Belle got up early to go first to the pawn shop the next morning only to find a shock awaiting her the door was already open. Belle pulled out her phone and texted Emma before calling Jefferson who arrived fairly swiftly.

"Thanks for coming," she told the man when he arrived.

"Of course, I'm just glad you were smart enough not to go in yourself."

"It looks like it was broken in the night so I think it's empty," said Belle as she followed the larger man inside as he pulled out his gun.

"Anyone in here?!" called Jefferson, "Come out now with your hands up!" there was no response. They carefully searched the shop to no avail.

They'd just determined the place was empty when the Huntsman arrived.

"Hi, Emma sent me along," he said.

"We had a break in," said Belle gesturing to the door.

"Do you know what was taken?" asked the Huntsman. Belle's eyes narrowed in on the wall safe. She swiftly walked over and opened it.

"Nightroot."

"You mean the stuff that gives you those ruddy hallucinations to help you face your fears?" asked Jefferson.

"Exactly and the only person that would want such a thing would be the witch," said Belle.

"True any ordinary robber would go for the shiny things," agreed the Huntsman.

"So, what does the witch want with it?" asked Jefferson. Belle shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"I'll warn Emma. Is there anything you need?" asked the Huntsman. Belle shook her head.

"No, I'll have Geppetto come and fix the lock but otherwise the witch was at least kind enough not to leave a mess."

"A considerate villain, what a novelty," said Jefferson.

"Yes, murdering and turning people into flying monkeys is just fine but god forbid you leave a mess when committing grand theft nightroot," said Belle humorously.

"In that case I'll leave you," said the Huntsman with a chuckle before departing.

"Thank you again for coming Jefferson, I'm sorry I seem to have wasted your time," said Belle.

"It's fine," said Jefferson. "I'd rather you call for back up and it be nothing than you run blindly into danger." Belle walked back around the counter and hugged the man. Even with her heels the Hatter still had a good four inches on her.

"We'll find Baelfire," the Hatter told her.

"How are you sure?" asked Belle.

"Because when has the impossible ever stopped us before?" asked Jefferson. Belle laughed.

"I suppose you're right."

"Let me know if you need help alright? I mean between doing all this research and running the library. I don't want you running yourself ragged," said Jefferson seriously.

"I will," she promised. "You have a good day."

"You too," said the Hatter before leaving.

OUAT

Belle called Geppetto to fix the lock and then collected another pile of books to search through before heading to the library.

It was the end of the day as she was going through the last book, she'd brought that she found a slip of parchment crushed between the pages.

The page had a single word in her handwriting.

"Zelena!" Belle's heart sunk. She locked up the library and pelted for her car driving to the loft.

The door opened quickly after her frantic pounding.

"What is it?" asked a concerned looking Emma as Belle stepped inside. Belle looked around the room checking who was there. Snow, David, Regina, and Emma.

"You need to fire that midwife."

"What! Why?" asked Snow. Belle held up the sheet of parchment.

"This is my writing. I don't ever remember writing this which means it was done during the missing year."

"But Zelena's been so kind," said Snow.

"Please," scoffed Regina. "You thought my mother was kind and look what she turned out to be."

Emma took the paper.

"You clearly wrote this in a rush."

"It's similar to Bae's rushed writing," said Belle. "I'm thinking maybe right before the curse? It would explain why I didn't leave more context."

"So we're going to fire a woman on the basis of one mysterious piece of paper?" said Snow.

"Look do you want to be safe or do you want to be nice and risk your child?" said Regina.

"They have a point," said David. Snow sighed

"Fine I suppose we'll let her go tomorrow."

"Good," said Belle. "Now have I missed anything else?"

"David fought an evil doppleganger of himself then lost his sword hilt," said Emma.

"I think it was meant to be a symbol of his courage," said Regina. Belle sighed.

"Well that explains the stolen night root."

"You mean from this morning's robbery?" asked Emma.

"Why else would he be seeing things? I'll even bet Zelena here slipped it to him today."

"We don't know for sure she's the wicked witch," said Snow.

"But she's the best suspect we have right now," said Emma. "And we'll know by tomorrow. When you fire her we'll try and bring her in."

"Do be careful Emma," warned Belle.

"We will, thank you for the warning. My little sibling may very well owe you their life." Belle gave her a small smile.

"I wouldn't count your chickens before they'd hatched. There's still time for things to go wrong. But you are welcome all the same. If that's all I'll be going now." She turned and left.

OUAT

The following day Emma prepared with the Huntsman, to arrest bring Zelena.

"So how do you think this is gonna go?" asked the Huntsman.

"Hopefully? Well. Realistically...I don't know." Truth be told she wasn't exactly sure how to take on a Wicked Witch. Emma didn't really have high hopes of capturing the witch today if it was her. But this would at least probably tell them if they had the right person, and hopefully keep the woman away from Emma's new sibling.

Emma headed up to the loft while the Huntsman waited inside. Zelena was already there with her parents.

The red head gave Emma a big smile.

"Emma, it's lovely to get to speak with you finally," she said cheerfully. Perhaps a bit too cheerfully.

"Yeah, nice to meet you too," said Emma. "Mary Margaret said you were a midwife in the other land?"

"Ah yes, not a very exciting part mind you but I do like helping people." Emma's superpower went off the woman was lying.

"Really, and you know Johanna my mom's old Nanny?" Zelena nodded.

"I did. Such a lovely woman. I was devastated to hear what happened. She should be the one here really but I'll do my best to make up for her absence." Another lie. Emma walked over to the counter as if going to get a drink.

"So what do you think of this whole Wicked Witch situation?"

"Oh its utterly frightful I mean turning people into monkeys! How horrible can you get?" Oh yeah complete lie.

"I don't suppose you might have any clue as to her whereabouts?" asked David.

"Me? Why would I know anything?" asked Zelena and just for a moment Emma saw nervousness flash in the woman's eyes.

"We're just asking everyone. Speaking of which, unfortunately we have some bad news," said Emma.

"Bad news?" Emma's mother nodded looking genuinely apologetic.

"Well, with this Witch out there it's just too dangerous to have someone we don't know well around. So we aren't going to be having a midwife after all."

"What!" said Zelena before clearing her throat. "I mean what? Surely I've not done anything to earn your mistrust." At this point the Huntsman entered and Emma moved closer. Her hand going behind to reach for her gun.

"Aside from all the lying? You mean?" she asked then she pointed her gun. Her parents having moved out of the way. "Zelena, we're taking you in for further questioning you have the right to remain silent..." However the woman scowled her cheery façade dropping.

"Oh do shut up. You aren't taking me anywhere. Though I do have to wonder who spoiled my fun." Emma's hand moved towards the trigger but the witch flicked her wrist and Emma was frozen.

"Don't think this changes anything, I'll still get that baby. Just be sure to take care of it for me. Ta ta!" then the woman disappeared in a swirl of green smoke and they were all unfrozen.

Emma cursed.

"Belle was right," said her mother looking both sad and horrified. Emma turned to them with a deadpan look.

"You don't say."

OUAT

Regina had been getting on quite nicely with the outlaw known as Robin Hood as they shared a drink in the abandoned farm house near where David had fought his doppleganger.

She'd gone there after learning from Emma that the Zelena the woman posing as the midwife for Snow had turned out to be the Witch. Information she was still a bit surprised had come from Belle of all people. It really seemed she needed to stop underestimating the woman.

They'd not had time to search the farm house the night David fought his doppleganger so she'd come back to do so today and had just found golden thread and a spinning wheel in the cellar, Which caused one to draw shocking conclusions already, when upon exiting it she'd nearly been shot by the outlaw.

Despite the explosive start he'd actually proven quite charming and Regina was enjoying herself. At least until she saw the lion tattoo. Surely it couldn't be? Now she stood in the forest, watching Robin from a distance as he played with a child who appeared to be his son.

Could he really be her true love? Did it even still hold after all this time? Was it worth trying and possibly getting her heart broken?

She was startled out of her revere by the sound of someone stepping on a branch behind her. She whipped around ready to toss a fireball only to find Belle dressed in her usual bookworm chic, though it seemed to have taken a darker tone since Rumple's death, and the woman's normal high heels were instead replaced with sensible black ankle boots.

"Just me," said Belle.

"Oh, sorry," said Regina.

"It's fine. Don't you usually use a looking glass for your spying?"

"That requires one on each end," said Regina. "Plus, Sidney got his body back when we came here."

"Oh yes you were the reason we couldn't have mirrors outside the bedrooms," said Belle. "I suppose Sidney was one of the few that benefitted from the curse."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience to your décor," said Regina sarcastically. Belle's mouth twitched in a small smile.

"Jokes aside what are you doing watching them?" Regina shrugged.

"Nothing you need to know about." Belle hummed

"If you say so."

"What are you doing here?" asked Regina changing the subject not liking the way Belle's eyes were looking between her and Robin.

"I was headed up to check in on Rumple's cabin. Though I suppose it's mine now. Care to join me? It's not far."

"You trust me?" asked Regina.

"You won't risk losing Henry when we get his memories back, just to rip my heart out," said Belle dismissively. Regina noticed there was a lot less bubbly to this version of the town librarian than before.

"Is there booze up there?"

"Probably," said Belle with a shrug and they hiked up the hill soon coming to a cabin. Belle unlocked it to reveal a nicely furnished little place. Perfect for getting away from things in the short term. Belle went over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whisky.

"Got it!" She poured a little into two glasses and handed one to Regina. "We don't carry Apple cider." Regina snorted in amusement.

"Emma told me you vouched for me not having cast the curse. After all I did to you I have to say I'm surprised." Belle shrugged.

"You logically couldn't have, what was the point in lying and blaming you? It would only serve to help hide the real culprit."

"I suppose. Still, thank you." Belle nodded her head.

"How are things with Henry?" asked Belle.

"Agonizing," said Regina. And it was true.

"I feel you. I never thought I'd miss a twelve-year-old calling me grandma so much."

"I'd give anything to have him recognize me again," said Regina. "I hear you've been looking into ways to restore memories." Belle looked frustrated.

"I have...And so far ZIP. It's frustrating to be in a town of magical folk facing a magical enemy and all you are is the damned dictionary but I'm not even any good as that it seems."

"You outed Zelena," said Regina. "Who knows what she would have done to that kid if she'd been allowed to stay close," Belle nodded looking a little mollified as she sipped her drink.

"I was curious have you started brewing a memory potion for Henry?" asked Belle.

"I tried recreating the one given to Emma based on the remnants left over but it didn't work," said Regina frustration welling up.

"Perhaps it wouldn't work on you. But it might on Henry. I'm willing to bet the causes of the memory loss are different so, so, will the solutions be."

"You have a point. Not that it helps us with Zelena but if it helps Henry, it would be worth a try," said Regina. "It'll just take more time than the quick job I did since I'll have to use a basic recipe." What Belle was saying made sense. Perhaps the potion wouldn't work for her memory loss but it might for Henry. She had to admit she'd probably rushed a bit in her eagerness when trying to recreate Zelena's. The idea she might get Henry back brought her hope and she suddenly recalled what she needed to tell Belle.

"By the way there's something I just found out that you should know."

"Oh?" asked Belle.

"When I was searching the farmhouse, I found a cellar and in it a spinning wheel, with gold thread." She watched as Belle processed the words her blue eyes widening and then she collapsed into a nearby leather chair.

OUAT

Belle had realized she'd forgotten to double check Rumple's cabin as a possible spot for Bae so she'd headed into the woods only to come across Regina, wistfully watching Robin Hood of all people, who she made a mental note to speak with later. Belle couldn't help but wonder what was going on there especially since the woman was so quick to deny it when asked.

She'd not pegged outlaws as the Evil Queen's type but who knew?

She'd invited the woman up to the cabin and after some small talk Regina had dropped the biggest bomb imaginable on Belle.

"When I was searching the farmhouse, I found a cellar and in it a spinning wheel, with gold thread."

Regina held out a piece of achingly familiar golden cord.

It took her a moment to process the words and when she did and recognized what they meant Belle couldn't help but collapse into the nearby chair shakily reaching out to take the piece of thread.

"I don't understand. You mean that Rumple is alive?"

"Who else do you know that spins straw into gold?"

It was true, the trait was pretty much unique to Rumple.

"But how? Dead is dead. We saw him die."

"I don't know but it looks like Zelena's got him which isn't good for us." After learning her son was likely a prisoner of the witch Belle hadn't thought she could feel any worse. She'd been wrong. She put her face in her hands and sighed.

"Why me? Why my family?"

"You married the Dark One you signed away all rights to a quiet life," said Regina bluntly though Belle knew the words weren't actually meant in a mean-spirited manner.

"I just want to know hope it's possible."

"All this is another reason we need to remember the missing year," said Regina.

"Preaching to the choir your majesty," said Belle shortly.

"Don't I know it," replied the Queen finishing her drink.

OUAT

After getting the news of Rumple's return and parting from Regina, who she presumed was going to tell the rest of the group Belle didn't know what to do other than drive to the only people she trusted implicitly in the world.

So, when she showed up on the front doorstep of the Hatters it wasn't surprising but certainly still wonderful that she was welcomed without question and brought a warm cup of chamomile.

"So, what's up?" asked Jefferson. Belle took a deep breath.

"I just found out that Rumple is probably alive but being held prisoner by Zelena."

The couple in front of her looked speechless. Not an easy feet mind you.

"Like actually alive?" asked Jefferson. "We aren't talking one of Victor's science fair projects?"

"No Regina thinks it's the real thing. Though we of course don't have any real proof beyond this," she held out the thread Regina had given her. Alice examined it along with Jefferson.

"That's his alright," she said.

"If that's the case then what do we do?" asked Belle.

"I think all we can do is wait for him to turn up," said Jefferson. "We'll keep an eye on the woods in case he tries to make a break for it though if she's got the dagger I'm not sure how much good that would do him."

"But that's not all that's bothering you is it?" said Alice perceptively and Belle shook her head.

"I'm conflicted. On the one hand there's a small part of me that's utterly thrilled he's alive but another is fearful of what the price was not to mention, what's his life even worth if he's enslaved to that woman? He'd have preferred death."

"That's true. But that's also acting under the assumption she's permanently in control of him," said Jefferson exchanging a look with Alice.

"Hattie is right, there's no way we're letting her keep control of Rum. If anything, she's just motivated us to throw our hat into the ring to further help." Belle gave them a small smile.

"You know it's really something to have people like you I can count on."

"We aim to please," said Jefferson with a crooked grin and an exaggerated bow.

"How's Grace?" asked Belle.

"Not great," said Alice glumly.

"She's upset because her best friend doesn't recognize her," said Jefferson sympathetically. "Having been through something similar I can't exactly blame her."

"Nor can I," said Belle. "I suppose returning memories is just one more thing in the laundry list of items that need to be done to defeat that damn witch."

"It's certainly rather exhausting," said Alice. "But if we stick together, we'll get through it. We always have."

"You seem quite confident." said Belle.

"Don't you dare start getting pessimistic my dear girl," said Jefferson wagging a finger. "We'll get more than enough of that WHEN we get Rum back." Belle felt a small laugh bubbling up inside of her. The determined way in which the Hatter's spoke couldn't help but lift her spirits.

"Very well, I shall do my best to remain a perpetual ray of sunshine," she said jokingly causing her friends to chuckle.

"Well, you don't need to Snow White it," said Alice. "A nice moderate does of cheerfulness will do."

At these words the laugh that had been building up finally escaped joyful sound far cheerier than any she'd made in far too long.

OUAT

The next day Belle was at Granny's when Emma came rushing in saying that Henry had run off to the docks. Immediately Regina and the Charming's were out of their booth and running after Emma.

"Hang on I'm coming too!" called Belle hurrying to join the party as they rushed to the docks.

They got there to find Henry and Hook under attack from Flying monkeys. Emma shot at them while, Charming used his sword and Regina fireballs, Belle who was infinitely grateful she'd started carrying around her potions bag pulled out a firebomb potion and tossed it at the nearest creature who exploded into flames. Another was hit with an acid bomb. She did her best not to think about the fact that these were probably all once people. But if it came down to it her grandson came first.

At last, they defeated the monkeys saving a very confused Henry.

"Emma," she said "Perhaps true loves kiss could break his memory? And even break the curse?" Emma made to do so but suddenly Henry disappeared only to appear seconds later in the arms of Zelena who held Henry by the throat.

"So, sorry to interrupt. Now, who wants to say good-bye first?"

"Who are you?" gasped the boy.

"You can call me Auntie Zelena."

"Didn't you get the memo when you were fired? You aren't wanted anywhere near this family," said Belle snarkily. Her only real weapon since her potions were sadly far too likely to hit Henry.

"Enough of this," said Regina stepping forward but Zelena pushed her back.

"Let him go. He had nothing to do with this," demanded Emma.

"Don't blame me. The captain failed me."

"Damn you, Zelena." said the pirate and Belle wondered what the one-handed man had done now.

"Hook, what's she talking about?" asked Emma.

"He knew what the price of that failure was: Your son's life," said Zelena.

"Oh, that's fair," scoffed Belle.

"Awww look at Granny all defensive." sneered Zelena

"I know you have my husband you bitch. Your insane if you think I'll let you take my grandson." Belle could see Emma out of the corner of her eye look as if she were trying to concentrate, she presumed the woman was summoning her magic and thus did her best to by the blond time.

"Oh I have much more than that..." suddenly it seemed as if Zelena were being burned she screamed shoving Henry away and causing him to topple and hit his head on a crate. Belle rushed to his side along with Regina.

"Enjoy this moment together because you don't have many left!"

"Henry? Henry!" exclaimed Emma in worry. Belle was searching in her bag for a healing potion but Regina was ahead of her. With a wave of her hand she fixed the cut on Henry's head then leaned down and kissed him just as he was about to come round whispering. "I love you Henry."

Henry's eyes opened as a wave of rainbow light went out over them all.

"I love you too mom," Regina gasped.

"True loves kiss," said Belle with a smile.

"Do you lot remember anything?" asked Emma hopefully Belle shook her head. "It seems to have been contained to Henry. But that's progress." As if on cue the boy exclaimed,

"Grandma!" Belle smiled and pulled her grandson into a tight hug.

"Welcome back Henry."

Author's Note: So! Belle's note comes in handy I decided to out Zelena a little earlier just so Belle's note would be useful. The night root theft also goes a little different as well since this Belle would have noticed something was fishy and have picked up on Zelena being the culprit right away if it went like the show. We also get another Belle and Regina half bonding scene since I'm continuing to develop that dynamic and trying to emphasize the change in Belle. And lastly Henry get's his memory back earlier BUT the true loves kiss doesn't solve things for the whole town. I didn't want to completely take away Regina's TLK but I do have separate plans for getting the town's memory back so we shall see. Anyway please let me know what you think in the comments! Thanks so much for reading! Until next time!