I've had a few ideas for the future of this verse. Here's one of them.

Emma gently tucks Tallie into her crib, pressing a kiss atop her blonde curls. She runs her finger along her daughter's back, letting out a content sigh. At one point, she saw herself potentially living as an old maid. No spouse or children. In the seven years since she met Baelfire, all of that is changed. They were married within the year of their first kiss and that was only in attempt to hide that they were expecting a baby out of wedlock. Henry joined their family, but he was hardly their first child. They would always consider Gideon in that regard. Even if he was 11 when they adopted him, nothing could change that they were a family. Tallie arrived just a year and a half ago. They're pretty sure their lives are complete...for now anyway. Emma is often reminded of the children living in orphanages. It's not fair that their family has so much, while they go without.

"You're being unfair!" Gideon's screams rattle through the nursery.

Tallie stirs and Emma gently adjusts the blanket, shushing her. She creeps out of the room, shutting the door behind her and racing down the wing to Gideon's room.

"You will not speak to me that way!" Baelfire shorts back. "Have some respect."

"Respect? You have got to…"

"Hey!" The two snap their heads up at her voice. "I just got the baby down. Whoever wakes her up is in charge of getting her back."

Baelfire races over, charmingly cupping her hand in his. Emma resists an eye roll. "I'm sorry, darling. Gideon should've kept his voice down."

"Both of you should've. You're screaming at each other like a couple of children. What is going on?" She turns to her eldest. "Gideon?"

"Ask your husband," he snaps back with an eye roll of his own.

"Do not speak to your mother that way," Baelfire says sternly. "You're mad at her. Not me."

"Why are both of you mad?"

Gideon scoffs, glaring at Baelfire. "Your husband hid my acceptance to Elphame Academy."

Emma sends a curious gaze to Baelfire before smiling at Gideon.

"You got in? Gid, that's amazing." She wraps her arms around him and he hugs her tightly. "I didn't even know if you were applying."

"I turn 18 soon. With Henry next in line, I need to figure out what's next for me."

Emma pulls away, nodding. "You still have duties here as Prince, but you can easily juggle both."

"No, he can't." Baelfire chimes in. "He needs to stay here, see those obligations through."

"That's not up for you to decide," Gideon fires back. "Papa would've let me go."

Baelfire's mouth shuts and Emma sighs, rubbing Gideon's arm.

" Allow me to talk to him, okay?" She kisses his cheek again. "I am so proud of you. We'll have to write to Grandma and Grandpa to let them know."

Gideon's eyes light up. Her parents accepted him, just as they did Henry and Tallie. Considering Rumpelstiltskin's parents are long gone and Belle's father had cut her off not long after she married the King, it's nice for Gideon to have a set of grandparents that care.

Emma leads her husband out of the room and down the hall to their own. She sits down on their bed, crossing her legs.

"You wanna explain why you're being an ass?"

Baelfire's eyes widen. "He's the one yelling at me."

"Because you hid his acceptance letter. What in the ever loving hell has gotten into you?"

"As I said, even if he's not next in line, he has duties here."

"I recall you telling me that you attended an academy at his age. And you were in line to be King."

"That's different."

"How?" Baelfire remains silent. "He's a smart boy. Finished with his formal junior education by 15. He's tutored Henry since he began his own. The boy knows more than most royals I've met."

"Belle found education to be very important."

"Clearly so did your father. So why don't you?"

"Of course education comes first to me."

"I'm still behind. If you're not against Academy, why can't Gideon go?"

Baelfire sighs, dropping onto the bed beside her. Emma takes in his face and frowns. Despite getting better at delegation over the years, this past one has not been easy. Starting over again with Tallie has meant lots of sleepless nights. They have a nanny but try to use her sparingly so they are the ones raising their kids. Combined with paperwork, meetings and travel, Emma doubts her husband has slept a full night in months. She wraps her arms around him, nuzzling her face into his shoulder.

"Talk to me, Bae," she whispers.

He sighs, melting into her a little. "My father and Belle...they left for that trip and just never came back."

Emma's frown increases. "Oh baby…" she sits up a little, running her fingers over his thin beard. "That's not…"

"It could."

"We've taken plenty of trips with Gideon and Henry over the years."

"Yes but we're there with them. We can protect them if anything happens."

"I'm sure your father tried to do everything to come back home to you but life doesn't work that way. Our carriage could just as easily get caught up in a storm, with all five of us in it."

Baelfire's face scrunches up. "What a thing to say."

"You know what I mean." Emma pulls away from him. "We can't keep the kids locked in a bubble forever. Gideon isn't a child anymore, he's almost grown."

"He's our child. Your parents always say you're their baby."

"True. But they also let me leave." Baelfire bites his lip. "Imagine if they made me stay close? We never would've met. This family we have, it wouldn't exist."

Baelfire sighs, arching his neck backwards.

"I hate when you're right."

She smirks. "You must hate me often, then."

"Funny." He adjusts himself so he's looking at her. "I know you think I'm overprotective…"

"I think you're a man who's lost a lot in his life. Three parents, then forced to become king younger than you thought. Taking on the responsibility of Gideon, marrying me…."

"I wouldn't change that, though. I mean of course I'd want my father and Belle to still be here, but meeting you, raising him...I love our life."

"And we love you."

"He hates me right now."

"Because you took something he wanted. In fact, I'm not happy with you either." Baelfire tilts his head. "I'm your wife, his mother. You should've come to me."

Baelfire sighs. "I was going to. I just had a feeling you'd talk me out of it."

"I would. Because despite how well meaning you are, you're being dumb right now."

Baelfire leans against the post, sighing once again.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I should've come to you."

"Yes, but we can't take that back now. All you can do is communicate better next time."

"I will." He gives her a quick kiss. "I promise."

"Good. You also have to tell him that he's going."

Baelfire nods. "Rationally, I know he's going to be okay. Deep down, though, I'm scared shitless."

"And that's okay. I'm scared too. We'll get through it how we get through everything."

"Together?"

"Together. Now come on. You owe our son an apology."