Once Upon A Time: The Devil's Journey, Part Twenty-Eight

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

(Another trip into the past... And little more rearranging stuff.)

Rumplestiltskin hobbled around camp, unable to forget the seer's words. They had haunted him all day though he tried to assure himself it was just the ramblings ofmaniac. One would have to be crazy to sacrifice something as precious as sight for such a so-called gift. He tried not to think about what she had said as he continued to walk around.

Night had fallen yet the camp was alive with activity. The ogres had tried to launch a nighttime attack and many soldiers had gone to fight them. There were still some lingering around the campbut their numbers dwindled as they went to replace the injured that were pouring into the camp. He stopped, watching as yet another fallen soldier was carried in on a stretcher.

It was a dwarf and his arm had been ripped off. He cradled his bleeding stump, howling in pain. Another soldier walked up, " Lucky bastards. "

Rumplestiltskin watched as another man was carried past, this one also missing an arm. " I think they'd beg to differ, " He said.

" But they're not dead... But they can't fight. Which means they get sent home, " The soldier said. " That's the only way out of here alive. When the ogres rip you limb from limb, pray that they're quick. "

Rumplestiltskin blinked, " But I'm injured. Why didn't I get sent home? "

The soldier pointed to him, " You set traps. You can do that with a bad legand you're too useful to send home. "

" Fortune favors us! " An officer shouted, drawing everyone's attention. " Fresh supplies have arrived from the duke. Tonight, we will not be marching into battle. We'll be riding. "

Rumplestiltskin felt a shiver go through his body, " Riding? Riding what? "

The officer looked at him like he was crazy, " What kind of question is that? A horse of course. Grab yourself a cow. Get ready! "

Rumplestiltskin moved towards him, " Wh-wh-what did you say? " He thought he had heard the man say 'cow' but he thought it was just his mind playing tricks on him.

" A cow, " The officer said. Rumplestiltskin stumbled back as he continued. " The saddles we just got in. They're made from the finest leather. We call them cows. Grab yours so the ride into doom will be a soft one on your backside. "

Rumplestiltskin motioned to his crutch, " But I can't... I'm injured. "

" The duke has decreed that all fit to ride are fit to fight. You can be helped onto your horse, " The officer replied then walked away.

The soldier that had been standing next to patted Rumplestiltskin on the shoulder, " You alright? "

" Yes, " Rumplestiltskin said though he was scared to death. The seer's words had come true, every single one. He knew if he rode out, he would die and break his promise to Muriel. He also knew he would never see his son.

" Come on, " The soldier said. " I'll help you with your horse. "

Rumplestiltskin gently pushed him away, " You go on. I'll catch up. "

He waited as the other soldier went to ready their horses before walking over to the crate. He looked around to make sure no one was watching before he leaned close to it. " So it's all true... I'm going to die and never see my son. "

There was no response from the seer, anger rising up in him because she had decided to play games at such a crucial time. He growled as he threw back the tarp to find the cage was empty. He let the tarp fall as he hit the crate and cried out in frustration. There was nothing he would do to avoid the fate the seer had told him about.

He looked around, seeing that everyone went to get ready for battle and left him alone in the part of the game he was in. He looked towards the trees, knowing of a path that led through them and away from the battle. He knew where the traps were on that path, having set them in case the ogres tried to attack from behind. He would simply avoid them as he escaped.

He looked over his shoulder one more time to make sure he was completely alone before hobbling as fast as he could through the trees...


Emma watched as Mr. Gold turned to the security gate. His initial reaction of being devastated by her news was soon replaced by determined anger. He began slamming the side of his hand on as many buttons as it could cover. " Gold! " She said sharply as she walked towards him. " Hey! What are you doing? "

He didn't answer, continuing to hit the buttons until there were none left. A moment later, a buzzer soundedand the gate unlocked. He opened it slowly, " Finding my son. "

Emma glanced at Henry as he got to his feet. Henry followed him insidebut Emma hesitated, " He's gone. "

He turned to face her, " He lives here. He'll be backand I'll be waiting. "

" Gold! " Emma called as he climbed the stairs, Henry right behind her. " You can't do this! Gold! "

He did not respond as he kept going until they reached the fourth floor. He struggled with the last few stepsbut it didn't make him stop. He turned down the hallway, Emma following since she was unable to stop him. " Stop! You just can't break in! "

" Well, that's actually something I'm quite adept at, " He said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out some lock picks.

Emma panicked, knowing what happened in the lobby was suspicious enough for someone to call the police. She wasn't ready to explain what they were doing to them. She had enough trouble explaining it to her mother. " He might not come back. "

He let out an exasperated breath, " Finding people is what you do, Emma. I'm simply going to assist you. There may be information in here... Who he is... What he does... Who he loves. "

Emma moved closer to him, " Don't do this. There are things called laws. "

" I'll be lookout, " Henry said and walked back to the stairs.

Emma reached to stop himbut he breezed past her. She turned back to Mr. Gold, " You could get arrested. "

" Then my son will have to testify against me, " Mr. Gold looked at her. " And we will be reunited. "

The lock clickedand Mr. Gold put his lock picks back into his pocket. He then opened the door, stepping inside the apartment. Emma and Henry followed him, " Gold... Gold, Please. We really shouldn't be here. "

" I don't think he's listening, " Henry looked at her.

Emma looked out into the hallway, closing the door once she saw no one was there. Mr. Gold moved around the apartment, Henry moving to look at things as well. Emma couldn't bring herself to do it though, not wanting to invade Neal's privacy. She did a visual sweep, finding it decorated with what looked like junk.

Some discarded lockers lined one wall, some of the doors slightly ajar. Henry was looking through them as Mr. Gold walked the floor, slowly looking at everything. A shabby couch sat along the opposite wall from the lockers, the end tables filled with empty beer bottles. There were too many for them to be all for Neal and it made her wonder if he was alone or there was a roommate.

Emma's eyes were drawn to the window. Hanging from the latch was something she never thought she would see again. It was the yellow dream catcher they had taken from a motel room, something Neal had given to her after they took it. When they were traveling, they would stake out motels, waiting for someone to not close their door completely.

Once inside those rooms, they would take showers, make love and take whatever they could carry. It had kept them going for a while until they reached Phoenix and the beetle needed work done. It was the only place they had really settled for long. She was surprised he had held onto, much like she had held onto the key chain.

She walked to the window, taking it down to make sure it was really the same one. She stared at it for a long time, her attention drawn to Mr. Gold when he asked, " Did you find something, dearie? "

She took a sharp breath, " Nothing. It just looks like a dream catcher... "

Mr. Gold narrowed his eyesand she looked away as Henry came to her side. " If it's nothing then why are you still holding it? " He asked, his tone letting her know he was suspicious.

Emma held it closer, looking at himbut couldn't respond. She knew she couldn't talk her way out of it. He was an expert at reading visual clues andhe had read her like a book. She moved back toward the window to hang it up again, glancing at him.

" You're lying to me, " He said quietly as he pointed at her with his left index finger.

" Let's get back to looking, okay? " Emma reached for the window.

" No, no, no, " Mr. Gold said. " You saw something. Tell me. "

Emma looked at him, " You don't know what you're talking... "

" TELL ME! " He cut her off, anger creeping into his face.

Emma turned to Henry, " Henry... Go wait in the bathroom. "

" But I can help. " Henry started.

" HENRY! GO! " Emma said sharply. She knew she was about to get into an argument with Mr. Gold andshe did not want her son to see it. They had had a few heated discussions before butthis looked like it was going to be a full-on fight with screaming, yelling and perhaps things being thrown.

Henry hung his head and slowly walked past Mr. Gold, giving him a glance as he did. He walked into the bedroom, the slam of a door a few seconds later telling Emma he had found the bathroom. She shoved her hands in her pockets as she returned her attention to Mr. Gold, " There's nothing here. The guy's a ghost. "

" You think me a fool? " Mr. Gold had his hands folded on top of his cane andhe stared at her. " You're holding back. I want to know what and why. "

" I'm not holding back, " Emma shook her head.

" Did he tell you something? " Mr. Gold took two steps towards her. " Out of all the deals we've made... I thought you would take this one SERIOUSLY! Did he tell you something? "

" Gold! " Emma took a step back. His anger came off of him in waves she could feel. He looked menacing, more so than he had ever been to her.

" Did he tell you something? " He asked again but sharper and louder.

" He didn't say anything! " Emma replied.

" But you talked to him, " He retorted.

Emma realized she had fallen into his trap. He had made her imply she had talked to Neal after she had lied and said he got away. She stammered, " Don't put words in my mouth! "

" TELL ME! " He shouted. He then gave her a look that chilled her to the bone, " Tell me or I'm going to make you tell me. "

" You don't have magic here, " Emma said.

" Oh I don't need magic, " He said in a low, threatening way as he moved closer.

Emma looked at his cane, knowing what he would probably use to make her talk. " You really want to do this? Think about the babies. "

" Then the choice should be simple, " Mr. Gold said. " Tell me what he said. "

" Gold... " Emma hissed. He looked like he was about to go into a rage and she needed to try to stop him before he did something he would regret.

" Do not push me, " He cut her off.

" DON'T push me, " Emma shot back.

" We had a deal! A deal! " He shouted, his eyes wild. He reached down, forcefully knocking over a tin barrel full of odds and ends. " No one! No one breaks deals with me! "

Emma was ready to defend herself when the door to the apartment flung open. " HEY! " Neal shouted as he burst inside. He looked right at Mr. Gold, " Leave her alone! "

A moment later, another man came inside. He was a little shorter than Neal, had shaggy mahogany brown hair, piercing brown eyes and features strikingly similar to Mr. Gold's. He wore a black leather jacket, a gray sweatshirt, tattered blue jeans and heavy black motorcycle boots on his feet. His eyes fell on Mr. Gold and he looked shocked to see him.

Emma heard Mr. Gold gasp as he fell back against the bookcase behind him. She looked at Neal, " Is this... "

" Bae? " Mr. Gold whispered.

The man behind Neal nodded once but said nothing. He looked like he was still trying to get his head around what was going on before him. Emma was relieved Neal hadn't lied about who he was. She had been so scared he really was Mr. Gold's son.

" You came when you heard I was here? " Mr. Gold looked like he didn't expect it.

" No. He came because I called him. I had a bad feeling after Emma left the bar, " Neal said firmly. He then gave Mr. Gold a cold look as he pointed to Emma, " I had to make sure you didn't hurt her. Bae told me what you do to people who break deals. "

Emma leaned back against the wall, able to breathe though she knew she would have some explaining to do. She had tried hard to be brave in Mr. Gold's face though he was so angry and it had taken a lot out of her. She rubbed her belly, the fear for her children's safety subsiding a little. She watched as Mr. Gold took a step toward Neal and Baelfire.

" You haven't changed at all, " Bae finally spoke. His voice was even and low, like he was unhappy to see his father. He glanced at Emma, " What were you going to do to her? Never mind, I don't think I want to know. "

Mr. Gold looked at him, " Please, Bae... Just let me talk. "

" I have no interest in talking to you, " Baelfire said flatly.

" Go, " Neal pointed to the door. " You heard the man. "

Mr. Gold shook his head, " I'm not going anywhere. "

" Neither am I, " Baelfire said. " I'm not leaving until I know thatwoman is safe from him. "

" Get out of my apartment! " Neal shouted. " Get out and never touch Emma again. "

" Neal... " Emma moved forward.

" Emma... I got this, " Neal put his hand up to silence her. She looked at him for a moment then backed away.

Mr. Gold looked like he was analyzing the exchange. He furrowed his brow, " You two know each other? "

Emma knew she had taken another misstep. Mr. Gold knew her well enough to know she wouldn't let some stranger push her around. She looked at Neal, unsure of what to say. He glanced back but remained silent.

" You two know each other? But how? " Mr. Gold looked shocked by the revelation.

" You sent me chasing after him, " Emma said, hoping he would go for it.

" No, no, no, " Mr. Gold put his hand up to silence her. " Stop it! You're lying! How could you? After last night? "

Neal furrowed his brow, " Last night? Emma, what is he talking about? "

" How do you two know each other? " Mr. Gold cut Emma off before she could answer. She really didn't want to answer the question anyway. Emma looked at him, knowing she was going to have to tell them both things they did not want to hear.

She looked at Baelfire, who was still standing by the door. He watched in silence, his arms crossed over his chest like he was waiting for something to happen. " Mom? " Henry's voice drew her attention to the bedroom.

He walked out, " What's going on? "

Emma put her hands on his shoulders when her reached her. She squatted down, flipping up the collar of his coat and looking him in the eyes. " Who's this? " Neal asked.

Emma looked at Henry again, " Listen... "

Henry turned to look at Neal, " Is that Baelfire? "

" No, " Emma said.

" Then the other guy? " Henry motioned to him. " Is the deal finished now? "

" I need you to stay in that room for a little while longer, " Emma dodged the questions. " Okay? "

She then turned him and hustled him back towards the bedroom. " Wait... How old are you? " Neal stammered.

" Don't answer him, " Emma told Henry.

" How old are you, kid? " Neal shouted.

Henry pulled away from Emma and turned to him, " ELEVEN! " He shouted. He turned back to Emma, " Now, why is everyone yelling? "

Neal looked at Emma, " He's eleven? "

Emma couldn't say anything. She knew if she said 'yes', he could figure out the truth on his own. Henry looked at her, a bit of fear and confusion in his eyes, " Mom? "

Neal swallowed hard then whispered, " Is this my son? "

" No! My dad was a fireman. He-he died, " Henry looked at Emma as she walked over to him. " That's what you told me... You said. "

Neal looked at her again, " Is this my son? "

Emma could feel her world crashing down around her. Though she had dodged one bullet, another hit her right in the heart. She reached up, running her fingers through Henry's hair as she looked down at him. She knew his world would shatter andhe would be angry but it was time for the truth.

" Yes, " She whispered.

Henry backed out of her hands, looking bewildered. Neal covered his mouth with his hands, breathing like the wind had gotten knocked out of him. Emma tried hard not to cry as she looked back at Henry. His confusion had become anger andhe shook his head.

He tried to say something but couldn't then headed for the open window. He ran out onto the fire escape, going to the furthest corner. Neal looked at Emma, still reeling in shock. She suddenly felt the need for air, going to the window and climbing out on the fire escape as well...


" Henry? " Emma said as she climbed out on the fire escape, Mr. Gold watching her. " Henry? "

Neal walked over to the window butMr. Gold reached out to him. " Stay in here. "

He shoved his hands away, " Don't touch me. That's my son out there. "

" And her son as well. Let her handle it, " Mr. Gold said quietly. " All I want is a chance to be heard. "

" Get out, " Neal pointed to the door again. " I don't want you here. "

" I don't either, " Baelfire said. He had moved from where he was leaning and walked back into the apartment.

Mr. Gold looked at his son. Baelfire looked away, avoiding eye contact like he had tried to do the whole time. " Please Bae. You came here to help this man protect Emma and show her she lived up to her end of her bargain with me. "

Baelfire nodded, " Yeah. Now she has so you can go. "

" No, " Mr. Gold said. " Our deal was for her to get you to talk to me. You have but one choice. "

" Do it, " Neal said. He sounded like he was getting tired of the whole situation. " Talk to him so he will leave. "

Baelfire frowned and narrowed his eyes, " You got three minutes. "

Mr. Gold watched as he walked into the bedroom. He then looked at Neal, " Don't let Emma go anywhere. "

" I'm not going to... " Neal said. " Not with you anyway. "

Mr. Gold quirked his mouth but said nothing. There would be time to reveal that later. At that moment, he needed to talk to his son. He walked into the bedroom...


Henry stared at his mother. He couldn't believe she had lied to him about his father. He had believed for so long his father was a hero and died a valiant death. They had been silent since she had climbed out on the fire escape buthe needed some answers before they went back inside.

" So that's him? " He asked quietly.

Emma looked at him, " Yeah. "

" Why didn't you tell me? " He asked.

" Because I never thought I would see him again, " Emma frowned. " I never wanted to. "

" Why not? " Henry asked.

Emma looked down to the street below then at him again, " He was a thief, Henry. A liar... A bad guy and he... Broke my heart. "

Henry could tell what his mother was saying was the truth because she looked on the verge of tears. He sighed, " I could have taken it, you know. The truth. "

" I know, " Emma said. She held onto the handrails like they were the only thing keeping her from falling down. Henry could see she was trembling a bit too. " It was just a part of my life... I wanted to forget. That's why I didn't tell you. I was thinking of me... Not you. "

Henry closed his eyes, still so very disappointed in her. She lied to him just like someone else always had, " I thought you were different butyou're just like her... Regina. She always lied to me too. "

Emma gasped at the comparison, speechless for a moment before she whispered, " I'm sorry. "

Henry swallowed hard, fighting back a lump that was coming up the back of his throat. He glanced down at her stomach, " Are you going to be the same way with the twins? Are you going to lie to them and keep them from their father? "

Emma moved her mouth like a fish out of water then sighed, " Things are going to be different with them. I'm a different person than when I had you or even when I met you a year ago. I promise... Everything that happened to you won't happen to them. "

" I want to meet my dad... And I want to know who their dad is, " Henry said. Emma looked shocked by the request butshe nodded her head. " I want them to know him too. Don't keep them away from him like you kept me away from my dad. "

" Okay, " She whispered so quietly, he barely heard her. She looked towards the window, " I'll go get him. "


Mr. Gold stared at Baelfire. He stared back and frowned, " Clock's ticking. "

Mr. Gold looked down at his shaking hands, knowing he had very little time to tell Baelfire what he needed to. He didn't know if he could cram it all into three minutes though. He looked back at his son, " I know I've made mistakes butyou must believe me... I want to make up for it. "

Baelfire looked away as he continued, " There's no greater pain than regret. "

Baelfire looked around the room as he tried to speak. It looked like it was hard for him then said, " Try abandonment. "

" Please, " Mr. Gold whispered. " Let me make it up to you. "

" You can't do that, " Baelfire scoffed lightly. " I grew up alone after I came here though I surrounded by other people who wanted to help. They couldn't because they did not understand. I grew up without a father andthat was the only thing I needed... I needed you. Can you make up for that? "

" Yes, " Mr. Gold said. " Yes I can. "

Baelfire glanced at the clock, " Two minutes. "

" Come with me to Storybrooke, " Mr. Gold took a step towards him. He knew a way they could start over from the point they had left off. " There's magic there. "

Baelfire hung his head and chuckled slightly at the suggestion butMr. Gold didn't let that stop him. " I can turn the clock back... Make you fourteen again. We can start over. "

Baelfire scoffed, " Fourteen? I don't want to be fourteen again. Are you insane? I've worked too long and too hard to have a semi-normal life andyou want to take that away from me? "

Mr. Gold stammered, " I can't make up for the lost time butI can take away the memories... The pain. "

" Wait... Wait... What? " Baelfire said. He looked like he was not believing what was happening. He glanced at the clock again, " One minute. "

" Bae, give me a chance, " Mr. Gold whispered. " You loved me once. "

" You were once a good man, " Baelfire said quietly.

" I can be that man again, " Mr. Gold said. He knew he could if he tried. Emma wanted him to be a good man andhe wanted to be one for her and their children. She believed he could do it without giving up magic and that meant a lot to him.

" I've changed, " Mr. Gold continued.

" How can you say that when I heard you threatening that woman? " Baelfire asked. " I could hear you from the hall! "

Mr. Gold blinked, wondering just how much of the fight Baelfire had heard. " I was angry, Bae. I didn't know what I was saying. I wasn't going to hurt her. "

" It sounded like you were, " Baelfire scoffed.

" I wasn't andI will never hurt her... Not like that, " Mr. Gold intoned firmly. He really wasn't going to do anything to Emma buthis anger had gotten the best of him. He knew he would have to answer to Emma for that later buthe had to deal with Baelfire first. He had to get him back.

He touched his chest, " Really... I HAVE changed. Look. I came here... To this city... Without magic, " Mr. Gold said.

" Yeah... Yeah and you're still trying to use it to make up for your mistakes, " Baelfire replied. " Still think that it can make it all better. It won't... It can't. You have no idea what I've lived with. You're so worried about you... You know what I've dealt with? "

" Every night... For more years than you could know... The last thing I see before I go to sleep is the image of you... You and me... Over that pit, " Baelfire said. Mr. Gold shook his head as he continued, " Your hand wrapped around mine... And then you open your grip. As I fall away, all I can see is your face... "

He made a flourish with his hands, a weak imitation of the same gesture Mr. Gold had made several times himself. Baelfire sighed, " Choosing all this crap over me... Letting me go. Now it's my turn... I'm letting you go. "

" I'm sorry, " Mr. Gold said as he tried to keep the tears at bay. He had been fighting them the entire time they were talking buthe knew he could keep them back much longer.

" I don't care. I didn't get closure so you don't either, " Baelfire shook his head. " Now go. "

" Oh Bae, " Mr. Gold whispered as tears started to fall from his eyes.

" No, " Baelfire shook his head. " Time's up. If you're not leaving then I'm leaving. "

" But what about Emma? " Mr. Gold said. He struggled for a reason for him to stay. " You would said you would stay until you knew she was safe. "

" I doubt you could even hurt her, " Baelfire looked him over with disdain. " You're nothing but a crippled coward. She could definitely take you in a fight. I'm not worried. "

Mr. Gold was paralyzed by his harsh words, unable to do anything as Baelfire walked out of the room. He startled when he heard the front door of the apartment slam shut...


" There, there... " Muriel comforted Baelfire. He had just turned two months old and was being fussy. She had gotten him calmed down though and walked to the makeshift crib at the foot of the bed. The child made her life a little less lonely as she waited for Rumplestiltskin to come home.

She had all the faith in the world that he would return though he had been away for almost a year. She knew he would do his best to keep his promise because he loved her too much not to keep it. She hoped that loved had only multiplied when word reached him that she had given him a son. She looked outside as she lay Baelfire in his crib.

She knew it was getting close to dawn, the sky darker than it had been earlier in the night. It would be yet another sunrise without her husband butshe could endure his absence as long as she had their baby. She pulled his blankets over him, caressing his little face as he started to relax and drift off to sleep.

She moved away from the crib, going to the fire to stoke it. She needed to fix herself something to eat before she joined her child in slumber. She would rest while he rested and most likely wake when he needed to be fed again. As she poked at the flames, a growing clamor of voices catching her attention.

She moved to the front door, opening it to see what the excitement was about to find a crowd of women and men on her doorstep. They glared at her andshe was puzzled. " What's the matter? "

" Have you not heard the news? " A blonde woman, someone around her age, said harshly. " The entire battalion from our village has been slaughtered by the ogres. "

Muriel gasped, her heart sinking as she went cold all over. She had not heard any such thing. Then again, she was mostly avoided by the other villagers because of Rumplestiltskin's reputation. " When? "

" Six weeks ago, " The blonde woman said. " News has only just reached the village. The duke's men went to see why they had not heard from that battalion and they found the tattered armor and the stripped bones. Everyone died... Except for one. "

" Someone survived? " Muriel asked. She didn't know how it was possible.

The blonde grabbed her by the front of her dress, " Yes. Your husband. "

Muriel was shocked by the anger that was being directed towards her. " But how do they know he survived? "

" An officer scrawled a letter, " The woman said. " It was brief but it said he fled before the battle began. "

" That's not possible, " Muriel shook her head. " He promised me he would fight. "

" They knew he was a coward so they made him a trap setter. Lurking in the shadows like the cowardly rat he was. My husband told me in one of his letters home, " The blonde tightened her grip. " The duke's men said his traps failed and, because of that, the camp was destroyed. "

" No! " Muriel gasped.

" Yes, " The blonde lifted her free hand and motioned to the crowd behind her. " Everyone here lost a son, a husband or a father because of him... And we've come to get our revenge. "

" But I have done nothing to you, " Muriel tried to pull away from the woman.

The woman nodded, a couple a burly men coming from the back of the crowd. " String her up... And if her husband dare show his face in this village again, he will know our pain. "

The burly men seized Muriel and started to tie her up butshe struggled, " But what about my son? He is but a wee baby. "

The blonde sneered, " The whelp can die for all we care. Take her! "

The men finished tying her up and lifted her from the ground. Muriel thrashed about, getting out of their grip. She fell to the ground, trying to scramble to her feet. She suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her head and everything went black...