Rumple took Belle home and per Dr. Frankenstein's orders she spent the following couple days resting up. Soon she'd recovered her strength and both were willing to try leaving again. Although Rumple planned to drive straight over the line this time with no stops.

"I was thinking Rumple. We don't really know New York or this outside world at all," said Belle over breakfast.

"You think it will be significantly different than Storybrooke?" asked Rumple.

"New York is a big city. Storybrooke is a small town. I'm certain of it," said Belle.

"You make a good point," said Rumple. "What do you suggest?" his wife tilted her head thoughtfully.

"You said Emma was in the finding people business before she came here, correct?"

"Yes, I believe she was called a bail bondsperson," responded Rumple.

"Well, then why not call in that favor of yours and have her help us find Bae? Not only would her skills be useful but she knows the outside world."

Rumple honestly was feeling a little shocked he hadn't thought of that himself. Though he supposed he blamed it on excitement about finally being able to leave and search for Bae.

"That is a brilliant idea. We'll go and tell her today."

OUAT

They arrived at the loft apartment and knocked on the door. Emma was the one to answer it.

"Gold, Belle," she said sounding confused.

"Hello Emma," said Belle with a smile.

"Good to see you up and about again," the blond replied awkwardly.

"Thank you," said Belle stepping into the apartment with Rumple both ignoring the tension.

"That favor you owe me Miss Swan, I'm cashing it in," said Rumple.

"This isn't a great time..." began Emma.

"You do honor your agreements do you not?" asked Rumple in dangerous tone.

"We need your help finding someone," said Belle in a soothing tone annoying the savior wouldn't get them anywhere.

"Find who?" asked Emma.

"My son," responded Rumple.

"You have a son?" asked Snow White from the background.

"Remember when you asked what we brought back magic for and I said the primary purpose wasn't evil?" asked Belle. "This is the reason."

"We know where he is and even have the apartment block but unfortunately as my dear wife pointed out to me, we know little of the outside world and could use your assistance. We leave today."

"Why so soon?" asked Emma.

"Because I've waited centuries to find my son so I don't fancy waiting any longer, and I'd rather not have Belle in the same town as Cora and Hook who have both already targeted her. In fact, you could think of it this way. Every hour I remain here is another one I have to resist murdering Hook." Emma sighed.

"Fine. How long do I have to pack?"

"We'll be back in an hour and a half."

Belle shot the family an apologetic look as the pair departed.

"You could have been nicer."

"That was nice for me," said Rumple and Belle snorted.

OUAT

Ninety minutes later they were back in the loft.

"Ready to go, Miss Swan?"

"Almost," said Emma and Belle suddenly noted Henry darting around the room packing a suitcase.

"Do you think it will be cold where we're going or warm?" the child asked.

"I think layers are always a good idea," his mother replied.

"I thought the terms of our agreement were quite clear. You owe me a favor - you alone." Emma crossed her arms staring down Rumple and Belle couldn't help but smirk.

"I'm not leaving Henry here with lurking about, so either we both go or we both stay."

"Come now Rumple. You know you'd do the same if it were Bae," said Belle a hand on his arm. Rumple glanced down at her then heaved a sigh.

"Then we'll have to purchase another plane ticket, won't we?"

"Are you magic or something?" asked Snow in surprise and Belle laughed softly.

"We're flying?" asked Emma as Rumple took out his phone to begin ordering the extra ticket.

"Don't worry, I'm covering expenses, even the new ones." Snow White made to pick up Henry's suitcase.

"Ooof! What did you put in here bricks?"

"Just a couple books," said Henry sheepishly and Rumple snorted.

"Just like Belle I had to stop her packing half our library."

"Rumple!" exclaimed Belle as Emma snickered.

"Don't listen to him Henry you should never underestimate the value of a good book." Henry laughed.

"I'm just about to tell Regina I'm taking him," said Emma.

"You don't have to," said Snow with a shrug.

"Not really my place," said Belle, "But yes she should. Regina undoubtably made some serious mistakes in the last few years. But she did raise him and she does love him, even if she's had a hard time doing so unselfishly in the past. Not only would it be cruel to take Henry away without her knowing where he's gone, but it could also backfire on you spectacularly."

"Belle's right interjected," interjected Rumple. "Regina is working against Cora primarily for the sake of her son. If you take him away without telling her it will only strengthen Cora's claims against you and tempt Regina towards her side."

Snow White looked miffed at her daughter being given parenting advice by the Dark One and his wife but Emma seemed pensive.

"You're right I should." She stepped away pulling out her phone as Charming came down the attic ladder.

"All right, Gold. You're going out there with my family. Just know if anything happens to them—"

"Then you'll what? Cross the town line? And David Nolan will hunt me down in his animal rescue van?" Belle bit her lip determined not to laugh at the quip.

"I'll be devastated. This isn't a threat. It's a request. Take care of them." Rumple's face became serious.

"I promise no harm will come to your family. After all...we have a deal."

OUAT

It was an eclectic group that was crowded around the Cadillac near the town line. The Charming's having last minute words with their daughter. Grace was speaking to Henry the two best friends smiling. Meanwhile the Hatter's were speaking to Rumple and Belle.

"Wise move getting the Savior to come with," said the Hatter.

"Belle's idea actually," said Rumple happy to give his wife credit.

"Why am I not surprised? She was always one of the few that could keep up with you." Pip said with a grin.

"I take it the others extend to yourself and Jefferson?" asked Belle with a small smile.

"But of course," replied Pip.

"I for one am quite looking forward to finally getting to meet the kid you had us chasing all over hell and gone," said the Hatter.

"That depends on me getting him to speak with me," said Rumple.

"You've got the magic weapon," said Pip. Rumple raised an eyebrow and Jefferson rolled his eyes.

"Belle, nobody can refuse this one." Belle laughed.

"I fear you over estimate my talents but I'll try."

Footsteps sounded and Grace trotted over to give her godparents goodbye hugs. As she pulled back from Rumple's embrace she said,

"Good luck Uncle Rumple. I know you'll find your son."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence your Ladyship," he replied giving her a genuine smile.

With that Rumple got in the driver's seat. Emma took shotgun and Belle and Henry were in the back seat.

"So where are we going?" asked Henry.

"Logan National airport," responded Rumple.

"I think he meant after that," quipped Emma. Rumple caught Belle rolling her eyes in the mirror.

"New York."

"Wow!" said Henry practically bouncing in his seat. "This is going to be amazing."

"I admit, I am excited to get out and see some of the world outside Storybrooke," said Belle.

OUAT

They drove for a while in awkward silence aside from Emma occasionally providing directions from a map Gold gave her. When she could no longer stand it Emma said.

"Soooo..." she said. "Beauty and the Beast. I take it we significantly deviate from the Disney version?"

"Oh yeah it's one of the best!" chimed in Henry from the back. Belle laughed.

"I'm honored you think so. I admit I'm unfamiliar with Disney though so I can't speak to the accuracy of the account." Gold snorted.

"Not, even close I suspect, their Alice in Wonderland had Pip as a naive child and the Hatter an old man interested in nothing but perpetual tea parties."

"That's...ridiculous," said Belle and Emma had to agree. Though she supposed Disney couldn't have gotten away with portraying Alice as being nearly as occasionally sadistic as the real one.

"Alright so that one's off base and Snow White never shot a bow and arrow in Disney, so what about you guys. How'd you meet?"

"Henry, would you care to provide?" offered Gold.

"Belle's kingdom was threatened by ogres so they called on the Dark One and he asked for Belle as his price for saving it." Emma shook her head.

"Damn. Could have used you when Mary Margaret and I were facing ogres in the Enchanted Forest. But you asked for a human being?"

"He asked for a caretaker specifically," Belle corrected from the backseat.

"So, you were his prisoner?" Emma saw Belle tilt her head for a moment before she shook it.

"Not really, I made a deal to work for him. I was there of my own free will and while our deal would have kept me there that was on me not him. And I wasn't in the dungeon for THAT long before I got a proper room and a library."

"Oh so the library bit's true," said Emma in amusement.

"It is. It even transferred over to this realm," said Belle beaming. "We have many books from back home that don't exist in The Land Without Magic."

"WOW! Could I see sometime?" asked Henry. Gold raised an amused eyebrow at Emma.

"I promise to be off the premises."

"Knowing you you'd try and sneak over anyway," snorted Emma at Henry. "So, I saw the picture and it's a no to the giant anthropomorphic furry what about the talking appliances?

Gold snorted.

"Nothing in my castle talked that wasn't supposed to. Aside from a rather mouthy maid." Belle smirked in response. "No I did all the cleaning manually."

More and more Emma was gaining respect for Belle. She'd traded her freedom to work for a notorious sorcerer, not only that but it was a sharp transfer from Princess to maid which couldn't have been easy, yet Belle didn't seem bothered.

"I've gotta say you've got guts Belle."

"Do the brave thing and bravery will follow has always been my motto," said Belle. "Honestly it worked out rather well in the end."

"So I see," said Emma. "And what about the Enchanted rose?" Gold let out an awkward cough.

"Well, if you count turning my ex-fiancée into a rose and then giving it as a gift enchanted then yes," said Belle.

"It was an arranged marriage I was doing you a favor!" Argued Gold petulantly

"Seriously? You gave the woman you liked her ex-boyfriend as a flower?" asked Emma.

"It was romantic at the time," shrugged Gold. Belle gave a small shrug of agreement. "Anyway, he was an idiot. The fool walked up to the front doors, pointed a plain old sword at me, and demanded Belle back. At that point he was asking for it."

Emma REALLY didn't want to laugh in front of Henry and make it look like she was ok with murder. Although it really did sound like a Darwin award if ever she'd heard of one.

"I like it better than the Disney enchanted rose," said Henry with a grin and Emma hit her head against the back of the seat. "You are a bad influence," she told the man driving.

"You insisted on bringing him," responded Gold with a smirk and Emma rolled her eyes.

HL

They got to the airport and made their way towards where many people were queuing to go through an archway and putting their things on a conveyer belt.

"What's this?" asked Belle.

"TSA. Also known as purgatory on Earth," quipped Emma leading the way.

"It must be hard not being able to use magic, being like everyone else," observed Henry.

"It's fine," said Rumple shortly.

"Are you nervous?" asked Henry.

"No," came the response.

"Are you worried about meeting your son?" Belle winced Henry was an unfortunately perceptive child. This seemed to be the last straw as Rumple snapped sharply. Belle laid a comforting hand on her husband's arm.

"No Henry I'm fine." Taking note of the situation Emma jumped in.

"Hey kid why don't we save the Spanish inquisition for later, we're next." Belle chuckled and shot her friend a grateful smile though she paused a little puzzled as they started putting their things on the conveyer belt to be put through some sort of machine.

Emma gestured to the buckets on the belt.

"You have to put your shoes in." Belle almost laughed at the bemused look on her husband's face.

"How terribly uncivilized."

OUAT

Belle went through the archway that Rumple supposed was a safety measure first, and Rumple made to follow only to be stopped.

"Uh, scarf and the cane go in the basket," said a man in uniform.

"What?" said Rumple. Rumple felt his heart rate increase. That scarf was the only thing keeping Rumple as himself. Belle shot him a worried look from the other side.

"Scarf and cane go in the basket," the man repeated.

"I can't." said Rumple turning to look at Emma. Emma shrugged apologetically clearly understanding the situation but unable to do anything.

"You have to." A man behind them seemed to get impatient and called.

"It ain't rocket science, buddy. You ever been on a plane before?" Rumple spun around glaring.

"Have you ever been impaled upon a cane before?" Emma grabbed his arm evidently trying to run interference.

"My... father's a little nervous. We're headed to a family reunion. Sorry." Even in his current state the Savior calling him her father gave him a jolt of amusement. He raised an eyebrow.

"Your father?"

"Just put your shawl in the bin. I'll help you get through." she said quietly.

"If I let this go, I could forget who I am."

"I'm not gonna let that happen," she said fiercely. Rumple stared at her for a moment. Then took a deep breath.

"Okay." he put the shawl in the basket and immediately a pounding began in his head. Mr. Gold's memories attempted to push to the forefront of his mind and take over he focused his eyes on Belle straight ahead of him. Belle his wonderful wife who he'd met in the Enchanted Forest. Who had come to be his castle's caretaker to save her people.

With the savior's help he stumbled through the arch. Belle grabbed the shawl and tossed it around his neck. Immediately the pounding and memories stopped and he was able to focus. He blinked and the concerned faces of both Emma and Belle came into clear view.

"Are you alright?" asked Belle. He nodded.

"I'm fine."

He took Belle's hand and together they followed Emma to their gate. When they got there Henry let out an excited cry pointing to a nearby store.

"Look they got Cinnabon!" The excitement was quite reminiscent of when Bae would see the stalls with the sweet buns that came through their village. It was only occasionally they could afford them but every time they could the smile on his face was worth every penny.

Suddenly Rumple felt slightly guilty for snapping at the boy. It wasn't his fault Rumple was a nervous wreck internally the closer they got to Bae. Emma appeared to be searching through her wallet but Rumple beat her to it pulling out a twenty.

"Here Henry. Go get yourself something. And for what it's worth I apologize for my behavior earlier." Henry shot him a smile.

"Thanks Mr. Gold. If you're sure?" Rumple nodded.

"I am." The boy ran off to the shop though he was still well within sight of where they had parked themselves.

"Thanks," said Emma. "I'll pay you back." Rumple held up a hand.

"No need. Belle I'll be back," he gestured towards the men's room. Thinking about his memories of Bae suddenly tripled his fears. Belle shot him a worried look.

"Alright let me know if you need me." He nodded and limped off.

OUAT

Belle watched Rumple limp off towards the bathrooms as she took a seat with Emma both of them able to keep an eye on Henry in the nearby Cinnabon.

"You know it's strange but whenever Gold is around kids he's almost a different person," said Emma.

"He's always been that way. I believe much of Rumple's care for children is paternal instincts leftover from Bae. For the record, he's not as irritated about bringing Henry as he originally made out." She glanced over at the blond.

"Thank you for your help earlier and for coming along." Emma shrugged.

"Well as your dear husband loves to remind me, I owe him a debt, and we're all better off if he keeps his memory." Belle smiled this woman had more honor than her parents.

"True enough."

"I've gotta say though I've never seen Gold this off kilter. I mean what happened with his son?" Belle sighed sadly trying to work out how much to reveal. She'd read Henry's book and knew the story of how Rumple came to be the Dark One was in it. So that was more or less free information how he'd lost Bae though...

"Rumple wasn't always the Dark One. He used to be an ordinary man. And when Bae's life was threatened because their liege lord wanted to send a fourteen year old off to fight Ogres Rumple took on the curse of the Dark One. He saved Bae and all the children. But like all power it came with a price. In this case his soul. Especially in the early days before he earned full control. Then he made the wrong choice and it lost him Bae. He's regretted it every moment since and spent hundreds of years searching to right that wrong. I don't think he even fully expects a reconciliation." Belle brushed away a tear she felt falling.

"So almost everything he's done for centuries has been to find his kid and apologize?" said Emma. Belle nodded.

"Bae is his heart and soul. His very reason for being. I might be his true love but Baelfire is first in his heart. His memory for many years was all Rumple had to maintain his humanity."

"Sheesh. And I thought I had it bad getting tossed in a tree by my parents. God it still feels weird to call them that." Emma shuddered.

"Says the woman that just called Rumple her father," laughed Belle in an attempt to lighten the mood. Emma snorted.

"DO NOT tell David about that or I think he might have a conniption."

"I'm not the one you need to worry about spilling the beans though I find it infinitely amusing," said Belle.

"Yeah, if I was the daughter then I guess everyone would assume you were my sister…or the way younger second wife."

"Technically I am the latter," Belle replied. Emma nodded.

"Yeah I suppose so. What happened with Gold's first wife if he lost his son?" Belle scoffed.

"She didn't even know for a long time since she abandoned her son and husband for a drunken pirate years earlier." Emma's eyes narrowed.

"Pirate...wait. Gold's first wife wasn't named Milah by any chance?" Belle nodded.

"I presume Hook told you his side of the story."

"Yeah but he left the child abandonment out of it. Not that it justifies Gold killing her but I get why he'd be pissed," said Emma.

"I don't think Rumple should have killed Milah but there were no innocent parties in that little feud. Hook started it when he helped sweep Milah away leaving Rumple to think she'd been kidnapped and gang raped." Emma looked shocked.

"Well, I can see why that didn't make it into the Disney cut." Belle had to appreciate the way the woman used sarcasm. It reminded her very much of Alice and Rumple.

"Very much so." They paused and accepted the teas that Henry had been kind enough to get along with his large box of cinnabuns.

"Still even if Gold did kill Hook's love and Gold's ex-wife that was no reason to go attacking you."

"No reason in your mind perhaps. But the good captain is motivated by one thought. Revenge. And in any form, he can take it."

"So, what I'm hearing is that on top of having people be extremely judgy about your relationship with Gold you also have to deal with having a target on your back from everyone your husband ever pissed off in the past couple centuries?"

"More or less. It was a risk I deemed worth taking," said Belle. "That's the other thing I want to thank you for. It's nice to have another person who doesn't judge me for who I love. I'm afraid there are only a small number of those." It was a number that had grown slightly but not counting Emma she was still in the single digits. Emma shrugged sipping her drink.

"Who you love is your business. I've been around the block enough to know an abusive relationship when I see one and this ain't it."

"If only you could convince my father of that fact," grumbled Belle.

"Yeah, on that topic you might want to still watch out. He came into the station not long ago demanding I go and force Gold to "let you go." The Sheriff rolled her eyes. "I told him to kick rocks but I doubt he'll give up. Apparently, his little stint in jail after the town line incident didn't make much of a difference."

"Delightful," sighed Belle. "What about your parents? How are you adjusting to that revelation?" She'd sensed some tension within the Charming family. Emma had leant an ear to her. Perhaps she could do the same.

OUAT

"What about your parents? How are you adjusting to that revelation?" Emma looked at the brunette who was staring at her with inviting blue eyes. Belle seemed to have an uncanny knack for projecting a rather trusting aura.

Emma didn't trust well but...well there was no one else besides maybe Archie she could vent to and the therapist was probably recovering from the trauma of getting kidnapped.

Emma glanced over and made sure Henry had his headphones on.

"Still weird like I said. I wanted parents my whole life and now I have them I'm not sure what to do."

"That makes sense," said Belle.

"I mean...they clearly want to make up for lost time, but I'm already an adult and on top of it I went for months thinking about them as regular friends and acquaintances to "hey we're your parents."

"I would imagine the whole looking the same age probably doesn't help matters," admitted Belle wryly. Emma shook her head.

"No kidding."

"Are you looking for advice or just someone to lend an ear?" questioned the brunette. Emma once more considered. She appreciated Belle's lack of pushiness and the woman was technically much older than her. It was a nice change from Mary Margaret who generally tried to push her to talk.

"Shoot."

"Well, your parents clearly love you. From their point of view, you are still their child that they want to guide and protect. On top of that there's likely the guilt that you had to grow up without their guidance. I think that you need to make sure you set the boundary that you are your own person and that you will have the final say in your actions at the end of the day. But perhaps provide them with the opening to give you advice so that they feel useful."

"So, open up and make them feel like they have a chance to guide me but still remind them that I am an adult who makes their own choices at the end of the day?"

"Precisely." It wasn't bad advice. That way her parents could feel like they were helping their kid but she still had the freedom to be an adult in their eyes.

"That's honestly pretty good advice. You may put Archie out of a job." Belle laughed.

"Oh, I don't know about that. Its impressive enough people come to a library run by the wife of the Dark One. Especially with the rumors the Blue Fairy likes to spread."

"Yeah, I'm still not getting why she's considered so GOOD," said Emma. "Life isn't that simple."

"Because she's technically the personification of light magic but that has no real impact on her personality," scoffed Belle. "I admit I'm happy you don't take such a black and white view of the world."

"I was raised in reality not a fairytale." Emma wondered if had she been born in the Enchanted Forest her perspective would have been as firmly skewed towards righteous good as her parents.

The announcer stated that their flight would start boarding soon. Emma saw Belle shoot the restroom a worried glance. Emma tapped her son's shoulder and he took off the headphones.

"They are about to start boarding, run in and tell Gold."

"Ok," said Henry brightly dashing off.

"He's a great kid," said Belle.

"Yeah, I'm amazed by it every day. I just want to do right by him." Much as Emma HATED to admit it and was still wary of Regina, she had to admit a part of her was grateful for how well the woman had, for the most part, taken care of Henry, she clothed him, fed him, and certainly not turned him into a little monster. It was probably one of her only redeeming factors.

"Well, you are doing a great job with him," said Belle finishing her drink and giving Emma's hand a squeeze.

OUAT

They boarded the plane Belle sat next to Rumple. She could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.

"It will be alright," she whispered taking his hand and giving it a squeeze.

"He'll probably hate me," said Rumple.

"He might not," argued Belle. Rumple turned to look at her.

"It'll break my heart. But even if he does. I just want to apologize to him. I need him to know I regret what I did and searched for him. That I didn't abandon him for good like my father did."

"You'll get that chance," promised Belle.

"What if we're wrong and we don't have the right place? Or he's left in the time between?" worried Rumple. Suddenly Emma leaned over.

"Hey, between your stubbornness and my skills we'll find him." Strangely the words actually seemed to reassure Rumple. Belle squeezed his hand again and not for the first time and mouthed "Thank you" at Emma.

Author's Note: And so we get some bonding between Emma, Henry and Rumbelle. I always find the differences between the Disney and Once stories hilarious (at least when they weren't copy/pasting them). And this was also a nice chance for Emma and Belle to open up a little to each other. Also I will NEVER not find the impaled on a cane line or Emma claiming Rumple was her dad amusing. It always bugged me they never told Regina they were taking Henry since they didn't know she was working with Cora at that point. Lastly since some people have been asking, I will not answer any questions regarding the future of the plot in the comments (Will Bae die? Will Belle join the Neverland mission? etc). As honored as I am that people seem to be so invested I do not want to spoil things in general or for other readers by replying with info in the comments. Thanks very much to all my readers and especially those that have taken the time to comment it helps SOOO much with keeping me going so thank you! Until next week!