Emma flipped through the pages, trying to control her anger as she saw illustrations of her parents Snow White and Charming. They were being unbelievable and what bothered her the most was that just because they were her parents, they assumed she would agree with them. Why would she? She couldn't even agree to them picking a kingdom over her, even if it was to save her. It hurt and she knew it. She wanted for so many years to have parents and now that she did, it was too late. She was too old for parents and if they were truly the kind of people they were being now, she didn't want them.

Emma shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts and flipped to find the Beauty and the Beast story. Henry was right about the Beast, he could hardly be seen. He was always in the shadows but he wasn't what Emma was looking at. It was the brunette girl with the blue eyes always standing in the light. One illustration showed her holding a chipped cup in an iconic gold dress that Emma recognized from the Disney movie. It took a moment but she realized that it was the same cup Moe French had apparently taken from Gold. She had come back after getting ice cream that day and saw he had it, telling her how it was Regina who set it up.

She crossed her legs on the bed she was borrowing at Granny's (not having to deal with criminal charges this time-or charges at all since the old innkeeper gave her the room for free in return for breaking the curse) and placed the book on her lap. She started at the beginning.

The two men walked up the steps to the pink mansion and knocked on the door. It opened and Gold was faced with the one man he wanted to see and the one he didn't.

"Charming, I've already told you-"

"I know," Charming interrupted, "but you wanted to speak to Archie."

The co-sheriff gestured to the therapist. Gold pushed his lips together in a thin line.

"Yes, I did. But why are you here?"

David sighed. "To make sure you don't hurt anyone."

"Why would I hurt someone when I want them to help me? I'm not mental."

David mumbled under his breath, "That can be debated."

"It's alright Gold." The former cricket turned towards David. "I'll be fine. I'll let you know if there are any issues."

David watched both men, looking for something that could make him stay in the house to watch the imp. He sighed again. He really didn't like it but Archie seemed determined before that Gold wouldn't hurt him, and even insisted to come to the house on his own. Archie went on about the patient and how Gold and David being on edge with each other in the same room wouldn't help. But he knew the real reason he agreed to leave. He had to trust his daughter.

David never saw his daughter grow up but it was clear she was theirs. She had that same determination that both he and her mother possessed. He just wish she would understand that although she broke the curse, they knew more about what they were dealing with. Besides, he made a promise to the town and he had to go find Regina.

"Fine. Call if you need anything." He told Archie.

He left the porch as Gold let Archie in, closing the door behind him.

"So what exactly did you need my help for?"

Gold didn't say anything. He couldn't get upset with the man because although he was the Dark One, Archie was a gentle soul and just wanted to help. He led the man through the house and into the what would be called the parlor room. There the therapist saw a beautiful young girl sitting in a chair, reading. At first look she was beautiful, but if he looked closer he could see that she did look a tad sick. No wonder David got concerned, but Archie knew that if Gold did cause damage than the scene would be far worse.

"Belle." Gold's voice broke the girl out of her concentration on the book. "This is Archie. I wanted him to talk to you. I thought perhaps he could help you."

Belle smiled at both of the men. She got up and shook the therapist's hand. "Hi Archie."

"Hello Belle. That's a very beautiful name."

"Thank you."

"Gold asked me over to help make sure you were okay? Will that be alright?"

Belle nodded. "Yes, he told me your were coming over."

"Great." Archie sat down and took out a notepad from his bag. "Well, why don't we start where ever you want."

Gold watched as Belle relaxed around the doctor, knowing she would be okay. He left the room to give the two some privacy for the session.

David realized it would be hard to find the mayor if he couldn't very well go asking people if they had seen her. She was after all suppose to be locked up. He was just thankful that she decided to go hiding instead of a rampage on the town. But it didn't make sense to him. The only way she could have left the cell was if she had her magic back, meaning she would try and get Henry back. But so far she hadn't tried to.

"What are you doing Regina?" He asked himself. He was sitting at the sheriff's desk, staring at the empty cell.

He had called Snow back at the loft after he left Gold's house to make sure that she and Henry were safe. David sighed. Perhaps it was time to listen to their daughter and what she knew. Emma had gone to the hospital where she learned about the missing patient, which much have been Belle. So if Regina really did keep the girl locked up in the asylum, the queen really did want her to suffer more than Snow, right? (1)

It didn't make sense. He knew that it was Snow that Regina hated and wanted revenge. It was because of Snow that Regina cast the Dark Curse. So why would she curse a whole other girl to a far more miserable life than what she gave Snow? None made sense and it was driving him mad.

"Wait," David's head jerked up. "who called it in?"

He quickly grabbed his cell phone to call Emma but he grunted in frustration when she didn't answer. So he called Snow instead.

"David, what's wrong?"

"I just realized. Who called to tell Emma Regina was missing?"

The silence was deafening and Snow's answer lack of answer made David rush out of the sheriff's office. If Regina did have her magic back, he figured it wouldn't be wise to go to her office; but she was hiding and he wasn't born a king.

The knock on the door pulled Jefferson away from his bottle. He knew exactly who it was. He was expecting the queen to come and find him-not that he was entirely afraid-ever since he let Belle out. He was the only person to know about her and how the queen captured her. He had worked for the Imp when he first saw the beautiful maid, but one day she was just gone. Gold-which was a far easier name to call him by than back home-never told him what happened and dismissed the idea of her ever being there whenever Jefferson asked.

The knock came again but louder. He sighed and decided to get it over with. He knew the Queen wouldn't kill him-he was too valuable still, despite what she might have said-but it didn't mean she wouldn't hurt him somehow.

He opened the door to unsurprisingly meet the mayor's face. At least she wasn't smiling in that sadistic way, but he wasn't sure if that was better or not.

"What?"

"What?" Regina walked pass him into his home without an invitation. "I think you know what."

"I do." Jefferson turned around to face her. "But I'm not afraid of you."

"I know. In fact, I have to give you props. That was an excellent move on your part."

"Thank you." He didn't smile. "Now what do you want?"

"I just got done checking up on my one trump card that you oh-so-casually set free."

"How is she doing?"

Regina scoffed. "Therapy. Or, at least I think she is. I don't know, she was just talking to the cricket."

"Well let's hope for your sake 'talking to the cricket' is the worst that she's going through. I think you and I know both know what will happen if Rumple comes to you."

Regina didn't smile. "He has yet to."

"Perhaps Belle asked him not to."

"Than he's going to lose."

Jefferson sighed. He wasn't in the mood for this conversation. "So why are you here?"

And than Regina did smile. "I'm here for you of course."

Emma closed the book. It was a short story, in fact it was the shortest story in the book, and she had read it three times already. It was easy enough to understand. Ogres were destroying her home so Belle calls upon the Dark One to come save them. But with the Dark One being Gold, he asked for Belle in exchange. Did her parents know that, because it would explain their behavior towards Gold a little better. But throughout the story and having read it three times, it was clear-even if a part of her hated the fact-that Belle and the Beast loved each other.

So Gold and Belle were True Love. Emma shook her head. Dealing with magic, a curse, and a dragon was enough. She wasn't so sure she was ready to handle a three hundred year old sorcerer being in love with a girl who was around her age when they met. But she had already decided that this wasn't a game anymore, so she couldn't treat it like such. If they loved each other she was going to have to get use to it, because it also meant that she was right. Regina had locked the girl up to use against Gold. But that also meant that her parents and Regina was right. Gold was far worse than the Evil Queen.

And if Gold already knew what Regina did to the girl during her time in the asylum, she was certain he would go looking for blood.

What did I get myself into?

She hated having to hide since it was her town, but she wasn't quite ready to reveal herself just yet. But when Regina walked into her office after talking to Jefferson in his home, she smiled. There was the shepherd looking through her desk.

"David, what may I ask are you doing here?"

David had his hand on his side, ready to take the gun and aim if he needed to.

"Looking for you actually."

"Well I don't think I can fit through a drawer." Regina said dryly.

David walked out from behind the desk but still kept his distance.

"That girl. What is she to you?"

"What girl?" Regina asked.

"You know who! We know about your little asylum below the hospital. Emma found out about it. That girl you were hiding there, Belle? What is she to you?"

Hearing what he had to say Regina's smile disappeared. So she might have completely lost her trump card, but she hasn't lost the battle yet.

"She's leverage that can help you and your family."

"I'm not you. I'm not going to use someone against another person."

Regina slowly walked towards him. "But I know how you and your little wife hate the Dark One."

That brought David's attention to a halt. What exactly was she saying?

"It must be difficult, not having your reunited daughter not trusting you. Not believing you when you tell her how awful the Dark One is. But what if you could get rid of him? Or at least, under control?"

David lowered his from his side. "What do you mean?"

David, you bastard! Don't listen to her! Alright, you might have caught that (1) somewhere in the chapter. That's a very important note.

(1) I have decided that for the sake of the plot, David DOES NOT KNOW about Belle already. So Rumple never told him about having a True Love. So David doesn't realize that Belle is Gold's True Love and honestly believe she is in danger.

I had meant to make that note last time but forgot. Sorry. So if you were wondering why he hadn't made that connection yet, that's why. The plot calls for it.

Next time: David and Regina talk, Emma meets with Jefferson, Gold takes Belle into the town.