"So let me get this straight," Regina said, looking pointedly at Rumpelstiltskin, "Hook challenged you to a duel to the death aboard the Jolly Roger to finish your centuries old battle."

"So it would seem," Rumpel responded, placing a hand on Belle's shoulder as she poured over the book in front of her. Emma noticed Belle stiffen slightly, but she allowed his hand to remain.

Interesting...

"Good luck with that," Regina responded dryly, moving over to peer out of the window.

"He'll need more than luck," Emma said, and everyone warily turned to her. Finding out she'd turned Hook into a Dark One had done her no favors in the trust department. She couldn't blame them, really, but she needed them to listen before anyone else got hurt. It wasn't supposed to be this way.

"Listen," she continued,"take this." She handed the bottle of squid ink Zelena had used on her to Rumpel. He glanced down at it, then back at her again. "Use it on him. You don't stand a chance at beating him without it. He's hellbent on revenge. Against both of us." Emma saw David shift uneasily out of the corner of her eye. "I know I screwed up," she looked around at them all imploringly, "but I need you to take this cuff off. I have to find those dream catchers and find out what Killian is planning before anyone else gets hurt."

"Why would we do that? You can't be trusted, you've proven that already!" Henry responded loudly.

"Henry-"

"No," Henry interrupted, shaking his head. "I love you but-"

"You don't trust me."

He shook his head, hurt and anger warring with each other on his face. Had he really lost hope in her? Emma thought, wondering if the Dark One's facade showed any reaction to Henry's words. Her heart certainly felt it; the voices of previous Dark Ones whispered encouragingly in her head. They were always there, words weighing her down like an anchor. She turned to her father, who was looking between her and Henry like he didn't know who to go to.

David was typically the first to start working out a plan of attack when it came to their many mishaps and adventures but he seemed purposefully mute at the moment. Emma guessed he was trying to do the honorable thing, allowing everyone to process what they thought would be best for the whole while his heart ached to find his love. She could understand that, now more than ever.

"We need to come up with a plan," Red said forcefully, glancing around at the others. "We can't just rush out there without an idea of how we're going to do this."

"Yes," Doc chimed in. "We need to work together."

They all heard a snort from a desk a short ways away. Merida was perched on top of it, bow drawn from the moment Emma had entered the building. "Not likely," she scoffed, glaring at Emma.

"Alright, enough," Regina rejoined, turning around to rejoin the group again. "Now is not the time to fall apart." She moved to stand by Henry, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder before continuing. "Problem number one: Hook. Problem number two: Saving Snow and Neal. Does anyone have anything relatively intelligent to offer?"

"We need to find the dream catchers," Henry said, avoiding Emma's gaze. "We need to find out what Hook is up to."

"Otherwise, there might not be a reason to bring Snow and Prince Neal back,"growled Grumpy, eying David. The prince nodded stiffly in response, though noncommitally.

"We can't just leave them to King George's mercy," Red responded. The group remained silent, agreeing with her statement but having no ideas to offer. Emma's eyes were on her father's.

"I'm going to speak to Maleficent," David said finally. "I'm hoping she'll help us create another tether on my promise to find Lily."

"Can we trust her?" Sleepy asked, looking uncomfortable.

"We don't have much choice," the prince responded solemnly.

"I'll go with you. She might listen to me," Regina offered. Robin took his place behind Regina, signaling his volunteering to join the party. Red moved to stand on Regina's other side. David inclined his head toward them, accepting their help.

"What're we doin' about this new Dark One in the meantime, eh?" Merida asked from her perch on the desk, bow still drawn at Emma. "I'm not particularly keen on gettin' my heart ripped out again."

"We have the perfect distraction," Rumpelstiltskin said, stepping forward. "He wants a fight. I'll give it to him." Everyone shifted, their gazes on him. His look was determined, his posture straight.

"Can you hold him off long enough to give us a chance to find the dream catchers?" Emma asked, looking at him intently. She knew this could work. All he needed to do was give her enough time.

"Well, I can certainly try dearie. And I won't be needing this," Rumpelstiltskin said as he approached Emma and pressed the vial of squid ink back into her hand. "I've spent my entire life running. I'm done with it."

"It's a suicide mission," Emma responded, still holding the vial out for him to take back. Killian may be enjoying his dramatics, but Emma knew he would strike Rumpel down in hastened fashion. There was too much storied hatred there for too many games and the former Dark One's recently found noble streak was becoming an irritation.

"So be it," Rumpel responded, knowing full well what Hook was currently capable of. Belle gasped, looking at Rumpel with a mixture of many emotions. A few glances between the two made it clear they both wanted to speak alone later. There was a pregnant pause, no one quite sure what to say.

"I think it best that we all try to get at least some sleep," Regina offered at last, glancing at Henry before looking at the rest. "David, we are not going to find Maleficent in the middle of the night unless she wants to be found. If she did, we'd know by now," she said sternly as David was shaking his head, clearly about to argue. Emma was on the verge also, but everyone else murmured their general agreement.

"Yes, perhaps we should all retire," Rumpel acquiesced.

"Seriously?" Emma asked, dumbfounded.

"Emma, you already have your diversion planned for tomorrow," Regina inclined her head towards Rumpelstiltskin, who nodded in return. "We have no idea where Maleficent has been staying and certainly won't find her unless she wants to be found. We all," she turned pointedly to David," need to be patient."

"We'll continue patrol," Grumpy volunteered, indicating his other brothers with a tilt of his head. "We'll call of anything comes up."

"I'll go let Granny know and make sure the rest of the guard is informed," Red said, squeezing David's arm gently before heading out the door.

Emma couldn't help but be grateful for the small gesture of comfort toward her father, unsure if she was still capable of helping David herself. The idea of her or her father actually sleeping was preposterous to her and, from the set expression he held, David was of similar thinking. She glanced hesitantly at Henry, who was still avoiding eye contact. If only she could explain why she did the things she did and make them not sound self serving...

David stepped into the loft, unsure of how he was going to get through the next few hours. They'd all agreed to meet at dawn to carry out their tasks. He knew Regina had meant well, but there would be no sleep for him tonight without the warmth of Snow's body lying next to him; the soft sounds of his son sleeping in the crib next to their bed. But as much as he wanted to charge blindly through town and the forest searching, David knew the best and quickest way to find Maleficent was with Regina's help. And then there was Hook...

His heart ached for his family and tears stung his eyes. They'd been in precarious straights before, but this was a whole new level of complicated. Taking a deep, shaky breath, he started to pick up the many items that were strewn about the floor, attempting to be productive. He replaced the knick knacks that weren't broken on the remaining shelves, leaning the others that had fallen off of the walls against the kitchen island.

"Need some help?"

David startled mid way through picking up a picture frame off of the floor. Recognizing the voice, his eyes darted to the front door that he swore he'd closed, breath catching as he saw who it was. Emma.

"I can clean this up," she offered, gazing at him as she stepped further into the room. His daughter had always been beautiful, but the darkness had turned her features from soft to severe; had dampened her fire. He could see she was in pain, even underneath the Dark One's facade. Then again, he'd always been able to read her quite well. David cleared his throat, hoping he wouldn't sound as shaken as he felt. She needed strength.

"No, I think I'll do it the old fashioned way. I need to keep myself busy," he responded, taking in her reaction. He was fighting the urge to comfort her so badly that he could barely breathe.

Emma nodded stiffly, looking around the loft and spotting the picture frame on the floor. Brow furrowed, she bent down to pick it up. The glass had been broken but the photograph inside was still intact. David tentatively stepped closer, bending his head to see the picture of himself, Snow, Emma, Henry, and Neal all piled into a booth together at Granny's. He let out a soft laugh at the memory of Hook trying to figure out the camera to take the picture, then wondered if Emma was replaying the memory in her mind as well.

David lifted his eyes to his daughter's face, seeing the longing etched there. Slowly, he raised his arm to slip around her back to her shoulder and tucked her into his side. Emma stiffened slightly but, to his slight surprise, did not pull away. It reminded him of the first tentative hug he'd ever given her as himself, the day she'd broken Regina's curse. It pained him not to pull her into a full embrace, but this would do for now.

"We're going to get this back, Emma," he said, voice a little hoarse as he returned his gaze to the picture.

"How are you always so sure?" she replied.

"Because we always find a way, even in the direst of circumstances. Having faith and finding each other is what we do because we believe in us. We believe in each other."

Taking a chance, he stepped fully in front of her and placed his hands comfortingly on both of her arms. She didn't look up from the picture in her hands.

"We'll find a way Emma," he continued fervently, voice finally breaking with pent up emotion. "You are not alone in this. Don't you ever believe that for one second."

Emma took a deep breath, and though her face showed little emotion, one tear came unbidden down her cheek. David wiped it away with his thumb and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. His daughter didn't respond, but she didn't pull away either as she allowed him to comfort her, and David's heart warmed at this monumental progress. Their family was going to be alright, they just needed to take on these current obstacles like they always did. Together.

I just love Daddy Charming.

Thanks for reading everyone! Who's excited for 5B this weekend? :D I can't wait to see what they've come up with for the rest of the season.