Hello readers! Thanks for all the kind reviews, and for following and favoriting! Over 300 reads, and all the kind comments have made me so happy!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep doing it! Wanna see so much more! What's everyone think of the rumble drama on the show? Feel bad for Belle she wants to play by the book but it never works. Let's hope in the end she'll choose Rumple in the end. Time to see all kinds of ships, the Zelena taunting Rumple. Hope you all enjoy!
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Down in the cellar the Witch continued to torture the dark one for putting a set back in her plans. Now that the hero's knew who she was, the retraction of the ingredients would become a tad more difficult. However Zelena was not one to give up. She would have her revenge and get everything she deserved. First, her prisoner needed to be punished.
"You know after spending so much time with your precious Belle, I never imagined how one person could speak so highly of you."
Rumple slowly sputtered out the words not wanting to give her anymore information of her to use as leverage, "She's a good person."
"She also seems like quite a pathetic person." This was the moment she chose to torture the man. "I mean this woman is stupid enough to go to bed with man before she was properly married. Talk about a-what do they call it in this land, a slut."
He grabbed the metal bars of the cage with all his might angrily yelling, "Don't you speak of her like that!"
"Then she finds herself pregnant, excepting everyone to accept it with open arms? Such a naïve girl; especially when they all know who sired the bastard growing inside her." Stopping before finishing her speech. "I have to agree with her father, she should've rid herself when she had the chance. Because why would she, want to have a baby, with someone who has history of abandoning his children, such dark deeds, and has broken her heart, time and time again.. Tell me Rumple; do you really believe you can do this again? That she would even let you, be a father? "
"With every bone in my body. The way I failed my first child, makes me all the more want to succeed with this one. Belle believes that, so does my son. They've always seen the good in me, and brought it out. So will this baby. And when they free me, we'll all be a family. Something you know nothing about." No matter the pain Zelena put him through, nothing was going to change way he felt, he wouldn't get her like that. Unlike he did to her just now.
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Across town at Granny's, a celebration was taking place for the near arrival of Belle's baby. After being released from the hospital, Dr. Whale said as long as Belle could return to helping the hero's, provided she not put herself in immediate danger. What better way to avoid immediate danger than by having a baby shower.
"Mary Margret, I appreciate this really, but is the party necessary?" Belle requested, she wasn't really in much of a party mood after her day yesterday.
"Of course it is. Belle I know you've been through a lot, but everyone should celebrate when they are having a baby."
David walked up next to his wife. "We're also having this party as a statement. We're not gonna stop living, and we're not gonna let Zelena take your baby."
Neal stood at the back of the diner, throwing dart after, hitting it dead smack every time. No guess to whom he was picturing.
"If you want I can paint a bull's-eye on the wicked witches back." Tinkerbell came up trying to lighten the mood.
"She'll need more than a dart when I find her." No amounts of jokes were going to help this man's emotional state.
The fairy signed, okay try taking a different route, "I know your angry Neal, but I promise we're going, to free your dad, and stop Zelena. Don't let anger get the best of you."
"Well sorry to disappoint, but until I deal with Zelena I'm going to stick with my anger. I promised Belle I'd free him and get him back before the baby gets here. I also don't want Henry to be in any more danger than he already is." Neal looked longingly back at his son, sitting in the booth talking to Robin's son. "It's the least I can do for him after all he thinks he knows."
"That isn't your fault." She rubbed his arm attempting to show comfort.
"I might have a solution." Emma walked up interrupting them. "I couldn't help but over hear. She is right Neal, this isn't your fault." If he wouldn't listen to his friend, maybe he'd listen to woman who was with Henry everyday for a year. "Why don't you take him out for a while; it'll give you guys a chance to spend some time together, and I think it'll do him some good too. Plus I know he isn't going to want to spend the whole day here, talking about baby stuff."
"True." He chuckled lightly. "Thanks."
Tinkerbell walked away as the parents went to talk to their boy. She passed a man at the bar, noticing a small tattoo on his arm. This wasn't just any tattoo. This was the tattoo she wanted her friend to follow all those years ago! Now was Regina's second chance. "It's the lion tattoo. It's what was prophesied. He's your soul mate."
"I know. I saw it yesterday."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Well, right now I have better things to do than to gossip about boys."
The man in speaking suddenly came forward up to the ladies, clearing his throat. "Care for a drink?"
The blonde took the offering; a moment of awkward silence stood as Regina realized the two had not been introduced yet. "Uh, Robin Hood, Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell Robin Hood."
The man and lady shook hands; "I've been wanting to meet you for a very long time." She smiled brightly. If only he understood how long she meant.
"Thank you, but I don't daytime drink." Regina said marking kindness but with a quip.
"Ah, well, um, perhaps some evening then." He finished nodding off to the Queen's companion.
Tinkerbell became pissed. Was she really not going to get to know this man again? "What was all that about? Didn't you learn anything from the last time you screwed this up? If you had been open to the possibility of love when you first saw him, maybe your life wouldn't have turned out so..."
Was the moth really going to go there with her? "So what? How did my life turn out? And in case you haven't noticed, I'm sort of taken." She held up her left hand to emphasize.
She didn't care what the moth had to say. She said to Pan in Neverland she held no regrets, over any of the things she had done. It got her to Henry she would never regret that. He may not remember now, but he will. Henry made her life turn out for the best. On top that there was a man out there, one that loved her and she loved back, starting something with no memories didn't seem like the best choice.
"Why am I even bothering? Whose also to say it isn't him?" Tinkerbell remarked and walked away. She was done. She lost everything from helping her once; she wasn't going to screw things up again either.
Regina looked back at her supposed soulmate then back down to her ring, could it really be him?
After sending Henry back to his room to gather his things, he couldn't help but notice the mother-to-be, and her gloomy face at her own party. Trying to cheer her up wasn't going to work it didn't work on him. Now it was his turn to take a different approach.
"How you holding up?" Asking how she feels, he thinks pregnant women like to talk about their feelings, right?
She gave him a demeanor look. "How do you think?" Well, he did ask.
Sighing, he felt only one thing could help in this scenario. "Come here." Neal brought her in, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
Out of nowhere, the diner door blasted open, the newly found wicked witch walking in, high and mighty, the dark one's dagger firmly grasped in her hand. "So sorry I'm late. Hope I didn't miss the cake. Oh did miss the speeches? Shall I make one? Perhaps on behalf of the father?"
Pissed at this horrid witch reminding her Rumple was not with her she wanted to give her the piece of her mind she couldn't do yesterday. The witch was fully prepared to give but was stopped by her child's brother. "Belle no. You're gonna hurt get yourself, as well as others." This witch was still not backing away. "Don't come any closer."
"Don't worry. I'm not here for the baby. Not right now, anyway. He is right though. Anyone who tires to interfere with my plan is going to have to deal with the dark one."
"Why are you here?" Regina demand. With her here perhaps they could finally get a few more doors open.
"Now that my cover's blown, I can finally pay a visit to my little sister."
Someone in here was related to the Wicked Witch. If they knew, someone would pay for holding out on them. "Who the hell are you talking about?"
"Why, you, of course, Regina." She relished as those small five words left her lips, sending the former Evil Queen into a rocker.
She was related to the witch? Not a chance in hell. "I'm an only child."
"Cora lied to you, Regina. I'm your sister. Half, if you want to get technical."
"Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Oh, well, you shouldn't. It's a lot to swallow, which is why I've brought a gift to help."
"I don't want a gift from you."
"Oh, but you shall have it. You see, my gift to you is this bitter, sweet day. Use it to dig into our past, Regina. You need to learn the truth, and you must believe it. And then meet me on Main Street tonight. Say... sundown."
"And then what?"
"Then I'll destroy you."
"This isn't the wild est."
"No, dear. It's the wicked west." She finished her banter with her sister and turned to everyone else in the diner. "And I want everyone to be there to see the Evil Queen lose."
She smirked, she thinks she can beat her, how cute, "I don't loose."
The witched chuckled back. "Neither do I." It was cute on her end to her little sister thought she could beat her also. "One of us is about to make history. See you tonight sis." Zelena walked out of the diner, ready to collect her next prize.
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While the others went to do research, and prepare for the battle, Neal went on to enjoy whatever time he could have with his son. He brought him to park like he did when he first met him. While it made them bond to a degree, it was not the same anymore. His new memories with the year in New York combined really changed him.
"Okay, I think we've spent enough time talking about me. Why don't you talk more now?"
He was quiet for a second, trying to come up with something that wouldn't confuse him. "Uh sure, yeah okay. What do you want talk about?"
"Why don't you tell me more about my grandfather?" Oh why that? His dad thought. "What's he like?"
Balefire didn't believe he could go into this without letting anything of magic slip. He remembered something. "I almost forgot actually." He pulled out an art kit from his bag, giving to Henry. "I wanted to give this to you."
Henry still looked a little baffled. "Not that I don't like the gift but why specifically a drawing kit?"
"Well drawing was something I use to do when I was your age, I thought it was something I could teach you." It may have been an excuse to avoid talking about his papa, but it wasn't a lie. He would love to teach Henry to draw.
"Look I appreciate this, but I don't just want to bond by doing things with you. I want to learn more about you, and your life. My mom wouldn't tell me anything about you."
"She isn't keeping things from you because she doesn't want you to know the truth."
I know. She's doing it to protect me, but how am I suppose to feel anything about new family, if I don't know anything about them?"
Neal smiled; he almost forgot how wise Henry was. "Fair enough. There's more of a reason of teaching you to draw than because I did when I was your age. Drawing helped ease my pain, after my dad left me."
"Wait, your dad left you too?" After it came out of his mouth it sounded harsh. "Sorry."
"It's okay; and sort of. My father got so caught up in all in his dark deeds, I just couldn't take it, and so I ran away. My mother had left when I was really young, so I was on my own. When I was only your age."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's why I'm so grateful Henry. That no matter how much in common we have, I'm glad you grew up with such a loving mother." Both what was real, and what he thought was real. "Because I didn't want you to grow up, like the way I did."
The boy gave a small smile. It meant a lot knowing his father thought highly of him, and his mom. Even if he let her go to jail for his crime, he wasn't the man he thought he be. He changed.
"Hey, how about I show you this really sneaky trick my dad taught me. Called "Follow the Lady"."
"Yeah."
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Across town in the woods, Regina sat on a broken tree stump, her eyes not gazing up from the piece of paper for a moment. Until she heard something behind her, thinking it could her so-called "sister" or one of her flying henchmen. Turns out it was only arrow man. "We have to stop meeting like this."
For once, she agreed with him. "Did the Charming's send you to give me a pep talk? Cause I don't do well with pep talks."
"No, nothing of the sort. After Zelena's threat, I decided to patrol the woods in case she decided to build the ranks of her simian army." He didn't want to upset her but between her look now, and after the incident at the diner, he had to ask, "How are you holding up?"
"I'm not a flying monkey if that's what you mean."
"So are you gonna tell me what's in that letter you've been staring at?"
"What letter?"
"This one." He pulled out the piece the paper, the queen sore she put in her pocket. How did he- "I'm a pickpocket by trade. I spent many years learning how to rob from magicians." He explained his talent.
"Your lucky I'm saving my strength for that witch."
"I think, deep down, you actually want to talk about what's in here. " He tried to sound sincere.
"And what makes you think you know me so well?"
"Well, for one thing, I'd be charred to a crisp by now if you didn't."
He got her there. "True."
"So can I read it?"
"I'm not stopping you."
Robin Hood unfolded the letter reading out loud, "Cora, dear, I finally got my hands on your first born. Never thought I'd find. Did you? Now I know why. She's the most powerful sorceress I've ever encountered, even more powerful than you. Stunning in every way." Finished, he could tell this woman didn't like having it repeated. The gentleman seemed to me missing what she found obvious. "Rather complimentary I'd say. Why is this troubling you?"
Regina hated admitting this to anyone, especially herself. . "I've seen that letter a hundred times before. In my darkest moments, I'd... go to it for comfort, for solace, for... a boost when I needed it, because I..." she couldn't believe she didn't see it before. "...Because I always thought it was about me."
Now he understood. "It's about Zelena."
"Rumplestiltskin thinks she's more powerful than I am."
"Why care what that imp thinks?"
"Because if the man who taught me everything I know about magic thinks she is stronger than I am... then there is no way I can win this fight." For the first time, the Evil Queen sounded truly, and utterly petrified.
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The others wanted to help, but they didn't know how without running inference, Emma thought the best thing would be to get Gold's dagger away from the witch. Belle believed she and Neal could get through him without the dagger. No one liked the idea Belle going but she refused to let Neal go alone after what he had been through, and believed to through to Rumplestiltskin, he would need them both. It was their best chance, and as long as they had someone there on watch, it was worth a try. A quick phone call to Neal dropping off Henry with Killian, the rescue mission was in place.
"We're clear!" Emma shouted running back from the farm with Tink, and her father. Belle and Neal stood waiting for their cue. "There's no sign of Zelena! It looks she's still keeping Gold in the Cellar!"
Go time! The two ran into the basement, descending the stairs to find the man they hoped for sitting in his cage. "Rumple?"
"Papa?"
The prisoned man turned seeing his son, and pregnant lover. How could they have come here? "Belle?! Bae?!"
Neal could see the fear in his father's face. He had explicitly told him to stay away and keep Belle safe. "We're here to free you."
"No, leave! Both you leave!" If he was able to drag them out he would. "You have no idea what that witch will make me do to you if she catches us."
While Neal knew this, but didn't care, Belle just thought it was silly. "I'm not afraid. You could never hurt me; us." She opened the door showing him freedom.
"No, it's futile. As long as she holds the dagger, I cannot leave." How many times did he need to say that?
"We're not leaving without you!" Neal may have had to leave him in the forest before, but they had protection, she wasn't anywhere to be found, and him, Belle, and the baby were there, it was safe to take him this time.
"It's not worth the risk."
Belle always believed love was worth the risk. She held out her hand for him as a sign of trust. "Just try." Neal came next her holding out his hand for him too. "You just have to believe in us. Your family." Belle finished emphasizing her last words.
It seemed to work, as it got him to stand up. This was the first time he had seen Belle with her new pregnant belly. He was smiling. There was small part, the part that Zelena couldn't get to that was happy about becoming a father again. He put his hand above her, slowly touching it, and he felt his child kicking, forming a sly smile on his face. Belle grew a small smile with her family being reunited again. Neal was happy for the expecting parents.
Rumple leaned closer to them, whispering, "Run."
Belle didn't understand. "What?"
"Run! Balefire take care!" A sudden laughter from the corner made Belle and Neal finally notice, they had an audience. All of this was a setup. "Don't mind me. Carry on. I was just enjoying the show."
He had to think quick on his feet, pushing Belle towards the stairs, she ran up first, him behind to the witch wouldn't get to her.
"Belle, Neal!" Emma shouted, why wasn't Gold with them?
"Over here!" David shouted to them.
"It was a trick she was toying with us."
Gold did then come staggering up the stairs, no one liked the look he possessed. The witch sent him up this time. "Zelena sends a message. She will face Regina without inference! The next time you try and stop her, I will kill you." They all knew he meant it.
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The fight took place that night. It killed him Belle to keep seeing Rumplestiltskin being controlled for evil. He had come so far being good. Regina had won... sort of. Zelena was after her heart, but Regina knew better than to bring it with her. After taking David's courage, wanting her heart, and Belle's baby, it sounded like ingredients. For what though? That was something to figure out another day. First, Regina needed to check on something.
"Did the plan work?" Robin hoped when she got to the meeting placed they agreed upon.
"That depends. Is still here?" She prayed to would hear what she wanted.
"Right where you left it." He crouched down to the hiding spot. He hadn't taken his eyes off it all night.
Regina sighed in such relief. "Well, then, it worked. I just needed to find the one thing I had that Zelena didn't.
"And what exactly was that?" He wondered since he didn't attend the showdown.
She still couldn't stop staring at the tattoo on his wrist whenever it reached her eyes. "My heartless mother." She paused thinking about something Zelena said. "My sister was right about something. She said I don't always realize what I have right in front of me."
Thinking back she did have better than she thought. Her life was not grand, but she had loving father, her mother cared about her in someway, she learned magic from the greatest wizard of all time, and in the end, she got her beautiful prince. She still stood by her thoughts from when she spoke to Tinkerbell, she had no regrets of her life.
"What's that?" Robin wondered taking her out of her mind back to the woods.
"Just that I didn't always appreciate things." She gave the sack that held her hear back into his hands, asking, "Would you mind holding on to this for a bit longer?"
Did he really just ask her that? "You're really going to entrust something so valuable to a common thief like me?"
"You can't steal something that's been giving to you." Regina didn't give the man time to think about, she turned around, leaving him with her heart.
"You still owe me that drink." The man reminded her making her stop in her steps for moment.
"Yes, I suppose I do." She shamelessly flirted back. Then looked back down at her ring again. Almost a painful reminder.
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"Thanks, Killian. Maybe we can go out on your boat again sometime." Henry said coming back to his mom.
"Anytime, lad." Footsteps then came up the staircase and turned out to be the boy's father.
"Hey Henry." Neal glared back at Hook; he had no right being with Emma, and Henry. This was his family. "I walked Belle home, but I wanted to come say goodnight." He told looking up at Emma telling he wanted to see her too. This didn't go unnoticed by Killian either.
"Good night Neal. I-I enjoyed spending time with you today." He looked back to the pirate. "Goodnight Killian."
"How did the Queen fare against the witch? Killian asked now that the grownups were alone.
"She survived, but the rest is definitely more than a doorway conversation. Thank you both for taking him." Her closing statement meant for both men.
"I'm glad I got spend time with him again." Neal replied.
"So am I. He's a special boy." Killian added
Emma could read the reason the two weren't leaving had nothing to do with Henry, or the witch. It was the triangle they shared before they all were separated. "Guys, if you're looking to get answer out of me-"
"Emma, we're all together again. Now that were back in Storybrooke, no one is going anywhere this time."
"Baelfire is right. When this mess is over love. You will have to choose."
"And like I told you guys before. I choose Henry. Goodnight."
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Zelena retreated back to her home, locking her newest "pet" away again, angry she couldn't get what she wanted tonight, but it was only battle, not the war.
"She's clever, Rumple, but so am I. Regina's heart is somewhere in this town, and it's only a matter of time before I find it."
"Whatever twisted curse you have planned, it won't change anything. If I had to do it all again, I'd still choose Regina." He meant every word of it.
"Would you, now? Well I suppose we'll just have to wait and see."
Now what could she possibly mean by that did she mean by that? He wondered in his brain "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"We are doing it all over again. What I'm casting isn't a curse. It's a second chance."
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Hope everyone liked it! got a bit almost every ship, Love outlaw queen, and who doesn't the captain swan swanfire triangle! Thought the bonding scene for Neal and Henry was good What did everyone think of Zelena's taunting, anyone feel bad for him? Espically since now he finally seeing Belle pregnant for the first time. Sorry I skipped the fight a little but not good at wiriting that stuff. Next we'll see some more Neal and Henry bonding, plus captianswanfire triangle again, swanqueen training, and more! I'll be updating in May once school is out for me. Take care all!