land. Who believed me." She leaned forward and hugged him.

The hug took the Doctor by surprise, and he reluctantly hugged her back, gently placing his hands on her back. The Professor looked at him. "You okay?"

Elsa let go, and the Doctor nodded. "I think so. I just believe I'm not the hugging type anymore," he said, and he slipped inside the TARDIS, with the Professor following him.

Tell him he doesn't get a vote, Clara said through the Professor's mind.

Once the two Time Lords were in the TARDIS, the engines started to power off, but the ship wasn't ready to dematerialise yet.

Elsa turned to Emma and hugged her this time. "I don't think I can ever repay you all. Oh, and tell Regina I said goodbye. That first day here, when we were trapped in the ice wall, she helped me start to understand my magic a bit better."

"Of course," Emma replied with a smile.

"Oh, and thank Hook and Mr Gold for us," Elsa said before stepping inside the TARDIS.

Emma nodded in reply, and then Kristoff followed.

Anna paused briefly and turned back to look at the Charming family. "I wish I had met this Mr Gold," she said, wondering about the second name Elsa had just mentioned. "He seems super helpful. Who is he?" she asked. "I mean, who is he in the other world?" she clarified. "Wait, let me guess. He was a fairy godfather, wasn't he?"

"Well, not exactly," David replied. "He was an evil sorcerer you're lucky you never met – Rumplestiltskin."

"Wait, what?" Anna asked, looking between the three of them. Confusion was written on her face. "That was him?"

"You did know him," Emma stated.

"Of course," Anna said. "He's a terrible person. All he does is lie." She looked up and noticed the looks on the faces of her new friends. All looked utterly shocked.

"So Gold was playing us the whole time," Emma said after a few moments. "But why?" she asked, looking at Anna.

"I'm sorry. But I really must go," Anna said before entering the TARDIS, and the doors closed behind her. With the doors now firmly shut, the TARDIS dematerialised onto its new destination of Arendelle.

Mr Gold looked up at the night sky as he waited for the stars to align. He was surprised that he wasn't impatient even though he'd been waiting years for this moment. Still, he supposed a few minutes more wouldn't hurt that much. He smiled as the final star fell into place. He pulled his dagger out and waved it over the golden box, watching as the Sorcerer's hat came to life. He then set his sights on the starry purple hat and used his hand to lift it with magic. Once it was high enough towards the ceiling, Mr Gold flicked his hand, and the hat expanded before the stars filled the clock tower's interior.

"It's time," Mr Gold said, looking up at the sight of it. How he had waited a long time for this. Moonlight shone through the roof's opening, through the purple stars of the hat, and onto him.

"Gold! Stop!" Emma yelled as she and Mary Margaret hurried out of the elevator in the clock tower.

"I'm sorry, I can't," Mr Gold replied with a wave of his hand, freezing the two newcomers. "I've waited too long for this. And I'm too close," he added before turning back to face Hook. "Well, maybe not everything has gone to plan," he mused as he picked up the pirate's heart. "But this next part, I'm going to enjoy." he finished as he squeezed the heart tightly.

From her spot on the lower level, Emma watched in horror, unable to do anything as she watched Mr Gold attempt to squeeze the life out of her boyfriend. She wanted to rush forward and knock the heart out of Mr Gold's hand but couldn't find the strength to break the spell he had placed on her.

"I don't understand," Mr Gold commented with a frown as he couldn't crush the heart of his sworn enemy. "Why can't I..." he trailed off. He'd crushed many hearts in his time. So why couldn't he do it this one time?

"Because I commanded you not to!"

Mr Gold turned to see Belle standing behind him, holding the dagger.

"Drop the heart," she said, watching as her husband dropped the heart onto the floor. Belle fought back the tears as she stared at her husband. She hadn't wanted to believe it when Emma had told her earlier. But now, she saw the undeniable truth. Actions spoke louder than words. How long had he been like this? Since Christmas? Since Trenzalore? He had told her he was sorry for lying to her and swapping the dagger for a fake one. But, he had done it again. And she had fallen for it again. Why must she always fall for it all the time?

"Now, release everyone," Belle demanded, watching as he released her friends from their frozen states. And the stars from the hat zapped back into the golden hatbox, which landed on a brown wooden crate. "Now you can take us to the town line," she added. "Because we need to be alone for what comes next." she finished. She apologised to Hook for all Mr Gold had put him through as they were engulfed in purple smoke.

As the smoke cleared, Belle looked around as she took in the darkened trees and the red line separating Storybrooke from the rest of the world. While she'd been holding back the tears earlier, now she let them fall. It allowed him to see just how deep she was feeling and how he had currently betrayed her.

"Belle, what are you doing?" Mr Gold asked.

"Finally facing the truth," she replied. "I don't need a truth field this time."

"No, please," Mr Gold said with a shake. "Put the dagger down, and let me explain."

"No!" Belle interrupted. "It's my turn to talk. Do you remember the first time you saved my life?" she asked. "You traded for me," she added. "And I thought I saw something in you. Something good. Well, I found that gauntlet today," she explained. "And that's when I...I finally realised that all the signs I'd been seeing were correct," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "You'd never give up power for me, Rumple. You never have. You never will."

"You, you, you don't understand…." Mr Gold protested.

"No," Belle said. "You told me that gauntlet could lead you to someone's weakness. To the thing they loved the most," she added. "Well, you know where it led me, Rumple?" she asked. "To the real dagger. Your true love is your power."

"I like the power," Mr Gold protested. "But there's nothing wrong with power," he added. "Not when it means that I - that we – that we can have it all." No more weakness for him. No more people controlling him. He could have all the power that he could have had where he could defeat and stop other evil out in the universe.

"I just wanted you," Belle replied, tears falling freely now, voice breaking. "I wanted to be chosen, not..." she trailed off. "I tried to be everything for you, Rumple," she added. "But I wasn't. And I...I lost my way trying to help you find yourself," she said. "But not anymore."

"Please, Belle," Mr Gold begged, his voice breaking slightly as a couple of his tears fell. "I'll make it up to you," he pleaded. "I've changed once before. I can do it again."

"You've never changed."

"Please."

"No! It's too late," Belle replied, shaking her head. "Once, I saw the man behind the beast," she said. "Now, there's only a beast," she added before she took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she was about to do. "Rumplestiltskin, I command you to leave Storybrooke."

"Belle, no!" Mr Gold pleaded. "Please! I won't be able to come back."

"I know," Belle said as she turned her back on him and looked in the direction of the town. She knew she needed to be strong at this moment, knowing that if she turned around and looked at him, the last of her resolve would crumble.

"I...I...I don't want to lose you."

"You already have."

"Belle, please," he pleaded once again as his foot backed across the line. "I'm afraid. Belle. No! Belle!" he called as he felt the magic leave him - and his ring - as he stepped over the line entirely.

He collapsed onto the ground, his hand reaching towards the line. He knew his wife was on the other side of that line, but now he had no way of reaching her. Unless the Doctor found him with the TARDIS. But would he see his old friend the Doctor again? Would his friends have given up on him, too? Mr Gold didn't know the answer. He only knew that his quest for power had once again cost him everything.

Emma looked around the hallway of the bed and breakfast, double-checking that they were alone. She was nervous about doing this and didn't want an audience for it. She looked down at the heart in her hand before looking up into her boyfriend's trusting eyes. She didn't know just what she'd done that had caused him to have that much trust in her, but she was grateful for it at this moment.

As if he could sense her thoughts, Hook smiled softly at her. "Just be gent..." he trailed off as Emma shoved it in with no preamble. "Ooh."

"Sorry," Emma said." I just thought if I did it quickly, it'd be like ripping off a..." she trailed off as he leaned in and kissed her deeply.

"I told you, Swan," he smiled. "I'm a survivor," he added as she reached up and gave him another kiss. This one was more intense than the one before.

Emma smiled up at Hook as they broke apart. Now that she studied him closely, she could see aspects of him that had been missing while Mr Gold had had his heart. Most notably, a twinkle that was deep in his eye. God, she loved that twinkle, not that she'd tell that to his face. At least not yet. The 'L' word was one that she was highly wary of.

She took him by the hand and led him back out into the main area of Granny's Diner. It was crazy, Emma mused, how much things could change in a few short weeks. But, on the other hand, she was happy and in a relationship with a man she was confident she was in love with.

Emma saw Regina sitting by herself at the counter and approached her.

Regina sighed. "I'm not in the mood for a hope speech, Emma," she said. After everything that had happened today, she couldn't wait for it to end.

"You're mistaking me for my mother," Emma told her. "Besides. You don't need a speech. You need a drinking buddy. Shots?"

Regina looked at Emma. "Sure. Why not?"

Emma looked over at a bartender and held up two fingers. "Two," she told them, then looked to Regina. "You know, you did the right thing today."

Regina sighed and banged her hand on the counter. "There it is! A hope speech! I thought we were drinking."

"It's not a hope speech," retorted Emma. "It's a compliment."

"Well, I don't need your validation. I know I did the right thing. I know because I am miserable. Again."

The barkeep handed them two glasses, and Emma looked up. "Thanks," she said, then turned to Regina. "Well, if it makes you feel better, so is Gold."

Regina smiled. "It does," she said, taking her small glass and clinking it with Emma.

They were about to drink when Henry raced into the diner and towards them.

"Mum!" he called out. "Mum!" I found something big."

"Whoa, kid. Slow down," Emma told him.

"You're gonna wanna see this."

Regina and Emma followed Henry down one of the corridors in the seaside mansion, wondering what he was up to. Regina had a slight inkling of what Henry was doing, while Emma felt a little guilty as she'd been so focused on the problem with the Snow Queen that she hadn't focused that much on Henry. They watched as he located a spot on the wall and opened a hidden doorway. He pushed the door open and walked inside closely, followed by his two mums. Emma and Regina looked around the room, taking in the desks and walls lined with books.

"I found this when exploring the mansion," he explained. "Back when Elsa found you here."

"A library," Regina breathed as she looked around.

"Not just any library," Henry said as he ran over to one of the walls and pulled one of the books out. "Look," he said as he handed it over so his mums could look at it.

"That looks like your book," Emma commented.

"Only it's blank," Henry said. "They all are," he added. "So if this place is full of potential story books..."

"Then maybe this is the author's house," Regina commented, picking up Henry's train of thought. "Henry, you did it!"

"Did what?" Emma asked, looking between mother and son. "What's going on?"

"Well, we were looking for the author," Regina replied. "I was hoping he could write me a happier story."

"We called it 'Operation Mongoose'," Henry said.

"I like it. It's got style," Emma said with a smile and looked over at Henry. "I'm in."

Regina looked over at Emma. "You are?"

"I made you a promise I intend to keep. Everyone deserves their happy ending."