Disclaimer: I don't own OUaT!

AN: Hi, everyone, this is my first fic for this fandom (Say that 3 time fast...lol). I know the RumBelle!Child thing is probably overdone, but I don't really care. If you don't care for this or whatever, go read something else. Aside from that, I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Katelyn hid in the doorway as she listened to Mr. Gold confess to Mayor Mills that his true name was Rumpelstiltskin. She gasped at the news as she was hit from memories of another life, another world.

She saw a great many things. She saw a beautiful woman and an ugly man. The woman wore a blue dress with a white shirt under it. She was absolutely gorgeous. The man had scaly, dark skin and unusual eyes. They were together looking at her in the memory, proud. She didn't understand what was going on. When she reached out, she saw the arm of a baby. She waved her arm and pulled it back and the baby's arm did the exact same thing. She realized that she was the baby and the man and woman were her parents.

The man in the jail cell was more to her than she ever realized. He was her father. Once Mayor Mills left, she walked out of the doorway and stood at the corner of the entrance way to the desks where the sheriff worked. She watched as the man, her father, grasped a chipped tea cup in his hands reverently.

"You can come out of the shadows, Dearie. I know you're there."

She took the few steps into the room and he looked up at her. She stared at his face and at the difference between his look here and the one from her memory.

"Can I help you, Katelyn?"

"Y…you know my name?"

"Names are a specialty of mine."

"Do you know who I am?"

Gold regarded her for a moment.

"I think we've already established that I know your name."

"Yes, sir, but do you recognize me from anywhere else?"

Gold seemed to become still as he pondered the girl's question. He studied her closely and suddenly it hit him.

"Oh, Katie."

Katelyn had tears falling down her cheeks.

"You remember me? Mama?"

"I could never forget you or your mother."

"But you did!"

"I couldn't forget you willingly, darling. I was cursed just as the rest of us. How did you find me? How did you get your memories back?"

"I've always had what I thought was nightmares, but they were memories of our life back in the Enchanted Forest. After helping Henry bring Emma back, I began to remember more and more, but it wasn't until I overheard you and Regina that I remembered everything."

"Oh my darling, I wish I could've helped you with everything. Where have you been?"

"I've been living with a couple. They're nice people, but I always knew that they weren't my parents somehow. It was a feeling. Now, I've found you. I haven't seen Mama. Where is she?"

Gold looked down. He didn't want to tell her what Regina had told him that day. How Belle was taken by her father and tortured and then took her own life.

"She's…she's gone, sweetheart. I'm so sorry."

Katelyn felt the tears welling in her eyes and spill over before she could stop them. She nearly collapsed if the arms that caught her hadn't been holding her up. She looked up at the person who caught her and it was Emma.

"What's going on here?" Emma asked.

Katelyn stood up and wiped the tears that kept falling.

"What did you do to her, Gold?"

"I haven't done anything to her," he snapped and looked at the girl sympathetically, "Katelyn, are you alright?"

Katelyn looked at her father and then to Emma. The only ones who knew of her memories, aside from Henry, were in that room. She'd confided in Emma a while ago in hopes that it would help her believe that she was The Savior and the town needed saving.

"Emma, can I have a minute with him? In the cell?"

"Not in the cell, but you can have a little time alone. I'll be in my office."

Emma walked away from them, but didn't take her eyes off of Gold. Katelyn took a step closer to the cell and took her father's hand in hers.

"That's the cup, isn't it?"

Gold looked at the tea cup in his hand. He nodded.

"Mama's chipped cup. What happened to Mama, Papa?"

Gold looked over at her as she called him 'Papa.' The term pulled at his heart.

"Papa? Why did you attack that man?"

Gold gritted his teeth at the mention of Moe French. He despised the man.

"He took away one of the most important people in my life, your mother."

"He killed Mama?"

"No, not directly. Katie, this isn't easy to talk about and not something you need to hear. All you need to know is that your mother loved you and that she wouldn't leave or abandon us. Also, you need to know that I love you so very much, my darling."

"I love you too, Papa. After you get out, can I stay with you? I want to be a family."

Gold smiled at her with the tears shining in his eyes.

"Yes, you can."

Katelyn smiled widely and felt her heart soar at the words. Gold reached out and cupped her cheek gently.

"Now, you need to be getting back to the people caring for you. It's past your bedtime."

"I so wish I could stay with you tonight."

"We'll be together soon enough, sweetheart."

"Not fast enough. I love you, Papa. Good night."

"Good night, Katie."

Katelyn went into Emma's office. Emma looked at the young girl before her.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Can you take me to my house?"

"Uh, sure."

Emma got up and walked around her desk. She put an arm around Katelyn's shoulders and guided her out the door. Katelyn waved at her Papa again and they left.

Emma made sure she got home safely and inside the house before she pulled away from the curb. She couldn't help but wonder what the child and the man talked about. She noticed that the child wanted nothing more than to have the man hug her tightly, but she couldn't allow it. Gold was in jail for assault and it wasn't safe to let the kid in with him, not to mention it was against the rules. She felt sorry for the girl.

Katelyn walked into the house where the people who considered themselves her parents were sitting at the table with two steaming mugs of coffee in front of them and a third mug of hot cocoa at her chair. Katelyn climbed up in her chair and faced them.

"Kate, where were you?" her adoptive father, Gene, asked.

"We were worried sick. If it hadn't been for Sheriff Swan calling to tell us where you were, we would've called the police on you. Where did you go?" her adoptive mother, Clara, said.

"I'm sorry for worrying you. I had to do something."

"Like what?" Gene asked.

"I had to talk to Mr. Gold about some things."

"You spoke to that monster! Are you crazy?! He's dangerous!" Clara exclaimed.

"He's not dangerous to me! And he's not a monster!"

"Katie…" Gene started.

"No! You don't call me that!"

"I've always called you that," Gene said.

"Not anymore. My name is Katelyn. Not Katie or Kate and I'm going to live with Mr. Gold as soon as he gets out of jail and all the charges are dropped!"

"Oh really? And if we said no?" Clara asked.

"You have no choice. Mr. Gold is my real father!"

Gene and Clara were stunned in silence. They didn't know what to say.

"What do you mean he's your real father?" Clara asked.

"He's my Papa. I remembered seeing him and my Mama standing by my crib as a baby."

"That's impossible. There's no way you can remember something like that! He's lying to you! You're not going anywhere with him!" Gene stated.

"He's not lying to me! He's my Papa and I'm going to live with him! You can't stop me!"

"Yes, we can! We're your parents, not him!" Gene exclaimed.

"I'm moving in with him and you're not going to stop me!"

Katelyn got up and ran upstairs into her room. She slammed the door behind her and threw herself onto her bed as tears fell down her face. She wanted nothing more than to be reunited with her real parents. She wanted her Papa and her Mama, but her Papa was in jail and her Mama was dead. She cried for a while before her adoptive parents began knocking at her door.

"Go away!"

"Katelyn, please open the door," Clara pleaded.

"No! Go away!"

The knocking stopped and she sat up. She went to her closet and pulled her backpack out. She opened it and began stuffing clothes into it. She added her favorite books as well. She zipped it closed, put on her jacket and backpack, and climbed out of her window. She ran down the street to the safest place she knew, her best friend Henry's house. She took a few pebbles and threw them at his window. The light came on and the window opened.

"Hey!"

"Hey, let me in."

Henry took his blanket rope and tossed it down for her to climb up. She did with no problems as she had done it several times before. Once inside, they pulled the rope up and hid it again. She hugged Henry as tears began to fall down her face again.

"Kate, what's wrong?"

"I ran away."

"Why? What did your parents do?"

"They're not my parents."

"What?"

"I remember everything, Henry. Everything about my life in the Enchanted Forest. I remember who my parents are."

"Who?"

Katelyn took a moment before answering, unsure of Henry's reaction.

"My Papa is Rumpelstiltskin and my Mama is, was Belle."

"Was?"

"She's dead."

"What? How?"

"Papa wouldn't tell me."

"You've spoken to him? He remembers who he is?"

"Yes, Mr. Gold is Rumpelstiltskin and my Papa. He remembers everything. I overheard him and…and…"

"And who? Who did you hear with him?"

"Your mom."

"Emma?"

Katelyn shook her head.

"You're other mom, Regina."

"She remembers too?"

"I think she always had her memories. She knew who he was before he did apparently. How is that possible?"

"She was the Evil Queen. She cast this curse. It makes sense that she'd be the only one to remember everything, but I'd like to know how your Papa got his memories back."

"I think he's always had them. He just played the part he was given until…until you brought Emma here."

"She really is changing things."

Katelyn nodded. They suddenly heard footsteps head towards Henry's room.

"Quick, hide!"

Katelyn ran to his closet and shut the doors. She sat down and was very quiet. Regina opened the door and looked into the room.

"Henry, who're you talking to? It's past your bedtime."

"No one, I had a bad dream."

"Are you okay? You know nightmares can't hurt you."

"I know. It was scary, but I'm okay. I was talking to myself to calm myself down. I'm going back to bed now."

"Okay, I love you."

"You too."

Regina kissed his forehead and left the room. Henry went to his closet and opened the door.

"It's safe. You can come out now."

"I shouldn't stay here. I don't want you to get into trouble. I'll leave."

"No, Kate, where would you go?"

"I don't know. I'll figure out something."

"How about Ms. Blanchard's? I'll radio Emma."

"No, Henry, she'll take me back there! I don't want to go back."

"No, she won't. Not if I ask her not to."

Katelyn thought about it for a moment.

"Okay. Call her."

Henry got the radio out from under his pillow. He clicked it on and pressed the button.

"Emma, Emma, come in."

The radio made some static before Emma's voice rang through the room.

"Henry, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, but my friend, Kate, needs a place to stay tonight. Can she stay with you and Ms. Blanchard?"

"I just dropped her off at her house not too long ago. Her parents are going to be worried."

"Kate had a problem at home. She ran away and doesn't want to go back. She doesn't want to get me into trouble either. Please, Emma, just for tonight?"

"Alright, but just for tonight."

"Thank you, Emma!"

"No problem, kid. I'll be over shortly."

"Park down the street so that Mom doesn't see you."

"Will do."

Katelyn hugged Henry.

"Thank you, Henry. I'm so glad to have you for a best friend."

"It's no problem. I hope you can get things settled and have your happy ending."

She saw Emma pass by and looked at Henry.

"I'll see you tomorrow for school."

"Okay, good night, Kate."

"Good night, Henry. Thanks again."

Kate climbed out of his window and ran to the yellow bug down the street. She got into the car and snapped her seatbelt.

"Hey, kid, what's going on at home that you ran away from?"

"Nothing you'd understand."

"Oh yeah, try me."

"You know how Henry believes that we're fairy tale characters and we don't remember who we are?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, I remember who I am and my Papa remembers who he is. I wanted to stay with him, but my adoptive parents said he's lying and that he's dangerous."

"They only want what's best for you."

"Maybe, but I don't want to stay with them. I want to stay with Papa."

"Let me guess, Mr. Gold is your father?"

"How did you know?"

"The way he looked at you is the way a father looks at a daughter. I've seen it in other parent's eyes and it's the way I look at Henry, like he's all that matters and how much I love him."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Kid, Henry told you about my super power, right?"

Katelyn nodded.

"Well, I can see you're telling the truth or what you believe is the truth and that's good enough for me."

"Thank you for this, Emma."

"You're welcome."

They pulled up outside the apartment building and headed inside. Mary Margaret met them at the door and pulled Katelyn in for a hug.

"Hey, Kate, are you okay?"

"Kind of. Are you going to make me go home?"

"Not tonight, but I am going to call your parents to tell them you're here."

"No! I don't want them to know where I am!"

"Kate, they'll be worried about you."

"I don't care. They're not my real parents and I don't want to stay with them anymore and they want to make me."

"They love you. They want what's best for you."

"My Papa knows what's best for me! I'm never going back there again! Never!"

Mary Margaret looked at Emma who shrugged.

"Come on, kid. Let's get you to bed. It's late as it is."

Katelyn walked with Emma upstairs and got into her pajamas. She climbed into the bed and Emma tucked her in.

"Emma, are you going to make me go? Are you gonna let them take me even when I don't want to go with them?"

"Not tonight, but we'll talk in the morning about tomorrow. Sleep tight, Kate."

"Good night, Emma. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Emma kissed her forehead and left the room. Katelyn turned over and fell into a deep sleep.

Rumpelstiltskin used the walking stick to destroy the glass in his cabinet. He leaned over and grasped the cabinet. How was he going to go on without his true love? How was he going to tell Katelyn that her mother was never coming back? How was he going to take care of her all on his own?

"Papa?"

He looked over at the five year old girl standing there in her night gown, scared of the noise she'd heard and the state she found her father in.

"Where's Mama, Papa?"

"Oh, Katie…Mama is…away. She'll come back."

"Will she come back soon?"

"I don't know how soon, but we'll see her again someday."

"But I want her now."

Katelyn took in the broken glass and everything that was thrown and torn.

"What happened, Papa?"

"Papa had a tantrum. It wasn't nice. Don't worry, my darling, I'm okay now. Come on, back to bed, little one."

He walked forward and picked up the little one. She curled into him and laid her head on his shoulder with her thumb in her mouth.

"Can you read to me, please, Papa?"

He shook his head mentally at how much the girl was like her mother. She'd displayed her love for books at a young age and she'd also displayed the power she'd inherited. Thankfully, it was light magic and not dark.

"What story do you want to hear, my darling?"

"Beauty and the Beast."

"Again? You've heard that one millions of times. How about something different?"

"No, it's my favorite. It reminds me of you and of…Mama."

Katelyn had tears in her eyes as she said that. Rumple never liked to see his girls cry. He picked up the worn book off the side table and opened it to the place where they left off previously. Katelyn snuggled into the bed and listened as her father told the story that she loved so much before heading off to sleep.

The next morning, Katelyn was up early and had dressed for school. She headed downstairs with her backpack on. Mary Margaret had prepared her a breakfast with pancakes and scrambled eggs. She sat down and dug into breakfast. Mary Margaret sat down next to her and Katelyn looked up.

"You're going to have to talk to your parents, honey."

"No, I'm not. I said all I'm going to say to them. I don't want to talk to them or see them anymore."

"They're your parents. You'll have to see them again."

"No, I won't. If they try to take me back, I'll run away again. I'll keep running until my Papa can take me."

"Who's your Papa?"

"Mr. Gold."

Mary Margaret's eyebrows shot up.

"Mr. Gold is your father? He doesn't have any children."

"He does. He just didn't know it until last night. I want to stay with my Papa and I'm never going to go back to them."

Mary Margaret decided not to push the issue any further and let the girl finish breakfast before taking her to school with her.

Once in the classroom, Katelyn took her seat next to Henry. Henry arrived moments later and sat down next to her.

"How'd it go?"

"Both Emma and Snow want to take me back to Gene and Clara. I'm not going back. I told them that if they make me that I'll just run away and keep running."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I don't care if it is or not. I want to stay with my Papa and that's that. If you hadn't noticed, what we want is what we get."

"Oh yeah, I've noticed."

Mary Margaret called the class to order and they began their school day.

Unbeknownst to Katelyn, Gold was watching her through the window. He waited there all day until school let out to pick up Katelyn. No one saw him standing there until Katelyn ran over to him.

"Papa! I'm so happy to see you!"

She hugged him tightly. He kissed her head.

"I'm happy to see you too, darling. How was school?"

"Wonderful! We got to learn more about the animals in the woods and we read a new book about a giant and a beanstalk!"

"Sounds like a fascinating tale! You'll have to tell me all about it later."

"Okay. Am I going with you?"

"For now. We're going to go to Granny's for a little treat and we're going to talk."

"About?"

"I think you know what about."

Katelyn looked down and her face fell. She took her father's offered hand and they walked the short walk to his car.

They arrived at Granny's a short time later. He took her hand again and led her into the diner. Everyone who was there stopped what they were doing and saying to turn and look at the two of them as they entered the diner. Gold gave one glare at them and they quickly went back to what they were doing. He guided his newfound daughter to one of the booths and sat down across from her. Ruby came over to take their orders.

"Hey Kate! Mr. Gold, what can I get for you guys?"

"Katie, tell her what you want."

"I would like a burger and fries and sweet tea, please."

"I'll have the same, Ruby, thank you."

"Coming right up!"

Ruby left them and he looked over at Katelyn. She found the tabletop quite interesting to avoid his disappointed gaze.

"Look at me."

She looked up and noticed that not only was disappointment in his eyes, but worry and, of course, love.

"Darling, why did you run off? You know it can be very dangerous."

"I know, Papa, but I just couldn't stay there anymore. You were in jail and I really had nowhere else to turn."

"Why couldn't you stay there?"

"They said they wouldn't let me go with you. I want you, Papa."

"I know, sweet, but doing that wasn't the way to get me."

"I know. I'm sorry, Papa."

"It's not me you should apologize to. It's those people you worried. They do care for you."

"They may, but I'm not their child. I'm yours. I always have been and I always have known that somehow, deep down. I knew I wasn't theirs."

"How did you know that?"

"It's a feeling I had and it got worse after Emma came. That's when the memories started."

"What are the memories you speak of?"

"Memories of me being a baby, of you and Mama happy and smiling, of you tucking me in, and the worst was the night Mama didn't come back."

Gold looked down with sadness in his face. Katelyn put a hand on his. He looked at the girl before him and saw his Belle sitting there. She was so much like her mother.

"Papa, are you alright?"

"Yes, dear, I just miss your mother."

"I miss her too."

"Katie, I'm going to take you back…"

She went to open her mouth and he held a hand up to silence her.

"…I'm going to take you back to talk to them. I want you there when I tell them that I plan to petition the courts for custody of you."

Katelyn's eyes lit up. Her heart leapt at the possibility of being with her Papa, of being whole and a family once again.

"Do you think they'll let me go with you?"

"I don't know, darling, but I do hope so."

"I do too, Papa."

Their food came and they ate while making small talk. Gold glanced at his watch.

"Oh dear, it's getting late. We need to go, sweetheart."

"I don't want to leave you, Papa."

"I know, but it must be done if we're to be together later."

"Okay."

They got up, he helped her into her coat, paid the bill, and they left. He helped her into the car and drove her home.

They walked up the walkway outside her house. She held his hand tightly. He gripped her just as tightly.

"It'll be okay, Katie. I promise you that."

"I'm scared, Papa."

He set the cane aside, wishing he had magic to heal himself once again, and lifted her in his arms. She snuggled into his shoulder and put her thumb into her mouth. He grabbed his cane and continued up the walkway. He tapped the door with his cane. The door opened and Gene stood there.

"Hello, Mr. Charles, I took the liberty of returning Katelyn home to you."

"You had no right to pick her up to begin with!"

"Be that as it may, she's here and she's safe. That should be all that matters, should it not?"

Gene begrudgingly nodded and stood aside so that Gold could enter his home. He reached to take Katelyn from the man, but she gripped tighter to her father and Gold shook his head. Gene folded his arms angrily across his chest and led them into the living room. Gene and Clara sat on the couch and Gold sat in the chair with Katelyn in his lap. The girl curled into her father and glared at the couple before her.

"Katelyn, why did you run away last night?" Gene asked.

Katelyn looked up to her father. He nodded and stroked her back gently.

"I wanted to get out of here. I wanted Papa, but he was in jail and the only other place to go was Henry's. He called Emma and she took me over to Ms. Blanchard's where I stayed."

Gene glared harder at the man holding his daughter. Yes, she was adopted, but she was his! Not the monster holding her!

"Honey, your home is here," Clara said.

"My home is with my Papa and my Mama, but since my Mama is gone, Papa is all I have. I'm not going to leave him."

"You're going to have to because we are your parents and we're not giving you up," Gene said.

Katelyn glared at Gene.

"I'm not staying here! I'll run away again and every time you bring me back, I'll do it again!"

"Katie, enough," Gold said.

Katelyn looked at her father and leaned back into his chest and listened to his heartbeat. She calmed almost immediately. This didn't go unnoticed by her adoptive parents. They could never do that when she was upset.

"I plan to petition the courts for custody of her as soon as possible," Gold stated.

"You can't do that! She's our daughter!" Gene exclaimed.

Katelyn went to lash out at him, but Gold tucked her closer and glared at the man.

"I can and I will. She is my daughter!" Gold said.

"You didn't even know about her! How can you even want her?" Clara demanded.

"How can I not? She's my flesh and blood! She's the spitting image of her mother, the love of my life, and I love her more than anything in the world!" Gold exclaimed.

Katelyn laid her hand on his shoulder and he calmed immediately as well. He wrapped one arm around her waist and trailed the other up and down her back in a soothing motion. She looked over at the couple with tears in her eyes.

"Please? Please let me go? I don't want to be here. Can't you see that?"

They looked shocked at this notion, shocked and hurt.

"All we did was love you, how can you despise us so much?" Clara asked.

"I don't despise you. I do care for you, but I want to be with my family. I've always felt out of place here. I've always felt I didn't belong here and I don't."

Gene and Clara both had tears in their eyes. They held each other.

"Okay. You can go," Gene said, his voice breaking.

Katelyn's face lit up with happiness and excitement.

"I can?! You're letting me go?!"

They both nodded. She burst forth and wrapped her arms around them.

"Thank you! Thank you so much! Papa, I'm coming home!"

Gold's face lit up as much as his daughter's and she launched herself at him. He caught her and hugged her tightly.

"I'm so happy, my sweet Katie. Alright, go get your things and we shall go home."

"Okay, Papa."

She ran upstairs and packed up the things she wanted to take with her as she figured they'd get the rest later.

While Katelyn was upstairs packing, Gene and Clara took the time to speak to Gold about her.

"We're only doing this for her. The minute you hurt her and she comes back here is the minute you'll never see her again," Gene threatened.

"Are you threatening me? I can assure you that I'll do everything in my power to make sure she's safe and that I would never hurt her," Gold replied.

"Forgive me for not feeling assured, considering your reputation," Gene sneered.

"Reputation or not, you should know that I always get what I want and that my child takes after me in that aspect," Gold said.

"Please stop fighting. This isn't going to help anyone. Gene, he's her father and this is her choice. Mr. Gold, just take care of her. She has a tendency to get unusually cold at night so we've gotten her a space heater for her room even though we have heat. She dislikes cereal and prefers a balanced breakfast as opposed to the normal child's wanting. She loves peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch. She doesn't like jelly of any kind. She's allergic to tomatoes by themselves, but it doesn't bother her if she has ketchup or eats spaghetti or anything with tomato sauce as long as there aren't any whole or chunked tomatoes in there. Ummm, what else?" Clara said.

"Mrs. Charles, don't worry. We'll manage. What do the tomatoes do to her if she has them?"

"She breaks out into hives. It's a mild reaction, but if she is exposed more to it I'm sure it would go into a full reaction. She's also allergic to smoke and to polyester. She can only wear cotton or silk," Clara informed him.

"Thank you for taking care of her for me. I do appreciate that," Gold said.

"Of course, we love her," Clara said.

"I can see that," Gold said.

Katelyn came down the steps with her suitcase and backpack all ready to go. She had a huge smile on her face. That was when Gene knew he was doing the right thing for his adopted daughter.

"Are you ready, my darling?"

"Ready, Papa."

"Tell them good-bye."

She set her suitcase down at his feet and ran over to the couple and hugged them.

"Thank you for everything."

"It was our pleasure. We love you so much, Katelyn," Gene said with tears in his eyes.

"I love you too. Bye."

Katelyn picked up her suitcase and looked at her father expectantly. He put a hand out and she led the way out of the house.