Chapter Twenty-one.

Her phone was buzzing. That was the first thing that Belle realized. Her sleepy mind tried to process who would be calling at an hour that it would wake her up, but the numbers that were scrawled across the caller ID did nothing to solve the mystery. With a yawn she connected to the call. "Hello?"

"Where are you?"

The fog cleared with Baelfire's voice in her ear and she looked around. Everything was neat and tidy, books stacked together where they'd overflowed the shelves, a small mirror on the dresser - a gift, she vaguely remembered - and she was lying on a familiar bed. "I'm in my apartment, above the library."

"Get down here. Where were you all transported the first time? Did you just wake up? How does this work?"

Bae sounded panicked, and as Belle's mind cleared a little more she remembered why. Rumple. Rumple was hurt. She was scurrying towards the door in an instant, hopping as she pulled one shoe on and balanced the phone to her ear in the other hand. "I don't remember. It was all such a blur."

"I'll check his shop, you check his house."

"Right." She took the steps two at a time, landing hard at the bottom and bursting through the door. The sun was bright overhead and they were very much in Storybrooke again. People wandered around, dazed by the sudden drop off back in Maine, but she pushed right past them, mumbling apologies and excuses.

"Belle!"

"Not now, Archie!" she called back as she sprinted past the man-turned-cricket-turned man. All she could think of was how pale he'd gone, his eyes so human and so full of pain as the curse left him, beginning to fade away with his life. She'd taken the knife with her, that terrible woman, but she'd be damned if she'd taken Rumple with her. Belle had made a promise: Rumplestiltskin would live. She didn't count herself a liar just yet.

She shouted an apology back to a startled Ruby and Granny as she nearly took them off their feet, aiming for the three story pink house. She hit the door, expecting it to open and nearly fell back when it didn't. It was locked up tight, as if no one had been in it in some time, and she started screaming his name, pounding her fist against the door. She didn't have her key. He'd given her one, she remembered, but there was no telling where it was now. Everything had been destroyed and put back in place again.

"Belle!"

She whirled around at her name, watching Henry pile off his bike, letting it fall to the ground in his haste. He held out a set of oddly shaped keys. "Mom says one of these will work!"

It took Belle a moment that by mom he meant Regina and the smallest of smiles couldn't be kept when she thought of how angry Rumple would be after all this. He'd be sitting at his desk or poking around in the basement as if nothing had happened. It would be just like him to pick up wherever he'd left off. Certainly something was left undone around here and that's why he hadn't answered her frantic calls yet. Of course.

"Mom and Dad went to the shop. They're going to call if they find him, but come on!" Henry pushed, shoving the clanking keys into her hands.

"Right, of course." She fumbled with them, trying one and then the other. "They're not working, Henry."

"Let me see." He took them back and let them all drop back down so that they couldn't tell one from the other. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and she almost thought he knew what he was doing when he picked on and shoved it into the lock. It clicked open and he and Belle were through the door in an instant.

"Rumple?" she called into the dark home. Things were in perfect order - or disorder, but that wasn't abnormal - and she felt her breath catching with every step towards his bedroom.

"Should I check upstairs?"

"No, he doesn't… He only goes up there if I'm here," she managed. For such a large house he'd really spent very little time in it until she'd come along.

Belle ducked back into the room he'd be in if he were there. The door was closed, but opened easily enough, and she felt her heart stop.

"Is he there?" Henry called, busting in behind her and she told herself that she needed to keep him out, needed to keep him from seeing, but she didn't have time. Instead she was crossing the space, hands going to his too-pale face and checking for a pulse.

His grandson stood at the opening, dark eyes wide."Belle, is he…?" The boy's voice shook as he tried to ask the question and he didn't dare walk in any further.

"Call your dad," she managed, stroking back grey-streaked hair. "He's breathing, but just barely. We need to get him to the hospital."

She tossed him her phone and she heard him step out of the room, speaking lowly that they needed to hurry. He didn't know, he said, but they needed to hurry.

"Rumple," Belle cried softly. He was so still, so silent in the bed. If she hadn't seen him just before they'd been pulled from their home she might have thought he was simply ill, sleeping it off late into the morning and ignoring the world. "You can't leave me, Rumple," she murmured softly. "Please… This can't be the end of it. You have to fight. Please, Rumple, for me. Fight for me."

If he heard her, he couldn't respond. She would have taken anything, really, but he had nothing to give.

"Did someone hurt him?"

Belle looked over to Henry who was hovering close to the door, his eyes fixed on his grandpa. "Yes."

"When Mom first brought everyone over - Regina, I mean - Gramps was hurt. He was stabbed trying to save my mom - Emma- from my… Well, my other mom's knights." The young teen gave a humourless laugh at the convoluted story. "Anyway, when he was brought over, he was like that… Wouldn't move and wouldn't wake up. He was in the hospital as a coma patient."

"How did they wake him up?"

"Grandma Snow kissed him. She didn't know who she was or who he was then, but deep down she knew and she kissed him. He woke up."

"True Love's kiss," Belle murmured.

"It's worth a shot."

She nodded. "Yes it is," she whispered and leaned over him. She could feel Henry's eyes on her, waiting to see if it would work. Belle had never been so afraid in her life. If it didn't work, would he simply slip away? Was this just his body following his soul that had already let go of the curse and washed away with it? Pushing past it, she leaned over and pressed her lips against his.

Seconds, minutes, or hours wouldn't have mattered as her kiss became more desperate, tears streaming down her face and falling onto his. He lay completely still and she felt a sob shake her as she broke. "Please don't go, Rumple. I love you so much." Once more she kissed him, but this time there was a change, an outward push of power that started with them and reached out to all parts of the town. He sucked in a sharp breath and dark eyes opened, blinking and focusing on her and another sob escaped her. "Hi."

"Hey," he rasped.

"You're alive."

"So it would seem." He started to push himself up to sit but she was kissing him again, leaned over him and hair falling into his face. He relaxed into it, feeling a smile pull his lips and he reached a hand up to cup her face.

"You okay?" Henry asked after a moment, gaining both adults' attention. Belle, to her credit, grew a bit red in the face at forgetting he was standing there and waiting.

"Henry," Rumple breathed out, pulling himself up and Belle helped him. "I was right then. You brought us back."

The boy gave an awkward shrug. "Sorry."

"No, lad. You saved my life."

"Really?"

"Really."

A grin broke out across his grandson's face and without warning he piled onto the bed, wrapping his arms around Rumple's neck. Belle was the only reason he didn't fall back again and he froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. When the boy didn't let go he sighed, wrapping an arm carefully around him. "I'm okay," he promised. "Thanks to you and Belle."

The bedroom door nearly came off its hinges and Bae looked to have been running. "Pop?"

His father flashed him a wide, mischievous grin. "Bit late to the party, Bae."

"You're not funny," his son managed through a relieved sound that might have been a laugh.

The grin only broadened. "Yeah I am."

"Is he okay?" a voice sounded from the hall.

"Yeah. Cheeky as always," Bae called back to Snow, but a smile had taken over and he perched on the edge of the bed with his son and father. He ruffled Henry's hair. "You scared me with that call, kid."

"He was unconscious," Henry said in his own defense. "Belle kissed him and woke him up."

Belle beamed at the statement and nudged Rumplestiltskin. "You know what that means?"

"Hmm?" he asked, leaned against the headboard and looking ready to fall back asleep. It would seem that near-death experiences took a lot out of him these days.

"It means it's True Love."

His lips tilted upward in a smile.

Baelfire looked a bit awkward as he tugged Henry off the bed. "Well, Pop, you okay? Do we need to take you by the hospital and have… whoever take a look at you?"

"No, I'm just tired."

His son glanced over to Belle, a silent conversation letting him know that she'd stay with him. "Then we'll let you sleep."

"Can't we stay, Dad?" Henry asked, looking up at his father and the expression he gave reminded Rumplestiltskin of ones that Bae had given him many years before, when he was about that age and wanted something that he didn't think his father would give.

"He needs rest, Henry. C'mon, let's let him get some, huh? Maybe after he's feeling better he'll come out to the park with us."

There was that look. Bae had never stopped giving it to him, apparently. "Sure," he agreed and found himself wanting to.

His son flashed a wide smile. "Enough close calls, okay? Sleep well."

Rumple and Belle heard Bae shut the door behind them and voices faded softly as they left. Dark eyes lulled and he slipped down to lean against his pillows again, feeling drained. "I don't even want to know how many people were just here."

Belle found herself laughing at him. "They were worried about you."

"My… what a turn."

"That's what happens when you do good things. You make these strange bonds. Most people call them friendships," she teased, kissing his cheek. "Would you like me to go or…?"

"You can stay, if you'd like."

He was always so sure with everything except these. It pulled a smile from her as she nestled down, wrapping an arm around his middle and laying her head against his chest, ear pressed against it so he could hear his steady heartbeat and breathing. It lulled her to sleep, the constant reminder that he was there with her.

The cool air caused him to pull his overcoat a little closer around his thin shoulders as he limped his way down the path, the park in the distance. He'd been cooped up for over a week, feeling unwell enough the first few days not to argue over Belle's fussing, but as his strength returned to him, so did his own stubborn independence. Bae and Henry had been by nearly every day, updating them on all the happenings. Rumple had been surprised at the number of people that had noticed his absence, though Belle seemed to find it to enforce her earlier theory about his more recent efforts.

This was the first time Rumplestiltskin had been able to slip out since their return. The town looked entirely unchanged for having been ripped from existence. He'd dropped by his shop first, poking his head in to make sure that no one had taken advantage of his temporary absence. Everything was back in place, a few new items having been brought over.

Once he was certain everything was in order and locked back up he continued on to the park. He could hear laughter ringing through the crisp New England air and as he moved closer a strange sort of peace settled over him. Certainly a feeling that he was not accustomed to.

Bae was leaned up against a railing, watching Henry test the height of the tire swing, Emma and Regina with the boy and Snow and Charming not far off. He knew why his son was waiting where he was and he slowly made his way to him, cane tapping with every step.

"You just missed Mom," Baelfire called as he approached.

"Good to know I still have my timing down."

"You're looking better."

Thin lips perked at the edges. "I should. I had to sneak out of the house just to come here. Belle's been very persistent."

Bae grinned and met his father with a surprising hug. Rumple returned it quickly. "What was that for?"

"Just glad you're okay. We keep cutting it close."

They settled in, something entirely familiar about the setting. After a few moments of silence, Bae glanced to the side. "Regina said there's no magic left in Storybrooke."

"She's right about that. It must have ripped it away when all of you left."

"You going to find a way to bring it back?"

"Nope."

"Seriously?"

Rumplestiltskin snorted. "Don't go thinking it's for any higher cause, my boy," he teased. "I'd very much like to keep my own magic close at hand, but it's safer for everyone if we keep it far away."

"I take it you haven't found it yet."

"She has it, but as long as we're here and there is no magic, that doesn't matter."

"You think your name's still attached to it?"

"Oh yeah."

Bae didn't ask why and Rumplestiltskin didn't volunteer the information. That would be left for another day, because for the first time in a long while now, they had many days to look forward to. The Witch, even if she followed them, had no power here, and they had their family together. Henry gave a wave from his place, calling out that he could nearly flip it over the top bar. It was quiet, that mid morning in Storybrooke, the breeze blowing in off the ocean to chill them, but there was something soothing about it. Something right. Something that felt like home.

END

Notes: *deep breath* Well, that was a long one. Many, many, many thanks to those of you who have been along for the ride, if from the beginning or you hopped in somewhere in the middle. Your reviews mean the world to me! So... I had been playing with this idea that would immediately follow this story, and Robin4 talked me into it. I actually had some time to get started on it today, so keep an eye out for it to start going up either tomorrow or Thursday. It will be called The Greater Darkness and it's going to pick up in Storybrooke about 3 weeks after they're plopped back into the Land Without Magic.

Hope you guys have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. See you in the next one :)

TS