Rumple's POV|

I entered Granny's diner, and everyone stared at me. It wasn't anything that I wasn't used to. "Ten bowls of chili. No beans. You and the dwarfs got something against beans?" Granny asked David who sat at the bar top.

"Let's just say we've had our fill over the past couple of weeks," said David.

"What exactly are you boys up to anyway?" asked Granny.

"Just landscaping," replied Leroy. But I had a feeling they were digging in the mines.

"Is this seat taken?" I asked, approaching one of the booths to which David was sitting. "You might want to run along. I need to chat to the prince."

"It's all right, Leroy," said David. "I got this." Leroy then left. "What do you want to chat about Gold?"

"Regina. She helped jog Liana's memory," I said.

"That's good, then," said David. I should have been more specific.

"No. No," I said. "Wrong memories. She now thinks she's a scantily-clad barfly named Lacey. She has a false life. As you did under the curse, with Kathryn. Only hers apparently involves a lot more alcohol."

"What do you want with me?" asked David. "And wait a minute... didn't Liana go by Selina Frost under the curse?"

"Yeah... about that," I sighed. "Regina created a whole new identity with her that wouldn't involve me... Anyway, I want to know how you did it. Even when both your heads were filled with false memories, David Nolan still won Mary Margaret's heart."

"You want me to help you?" he repeated.

"Well, I'm certainly not here for the over-praised lasagna," I said. Granny turned around to look at me with annoyance.

"You got my wife to murder someone," said David.

"Someone who would have killed all of you. Look, if you don't want to help, that's fine. But if you do, for the first time ever, I'm gonna owe you a favor."

I can't believe I just said what I said. But I was really desperate. I needed my Liana back.

"All right," said David. "When Regina cursed Mary Margaret and me, there was still a silver of Snow and Charming, the real us, inside."

"So how do I bring back the real Liana?" I asked.

David then said, "Show her the man she fell in love with."

+++

David had decided to come with me to the RabbitHole where Liana most likely was. And I was right. As we entered, I saw Liana at the bar taking some shots. "Another round for the lady," said a man who was sitting next to her. "I've had my eye on you for a while."

I clenched my teeth. My blood started to boil. "Thank you," she said. "Not my type."

I continued to observe them. I wanted to punch that man in the face for messing with her like that. "You might want to wait outside," I tell David.

"Yeah. Yeah. Bad idea," he said. The man walks away from the bar leaving Liana be. "Come on," said David. David and I approached her, and I sat in a seat next to her.

"Huh! Mr. Gold. You're... uh... you're back," she said. It sounded like she was surprised.

"As are you," I say, not knowing how to start the conversation.

"Well, what can I say?" she questioned. "Love the ambiance." Liana took the shot, and turned back to face me. "What in the bloody hell was that? You-uh... you like Van Halen? You're a Hagar man aren't you? Huh?" Liana left the bar. I didn't understand what she was talking about.

"What are you doing!?" David exclaimed.

"We have nothing in common," I said.

"That doesn't matter," said David. "You just... need a way in. Ask her out. Go on." I then approached Liana at the jukebox not wanting to look like a fool in front of David.

"Uh... Lacey?" I questioned.

"Yeah?" she questioned.

"Now that you're back.... Back to your old self... perhaps we could spend some time together?" I asked.

"Like a date?"

"Yes, a date," I confirmed.

"Well, you do know I'm not this "Liana" person that you're always talking about?" she said.

"Yes, of course," I lied.

"I've heard about you. You know? People in town... they're afraid of you, Mr. Gold."

"Don't let that deter you," I said. "Give me a chance, please."

Liana—Lacey paused in hesitation. "Okay," she said. "Tonight. Granny's. 8 o'clock." Liana left, leaving me alone at the jukebox.

"Not bad, Don Juan," said David, who approached me.

"Don Juan was nothing before he made his deal with me," I added.

"Regardless, you got her to go out with you. Congrats."

"Indeed. Now I just need her to fall in love with me."

+++

It was already time for the date. I entered the diner and sat down at the booth. My heart was racing, and I felt shaky. Liana—Lacey finally came in the diner and sat across from me. She wore this sparkly sexy blue sequin dress. She looked gorgeous in it, for sure, but it wasn't my Liana's style. Granny placed the menus in front of us.

As soon as I picked mine up, I dropped mine. Liana giggled. "Are you—uh... Are you nervous, Mr. Gold?"

"No! No, of course not," I lied. "I'm just... deciding what to have."

As soon as Granny came to take our order, she seemed shocked when she looked at Liana. "What the hell happened to you? You said the back of Ruby's closet?"

"Uh... perhaps Lacey and I could order." Granny narrowed her eyes at us. "Two burgers. Two iced teas please."

"Actually, I'm gonna go... Chicken Parm and white wine. And make it the bottle."

"Alrighty, coming right up!" Granny then left us alone.

"I've never really been much of a burger girl," she said.

"Well, whatever you want, you shall have," I said, leaning across the table.

"You know? You're— you're a classy guy, Mr. Gold. This is.... not what I was expecting from you. Given all of the stuff... people say about you."

"Oh that again! My reputation. What is it you hear?" I was generally curious.

"Oh, just that, you know, you're the most powerful man in town and you got that power from being ruthless. And that when people cross you... they get hurt." Granny came back with our drinks. "Thank you," Liana looked at Granny.

I reached for the wine bottle to pour into her glass. "I am simply a shop owner," I said. "And procure of difficult-to-find objects." I finished pouring the wine into the glass and put the bottle back down. Liana picked the bottle back up and put more wine into her glass. "People like to believe the worst in me, but Lacey, I would rather you believe the best."

"Well, I just don't get why people are so scared of you," she said. "You know, I see a man who wouldn't hurt anyone."

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Lacey. I really needed to hear that. Especially now."

"Well, you know what they say," she said. "You can't tell what's in a person's heart until you truly know them."

My eyes widened at her comment. Liana said that to me a long time ago. Maybe David was right. There's a little bit of Liana in Lacey. Then, without realizing it, I accidentally tipped over my ice tea which got on Liana's dress.
"Whoa! Did I say something wrong?"

"No! No... it's just that... I-I knew someone once who said exactly the same thing to me. Gosh, I'm so sorry. Your dress."

"A bit of water will take it right out," she said. She then got up and went to the bathroom.

I knew it. I can get Liana to come back. It will just take some time.

+++

After ten-fifteen minutes of waiting, I finally realize that Liana isn't coming back. So, I decided to put the money on the counter, and a little extra (for the wasted food) and headed out the back way. And then... that's when I saw her. She was making out with Keith... the man I now remember to be Sheriff Nottingham. They were making out right behind Granny's.

Was the date really that bad? Did she not have an interest in me at all? My mind went into spirals. 

I then ripped Keith away from her. "Hey!" he said.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" I yelled.

"Wait, you two are here together?" he asked.

"Yes, we are," I said.

"I-I'm sorry, I-I-I didn't know," he stumbled over his words.

"Go now!" I yelled. Keith then ran away. "Are you— are you alright?" I asked, my attention now fully on Liana.

"Yeah, I'm-I'm fine...."

"Let's get you inside," I said.

"No! Look, I said I'm fine, okay? I'm..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You came out here because you wanted to be with him?" I questioned, my chest tightening.

"Yeah," she replied.

"But I don't understand. Our date— I thought it was— it was going well."

"No. No, it-it wasn't."

"What?" I questioned. I could hardly believe what she was saying.

"It never was. The only reason I agreed to go out with you was because I was trying to be nice. But that's not me. That's... that's you."

"But that's what you liked about me— the nice part of me, the-the good part."

"This is still about Liana, isn't it? Look, Mr. Gold, I'm sorry. She may have loved you. But I am not her."

Liana then left me alone and I mumbled, "No, you are not."

                                 +++

As I walked back, I came across the Rabbit Hole yet again. And Keith came out. I mentally groaned. What could he possibly want now?

"Mr. - Mr. Gold, I'm... I'm so sorry about what happened back there. I... I-I  didn't know that you two were still together."

"We're not," I said. We're not until I can figure out her memories.

"Oh," said Keith. He laughed. "Oh, so we're good then, right?" He laughed again. "There's no hard feelings?"

"You know," I started, gripping harder on my cane. "I have tried so hard to be on my best behavior. But I guess there's no point now." I then magically make it so Keith can't scream by removing his tongue. "So no one can here you scream." I then started to beat Keith up with my cane.

I continue to beat him up, and then I notice a figure behind me. I stop and turn around. "Lacey?" I questioned.

"So it is true then," she said. "What they say about you?"

"Yes it's all true," I said.

"You are... you are not who I thought you were," she chuckled. "And I'm glad." She was glad? "You really are as dark as people say."

"Darker dearie. Much darker," I say. I then turn around and continue beating Keith with my cane until he is fairly injured enough to where he couldn't move. I needed him to suffer.