Author's note: A fluffy little threeshot, to celebrate the fact that there are only 10 days till OUAT!
Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing.
Chapter 1
The first thing Emma did was invite him.
Well, no. Technically, the first thing she did that morning was stumble bleary eyed towards the chair where she'd haphazardly dumped her jacket, keys, wallet, and that offensively loud ringing phone in an exhausted heap before collapsing headfirst into bed last night after her little going back in time adventure a couple days ago. Or was it actually just yesterday since they'd arrived just several hours later in the same day they'd left even though they'd technically been gone for several days-
Yeah, just thinking about it gave her a headache, same as it had last night, and that damn phone was not helping anything.
"Hullo?"
"Emma!" Her mother's voice was so bright, so loud that Emma crinkled her nose and held it away from her ear in disgust. How the woman, who had a newborn, no less, was so awake at this ungodly hour was completely beyond her. "Did I wake you?"
She cleared her throat and tried not to sound like she'd just been run over by a truck. "No. Not really."
"Really? That's very unlike you." Mary Margaret teased.
Not to be rude or anything, but could the woman hurry up and get to the point so that Emma could go back to sleep?
"Did you need something?" Emma interrupted mid sentence, cutting off Mary Margaret's rant about how long it had taken baby Neal to fall asleep last night. (Really? Then why did she sound so alert?)
"Oh, yes, I was calling to see if you and Henry wanted to come over for breakfast. Or rather brunch, I guess, since I know that the moment I hang up the phone you'll fall right back into bed."
Damnit, the woman was good. "Sure." Emma agreed. "Will there be bacon?"
"I wouldn't have invited you otherwise."
After a few more words, or rather a few more moments while Emma listened to Mary Margaret chirp cheerfully, they hung up the phone. She briefly considered going back to sleep for a while but was unable to. Might as well get up.
As she was about to leave the room, she could hear Henry chattering excitedly to Killian; no doubt he'd been telling him all about one of his pirate adventures. Someday she was going to call his bluff and declare that there was no way all of his tales were true. Twenty foot waves? Please!
She couldn't exactly tell Henry about brunch and just leave Killian alone, could she? At the very least, she owed him a meal after the way he'd kept her from screwing things up (too badly) in the past. And now that they were sorta kinda something...well it wouldn't hurt to invite him over.
If there was one thing Gold was good at, it was long term planning.
It started with figuring out a way to get his son out of being drafted to the ogre wars. He'd planned and plotted and eventually succeeded. Of course, it came at a horrible price but he'd succeeded.
And then when he was figuring out a way to get his son back, he'd spent months carefully analyzing the blurry visions of the future, biding his time, training Regina with her magic, subtly pushing Snow and Charming together, all the while patiently keeping his eye on the prize.
When he was Zelena's prisoner, he'd known that eventually he'd be free, that he'd take his revenge. The entire time he'd sat in that musty cellar, he'd thought about nothing but his beloved Belle. How he'd wrap his arms around her the first chance he'd get, how he'd let her know just how important she was to him, and above all, how he'd finally do something he'd been wanting to do for centuries.
One thing he'd learned repeatedly was that time was precious, no matter how much of it you had. Every moment with Belle could be his last, so he would do everything it took to make sure that he didn't waste a single drop of it.
Which was why he was leading Belle out to his car the next morning. It was a bright, sunny morning, full of hope and promise. It was symbolism, representing the fresh start they'd have after the Zelena nightmare.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, dearie." He replied, a hint of glee in his voice, something that hadn't been present for so long. This was something he'd planned during his time as a prisoner. After everything was over, he'd take her to his cabin for their...honeymoon. It was such a strange term that people in this world used, but it described his intentions perfectly.
They drove for a while; the streets were fairly quiet. Not that Storybrooke had too many people. Or maybe it seemed emptier than usual because people were still scared of what would happen next.
"Are you ever going to tell me where we're going?" Belle persisted, dangling her hand out the open window, letting the breeze filter in.
"You'll find out when we get there."
"What about a hint?"
"Nope."
"Come on…" She lilted, running her hand up his arm. "Just a little hint?"
"No." He said, though less insistent this time.
A sudden gust of chilly wind swirled into the car, causing Belle to shiver. "That's odd. It was warm just a second ago." She tightened her jacket around her and rolled up the window.
Gold opened his mouth to reply but suddenly the car began swerving violently; he grabbed the wheel and swerved, eventually steadying the car.
"Are you all right?" He asked, turning to Belle.
She nodded, though she looked visibly shaken. "What was that?"
Gold glanced out the window. "What the-" He stepped out of the car and looked down at the pavement in confusion.
"Rumple," Belle began. "look." She pointed up at the sky.
What had been a bright, clear sky just minutes before was now filled with gray clothes, quickly filing in, hiding the sun that had been shining brightly. It was almost as if it was about to…
"Snow." Belle breathed, holding a hand out to catch a thick flake. "It's snowing."
Snowing was a bit of an understatement. It was more of a blizzard as snowflakes fell fast and furious, quickly blanketing the pavement.
"Where did the snow come from?" Belle looked up in amazement. "It was sunny just a moment ago!"
"I don't know, but I don't like the look of it. Snow doesn't just fall like this. It very well might be magic."
"Zelena's back?"
"I certainly hope not." He said. "Well, this put a damper on my plans."
"It's alright. We can just go to wherever you refuse to tell me another time."
Gold attempted to start the car, but it only traveled a few feet before coming to a stop. "Great." He sighed. "Looks like we're stuck."
The snow was coming down faster and faster; pretty soon they wouldn't be able to see the road in front of them. Without heat or any blankets, huddling in the car was not an option.
"We need to get to shelter."
But they were practically in the middle of nowhere. The only available option was…
"Mary Margaret's apartment." Belle said. "Aren't we near there?"
Oh, no. Anything but that. "Yes." He admitted after a moment. "I believe we are."
Before he could object, Belle had already opened her door. "Come on." She said, stepping out. The cold immediately hit her and she slid her hands into her pockets to warm them she noticed that Gold still sat in the car, she turned around. "What are you waiting for?"
"Belle…" He protested.
"Come on." She insisted. "I know you don't always get along with them, but like it or not they're family."
As Gold followed Belle through the thick snow, he secretly thought that he'd prefer to freeze to death than wait out the storm with the Charmings.
"Um, love?" Killian poked dubiously at the plate that Mary Margaret had set in front of him. "What is all this?"
"That," Emma started, sitting down in the seat next to him. "is one of the best meals known to mankind. It's called a grilled cheese."
Upon taking in the still skeptical expression on his face, she poked his arm playfully. "I can't believe it. Is the big bad Captain Hook scared?"
"I am not." He protested.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go on, try it. I promise you it's not poisonous."
"That's because Grandpa made it." Henry interjected loudly.
"Hey, I have eleven years worth of fake memories, many of which involve feeding you, kid. I remember that I made pretty good garlic bread. Do you ever remember being poisoned?"
"Only that time you tried to make brownies." He snickered.
"I remember this one time waking up in the middle of the night to something burning." Mary Margaret added. She was rocking Neal back and forth, attempting to get him to fall asleep. "It turned out it was your mother trying to make brownies."
"How could somebody mess up brownies from a mix?"
"Beats me, but it was just horrible. Stuck to the pan and completely ruined."
"What is the meaning of brownies? And mix?" Killian asked. The skepticism had been replaced by a mystified look.
"It's this dessert with chocolate...you know what? I'll just explain later."
"Better hope she doesn't try and make some for you." Henry said.
"I've battled many a creature, lad. I'm sure a botched up dish would not get the best of me."
"I'll beg to differ." David muttered, causing a round of chuckles to go around the room.
"You know what? You can all stuff it or I'm never sharing that garlic bread with you." She turned to Killian. "And you, eat your grilled cheese."
"Aye, Swan." He smirked, reaching down for it and taking a bite gingerly. "Not bad." He said approvingly.
"Told you. It's a lot better than that chimera crap I had to try."
"You're the only one who finds chimera disgusting. Back in the Enchanted Forest that was a staple, much like this fried cheese dish."
"Grilled cheese." Emma corrected. "And it tastes even better if you dip it in this."
"Tomato soup? Now that I recognize."
Mary Margaret finally got Neal settled in his bassinet, curled up fast asleep. She was sitting down to eat when there was a rap on the door.
"Oh, that's probably my mom." Henry said as he jumped up to get the door. "I told her I'd spend the day with her and she said she'd pick me up here."
"Already? That's early." David commented.
"Well that's Regina for you. Always punctual." Mary Margaret added.
"If that's Regina then I'm going to go hide under my bed." Emma muttered.
"I'm sure she's not mad."
"If that's the Regina I'm familiar with, then you're right. She'll be furious."
The door swung open to reveal Regina, who stood in the entryway, her usual black coat wrapped tightly around her. When she caught sight of the Charmings and Hook sitting around the table, her already tight expression tightened further.
"Hi Mom." Henry said, letting her in.
She relaxed a little as she hugged him, but when her eyes landed on Emma they grew into small slits, reminiscent of the haughty expression she'd worn in the Enchanted Forest of the past.
"Would you like some soup, Regina?" Mary Margaret offered politely.
Regina shook her head. It seemed like the huge relationship strides they'd made in the past year had completely disappeared. "I should really be going. Ready Henry?"
Henry stuffed the remainder of his sandwich into his mouth and nodded. "Yup." But just as he was getting his jacket, there was the unmistakable sound of a cane thumping against wood.
"Oh, I don't think you'll be going anywhere for a while dearie."
Regina whipped around to see Belle and Gold making their way towards the open door. They were covered from head to toe with something white. Gold looked as though he'd rather be choking on poisoned apples, while Belle just looked cold, hugging her arms around herself as she huddled against Gold.
Regina rolled her eyes at the sight. "Oh? And why's that?"
"T-there's a blizzard outside." Belle answered. "We don't know why, but it just started snowing."
Emma raced to the window. "Holy crap." She whistled, confirming Belle's words. "It's completely white."
"Can we stay here for a while? Just until the storm clears? Our car is stuck and-"
"Oh, of course." Mary Margaret replied. "We have plenty of food too. Help yourself. Have some soup or something, you need to warm up.
As soon as the words left Mary Margaret's mouth, the smile that had been on Killian's face instantly slid off. Sure, he'd buried the hatchet with Gold, but that didn't mean he'd jump at the chance to spend quality time with his old enemy.
"Thanks." Belle beamed as she began to shake off her snow covered coat. "We really appreciate it."
She elbowed Gold, who sighed and said quickly, "Thank you Mary Margaret."
"No problem! The more the merrier." Mary Margaret turned to Regina. "I don't think you'll be able to get your car started either."
"I think I'll manage-"
"No, you won't." Gold cut in smoothly. He had the slightest hint of amusement on his face, though Regina had no idea why. He was going to suffer just as much as she was. "You're stuck here just like we are."
Although Mary Margaret still had a wide smile plastered on her face, Emma, David, Killian, Gold, and Regina looked as though they'd rather take their chances outside.
Author's note: Hope you enjoyed so far! What's going to happen with everyone stuck together? Will they end up killing each other?