This is one of the shorter chapters, if I'm not entirely mistaken, but you wouldn't want to skip it for the world ;)

Heading back to the Witch's house did not exactly calm Rachel's nerves, as all she could think about was what had happened the last time they went there, or rather what had happened on the road. Every part of her body screamed at her to turn back, but her stubbornness kept her going. She might not be the most stubborn in her family – that title certainly belonged to one of her sisters – but she was her grandfather's daughter at heart and some of his well-known stubbornness had been given to her. It was what she used to walk even though she was tired, to get back up on the horse even though she was bruised from being thrown off, and what she now used to overcome the anxiety this part of the woods made her feel.

Of course David, being Prince Charming at heart, still noticed and fell back to walk with her.

"She won't get to you again", he promised.

"I know that", she responded, "but there's no need for you to protect me."

He frowned slightly at her.

"You need to be there for Mary Margaret", Rachel continued, "not make sure that I'm safe. I can handle that myself and..."

He grabbed her by the arm, stopping her.

"Don't say it", he ordered.

"Say what?"

"Say that your friends can protect you", David responded. "Not against the Witch."

"She's after Regina and, judging by what she said at the Diner, your unborn child", Rachel pointed out.

"And from what we know she might be after you all as well. She kept your friends as prisoners, Rachel. You're in as big of a danger as Regina and the baby me and Mary Margaret are expecting and I'd be damned if I let anything happen to you."

"Do you want your baby to grow up without a father?" she asked. "Stay with Mary Margaret, David, and you'll both be safe. Stop worrying about me."

She moved to follow the others, who had already disappeared around the next bend of the winding path, but he grabbed her arm, pulled her back and suddenly his lips crashed down on hers. The surprising action caused her to gasp, which in turn opened her mouth and allowed him to probe it with his tongue. She felt herself melt in that moment, her arms going up to circle his neck to pull him closer.

And then reality dawned on her again and she quickly pulled back, staring at him. He stared back, chest heaving and his gaze confused. Why had he done that? Why the hell would he kiss her when his wife whom he loved beyond anything else was pregnant with their second child, the first they would have a chance to raise together?

Not able to come up with something to say she did the second best thing; she slapped him. His hand went up to his cheek while his eyes widened in surprise, but she did not stick around. Instead she turned on her heels and walked back the way they had come, back to Storybrooke, her mind trying to figure out what the hell was going on. David would never betray Mary Margaret and she would never fall in love with him, that she was certain about. So why the kiss?

She gritted her teeth when she realized the only possible explanation.

"I'm going to kill that Witch."

Belle was, of course, surprised when David caught up with them just as the exited the wood and announced that Rachel had decided to head back. Even more surprising was the fact that his left cheek was red, as if he had been hit by something.

Still, with the Wicked Witch's house right in front of them questions about what really happened when they lagged behind could wait. Belle walked towards the entrance of the storm cellar protruding from the ground, before Emma suddenly stopped her.

"We have to check if the Witch is around", she remarked. Belle nodded, realizing the reason behind it all, but her fingers itched to open that hatch and climb down, finding the man she loved again, seeing him alive. She remained close to it while the others walked back to the house, sneaking around it, spying in through every window, searching for clues of someone being there. Belle held her breath. Please, she thought, please don't be here.

"We're clear!" Emma shouted, drawing her attention again. Emma, David, Tinker Bell, Tessa, Maryse and Catriona came rushing back to the cellar.

"There's no sign of Zelena and it looks like she's still keeping Gold in the cellar", Maryse continued. Belle turned and ran the last steps to the hatch, pulling it open and stepping down the stairs.

She stopped half-way down, peering into the cage filling half the cellar. Someone was sitting there with his back towards her.

"Rumple?" she said, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The person stiffened.

"Belle", came the response, hardly a whisper, before he spun around to face her. She jumped down the last steps and ran up to the cage door, finding that there was no lock on it.

"I've come t free you", she said, grabbing the door to pull it open. He raised his hand.

"No, leave!" he begged. "Leave!"

She stopped and he looked around, still on his knees.

"You have no idea what that witch will do if she catches us", he continued, the tremble of fear clear in his voice. She found herself unable to keep the smile off her face. It was him; he was alive.

"I'm not afraid", she said and opened the door. "You could never hurt me."

"No, it's futile!" he exclaimed, stopping her once again. There was desperation in his voice and the fear in his eyes; fear for her wellbeing.

"As long as she holds the dagger, I cannot leave", he continued, his sad eyes begging her to leave before it was too late. She would not have it; she would not leave without him. They had been separated too many times already.

"I'm not leaving without you", she said, voicing her thoughts.

"It's not worth the risk", he whispered. She could see that he tried to seal himself off from her again and reached out her hand towards him.

"Just try", she whispered. His gaze fell on her hand and, slowly, he reached out his own, letting go of the spinning wheel next to him. The moment his hand landed in hers she felt like crying; it was him, she could feel it. Still he remained seated. She caught his gaze one more time.

"You just have to believe in us", she pleaded, her voice still a silent whisper. He got to his feet, his eyes still on their linked hands, before he took a step towards her and met her gaze once more. She smiled with tears in her eyes and felt him lean closer, his breath grazing her lips.

"Run", he suddenly whispered. She frowned.

"What?"

"Run!" he ordered. "Go!"

A cackle sounded from the darkness next to the cage and Belle stepped back, releasing his hand.

"Oh, don't mind me", Zelena said with a smile, waving the dagger in front of her. "Carry on. I was just enjoying the show."

Belle glanced at the man in front of her one more time before following his orders and running up the stairs. A sound from behind told her that he was following, but not due to his own will; it was due to the Witch's command. She flung herself out through the hatch and onto the grass.

"Belle?" she heard Emma call, alerting her of which direction to head in.

"It was a trick!" she cried as she ran towards the rest of the group. "She's toying with us!"

Maryse, who happened to stand closest to where she ended up, quickly wrapped her arms around her in comfort. Emma raised her gun and David, who today had chosen to arm himself likewise, did the same as they heard someone climbing up the stairs.

The next moment Gold, or Rumplestiltskin, appeared through the hatch.

"Zelena sends a message", he said, his voice harsh but his eyes still pleading with them to leave. "She will face Regina without interference! The next time you try to stop her... I will kill you."

Things are not going as planned! I repeat; things are not going as planned!