Milah knocked hesitantly on the door of Archie's office, she had been thinking about Baelfire and Killian too often over the last few days and needed to confide in someone who would be honest with her.
"Ms Gold, are you here for the rent?" Dr. Hopper ask shyly, leaning against the door slightly. A look of disbelief crossed the woman's face before she huffed in irritation.
"No. Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Um... well it's because you…" Archie awkwardly cleared his throat, "Never mind, would you like to come in?"
Milah took a step forward before pulling herself back suddenly feeling ridiculous.
"I… I don't know." She muttered wringing her hands, Archie raised an eyebrow at the open display of nerves and pushed his door open wider.
"If there is something you feel like you need to talk about or get off your chest please, come inside."
She did so slowly, sitting on the soft couch opposite Archie's armchair.
"It's about my son." Milah began staring at the handle of her cane slowly turning between her finger.
"How old is he?" Archie asked, Milah huffed a laugh and shook her head, "Okay, why don't you tell me what your relationship was like."
"We were happy. For a long time, we were content with everything in out lives and then…" She cleared her throat and quickly blinked back the tears that pricked the corners of her eyes, "Then his father had to leave and things got difficult. I tried my best to keep him happy but I just drove him away, and he didn't deserve that."
"I'm very sorry." Archie mumbled, in the past it had been difficult to get the woman to talk about her life before Storybrooke, especially her son.
"What made you come here today?"
"There is someone in town. At first I thought it was him, everything this stranger seemed to do reminded me of my son but I realised that I was only seeing what I wanted to see."
Archie nodded in understanding, "So seeing this man must have brought a lot of memories to light, yes? Why not try and speak to this stranger, maybe he knows something that could bring you and your son together."
Milah thought about it carefully, she could speak to August and find out what he knows and why he chose now to come to Storybrooke.
"Alright," She agreed quietly, "I think it would be best."
"Wonderful," Archie smiled widely, glad after so long he was finally able to get the most feared woman in town to open up, even if it wasn't by much.
**Enchanted forest**
Baelfire eagerly led his mother through the woods, ready to use the magic bean and save her.
"Bae, slow down. Tell me about your talk with the fairy." Milah tugged on her son's sleeve to slow down his quick steps.
"She said that your magic was made with something she couldn't use that's why she gave me the bean. It can help us get away from all of the magic and you won't be tempted to hurt people." He explained excitedly, his nut brown eyes shined brightly even in the dark forest.
"Are you sure about this Bae?" She asked softly when the reached the place where Baelfire had met the blue fairy, "You will leave all of your friends behind, we will have nothing."
Baelfire shrugged staring at his mother with hope and belief, "We will have each other, isn't that all that matters?"
Without waiting he threw done the bean and in an instinct the ground caved in, creating a swirling green vortex at their feet. Milah stumbled back in fright, a memory she had forcefully pushed to the back of her mind making its way forward.
"Baelfire get away from there!" She shouted, reaching out to grab his smaller hand. Bae turned to look at her as the soft dirt beneath him was eaten away by the vortex and he stumbled.
"Mama!" he cried in fright, Milah gripped his hand tightly attempting to pull him back to safety against the power of the portal. "Mama, help!"
"Bae!"
Baelfire's hand slowly slipped through his mother's grip as the portal grew stronger and he vanished from sight into the green vortex. The ground closed up, leaving behind a shallow hole in the dirt.
"Bae! No, no, no, no." She scrambled across the ground in a delirium, her mind unable to comprehend that she had just lost her son, "Bealfire, please."
Milah spent what felt like hours digging hopelessly through the dirt until a soft, tinkling voice whispered behind her.
"Rumplestilskin, you were supposed to leave with him." It was the blue fairy, wearing a disappointed frown with her wand resting in one hand by her side.
"I… I couldn't." She whispered in defeat, "I tried, for him I tried so hard but I just… couldn't let go of the place I know. I didn't want to let him go."
"You didn't, Rumple. That wasn't your fault." The fairy consoled, as much as she disliked the dark magic she was surrounded in Blue responsible for the outcome.
"I did. I should have held on." Milah mumbled, she seemed to be in a daze and talking more to herself than the fairy.
"I am sorry. We have no other way to get to where the portal took your son."
Milah's head snapped up and her molten gold eyes turned cold as she watched the fairy closely.
"There has to be a way." She stated jumping to her feet, "A spell? Or a curse?"
"No!" The fairy squeaked jumping back through the air a little, "Trust the Dark One to think of using a curse instead of a blessing."
"So it is a curse." She conformed
"It can't be done, not without paying a great price."
"I've already paid the price." Rumplestiltskin snarled wanting desperately to lash out and swipe the flittering blue insect from the sky.
"Well, are you willing to sacrifice this world for the next? Because that's what it will take." Rumplestiltskin spread her arms out indicating to the clearing around them in a way that stated 'What do you think?'
"I shall comfort myself in knowing that a curse such as this is beyond your abilities."
"Oh ho ho, for now. Trust me Ruel Ghorm when I say that I will stop at nothing, I will do nothing and love nothing until I get him back." She swore and the fairy glared.
"I stand corrected. It is your fault he's gone, you've driven him away with your poisonous soul. Just like the rest of your family." She spat heatedly, disappearing quickly as the imp swiped through the air with her dagger.
**Storybrooke, days later.**
After August's disastrous attempt to manipulate the most manipulative being in the Enchanted forest, he made sure to keep a wary eye on the woman, despite the fact she had struck a deal not to hurt him August didn't feel all that safe when she was around.
He had been itching to get out of the small town for a little while and had found the perfect opportunity to bring Emma along with him to get her to believe as he was installing a wooden deadbolt to her and Mary Margaret's apartment door. The blonde took one look at it and laughed lightly.
"When are we installing the torture chamber?"
"You don't like it?" He asked with faux hurt, "I call it 'midevil chic'."
"I don't care what it looks like," Mary Margaret interrupted their friendly banter, "as long as it keeps Regina and her skeleton keys out."
"You know," Emma continued eyeing August a little, "that's pretty handy for a writer. Where did you learn to do this kinda stuff."
"Wood shop." August replied, packing away his tools, "In eighth grade."
At the mention of school Mary Margaret glanced at her watch, her eyes widening slightly as she grabbed her coat.
"Speaking of school, I gotta get going or I'll be late."
"Are you sure you're ready to go back right now?" Emma asked her roommate in concern, Mary Margaret waved her off.
"Oh, of course. After a stint behind bars for murder, how hard can a classroom full of fourth graders be?" She asked rhetorically with a laugh, "Trust me Emma, I'll be fine. Besides shouldn't you be the one that's worried?"
"Me, why would I be worried?" The blonde asked with a frown, August watched her for a moment.
"Uh… because you kind of threatened to take Henry away from Regina?" He asked more than stated, Emma's hand tightened around her coffee mug briefly.
"That wasn't a threat. I'm going to hire Ms Gold to help me build a case against her. I mean come on, she tried to frame you for murder."
"But you know what happens if you win, right?" Mary Margaret asked, Emma nodded a little hesitant, "Are you ready for that? To be his mom, not just Emma."
"Yeah, absolutely." There was no hesitation in the blondes voice this time, she would do anything to keep Henry safe. Mary Margaret nodded with soft smile at Emma's admission just Henry's voice crackled through the walkie talkie.
"Code red. Code red!" Emma grabbed the walkie from where it lay on the table.
"Hey, Henry. What's up?"
"Meet me at granny's. It's an Operation Cobra emergency."
"I'm on my way." Emma hooked the walkie onto her belt and grabbed her jacket before leaving with August following behind her.
"Hey, Emma. Wait up!" He called struggling to keep up with her quick pace. Emma half turned to face him but didn't stop walking as she replied.
"You heard the kid - operation Cobra calls."
"I didn't think you believed in any of that stuff."
"Oh I don't really," Emma shook her head, "but sometimes it's the only way to get through to him."
August regarded her thoughtfully for a moment before speaking his mind,"You know a custody battle with Regina won't change anything. There's only one way you'll understand what you're up against."
Emma crossed her arms and playfully narrowed her eyes at August.
"Okay new guy, how's that?"
"Take the day off. Come with me and I'll show you." He said with a smile.
"And where would be going on your mystical tour?"
"If I told you that you'd never come." August chuckled, Emma rolled her eyes and kept walking, "Oh, come on sheriff. Take a leap of faith, just come with me and I promise you'll find exactly what you need."
"My kid needs me," Emma spun back around to face him waking backwards into the diner with quirk of her lips, "I don't have time for faith."
Emma slid into the booth next to Henry and smiled down at him.
"Hey, so what's the emergency?"
"Shh. This sensitive." Henry quickly hushed her sitting back in the booth twiddling his fork, Emma leaned in a little.
"If it's so sensitive then why are we me meeting at granny's?" She asked in hushed whisper, Henry shrugged with a small grin.
"I'm hungry. Who else knows that we hide the book in the sheriff's station?"
"No one does, why?" She asked curiously as Henry flipped through the pages hurriedly.
"Because someone changed it. There's a new story."
"Wait. Why would someone add a new story?" The blonde asked, things were getting a little strange and she could know see why it was such an emergency.
"To tell us something about the curse." Henry guessed.
"And what would that be?"
"I don't know," Henry huffed pushing the book towards Emma, "The story isn't finished."
"Why would someone go through all the trouble of adding a new story without finishing it?"
"That's the thing, it's Pinocchio's story and everyone knows how that ends."
"Then maybe that's why it was left out."
"Or maybe there's more too it."
"Henry," Emma shook her head the boy, "you're going to be late for school, let's go."
**Enchanted forest**
A brutal storm raged over a choppy sea, a small raft was violently thrown across the harsh waves as cold sheets of rain poured down from the black sky. An elderly man tugged on the rope that held the sail of the raft up, carefully watching over his shoulder for the monstrous whale that was chasing them.
Movement from the other end of the raft caught his attention, a little wooden puppet Geppetto carved from a magical tree stumbles after a client lurch of the raft.
"Hold on, my boy!" He shouted over the howling wind, Pinocchio gripped his father's leg tightly catching sight of the whale breaching the surface of the sea.
"I'm trying, father!" The puppet shouted back, "He's catching up!"
Geppetto gripped the rope tighter as the current dragged the make shift boat further out to sea.
"The current is too strong! Don't let go!" Geppetto grabbed the single life vest and pushed it into Pinocchio's hands, "We must abandon ship, take this."
"No father, I'm made of wood. I'll float." The puppet pushed the vest back into his father's hands, shaking his head.
"We can't risk it, Pinocchio!"
The puppet ignored the old man as the whale once more breached the choppy surface prepared to swallow them whole. Pinocchio turned away and tossed himself into the water, leaving his father alone with the only life vest and the last words of 'save yourself' before he was swept away.
Geppetto awoke the next day on face down on a Sandy beach, small wave lapping at his feet and a bright sun burning down on his back. The storm had passed and washed the old man and the raft onto the shoreline.
"Pinocchio?" He called, relief and joy in his voice, "Where are you my boy? Pinocchio?"
Glancing around Geppetto saw his sweet, kind hearted son lying in half buried in the sand with broken bits of wood scattered around him.
"No… no…" Geppetto mumbled tears burning in his eyes as he dropped down and scooped the still form into his arms. "Oh no, Pinocchio. I wished I could have saved you."
A figure appeared on a large boulder watching the display with curiosity and longing. It was clear to see the old man loved the magical puppet he had created with all of his heart. Rumplestiltskin felt something pushing against her chest, a strange feeling that she had long since forgotten about.
"We still can." She found herself saying, startling the poor heartbroken man a herself with the softness of her voice.
"Dark one, you can save my boy?"
"Of course, if you wish me too." She shrugged, attempting to appear disinterested in the whole ordeal.
"Yes, yes please! I would do anything, just please save him." Geppetto begged. Rumplestiltskin choked on her own voice a little, instead of exploiting the old man's pain she simply waved her hand and pushed her magic into the puppet who shimmered before he was engulfed in a dark bluish purple glow.
When the magic faded away, it left behind a small red headed boy with pale skin and ocean blue eyes that were filled with happiness and where painfully familiar to the imp.
"Father? What happened?" The little boy asked glancing at his has very real and non puppet like hands. "I'm a real boy!"
"Thank you. Thank you, how can I ever repay you Dark one?"
Shaking her head a little Rumplestiltskin settled her eyes on the happy boy and made a split second decision to go easy on the father and son.
"Pinoccho, do you know who I am?"
"Um… Sort of, Ma'am." He replied politely, making the imp smile kindly.
"My name is Rumplestiltskin," She bowed theatrically, "And I have given you the one thing you desired, to be a real boy. Do you know why I did this?"
Pinocchio shook his head, a little frightened of the magic user. He had heard stories and he knew she was nothing like a fairy.
"Because you showed great kindness and bravery when saving you're father. And now all you have to do in return is remain brave, truthful and unselfish in everything you do. Do you think you can do that?"
Pinocchio hurriedly shook his head with a large grin, "Yes, yes. I promise ma'am. I promise."
Before Geppetto could show the imp anymore gratitude she vanished in a cloud of red smoke back to her castle, Geppetto and Pinocchio left the shoreline happily.
**Storybrooke**
August sat at the desk in his room staring mournful at the little hat he once wore as a child before shaking his head and picking the phone to dial a number. He waited for the other person to pick up, which they did after the third ring.
'What do you want?' Milah asked into the receiver with a bored sigh.
'Ms. Gold, we have a problem. We need to meet.'
'Oh, do we now?' Gold asked, clearly uninterested in what the half puppet had to say.
'It's about Emma.' August stated knowing it would gain the pawn brokers attention. There was a beat of silence between the two.
'Come down to my shop as soon as you can.'
August hummed his agreement before hanging up before he could stand though a wave of pain shot through his leg as it slowly turned back into solid wood.
At the pawn shop, Milah gently placed an old coo coo clock on one of the cases to take a look at, Bella stood to the side watching her boss curiously.
"What are you doing with that stupid, old clock?" She asked with a hint of a laugh, "It doesn't even work properly, I tried the other day."
Milah grinned at the young women who remained impassive, "Good, call Marco and ask him to get here immediately."
Bella huffed but turned away to call the old man with a shake of her head. Wondering, not for the first and certainly not for the last time, what her boss was up to.
Marco arrived not long after Bella had called and Milah showed him the old clock, kindly asking him to look it over to hopefully estimate a fixing price. The bell above the door chimed as Marco sighed.
"I'll be with you in just a moment Mr. Booth." She called with a slick smile, watching August pale drastically at the sight of the old man.
"I don't know Ms. Gold, I am very busy at the moment and I am only a one man shop."
"Oh not to worry Marco, please take all the time you need. I'll happily pay whatever you wish."
Marco gave a tired but warm smile to the pawn broker, there were very few people in town she showed such kindness and although he witnessed Bella, Henry and Ruby always receive kindness and respect from the woman. He, himself rarely gained such favour.
"Very well, I shall see what I can do for you." Marco nodded decidedly before scooping the clock into his arms and turning towards the door. "Good day."
"H- how are you?" August stuttered but it was too late as the old man had already left the shop in a hurry. So the writer turned to glare at Milah instead. "You're cruel."
"You say that as if it's new information dearie." She scoffed beckoning him forward, August complied somewhat hesitantly, "Now let's discuss why you're really here. You claim to be the only to get our dear Emma to believe and do exactly what she was brought here to do."
August nodded in agreement and Milah continued.
"But for a man running out of time, quite quickly I might add, you don't seem to be in much of a hurry."
"It's not me slowing us down, it's her. She has her mind set on getting custody of Henry, it doesn't leave room for anything else." Ocean blue eyes met amber pleadingly, "She plans on coming to you for legal advice."
Milah leaned back on the register with a mild look of interest, "And you want me to what? Steer her in your direction instead?"
"Look, it's the only way. I can get her to believing, I just need you to trust me."
A bubble of disbelieving laughter erupted from the brunettes chest as she stared the writer down harshly.
"I'm sorry, but just knowing who you are and your… well nature." She indicated to his half wooden leg causing August to shift uncomfortably, "Trusting you is a big ask. But not fear, I'll give Miss Swan the gentle nudge she needs."
"Thank you, Ms Gold." August sighed before limping out of the shop.
**Enchanted forest**
Geppetto stood with Pinocchio at a wooden table, he had decided to show the boy his trade now that he was old enough and to keep him out of trouble.
"Align the gear on the spindle. Now you press the spring." Geppetto watched as his son did exactly as he said, fixing the clock. "Bravo, my boy! Bravo!"
The little bird sprung forth from the wooden doors on the clock as it struck the hour and Jiminy cried out in fright at the sudden lurching movement. Pinocchio giggled at the consciences predicament.
"Did you do this Pinocchio?" Geppetto asked strictly while untying his friend, Pinocchio shook his head, "Remember what you were told by the Dark One? To always be a good boy."
Pinocchio's grin dropped as did his eyes, "I'm sorry papa, Jiminy. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
"Don't worry Pinocchio," Jiminy consoled dropping onto the table and shaking his head a little. "It was harmless prank, I'd be laughing with you if I wasn't so dizzy."
Geppetto opened his mouth to speak as the Blue fairy floated through the open window, sending the once wooden puppet a tense smile. It was a struggle for her to be so close to the boy as the stench of dark magic made her stomach turn.
"Hello Pinocchio," She greeted, "Geppetto I must speak with you. I'm afraid I bring bad news."
"Pinocchio go to your room, my boy. Jiminy, please keep him company?"
The cricket nodded and flew off with small boy, the fairy waited until she was sure they were gone before continuing.
"It's the Evil Queen… she has threatened the entire kingdom with terrible curse. A curse that will tear away all that we love."
"Then we must stop her." The fairy shook her head with a sad sigh
"I'm afraid it's too late for that, however, we still have some hope. That is if you will help us?"
"Me?" The craftsman asked, perplexed, "How can I help?"
"Snow White is about to give birth to a child, a child who will save us all on her twenty-eighth year. Only if she can be protected from the curse."
Blue allowed Geppetto to think about it for a moment before she continued with the idea.
"There is a magical tree, much like the one you carved Pinocchio from, if it's fashioned into a vessel it can carry the child away from the curse."
"But… my boy. I have already lost so much, I cannot lose him too."
"Then build the wardrobe Geppetto. Build the wardrobe and we can all be saved."
Geppetto nodded slowly before meeting the thankful gaze of the Blue creature.
"I will do it but only on one condition." He stated firmly, Blue held back a sigh, "My boy follows Snows child and he will guide her in this on this journey."
"But Geppetto…" Blue begun before noticing the steely look in his elderly eyes, "Very well. I will see to it that Pinocchio goes through the wardrobe before the babe, please come with me and I will show you the tree."
**Storybrooke**
August had finally convinced the sheriff to accompany him somewhere outside the town's borders, if only because Henry had said she should. He waited patiently outside the shared flat as Emma left waving a little at the wirter, shrugging her red coat over her shoulders as she did so.
"Hey, so where are we going?" She asked, swinging her leg over his bike and sitting behind him.
"We're going on trip." He replied easily revving his bike to life and taking off.
It took a while to reach their destination, Emma enjoyed the feeling of freedom being with August gave she didn't recognize at first the little diner they had pulled up at. Dread filled her stomach like a lump of ice when she noticed the cheery place, dread quickly bled away to anger as she spin on August.
"What the hell is this?"
"Last I checked it was a diner."
"Okay August, no more screwing me around." She growled, angrily stomping forward to shove him a little, "I'm not some character you can play around and mess with. What the hell are we doing here?"
"I think you know," He replied calmly as ever, reaching into his jacket pocket. "You've been here before because this is the diner you were brought to when you were found."
"So you found an article about me. So what? You said this trip was going to be about you."
"It is. This is my story and it just so happens to be intertwined with yours."
Emma scoffed, "And how is that?"
"I was that seven year old boy who found you."
With those words Emma felt her anger disappear and her parts of the walls she spent so long building around her crumbled a little.