"Belle!"

The Charmings made their way to the dining room, finding Gold cradling a young brunette girl Emma had recognized from that morning.

"What happened to her? What did you do?" Snow quickly accused.

Before Gold could get a word in she stepped forward and placed herself between her parents and the sorcerer.

"This wasn't him."

"Emma-"

"No, just listen to me. This wasn't Gold. Gold wouldn't hurt her."

"Emma, not now." Her father interjected. "We need to get her to the hospital."

"No!" Gold nearly yelled out. "The hospital can't help her."

"Well she's not going to get better on the floor." Snow said. "Let us help."

"There is nothing you can do."

Emma sighed, turning around to Gold who was still sitting on the floor. He had dropped his cane and couldn't get both him and Belle up without trouble.

"Gold, please. We don't have to take her to the hospital, just let us help you. David can take her to the couch, or a bed, and lay her down. I don't think you can carry both of yourselves."

Gold didn't look at her, giving a low growl, "Very well."

Emma nodded to David and picked the fainted girl up, taking her to up to the bedroom Gold mentioned and laid her down while Snow and Emma helped Gold up.

"Who is she?" Snow asked.

"That's not really any of your business dearie." He gripped the handle of his cane.

"Well since we're helping you I think it is."

Gold never wanted to strangle the high-pitched voice out of the nosy princess as much as he did at that moment. They needed to leave, before he took his anger for Regina out on them.

"There is nothing you can do to help. Now leave."

"No. Not until we know the girl is safe."

"Excuse me?"

Emma quickly pulled Mary Margaret away from Gold before he could get his hands on her. Thankfully, David had started to come down stairs, but the look on his face didn't make Emma feel any better.

He walked right up to Gold and Emma groaned. Why couldn't they just listen for once?

"Alright Gold, you need to start explaining. What did you do to the girl?"

"David!"

He looked back at Emma who was now just staring at the two shocked. "Can I please talk to you two outside?"

"Emma, I know that you want to help, but you don't know what he's capable of."

"Oh I'll be showing you what I am capable of if you don't leave me house this instant."

Emma's phone rang before any more accusations or threats could be thrown. She just silently prayed that it was good news.

"Yeah, who is this?"

Everyone watched her as her face turned into a scowl. No, it wasn't good news.

"Dammit!" She cursed hanging up the phone.

"What is it?" David asked, forgetting about Gold for a moment.

"Regina, she's gone."

The room was filled with silence, but only for a few seconds when Gold growled. "You had better find her Miss Swan."

She looked at him, a silent understanding passing through them.

"Hey," David poked his finger at Gold, "you don't get to insult my daughter."

"Both of you stop."

Emma's demand was sharp, jerking both the man's heads towards her.

"We don't have time for this. Regina is missing and we need to find her. She's priority number one."

She left without another word and her parents followed.

"Emma. Emma, stop!" Snow called out. "What is going on?"

She spun around to look at them, utterly shocked by their behavior. Was this really how a prince and princess was suppose to act? Because the stories definitely got it all wrong.

"What's going on is that you two are being unbelievable!"

"Emma-"

"No, I'm not done yet!" She stopped David. "Listen, I don't care how you know Gold and what you know, but didn't you say yourself that the curse changed you? Maybe it changed him too."

David shut his mouth, realizing what she meant.

"Gold is not the villain right now. Regina is."

"Yes, but-"

"But what? You need two villains to hunt down? You want to know what happened? Regina has been keeping an asylum under the hospital and held a patience there."

"And you think that patience is the girl?" Snow asked.

"No, I know. Think about it. Both of you, Henry, and even Regina agree that Gold is far worse than her. Even so, why else would she keep someone hidden away and in a worse life than she one she gave you? Weren't you the one she was angry with?"

They didn't say anything. They were shocked that their daughter was talking to them like this, but what if she had a point?

"Who do you think she is?"

"I don't know, but it's clear that Gold really cares about her and right now, if we want to help we need to find Regina."

She walked off not letting her parents get another word in. She got to her the car and waited for them to get in before driving off to the station. Apparently the day wasn't over yet.

Gold looked down at Belle as she rested. He remembered what he had told her before but now he didn't care. She wasn't getting any better. He waved his hand over her body, letting a purple haze over her as he tried to find what was wrong. But he only found what he already knew. She was dealing with withdrawal and although that was best dealt with time, he could use a little magic to make the recovery smoother, so she could hold down some food and won't feel as faint.

He watched the purple haze fade away from her and took a sigh. He never tried to ask her after the first time, but he needed to know. He raised his hand again and placed it on her forehead, letting magic once again flow through her.

His view changed and he could see stone walls on all sides. Rumple knew this was Belle's memory of her time when Regina had her locked away. He could see the Queen coming to see her everyday, taunting her with lies and truths of what could have been. Than the curse came and the stone walls were changed to padding. He saw those same evil brown eyes from before looking at him through a slot everyday at the same time. Nurses came in and out to give Belle injections and a tray of food. They would come three times a week to bath her and the images left him.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't keep his promise to Belle, not after what he saw. Perhaps he didn't have to kill the Evil Queen, but he was going to make her pay.

David and Emma ran into the station to see that indeed Regina was gone.

"How is that possible?"

David sighed. "Perhaps she has her magic back."

"Well why didn't she save herself from the mob, or escape earlier?"

"I don't know. But we need to find her."

"Now you're agreeing with me?"

It was suppose to come out in a teasing tone but Emma was still too upset for that. Mary Margaret had gone back home to watch Henry, but somehow Emma didn't think Regina would attack on that front just yet. But if she knew about the girl-whose name they learned was Belle when Gold called it out-being gone, she was bound to do something about it.

"Emma-"

"What?" Again, she hadn't meant for it to be harsh.

"It's late. After the mob Regina is probably hiding."

"If she knows what's good for her."

"Why don't we begin this tomorrow? You need to rest. In the meantime, your mother and I will deal with Regina and Gold-"

"What? After everything I just told you, you're still going after him?"

"Emma..." he heavily sighed. "we're not going to arrest him or anything. I just want to check up on the girl. I promise."

Emma watched him for any lies but couldn't find any. As long as he was only checking up on them that was fine, but she wasn't going to let them hurt the girl if Regina was already after her. Even if Gold could protect them both. Besides, she still owed him a favor he had reminded her. Maybe protecting Belle from Regina would make up for that.

"Fine."

She left the station and Regina to David, heading home. Emma didn't have the strength to go back to Gold's house, or the loft, but she did stop by for Henry's book. Maybe whatever story about Gold or this Belle was in there, and then she would know more about this. It was time to do homework.

Regina slammed the book in frustration. The girl was missing and was most likely already in Gold's grasp, meaning she was untouchable.

For now.

But it didn't mean she couldn't cause damage on everyone else.

"I've come too far." She told herself. "I am not letting that princess win. Or that daughter of hers."

She began to gather ingredients and throw them into the pot she had hidden in her vault. She had more than one objective, and hopefully, this one potion would do the trick to accomplish them all. It would give her Henry back, destroy Jefferson for his betrayal, and keep her trump card even if she didn't have it anymore. But there was just one more problem.

She looked up at her mirror and waved her hand. It swirled with magic, filling the mirror with a blue light. Suddenly a face appeared and she smiled.

"Hello Sydney."

"Your...your majesty." He looked around him, or the best he could while he was trapped.

"What's going on?"

Regina stepped forwards and admired her work. "Well, my magic is back where it belongs and you're back where you belong."

He started to scream and cry, but she closed his mouth with magic before he could continue.

"I wasn't finished. I need your help so I can get a few other things back where they belong."

He took some breaths to control himself, knowing he couldn't deny his Queen anything. "What is it you need?"

She grinned wickedly. "Find me the girl."

He sighed. "Which one?"

Her grin left but she stopped herself before she hurt him again. It wouldn't help her right now since he was back in his mirror form. He could find what she wanted, but showing it to her was his choice entirely. Maybe she should fix that.

"Belle. Show me Belle."

Next time: Emma reads the storybook, Archie finally meets Belle, and David and Snow search for Regina, who pays a few people a visit.

I know this is short, and sorry for the delay. I find myself juggling different arts, from writing, to drawing, to piano again. Plus a lot is going on with my games and still trying to find a job. I really need one so I can have a better life lol.

I started a new story and I am going to just focus on these two before I start any others. It's called The Beauty and the Phantom, and is loosely based on...you guessed it, The Phantom of the Opera. It will begin following the movie closely but will eventually take it's own story track and I can already tell you that it won't follow the book or movie ending. Please take a look at it. It is slower than this one but that's because there is so much to talk about and since it's a very well done visual movie, I like to go into detail for those who haven't seen the movie. Or for those who have and just want to experience it again in a different style.

Please review :)