Chapter 5

The next morning, Rumple woke up a bit later than usual, and rolled over to find the other side of his bed empty. He rolled back over and glanced into the bathroom that adjoined their bedroom, and saw that his wife was already busying herself getting ready.

Just as Rumple lie back on his pillows, Belle emerged from the bathroom, grinning when she saw that he was awake. "Good morning sleepyhead," she teased, and laughed when he grunted in response. "I'm on my way out, if you get ready quickly you can walk me to the library," she said as she grabbed her deep blue earrings off her nightstand.

"Don't worry about the library today," Rumple said, not bothering to add more as he was still sleepy.

"Rumple," Belle sighed, "we just opened. I have to go to work."

Rumple shook his head, although Belle didn't see that as he was still lying in bed and she was busy putting on her shoes. "No, that's not what I meant. Don't worry about going to the library today, we're leaving."

Belle turned her head quickly and stared at him, taking a minute to process what she had just heard. When she grasped what he meant, she said, "Today?" She wanted to ask more, but she didn't know what to say.

Rumple moaned and sat up, hoping Belle wasn't going to try to get him to wait. "Yes, we are leaving today." Belle was still staring at him warily, so he added, "Belle, there just isn't anything here for me. Every day I sit in the shop and spin and think, and if I think for one more day I might drive myself insane. I have to get out of this town."

Trying to understand how he felt, Belle smiled at him sadly. She still didn't know what to say. Sensing that he needed some comfort, Belle desperately sought for something she could say to make him smile.

As Rumple watched his wife, he saw her face go from deep in thought to being lit up with an idea, and she turned to him with a vibrant smile. He sensed she was up to something, and his suspicions were confirmed when she said, "I have something to show you!" and, forgetting about the shoes she had been trying to put on, scampered over to her purse that was sitting on her dresser.

With one more smile at her husband, Belle reached into her purse and pulled out Henry's storybook. She walked over to the bed, and sat down beside Rumple, put her head on his shoulder, and began to flip the pages.

She stopped flipping when she got to the story of Baelfire's birth, and handed the book to Rumple. "Here, I thought you might like to read his story. Might remind you what we are fighting for."

Not trusting himself to speak, Rumple gently took the book from Belle's hands and read the story.

Belle picked her head up off Rumple's shoulder and watched his face as he read, happy that she could provide him with a memory of his son, and hoping that the story would indeed remind him of their goal, should he face temptations once their journey got started.

When Rumple got closer to the part of the story he dreaded the most, he turned to Belle and, holding back tears, said, "Thank you, Belle, but I don't think I can finish reading his story. Let's read something with a better ending."

Looking back at the book, he began to turn the pages, and glanced up occasionally to see that Belle didn't know what he was getting at. Smiling to himself, he kept turning the pages until he found what he was looking for.

Glancing down at the book, Belle finally understood. The picture on the page was a girl in a yellow ball gown entering a dark castle with a man holding a bow. He was reading their story. "This was right after you talked me out of killing the thief in the forest," he said.

"And right before you showed me your library," Belle smiled.

Returning her smile, Rumple continued to flip the pages, and they found themselves lost in their history together. When they got to both of their favorite part, Rumple stopped reading, and they looked at each other, realizing they were both crying. Rumple put his arms around Belle's shoulders, and she wrapped her arms around him too, hugging him tightly as he looked back at the book and kept reading.

When he reached the end of their story, Belle let him go and looked up at him in shock. "She told you I was dead?" She said, then, looking back down, continued, "And my father all but killed me. No wonder you hated him."

Rumple didn't know what to say, so he just nodded mutely. After a few seconds, he murmured, "I thought I'd lost you forever."

"I thought we were reading a story with a happy ending," Belle complained though tears and a semi-sarcastic smile.

"Well," Rumple said, "look at us now. I'd say it ended happily eventually, wouldn't you?"

Nodding and swiping at her tears, Belle hugged him again, and they sat like that for a while, neither one needing words, each one knowing all they needed right then was each other.

After breakfast, Belle went back upstairs and changed clothes. When she had dressed that morning, she'd thought she'd be going to the library, and now that she knew they were leaving, she decided more sensible travelling clothes were in order.

Glancing at their bed, she saw that Henry's book was still sitting there. Deciding they might be in need of it on their journey in the days to come, she grabbed it and tucked it safely inside of the travel bag she was taking with her.

Remembering the other book she had brought home yesterday, Belle went over to her purse and grabbed it, adding it to her travel bag as well. With one final glance around their room, Belle decided she had everything she needed, and with an approving nod she headed back downstairs and into the pawn shop.

Expecting to find Rumple behind the counter as usual, Belle was surprised to find Rumple emerging from the back, holding something wrapped up in white cloth. With a smile he walked up to Belle and handed it to her.

"What's this?" she asked, knowing not to unwrap it unless he told her to.

"Another reminder of what I have to fight for," he said, "unwrap it."

Having been given the command she was awaiting, Belle gently unwrapped the object, and beamed when she found herself holding their chipped teacup.

"I'll take this with me," he smiled, "so I never forget what I am fighting for."

As happy as she was, Belle was also confused. "You are fighting for your son," she said, hoping he'd explain.

He did. "I'm fighting for my family. My son, he is family. I need to get him back. But now, we are family, too. And I'm not going to let myself forget that."

Gently rewrapping the cup and handing it to him, Belle smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him to her. "We'll get him back, Rumple," she whispered in his ear, "and we can be a family together."

As they stood in the middle of the forest in Storybrooke, Belle finally found the courage to ask the question she'd been wanting to ask for days, but hadn't dared. "So, how exactly are we going to get back to our land?"

With one of his most mischievous smiles, Rumple put his hand in his pocket, and as slowly and with as much drama as possible, pulled out a magic bean.

"A magic bean!" Belle exclaimed, "Where did you get that? I thought Greg and Tamara destroyed them all!"

"They did," Rumple said, looking all too pleased with himself. "But, as it turns out, they took a few specimens with them to examine. When I caught up with them in Neverland," he paused, and smiled, "Well, let's just say I managed to get it from them."

Belle was worried about what that meant, but decided it was better if she didn't ask.

"So," he said, "Ready to go?"

With a deep breath, Belle looked at him and nodded.

Rumple took her hand and said, "Remember, think of where you want to go. Think of my castle. Next thing you know, we'll be there." Giving her a reassuring grin, he squeezed her hand, looked out into the forest, and threw the bean down in front of them.

Belle gasped as the bean began to glow, and then grew into a blue, spinning hole in the ground. "Is that the portal?" She asked, knowing it was a dumb question, and immediately regretting it.

Rumple nodded and said, "Let's do it." Looking at each other, they both took a deep breath, and, as if on count, they closed their eyes and jumped.

Just as Rumple had said, the next thing Belle knew she was standing in the Great Hall of the Dark Castle, and, coming to her senses, she was somewhat surprised to be still holding his hand.

Looking up into his eyes, she saw he was just as surprised as she was. "We… We did it," she said, slowly smiling at him.

"Yes we did," he nodded, "we're back."