As dawn broke they made their way through the forest, they stopped by a rock near the stream.

"Let's go through this one more time." Emma said.

"I think we've got it princess." Hook replied.

"Humour me," Emma said, "Regina, you'll cast the spell to sort out the cover, then we'll all get to the castle hopefully without being seen…"

"That'd be a good start." Hook said.

"Hook, I swear…" she started.

"Behave." Red said.

"Sorry…" he replied.

Emma had to smile, the big scary pirate tamed by the big bad wolf, had quite a ring to it.

"From what we know, there's a pipe from the castle that comes out at the top of this stream, that's our way in." Emma said, "Once we get in I'll put a protective shield over the room Gold's in, meaning he can't port out, nor can he shift around the room. Hoping that holds Regina and I will keep him occupied while the rest of you find Henry."

"And if we see Belle?" Red asked.

"If she knows how he got Henry there, I wouldn't say she'll be any trouble." Emma said.

"Here's hoping…" Red replied.

"Once you find Henry…" Emma said, "get him out of here."

"What about…" Snow started.

"Get him out of here and back to the castle," Emma said, "he needs to be safe…"

"Are you going to kill him?" Charming asked.

"I wouldn't be completely adverse to that plan." Regina said.

"Neither would I," Emma replied, "we'll just have to see what happens."

"Okay," Regina said, "you ready for the cover?"

"Yep." Emma replied.

She watched as Regina closed her eyes, she opened them and looked to the skies, a massive thunderstorm started to form overhead, bringing a dense fog down over the forest.

"Impressive." Emma said.

"Why thank you." Regina replied, flashing her the million dollar grin.

Emma had to laugh.

"We need to move while we still know which direction is up." Hook said.

They made their way along the stream to the castle.

"There's the pipe…" Emma said, clearing the fog and forming a tunnel to the entrance.

"Now that's impressive." Regina said.

"It is pretty cool, it's new." Emma replied with a laugh.

They followed the others to the entrance through the fog, which then closed in again behind them.

"Now you're just showing off." Regina said with a laugh.

"Does one of you pretty ladies want to show off and get this locked grate off here." Red said.

"Allow me…" Regina said.

"Small bang babe, small bang…" Emma said, placing her hand on Regina's arm.

"Move your arm…" Regina said.

"Why?" Emma asked.

"Because I can feel your magic Emma," Regina said, "and if we combined our magic on this we would blow the entire castle sky high."

"Oh…" Emma said, moving her arm, "that wasn't even intentional…"

"Which is what makes you dangerous." Regina said.

When she said the word 'dangerous' the grate fell away from the wall.

"No bang." She said, turning to Emma and smiling.

Emma rolled her eyes and laughed a little.

They all made their way through the pipe, which came out in a basement.

"Wait…" Regina said, as Emma was about to push the grate off the inside.

Regina closed her eyes. There were three bright flashes in the basement.

"Now go…" Regina said.

"Thank you." Emma said.

"Anytime." Regina replied, with a smile.

"My god," Hook said, "I thought me and Red were bad, but you two just can't help it, nor do you probably realise you're doing it."

"He's right," Red said, "if you keep undressing each other with your eyes it's gonna get x-rated in here."

"And I don't need to see that," Snow said, "I mean I'm fine with this… with you two… but I don't need to see that, ever."

They all walked into the basement, leaving Emma and Regina sitting in the pipe.

"Are we really that bad?" Emma asked.

"Put it this way," Regina said, with a smile, "seeing you doing magic really turns me on."

With that she climbed out of the pipe and joined the others, leaving Emma sitting there with her mouth open. Had Regina really just said that.

"Are you coming Emma?" Red asked.

"Excuse me, what?" Emma asked.

"We're getting out of this basement; it smells like wet wolf…" Red said, "are you joining us?"

"Oh, yeah, sure, sorry…" Emma said, "Drifted for a bit there…"

She cleared her throat and followed them out of the door.

"Where is he…" Regina said.

"Right here dearie." Came a voice from behind her.

"Now Emma!" Regina shouted.

Emma closed her eyes. Within her mind she could see a shield going around the room.

"Clever." Rumpelstiltskin said.

Emma opened her eyes. There were flames up the walls and across the ceiling.

"Oh shit…" Emma said.

"No, we can use this," Regina said, "this will work just as well."

"Emma!" Snow shouted from the door, through the flames.

"Get Henry!" Emma shouted back.

When no one shouted back she assumed they'd gone to look for him.

"Oh no you…" Rumpelstiltskin said, clicking his fingers.

He was very surprised when nothing happened.

"Very clever…" he said.

"Sorry…" Emma said, "but you have our son…"

"He's my grandson and we made a deal." He said, "you're alive because of his deal."

"As his legal guardian," Regina said, "I'm over-riding any deal signed, as there wasn't a responsible adult present."

"Will that shit work?" Emma said.

"Doubtful but it sounded good." Regina replied.

"No deal was signed." He said.

"You made a word agreement?" Emma asked.

"It's the gentlemanly thing to do." He replied.

"Henry is 10," Emma said, "you can't make a gentlemanly agreement with a 10 year old child."

"He's my grandson." He said.

"So you said," Emma replied, "when did he become an asset for you to possess?"

"The moment my son died." He said.

"So you are going to take my son away from me?" Emma asked, "I know what it's like to miss out on your child's life because of stupid choices you made. Please don't make trusting you have a heart into one of the most stupid choices I have made."

He lifted his hands and sent Emma flying across the room.

"Emma!" Regina shouted.

"I'm okay…" Emma said, standing up.

"Thank you for making my choice easier." Regina said, looking at Gold, she sent bolts of magic at him, some he could fend off, and others he couldn't.

"You think this is going to get him to love you Regina," he said, "he's lost his father, are you going to take his grandfather away from him too."

"If it was this easy to kill you someone would have done it years ago." Said Regina, as she fought off his magic.

x-x-x-x

The others were making their way around the castle, checking room to room looking for Henry. They found Belle.

"Where's Henry?" Red asked.

"Upstairs," Belle said, "I tried to get him out…"

She lifted her leg, showing Red the chain around her ankle.

"Oh hell no…" Red said, walking into the room and snapping the chain.

"Is he in a locked room?" Snow asked.

"No," Belle said, "but there is a spell guarding the door, the first person that touches it will feel a lot of pain."

"Brilliant." Snow said.

As they made it up the stairs the saw Hook standing outside a room.

"Found him…" Hook said.

"Don't even think about it," Red said, "I'll do it, wolf strength and all."

"I fancy being the hero for once…" he said, gripping the door handle.

He went flying backwards across the room, smashing the door on the other side of the hallways to pieces.

"What an idiot…" Red said, going to assess the damage.

"Now that…" Hook said, attempting to correct his vision, "that was fun."

His head hit the floor and Red laughed.

"We'll pick you up later." She said.

She turned back to face the other door. She reached her hand slowly forward, grabbing the door handle, not sure what she was expecting she gave it a twist. She looked at Belle, who smiled.

"Hey kid…" Red said, opening the door and seeing Henry.

"Red." He said, running over to her, "you came to get me."

"Your mom's are downstairs." She said.

"They are okay?" Henry asked, "I told you it would work."

"You got stuck here kid, didn't work out the way we wanted." Red said, ruffling his hair.

"I knew you'd all come and get me." He said.

"Let's get you out of here." Charming said.

Henry took his hand.

"What happened to Hook?" Henry asked, looking at the battered body of the pirate surrounded by what was left of the door.

"He decided to be a hero." Red said.

"That'll hurt in the morning." Henry replied.

"Hi Henry…" Belle said.

He ran over and threw his arms around her waist.

"Thank you." He said.

"For what," she said, "I failed at releasing you."

"At least you tried." He said with a smile, "now let's go and get my mom's."

"They are meeting us outside." Red said.

"I'm not leaving them here." Henry said, "the last time I did that Emma ended up really sick."

"The Blue Fairy gave her a power boost," Red said, "she's like a super hero now."

They made their way downstairs. Henry headed straight for the fire room.

"No." Charming said, grabbing him around the middle and picking him up.

Emma shot a burst of magic directly at Rumpelstiltskin, which sent him flying backwards, smashing the solid wood dining table.

"Tell me again how you thought taking my son would work out well for you." Emma said, hitting him again.

"Mom stop it!" Henry shouted.

Emma looked round and saw Henry struggling in Charmings' grasp.

"He needs to pay for what he did kid." Emma said.

"There are other ways." Henry said, lifting his leg and bringing it back down on Charmings crown jewels.

Emma made a gap in the fire, and Henry ran through.

"It doesn't have to end this way." He said to his grandfather.

"It's the only way it can end Henry," Rumpelstiltskin said, "it has to end this way."

"No it doesn't." he said, "Mom, he's lonely, he's missing my dad, I understand that. He isn't completely bad, he has a heart."

"No I don't," Rumpelstiltskin said, "I don't have a heart, I'm hollow. I don't have space for a weakness like love."

"Yes you do." Belle said.

It was at that moment that Emma realised her spell was fading, the flames were receding.

"I know you do, because I've seen it," she continued, "I've seen it so many times. You just close off and pretend it's not happening. Everyone deserves to be happy, even you. I know you brought Henry here because you miss your son, but that isn't the only way to have him in your life."

Henry ran over and gave his grandfather a hug.

"Henry." Regina said.

"Hold on a minute…" Emma said, placing her hand on Regina's arm.

"You seriously think…" Regina started.

"Please Regina," Emma said, "trust me on this."

Regina looked at Emma, her eyes were white again.

Emma was watching as Rumpelstiltskin's tough exterior finally cracked. She watched as his light went from being the darkest black to a purple, lightening all the time.

She blinked, her eyes returned to normal.

"He did it…" Emma said, "he really did it…"

A draw behind them started to rattle and jump about. Emma went to open it.

"Careful." Belle said.

Emma nodded, closed her eyes, put a shield around herself to protect from magic, and then she opened the draw.

The blade jumped into her hands, the name Rumpelstiltskin fading from its blade.

"And what do I do with this…" Emma asked, standing there with the blade in her hand.

"Destroy it…" Regina said.

"I'm not sure I can…" Emma said.

Regina walked over to her, took the blade off her. For almost her entire life she had wondered what it felt like to hold this blade in her hands. She could feel the dark magic pour off it. Her mind started to cloud over.

She shook her head, clearing the mist that had formed.

x-x-x-x

Emma watched as Regina held the blade. She saw the look on her face. It was the look of someone who had finally found what they wanted. She took one step towards her when she saw Regina shake her head. Emma let out a sigh of relief.

x-x-x-x

Regina placed the blade in the fireplace.

"Emma…" She said, "come here a minute…"

Emma walked over to her.

"Give me your hand." Regina said.

Emma held out her hand, Regina took it; palms pressed together, fingers laced. Regina closed her eyes, Emma felt the magic building between them, and it needed a release. She held her hand out towards the blade, palm facing the fireplace. A bolt of pure white magic flew out of her hand, shattering the blade into millions of pieces.

Emma collapsed to the floor.

"Oh wow…" she said, lying flat on her back on the floor.

"Emma?" Henry said, "are you okay?"

"Yeah, just went really light headed," Emma said, "that was fun…"

"Oh dear," Mr Gold said, "That'll hurt in the morning."

Emma sat up and looked at him.

"I am really so sorry," he said, "I have no idea what I was thinking…"

"Love makes you do some crazy shit," Emma said, "especially if you're a person who runs from love. We have that in common you and me…"

"It'll never happen again." He said.

"You're right, it won't," Emma said, "anything like that ever happens again and I will kill you."

"I don't doubt that Miss Swan…" he said.

She gave him a 'look'

"Emma…" he said.

"So it's over?" Snow asked.

"For now…" Emma replied.

"But you destroyed the blade." Snow said.

"Knowing my luck," Emma said lying back down, "Mary Poppins is up there on a cloud putting it back together…"

"Mary Poppins isn't a true fairy tale." Regina said.

"Well that's a relief." Emma replied with a laugh.

x-x-x-x

Out above the castle, a little blonde fairy collected the parts of the blade.

"No good without Evil," the fairy said, "no happy ending yet."

With a giggle the fairy flew away.