He worked nervously. Restlessly. He bounced between the shop and his home, trying to convince himself that everything was going to be okay, that all was going to be well. The chances of Emma's plan being successful was low. And even if it was successful…what did he care anyway? The bloodbath that was happening out there? Even if Emma did manage to stop the curse, either because they freed Regina and she destroyed Ingrid or because Emma and Elsa managed to on their own, which he doubted because he couldn't see them having any gall whatsoever…

Even if their plan was successful in any way, he was still in the clear. The Spell of Shattered Sight had still come. Hook had said it himself; it was like swimming with sharks in Storybrooke! There had already been enough bloodshed that no one would look twice at the disappearance of the fairies. Emma and Ingrid hadn't come to him yet, accusing him of being the one behind their disappearance, behind the destruction of the vaccine. They likely would have considered Ingrid the culprit, they had no idea what he stood to gain by the Curse coming over Storybrooke.

He'd be fine.

One way or another, if they succeeded or they failed, he'd be okay. At least for some time. He already had what he needed. He just needed the fucking cloud to dissipate long enough for him to take what he wanted and get the hell out of Storybrooke before they truly did begin to put it all together.

He worked through the night, preparing, getting things set, waiting for an inkling from Hook on the other side of their bond so that he knew Henry was secure. He expanded the trunk of the car, magically, of course. Inside were just the essentials, of course. There was the bag of magical tomes he'd deemed worthy to go on this trip with him. A bag that contained Belle's necklace and some other things from the basement he figured he could easily pass off when Belle saw it. There were jewels, lots and lots of jewels that he'd purposefully stuff into bags haphazardly. He wanted it to look like he'd grabbed what he could and fled.

That was the reason he'd resisted the urge to put clothes or trinkets in the car. That was the reason they were leaving their personal belongings behind. With one notable exception.

He put her chipped teacup into one of the bags of jewels. It had been at the shop, if he grabbed what he needed and ran, it seemed plausible that he would have been able to grab that as well. It was reasonable, but to Belle it would be terribly romantic. It was the one sentimental thing he allowed.

The jewels were logical. Without knowing how much of his wealth he'd have access to in the outside world, he had to take those things that he knew would get them by. Clothes, books, that video game thing that Henry loved, that could all be purchased anew when they got to where they were going, in New York. He'd put the keys to Baelfire's place on his own keyring. He could tell Belle that Bae had given him a copy after they got back from Neverland. Whether or not they'd stay there once he arrived…he'd have to determine that for himself. He'd tell Belle it was a possibility, he'd let their mutual feelings about it decide from there. If it was going to be too painful for the both of them, then they'd go to a hotel. If they could lean on each other and manage it for a time, staying at Neal's wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

Back at the shop, the last bag of jewels packed and in the car, he sat in the back room, holding Belle's hand in his own and watching her sleep. It had been a long night, and it promised to be a longer day every time he stood up to check on the cloud cover. As the sun breached a horizon they could not see, slowly turning the world from black to gray, there was nothing more for him to do except wait.

He was ready to go the second he was free. He had the dagger and the hat. He had the memory potion in his pocket. But he didn't dare use it. Not right now, not as long as Emma and Elsa might still be out there in the world fighting against this, not so long as there was a chance of…

That.

At the heart of it, Curses always felt the same. The Dark Curse, the Curse of the Dark One, The Spell of Shattered Sight, all of them…

Each was a different recipe, but they all tasted of salt and bitterness, sweat and blood, tears and death. That was what Curses were. Wickedness. Evil. Malice. Darkness.

Perhaps that was why the breaking of a curse always felt the same. A pulse of magic, like a heart beating again, or a deep breath filling up the lungs with oxygen. A sudden undeniable taste of good, of joy, of love. Light.

Even from the small backroom of the shop, he knew what happened before he'd even had time to process it, before Nimue had time to shriek in frustration, before the sun had fully emerged over the horizon.

The curse had broken.

And in it's wake, for just a moment there was silence outside. The screams and shouting, the anger and pain and fighting that had been his soundtrack all night long, faded away into quiet as sense returned. The filter that most people kept on their mouths came back into place, the love they held for one another that outweighed all the terrible bits they despised flooded back in.

Later, when he finally worked up the courage to leave Belle's side and stagger to the front of the shop, he wasn't surprised to find people in the streets when he peeked through the blinds. They were talking. And shaking hands. Laughing and smiling even as he saw a couple of bloodied individuals help each other. He was half sure they'd been assaulting each other moments ago.

Snow was falling from the sky. It replaced the glittering mirror dust the curse had produced, and he could already tell that the residual cloud cover was changing. It would be gone in a few hours, but with it his chance at an easy, clean escape.

And then, there they were. Just outside his shop, the Charming family embraced. Henry hugged his mothers, and Mary Margaret and David reached for their daughter, who was alive and well and practically threw herself into their arms. Well…he'd be damned. He wasn't sure how they'd done it, but they had managed to destroy the Snow Queen and her curse.

"Never doubt a Savior," he grumbled to himself, moving away from the window and heading back to check on Belle. She still slumbered. The hat still sat on the table, and all his beautiful, perfect plans melted away as the snowflakes froze and drifted to the ground.

Well…not all his plans.

The hat was still full, charged with energy and magic he'd be free to use when the clouds cleared and the town was distracted. Tonight, most likely. Though this did change things, he could still take Belle and leave when it was done, he was just going to have to come up with some other reason to remove her from Storybrooke and keep her away. Keeping her asleep most of the day would be a good start, but people would come looking for her. The Charmings, Elsa, and Anna…

This did change things, indeed.

He grabbed the hat and his dagger and locked them away in the secret safe within a safe. He'd have to wake Belle up; there was no doubt in his mind. And hell, he'd have to undo a lot of the work he'd done, replace the jewels, the books, everything that he'd done to make things look haphazard. With magic, that would be simple enough, but doing it by hand would give him some time to think, to work through his new plan, whatever it may be, for getting Belle out of the town.

Suddenly, orchestrating freedom from the dagger in the midst of a curse seemed simple.

Behind him, the bell to his door rang out. He felt the pirate there behind him even before he turned to look.

"Henry got away," the Captain stated as he turned to face him. Was it his imagination, or did he look proud of that fact?

"So you failed…at kidnapping a child," he snarked, hoping he'd take the insult for what it was. Henry. Watching him embrace his mothers on the street…that was certainly an aspect of this plan that would change. That had changed.

"Well, perhaps you could say my heart wasn't in it," snapped back at him. He nearly rolled his eyes at the pirate's attempt at witty humor. He wasn't about to give it a response.

"The Snow Queen's plan also failed…but mine won't," he assured the pirate, doing his best to convince the both of them that this didn't affect him in the least. Things had changed. His heart ached for one particular aspect that had changed with the undoing of the spell. But it was no matter. He'd be fine. Hearts could heal. From some things, at least.

"Enjoy this snowfall, dearie. It'll be your last."

"Then grant me one dying wish."

"I'm not in the business of making deals with you anymore."

"Leave Emma and the rest of Storybrooke be. There's no need to harm them."

Well damn…he almost wished he had more ill will toward the town. This way, the pirate wouldn't think he was showing him mercy or granting that last wish.

"When I step over that town line with my magic intact, Emma and Storybrooke have nothing to fear from me…as long as they don't get in my way. But I can't make that same promise for the rest of the world."

He left Hook with that thought, leaving his imagination to go wild, making up all the terror he didn't plan in the least to inflict upon the world beyond Storybrooke. He didn't worry for Belle, still asleep in the back, as he grabbed his coat and let the shop door close behind him. She was protected by powerful spells as well as his own will that the captain wouldn't so much as gaze upon her.

One plan ruined meant there was another one to flush out and enact and tonight…tonight he'd make sure those skies were as clear as clear could be. He still had work to do.

I felt like this was another chapter, and entire episode really, that from Rumple's point of view was very anti-climactic. For every other story line in 4A, this is the big episode. But for Rumple, who is not really part of Team Hero and not affected by the spell itself (not to mention Belle asleep in the back), to be perfectly honest, it sorta just gives hurricane vibes. It reminds me a lot of when there's a hurricane outside and the world itself is chaos, trees are blowing over, powerlines are going out, and you are stuck inside playing a game of uno with your friend by the light of the lantern because there's really nothing to be done. Rumple's not really part of the interesting part of this episode and so these chapters because, as I said, about just explaining and flushing out some of his behavior so that when we really reach the climax of his story in the next episode, things begin to make sense. Hopefully I've done that.

Thank you, Rsbeall12 and Grace5231973, for your reviews on the previous chapter. I know that this chapter is literally no fun and the ones to come are going to be emotionally no fun, but I really appreciate you all sticking around with me. And having some patience with me! I'm so, so sorry I disappeared on you for a couple of days. Things starting on Thursday got unexpectedly busy with work. I've barely had a moment to breathe these last few days, which is why I'm dropping this chapter a day ahead of schedule, though I'm also aware it's very late. Thank you for having grace with me when things like that happen. I'm getting into my busy season and I feel it! Thank goodness tomorrow is my day off, I need it! Until tomorrow, Peace and Happy Reading!