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Disclaimer: I do not own anything from OUaT or LXG.
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"Equivalent Exchange!" Nicholas shouted in a fluster as he pointed to a certain someone with blonde princess curls, "I'll give half of my life to you, if you give half of yours to me!"
For a moment, the sound of a soft gasp filled his ears before the response was given.
"NO!"
Absolutely ashamed to hear a proposal in that way, Sawyer ripped off the wig he was wearing to imitate Emma and proceeded to stomp on it in his fit of disgust.
"No, no, no! That is a terrible way to propose!" he shouted.
To clarify, Nicholas, Sawyer, Skinner, Mina, Jekyll, Nemo and Gilles were in the lounge room in the sublevel of the mansion. As the previous interaction implied, Nicholas was rehearsing how he was finally going to ask Emma to marry him. Needless to say, it wasn't going well.
The morning following Emma's fight with Gideon, the protectors or Storybrooke were trying to resume their everyday lives while keeping their guards up for another attack from Gideon. Snow was having breakfast with Regina and discussing Wish Robin, the Hooks were going over possible locations where Gideon might be hiding with the dwarves, and Emma was taking a day off to go on a kayaking trip with Henry. So, with everyone out of the way, Nicholas decided now was the best time to practice.
"Ugh, that was too painful to watch!" Mina groaned into her hand as she shook her head.
"I can't breathe!" Skinner said through his laughter.
"I'm sorry, Nicholas, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if she left you over a proposal like that." Jekyll added.
"Lord have mercy." Gilles prayed.
"Alright!" Nicholas exclaimed before turning to Nemo, "Anything you'd like to add?"
Placing a sympathetic hand on the alchemist's shoulder, Nemo took a deep breath and said, "That was pitiful."
"Aw, screw you! Screw all of you!" Nicholas shouted, "You're not exactly helping, you know!"
"Let's see now," Sawyer trailed as he fiddled with a marker as he stood before a large white board with marked out options they had already run through, "Using alchemy as a metaphorical proposal. Hard pass on that one. So, that makes a grand total of one, two, three…sixteen failed methods of proposal."
"This is just sad." Skinner remarked as he hung his head upside-down over the arm of the couch he was laying on.
"Oh, and like you guys have been supportive for any of these?" Nicholas asked as he gestured to his failed attempts, "Here's a thought: maybe instead of having Tom wear a wig and pretend to be Emma each time, I can actually feel inspired enough to come up with something you won't overly criticize! Seriously, why can't you wear the wig, Mina?"
"Because even though I am the only woman here, my assets are much too big for me to be a convincing Emma." Mina teased as she playfully pressed her breasts together.
"So, what, you're saying my chest is closest to Emma's?" Sawyer asked before a book was thrown at his head.
"Shut up, Sawyer!" Nicholas shouted before rounding on Mina, "And you! My Emma's body is a work of art!"
"Yeah, so was Andy Warhol's soup can painting." Mina playfully retorted as she examined her nails.
"That's it! It's go time!" Nicholas bellowed as he pushed up his sleeves, "You and me, right now, you Jessica Rabbit-wannabe!"
"What'd you call me?!" Mina snapped as she extended her fangs and lunged at her fellow immortal.
"I'm so glad Nicholas let us be a part of all this." Jekyll calmly remarked as he sipped his morning tea.
"Alright, break it up. We've still got to settle on the right method." Sawyer interjected as he separated the brawling immortals and tried to settle things, "Mina, let's face it, you are basically Jessica Rabbit's ideal live action actress."
"Fine." she huffed while crossing her arms.
"And, Nicholas, would it make you feel better if we say Emma could very well be the next Kim Basinger when she played Holli Would?" he asked.
"No, because I don't want you guys picturing her in any of those outfits!" Nicholas hotly retorted.
"Heh, too late." Skinner chuckled, only to have a book hit his face dead-center, "Ow!"
"Okay, I think we've gotten a little off topic; again." Sawyer sighed, "Can we at least settle on a top five best out of this crappy line up?"
"Personally, I favored him singing to her a romantic song, leading to him getting down on one knee and proposing." Nemo offered.
"Of course you'd pick that one; your wife's a mermaid." Skinner remarked as he held his bleeding nose.
"Dinner and a walk through the park leading to candles and soft jazz in the background!" Gilles threw in.
"You could buy her favorite flowers, cook her favorite dinner at home and recite her a poem expressing your love for her and then propose." Mina suggested. This, of course, earned some surprised looks from the others at how heartfelt her suggestion was.
"What?" she asked, "That's what my late-husband did when he proposed to me."
"As romantic as that sounds, Mina, it might not work the same way with Emma." Nicholas declined, "She's not big on flowers, or poetry, and her favorite dinner is anything with cheese."
"Well, fine. Don't accept my help." the vampire lady huffed.
"Still pretty sore that he gave you your ring back?" Sawyer asked.
"Hmph!" was her response as she jerked her head up and away from Nicholas' direction.
"Mina, I love you, and I appreciated the gesture, but it just wasn't the right ring." Nicholas gently defended, "I'm sorry. Please, forgive me?"
"…Oh, I can't stay mad at you." she relented, "The rest of these idiots, on the other hand…"
"What did I do?" Nemo exclaimed.
"What the hell are all of you shouting about now?" Quartermain asked as he entered the room with a cup of morning tea.
"I'm gonna ask Emma to marry me." Nicholas replied with a genuine, happy smile.
"Hmm…good luck." Quartermain curtly replied with a dry look as he toasted his cup.
"…That's all I get?" Nicholas asked.
"Has she said yes?" Quartermain asked with a grumpy sigh/look.
"W-well, no, but-"
"Have you even asked her?" he asked.
"…No." Nicholas sheepishly replied.
"So, what are you looking for? Do you want me to congratulate you on your ability to make a decision or your ability to ask a question?" Quartermain rudely asked.
"Man, you're a sourpuss!" Nicholas exclaimed as the old man ignored him and drank his tea, "I can't wait to see your wedding gift."
"If she even says yes." he remarked as he read the morning paper. Needless to say, Nicholas' mouth was gaping when he heard the comment.
"Okay. I'm out of here." the alchemist informed as he grabbed his jacket off a love seat.
"Wait, Nicholas! We didn't settle on a proposal, yet!" Gilles cried out as his friend went to the secret elevator.
"I'm not gonna do it now, Bluey." he said before looking dejected, "I gotta go ask David for his blessing."
"Seriously?" Sawyer scoffed.
"Yes, seriously." Nicholas snapped, "I kinda owe him that considering he missed out on every other important moment of Emma's life."
"Fair point." Skinner nodded, "But, do you think he's going to allow it?"
"Fingers crossed." Nicholas said before the elevator took him up.
Once the alchemist made it into town, he headed straight up the stairs leading to the loft. When David opened the door, Nicholas immediately noticed the semi-frantic expression on his face.
"Morning, David. Is this a bad time?" he asked.
"Nicholas. Not at all. Come here." David said in a rush as he led the man inside. Once he did, Nicholas' eyes widened at the elaborate set up of sketchets, sticky notes, red thread and charts pinned to a large bulletin board propped up on the counter.
"What the hell is this?" he asked in surprise.
"Tell me if you see anything; any connections, patterns." David instructed, ignoring the question.
"Uh, first of all, what am I looking at, exactly?" Nicholas asked.
"You know what this is?" David asked as he held up his father's coin.
"A very old coin from the Enchanted Forest?" Nicholas asked unsure of where this was going.
"This coin belonged to me when I was a boy on my parents' farm. I gave it to my father before he died. My mother and I were told he died in a cart accident because he was drunk. Then the Evil Queen gave it to me and hinted that it wasn't an accident. Then, after confirming with Rumple, I found out my father had been stabbed. I'm trying to figure out who did it and why."
"Okay…" Nicholas awkwardly trailed. This was not at all how he was expecting his meeting with David to go. "Are you sure you should be obsessing over this? I'm fairly certain the Evil Queen only gave you that coin to mess with your head."
"I know. I know. I've tried to fight it, but I can't get it out of my mind. I…I keep dreaming about him; my father. It's almost like he's haunting me, begging me to find out the truth."
"Are you sure?" Nicholas cautiously asked with a slight cringed expression, "I know I'm the world's greatest insomniac, so I don't have much room to talk, but are you sure it's just not because you've been staying awake longer than Snow, lately?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And don't tell me I need more sleep." David snapped, "I've had, plenty, and I still see him every time I switch out with Snow. I'd given up on him, Nicholas. What kind of son does that?"
"A son with a family of his own." he defended.
"I can't abandon one family for another." David retorted, "My father was a weak man, but he's still my father. He deserves justice. Will you help me?"
"Don't you think Emma's a better choice for this?" he asked, "I mean, this is kinda a family affair, it's her grandfather."
"No, no, don't call Emma. It's for that reason I don't want to worry her, or Snow. What I might have to do, they wouldn't approve of. You, on the other hand, are willing to cross lines no one else would. I need someone Extraordinary, like you."
"Agh!" Nicholas groaned as he smacked his forehead.
"What?" David asked.
"You basically just said the secret passphrase people use to hire members of the League." he groaned, "Now, I have no choice."
"Great." David said as he smacked the man on the back, "Come on. You gave me an idea."
Over at Regina's house, she was going over all the details she felt Wish Robin needed to know about Storybrooke; minus his alternate-self's infant daughter.
"So, everybody in this book lives here, in Storybrooke?" he asked as he flipped through the pages of Henry's book.
"Most of them." Regina nodded.
"I don't see any tales of you and Robin." he noticed, "That must be quite the story."
"It is." she said with a sad smile.
"Perhaps you'd care to share it with me sometime." he offered before the doorbell rang. When Regina got up to answer it, she found her half-sister standing on her porch in a huff.
"So, when were you planning on telling me?" Zelena snapped, "Where the bloody hell is he?!"
"Zelena!" Regina intercepted as her sister tried to barge in, "You can't see him yet."
"Why? Because he's scheming to take back baby Robin. That's not gonna happen."
"Trust me. That's not the problem." Regina assured.
"You haven't told him he's got children, have you? That one of them is here, in Storybrooke." Zelena asked.
"Well, I am going to tell him. It's difficult." Regina struggled to explain.
"Actually, it's quite easy." Zelena corrected, "You tell him that he has no rights to my daughter; none. And if he comes anywhere near her, I will make him bleed!"
"Go home, Zelena." Regina sneered, earning a haughty chuckle and sneer.
"Ta-ta." Zelena spat before poofing away. When Regina went back inside, she had found that Robin left through the window, and that the book pages had been turned to Robin's story; namely the illustration of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
"Oh, no." she gasped.
Out in the streets of town, Wish Robin was tracking hid old nemesis town, armed with his bow and arrows, and fired an arrow at the man's jacket sleeve, nailing him to wooden post he was about to pass.
"Fancy that. The Sheriff of Nottingham." Robin seethed as he strode up to the frightened man.
"No, no, wait." he pleaded, "Look, I heard you were back. Look, I'm not that man here. Nobody calls me that in Storybrooke."
"I'm not from Storybrooke." Wish Robin reminded before clocking the man in the jaw, sending him flat on the ground. As he laid there, Robin pulled out a knife and held it to the man's throat from behind, "You know, I could have killed you with that arrow. But after all you did to me, I wanted this to be more personal."
"Stop!" Regina shouted as she caught up to him.
"Regina, leave, now!" Wish Robin barked.
"Don't do this. This isn't you." she pleaded.
"No, you mean, this isn't him. This isn't your Robin, but me? I've wanted to do this for years."
Before the man could make good on his threat, Regina sent the former sheriff away in a puff of smoke, leaving only herself and the angry lookalike of her late-lover.
"What the hell did you do?"
"I sent him somewhere else before you did something you'd regret."
"Who says I'd regret it?" he asked.
"Well, trust me, someday, you would." Regina tried to assure as Robin flexed his fist in pain and frustration, "Here, let me see your hand. I know someplace where we can fix this up, but I need you to promise that you'll stop running away and trying to kill people."
"…Alright." he relented, "Lead the way."
After pulling up to his and Emma's house, Nicholas followed David as he speed-walked across the street to his yard.
"Are you sure Emma's gone?" he asked.
"Yes, she's taken Henry on a canoeing trip. She'll be gone all day. Why are we here?" Nicholas asked.
"Well, despite how smart you are, and how good you are at tracking, we need magic. Emma's got that." David replied as he kept pressing forward.
"Whoa, hold up. What is this?" Nicholas asked as they kept walking to the backyard.
"Emma's trying to break the curse, right? Regina just gave her a whole box of potions." David explained.
"I know, I practically need to wear a hazmat suit when she uses that stuff."
"So, we borrow a few ingredients and a spell book, and we learn what happened to my father." David explained.
"Wait, stop." Nicholas said as he grabbed the man's arm, "You're trying to cast a spell?"
"Look, if you're too afraid, forget about it. I'll do it myself." David snapped.
"Slow down, you idiot." Nicholas hissed as he kept following the co-sheriff, "I'm not afraid, I'm concerned. You really have no qualms about stealing from your own daughter?"
"What is with you today? You spend your whole life a secretive, lying, glorified murderer, and the one time I need you to be that guy, you get cold feet." David remarked.
"Maybe I'm trying not to be that kind of guy now that the Promised Day is over and all the Homunculi are dead." Nicholas snapped.
"Buddy, come on. It's just me here." David scoffed, believing Nicholas was just trying to pretend, "Now, I need a key to the shed and a lookout."
"Fine." Nicholas sighed as he handed over his keys.
"There. That wasn't so hard. Now, you keep watch." David said before heading to the shed.
"Think about Emma. Think about Emma. Think about Emma." Nicholas repeatedly told himself as he tried to control his anger at the man who might become his father-in-law. About five minutes into David's search, Emma's bug pulled up to the curb before she got out.
"Emma's coming. Hurry up!" Nicholas discreetly snapped. When the blonde rounded the corner, he intercepted her.
"Hey, gorgeous, what are you doing here? What happened to the trip?" he asked with a slightly nervous smile.
"Oh, Henry. I love him, but he forgot the life jackets, and you're the one who's been going on about boat safety." Emma smirked before trying to get past him.
"Wait, I can't let you in there." he said trying to sound playful.
"Why not?" she laughed as he pulled her back.
"Because I-I must have you." he said as he tried to dip and kiss her, earning laughing from his swan. Since this was in earshot, David shook his head and sighed in disgust at the thought.
"Wait, hang on!" Emma laughed as she stopped him, "You're forgetting something."
"What?" he asked with a smile.
"My superpower; I know when you're lying." she smiled.
"Aw, shit." he cursed in his head.
"What are you hiding from me?" Emma asked, still smiling.
"The truth is, um, I'm a bit out of sorts…because of Robin." he partially lied.
"Robin?" Emma asked, "Baby or Wish?"
"Um, Wish." Nicholas replied, "The-the team and I are concerned with him being here. And we haven't gotten the chance to find out whether this version is with the League, or not."
"Oh." she said.
"Yeah. And seeing this stranger who looks like our friend, it…made me think of you. I thought you were gonna die the other night. And me just standing there, helpless and unable to move, made me think of how I was unable to save our Robin. I don't want you to sacrifice yourself the same way he did. But, I know I can't stop you from doing the right thing. You're pretty much the only thing that keeps me going, Em." Nicholas sincerely said before noticing David leave the shed with Emma's box, "And since I don't need to keep all this stuff bottled up anymore, I felt like I should share these feelings with you before you went to the shed. So, feeling shared!"
"Well, I like feelings once in a while." Emma said with love before giving him a passionate kiss, "Now, why was I here? Life jackets. Right. See you tonight."
"Have fun." Nicholas waved as he watched her walk away and dropped his smile. He then rounded the corner and joined David head back to his car.
"Come on. Good work." David praised.
"Certainly didn't feel like it." Nicholas retorted.
"Well, it was. Now let's find out who murdered my father." David said, not caring about Nicholas' feelings, at all. Over at the vault, Regina was tending to Wish Robin's injury.
"May hand's really not that bad." he assured.
"I didn't bring you here for that." she said, "We need to talk. Were you really going to kill Nottingham?"
"Wait, you're not judging me for that, are you?" he asked defensively, "You told me it was your curse that created this place. I mean, bloody hell, look around. I mean, wh-what's in these boxes?"
"Uh…the hearts of my enemies, but, I-"
"Oh, and what about this?" he asked as he gestured towards a gilded box, "This looks nasty enough."
"Oh, no, don't touch it!" she warned as she stopped him from opening it, "It's…powerful. Yes, I know I sound like a hypocrite. But I have changed."
With a wave of her hand, she healed his bruised knuckles.
"Which is why I have to tell you something. The other Robin, he recently had a child. Well, two, actually, but only one is here; an infant daughter." Regina confessed, "But, I mean, she's not yours. Not really."
"Does the mother know that?" he asked, "Who even is the mother? You?"
"…My sister." Regina replied, "It's complicated."
"Apparently, everything here is complicated. Did you bring me here just to drop me in the middle of this mess?" he asked.
"I hoped I could be part of a fresh start. Your fresh start." she said getting choked up.
"And maybe one of your own, too?" he asked, getting closer to her.
"Maybe." she softly chuckled, "I don't know. I think if we give ourselves a chance, maybe you being here could be a good thing."
Hoping to seal her hopes with a kiss, Robin moved in and pressed his lips against hers. For a moment, it was like her soulmate was back in her arms. But as quick as the moment came, Regina quickly realized just how different the feeling was, and how wrong the situation was.
"Well then," she said after awkwardly separating, "How about I show you more of the town?"
At the loft, after bringing over Nicholas' spare chemistry set, the unlikely duo prepared the spell as best they could. As far as the chemistry aspect went, Nicholas had no troubles with the spell. However, it was the magical aspects of the procedure that made them both confused and worried.
"Well, according to the spell, this should show us where the coin was the day your father died and then it will show us where the killer is now." Nicholas informed.
"Okay, it says, turn counterclockwise." David read, "Do you think they mean the beaker, or do we have to turn?"
"…You never know." Nicholas shrugged before they both turned their bodies 360 degrees counterclockwise and poured the liquid into a larger beaker and added the remaining ingredients.
"Careful, if you turn us into racoons, driving that truck will be a challenge." Nicholas joked awkwardly, only earning a quick nod from David.
"Okay, there's fumes. I think we got it." David guessed before they both recoiled from the smell, "Okay, could've gone without smelling that."
"How do you think I feel?" Nicholas gaged since his sense of smell was much stronger. He then unfurled David's old map of the Enchanted Forest while David dipped the coin in the potion.
"Okay, let's find out where my father was before he died." he said before placing the coin on the map. Once he did, it began to roll on its own across the chart to a little island off the coast of the forest.
"An island?" David rhetorically asked.
"Not just any island." Nicholas clarified as he took a closer look, "I've never been there, but I've heard of it. It's a cursed place, born and fueled of temptation; Pleasure Island."
"Pleasure Island, why does that sound familiar?" David asked.
"Did you ever see Disney's Pinocchio movie?" Nicholas dryly asked as he gave his answer.
"August." David gasped before rushing out the door. After arriving at the garage and explaining everything to the former puppet, David handed the coin over to August so he could inspect it.
"Yeah, this is definitely the coin," he said, "And it was the last I saw of him when he left with the boy. And, honestly, I never put you with him, David."
"He went after James." the man exhaled in shock, "I thought he was just a drunk who fell prey to his temptations. He was trying to fix our family."
"He was stone-cold sober." August added, making David feel even happier and prouder.
"Thank you, Pinocchio." he said to the man he once knew as a boy before leaving with Nicholas, "I know who killed him."
"Really, who?" Nicholas asked.
"Someone you killed a long time ago." David replied as he held the coin.
"…That-that's a long list, David. I-I've killed a shit load of people." Nicholas bluntly reminded.
"George. Who else could it be but George?" David asked.
"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about him." he recalled, "Well, there you go. George killed your father, I killed George, the man's been avenged. You're welcome."
"Something's not adding up, though." David said as he shook the coin, "Why would the Evil Queen give me this just so I could learn my father's killer was already dead?"
"Got me." Nicholas shrugged, "Unless she wants you to get mad at me for stealing that from you. You're not mad, right?"
"No, but I don't think that's it." he said before pulling out the maps and placing them on a table outside Granny's.
"What are you doing?"
"The spell we used should tell us where the killer is right now, right? Maybe, they're in Storybrooke." he said as he placed the coin on the map of Storybrooke. When it finally stopped, Nicholas paled.
"Oh, crap." he muttered.
"His killer is…at the mansion?" David asked in shock as he looked at Nicholas.
"Don't look at me! I didn't do it!" Nicholas exclaimed as he raised his hands, "I couldn't have done it. I would have still been in Xerxes or Arendelle back then."
"Yeah, but someone on your team could've done it. Here." David said as he pulled out a zoomed in image of the mansion.
"You brought a zoomed in map of the mansion?" Nicholas asked in disbelief.
"No, I brought zoomed in maps of all the town's locations, just in case." David replied as he unfolded the paper.
"Dude, you're getting obsessed with this." Nicholas bluntly remarked before the coin moved, making him pale even more.
"Oh, shit!" he cursed in a panicked tone.
"What?" David asked, "What is that part of the mansion?"
"Um, well, th-that particular p-part of the mansion is…David, just let it go, it's not worth it." Nicholas said, practically begging.
"What is it?" he loudly asked, "You said you'd help me, Nicholas. So what is it?!"
"…That is…that is where Quartermain's room is." Nicholas confessed.
"Quartermain?" David asked as his eyebrows shot up, "So-so, you're telling me Allan Quartermain killed my father? Why?"
"I don't know, David." Nicholas exasperated, "I wasn't there. I don't even know when the man joined the League. For all we know, this could have been before he joined. He was a mercenary, in those days. That is all I do know about the man's past. Okay? Maybe George hired him to kill your old man. I don't know."
"That son of a bitch!" David seethed before kicking over a chair.
"Okay, are you satisfied now?" Nicholas asked trying to calm the man down, "You know who did it. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Not anymore." he snarled before storming back to his truck.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Nicholas said as he got in front of the man to stop him, "David, stop. I know what you're thinking, and it is not a good idea."
"Get out of my way, Nicholas." he warned.
"No." the alchemist said firmly, "Listen to me, you cannot go charging into this suicide mission. You'll only make things worse for yourself."
"I don't want to hear this from some frightened alchemist. I have to do this. My father deserves to be avenged. Oh, why am I wasting my time with you. It's not like you'd understand, anyway." David said as he pushed past him, only to be stopped again.
"David, I see the person who killed my father on a daily basis." Nicholas snapped as his worry was replaced with anger, "And worst of all, it's my own sister. You cannot win a fight against Allan Quartermain! You'll just end up dead! Revenge is not worth the kind of pain and humiliation that man will put you through."
"…I'm sorry for this, Nicholas." David said with a shamed look before quickly uncorking a small test tube of one of Emma's potions and tossing it on him. As soon as the liquid made contact, it burnt through the alchemist like acid, rendering him crumpled in pain on the ground. Taking the chance, David hurried to his truck and drove off to the mansion.
Little did Nicholas know, David was seeking revenge the entire time, no matter who it was that killed his father. So, in preparation, the co-sheriff had his sword wrapped up in the trunk, and his two glocks loaded and holstered in his shoulder holster. While he did not know Quartermain as well as Nicholas, thus knowing how powerful the old man was, David was not as afraid as he should have been. All he could think about was avenging the father he had scorned and resented his entire life.
Currently, he was several yards away from the mansion, but could clearly see both it, and the section he knew, deep within his gut, that Quartermain was residing in. Just as he was about to climb over the ditch he was covering himself with, Nicholas jumped out of nowhere and tackled him out of the way. Once he did, he took out a transport rock, crushed it, and teleported them about sixty yards further away from the mansion.
"What the hell?! That bastard killed my father, you know he did!" David yelled before running up and pressing a knife against Nicholas' throat as he pinned him to a tree, "If you take this from me, I will never, never forgive you!"
"Yes, he killed your father." Nicholas calmly agreed, "But killing Quartermain won't bring him back. It won't bring you the peace you're looking for. Giving into revenge, this temptation, will only bring you pain. Just remember what August said; how your father resisted his temptation."
"And it didn't work!" David cried as he shrugged away, "He still died. I thought he didn't fight for us, but he did. He fought with everything he had. He did the right thing. And it wasn't enough! So what if-what if Gideon comes back stronger and kills Emma? What if I can't be with Snow ever again? What if being 'Prince Charming' isn't enough, and I start losing, and it keeps going, and I lose everything that matters to me?!"
Even though he knew the risks, Nicholas made the hard decision he thought was best for David.
"Alright. If you wanna go and pick a fight with Quartermain, go ahead. But let me tell you this; Allan Quartermain is the coldest, cruelest man I know. I love him like he was my own father, but I know how he can be. If you challenge him, whether you go at him with the intent to kill, or not, he will show you no mercy. He will either kill you, or he will beat you to your knees, black and blue, and leave you alive so you can feel horrible about yourself for failing to avenge your father and daring to challenge him. And even in the unlikely chance that you do kill him, what then? It won't bring your father back. And Quartermain won't stay dead, David. If not by us on the team resurrecting him, he would still come back on his own. It'd take a like a month, but he can bring himself back to life. And what do you think he'd do to you if that happens? He'd kill you; and kill Snow in the process. All you'd be doing is putting yourself in a situation that results in the death of you and your wife, and your son without his father. Is that what you want to do? Put Neal through the same pain of not knowing the love of his parents like Emma went through? I can promise you this, David; Quartermain would still kill you, even if that thought crossed his mind. If you think the memory of a dead man is more important than your family, then go head. Go. Go kick the door in and call out Quartermain and have yourself your own Inigo Montoya moment before a bullet blasts through the back of your skull. But think about your father, first. How he put his family first and fought for them. He made a choice, and as noble as it was, it cost him his life. Avenging your father is noble, but it will cost you your life. Don't put your son what you went through; and don't make Emma go through it again, either."
It was difficult for David to know what hurt more; the truth behind the alchemist's words, or the fact he was actually doing as he said and decided not to risk his life and avenge his father. Tears of shame, defeat and sadness finally fell from David's eyes as he sunk to his knees and wept. Despite the tension between the two men in the past, Nicholas kneeled to David's level, tossed the knife away, and comforted his grieving friend. The pain of losing your father to murder was something Nicholas was familiar with, as well as the pain of letting his killer go unpunished. But Nicholas also knew that in times of pain such as this, the best way to begin moving forward was someone at your side to pick you back up.
As this happened, with his eagle-eye vision, Allan Quartermain watched everything from the moment David's truck pulled up. From his window, the old hunter simply shook his head with his permanent scowl and muttered to himself.
"So pathetic." he grumbled before closing the curtains.
Later on, after the sun had set and night had fallen over town, Nicholas had taken David to the pier to calm him. It had taken awhile, and many tears, none of which Nicholas held against the man, but David gradually made his peace with what happened.
"So, you gonna toss it?" Nicholas asked as he nodded to the coin.
"No." he said as he rubbed his thumb on it, "This is all I have left of my father. The only thing left of him. I gave this to him as a reminder to stay strong for his family. Now, I'll keep it to remind me of the same thing."
"That's a good way to honor him. I keep this for the same reason." Nicholas said as he pulled out his father's broach, "It really is the little things, isn't it?"
"Yeah. He-hey, I'm sorry about what I said earlier. That-that wasn't fair to you." David apologized.
"No, it's okay." Nicholas assured before looking around at the town he called home, "I think it's easy for people to forget that Regina had to kill our father to create this town. I often wonder if she, herself, forgets when times are tough. You know, when I first woke up in this place, all those years ago, I wanted to kill her. Truly kill her. I just couldn't understand how she was capable of committing such a horrible act. I never doubted my father's love, but I always knew Regina had a special place in his heart where I wasn't. And-and that's to be expected, I wasn't always there. Even after coming home. I didn't know how to act around them, or how to be a good little brother, or son. So, I thought, to spare him and my mother the pain of disappointing their hopes, I distanced myself from them. Thought I was too damaged for them. I wasted a lot of chances to build a connection with him as strong as Regina's. He loved us more than I thought possible for anyone to love anything; and she killed him. I may have wasted my chances, but she prevented me from ever having any more. And when she told me how even the curse still left her feeling empty, I wanted to kill her even more. But, that all went away when we adopted Henry. I started to understand the kind of love our father must have felt for us. And then when Emma came and started helping everyone, giving us all second chances, I started to see this town in a different light."
"What do you mean?" David asked.
"My father was a firm believer in second chances. And thirds, and fourths, and fifths, and so on. He saw the good in people like no one else. I like to think a part of him…lives on in Storybrooke. Like, his good nature attached itself to this place. Almost like this town, and all the good that's come from it is his legacy." Nicholas said before chuckling a little.
"Although, now that I think of it, there was this one time we tried bonding after I came home." he laughed, "We-we tried playing an old kickball-ish game, just to have some fun, and-and I ended up kicking the ball so hard, it hit him square in the face and broke his nose! I was so afraid I really hurt him, but he just kept smiling telling me he was okay and wanted to keep playing. I felt so bad!"
"Oh, that's nothing." David laughed, "I branded my father."
"What?!" Nicholas exclaimed.
"Yeah." David said sheepishly, "I was four or five and helping him out around the farm. He managed to get a newish horse and had to brand him. I asked him why he had to do that and rather than explain that it was to make sure people couldn't get away with stealing from us, he-he thought it was more appropriate to come up with some corny bonding story. What did he say? He-he said that the brand was a mark that represented the bond between a man and his horse. And that whenever something has your own mark, you are connected forever. So, he got it hot and ready, but set it down before he branded it to grab a pail and brush. I noticed his sleeve was rolled up and his arm was bare, so I thought if I branded him, he and I would be bonded together and happy forever."
"And then you proceeded to viciously burn him?" Nicholas asked with a smirk.
"Yeah. Right there." David chuckled as he clapped his hand over the top of his left forearm, "Never saw my mother laugh so hard in her entire life."
"You know, I think my mother would've done the same." Nicholas laughed.
"Heh. I really do owe you an apology." David said again.
"You already did." Nicholas reminded.
"No. For making you risk what you're building with Emma." he said.
"So…you think I'm good enough for her?" Nicholas asked.
"You've done the hardest thing anyone can do. You've changed for her. I mean, hell, you literally died for her! And today, you saved me from making a terrible mistake, and I don't know how I'm gonna be able to pay you back."
"Well, as luck would have it, I have an idea." Nicholas said as he felt a nervous pit in his stomach, "There's one way for you not to lose your family…and that's to let it grow. David…may I have your blessing to ask for Emma's hand in marriage?"
For what seemed like a century to the alchemist, David stared blankly at the man as he processed his request. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to refuse. But when his blank expression broke into a happy smile, Nicholas felt like the apocalypse had been averted once again.
"Of course." he said causing Nicholas to exhale and laugh in relief, "Of course you have my blessing."
"Oh! You kinda had me worried there." Nicholas laughed.
"Well, I mean, it's up to Emma, of course, but, yes, you have my blessing." David laughed, "I didn't realize you were so old-fashioned."
"Um, hello? Have you not see my car or my pipe? I'm about as old fashioned as it gets around here." he laughed.
"Fair point." David laughed, "Were you really that nervous?"
"Why would I be nervous? Prince Charming doesn't set the bar high at all."
"Well, I am overdue to wake up Snow, but I won't tell her the news until it's official." he assured.
"I appreciate that, David; all of it." Nicholas sincerely said as they head back to their homes.
Later on, after David had switched with Snow, the former princess called to check up on Regina. Ever since their conversation regarding Wish Robin, she had been concerned for her friend's grip on things.
"So, you talked to Robin?" Snow asked, "How did it go? Did you tell him about the baby?"
"I did." Regina nodded, "And, well…we sort of fought about it, and then…there was a kiss. And it was nothing. It was like kissing a photograph. Like it isn't him. It just isn't, and you were right."
"I'm sorry." Snow said as she poured them some tea, "I didn't want to be right."
"Well, it's not your fault. It's mine. I just wanted to believe." she said, "I mean, there has to be a reason he made it through that portal, right? And if I'm not the reason, then what is?"
"The way I see it, he made it through that portal because he has something it recognized as real. Maybe it's not about there being a reason why. Maybe it's just who he is." Snow offered.
"Well, he's certainly not my Robin Hood. So, who is he, and what does he want?" Regina asked.
In response to this question, Wish Robin was back at the vault, breaking open the chest containing the mysterious box he found earlier. Without any empathy, he just simply strolled out of the vault without a care in the world.
Meanwhile, before heading home to the woman who may very well become his wife very soon, Nicholas made a little detour to the mansion. Before he was going to fully commit himself to his woman, he had to clear the air on her grandfather's death. Once he was inside, he followed his nose to find Quartermain polishing his precious riffle in the debriefing room.
"You got a minute?" Nicholas flatly asked from behind.
"Perhaps." the old gruffly replied, not even bothering to look up from his weapon.
"Did you do it?"
"Do what?" Quartermain asked.
"You know what I'm talking about. You saw the whole thing earlier. Don't deny it. You know why David and I were out there, and what he was planning to do. All I want to know is if you really did kill his father, and why?"
"Would it change anything, regardless of what my answer is?" he asked, bored of the conversation.
"Just say yes or no, you old bastard." Nicholas sighed.
"Very well." Quartermain curtly said as he finished his functions test on the riffle and turned towards his subordinate, "Yes, I did. I killed that man's father."
"Why?"
"He was weak." Quartermain replied without hesitation, "He was a pathetic man who failed his family. Furthermore, he was undeservingly married to a woman whom was very dear to me. She deserved far better than him, especially when he gave away one of his sons to a warmongering tyrant. So, when I heard that King George's son had run away, and there was a reward instore for his return, I went looking, found the miserable bastard, and killed two birds with one stone. Or rather, one knife in the back. Was there anything else you'd like to know, Agent Flamel?"
"…No, Agent Quartermain, there was not." Nicholas coldly said before turning around to leave, "Goodnight."
See? I told you I was gonna make a lot of changes for this season. Let's face it, I had to do something to make up for killing George back in season 2. It's kind of ironic that actor only made one more appearance in this episode, huh?
I've really made Quartermain a cold-hearted bastard, huh? He really hated David's father. I didn't do the flashbacks for this because I'm trying to get through this season as fast as I can. Although, I am going to include them at a later date. At some point, I'm going to do chapters for each of the LXG members we've met/lost so far. Basically, they'll be the origin stories. So, you'll see Quartermain kill David's father at some point or another. I may even make that a separate story on the side. Or they'll be filler chapters following season 6, or following the mini saga after season 6. I haven't decided yet. It'll be a while though.
I hope you liked that bit about Henry Senior I threw in there. If there was one thing I've come to regret with this fic it's that I never did much interaction and bonding for Nicholas and his father. Even when they were reunited in the Underworld. If it weren't for the fact that I hate back tracking, I might have gone back and tried to find a way to give them a better connection, even just a little. Hopefully, you all agreed with Nicholas and have come to see Storybrooke as that kind man's legacy. Certainly wouldn't have killed the writers of the show to mention that at least once.
As for the proposal, I do have something planned for it, so just be a little patient. I can tell you this, though, and I say this a straight male, I am not putting Emma in that hideous wedding dress they originally used! I don't care if it's cannon, that dress was ugly as hell! And her hair? Hell no! I'll be honest, I'm tempted to write her description as a match to how my sister looked at her wedding. I mean, I get Storybrooke was stuck in the 80s for 28 years, but they couldn't have gone with a dress that wasn't from that time period? Again, I say all this as a straight male; who was very disappointed in Emma's appearance.
Any who, I hope all you guys and gals enjoyed this chapter and are eager for more. Until then, stay tuned!
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