Disclaimer Time: I do not own Once Upon A Time or any of the characters from that show. I am merely borrowing them for a time. I also do not make any money off of this story. It is done merely for entertainment purposes.
-Michelle

There was only one road that led out of Storybrooke. One road amidst the thick woods that surrounded a third of the town, the trees bearing silent witness to the all too few comings and goings of the townspeople. Not many tried to leave Storybrooke, even before the curse had twisted into something far more sinister. Even less tried to visit the town, the curse having worked to defend it's captives from outsiders for roughly twenty eight years.

It was fact that only one person had successfully left the town. Just as it was fact, that only one-well two, had defied the curse long enough to be admitted into it's lands. The curse, no longer as strong as it once was, still retained the power to affect those caught within its grasp. Ultimately changing those who attempted to leave, stripping them of their memories, of their true selves.

Faced with an unappealing choice, the townsfolk of Storybrooke, had erected a marker, a line signifying the point of no return. So far all had agreed, to lose oneself was worse than remaining trapped inside the town.

All but one, Gold mused. The car moved under the control of his hands, it's high beams cutting a path through the otherwise darkness of the night. Besides him, lost in her own thoughts, sat his beloved Belle. But he could all but taste her nervousness, and Gold knew it wasn't all to do with what he was about to attempt.

They had been through a lot this day. An old nemesis had appeared, one Gold thought he had left behind in the other world. Because of this man, this wretched, mangy pirate, Belle had learned things Gold had hoped to hide from her forever. Of runway wives, of an abandoned coward, and what that man had done once driven to an insane rage.

Gold was still unsure if he entirely regretted killing Mila. But often he regretted acting so impulsively in the instant. Some days he imagined he should have just enslaved Mila, instead of crushing her heart the way she had his. Certainly the pirate might not have been driven by such a rage fueled vendetta, not to the point his need for revenge would motivate him to cross time and space to follow after Gold.

He still wasn't entirely sure how Hook had managed that. How a magically powerless pirate had manage to defy all circumstances, to land himself in Storybrooke. Gold had guesses of course, assuming it was the evil sorceress Cora who had lent the pirate a hand. He almost snorted then, managing to keep the smirk off his face at the unintended joke.

Belle stirred besides him, a questioning glance his way. Gold pretended not to notice, eyes on the road, even as he continued to ponder the situation facing Storybrooke. If Cora was involved, if she had somehow had enough power to defy the curse Gold himself had made, then Storybrooke was facing an unparamount of danger. Now was definitely not the time to be attempting to leave. Gold cared little about the many people of Storybrooke, but the one person he didn't want in danger sat beside him. And he knew she couldn't come with him, Gold having only enough potion left to enchant ONE item.

That precious item sat resting on his lap, the scarf looking old and worn, despite all the care it had been shown over the years. It was his son's scarf, the one thing he had left of Bae. It was thanks to Belle's efforts he still had hold of this, his beautiful beloved as brave as she was smart. Though Gold should be angry at her for defying his orders, and risking herself in the process, he was also grateful to her for her efforts. Gold just wished those same efforts hadn't put her in prime position to learn from Hook the extent of Gold's misdeeds towards the pirate and Mila.

Belle insisted that was in Gold-Rumplestiltskin's past. She forgave him for the things he had done as the Dark One, insisted that she saw the good that still remained inside Gold. She didn't understand that he hadn't really changed, that the Dark One's curse hadn't been broken. She was lured too easily by the fact that Gold no longer looked like a beast, practically turning a blind eye to how quickly he could act like one too.

It was for Belle he had spared the pirate. Only for her, for the chance to keep her believing in him. To keep her in love with him. Really, Gold still felt the anger boiling inside him, come alive whenever he so much as looked at Hook. Never mind how insane with anger he had felt when the pirate had dared talk about Mila!

Gold knew Hook deserved to die. But for Belle, because she was so merciful and kind, that wretched pirate still lived. Broken worse than the day Gold had killed Mila, and probably nowhere smarter. Gold didn't think Hook would actually do as he had been advised. The ship would most likely never leave Storybrooke's harbor. Gold himself would eventually track down Hook, and end him in a manner befitting scum like him.

As pressing as the need to kill Hook was, there was another just as powerful need. The need to find his son. The need to safeguard Belle. Those two were almost in conflict, at least so long as dangers unexpected lurked in Storybrooke.

Gold didn't know how close the dangers truly were, wrongfully assuming the pirate was out of commission for the moment. He didn't know that Hook was waiting, hidden by the many trees clustered together on either side of Storybrooke's exit road.

Captain Killian Hook Jones, leaned against a tree. He needed the support, his whole body aching, his ribs seeming to protest with nearly every breath he took. He didn't think they were broken, a fact he had thanks only to the monster's woman. Belle for all Hook had attempted to do, all the threats he had made, had proven far more merciful than Rumplestiltskin could ever be.

Her kind nature was more than Hook or Rumplestiltskin deserved. Certainly a monster like Rumplestiltskin didn't deserve a woman like Belle, nor should that demon be allowed a chance at attaining his happily ever after. Hook knew now that he didn't stand a chance of killing Rumplestiltskin without possession of the Dark One's dagger. But maybe, just maybe, there was a chance he could destroy the happily ever after Rumplestiltskin was so close to attaining.

It didn't matter what happened to Hook after. He had NOTHING to live for, hadn't had anything since Mila had been taken away from him. The only thing that had kept Hook going for all these years, the sole motivating force had been revenge. He could die a happy man, once he shattered Rumplestiltskin's life, took from him something as precious as Mila had been to Hook.

It didn't matter that Belle was an innocent caught in the crossfire of a blood vendetta. Rumplestiltskin HAD to pay, had to know grief and suffering of the magnitude Hook had been through. His only good hand patted the pocket of his leather trench coat, feeling for the gun he had taken from Belle herself. A cold smile twisted his lips, his eyes empty of feeling, as he watched the approaching car slow to a halt mere inches from the cursed boundary of Storybrooke.

They didn't immediately get out of the car. Rumplestiltskin actually paused to hold up Bae's scarf. staring at it, then at Belle with a gentle wonder in his eyes.

"This would have been lost..." Gold said to Belle, and just thinking about it, made his stomach knot in anxiety. "If it wasn't for you, Belle."

She actually smiled at him then, her whole face warming with the expression. She warmed even further at Rumplestiltskin's next words, knowing just what exactly he referred to when he said he would have been lost. It still gave her shivers, Belle remembering the savagery displayed as Rumple had attempted to beat Hook to death with his fancy walking stick. The whole experience with the pirate, had been frightening, but nothing so much as the moment when Hook and Rumplestiltskin had confronted each other.

Belle didn't think it was just because of her that Rumple had spared the pirate. She felt it had to do with that glimmer of goodness that still sparked inside him. A glimmer she was positive could become more, Rumple learning to be something other than the Beast.

"After everything you learned about me..." Rumple was saying. "After everything I've done..." He wasn't quite looking at her now, though his expression was almost amazed, as though Rumple found it hard to believe she could forgive him for all he had done, all he had once been.

"Why haven't you given up on me?" Now their eyes met, Belle smiling more. She didn't even try to hide the love in her eyes, remembering the vow she had made moments before the Evil Queen Regina had taken her prisoner in the other world. A vow to find and fight for Rumple, and save him from himself, from the curse, from everything.

"I learned a long time ago..." She said out loud. Her voice was thick with emotion. "That when you find something...It's worth fighting for."

Rumple's lips trembled, the man looking almost near to tears. That he could have such emotions, proved to Belle there was more to him than just the Dark One. That he could become better, that he could learn to be something other than the beast.

"Come..." With a push of a button, the doors to the car unlocked. Together Gold and Belle would walk to the red tape that marked the point where crossing over would strip oneself of their true persona. Belle was now holding Bae's scarf, Gold reaching into his pocket to pull out a tiny potion bottle.

This was going to be a test, a mere confirming that the enchantment would work for him. He wouldn't, couldn't leave just yet, no matter how much one part of him wanted to. The other part had to make arrangements, had to make sure Belle would be safe even if Storybrooke would not be.

Holding up the scarf, Belle watched as Rumple poured out the contents of the potion onto the buttery yellow fabric. Within seconds, the scarf would glow with enchantment, the light alternating from a pale blue to white.

She barely heard the sound of the empty bottle hitting the ground, Belle's hands shaking. She was tearing up, knowing what this meant. A parting would happen. Either Rumple would leave to search for his son, or the enchantment would fail, and he would no longer remember her. She almost wanted to beg him not to do it, but couldn't allow herself to be that selfish.

And so, hands shaking, body trembling, eyes holding on to her tears, Belle wrapped the scarf around Rumple. "Okay..." She could only manage to whisper the word, too choked up with emotions to speak properly. But she forced a smile on her face, Rumple touching her arm in a show of support before they pulled apart.

"Here we go..." Rumple sounded a mix of excitement and nerves, slowly moving to cross the red border line. He didn't let go of her arm immediately, allowing the connection between them to linger until the last possible second. And then he was over, his while body glowing with the same blue and white lights that had passed over the scarf's fabric.

A wind seemed to surround him, his hair moving from it. Rumple stood with his back to Belle, the woman actually holding her breath, praying the enchantment had worked.
Rumple didn't immediately turn, just standing there as though stunned. It made Belle think he really had lost his memories, his sense of self. And then he turned, his expression almost dazed. Scared for him, Belle stared, then nearly crumpled with relief when a genuine smile was given her.

"Belle." Rumple said, all but grinning at her.

"Yes!" She cried out, stepping closer to the line. They reached for each other at the same time, Belle half laughing, half crying. "It worked!"

"It did." Rumple said, hands caught and held by Belle's.

"Now you can find your son." Belle said, managing to calm herself somewhat. Rumple was nodding, happy one instant, then regretful in the next.

"Belle, I so wish you could come with me."

"As do I." Belle told him. "It doesn't matter."

She could see that confused him, Rumple looking almost panicked as though he feared she HAD changed her mind about him after all.

"Why not?" He worridedly asked out loud.

"Because you'll find him. And when you do, I'll be here waiting for you when you get back." She squeezed his hands, trying to make him understand how sincere she was.

Sadly smiling, overcome with emotions, together they leaned towards each other. Moving to do more than just touch, to seal Belle's promise with a kiss, when a loud sound rang out, Belle's body jerking violently in reaction.

Gold didn't realize immediately what had happened. Didn't react in time to prevent Belle from toppling forward over the boundary line. She actually fell into his arms, Gold stumbling back with her, seeing the glow of the curse magic course over her, stripping her of her true self.

His mouth was open, a slack jawed expression of pure disbelief on his face as he fell to the ground with Belle. He barely registered the words, barely made out the form of the pirate standing just a few short feet away, a vindictive expression on his face, a gun smoking in his hand.

"I wouldn't count on it." Hook said, all but sneering at Rumplestiltskin. He was waiting for something more to happen, waiting for something beyond the initial thrill of excitement, to fill him. He had after all finally exacted revenge on the monster. Rumplestiltskin's happily ever was destroyed, Belle lying crumpled on the ground. And yet all Hook felt was a hollow emptiness inside him, a realization he had always known whispering in his mind. Mila wasn't coming back, no matter what Hook did to Rumplestiltskin.

"Belle? BELLE!" Rumplestiltskin was shouting, all but ignoring Hook. It would have been so easy for Hook to shoot the monster as well, but that would have defeated the purpose of his attack on Belle. Rumplestiltskin needed to suffer, needed to know what it felt like to lose the woman one loved.

"Belle?!"

The woman was making pained noises, and then she grimaced, practically shouting. "Belle?! Whose Belle?!" As confused as she was, it couldn't hide the pain in her voice, the woman looking as though she was confused about why Rumplestiltskin was not doing more to help her.

That was when Rumplestiltskin let go of her, looking down at his bloody hands. He cast about in disbelief, his shock, his grief becoming all the more pronounced when he saw that they were both over the boundary's line.

"No no no..." Gold was saying, and he turned back to Belle, trying to find the source of her wound. But even if he stanched the blood, nothing would work to save her from the curse. "Belle..."

"Oh fear not..." The voice made things go calm in Gold's head, the frantic, panicked man almost swallowed up by the cold, rational Dark One. "She'll live."

Gold lifted his angry gaze to Hook's, feeling the magic gather within him, the Dark one aching for it's release. He barely registered that Hook didn't look as happy as one would expect a man to have been after accomplishing his long sought after revenge.

"She'll just have no idea who you are." continued Hook, still keeping the gun trained on Gold.

"What you've done cannot be undone!" Gold cried out.

"Now you're finding out how it feels!" Hook screamed back. He met Gold's gaze, sneering as he spread his arms wide, openly welcoming the death promised in Rumplestiltskin's eyes. "Go ahead Crocodile, do your worst!"

Cradling Belle, Rumplestiltskin lay her down on the opposite side of the boundary line. And then, with his hands lifted, flaming balls of magical fire hovering over both palms, Rumplestiltskin hissed, murder and malice in his eyes.

"Oh I intend to."

Hook all but laughed, a wide grin on his face now. He still posed with his arms spread, ready for death, readying for the chance to be reunited with Mila. There was nothing left for him now, in this world or the other. Cora was on her own, Hook had done what he had craved to do for so many years.

Gold tensed his arms, preparing to throw both fireballs at Hook. The lights that came from behind him surprised him, as did the sudden sound of a car horn beeping. Even Hook looked startled, Gold throwing himself on top of Belle, barely rolling them both out of the way in time.

Hook wasn't so lucky, the swerving car careening straight into him. Gold could only watch in amazement as Hook took the air, then landed heavily on top of the car. The car continued forward, starting to twist out of control. Hook fell on the ground, and lay there unmoving.

The car came to stop right next to the sign that welcome people to Storybrooke. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed ominously, as though a new facet of the curse was taking effect. Gold had no idea what this meant, or who that could be, spying the car's license plate. It was not one he recognized, and the fact that this HAD to be a stranger almost distracted him from Belle and Hook.

Almost.

As bloody and bruised as Hook had already been, there was always a chance the pirate had survived the car crashing into him. Gold had to finish the job, had to do what Belle had begged him not to. This time there would be no mercy, this time he would make sure Hook was dead.

To Be Continued...

So...first time attempting to write for this universe. Kinda nervous about it, feel like I won't do a good job, or will mess up. But been resisting this particular idea since the ending of last Sunday's episode. (Which I believe is episode eleven of season two.) I've had a few Once plot bunnies, all Hook centric, but this is the one that really grabbed me.

I don't remember if they ever said what Belle's Storybrooke name could be. Right now I'll make one up, but change it if this coming Sunday's episode gives us a new name. I'm also unsure if they ever named the hospital. Anyone know? I'm being lazy about pulling out my season one DVDs to search for a hospital name.

Also...was hesitant to try, cause I worry I won't do the characters justice...and that I suck at banter. :P And feel like I should have waited until season two DVD comes out. But wanted to start the idea NOW. Oh dearie me...

This fic is Hook, Belle, and Rumplestiltskin centric. All three had a voice in this chapter. Other characters will appear, but hopefully not have too big a role, as I'm trying to concentrate on my three fave characters. XD

I worry that this chapter was kinda confusing with the name changes. See Hook's POVs had him referring to Rumplestiltskin as that, while Belle's POV has him named as Rumple, and Golds as Golds. I'm not sure why I thought that was a good idea to do...:O

Would welcome title suggestions. :)

Anyway, writer's note/ranting over with.

-Michelle