Chapter 13: Old Friends, Old Enemy

Rose led the way onto the porch, the wind chasing the leaves around hers and Emma's feet. She opened the door and was greeted by the neat, if dusty interior of the Bed and Breakfast devoid of guests.

"Almost reminds me of a fixer upper," Emma commented.

Before Rose could reply two familiar voices reached her ears. Yet they were almost foreign since it had been ages since she heard the two speak with such anger and frustration.

"You're out all night and now you're going out again," Granny scolded.

"I should have moved to Boston," Ruby shot back.

"I'm sorry that my heart attack interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the eastern seaboard," Granny said sarcastically.

"Even if it didn't," Rose said, "that's not the best way to travel Ruby. Who knows what diseases you might pick up. Then what would we do?"

Ruby spun round from her grandmother, red highlights splaying through her straight, black hair. "Ari?"

"Why do I get the feeling you are still the same rebellious girl I used to know?" Rose asked with a smirk.

"Because things never change in a small town like this," Ruby answered, embracing her. She stood back, looking her up and down. "Still the little, homegrown nice girl?"

"With some street smarts now," Rose answered.

"Please say that you won't be feeding her foolish notions," Granny said, coming over with her own hug.

"Don't worry, Granny," Rose assured her. "I'll tell her all the downsides with only a sprinkle of the good. Besides, she no longer has anyone to meet her at any chosen destination."

"Who says I would need one?" Ruby asked.

"Your BFF who would rather you not end up on the wrong side of the tracks with no way home," Rose answered. "Believe me, all those big, 'exciting' places are just showing you a whole lot of glitter and sequins to hide the smoke and grime that tends to settle there."

"So, what is bringing you to our establishment?" Granny asked.

"My friend and I would like to rent a couple rooms," Rose answered. "Preferably side by side."

"Oh, sorry," Granny said, finally noticing Emma. "I didn't see you there."

"It's alright," Emma said. "She warned me that some people would miss that I was there during the reunions. No big deal."

"How'd you meet?" Ruby asked.

"I accidently sideswiped the car she was practically living in," Emma answered.

Rose winced. "It's not as bad as it sounds, but it could have been worse."

"Which?" Granny asked, peering sternly over her glasses. "The accident or the fact you were living in nothing more but your car?"

"Um, both?" Rose offered with a nervous grin and shrug.

"You can be sure I'll be giving you a lecture later on," Granny promised, stepping behind the desk.

Rose sighed. "Granny, it never happened after that. Emma helped me to get out of that 'barely getting by' lifestyle."

"How?" Granny questioned.

"Legally," Rose answered. "She actually hooked me into being half her team."

"Bailsbond person and bounty hunter," Emma said. "I tended to face the culprits head on, she provided any needed stealth and back up."

"Alright," Granny relented. "I'll consider going light on your lecture. Now, would you ladies like to have a forest view or a square view. Normally, there's an upgrade fee for the square, but considering the fact that it is Arianna and her friend, I'll waive it."

"What do you say, Emma?" Rose asked.

"Square is fine," Emma said.

"And your name? For the record books," Granny said.

"Swan," Emma answered. "Emma Swan."

"Emma," a man's voice repeated. Rose whirled around to see a humanized version of the imp, otherwise known as Mr. Gold. "What a lovely name," he said.

"Thanks," Emma said, almost uncertain.

Rose barely caught sight of Granny grabbing a roll of bills before putting it into the miser's hands. "It's all here," Granny told him.

"Yes, yes, of course it is, dear. Thank you," he said. He then turned to Rose, resting both hands on his gold-handled cane. "Arianna. It's been a long time."

"Not nearly long enough when it comes to you," Rose answered, turning fully in order to face him.

"I feel as though I have just been insulted," Mr. Gold noted casually.

"Maybe you should," Rose answered. "Though, I don't recall why I should have reason to be overly cordial with you." She so wanted to lay into him for breaking his deal with her. But that was impossible in public. Besides, he was cursed. He would have no recollection.

"What about just before you left?" Mr. Gold asked.

Rose hid her shock behind an impassive mask. Arianna and Gold had no dealings aside from the Home. Had he somehow retained his memories? "The deal fell through," she answered simply. "I have no obligations."

"You are absolutely certain?" Mr. Gold asked.

Rose stared him hard in the eye. "There is a reason I was the one who disappeared: you didn't uphold your end of the bargain. And, as I recall, all extra information you shared was bonus and not connected to contract."

"Quite so, quite so," he answered, giving her a small smile. "Clever and shrewd as always, Miss Nemo." A pause and then, "Any interest in what has happened while you were gone?"

Rose sighed, silently admitting to herself that he was the only one she had met so far that would tell her the fate of Ari's beloved Children's Home. "What's left of the Home? Did Regina manage to tear it apart after I left?"

"Oh, quite the contrary, dear," Mr. Gold answered. "In fact, I'll be stopping over there next to collect the rent."

Her heart leapt. "Everyone's still there?"

"As well as new additions," Mr. Gold confirmed. "Is this stay of yours one night, or do you plan for a longer visit?"

"Longer," Rose said.

"Then, I will let the headmaster know that you have returned," Mr. Gold said. "If you get to the school early enough, you may meet him dropping the kids off. He tends to be busy during the day, at least until school is done."

"Thanks for telling me," Rose said. "I'll follow up on that."

"Well," Mr. Gold concluded, "I hope you enjoy your stay, . . . Emma, Arianna." With those words he left as silently as he had come.

"Who was that?" Emma asked.

"Mr. Gold," Ruby answered. "He owns this place."

"The inn?" Emma asked.

"The town," Rose corrected, turning back around. She locked a gaze on Emma. "Make sure you never make a deal with him unless you have absolutely no other choice. He's the worst man you can ever deal with." She paused, releasing a soft breath as she smiled, "Unless it has to do with children. He may have drove a hard bargain for appearances, but he has always been supportive of the Home."

"Sometimes," Granny said, "I think it's just so that he can show up the high and mighty Mayor Mills." She then smiled a little herself. "But he has given that place more grace and cuts then any other property he's ever sold or leased. Some said it was because of Ari and her past, but when she left town and he continued to do so, it was figured that it was because of the children. Though we are all careful not to speak too loudly about it, for fear that he'll prove us wrong."

"Yeah," Rose said, sighing. "You can never really trust that man."

"So," Granny said, turning back to her book, "how long will you be staying with us?"

"We'll say a week for now," Emma said. "We'll try to find a more permanent residence before that. We'll renew if we need longer."

"Ah, long term stay." Granny gave a cheeky smile to Rose as her eyes twinkled. "I'm sure Nick will be happy to find out about that."

Rose shifted. "Alright, first Graham, now you," she said, shaking her head. "The two of us are friends, nothing more."

"Oh, you are blind, girl," Ruby said. "One would think that someone stole his wind and sunshine when you left."

Rose simply shook her head again. But inside, she started to wonder, had Ari really been that blind to not notice Nick's attentions? Or, was Nick just able to hide his feelings better around Ari than around other people?

She pulled herself from her thoughts as Granny handed over their room keys. She inwardly smiled when she saw that Emma's key had a cutout of a swan in the top of her key.

"Welcome to Storybrooke," Granny said. "To both of you."

"Thanks, Granny," Rose said. "Any chance we can get some take out from your diner?"

"Still love fried chicken and deep apple pie?" Granny asked.

"Oh, it feels like forever since I've had a proper away-from-home meal," Rose said. She grinned at Emma. "Trust me, Ems, you will never find a better home style meal away from home than Granny's."

"I'll be the judge of that," Emma said with a smirk.

Soon they were in the diner, placing their orders while Ruby and "Ari" caught up. Rose just couldn't seem to push two questions from her mind: who was the headmaster of the home and was Nick really that interested in Arianna?

Author's Note: Well . . . that went smoothly. A little headcanon of mine concerning Rumpelstiltskin, if I had actually watched through into the final seasons of the show, I have a feeling that it would have been blown out the water. So there will be some things that I will completely ignore about canon simply because I would like to have an all around happily-ever-after of some kind. We'll just have to see once I get to that time.

Well, next chapter we will have a peek at this Nick character we keep hearing about. And after that will be the epilogue. So, any theories about who Nick is and what he's been doing while "Arianna was away"? Or have I already revealed who he is and I can't remember? :-)