OUAT: Bye, Bye Baby

Last time on “Once:” Snow and David adjusted to life under the new sleeping curse. They took turns under it and it seemed Baby Neal didn’t get any sleep with his parents doing split shifts. It eventually took its toll on them and they grew weary of living apart while still sharing the same space.

Belle teamed up with Zelena in order to protect her unborn son, asking her to send her to another realm to get away from her husband. Zelena was willing but needed the Apprentice’s wand to do so. So they asked Aladdin to get it for them. He agreed.

Emma and Regina tried to trap Queenie in the land behind the mirror but she flipped the script and captured them instead. Hook caught onto it early but Queenie knocked him out and continued masquerading as Regina around Henry.

Henry was already nervous because Snow was throwing a dance at school and Violet had been distant lately. It didn’t help that he realized Queenie was masquerading as his mom and he had to go help her at the same time. Violet helped him escape as he went to the vault. Queenie met him there, revealing Emma and Regina were trapped with the Dragon. She turned him into a real dragon and told Henry he had to crush the Dragon’s heart to save him. He broke the mirror instead and a shot of flames helped free Regina and Emma. Hook showed up to help and Queenie left, defeated for now.

Aladdin got the wand for Zelena and stole the genie’s lamp to see if he and Jasmine could get help from it to save Agrabah.

Zelena almost sent Belle away but Gold interfered, putting a tracking device on his wife and insisting it was out of love. Zelena scoffed at that and when he tried to choke her, Gold suffered a heart attack. It seemed that thanks to what she did for him in New York back in Season 4, if he tried to kill her, he’ll die. He left, angrier than before.

So when Queenie showed up to commiserate with him, he asked her to kill Zelena.

One of the sisters runs through a basement of some sort before she is stopped by Gold. She tells him that the Mother Superior will stop him but he insists none of them can stop him now. With a flick of his hand, he ties her to a pole.

Queenie shows up, asking him what his deal is with the fairies. He doesn’t really answer, instead asking her what she’s doing there. She says she thought they were a team and he reminds her if that was so, she would’ve killed Zelena already. Queenie doesn’t think he really expects her to kill her flesh and blood but he does. He says it’s the only thing standing between them and a fresh start together. Queenie still looks torn and asks about Belle. He says he realizes she’ll never accept him for who he really is and that it’s over between them.

He then turns back to the fairy and says he’s going to use her to send a message. Gold tosses some dust on her and she ages before our eyes. Queenie pretends to be shocked while Gold just stands there and smugs.

(Sr. Granny)

The fairy is rolled into the convent as Blue tells everyone that the Dark One did it with Queenie in attendance. Emma recognizes the dust as what she used to speed up Zelena’s pregnancy and Belle fears that he’s going to use it on her so she will give birth. He will then use the shearers to cut their son from his fate and take him from her, corrupting him. Hook asks why he would announce it and she says it’s to scare her into going back to him. She vows she won’t and that she can’t.

We cut to the Enchanted Forest and Dark One Manor. Rumple returns and Belle assures him she’s done all her chores. He says that’s good and drops a bassinet in front of her, telling her that she can take care of “that.” Belle is horrified to find a baby inside and she picks the boy up, rocking him. She asks Rumple where the baby’s parents are and he says they don’t matter, that “it” now belongs to him. Belle can’t even comprehend why he would steal a baby and asks what his damage is. He tells her to stop asking questions, pulling out a parchment roll. Rumple says he has to leave and tells her to not to hide the baby. He’ll know. She asks for the baby’s name and he tells her you don’t name something you have no intention of getting close to. She asks him what he plans to do but he leaves, warning her he’ll find the baby if she tries anything.

("What is your damage?")

In the library, Belle goes through the books. She comes across one that says it’s a manual on how to defeat the Dark One. Belle says she never saw it before and I’m sure it would’ve come in handy about five seasons ago. When she opens it, all it says is to follow the strand. Confused, she closes the book and spots a red ribbon on the floor. Belle picks it up and starts to follow it.

Careful, Belle. It might be a trap.

She follows the strand until she finds the shearers sitting on top of a flat rock. When she reaches for them, they disappear and she realizes she’s in the dream world. Morpheus confirms this and they hug. He tells her that the red ribbon is his fate, the one Gold plans on cutting with the shearers the moment he is born. She tells him she’s trying to prevent it but keeps hitting dead ends. He tells her that the answer is inside her already and right in front of her. She just has to see it and he warns her that time is running out. He then cuts the ribbon with the shearers and Belle wakes up in the library.

At Granny’s, Snow goes over her students’ tests but Jasmine isn’t into it. Snow asks her what’s wrong and she hesitates, not wanting to burden Snow given everything else going on. Snow assures her that they are friends and she can talk to her. So Jasmine tells her about the genie lamp Aladdin found and asks Snow if she’s familiar with genies. Snow tells her that her father found a genie once (hello, Sidney) so she has some knowledge. Jasmine says genies can be unpredictable and all wishes come with a price. Snow senses that Jasmine is nervous about the price she might have to pay to find Agrabah. She reminds Jasmine of the story she told when they first met, of the princess who thought she missed her chance to help her people and be a hero. Jasmine reminds her that the story was about her. Snow knows and tells her that she still has a chance to be a hero. She just has to take it.

(Hey, is that a new shirt?)

Emma and Hook meet up with Belle in the library. She explains her dream to them and shows them the book she was reading when she woke up from her nap. Emma looks it over and says that she doesn’t think a spell for hair removal will help. Hook, though, points out that the book is written in squid ink. They realize they can use it to freeze Gold for a bit and get the shearers from Gold. Maybe you could also get the dust or even get her out of town, guys? Emma says she can use her magic to extract the ink but they just need to douse Gold. Belle offers to do it, to pretend she’s going back to him, but Captain Swan shoots that down as being too dangerous. He could use the dust before they can stop him. So they’ll do it.

(World's weirdest book club)

At the Dark One Manor, Belle reads a story to the baby boy. She reveals it’s “Her Handsome Hero,” the book her mother always read to her and the one she gave to Gaston. She tells the baby all about the book and how much she wanted to be a hero like Gideon, the main character. The baby is sound asleep so she picks up the carrier and goes to see if she can figure out what Rumple wants to do with the poor boy.

Oh dear Lord, what is Zelena wearing? Did she skin a muppet? Anyway, the Evil Queen shows up and Zelena asks if she wants to hold Peanut, saying the baby has missed her. Queenie says she was hoping to catch her sister during naptime and says that Rumple sent her. Zelena understands and asks what she should do. Queenie suggests putting the baby in her crib. Zelena does so, telling the little girl that she loves her. She then faces her sister, who suggests they take it outside.

(No. Seriously. What is that?)

Queenie hurtles Zelena into the shed and then gloats that evil does beat wicked after all (Season 3B callback!). Zelena tells her to finish it but Queenie hunches over in pain. She says something’s wrong with her heart but Regina says it’s her heart. Queenie turns around to find Regina standing there with her heart in her hand, threatening to crush it if Queenie hurts Zelena. Queenie doesn’t believe she’ll risk her life for Zelena so Regina squeezes to prove her point. 

(Go, Regina!)

As they recover, Regina asks why Queenie is after Zelena. Zelena says Rumple sent her and Regina chides her other half for falling for his lies, saying he’s using her. She tells Queenie that she still has a hole in her heart and she’s trying to fill it with Rumple. Queenie fights back, claiming that’s not true, and Regina dismisses her. She leaves in a puff of purple smoke.

Hook walks into Gold’s shop and Gold asks if he’s there to get a new collar since he’s the Savior’s lap dog. Hook replies that he’s there to keep Gold from hurting another son like he did with Bae. Gold starts to choke him, allowing Emma to stun him with the squid ink. Frozen, Gold watches as they search him. They realize he doesn’t have the shearers on him so they split up. Gold threatens them but they just ignore him.

(Rumple is taking the mannequin challenge seriously)

Emma heads to the back and while she’s there, she grows weak and collapses. She trembles as she has the vision of her death again, this time seeing the sword hilt. Hook rushes to her side and helps her up. She explains she had a vision and he says he thought they were gone. Emma thought so too. They haven’t found the shearers but Hook is more focused on her.

Gold unfreezes while they are busy in his backroom and he leaves his shop, no doubt heading to Belle.

Guess what? I was right! 

He shows up in the library and Belle is shocked to see him. He tells her that dried squid ink can’t hold him, he’s too powerful. She tells him she won’t go back to him and he says he doesn’t want her. But he won’t lose another son if he can help it. If that’s the case, Gold, take some advice from the Sassy Gay Friend:

Gold holds up the dust and Belle panics. She begs him not to do it and runs for the elevator, hitting the switch to get inside.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Belle creeps into the Dark One Library with the baby. She sets the carrier down and looks over the parchment Rumple took, translating it. Belle says it’s an incantation for summoning the Black Fairy and she wonders why Rumple needs it—and the baby. He tells her that’s for him to know and her to never find out as he takes the parchment from her.

(Homework time!)

She whirls around, saying he knew she would try to translate the incantation. He confirms it, saying he wanted her to. After all, he didn’t just forget to lock the tower door. He can’t read fairy but she can, so now he has what he needs. She tries to stop him but he takes the baby and locks her in the library.

In the library, Belle makes it into the elevator but Gold stops her. He reminds her that when they met, he told her he was a difficult person to love. He now wonders if he can be loved at all and he believes his son is his only chance. And the only way he can ensure that is by using magic. Belle warns him that all magic comes with a price and in this case, it will be losing her forever. She asks him if he’s willing to chance it. He then just walks away.

Regina heals Zelena, who thanks her for showing up and saving her. She says things have gotten out of hand and that they need to apologize. Regina stops her, explaining that she’s just there to get some magic to help stop Rumple from using the dust on Belle. Zelena is now angry and Regina says she can never forgive her sister for all the ways she hurt her. Zelena asks if it’s about Robin Hood, about his death. (I’d also imagine that she raped him and had his child after forcing him to leave Storybrooke by masquerading as his wife and that she was under a curse). Regina replies that of course it’s about him.

(Please to remember that Regina only lost Robin not even a month ago. She's allowed to still be hurt by his death, for goodness' sake!)

Zelena asks why she can’t get forgiveness and redemption like Regina. Regina rightfully points out that Zelena isn’t like her. She doesn’t go into how Zelena has never truly apologized for hurting her and still makes everything—even this moment—about her. Zelena hasn’t seemed to learn any lesson and doesn’t understand all the hard work Regina has done. Regina tells her that she can do a lot of things when it comes to Zelena, including saving her, but forgiveness will never come.

At the loft, Jasmine rubs the genie lamp as Aladdin, Snow and Henry look on. Gold smoke emerges but instead of a genie, only the bracelets fall out. Henry says the genie has moved on and Jasmine wonders how she’ll get herself to Agrabah now. Aladdin picks up the bracelets and puts one on. She protests, saying he’ll be trapped forever. He says that some genies can be tricky but he knew a good one, so he hopes to live up to him. And he can help Jasmine. So he puts the bracelets on and is taken into the lamp.

Pretty sure that’s not how being a genie works.

Gold puts the dust away as Queenie enters the shop. She’s upset that he didn’t use it and realizes that Regina was telling the truth—he was just using her. She asks what trite thing Belle said to him to get him to change his mind but he doesn’t answer. She tells him that no matter what, he’ll never really change and Belle will leave, taking his son with her. Then Gold will be alone, just like when Bae left him. Gold tells her to leave, that they are done. He also tells her that if she wants to see what failure looks like, she should look in the mirror.

Oh, burn.

(Taking the Sassy Gay Friend's advice, Gold?)

In the Dark One Library, Belle bangs on the door and calls for help even though she’s probably lived there long enough to do know there’s no one else there. She manages to get a little opening open and a blue blur flies in. It then transforms into the Blue Fairy.

(Ahh, Shady)

Blue realizes Belle is Rumple’s prisoner and Belle pleads with her to let her out so she can save the baby. Blue agrees, saying that’s why she came. She says they need to stop Rumple before he can summon the Black Fairy. Belle is confused, saying she thought all fairies were good. Blue explains that they are but something happened to the Black Fairy to darken her heart. She then stopped protecting children but kidnapping them. Belle then wonders how she can stop the fairy without magic and Blue says that’s exactly how. Magic won’t work. She then unlocks the door and sends Belle on her way.

At Granny’s, Belle confides in Hook and Emma that she’s still concerned about Gold even though he backed off. They understand and promise to make sure he doesn’t change his mind again. Granny hands Belle a cup of tea while Captain Swan excuses themselves.

Hook takes Emma aside to ask her about the vision she had in Gold’s shop. She said it was the same as before except this time she saw the sword that will kill her. She says it has a big red jewel on it. Hook asks what caused the vision and she wonders if something in Gold’s shop triggered it.

The shattering of a teacup catches their attention. Belle gasps about the tea and as they turn around, her stomach starts to grow. She cries that it can’t be happening and it looks like we’re heading for another birth!

(We feel the same, Belle)

As the baby cries, Rumple calls for the Black Fairy to appear. Belle hides in the bushes as she watches a purple light turn into Jaime Murray. Sorry, I mean the Black Fairy. She goes for the baby but Rumple stuns her with squid ink. She smiles and calls him by name. He’s impressed she knows it and she says that everyone is the Dark One. He then asks her about why, if she steals children, she didn’t steal her own son?

(Hello, Black Fairy)

The Black Fairy’s face falls and she grows incredulous. She doesn’t believe what Rumple is implying but he confirms it—he’s her son. He says she would know that if she bothered to name him. (And probably would’ve done better than Rumpelstiltskin. Seriously, how drunk was Malcolm when he named the boy?) She tells him that he of all people know that sometimes you have to put power over love.

Belle seizes her chance and takes the baby. The Black Fairy breaks free and tells Rumple his questions will have to go unanswered. She flies away as Belle says that she understands why Rumple is the way he is. And she understands that he wants answers. But she can’t let him use an innocent baby like that because he has mommy issues. Rumple tells her that the baby is hers and then disappears himself.

(Belle now understands Rumple's damage)

In Storybrooke, Gold approaches the convent and is none too pleased that Emma took Belle to the fairies. He believes they’ll mess everything up and he heads toward the house, determined to get to his wife’s side. Except he hits a forcefield, which he realizes the fairies put up to keep him out. Undeterred, he takes out his dagger and starts hacking his way in.

(CGI won't stop him)

Emma coaches Belle through labor, helping her with her breathing and holding her hand through out the contractions. There is no sound for this scene except for a beating heart. But it’s a touching scene—Emma, who had to give birth alone, is there for Belle so she doesn’t. We then hear a little child ask its mother to push a swing.

Belle ends up in the graveyard, which now has a swing set in it. Morpheus sits there and she hurries over to him. She says things are happening faster than they expected and that his father is coming to cut him from his fate. Belle says she doesn’t know what to do. Morpheus says she does and that they don’t have any other options. Belle realizes what he’s saying and refuses to do that. He tells her she must. They hug and she tells him that she loves him more than anything. He tells her he’ll always remember that. He then tells her to remember the book. She’s confused but the scene ends as Belle lets out one more scream before settling back against the bed.

(Mother-son moment)

Blue comes in with Emma and Hook, admiring Belle’s new baby boy. Belle invites her to sit on the bed and asks her to be the boy’s fairy godmother. She then also asks her to take him far away.  Everyone makes sure she knows what she’s asking and she does. Belle says that Rumple will never stop trying to cut him from his fate, trying to get him back. So she needs Blue to take him somewhere Rumple can’t get him until they can stop Rumple somehow. Blue reminds her that they don’t know how long it will take and Belle says she understands, passing the baby to her.

Belle then asks Hook for the book and he hands “Her Handsome Hero” to her. She gives it to Blue and makes her promise to read it to her son every day. Blue promises and Belle kisses the baby, naming him Gideon after the hero in the book. She tells him to be strong and good before reminding him that she loves him so much. She promises they’ll be together again. Blue then places some magic on him as Belle cries.

(Poor Belle)

Gold finally makes it into the house. He walks in, sees the evidence that Belle has just given birth before looking out the window to see Blue flying off with the baby. He turns to Belle, asking her how she could abandon their son. Belle tells him that she’s giving him his best chance and after everything she went through, she knows that’s far away from Gold. She tells him that they’re through.

(Lovely view as Rumple watches his son fly away)

He turns from the window and asks to know their son’s name. Belle refuses to tell him, knowing how powerful a name can be—especially given to Rumpelstiltskin. She says he can do whatever he wants to her but he will never get to their son. Gold tells her that he would never hurt her but he won’t be kept from his son.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Belle returns the baby to his parents. The press release had named them Jack and Jill, but we get no indication that they are those nursery rhyme characters. They just seem to be your average fairy tale peasant family. Jack and Jill are grateful to have their child home, cuddling him as they thank Belle. All the while, Rumple watches from a distance, no doubt thinking of the mother who abandoned him and the father who was too drunk and narcissistic to love him.

(Family reunion!)

Gold returns to his shop and Queenie is waiting for him. She asks if he lost another son and he tells her that now’s not the time. She continues to taunt him, saying she wants to see what became of her hard work. She says she wanted to see what happened when he tainted his love. He says he didn’t do anything. She concedes that she dosed Belle’s tea after stealing his magic dust but that even if he tells Belle the truth, she won’t believe him. She says he shouldn’t have made her an enemy.

He tells her she’s made a big mistake but she continues to gloat. Gold reminds her that he likes to play the long game and that she is no more than a pawn in his game. She wishes him luck in finding his son—again—and then gets in one more jab, telling him that fairies make wonderful mothers. She leaves him to his mommy issues, which unleash hell on his backroom as he goes on a rampage.

Hook goes to Granny’s and assures Emma that Regina was able to reverse the effects on the fairy. Emma asks how Belle is doing and he says she doing as well as can be expected. She says that she keeps fighting for her friends and family—for her loved ones. That’s why she doesn’t run away from being the Savior, why she’s staying and fighting. Hook realizes the vision is still bothering her and she’s like “Duh.” They decide to go and see if they can understand it better.

Captain Swan sneak into Gold’s shop and note that he had a rampage. Hook wonders if there really is anything that can help them and Emma finds the sword right away. As she reaches for it, she sees her death again and her hand begins to shake. Hook agrees that’s what caused her episode and she grabs the sword, saying it’s the one fated to kill her. Now that they have it, they can figure out who it belongs to and can stop them.

(Oh look. Another special sword)

Did we really need to recycle the “speed up a pregnancy” plot? It didn’t really work well for Zelena and Robin last season. I mean I get Emilie is no longer pregnant but really? Really? And then to make Emilie act out a scene where Belle had to give up her child? That seemed as cruel as whatever they made new dad Sean Maguire do last season as Robin. Emilie broke my heart though, so kudos to her.

Next time: Emma discovers a whole new world. Literally.  

Screen caps from here.