A/N: I don't entirely love how this chapter turned out, since having so many characters together makes it hard to make point of view anything near consistent. But I hope you'll enjoy it!
"She is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen," David whispered reverently, tucking the too-bright ring into his pocket. He couldn't believe that this moment was finally here, that the two women from the posters were fast asleep on the forest floor just feet away from him. He spared no attention for the Queen, however. There was nothing that mattered to him but Snow White.
Belle placed a reassuring hand on Red's arm, offering her a smile. Red gave the slightest smile in return before tugging David back towards them. "I have a plan," she whispered. "Since Belle is unarmed, we'll give her the task of getting the Princess back to last night's camp and waiting with her there until we all reconvene."
David didn't appear to be listening, but his eyes snapped up to meet Red's suddenly. "No. I must be the one to rescue the Princess. I must be her savior."
Red rolled her eyes but knew there was no use arguing the point. Any wasted words could wake the sleeping women and ruin everything. "Fine. David will take the Princess away. I will take his sword and hold off the Queen, and Belle will take my dagger and provide backup as needed."
"I won't seem much of a knight if I'm unarmed," David protested, and Red glared at him.
"We only have two blades. We can't spare one to help you woo your Princess." Red grabbed for his sword and pulled it from its sheath before the shepherd could react. She then reached down for her dagger and offered it to the other girl. "Just stick to the plan, David. Don't do anything stupid."
When David didn't complain further, Red took the lead and crept out into the clearing, standing beside the prone body of the Queen. She held her blade just inches from the woman's throat, then nodded for the others to follow. Belle positioned herself between the two royals, dagger at the ready.
David dropped down onto his knees beside Snow White, gazing on her with a tenderness that made Red tighten her grip on the sword. "Hurry," she hissed, expecting him to scoop up her sleeping form and take her away, but he only leaned closer to the Princess.
"Awake, my love," he whispered, bringing his lips softly to hers.
"David!" Red scolded a little too loudly, but it was too late. Snow woke immediately at the feel of the unexpected kiss and screamed to find a strange man crouched over her. The Princess lashed out with her fists, managing to fight the surprised David off of her.
Red had no time to enjoy the moment as Regina's eyes snapped open at the sound of screaming. "Snow!" the Queen cried, instinctively moving towards her stepdaughter but stopping short when she felt the cool metal blade against her neck. She looked up at Red and Belle, shock and fear filling her eyes. "What is this?"
Red hauled the Queen to her feet, keeping the sword at her throat and clutching her arm tightly. David had managed to get his arms around the hysterical Princess, holding her in place even as she struggled to get free.
Regina, unlike Snow, didn't fight. She ignored the weapons pointed at her, instead turning desperate eyes to Red and then Belle. "Please, let her go. Don't hurt her."
"We're rescuing her," David yelled in response. "Saving her from you."
"No!" Snow tore at his arms, trying to get him to loosen his hold. "You don't understand."
David just held on tighter, heartbreak all over his features as the girl he believed to be his true love fought so hard to get away from him. Belle saw his resolve weakening and went to his side, offering the Princess a kind smile. "You're safe now. It's all right." She met David's eyes. "Let's get her out of here."
Regina watched as they took Snow away, going pale when she saw Belle's dagger flash in a beam of sunlight. "No," she whispered, tears rising in her eyes. "Kill me if you must, but don't touch her."
Red hardly even listened to the Queen. She was too irritated by David's display, by the fact that he'd gone against her wishes and ruined her plan. Now the Princess was frightened instead of willing, and now Red had no one to help her with the Queen. "Rumplestiltskin," she called.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked desperately at the familiar name. "What have you done?"
"She's only made a bargain, dearie." The man Red had encountered a few nights before strolled into sight. "One that's landed me a prize I've been wanting for years." He stepped closer, stroking dirty fingers down the side of Regina's face, and the Queen flinched.
Red took a step back and pulled Regina with her, bringing the blade even closer to her skin. "You made a deal you can't fulfill," she said, glaring at Rumplestiltskin. "David can't be mine, because you can't end True Love. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just slit the Queen's throat."
"I'll give you three," he replied, unable to hold back a giggle as he watched Regina swallow hard against the blade. "One, you don't have it in you. Two, you don't want to know the things I do to those who break deals with me. Three," he cocked his head in the direction David, Belle, and Snow had gone, "I did indeed keep my half. The very fact that the little Princess didn't want him right away broke your shepherd's heart. I never said I could keep them apart forever."
Red considered for a moment, trying to recall the exact words he'd said when they last met. She lowered the sword and thrust the Queen towards him.
Regina stumbled forward, looking wildly back at the girl who'd been holding her captive. "Why have you done this?" she asked miserably.
"Now, Regina, don't forget your manners." Rumplestiltskin closed a hand over her wrist. "She's saving you from certain execution. You really should be thanking her."
Before Regina could speak another word, make one last plea for Red and her friends to take care of Snow, she and Rumplestiltskin vanished in a cloud of smoke.