Merlin is determined to stop The Dark One continuing his reign of terror for eternity. And he can do that by stopping Rumple going back to Storybrooke. So he needs help from a very unexpected source to help persuade him to stay away. Killian returns and gets to know everything that's happened with his wife and her lover over the last few weeks, and Robin reaches a decision about his own marriage. Meanwhile, Snow faces a very different future.

35,000 feet above the Atlantic

"Baelfire?"

"Hello Papa. Have you missed me?"

Rumple felt like his heart had stopped! There, right in front of him, wearing what appeared to be a uniform, stood his first son. The son he hadn't seen in over a decade. The son who'd died.

It was impossible. Yet there he was, staring down at him?

"No! This…you can't be real?" He suddenly became flustered. "You can't be real?" He repeated, watching as his beloved son just gave him that lopsided grin. "Am I dreaming?"

"Your dead son returns, wearing a Captain's uniform, standing in front of you, on a plane seven miles up in the air, half-way over the Atlantic? Yes, of course it's a dream! Take a look around you?"

Tearing his eyes from Baelfire's, he noticed the air stewardess who'd spoken to him just a moment ago, now seemed to be frozen as she perched over Gideon's bed-seat, still, as though she'd been frozen in time. Everything and everyone seemed to have stopped, apart from an odd growling noise of the engine sounding very different. Even a male steward nearby seemed to be caught midway through pouring out a tea for a passenger, the brown liquid suspended in mid-air?

"So none of this is real? It's just my mind playing tricks on me?"

"Sure it's coming from your mind, but who's to say it's not real?"

Baelfire, or Neal to those who who remembered him, looked down at the sleeping youngster in the seat next to Rumple's. "My little brother's becoming a handsome little fella, isn't he? Gideon? Unusual name, but better than the one you gave me, I guess. Do you think he looks anything like me?"

He ignored the question, still trying to take it all in. "If this is a dream…"

"Even if you're dreaming, you can still get up and give me a hug! Or are Dark Ones 'off duty' not allowed to show normal human contact to their children?"

With that he was clumsily on his feet in an instant, desperately trying to stand, not waiting for any buttons to make the bed turn back into a seat. And as he did so, Neal/Baelfire immediately gathered him into a hug. The feeling of his solid frame resting against him overwhelmed Rumple completely, and he tried, unsuccessfully, to stop himself crying as he broke down.

"Oh, Bae…" Was all he could manage, as the sobs came regardless. He may only be dreaming, but it felt real enough, and he didn't want the moment to end. "I've missed you so much."

Neal pulled his father in tighter, kissing the top of his head, not letting him go. They stayed like that for at least a minute until Rumple composed himself.

"You do know I'm in the better place now, don't you? But you'd still be surprised just how much I've seen of you all, since I've been gone."

Rumple stepped back, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his face.

"So you've been keeping an eye on Henry?"

"Of course I have!" He gave him a proud grin. "When you next see him, tell him you spoke to me? He'll believe you, despite what you might think. Oh, and if you remember, tell him I said not to let his mothers' personal problems put him off starting at Harvard next month? And when he does finally get there, not to sign up for that Modernism and Poetry crap they suggested he register for! He should stick on the Classic Literature modules he got offered. He's got a flair for that! It'll help because he's going to make a brilliant writer one day."

"You seem to know an awful lot about it? Considering you're…um…"

"Dead? Yeah well, what can I say? He's my boy! And most importantly, tell him I'm very proud of him."

"I've already told him." He felt his lip start trembling, still trying to control himself. "Several times recently."

"Good, keep doing it. And I've even checked up on my little brother here from time to time? Bright lad, isn't he, Gid, for his age?"

"Very! He takes after his-" Rumple stopped himself, as he remembered recent events. And from his change of expression, it was clear Baelfire already knew something, as his smile dimmed.

"I'm sorry about what happened between you and Belle, papa. That's not something I was expecting."

"You and me both, my boy." He shook his head. But then a disturbing thought came. "You already knew about that?" Was he being set up? "Wait, this is all Merlin's doing, isn't it? This is just the Sorcerer trying to stop me going back to Storybrooke! He-" He looked around at the still-frozen-in-time passengers. "He said he'd get someone to talk to me. To persuade me. You're not Bae, you're an imposter! Who are you? How could you-"

"Papa, calm down!" He interrupted him firmly, putting hands on both his shoulders. "Yes, you're right, Merlin did have a hand in this, but not in the way you think. You may be dreaming all this, but only because it was the only way I could get through to you. I really am Bae! Although even you know I preferred to be called Neal? I'll prove it. Ask me a question? Any question about me that I should know? I'll prove to you I am who I say I am!"

But no question came as Rumple still tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

"After you left him in Portland, Merlin reached out to Olympus and asked a favour from the gods, for one very good reason. In fact, I know you're not going to believe this, but Zeus himself appeared to me, and he told me - no actually, he asked me - to reach out to you and gave me the means to do it. Imagine that? The Lord of the Gods asking little me for a favour? It's not something they usually do, but they felt under the rare circumstances, it was justified. Mnemosyne filled me in on what's been happening down here."

"The circumstances? You mean keeping me from going back to the source of my power?"

"Back to being The Dark One? Yes, that's exactly what they've asked me to do. They want me to persuade you never to go back. Ever."

"Bae, even now, after everything you've seen, you still don't understand? I don't have control over it! It's powerful and immortal. It can't die, and if any fool were to kill me, they become-"

"Yes, yes, yes! The Dark one can't be killed, I know that! But it can be stopped Papa! The more you stay away from the magical world, the weaker it gets. You can't escape it, but it's supressed while you're away from it's source of power, the dagger. You're already a very rich man, and you can easily live a really comfortable life away from there, surely? Just think about it? You could enjoy the rest of your life uncontrolled! Imagine that? Having real freedom, and a new life for Gideon too! That's just what I wanted for us when you...well, you know what happened next."

"Then what? Freedom to grow old? To die? Then I go face the Celestial Court, and after they look at my history, then send me straight to Hell for all eternity! I know I can't avoid my fate forever, but anything's got to be better than that too early?"

"I thought Merlin told you all this? What makes you so certain you'd go to Hell? Why wouldn't you go to Purgatory, until you've confessed and atoned, like everyone else?"

"You can't be serious?" His voice started to rise. "Bae, I'm The Dark One! I'm murdered thousands! I've caused misery and suffering over centuries!"

"Very true, but everything Merlin told you is true too! It was The Dark One that did all that, not you! Papa, it's you that doesn't understand. When you finally die and face the Court, you'll be tried as Rumpelstiltskin, the spinner. The man taken over by the Dark One, not the Dark One himself! Provided you haven't committed any more serious crimes, like murder, or something serious before you were taken over, you'd only be tried and judged as you. The real you! Zeus and the Gods already know all about how it works with its hosts and they take that into account. Do you remember Zoso, the Dark One before you? Well, believe it or not, he's in Paradise now, not Hell, happy with the family he once disowned, after spending a very long time in Purgatory for his own crimes. Again, not the Dark One's! He managed that only because he wanted you to kill him and take the darkness away! In contrast, Nimue and Gorgon are being punished for eternity in Hell; but that's only because they committed murders before the darkness even got to them!"

Neal watched him as he tried to process what he was being told. He guessed he'd until now, expected nothing less than his eventual eternal damnation. Yet another reason for him to cling on to the power of the Dark One.

"Think about it, papa. Of the last twenty-three Dark Ones before you, over half ended up, eventually, in the better place, or Paradise or Heaven or wherever you choose to call it, after going through Purgatory. Both your parents ended up in the bad place, just like Cora. But you don't have to!"

"If that was even true Bae, and I'll eventually be absolved after purgatory, then why would Zeus and Merlin go to all the trouble of sending you to-"

"Because we have an extremely rare chance, a once-in-a-millennium - no, once in an aeon opportunity, to end the reign of the Dark One's terror on earth! You can't kill it, but you can enslave it, by not going back. You can stop it ruining countless other poor bastards lives after you! That alone has got to be worth it, surely? Think how many future lives you could save by not letting it get out, yet again, the moment you cross that town line? And you know what? The Celestial Court would take that sacrifice into account too! Meanwhile, if you stayed away from the Dagger you'd finally have a chance to live your own life. Maybe meet someone else? Someone who appreciates you for you? Let's face it papa, you're already a very wealthy guy and you're not unattractive. There's bound to be someone out there for you in the bigger world? How about letting Gideon grow up without all that magic and dark crap that I had to go through? And as for all your Storybrooke properties, the businesses and money, how about getting Henry to sell it for you? Or he can keep renting them out?"

"And when I die? What happens to the Dark One then?"

"Not your problem, and you already know the answer. It'll remain stuck inside your corpse, unable to escape unless someone's stupid enough to bring your bones back to a land with magic, where it can escape." He could see he was slowly getting through to him. "It'll dissolve over centuries to come, because it'll have nowhere to go, especially if you get yourself cremated. Now, do you see why Merlin got Zeus to talk to me, to talk to you? You could do this, papa! You could save thousands upon thousands of innocent people who haven't even been born yet. Papa, this is your one chance to do the right thing! Don't blow it!"

"But-"

"Let's go sit over here?" He pointed to the back of the First Class lounge. "I see they've even got a bar? Nice, very nice. Not exactly slumming it on this trip, are you? Two tickets up here instead of coach must have cost you a bloody fortune?" He looked at the seats in front of the bar, in front of the frozen steward. "You know what? It's been a long time since I had a decent scotch. Fancy joining me?"

"Bae. I-"

This was unbelievable! He was now supposedly in a more than vivid dream, standing with his ten-years-dead son, on a frozen-in-time airplane, being asked if he wanted a drink? But whatever happened next, he didn't want to wake up from it. Or him if Bae was here. Or let go of the moment.

"I know what you're thinking. I said it was a dream, but strictly speaking, it isn't quite. We're not frozen in time, we're just kinda moving super-quickly through a slowed-down bit, If that makes any sense? That's why you can still hear that weird noise. It's only the engines, but they sound super slow to us. Come on, let me fix you that drink, and we'll talk?"

Storybrooke Harbour - Eastern Time, the same morning

The Jolly Roger sailed in on the first high tide, just before six. Robin and Henry already stood waiting by the dockside, and as they watched the brigantine finally moor into place, Henry took the former outlaw to one side.

"Do you know what you're going to do yet? Have you spoken to Roland?"

"I told him almost everything I know, leaving out some things, obviously. Namely, that his stepmother was not in control of her mind, and that she'd been poisoned against us, and the same thing had happened to Emma, Snow and Ruby. That the poison's worn off now, and you'd met both your mothers, who are back in Storybrooke."

"What did he say to that?"

"He wants to meet Regina. And your other mother."

"Good. So, are you going to forgive her? Because either way, she's carrying that baby of yours, so it's kinda important?"

"I'm painfully aware of that Henry. It's one of several reasons I've barely slept since she came back. I'll be talking to her, but a lot hinges on Roland's reaction, once they've spoken." They watched as a metal bridge was attached to the side of the ship. "But I need to have a private chat with Killian first. So perhaps you take take your sister off for a few minutes?"

~oOo~

As they started to board the ship, they were unaware of being watched from high on one of the hills overlooking the harbour. By two women, one holding binoculars.

"Who's down there?" Emma squinted to see, against the rising of the low sun on the horizon. "I can't tell from this far out. Dammit, life's so much easier with magic! Can you see Hope yet?"

"No," Regina adjusted Henry's old student field binoculars. "Guyliner's…Killian's on deck by the wheel, but there's no sign of her."

"He's probably got her below, to keep her safe." Safe from me.

"Probably. But I can now see Robin! He's standing next to Henry by the pier to the right. Merlin's on his right too, by the look of it."

"This is unbearable! I know Henry asked us to stay away till he's met him, but Hope's down there! No, it's no good, I'm going down."

"No Emma, wait? Look, he's managed to bring them all here without our help so far, so just be patient? If they see either of us too soon, it could just make things worse, you know that!"

The Jolly Roger

In the legendary ship below, over the next hour Henry and Robin brought Killian up to speed with everything that'd happened since he'd left. Half an hour in, David Nolan joined them, having been invited by Henry. And as they sat around the large galley table, mulling over their next steps, Henry left them to take Honour up top to play on the deck.

Killian drained his mug. "So Morgan's charged them already, and they're now both staying at Regina's?"

"That's right." Merlin answered for them. "Snow's charges have been set aside as they're relatively minor and she'll be in hospital for the foreseeable future, pending a transplant. That's what I need to talk to David about, in private. Ruby's already left Storybrooke for good, so I gather from Hank there's little point in him taking any action against her either, unless-"

"I doubt you'll be seeing Ruby back anytime soon." Killian interjected. "I last spoke to her an hour before we left Portland. She and Belle decided to hitch a ride on a schooner heading south, later today. In fact…" He stood, walking over to a small wooden dresser, opening a drawer to pull something out. "She's pretty sure she won't be returning here ever again. David, she asked me to pass on some letters she's written for you, Dorothy, Snow, and Granny." He passed Charming an envelope bearing his name.

Merlin, sitting at the end of the table, stood.

"Gentlemen, may I offer my thoughts?Having listened to and spent time with Henry this week, plus having talked to Ruby, Belle, and, most importantly, Rumpelstiltskin, I believe the unfortunate potion Henry spoke of, did indeed cause the recent problems and calamitous results. None of them were in control of their feelings or thoughts, much as he suspected. Hence the reason they're all overwhelmed with guilt. So much so in Snow's case, that she attempted to end her own life." Charming turned away, looking out the porthole. "I'm sorry, David. I'll do all I can to help her of course, but under the circumstances, I probably need to remove her from Storybrooke and take her to see a hepatologist, a liver specialist, probably in New York or Boston. I'll explain everything to you after, once we're done here."

"You said Regina abased herself?" Killian changed the subject, his question aimed at Robin. "She took the knee when she returned, in front of others?"

He nodded. "In front of the entire pub. I told her to stop and get up."

Killian's brow arched as he shook his head. "That's the ultimate act of submission amongst nobles that have been defeated. To someone like her that must have been tough. I've seen it happen once before. It was followed by the wretched defeated prince concerned having his head sliced clean from his shoulders, in front of his family. Very grim."

Robin winced. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because it's a sign that whatever she said to you when she did it, she meant every word. It's a total public show of humility, awaiting sentence. If she did that, I believe she truly regrets everything."

"I think so too. Which is why, depending on what happens when she sees Roland, I'm going to tell her I've forgiven her."

"I've already forgiven Snow, and told her so," David added. "For what happened with Ruby, anyway. I saw from the dream catcher that everything started from that day they went into the cottage. As Henry's already told you, we saw the moment they inhaled the poison. But I also found out about something else, dating back to before Snow and I were married. So things aren't the same for us. I'm visiting her again today but, as for our relationship, Well I'm really not sure."

"And how about you, Killian?" Merlin fixed him with a beady eye and the former pirate had the unnerving sense that the man already knew the outcome of any question he asked. "You reached any conclusions?"

"I haven't even spoken to Emma yet. Henry's already told me everything he knows but, I'd prefer to watch that dream catcher Robin watched, before I make up my mind."

"I wouldn't recommend it!" Robin shook his head. "It was bad enough seeing my wife having sex with yours, but listening to what they were saying about us before and after was very…dispiriting, to say the least? That's what hurt me the most, if I'm honest."

"I have to agreed with Robin." David also remembered sitting in Gold's study, watching Snow and Ruby. "You have to remind yourself they were acting under a potion. It wasn't them."

"Regardless, if I still wished to see it before reaching a decision Merlin. Could you arrange this?"

Three and a half thousand miles away…

"Papa, please wake up?"

In the pitch black, the distant voice to his right seemed to be getting louder.

"WAKE UP!"

"Wha? Erm…what?" Rumple, lying flat out on his sky bed, shivered, pulling up the side of his eye mask, tossing the blanket aside, to find his son staring at him.

"Gideon?"

"Papa, that lady over there asked me if you wanted dinner, ages ago!" He pointed to a stewardess nearby, who was busy laying out a loaded tray on the table of another passenger. "You ordered it before we took off, remember? She tried to wake you up, but she couldn't."

"Erm…" It took a few moments to orientate himself, shaking himself out of his sleepiness. As a Dark One, he never needed sleep, but away from his powers, he needed it like everyone else. "I'm sorry my boy, I was dreaming."

"I'm hungry. Can I have some dinner now please?"

Rumple pushed the relevant buttons, yawning and stretching as his bed slowly rose back into a seat. As his head started to clear and his eyes focused, he saw Gideon now had his seat upright with his tray in place, having worked out his buttons already. And behind him, a pretty young stewardess was also looking back at him with a wide smile.

"Of course. I'm sorry Gideon, go ahead and order what you want?" He felt a little deflated at having been awakened, just as he'd been dreaming about the boy's dead older brother, and the two of them having a long conversation over drinks at a bar. One of the best dreams he'd ever had. They were usually nightmares these days.

And now, the stewardess returned.

"Hello again, sir. You were asleep when I last passed. Would you like to eat now, with your son? You ordered Boeuf en-Croute, I believe?"

As he nodded and sat up, he noticed Gideon playing with something he thought he recognised? Something that jogged a memory.

"What's that you're holding, my boy? A straw doll? Where did you get it?"

"The Captain gave it to me when you were asleep. He was really nice papa! I needed to go to the loo, so he showed me where it was. Afterwards, he even sat down here with me for a little while, and asked me what we were going to do in London when we got there? I told him, but said I was still a little bit nervous about flying and he gave me this to squeeze if I got frightened when we start to land? He said he used to get frightened too, so it's got a little bit of magic inside to help keep me calm. But I think he was just being silly."

Rumple looked closer. The little twisted straw doll, about six inches tall, barely bigger than the boy's hand and wearing a red soldier's uniform, reminded him of one he'd given to another boy, many years ago. In fact, it looked almost identical.

"The Captain you say? That must have been a nice surprise. And he just sat here, talking to you while I was asleep?"

"For a little while. But he had to go. He left his glass behind, over there?" Gideon pointed to the opposite aisle seat, and a half-drunk crystal glass on the little side table. "He must have forgotten it."

He sat up, moving across his son to where the glass lay, picking it up, before sniffing the remaining contents. It was whisky all right; it smelt like a half-decent single malt? But no captain or pilot on duty would ever drink alcohol, would they?

"I see. Did he say anything else."

"He said I reminded him of himself when he was a boy. And as it's my birthday while I'm away, he gave me this…" He leant over, rummaging in his pocket, before pulling something out, handing it to his father. "…to buy myself something nice on the day."

Rumple studied it closer. "A fifty pound note? Gideon, while that's a nice gesture, what have I told you about never accepting gifts from strangers?"

"I know, but he seemed really nice, papa. And, oh, I nearly forgot…" The boy twisted in his seat, to retrieve what looked like a folded, slightly crumpled, purple airline napkin. "He also said I should give you this when you woke up? He wrote some weird squiggly stuff on it that I couldn't read, but he said he's sure you'll be able to understand it?"

Rumple grew increasingly worried. But the moment he opened the purple napkin to see what he'd written, he froze, his eyes blazing. For the words weren't written in English, as he'd said, but in the Quenyan symbols of Elvish, one of his two birth languages. And Baelfire's.

'Believe, papa! And this time, do the right thing, not the easy thing?'

Mifflin Street

An hour after they'd left the spot on the hill overlooking the harbour, Regina sat in the lounge on the sofa while Emma kept pacing the room like a caged tigress, both waiting to hear back from their son.

The large brass knocker on the front door rapped loudly through the house, making them both jerk up. Henry had already warned Regina they were coming, so she was more than anxious once she opened the door, to find her husband staring up at her from the steps.

"Robin?"

"Hello Regina. May we come in?"

It was only then she noticed his twelve-year-old son standing nervously right behind him. He appeared to be having yet another growth spurt, as he seemed to be at least an inch taller than last month?

"Of course you can! This is your-" She managed to stop herself. Yes, it was their home, until she kicked them out, using her magic to also cruelly dump everything they owned into a barn behind his pub in the forest. "Come on in, both of you."

The boy didn't answer, but just kept looking at her curiously as he followed his father inside; his eyes, like Robin's, never leaving her, before stepping into the lobby of the house that'd been his home until a month ago. And he stayed silent until they'd been led into the drawing room.

"Is Emma here?"

"She went upstairs. She thought it would be best to stay back. She didn't want to frighten Roland, after what happened last time? In Granny's?"

"I'm not frightened of her!" Roland's tone wasn't cold, but it was unusually direct for him. "I want to see her. Is it true she doesn't have any magic now?"

"Neither of us do at the moment. Do you remember in Granny's, when Henry put these on us?" She showed him her left wrist, with the multi-coloured tattoo. "They block all of our magic."

"Good! That makes you the same as us!" He looked closer. "So, what happens when you take them off? Do you go all stupid and weird again?"

She tried to ignore his annoyed tone, which she thought fully deserved considering the way she'd recently treated him. "No, Roland. My being horrible like that, had nothing to do with my magic. Emma and I were acting under the effects of a very strange potion. A poison which-"

"I know!" He cut her off. "Henry told me. Merlin and dad also told me what happened in the cottage in the forest."

They both sat down on the sofa facing her. Robin speaking first.

"Regina, as I'm sure you can imagine, ever since I watched that wretched dream catcher at Gold's, I've had many conversations with Rolly about this? I also told him yesterday about you coming to the inn, and the fact that as you were leaving you said you were pregnant."

She nodded. "Roland, as I told your father yesterday, I took a test at a clinic in Miami, after someone called the Dragon told me I was pregnant. I'll make an appointment to be seen by a doctor here as soon as I can, once I know I'll at least be safe from being attacked the moment I leave here. Because without my magic, there's still plenty of people around who may hurt me, and more importantly this baby, and I wouldn't be able to defend myself? I'm probably now between one and a half and two months pregnant." She turned to his father. "Robin, you're of course welcome to join me, if…" If he cared? If he still felt anything for her? But she knew she had to get this part out first. And that she'd probably be repeating herself for weeks to come. But first she needed to convince her stepson. If she couldn't convince Roland, Robin would probably never accept her either. "If you'd like to join me?"

Robin nodded but didn't say anything. So, she turned back to the boy.

"Despite everything that's happened Roland, you need to know that I still love you and your father very, very much! But that terrible faulty potion that Emma and I accidently ingested made me think that she was the only one I loved? It made me think very different thoughts, and do some terrible things. It made me want Emma, and only Emma in my life, and nothing else mattered. Not you, not Henry, not your father; none of it mattered! Only Emma. And that was why I acted so abysmally. And I would give anything to take back the last month, and I will never be able to apologise to you enough for what happened, even if I couldn't help it?" She watched his eyes as he listened, to see if he was starting to believe her. "Did Henry also tell you about his grandmother, and Ruby Lucas, from the diner?"

"Yeah. He said Snow was so upset after that, she tried to kill herself."

"Well that's how I felt when the potion first wore off!" She looked down at the floor in shame just as Robin's eyes widened, surprised. She'd never mentioned that bit? "I first woke up from it in Miami, and I was very sick when I fully realised what'd happened. And the only thing that stopped me trying to end my own life, was the fact I was carrying your father's child! Your little brother or sister is inside me, and I could never do that to my baby."

Roland sat quietly, thinking through everything he'd heard, until, slowly nodding to himself, he looked back at his father.

"Can we get Emma down now?"

Portland Harbour – that same afternoon

"Having second thoughts?"

The two women sat side-by-side near the stern of the boat, watching the mouth of the port grow smaller in the distance as the yacht moved out into open water.

"Hundreds. Two weeks ago, I was happily married, and living with my son in the nearest thing to a fairy tale town." She sighed. "And now? I'm divorced and can't be sure when ever I'll see him again. I screwed up big time, Olivia!"

"We all do, Belle. But I'm sure you'll see him again, as your husband promised." The taller woman draped an arm around her shoulder, as she watched Ruby, now wearing the tightest crop top and shorts as she stood at the wheel, directly in front of Jerard, being taught how to sail into the wind. "From what you were saying, he's put enough time into arranging a lawyer to act for you, and sort out all the money and stuff? So if he loves his son anything like you say he does, it doesn't sound like he'd go back on a deal which would only hurt him."

"No, Rumple never goes back on a deal!" His name slipped from her lips before she thought better of it.

"Rumple?"

She had to think quick. "It was always his nickname? Rumplestiltskin?"

"How quaint." She pulled the smaller woman into her a little tighter. "Well let's see if we can help take your mind off everything over the next few days? We'll be in Boston tomorrow, and New York two days after that, so we'll keep you busy in the meantime."

As she spoke, Ruby let out a loud, high-pitched screech, dissolving into laughter, making both women turn, to see Jerard now with his arms wrapped around her, having apparently found a ticklish spot on the brunette's sides, as she clung to the wheel. Olivia merely smiled at them.

"Doesn't it bother you? Seeing him doing that with another woman?"

"Why should it? I'm surprised you even ask, after the other night?" She grinned as Belle blushed. "No, as I said, we're not exclusive. We don't own each other like that. Plus we're both bi. It's no issue."

"So you've had other 'passengers' sail with you before? Other single women you've seduced?"

"Just a few. Women, and men. Only a handful mind, and this is definitely the first time we've sailed with two passengers. The bed's a little bit small for four of us admittedly, but it should be fun. Although there's also a smaller berth at the back if it gets too tight for anyone. Why, does it bother you?"

"No. not really, it's just different to anything I've ever known."

"I get it. I was married too, remember? It just didn't work out." They turned again to find Jerard had his hands back on the wheel as Ruby, now facing him, appeared to have pulled herself into him, kissing him more than enthusiastically. "Looks like they're having fun? So when did you realise you also liked women, Belle?"

"After a drunken girls' night out with Ruby four years ago? I kinda fell into it by accident. I found it illicit and exciting, you know? Being married, I should've stopped there and then, but I didn't. It was wrong of me, and my husband, who's the most powerful man in town and owns most of the place, only found out less than a week ago." She looked back towards the port. "How about you?"

"I was boarding at a Catholic girl's school when it happened the first time. I still like guys too, though. I should never have got married. Just doesn't suit me, I guess?" She gave a last look back at Portland before turning to face her, pulling herself closer and taking a stray lock of hair off her face, putting it behind her ear.

"Look Belle, as I said to you the other night, if anything here makes you feel uncomfortable, anything at all, you only have to say? Just say the word, and Jerard and I will step back. There's no pressure, and if you prefer to stay on your own in the smaller berth every night, that's fine too. He understands, and I know he feels the same way as me, which is why I love him to bits."

"I'm fine. It's just...this? it's all so new for me." She finally managed a shy smile as she looked back into the pale blue eyes of the chestnut-haired woman. She's really rather stunning, she thought.

"What say we get inside, out of the breeze? I've an idea of something that might take your mind off your worries?" She pecked her cheek.

"What, now? Surely, we're sailing?"

"He can sail this thing single-handed almost until we reach Boston tonight, if need be. I can sail it, too, mind. Why don't we go make ourselves a little more…comfortable? I'm sure Ruby can keep him company. Or for that matter, she can even come join us, if you like? I'm sure he won't mind."

Storybrooke Hospital

"So you want to take me to a hospital in New York? When I'm like this?"

Snow, thoroughly worn down and looking a pale shadow of herself, had just come back from yet more dialysis, feeling washed out. Again. Merlin looked over her chart as Whale gave her the news. David and Neil stood nearby, waiting for them to leave, so they could have some privacy.

"I think it's for the best. They've got much better facilities down there than we have here, and there's more chance of getting you a liver transplant sooner? More donors? Besides, as he explained to you earlier, Merlin can do things with a healthy donor liver and kidneys, using his magic after the transplant."

"David?" She looked up at her now ex-husband, who'd been listening. "What do you think I should do?"

"I think you should go, Snow. We do know that if you stay here, it'll just be endless dialysis and treatments, and they're not sure how long your liver-" He stopped himself, not wanting to mention the inevitable in front of their son. "Well, if Merlin says there's more chance of a full recovery by going, even if it's for a few months, it seems to be the only option."

"I'll come see you too mum!" Neal smiled at her, now squeezing her hand. "As often as I can! Dad, Henry and Emma can all take turns driving there."

"Very well, I'll go."

"Good. We'll make the arrangements..." Victor Whale gathered his notes, before turning to leave. "I'd best be off. It's going to be a busy night."

Merlin however, stayed, opening a small folder he'd been carrying. "I'll get going too. I still need to talk to Henry. But before I go…" He pulled a white envelope from the folder. "After I met Killian in Portland, I also saw Ruby Lucas and Belle Gold. Ruby asked me to pass this on to you? I also have letters she wrote for Dorothy and her grandmother. And you, David."

"You met her?" Snow looked up, now more interested. "How is she?"

"She's decided not to come back to Storybrooke, for a number of reasons. The letter explains everything, I gather."

"Dad, couldn't we take Dorothy's letter back with us?" Neal suddenly piped up from beside his father. "As she's staying anyway?"

"She's staying at the farm?" Snow looked at him, surprised. He gave her a cautious nod. "Since when?"

David knew this was bound to come up eventually; but with all Snow's health issues, he didn't want to discuss it till a later date. "Since the night you moved out, to be with Ruby."

"I see." Her tone changed to icy.

"And Lily's staying with us too, mum!" Neal added. Unhelpfully, as far as David was concerned. "Lily Page? Her mum's Maleficent, the dragon lady. And she said-"

"Let's leave your mother to rest now, shall we?" Merlin cut in, already seeing the look on her face. The two women whose lives Snow had wrecked the most, one before she was even born and the other by causing her marriage breakup, were living at her old home with her husband? She was under enough stress already. "Snow, I'll make the arrangements with Doctor Whale for you to travel to New York, and I'll let you know everything as soon as I can. Now everyone, let's let her rest shall we?"

"Neal, come give your mum a kiss?" Snow held out her hand for him to come close again. "And maybe then wait outside for a few minutes? I need to talk to your dad for a moment. In private."

Later that day…

It was around six in the evening when she finally got Killian's text:

'Come to the Jolly this afternoon, alone. Hope's waiting for you.'

Emma read and re-read it. A message she'd been hoping for, but at the same time, dreading. A message noticeably more curt than his usual. There were no 'my love's, no 'Swan', and no kisses at the end. It felt like, after whatever happened earlier when he'd met the others, he was still angry.

Now, as she stood by the old disused cannery on the edge of the dockside; the cannery where they'd once rescued Regina from the clutches of a deranged madman who went on to kidnap Henry, she looked up at the masts of the centuries-old galleon.

It was time to face her husband, and their little girl. The last chance to save her marriage.

Emma had already felt drained after having to face Regina's husband and stepson, two hours earlier. She wasn't the sort of woman who made grovelling apologies, but this time, she did. There was just too much at stake for either of them. She'd apologised profusely to Robin for attacking him, and his son, and said she fully understood why he'd broken her jaw. And by the end of it, even she had broken down in tears, twice, in front of Robin and Roland.

Earlier that afternoon…

Robin had, by and large, seemed almost sympathetic. Almost, but not quite. He already knew most of the story from Henry, and watching the awful scenes of Regina and Emma on the dreamcatcher. But Roland on the other hand, had been brutal and almost surgical with his direct questions. And it reminded her of a time long ago, when she'd been found guilty of stealing watches, and been sent to prison.

Roland was the worst. He didn't bother asking she hit him in the diner; instead, he only questioned her again and again about her relationship with Regina. He'd started off with an easy one.

"Are you still in love with her?"

That was an easy one to handle. Henry had asked her the same thing.

"No Roland, I'm not. In my mind, I thought I had to protect her from everyone at all costs, include you and Henry. Sounds crazy I know, but that's why I was so horrible to you after you kicked her in the leg at Granny's? I was out of control, I couldn't think straight and what I did was wrong. And, like Regina, I can't apologise enough. I'd never ever normally hit a child. Or Henry."

"But you must've been in love with her before that? They said you had to have, for the potion to work the way it did? Merlin doesn't lie, so you must be lying!"

It had been embarrassing enough as she admitted in front of them that, yes, she and Regina had become very close, and that she loved her as the best friend and confidant she'd ever had, but that was very different to being in love in her. The way she was in love with Killian. But Roland persisted. What did Regina mean to her? How long had they had feelings for each other? When did they become close. Why did they run away together. And did they really think they deserved to have Henry take the cuffs off? And if he didn't, would she still live in Storybrooke without her magic, or would she just run away again? And while he probed, Robin sat back, watching.

Regina had told them that, without any doubt, she could live without her magic, if they could find it in themselves to forgive her and move on. But if they couldn't, after serving any possible jail time, she would probably leave Storybrooke, and settle somewhere near, where she could still see Henry, but bring up the baby without the risk of people attacking them in retribution for past crimes which hadn't been forgiven.

But finally, after all his questions, Emma watched as, now sitting beside Regina on the sofa, father and son sitting opposite, Roland nodded to his father.

"I believe them. They couldn't help it."

Robin nodded back, slowly. "And does that mean you forgive them both, my boy?"

"Well, if they couldn't help it, and they were out of control, there's really nothing to forgive, is there papa?"

He slowly draped an arm around his shoulder as he looked back at the two women. But he didn't answer his son as she studied them, noticing something curious. "I have another question?" The pair looked up at him, Regina nodding for him to continue. "And I hope you'll be totally honest with me?"

"Robin we've been been entirely honest all morning, despite feeling immensely embarrassed, humiliated and ashamed! What is it?"

"When did you two last share the same bed? And no, I'm not talking about the times before the potion wore off, obviously."

"I, erm..." Her jaw dropped in surprise, clearly not expecting that one. It was only then she realised just how close she'd been sitting beside Emma, their thighs almost touching. And they were also holding hands, with their fingers entwined? They'd obviously done it subconsciously, but she now realised Robin's gaze was focused on their hands. She wanted to pull away from Emma, but knowing the move would only draw more attention to the fact he'd seen it, she separated their hands instead. "Well, we-"

"Last night." Emma interrupted, answering for her. "She found me lying in the spare room upstairs, crying. I couldn't sleep, just as I haven't been able to sleep properly since the potion wore off. Regina's been having the same problem, that's why we both look so knackered?" The brunette back at her harshly. "Sorry Gina, but it's true."

"And when you were in Portland?"

Both women nodded awkwardly, almost as one, before Regina added. "But nothing happened after the potion wore off, I swear! We just needed the company. Neither of us wanted to be alone."

"It's true, Robin." The blonde insisted. "I've been sleeping over, as I couldn't face going home. Not without Killian and Hope there."

As he watched his father's expression, Roland rubbed his arm. "As I said, I believe them. What about you?"

The three if them watched as Robin took a deep breath, before exhaling loudly, slowly nodding his head.

"Yeah. It's been a horrible time for everyone, but I think we need to move. We also have a new brother or sister to think of, don't we Roland?"

"Really?" Regina bit her bottom lip to stop it trembling. "You're serious? Does that mean you'll move back home? Back here? I want you to, but I do understand if it's too soon."

Emma had watched as a very shaky Regina rose to her feet, moving over to Robin as he finally opened his arms to hold for the first time in over a month. Her friend now looked so much smaller as she buried her face into his chest, tears starting to fall yet again. Even Emma found it emotional.

After everything they'd gone through over the last month, could all the pain, the guilt, and the regrets, be over? Could it really be that easy for Regina? Would Killian be anything like as forgiving? She couldn't be so sure. He was a very different man to Robin Locksley.

~oOo~

Later...

"You've been standing down there, staring into space for over half an hour, Swan!"

Killian's voice instantly brought Emma out of her reverie, looking up to find her husband, who she hadn't seen in weeks, staring down at her.

"We're waiting."

The Nolan Farm

When David first handed her the envelope he'd been given by Merlin, she put it straight in the bin, before charging up to her bedroom (well, David's bedroom) to avoid them seeing her cry. Only a few minutes later, Lily had knocked on her door and gone in and talked to her. She'd retrieved the letter, and now offered it back to her, telling her she'd only regret it if she never found out what it contained.

So finally, with trembling hands, she opened it, recognising Ruby's spidery handwriting:

My Darling Dorothy,

I'm so sorry for being such a terrible wife.

And for everything I've put you through.

I have no excuses. No defence. Only the fact that I'm part-werewolf, a throwback to the father I never knew.

I love you Kansas. I have been in love with you since the day we first met. Please never doubt that?

I always thought of you as my one true love. But despite everything, I was unfaithful, and you never deserved that. My urges overcame our love. If I could have controlled them and prevented it happening, I would, but I was too weak. I'd like to say I would change, but we both know I can't.

Please don't blame Snow for what happened. As Henry's already told you, Snow and I were acting under something neither of us could control, which brought out very old, long suppressed feelings we once held for each other. But until then, she'd never been unfaithful to David, her own true love and soulmate, from the moment she met him. David's a good man who, until all this happened, I regarded as my best male friend in the world. Snow is innocent. Though, as you're now aware, I'm not. And I know you've already heard by now about Belle, and the others? She's been banished by Gold, too. I never loved Belle, and she certainly never loved me; but once again my wolf urges took control and again, for that I'm sorry.

But sorry will never be good enough, will it?

Now the potion's worn off, I want to come and apologise to your face, even though I know you'll never forgive me. But as I've been banished by Gold, and David has set a wolf-god vow on my head, which I fully deserved, I can never come back.

So, when you read this, I will probably be sailing south and plan to return to Portland in a month or so. As there's no magic out here, my wolf nature is gone and I find it much easier to control my baser instincts. Perhaps I'll settle there, eventually? Henry and Merlin know my forwarding address in Portland, and my new cell number and email address, and Belle's, should you ever decide to forgive me or want to speak to me again one day, even though I know it's unlikely.

The years we had together were the best of my life, and I would give anything not to have hurt you? But while I stay in Storybrooke, or possibly anywhere with magic, I'll never be able to fully control the monster within me. You deserve so much better than me Kansas, and I can only hope and pray that one day, you'll find someone truly worthy of your heart.

I love you and I always will, and I pray you find someone more worthy of your love.

Ruby

xxx

Storybrooke Hospital

Someone else was reading her own letter:

Dear Snow,

We've been through so much together over the years, haven't we?

From that first time I met you in the forest, hiding out from the Evil Queen's guards, I knew you were someone truly special. Unique. And over the next year we were together, I fell in love with you. In many ways, I still am. And I will always treasure that year we had together as a couple. You already understood my werewolf nature but you loved me in spite of it, as I loved you. At the time I imagined we could be together forever, like everyone else. But it wasn't to be.

From the moment you met David, I knew from the way you looked at him that you were smitten. So I had no hesitation in letting you go, because I knew he would make you happy in a way I never could. And he did. He's a wonderful man, your true love, and you deserved one another.

Henry told me all about the potion in a cottage, that caused all our old feelings to resurface and do so much damage to our loved ones, especially Dorothy and David. It breaks my heart to know that even though we were out of control, it's not only destroyed our relationships with the ones we hold most dear, but it has seriously damaged your own health? I would do anything to be able to come and stay with you in hospital. To hold your hand and big you a big hug. But I can't. The Dark One would probably kill me the moment I stepped over the town line!

Belle was banished too, so by the time you read this, we'll probably be travelling with some friends we've made. We should be back in a month or so, and it's more than likely I'll be settling in Portland when I get back, after which I need to find a job. So I'll only be an hour's drive from you once you leave hospital?

I really hope you and David find a way back to each other, for Neal's sake, and yours. Unfortunately for me, Dorothy finding out about me cheating on her in the past, because of my nature, has killed off any chance of her ever forgiving me. Granny certainly won't!

I've left my new phone number, email and forwarding address below. If I can't come to you, I hope and pray that when you're feeling better you will be able to come visit me? You've always understood me better than I understood myself. Just another reason why I love you.

Your friend forever,

Ruby

xxx

As she folded the letter, putting it back into the envelope, Snow considered her options. Although he didn't say anything specific at the time, it seemed clear to her that David's feelings towards her had changed, possibly forever. Before everything that had happened with that wretched potion, he'd almost worshipped her, as she had, him. But now it was very different, and she knew that, if only she'd been honest with him right from the start, he probably wouldn't have even cared about her past, as he said himself. But she'd lied to him. And David, like Emma, didn't take well to being lied to.

But now she was going to leave Storybrooke, to hopefully get a liver and kidney transplant. She wasn't stupid. She knew full well that if it wasn't successful, she'd need continued dialysis, would gradually deteriorate further, and likely be dead within the year. But what if they succeeded? What would she do next? Come back to Storybrooke and live in her flat, alone, for the rest of her days? Neal dividing his time between seeing her and his father? She now had no job, and no prospects.

Perhaps it would be better if she didn't come back? Perhaps she should try and start again, like Ruby and Belle? After all, Portland was only an hour away, so she and David could somehow work things out with Neal, couldn't they? Perhaps she could live with Ruby for a while, until she figured out what to do? After all, she was her oldest, closest friend. She was even her lover once, and their friendship had never suffered for it. Ruby was the one person, after David, she could always turn to.

Meanwhile...

"You've been standing down there over half an hour now, Swan!"

He called down to Emma, seeing her standing on the dockside alone, clearly deep in thought and looking more stressed than she'd seen her in years.

"We're waiting."

~oOo~