Lost moments, Reclaimed
Marcie Ann Gore
New Grandpa Rumple gives Emma a one-of–a-Kind gift.
Alternative Universe.
Gold woke up sooner.
Standard Disclaimers apply; Ships Swanfire and Rumbelle; If you squint, Mostly Emma with the Guy she chose Henry.
Mr. Gold is in an uncharacteristically cheerful mood, singing Christmas carols. He usually hated the holidays in this world because it was a time for families. He hasn't had a family for centuries. Suddenly he has found his beloved son and he has Belle back. To make things more interesting, he has a grandson, Henry. He's known the boy since he was a babe but as his grandchild only for a few months.
It had taken him a while to convince Emma and his son Baefire, or Neal as he insists on being called now, that he meant the boy no harm and just wanted to be his Grandfather. He may have been the dark one for more years than he cares to remember; then as Mr. Robert Gold, the most feared man in Storybrooke, Maine; but neither version of him could help but love young Henry.
Oh, the boy has reminded him of his son since he was a baby. As he grew, the similarities became both more comforting and painful. At its' worst it had hurt to look at the dark haired, hazel-eyed child as he walked home from school or his "castle." Regina had no right to tear it down. Marco could've easily made it safe for the boy to play in it again. Every child needs a place to himself. She was just envious that Henry and Emma had a place that was just theirs in the best times. The sight of the boy could make his worst day brighter just by saying "Hi" as he passed by. His smile could light the town for a year. That was what most reminded him of Bae, along with his bravery and quick mind. Even though the boy didn't quite trust him even as a tyke, Henry had always had a place in his heart. Now He wanted to build a real relationship with the boy.
He'd respected Emma since she came to town, not just because she was the savior. She'd stood up to him on more than one occasion; She hadn't done it in a vindictive way Like Regina. Her reasons for standing against him had been to set a good example for her sweet trusting boy as well as for the well-being of the town she'd started to care about. Sure, it had taken her moths to break the curse and find out that Henry wasn't the only family she had, But love had conquered evil just as he had seen in the old land nearly 30 years ago . To her credit, she was a good mother to his Grandson, certainly light years better than Milah had been to Bae even before she left them.
If he hadn't had Regina cast the curse, Emma would've still had Henry Even though he'd most likely carry a different name but he was sure the boy's being born wasn't just one of the few pleasant consequences of the curse. He was meant to be, no matter where or how Emma had grown up. Her giving birth to him as a poor former foster child in jail. He hated to think of that part had leaded her to give up the boy moments after he was born. She had missed so many wonderful milestones he'd in with reveled in with Bae. Grandpa Rumple had spent the last 11 years making sure she'd get to experience them in manner of speaking when she came to break the curse. He'd only been waiting for the proper time to give his gift to the Princess.
He goes to his vault and digs past a few contracts, jewels, and Bae's cloak he enchanted. "There they are; all of the Photos and video I managed to take of the Lad as he's grown up."
"It is a good thing that Her Highness thought I was a friend most of Henry's Formative Years. It gave me a chance to play 'Uncle' at his birthday parties and such. I knew the savior would ache to know what she missed with her son."
Mr. Gold looks at the clock. "5:30 and the town is peaceful. Ms Swan should be calling it a day and be headed home For a quiet night with her family."
He dials her personal cell number. "Hello Miss Swan, I'd like you to drop by the Shop on your way home."
"WHAT is it, Gold? Someone Break in and steal Mrs. Potts?"
"What?" He asks. Then he remembers the Disney movie. "Very clever, Daughter in law. No, it's important, but not urgent; bring Henry if you can, I'd like to see him too."
"Daughter in law, In Neil's dreams. I'll come with Henry in a few minutes. He's here with me. He spent his first day of Christmas break with me. Poor kid probably bored out of his skull. He'll be glad to see you, I'm sure. I don't know what you did but he likes being with you now."
Mr. Gold smiles and hums as he hangs up the phone. "This should be fun."
A few moments later, they come in the shop. Emma with her gun cocked; Henry practically bouncing.
"What's the trouble Gold?" Emma asks.
"Nothing, I just want to give you a Christmas gift."
Emma looks skeptical.
"Come on Mom, its Christmas. I have an idea what it is," Henry says, his eyes lighting up like the giant Christmas tree in Snow and David's living room.
"OK, kid, I'll try to trust him."
He asks Emma, "What is your biggest regret about giving up your son?"
"That I wasn't there to watch him grow up before he was ten. I missed so many big things. His first steps. His first words. His first day at school," Emma says.
"I can't give you those years back, but I can show you some of the things you missed." He hands her a box with holly patterns and a bow. "The packaging is simple, but I assure you what's inside is Priceless."
She opens it and finds a photo album and baby book. She opens the baby Book first.
Henry Daniel Mills
Born May 31, 2002 at 8: 15 pm
17 inches long
4 1/2 Pounds
Arrived home June 12 2002
First Smile: 6 weeks
First laugh: 3 months
Cut his first tooth at 3 months
Turned over at 7 months
Crawling at 7 and 1/2 months
First steps: 1 year, exactly.
First word: "Kitty" 10 months. Said "momma" at one year and 4 months.
"Wow," Emma says with a smile.
"You think that's impressive? Your son was Reading at age 3"
"HE was?" she asks.
"Yes. It happened in my shop. A book about cats. I'll find the book and a few videotapes while you look at the photos."
She didn't believe he was reading so I gave him a book about Dinosaurs. I knew He'd never seen them. Our town's excuses for a news paper.
"I knew he's smart by the way he tracked me down and other things, but I never knew he was that smart."
"Yes," He says.
Suddenly she feels like she's experiencing the events she viewing the pictures. She feels she's there when he's taking his first steps. She feels like she's a guest at his first birthday party. She feel Henry's excitement at Christmas At age 3 when he gets his red tricycle.
"Is this Gold's magic or her imagination?" Emma thinks.
Henry is entranced by the images even though he's probably seen the pictures hundreds of times. Maybe it's because he's seeing the through Emma's eyes.
"I found the video tapes, Dearie," He tells her.
"You have a VCR?" She asks. "Of course. This is Storybrooke, a town stuck in the 80s"
"Even if we weren't 'stuck in the 80s' as you put it, I can still conjure up one," he informs her with a smile.
He puts the First tape in the player. She sees A very cute baby in stroller in Gold's shop with Regina standing behind the baby. He babbles in a way that says he knows what he's saying whether or not anyone else does. He seems frustrated that no one is giving him the answers he wants them to . Then Mr. Gold opens the door and a small black and white kitten with white paws prances in. The older man tells the cat "Shoo" but Henry seems to have other ideas. He reaches out his chubby arms and says "kitty," then tries to grab it the tail.
In the present, Henry seems embarrassed by his younger self. "I can't believe I did that. I was such a weird kid."
"No, you weren't, Kid. That was so cute." She smiles bigger than he's ever seen her smile except maybe when she came home from the Enchanted Forest with his grandma.
The next video is him toddling across the living room of The Mayor's mansion. In the living room, He bumps into the couch and falls. then the coffee table. each time, he picks himself up only tearing up a little. He even pushes until he removes the troublesome baby gate away from the stair case, but Regina catches him before he can make it up the stairs.
This has Emma roaring with laughter "That's Henry for you. That shouldn't surprise me at all. You are smart," Emma says with pride.
Henry blushes. "She did say I was a handful as a baby."
"You certainly were, young man, but so was your father. He tried to ride the sheep dog when he was small. He managed to do it a couple of times. I caught him. The dog whimpering tipped me off if I didn't see it first." They all laugh at this story.
"I wish cameras existed in the Enchanted Forest. It'd be great blackmail material against Neal," Emma says.
"I do too, but not for blackmail. It is one of my favorite memories of him as a little boy." He shows her a book titled "The Child's Guide to Dinosaurs," by Dr. Richard Camel.
"I think I remember that," Henry says, smiling.
He puts another tape in the VCR. Henry is three in it.
"As much I'd like to believe my son is a genus and reading at the age of barely 3, I think it's impossible. ' The Big Soft Book of Cats' is his favorite book. I've read it to him almost every day since I bought it for him for his birthday." Regina says.
"That may be true, but I have a feeling the child can read," Mr. Gold says. "I have a book he couldn't have possibly have seen. I just acquired it." He hands Henry the book.
"What does that say? Regina asks" pointing to a page about the Triceratops? Remarkably, the boy reads the pages word for word, including the scientific names.
The video plays. Emma sits there with her mouth hanging open.
"You are amazing," Emma says. She hugs him.
"I love you, Mom," Henry says.
"I love you too. I couldn't ask for a better kid," she tells him.
"Thank you Mr. Gold, I mean Rumple, or whatever you want to be called." She then does something completely out of character for her. She reaches out to hug the older man. "Merry Christmas," Emma says.
"Merry Christmas Miss Swan; Merry Christmas Grandson" He says.
"Merry Christmas, Everyone," Henry says.
the end
author's note Does anyone want to read what Henry got from "Grandpa Gold?
