Now Snow has found out about the pregnancies, his mothers need to explain it to Henry before the biggest gossip in Storybrooke spreads the news all over town. Unfortunately, he doesn't react the way they expected. But it's Roland who decides to set up straight! Meanwhile, Merlin has discovered the location of Rumple's abducted son. They need to plan a rescue.

Mifflin Street

That evening, Emma and Regina gathered around the MacBook, Robin just out of camera shot, as they called Henry for their weekly web chat. After a few attempts, the twenty-one-year old appeared in front of them, red-faced, as though he'd just been running.

"Hi mums, guys, how's everything?"

"Hello, my prince!" Regina began. "We've been missing you. It's been a while."

"Only a couple more weeks, then I'm back. I've missed you all, too. What's this about saying you needed to talk urgently? What's happened?"

Earlier, they'd asked Honour and Roland to try to stay quiet, until they had told Henry their news. "Henry, there's something that's happened over the last few months. Nothing bad. Something rather wonderful, actually. And your mother and I, once we were ready, were going to make sure that you would be the first to know. However, something happened this evening, which caused our news to leak out. So, we need to tell you now."

"Something wonderful, but it's leaked out? What is it?" The women glanced at each other nervously, something henry picked up on.

Emma decided to brave it and tell him first. "Henry, I'm pregnant. About thirteen weeks."

Henry, slumped on a sofa, now bolted upright, eyes bulging and jaw dropping, realising what she'd just said. "Whaaat? You're kidding, right? How? No, please don't answer that! I mean, why? Who? I didn't even know you wanted another one?" he rambled, his mind racing. Pregnant?

"We hadn't planned it, and it was an accident. I only found out a month ago, and we needed to keep things quiet until it was secure. I wanted to tell you as soon as I could."

"Please don't tell me...you haven't cheated on er? Surely you wouldn't?"

"Henry, that's enough!" It was Regina who cut him off. "Do NOT finish that sentence, young man! Listen to me. Your grandmother made a similar accusation, and that's why it's led to us doing this now, before the whole town knows all about it! Henry, your mother hasn't been unfaithful, and neither have I. I'm also pregnant."

"You?" Henry almost fell of the sofa at that. "You too?" he gasped in disbelief. "What the hell's going on up there?"

"Do not swear in front of your brother and sister! Yes, your mother and I are both around thirteen weeks pregnant. And I-""

"Thirteen weeks? You waited that long to tell me?" Now he sounded angry. "If you both got pregnant around the same time, it clearly wasn't an accident! Were you using a donor without talking to us first? What the hell were you even thinking? You've got two kids at home already! Did you give any thought about them? I can't believe I'm hearing this!"

"Henry – just cut that out!" Emma yelled at the screen. "You've no idea what you're saying - this wasn't planned, and it was an accident."

"Great! So it's either some sort of magical babies between two women, or a couple of guys got you knocked up? Nice going there, mums!"

"Henry!" Regina barked. "I'm not taking any more of this! You'll apologise, young man, or god help me I'll-"

"I've had enough of this!" he interrupted, contempt in his voice, before bending forward and ending the call.

The women looked at each other, shocked. "He cut us off! Emma, he just cut us off!"

Seeing she was about to lose it completely, Emma moved closer to comfort her, while the children just got up and walked away. Honour, seeing her father nearby, stepped across and into his arms. "Read me a bedtime story, daddy?"

"Of course, lovely. Let's leave your mums for a little while, shall we?"

~oOo~

While the upset women curled into one another, an angry Roland went upstairs to his own room. Pulling his tablet out, he opened it, setting up his web call.

In Cambridge, not have from Harvard, Henry Mills was now beginning to regret his angry response. He'd overreacted, and he knew it. But as he sat there pointlessly looking though his emails, he saw the flashing blue light of an incoming web call. Groaning, he assumed it was probably one of his mothers' calling back to tear him off a further strip. But as he wasn't in the mood to face either of them right now, he started to close the computer. He'd face all that tomorrow. However, he stopped when he read the name of the incoming caller. Roland? So he pressed 'answer' instead.

"Hi! What's up bro?" He fake-smiled for the boy, who didn't seem to be smiling back.

"You! You're what's up, dickhead!" He admonished his older half-brother, in a manner he'd never seen before. "There's things going on up here you know nothing about! So just shut up, and listen!"

~oOo~

Meanwhile, downstairs, Regina and Emma, still clearly upset at their son's reaction, sat trying to figure out what to do next. They vaguely remembered Honour going upstairs with Robin, and Roland disappearing, as usual.

"Do we call him back? I'm not sure he'll even take the call!"

But Emma was in no mood to break first. "No! I'll just get angry again. Right now, I just want to cancel his bloody bank cards, and see how the little sod feels then! I can't believe he spoke to us like that!"

"You know we can't do that. It'll only lead to all sorts of other problems and he might get even closer to Gold. I just can't believe he'd react that way! It's not as though we did anything wrong! Did you see his face? It looked like he was…was...disgusted! It;s bad enough your mother reacting the way she did, but-"

"Fuck what my mother thinks! I'm married to you! We've got two children who are happy, and one brat who spoke out of turn! Yes, it was an accident, but a good accident. We also now know contraception by magic doesn't work. It's not like we got into some one-night stands with random guys for Christ's sake? We got pregnant by Honny and Roland's father, a man who'll help support us, who's sort of family, and who we both lov…like!"

The near slip-up wasn't missed by Regina, who kissed her cheek. "You're right. I'm overreacting. I knew your parents were going to be a problem. But Henry?"

"He'll get over it!"

Will he?

~oOo~

Upstairs...

"So Robin's definitely the father? To both of them? You sure?"

"Emma admitted it. Snow was really horrible to him She thought Regina was having an affair with my dad. So she thumped him really hard around the face, in front of everybody! Dad always told me it was the worst thing ever to hit a woman, so he just stood there and took it! David tried to punch him too, but John nearly squashed him like a bug! That was funny. But your mums were really upset, and Emma used magic to make them disappear. That's when she felt sick! Apparently if they use magic when they're pregnant, it can make them ill. That's when she told me. So, they weren't just sleeping with just anybody, Henry. It was my dad! Emma likes him too, just like Gina. She said so!"

"You sure you heard right?"

"I know what I heard! Look, I've now got dad back, and now I get more brothers or sisters. They're happy. What's so wrong about it?

Henry groaned. He knew what it meant to Roland. The number of times that boy had sobbed for his dead father, as he sat in his step-brother's room made his own heart break as he recalled the very little time he had with his own father. All the adults remembered Neal, or Baelfire, as a humble hero who died saving others. But he still died! His two mothers loved him totally, but it could never completely fill that gap.

"There's nothing wrong. It's just...I don't kinow, the shock of finding out my mums are having more kids, you know? It used to be just me and mums. Then you and Honny came along. Now there's going to be five of us? Five! Emma's nearly fifty and mum's even older. That's quite old to be having more kids, Roland!"

"Children, not 'kids', Hen! You said it yourself, didn't you? So what if they're older? They've all got magic. All three of them, and they don't need money cos they can make it! And anyway, if you and me could get my dad to move in, they'll have him there to help!"

Henry sighed, realizing Roland had a point. He knew he'd reacted harshly, and he owed them an apology. Thinking it through, he also realized there was no way they would have held it from him deliberately, as he'd accused them. Also implying they'd slept around had been a heap shot. Emma said she had only known for a month, and his other mother probably didn't realise much sooner than that.

Why didn't I stay calm? Why did I have to treat them like shit? "Look, I guess you're right. I shouldn't have reacted like that. But…I need to think. Don't tell them you spoke to me, okay? Let me figure out a way to fix this."

"So you're going to stop being a wanker and help us, yeah? Like on one of your operations?"

Henry cringed at being described that way, but accepted he did have a point. "Yeah, like one of my operations. We need a name though."

"That's easy – Operation OutlawSwanQueen? Dad, Emma, and Gina?"

Operation OutlawSwanQueen? Yeah, sounds good."

~oOo~

Downstairs...

"I tried him again. He's still not answering," Emma seethed. "He's avoiding us! Smartarse even disabled that hidden tracker app I put on his new phone last time he was here!"

"I'm sorry he took the news badly, mi'ladies," Robin came down after settling Honour, seeing Emma still pacing around. "It must have been a disappointment."

"But he shouldn't have spoken to us like that! I'm still feeling angry."

"Rightly so, and I'm sure you're justified..." Robin stepped in front of her, resting his hands on her upper arms. "He's a young man, with wild hormones, who's over reacted. I'm pretty sure, given space and time, he'll realise it and apologise to you both. Can I make you a pot of tea?"

"Tea? I need a bloody whisky! Pregnant or not!"

Without being asked he slid an arm around her, pulling her into a hug, his hand guiding her onto his shoulder, just like David did so often when she was stressed. "I'm sorry I put you through all this."

"Don't be silly..." she sniffled. "No one's to blame, it just...happened. All three of us were responsible."

"Well regardless, I for one am proud to have you as a mother to our children, Emma." He kissed her cheek. Without even thinking, she slid further into him, closing her eyes as a hint of a smile graced her lips, Regina watching them, pleased at their increasing closeness.

But as her mind drifted, two virtually synchronised text alarms sounded on her and Emma's phones. Text messages:

'Henry: I'm sorry! I over reacted. I shouldn't have said what I did. I need time to think, so I won't be answering messages just yet'

A few seconds later, another text:

'Henry: I love you both. Sorry again.'

Perhaps things wouldn't be so bad after all? As Robin left them to go into the kitchen to make tea, the phones blipped once again:

'Henry: For the record, Robin's a brilliant dad. He will be again.'

"How did he know about Robin? Emma, is your mother already spreading this around town?" The blonde looked horrified, realizing they may have a bigger problem. At least she did, until yet another text came in.

'Henry: And who gave Rolly an iPad? That boy's vicious when he gets angry! Made a fair point though. I was a bit of a dick'

Even though it made Emma smirk as she left the room, Regina wasn't sure whether to reprimand him for using crude language to them, or to thank him for apologising. She chose to ignore it instead, walking into the kitchen, where Emma was already showing Robin the texts.

"So he knows I'm the father? Well, I guess that's one secret out the way. Though I should have a word with Roland about his treatment of Henry."

"Don't you dare!" Emma insisted. "He did us a favour. I don't know how, but he got through to him!"

~oOo~

Ten minutes later, the three shared a pot of tea, the large pot being one Robin brought back from England, plus what he called 'proper strength' tea bags. They sat around the dining room table, Emma finally starting relaxing.

"Why what's this obsession? Is tea some sort of weird English forest ritual?"

"I drink black coffee too, but coffee stimulates rather than relaxes the mind. I remember somewhere in Merlin's memories that pregnant mothers shouldn't drink coffee, as it wrecks your sleep and makes you even more anxious. And a pot of tea is always better than a cup, because it brews and get stronger. Very important that, as all the tea over here is as weak as gnat's piss!"

Regina sniggered, eyes still shut as she savoured the stronger taste. "I tend to agree nowadays. Emma's never really been a tea drinker. That's why we have decaff in the house."

"Which is still like eating chocolate with a wrapper on!" Emma added. "But I suppose I could get used to this. How much did you bring back with you?"

"About forty boxes. Along with chocolate, and a lot of stuff you can't get over here. That's why we hired the van."

"English chocolate? Is that a thing?"

"The smaller companies, yes, not the big ones. The big ones sell similar shit to here. But we brought back Belgian and Swiss chocolate, proper English cheeses you can actually taste, and a load of beer hops for Tuck to seed."

"Swiss Chocolate? I've tasted that stuff. You have to bring some of that over! It might even help you get laid more often."

"EMMA!" Regina choked, nearly spraying the table with tea, and she followed up by coughing.

Robin and Emma laughed as she recovered. After a few minutes chatting, he looked at his watch. "Well I don't want to outstay my welcome ladies, so I'd best bid you good night."

The wives shared a look, both a little sad the improved evening was drawing to its close. As they followed him to the door, they heard a voice from the upstairs landing.

"Mums?"

It was the first time he'd ever used the plural, drawing a smile from both. "Does dad really need to go? Couldn't he just stay the night? It'd be nice if he walked with me to school in the morning." He pouted, exploiting his dimples to maximum effect.

"Roland, I wasn't planning to stay."

"Sorry, I was just remembering what ma said to Snow. I just thought we were finally becoming a family?"

Robin knew his game. Sneaky bugger – he's playing them. But underneath it, he couldn't help admiring his son's innate ability to toy with adults' emotions.

And sure enough, Emma was the first to succumb.

"He's right, you don't have to leave, Robin. There's a spare guest room. Or you can crash out in Henry's as it's already made up."

"Yes, please stay?" Regina added, "Honour would be pleased to find you here when she wakes up."

"Well, I don't want to impose." He could've sworn Roland winked back, confirming his suspicion.

Several hours later...

Roland had been asleep for a good hour, though Robin, now lying in Henry's bed, was wide awake, unable to settle.

His mind being flooded with everything that had happened since Zeus sent him back. So many wonderful things he didn't deserve. But being reunited with his son and now two daughters was the icing on the cake. His sister and cousin were alive, safe and well, which helped temper the shock of funding his own true love had overcome her grief, and moved on to fall in love with another. And Zeus's gift of magic had given him a chance to help his men build real homes for their families, and a community. At last, a break from poverty for so many.

What he hadn't expected was Emma. The woman who now seemed to continually invade his thoughts. Before his death, they were merely comrades fighting on the same side. They'd barely spoken before. But now, the woman who'd helped and supported Regina raising his children for the last five years, never seemed out of his thoughts for long. The woman who loved Her as much as he did. The woman who'd even allowed her wife to be with him, was, like Regina, pregnant with his child!

The three had shared a bed; shared each other, not once but four times. Four times of absolute heaven. His memories of their recent love-making (for that's what it was – not sex) flooded his mind, again making his cock twitch involuntarily. Emma hadn't just allowed it, she'd encouraged it. And as his mind remembered her athletic body, her tighter curves, her taste, he'd realized his feelings for Regina's wife had grown from admiration, or even lust, to something so much deeper. And that disturbed him. It's still wrong. Dishonourable to both of them. They're married to one another, and he'd now invaded that marriage, despite all his promises.

Snow was right, I've betrayed them!

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't hear the bedroom door creak open. Nor the soft padding across the carpet. Not until he felt a soft kiss on his brow.

"Hey?" Regina breathed, whispering, "I knew you were awake - I could sense it!"

"Hi. Yeah, I couldn't sleep."

"Nor could we. Come," she pressed her palm into his, encouraging him to get up.

"Gina, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Please?" She pulled harder. He gave up and rose from the bed, still holding her hand, as she led him out and into her own bedroom.

As he entered, he saw Emma still awake, sitting upright against the headboard in the middle of the large bed, with a book on her lap, reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.

"I've never seen you in glasses before." Regina led him closer. "They suit you!"

"Nah! Your son thinks they make me look like an owl."

"Perhaps a rather sexy, bookish owl? I really must have a word with that boy about his manners, mustn't I?"

"Don't you dare!" Regina tittered. "I for one, love his little put-downs. Reminds me of someone else I know."

Emma moved to one side, placing her book and glasses on the little side table. "Come on," she rolled the goose down quilt back. "Gina, you go in the middle?"

As the pair climbed in, Emma flicked her fingers towards the bedroom door, casting a spell to prevent them accidentally being disturbed and soundproofing the room.

Regina slid into the centre, Robin easing in on her right. This time, Emma curled up, facing away from the pair as Regina curled herself into the blonde's back with her arms around her. Robin did the same to Regina and the three spooned together effortlessly, as though it was a nightly occurrence. Emma sighed contentedly, flicking her fingers once more to make the lights turn off.

"Good night…my loves," whispered Robin, without thinking. Oh heck, did I just say that out loud? Hopefully they wouldn't have noticed. Of course, Regina, comfortably sandwiched in the middle, had, a warm smile rolling across her lips in the dark as she pulled her wife closer. So too had Emma, who also grinned, comforted to know he seemed to be having similar feelings to her.

The Nolan Farm

On the other side of town, Snow and Charming were also having difficulty sleeping.

"I still can't believe it, David. Hood lied! He said he'd never interfere with them. He promised. And now look. Emma's also pregnant by him!"

"I don't like it either Snow, but she isn't stupid. Whatever's happened, she seems to want this."

"No, something's wrong. She's never shown any interest in him in the past, and I'm pretty sure he's had no interest in her! He's done something to her David, to both of them. Either that or Regina has. I'm sure of it. I don't know what, but he must've used his magic, or drugged her, or done something to control her? We have to do something!"

"But what? Unless Emma actually wants to change, I don't see how? I suppose I could go see Gold. He still owes me a favour for sorting out all Belle's stuff when they split."

"Good idea," Snow sounded a little more hopeful. "He won't talk to me as he knows I'm on Belle's side. You find out whether Emma's being controlled and whether he has any potion, or magic, or anything to stop him from being with her. I'll go talk to Blue again. Perhaps she's got a way of separating them."

"Snow, if Robin really is the father of Emma's baby, we can't just go trying to split them up!"

"We can if he's controlling her! David, it took a long time for me to accept our only daughter marrying Regina. But it turned out to be a good marriage and I can't have him ruining everything."

"What if they do have feelings for each other? What if we're making a terrible mistake?" His thoughts went back to the time she persuaded him to help steal Maleficent's egg, depriving her of her own daughter. But Snow had stopped listening to him, instead retrieving her phone.

"Hello, Blue? It's Snow. Sorry to call you so late, but we need to talk!"

Mifflin Street - the following day...

It was just after five in the morning. The little blonde, having woken up far earlier than usual, popped downstairs to get a drink. Seeing Robin's boots and jacket on the coat rack, she raced upstairs, assuming he'd be in Henry's bed or the guest room. Finding him in neither, she tiptoed quietly into her mums' room to ask where he was. Opening the door, she felt a warm fuzzy wave of something hit her, as she stepped inside Stepping closer to the bed, she saw not two bodies, but three? Her brunette mother, on the left, seemed to be curled into Emma's back, while Emma , now in the middle, was also curled, asleep, with her head resting on the chest of…

"Daddy?"

Waking to the sound of his little girl, it took Robin a good few seconds to orientate himself. "Hmmph. Er, hi Honny," he groaned, trying to wake and realizing his chest was pinned down. Opening his eyes to find Emma there, now also starting to wake, he finally realized the embarrassing position they were in. Caught red-handed! Thank god we've got nightclothes on! He opened his eyes, trying desperately not to flinch, or react to his daughter catching him with the two women.

"Honour, why are you awake so early?" he croaked, his voice hoarse. Emma, now awake and realizing the situation they were in, slowly eased her head off his chest, realizing she'd also dribbled on him, rubbing it off with her hand.

"Couldn't sleep. Cuddle, daddy?" Her harms outstretched. "Of course, my love. Come here." He lifted the girl easily from the side of the bed, lowering her onto his right, close to the edge. Emma edged Regina backwards to give them a little more space, making the older woman harrumph at being disturbed. Honour now settled happily hugging Robin's side as he lay on his back. Within a matter of minutes, the girl was sound asleep.

"Not that I'm complaining Emma," he whispered, "I wouldn't miss this for the world, but I thought you sealed the door?"

"I did, you saw me!" She whispered back. Robin wasn't so sure, so he flicked his fingers to test the magic used with another spell, just as Merlin taught him. "You used a non-magical intruder spell?"

"A non-what? I used magic! I don't understand, what are you talking about?"

"The spell you used is for non-magical beings. Honour and Henry could come straight through that, now. Same for sound-proofing spells. You need a different spell to stop anyone with magic getting in, or hearing you!"

"Whaaat?" Regina had woken a minute earlier, and was now listening. "You mean to say she could have heard us in here, in the past?"

"If her magic's come in and you used that spell, yes."

Emma cringed. "God, so that's why Henry complained he often used to hear us when...never mind! He's now got magic too, now. So he must have heard everything? Shit, this is embarrassing!"

He kept his eyes closed, desperately trying not to laugh, and look sympathetic.

"You laughing at us, thief?"

"I'm trying not to! He accidentally heard his married mothers making love? Well that just goes to prove to him that you are in love. He could always put his fingers in his ears, or get as far away as possible, like most kids do."

"That's as maybe. But the thought of them hearing us makes me cringe! You know Gina's a screamer?"

"Hey!" carped the brunette, digging her fingers into Emma's side. "Keep saying that sort of thing, dear wife, and I'll give you fewer opportunities to make me scream!"

"Sorry babe, I didn't mean it." Emma turned to meet Regina face-to face, pulling her body against her. "Let's ask Boy Wonder here to show us the proper spell then, if he's so clever?"

Seconds later, they saw a stream of soft octarine light leave his fingers and surround the door. "There you go!" He said, his face smug. "I wish I could have done that when I was living in a tent!"

Emma sniggered, albeit quietly, so not to wake the little one. "I hardly think Gina wants to hear about you and Marian doing it in a tent?"

"I was talking about Gina! As you said, she's a screamer." That made Emma giggle even more.

"I'm giving you the same warning I gave her, thief!" Regina glared, a mischievous look in her eyes. "I can easily withdraw my affections, for someone who properly appreciates my…enthusiasm… more! Perhaps the Briars would appreciate another responsive woman in their little…arrangement?"

Instead of a reply, Emma pushed her back and rolled on top of her, gently forcing the brunette's thighs to part, as she pushed her own within, to lie directly on top of her, mouths inches apart. "Nobody…but nobody…appreciates your 'idiosyncrasies' more than we do! Eh Robin?"

He saw the instant change, from sarcastic, to playful, to lust, between the two women as they stared into each other's eyes. He didn't want to kill their mood. Far from it! And just seeing the blonde mounting the brunette was a turn on in itself, but he needed to remind them that their daughter was currently in their bed, just about asleep, so perhaps this wasn't the best time? However, before he say anything, Regina did it for him.

"Eugh! Emma, morning breath?" she gasped, killing their moment completely.

"Sorry," Emma, unoffended, rolled off the former mayor. "Should've brushed my teeth first."

"And perhaps put our little girl back to bed?" added Robin, with a smile on his face. "I'll go take her back, and stay with her. Give you some time to yourselves." Still lying with Honour's head on his shoulder, he slithered sideways, placing a foot to the floor, before twisting himself to rise with her now in his arms, still fast asleep, before standing upright and walking to the door. Both women watching silently as he led her out.

"Impressive! She's getting heavy!"

"He's had a lot of practice with Roland." Regina proudly watched him. Part of her wanted to ask him to come back to join them after he'd settled her, but she understood he probably felt a little awkward.

~oOo~

Robin walked to the door with his girl in his arms, focusing to remove his magical barrier using only his eyes instead of his hands, before opening it and passing through, as quietly as possible.

But he nearly jumped when he saw Roland sitting quietly on the carpet outside, clearly expecting him, with a large grin on his face!

"Morning dad! Sleep well?"

"Shush!" he whispered. "We just got her to sleep! Ro, what on earth are you doing out here so early?"

"I was gonna ask you the same question!" He chuckled.

"Don't be impertinent, young man. I'm your Father! Why aren't you in bed?"

"Couldn't sleep. I'm glad you stayed over though." He looked suspiciously between his father and Regina's bedroom door, giving a mischievous smirk. Robin realized he knew something.

Later that morning – The Convent

"So, now you want me to verify whether Emma's child is Robin's?"

Snow nodded "And whether she or Regina are under any sort of spell or magic, or anything! Then what we can do about it? About him?"

"You're implying you want me to remove Robin, from what could potentially be two of his own children?"

"If it saves Emma's marriage and her happiness? Yes!"

"What if this IS a part of Emma's happiness? What if she isn't under any magical influence?"

"Emma does NOT love Hood! I just know, alright?"

"Snow, what you're asking of me is wrong. So, I must decline."

"You refuse to help me?" Snow started feeling angry.

"Yes, though I will confirm whether Emma is really carrying Robin's child. But no more."

"Right. Then as usual, I'll have to do everything myself!" Without saying another word, she turned her back on Reul, slamming the door loudly behind her on the way out. Blue winced at the noise, before sighing and communicating with one of her fairies using their telepathy.

[Silvermist? We could have a problem. Do you know where Merlin is?]

Gold's Antique Shop

"You're aware that I threw your annoying daughter and cantankerous daughter-in-law into the public jail, for bursting into my shop uninvited, Mr. Nolan?"

David had moments earlier banged on the shop door, but, despite seeing the closed sign, walked in regardless after hearing no reply.

"I am. And I apologise Mr. Gold, but I felt it couldn't wait!"

Charming tended to be more civil, more polite towards him than Snow or her daughter, so his response was slightly less caustic than usual. "It never can, when it comes to your family. So, what do you want this time?"

"Emma said she's pregnant, and so's Regina. She implied they had the same father. Robin. I need to know whether it's true, and what we can do about it."

"They are. He is. Nothing at all." he sneered. "Questions answered. Anything else?"

"You know? How?"

"I'm the Dark One, dearie. Magic, that sort of thing? Your daughter and her wife are indeed both with child by Robin of Locksley. The father of said children is now, thanks to Zeus, an extremely powerful sorcerer in his own right, and these two children, your granddaughter included, will inherit some of that power. Now, if that's everything?"

"Granddaughter? She's going to have a girl?" David's eyes started to mist.

"Indeed. Congratulations, well done, now get out."

"And magic? How come she'll have magic? Emma and Robin Hood aren't-"

"True love, Dearie? How do you know they're not?"

David was stunned. He was going to have a granddaughter? As a silly, happy smirk came over his face, he felt a swirling wind build around him, twirling him, before depositing him on the sidewalk outside the shop, on his backside.

He didn't care, he was going to have a granddaughter!

Storybrooke Library

"I told you Snow, I'm NOT going to talk to him!" Belle seethed, amazed Snow even had the audacity to ask her! "I want nothing more to do with that man!"

"I don't need you to talk to him, Belle. I just need the dagger! You're the only one who could get it without being hurt trying."

"You so sure about that? You forgotten the last thing he said to me? Anyway, I'm not going to. Sorry Snow but that's final. Why do you need it anyway?"

"I need Rumpelstiltskin to remove someone from the town. He won't do it if I just ask! Well can you at least tell me where it's located? I'll have to do the rest…"

"And that's it? No killing? Nobody gets murdered?"

"I swear. Nobody gets murdered."

~oOo~

Unfortunately for Snow and Belle, their conversation was being observed, via the small mirror behind the library reception desk. In another part of town, a large silver and glass sphere was playing out the scene, as the two observers listened closely, particularly when Belle conceded, giving Snow the last location she remembered for the Dark One's dagger. The sword that ultimately controls the Dark One and given him so much pain throughout his long life.

"I can't believe she would just give up that sort of information? Belle must know how much misery has been brought into Mr. Gold's life by that dagger? She didn't even ask who Snow White wanted to expel!"

"I agree. Rumpelstiltskin has made many errors during his life as a result of that thing, but he is attempting to change for everybody's sake. I think Mrs. Gold will come to seriously regret this."

"So what do you suggest we do now, my Lord?"

"We need to speak to the Dark One himself. I'll do it. We can't allow him to be controlled again."

Gold's Antiques

It was gone two in the morning, when Snow White broke into the shop.

After collecting various items from home, she texted David to let him know she was on to something, and would be back the next morning, not to wait up for her, and ensure their son was safely back from the babysitter.

Snow prided herself on her past ability to pick a lock, silence a dog or a bell, and retrieve a hidden object. Now, standing over a large walnut box, she picked the lock as silently as she could, until eventually the mechanism gave way, leaving her free to steal the contents. The entire exercise took less than fifteen minutes, as she took the blade and the oilcloth it was wrapped in, out of the ancient box, before lifting it up in the moonlight to check the item. Satisfied, she dropped it into her satchel before closing and returning the box to the hidden drawer, then made her exit.

A minute later, as the shop lay still, two figures emerged from a magically hidden corner of the room.

"You have to admit, her breaking-and-entering skills are still very impressive, Rumple, even after all these years?"

"Aye dearie. Though I have to wonder at the stupidity of the woman! For if she'd found where the real dagger was located, she'd be a smouldering corpse right now. Thank you for the tip off. I've also put a tethering spell on that fake dagger she took, so I thought I might follow her, under a cloaking spell of course. Care to join me?"

"I need to get back to the hospital, though I would ask you to contact me as soon as she attempts to use it?"

"Of course. I'm disappointed Belle would so easily have revealed its likely location to her. Sadly, ever since she used it to banish me from the town, I've never truly trusted her sufficiently to ever again reveal its true location. It seems I was justified."

"You're not planning to speak to her then?"

"Belle and I parted some time ago, though we've yet to divorce. I gave her the use of my library and a sufficient stipend, but I think our days of being together have long gone."

"Never be too sure Mr. Gold. Now, as I'm here, I would like to talk to about your son? I have news of his whereabouts"

Rumple recoiled at the change of topic. "My Bae?" But I thought you said-"

"Not Baelfire, Gideon! He's been located."

"Gideon's been found? Where? Has he been harmed? What's happened to him?" He became increasingly agitated. He would mount an immediate rescue!

"Calm, Rumple, please. One of my…agents…has tracked him down within the Dark Realm. He is still being held by your mother and is currently two years old approximately, so it seems the Black Fairy has restricted his age, unlike some other children. He's not been cruelly treated, as far as we are aware, but a number of the children with him have been."

Rumple seethed, remembering the cause of his boy's kidnap, Belle's decision to hand him over to the blue moth to prevent his father's darkness consuming him. "I have to rescue him!"

The Sorcerer smiled, placing a hand on his forearm. "I thought you might say that! However, she is well protected in many ways, so if you charge in alone, there is a fair chance that you, your son and the other children may be killed. So, I'm going to help you, Rumple. I will accompany you on this mission to free not only your son but hopefully all of them. The Dark Fairy has a few tricks of her own and is still very powerful, so the three of us will go just to be sure of success."

"Three?"

"I intend to ask Robin of Locksley to join us."

"I think that's unlikely. Locksley has children of his own here; children he's been away from for quite some time, with two more on the way. What makes you imagine he'd even consider it?"

"Because he's noble and honourable, as you well know. Plus, we three are currently the most powerful magicians available. Being pregnant, neither Emma nor Regina are in any state to teleport. Combined, we three will be more than a match for Fiona and her friends. Robin will agree, I'm sure."

~oOo~