It was not long after Regina brought Henry home did her door begin to bang. Or rather the person on the other side was banging, demanding that she open the door and let them see Henry.

She groaned. "Charmings. I should really have some short of bug spray for those annoying little gnats."

She opened the door, standing face to face with the Savior. "What do you want Miss Swan?" Regina asked, in a very annoyed tone.

"I know you took you Henry."

That actually confused her for a moment. Had someone actually seen her? She turned her attention to her step-daughter. "So, the secret spilling princess strikes again." She smirked.

"Enough Regina." Snow bit back. "It's not a secret you want Henry. You had to have done something to him. He was in the loft one second and gone the next. Where is he?"

The mayor crossed her arms. "You really believe I did something, don't you?"

"Can you blame us?"

"Enough." Emma interrupted the two. "Where is he Regina?"

"Why? So you can take him away again?"

The blonde furrowed her eyebrows. "You took him first."

"Did I? Must we really have this argument again about who raised Henry? Besides, I didn't take him from the loft. He had left himself for some reason," She wasn't going to tell the heroes why. "And I brought him home afterwards."

Emma sighed. She wasn't in the mood to handle everything that was going one. It was all too stupid she thought. She knew Regina wouldn't actually be stupid enough to magic Henry from the loft to her house, and 'escaping Regina seemed to be what Henry was good at. Or at least for a time being. Also, much to her distaste, Regina was right. They had had the conversation about who raised Henry again, and Emma agreed. Even if giving Henry his best chance was the reason she gave him up, it didn't change the fact that she did give Henry up. Regina raised him and loved him. Emma always loved her son, even if she didn't know him. But she didn't do anything for him. She had admitted that to herself once. The reason she wouldn't before was because she didn't want Regina to win. But if she didn't focus on more important issues at the moment, she would win.

"Fine."

"Emma!" Her parents tried to stop her, but she simply ignored them.

"At least let me know he's safe."

"He's perfectly safe Miss Swan. I assure you. Now I do believe you have some other fish to fry?" The Queen smiled knowingly.

Emma didn't believe her. She knew what she saw and she knew Gold wasn't the villain. So what exactly was she playing at?

The three left the mayor's house and to the car.

"Emma, what are you thinking?"

"Emma, you can't trust her with Henry."

"It seems I can't trust you either!" She told her father. "The only person I can trust is Gold. Which is quite shocking."

David sighed. "How can you be sure that Regina isn't planning something?"

"I can't. But I do know Belle is safer with Gold than anyone else."

"Emma, we saw them at Granny's."

The news didn't phase her. Archie had told her that they would be going out into the town, but she knew what her mother meant. She knew the town didn't like Gold anymore than they did. Heck, they had set up a mob to kill Regina! What would they do to Gold if they thought he was hurting Belle?

"Fine, I'll work on damage control. Again."

"I was going to talk to Moe."

"French?" She questioned her father. "Why?"

"Maybe he can tell us a little more about Belle. Emma, I know you trust Gold, and we should trust you too, but.."

"But what?" She didn't mean for the question to come out harsh, but she was really getting sick of her parents going against her decisions. Why couldn't they understand that this world was not theirs?

"There were stories back home." Her mother answered.

"Did you guys ever know Belle back home?"

Her parents glanced at each other. "No, but we have heard about her. Of course stories spread and everyone tells it differently, but they all came to the same ending."

Emma sighed. "Let me guess. The beast had the beauty locked up?"

The silence her parents gave her said yes. She walked away. She wasn't in any mood to listen to that nonsense again. If David wanted to talk to Moe, let him. She had other business to take care of.

Going into town didn't run as smoothly as Gold had hoped. Mostly due to the presence of the shepherd. And the leering looks and whispers of the nearby patrons didn't help matters, but Belle was happy. She had gone home smiling from ear to ear, completely enthralled with the beauty of this new land.

"How are you feeling?"

He noticed the slight suppression of her smile. "I'm feeling much better. That burger was very good." She replied.

"Belle,"

"Rumple," She quickly spoke in. "I know what you're going to say and it's okay."

"What?"

"I don't care what the others think." She walked up and took his hand in hers. "I love you Rumplestiltskin. I always have."

He kissed her, once again completely amazed. When he tried to pull away she held on to him and kept his lips locked with hers. "Rumple," she muttered. "Can we.."

He smiled against her lips. He had waited twenty-eight years to feel her in his arms again. He had waited without even knowing he was waiting. Now here she was, uncaring of the judgment he knew the town had and completely in love with him. If it was a dream, he would curse anyone who woke him up from it.

"Is that what you want?" He asked.

She nodded. "I love you."

"And I love you."

So they made their way to the bedroom, forgetting for a moment the world outside.

Back at Granny's, Emma found herself in another uproar with the citizens. Thankfully for her no one was trying to killing anyone this time. Instead they were all calling out over each other on what their idea of what was happening between Gold and the mysterious woman. She heard some people say how it was the Avonlea girl and she wondered if they were talking about the stories her parents mentioned they heard.

"Guys," Ruby spoke up the loudest to get their attention. "No one likes Gold. We all know that. But he wasn't hurting her."

"She didn't look good Ruby." Her grandmother added to the side.

The uproar started again and Emma reached her breaking point. "Enough!" She yelled out.

"Listen! If someone hurt Belle, it was Regina. Okay? I am going to talk to Gold but I want everyone to understand. No one is to touch them!"

Everyone remained silent as they tried to understand what she was saying. "We're not in your world anymore, we're in mine." She repeated what she had told Whale at Regina's house. "And in my world, we don't create mobs to go after people. I will handle Gold and Regina, I promise."

"At least the evil bitch is locked up." Leroy said. Others cheered their agreements.

Emma squinted her eyes, deciding to get it over with. "Actually, she got out. But," She quickly added before they could get anymore upset. "No one is going after her. She hasn't set out to kill anyone."

"Yet."

The sheriff glared at the dwarf. "After that display you people took to her house, I don't think Regina is going to want to face you right now. She's more focused on other matters."

"You said she hurt Belle. Do you think she's going to go after Belle again?"

Emma could see the protectiveness in the waitress and she wondered if that was a wolf thing. She had figured from the clues that Ruby was a wolf but after reading the book, she now she the brunette was both Red Riding Hood and the wolf. Now that's really crazy, she thought.

"I'll handle it." She told them firmly. Now she just had to believe it herself.

The florist heard the door to the shop open and he called out that he would be there in a moment. He had woken up from the curse the same as everyone else, but he was too deep in grief to go out and start a new life. He had heard from his assistant that Prince Charmings managed to keep everyone from killing the Evil Queen and go on with their lives. He couldn't fathom why the prince would do such a thing. According to him, the Evil Queen deserved to perish.

Along with the Beast, he mused.

After the memories of his life returning to him, the first thing he remembered was his darling Belle. He had quickly set out to find her the first day but failed. He knew it wouldn't be possible because he knew the beast would have had her locked up where she couldn't be found.

He cut his musings short when he remembered he had a visitor. Setting down a flower pot he made his way to the front to see the prince.

"Your Majesty."

David held up his hand. "It's okay, just call me David. I was wanting to talk to you about your daughter? Belle?"

"You know her? Have you seen her? Where as that beast taking her?"

The acting sheriff stepped back. He hadn't expected the florist to rush and ask demanding questions. Though he could understand why the man was scared. He felt the same way when he the curse broke and he remembered everything. All he wanted to do was find his daughter.

"Don't worry. She's safe." He didn't think it would be a good idea to let him know that she was with Gold, but unfortunately her father was already thinking that.

"That monster has her, doesn't he?"

David held up his hands. "There's nothing to worry about. She's perfectly safe. I was just wanting to know a few things."

"Like what?" He asked.

"Well," David paused. He wasn't quite sure what to ask, though he had a good idea. But seeing how quick Moe was to jump to conclusions, the prince knew he had to be careful. Most importantly, he knew he had to be patience and not take everything the florist told him truthfully. There are two sides to every story. Now he was starting to see what Emma was getting at. "What happened? How did Belle and Gold meet back home?"

After their session of love making, Belle jumped into the shower while Gold got dressed. He hoped Belle wouldn't notice in the shower how he used some magic to heal her pain. It was still just a few days when the curse broke and she was returned to him (and not in mint condition, which he would still make Regina pay for), so it was understandable if she wasn't fully healed from her trauma. After her session with the therapist, Archie had talked to him privately. The cricket let him know that it would be a few weeks before Belle's full strength returned to her and until that time, she had to be careful. Gold almost smirked. Archie was beginning to know more about Belle, but it was clear that he didn't know just as accident prone his maid was.

Maid? Gold smiled. Not anymore. No, he thought. She will no longer be a maid. But he wasn't quite sure what she was to him yet either. She was definitely his True Love, and the near breaking of his curse proved that, but was she his girlfriend? Were they at that stage yet? He wasn't sure. Though he did find it a bit odd that he was over 400 years old and had a girlfriend. He felt those titles were reserved for the young teens and foolish lovers. But they were that too, weren't they. He never knew her age when he took Belle into his services, but he had figured that she was at least in her early twenties. And they were definitely foolish lovers.

The doorbell rang and Gold let out a sigh of frustration. Though he had hoped it was Regina. She would have been utterly foolish to show her face here or anywhere near Belle, but he wanted the pleasure of her seeing how well they were doing. Hatred boiled in his stomach when he realized that he had promised Belle not to kill the queen. Belle didn't even want him going after her and while being in his True Love's arms was making it easier to bear the promise, being in the presence of the culprit who caused his Belle harm was making it all so much difficult again.

He swung the door open. He was actually disappointed to see that it was only the Swan. Yet, her presence didn't make him feel any better. At least her parents weren't with her this time.

"Miss Swan. This makes three visits in one week. I must be very special."

She didn't smile. It told Gold that she wasn't in any mood for quips or jokes, but it didn't tell him why she was at his house. Again.

"Has Regina been here yet?"

"No. Though if she is smart, and she is," He subtly warned the sheriff. "She wouldn't dare show her face here."

Emma glanced sideways, not responding. Gold smirked.

"Let me guess. Your cell couldn't hold her."

The blonde's silence said yes. And surprisingly, Gold stepped aside to let her in.

"What may I do for you today?"

"I want to apologize for before." She said, turning to face him.

"Oh? Which time would that be?"

Emma sighed. "My parents."

Gold walked past her and into the living room. She followed. "Something tells me that they're not on your side anymore. Or are you not on theirs?"

"I don't think I ever picked any sides." She let out another sigh. This one was more heavy. "But I think I'm going to have to now."

"Ah. And tell me Savior." He sat down, leaning his cane on the arm rest. Just as he did the day when she first knocked on his door after the curse broke.

"Which side have you picked?"

Next time: Emma makes a deal with Gold, Moe tries to get Belle back, Henry makes it back to Snow and David, and Regina decides to act.

Work, work, work. More hours, less people. At least the holiday is gone now. We were slammed Fourth of July. Everyone was boarding their dogs and we had like no rooms left. It was crazy. And since my parents left for that whole week, I had to handle not only the dogs at work but my dogs too. Two of which are afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms. Lo and Behold! We had both that week. So yeah, there was no way any writing was going to get done.

Alright, so I am actually happy with this chapter. I feel like everything is starting to fall into place. I'm also a little excited to see Henry back in the game. He was a little silent there for a few chapters. Moe is going to do something stupid, I just know it! Belle is getting better...or is she? What the heck is Regina doing?!

Just a few questions to think about. :) Please review!