I do not own Once Upon a Time.

Reminder, Amelia was just released from a magical prison and is now safe with Michael and Neal.

"I don't want to go home yet." Amelia whispered. She wasn't really to be alone in the quiet just yet. Quiet meant time to think and remember the horrible moment she almost lost everything.

Michael and Neal almost argued against it but decided to listen to her. They led her to Granny's and sat her in a booth.

"Can I get a…" She almost finished her request for a latte but Michael cut her off.

"You're having a tea; it will calm you down. Neal is going to stay with you, and I am going to get Helen." Michael kissed her head before leaving.

Neal pulled off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Though she wasn't cold per say, she welcomed the warmth and his scent. Then he walked to the counter.

Then the door was flung open and Belle stomped in. She saw Amelia and sat across from her in the booth. There was an uncomfortable silence between the two women.

"I found his dagger, the real one. He was lying to me the whole time. All he ever wanted was power, nothing else mattered. Not me, not even Neal." Belle was caught between wanting to burst into tears and wanting to break something. "I banished him, ordered him using the dagger, he can never come back to Storybrooke."

Amelia looked at Belle, shocked. Sweet, innocent, glass is always half full Belle, who had always seen the good in people, finally took a stand for herself. She finally saw she deserved better.

"I kept ignoring all the signs. I finally saw the monster that everyone else saw." Belle went on.

"I'm proud of you and shocked." Amelia said, maybe she could help Belle. She had saved her the trouble of hunting Gold down herself in a few days.

"You're proud of me? He said you knew about the fake dagger. You didn't think it was a good idea to tell me?" Belle actually snarled, which had to be the scariest thing Amelia had ever heard.

Amelia was taken back, did Belle think she was in on the plan? "I had no idea what he was planning. I thought it had to do with keeping this family safe from the Snow Queen. I never asked for details."

"So lying is fine when it protects the family?" Belle asked, annoyance in her voice.

"Yes, you can't fully protect a family by being a good guy." Amelia reasoned. She firmly believed that, no matter how bad it sounded. "Zelena had it coming to her, I just wished I had been involved with that one." She felt her bounty hunter attitude creeping into her voice and she didn't fight it. "And there is something else I want to say, but I'll wait for a rainy day. I can be the nicest person you will ever meet, but you mess with my family, I will make your nightmares look like a happy place."

Belle just stared, and then shook her head. "I thought you had changed."

"Hate to break it to you, but I am not some villain who went all goody two shoes for the person they care about."

And of course Neal had to standing right by the table with her cup of tea at that moment. His face was sad with a little bit of disappointment. Amelia met his eyes for all of two seconds before he placed the cup down and walked out.

"Neal?" She attempted to get up to follow him but a strong hand went to her arm, stopping her.

"Let him go, he needs to process that line from you." Nathan told her quietly, he had been sitting in the booth behind her.

"I could have handled that better, couldn't I?" She said to him as she watched Belle follow Neal out of Granny's.

"Yes, you could have." Nathan replied, there was a slight edge to his voice.

This was the last thing Amelia needed. She heaved a heavy sigh and dropped her head to the table.

Then Helen joined her at the table, she looked like she wanted to fold Amelia into a rib crushing hug but Amelia didn't need that right now. The Dark One's failed plan was the least of her concerns now.

"I'm going home, there isn't enough tea in this town to calm me down. I'll give you a call tomorrow." Amelia stood up, keeping Neal's coat around her shoulders. She was careful not to leave any room for argument.

It was just another argument that Amelia and Neal had to overcome together. Amelia headed home, hoping to find Neal there. But sadly, he was not. Should she go looking for him? Where would he be? Maybe the White Rabbit? Not really the place Amelia wanted to be in right now. So she stayed at the apartment and waited for him.

Neal came home hours later; he didn't seem drunk. But he did look broken and maybe a little shaken up. She looked up from her seat on the couch, there was a steaming mug in her hands. She had given into trying some tea. It wasn't helping.

He came over the couch and looked at her for a moment. "Feet up."

She did as she was asked and he settled on the couch, her feet on his lap. They sat in silent, his finger tracing circles around her ankle.

"I never thought out you as a villain," He started. "That was a title you gave yourself. I accepted that darker side of you a long time ago. Your method of protection may scare most but with you, I feel safe, like we can take on the world and be okay. No matter what may be thrown at us, don't lie to me or keep me in dark. We are in this together." His eyes rested on her engagement ring. "Just don't go where I can't follow." His voice almost broke.

Amelia's teary eyes met his and she placed her mug on the coffee table. She rearranged herself on Neal's lap. "I would never lie to you; you are the most important person in my life. I love you, Neal Cassidy." His lips found hers, gentle and sweet.

"I love you too Amelia Hunter."

"What did I do to deserve you?" She asked between kisses.

"All the wrong things." Neal answered honestly.

Instantly the world seemed a tad bit brighter. As long as they were together, they could take on anything that was thrown at them.

They are good together, they understand each other even when someone says/ does stupid things. Neal is the forgiving type, Amelia not so much. But we knew that already.

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