It was the middle of the night when Rumplestiltskin drove his car out to the town line. When he reached it, he found the Hatter and Pip standing next to the portal jumper's wine-red mustang convertible. Both were dressed in black to blend in with the night.

"Did you bring the goods?" asked Rumple.

"They nearly didn't fit but yes," said Pip. The Hatter popped the trunk to reveal, tied up inside the cramped space, none other than William Smee.

The Hatter dragged him out forcing the man to stand just in front of the town line. They ungagged him and immediately he began pleading.

"Don't push me over. If I cross the line, I'll lose my memory. It's a cruel fate."

"A fate you were more than willing to bestow upon Belle," snapped Pip and the man cowered in front of the three allies. Back in the Enchanted Forest it was well known their little trifecta was not one to cross.

"It was just business!" argued the man.

"Well, that kind of business can get you into a GREAT deal of trouble," said the Hatter. Rumplestiltskin plucked the beanie off of the man's head.

"You've had this rag since the day we met. Why is it so important to you?"

"My grandmother made it for me when I was a boy. It's always brought me good fortune. What difference does it make?" Rumplestiltskin poured a little of the purple potion over the hat.

"Oh, ho ho. All the difference in the world. It's your only chance."

"I can't step across!" said Smee.

"Well you could stay here and be turned into a snail. Or have the Piper play you into insanity," offered Jefferson with a mad grin. Smee blanched.

"What did you mean my only-" but Pip seemed to lose patience and kicked the man over the line. A magical wave ran across his Smee's body as the three watched.

"What's your name?" asked Rumple.

"William Smee."

"And who are we?"

"The Dark One, The Piped Piper, and The Portal Jumper Jefferson," Smee stood up. "I remember everything! How can this be?"

"Well, it seems that our little experiment was a success," smirked Rumple he pulled Smee over the town line. "Now drink this." He held out a white potion.

"What will that do."

"Erase your memory of tonight." answered Rumple.

"But I don't want to forget!" said Smee.

"Oh, for god's sake," muttered Pip. She pulled out her pipe and began playing a hypnotic tune. Smee swayed a little.

"Take the potion," ordered Rumple and this time the man complied without question. As soon as he'd drunk it the Hatter promptly knocked the man out.

"Right well now that's done I want you two to dispose of him."

"How do you want it done?" asked the Hatter.

"Just leave him in an alley with a beer bottle. He'll think he passed out."

"So not the fun way?" pouted Pip. Rumple rolled his eyes.

"I'll compensate you with breakfast tomorrow morning at my house. We can all tell Belle the good news."

"You just want back up when you tell her you kidnapped a man and shoved him over the line," chuckled Jefferson.

"I did no such thing. You kidnapped a man and Pip shoved him over. I just made observations," said Rumple and the three shared a laugh before Smee was heaved into the back end of the Bentley and the two cars separated.

OUAT

Belle awoke Saturday morning after sleeping in. The library opened later on the weekends. She heard voices downstairs and after putting on her fuzzy bathrobe went down to find Alice, Grace, and Jefferson at the kitchen table. Rumple looked up from the stove where he appeared to be finishing cooking breakfast.

"Good morning. I was just about to wake you."

"Alright what's with the party?" asked Belle walking round the table to embrace the visitors.

"Uncle Rumple worked out a potion to get across the line!" said Grace.

"Did he now?" Rumple raised his hands in surrender as he brought her bacon and eggs benedict over.

"I only confirmed it worked last night." Belle's brow furrowed.

"How did you confirm it? And should we be discussing this in front of Grace?"

"I can keep a secret!" said the girl indignantly. "I'm not Snow White." Alice snorted.

"I should think not. Otherwise, our parenting has failed."

"Right then how did you confirm it?" asked Belle again more firmly noticing Rumple looked a little uneasy meaning he wasn't sure if he would get in trouble with her for whatever he had done.

"We shoved William Smee across the town line after I had these two kidnap him," he said at last. Belle blinked processing the information. On the one hand it was a cruel fate to subject someone to. On the other...Smee had been willing to help her father do the same to her. And Smee at least had been given a chance she supposed. Right or wrong what's done was done and the man had honestly gotten off light in terms of Rumple's punishments.

"Did you wipe his memory?"

"We aren't amateurs," scoffed Jefferson. Belle smiled.

"Then I suppose we do have a reason to celebrate. We can finally go find Bae." She stood and kissed Rumple. "I knew you could do it."

"Thank you, my darling. Now all that remains is to find something for you to wear to pour the potion over. It needs to be an item of great sentimental value." Belle paused thinking for a moment then smiled.

"My mother's gloves. I should be able to keep those on all the time."

"Perfect."

"Speaking of potions..." Belle pulled away and trotted down the stairs of the cellar to where she had four small vials of potion on necklaces laid out. She grabbed three of them and hurried back upstairs.

"Transportation potions. Unfortunately, the ones we carried over originally didn't seem to have mixed well with the time freeze so I brewed a few new ones." She handed them out to the Hatter's.

"Thanks Auntie Belle," said Grace with a smile putting the necklace around her neck.

"Smash them and think of where you want to go," said Belle sitting back down to eat her breakfast. "Should be useful if Cora turns up."

"Henry said Regina and Emma have both been worried."

"As they should be," replied Rumple. "You stay on your guard Gracelyn." The petite blond nodded seriously.

"Thanks Belle," said Alice putting on her own necklace. "You truly are a gem."

"Well, this gem needs to finish her breakfast and go open the library," she joked. "As usual it seems you two have been a great help to Rumple and I."

"Our pleasure," said Jefferson tipping an imaginary hat and making Belle remember many happy breakfasts together in the Dark Castle.

OUAT

By the time Belle managed to get out of the house she was running late and simply had Rumple magicked the both of them to their respective places of business. It was Nova's Day off so she was running the library herself. Fortunately, it didn't appear that anyone was all that interested yet.

Not that she was entirely opposed to a quiet day. Cora turning up was her main concern. The latest news from Emma was that they'd convinced Regina to go undercover with her mother as a way to try and figure out what the woman was planning.

Belle had been shelving books for about an hour when she heard the door to the library open. She hurried out of the depths of the shelves to find herself faced with...a pirate. And not just any pirate Belle's eyes flicked to the hook on one hand. This was the man that had come to pretend to rescue her back in the tower.

More than that he was dressed in clothes from their realm which indicated that he had NOT come over with the curse. And if he didn't come with the curse then...he came with Cora.

Belle's hand moved to her throat and to her horror she realized she'd forgotten to put on the necklace that held her own teleportation potion. Ok. So a quick getaway was out of the question and the pirate was blocking the nearest exit.

"Can I help you? I'm sure we have some nautical titles that might be of interest," she said as she began to try edging for the back door. The pirate sneered.

"Oh, I'm not here for the books, love. I think we both know that."

"You're the one that broke into my cell at the Queen's palace. You wanted to hurt Rumplestiltskin." Then another realization hit her. A one-handed pirate that wanted to kill Rumple? That couldn't be a coincidence…her train of thought was cut off by the malicious grin of the pirate as he started to advance.

"Oh, I still do. But right now, I'll settle for you."

"Fat chance," snapped Belle and with all her might she shoved the nearest book cart on top of him. The pirate let out a yell of pain as Belle rushed to the service elevator and managing to lock herself inside just as the pirate got up and made a lunge for her.

Belle's heart hammered as the man pounded on the door. She reached for her cell phone. Ordinarily she might just call for Rumple by name but she didn't want him poofing into a situation with no knowledge. Her husband picked up on the first ring.

"Hey, Belle."

"Rumple, I'm in the elevator there's a pirate in the library, he broke in, he wants to kill me and you. But right now, me."

"Belle you, you're breaking up. Who's in the library?" replied Rumple

"Murderous, one-handed pirate HELP RUMPLESTILTSKIN," she said his name loudly as she hung up hoping perhaps that the knowledge he was coming might scare off her attacker.

Oddly enough it seemed to work because the banging stopped. She reached for the short knife she kept hidden in the folds of her skirt. Ever since the Regina incident in their land she'd kept a weapon on her. The doors opened to her utter relief revealing a concerned looking Rumplestitlskin.

Belle threw her arms about him.

"Oh, thank God I was so scared."

"It's alright Belle. I'm here," he told her holding her close. They pulled apart as she pocketed her knife and Rumple placed a suit jacket around her shoulders.

"Did you bring an extra suit jacket just for me?" she asked in amusement. It wasn't exactly the best thing to focus on at the moment but she couldn't help but laugh slightly at the fact that her husband refused to go out in anything less than a full suit. Rumple chuckled.

"I have an image to keep up." Belle smiled at him but the mirth quickly faded.

"What happened?" asked Rumple. Belle described the attack and the man himself.

"Rumple. He came for me in the tower to try and harm you. And he only has one hand. Is this pirate the same man who your tramp of an ex-wife ran off with?" Rumple snorted evidently amused by her reference to Milah.

"It certainly seems so. How the man is alive after all this time I've no idea but if it is him then he'll likely come for you again. Let's head to the shop."

"Why?" asked Belle.

"Well, let's just say there are many wonderful things in there that I could use to make sure that pirate never comes near you again," Rumple had a dangerous gleam in his eye that didn't bode well for the pirate. But this was not the Enchanted Forest. Where one with enough power could administer their own justice and get away with it.

"Rumple, no. We need to report this to the sheriff. They'll take care of him. We should just focus on finding Bae. We're leaving soon so we'll be out of his reach for a while."

"He tried to harm you!" said Rumple. Belle's response was cut off as they approached the pawnshop only to find the door ajar. Rumple pushed her behind him as they stepped inside to see a ransacked shop. Everything was a complete mess and horror filled Belle. It had been a trap and they'd played right into it. SHE'D played right into it.

"Hook. This is why he attacked you."

"To get you out of the store. What did he want?" She glanced around most of the most powerful magical items were kept under several layers of protective spells. Rumple limped behind the counter searching before letting out a yell of rage, smashing his cane into the glass of several cases.

"Rumple! Rumple! Stop it! Stop! Please!" her words seemed to calm him for her stopped. "What's gone?" she asked.

"Bae's shawl. I had it out when you called." Belle's heart sank.

"Then we have to get it back." Rumple straightened up.

"Yes. You're right. I'll have to retrieve what's mine."

"Not on your own. Let me help you," said Belle blocking him from leaving.

"This is my fight." said Rumple

"And this is my fault! If I hadn't been so careless this morning and had remembered to wear my teleportation potion, I'd never have needed to call you in the first place and the ruse would never have worked."

"Hook is dangerous. You can't come. You're gonna go back to the library, lock the door, and wait for me to dispense with this problem." Belle crossed her arms

"And if I don't? You'll cast some spell that gives me no choice?" she knew he'd never actually do something like that but the words succeeded in getting him to pause slightly.

"No. I trust you'll do as I wish, as you trust me to be a better man. Belle, please. Hook has maybe cost me the chance of finding my son! I don't want to lose you, too!"

"You won't. But how many times must I tell you Rumple that we are in this together. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not." The couple engaged in an intense stare down finally Rumple sighed.

"You are utterly impossible. At least try and stay out of harm's way," he sighed before going over to an umbrella stand where several swords were.

"I hope you still remember our lessons."

"Of course," said Belle taking the sword. "Where do you think he'll be?"

"I'd suspect the docks. Pirates like him don't change much." Rumple waved his hand and teleported them to the docks.

OUAT

They approached the empty docks looking around for his ship.

"There!" said Belle pointing to where two sea gulls appeared to be perched in midair. Belle knelt down and picked up some gravel before tossing it in the direction of where she guessed the ship was. It landed on a solid surface.

"I knew you were cleverer than Cora," said Rumple and with a wave of his hand the invisibility spell was lifted and a giant pirate ship appeared.

"Alright then we search the ship and try and get off without confrontation, if possible, we don't need you getting thrown in jail for murder today," said Belle who had also just texted the location of the ship to Emma.

They boarded and split up looking around Belle headed below deck and to her utter shock found Jiminy tied up and gagged.

"Jiminy!" she exclaimed quickly untying the man.

"Belle! What are you doing here?" asked the man.

"There's no time. Just get out of here!" she told him.

"You aren't coming?"

"I'll explain another time," she responded before shooing the therapist out and beginning to search the drawers.

"Looking for this?" asked a voice and she turned to see Hook holding the shawl and now holding her at gunpoint.

"That doesn't belong to you," she told him coolly refusing to show any fear.

"Oh, it does now. Poor little Belle. You really should have stayed with your books." the man gloated. "Real life can get so...messy."

"I'm not afraid of you, and I'm not leaving without that." she told him trying to work out a way to get the shawl.

"Well, I admire your loyalty, but helping Rumplestiltskin? I'm afraid you're fighting a lost cause."

"He needs that shawl to find his son," she said she doubted the man had any empathy but it was worth a shot.

"What makes you think his son wants to be found? Hmm? I'm doing that boy a favor." Alright empathy was out.

"The way you did him a favor when you agreed to help Milah abandon him? At least Rumple has been trying to get back to him."

"You know about Milah?" the pirate seemed surprised and utterly missed her point.

"Yes I do. I know everything. And while I'm sorry you lost your love taking it out on Rumple won't bring her back. You say Bae doesn't want to be found but that's his choice not yours."

"Milah was miserable. He was a coward who made her unhappy. I never forced her to run away with me."

"No you just mocked someone physically unable to fight back. I'd call that cowardly."

"You think he's changed. He will do anything to hold onto his power. Why do you think anyone who's ever gotten close to him has either run away or been killed? Now what makes you think you're any different? Tell me something, darling. Why would you want to fight for a man like that? " Scoffed the pirate.

"What I think and choose regarding my husband, isn't your business. He has a goodness in him as well as darkness," Her hand rose up to where an oar hung from the ceiling.

"But you wouldn't understand that. Because you are rotten to the core," with those words she shoved the end of the ore forward and into Hook's face. He let out a scream of pain and fell down. Belle snatched the shawl and gun from his grip and ran past him and out of the cabin.

"Rumplestiltskin!" she called as she made to find her way back to the exit of the ship. However, her path was blocked once more by Hook.

"How the hell did you...?" the pirate smirked.

"I know this ship like the back of my own..." he held up his hook. "Well, you know. I suggest you give that back to me now." Belle pointed her sword at him.

"Or what."

"Or it would be a shame for a lovely lady on her own to die such a sad death."

"What makes you think she's on her own?" said a voice behind Hook and Belle couldn't help but smirk as Rumple came into view.

"You look different in this world, Crocodile. Like the coward I met so long ago- limp and all."

"And yet, you still can't kill me. Not to mention I've rather upgraded in the wife department." Hook snarled.

"Let's have it, Dark One. What magic are you gonna hide behind today?"

"Oh no, not magic, " said Rumple before raising his cane and beginning to beat Hook. Evidently the pirate had not actually expected Rumple to fight back for he went down quickly as Rumple continued to hit him.

Belle was slightly torn. This was the man that had helped sweep away Bae's mother. But at the same time, if it hadn't been Hook it probably would have been some other sailor or person that could have gotten Milah out of there. That said she wasn't totally opposed to letting Rumple get a little catharsis but Emma was bound to be here soon and killing Hook could be problematic.

"Rumple! Hey! Let's go. Let's go!"

"No, not yet, Belle."

"This," she held up the shawl, "This is what you came for. This is what's gonna get you back to Bae. Not beating the life out of Hook."

"You're wasting your breath, love. He can't resist. He has to prove that he's not a coward."

"Shut up," she told the pirate before turning back to her husband, who shook his head,

"You might wanna turn away, Belle. This isn't gonna be pretty." he then continued his beating.

"Do it. Do it! Kill me." shouted Hook. "Rip my heart out. Kill me like you did Milah, and I'll finally be reunited with her."

"Don't Rumple, if for no other reason than you'd be giving him what he wants and delaying your ability to get to Bae. When you find him is he going to be thrilled to hear you've just beaten a man to death worthy or not?" asked Belle. "There is good in you he doesn't believe it. But I do."

Rumple seemed to pause thinking over her arguments finally he scowled pointing at Hook.

"You take you little ship and sail until you fall off the edge of the world. I never want to see you again." Rumple turned to Belle. "Let's go." Belle nodded. She could see Emma running toward the ship and turned back to Hook.

"You owe me. Don't waste this." She told him then gave him a slap across the face. "And that's for Bae."

OUAT

It took a great effort to not beat Hook to death but Rumple managed to contain himself and deep down he knew Belle was right. Bae wouldn't want to hear about him having recently murdered someone. They headed back towards the pawn shop. When they were outside Belle broke off from him to lock up the library early for the day.

Rumple entered his shop sealing Bae's shawl in his safe behind a host of protective enchantments. The bell tinkled and he turned expecting to see his wife only to be met with the sight of Cora.

"Hello, Rumple." Rumple kept his face neutral. He'd anticipated an encounter at some point.

"I expected this was just a matter of time. Had hoped you were dead, but hey...disappointment's just part of life. I'm sure we can agree on that," he shot her a smirk. Cora shook her head approaching.

She was still pretty, for an older woman. Her chocolate hair piled up on her head and her brown eyes holding a dangerous gleam. She was dressed in an elegant beaded gown far more befitting of their realm than this one. Her ruby red lips parted in a smile.

"Aw, the crocodile snaps at the little bird. And after I brought you a gift." She waved her hand and a large wooden box appeared on one of the counters.

"Yeah, did you bring the antidote, too?" Cora laughed.

"Oh, Rumple. It's a peace offering."

"And what do you want for this uh— " he glanced at the box. "This peace offering?"

"My daughter. You were so clever to get her lay the curse so you could come here. You don't need her anymore. Let me try to get her back. And- let us live."

"And what do I get for my troubles?" he asked unwilling to agree to anything without knowing all the details. Cora was undoubtably the closest anyone had ever come to being his equal. Well in terms of power. Belle was his equal in other was.

"Your son. You might have figured out how to leave this town but you don't know where in this wide world to look."

"How do you know about that?" asked Rumple.

"One should always keep an eye on those with the ability to challenge them," responded Cora and Rumple realized she must have been watching him and the Hatters on the town line that night. Hence how Hook knew to steal the shawl. The revelation was worrying. Still, he was intrigued by what she thought she had to offer.

Rumplestiltskin carefully opened the box revealing an opaque globe with a needle. Rumple's heart lifted. It was exactly what he needed.

"You know what that is, of course." said Cora.

"It'll find him... If this one truly is it." he looked back at his former student who laughed.

"Darling, I have no reason to cheat you."

"Anymore." quipped Rumple. For while he certainly didn't love Cora he still felt a sting of anger at her betrayal all the years ago. Cora raised an eyebrow.

"So will you accept my offer of a truce?" Rumple thought it over weighing his options then offered his hand.

"Truce."

"Let's seal it like we used to." She made to move in and kiss him but Rumple took a step back.

"Sorry dearie. You're not my type anymore." What looked like anger briefly seemed to flash in Cora's eyes however her response was cut off by the door of the shop opening and Belle stepping inside.

"Rumple I...Oh."

OUAT

The last thing Belle had expected to walk in on was Cora making a move on her husband. Cora turned around to look at her. Belle could practically feel the dark power radiating off the woman. Instinctively Belle felt her noble training kick in as she faced the elegant woman. She drew herself up to her full height and lifted her chin slightly.

"I see we have company," she said cooly.

"You must be Belle," said the woman in an icy tone.

"And you must be Cora," replied Belle slowly beginning to make her way towards her husband.

"My, aren't you a pretty young thing? I hope you enjoy yourself before he tires of you."

"Cora, that's enough," said Rumple but Belle wasn't going to just let him defend her. Belle had now reached Rumple and wrapped a possessive arm about his waist.

"No it's alright Rumple. She can snap all she wants. At the end of the day though she threw away the person with the greatest power for tiny bit of status that never took her very far." Cora let out a harsh laugh.

"Perhaps you do have a brain in that little head. Seducing the Dark One."

"No. You seduced him. I fell in love with him." Belle corrected her. "And at the end of the day I suppose if you hadn't rejected him he'd never have been able to find true love and that's the most powerful magic of all."

Cora stared at Belle for a moment that scoffed slightly and glanced at Rumple.

"It seems your girl has some bite. She isn't just a pretty face after all."

"Oh she's far more than that," said Rumple who had wrapped an arm around Belle's lower back.

"Well, I'm sure you'll both be quite happy," the smile that the woman gave them held no warmth. "Enjoy your trip." Cora waved her hand and disappeared in a swirl of smoke. As soon as she was gone Rumple turned to Belle.

"You shouldn't have antagonized her."

"Well, I wasn't going to act like some meek little mouse who can't hold her own. That just encourages people like her to pounce," said Belle. "Now what did she want?"

"For me to leave her and Regina alone in exchange for this..." he gestured to the opaque globe sitting on the counter.

"A blood tracking globe?" said Belle.

"Precisely." Belle smiled.

"And even though YOU promised to leave them alone that doesn't mean I can't do anything to help against them." Rumple smirked.

"As always you keep up easily. Shall we see where we need to go?" Belle nodded and Rumple pressed his finger to the tip of the needle until blood was drawn. it slid down onto the globe and began to form a map.

OUAT

New York. That was where his son was. With a little extra magic Rumple had managed to work out the address of an apartment building, although no apartment number. However, he figured he'd cross that road when he came to it.

After finding the location it was getting late so they decided to go home and get packed. Belle had called up Nova and was asking her to cover the library. According to his wife Nova had been surprisingly obliging about not asking questions.

Rumple and Belle each packed a suit case, made a goodbye call to the Hatters, and Rumple booked tickets for the next flight to Manhattan. Then together they headed for the town line.

As the Cadillac pulled up outside the orange line Rumple stopped the car turning to Belle. He held up the shawl.

"This would have been lost, if it wasn't for you, Belle. I would've been lost. After everything you've learned about me, after everything I've done, why haven't you given up on me?" Belle smiled and took his hand her wedding ring catching the light.

"I learned a long time ago, that when you find something that's worth fighting for, you never give up. Now come on let's test it one more time and then we can be on our way."

Rumple poured the potion on a pair of pale brown leather gloves and the shawl. Belle placed the gloves on her hands and he wrapped the shawl around his neck. Then together they walked towards the line.

Reaching it Rumple held out his hand.

"I'm going first." Belle rolled her eyes.

"You already tested it why not do it together?"

"Because if it was a one off and someone loses their memory then we'll need one competent person to get the other person's memory back," responded Rumple. Belle heaved a sigh.

"Fine." Rumple took a step over the line and he felt a rush of magic wash over him. The memories of Mr. Gold pressed towards the forefront of his mind but he didn't forget who he was. He turned around feigning a look of slight confusion then pointed at his wife.

"Belle?" said woman laughed and took his hands.

"You fool! Trying to scare me like that."

"It was a quip, not serious," said Rumple and Belle smiled clearly recognizing the reference to her first day.

"And now we can find Bae together," she told him. His response was cut off as a gunshot rang out.

Author's Note: So! Quite a lot happening here! We get some good old fashioned Hatter, Piper, Rumple antics. I love writing those three together getting up to their old mischief. We also meet Hook and of course the dynamic is a little different since Belle already knows everything. Her don't kill him thing also this time round is slightly more on the pragmatic than solely idealistic side. And Cora meets Belle! Let me know what you think of that confrontation too. I had the Cora and Rumple scene earlier since it never made sense Rumple was leaving town when he didn't have a destination. Next time we see how the town line scene changes (hint Belle having her gloves doesn't mean they are out of the woods:) Thanks to all my readers and commentors. If you like the story please take a moment and leave a note below. Until next time!