When the purple smoke that had surrounded them cleared the first thing Belle noticed was the familiar scent of pine. They were back in the enchanted forest. Looking down Belle noted that interestingly enough they'd seemed to have been provided with clothes appropriate to the current realm.

She was dressed in a knee length purple dress with long sleeves, her mother's gloves, thick stockings, knee high brown boots and a burgundy cloak. She could also feel her wedding ring still on her finger.

The Hatter's stood in a group to her left and Bae was on her right. In front of them stood a red headed woman with a crown and next to her, Philip the man she'd rescued from being a yaoguai.

She turned and walked over to the Hatter's.

"Everyone alright?" she queried.

"We all made it in one piece. Well, physically," said Jefferson. The whole lot still looked utterly miserable.

"What's the plan?" asked Alice.

"Why are you looking to me?" asked Belle. "It's not like Rumple controlled you two."

"No, but we are all family and family needs to make plans together," said Jefferson.

"Well, I need to go where Bae goes. I love you all but...he's all I have left of Rumple and he is my son even if he may not see it that way. Since Rumple can't look after him I should."

"Fair point," said Alice. Belle straightened she still felt miserable inside but she needed to know what was going on. She could see the Charmings having a little royal council with Prince Philip and his wife as well as Regina.

"I'm going to go find out what's going on," she said.

"You sure you're good to do that?" asked Jefferson.

"Between the three of us which one is former royalty? Besides I know Philip." Belle raised her chin and strode towards the group with all the dignity of a blood Princess.

"Hello, Philip," she said politely.

"Belle!" exclaimed Philip with a smile while the Charmings looked a little miffed at the interruption.

"Good to see you again," she said.

"And you, she replied.

"Aurora, this is the woman that helped save me so I could rescue you, Belle this is my wife, Aurora." The red headed Princess smiled sweetly.

"I'm so grateful to you for helping my Philip."

"It was my honor," replied Belle.

"Did you ever conquer that beast you spoke of?" asked Philip. Belle gave a sad smile. "Eventually. Sadly...things didn't quite work out though."

"I'm sorry to hear it," he replied.

"Loving the pretty backstory but what's with the interruption bookworm?" asked Regina though she seemed more intrigued than irritated.

"Oh, I was just curious what the plan was."

"We would have told you with the others," said David and Belle raised an eyebrow replying in a chilly tone.

"I said I wanted to KNOW the plan you've come up with not be told what to do."

"That lot want to sing you've got a friend in me and head back to my castle as a "united front" since it's one of the few places that wasn't destroyed," said Regina.

"One of the others of course being the Dark Castle," Belle added.

"Well yes but nobody wants to go there," said Snow.

"His widow might," muttered Regina.

"Perhaps," said Belle. "Well, thank you for the insight, the best to you Aurora, Philip," she smiled and headed back to the Hatter's filling them in.

"I'll presume Bae is joining as well he doesn't know his way around the forest in this time that well. So, it's where I'll go to."

"Well, we might as well come to then. No point returning to the Dark Castle without you," said Jefferson. Belle gave a slight smile at their loyalty.

"Thank you."

Everyone appeared to be packing up and getting ready to go, she overheard David giving directions for several of the dwarves to be sent off to tell everyone to meet at the Queen's Castle.

"Off we go then," she said.

OUAT

Belle remained largely silent as they began their trek, she wasn't that interested in speaking. The Hatter's seemed to have noted this and were giving her some space with the couple attempting to distract Grace with stories.

After a while however she was brought out of her revere by Red.

"Hey," said the red-cloaked woman.

"Hello," said Belle.

"How are you holding up?"

"As best I can under the circumstances," replied Belle with a sigh.

"Neal told us what Mr. G did. That was really brave of him."

"Rumple had more courage than even he knew," said Belle. Toying with her wedding ring.

"I say good riddance," she heard someone mutter and Red turned around with a glare.

"Say that again and we're gonna have a problem buddy," she snarled. The man backed off and Belle smiled gratefully.

"Thank you. Though I'm quite certain that won't be the last joyful reaction I hear at the news."

"People can keep their pleasure to themselves around you," said Red. "You deserve that much respect."

"It's good of you to say so," said Belle. "I know well I'm not really wanted by many."

"Fiddlesticks," said Nova who had floated to where they were in the back. Apparently travelling via flying was easier for fairies in the long term. "I'm glad you are coming and I'm also sorry about what happened."

"It's nice to know I have more support than I expected," said Belle quietly.

"You can count on us," Red told her firmly.

OUAT

Belle's sleep when they made camp for the night was fitful at best. She was constantly plagued by nightmares of watching Rumple die and the morning brought little relief.

They continued their march the next day during which she once again remained rather quiet only speaking occasionally with the Hatter's, Red, Dreamy, or the Huntsman.

It was on the morning of the third and with any luck final day that Bae approached her while the group had paused. Regina and Snow had both run off into the woods.

"Hey there," he said.

"Hello," she replied with a small smile.

"Sorry for being distant the past couple days. I've sort of been...processing everything."

"It's fine," she said. "He was your father. You deserve to grieve in whatever way suits you best."

"And you were his wife. More than that his true love. You deserve comfort too."

"Let's just say nobody here has the monopoly on grief," she replied. Bae's gaze travelled to Grace who'd been mostly silent the entire trip.

"I didn't realize how much my father had touched certain people," he said.

"I don't think your father realized either," she answered.

"I've been thinking, do you think there's any way to bring Papa back?" Belle's eyebrows rose.

"I've never thought about it. Your father always said dead was dead. It was one of the fundamental rules of magic."

"Yeah but that was for normal people. Papa was the Dark One. And he stabbed himself with his own dagger. Don't you think that might have made a difference?" Belle tilted her head pensively. Of course, this could just be grasping at straws but Bae did have a point.

"It's true we never saw the dagger after he disappeared nor a body. Why are you so vehement?" Bae sighed.

"Two reasons I guess. One is I'm pissed just when I finally was getting on with Papa I lose him and two if Papa is back perhaps he can help me find a way back to Emma and Henry." Belle nodded.

"Well, if there were anything it would be at the Dark Castle. And even if we can't resurrect Rumple there might still be something that could give a hint on getting you back to Emma and Henry."

"Snow and Charming weren't keen on the idea," said Bae. "And I didn't even bring up the resurrection angle." Belle gave a soft laugh.

"I'm not surprised I doubt they have many pleasant memories associated with the place. Still, it's worth investigating. If for no other reason than to make sure the place is habitable for myself and the Hatter's to return to."

"You plan to live there if we can't get back?" said Bae.

"I sincerely doubt I'll be permanently welcome at the Queen's castle. With that said it's better we go there first and gather some proper supplies before heading to the Dark Castle."

"That sounds like a fair plan..." began Bae. Only to break off at the return of Snow and Regina. Except they weren't alone. In their wake was a troupe of men including a small child of about four and none other than Robin Hood.

The man spotted them and let out a cry of delight.

"Baelfire! Belle!" He came towards them clapping Bae on the back and embracing Belle.

"Robin how lovely to see you," she said.

"And you milady, Baelfire here told me the most interesting tale the last time we met. It seems you managed to get married to the Dark One." Belle smiled.

"That I did." Robin raised an eyebrow jokingly.

"I'm surprised then to see you here without him. I'd imagine he'd not want to let you out of his sight." Belle's face fell and Bae cleared his throat.

"Unfortunately, my father is no longer with us. He gave up his life allowing all of us to escape Pan."

"The vile being that captured your son," said Robin. "I don't see the boy is he also..." Bae shook his head.

"No! No! He's with his mother, back in the other land. They couldn't come." Robin's face was full of genuine sympathy.

"I'm terribly sorry for you both." Belle nodded.

"Thank you, Robin. So you'll be joining us?" Robin inclined his head.

"For the time being."

"How wonderful," she replied pleased that she'd at least have one more ally.

OUAT

Getting back to the castle unfortunately proved more difficult than expected. When they arrived within sight of it they found a shallow trench dug in a wide circle around the castle lands perimeter.

"Protection spell," guessed Belle as Regina stepped up to test it and declared that someone had hijacked it.

"Fantastic," muttered Alice. "Precisely what we needed when we landed. Someone else pissed off at us."

"Don't suppose there's a way you could get around the spell and lower the shield?" Jefferson asked Regina who looked pensive.

"You know that's not an entirely insane thought," she said.

"There are tunnels that run under the castle. They may run beneath the spell."

"A loophole," said Belle with a smile. It was exactly the sort of thing Rumple would have come up with.

"Which means we can sneak an army inside," said David excitedly and Regina, Belle, Alice and Jefferson all did a simultaneous eye roll. Trust them to jump straight to the brute force option.

"No, an army would be detected," drawled Jefferson.

"Then how do the tunnels help us?" asked Snow and Belle resisted the urge to facepalm at the lack of logic.

"Because they can get me inside. If I can get inside, then I can lower the shield. Then you can send in your army," explained Regina.

Further discussion was cut off by the sound of screeching Belle looked up to see a FLYING MONKEY heading straight towards them.

"Incoming!" Yelled Bae pulling Belle towards cover. The monkey flew towards Roland the son of Robin.

"Papa!" The child screamed as several adults made to get to him.

However, it was Regina who swept in front of him.

"Not so fast!" with a wave of her hand the creature was transformed into a stuffed animal. She picked it up and brought it to the child who was now in Robin's arms. "See, not so scary. Now you have a new toy."

Belle couldn't help the slight smile that came to her face. Even in her grief seeing Regina who was also in pain cheered by her interaction with a child, who no doubt reminded her of Henry, was a welcoming sight.

"Thank you, Bae," she told her son. For that was how she thought of him. Bae shrugged.

"Of course."

OUAT

"What the hell was that thing?" asked Charming.

"The same kind of monster that attacked us on our journey here," said Snow.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say it looked an awful lot like a monkey." said Dreamy.

"A monkey with wings?" asked Charming.

"Yes, that's exactly what it is." said Regina matter-of-factly.

"Okay, you're acting like that's normal," said Bae. At last Belle spoke up glad to finally be of use.

"Actually, it is. But not here. There's only one land that has creatures like that. Oz."

"Oz? That's a real place?" asked Snow White causing her to receive raised eyebrows from the former residents of the Dark Castle including Grace.

"Says SNOW WHITE of a realm named the ENCHANTED FOREST," quipped Alice.

"The bookworm's right. It's quite real. If our simian friend is any indication, then I think we know exactly who's taken up residence in our castle." said Regina.

"I hate to agree with her majesty here but there's only one person who uses flying monkey's," said Jefferson looking irritated as if recalling an unpleasant memory. "The Wicked Witch."

"We talking East or West?" asked Dreamy.

"Does it matter? Neither one sounds good," said Snow. Dreamy shrugged.

"One you drop a house on. The other one you toss a bucket of water at." Belle held back a snicker at the comment and shared a small smile with Nova.

"Got a point," muttered Bae to Belle half-jokingly.

"West," clarified Jefferson pulling Grace closer. "And she's exceptionally nasty."

"Prior experience?" asked Belle he nodded.

"Cora wasn't the first person to cry off with my head."

"So, Regina, what exactly are we up against besides green skin and a pointy hat? What did you do to her?" asked Charming. Regina looked affronted.

"This time? Nothing. Never met her."

"This isn't a personal vendetta? Shocking." Belle felt some amusement at the former shepherd's sarcasm.

"Perhaps you did something unintentionally?" suggested Belle.

"Yeah, isn't that how Snow ended up in your crosshairs for several decades?" asked Alice.

"I told you I never met her so how am I supposed to have offended her?"

"It doesn't matter. Oz aside, we stick to the original plan. Arm up, then attack. Assuming you can get the shield down," said Charming.

Belle thought it rather DID matter since knowing motive could tell them something about their enemy but stayed quiet. Meanwhile Regina was arguing about going alone.

"Against the Wicked Witch? She has flying monkeys—who knows what else," said Snow.

"I don't care if the Lollipop Guild is protecting her. I can lower that shield on my own," said Regina firmly and Belle bit her lip to hold back the slight smile at Regina's quip it reminded her very much of Rumple's rumor.

"Then we'll be waiting for you on the other side," said Snow before Regina headed off.

OUAT

It was a while but eventually the green protective shield disappeared. Around that same time they also saw a figure flying off the top of one of the towers though it was difficult to make out.

"Well, I think our Wicked Witch suspicions are confirmed," said Bae.

"Indeed," replied Belle as they all made for the castle. Though she was relieved at least they wouldn't need to worry about ousting her from the castle.

OUAT

They reached the castle where they found Robin hood and a very shocked Regina.

Most of the company spread out and went to guest rooms but Belle, Alice, and Bae decided to stay and find out what exactly transpired. Jefferson electing to take his daughter to a room for the night.

"So did she tell you what you did to annoy her so much?" asked Alice.

"Apparently she's my sister. Zelena," said Regina.

"I didn't know you had a sister," said Snow.

"Neither did I," scoffed Regina. "Unfortunately it's the only explanation for how she broke through my blood magic. She said she was trained by Rumplestiltskin."

"Did he ever mention a Zelena?" asked Charming. Belle shook her head.

"Rumple and I had no secrets. But he also lived a significantly longer life. Consequently, there were undoubtedly parts of it he didn't get about to telling me about."

"Fantastic," muttered Regina sarcastically.

"Well, if it helps, I'll see if there's anything in the Dark Castle regarding her when Bae and I travel there."

"Belle, I know you are grieving but I don't think..."began Snow but Belle cut her off.

"Please do not patronize me. You know nothing of how I feel. Nor do you actually care. So, you need not pretend. Goodnight," she turned on her heel and left. Alice stayed behind a little longer before following.

OUAT

It took a few days before Belle and Bae were able to leave for the Dark Castle.

"You sure you don't want us to come?" Jefferson had asked before the pair had left.

"No. Better we go and assess the condition of the castle before trying to move in," said Belle.

"In that case be safe," said Alice. "I don't like the thought of you travelling alone with a Wicked Witch on the prowl."

"We'll be fine," said Belle calmingly she was a little concerned about the witch but hoped that with Regina as the woman's primary target of rage she and Bae could stay off the green girl's radar.

And that was how a few weeks later the pair ended up on the front steps of the Dark Castle. Belle smiled up at the structure. To most it would seem imposing but to her it was home.

"I remember when your father first brought me here," she said as she pushed open the doors and led the way inside.

"Were you scared?" asked Bae.

"A bit, I'd rarely been outside of Avalonea. But I soon realized he was irascible at worst. At least about the things that didn't really matter." She strode over to the long table in the main hall and closed her eyes reminiscing.

"I'm sorry, it's chipped. You...you can barely see it."

"Well, it's just a cup."

It hadn't been just a cup though in retrospect. It was the start of so much more.

"You were brave for what you did," said Bae. Belle shrugged.

"I had a duty to my people and I fulfilled it. In truth I think I rather got the better end of the bargain."

"Just not in the way you expected," said Bae teasingly and Belle laughed. The pair had become closer with Rumple's death.

"Not at all. Now I know we want to get a start on trying to find a way to resurrect your father, not just for his sake and to find a way back to Emma and Henry but also to help us stop Zelena. But I think we should get some sleep first."

"Good idea," said Bae.

"In that case I'll show you to your room," said Belle and after lighting a candle she led him up several staircases to the room that had normally been left closed.

"This was always a very special room," she said as she opened the door and gestured for him to enter. Bae stepped inside a bit puzzled.

OUAT

Neal was curious what is his stepmother was driving at when she led him to a room that she called special. However, his question was answered as soon as he stepped inside. The room was filled with his things. His childhood things.

He slowly examined the room. There were his toys mostly made of carved wood or straw, in drawers and a wardrobe he found his old clothes as well as new finer, ones, the blanket's on the bed were even his old ones somehow kept in good condition. He sat down on the bed.

"He always kept this room spotless and as it is. Full of memories and ready for the day he found you," said Belle softly.

Neal felt his heart contract his throat thickening. All those years that he'd believed his father hadn't been thinking of him. Had left him without a second thought. Yet here was the proof that Neal truly never had been far from his thoughts.

A tear slid down his cheek as he buried his face in his hands and began to cry. Finally letting out tears he'd been holding in since his father first died. Neal felt the bed indent beside him and Belle's arm wrap around his shoulders.

"I spent so long holding him at arm's length." He said at last in a thick voice. "It must have hurt him so deeply."

"He knew why you were angry Bae," said Belle gently.

"Maybe if I'd forgiven him sooner, we'd have had more time as a family," he said looking up. Belle shrugged.

"Would it have been real? You and your father made your peace when the time was right for you both. The fact you gave him a chance alone meant the world to him. Forgiveness was just the final step." His stepmother's words were a comfort.

"We have to get him back," said Bae. "He spent so long trying to get to me. I can't just lose him now." Belle gave him a watery smile.

"We'll do everything in our power," she gently cupped his cheek. "And if anyone could do it it's his son. I see a great deal of his good qualities, particularly his perseverance in you." Bae had a strange feeling as Belle looked at him with an almost motherly gaze.

His own mother had never looked at or spoken to him that way. Most of his memories regarding the woman involved trying to get her back from the tavern. It was oddly comforting even as a grown man.

"You know I didn't think I'd want to be compared to him...but now I take that as quite the compliment." Belle pulled away and stood up.

"You should. Now I'll leave you be. My room is just down the hall. The big one with the double doors."

"Good to know," said Neal. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Bae."

Author's Note: Soo luckily not everyone is down on Belle in the chapter but certainly not everyone particularly cares about her grief. I do love Dreamy's Wicked witch lines. I'm trying to further build some of Belle's relationships here. She's also got a bit of an edge to her now that she's grieving. We also get to see Bae seeing his old room which I thought would be a very touching moment. I didn't like how the show only framed him as wanting his dad back to get back to Emma and Henry so here he also wants his dad back. We also see the dynamic between him and Belle growing. I hope you like it. Thanks for reading if you enjoy the story PLEASE leave me a note below it REALLY helps thanks!