Before we get on with the story I'd just like to thank everyone who's followed and favorited this story. I know not all of you write reviews, but that doesn't matter because I honestly never expected to have even one follower for this thing, so thank you all! :)

Rumplestiltskin transported them directly to his castle and led the way into the great hall.

"I like this look a lot better than the one in the future", Wolfgang said. "The Witch definitely did not seem too fond of letting in some light."

Emma tried to ignore what he said and focused on calming her beating heart as she followed the Dark One into the room.

"Thank you, Mr Go... Rumplestiltskin", she quickly corrected herself, "for believing us. I know that time travel is hard to swallow."

"Not as hard as the other mystery you've presented me", Rumplestiltskin said and turned around, pointing a clawed finger at Hook. "Why haven't I killed him?"

"If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't for lack of effort", Hook replied. "Let's just say we buried the hatchet."

"Yes", Rumplestiltskin said and chuckled without sounding even close to amused, "but why not in your skull?"

"Jeez, Hook, what did you do to him?" Clarissa asked while Hook's smile faltered.

"Ran away with his wife", Wolfgang responded.

"Thanks for bringing that to everyone's attention", came Hook's sour reply. Emma could imagine Wolfgang shrugging before he spoke again.

"I didn't; Rumplestiltskin did."

"Oh."

The voice from the door caused Hook and Emma to turn around. A petite brunette wearing a simple white and blue dress came in with a smile towards the scaled man.

"Rumplestiltskin, you're back", she said, then glanced at the two newcomers. "Do you need anything?"

"Belle?" Emma said, blinking at the woman in surprise. The brunette frowned and cocked her head slightly to the side.

"Sorry", she said, "do we know each other?"

"Oh", Emma said and quickly shook her head, "no. Mr, er, Rumple, the Dark One, told me about you."

Belle raised an eyebrow at her in surprise, but seemed to see through Emma's explanation. She turned towards Rumplestiltskin with an amused smile.

"Did he?"

"No", Rumplestiltskin quickly answered, then glanced at Emma.

"Oh my God, he's already in love with her!" Clarissa squealed. "This is so cute!"

"Go away", Rumplestiltskin continued and waved his hand at Belle, "read a book or whatever it is you like to do. Come back and clean later."

"You could ask nicely", Belle said, still looking very much amused.

"I could also turn you into a toad", Rumplestiltskin remarked, causing Belle to shrug and walk back out of the room, still smiling amusedly.

"It's a miracle you two fall for each other", Emma muttered.

"Emma", Clarissa said as both Hook and Rumplestiltskin turned towards her, "I don't think saying that out loud was the best idea..."

"What?" Rumplestiltskin asked, huffing nervously. "I mean, first you tell me I let the pirate live. Now, you're telling me I fall for the help?"

"Yes, she has a strange sense of humour", Hook quickly intervened, "but let's get back to her parents."

Rumplestiltskin looked relieved for a brief moment, before a thoughtful look settled on his face.

"Like I said; already in love", Clarissa remarked, "but definitely not ready to admit it."

"You really are the group's matchmaker", Wolfgang huffed.

"Who are they?" Rumplestiltskin asked while walking over to a large chair at the end of the table placed in the centre of the room.

"Snow White and Prince Charming", Emma replied.

"Prince Charming?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"His real name is Prince James", Emma clarified.

"But", Clarissa said, sounding confused, "Rachel always said..."

"He took the place of his deceased twin, whose name was James", Toby suddenly intervened. "Clarissa, please, let Emma and Hook focus."

"Have you been listening this entire time, mate?" Hook asked.

"Listening, yes, but only to your conversations. Once you guys are out of here we might need another conference call."

"King George's son?" Rumplestiltskin now said, leaning slightly forward. "The one whose wedding I've just arranged?"

"See, that's what I'm trying to tell you", Emma said. "This marriage isn't supposed to happen because the ring he was going to give her gets stolen by Snow."

"Well, that's one way to confuse the Dark One", Wolfgang remarked as Rumplestiltskin leaned back with a frown. The scaled man then shook his head.

"It's quite a tale you're spinning."

"Here, let me show you", Emma said and quickly turned towards Hook, "it's in the book."

Hook opened his satchel and pulled out the large storybook, handing it to her. She felt herself smile as she walked over to the table and placed it in front of a now very intrigued Rumplestiltskin. She flipped it open and her smile instantly disappeared; half of the pages were blank.

"Wait, what?"

"It's all gone", Hook remarked. "Anything that was supposed to happen after they met has disappeared."

"The ripple effect", Rumplestiltskin said, placing his fingertips against one another much like the character Mr Burns in The Simpsons. "Once you change something in the past, anything from that point forward becomes uncertain. The future, as you can see..."

He leaned forward and flipped one of the blank pages.

"Is a blank page."

"We need to get Snow to steal that ring so we can put their story back on track", Emma realized. Rumplestiltskin smiled.

"Well, you're in luck", he said. "There's a ball tonight at King Midas' castle. Prince James will be there and so will his ring."

"A ball?" Clarissa gasped in excitement.

"We just need to get Snow there", Emma said and felt herself smile again. "Will you help us?"

"Help you?" Rumplestiltskin scoffed. "I have helped you this far, and I can try to work on getting your portal to the future open again, but getting your parents back together? You made that mess, dearie; only you know what you did. Now go undo it."

With that he waved his hand at them, signalling that their meeting was over.

"Get out of there", Toby ordered, appearing in their heads once again. "Once you're outside we'll have another conference call. The others are standing by."

Emma and Hook quickly turned and hurried out of the castle. No one said a word in their heads until they were far out into the forest.

"Believer, Saviour, Pirate and Runner ready", Wolfgang said.

"Good", Toby replied. "I've got Wise and Writer here as well."

"Wait, that's Rachel and Catriona, right?" Emma asked. "Whose heads are you in?"

"David's and Snow's, respectively", Rachel replied. "David's at Midas' castle; Abigail's locked herself away in her quarters and David's walking around brooding. I actually tried to see if I could send some sort of suggestion to him, making him head out into the forest again, but no such luck. Sorry."

"Wouldn't have mattered much", Catriona replied. "Snow left the forest a couple of hours back; she's in a tavern with a pirate right now."

"What pirate?" Hook asked.

"Honestly, he looks a lot like your cartoon self", Catriona replied. "Red coat, triangular hat, black perm..."

"Blackbeard", Wolfgang and Hook growled simultaneously.

"What's she doing with Blackbeard?" Clarissa asked.

"Trying to secure passage out of the Enchanted Forest", Catriona replied, "and failing. Blackbeard wanted more money than she had."

"She needs the money she was going to get for the ring", Emma realized.

"Exactly", Toby agreed, "so if given the opportunity to steal it she probably would."

"I think I know how we can get her to do that", Hook thoughtfully said. Emma turned towards him in surprise as they walked, causing him to grin.

"She needs a captain willing to take her on his ship", he continued in his mind, "and I know one who would be. Me."