Chapter 20

"Bloody hell, this Manhattan place is huge." Belle sighs deeply, looking at a map of New York on the dinner table. Rumplestiltskin was pacing around the room. Belle had been using a marker to circle the map and try and figure out where Bae could be for the past hour. "Rumple, this is ridiculous. Belle pinches the bridge of her nose. "I really think the only way you're going to find him is if you check every apartment building."

"That really doesn't appeal to me Belle." Rumple scoffs, finally stopping.

"I really don't see how else you're going to do this." Belle groans, leaning back in her chair. "Can't we just go to bed and deal with this in the morning?"

"Are you tired?"

Belle blinks rapidly, finding that she wasn't. "No, what on earth? After everything that's happened today?" Belle sighs and leans back in her seat. "What's wrong with me Rumple? I'm not hungry, I'm not tired."

"What exactly did Pinocchio tell you again?" Rumple asks, still pacing.

"You're not going to be able to keep avoiding my questions forever you know." Belle growls, forcing herself to sit back up right and stare at the map again. "Bae's name in this world is Neal and he is living in an apartment building, directly in the middle of Manhattan."

"That's it?"

"I've repeated it to you nearly five times now." Belle scoffs. "That's all he told me, I promise. Rumple, it's been a really long day, can we please just go upstairs and forget about all of this for a moment? I'm sure if we leave this as it is and get a new view on it tomorrow we will come up with something."

"Why do you keep talking as if you're not going?" He finally stops pacing and looks at her with confusion on his face.

"…I thought you knew I wouldn't be going." She bites her bottom lip. The stare he was giving her, making her nervous. "Rumple I can't! You know that something's coming, my Echo-"

"Belle, there's nothing coming." He insists. "I want you- I need you to come with me, you know that."

"I will do all I can to help you plan out this trip and narrow down the places Bae could be, but I will not be going with you." Belle states, standing up and preparing to face him head on. "I'm sorry Rumple, I truly am, but I am not leaving this town unprotected."

"The town has Emma and as long as Henry's involved, Regina." Rumple's voice trembles. "Belle, please."

"Rumple I'm not going." Belle states determinedly, staring him straight in the eyes.

"Weren't you the one who wanted to travel the world?"

"Do not play that card on me." Belle finally snaps. "You know it's my dream to travel, but I can't." She lifts her hand to cup his cheek gently. "Rumple I just can't I know it's hard and I'm not giving you a good reason, I know that, but I'm not going I'm sorry."

He stares at her for a long time, before finally sighing deeply. "Give me a reason." She cocks her head in confusion and he continues. "Just give me one other reason besides wanting to stay and protect the town and I won't argue."

She smiles and leans in to kiss him once. "You know magic better than I do Rumple, something is telling me that it would be better if I stayed here."

"Well I can hardly argue with you about that can I?" He sighs deeply. "Alright, you're right, I know magic. If it's telling you to stay, you should probably stick around. I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too you know." She argues. "And I wish you all the luck in the world, but I still don't understand why you just don't call in that favor Emma owes you and have her go with you?"

"I don't need help with this."

"Really?" Belle has to resist the urge to roll her eyes at how childish he was being. "You don't need help with going out into a new land, one you're not familiar with, alone?"

"Belle, I've managed before you know."

"You've also never been in a land like this."

"Belle, why are you doing this?"

"I'm afraid." Belle wraps herself around him tightly. "I'm afraid that if you go alone something will happen to you and I won't ever see you again." She buries her face in his chest and he can feel her trembling. "And don't say that it's just me, if our positions were reversed you would be acting the same way."

"We both know I would." He argues. "I'm not disagreeing with you Belle, but I really think I'd be better if I did go alone."

"Really, and if he runs from you, or somehow manages to get away?" Belle asks. "I don't want to sound like an ass Rumple and I'm sorry if I do, but you only brought magic back to Storybrooke. The minute you leave town you know you're going to have a bad leg again." He opens his mouth to argue, but she beats him to it. "I don't want you to find him and then lose him again. Pinocchio's helped us figure out where he is. Do you really want to go through not knowing where he is again?"

He's crying. She tenses up, but holds him tightly and doesn't say anything, not needing to do anything but be there. He'd never want her to see him crying. "I love you Rumple." She murmurs softly, rubbing his back. "I just want you to be safe and to find what you're looking for. You know I do."

"I want to say I can be happy with only you." He finally murmurs. Even so close Belle has to strain hard in order to hear him. "But I'm sorry, I need to at least see Bae, I need to see him, and apologize to him for what I did." He holds her tight. "Belle, I need you, but I need him too."

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be." She insists looking at his face and smiling weakly, wiping away the last of his tears for him. "You should never be sorry for wanting to put your son first. I get it. You really think I'm going to be mad at you for putting your boy before me?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, you big softie." She smiles warmly and kisses him softly. "Are you ready to go to bed?"

"Are you tired?"

"Not in the slightest." She grins, taking his hand and leading him upstairs.

Belle wakes up, after a dreamless sleep and finds the bed empty, but a pleasant aroma coming from downstairs. Belle quickly finds her gown and races downstairs. She finds Rumple by the stove, just putting sausages and eggs on two plates. "That smells lovely." She comments, leaning against the doorway.

"Morning." He walks over, wraps his arms around her waist, and kisses her deeply. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very." She murmurs, placing her hands around his neck and not letting him go. "Did you really make all of this?" She asks and grins slyly. "How much magic did you actually use?"

Rumple looks at her in mock surprise, even placing his hand over his chest and opening his mouth, just like he used to do in the Enchanted Forest.

Belle slaps his arm lightly, but can't help but start laughing. "Stop it; you can't make that face work without the scaly skin and scary eyes."

"You thought they were scary?"

"I still fell in love with you."

"You did." He kisses her again and takes her hand, leading her over to the table and pulling her chair out for her. "I thought you might want something to eat when you woke up, so I thought I'd make you something." He continues, sitting in the chair next to her.

She kisses his cheek. "Thank you Rumple." She smiles warmly and sticks a piece of sausage in her mouth. "What happened to the map?" She notes, realizing that the table was cleared.

"Out of the way." He remarks, taking a sip of orange juice. "You were right. I think it's better if we look at it again later."

"When are you going to realize that I'm always right?" She jokes.

"Funny."

"After breakfast then do you want to make a plan?" She asks. "Or would you rather not look at the damn thing again for a while?"

"Actually." He grins slyly. "I was thinking the two of us could do something a lot more fun."

"Oh." She laughs, taking a sip of her own drink and nearly choking as she realizes what he's implying. Gods she was slow sometimes. "And what's that?"

"I was thinking of taking a shower after breakfast, if you would like to join me."

She blushes and isn't able to look him in the face while answering. "I would love to join you." She finally manages to turn around and meets him in a kiss. "We're not leaving the house today are we?" She murmurs.

"We'll be lucky if we get anything done at all." He remarks, snaking an arm across her stomach and turning her around to face him.

Belle giggles setting her fork down and pushing her plate away in order to jump up on the counter. "You know I won't let that happen." She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him again deeply.

"This is one of the many reasons I love you." He grins, leaning back and gazing lovingly at her. He plays with a lock of her hair and runs his lips over it.

"You sure as hell better prove it." Belle smiles warmly, cupping his face and pulling him closer.

"You probably thought that was hilarious didn't you?" Rumplestiltskin growls playfully, walking back into the kitchen after finally getting free. He finds Belle sitting at the kitchen table staring at the map of Manhattan again, with a cup of tea next to her and the end of a pen in her mouth, as if thinking.

"You can't stand there and tell me you didn't enjoy it." She teases taking a sip of her tea and turning around to face him. He's startled at the sight of her wearing his glasses and it takes a moment for him to regain his composure. Gods she looks gorgeous. "Are you alright?" She asks, concerned and gesturing over to the counter. "I made a few sandwiches in case you were hungry.

"Fine." He coughs, and leans against the doorway. "Except, you know being restrained."

"Yes, how did you get out of the binding spell?" Belle asks curiously. "I thought I put a block on your magic."

He moves over to the counter and does grab a sandwich before finally siting down next to her and rubbing his wrists lightly. "You did. Moreover, how the hell did you figure out how to block my magic?"

She shrugs. "Same way I figured out how to put a binding spell on you, it just came to me." She looks at the clock and raises an eyebrow. "Actually, I'm surprised it took you that long to get out."

"Funny." He smirks, taking a bite of the food. "Just remember, it's your turn next."

"Bet I can get out a lot faster than you."

"Oh really?" He scoffs, snapping a finger.

Belle feels her body tense up and she sighs deeply, taking her glasses off and placing them carefully on the table. "You just put the block on me didn't you?"

"There's only one way to find out."

Belle closes her eyes and makes an attempt to transport, but to no avail. "Rumple." She growls.

"How is it going with this anyways?" He moves over to sit down next to her and looks over the map. "It looks like you've made a bit of progress."

"Yeah, well I've had a few hours to look it over a bit."

"Funny."

"Anyways." She grins. "I'm afraid there's no easy way to do this. I think you're just going to have to search every apartment building for a man named Neal."

"Still doesn't appeal to me." Rumple states.

Belle sighs deeply, placing her feet on the table and pushing back her chair. "You think it appeals to me? Rumple you could be gone for months."

"I know, I know." He smiles sadly. "I'm so sorry Belle."

"It's alright Rumple, you know I'm just concerned about my Echo's warning." She remarks, kicking her feet off the table and sitting back upright.

"I'm putting a shield over the town just before I leave tomorrow, I told you that."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"It will."

Belle scoffs again and finally stands up. "Anyways-" She stretches. "Are you ready to go back upstairs?" He coughs. She gives him an innocent grin. "What?"

"You're being serious?" He gives her a look.

"Of course I'm serious." She laughs lightly. "A blockage spell isn't going to do stop me."

"I just thought you might want some rest."

"I've had a few hours." She points out again. "Should I be worried about you?"

"I'm fine." He states, finally finishing the sandwich.

"Good." She states, kissing his cheek. "Then I suppose I'll meet you upstairs."

And to his utter disbelief, Belle vanishes. "How in the hell-?" He wonders out loud, before attempting to teleport himself and finding that he couldn't. He scoffs. "That's not physically possible." He ends up laughing and running up the stairs to find his vixen of a wife.

"I didn't abandon you!" Belle states for nearly the seventh time. She's is in that room again arguing with her Echo about her apparent betrayal the other day. "I told you I didn't want you feeling the same pain as I was, so I forced myself to wake up."

"But I don't think I can die in here. "It snaps, again. "And at least that way you wouldn't have."

"I didn't die."

"Yes, you did."

Belle has to bite her tongue, she did die, but she's still alright. Gods, she was bad at this. She had died…like actually had died for a solid two minutes. She had read before that people with a strong will can, not bring themselves back to life, but force their bodies not to give up. Was that what had happened to her? No, if anything the power of the Dark One forced her to actually survive in order to continue having a vessel. Rumple's told her before that he believes the power has a mind of its own. "Okay…yes, I did die, but somehow I'm still here."

Belle can feel an aura surrounding her body. "Don't ever scare me like that again!" It snaps.

"You sound like Rumple." Belle argues, moving away slightly. It felt weird, like actually having someone in the room. She scoffs at that, as if the air talking to her wasn't weird enough. "I don't plan on ever doing something like that again, I promise."

"Good, because you're going to have other problems to worry about."

Belle groans again. "Yes, so you've told me before. Look, Rumple's promised to put a barrier over the town before he leaves in the morning."

"It's not going to be enough." It deadpans.

"What do you mean it's not going to be enough?" Belle finally snaps, imagining a couch and plopping down on it angrily, crossing her arms. Nothing's coming into this town, at least not without me or Rumple knowing about it."

"Please be careful."

"You keep telling me that, but you won't tell me what's coming."

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?!" Belle gives it an incredulous look, at least she hopes she was facing it. "You keep telling me about some huge threat that is coming to town and you don't even know what it is?"

"No I don't." It snaps. "But at least I'm trying to prepare you for something that's coming, even if you think you can handle whatever it is."

"I-" Belle bites her tongue again and bows her head in shame. "You're right, I'm sorry. If something's coming I'm glad I have the head's up."

"Thank you."

"On to another topic though, do you have an idea why you're still here?" Belle asks, concerned. "I mean, and I'm sorry if this makes you upset, but it's been what two months since you first started talking to me?" You still haven't heard anything from your parents? No new messages?"

"No, I'm still just supposed to wait in here until my parents pick me up."

"Seriously? Still no word?" Belle utters in disbelief.

"You not happy that I'm still here are you?"

"No, no-god's no." She shakes her head. "I've never been more grateful for someone in my entire life, besides Rumple, you've saved my life many times. I would've been driven insane with nightmares had you not shown up."

"Belle-"

"I'm serious, I love you." Belle states firmly. "However, I know I can't keep you, and I think it's selfish of me to keep coming back to you for help."

"I want you to come back to me for help. I enjoy the company." It assures her." Please Belle, I don't like being alone in here, but I understand that you have your own life to live and that I can't ask you to stay here forever. I don't like being alone Belle, it frightens me."

"There's no child alive who would like being alone." Belle laughs lightly and suddenly realizes something. "You are a child."

"I am?"

"I believe so, yes." Belle argues. "You have to be, parents are going to come pick you up, scared of being alone, I mean…I'm scared of being alone everyone is, but you…there's something, almost childlike about you."

"You're sure?"

"Positive." Belle insists. "Though, whether or not you're a boy or girl, I haven't quite figured that out yet."

"I didn't even know I was a child, so you're doing better than I am at figuring this out." It sounds as if it's laughing.

"Okay, I'm going to wake up now, but I promise I'll come back soon."

"I love you." Belle hears it murmur.

"I love you too." She smiles warmly and pinches her mark. "I'll see you soon."

Belle wakes up, for whatever reason in a cold sweat. The threat to the town must have scared her more than she thought. "Rum-" She turns around to find a note in the spot where her husband should be. Yawning, she lifts herself up onto an elbow and uncurls the note, recognizing Rumple's scrawl.

Belle,

As much as it pains me to do this, and the fact that you're probably going to be mad at me, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to let you come with me to the town line. I honestly don't believe I could cross the town line without dragging you with me and I know how much you don't want that-"

Belle actually laughs at that and continues reading.

"I am sorry Belle, truly I am, but thank you for trying to help me. I'll be at my shop for a few hours, trying to find something that may be useful in the outside world, but I'll be out of here by this afternoon. Please don't come see me, I promise to call you later tonight. I love you Belle.

With much love,

Rumplestiltskin

Belle finishes reading the letter and crumples it up in her hand. That dumbass. She sighs deeply and falls back onto the bed. Belle couldn't help but agree with him though, it probably would be easier for him to leave without her. She blows a bit of air on the note and it burst into flames. Her mark suddenly starts prickling, as if warning her of something. Belle throws the covers off of herself and runs over to the full figure mirror, gazing at her still naked body she traces the outline of her rose from her hand and up to her neck. It was glowing a dark red. Definitely not what she's used too and certainly worth a bit of concern. Belle is about to teleport herself into Rumple's shop, but finds that she can't. Another blockage spell. Seriously? She growls in annoyance. The prickling suddenly stops and the color returns to normal. The hell? She wonders, doing a brief spin and finding everything just as it's supposed to be. She groans again and grabs a blouse and skirt out of her drawer, before heading into the bathroom and heading downstairs.

"Belle, are you alright?" Ruby asks running over to her, as Belle walks into the diner. "I haven't seen you since the curse broke."

"Yeah." Belle rubs the back of her neck nervously and sits down at the bar. "Yeah, sorry. Rumple and I…have been at the house. You know, he just got his power back and-"

Ruby waves her hands in front of her face. "No. No, I don't want to know. I know that he has his powers back, and I don't want to know why you've had your cell off for the past day. I just want to make sure that you're alright."

"Of course I'm alright, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, let's see. You're married the Dark One, and unless you somehow married him back in our land you married him here when all of us were cursed. Though, your display yesterday was convincing, I need to know if you are okay with what's going on now."

"Ruby." Belle understands her friend's concerns and finally decides simply to tell her the truth. "Ruby, I know what I've gotten myself into. My memories came back to me while I was still under the hospital. When I got out and found that Rumple had his memories back too…we kind of just sat back and let things progress as they did, even getting married a second time. I wouldn't have chosen another path even if I was given a choice."

"You had your memories the entire time!" Ruby nearly shouts. The small amount of people actually in the diner turn to look at the two of them. This is why Belle didn't want to tell Ruby in the first place.

"Yes, but it's really not that big of a deal." Belle tries quieting her down. "Look, there was nothing either of us could do. The only way for the rest of the town to wake up was for Emma to break the curse."

"Rumplestiltskin I get, but how in the hell did you regain your memories." Ruby asks in disbelief.

"You don't want to know."

Ruby stares at her for nearly a full minute and finally opens her mouth again. "You're right, I don't want to know. If you say you love him, if you say you trust him. I believe you, but I still don't understand. So, the entire time we were all talking, hanging out, you knew, well you know that I'm…well-" She can't bring herself to say it.

"Ruby…Red, sorry. I don't care." Belle assures her, putting a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're still my friend and you're harmless except for when someone threatens one of your friends. I'm hardly the type of person who judges someone because of something they're born with."

Ruby hugs her. "Thank you Belle."

"Ruby, I love you. You're still one of the very few people who don't care that I'm married to Rumple, and you have no idea how grateful I am for that."

"I did though, back when we first got here."

"That was Regina."

Ruby gives her a look. "Aren't you the one who keeps telling us that our choices are our own, even if we were cursed?"

"I do." Belle sighs deeply. "I do keep telling people that."

"It was my choice to not trust in you and for that I'm sorry."

"It's alright Ruby, truly." Belle laughs

"No it's not, but thank you." Ruby lets go of her and jumps up. "Can I get you something to eat, or drink?"

"No thank you." Belle shakes her head. "I actually have no idea why I came in here."

"Well stay as long as you'd like." Ruby laughs. "Just let me know if you change your mind." Ruby wanders off, just as Emma walks into the diner, spots Belle, and wanders over.

"Rosie!"

"Hey Emma." Belle greets her as Emma sits down. "I'm sorry about the other night. We didn't mean to just…disappear on you like that."

"Don't worry about it. I managed to get them to calm down again."

"Dare I ask what I missed?"

"Only the usual. The two of you can't be, or shouldn't be trusted, and what we should do about the fact that people can now come into town." Emma calls Ruby over and orders a shot of whiskey even though it was 1 in the afternoon. Belle couldn't really blame her, after everything she's been through in the last few days.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Belle lies, forgetting that Emma can tell when someone is lying. Ruby walks over at the same moment and hands Emma her shot, smiling sympathetically. Emma downs the shot, apparently to distracted to have noticed Belle's little white lie. "What are we going to do about that?"

"The only thing we can do is make sure that they act like a normal town."

Belle laughs hotly. "You're kidding right? That's not possible Emma, you realize that?"

"I know. That's why I said we're screwed." Emma groans, downing yet another shot. "The problem with the town line isn't helping matters either.

"What…What do you mean the problem with the town line?" Belle asks nervously.

"Oh that's right, you two kind of disappeared yesterday didn't you?" Emma notes. "Yeah, apparently anyone who crosses the town line loses their memories and don't regain them even when coming back into town."

Belle's blood turns cold. "What?"

"Unfortunately, we have no idea how to get the memories back." Emma sighs. "If anything we won't be able to at all."

Belle didn't hear much after that except for a few words. "Tested the line-" "Came back with no memories-" All Belle could think of is-Rumplestiltskin!

Without a word Belle races out of the diner and quickly runs into an alley. She tries to teleport, but finds that her power is still being blocked. She curses loudly, not caring who hears her and runs back out and towards Rumple's shop, praying that he's still in town. No luck, both doors were locked and when she entered, using her own key she found the shop vacant. Belle nearly starts having a panic attack. She covers her mouth, nearly biting it, trying to calm down. She can't drive, still afraid of those metal vehicles, there's no way she can run all the way to the town line, and she was to stubborn to ask for a ride. Besides, it was supposed to be a secret that Rumple was leaving. She starts crying and for the first time Belle understands why Rumple feels he needs magic. She feels powerless. If Pinocchio was still around he surely would know what to-his bike! Pinocchio spent over two hours trying to teach her how to drive his bike one afternoon, she wasn't great at it, but surely she could make it to the town line safely. Belle nearly runs into several people trying to make it to Granny's inn and apologizes profusely, but finally finds the bike leaning against a tree behind the building. Remembering Pinocchio's old habit of hiding his key in one of the handles she pulls off the left handle. Success! A key falls out and lands on the grass. Taking a deep breath Belle throws on the helmet and swings herself over the bike and inserts the key. The bike starts up immediately. Thanking the gods, Belle pulls out and heads down the road. She's drawing attention to herself. She knows that. Rumplestiltskin's wife driving down Main Street on Pinocchio's bike, had Sydney still been around this would be headline material, but Belle doesn't care and continues on her way out of town.

Belle surprises herself, only falling off the bike once, before finally seeing the town line coming into view, along with Rumple's car. Panicking again she quickly pulls up near the car and jumps off throwing her helmet off and tossing it off to the side, before running up to the spray paint, she assumes someone put there to stop people from crossing, and calls out. "Rumple!"

"Belle? What are you doing here?" She hears his voice and it feels as though a heavy weight has been lifted off of her shoulder.

She turns around and sees him leaning against the hood of his car with his arms crossed and staring at her in confusion. "Thank the gods!" Belle cries out, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around him tightly, beginning to cry into his chest. "I thought I lost you."

"Belle, what on earth are you going on about? Are you alright?" He asks hurriedly, lifting her head, meeting his eyes with hers and gazing worriedly at her face. "What's wrong?"

"I thought, I thought that you were lost to me. I thought-" She cries between tears.

Rumplestiltskin holds her tightly, allowing her to cry herself out, before pushing her away slightly in order to look at her. "Belle, now tell me, what's wrong? I understand if you're mad at me for trying to leave without saying goodbye, but the last thing I expected was this reaction."

Belle wipes the last of her tears, sniffling, but finally finds her voice. "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?" He asks, the concern in his voice growing.

"Wait." Belle asks curiously. "Why haven't you left town? Or did you just get here?"

"No I've been here for a while." He tells her calmly., knowing Belle would tell him why she rushed out here eventually. "And though I know that I won't be able to use my magic outside of town, but I figured it's strange that I haven't been able to use my powers since leaving the house this morning. I wanted to wait for it to come back before I leave."

Belle stares at him in surprise. "Wait, you lost yours too?"

"You lost yours?" Rumple asks in worry.

"I just thought you blocked my powers again." Belle admits. "I'm sorry, I've been mad at you all day over nothing."

"It's only fair." He shrugs. "I thought you blocked mine because you didn't want me leaving town."

"Did you mark prickle earlier?" Belle asks suddenly, remembering this morning.

"Yeah, it did." He gazes at her in confusion. "How-?"

"So it was a warning."

He shakes his head. "Belle, are you ever going to tell me why you drove up here on Pinocchio's bike and crying as if I died?" She looks at him nervously. "Belle please." He continues. "You know I don't like it when you do this."

"No one can leave town!" Belle blurts out, knowing there was no easy way to tell him, and she sure as hell didn't want him trying to leave. "They tested the line yesterday, anyone who leaves town loses their memories and don't get them back, even when re-entering town." He stares at her for so long it starts making her uncomfortable. "Rumple, I'm sure we can find another way to cross, this isn't the first obstacle we-" She squeaks, as Rumplestiltskin waves his hand angrily and the trees on the other side of the car burst into flames. "Rumple!" Belle cries out, grabbing his arm and trying to calm him down. "Rumple, stop this!" Of course their power would return when he's angry. "Rumple you need to calm down." Belle snaps, focusing her power to block his from destroying anything else. "You of all people know that there is always a loophole in any spell. We'll come up with something to get you safely across the line Rumple."

"Twenty-eight years Belle." He drops his head on her shoulder. She could barely hear him, but can feel his body shaking. "And countless more in the Enchanted Forest. I thought-I thought I would finally be able to leave and find him."

Belle can hear him crying and the only thing she can find comforting to do is hold him like he held her a few moments ago. "Rumple, I'm so sorry, but…we do know where he is, please, just give it a little more time, please." She rubs her fingers through his hair and positions his head to look at hers. She kisses his eyes and wipes the last of his tears away. "I don't want you crossing that line without e knowing about it."

"I won't Belle." He smiles weakly and kissing her softly. His lips tasted like tears, but she didn't care. They finally let go of one another and Rumple turns around and frowns at the display with the forest. "Terrible timing to come back wasn't it?" He nearly laughs. He gives her a look and she snaps her fingers, lifting the spell off of him in order for him to wave his hands again and stop the fire.

"I'm so sorry Rumple."

"It's hardly your fault." He turns back around and tosses an arm around her shoulders. "I suppose we're just lucky that you stayed in town and found out about the problem before I crossed the line." He kisses the top of her head.

Belle says nothing and simply moves over next to him and jumping up on the car, hugging her knees and resting her head on his shoulders. They stare out to the road beyond the town line. "you'll find him Rumple, I know you will." Belle murmurs softly.

"I know.

It's not the right time for her to say it, but she does anyways. "I love you." She takes his hand and curls her fingers with his.

"I know." He kisses her head. "I love you too." Belle rests her head on his shoulder again and they stare down the dark road. Knowing that whatever else comes their way. They will face it together.

Damn, I never expected to finish this, I wanted too, obviously, but after the nearly year I was on hiatus. I was nervous about continuing. I truly think my writing improved when I came back. I'm really happy with this, I really am and I hope you all enjoyed it too. Moreover, I can't believe I finished it just before the season 4 premiere.

I have the second part 'Turning Tides' in the works and it will focus on Rumple looking for his son and the problems that happen in StoryBrooke. It's basically following season 2, but will have some obvious changes and the ending with definitely be different. The first chapter I'm hoping to have posted by the first of next year. I am sorry about that, but with the holidays coming up, my job will be keeping me ridiculously busy and with Nano coming up...well, you can imagine how that's going to go.

Anyways, to those who have stuck around since the beginning, thank you so much, truly. And to those who may have joined later, thank you all. I really hope you enjoyed it.