Belle felt as if a dagger had pierced her heart. Bae was gone. Her Bae. She hurried over to Rumple who stood frozen and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. The Hatter's were also now gathered round them as Emma was being swamped by her family. Jefferson laid a hand on Rumple's shoulder while Grace went in for a hug. Alice gently rubbed circles on Belle's back and said nothing. They all knew there were no other words to truly make up for the pain being felt.

The moment was broken at last by the sound of Regina gasping and sitting up. They all turned to look at her and Henry at last went back to her side.

"Mom."

"Henry? What's going on? What's wrong?"

"They saved you but...my dad didn't make it." Regina appeared conflicted but at least sorry for her son's sake.

"I'm sorry Henry." Then she glanced up at the rest of them. "You saved me?"

"That lot are heroes who wouldn't kill you when you were evil they wouldn't let you die now. And Rumple helped because his grandson asked. Ergo you got lucky," replied Jefferson coolly.

"Did you catch them?" asked Regina.

"No," said Alice. "They seem to know about my power and stuffed their ears with wax. Greg had a car nearby and got away before Charming and I could catch him and apparently Tamara used a portal to distract Emma and send Neal off after shooting him before running."

"So, they still have it," said Regina closing her eyes.

"Have what?" asked Belle concern breaking through her grief and attempts to comfort Rumple.

"A failsafe. I built it into the curse. It would destroy the town."

"Why did you have that?" demanded Charming.

"I was planning to get rid of it when they caught me. I figured it was one less thing to tempt me," said Regina defensively.

"So. Greg and Tamara can destroy the town," said Alice. "Fantastic."

"I have to go," said Rumple.

"Aren't you going to help?" asked Snow.

"I've done my bit," responded Rumple before swiftly heading for the door. Belle followed shooting Emma and Henry apologetic looks. As soon as they were outside Rumple transported them home. Once inside. Rumple collapsed onto the couch head in hands his body shaking with sobs.

Belle took a seat an arm around his shoulders. She felt the pain of losing Bae too but knew it was nothing compared to what Rumple was feeling. At last Rumple choked out.

"He's gone Belle. Gone. Just...just when I thought I might be getting him back."

"Maybe not. Emma said he was shot not dead. If he finds help where he lands, he might survive," suggested Belle though she knew it was a long shot. Rumple shook his head.

"Even if that were so and we both know it's unlikely, how is he to find his way back? It took me centuries and a curse."

"If he is alive then he will do all he can to get back. We can't give up hope." Rumple still seemed unconvinced and Belle sighed deciding not to push it further.

"What can I do Rumple? How can I help?" Rumple took her hand.

"Nothing. Nothing will bring him back. But that isn't your doing." They sat in silence for a long time. At last Belle said.

"What do we do now?"

"You mean about the town?" asked Rumple.

"Yes, I'm not going to force you to help. It's entirely up to you," said Belle. Rumple sighed.

"I'll admit I don't particularly care about my own life at the moment. But between yourself, the Hatters, my grandson, and the woman my son loved there are too many it would matter to lose. And sitting around isn't what Bae would want."

"Alright, Granny's it is," said Belle.

OUAT

After another minute the pair stood and after straightening themselves out Rumple still feeling out of sorts teleported to Granny's where they entered onto an argument. The town was mostly gathered and Emma was speaking to Henry.

"Regina can hold off the self-destruct device long enough for us to escape, but..."

"But what?"

"She won't survive," the woman told her son. Belle raised an eyebrow sharing a look with her husband and Rumple knew they were thinking the same thing. The things people would do for their children.

"No. No!" exclaimed Henry.

"Henry, I'm sorry. I promised her I'd get you to safety."

"But we can't do this! She's family! We don't leave family behind!" argued Henry.

"This is what she wants. We have a way out. We have to take it."

"We saved her from being killed by the wraith. How is this any different?"

"Someone want to fill us in?" asked Belle as they sidled over to Jefferson.

"Regina and Emma went to stop the trigger. Regina seems to be sacrificing herself. We were going to use multiple beans to get away but Tamara, Hook, and Greg burnt the fields. Greg and David got one bean back."

"The pirate strikes again," muttered Rumple.

"The Wraith!" exclaimed Snow.

"What?" asked Emma.

"We sent it through a portal. Why can't we do the same thing with the self-destruct?"

"Because we don't know if it's gonna work," said Emma and Rumple admired the woman's pragmatism.

"It could." countered Snow.

"Yeah." agreed Charming. Emma shook her head.

"It's too risky. No one will go along with it." Then the former cricket stepped up.

"Yes, we will. Because it's the right thing to do. Look, we have followed the Snow White and Prince Charming for a long time and they have always led us before, and we've always won. So, who's willing to let them lead us again?" Jefferson and Pip both made noises of disagreement. Despite the general positive consensus.

"What about that time they let the Evil Queen live and she cursed the town?" whispered Jefferson and even through his grief Rumple felt his mouth twitch slightly.

"Thank you, Jiminy. Oh, this is what we should do." said Snow.

"And will do." added, Charming.

"Look, I know we haven't had a lot of chances to be parents, but give us this one. Let us do the right thing. It's not too late." Rumple was close to rolling his eyes. Right and wrong were not nearly as rigid as that pair claimed. Emma embraced Henry.

"I just don't want him to be alone. I don't want him to grow up the way I did. " A loud boom rang out and the earth quaked. "This plan could fail. If we use that bean now, we can get away for sure. We will survive."

"But it's wrong. Emma, just as killing Cora was wrong."

"Oh SOD OFF Snowflake," snapped Pip grey eyes flashing. "Don't you dare judge me for protecting my family."

"She did that to because she had to," said Emma defensively.

"She did it because it was easy. It was a mistake. There were other paths, harder paths, and heroes are willing to take them."

"One more insult about my wife and we are going to have a problem your majesty," snapped Jefferson. Snow flinched but turned back to Emma.

"That's what doing the right thing is. So please, Emma, honey, let's take the hard path. Because if we don't we will be building a future on Regina's blood."

"Okay. But it's for Henry's sake not because of your black and white right and wrong speech. This isn't about heroes and villains." Snow and Charming looked hurt for a moment. Then Charming made to throw the bag that presumably held the bean only for Hook to catch it.

"You're all mad." Both Emma and David made to grab it back to no avail. "I can live with myself."

"Give it back." Demanded Emma.

"If she wants to die for us, I say let her." For once Rumple was rather in agreement with Hook.

"You and I - we understand each other. Look out for yourself, and you'll never get hurt, right?" ah manipulation. The savior really did have smarts beyond her parents.

"Worked quite well for me," said Hook with a shrug.

"Yeah, till the day that it doesn't. We're gonna do this. It might be stupid, it might be crazy, but we're doing it. So... you can join us and be a part of something, or you can do what you can do best and be alone."

Rumple stayed quiet figuring any interference from him at the moment would tip the pirate against them. So far, he seemed to not have noticed Rumple. Finally, Hook handed over the bean.

"Quite passionate, Swan." Everyone started to leave. "Why are you really doing this?"

"Like I said. The kid just lost his father today. I'm not letting him lose a mother too."

"His father? Who's Henry's father?" asked Hook.

"Neal."

"Baelfire?" and Rumple couldn't help but wonder why Hook's face suddenly looked somewhat guilty and softened. Surely, he wouldn't care about Bae just because he was Milah's son. Neither had seemed to care when they ran off together.

"Yeah," said Emma.

"Which is why I will be coming too," said Rumple finally stepping out of the shadows.

"Crocodile," snarled Hook immediately Emma, Pip, Jefferson, and Belle were all between himself and the pirate somewhat to Rumple's amusement. Though Snow White and Charming stayed back for all their talk about saving Regina they seemed to care little what happened to him. How unsurprisingly ironic.

"Don't even think about it," snapped Jefferson.

"That is unless you favor madness," added Pip her pipe in hand.

"Look we don't have time for your damn revenge quest at the moment," said Emma. They'll be no point if you die in a few minutes because the town blows up." Hook scowled.

"Fine."

He stepped aside and Emma, the Charming's, Belle, Henry, and Rumple all left.

Jefferson and Pip headed in the opposite direction to secure the pawnshop in case despite their hatred of magic Tamara and Greg tried going after any potential magic items.

"Should we really bring Henry?" asked Snow and Rumple didn't entirely disagree.

"I'm not going anywhere!" said Henry.

"As stubborn as his father," mutter Rumple.

"Honestly if this fails and this place blows it's not going to matter who is where," said Emma.

"Why don't we forgo the running," suggested Rumple and with a wave of his hand he transported all of them down to the mine.

The sight that met them was Regina was holding her hands over a diamond projecting purple lightning like magic into it and clearly doing all she could to contain it.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Regina.

"You were willing to die to save us. But you don't have to we're going to help you! You're family too!" said Emma.

"They're gonna open up a portal, throw this thing into a void." explained Belle

"No. You don't know that it'll work," said Regina.

"We have to try." said Snow.

"Everybody, step aside. Emma?" ordered David while Rumple prepared to set up a shield to block some of the pull of the portal.

Emma made to pull out the bean but the pouch was empty.

"Hook," she said.

"Typical," said Rumple with a roll of his eyes while his mind whirled to find a way out.

"I can't contain this much longer," exclaimed Regina.

"Mom... Dad..." said Emma stepping over to hug her parents. Henry hurried over and hugged Rumple and Belle with a muffled.

"I love you," that broke Rumple's heart. Not only had he been unable to save his son. But he couldn't save his grandson. Then Henry went over to Regina and embraced her tearfully.

"I love you, Henry. I only wish I was strong enough to stop all this. I'm just not," said Regina. Suddenly Emma gasped and walked over to where Regina stood.

"You may not be strong enough, but maybe we are," she said and Rumple realized what the woman meant.

"No you aren't," he replied but before they could object he walked forward and placed his own hands over it. "But three has always been a rather powerful number." He channeled his power into diffusing the failsafe. Crimson lightning shot from his hands and blue from Emma's. For a moment he wasn't sure if it would work and then a ripple went out the failsafe and everything went black.

OUAT

Belle and the Charming's pulled Henry around a corner just as a ripple of power went out from the failsafe and it fell powerless onto the rock. Emma, Regina, and Rumple were all thrown back. They rushed to check on them.

As she dropped to Rumple's side Belle was relieved to find he'd simply been knocked unconscious. After a few tries they were able to revive everyone and helped them to their feet.

"Gotta say I'm surprised you helped," said Charming.

"I'll do anything for my family," said Rumple shortly while Belle shot the man a glare.

"Yeah thanks about that," added Emma who actually looked genuinely grateful.

"Agreed. I also heard I owe you a thank you for helping revive me after the cannery incident," added Regina curtly.

"Well at least some people maintain manners. You can repay me by no longer making any attempts to hurt what remains of my family namely, Miss Swan, Henry, Belle, and the Hatters."

"We have a common cause on one of those points," replied Regina.

"Yeah, speaking of which gotta hand it to Henry. He's right about a lot of things," said Charming.

"Yes, he is. Isn't that right, kid?" They all turned around looking for the boy.

"Henry?" called Belle.

"Henry?" said Regina. They explored the mine calling his name to no avail and Belle felt her heart sink. Suddenly a backpack appeared ahead.

"Henry?" called Emma running forward.

"Emma, what is it?" asked Snow. Emma turned looking horrified.

"They took him."

OUAT

"Emma, you don't even know where you're going," said Snow as soon as they were above ground curtesy of Rumple.

"Doesn't matter. I have to find him. I'll track them down in hell if I have to."

"While I agree with the sentiment Miss Swan if you don't think where they might have gone logically we'll lose any chance of catching them," said Rumple firmly.

"The docks!" exclaimed Belle suddenly.

"What?" asked Charming.

"The docks. Think about it. They are the place with the least amount of people around and they've already used it as head quarter's before."

"It's as good a guess as any," said Emma and Rumple took them to the docks however they appeared just in time to see the dastardly duo pulling Henry into a swirling green portal.

"The last bean. They've opened a portal," said Regina in panic.

"Henry!" exclaimed Emma, Charming, Belle and Rumple. For Rumple it was as if he were back in the forest losing another boy to a portal.

"No! No! No! We have to follow them! There has to be a way!" screamed Emma.

"Not only do we not know where they went, but Hook stole the last bean!" said Regina in frustration.

"I don't care!" said Emma.

"Without it, there's no way to follow." said Belle with a sigh, tears in her eyes.

"There has to be. We can't just let them take Henry!" Charming turned to him.

"You're the Dark One. Do something." Ignoring the demanding tone Rumple shook his head gazing apologetically at Emma. He truly felt her pain.

"Gold, help us." she begged.

"Believe me. If I could I would. But Belle is correct. There's no way. I spent a lifetime trying to cross worlds to find my son. There's no way in this world without a portal."

"So that's it? He's gone forever? I refuse to believe that," snapped Regina and he had to admire her determination.

"What is that?" asked Belle suddenly pointing to something in the distance on the water. As it drew closer, they all realized it was the Jolly Roger. Hook jumped down a soon as he was off. Emma stormed up and slapped him.

"Hook. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Helping." he replied rubbing his cheek. "And I suppose I deserve that."

"And more," scoffed Belle from beside Rumple.

"Well, you're too late," said Regina.

"Am I?" asked Hook.

"I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself," said Emma.

"Hook held out a bean and suddenly Rumple had an idea. Whether the pirate would go along or not was irrelevant. He whipped out his phone and texted the Hatters. Ignoring the chatter of the others.

"What are you doing," whispered Belle.

"Setting precautions and getting help." Belle seemed to have caught on to his plan as she glanced at the pirate and pulled out her own phone sending a separate text though he wondered what it was. Rumple then turned his attention back to the others.

"We need to get Henry. Greg and Tamara took him through a portal," said Emma.

"Well, I offer my ship and my services to help follow them," said Hook and Rumple smirked well at least he wasn't going to have to force the pirate to help them.

"Well, that's great, Hook, but how do we track them?" asked Regina.

"Leave that to me. I can get us to where we need to go," said Rumple swiftly. "Just give us 3 minutes."

"What! Why? we need to go now," said Regina.

"The town is no longer safe."

"What?" asked Snow.

"Greg and Tamara weren't working alone. Others will follow. So, I'm having the Hatter's bring something I'll have Belle use to protect the town while were gone. A cloaking spell to hide the town."

"He's right we can't leave the town in danger," said Charming. "Fine three minutes while we get ready to leave." While the other's boarded Rumple turned back to his wife who had her hands on her hips.

"Hold on you say that like I'm staying here," she said sharply.

"Someone needs to stay back and look after the town and the small amount of magic you have from our connection will let you activate the spell."

"That's just an excuse to keep me out of danger," scoffed Belle.

"It's an added benefit certainly," said Rumple.

"There's more to it than that," said Belle. "You don't think you are coming back do you?"

"The prophecy. The boy is my undoing, but he's also my grandson. I must save him. I must do this to honor Baelfire. He's gone, and I didn't even get the chance to say good-bye."

"All the more reason I should be there. Henry is OUR grandson and as far as prophecies go. Who's to say it means what you think it does? Not to mention that's all the more reason I should be there. To be there FOR you. How often must I tell you we're stronger together?"

His wife's blue eyes shone with determination and passion. He didn't want her anywhere near whatever danger they would face. And yet clearly, she would not be dissuaded. He sighed heavily.

"Very well. If you must." Belle's reply was cut off by a poof of smoke which brought them the three Hatter's. Pip carried a scroll and Jefferson a satchel. Grace ran up.

"Is it true? They took Henry?"

"Yes, it is but we're going to get him back I promise," said Rumple. Grace looked up at him.

"I believe you Uncle Rumple. If anyone can it's you and Auntie Belle."

"Here's the potions satchel you asked for," Jefferson handed over said object to Belle who swung it across her body.

"Thank you."

"We also brought this," said Pip handing over the scroll. Rumple nodded.

"Right well I was going to have Belle do this but as that's now fallen through your Ladyship you have a very important job now." He knelt down with no pain having removed the limp. He couldn't afford that.

"You need to read these words exactly as they are written on the scroll and as you do project your desire to protect the town and those you love inside. The magic will do the rest. It's a powerful spell so it's going to expend a good amount of your energy. Can you do it?"

Grace nodded looking fiercely determined.

"Absolutely. I won't let you down." She hugged Rumple and then Belle. "Stay safe."

"Probably not an option but the sentiment is seconded," said Jefferson.

"We'll hold down the fort here. Don't worry," said Pip.

"Thank you." Then he took Belle's arm still using his cane as he didn't want to completely give things away yet and together, they walked up the gangplank and onto the ship.

"Will the town be safe?" asked Snow.

"If all goes as planned? Yes," said Rumple.

"Belle is coming?" asked Charming in surprise.

"As the good Captain can attest I'm more than a pretty face," said Belle shortly. "Henry is my grandson even if not by blood and I'll go to the ends of the Earth to help get him back."

"So, are you done trying to kill me and my wife?" Rumple asked Hook he needed to ensure the safety of himself and Belle. Hook nodded. It seemed Bae's death had truly affected him.

"I believe so." Rumple smirked.

"Excellent. Then you can live," he then magically summoned the globe he'd used to find Bae and pricked his finger slowly the blood formed and island and Rumple felt his heart sink.

"Where is that? Where did they take Henry?" asked Regina. Hook answered for him.

"Neverland." Rumple exchanged a look with Belle and he could tell she knew what this meant for him. He was regretting even more now letting her come however she simply took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"So who are we up against? Who are Greg and Tamara?" asked Charming.

"They're merely pawns, manipulated by forces far greater than they can conceive. They have no idea who they're truly working for." said Rumple.

"And who's that?" asked Emma. Rumple looked at her darkly as Hook opened the portal and steered the Jolly Roger towards it.

"Someone we all should fear."

Author's Note: And so book 2 ends! Next time we journey into Neverland. With Belle being a more active character in this fic and her closer bond with Rumple (and Henry) it didn't feel right to leave her at home so along she comes. Also it's going to give the Hatter's something to do while the rest are off! Thank you so much to all my readers if you like the story please leave a note below they really help me keep going and know people are interested in the continuation of the series! Until next time!