Selfless, Brave, and True

Neal dialed his mother's number, excited to tell her the news. His girlfriend was coming into town, and he wanted them to meet.

"Hello?" That voice was definitely not from his mother.

"Dad? What are you doing with Ma's phone?"

"It seems in her excitement to meet your sister at The Tea Trolly, she left her phone at home," Gold said with a small chuckle.

"Oh, well, that's right across the street. I'll go see them."

"Wait, son, I have a question for you."

"What is it?"

"It's your mother's birthday today. I'm reserving Granny's for the night for a bit of a celebration. I wondered if you'd be able to join us?"

"Oh, yeah, of course. Hey, can I bring someone with?"

"Miss Swan is already-."

"No, not Emma." Neal took a breath. "Actually, it's my fiancé, Tamara."

"Oh," Gold sounded surprised.

"Yeah, she's on her way now. I'm gonna tell her everything."

"I hope she's sitting down when you do," Gold told him carefully.

"It's a lot to take, but I'm hoping she'll come around. I gotta go, Henry and Emma are here."

"Good luck, son." Gold paused. "I love you."

Neal hesitates on the other end. "I love you, too, papa."


Cecilia had left the shop early to go see Gold and sign the lease on her new apartment. That left Orabella with Belle as Devon had gone to see his kids home from school. Belle approached her boss carefully: she wasn't a woman to mess with. "Miss Shine?"

"Yes Belle?" Orabella was packing up the uneaten food for the next days use.

"I have a bit of a problem. Do you remember that man I was dating under the curse?"

"The ex-Sheriff of Nottingham who I told you would get you into trouble one day? What about him?"

"H-he hasn't quite accepted th-that I'm not... not Lacey really," she said twirling her hair nervously.

"Is he threatening you?" Orabella's face became cold. As much as she disliked Belle, no one should ever be treated the way the ex-sheriff treated people.

"It's getting bad," the younger women admitted, secretly terrified of the woman in front of her.

"What would you like me to do?"

Belle bit her lip. "Would you be there? When I talk to him?"

"Of course."

"As Certainty?"

Orabella paused. "But your scared to death of Certainty."

"So is he," Belle told her. "Please Milady."

The older woman chuckled. "I'm not your lady here, Belle, you don't need to address me so. Of course I'll go with you."

"Thank you!" The younger woman folded her arms around the older one gratefully.

"Ah! Um... you're welcome," Orabella said, awkwardly patting her back. "I... uh... I've gotta lock up. My family's put something up at Granny's."

"Oh, yes, of course." Belle unfolded herself. "I'll call you later."

"Text," Orabella corrected as they gathered their things.

The women left the shop and went their separate ways. As Orabella opened the door to Granny's, she was surprised by the number of people who greeted her. Her entire family had shown up, aside from Regina.

Henry was the first to give her a warm hug. "Happy birthday, Nana!"

She laughed as he put a gift box in her hands. "Thank you, Henry. I'm gonna open these in a bit, but I promise it'll be the first I rip into." He nodded and went back to his mom as Neal and Cecilia approached. She embraced each of them with a smile. "I'm so happy you two are here. It's the best present I could have."

"We're glad to be here, too," Cecilia said as she let her mother go.

"Hey, there's someone I want you to meet," Neal said as he reached out his hand to a beautiful woman. "This is Tamara, my fiancé."

Orabella gave a genuine smile as she held out her arms. "I know, it's finally nice to meet you."

"You too," Tamara said with a nervous smile.

"Now, I know I've not been around for a long time, but I am required, as his mother, to give you a 'shovel talk'. Let's do it quick and get it over with, shall we?" The mocha skinned woman gave a nod. "Deep breath." The warm smile left the woman's face and Tamara could feel the temperature around her become cold not knowing Orabella was casting an illusion around them. "If you ever hurt my son, in any way, shape or form, all that will be left of you is a pile of ash in a land you've never dreamed of being in. Am I understood?"

Tamara looked deep into the eyes of her fiancé's mother and saw a darkness within the emerald. It chilled her more than the illusionary cold did. Then there was an angry fire within the ice, as if the woman already knew that would be her fate.

Orabella's warm smile and happy demeanor returned as the illusion dropped. "That being said, I already know you wont. I'm very happy to have you here."

Tamara could see the genuine warmth and kindness, and gave a relaxed laugh. "Well, I'm glad to be here."

Gold approached his lover next and remained at her side as she greeted the rest of her guests: the Charming's, Devon and his kids, and Emma.