Grace had always been a proper little lady, mature beyond her years in many ways. That didn't mean she didn't have moments when she found trouble. She had always loved walks in the woods, especially since they were special times she shared with her father. One bright morning though, spring was just calling too strongly for her to wait until he woke up.

The damp air was thick with the smell of new spring flowers, and she was sure she could find some mushrooms. Jefferson always complimented how good she was at finding them. It would be a wonderful surprise if she could find some and bring them back before he woke up. He'd be so proud of her.

She left quietly as her father slept, soon finding the mushrooms easily. What she couldn't find was her way back. She'd thought she'd only gone a short way off the path. She'd followed one clump of mushrooms, then another. She thought she recognized a clump of bushes and went towards them. She was certain she couldn't be too lost. She'd been in the woods with her father a million times.

She might have found her way back yet, but in looking for the path, she wasn't watching her feet. She knew there was a river behind her. She could hear the water rushing. She was simply too focused on finding her way back to realize how close she was to the edge.

It was lucky for her that her father was nearby. She heard him call her name, and turned to call for him. In turning, she slipped over the edge.

"Grace? Grace!" Jefferson heard her scream and ran to the edge. He jumped in after her, but by the time he got to her and pulled her to land, she was unconscious. He couldn't get her to wake up, but he knew who could. There was no time to get to Rumple's castle, but luckily he had a two way mirror. Without even waiting for Rumple to say anything, he shouted "I need you to transport us to your castle! Now!"

Rumple wasted no words, and the next thing Jefferson knew he was in the castle holding Grace, Rumple beside him.

"She fell in the river," Jefferson choked out. Almost before he finished the sentence, Grace coughed and opened her eyes.

"Papa?"

Jefferson held her do him.

"Grace don't you ever leave the house without me like that. You could have been killed."

She hugged him and laid her head against him.

"I'm sorry, Papa. I just wanted to surprise you."

"Some surprise it almost turned out to be." He was shaking as he held her. "I can't lose you, Grace."

"I'm all right, Papa," she reassured him.

"Thanks to Rumple," he reminded her. She looked to her honorary uncle.

"Thanks, Uncle Rumple." She hugged him and he hugged her back. He was good at hiding his feelings, but Jefferson could tell how relieved he was that Grace was all right.

"Why don't you go into the next room, Dearie? I have a surprise there I was going to give you later. No reason you can't have it now."

With a smile, she went to find her surprise. Jefferson looked to Rumple, and was so weak with relief the mage had to conjure a chair for him.

"It's amazing how someone so small can cause such big fear in the people who love her," Jefferson commented.

"I know exactly what you mean, Dearie," Rumple answered. "When Bae was about her age-." Then he stopped, realizing what he'd said.

"Bae?" Jefferson asked. He had long ago guessed that Rumple had to be a father. He was too good with children not to be. That was no surprise. The name was though. It was a name Jefferson had heard before. Rumple had never opened up this much about his past and didn't confirm Jefferson's suspicions right away. He looked lost a moment before he answered.

"My son."

"Bae, short for Baelfire?" Jefferson asked. He saw that almost insane desperation he'd seen in Rumple's eyes when he'd first learned Jefferson could travel between realms. Had he not known Rumple, he would probably have been afraid then. Instead he continued. Bae was a common enough nickname for Baelfire, although Baelfire was not the most common name. He'd already said enough that Rumple could guess he knew who Bae was. "About fourteen years old? Curly brown hair?"

"How did you know that?" Rumple asked as he walked closer. He seemed like a cat about to pounce. "He's been lost for centuries."

"I've seen him," Jefferson told him. "Years ago. He's on Neverland. I heard his name called when I was there after some treasure the pirates hid. He looked at me for a moment. Then he heard his name called and ran. I thought he was going to join the others."

"Neverland," Rumple said slowly. Jefferson had never seen a man that close to completely losing his mind. He could easily understand why. The Lost Boys were something strait out of a nightmare, especially their leader Peter Pan. If Bae was there, he was far from safe. Was he even still alive? So much could have happened to him, and none of the possibilities were good. That was especially true knowing Pan controlled Neverland.

"Are we going there, Papa?" Grace asked, coming back into the room holding a large plush cat. "We're going to Neverland to help Uncle Rumple find his son again?"

"Not you, Grace," Jefferson told her.

"It's far too dangerous," Rumple agreed. "Neverland used to be a paradise children could visit, but that was long ago. I was a child myself when that changed, and I've been alive for centuries. Now, Neverland is a nightmare."

"We'll save Bae from that place," Jefferson told his friend. Rumple noticed he'd said "We'll."

"You said yourself when we met. You can't leave Grace alone. She'll need you here."

Jefferson did hesitate. He knew he couldn't risk leaving Grace alone. He also knew Rumple would truly need someone with him. There was something worse about Neverland than the dangers Bae would be facing. Something about that place, or someone there, had Rumple haunted. He had no doubt his friend could handle any physical danger, but there were dangers that could harm more than the body.

"You'll need me there. I would never go there again alone, but I'll be safe enough if we face it together. Besides, you saved Grace's life just now. The least I can do is help you save your son."

"Together," Rumple said quietly. That wasn't a word he'd expected to be applied to him and anyone else. It also reminded him of something else.

"Your hat has to have the same number return as leave. No more, no less."

"That's true even if I let you take it alone," Jefferson told him. That would be a major problem. No matter who went, how could they bring Bae back? Yet somehow, they had to.

"We'll worry about that about that when we get there," Rumple said. Jefferson nodded.

"Grace, I'm taking you to our neighbors. I need you to stay there until I come back."

"Yes, Papa," she said, and looked at Rumple with a grin. "I know your son will be so glad to see you again!"

Rumple winced, wishing he could be so sure. At least now, no matter what, he was finally going to at least see him again. If he had to he would spend eternity on his knees begging Bae to forgive him, if only he could get him to safety. That at least he felt hope of doing.