Chapter 22: Restore our memories

Taylor rushed through the apartment. Grabbing her keys, jacket and phone. Her bag was unnecessary now, she just needed to move quickly.

"Where are you going?" Alison asked while she walked down the wooden stairs which was settled in the middle of the apartment.

"To the hospital, there's something wrong with Henry. Emma called me, they want me to help." Taylor said, rushing out of the apartment before Alison could even wish her some good luck. She walked out of the building, hearing her black heels touch the pavement by every step she took. The grey skirt she wore, matched the white top and red & black jacket perfectly. It was warm enough to go without her grey coat, she wouldn't even thought of that though, Henry was amazingly important right now.

Just as Taylor walked across the street, a lightening flash flew over the town. She stopped walking, everyone did. The memories flashed through her mind, her in a big red ball dress, Rumplestilskin, her bow… And Killian Jones.

"Killian." She whispered to herself. Everyone hugged each other, Henry was right. There really was a curse, and she really was named Taylor French. The young lady walked over to Granny's all forgetting about Henry.

"Is Killian Jones here?" she said directly when she opened the door. But no one said anything, there was a huge silence. "I mean Captain Hook." She said again, for the crowd who might know him better than his real name.

"I've never seen him here." Ruby said, "Me neither" one of the dwarfs answered. "But if we

see him, we shall get some Enchanted Forest styled revenge!" and all the dwarfs admitted.

Taylor had this big dark green eyes, wondering where he could be. She turned around and walked out of Granny's, running to the street and stopping right in the middle. He never came to Storybrooke. She remembered… He made it to the Safe Haven. He would still be there, that could be the only explanation.

She didn't really know what to do, run? No she had run enough in her life. "Oh my gosh Henry." And she jumped into Emma's yellow bug which was still in the main street. The keys weren't there, so she had to start the car in another way. She pulled out a bobby pin from her hair and tried to pull it in the lock, and the car started a few minutes later.

Taylor walked into the hospital, ignoring all the people who looked at her. She knew some from the balls where she went to, they were mostly royals. But Henry wasn't there, she didn't ask Doctor Whale where he could be or where he went to avoid an Enchanted Forest conversation.

Just as she walked out of the hospital, a purple mist arrived. "Oh my god, what the hell is that." She said as a reflection to the mist. She jumped in the car as soon as she could, she couldn't see anything for a moment as the purple mist came across. It disappeared, and she could drive back to the main street.

The first thing she saw was the Pawnshop, and all memories of Rumplestilskin and her became more important than anything. So she rushed over to the shop, opening the door and hearing the bell ring.

There stood Mr. Gold, better known as Rumplestilskin, right behind the counter.

"You knew it didn't you." She said as he looked up to her, "You knew me all this time, because the curse didn't hit you."

"Taylor let me explain…" he said as Taylor walked over slowly, "That's why you told me all those stories, you thought I could maybe break my own curse!" she stopped for a brief moment. "Why Rumple… Why haven't you told me earlier!"

"You were never gonna believe me Taylor. That's the curse. You would have laughed at me."

"You didn't even try!"

"I did in another way, without telling you directly." He said looking at the young lady. Taylor was herself again. Full of love, with a strong heart and nothing to be scared of.

"There is a lot to talk about, but not much time. The crowd is going to kill Regina and then we're finally free." Rumple said to interrupt the silence.

"What? No, they cannot do that Rumple! She's still Henry's mom."

"Emma is Henry's mom, and I'm not gonna stop them."

"Well I am, you still have the meaning to put yourself first Rumple. But I'm not gonna let her die. You wouldn't want that either, because you're just as guilty as Regina is!"

And as she said that, the young lady walked out of the Pawnshop, ready to go to the Evil Queen's house. Without knowing that Belle was in Rumple's office.

"Henry, you're okay!" Taylor ran to the little boy and hugged him tightly.

"Yes, my mom broke the curse! As in Emma, mom. Did you went to Mr. Gold yet?"

"Yes I have, we talk about that later okay? What's going on?"

"They wanna kill my mom... The Evil Queen. But they cannot do that, she's still my mom. And no one is helping her. I cannot get through the crowd.."

"Wait here, okay Henry? Emma will be here soon, I'm going to figure this out." Taylor said as she let go of Henry and straighten her back.

"Stop!" she screamed as she walked through the crowd to stand in front of Regina.

"What are you doing girl, get out of our way!" one of the men said.

"No, you cannot kill Regina." Taylor took a brief pause "Haven't we all done something wrong in our lives? Well I did, and of course I regret those moments. But they're a part of our way of living. That's called being human."

"But she…" One of the dwarfs said.

"But she what? She locked us up in a town without magic? Yes. But look at her. Regina has done some good things too. She took care of Henry while Emma couldn't, and she really loves Henry. She wanted to give him his best shot, just as Emma wanted. I've worked for this woman. And I can keep thinking how stupid I was, working for her. But I don't. It is how it is, how it turned out and how it will be."

Taylor grabbed Regina's hand which made her feel strong, "You cannot kill Regina because of the things she has done in her life. Then everyone would live in deep regret, how you ever could have killed someone."

The crowd left, and Taylor let go of Regina's hand. They left in silence, thinking about the words Taylor just said.

"Thank you, Taylor…" Regina said.

Taylor turned to her face "I can never forget what you've done to me, and to all the others. But there's a chance that I might forgive you. I gave you the first step to become a good mayor, a friend or whatever you wanna call it. Just don't disappoint Henry anymore, don't disappoint anyone."

And the young lady left again. She didn't really know where to go. Rumple? Well she really didn't want to see him right now. She didn't know if there was any of her family in Storybrooke, and to be realistic… She didn't want to find out either. So she decided to go home, where she could have the most amazing conversation ever. They talked about the Enchanted Forest, how Alison fell in love with a prince, even though she hadn't find him yet, and how Killian could still be in the Safe Haven.

And just on a late hour, Taylor decided to go back to the Pawnshop. "I um… I didn't want to leave you in a fight." She said walking in.

"Well you almost did miss French A."

"Please, just say Taylor." She walked over to Rumple and grabbed his hand "I'm sorry I acted like that before… I just never knew it was really you, the Rumplestilskin you. And it made me angry that you didn't…"

"It's okay Taylor." He said pushing her into a hug. She felt so safe, by the man who they called 'The Dark one'.

"Taylor, I think I need to tell you something. Well maybe show you."

"What do you wanna show me Rumple?"

"Okay close your eyes and I lead you the way, before you begin to scream and everyone wakes up in this town."

Taylor agreed and the man put his hands in front of her eyes, leading her through the shop, to the office behind the curtains.

"Open your eyes." He said as he moved his hands.

She saw a young, very beautiful woman. Standing almost in front of her.

"Belle?!" Taylor said full of disbelieve.