There was a celebration going on in Pan's camp. Lost boys danced around a fire pounding on drums to make music Henry sat apart refusing to join in. Pan came over to join him.

"You don't want to join in the celebration, Henry?"

"Nothing to celebrate." He responded with a shrug. No point hiding it at the moment Pan knew he wasn't happy to be a prisoner. Pan laughed.

"Nothing to celebrate? Henry, this whole party is to celebrate you."

"Me? Why?" That was the key question. Perhaps if he played along a little Pan would let something slip.

"Because you've come to save magic, of course. And I, for one, can't think of a reason more deserving of celebration than that. Just look at them." To save magic? Was that really the case? But if it was just a matter of saving magic surely...surely Pan would team up with Henry's family. They'd be happy to help a noble cause.

"I'm not like them. Or you."

"Sure, you are. You're still a boy. Maybe a song will get you on your feet." Pan took out a set of pipes and blew air into them but no sound came out."

"Sorry. I don't hear a thing," he answered unable to contain a slight twitch of his lips at Pan's bewilderment.

"Interesting. You see, this pipe's enchanted, Henry. It can only be heard by certain children."

"Like who?"

"You'll find out soon enough, I promise." Suddenly Felix returned Pan stood up and strode over curious Henry inched closer trying to make it look like he was about to join. Pan was clearly caught in his frustration and didn't notice.

"Baelfire. I'm afraid he got away." Baelfire? But that meant Henry's dad was alive!

"Well, then why didn't you get him back?" snapped Pan.

"I tried. I followed his trail and found two of our sentries knocked out... By a sleeping spell." A sleeping spell...that could mean either his Grandpa Gold or Regina. Either way it meant his family WAS out there on the island trying to save him. Henry stood and began to join in the dance. He'd like to hear more but didn't want to risk Pan getting suspicious.

As long as he knew his family was on the way Henry could hold out. They WOULD find him. For now, he needed to try and be smart and play Pan's game. What was it that his Grandma Belle always said? Do the brave thing and bravery will follow.

"Decided to join after all?" asked Pan. Henry shrugged.

"You did say it was for me."

"So it is," said Pan with a smirk that sent shivers down Henry's spine. He only hoped his family wouldn't take too long.

OUAT

Emma hurried out of the cave that had Neal's drawings. Everything was getting a bit...much. Not only were they hitting dead ends any time that they thought they had a chance but everything on the island also seemed determined to remind her of the man that she'd loved and lost.

She could honestly start to see why Gold had left the group. Regina and Emma's parent's still butted heads. Knowing the way they kept having a go at the Gold's it certainly would have been unhappy camping.

Of course, she'd felt somewhat betrayed and annoyed at first but now she could also see a strategic benefit. Pan had two targets to focus on. She only hoped the other couple was having better luck.

Then there was Hook who seemed to be flirting occasionally and honestly, she had no interest.

Regardless she didn't have time for personal problems or moping. She needed to find her son.

OUAT

As Belle and Rumple walked through the underbrush trying to get a fix on Pan's camp someone suddenly stepped onto their path. It was one of the lost boys.

"Stop by order of Pan!"

"I don't take orders." Rumple replied as he waved a hand and the boy fell to the ground asleep, he turned when he heard a commotion behind him just in time to see Belle force the boy that had tried to grab her from behind to release her before shoving him back into a tree. Hitting his head and falling to the ground.

"Disgusting the way he's manipulated these boys. I know we said we'd do whatever it takes to get Henry but...they are children most of them." Rumple nodded it was why he'd simply sent the boy to sleep. He was willing to do whatever he had to but killing children was always one of his lines he had refused to cross and he'd prefer if he didn't have to cross it now if he could help it.

"IF we can avoid killing them without it backfiring on us we will. Though I make no promises regarding Pan or that little second in command of his."

Suddenly a figure came running out of the forest and into the clearing Belle redrew her sword and Rumple aimed the spear he'd picked up from one of the boys to examine.

However, the figure made them both freeze.

"Bae?" he whispered.

"How on earth?" asked Belle beginning to lower her weapon however Rumple wasn't convinced.

"You're not real. You're dead."

"What? Of course I'm real. What the hell's going on?!" demanded the vision.

"You're a vision. It can't be."

"Rumple perhaps...not," began Belle.

"No. No, hey. Listen to me. It's me. I was shot. Okay? But I survived. See? I'm alive." said the Bae look alike.

"My son is dead! You're just here to remind me of my failure!" demanded Rumple holding the spear to the figure's throat.

"RUMPLE!" exclaimed Belle grabbing his wrist. "Stop before you do something you regret!"

"That's not why I'm here." said Bae. "Put the spear down."

"You're here to question my resolve. But you won't succeed. I will sacrifice my life for Henry if I must. And nothing will stand in my way!"

"Just let him prove himself!" said Belle who was trying to get between them.

"Please, Papa." Whispered the man that looked like Bae. It truly sounded like him.

"Bae? Is that really you?"

"Tell us something that only the real Bae would know," suggested Belle. And Rumple waited.

"Like what?"

"What did I make for dinner when you came over?"

"Trick, question Belle. You made the raspberry tart dessert not dinner. That was all Papa."

"It's really you," whispered Rumple dropping the spear. Bae nodded.

"Yeah." Rumple reached up to touch his son's cheek in disbelief.

"I thought I'd lost you forever." Unable to help himself he pulled Bae into a hug tears running down his face. He pulled away shocked only for Belle to practically tackle Neal in a hug.

"Oh god I can't believe you're here." Neal embraced Belle slightly more readily than he had Rumple.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"How is it possible?" asked Rumple.

"Yes, Emma said you were shot and fell into a portal," added Belle stepping back and wiping away her tears.

"It's kind of a long story. Let's just say that the debt Robin Hood owes you has been paid."

"Oh Robin! See letting him go had more than one good consequence," said Belle cheerfully.

"What was the first?" asked Bae.

"My first hug in a few hundred years," quipped Rumple and Belle smiled.

"It was me getting confirmation your father was not always as Dark as he pretended."

"Cute story. But back to business. I saw in a magic mirror that Henry had been captured by Pan."

"Yes that was Greg and Tamara's work. Though they didn't know who they were working for and paid the price," said Rumple.

"Trust my choice of fiancée to backfire spectacularly," muttered Bae. "Right the only thing that matters now is that I help Emma save Henry. Where is she?"

"We left her and the rest of them aboard Hook's ship. As noble as their intentions may be, they don't have the stomach to do what needs to be done," stated Rumple.

"Or to put in in less sinister terms. We figured we'd have a better shot at Henry if we could cut out the inevitable distrust and arguing that would ensue from that particular combination of individuals," said Belle.

Bae sighed.

"So like what you did to these boys? They're not, uh..."

"No, they're just sleeping. For now." Rumple confirmed.

"Let's leave it that way, okay?" suggested Bae and Rumple figured it was likely because in part he'd once been one of these boys.

"Rumple and I already agreed. We'll do what has to be done but we'll certainly avoid taking the lives of these children IF we can help it. Though that's no reason to make things easy," said Belle removing some rope from one of the lost boys and beginning to tie the pair to trees while divesting them of their weapons.

"I see why you brought her along," said Bae. "That sounds fair enough. I take it you have a plan? The whole "sacrifice your life" thing was just you being dramatic." Rumple shrugged.

"Well, it's the only way. Pan's too powerful. You can only bait him if you're willing to die, which I am."

"I still heartily am against the idea that you have to die to defeat that little twerp," Belle called as she finished up. Rumple shook his head he appreciated Belle's desire to thwart the prophecy but the odds were against them. Bae however looked thoughtful.

"What if I told you there was another way?" Rumple raised an eyebrow intrigued.

OUAT

Neal hadn't been expected his father to nearly kill him but in fairness he supposed Pan was a tricky bastard and he had firsthand experience with the tricks Neverland would play on you.

Thankfully Belle had been there to help mitigate things slightly. He had to say at first he'd been unsure why the bookish woman would be along on the mission even if she did care about Henry but watching her effectively move about disarming Pan's guards he had to admit she was an asset.

It also seemed going off what she said that she was bringing out a better side of his father tempering his darker side.

He was also a little shocked by Belle's emotional reaction to him being alive his father thinking him dead he supposed was one thing. It was hard to deny now that his Papa loved him. But...Belle who hardly knew him truly cared about him.

That said he was somewhat confused by his father's earlier proclamation about being ready to die. After all survival had always been of prime importance to his father. Yet when Rumplestiltskin spoke it was with genuine conviction.

"Well, it's the only way. Pan's too powerful. You can only bait him if you're willing to die, which I am."

"I still heartily am against the idea that you have to die to defeat that little twerp," Belle called over and Neal couldn't help the slight smirk that came to his face at hearing Pan called a "little twerp". His step mother had just gained coolness points.

He also had no desire for his Papa to die if it could be helped. Then as he stood and accepted a quiver of arrows and bow from Belle an idea came to him.

"What if I told you there was another way?" his father looked at him with a raised eyebrow a combination of impressed and intrigued.

"Do tell."

OUAT

"So, what exactly is your plan?" asked Rumple as the three stood on a the shore of Neverland. He could still hardly believe that his beloved boy was alive and standing next to him. He'd thought all chance of that was gone. It seems Belle had been right to hope.

"You know how if you hold a shell up to your ear you can hear the ocean? Certain shells, the ocean can hear you," Bae picked up a conch shell and blew into it.

"Why would we need the ocean to hear us?" queried Belle curiously. The there was a bubbling growl and then a squid surfaced.

"Give me the spear." He tossed the spear which was connected to a rope towards the giant creature which cried out at the contact.

"Pull it in," said Bae and together the three heaved the squid towards land where is lay loosely in the shallows.

"A squid?" asked Rumple his mind having an idea where his son might be going with this.

"That's right. I believe you know how to extract ink from one of these bad boys." Rumple nodded.

"Squid ink. So, this is your plan?" asked Belle. Bae nodded.

"It can immobilize the most magical of creatures. At least for a little while...Even Pan."

"It's a plausible idea if we can get close enough to touch him or make him touch something with it." said Belle.

"But how do you plan on getting close enough to use it?" asked Rumple not wanting his son running off on a suicide mission.

"I don't need to get close. All I need is one clean shot to get Henry back." Rumple exchanged a look with Belle.

"Well, leave that to me."

OUAT

"We have a guest! No doubt someone who knows how much I like guessing games. Who could it be? I guess..." exclaimed Pan as Rumple caused the fire to die and the boys to collapse and fall asleep. Belle was standing watch a little ways off making sure nobody came up on them while they confronted pan. "The Dark One. Come to save Henry, have you, laddie?" Rumple almost shivered at the familiar term from his father. "How exciting. The Dark One ready to sacrifice his life for his family. Speaking of family...You can come out now, Baelfire."

"Name's Neal now." said Bae as he walked out holding a crossbow. Pan shrugged.

"New name, but the same old tricks. It's heartwarming to see father and son working together, especially after you abandoned him, Rumple. This is a real family reunion."

"What are you waiting for?" asked Rumple.

"I got this." said Bae as he fired a shot at Pan who caught the arrow's shaft.

"Clever. But we've been through this before, Baelfire. Have you remembered nothing?" Bae smirked and Rumple felt a rush of pride.

"I remember plenty." The arrow fell as a blue shimmer went over Pan freezing him. "That's why I didn't coat the tip."

"Grab Henry." said Rumple and Bae did so.

"Well, how about that? I'm impressed. But are you sure you're really saving him, Bae?"

"What could be worse than leaving him here with you?" asked Bae and Rumple felt his heart drop as they started to retreat.

"Why don't you ask your father? Sometimes the people we should fear the most are the ones closest to us."

"W... what's he talking about?" asked Bae.

"Don't listen to him." snapped Rumple

"You mean you haven't told him?" gloated Pan.

"Told me what?"

"Why, about the prophecy, of course." said Pan with a smirk.

"What prophecy? What's he mean?" demanded Bae.

"The prophecy that says you've been tricked. Your father isn't here to rescue your son. He's here to murder him." Just then Belle burst into the clearing.

"Lost boy's coming come on." she also seemed to clock the tension however the trio swiftly departed all the same.

OUAT

Once they were a safe distance from Pan's camp per Rumplestiltskin teleporting them to the opposite end of the island, Neal set down Henry and rounded on the couple.

"What the hell was he talking about?"

"Oh, don't mind him." said his Papa looking nervous.

"He said you were gonna murder Henry!"

"What?" asked Belle. His father glanced at her taking a deep breath. "Pan mentioned the prophecy." Neal then clocked that whatever it was Belle was aware of it too. He temporarily turned his focus back to his son gently shaking him.

"Hey. Hey, Henry. It's me. Hey, it's your dad."

"No, he... he can't hear you." said his father apologetically.

"Then wake him up." demanded Neal.

"Pulling him out of the spell could be dangerous. He'll wake naturally very soon. He'll be fine." Neal wanted to believe him but his old wariness had once more been set off.

"All right. Then you can explain to me what the hell Pan meant? This prophecy that he's talking about, why would he say that you'd kill Henry?"

"You've got to tell him Rumple," said Belle and Neal looked at her.

"You know what this is?"

"I do. But your father can explain." Neal watched as his father sighed heavily.

"There was a seer, and she told me of a prophecy... that boy would help reunite me with you. And that boy... Would be my undoing."

"Henry." said Neal alarm bells going off. Immediately his father became defensive.

"I didn't know it was gonna be my own grandson, till I found you in New York and discovered you were his father."

"You were planning on getting rid of him, whoever he was, weren't you? To try and cheat fate? To get around the prophecy? You cold-blooded son of a bitch. You were gonna kill him."

"Yes." admitted his father looking ashamed Neal put himself between his father and Henry.

"Get back. You stay away from him!"

"That was then. Things have changed. I... I didn't come here to Neverland to hurt Henry. I came here to save him." Protested his father.

"After what you just told me, I'm supposed to believe you?!" demanded Neal.

"I won't lie to you, Bae. Self-preservation has been a nasty habit I've had my whole life, but I came here to break it, to do the right thing and to save your son. Even if that meant sacrificing my own life."

"How am I supposed to trust you?" asked Neal. A part of him wanted to the part that remembered the way his father had lovingly played with and protected Henry back in Storybrooke. But another part didn't want to take that chance.

"Bae. Losing you was the worst pain I ever felt. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Let alone my own son. But if you won't trust that. Then trust that I wouldn't implode my life by killing Henry. If I did that it wouldn't matter if I survived."

"What do you mean?" asked Neal.

"Because I would lose everything that matters to me. Henry is your son and you would never forgive me. He's my goddaughter's best friend, one who I promised I would bring back, she too would despise me if I were to kill him and her parents would follow her lead. And Belle. Not even Belle could forgive the murder of our grandson."

Bae glanced over at Belle who nodded.

"It's true. I'd say that's the one line that could make me leave your father." The words made sense he supposed. His father wouldn't want to blow up his happiness but then again his father wouldn't want to die. He supposed there were also the words spoken when he thought Neal was a hallucination. Why say those things if he didn't mean them.

More and more he wanted to trust his father but doubt remained. Clearly seeing this his father asked.

"What do I need to do to make you trust me?"

"Give me the dagger," said Bae. "I know you wouldn't have come to the island without it." His father looked him straight in the eye.

"I don't have it."

"Why are you lying?"

"I'm not," repeated his father. "I haven't kept it for a while."

"Oh really? Then who does have it?" asked Neal disbelievingly. His father had NEVER let the dagger out of his sight in the all the time he'd known him as the Dark One. To his surprise it was Belle who answered his question.

"I do."

OUAT

Things were promptly going downhill. Despite successfully rescuing Henry Pan had managed to start driving a wedge between themselves and Bae who now clearly distrusted them and was demanding the dagger.

"Oh really? Then who does have it?" asked Bae as Rumple denied carrying it.

"I do," said Belle. She'd let this go on long enough now she needed to try and do some damage control.

"YOU have the dagger. He actually gave it up?" asked Bae in surprise. Belle nodded.

"He did. Of his own free will mind you. That alone should be proof he's changed. I understand your fears Bae. This is why we didn't bring up the prophecy when we were back home. Because Rumple had chosen to disregard it and thus we didn't want another thing complicating your slowly mending relationship."

"Yeah well, I know now and I'm still not sure. I take it you aren't going to give the dagger over to me." said Bae. Belle shook her head.

"No I won't do that. It's safest from your father's enemies and from himself with me. But do you really believe know that I hold the dagger that I would let him kill Henry? Do you think he would have allowed me to come on this mission if he planned to kill our grandson?" Bae shrugged though he was looking less sure of himself.

"How do I know you aren't going to pick your happy ending with my father over my son?" Belle paused thinking.

"No...I suppose you are right. If you don't trust me for who I am then there is no way for you to know that. So I suppose I'll have to do something else." She held out her hand.

"Apparentem." The dagger materialized in her hand. She placed the blade to her palm.

"Belle what are you?" began Rumple looking concerned but she ignored him.

"I Lady Belle of the Dark Castle swear a blood oath that I shall not allow Rumplestiltskin to willingly harm Henry Mills. Should I fail in this vow my life will be forfeit." She cut her palm and let the blood drip onto the dagger which glowed for a moment absorbing the blood.

"There Bae. If you don't believe mine and Rumple's commitment to Henry then at least believe that your father would want to keep me alive and that I would not make such a vow if I didn't not only intend to keep my word but also believed in your father."

Bae stared at her looking a little shocked. Rumple stepped forward swiftly to heal her hand.

"Not that it makes much of a difference as long as I am in full control but that was a foolish move. If someone were to try and manipulate that vow against..."

"I worded it specifically so that shouldn't be an issue," replied Belle then she glanced at Bae. "Is that proof enough?" Bae sighed.

"I suppose..."

"Don't I get a say in this?" piped up an unexpected voice and they all turned to see Henry had awoken.

"Henry!" exclaimed Bae rushing to hug his son. Belle and Rumple stayed back.

"How long have you been awake?" asked Belle. Henry shrugged.

"Around the time dad started asking for the dagger then I heard grandma make a blood oath or something. What I don't get is why you want to leave in the first place?" Henry was looking at Bae in confusion.

"I want you to be safe and...I don't know if I can trust your grandfather not to choose his life over yours because of a prophecy."

"But Grandpa AND Grandma both came all the way out here to help save me. If Grandpa wanted me dead why would he bring Grandma? She's the one that brings out the good in him along with you."

"Henry can see it," said Belle with a slight smile.

"Listen bud..." began Bae though it seemed Henry was winning over what remained of his resistance. Belle and Rumple hand brought the logic Henry was bringing the emotion.

"Family is about trust and believing in each other. I trust Grandpa." Henry stood and went to hug Rumple who embraced him back Belle watched with a smile. Then Henry looked back at his father. "I think we're safer with him."

"Well, how can I argue with that?" Belle watched as Bae faced his father. "DON'T make me regret this. You won't just be letting me down this time."

"I won't Bae, I promise," said Rumple.

"Neither of us will," added Belle stepping in to hug Henry before the boy went back to his father.

"Henry, do you know what Pan wants?" asked Rumple. The boy shook his head.

"Not really. He was talking about the heart of the truest believer but that and saving magic but that's it."

"Saving magic. That sounds odd," said Belle.

"Indeed," agreed Rumple.

"In any case we should probably try and find Emma and the others and get off this hell hole." said Bae.

"That sounds like an excellent plan..." began Belle only to be cut off by a whooshing sound overhead.

Author's Note: So we get to one of a few changes. One thing that always bugged me a little was Bae leaving with Henry. It's especially illogical in the universe I've created so I had Belle and Henry convince him to stay. Since Henry loves his grandparents. Emma and Hook is a no go period and Henry is also a bit more perceptive here regarding Pan. Anyway let me know what you think about the story in the comments below PLEASE it really helps me want to keep going! Until next time!