Chapter Nine: True North
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Henry looked through the comic section of a convenience store. He flipped through one when a girl, roughly Henry's age, approached him.
"Whatcha reading?" She asked curiously.
Henry glanced at her. His eyes shone in recognition for a brief second. "The Hulk versus Wolverine." He turned to his bag and clutched it tightly. Nothing had been placed in it.
The girl bit her lip as she saw this. "I'm Ava," she said sticking out a hand. "I think I've seen you around school. You're in Miss Blanchard's class, right?"
Henry nodded as another boy close to their age walked up to Ava.
"Almost ready, Ava?" He asked.
Ava shook her head. "No, sorry. Henry, this is my brother, Nicholas."
Nicholas waved. "Hi. Come on, Ava – let's go. We can come back tomorrow."
Ava nodded reluctantly. "You want to come hang out, Henry?"
Henry smiled. "Sorry. Maybe some other time. I said I'd meet my moms later."
"Your moms?" Ava asked curiously.
"Regina's my adoptive mom," Henry explained. "I just found my real mom about a month ago."
Ava nodded. "Oh, I see. Well, see you around." She and her brother left.
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"Mom!" Henry called as he raced into the apartment Emma had with her parents. "I met them today!"
"Ava and Nicolas?" David asked. Henry nodded. "Emma's not here right now though, Henry. She and Killian when out to find something."
"Oh," Henry said disappointedly. "Okay. I'll just wait until they get back?"
David nodded. He pulled out a package. "In the meantime, I don't think I taught my grandson much sword fighting yet have I?" He held out two plastic swords.
Henry grinned. "Awesome!" He exclaimed. He grabbed one of the swords and charged outside. "You'll have to catch me first though!"
"Hey!" David laughed as he chased after Henry.
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"There it is," Emma said pointing to a house that was a blueish color with a purple roof and white fence. "Our house. Well, what should have been our house."
Killian sighed. "I'm sorry, Emma."
"No, it's not your fault," Emma said softly. "It's mine. If I hadn't made you the dark one-"
"I'd be dead, Emma," Killian cut in. "You saved me, even if I still ended up dead. You tried."
"This time," Emma said more to herself than Killian. "This time this is our house."
"And we'll get it cheap," Killian snickered. "Gold'll sell it for free if we ask."
Emma rolled her eyes. "We aren't doing that."
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"Hiya!" Henry cried as he sliced through the air at David.
David thrust his sword forward to block and quickly maneuvered it to hit Henry's shoulder. "Haha!" He said triumphantly.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Emma exclaimed as she jumped out of her car.
David and Henry froze mid-swing.
Killian followed Emma. "I'm sure the lad was just having fun," he defended Henry.
"Sword fighting?" Emma demanded. "Sword fighting is having fun?"
"I would have helped if I knew," Killian muttered.
"What are you two doing?" Regina shrieked as she rushed over.
"Sword fighting," Emma said. "They were sword fighting."
"No, no, no!" Regina commanded. She grabbed the swords and poofed them away.
"And no one saw that," Emma said sarcastically.
"No one did," Regina smirked.
"Ava and Nicolas met me today," Henry interrupted.
"How are we going to get them to let me drive them to their dad's?" Emma questioned.
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"I cannot believe I was dragged into this," Killian muttered as he waited for the Zimmer twins to enter the store. Once they did, he waited a minute before following them.
Standing at the corner of the isle over from the twins, Killian dropped a bad next to him and pointedly made sure his attention wasn't on the bag and he grabbed a few bags of chips.
"Is this your bag?" The girl, Ava, asked, holding up the bag.
Killian smiled at the girl and took the bag which was noticeably heavier than before. "Yes, thank you, lass."
Ava nodded and hurried off to her brother.
After paying for the chips, Killian walked off towards the alleyway where Emma was waiting near the end. If anyone asked, it was a short cut that lead to Mary Margaret 's house.
Just as Emma predicted, Nicolas and Ava tried to get the bag from Killian.
"Whoa!" Emma yelled as she entered the alley. "Hey, kids!"
Ava and Nicolas froze.
"What are you doing?" Emma exclaimed. She helped Killian up and opened the bag. "Stealing food? Why?"
"Our parents can't afford to buy food," Ava whispered.
"Just helping out huh?" At their nods, Emma continued. "Well, I'll let it slide this time. I'll take you home. Hop in." She gestured to the sheriff car.
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Emma pulled up to Nicholas and Ava's house.
Emma pointed at the house. "This it?"
Ava nodded.
Emma took off her seatbelt and got out of the car.
Ava's eyes widened. "Please, no. If our parents see you, they'll be so embarrassed."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Just tell them I gave you a ride home so you wouldn't have to carry the groceries."
Ava pleaded with Emma. "Please, no. We really don't want you to come up."
"Sorry," Emma said. "I'm not leaving until I get you inside safely."
"Look," Nicolas said finally. "Our door's boarded up. We really didn't want to tell you, but..."
"Lead me," Emma said simply.
They lead her around back, where they jumped a fence and end up behind the house, which they enter through the basement. Inside, Ava unpacked the things they picked up from store and Nicholas sat on the bed.
Emma walked up the stairs to the trapdoor. Opening it, she looked around. "Why'd you guys lie to me? Where are your parents?" She asked the twins.
Ava looked down. "We don't have any," she whispered.
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Emma took the two kids to her's and Mary Margaret's apartment.
"Okay," Emma said to them. "Why haven't you told anyone you were orphans?"
"Who were your parents?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Dory Zimmer," Nicolas answered. "We don't know who our father is."
"Look," Emma said. "I won't report you to social services. I was in it and trust me, it doesn't help anyone involved."
"Why?" Ava asked curiously.
"You get thrown into homes where you are a meal ticket – nothing more," Emma explained. "These families get paid for these kids and as soon as they're too much work, they get tossed out and it all starts over again."
"But they're not all like that," Mary Margaret said quickly.
Emma sighed. "All the ones I was in. So I know what it was like. Trust me, I won't let you go." She grabbed a baby blanket from a box on the ground. "See this?" She asked. "It's my baby blanket. It's something I've held onto my whole life. That's the only thing that I have from… From my parents. All of us – we held onto stuff. I want to find your father, but I need your help. Is there anything of his you've held onto?"
Ava nodded. "I might have something. But if I give it to you, you'll make sure we stay together, right?"
Emma smiled. "Right."
Ava pulled a compass on a chain out of her pocket and handed it to Emma.
Emma looked at it. "A compass."
"Our mom kept it," Ava explained. "She said it was our dad's."
Emma smiled. "Thank you."
Ava stopped her. "Did you find them? Your parents?"
Emma hesitated. "Yes," she said finally. "And now I'm going to find yours."
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Emma entered Mr. Gold's pawn shop. Mr. Gold was at the counter polishing a lamp.
He barely looked up. "Emma. How lovely to see you. I'm flattered you'd take time off your busy schedule for me. What could I do for you, Sheriff?" He glanced at the ever present dagger.
Emma followed his gaze. "Don't even think about it. Anyway, I'm here because I'm looking for information on this old compass. Any idea where it could have come from?"
Gold took it in hand and examined it. "Well, well. Look at the detail. You know, this is crystal. This jeweled setting… In despite the rather unfortunate shape it's in, this is actually a very unusual piece. The person who owned this obviously had great taste."
"And where would someone like that buy it?"
Gold smirked and gestured to his shop. "Right here, of course."
Emma nodded slowly. "You know him?"
"Indeed. A piece like this is difficult to forget."
"Do you happen to remember who bought it?" Emma pressed.
"Well, I'm good with names, Miss Swan, but maybe not that good. However, as luck would have it, I do keep quite extensive records." He walked over to a small filing cabinet on the counter and looked through it.
Mr. Gold smiled. "And… Yes, here we are." He pulled out an index card. However, he didn't read it to Emma.
Emma rolled her eyes. "What's your price?"
"The dagger."
Emma stared at him.
"Joking," Rumplestiltskin said lightly. "Forgiveness."
"How about tolerance?" Emma bargained.
"Well, that's a start," Gold said shrugging. "The compass was purchased by a Mr. Michael Tillman."
"Anything else?"
Mr. Gold shook his head. "Just a name. But I generally find that's all that one needs." As Emma went to leave the shop, he added, "Good luck with your investigation."
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"Hey, kids," Emma said when she walked into the apartment to see Henry, Ava, and Nicolas making cookies.
"Hi," Ava said looking up from the frosting.
Nicolas waved with a mouthful of frosting.
"Hi, mom!" Henry said joyfully. "Killian stopped by. He wanted to know if you had a moment to spare."
"I will once I introduce these two to their father," Emma said pointedly.
Ava and Nicolas stared at her.
"You found our father?" Nicolas asked.
Emma grinned and handed Ava her compass back. "I did indeed. Michael Tillman." She gestured to the door. "Well, come on. We don't have all day."
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Emma took the twins to the garage Michael works at.
Michael took Emma aside. "Not possible."
Emma sighed. "Actually, it is."
"I don't have twins."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Yes, you do. You have twins that have been homeless ever since their mother passed away. You have twins who have been living in an abandoned house because they don't want to be separated from each other. You have twins who will be entered into the foster system, unless you step up and take responsibility for them, and trust me, the foster system sucks!"
Michael glanced at the garage. "Look – I can barely manage this garage. I can't manage two kids. And why are you so sure they're mine?"
Emma pulled out the compass. "Have you ever seen this?"
Michael stared at it incredulously. "I lost this."
Emma nodded. "Let me guess – twelve years and nine months ago? I know it's a lot – believe me, I know. A month ago, a kid showed up on my doorstep – I gave up for adoption – asking for help with…something. And I ended up moving here for him."
"I heard about that – it's the Mayor's son. But staying in town is… It's a lot different than taking him in," Michael protested.
Emma sighed. "Those kids did not ask to be brought into this world. You brought them into this world – you and their mother. And they need you. And if you choose not to take them, you are going to have to answer for that every day of your life. And sooner or later, when they find you again – because believe me, they will – you're going to have to answer to them."
Michael looked at the kids. "Those are them?"
Emma nodded. "Those are them. Look, I didn't think I could do it, either. I gave up Henry because I wanted to give him his best shot. But once I saw him, got to know him, I couldn't go back."
Michael looked at them again. Finally, he went over and knelt in front of them.
Emma smiled happily. "See you kids around town then," she called as she walked away.
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"So," Emma said walking into Granny's. "What takes a moment of my time I must spare?"
Killian grinned and passed her a drink. "We got the house," he said. "Cheers."
Emma smiled, knocking her drink with Killian's. "Today was a great day."
"Tomorrow will be better," Killian decided. "Moving day."
"Enlisting help for the heavy lifting starts now," Emma laughed. They heard the sound of an engine in the distance. "August," Emma whispered. She and Killian got up to meet him.
When they got outside, a man on a motorcycle turned the corner and parked across from Emma and Killian. August. A large wooden box sat on the back of his motorcycle. He took off his helmet and approached Emma and Killian.
"Hi," he said. August looked surprised to see Killian, but masked it quickly.
Emma nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey," Killian responded.
"Is this Storybrooke?"
"Yeah." Emma answered.
August smiled knowingly. "Any place to get a room around here?"
"Granny's Bed and Breakfast is just up the road – another two blocks," Emma replied. "What's your name?"
August smirked. "Thank you. And that's for me to know and you to find out later, Emma." He turned around and walked back to his motorcycle.
"Hope I find out before August comes around," Emma called.
August froze before turning around. "Guarantee you will," he said shakily. He boarded his motorcycle and drove off.
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A/N: Yay! So Ava and Nicolas found their father and now August is here.
Next chapter: Belle's date with Rumple, someone else returns, and August is more involved than they thought.
So Rumbelle chapter coming up I suppose. What will Storybrooke think about Mr. Gold, the town Scrooge, going on a date? My goodness, rumors will fly!
Who is returning? Will it be Rumple with true love's kiss? Or will Robin come from a hole in the ground? No really, he'd be using a magic bean.
August is more than meets the eye this next chapter. No, he hasn't returned as well, but that's an amazing plot twist.
I've spent like two months making these past few chapters and editing them. It has taken forever!
