13

Scheming Relations

"…WAKE UP!" Anne felt rough hands seize her shoulders and shake her awake. She opened her eyes to find her furious husband standing over her.

"Karl…what…stop…shaking me…" she moaned.

"You are lucky I am a gentleman or I'd do worse to you if I discover you are responsible for this. Now Where Is Our Son?" he demanded angrily.

"He's locked in his room," she insisted.

"Don't lie to me! He's gone and he couldn't have gotten out without your assistance."

Anne sat up in bed, clutching her belly. "Karl, please I am not feeling well."

"Your tricks won't work this time, Anne." He tossed her robe to her. "You will come downstairs and you will answer every question Rumple asks you or so help me it will be worse for you!"

Anne's hands trembled as she tied the sash of her robe. She intended to slip away from the manor on the pretense of going shopping to make certain that Avery arrived in town safely and was housed at the tavern with Cora. Now she knew that suspicion had fallen on her and both her husband and her snake of a brother-in-law would have her watched. As they emerged from their suite Anne spotted Bonnie Hopper and her husband walking down the hall.

"What are you doing here?" she snarled.

"Belle and Rumple were kind enough to let us stay until after the second ball," Archie answered calmly.

Karl smirked. "Well, it's only fitting. One day you'll be family after all."

"Now what are you babbling about?" Anne inquired of her husband.

"Oh, yes…you were indisposed. The Hoppers' son asked for our niece's hand once they're grown and she's accepted."

Anne's eyes boggled. "W…WHAT? But he's…HE'S younger than HER! The scandal…"

"Not as scandalous as tumbling in a stable with a young groom is it, Anne?" Karl hissed in his wife's ear.

"How dare you…" she muttered.

"So you see, dear wife ,you will cooperate or I will expose you for the whore you are."

"My son is following his heart," Bonnie declared proudly. "And I am certain their union will be as blessed as ours. Come Archie, it's a beautiful winter's morning and I would like to go for a walk."

He linked his arm through hers. "Lead the way my Bonnie Blue."

"Bitch!" Anne hissed as their backs.

"Eating sour grapes, Anne? I know well of your wish that Avery and Aurelia were not cousins so that he could be wed to her but you're a fool. Aurelia would not have him."

"Y…you're a disgusting, vile…to think that I would harbor…"

"Gossip reaches my ears," he informed her. "Now come along!"

"Ewwwww!" Aurelia cried as she came out of her own room, her face pale.

"What's the matter?" Bae asked as he approached her with Emma at his heels.

"Oh gods, Bae…our aunt….if Avery wasn't our cousin…she would've wanted me to MARRY him!"

Emma snorted. "Who'd WANT to marry that little demon? Not me. Your aunt has a sick mind kid. Be glad you ARE related but…there are some realms that permit matches between cousins I've heard. One of the girls at the home was taken away to be matched to a second cousin I believe."

Bae made a face. "Yeah…the one the Collins' are from does. I heard they're trying to match Jeremiah Collins with his cousin Millicent."

"Yeah well that mean kid's not getting anywhere near you, Relia. We're betrothed," Shane said firmly.

"I heard shouting when I woke up this morning. Something's going on and it's not good," Emma warned them.

Rumple's office door was ajar when they went downstairs and they could see him standing in front of his desk with Belle at his side, both angry. Karl escorted his furious wife inside followed by Cogsworth, August and most of the household staff.

"Shut the door, Cogsworth," Rumple commanded.

Bae tiptoed over to the door and pressed his ear to it, the conversation muffled at first until he moved his ear closer to the keyhole.

"What d'you hear Bae?" Aurelia whispered. Bae waved his sister away and continued to listen.

"It has come to my attention that Avery Chesterfield left this house sometime last evening and he was assisted by someone in this room. I am going to ask all of you to recount your actions from the time the ball began until this morning and I expect you to answer honestly."

Bae's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Bae, what're…" Aurelia asked again.

He shook his head and waved them away.

"It's got something to do with Avery. Know it is," Shane muttered. Aurelia grasped his hand in hers and held it tightly. "It's gonna be okay Relia," he soothed.

Rumple questioned Cogsworth first as he'd been given first watch outside of Avery's door, the servant recalling that he'd looked in on his charge once every half hour as directed.

"And the boy was in the room asleep during your final check?"

"Yes sir."

Rumple approached the servant standing next to him. "Adam, did Cogsworth ask you to take the second watch before he retired for the evening?"

"He did sir," the servant replied nervously.

"And did you check on your charge at all during your shift?"

"I did, sir."

"How many times? You were given a three-hour shift with checks to be done at half hour intervals. Six checks in total. How many times did you do these checks?"

He lowered his head guiltily. "Ummmm….three, sir."

"Three? May I ask why you missed the other three checks?"

"Ummm…I was…ahhh…a little tired…"

"Tired!" Cogsworth protested. "Don't you mean drunk!?"

"I wasn't…"

"That's not what Lumi…"

Rumple held up his hand. "Silence! Adam, were you drinking yesterday evening, violating a household rule that no member of the staff should be drinking while performing his or her duties? Answer honestly, lad."

"You see, Mr Gold….I follow the house rules….but my water tasted a bit…strange…and I was startin' to see things…and when I got up…I could barely stay on my feet."

"Lumiere, is this the behavior you observed?"

"It is sir. Adam was staggering about like a man who had too many nips of the spirits when I came up to deliver the boy's evening meal. I told him to go sleep it off and I would find someone else to take the watch."

"Berliotz, I believe you were asked to take the second watch?"

"Yes sir."

"Did anything unusual occur during your shift?"

"I just heard some odd laughter. Thought my ears were playing tricks on me or I was just hearing the party downstairs."

"What kind of laughter?"

"A woman's laughter, sir."

"Did you see a woman anywhere in the vicinity?"

"No sir. Just heard one. Then I went back to sketching….and eating some of those fancy treats Lumiere left when he brought up the boy's meal."

"I didn't bring any desserts up! We had orders none we to be given!"

"Mrs. Potts, can you tell me what you sent up as Avery's meal for the evening?"

The housekeeper recited a list of items, insisting that the tray of tarts Berliotz and Adam described should've been among the delicacies put out for the guests at the ball.

"How many tarts were made, Mrs. Potts?"

"Two trays of fifty sir and both were put out before the dancing started but we only found one tray while we were cleaning up after the ball."

Rumple moved aside to show the group the silver tray sitting on his desk with ten raspberry tarts along with a pitcher of water. "Do you recognize this tray as the one with the missing tarts?"

"Yes sir. The other tray was empty."

"How many of you sampled these tarts or the water?" he inquired. All of the staff members that had been working on the second floor the previous evening raised their hands.

"How many of you experienced the same symptoms?"

All but one woman raised their hands.

Anne glared daggers at her maid.

"Don't look at my wife, Evelina. Look at our host and by the gods you WILL answer his questions!" Karl barked.

Evelina's lips trembled.

"You sampled the tarts and drank the water yet you did not experience the same symptoms as the other servants in this house have?" Rumple queried. "Can you explain why that is, dearie?"

"Perhaps my servant has a stronger disposition than yours," Anne countered. Karl pinched her arm.

"You'll get your chance to speak and you will speak the truth!"

"We await your answer," Rumple reminded the terrified girl.

"I...I am sorry my lord...she...she...made me do it...she told me she'd lay a curse on me if I didn't obey!"

"Made you do what?"

Evelina's eyes met those of her mistress. "The Lady Anne bid me to sprinkle some white powder she'd given me on the tarts and in the water. If I refused she told me she would have a curse laid on me."

"She's lying!"

"I'm not lying!" The young woman insisted. "Please sir, I speak the truth."

He believed she was but he still needed further proof. "Your rooms and those of your mistress will be searched."

Anne blanched. "How...how dare you invade my privacy!"

"In case you've forgotten this is OUR house," Belle reminded her icily. "You are a guest and if we wish to have the rooms searched, they will be."

Bae backed away from the door as they were coming out, the children racing into the parlor. Karl kept a firm grip on Anne's arm as they ascended the staircase.

"Well, what's going on?" Emma demanded.

"Avery got out and it looks like Anne helped him by drugging our servants. They're gonna search her room now."

Shane snorted. "Probably threw out the stuff she used."

Bae shook his head. "I doubt it. My aunt is arrogant enough, like my cousin, to believe she'll never get caught and all her dirty deeds will be buried. But not this time. This time she's messed up. Because she did so in MY house, not hers and no one keeps secrets from Papa in his own home."

"Your papa is gonna throw her out after this," Emma said.

"Worse. He'll probably sue her," Bae smirked. "You never wanna get Papa mad like this. Because one way or another, you're gonna feel his wrath."

"Still gross that Anne wanted that nasty Avery to marry Relia!" Shane made a face.

Aurelia shuddered. "Never! I'd run away first!"

Bae shook his head. "Relia, Papa would skin that little roach before he laid a finger on you. And Mama too!"

"What's going on?" Archie asked, walking into the parlor with Bonnie at his side.

"My spider of a cousin escaped this morning and we think my aunt helped him by drugging our servants. Papa's searching her room now to see if she kept anything incriminating," Aurelia reported.

Bonnie scowled. "I cannot say I'm shocked but Archie, what if she...?"

"Anyone tries to harm you or the baby and they'll deal with me!" he growled.

"I don't think Aunt Anne's stupid enough to do that," Bae assured her. "Besides, she has more to worry about now that Papa's breathing down her neck like a watchdog."

"Where could Avery have gone?" Aurelia wondered. "It's not like he's got any friends around here."

"I don't know," Archie answered honestly. "But he's dangerous...that much is certain. He needs to be under a doctor's care."

"This is one time I am grateful you did not become a doctor darling or he would be your patient."

Aurelia made a face. "I'd quit if I had to deal with the likes of him. He's nasty and insane-only Aunt Anne won't admit it. Maybe she's just as crazy."

Bonnie sat down on the sofa. "She just refuses to accept the truth about her son."

"I think Uncle Karl's as fed up with her as Papa," Bae observed.

"She'll have to accept the truth . . . when Avery turns on her. And he will-he's like a mad dog, biting everyone who gets too close," Aurelia predicted eerily.

"Mr. Gold said we should start breakfast without him," Mrs. Potts said from the doorway. "Come along."

"Where's Mama?" Aurelia queried. "Is she not feeling well?"

"She's upstairs with Papa while they search the rooms," Bae explained.

"Then Aunt Anne better start praying."

"…I cannot believe you are letting that man do this to me!" Anne hissed in her sister's ear.

"That 'man", is my HUSBAND," Belle snapped. "And if you're not guilty, you have nothing to worry about."

Lumiere and Cogsworth had been assigned to strip the bedding while two other men searched the closets. Two female servants were searching the dressers.

"Sir, I've found something!" Lumiere exclaimed, holding up a jar that had been found inside the mattress.

Rumple approached. "Let me see that," he ordered.

Anne struggled to break free from her husband's grasp.

Rumple unscrewed the cap of the jar and saw a white substance inside. He gently poured a measure upon a small paper on the dresser and sniffed. "Poppy powder. I'm quite familiar with this. I used to use it when I first arrived home after the war."

"Now explain yourself wife," Karl sneered.

"Sometimes I have trouble sleeping!"

"Then why was this hidden in the mattress?" Belle queried.

"A lady likes to have privacy," her sister responded primly. "Unlike you, who allow your servants to gossip about everything."

"You've never had trouble sleeping," Karl denied.

"How would you know? You're hardly home." Anne flared.

"Because you've been curing your sleeping problems in the stables with our groom!" he retorted.

Belle gasped. "Anne, you didn't!"

"Karl!"

Rumple arched an eyebrow. "Well, well. When the cat's away the mice will play."

"You bastard!" Anne screamed, shoving her husband away from her.

Karl retained his grip on her hand. "You thought I was a fool and would never notice, didn't you? What other secrets have you been keeping from me, Anne?"

"None!" she protested.

"If you'll cheat on me once, you'll do it more than once. How can I trust anything you say?" His eyes narrowed. "Like my mother always said, when a woman strays like a bitch in heat, who can know the sire of her pups? Is Avery really my son? IS he?"

"Of course he is!"

"For your sake, I pray you aren't lying. As it is, you were found aiding him to escape from his room. You can't deny that."

Anne glanced over at her sister. "Belle, please. You would've done the same if it were your son!"

"No. Because I would have trusted my husband to do what was best for my child. Even if . . . even if it meant locking him up. Anne, can't you see, even now, that Avery isn't like other boys? He's . . . not right in the head. What sort of boy drugs an expensive horse only to ride him into a freezing pond and watch the horse freeze to death?"

"And that wasn't the first time he harmed a horse. What about Marigold? The horse was beaten before he made her jump over the fence." Karl reminded.

"That's not true! You're just making up stories!"

"Anne, I saw Marigold's body. As did Ashe, my head groom. And I questioned Avery-he admitted it." Karl said heavily. "He did so without any remorse. Like he did to Victorious."

"Dearie, I know children, and even a spoiled brat shows remorse for misdeeds," Rumple interjected. "Unless he feels none."

Anne attempted to cover her ears. "I won't listen I won't! You just want to ruin my son's life so your bastard can get everything!"

Karl shook his head. "No! I don't want everything I've sweat and bled for to end up in the hands of a boy who will spend it on frivolous things or use my money and power to harm my people! You've never understood that being a noble isn't just about the power and prestige-it's also about honor and obligation. And Avery lacks honor, just like YOU!"

"And what do YOU plan to do?" she sneered at Rumple.

"I plan to put you under house arrest while I scour the countryside for your runaway child. You've abused my hospitality beyond tolerance, Anne! And harmed people I care about because you only care about yourself and your son."

She glared at him.

"And once he's found, dearie, I am going to send you back to Chesterfield and tell you to never darken my door again," Rumple added. "Your husband may visit, but not you."

"Gladly!" she hissed.

"Now, you may stay in here while we search. Lumiere, lock the windows and remove any sharp objects from the room."

"You know where he is, Anne. Tell me before something happens," Karl urged.

"Where you'll never find him."

Karl snorted. "On your head be it if he falls afoul of some thugs and gets himself robbed or killed because of your stupidity."

"He won't," she said firmly.

"How can you be sure? Is someone watching him?"

"They are but I'll never tell you whom."

"I don't need you to. I'll simply question your maid she would know all the people you keep company with. The boy can't have gone far. He doesn't know how to get home. He's got the direction sense of a drunken owl."

Then Karl straightened as a thought occurred to him. "Rumple, have you a hound? One that can track well?"

"Copper is growing old, but I believe he can still follow a trail," Rumple said. "He was a fine hunter in his prime."

"Good. We should start the search immediately."

In the meantime, they would discover what other secrets Anne's servants were keeping.

They locked the door behind him. Anne threw herself onto the bed, pounding at the pillows with her fists. Surely her son would find some way to help her escape this hell.

Six men were sent into town to begin the search with Copper who had picked up the boy's scent from the stables. The children didn't doubt the boy would return to cause more misery for the family before he was apprehended still Belle would not allow the current crisis to put a damper on their holiday plans.

Meanwhile the servants began setting up for their own Yule Ball. Rumple spoke with August, inquiring about his stallion. August informed him Victorious was recovering well and the attorney planned to see him that afternoon.

He rubbed a hand over his eyes, feeling a headache coming on. Before he could question Anne's maid further, Karl spoke

"Rumple, may I speak privately with you?"

"Yes, please wait outside." he told the maid. "How can I assist you, Karl?"

Karl grimaced "I suppose I should just say it straight out- I wish to file for divorce. After this latest debacle I have decided Anne cannot be trusted, things have not been well for a long time, and I cannot live with her any longer. She is like a beautiful wasp, pretty to look at, but with a poison sting and no use for anything."

"I can't say I'm shocked", Rumple nodded. "I wouldn' t have lasted a month."

Karl sighed and looked at his hands. "I was bedazzled by her beauty and charm. I thought I had found a diamond in the rough and with some polishing we could shine together. But I fooled myself. I found fool' s gold and convinced myself it was real. By the time I began to truly see her for what she was, and my son was, I was married six years. I used to look at you and Belle during the holidays and be envious of you. The only time I ever felt like that was when I was away from home, on business or visiting Luci, my mistress I had before my marriage. She bore me a son, Samuel. We were happy together, but we both knew I could never marry her. After my marriage to Anne, I stopped seeing her and just wrote and sent a stipend for them, but after six years I was wretched and lonely, with a wife who loved my money and prestige more than me and my son a cold and cruel child just like her, so I broke the promise I made and went back. And it was then I knew I had married the wrong woman, but I couldn't in honor set Anne aside. That's why I was often so snide and arrogant with you, Rumple. Because you had the life I wished, and it made me jealous. But now I finally see clearly and I know I cannot live a lie any longer. I need to be free. Draw up the papers, Counselor. Once Avery is found I will send him to Breckenridge, for he is a danger to all and then I will have my will altered and legitimize Sam so he will inherit everything. I am finished being Anne's puppet. For once I want to be happy."

"I wish you the best. And shall draw up the papers today. Will you be giving Anne a settlement?"

"Enough for her to live as the daughter of the professor she was. Comfortably. If she is wise she will live within those means. Knowing Anne, it won' t be enough, but it's all she's going to get."

He knew it was only a matter of time before Anne was on the hunt for another fortune.

As for Avery, the boy needed to be apprehended and sent to Breckenridge before he gave any thoughts to harming Sam or Luci!

Belle was outside with the Hoppers and the children when they spotted a coach coming up the drive. Bonnie grasped her husband's hand and held it tightly as she recognized the elegant crest on the side of it, the Westmere crest.

"It's Mother..." she gasped.

"What does she want here?" he mused.

The footman hopped off the coach and opened the door, holding out his hand for his passenger. The Duchess stepped out of the coach, snorting in disgust when mud splashed onto her boot.

"You oafs! Couldn't you park somewhere else!" she ranted.

"Who is that, Bae?" Emma asked him.

"It's my gramma but I dunno why she's here," Shane muttered. "Prolly gonna start trouble!"

"Oh dear...is that powder in her hair? And she never had that mark on her cheek before...and her face..." Bonnie gasped. "Why, she's as white as a ghost..."

Aurelia giggled behind her hands.

Bae's eyes widened. "What...the...how the heck did she get her hair up that high...is it even her real hair?"

"Your Grace," Belle greeted cordially. "I must say I'm a bit...surprised to see you."

"You shouldn't," Galena Westmere said angrily. "Lady Du Pres informed me you have the little thief who robbed me living in this house and I demand you send her back to jail where she belong, immediately!"

"Mother, she didn't..."

"Hold your tongue, Bonita!"

"Now just a minute Your Grace, my husband invited Emma to stay in our home until the trial. He believes she is innocent and so do I. This is our home and you have no right to come here and make demands on us!" Belle said angrily.

"I most certainly do and you young lady, should remember that you do not dare talk down to your betters."

"Your Grace..." Archie began. Galena glared at him.

"Not one word out of YOU!" she hissed.

"Your Grace, I will remind you again that this is our home and surely you with your class and breeding should remember that you must show respect to your hostess," Belle countered.

"Your mama's brave," Emma mumbled.

"Excuse me, dearie, but here on Rose Heart, my wife is the queen, and mistress of all she surveys," Rumple declared coldly. "And you, Your Grace, are under OUR hospitality." He approached with all the bearing and poise of the gentry and officer he was.

"Don't you call me dearie you fool! That girl will rob you all blind as she did me along with her raping pirate. Do you know that scoundrel is back?"

Emma gasped and grabbed Bae's hand.

"No I did not. Are you certain?" Rumple queried.

"I've heard rumors that he's in town," she replied. "Mark my words: if you do not want to suffer the same fate as the Hoppers you'll get that girl out of this house."

"I want nothing to do with that man and his gang!" Emma cried. "I didn't steal your brooch Your Grace. I swear on my life I didn't!"

"The word of a thief is of little value to me," the Duchess retorted.

"I happen to know she was nowhere near your house that night, Your Grace," Archie spoke up.

"How? Have you been cuckolding my daughter with her?"

Archie's eyes widened. "H...How dare you accuse me of being unfaithful to my Bonnie! I would never..."

"It wouldn't surprise me given your background."

"And I will not tolerate you insulting my other guests," Rumple said icily. "I suggest you remember your manners, Your Grace, or you too will no longer be welcomed at Rose Heart."

"Mother, that is the last time I will allow you to insult Archie! He has been a wonderful, faithful husband to me, the best father to your grandson and soon we'll be blessed with another child. And I've gotten to know Emma well since she's been here and I firmly believe in her innocence too. And you should remember I of anyone would KNOW if there was darkness in one's heart!"

"Your Sight is blinded by love," her mother retorted.

"I don't need the Sight to see the good in a person," said Belle. "I observe it."

As the Duchess tried to approach Emma she slipped in the snow and fell to the ground. Bae, Emma and Aurelia tried not to laugh seeing her large wig fall off and roll over beside the snowman they built on the lawn.

"Knew it wasn't her real hair!" Bae snorted.

"Gramma's...bald!" Shane gasped.

She was also lying on her back, her legs in the air, weighed down by the metal hoops in her skirt.

Rumple attempted to help her to her feet. She slapped his hands away.

"Don't just stand there staring at my drawers you disgusting apes...get over here and pull me up!" Galena raged at her servants.

"Your Grace, if you would allow is to.." Belle began.

"You can stay away too!"

The servants grasped her by the arms and pulled her to her feet with a great deal of difficulty.

"Why doesn't she have any hair?" Emma inquired of Aurelia. The younger girl shrugged her shoulders.

The Duchess snatched her wig out of her footman's hands and put it on. "I suppose you all find this amusing!"

"Are you injured, Your Grace?" Rumple asked her.

"Only her pride," Bae snickered. "How she can move with all those hoops is beyond me."

"No," the Duchess snapped.

"Gramma, what happened to your hair?"

"Shane!" Archie exclaimed.

Aurelia looked away, amused by her betrothed's boldness.

"I wouldn't expect a shop boy's son to know anything about current fashions! If you must know, this style is rather popular at the De Cristo court."

"I wouldn't dress like that," Emma whispered to Bae.

"I will warn you again Mr. Gold...remove this girl from your house."

"She stays," Rumple said firmly. "But you dearie, have worn out your welcome. I suggest you leave before I have you escorted off the premises.

"How dare you?" the Duchess snapped indignantly. "I outrank you as a peer of the realm."

"Anywhere else except upon MY estate," Rumple growled. "As it states in the laws of this kingdom-"the landowner of any estate in the kingdom is accorded deference of a duke whenever he is in residence which supercedes that of any peer except the king himself. Even so, he has the Right of Refusal to host any peer or even the monarch should financial or other circumstances warrant." Rumple quoted from memory. "I am invoking that right now, Your Grace, for we are in the midst of a celebration and are ill prepared to receive you in the manner you are accustomed, as well as involved in a search for my runaway nephew."

He folded his arms across his chest. "Now, dearie, be so kind as to remove yourself and your coach from my premises, for you impede my search. And surely you wouldn't want gossip about how you imposed yourself upon my household and cost the well-being of a noble child, now would you? Because they do say the fae are always solicitous when it comes to mortal children. Or is that yet another fairy tale?"

The Duchess sputtered in the face of his rapier wit and snarky yet polite rejoinder.

"Take that, you old buzzard!" Aurelia hissed to Bae. "The law's the law. And nobody tells Papa what the law is!"

Bae nearly collapsed from laughter. He'd forgotten how much his baby sister had inherited their papa's sarcastic wit.

Emma too was snickering behind her hand. "Guess now she'll have to eat crow!"

"Please, you two!' Bae gasped. "If you don't quit it with the quips I'm gonna wet myself!"

Galena snorted. "This will NOT be the last you hear of me and were I still fae I would curse you."

"Take care Mother and remember Gloriana's warning...what you send out you receive back tenfold!" Bonnie cautioned.

Rumple shook a reproving finger at the Duchess. "Curse me for what? Speaking the truth? How far you have fallen from the fae who cannot lie and value truth above all."

He pinned the older woman with a sharp gaze designed to intimidate even the most hardened criminal.

She backed away. "Come along then," she snapped at her footman. He helped her back into her coach and they sped off.

"Rumple, I'm sorry. She can be so...difficult," Bonnie said sadly.

"Dearie, you don' t need to apologize. I had a difficult father myself. Till the day he died I was never good enough." He hugged her. "But I hope your mama will open her eyes one day."

"She hasn't yet," Archie said bitterly.

"One day she may come to regret those wasted years,"Rumple predicted.

"Yes she will." Archie patted his wife's hand. "But we're not going to let her ruin our holiday."

"No. I'll send Lumiere into town and see if those rumors about Hook returning are true. He can speak with Judge McLean. Meantime, we have another ball to organize,.and I need to see Victorious."

"Lets give the horses their yule treats, Bae." Aurelia suggested eagerly.

This was a tradition established years before when Aurelia was five. She had declared the animals deserved gifts as much as people, and began making homemade treats for them. Each horse received a treat bundle of alfalfa twists, a rolled oat stick basted with honey, carrots, an apple, and beet root tied with an edible apple peel bow. The cow received a braided corn wreath, the chickens small bags of seed corn. The hunting dogs all got a basted beef shank and dried beef treats. The cats received tiny sardines in a can and balls of yarn. Aurelia even made pinecones dipped in honey rolled in millet, sunflower seeds,and dried cranberries for the wild birds, putting them on the trees or down by the lake.

She went to fetch the bundles for the horses while Rumple visited his stallion. Victorious whinnied happily when he saw his master. "Hey, boy. You look better today." He ran his hands over the bay coat, noting the horse had been groomed, and was still wearing bandages. Victorious playfully lipped Rumple's coat, nibbling the buttons.

"None of that, you sassy imp!" The attorney scolded, swatting the inquisitive black nose. "Just because you're sick isn't license to misbehave!"

His horse rolled an eye at him mischievously, not at all deterred by the reprimand. He tossed his head, then nuzzled Rumple's shoulder. "Oh, you'll get your treat, never fear."

Rumple' s fingers scratched behind the bay' s ears, as Victorious leaned his head on the lawyer' s shoulder. "You know who loves you, don' t you, son?"

As he petted his stallion, Bastet emerged from the stall where she had been moved with her kittens, purring and winding herself about his ankles. "And I haven' t forgotten you, Mama Bastet." He knelt to stroke the gold cat and Victorious neighed jealously.

"Gods sake! I only have two hands," Rumple muttered. "You wait your turn, my boy." He ordered when the horse bumped his shoulder.

"Are they fighting over you again, Papa?" Aurelia laughed as she came over,her arms full of a treat bundle for both Victorious and Bastet.

"Yes, just like you and Bae used to fight over sitting on my lap," her father chuckled.

Bae and Emma fed Mirage and Starlight their treats.

Bastet meanwhile transferred her attention to Aurelia, standing up and meowing upon her.

"Here, Papa. You give Victorious his treat and I'll give Bast hers." Aurelia knelt to give the cat her sardines and cried, "Papa, Bastet had her kits. But where are they?"

"She's hidden them for safety, dearie."

"Avery's gone Bastet...can you show me where they are?

Sensing that her young were now safe from that evil child, Bastet led her young mistress to kits hiding place.

"Awww! They're really cute!" Shane cooed. "Daddy is getting us a dog but I want a cat too."

"Are we allowed to hold them, Bae?" Emma asked. "Do you think Bastet will mind?"

"She knows you won't hurt them my wild swan," he assured her.

Emma kneeled down and picked up one of the kittens, holding it tenderly. A smile formed on Bae's lips as he watched her, imagining her holding their own child in her arms one day.

I'll give her a houseful, he thought.

I want to be a better mother to my own child than my parents were to me were the thoughts on Emma's mind. No child of mine will ever be given away or neglected and they will face this world's harms like warriors.

She returned the kit to its siblings. Bastet meowed in approval and brushed against her legs.

It had been a difficult day for Judge Alastair McLean and his wife. The child they found on their doorstep had been abused and neglected also terrified that his father would come for him.

"It will take time but he will heal," the doctor assured him. "Will you be fostering him Your Honor?"

"I will," the judge declared. "And I am counting on your discretion. No one must know the boy is here until his father has been apprehended."

"But I assumed you would put the word out he is here to lure the thief in."

"No. I will not put the child through such trauma. I have another plan in mind, one that I think will guarantee success. Jefferson!"

A tall lanky youth wearing a large tophat raced up the stairs.

"Your Honor?"

The judge handed him a letter. "I want you to take this to Mr. Gold at Rose Heart and be quick, lad...and for the love of the gods don't call me Your Honor!"

"But Grandsire I thought that..."

"Oh never mind...be off lad!"

The judge's youngest grandson was considered the wild one of the clan but the boy's wanderlust proved useful over the years. He could ride faster than many of the soldiers in the cavalry and his vast knowledge of the realms proved to be a valuable asset to anyone who requested his services either for scouting or leisure travel.

The judge was not comfortable asking his dearest friend to use his annual Twelfth Night masque as a means to trap the realm's most notorious criminals but time was running out and they were running out of options.

As Jefferson was riding out he passed Rumple's own servant Lumiere riding to the house. "I have a message for your master," Jeff informed him.

"And I have one for your grandfather. Go on. Mister Gold is at home and you will reach him before I can."

The young scout nodded and urged his horse onward.

"Lumiere, what brings you here?" the judge asked him when he was escorted into the parlor.

"The Duchess of Westmere came to Rose Heart to inform us that Killian Jones is back in town."

The judge nodded. "My grandson is taking a message back to your master of a plan of action I would like to take for Mr. Jones."

The servant frowned. "There is another issue of great concern to my master. His nephew."

"What has that hellion done now?" the judge sighed.

The judge's eyes widened in shock as he listened to the servant describe the boy's twisted scheme to murder Gold's prized horse. He went over to his desk and took out a form, adding his signature and the date to it. "Take this to Lord Chesterfield. I will have another copy delivered to the proper officials and once the boy is apprehended he will be taken to Breckenridge without delay."

"Thank you, sir. I am also here to search for the boy."

"He's a slippery one but you'll have all the assistance needed."

The judge scribbled another message on parchment. "Take this to Mr. Gold as well. It is an order for a regiment to be on duty at Rose Heart during the Twelfth Night festivities. I am taking no chances."

Lumiere tucked both letters into the pouch he carried. "Thank you, Your Honor. Have a good day."

"No go...the sooner you find that boy the better."

Back at Rose Heart Karl sat in Rumple's office, Lord Chesterfield composing a letter to his solicitor with instructions to begin divorce proceedings against his wife and removing her and Avery as his heirs.

In their places my estate will be divided between Mistress Luci and our son Samuel whose heritage I have no reason to question. These changes will take affect immediately whether Mistress Luci is my bride or no. The Lady Anne will be given a house in town and a small stipend...that can be terminated at my discretion.

He folded the letter and set it aside to be delivered when Rumple sent the next group of servants out to search for Avery and began to compose another to his beloved Luci.

Think nothing of the tongues that will wag my beloved. I would have you and our son at my side on Twelfth Night and no others and if it is your desire and with our host's blessing, I would like us to be wed at the stroke of midnight during the ball.

Part of him feared that his scheming wife would find a way to rid herself of any threats to her fortune but he cast those thoughts aside and concentrated on the future.

Page~*~*~*~Break

"...It is a risky plan, Mr. Gold." Jefferson was saying after Rumple finished reading the judge's letter.

"Aye but a clever one...that old fox...still has a few up his sleeve. How is the boy?"

Jeff shook his head. "It'll take some time for him to mend but Grandsire will take good care of him. Never thought I'd be back in the scouting business so soon."

"No but you are best suited for it and my servants may need your help to track that troublesome nephew of mine."

"I have a lady friend in town that may be of some use. Her name is Ruby Lucas. They say she has the instincts of a wolf. I'll call on her and see if she can give us a hand."

"Excellent, dearie. Now I must go inside and talk to my wife, make her aware of our plans."

Jeff saluted him and mounted his horse. "Always a pleasure, sir."

"Rumple are you certain this will work?" Belle asked worriedly.

"The judge and I will be taking all the necessary precautions, Belle. If that bloody thief is in town there's no doubt in my mind that he'll try to come here in hopes of running off with our treasures but he is going to learn quickly that no one steals from me."

"And no one outwits Rumple Gold," she added with a smirk.

And with luck on their side their wild swan would be free at last.