Chapter 25:
Bella and August took their time going back to Bella's place, talking and enjoying being simply together.
"I remember being the boy, I remember seeing you trying to get over me and not understanding why you were so sad and why I couldn't stop thinking about you… I remember that all I wanted to do was go to you and find a way to make you smile again but papa said that it wouldn't be a great idea, that it might make you even sadder and I didn't understand why." August told her.
"I did try to move on, but I failed. Obviously." She replied.
"Well, I'm glad." He smiled and squeezed her hand in his, letting her know that he was happy to have her with him.
"How about we go to Granny's to get some lunch first?" She suggested, a little nervous about being on her own with him for the first time, especially in her apartment.
"Absolutely." He smiled, willing to give her anything she needed as long as he could be with her.
They were about to walk into Granny's when Smee and Hook left it with a to-go bag.
"Can you wait for me inside, please? I'll be right there." Bella asked August who nodded, smiled at her with understanding and headed inside, knowing what to order for her.
He remembered seeing her the previous night, back when he was a boy, and he remembered seeing the pirate there. Even as a child, he had been jealous of Hook, of the way he looked at Bella and he knew that she was about to tell him that that opportunity door just closed for him. He felt bad for the pirate and hoped that he wouldn't take it too badly.
"I see that things have changed for the better for you." Hook stated with a neutral face.
"Yes… Apparently, the sleepwalking was just another symptom among many others that Marco was trying to deny. I… He decided to bring August back last night, we did it this morning." She replied not knowing how she should handle him but deciding that it would be best to leave out Rumpelstiltskin's involvement in this out.
"Didn't I tell you that you'd get the happiness you deserve, Swan? I'm happy for you, truly." He told her with a smile and she could see that he was sincere.
"And I know you'll get yours, Hook. Trust me, my intuitions are never wrong and I have the feeling that you're on the right track, you'll get your happy ending eventually if you keep on this track. And my feeling is telling me that you'll find it sooner than you think." She smiled at him.
"I hope you're right."
"I know I am, my instinct is magical and never wrong, just ask Emma. The only time she didn't listen to me she ended up in jail for Henry's father's crimes." She smiled, trying to encourage him to stay good.
"Well, I'll let you go back to your love, then. Smee and I have to take care of the old girl." He informed her before he left, doing his best to believe that she was right.
"By the way, I promised Snow White that I'd talk to you about something." Bella remembered.
"What is it?"
"Well, she's not working at the school anymore but she's still in contact with them and apparently a lot of the kids would like a chance to visit a real pirate ship. Snow wanted to know if you'd be willing to allow a few group of kids to visit it. It would be during school hours and they'd be supervised by teachers. Also the groups would be small. It could help you and your men make a good place for yourselves in this town. You could tell them about some of your adventures, show them that pirates can be honorable men. They might even offer you a job at the school later. You could teach them about geography, the different realms you've seen, the stars and stuff." Bella explained.
"It could be a good idea, at least the Jolly Roger would get some action." Hook nodded.
"Did you get a cell phone?" She asked him.
"That talking device thing that Smee has? No, not yet." He shook his head.
"You can use mine Milady." Smee offered, eager to help his captain.
"Good. I'll give Mister Smee's number to Snow, she'll give it to the teacher who wants to organize it and they'll contact you. I think it will be good for you." Bella replied with a smile while she wrote down Smee's number and gave him hers so they could contact her if they needed.
"Well, we'll let you get back to your man then." Hook told her.
"Hey, Hook. When we get back from New York, I hope you'll join August and I for lunch sometime. I hope you'll be friend with him." Bella told him as he walked away.
He smiled back at her, nodded and told her:
"Use Smee's number. I'll think about getting one of these things for myself soon." He replied.
"Did everything go well?" August asked her once she walked back in.
"Yes, perfectly. I forgot to give him a message from Snow last night so I told him now. The school would like for him to allow students, supervised of course, to tour his ship. He agreed." She smiled while she texted Snow White with Smee's number.
"Good. People will accept him as a changed man faster if their kids do." August smiled.
"I told him that once we came back we'd have lunch with him. I'd like for you to try and be his friend." She told her love hesitantly.
"I'd love to. According to what I heard, we could get along well." He smiled.
"Good." She nodded, smiling when she saw that he had ordered her favorite.
"You know that you don't have to be nervous, right? This is far from being our first date." He asked her.
"I… You know me well." She chuckled.
"We don't have to rush right back where we were before I was changed." He assured her.
"I want for us to get right back where we left off. Life's too short to do otherwise." She replied quickly.
"Good. Me too. Don't be nervous Bella. Everything will be fine." He told her.
.
Once they were done with lunch, Bella and August went to check on Emma who informed them that she had located Lilly and that they would be leaving the next day to find her and Baelfire. Once Emma left them to go and warn Maleficent and Gold to prepare the trip and finalize everything, Bella and August went for a walk in the park, like they used to do.
After a few hours, they went back to Bella's apartment.
"I kept a few of your things, your father took the rest." She informed him.
"I see that you've slept in my favorite shirt." He commented.
"It made me feel like you were still around." She replied.
"Maybe that's why you couldn't move on." He suggested.
"Maybe." She shrugged.
"I'll pack a bag tonight at dad's, that's if you still want me to move in here with you."
"Of course I do." She smiled brightly, showing him the empty drawers and closet space she had kept.
"Good."
.
The next morning, Maleficent was at the town line with the Charming's and Marco, telling goodbye and wishing good luck to Gold, Emma, Bella, August and Henry. Graham didn't want to let Emma go without him but they both decided that the town needed a sheriff and that one of them should stay with her parents in case something happened while she was gone. Plus, they didn't know if he'd be able to leave town while keeping his memories.
"Are you sure it's a good idea for Henry to miss school and come with us?" Emma asked Bella before they left.
"Yes, trust me. I can't tell you why now but it'll be good for him to come along. Plus, Regina might not be able to use magic but she's still around and I know you don't like leaving him a second time." Bella assured her best friend who trusted her, nodded and opened the car door for her son.
"I can't believe I'm going to go to New York and take a plane! It's so great! Do you think we'll have the time to do some sightseeing?" Henry asked in the car, not directing his question toward anyone in particular.
"Well Henry, considering the fact that it'll probably take me some time to convince my son to trust me, I think you'll definitely have the time to look around." Gold replied.
"Henry has to be with us when we find Baelfire, so do you Emma." Bella commented.
"Well maybe you and August can take Henry to see whatever it is he wants to see while I find Lilly and before Gold talks to his son." Emma suggested.
"Good idea. I don't think you'll need me with Lilly just remember to keep calm to give her the chance you wouldn't give her earlier and to show her the message Maleficent recorded on your phone for her." Bella nodded.
"I wish I could just teleport us directly in New York, I hate the idea of locking myself in one of those flying tin cans." Gold muttered, making them all smile.
"Don't worry Mister Gold, I read somewhere that more people died in car crashes than because of an airplane crash." Henry commented kindly, trying to reassure the elder man.
"Everything will be fine, trust me." Bella added quickly.
.
Besides a few uneasy moments at the airport, especially for Gold, everything went pretty well and they arrived safely in New York, right on time.
"So, what's the plan?" Emma asked Gold.
"Why don't you and I go look for Lilly first? It will give me a while longer to prepare for my meeting with Baelfire. I'm not sure I'm quite ready yet." Gold suggested.
"My editor is close to the museum. I'll go there while Henry and August visit the Museum, then we'll go and visit the other places around. Call us when you're done and we'll see if you join us or if we join you." Bella replied.
"Are you sure?" Emma asked her friend.
"Yes, don't worry. Everything will be alright. I'm not sure you'll find her at your first try though, I have a feeling that we'll have the time to see several sites with Henry before we have to join you." Bella replied.
"If that's the case, here Henry." Gold said while handing a few 50 Dollar bills to Henry.
"Thanks! But why?" Henry asked.
He had never seen that much money in his life before and he knew that there must be over 500 Dollar in front of him right now.
"Well, first of all, I'd like you to get a souvenir for Belle at every site you visit, make her feel like she saw it too. Then, I want you to buy something for the town, something so that other town members can feel like they have seen it. And something for you too." Gold explained with a smile he hoped to be grandfatherly.
"That's very nice of you mister Gold, but are you sure?" Emma asked him, surprised.
"Of course I'm sure. I can definitely afford it and it will help me show the town that I've changed, maybe." Gold replied, keeping quiet, for now, that he was also doing this to see his newly discovered grandson smile.
They parted ways after Henry thanked Mister Gold and asked him for some recommendations concerning Belle's gifts.
Bella walked with Henry and August up to the Museum before she crossed the street and went to see her editor and hand over her last 2 books and the project draft for her new saga. Since she had warned beforehand that she didn't have much time, she was able to see her editor right away and they worked quickly. He agreed to wait until her new saga was complete, until he received everything to start publishing and to continue the fishing touches on this saga through emails. She was done just in time to see Henry and August exit the museum with a shopping bag from the souvenir shop. Since Emma hadn't called yet, they moved on to their next target.
.
For Emma and Gold, things were going better than they expected it to. They found Lilly after they third try and though she had been angry at first, she calmed down as soon as Emma showed her Maleficent's video message.
Maleficent was kind, smiling, hopeful and telling her daughter that even though she's still angry at their forced separation, she had forgiven the Charming's and wanted to enjoy her last chance at happiness with her daughter. She asked her to give her at least 2 weeks in Storybrooke, to please listen to what Emma had to say, to try and forgive and to believe she could be happy.
The two women talked for about an hour before Lilly finally agreed to give it a chance and to go back to Storybrooke with them, even just for a few weeks. She packed a bag and followed them to their rented car, knowing that they weren't going there right away but that they had to stop once more first to get the Dark One's son. Emma couldn't help but notice that Lilly's place looked a lot like hers had been before she and Bella moved to Storybrooke.
"So Bella is with you?" Lilly asked Emma as they drove to join Henry, Bella and August.
"Yes, she's waiting with my son, Henry." Emma nodded.
"And she's dating Pinocchio?"
"I know, it's weird but she's in love and they're happy together. I'm engaged to the huntsman the Evil Queen hired to cut out my mother's heart. We try not to think about that fact too much." Emma chuckled.
"Well, as long as you're happy." Lilly chuckled, only half sincere.
"Hey, I'm the savior, Lilly. My job is to give everyone their happy ending back. That includes you too. I won't rest until you've found what makes you happy. Your mother, the love of your life, whatever it is, I won't let you down this time. I give you my word. You're not alone anymore, and you won't be ever again." Emma promised her old friend.
"To be honest, if I hadn't lied to you the first time, you probably wouldn't have let me down the second time." Lilly declared.
"I was furious at my parents when I found out what they did to you, you know. Then they explained that they didn't know it would send you in another realm, they thought they'd be able to take you back to your mother afterwards… It doesn't make it okay, what they did was wrong, I know it and they know it. They're sorry about it and they're trying to make up for it." Emma tried to explain.
"Well, at least they acknowledged that it was wrong. But I kind of get it, everything is linked. What your parents did is a result of the Evil Queen's actions, and they were a result of her mother… It's all linked one way or another." Lilly nodded.
"If we're throwing blame around I'd say that I'm probably to blame for some of it." Gold declared with a small smile.
"Let's hope your son doesn't see it like this or you'll have wasted a trip." Lilly added.
"As long as I get to see him and talk to him a little, it won't be a wast of a trip." Gold replied honestly.
.
After introducing August and Henry to Lilly, they were finally able to go find Baelfire.
"How do we proceed? I mean, his name is not even on the doorbell we can't just ring it." Emma stated once they were there.
"He'll open for me. Just be quiet and when he opens the door, stay behind me, don't let him see you until you can go inside." August declared, taking a big breath in.
"You know him?" Emma asked him, surprised.
"Emma… You're about to learn something big, you'll be shocked and angry but please remember that the choices that were made helped you get on the path you are now, with your parents, your family and Graham. What August did helped put you where you are now. Remember that." Bella warned Emma gently.
"Now you're scaring me." Emma frowned.
"What's going on?" Henry asked while Gold looked down and Lilly looked at them curiously.
"I sense that it's best if we don't tell the two of you before we see Baelfire. Please trust me?" Bella asked.
"Fine." Emma and Henry nodded.
With one nod at them, August rang the door bell and once they heard that someone had answered, without speaking, August spoke:
"It's me, August. My girlfriend and I came in town to pick up something and I figured I'd update you on the situation in Storybrooke before we go back. Don't worry, I kept my promise and she won't tell her either." August declared, careful not to lie.
There was still no words spoken but the door was buzzed open and so everyone followed August up the stairs and to a door. He knocked, keeping Bella by his side while everyone else hide on the side. Once the door opened August stepped in and, with one small word of apology, pushed the browned haired man aside so that everyone could come in.
"August, what the hell, man!" Neal exclaimed when he realized that his friend had brought more than one person with him and before he saw who had come with him.
"Neal? You've got to be kidding me! Seriously, Bella? This is what August has been hiding? This is why it was so important for me and Henry to be there for this? He's Gold's son?" Emma exclaimed angrily, hugging her son close to her side.
"Emma?" Neal declared with a voice full of emotions, surprised to see her there.
"Baelfire…" Rumpelstiltskin whispered.
"You brought my father here? Why?" Neal asked August.
"He helped me when he didn't have to, without asking for anything in exchange. There was absolutely nothing in it for him but he helped me, saved my life and made sure it wouldn't be put in danger the same way ever again. He's changed in the past year and I truly believe that he deserves for you to give him another chance. As for Emma, I never told her a thing about you." August replied honestly.
"If he had she might be less angry right now." Bella chuckled before she introduced herself.
"I'm the Dark One's grandson…" Henry realized before he smiled at his newly discovered grandfather.
"I… I need to step out for a minute. I need to speak with my parents and Graham. I'll be on the fire escape." Emma said, raising her hand in the hair and walking away when Neal tried to speak with her.
When she arrived in front of the window, Emma stopped dead on her tracks and took the dream-catcher in her hand.
"Emma…" Neal tried to explain.
"Save it. Who needs Tallahassee anyway?" Emma frowned, throwing the worn out dream-catcher at her ex boyfriend who caught it and looked guilty.
"Should I go and speak with her?" Henry asked.
"No, you stay here. Lilly and I will go and make sure she's okay. You stay here, introduce yourself." Bella told Henry who nodded.
After that, Bella and Lilly followed Emma outside, leaving August, Henry and Gold with Neal.
Lilly and Bella stood aside patiently while Emma talked with her parents on the phone. It just so happened that they were with Graham and Emma was able to inform the three of them at the same time about this turn of event. Bella knew that it wouldn't be easy for Emma but she also knew that her best friend wouldn't stay mad at her, she'd understand and forgive her.
"Do you think he'll come back to Storybrooke with us?" Emma finally asked them once she turned around to face them.
"That's what Gold wants, and I think Henry will want it too." Bella replied.
"He left me… He knew who I was and he just let me go to jail for him. He left me alone and because of that our son was raised by the Evil Queen! August didn't force him, he gave him a choice. Neal could have chosen to face his fears and stay with me but he didn't. He's a coward." Emma shook her head.
"But if he hadn't done this maybe you wouldn't be where you are right now." Lilly reminded Emma.
"Lilly's right. You wouldn't be engaged to Graham if Neal had taken you to Tallahassee." Bella added.
"I know. I'm just not ready to be nice to him right now. Come on, let's go back inside and see if everyone's still alive." Emma replied.
"If it makes you feel better, I think Henry is mad at him too because he hurt you in the past." Bella told her friend, making Emma and Lilly smile.
"You know what? It kind of does." Emma nodded.
.
Bella, August and Lilly stood aside, by the window, while Gold, Neal, Henry and Emma talked things out together and tried to find a solution that would please them all.
"So Bella, you really don't know who your father is?" Lilly asked her.
"No, I just know that he's a powerful wizard who loves me and that eventually someone will find him, free him and introduce us. I know that I can't find him by myself." Bella replied.
"What about your mother?" Lilly asked her.
"I know that she's evil, had magic that appears green, probably still does, and I remember her laughter. That's all."
"That's got to suck." Lilly nodded.
"What about you? You apparently know everything about Storybrooke and you said that an old man who calls himself the Apprentice told you everything about it. Do you know who your father is?"
"No, I was hoping my mother could tell me." Lilly replied.
"I never thought of asking her but, hey, maybe you can call her now if you want. Here take my phone, dial Maleficent's number and talk with your mother. I can see you're having a hard time waiting." Bella suggested, handing out her phone to Lilly, Maleficent's number pre-dialed.
"You don't mind?" Lilly asked.
"Of course not, I totally understand. You should go on the fire escape to have some privacy." Bella suggested.
"Thanks." Lilly nodded, walking to the fire escape with the phone in her hands.
"You know that Emma's not angry with you, right?" Bella asked August as they watched Neal slowly agreeing to go back to Storybrooke with them, for a couple of weeks, to spend some time with his father and with his son but insisting that he had to come back later because he had a life in New York.
"I know but it doesn't mean that I have forgiven myself." He smiled.
"And what would it take for you to forgive yourself?" She asked him.
"Maybe just some time." He smiled.
"Why don't the two of us step out for a while? We could go and get some food for everyone." Bella suggested.
"Good idea."
Bella announced that she and August were going to get some food for everyone and would be back later with enough for them all. Of course Gold stopped them and gave them his credit card, claiming that he had promised to pay for all expenses and that it would make him break his word if they didn't let him pay.
Eventually, they all decided to stay the night in New York and to leave in the morning. Henry and Gold stayed with Neal at his apartment while Emma, Lilly, Bella and August took a couple of hotel rooms for the night. In the morning, they all met up, had breakfast together in a place Neal liked and visited a couple more places Henry wanted to see before they flew back home, their arms full of souvenirs for the town and their friends.
Neal had to admit that his father appeared to have changed but he also knew better than to believe his word without waiting to see if it would stick. Plus, he had a son now and he wanted to get to know him, make it up for not being there when he grew up so he followed them back to Storybrooke, knowing that he'd have to come back to New York soon for Tamara. He hadn't even taken the time to see her before he left, he just left her a message on her answering machine, hoping she wouldn't be too angry at him when she called him back.
What did you think? Sorry for the wait. I had a hard time finding inspiration these past few months. Things have been hard for me because first my father, who was living with me, got really sick for a long time and taking care of me drained me of all inspiration and energy I had and then he died, and it was hard to deal with everything on my own. i'll try not to make you wait too long before the next chapter.
Review please? Can you guess who Lilly will end up with?
Lorelei Candice Black