Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time. Only my OCs and my version of the tales.
Chapter 8: The Price of Gold
"Another day, another wand."
"Kill another fairy?" Nyx asked coming up behind her husband, "You should have asked me to come along. I would have loved to watch."
He giggled, "I had some other deal to handle, and I know that you were dealing with a very belligerent town. Next time," he wrapped his arms around her, "we'll do it together."
"Deal."
They were in the middle of kissing, which was probably going to lead to more, when the door opened, "Ew." A young teen with strawberry blond hair came in, carrying a dead rabbit on a string, "Can you please not do that when I could walk in on you? Do you know how much damage that causes?"
"Sorry pet." Rumpel said, pretending to look contrite, "Wouldn't want to scar you for life, would we?"
The girl laid the rabbit on the table and turned to her parents, rolling her golden eyes at her parents, "Sarcasm, papa? That's beneath you." She flipped back her, which had a light golden shimmer to it, behind her, and laughed, "What am I saying. Sarcasm is practically your first language."
He leaned forward and pinched her chin, still in awe at the mix of him and Nyx that was created. She has a golden, almost iridescent, sheen to her skin. Like someone has spritzed her with fin glitter. She was so beautiful to him that it staggered his heart, "Don't mock the sarcasm, love. You have plenty of it on your own. And you use it well."
"Well, I am my parents daughter." She laughed and looked at the wand, "Ooh. Who did that one come from? I don't recognize the markings."
"A fairy godmother who was fixing to bless a peasant girl." He smirked, "I killed the fairy and was about to leave when the girl wanted me to take her godmother's place."
"Wait." Nyx held up a hand, "You granted the girl's wish?"
"Yes, I did. After a fair warning to her that all magic comes at a price. I presented her with the contract and she was very eager to sign it."
"Let me guess," Thalia pondered, "She didn't even read it."
"They never do."
"What are you going to ask for?"
"I'm not sure yet. I don't need the money or jewels. Haven't figured out what to take from her."
"I have an idea." Nyx smiled, "Tora. She's one of my old Dream Charges. She's Lord Benton's wife now and having trouble conceiving. I took a look at her and her husband can't have children. What if you ask for her first born. I help my friend and you get your end of the deal. The future princess, because we know that that's where that's going, can always have another child. We can just make everyone think she lost the child in birth."
Thalia nodded in appreciation, "I am impressed. I can't wait until I can start making my own deals."
"All in good time." Rumpel looked lovingly at his wife, "I like this. It covers everything. And you'd be helping your friend."
"You know." She muttered, "We could always go upstairs. Work on giving Thalia a younger sibling."
"Ew!" The young girl exclaimed, "Gross! I'm out." She grabbed the rabbit and headed off to the kitchens, "Not that I wouldn't mind a sibling. Just wait until I'm not here for you to get started." She called out, making her parents laugh.
1-2-3-4-5
"Are you sure we can be out in the open?" Henry asked, holding hands with Eva as they walked with Emma and Thea.
"Enough sneaking around. If Regina has a problem with us walking you to the school bus, then I'll be more than happy to have that chat." Emma replied, sending smirk to Thea.
"Got that right." The brunette replies as she checks her phone, "I'd love to have another go at that tree."
"You're brave." The boy nodded, "I like it. We're going to need that for Operation Cobra."
"What made you decide on that name?" Eva scrunched her nose, "I hate snakes."
"Because it has nothing to do with the Curse or the book, and my mom won't know what we're talking about." He smiled as he looked down at his little sister, "We should all have code names."
"How about we stick to our names for now, kid." Thea nudged him, "It confusing enough with all the other nicknames we call each other, we don't need more."
"Alright," He nodded as they reached the bus, "I'll see you guys later. Bye Little Pixie."
"Bye Henry Danger." She called out, making her brother smile.
"Henry Danger?" Emma asked as she picked her daughter up, "What brought that on?"
"Everyone calls me Little Pixie. He doesn't have a nickname. I thought that it was very brave of him to come find you, despite the dangers that it involved. So, I thought I'd call him Henry Danger." She shrugged, "That was that first time I said it out loud. Do you think he liked it?"
"Judging by the smile on his face," Thea ruffled her hair, "he loved it."
Just then, the police cruise pulled up in front of them, making the siren go off.
"What's with the siren?" Emma asked Eva waved at the sheriff.
"It's so hard to get your attention." He drawled, walking over.
"Well, you've got it. Are you arresting me again?"
"I'm thanking you." He looked over, "Both of you. For helping me find John Doe. We all owe you a debt of gratitude."
"What do we get?" Thea asked, "A commendation? Key to the city?"
"How about a job? As a deputy?"
"Thank you, but we already have jobs."
"As a bail bonds person?" He looked around, "There's not a lot of that going on around here."
"I don't see a lot of sheriffing going around either." Thea frowned, "And you can stop flirting with her. She's a married woman with kids." She grabbed Eva, "Besides, I'm opening up our office here once we get things settled. So, no thanks." She gave Emma a hug, "We'll meet you for lunch. I'm going to go turn the Little Pixie into my slave for the day." The waved bye as they started walking away.
"Bye, Mama! I'm gonna go be a slave!" The five year old giggled.
"She seems like a very happy kid." Graham stated as they waved at the parting pair.
"We try very hard to make sure she stays that way."
He sighed, "Why don't you think about it. If you're planning on staying for a while, you might need to find a way to keep yourself busy. When you're not doing your skip tracing with Thea." He pulled out his wallet and handed her a card, "I'm sure Thea would understand."
1-2-3-4-5
"Hey, papa." Paige hailed as she approached the shop, "Want to have supper?"
He smiled as he locked the front door, turning toward his daughter, "I'd love to. How about we get Thea and go to Granny's. My treat."
"Sounds like a plan to me." They had just gotten into the building across the street when Rumpel stopped, "What's wrong?"
"I think I left the journal under the register." He looked up from patting his pockets, "Go get Thea and meet me back on the side walk. I won't be a minute." He kissed her forehead and walked back over to his shop, noticing the broken glass on the door. He gripped his cane and walked in slowly. Seeing the blonde head of the girl behind the counter, he froze, "Ashley?" She turned around with a gasp, "What on Earth are you doing?"
"Taking my life back." He was unprepared for her to spray him pepper spray.
Crying out in pain, he stumbled back into a cabinet and fell forward, hitting his head on the counter. Pausing, the girl slowly made her way over to the unconscious man and took the key off his belt.
1-2-3-4-5
"That took a little longer than I thought." Thea grumbled as they walked over to the shop, "Electrical work does not like me. At all."
Paige laughed as she looked around, "Where's papa?" She looked at the front door and gasped, "Aunt Thea, look." They frowned at the glass on the ground and slowly opened the door. "Papa!" Paige ran forward to check on her fallen father, "Papa." She lifted his head as Thea checked his pulse, "Wake up."
"Hang on." Thea opened her purse and pulled out a vial of clear liquid, "Tilt his head to the side." She placed the now opened container under her brother's nose and waited. After a couple of second he sat up with a gasp, "Easy Rumpel."
He started rubbing his eyes again in pain, "What happened, papa?"
"Ashley."
"The blonde pregnant girl who signed over her baby?"
"Baby?" Thea asked as she sat back, "What do you need with a baby?"
"I'm the only lawyer in town. She was giving the baby up for adoption. She's only 19 and she can't take care of it on her own. I offered her a way out." He sighed, "She pepper sprayed me."
"Ouch." Thea winced as she pulled a small spray bottle out of her bag, "Here. Rissa made it. It'll counteract the properties in pepper spray. Clear your eyes and sooth the burning."
"Thanks." He stood up and noticed his keys on the counter. He glanced over to see the safe wide open, "She stole the contract."
"So now she's a thief." Paige grumbled, "Well, do we want to call the sheriff?"
"No. I don't want this to follow her around for the rest of her life. We just need to find her."
"I'll do it." Thea nodded.
"No." She looked over in surprise at the smirk on his face, "I have a better idea."
"What are you up to?"
"A little intrigue."
1-2-3-4-5
The next morning, Thea was helping Emma unbox some of her stuff in Mary Margaret's apartment.
"I'm so glad my stuff is finally here." Emma smiled as she pulled out a small box.
"Is that all? I mean, did you put your furniture in storage?" Mary Margaret asked, bringing over some food, "There's not a whole lot here."
"We have our apartment in New York, which Rissa is settling for us. We're not going to get rid of it, yet. We plan on keeping it furnished and maybe, rent it out. That's going to be later. Rissa is going to be bringing more of my stuff with her. She's going to be doing the same thing to her apartment and Thea's apartment. Then she's gotta close up the shops. This will be enough for now. We don't need much."
"Plus, we can always go shopping for the things we do need that we don't have access to." Thea smiled as Eva started eating, "You coming with me again, Little Pixie?"
"Slave Mode!" The little blonde shouted, making the adults laugh.
They looked up at the knock on the door. Mary Margaret laid her plate down to answer it.
"Ms. Blanchard. Is Ms. Swan here?"
Thea smirked when she heard her brother's voiced, but kept her head down. This was going to be interesting, to say the least. "Hi, my name is Mr. Gold. We met briefly when you arrived."
"I remember."
"I have a proposition for you, Ms. Swan. I need your help. I'm looking for someone."
"Really, um..." Emma trailed off as Mr. Gold stared pointedly at the school teacher.
"You know what, I'm going to jump in the bath." As she went to leave, Mr. Gold and Paige, who had been behind him, came into the apartment.
"Paige!" Eva jumped down to give the teen a hug, "Are you helping us again today?"
"I think I just might."
"I have a photo." Gold said handing it to Emma, "Her name is Ashley Boyd and she's taken something quit valuable from me."
"So, why don't you go to the police?"
"Because she's 19 and pregnant." Paige said, sitting down at the table, "Something like this could ruin her life."
"Paige is right. Ashley is confused and alone. There's no telling what she might do." He glanced over at his sister, "I just want my property returned. That's all."
"What is it?"
"Well, one of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion. Let's just say that it's a precious object and leave it at that."
"Why not Thea?" Emma asked looking over at her friend, "She's your sister, right? So, why come to me? Someone you've just met?"
"Because Thea is busy getting the shop and her apartment worked on. She nearly fried her fingers yesterday on some electrical wires." Paige smirked as the older woman threw a shirt at her.
"Seriously?" Emma asked, "You know that's not your forte."
"So I am reminded. I've got carpenters, plumbers and electricians coming in today. I don't have time."
"Alright." Emma looked back at Gold, "When did you see her last?"
"Last night. That's how I got this." He pulled his hair back to reveal a scar.
"We found him on the floor of the shop, knocked out." Paige frowned, "She had pepper sprayed him. She's lucky she was gone by the time we got there. Pregnant or not, I would have knocked her out."
"Be that as it may," he frowned at his daughter, "she's a scared girl on the run. This isn't like her, Ms. Swan. She was quite wound up, kept rambling on and on about changing her life. I have no idea what go into her. Please help me find her. My only other option is the police, and I don't think anyone wants to see that baby born in jail, now do they?"
"No, of course not."
"Then you'll help me."
"I'll help her."
"Good choice."
"Hey Emma, I was thinking we could..." Henry came in at that moment and paused with the door open.
"Hey, Henry. How are you?"
"Oh... kay."
"Good." Paige smirked as she got up to follow her father out.
"I've got to run to the shop for some supplies, then head over to Granny's. I'll see you guys later." She called out as she stepped in the hallway.
"Give our regards to your mother." God paused at the door, "And, um, good luck Ms. Swan."
"Do you know who he is?" Henry asked as the door closed.
"Of course I do."
"Who, because I'm still trying to figure that out."
"I meant in reality."
"Rumpelstiltskin!" Thea looked over in surprise at Eva's outburst, "What? I just finished that story in my fairy talk collection." She glanced at Henry, "It's very extensive."
"Henry," Emma grabbed her jacket, "what are you doing here?"
"My mom's gone until five. I thought we could hang out."
"Sorry, Henry. I wish I could, but there's something I've got to do."
"Us too." Thea called out, grabbing her own jacket, "I've got to head to the shop with the Little Pixie, here. Also, I'm going to be calling the agency again. See if I can cut through all of the runaround crap."
"Sounds good." Emma reached down and hugged Eva, "You be good for Aunt Thea, okay?"
"I'll be the best slave ever!"
"You have got to stop calling her that." Emma admonished as Thea laughed.
1-2-3-4-5
The ball was underway, celebrating the wedding of Prince Thomas and his new Princess Ella. Everyone was dancing when a large hush fell across the room. Ella looked up to see a woman at the top of the stairs.
She had love silvery purple hair, hanging down her back in a cascade of curls and braids. Adorning her head was a large black, silver and purple jewel encrusted crown. She wore a black and purple corseted dress encrusted in silver and diamonds. She had a sheer dark purple cape falling from her bare shoulder. The symbols of the three moons, and an intricate knot in the center one, was embossed on her chest. It displayed for the whole room who she was.
"The moons on her dress," Ella asked, looking at Snow, "is that what I think that is?"
"The symbol of the Dark Trinity." Snow laid a trembling hand on her shoulder, "I've only heard of them in passing, never met them. But, from the descriptions that I've gotten, and been warned about, with the hair, that's Nyx. The Dark Enchantress."
"What is she doing here?"
"I don't know." They gasped the Enchantress walked right up to the new princess.
"Your highness. Congratulations." The woman nodded her head, but didn't bow or curtsy, "I hope you don't mind. I saw the fireworks and I thought, a party. Let's have some fun."
"Um, but I don't know you."
"Oh, but you will. In time. For now, I wanna play." She smirked as she walked away, meandering around the room.
"I don't get it." Ella started shaking as Thomas rushed to her side, "What does she want?"
"It doesn't matter. Let's enjoy the night, and we'll figure it out together. Don't let her spoil your happiness. This is our night. Our celebration. Let's enjoy it."
"Okay." The music started up again and the group moved around and began dancing. After a few turns, Snow snagged her for an impromptu dance.
"Ella dear. This is truly a night of celebration." They laughed as they continued to twirl around, "Do you realize what an inspiration you are?"
"All I did was get married."
"All you did was show that anyone could change her life." They bowed and started to move away from one another, "I'm proud of you."
"I'm proud of you, too." Rumpelstiltskin stood there, decked out in a gold suit, smiling his impish grin.
"You? What are you doing here?" Ella glanced around and hesitantly started dancing with him.
"I just wanted to make sure that you were happy with your end of the bargain. You know... true love, riches, happy endings. Did you get everything you desired?"
"Yes. Yes, I did. Now, what do you want?" She frowned, "What's your price? My jewels? The ring?"
"No, no dear. Keep your baubles." He smirked, "I want something you don't yet possess. But something I know is coming. Your first born." He growled as he twirled her away and walked off the dance floor.
Rumpel, hiding in the shadows, smirked, "Enjoying yourself, my dear?"
Nyx sidled up next to him and put her chin on his shoulder, "I'm bored. The only entertaining thing about this night was your chat with the little princess. A little dramatic, don't you think?"
"For me?"
She pondered, "You're right. Not enough."
"I particularly enjoyed their reactions to your entrance. You make quite the impact my dear."
She purred, "You liked that. Interesting. Well, how about I replay that for you later. A little fun of our own. Thalia is off visiting Artie. No telling what mischief her and Terra will get up to. So, we have our castle all to ourselves."
"Do we now?" He whispered, "Then let's make the best of it."
1-2-3-4-5
Rumpel looked up from his catalog as Thea came in with Paige and Eva. "Productive day?"
"Very." Paige laid a bag on the counter, "Brought you lunch."
"Why thank you." He looked down at the younger blonde, who Thea also put on the counter, tilted her head and stared at him, "How can I help you, Little Miss?"
"Pixie."
"I'm sorry?"
"It's Little Pixie."
He looked at Thea, who just smiled, "I beg your pardon." He bowed, "I do apologize."
"Are you Rumpelstiltskin."
His eyes widened as Paige and Thea just laughed, "My, my, my. Aren't you a perceptive one."
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"At your service."
"I knew it." She leaned forward, eager, "And if I read the book correctly, Aunt Rissa is Nyx."
"That would be correct." He looked a little closer at and smiled, "You're a very bright little girl. There is something about you that is just so familiar. I can't figure it out."
"Is that a good familiar or bad familiar?"
"Oh, most definitely good."
1-2-3-4-5
Unbeknown to the four in the tunnels, a dim light fluttered behind them, hiding out of sight.
"We sent word with one of Snow's bluebirds. He's accepted a meeting with you." Prince James, holding a torch, spoke with Princess Ella, "You're gonna tell him that Doc heard something with his stethoscope. Two heartbeats."
"You're going to tell him that it's twins." Thomas spoke, right behind her.
"If he wants both, which he will, you'll propose a new deal." He nodded to the dwarf with them, "Grumpy." Ella looked into the box, confused.
"A quill? I don't understand."
"The Blue Fairy cast a spell on it. Whoever signs with it will be frozen and their magic made impotent."
"All you have to do," James gained her attention, "is get him to sign the contract. Ella, this man is a scourge. You'll be doing the entire realm a service."
"Should we even be using magic? Isn't that what's causing these problems to begin with? What if this magic also has a price?"
"Then I will pay it." Thomas interjected, "I will do whatever is needed to save you and our child."
"Come on, let's go." James gestured for the group to follow as the light took off.
1-2-3-4-5
"That is not fair!" Thalia grumbled as her best friend, Terra knocked her arrow off the tree that they were targeting, "Your damn magic allows you to do that."
"There are things that you do through your magic that I wish I could do." Her friend smirked, "I just happened to excel at this. Besides, you don't need magic to hit the target. You do it 95% of the time. My magic just allows me to do it 100% of the time."
Their laughter froze as a Wisp came darting into the clearing, "Isn't that one of Jess's Wisps?" Terra asked, confused, "I thought they only worked with her on the ship. What is it doing here?"
"I don't know. But whatever it is, it can't be good." Thalia called up, "She's in the hall with our moms. We'll take you." The girls nodded and took off for the castle. They burst into the main room and a run.
"Whoa! What's the emergency?" Terra's father, Hawk, rushed over, making sure his daughter was okay.
"We're fine. But," Terra leaned around him, "Aunt Jess, it's your Wisp."
They looked up to see the Wisp dart in, frantic, "What is it?" She paused as it started talking.
"Good thing she was finally able rescued them from the Crone." Artemis commented, "I just wish we could have figured out a way to turn them back."
"Another problem for another day." Jess looked over, "The deal that Rumpel made with that peasant girl, Ella?"
"What about it?" Nyx growled, ready to fight.
"Spark has heard some whispers going on, so she followed the princess. Ella, Prince Thomas, Princes James and some dwarf have built a prison for Rumpel. They plan on trapping him."
"He just went off to meet her."
The Wisp went off again, "She says that the Blue Fairy has spelled a magic quill to freeze him and block his powers. It's supposed to use some sort of ink."
"Squid ink." Nyx muttered, "We can't just blaze in there. We've gotta think of something."
"Let's find him first." Hawk reasoned, "Access the situation and determine if he needs our help. We'll go from there. He'll sense us. We can take our cue from him."
"Girls, you stay here." Nyx held up a hand to forestall and argument, "Trained you may be, but we don't know what we're going up against. Please. We'll be back."
1-2-3-4-5
"Ms. Swan? The baby is a healthy 6lb girl. And the mother is doing fine." Thea stayed hidden as Rumpel stepped forward.
"What lovely news. Excellent work, Ms. Swan. Thank you for getting me my merchandise."
'Always so dramatic.' The shifter chuckled as she watch Emma glare the man, 'My, my. This situation hit just a little close to home. Eh, it'll be good for her. She needs to stop thinking that she's going back to New York and realize that this is her home now. Rumpel is a genius.'
1-2-3-4-5
They got to the edge of the clearing just as they put Rumpel in the back of barred up carriage.
"Did we really win." Nyx crouch down in the shadows as she listened to the insipid princess.
"Yes. I told you we'd win." Pompous little princess, Nyx rolled her eyes, ready to attack, but was stalled by Artie.
"Look."
She turned to see Rumpel shaking his head, knowing that he was meaning for them to not attack, "Damn him. What's he up to."
"I was afraid that I'd have to go back to that life. That I'd lose you." Nyx shared a look of pity with Artemis, shaking their heads in disgust.
"As long as I'm alive, you'll never have to go back to that life."
"Seriously?" Hawk muttered as he and Jess came up behind them, "It's so saccharine, it's going to make me sick. And roasted duck does not taste as good coming back up."
The girls snickered as they watched the scene unfold. Nyx looked back at her husband, locking eyes with him. He smirked and made a gesture with his hand. "What was that?" Artie asked, confused, "Did that mean we can do something?"
"Yes, but not with him. Not yet." She made a hand gesture of her own at the princess.
"Ella? What is it? What's wrong?"
"The baby. Something's wrong."
"No, no, no. It's can't be. It's too soon. It must be the stress. The excitement."
"Oh, I'm dizzy."
"Let's go." Nyx whispered. They poofed to the trees by the well just as the prince got there.
He started pulling up the bucket but paused when he heard a sound, "Hello."
He turned, "You."
"Me." Nyx stepped forward, eyes glowing, "Do you know what happens when someone breaks a contract with the Dark One?"
"He can't call for payment if he..."
"He's tricked with squid ink and locked in an impenetrable cell." She smirked, "Well, it looks like I'll have to do it for him." She waved a hand and turned him into a small class ball with his name etched on it.
She left his cloak on the well, wanting the princess to find it. They went back to the trees behind the carriage to watch everything unfold.
"What did you do?" The girl asked, coming out of the woods.
"Elle, what's wrong?" James asked, locking Rumpel in.
"Your highness, what happened?" Grumpy the dwarf looked over in concern.
"What did you do to my Thomas?" She asked, holing his cape as she grabbed the bars on the cage."
"I haven't done anything. In case you haven't noticed, I've been otherwise engaged."
"Something's happened to him. You know, tell me."
Rumpel leaned forward, menacing, "I have no idea, dearie. But I did warn you. All magic comes at a price. It looks like someone has just paid." Nyx smirked at his words.
"Don't listen to him." James pulled her away, "We'll find Thomas."
"No you won't." Rumpel grinned, "Until that debt is paid, until that baby is mine, you're never going to see him again. In this world or the next, Cinderella, I will have that baby!"
"He's so dramatic." Jess snickered as they watched the guards pull the princess away from the carriage, "Now what? We can't just leave him."
"No, we follow. Then go from there. Make no mistake, they will pay for this."
1-2-3-4-5
"Well, well. It must be my lucky day." Gold stood by the vending machine as Thea sat in a chair listening with her back turned toward them, "Care for a cup, Ms. Swan?"
"A baby. That's your merchandise. Why didn't you tell me."
"Well, because at the time, you didn't need to know."
"Really? Or, you thought I wouldn't take the job?"
"I thought it would be more effective if you found out for yourself." He reasoned, "After seeing Ashley's hard life, I thought it made sense. Do you? I mean, I figured if anyone understood the reasons for giving up a baby, it would be you."
Thea snickered as she shared a look with a wide eyed Henry and shrugged.
"You're not getting that kid."
"Actually, we have an agreement. And my agreements are always honored. If not, then I'm going to have to involve the police. And that baby's going to end up in the system. And that would be a pity. You didn't enjoy your time in the system, did you, Emma?"
"It's not going to happen."
"I like your confidence. It's charming. But, all I have to do is press charges. She did, after all, break into my shop. And attack me."
"Let me guess, to steal a contract."
"Who knows what she was after."
"You know no jury in the world would put a woman in jail whose only reason for breaking and entering was to keep her child." She smiled, "I'm willing to bet that contract doesn't stand up. Are you? Not to mention what will come out about you in the process. Somehow, I suspect that there's more to you than a simple pawn broker. You really want to start that fight?"
"Good girl, Emma." Thea muttered.
"I like you, Ms. Swan. You're not afraid of me, and that's either cocky or presumptuous. Either way, I'd rather have you on my side."
"So she can keep the baby."
"Not just yet." He cautioned, "There's still the matter of my agreement with Ms. Boyd."
"Tear it up."
"That's not what I do." He chuckled, "You see, contracts, deals, well they're the very foundation of all civilized existence, so I put it to you now. If you want Ashley to have that baby, are you willing to make a deal with me?"
"What do you want?"
"Oh, I don't know just yet. You'll owe me a favor."
She stepped forward, "Deal."
She walked away, stared for a moment at a smiling Thea and gestured for Henry to follow her into the hospital room to see Ashley.
"I don't think she's too happy with me at the moment." She shrugged as Rumpel held out his hard to her, "Oh, well. She'll get over it. Here." She handed him another $100, "You win. Again."
"Knew I would." He accepted it, gladly, "Admit it. You're happy you lost that bet. Because you knew, deep down, that this is what was going to make her fully commit to staying."
"You're right. I bet she's going to call Graham and accept that job today."
"Quit possibly."
"I've got to go get Eva from Granny's and take her to Mary Margaret. After that, how about I cook supper for my brother and niece, and we talk about the old days."
"That sounds splendid."