Chapter XXI

Belle had returned to the storage room and while Rumple's heart was still beating madly in his chest as he returned to his spot on the deck and lay down.

The entire night he was unable to sleep. His thoughts kept interrupting his mind. Most of them were originated from the fear of what might happen when someone found Belle, Bae and Emma in the storage room.

He closed his eyes in frustration. If it was just for half an hour, he needed to get some sleep.

Finally, he managed to doze off for a few minutes.

''Get up!'' Hook yelled, throwing a bucket at Rumple. He got up and threw Hook a deadly glare. ''Now, now. Don't be so angry with me,'' Hook mocked. ''There's no reason to.''

The only two up were Hook and Rumple, the crew was still fast asleep. Apparently, Hook had planned something special for them alone, because he moored half an hour later at the closest docks.

He gestured towards the gangway and waited for him to get off the ship before following himself.

They went into the closeby village and Hook ordered Rumple around. He made him rob some shops that sold expensive items, like jewelry.

Rumplestiltskin had been used to doing dark things, and his conscience had never dared to interfere, but now it did. He felt terrible as he watched the empty displays through the shop windows before he was pulled to the next shop he was meant to empty.

After some time Rumple started fighting against the urge to do as Hook commanded, and it ended up in him receiving more kicks and hits. And finally, he had no choice but to do exactly that what Hook said.

Meanwhile, on the Jolly Roger, Belle had peeked through the door, hoping no pirate would see her. She sighed in relief when there was no one to be seen, but she quickly grew concerned when she also couldn't find Rumple.

''Bae, Emma, will you stay here?'' she questioned into the dark. ''No, I want to come,'' Neal urged. ''And I'll go where he goes,'' Emma said confidently.

''You can't come, it's too dangerous.''

''But you're going too. So why can't we go? I think you're discriminating us because of our age,'' he said gravely.

Belle sighed tiredly and rubbed her forehead. ''Fine, you can come. But I promise you Baelfire when this is all done, your father and I need to teach you some lessons.''

She heard him gulp and grinned into the darkness. ''Come on, let's go before the whole crew's awake.''

They slipped out of the dark room and onto the deck. It was silent and all they could hear was the soft wind blowing past them and the waves that rolled against the ship.

Belle looked around, and her gaze settled on the gangway. ''It looks like they've gone into the village,'' she whispered pointing towards the houses.

''Well, what do you propose we do?'' Neal asked looking around, not really minding to keep his voice down. ''Go back to the room, I need to check something,'' Belle said softly.

Neal was about to protest but Emma cut him off. ''Of course, Belle. C'mon Neal, let's go.'' She took his hand, and without another word, she pulled him back towards the storage room.

Belle watched the closed door and chuckled lightly. She had a weakness for children, even teenagers, which was rather unusual.

She was startled by distant voices coming from the village, some shouting and yelling. She quickly went up to what she thought was the captain's cabin, but stopped dead in her tracks when she heard voices from inside.

''Are you sure we'll find it in here?'' a squeaky and uncertain voice asked. ''Of course, I'm sure, you nitwit. Now stop whining and help me lift this.''

She heard grunts and wood crunch inside and quickly returned to the dark room when hasty footsteps started towards the door.

She was breathing heavily as she leaned against the closed door.

''Belle? Are you alright?'' Emma asked quietly.

''Shh.''

She could hear the voices slowly fade away.

''There were two men in Hook's cabin,'' she explained as Emma asked again if she was alright.

''Did they see you?'' Emma asked panickily.

Belle shook her head but remembered they couldn't see that. ''I don't think so. They seemed in a hurry when they left the room.''

They heard more voices coming from the ship.

''Why did you do that?'' Hook yelled angrily. Rumple watched him innocently. ''I don't know what you're talking about, master,'' he said grinning broadly.

''I'm on the verge of killing you right now!'' he shouted frustrated. Rumple's smirk faded. He supposed it might be safer for everyone if he'd just obey.

''That's more like it,'' Hook said relaxing slightly. He took the dagger from his belt and stroked its waving edges. Rumple's breath hitched at the sight of the dagger. He wished he could just kill Hook on the spot.

Hook seemed to know what he was thinking and smirked broadly. ''If you won't do as I say, you know what'll happen.''

Rumple gritted his teeth and watched Hook with a deadly look.

''Did I make myself clear?'' he questioned exaggerated. ''Yes,'' Rumple muttered silently. Hook turned his ear towards him. ''Sorry, didn't hear that. Yes…?''

''Yes, master,'' Rumple choked out. ''Exactly. You know your place, now off you go and start scrubbing the deck until it gleams.''

The sun was glaring down at the crew on the ship. It was a hot day, hotter than any of them could remember. The warmth got everyone on edge, and Hook was growing impatient and annoyed with Rumplestiltskin, so he decided to make sure he could never insult him again.

He had stepped in front of him and watched him with hatred as he commanded him to stand up.

Rumple had noticed his anger and annoyance so this was the perfect opportunity to mock him even more, but he didn't know what Hook was planning to do.

The wood creaked as Hook approached the kneeling Dark One and commanded him to stand up.

Rumple looked up at him, one eye closed so the sun wouldn't blind him. ''I said, get up!'' Hook yelled his face red.

Rumple sighed and stood up. Hook had always been taller than him, but that didn't intimidate him one bit.

''Go and stand there,'' he ordered pointing at the middle of the deck. Rumple shrugged and did as he was told. Hook took off his heavy leather coat and sword and threw them against the wall, near the door to the storage room.

He slowly turned around, glaring at Rumple as he walked towards him. He stopped a short distance of him, almost touching his face with his own and shouted, ''Men!''

Everyone watched him dazzled and turned around immediately. ''This, foul little creature, has tortured us by taking Milah. Continued to mock us on our own ship! Then, he decided it must be smart to screw up our plunder attempt. I think it has been enough!''

The crew agreed with shouts and 'ayes'. ''I think, we should end this here!'' he said slowly taking the dagger from his belt.

Rumple watched him, trying to keep his expression straight.

Hook held the shimmering blade in the air. ''This is what allowed this monster to live all these years! All those years he should've been dead! The ultimate punishment!''

Rumple glanced behind him and saw the door to the storage room slowly open and Emma's face stuck out.

She had a drowsy expression, but right when she saw what was happening her face cleared and she watched the scene fearfully.

''Let's give this unbearable little man what he deserves!''

Hook pushed Rumple onto the ground on his knees and raised the dagger, ready to strike.

Rumple slowly shook his head at Emma and smiled.

He closed his eyes and waited for the blade.

But it didn't come. Instead, he heard a gasp and a clang. He slowly opened one of his eyes and looked up at Hook.

He stood there, a sword, his own sword, stuck in his back. Emma stood behind him, uncertain and her eyes wide.

She dashed towards the dagger on the ground and watched Hook slowly drop onto the ground.

The crew was watching her flabbergasted, but quickly angry expressions appeared on their faces.

''She killed the captain!'' one of them yelled, pointing at Emma.

In the meantime Rumple had got up and stood in front of her, his arms spread protectively. He turned his head to her. ''Emma, give that to me,'' he said softly extending one of his arms towards her.

She watched it hesitantly, but gave in and placed it in his hand.

''Now, all of you get off this ship or I'll make sure you will. Except, you.'' He pointed at the light brown haired boy with freckles and gestured him to come closer as the rest of the men hesitantly got off the ship, muttering curses.

''Johnny, was it, right?''

The boy nodded.

''I can sense you possess some powerful magic, young man.'' Rumple tapped his chin.

The boy watched him flabbergasted. ''Me? Magic? That's impossible,'' he muttered while shaking his head.

''Boy,'' Rumple said, kneeling down in front of him. ''Why are you on this ship?'' he asked softly.

Johnny looked down, fiddling with his hands. ''It's okay. I already know, I just want you to tell me yourself.''

He looked up into Rumple's eyes and sighed. ''Because I practiced magic,'' he whispered. ''Where I come from you're being hanged when they find out you possess over any magic. I couldn't stay there anymore, especially after they murdered my family because they were famous wizards and witches.''

Rumple nodded sympathetically. ''Right.''

''What do you say to come with us, and learn how to use magic?''

The boy looked at him and his eyes twinkled. ''Do you really mean that, sir?'' he asked excitedly. Rumple nodded slightly.

''But I need you to meet some people first,'' he said guiding him towards the storage room. He threw the door open and the room filled with light.

''Belle, Bae?'' he said softly.

Belle stuck her head over a crate and smiled. ''Rumple?''

''Wait? Is it safe?'' she asked cautiously. ''Who's that?'' she asked raising an eyebrow.

''Belle, this is Johnny. I proposed if he'd like to move in with us so I can teach him how to use magic.''

Belle frowned slightly. ''Rumple, isn't that going to be a bit full? Five people in one house?''

Rumple's smiled brightened. ''Belle, I've been thinking. Maybe we should return to the Dark Castle. There's plenty of room there. And the Enchanted Forest is our home.''

Belle's frown deepened. ''But Storybrooke and all our friends? What about them?''

Rumple shrugged. ''Remember we had to go into hiding because our friends suspected me?''

Belle's expression cleared. ''Right,'' she muttered under her breath. ''But what about Emma and Bae? They have never been here. At least Emma hasn't.''

''They'll just have to get used to it. Please, Belle. It's the place where we fell in love, where our first kiss was. Remember the wonderful books waiting for you.''

''Fine! We'll go,'' she said grinning. She nudged Bae who laid next to her, snoring loudly. ''Bae, we're staying here in the Enchanted Forest,'' Belle announced before he had fully awakened.

''Wait, what?'' he asked shooting upright.

''We're staying here.'' Rumple offered Belle a hand and pulled her upright.

He looked into her eyes and kissed her deeply.

''I've missed you,'' he said grinning, leaning his forehead against hers. ''And I you,'' Belle said placing a quick peck on his lips.

''But what about Hook?'' she asked suddenly.

Rumple stayed silent and looked out of the door.

Emma was kneeled next to Hook's body, her hands buried in her hair.

''What have I done?'' she whispered terrified, watching the corpse. Quite a puddle of dark red blood had formed around the body.

Rumple slowly approached her.

''Emma,'' he said softly.

She looked around, tears streaming down her face. ''I killed him. I killed a man.''

''Emma, you've saved my life,'' he said quietly. Emma nodded. ''But I've taken another one instead,'' she whispered in horror.

''How can I ever live with myself now?'' she muttered staring, down at the lifeless corpse.

''If you'd like, I could wipe the memory,'' he proposed silently.

Was she able to live with herself if she did? Wasn't it just as bad to forget what she'd done? Or wouldn't that matter if she couldn't remember?

''Will it hurt?'' she asked closing her eyes.

''No.''

If wiping the memory meant losing that guilty feeling, it would be worth it.

''Okay. You can do it,'' she said standing up.

Rumple nodded and smiled slightly. He extended his arm toward her and closed his eyes.

After some time he told her it was done and she opened her eyes. ''Dad,'' she said happily. ''You're alive!''

She threw her arms around his neck and smiled. ''Yes, I am.''

''Do you mind if we'll go and live here?''

Emma shook her head. ''Of course not. I've always loved magic,'' she said chuckling.

Rumple looked at the corpse and made sure, that when he guided Emma to the storage room she wasn't able to see Hook's body.

''Come on, let's go.'' He held his arm out towards Belle who took it.

And with a flick of his hand, a dark whirlwind surrounded them and took them to the Dark Castle where they would all have the chance on a fresh start and a happy ending.

A/N: Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, this was the end! At least, I guess it is. I'm considering making a part two in which Emma will find out that her parents aren't dead at all, but back in the Enchanted Forest together with Regina and all the other fairy tale characters. Also, Johnny will become a big character in the story. Comment if you'd like to see that happen! If I'm going to start part two, it will take some time because I'm trying to update regularly on a different story on the moment which is more important right now. Anyways, thank you sooooo much for reading this story, and I hope to see you all at Part 2, maybe!