Belle realises that Rumple now knows everything about her and Ruby. As Snow remains in a coma, Emma and Regina prepare to come back to face god alone knows what. Ruby gets an even nastier surprise.

The Gold mansion

It was without doubt one of the worst experiences of Belle's life. And it had only just begun!

Having frozen her where she stood, just as she was about to leave, his magic lifted her feet clean off the floor, before slowly turning her, then gently but firmly, using an invisible force she was powerless to resist, to ease her back into the armchair, to face the dreamcatcher again.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? RUMPLE, LET GO OF ME!"

It'd been a long time since he'd used magic against her, other than when pulling her out of harm's way many a time. But it was clear the unblinking man now staring at her was the gold-skinned Dark One taking control. Not Rumple. And he'd clearly already prepared what he wanted to show her.

"Now, although I went back a lot further than I originally intended, here's where our next interesting couple start to get even more acquainted. Take a look?"

With a twist of his fingers, the dreamcatcher burst into life, brightening to reveal the inside of her flat above the library, as two figures burst through her door, loud, and apparently much the worse for drink.

She was now watching images of herself and Ruby Lucas. The moving images suddenly froze again.

"I checked through the records, and I can tell you that this took place during the second weekend of May, just over three years ago. An evening which the two of you spent in the Rabbit Hole, with others, including Snow White, her irritating daughter, Miss Herman, and the then single, Regina Mills. Remember that?" He studied her face for a glimmer of recollection. "You know Belle, although I try not to listen to other people's gossip as a rule, sometimes I just can't help myself? Even now, I'm always surprised how easily you ladies can discuss the most intimate matters with one another? Matters that really should remain between the couples concerned? I could play that part for you, but most of it becomes rather tedious. Anyway, suffice to say, later in the evening, you and the she-wolf, out of earshot of the others, thank goodness, shared how your current lovers lacked the...spontaneous excitement of the past? You were both rather critical of our performances in the bedroom, as I recall." Belle winced, but avoided saying anything for fear it could make things worse. If that were possible? "Still, never mind. Watch this?It becomes most interesting."

He waved his hand at the dreamcatcher, and the images restarted. To the giggling pair on the screen, laughing like drunk teenagers as Ruby settled herself on the sofa, Belle having just brought out a bottle of scotch, pouring two generous measures, and handing one to the other woman, before sitting down next to her, putting her feet up on the coffee table.

Rumple did something else with his fingers, and the sound increased, so they could be heard clearly:

Belle: "That was a really good night! We have to do it again soon."

Her voice sounded a little slurry, as did Ruby's, clearly the affect of drink.

Ruby: "Couldn't agree more, but you're the one with the kiddo? Just name the date, ask hubby to take care of him, and I'll be there."

"Say once a month? We'll make it a fixed event every month, and ask the rest of the girls to come join us as when they can? Seriously Rubes, I had a great time. It was lovely to get out, relax, and let our hair down."

"I could tell! That new fella behind the bar, what was his name? Chris? He was dropping more than subtle hints he fancied you rotten, lady! And yes, I saw you batting your eyes back at him! Emma had a little word with him after he brought the drinks over, telling him who you were, and that your old man's inclined to fillet guys who try to come onto his girl? It was funny as hell watching his face fall!"

The tall brunette chuckled, before taking a large slug of the whisky, grabbing the bottle to refresh the glass. They were now well on the way to being drunk.

"I know - she said!" Belle couldn't stop giggling. "Poor Chris. Still, it's nice to be flirted with once in a while and know I'm still vaguely fanciable? Because of Rumple, most guys around here are way too scared to even talk to me most of the time, let alone chat me up!"

"What do you mean, 'vaguely fanciable'? You're gorgeous! And well above Rumple's pay grade, in my humble opinion. Hell, if you played for my team, I'd jump your bones!" She handed her a glass. "Dot gets angsty sometimes when I talk to people. She says I flirt way too much, with everyone."

"I don't see why? It's your way and you're famous for it! I reckon you chatting up Chris tonight is what got us the first round of shots on the house. Dot's not seriously worried about you doing anything, is she?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. Clearly this was a regular topic at home. "Oh, she's always accusing me of going too far with everyone, and she's way too possessive sometimes. But I'm half-werewolf, Belle! I have needs! I need energy off of other people. S he's not exactly the jealous type, and she knows it helps keep the tips rolling in, especially from the guys! But I wish I could get her out with us more on girls' nights, you know? But she's not really into the whole group thing. She just prefers one-on-one. But she knows I need it from time to time."

"Rumple's a bit like that. Though if there were any guys with us when we have our Friday nights, he'd insist on coming along. But if it's just us girls, it doesn't seem to bother him."

"Even though some of us girls are also into other girls?" She batted her eyes at her. "There's more gays and bi's in Storybrooke, boys and girls, than you might think? Does he just assume you're so straight, you'd never play on my team?"

"But I am straight!" For some reason, Ruby's question made her start giggling again. "Boring to you, I know. I've never even kissed a girl, let alone liked it!"

"REALLY?" Ruby seemed more than surprised at the admission. "Not even in your teens? With your looks? Or when you were schooled, or whatever they did where you came from?"

Belle downed her glass. "Princess, remember? I was home-taught, and my dad, the king of a fairly non-descript little realm, already had a particular prince in mind for me. Someone called Gaston. So no. No kissing girls, or boys for that matter."

"Well we can't have that now, can we?" The wolf took the glass straight out of her friend's hand, placing both on the table, turning to her side to put her hands on the librarian's cheeks. "Time to fix a gap in your education, lady. So come on – pucker up!"

Before Belle could respond, she suddenly felt a pair of warm, soft, cushioned lips pressing against her own, quickly moulding themselves against her mouth, which she opened slightly, in surprise. It was a surprise, but a pleasant one, and only lasted a few seconds. But she closed her eyes, relishing the sudden warmth as her lips started to respond in kind.

As Belle now watched it on the dreamcatcher, the memory of that kiss, three years ago, came flooding back. And as the on-screen women's lips parted, she could see that the look in her own eyes had changed from one of surprise, to definite interest! So much so, that as blue and brown eyes, inches apart, exchanged a look, it was the librarian who now lunged forward, reconnecting their lips and pushing in harder this time. From there, it quickly became heated, as arms now held one another, pulling their upper bodies closer, the atmosphere changing by the second.

It was when the Belle on the dreamcatcher pushed her friend back against the sofa, lifting a leg over to straddle her friend's waist, that the Belle watching them saw, from the corner of her eye, Rumple.

He was sitting rigidly still, taking in everything.

She'd almost forgotten he was there.

"Turn it off?" Her voice sounded like a whimper. "Please?"

"Why dearie? The best is yet to come."

"Because I was very drunk, Rumple!" It was a pathetic excuse, and she knew it. "It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry."

"Drunk, you say?"

She closed her eyes, ashamed, unable to even look at him. "You heard me! I was even slurring my words! It was a stupid thing to do, and I'm so sorry. I just got caught up in the heat of the moment."

"Look at me?"

She finally opened her eyes, horrified to find the ones staring right back at her had changed. To an animal shade of brown, his pupils now three times their usual size. His skin above his neckline had become grey and scaly. This was the Dark One in tooth and claw. And he looked ready to kill!

"Yes, you were drunk, weren't you? So drunk in fact, that within minutes of this happening, you proceeded to take her to your bed." He gave her a look she'd never seen directed at her before. Disgust. "Tell me Belle, were you both drunk the other thirty-three times you had sex with her?" His stare was contemptuous. "I counted. I've seen each and every time, overnight, in more detail than I could ever have wished. And as far as I can tell, unlike the others recently, you weren't affected by Ingrid's potion. Nor any other influence? Quite the energetic pair, aren't you? Clearly the wolf's a much better lover than your husband."

"It's not like that, Rumple!" She had to look away again, rather than face him. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry you've been caught?" His voice was higher pitched than normal. "Three years, Belle! You know, I've repeatedly told the cowardly spinner who currently hosts me, many times over the years, that love is weakness. You're aware of what I did to Milah, the first wife who betrayed him?"

"Rumple…" She sounded desperate now as she appealed to his higher self. "Please don't let The Dark One kill me? We have Gideon! Our son!"

"Perhaps you should have thought about him before you desecrated your marriage? He was a fool to ever trust you again, especially after you sent him over the town line the first time?" She still wouldn't lift her head to face him. "But still, your adultery has made my job so much easier, and I thank you for it."

"I don't understand."

"The man you married, weak though he may be, has until now, managed to resist my full control of his mind more than any other host I've encountered over millennia. You were his primary reason for resisting me! When I first returned from banishment, I told him to kill you for your treachery. Rip out your heart, and crush it in front of you, just like Milah! But no. The fool refused, still desperate for your love. Pathetic! But now? Your infidelity has broken his spirit more than I've been able to achieve in over three hundred years! I congratulate you Belle, and thank you again. It'll make my task so much easier."

"Let me speak to my husband? She finally looked at him. "Please let me speak to the man I love, not the Dark One?"

"No."

She felt sick at the thought of what was about to happen. And it was all her own fault. "So what now? You're just going to kill me?"

As he smiled back malevolently, she was reminded why Killian always called him as the Crocodile. Now she could see it herself!

"Much as I would love to dearie, the spinner made a vow; a deal, never to harm you, did he not? He controlled me when he made it, so we made it together. And the Dark One never reneges on a vow. Like a wedding vow, really. 'Till death us do part'? Unlike some people." He sneered the words. "So no, unfortunately, to my great regret, I will not kill you, nor harm you, even though you deserve it."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Nothing, unless Rumpelstiltskin changes his mind. Though I will banish you."

"Banish me? But what about my son? What about Gideon?"

"No longer your concern. His father will love and protect him, as always. And I will ensure the boy knows exactly what happened here. Gideon deserves the truth. You and the wolf, on the other hand…"

"Please don't kill Ruby? Promise me you won't hurt her?"

"Ah. Well, you're no longer in any position to demand promises. I will do what needs to be done. But I'm sending you away from here. Expect to receive divorce papers within a matter of days." His gaze turned even more malevolent if that were possible. "I strongly advise you not to return."

"WAIT! I-"

But Belle's pleading ended momentarily, as she was teleported from the mansion, instantly apparating seconds later, in the gloom of her unlit flat above the library.

Shocked, appalled, and completely terrified, she turned the lights on, before sliding down to rest her back against the wall, knees to her chest, cupping her face in her hands.

She'd brought this all on herself.

Storybrooke Hospital

"What do you mean, disappeared? He's run away?"

"No. She said he disappeared right in front of her! Disapparated, like mum and ma do?"

Charming shook his head wearily as he glanced over at Snow's unconscious body. His son had already gone through so much over the last fortnight. His mother had left home to live with a once trusted family friend. She'd embarrassed him in front of all his friends at school, been fired from her job, and was now apparently a social outcast. And she never even saw her only son on his eighth birthday. Plus, the same thing had happened to his sister, and she'd fled town with Regina, the woman he once regarded as a big second sister. And now, it looked like he knew something about his mother.

"Looks like his magic's come in early. What did Dorothy tell him?"

"Only what you asked. That she was 'poorly', and in hospital. But…"

"But? But what?"

"He didn't believe her. Dot thinks he's got Emma's superpower to detect not just lies but, avoidance. It wasn't her fault, gramps."

"I KNOW IT WASN'T!" David yelled, instantly regretting it. "I'm sorry Henry, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…"

"It's okay, I get it, I do, and you're stressed out. Dot said he asked her, straight out, what'd happened to put her in hospital. She obviously didn't want to say his own mother tried to commit suicide, so she said she didn't know. That's when he accused her of lying, and disapparated. I didn't even know he had magic?"

"We kept it quiet. Merlin told us he had it inside him, just like his big sister. But he said it shouldn't come in until he was an adult, like Emma. But now?"

"I'll go find him. I'll also give Hank a call, explain what's happened, so they can start a search? And maybe can help Robin too? His guys have eyes all over the forest. You should stay here with grandma, I guess? At least, till we know something."

"No, she's safe here for the moment with the doctors and nurses, so Neal has to be my priority. Have you heard from Emma or Regina at all?"

"Not a word. I must admit, I never tried to reach them either, as I just wanted to be sure where we stand on the potion they took. Grandpa Gold said it might not be permanent, but he can't be sure because it was a one-off mixture. But what I do know, is where they went after they left town."

"You do? How?"

"I've been tracking their charge and bank card use. They don't know I can do it." He saw the look of disapproval on the former Sheriff's face. "End justifies the means, right? Anyway, they stayed one night in a hotel in New York, bought tickets the next day, then flew to Miami, where they've been since, staying at the Ritz-Carlton. I checked it out. It's bang on the beach, and really pricey. Not exactly slumming it, are they?"

"That answers whether the potion's temporary. Anyway, Neal must be my first concern now, and there's still the possibility his mother isn't going to get through this. In which case-"

"Really? I thought Vic said the worst was over? Has something happened?"

David looked glum. "There's been an update after they ran more tests. Seems when, or if, she finally wakes up, she'll probably need a liver and kidney transplant because of the damage. Plus, she'll also need dialysis for the rest of her life, which is now going to be a lot shorter. Whale thinks it may be better her being treated outside Storybrooke, if that were at all possible. I'll be honest Henry, it's not looking good."

His grandson knew full well that if Snow died, so would David, due to their shared heart, split during the second curse.

"But magic might be able to fix it. Surely, we have to at least try? I'll call Grandpa."

"Normally, I'd say anyone but him. But reluctantly, I have to agree. Maybe you could call Emma? Get her back, if at all possible. Then call your other grandfather, or get Belle to ask him? But first, I need to find Neal urgently."

The Ritz-Carlton – Miami Beach

Sitting at the vanity in their suite, Emma put the phone down, turning to face Regina, who sat on the bed against the headboard, the laptop on her knees.

"That's the flight confirmed. We should get into LaGuardia around two-thirty tomorrow afternoon."

"Good, I'm beginning to hate waking up early. And the Portland hotel's confirmed too." She put the laptop down, subconsciously rubbing her still relatively flat abdomen. "As I've had no sleep, I'm going to go down and spend my last day on the beach to try and catch a few hours. I'm sure all this stress can't be good for the baby."

"I keep forgetting you're pregnant. You certainly don't look it, yet. How are you feeling, apart from tired?"

"Anxious. Terrified. Though I suspect that's more due to having to tell this one's father this week? After everything I've done to him, rather than the fact I'm carrying a child I never thought possible."

"So you're definitely going to tell him?"

"Of course I am!" She sighed. "He hates me, and rightly so, but he still deserves to know. The fact the Dragon said he detected early signs of magic, just makes it all the more painful. It's a painful reminder I had a short happy ever after, with my soulmate and true love, before I totally destroyed it. As usual."

"But that's all Gold's doing! You just have to convince Robin. Besides, he always seems a lot more forgiving than Killian. Now there's a man who can hold a grudge! He went after Gold for centuries, and still calls him the bloody 'Crocodile'!"

"Because he's a villain, just like him!" She saw the instant flash of anger in the blonde's eyes at her poor choice of words. "Sorry. Former villain, like me. We can hold hatred forever..." She looked down at her waist. "But as for this little one, I'm surprised I haven't felt any sickness, or anything like that yet? Aren't I supposed to feel at least something after seven weeks?"

"Not necessarily. I didn't when I found out I was expecting Henry. I was nearly twelve weeks gone when I found out I was pregnant. There was only one scan all the way through! The prison arranged it." She sighed, her mind going back to darker days. "I never even saw Henry after the birth. I couldn't bear to look at him, so I turned away. The first time I ever saw his face was when he turned up out of the blue, at my flat in New York, ten years later!" She stopped, turning away, looking out the window towards the sea. "Ten years till I saw my own son! Can you believe that?"

Regina could hear the pain in her voice. "I remember you telling me. I'm sorry."

"So, I was a crap mother to begin with, just like I'm a crap mother now! Thank god you were the one bringing him up, instead of me."

"You've more than proved yourself to him since he found you, Emma. He loves you."

"Loved, not loves! Past tense. You remember the last thing he said to me? "You disgust me!" Remember? I disgust him! Mind you, I had just thumped Roland, and thrown his father against the wall."

"But one day, he'll come to realise that we were being controlled. You shouldn't torment yourself. Have you tried messaging him since we left?"

"I couldn't bear to, not after everything. I wouldn't know where to start? How to explain."

"I think we have no choice. Perhaps we should ask him for a Zoom call with both of us? Apologise first, then take it from there?"

"Okay. But I'm not ready to face him yet. Let's do it in Portland tomorrow night? Then you head to Storybrooke the morning after?"

Storybrooke Forest

Ruby Lucas, having left the hospital three hours earlier, cowered behind a tree, dense shrubbery concealing her. She'd transitioned into her wolf form when she'd first reached the forest, and had been running ever since. Now she was tired. And unusually for her, frightened.

That morning, she'd woken up in an empty bed, Snow nowhere to be seen. And overnight, she seemed to have had an epiphany. A realisation of everything that had happened over the last two weeks, and the damage she'd caused. Relieved to find herself alone, she'd quickly changed, her mind a blur as she tried to figure out how the hell she could have been so unbelievably stupid? She'd wrecked her marriage! Her first thought had been to get over to Dorothy as quickly as possible. But to do what? Apologise? Apologise for having thrown their relationship in her face, in front of the entire town? Apologise for leaving her? No, it was too much!

Unsure where to even start, Ruby did what she always did at times of sheer blind panic. She ran.

She had no idea how long she'd been running, fast, in wolf form, when she heard the unmistakeable hiss of an arrow hitting the tree inches above her head!

"SHIT!" Barked a voice hidden above in the canopy. "JUST MISSED THE BUGGER!"

Ruby looked up, into the canopy of branches to her left, trying to see where the arrow came from, only to find a flash of brown at least thirty foot higher. If she changed back into her human form now, she'd lose valuable seconds to escape or fight back. And wolves can't climb trees!

"I'VE GOT HIM IN SIGHT!" yelled a second voice, from her right this time. "IT'S A BIG UN!"

"ME TOO!" A third, deeper voice now came from directly ahead, also hidden.

She was surrounded! There was no escape. If she can't even see who's attacking her, how the hell can she defend herself?

She was a sitting duck.

"HOLD!" yelled yet another, more commanding voice this time, followed by "DON'T LOOSE!"

Looking behind, her, she saw something, or someone, slide down a rope from the canopy, fifty yards away. "IT'S A WOLF! WE DON'T KILL WOLVES! ONLY RELEASE IF IT GOES FOR ME, OKAY?"

It took her a moment for Ruby to assimilate what was happening, as the man yelling the instructions landed softly on the ground, before turning to face her, quickly pulling a crossbow from around his back and pointing it straight at her, before stepping cautiously forward. As he came closer, she recognised him immediately.

And she knew, from many tales, that he never missed!

As Robin drew closer, his finger hovering over the trigger ready to release an arrow, the first thing he noticed was how the large wolf, rather than get up on all fours to fight or flee, now crouched down, almost in weary resignation of its imminent death. The large blue eyes held no fighting spirit. It looked like it was almost…surrendering? Like it knew its fate was sealed?

"DON'T GET ANY CLOSER, ROB!" Yelled the first voice from her left. "WE'LL NEVER GET HIM IN TIME BEFORE HE GETS YOU!"

"I SAID HOLD YOUR FIRE!" Robin bellowed back louder, but his eyes, like his aim, never left her. He slowly continued stepping closer, feeling he'd somehow seen this wolf before? Then finally it dawned on him. From a picture in one of Henry's storybooks, which he'd used to settle Roland for the night.

"Ruby? Ruby, is that you?"

The glimmer of recognition in her sad eyes, as she rested her long muzzle on the ground, confirmed it.

"LOWER YOUR ARROWS!" He commanded his invisible archers. "IT'S RUBY!"

He crouched down beside her. "Ruby, are you hurt?" But she remained still, almost lifeless, her body prone, her eyes looking straight ahead, rather than at the man talking. "Are you wounded?" Still no reaction. "Ruby, I can't help you unless you tell me?"

As he looked over the apparently stricken animal, he saw a thin brown leather strap wrapped around her lower waist, holding some sort of long cloth. The cloak? If it was Ruby, he realised what the cloak did for her. So without another word, he reached over and dragged it out from under the strap, opening and draping it over her. It took a few seconds before the magic transformed her into her human form. But she remained lying there, still.

"You should have just killed me. I deserve nothing less."

That threw him completely. "Why would I want to kill you?"

"You'd be doing me a favour. It's either that, or I go and find Charming? He'll end me quick enough."

"Why would David-?" But his mind went back to recent events. Ruby and Snow. Their infidelity, breaking up the royal family. Like Regina and Emma had done to him and Killian. Then he recalled what he'd seen in the dreamcatcher. "What do you think you remember, Ruby?"

"Everything I've done to his family. To Dorothy, my true love. Or she was."

He frowned. "So you now realise what you did was wrong? You regret it?"

She still didn't lift her muzzle, staring blankly ahead, despite being bare under the cloak which Robin carefully draper wider to spare her dignity. "How can I not regret it? I've destroyed the greatest royal love story, better than the Evil Queen ever could. Snow even tried to kill herself this morning."

"She's what? Tell me you're not serious?"

"I found her on the floor, with an empty bottle of sleeping pills."

"Ruby, that's dreadful! Where is she?"

"Hospital. I left before David got there. I…can't face him. Not now. Not-"

But the sound of a dull thud, less than thirty yards to her left, made her look up to to see a body now lying on the ground, twitching, rolling on to its, or his, back, a rope suspended from the canopy close by the body. Then it was followed by a softer sound, much closer, Ruby looking up as the Outlaw now seemed to have collapsed into the grass, lying quite still.

"What the hell? Robin?"

Wondering what on earth had happened to make the outlaw suddenly collapse like that, Ruby stood, wrapping the cloak more fully around herself, tying it before pulling the hood back over the head. But as she did, she heard a soft rustling from the side, turning to find a shorter man now staring right back at her. A man she recognised instantly. The very last men she wanted to see right now. And he was heading straight for her, with a malicious grin on his face.

"Hello, dearie!"

~oOo~