A Different Happy Ending:
A New Beginning – Part Four
Alena and Gideon held hands as they walked among the various carnival booths. The park area surrounding the lake had been transformed into a colorful array of games and rides.
With his hands in his pockets, Henry walked along beside them and surveyed the fanfare around them.
Just then, Roland ran up to them and exclaimed, "Henry! You have to come play with me!" with Robin following close behind him.
He patted his son's head as he added, "If you want to, lad. I'm sure Henry has some friends he wants to see."
With a shrug, the teenager responded, "I don't mind - it'll be fun," smiling down at his little stepbrother. He paused before he added, "Besides, no one will be going anywhere for a while."
Roland smiled brightly before he grabbed Henry's hand and rushed over to bean bag toss. Robin chuckled as he watched the two of them.
He then looked back at Alena and Gideon and spoke, "I think I'll catch up with them - and find Zelena and Robyn. You two enjoy yourselves."
The pair of them nodded before they waved him off. Alena then let out a breath before she looked up at her boyfriend.
"So? What should we do first?"
Gideon's brown eyes roamed the booths. They lit up when he spied a particular one.
He gestured with his free hand and suggested, "How about the fishing one? I think it'd be rather fun."
Alena tilted her head as she watched a little boy maneuver a fishing pole behind a curtain. At the bottom lied a kiddie pool full of various trinkets.
She smiled as she told him, "I would like to see you obsessively try to angle the pole perfectly."
With a roll of his eyes, Gideon defended, "I'm not all that bad, you know?"
"Sure, you're not," Alena teased with a giggle as she nudged his shoulder with hers. He shook his head in response.
She then pecked his cheek before they strolled over to the game. They patiently waited as the little boy finished.
He cheered excitedly as he pulled up a stuffed dragon. His mom affectionately hugged him before they ventured elsewhere.
Alena and Gideon then stepped up, and he took the plastic fishing pole from Dopey. The dwarf waved happily before Gideon began playing.
He carefully angled the pole before he tossed the line over the curtain. He scrunched his nose in concentration as he moved the pole back and forth.
A couple minutes ticked by. A wide smile then broke across his face when the line started to feel heavier. He pulled it over the curtain and brought it over to Alena. She giggled before she grabbed the line and unhooked the prize.
She couldn't help but smile at the white teddy bear. She then commented, "It is pretty cute."
"Glad you think so," Gideon replied with a smile. He then pecked her cheek.
He then handed the pole back to Dopey. He waved happily once more before Alena and Gideon ambled off to look at more booths.
"What should we do next?" Alena wondered aloud as she looked up at her boyfriend.
He looked around for a few moments. A grin then settled over his features, and he suggested, "How about a little competition?" nodding toward milk bottle toss.
Alena grinned as well before she challenged, "You are so on." She then dragged him over to the booth.
Archie greeted them as he handed them each a ball. "Hey, you two. Are you enjoying the carnival?"
"Absolutely. It's been really great so far," Gideon replied with a smile. Pongo then barked as if to give his approval.
The three of them laughed at that before Alena teasingly added, "I'm especially looking forward to beating him," nudging Gideon's shoulder with hers.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head as Archie let out a chuckle. He pushed up his glasses before he offered, "Well, I have no doubt that one of you will win, and I wish you both the best of luck."
Alena and Gideon both nodded before they turned their attention to the game, their eyes narrowed in concentration.
Their first few tosses fell short as the balls hit the table, the ground, and the curtain hanging along the back.
Gideon couldn't help but chuckle when Alena grunted beside him. Her annoyance soon changed to glee when her final ball sailed seamlessly and knocked over all three bottles.
When she looked over and realized that Gideon had only knocked over two bottles, she cheered and pumped both fists in the air.
Gideon and Archie chuckled at her reaction. With a smile toward his girlfriend, Gideon then offered, "Great job, Alena."
She smiled back before Archie smiled and told her, "And now you can pick your prize," motioning to the stuffed animals and trinkets hanging from the sides of the booth.
Alena looked at the bear in her hand before she looked back up at the prizes. She then tilted her head in thought.
She couldn't help but smile once more as she grabbed a stuffed blue whale.
"Since I do have the ocean running through my veins, I figured I'd go with this guy."
Archie and Gideon let out a chuckle, and Alena found herself chuckling as well. The couple then bid Archie goodbye before they moved on to another part of the carnival.
They wandered over to the bumper cars and leaned against the fence. They laughed as they watched their family and friends get jostled around.
Alena pointed to Neal and Robyn and commented, "Look at them. They're adorable, and they're having so much fun."
"Mm-hmm," Gideon hummed in agreement as he ran his hand up and down her back. He then tilted his head and surmised, "You know, I'm a little surprised Regina didn't manage to get a Ferris Wheel in here."
Alena chuckled as she spoke, "I am, too. And I think if Storybrooke was just a little bigger, she would have gotten her way."
Gideon let out a chuckle as well. A thoughtful expression then took over his features before he suggested, "You know, we may not have a Ferris Wheel, but there are still some pretty fun rides here if you want to check them out."
With a smile, she told him, "I was really hoping you'd say that." She then moved the blue whale into the crook of her arm and used her free one to grab his hand.
She then dragged him across the carnival until they reached the area with two of the bigger rides. Her smile grew as she nodded toward the boat - attached to large metal poles - swinging up and down.
"This looks like the perfect adrenaline rush."
Gideon smiled and shook his head as he told her, "I can't say I'm too surprised you found the ride resembling a pirate ship."
Despite herself, Alena couldn't help but chuckle. She then posed, "So? Are you riding it with me?"
With a smile, he replied, "Of course I am. It does rather look like fun."
"Great," she began, smiling once more. She paused before she continued, "You can hold the bear and the whale while we wait. It's getting a little tiring."
Gideon only shook his head as the ride slowed. He then gestured with his head and told her, "It looks as though we won't have to wait long."
Alena only nodded as the ride stopped. She and Gideon then watched the passengers file off, waving as they did so.
After receiving a nod from the operator, the couple climbed on and took a seat. Alena placed the prizes in her lap before she linked her arm with Gideon's.
He kissed her head before he suggested, "Be sure you hang on to those prizes. I'd hate for you to lose them."
With a giggle, she assured him, "I'll hold onto them." He nodded in response.
They waited in comfortable silence as the seats filled. The silence broke when Roland hopped aboard and excitedly greeted, "Hey, Alena and Gideon!"
They both smiled before she spoke, "Hey, Roland! Are you enjoying the carnival?"
He bobbed his head before he exclaimed, "I beat Henry at bean bag toss!" "Then you must be very good," Gideon offered as he and Alena shared a discreet look with Robin and Regina.
"Indeed he is," Robin offered with a smile. He then ushered his son to a seat before he and Regina took theirs. The little boy then noticed the stuffed animals in Alena's hands.
"Did you win those, Alena?"
She glanced down at them for a moment before she told him, "Gideon won the bear for me, and then I won the whale after I beat him at milk bottle toss."
With a nod, Roland then asked, "Was it easy to win?" looking back and forth between Alena and Gideon.
The blonde appeared to think long and hard over her answer. She then told him, "Well, we did have to concentrate really hard, but we still had lots of fun."
The little boy looked thoughtful for a few moments. He then asked, "Do you think I could win something for Robyn?"
Gideon smiled as he answered, "I think you have a very good shot, and I think Robyn would really like a prize from her big brother."
"She will," Roland agreed with a bright smile. He then looked around and noticed the boat's door had been closed.
"Can we go now, Daddy? I want to ride."
"In just a moment, lad," Robin began before he explained, "They have to make sure everyone is safe."
"Speaking of being safe, go ahead and strap in," Regina suggested as she fastened her own belt.
He nodded before he did as told. Once everyone else on the ride had strapped themselves in, Happy called out, "You guys have fun!"
He then started the ride, and the boat started swinging back and forth. Alena gripped the bear and whale with one hand and moved her other one to hold Gideon's hand.
He smiled at her before he rested their entwined fingers on his thigh. They then braced themselves as the ride continued gaining height and traction.
"This is kind of…crazy," Alena called out above the screams and laughter.
With a chuckle, Gideon asked her, "What were you expecting from a swinging boat?"
She let out a chuckle of her own before she spoke, "I don't know, really, but the ride is still kind of crazy. And that's coming from me," pushing her hair out of her face.
Gideon only shook his head. He then offered, "Perhaps your new nickname should be 'Thrill Seeker.' You'd rather enjoy that, wouldn't you," leaning a bit closer so she could hear him.
Alena pushed her hair out of her face once more, blowing a few stubborn strands. She then tried to defend, "You know I'm not all that bad. I just tend to be a little overzealous at times."
"Whatever you say," Gideon offered before he kissed her head. She couldn't help but shake it in response.
"Whoa!" she then cried out as the boat suspended in midair. Her heart rate sped up, and she gripped Gideon's hand even harder as the boat swung down and back up again.
Gideon squeezed her hand as he pointed out, "You do realize it's supposed to do that? That it's supposed to go higher and higher?"
With a nod, she then clarified, "Of course I did. But I don't think I was fully prepared for it."
"And now?"
Her green eyes glinted mischievously as she answered, "And now I'm ready to have some fun." Gideon couldn't help but chuckle.
"I feel like I'm flying!" Roland then exclaimed as he waved his arms in the air, earning fond smiles from his father and stepmother.
Alena then told him, "I think you have the right idea, Roland," reaching over to ruffle his brown curly locks.
He only giggled as the boat continued to swing back and forth. Laughter - as well as a few yelps - were heard as they continued to enjoy the ride.
It soon started to slow, and the adrenaline rush began to fade. When it stopped, Roland slumped his shoulders.
He then looked up and asked, "Can we go again, Daddy?"
Robin patted his son's head as he gently explained, "I think perhaps we should let someone else have a turn."
Regina then added, "And you wanted to win a prize for your sister."
"Oh! That's right!" Roland said. He then began unfastening the safety belt. He then climbed off and rushed over to a stall – with Robin following close behind.
Regina, Alena, and Gideon all chuckled as they climbed off the ride. The brunette then offered, "You two keep enjoying the carnival. I'll see you both later."
Alena and Gideon bid her goodbye before they wandered off to another part of the carnival. They watched a couple kids play ring toss.
"Hey, kid. Having a good time?"
Alena jumped at the sound of her mother's voice. Emma then apologized, "Sorry, Alena. I didn't mean to startle you."
She waved her hand in dismissal as she assured her, "It's alright, Mom. I guess I was a little too caught up in the game," motioning toward the kids.
Emma hummed her reply before Killian surmised, "It seems as though you've had rather good luck at the games, love."
Alena smiled as she spoke, "I am pretty good, but I can't take all the credit," entwining her fingers with Gideon's and giving his hand a squeeze.
Emma - and Killian - offered the couple a smile. She then gave her pirate a meaningful look, and he couldn't help but scratch behind his ear.
He cleared his throat before he suggested, "So, how would you two feel about a little friendly competition? We thought it'd be a great way for us to all do something together."
The suggestion was a simple one. Yet, the sincerity shining in Killian's blue eyes made his daughter's heart swell with happiness.
She smiled as she began, "That sounds like a really great idea, Dad." He smiled back at her before she continued, "What game were you guys thinking?"
Emma gestured toward the bean bag toss as she said, "That looked pretty fun when Henry and Roland were playing. We thought we'd do that."
Alena and Gideon smiled before he spoke, "It does sound like it'd be fun. Let's go." The four of them then headed in that direction.
"So, what have you two been up to?" Gideon then questioned as he wrapped his arm around Alena's waist.
She snuggled into his side before Emma answered, "We've mainly just been walking around and looking at the sights."
A grin then formed on her face as she added, "And we tried our hand at whack-a-mole."
Killian rolled his eyes as he argued, "I fail to see how trying to hit a bloody mole that pops up at random times is considered fun. I've never been so frustrated."
Alena and Gideon - as well as Emma - let out a chuckle. The latter then teased, "Maybe you'll have better luck with bean bag toss," giving his hand a squeeze.
He couldn't help but shake his head. He then surmised, "I suppose we'll see - but I fail to see how it could be any better."
Emma and Alena shook their heads while Gideon suppressed a chuckle and instead grinned. Alena then spoke, "Come on, Dad, I know this may not be exactly your thing, but I think you can play along. It can be really fun."
Killian let out a sigh as he considered her words. He then smiled and spoke, "How could I turn down a request from my lovely daughter?"
Alena smiled back at him. When they arrived at the game, she couldn't help but tease, "Well, I hope you and Mom are ready to lose - Gideon and I make one hell of a team."
Emma let out a laugh at her daughter's words. She soon furrowed her eyebrows in confusion when she realized that her husband hadn't joined her.
She then noticed he scratched behind his ear. He then took a deep breath before he posed, "Actually, I was thinking we could make things a bit more interesting."
After earning three confused expressions, he explained, "I was thinking that, perhaps, it could be Emma and Alena against myself and Gideon."
"Really?" Alena asked with wide eyes and awe in her voice. "Aye, love," he answered with a nod.
A wide smile then broke across her features as she said, "Let's do it! This should be very interesting."
"I think it will," Gideon agreed as he kissed the side of her head. Emma hummed before she shot Killian a proud smile.
When they could see the game ahead of them, he then questioned, "What exactly is the object of this game? Throwing things?"
"Something like that," Emma answered with a giggle, earning a raised eyebrow from her husband. She then clarified, "Basically, you're trying to get your bean bag to go through a round hole cut into a slanted board," gesturing to the family currently playing.
The pirate wore a thoughtful expression as he tilted his head. He then surmised, "So, it's like that game David played with Neal earlier - where they tried to get the ball into the net."
"Exactly," Emma confirmed with a smile. She then nudged his shoulder and teased, "We'll make a 21st century man out of you yet."
He rolled his eyes while Alena and Gideon let out a chuckle. He then told them, "You may be laughing now, but I assure you that I'm a fairly fast learner."
Emma shook her head as Gideon chimed in: "For my sake, I hope you're right."
"I guess we're about to see," Alena commented as the family finished their game.