Heroes and Villains

It was the dull beeping noise that first roused Piper to consciousness, the second was the scent of bleach wafting to her nose and burning it, though it took quite a lot of effort to manage to even blink her eyes open to see where she was. The hospital, in Storybrooke. She frowned at that, her head fuzzy and feeling jumbled, trying to remember WHY she was there…the last thing she could recall was Emma transporting the three of them back to town, seeing her cousin and Gold, her family, safe before…nothing.

She took a breath and turned her head to the side, blinking once when she saw Gold sitting in a chair beside her bead, his head bowed and resting on his cane, seeming as though he were trying to sleep but not wanting to sleep at the same time.

"Rummy?" she tried to speak, wincing at how badly her throat hurt.

It was enough though, despite how quiet and crackling her voice was, for him to jolt up, "Pip," he breathed, sliding the chair closer to her, reaching out to take her hand as it laid above her hospital sheet.

"What…" she swallowed hard, Gold immediately turning to pick up a cup beside the bed, leaning in to help her drink the water. It burned her throat a bit, but it helped, "What happened?"

"You collapsed."

She gave him a look at that, "I gathered. But…here?"

He let out a long breath, "Your heart stopped Pip."

THAT was something she was not expecting, "…truly?"

He nodded slowly, swallowing hard, "You fell under the effects of the Shattered Sight, do you remember?" she nodded.

"I played."

"Yes," he agreed, resting his hand on hers and curling his fingers around her own, "You put the town to sleep, should have killed them," he muttered and she nodded at that, she could remember wanting to, "When Emma and Elsa when to confront the Snow Queen…"

"I killed her," Piper scrunched her face, thinking of that, "Her heart…"

He nodded, smirking a bit, "You made me very proud Pip," he lifted her hand to press a kiss to the back of it, "Ripped out her heart and crushed it right in front of her."

"How?" she shook her head, "Light magic…"

"Could break the Shattered Sight spell, yes," he agreed, "But it is hardly light magic to kill someone. While she, Emma, and Elsa still had those ribbons on, nothing could touch her, not light or dark magic. But after they were destroyed she was vulnerable. And you took full advantage of that."

"I did not expect it to work," she admitted, "I…saw her…I saw her standing before Emma," she coughed a bit, Gold quickly helping her take another sip, "She was going to take my family away."

He nodded slowly, "I understand Pip, you have nothing to explain to me in that regard. I would have killed her long before the curse happened had it not been for our deal."

"What happened after?"

He grew serious then, quiet, "Emma returned you and Elsa to town, the counter curse was falling in the snow…you collapsed," she gave him a pointed look, telling him she knew there was more to it than that. He let out a long breath, "While under the curse your magic operated as though that of a full-blooded Siren, it was amplified and magnified by the darkness of the spell. It gave you the power to put the town to sleep. But when the effects wore off, when the curse was broken," he shook his head, "Your body couldn't handle the sudden drop in energy and magic. You used too much Pip, and it nearly killed you."

"Imagine if I HAD killed them then," she murmured.

"In this case…I am glad the streets were not running red with the blood of your victims," he echoed her words from that night, squeezing her hand once more, "It nearly killed you, Pip," he repeated.

"I am still here, Rummy," she turned her hand over and squeezed his back.

"You were fading quickly," he continued, "We transported you here, they had to use mortal means to revive you you depleted your magic and energy so badly not even magic could help. I couldn't help…"

"I made the choice to succumb to the curse," Piper squeezed his hand harder, "It was MY choice."

"And I nearly lost you," he looked at her, serious, "Do not ever do that to me again Pip. I never wish to see you in a bed like this ever."

"I do not wish to be here, either," she gave him a small smile, "When might I leave?"

Whatever answer Gold was about to give was cut off by the startled, excited gasp in the doorway of the room.

"Aunt P!" Henry beamed, dropping the teddy bear that had a balloon tied to it where he stood to run to her side and hug her tightly.

"Rose?!" came Mary Margaret's voice from the hall, having seen Henry rush in and ran to the doorway as well, "Rose!" she smiled, tears coming to her eyes as she hurried to her cousin's side, hugging her as Henry stepped back, nearly sobbing apologies into her shoulder as Piper stroked her hair.

"Snow, it is fine…" she tried to get Mary Margaret to stop, but the woman pulled back, a look of such guilt and horror on her face.

"No, it's not," Mary Margaret shook her head, "I said such…such horrible things," her face scrunched in sorrow, "Under the curse and before it and…and you nearly died Rose!"

"It was the curse, Snow," she pulled her cousin closer again, hugging her back, actually feeling for the first time as though she were the elder of the two, which she technically was now, "It was merely the curse…"

Mary Margaret sniffled, "I'm sorry," she murmured, "I'm still so sorry…"

"As am I," Piper pulled away, touching Mary Margaret's cheek, wiping a tear from her eye, "I struggle," she admitted, "To be compassionate, considerate…I should have spoken with you sooner, we both should have spoken after all of this…"

"And we will," Mary Margaret promised, taking her free hand, "I swear, when…when you're out of here and better, once all this…this ice magic is dealt with, we'll talk. Elsa and Anna are trying to find a way back to Arendelle, we may need to help them and, once we do, when that's all settled, we are going to sit down and talk, about everything."

Piper smiled at that, "I would like that very much," she glanced over and smiled at Henry, "Henry…" she reached out to him, pulling her hand from Gold's grip to do so, though Gold was smiling at her despite it, "Are you well?"

"Now that you are," Henry nodded, "I was worried Aunt P."

"My apologies for frightening you," she looked around, "All of you," before her gaze turned to Mary Margaret once more, "I could not allow her curse to harm my family."

"I know," Mary Margaret nodded, meaning it, "And…we really have to thank you," she laughed, "You were a hero last night!"

"Urg," Piper's face scrunched in disgust at the word as she laid back on her bed, "Never call me that Snow."

"But you were!" she insisted, "You saved the town singlehandedly! Literally! You put everyone to sleep before they could seriously hurt others and then you took stopped the Snow Queen."

Piper noted how she said stopped instead of killed, but brushed it off, "Snow, as much as you wish to think me a hero, know this. The ONLY reason your subjects slept instead of died from my music was that the energy it would take to end them in such a manner would be too much for a town this size. Had I the energy, a majority of this town would be dead. Do not hold me to a standard that I had no intention of reaching."

"Rose…" Mary Margaret sighed, "Can't you just let me call you a hero this once?"

"A hero is selfless," Piper shook her head, "What I did was purely selfish."

"You defeated the Snow Queen!" she argued.

"I KILLED the Snow Queen," Piper corrected, "I reached into her chest, ripped out her heart, and crushed it. That is hardly heroic. And I did it not to save your precious town, but to protect my family, a select few out of the many. I would have killed them all myself had I thought I would have the strength. It was purely luck that the town fell to slumber than to death. And it was purely my desire to see my family alone safe that ended the Snow Queen. Do not call me what I am not."

Mary Margaret frowned but gave a small nod, "Fine," she huffed.

"Many thanks."

"You should know though," Henry began, a small smirk on his face, "Some people in town are calling you a hero anyway."

"Wonderful," Piper groaned, flopping back onto her bed.

"David is," Mary Margaret offered, David had been…surprisingly concerned when Piper had collapsed, had been the one to shake Dr. Whale awake and shove him towards the hospital to ensure Piper would be cared for as there were only a handful of nurses still in the building when they arrived, "I think he's had a change of heart about you Rosie."

"Shall I torture him a bit to change it back then?"

Mary Margaret, despite Piper's words, just laughed.

~8~

Gold looked up as he stood in his shop, gathering the items he would need for that night, for his attempt to free himself of his dagger. Piper was still in the hospital, but Henry was with her. Piper had insisted he go, knowing that he needed to prepare for that night despite the fact that she may have swayed Whale to let her leave the hospital before she should. She did not want to be there, the man would have kept her there overnight and she refused to miss all their hard work coming to fruition. It had taken more out of her than it should have, she'd admitted after the fact, swaying Whale, but it was likely just a result of the curse, of using so much of her energy the night before. But she wanted out.

Henry had offered to walk back with her, insisting that it was HIS turn to protect his Aunt the way she had protected him (and the town, even if he wouldn't say that last one out loud).

So he had gone, and was hoping to get it all together with haste so that he might be able to get back to Piper faster. He smirked when he saw the person he'd summoned walk in the door, seeming to struggle with his efforts, as though a pain were gripping him…which it was. He WAS squeezing Hook's heart in his hand that very moment.

"They didn't leave," Hook groaned out, "The Snow Queen mucked up the border…" he winced, "Once you cross, there's no c coming back."

Gold sighed, "It almost makes me wish the Snow Queen had succeeded," he murmured, almost being the operative word, "Everything would be much simpler."

"Yes," Hook glared, "Perfect cover for my unfortunate demise," he nearly spat, "But everybody survived. Ironically thanks to your little fish."

Gold squeezed the heart at that, after what had nearly happened to Piper last night, he was in NO mood for any insult to her no matter how small. He waited will the pain drove Hook to his knees before he let up, "What about our friends from Arendelle?"

"They're still searching for a portal back," Hook gasped, struggling to breathe, "They're determined to return," he glanced up at Gold, "Their land has been seized, they're eager to return home."

It wasn't all. Before Elsa had taken down the icewall, she, Anna, and Emma had gone to the beach to see if there might be anything left there that might help create a way back to Arendelle, some kind of residual magic, enough to make a portal of some sort should the ice wall fail to come down. They had found a bottle with a letter from the princesses' mother that apparently detailed what had happened with the Snow Queen. It told how the Queen, Ingrid, HAD been their aunt, how she had ice powers like Elsa but that she'd hidden it instead of embraced her sister's ability. Until tragedy had struck and she'd locked her sister in the urn. She begged her daughters to use a purple stone on the page to return the memories of her sisters to the people of their kingdom and beg her sister for forgiveness. The two girls had sworn, despite what happened with their aunt, that the people did deserve to know the truth and needed to return for that, even more now that they'd been informed an enemy had taken over the kingdom.

"Well, that is a problem," Gold murmured, thoughtful, "Can't have that Anna running around town."

Hook frowned at that, eyeing Gold a moment before he realized, "She knows, doesn't she? She knows what you were doing, cleaving yourself from the dagger so you can do what you please with your power! Emma told me Belle confessed about knowing Anna…"

"Still, quite the supposition," Gold shrugged.

"Why else would you care?" Hook smirked, pushing himself to his feet, "Anna's a danger to you. You can't have anyone but your fish knowing what you're doing…"

"Watch Anna," Gold glared at him, holding up Hook's heart, "Make sure she says nothing about my plans."

He knew that Anna had seen him, he had taken Henry to the rest of his family in the center of town and the girl had spotted him, had pointed at him with wide eyes…when she had been distracted by her sister appearing, he had disappeared with Piper after that, but as far as he knew, Anna had said nothing about knowing him, about his plans, seemingly very scatter minded when her sister was involved. So long as the girl didn't see him or hear mention of him again, he doubted she would think to bring him up.

"But if I had the choice…" Hook began.

"Well, you don't," Gold cut in, "Your usefulness was unexpectedly extended. But tonight, when the stars in the sky align with the stars in the sorcerer's hat, I will finally do what I should have done so many years ago. I will crush your heart."

"You would do that?" Hook glared, "You would crush the heart of someone Emma cares for? You would upset her, devastate her?"

"I think you overestimate your importance to her."

"I think you underestimate how the Savior would react to someone killing an ally," Hook dared, "You expect me to believe your fish is…" he grunted as Gold squeezed his heart, "Going to go along with something that would harm Emma?"

Gold released his heart, smirking, "Oh dearie…I think she would volunteer to crush your heart herself. Now. Go."

Hook's glare intensified even as his body started to move for the door.

Gold had to chuckle at the man's glare, there was nothing in the ritual to free himself that said the heart had to be crushed, it merely...required the essence of a heart of the one that knew him before he was the Dark One. He and Piper had spoken of it when Snow and Henry had left to call Emma and David to let them know Piper was awake, and he had decided exactly what he would do to the pirate's heart. Whether he crushed it or not, that would be left for Hook to discover.

~8~

"You do not have to do this, Henry," Piper remarked as she walked with Henry down the road towards Granny's Diner, she was starving after the events of last night and nearly dying, and the hospital food that they'd tried to force on her had nearly had her being ill in the toilet before she'd finally gotten to leave. She was quite hungry now and actually looking forward to some of Granny's lasagna though she was considering adding some pickles to the order as well, she was craving pickles at the moment, needing something sour but also refreshing for her body, something with a crunch but also soft, which pickles usually were for her. But she would also need something soothing for her throat...she might get some ice cream after. Oh lord she had used far more of her energy than she realized if she was this hungry, "I can manage on my own…"

"Nope," he cut in with a smile, holding the bear and balloon he'd gotten her in his one arm, "You almost died, Aunt P, the least I can do is make sure you get to the diner alright. And I think grandpa might set ME on fire if something happened to you on the way because I wasn't there."

Piper chuckled, "He would never harm you Henry," she squeezed his arm that she had her own linked through, thankful that they were taking some back roads and hadn't run into anyone from town yet. If one other person besides Mary Margaret or Henry dared call her a hero she was likely to stab them through the eye with her new pipe to prove she was not.

It wasn't that being a hero was bad, it was just…she knew how easily people could turn on others, especially 'reformed' villains as they might see her now. Regina had done some good, everyone reappeared from the Enchanted Forest and the town was nearly ready to burn her at the stake, blaming her for it all, thinking she'd done it to them again. Oh sure, the town might see her as hero for this moment, but come the next thing she did that was less than morally proper and they'd be up in arms and calling for her head because how dare she trick them?!

Humans were ridiculous with their sense of good and evil and right and wrong, villains and heroes. She'd rather be a villain and have the worst expected of her in a general sense than be a hero everyone would turn on at their first mistake. So long as no one dared doubt her love and care for her family she cared not if they thought her satan's wife.

"I know," Henry smiled, pulling her thoughts back, "But he might throw a fireball at whatever made you 'not ok' on the way."

"Now that sounds like Rummy," she smiled at that.

Henry glanced at her, observing her happy expression, the love even he could see in her eyes, "Aunt P…can I ask you something?"

"Anything, Henry."

He nodded, hesitating, "You and grandpa…you're both villains in my storybook. But so is my mom."

"Yes?"

"Well, it's just…lots of bad things happen to her in it."

"As they have Rummy and I," Piper glanced at him, "What is this about Henry?"

He sighed, "I…I haven't been entirely honest," he admitted, "I've sort of been…snooping," he winced at the word, "Around the shop."

Piper laughed lightly at that, "We are well aware Henry."

"What?!" he gaped at her.

"Your grandfather is the Dark One, he is the king of snooping and investigating," she reminded him with a small smile, "And I have good ears."

"You knew?" he blinked, "All this time and you didn't say?"

"We thought, perhaps, if you wished to know something you would merely ask," she gave him a pointed look, "We are on your side, Henry, we both care about you. Anything we can do to help you, you need only ask. I had hoped you would know that…"

"I do," he said quickly, "I do, really. I just…" he sighed, "It's sort of something my mom and I were doing together, like a mother-son project."

"I understand," Piper sighed at that, "August and I, the search for Storybrooke, for Emma, that was our own little mother-son project."

Henry smiled at that, happy that Piper felt ok enough to talk about August with him, "I didn't want anyone else to get involved till it was necessary."

"And it is now?"

He nodded, "We're…we're trying to find the author of my storybook," he told her, "The villains always lose and I just thought, mom's worked so hard to not be a villain anymore that the book needs to be changed. Incorporate some new stories, write her as a hero now so that she can get her happy ending."

"And you thought you would find the answer in Rummy's shop?" she raised an eyebrow at that.

"Well yeah," Henry shrugged, "It's just grandpa's the Dark One, I thought, of all the people in town, he might have some clue or book about it. And, well…there's you."

"Me?"

"You and grandpa are…happy," he elaborated, "You're both like each other's happy ending. You both have each other…and you've stayed together…"

"Between a Dark Curse and Wicked Witch?" she gave him an amused look at that, reminding him they hadn't always managed to stay together.

"You know what I mean," he nudged her a little, "It's like you both have your happy endings, and you're both villains. Mom doesn't and I just…I thought maybe there was some sort of trick for how a villain can be happy."

Piper had to smile at his words, oddly relieved to hear Henry call her and Gold villains. It meant that he accepted them for what they were, he understood that was their lot, and he still loved and cared for them regardless, "Oh Henry, the difference is that heroes…they do good. They ARE good, and the universe knows that," she shrugged, "It gives them a happy ending in return. Villains," she let out a breath, "Villains have a different lot and road, we have to FIGHT for our happy endings, he have to fight to get them, and once we do…we fight to keep them. Heroes never have to worry, for the most part, over their happy endings, it will always be there. But villains have to keep fighting, every day."

"But mom HAS fought," Henry frowned at that, "She's always fighting and…and she keeps losing it."

"Perhaps it is because she is trying to be a hero," Piper mused, "Villains have to fight for their happy endings, heroes are typically given them, perhaps her transition is confusing fate. Perhaps it does not know what to give someone that is not hero nor villain so it gives nothing."

"That's not fair," Henry murmured, looking down.

Piper stopped walking and turned, reaching out to lift his chin, "Give me a day or so Henry," she offered, "Give Rummy and I a day or so to recover from the Snow Queen, till the town's been settled, and we shall both help you find the author."

Henry's eyes lit up, "You will?!"

Piper smiled, "It is important to you. I cannot say that Rummy knows who this Author is or much about him, but I do believe he would do anything to help you, as hard as it may be to believe…he does have a small soft spot for Regina as well."

"Like you do?" Henry smirked.

"I have no such thing," she turned to keep walking though Henry laughed, linking his arm with hers once more.

"You do," Henry told her, his voice happy, "I noticed it after you all got your memories back from the Missing Year, you're a little nicer to her than you were when you first came to Storybrooke."

"Yes well, you would be surprised what wonders revenge does to a Siren's heart," she murmured, "We…came to a truce, during the Missing Year."

"And does that truce extend to helping her find her happy ending?" he asked, hopeful.

Piper let out a breath, "Let us leave it as I would not kill her along the way."

Henry just laughed at that.

Piper had to look at him oddly for that, what was it with Snow's family laughing when she threatened bodily harm and murder to the ones they cared for now?

She blinked at that, perhaps they finally understood what family meant to a Siren.

~8~

"Aunt P!"

Piper actually smiled as she stepped into the relatively empty diner with Henry, seeing that Emma was sitting in a booth with Elsa, Anna, and Krisoff, she had been the one to see her first and call out.

"Hello Emma," Piper nodded at her as she and Henry walked over, Emma getting out of the booth to stand.

"You ok?" Emma eyed her, "Should you be out of the hospital already?"

Piper chuckled a bit, "I made a very persuasive case for why I should be released."

Emma's eyes narrowed slightly at that, but more an exasperated look than suspicious, "Yeah, well, don't overdo it ok?" she smirked, "Can't have the town hero collapsing again."

Piper let out a groan at that, "Not you too Emma…"

Emma held up her hands in surrender, "Just what I've heard around."

"Wait," Anna spoke, looking up at Piper from beside Kristoff, "You're the one that saved the town?" she had seen the woman appear with Elsa before she'd suddenly collapsed…right into Rumpelstiltskin's arms…and vanished. All Elsa had told her was that the woman was called Piper, that she was Emma's aunt (Snow White's cousin and, apparently, the true love of Mr. Gold), and that she had stopped the Snow Queen after putting the town to sleep.

"I am the one that crushed your dear Aunt's heart," Piper corrected with a huff," Hardly a heroic act," her eyes narrowed as she looked over her shoulder, hearing Ruby snigger at the words a moment, before she turned back around, "I am no hero."

"Well the town thinks you are," Elsa smiled at her.

"Then the town is full of more idiots than I originally believed if they truly think I would not have killed them all had I the energy to do it," Piper remarked dryly.

"You wouldn't do that though, would you?" Anna tried to lighten the situation.

Piper just gave her a look.

"Oh," Anna blinked, "You would. Ok. That's…um…wow."

Piper rolled her eyes at the girl, and looked to Emma, "Are you well Emma?"

She nodded, a smile on her face about Piper's concern, she was never ever going to doubt how much that woman cared about her (which was a new notion to really and truly KNOW someone cared deeply about you) if she went so far while under a dark curse to keep her safe, "Yeah," she told her, "I'm ok, just…frustrated," she sighed, "We're trying to find them a way back to Arendelle."

Piper nodded, about to wish her luck…when her traitor of a stomach let out a loud, embarrassing grumble.

Emma chuckled at that, "Hey, kid," she looked at Henry, "Why don't you and Aunt P go get something to eat, yeah?" Henry nodded and started to lead Piper to the bar of the diner to order, Emma turning back to the trio at the table…when the bells jingled and Hook walked in.

"Swan," he called, dutifully ignoring Piper as she glanced over at him, "Come celebrate, for I may not be the savior, but I've just saved the day."

"Hang on," Emma murmured to the trio, "Don't get your hopes up yet," she walked over to Hook as he stopped beside the bar, his back to Henry as the boy was to the right of Piper and having turned to listen in, "Ok, what, exactly, are we celebrating?"

"The portal to Arendelle," Hook stated, grinning, "I found it. So, bottoms up," he reached over and picked up a teacup Granny had set beside him, downing it.

"You found a portal?" Emma's eyes widened.

"Well, I found Gold, and he told me where to locate one," Hook answered, not able to see Piper's smirk at that, knowing Gold had likely done it to distract Emma and the others in getting the trio back to their realm while they finished their own operation with Hook, "A door in the ballroom of a lakeside mansion in the woods that appeared with the curse. Yes," he continued at Emma's shocked expression, his words a tad strained, "It appears that our Rumplestiltskin has turned over a new leaf."

"Apparently dozens of leaves," Emma blinked, "You sure we can trust him? I mean, I…I trust him with my family but these are strangers…" she added, knowing that Piper might be listening, and, oddly enough, she found that she DID trust Gold…if it came to her, Henry, or their family, but Elsa and Anna weren't that.

"Positive," Hook nodded, "The Crocodile truly has changed," Piper's lips pursed at how empty his words sounded, able to see Emma's own expression shift in suspicion, "He gave me a long-winded explanation about a portal. About how it brought the, uh Snow Queen into this land which I don't recall. But the important thing is it works. All they have to do is walk through it."

"Then we should go," Emma murmured.

"Brilliant," Hook agreed, "You do that. I, alas bruised myself during the curse. Really need to get it seen to."

Piper looked away at that last remark, rolling her eyes at how Hook sounded like he was entirely too bored and unconcerned with his supposed injury.

And, of course, that would set anyone off, so Emma moved to block his way from leaving, "Hey, Killian. What's wrong? You're acting strange."

Hook glanced down at where he had grabbed her arm, a little too tightly, and forced himself to release her, seeming like he was fighting against something telling him to let her go, "Nothing," he released her, "I'm fine," he leaned in to kiss her quickly, before pulling back, "See you around love."

"Well that was…strange," Emma muttered.

"You're friends with a pirate?" Anna blinked at Emma innocently, not having had the best experience with them.

"Um, yeah…friends," Emma murmured, though she honestly wasn't sure what she and Hook were or what she felt. At times he was a good guy, but then she'd find something out about just WHY he was acting like a good guy and she'd start to back away a bit. Piper's words kept ringing in her ears about how Hook only did what SHE thought he'd want him to do, and if he really was, which…it DID seem he did at times…was he really being himself? Was he really being honest in how he was around her? Could she really fall in love with someone that was putting on an act around her?

WAS it an act?

She shook her head, she could deal with that later, and turned to the trio, "It seems we have a portal back to Arendelle."

"Really?" Elsa's eyes widened.

Emma nodded, "We can go there now, if you want…"

Anna was already shoving Kristoff out of the booth and racing for the door, making it all the way outside before she came back, a sheepish look on her face, "I don't know where it is…"

Emma shook her head at the excitable girl and looked back at Piper and Henry, "You two…"

"Yes!" Henry cut in, "I SO want to see the portal. And the mansion? Is there really one in the woods that appeared after the second curse? That's so cool mom!"

Emma chuckled at that, putting an arm around Henry as he got up to join her, "Aunt P?'

Piper had to smile at how Emma was calling her that now, "You go ahead," she gestured them off, "I…I should like to rest for the day, not trek through the woods," she gestured to the plate of food Ruby had set in front of her, "And finish this meal as well, I am famished."

Emma nodded, understanding, Piper had been through a lot and, well, she didn't really care about Elsa and the others, not in a way where she'd want to be there to see them off, so she understood, "Um…how about you and Gold swing by Mar…Mom's apartment later," she offered instead, "After they're back home, to celebrate."

Piper nodded, "I should like that, and I think Rummy would as well. We have…much to celebrate," she smirked a bit, Emma not seeming to notice the underlying meaning in her words as she turned to walk out with Henry, leading Elsa, Anna, and Kirstoff with her.

Oh yes, if all went well this night…there would be MUCH to celebrate indeed.

~8~

Piper smirked as she and Gold made their way up to the clock tower of Storybrooke just as the sun was starting to set. It was the highest point in the town, and in the right location, just under the exact set of stars that were woven into the sorcerer's hat. It was also typically, thankfully empty as it was now.

"When the stars on the hat align with those in the sky," Gold grinned as they reached the top, "We shall begin."

"You mean I shall end," Hook glared at him, "Let's not start mincing our words now."

"Brave words," Piper taunted.

"Aren't they?" Gold agreed, "I half-expected him to crumble at the precipice of his demise."

"I am standing right here," Hook spat, "And I'm not the one who's a coward."

Gold's eyes narrowed at him though the smile never left his face, his victory too near at hand to be affected by Hook's words, "Well, then, you'll enjoy watching this coward crush your heart."

Piper held out a hand and took the heart from Gold as he lifted his hand and waved it at the ceiling, opening the top mechanisms of the clock tower, giving them a view at the darkening sky.

It would not be much longer now…

~8~

"I'm sorry," Mary Margaret spoke quietly to Anna as she followed behind the group as they cautiously explored the mansion Hook had mentioned was in the middle of the woods, thinking there might be traps because a house didn't just appear out of nowhere between curses.

"For what?" Anna blinked at her.

"My cousin…" she winced, "She um…killed your aunt…"

"It is sad," Anna sighed, "But Aunt Ingrid was trying to kill everyone, there wasn't any other way. The legends about the mirror said so. And," she took a breath, forcing a smile, "Elsa and I will be sure to restore her memory to the kingdom…I'm sorry too."

Mary Margaret blinked this time, surprised by the sudden change, "For what?" she echoed.

"Well, Emma and Elsa," she glanced at the two blondes, "Their memories were lost in the cave in, weren't they?"

Mary Margaret nodded, "They were, but…I think they're content with not remembering," she glanced at her daughter, "Emma seemed almost relived."

It would probably make them both feel worse if the memories that the Snow Queen claimed to have, the better memories were restored, to remember the good in the woman instead of the crazed enemy that had been trying to destroy them. It, she felt, made the death hurt less.

"I just…wanted to apologize for Rose," Mary Margaret continued, "She was under the curse and, well, she's…she's half-siren," she said quickly, "The curse made her feel like a full siren and they get…very protective of their families and…"

"It's ok," Anna smiled at that, "Piper is different than you, she has magic, it affects her and the people around her. Like Elsa," she looked at her sister, "Family is important, and I think it's wonderful that you love your cousin for who she is just like I do Elsa, just like my mother did Ingrid. Just because we don't have magic doesn't mean we can't love those who do. Family never gives up on each other."

"You're right," Mary Margaret nodded, "They don't."

She would have to find Piper after this and really talk, there was still so much to say, "Do you see anything Emma?" she called ahead, wanting to focus on the mission at hand, not wanting to get too distracted.

Unlike Henry who was beaming at everything that caught his eye, just in awe at the mansion, it was awesome! He couldn't help but run ahead of his mother, grandmother, grandfather, and the others, "This place is amazing!" he called, spotting something through a doorway, "Mom, I'll, uh, be right back!"

"Hey, kid, wait," Emma rushed after him…only to stop short as they saw what Henry had, a doorway standing in the middle of a room, a door shut within it, intricate carvings around the edges of it.

"Well, Emma, I think this is it," Mary Margaret laughed.

"Crocuses!" Anna gasped, hurrying to grab Elsa's arm as they drew nearer, "Arendelle crocuses! Elsa, we're almost home!"

"Wait," Emma called out as Anna tried to hurry them to the door and throw it open, "Maybe I should open it. Magic can be unpredictable."

"So this is it," Elsa stared at the door that might get her and her sister and future brother-in-law back home.

"Appears so," Emma nodded.

"Thank you for taking such good care of my sister," Anna turned, throwing her arms around Emma to hug her, startling her a bit.

"It's kind of what we do," Emma brushed it off.

"It's our pleasure," Mary Margaret smiled at the two women and Kristoff, "Now, don't you all have a kingdom to go save?"

"We sure do," Anna beamed, "I hope Hans isn't too comfortable on that throne cause I'm gonna knock him right off the minute we get back."

"And the second minute we're back, maybe we could get married?" Kristoff offered with a chuckle, "Just a thought."

"Emma," Elsa turned to her, "Thank you for everything. You've done so much. I could never repay you," she stepped up and hugged Emma tightly, trying not to cry as she pulled back a few moments later, "It's time."

Emma nodded and stepped to the door, reaching out cautiously to open it, smiling as she felt a ripple of magic drift out of it and saw a snowy landscape beyond, what had to be Arendelle. She turned, nodding to the others as Elsa took a step forwards, smiling at her home through the door.

Elsa turned to Mary Margaret and David, "Please, thank Hook and Mr. Gold for us as well," she gave them one last smile before she turned and stepped through the portal.

Kristoff quickly followed her, seeing her appearing on the other side with no ill effects.

"Good luck," Emma called as Anna made to follow.

Anna looked back at them, seeming thoughtful, "Please tell Mr. Gold that I'm sorry, too," she requested.

"Sorry?" David shook his head, not understanding.

"I was wrong about him," Anna chuckled, "Rumpelstiltskin wasn't as bad as I thought he was. I mean, he can't be, right? His true love is your cousin after all," she gestured at Mary Margaret, "I mean, I was surprised to hear he even had a true love, or was capable of love. But I think everyone is capable of it, though he DID make me wonder...he wasn't a very nice man. Oh, but e's much more helpful in this realm," she added quickly, "Much less devious…"

"Wait," Emma blinked, shaking her head, "What?"

"You know him?" Mary Margaret glanced at David and back to Anna.

"Mhmm," Anna nodded, "I helped him get this weird bucket thing once from some sorcerer's apprentice. He turned him into a mouse!" she added, as though it were shocking, "But I got him to turn him back in the end. He did NOT seem too happy that I got his dagger off him. Speaking of his dagger, where IS it exactly?"

"Um…with Rose…" Mary Margaret started to frown, "My cousin."

"Oh," Anna smiled, "Well that's good. Last time I saw him he was trying to find a way to free himself from its control. It's good to know it's in safe hands," she looked between the four of them, "Well, I should go. Thanks again!" she gave them a bright wave and turned to almost skip through the portal, the door slamming shut behind her.

David tensed and looked at Mary Margaret, "She wouldn't…" he began, though they all knew what he was referencing.

Mary Margaret could only stand there, her mouth open, eyes wide, for a moment, before she turned and ran out of the room.

~8~

Piper looked over at Gold as he stared up at the sky, at the moon and stars in place, "Rummy?"

He looked at her, a dark grin on his face, "It's time," he nodded.

She held up Hook's heart to him, letting him take it in his left hand. He leaned down, holding out a hand to her to offer him his dagger in his other hand, nodding at her to step away before he waved it over the small metal bucket structure, activating it, summoning the hat from it. He used the tip of his dagger to levitate the hat into the air, sending it drifting above his head, further and further up…till the light of the stars caught on the stars of the hat and light exploded from it.

In the next moment it appeared as though the stars were right above them, their own miniature universe just drifting above their heads, the hat nowhere to be seen.

Gold beamed as a light of the moon shown through the stars, the different little lights magnifying the moon's beam as it focused on him, standing there with Hook's heart in one hand, his dagger in the other, Piper on one side with Hook on the other.

"Gold!" Emma's voice suddenly cut in as she and Mary Margaret ran into the bottom of the tower's stairwell, "Stop!"

"Rose!" Mary Margaret gasped, seeing Piper standing with Gold, participating in the ceremony.

"I'm sorry," Gold shook his head, "I can't. I've waited too long for this. And I'm too close."

"Rose, don't…" Mary Margaret began.

"Forgive me Snow," Piper whispered to her, before looking at Gold, "Do it."

He waved his hand and Emma and Mary Margaret and Emma were frozen in place, their feet stuck to the ground, their arms locked at their sides.

"Rose!" Mary Margaret looked at her, sounding very much like she had when Emma had accidently struck the street lamp that knocked into David.

Piper just shook her head and looked at Gold, "Hurry. And be careful!"

Gold nodded, holding Hook's heart out before him, the dagger in his other hand, bringing them closer together…

"NO!" Emma screamed, seeing Gold bring the dagger slashing across Hook's heart, driving Hook to his knees in pain.

Gold quickly moved the dagger, now coated in Hook's heart's blood above his head, the light of the stars and the moon intensifying to the point they all had to look away as a brilliant burst of magic went out from the tower.

A moment later…

The Dagger went clattering out of Gold's hand, falling down to where Emma and Mary Margaret had been released, the women scrambling to grab the dagger, looking up in horror as they saw Gold drop Hook's heart, stumbling back into Piper's hold as she hurried to straighten him, Hook lunging to grab his heart and back away.

"Rummy!" Piper gasped, grabbing his arms, "Rummy…"

Gold just looked at her, "Pip…" he beamed, starting to laugh.

"Dark One!" Mary Margaret called, holding up his Dagger, "Step back!"

Gold pause for only a moment, almost waiting for the familiar compulsion that should have caused him to move…but it never came.

"No," he started to laugh with joy, "No!"

Piper looked at him with tears in her eyes as she half threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, missing the looks of sheer horror and terror passing through Mary Margaret's face.

"Emma," Mary Margaret turned to her daughter, grabbing her arm, the dagger still firmly clenched in her other, the metal still reading 'Rumpelstiltskin' even if it had no control over him, "You need to get us out of here, all of us, now!"

"What?" Emma looked away from Piper and Gold, a small frown on her face when she saw that Gold was just holding her aunt, seeming on the verge of crying, her aunt actually crying in front of her, "Why?"

"Just do it, Emma, please, get us all out of here, the four of us," she looked at Gold and Piper, "Now Emma!"

Emma jumped at that last order, quickly bringing her hand up and causing her and Mary Margaret, Gold and Piper to disappear in a swirl of white smoke, leaving Hook there so that Gold couldn't attack him. She honestly had no idea where she was trying to take them, her mind jumping to the farthest place it seemed, because they appeared right outside the town line.

"Rose!" Mary Margaret strode over to her cousin, sounding almost furious as the two pulled away, almost startled to see they'd been transported, "What have you done?!"

"We freed him," Piper smiled her cousin, "He has been cleaved of the dagger," she looked at Gold, "You are free."

"I know," he nodded, feeling joy bubbling within him, before he glanced at Mary Margaret, "You may want to melt that down dearie," he couldn't even manage to make that sound as taunting as he would have liked, too overwhelmed with relief that it had worked, "It's useless now. It cannot control me any longer."

Mary Margaret looked down at the dagger in her hand, shaking her head at that.

It was then that Piper realized Mary Margaret was shaking, her hands were, her body was, "Snow…"

"You were a part of this?" Mary Margaret looked at her, "Why? Rose why would you do something like this?"

"I know what it is like to control others, and YOU know how dangerous it is to have him controlled by others," Piper pointed out, "Snow this is a GOOD thing."

"A good thing that the DARK ONE is now free to do whatever he wants to the town!?"

"No, a good thing that my true love is without leash," she told her cousin, starting to frown, "Snow he will not harm you, nor our family, I thought you believed that!"

Mary Margaret opened her mouth to say something, but closed it quickly, looking from her cousin to Gold, the man just…smirking, his hands resting on his cane, completely at ease…and down to the dagger, the utterly useless dagger that served no purpose save to kill the Dark One. Not control him, no never control him ever again.

The Dark One was free…the Dark One was off his leash…the Dark One was now able to do whatever his twisted little darkened heart pleased…

She looked up at Piper once more tears in her eyes as she considered what to do next…and words her cousin had spoken came unbidden to her mind, reminding her of something, something far more important than just them.

She turned to Gold, holding her hand back to Emma to take the dagger, Emma quickly doing it but watching her mother closely, "Gold…" Mary Margaret began, stepping closer to him, "I'm sorry," she told him, "I'm so sorry," she stepped closer still and…

Opened her arms to hug him.

Gold blinked and looked over at Piper at the motion, startled, but Piper just started to smile, thinking that her cousin was accepting what she was trying to tell her, accepting Gold into the family. He had only just lifted a hand to awkwardly touch her back…

When he went stumbling backwards…

As Mary Margaret shoved him away from her…

And right over the town line.

"SNOW!" Piper screamed, trying to lunge forward to grab Gold and pull him, back, but Mary Margaret turned and caught her, trying to pull her back as she struggled, weakened from the Shattered Sight and her stay in the hospital and unable to fight back, "LET ME GO!"

"Pip?" Gold looked around, staring through her, unable to see her on the other side of the line, "Piper?"

"Let me go! Snow, let me go! Please!"

"I'm sorry," Mary Margaret was repeating over and over as she tried to push her cousin back further and further away from the line, "I'm sorry. Rose I'm so sorry…"

"What did you do?!" even Emma seemed horrified by what her mother had done.

Piper managed to shove away from Mary Margaret's hold, stumbling to her knees as she looked at Gold, at his expression, at the heartbreak and terror in his eyes. She felt like she couldn't breathe as she reached up and gripped at her chest with a hand, feeling her heart pounding in her chest.

"I'm so sorry Rose…"

She closed her eyes at her cousin's voice, "Why?!" she raged, turning to glare at Mary Margaret over her shoulder, "Why would you DO this!?"

"I had to," Mary Margaret was sobbing but Emma was backing away from her, completely shocked at what the woman had done, "I had to. For the town," she looked between the women, "I…I can't be your cousin, Rose," she told her, heartbroken, "Not in this. I…I'm a ruler," she tried to throw the words that had been said in the library before the curse back at them, "I have to make the difficult decisions. I have to make the choices that protect the most people. Our family may be safe from him," her gaze flickered to Gold and back to Piper but Piper was looking at Gold, the man struggling to get to his feet, and reaching out, tears in his eyes.

"Piper?" he called out, looking for her, "Rose?" before he seemed to realize that he was trapped on the other side of the line, "No!"

"I had to do it to protect the town," Mary Margaret repeated, "THEY aren't safe from him…I had to, Rose, I had to. I'm so sorry…"

Piper, whose eyes had closed at the utter heartbreak and pain in Gold's voice, snapped open, her face set in a glare that would have sent even the Evil Queen fleeing. She took a deep breath, pushing herself slowly to her feet and stepped towards the line.

"Rose! Don't," Mary Margaret begged, "Please, just…just come back to town with us and…"

"I will go nowhere with you ever again, Mary Margaret," Piper's voice was cold and hard as she spoke, not even looking back at her cousin to see her crumbling expression at her tone and words.

"Rose…"

"You would cast out my love," Piper continued, ignoring her, "You have no idea what you have done."

"I do," Mary Margaret insisted, "I had to protect…"

"No," Piper shook her head, "You CHOSE this, you chose to protect your people from a threat that does not exist, an evil that was not bearing down at them, but a presumed one," her hands curled into fists, "You betrayed me!" she snarled, before forcing herself to take a breath, "You have betrayed me, my trust, my loyalty," she swallowed hard, trying to gain back her breath, "Then let my heart be hardened, against you, against your people…"

"Rose, I HAD to!" Mary Margaret cried, seeming desperate for her not to say what she was.

"And I have to do this," Piper turned around, just a toe away from the line to glare her cousin down, Mary Margaret nearly falling to her knees at the sheer coldness in her cousin's eyes, at the realization that all the love and loyalty and care that Piper had ever felt for her was just…gone, and all that was left was anger and hurt and…hatred, "And beware Snow White," she continued, almost sounding as though she were spitting out the woman's name like a vile curse, "From this point on…we shall be on truly opposing sides evermore."

And, with that, Piper stepped back, right over the line, holding her cous…holding Mary Margaret's gaze as she did so until she could not see the woman any longer, until she could not hear Mary Margaret screaming for her, until she couldn't see her crumble to her knees in sobs at the events she herself had set in motion.

"Pip?" Gold breathed, sounding so utterly shocked that it nearly broke her heart.

She just turned and fell to her knees before him, hugging him tightly as he clung to her as well, "Rummy..."

Now, it was truly the two of them against the world, against the world without magic, against Storybrooke, against the heroes...

And against Snow White.

A/N: Ooh god, oh god, Snow what did you do!? O.O

I know that the episode ends with a '6 weeks later' moment...but this was just too good a place to leave off }:) I can say thought that the next chapter won't be a flashback one but the next episode :) I think I'm going to try and do that if the mid-season finales are actual 'finales' instead of just a continuation of the show. Because it sort of starts a 'new' villain storyline I'm going to treat it like the show ended and the next 'season' is beginning, so we'll have no flashback, but the next episode }:)

I mentioned in a prior chapter that something someone said would come back to bite them...poor Piper, if she had never reminded Snow of her 'duty' to her people... }:)

I also wanted the last chapter to be both a precursor to this one, we see Ilayda turning on her family simply for planning to kill her true love. And, while I'm not 100% sold on Emma and Hook being true loves, I wanted to sort of parallel that with what Gold and Piper were planning with Hook. However, Piper is waiting till Hook actually turns his back on Emma to kill him, she's waiting to see if he can truly change and be worthy of her niece first. Unlike with her Siren-family, they were going to kill Ethan with no regard to Ilayda or how she'd feel…Piper would LOVE to kill Hook, but she knows that Emma does feel something for him and she can't bring herself to actually KILL him until Emma or Hook end the relationship. Torture him relentlessly and make it difficult for him to be with Emma, sure, but she would stop just a hair short of killing him ;) So here, while she and Gold would have no qualms killing Hook, they both know Emma would react badly and be hurt/devastated, so they've both chosen to nick his heart instead. I think he also provides Piper a bit of a challenge and joy in disrupting his relationship with Emma :)

On another, slightly funny, note, when I was editing this chapter before posting, I was listening to music and the Prince of Egypt soundtrack came on and it got to a part about the plagues of Egypt and it was a shiver moment for me, because that entire song is about two people who are like brothers even though they aren't related (like Piper and Snow being 'sisters'), who were separated for years (like because of Regina) and became different people, one a king (or Queen Snow) and the other more a wanderer who feels himself a murderer (the Pied Piper), growing older and finding themselves on opposite sides (like heroes and villains), thinking about the past and how they were family and now they're standing against each other (this chapter). And ALL I could think about was OMG :) Especially because there is a part where Ramses sings, 'Then let my heart be hardened' and I was like, oh god, that's Piper! }:) Lol. Just thought I'd add that in, I feel like it sort of sums up a little of Piper and Snow right now ;)

Some notes on reviews...

Yup, we'll get a chapter of Ilayda meeting the former-King and Queen, as well as Leopold and Eva ;) Oh I agree, that was the first thing I thought of when it happened, that it was the epitome of Rape by Deception :( I almost wish that someone would ask the writers it at Comic Con or somewhere for them to explain or try to justify how what Zelena did is not Rape by Deception and see what they say. Because, honestly, if these same men had to be told by an actor that a bio-mother cannot just swoop into their child's life and usurp the adoptive-mother, I genuinely fear for if they even realize there is a thing called Rape by Deception :( But I fully agree, I actually wrote a post on tumblr about it, about it being Rape by Deception as well as looking to other fairytale/legends where this very same thing, almost identically to what Zelena did happened and how, as we look at it and learn about it, it IS defined as rape too. Zeus used magic to look like Alchmene's husband, tricked her into sleeping with him, she consented to be with her husband, not Zeus, it's called rape. Uther used magic to look like Ygraine's husband, tricked her into sleeping with him, she consented to be with her husband, not Uther, it's called rape too. I'm getting a sickening feeling that the writers will use that trope as a 'but the baby will be an epically powerful and important hero just like Hercules and Arthur are!' Though I really hope they won't because that seems more like them trying to say the rape was 'worth it' or something disturbing like that :( I'm suspicious now that they did it because they were going to Camelot and Merlin had a hand in Arthur's conception via rape and it's meant to parallel that (as though there aren't enough parallels in the show already) :( It's just very, very disturbing and, I've heard, that one of the writers actually claimed they were getting tons of positive feedback about Zelena's plot...like, no. Just no. Do not lie and say people are telling you that the rape was good. And if you ARE getting positive feedback...then the people saying it's a great move are not the best people to listen to :/ I just can't accept it and the fact that Robin is accepting it so easily and they're making all these plans to raise his rape baby (when I don't think anyone would look down on someone wanting to terminate a pregnancy created via rape, or think badly of someone not wanting to raise their rape-baby) it makes me really uncomfortable. We've seen the writers brush off Robin for a majority of Season 4, going back and forth between women, having all these supposed deep discussions with Regina off screen that we only hear about in passing and that don't seem likely to have actually happened (yes, leave Storybrooke and hop into bed with your 'wife' the first chance you get, I understand...I doubt Regina said anything like that, he could have been with Marian and supported her without being with her in a bed), I can't see them doing justice to the trauma and abuse Robin went through because of Zelena nor the psychological effects of him having to face his rapist every single day of his life in his child's face, especially if it's a little girl that looks like Zelena :( I have SO many issues with how Robin was written in Season 4 just beyond that, the whole plot around Robin is an entire mess and it really is SO disturbing that if the writers don't fix it (and there are magical/believable ways to do it), I really think I'm going to need to change it in my stories because I just can't stomach Season 5 thinking of that baby and its conception and Zelena without some way to cope, like the stories :(

I though RM was good, but I also thought that she'd run her course too. I've heard that the writers plan to have her redeemed, but that they aren't going to use the baby to do it. In which case it's like a lose-lose, because for one, if they aren't using the baby then what was the point of it besides shock value? And if they WERE going to use the baby, we've already seen people redeemed through their children and it would just be watching Regina play out all over again except green :/ It'll be interesting to see what they do with Emma, whether she'll be consumed or if it will be gradual and it's sort of also pointless, we all sort of know that they're going to likely have it resolved by mid-season finale or by the end of a season. It's likely not going to last more than 22 episodes, of which half the episode is a flash back, so really 11 episodes total in terms of screen time, and on top of the other stories going on so maybe like half an episode of actual Emma if we're lucky, so like 5.5 episodes screen time of her being evil and that's probably going to be it :/ I hope they do some daring deeds with her while she's evil, like for how much a savior she was that she ends up being worse than Gold, Regina, Zelena, and Pan combined, give us truly shocking and dark deeds instead of half-baked ones that get resolved within an episode, though, I agree, I doubt they'll really go there. I feel like five seasons would be a good place to end, like there's really nothing else to do. Everyone's got or will likely get their happy ending by the end of Season 5, anything else or any new threat would just drag it out :/ I feel like them cramming 2 enemies into 1 season might be their attempt at pulling out the stops and it's just sort of making it fall short in how little they actually tell of the story because of it :/ But thank you, I haven't really thought of romance novels lol, I actually haven't really read much of them but one of my roommates in college loved them. I'll have to ask her for some recommendations :)

For a long time it was like that yes, but the story happened in the modern world, in NY, and the laws there are very equal in the sense that men or women could be raped :( Robin will likely look at it from a medieval/fairytale POV, but it doesn't change that it happened in our world by our laws and by the laws/understanding of the viewers :( Robin consented to sex with his wife, not Zelena, which is the definition of Rape by Deception, so what Zelena did is still rape even if he 'consented' because it wasn't Zelena he agreed to sleep with but Marian :( In terms of Arthur though, his father got Merlin to disguise him as Ygraine's husband Gorlois, and he slept with her, and in our definition (and what one of my medieval studies professors called it) it is Rape as well :( I think the writers were hoping we'd see it in terms of a 'but it's a fairytale and these things happen then' mindset, but the context and the viewers are firmly in the modern day where that is NOT a good thing to do at all :( If they wanted it to be an 'acceptable rape' (which I don't think should ever or have ever existed), it would have made more sense for it to have happened in the Enchanted Forest, like Zelena took Marian's place, ran off and found Robin, he was so happy to see his thought-to-be-dead wife back that they did the deed, and then Emma tracked her down and took her to the future. At least then it was in a medieval context, with a medieval mentality, and not in present day New York :(

That's true, it could be overwhelming to experience something full force you haven't yet :) I really love responding to reviews and when people respond to my notes on them, it always gives a new perspective :)

Yup, Ilayda is wearing clothing :) It's mostly what Sirens of the Sea typically wear, which is a sort of lengthy dress that seems made of seaweed with a sort of netting over it that can sometimes be wide enough to act as sleeves too :) I think if they were soulmates they would have backed off a little bit, because (in terms of the show, it seems) you only have one soulmate where you can have more than one true love. The town (and David) definitely seem more grateful yup, but she's also very aware that, because she's a 'villain' the second she does something against what they think a hero should do, she'll be right back on their enemy/distrust list. Oh very, very guilty Snow and Snowing to come }:)