Gold shut the door as gently as he could with his growing anger. He hadn't wanted anyone to see Belle until she was ready. She had made him promise not to go after Regina, something that wasn't even remotely easy, but he was keeping it. Only because he couldn't bare to lose her again due to his own selfish reasons. Now thanks to the sheriff and her nosy little family, by the end of the day everyone in town would know about Belle. Including Regina, but that wasn't a big problem. He had wanted Regina to know that she lost her trump card, though he wasn't sure if she was aware of that fact, but he was nothing if not patience. He waited three centuries to find his son. Waiting to see the defeated look on the mayor's face was definitely something he could wait a little longer for.

"Rumple?"

Gold looked towards the hallway to see his beauty standing there. He suddenly felt guilty about his anger when he saw how nervous she looked.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Gold sighed. "Yes sweetheart. I'm fine. Just..."

He looked between her and the door. "It's no worries now. Would you like some breakfast? The tea is still cold."

He went to retrieve the two bottles of tea he and Miss Swan had not touched in their conversation before heading back into the kitchen.

"That sounds great." she said. "Um...are you sure everything's alright?"

"Everything's fine Belle. I-I just didn't want anyone knowing until you were ready. I know you're still adjusting and I didn't want to put any more pressure on you."

Belle smiled. Rumple placed the teas on the counter and got out the eggs and pan needed to cook.

"Rumple, it's alright. I'm not that fragile you know."

Belle was still healing from her twenty-eight years in the hidden asylum under the hospital. It was only the first day after the curse broke and she was still learning what she could about all the new gadgets the Land Without Magic had to offer. The television (or the box as she called it), the microwave (which Rumple was still just showing her rather than her actually using it), and the bathroom. Enjoying indoor pluming was a lot nicer when you could actually remember how it use to be.

"I know."

Belle walked around the counter and placed her arms around his neck and pulled his lips towards hers. She never imagined that she would be able to show her love for him when they were back home. He was always so shy and nervous (not that the Dark One ever got shy or nervous) and often kept her at arm's length. After their first kiss that turned out disastrous and her being kidnapped, Belle spent thirty years (twenty-eight not really knowing exactly how she felt) believing she would never see her Beast again. Believing he would never know how much she loved him. But that was over now. Thanks to the Savior breaking the curse (Rumple spent yesterday explaining to her everything that had happened) they were together again. This time, not a kiss (since he also explained that his curse didn't work properly in this realm) or evil queen would keep them apart.

They finally broke apart and rested their foreheads against each other, gathering their breath.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Much better now." she smiled.

He always loved seeing her smile. It was filled with light and joy and he only wished he could have told her before. He might have spent twenty-eight years in a haze as everyone else, until Miss Swan arrived and woke him up with her name, but he knew deep down that he always felt empty. He just never knew why...until now.

"Why don't I make us breakfast while you decided what you want to do today."

Belle giggled. "I'll love that."

Gold went about making the eggs while Belle found a seat at the counter bar.

"I assume going outside today isn't an option?"

A hand froze above the pan for a split second before cracking the egg and letting the yolk start to cook. Rumple looked back at Belle with a worried expression. He knew that she wanted to go outside but he also wanted to protect her. Regina was still out there and he didn't want them accidentally running into her and risking the chance of Belle having a panic attack. It took a few moments last night to calm her down when he (stupidity) told her that the Queen was in town. He swore not to make her feel like that again if it was in his power.

He sighed. "Belle-"

"I know you want to keep me safe Rumple. I do. But I can't be inside for the rest of my life," Belle said as a matter of factly.

"I didn't say that."

"I know. I didn't necessarily mean town," Rumple glanced at her, "maybe just outside into the yard. To get some sun."

He felt guilty again. Of course she wanted sun. She need some sun. She was locked up in a tower and asylum for thirty years with hardly a window or food. It was because of that she was pale and sickly thin. Although he wanted to, he knew he couldn't use magic to help her heal in that way. Magic could heal a fresh wound but even magic had to respect the human body. It couldn't give you lost strength, muscles, or health again. That had to be recovered the long way. A healthy diet and exercise.

"Of course love."

He finished the eggs and placed a plate in front of her.

"Thank you for breakfast Rumple," she smiled teasingly. He never could stop himself from smiling back.

"How do you like your outfit today?" he asked, sitting himself beside her.

"I do love it. The fashion here is still a little...unusual."

Rumple chuckled. "I'm sure you'll get use it. There are many things in this realm that are a...required taste. Besides, you look very beautiful."

Belle smiled. "Thank you."

She knew Rumple meant well but even she had to admit to didn't look her best. She had looked at herself in the mirror this morning and realized that the hospital wasn't treating her well. Not that she ever really noticed. Belle shook her head to rid herself of those memories and tried to change the subject.

"That woman earlier...that was Emma?" the beauty took a bit of eggs.

"Yes."

"What did she want?"

"Oh, just a few answers. I'm not sure how much help I was. She didn't seem so sure herself of what she was wanting."

"I hope I didn't interrupt," Belle asked nervously.

"You didn't. However, she does have a bit of nosy family that often likes to involve themselves in everyone's business. So I'm sure by the end of the day, rumors will spread about the woman the beast has locked in his home."

Belle often loved his quips and sense of humor, but it was 'jokes' like that she could do without. "Rumple..."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, it's just...back at home I never had a good reputation. I fear that reputation followed me here."

"I did take me a while to get to know you too. But I'm sure everyone will now see that you're not all that bad."

Gold smiled. He wished she was right. Unfortunately, his recent actions with the sheriff and mayor said differently.

After Belle finished breakfast he went to get himself fully dressed (he hadn't enjoyed the sheriff seeing him dressed so casually) while Belle occupied herself with a book he had in his home. One of the first stops they would have to make when they ventured into town was the library. Regina had kept it closed during the curse (to keep anyone from finding her little secret), but now that the curse was broken and things would undoubtly change around town, giving Belle the library key would help make her adjustment into this new world much easier. Besides, he had already given her one library back home, why not two? He also had to wonder if it was the same library that the curse brought over. In which case, it belonged to Belle more than it did him. The Evil Queen might be the mayor in this town, but he owned the town. Everyone's property, with the exception of the mayor's house, was his property. The curse might be broken now but it wouldn't stop him from collecting rent. But perhaps he should wait until everything settled down before collecting next month's.

After Rumple finished getting dress he and Belle stepped outside into the backyard. They sat at a wooden table for two he had among the flowers while Rumple explained more about this world to Belle. His yard was always well kept and growing, thanks to his little 'henchman' as the town liked to call Dove. If they did wander into town today, he would have to have Dove trail behind them in case of any trouble, even if he had magic back. Although it was slightly different in this world than their own, he was able to use it more efficiently than Regina. He wasn't even sure if Regina had actually managed to spark her own magic again. Magic ran on emotion and since she had a stubborn personality, so did her magic. He figured she would be looking for the book soon, but he would deal with her later. Right now, after thirty long years, he had his beauty back in his arms. And she wanted to be with him. If he continued to play his cards right, he would have his son back as well and everything would be perfect.

Emma entered the loft and held back a groan as her 'parents' nearly bombarded her with questions. She had often thought about how it would be when she finally had a family or found her parents, but she didn't imagine this. Perhaps she should give them a break since they were in a daze for the last twenty-eight years. For them it was like, one day they gave birth to their daughter and the next day she was twenty-eight years old. Emma guessed she wouldn't have minded too much if they could just give her some space. They were trying to squeeze lost years into a day or two and were actually suffocating her every time they hugged her. It was too much to handle so she kept trying to see them as Mary Margaret and David, and that wasn't helping much either.

"Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he?" Snow asked.

Emma sighed. "No. Everything went fine."

She wanted to tell them who she saw but their too quick of an approach had her reeling again. She needed a moment to gather herself and take a breather. She went to the fridge to grab a coke since coffee wasn't made yet.

"We should have been there." David said directly.

"I told you. Everything went fine." No, seeing them as Mary Margaret and David was not helping. They were already starting to sound like parents and a teenager rather than three adults. That last part always hit harder. Her parents, two fairy tale characters, were the same age as her now. That was if you didn't include the time freezing curse.

"I'm glad. It's just, we know Rumpelstiltskin. He's tricky."

"Yeah, well he didn't seem like it." Emma went to sit down at the couch. She really wished her parents wouldn't follow her around like some lost puppies.

"What do you mean?"

Emma looked around the apartment. "Where's Henry? He is at school already? And shouldn't you be at school?"

"We're not having school." Henry said coming down the stairs. "Since the curse broke, thanks to you," he smiled, "everyone's taking a few days off."

"We're all trying to figure out what to do. Everyone's still a little freaked out about the curse being broken."

"Well it's only been a day," she told her father.

"Archie is trying to talk to the citizens. Trying to keep them calm. Thankfully Red is helping him."

"Red?"

"Oh, sorry," Snow smiled. "we know her as Red. Ruby?"

Emma sighed. "Right. Still getting use to this."

"We know." David explained. At least he was given her a little space. It was really Mary Margaret who was going overboard with...everything. "So what happened at Gold's? Did you get your answers?"

"Oh!" Mary Margaret exclaimed. "You asked if he had a relative. What did you mean?"

Emma saw Henry and her parents all turn their eyes on her, as if things weren't already awkward. "Um.."

"Did you see someone there?"

Why not just get this over with. "Yeah."

"Really?" Henry was more curious about this fact than Snow and David, since he figured he already knew who everyone in town was. Emma figured that he would have told her if Gold had a daughter but since he didn't, it meant Henry didn't know about this either.

"Who was it?" Snow asked.

"Don't know."

"Didn't he tell you?"

Emma sighed, again. "You know, he wasn't really in a talkative mood. I don't think he wanted me there and even more, I don't think he wanted me to see her."

"Her?"

"You asked if he had a daughter."

"Yeah, she looked young enough...but I don't know."

"How can you not know?" David questioned.

"I didn't really ask, alright?!" Emma stood up quickly. It was too early in the morning to answer questions she didn't have answers to.

She tried to get out of the circle her son and parents kind of trapped her in and made her way to the table. Of course, they followed.

"What did she look like? Maybe I could find her in the book."

"I don't know kid. Maybe you should leave this alone right now."

"Why?"

"Henry's right. If Gold has someone...we should help."

Emma looked up from her coke and at her father. Did he really just say that? She knew her parents didn't trust Gold by any means, and perhaps she could see why, but that was a little extreme. But from the stories Henry told her and what she was experiencing now, her parents did have a tendency to be a little extreme.

"Listen, I know I didn't see much but from what I saw, I doubt the girl is in trouble."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to," she hadn't meant to glare at him or be harsh. "I'm not sure what I saw but I know what I heard. I didn't get a name but he did call her sweetheart."

That news finally got her parents to be quiet. But only for a few seconds.

"Sweetheart?!" Snow cried. "Are you sure she wasn't his wife? Though I'm sure we would have seen her..."

David interrupted. "Do you think Regina could know?"

That stopped Emma from whatever she was about to say next. Perhaps her father (she still wouldn't get use to that anytime soon) had a point. Gold said that he might have made the curse...but he didn't cast it. If anyone knew who everyone was in town, except Henry, it was Regina. Emma was actually surprised that a mob hadn't formed at the mayor's house to do some damage. Perhaps she should go and make sure that didn't happen. Everyone might have been busy trying to sort out the mess in their heads, but it was only a matter of time before people started looking for blood. The dwarves (really?) already suggested going after the queen but David and Snow insisted that they give everyone some time to recuperate, but Emma doubted they would wait an entire twenty-four hours.

"Where are you going?" Henry asked when she headed towards the door.

"Going to talk to Regina," she turned on her heels sharp and looked at her parents, "and I can do it myself. I think it's best I talk to her alone. You just keep everyone from going after her so I can have some time for answers."

The quick stop in their tracks showed Emma that following her was exactly what they were thinking about doing. Snow fidgeted.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Emma wasn't going to give them any wiggle room. She didn't just need time for answers. She needed time from them. She left the loft and quickly headed to the mayor's house.

Next time: Emma talks to Regina about the people in town and the people start looking for blood. Meanwhile, Gold enlists help in Belle's recovery.