Disclaimer: Ehhh...see chapter 1.
The ride through town was quiet for the most part. Katelyn sat in her seat, fidgeting with the end of her dress. Henry reached over and took her hand, grasping it gently. She looked over at him. He smiled at her and then looked to the front, at Rumple.
"So, where are we going?" Henry asked.
"Logan International Airport," Rumple gritted out.
"I think he meant the one after that," Emma interjected.
"Let's just take things one step at a time, shall we?" Rumple said not taking his eyes off the road.
"Do you really think that shawl's going to work? Or her necklace?" Emma asked with concern lacing her voice.
"Well, if it doesn't, and I revert to my cursed self, we're all gonna have problems," he snarked before adding, "It'll work."
They all watched at the town line approached faster and faster. They crossed over it. Rumple and Katelyn were enveloped in a blue glow before both returned to normal.
"So?" Emma asked softly.
"My name is Rumplestiltskin. And we're going to find my son," Rumple said with a smirk. He glanced back at the mirror to his daughter who nodded that she was okay.
Henry looked at Katelyn as well.
"I know who I am," she said at the look in his eyes.
"I'm glad," Henry replied.
The car relapsed into silence the rest of the way to the airport. They parked and checked in with their bags. They then began making their way through security.
"Have you ever been outside of Storybrooke, Mr. Gold?" he asked.
"No."
"Are you nervous?"
"No."
"Are you worried about meeting your son?"
"No, Henry, I'm fine."
Katelyn put a hand on his and he calmed. He patted her hand.
"How about we talk about this later, kid? We're next," Emma said.
"It must be really hard not to use magic, being like everyone else," Henry stated.
Emma put the bins out and began taking her shoes off. She looked at Rumple who seemed confused.
"You've gotta put your shoes in," Emma said.
Henry walked through the metal detector with no problem as did Katelyn. They looked back at their parents.
"How terribly uncivilized," Rumple growled.
"Uh, scarf and the cane go into the basket," a security guard said.
"What?" Rumple asked.
"Scarf and cane go in the basket," the guard said again.
Rumple's eyes widen and he looked to Emma.
"I can't," he whispered.
"You have to," Emma replied.
"It ain't rocket science, Buddy. You ever been on a plane before?" snapped a man in line.
"Have you ever been impaled upon a cane before?" Rumple snarled at the man and went to lunge for him before Emma grabbed him.
"My…father's a little nervous. We're headed to a family reunion. Sorry," Emma said to the man.
"Your father?" Rumple asked in surprise.
"Just put your shawl in the bin. I'll help you through."
"If I let this go, I could forget who I am."
"I'm not gonna let that happen."
He took a moment to gather his wits about him and considered what Emma said to him. He finally nodded.
"Okay."
He put his cane into the bin as well as the shawl and walked, unsteadily and unaided, through the metal detector. Emma followed close behind. She quickly grabbed his shawl and wrapped it around his neck. He took a few breaths before noticing the look that Emma was giving him. He nodded that he was alright and they began to gather their things.
"Guys, there's a Cinnabon's here!" Henry exclaimed as he was unaware what had happened.
Katelyn looked back at her father and walked over to him. She couldn't feel his distress, but could see it in his stance. She knew he was nervous and that walking through the metal detector had taken a toll on him. She placed her hand in his and held tightly as they all walked after Henry to the vendor.
"Papa?"
"I'm okay, Katie."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Katelyn nodded and squeezed his hand.
"Can I have a cinnamon roll too, Papa?"
He looked at her and considered her request.
"Yes, you can."
She smiled at him and took the offered money. She caught up with Henry and they both bought their items and returned to the adults. Henry, Emma, and Katelyn took seats in the terminal while Rumple paced.
"Do you want something to eat?" Emma asked.
"No," Rumple replied.
"Something wrong?"
"Stop asking me that. I'll be right back," he snapped and walked off to the restroom.
Emma and Henry looked at Katelyn who watched him go.
"Is he alright, kid?" Emma asked Katelyn. Katelyn shook her head.
"I can't feel him, but I know that look. He's scared. He just won't admit it to anyone. He's so scared that Bae won't talk to him or give him a chance to speak. It's all he wants."
Their flight was called for boarding. Emma looked to Henry.
"Kid, go get him. Tell him we're boarding soon."
"Okay."
Henry got up and went over to the bathroom. Katelyn watched him. She didn't know what her brother was going to do, but she hoped that he'd listen to their father before he did anything else.
Henry walked back over and not too long after that Rumple came out of the bathroom and they boarded the plane. They found their seats. Emma and Henry sat together as Katelyn and Rumple sat together.
"You good, kid?" Emma asked Henry. He looked over at her with a big smile on his face.
"You kidding? A trip with you, first plane ride, and we're going on a quest like in the book. The only thing that could make this day better…is more frosting," Henry replied.
Rumple's leg bounced as every nerve in his body was tense. Emma looked over and saw him in this state.
"It's going to be alright," she said, "We're going to find your son."
"I know," he replied.
Katelyn looked over at her father and touched the leg that continued to bounce. He looked at his daughter who gave him a smile. He relaxed a little to her touch and she leaned against him. She pulled her book out and opened it to the place she'd marked off. She began to read softly to him and he settled in his seat, calmed by his daughter's voice.
Emma looked at Henry who grinned at her. She was a little unnerved at the scene before her because she'd never seen Rumple act in such a manner with anyone except that night when she found out that he was Katelyn's father. She couldn't believe how this little girl could make the nervous, on-edge, most powerful sorcerer in all the realms seem so docile and tranquil. It was shocking, to say the least.
The flight attendants began to relay instructions and information out for their flight and safety precautions. Emma noticed that neither Rumple nor Katelyn paid attention to what they were saying and continued to read the book. She glanced at the cover and shook her head as she saw the title.
"How many times have you read that book, Kate?" Emma asked.
Katelyn stopped and Rumple glared over at Emma who didn't back down, but gave him a look of defiance. Katelyn patted her father's leg and looked at Emma.
"Um, I'm not really sure. I've had it a long time and we read it almost every night. I guess hundreds of times," Katelyn replied.
"Any particular reason why it's so special?"
"Well, it's Mama and Papa's story."
"Come again?"
"Mama is Beauty and Papa is the Beast. Ask Henry. They're in his storybook."
Emma looked at Henry who pulled it out and flipped to their story.
"It's not the same in Henry's, but there are some similarities."
Emma nodded as she continued to read over Henry's shoulder. Katelyn went back to reading softly to her father and this is how the duration of the flight went. A woman glanced over at them and smiled.
"It's so nice to see parents who still believe in reading with their children," she said, "I wish I saw it more often."
Emma and Rumple looked at each other and then to the woman.
"Oh, we're not together. This is my son and that's his daughter. We're just traveling together," Emma said.
"Didn't stop you from calling me your father in the airport," Rumple murmured low enough just for Emma to hear him.
She blushed slightly.
"Thank you, ma'am, for the compliment. My associate and I are proud of our children as they are still interested in the written form as opposed to the electronics most children have nowadays," Rumple said to the woman, giving a charming smile of his own.
The woman turned back in her seat.
Katelyn grinned up at her father, proud at the way he handled that moment. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead as they continued to read. It wasn't long before the flight was over and they began to deplane. Katelyn stuck close to her father as they made their way to baggage claim to get their luggage. After that, they hailed a cab and went to a hotel.
"I thought we were going to go directly to your son," Emma said.
"I see no sense in carting our luggage around the city trying to find Bae," Rumple said as he handed her a room key, "This is to your room. Henry is staying with you and Kate with me."
Emma nodded and took the key before leading Henry to their room to put their luggage away.
"Fifteen minutes to freshen up and then we're on our way again, Miss Swan," Rumple told her.
She nodded as she and Henry entered their room. Katelyn followed her father to their room. He slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. He flipped on a light switched near the door and led her inside. She carried her bag to one of the queen sized beds and set it on it.
"Papa, isn't this a bit much? We're not going to be staying long."
"It's safe and near to where Bae is. I think it's fine."
"Thank you for being nice to Emma."
"Nice? I'm just being civil."
"Okay, Papa. Are we going to be able to find exactly where Bae lives and how do you know where he is? You never did tell me how you found him."
"It's no matter, love. All that matters is that I did and now we have to go meet him. Are you ready?"
"In a moment, I need to use the restroom."
"Okay, but be quick."
"I will."
Katelyn hurried off to the bathroom. Rumple paced the floor as he waited for his daughter. His thoughts strayed to the boy he'd abandoned long ago. Katelyn came out of the bathroom and looked up at his pensive expression. She took his hand and he looked at her. She gave him a smile and he smiled back. They walked out of the room and went to Emma and Henry's room to gather them. They hailed a cab and drove to the address that Rumple supplied the driver with.
Getting out of the cab, Katelyn noticed that her father was even more on edge. He stopped and looked down the sidewalk. Emma and Henry stopped and turned to him.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked, "Is this the right place?"
Rumple looked up as Emma asked the questions. Katelyn squeezed his hand.
"Yes, it is," he replied.
"Let me guess, he isn't expecting you?" Emma asked. Rumple didn't answer and just looked at her. "Well, who doesn't love a surprise?"
Emma turned and walked ahead with Henry following her. They entered the building that Rumple indicated that Bae lived in. They stood before the gate and examined the names next to the boxes. Henry leaned up and looked at them.
"No Baelfire," he said.
"Yeah, that wouldn't fly as an alias," Emma said to Henry before turning to Rumple, "Your magic globe didn't give you an apartment number?"
"It doesn't work that way," Rumple replied through gritted teeth.
"Do any of these names mean anything to you?" Henry asked.
"Well, names are what I traffic in. But sadly, no," Rumple said melancholy.
Emma glanced over the boxes again and pointed to one that had the number 407 on it with no name next to it.
"Here's your boy," she said.
"No. It could be vacant," Rumple argued.
"You may traffic in names and magic, but I traffic in finding people that don't want to be found. And those sort of folks don't like to advertise their whereabouts," Emma said as she pressed the intercom button and it clicks on, "UPS package for 407."
The intercom clicked off and Henry looked up at her.
"Maybe you should've said FedEx," Henry said. Katelyn giggled at him.
There's some noise off in the distance.
"He's running," Emma said as she looked out to see a man coming down the fire escape and take off down the streets of Manhattan.
"That favor you owe me. This is it. Get him to talk to me. I can't run," Rumple said.
"Watch Henry. I'll be back," she replied as she took off after the man.
Henry and Katelyn looked at each other and then to Rumple who looked more nervous than ever. Katelyn took his hand gently.
"It'll be okay, Papa. She'll catch him."
"I certainly hope so, love."
"I'm hungry," Henry said as he saw a hot dog stand.
"How can you think of food at a time like this?" Katelyn asked. Henry shrugged. "Ugh, boys!"
"Hey!" Henry said.
"Alright, children, let's get you something to eat," Rumple said as he led them to the vendor.
They ordered their food and began eating.
"Don't worry," Henry said, "Emma's really good at catching people."
"Well, my son's been running away for a very long time now. And I have a feeling he's equally adept at it," Rumple said as he felt hopeless.
"Well, at least we found him, right?" Henry asked.
"Indeed," Rumple replied.
Henry took another bite of his hot dog before Katelyn elbowed him. He looked at her and she gave him a look.
"Oh, and, uh, thanks for the hot dog. I forgot," Henry said as he blushed.
"You are quite welcome. And thank you," Rumple said as Henry looked confused.
"For what?"
"Well, if it wasn't for you bringing Emma to Storybrooke, none of this would have come to pass," Rumple said as he began to walk with the children following him, "You…are a remarkable young man."
Henry smiled.
"You know…I forgave her," Henry said. Rumple looked at him confused, "Emma…for giving me up. She thought it was best for me then. That's why she did it. I'm sure your son will get it too."
"Alas, the circumstances surrounding our separation weren't quite so noble," Rumple said sadly.
"But you're here now. And you want him back, right?"
"More than anything."
"Then that's all that matters."
Katelyn smiled at Henry for giving her father hope. She only hoped that it was enough to help him through this.
"Papa, Emma will get Bae and you'll talk and everything will be fine."
Rumple smiled and patted her hand. He led them back to the building where Bae had took off from and waited for Emma to return, hopefully with Bae in tow. Henry noticed Rumple getting even antsier.
"Why are you so nervous? When I found my mom, I was excited," Henry said.
"Because I have the benefit of more…life experience," Rumple said, "I know that things don't always happen the way we want them to."
"Sure, but in my book, it says you can see the future," Henry said, "Why can't you just look and see what's gonna happen?"
" Well, that is complicated. I didn't always have it. And then when I did... well... it's maybe not the gift one would expect. Seeing the inevitable... can be a terrible price," Rumple replied.
"But you wouldn't have to worry about stuff. You'd just know," Henry said.
"Well, that is complicated. I didn't always have it. And then when I did... well... it's maybe not the gift one would expect. Seeing the inevitable... can be a terrible price," Rumple replied.
Emma walked in at that moment and Rumple looked at her expectantly.
"Hey," she said in greeting.
"Did you find him?" Rumple asked, trying to be hopeful.
"Sorry. Your son…got away," Emma said sadly.
Rumple walked around her and up to the intercom box and began to push all the buttons.
"Gold, wait. What are you doing?" Emma asked.
"I'm finding my son," he replied as the door buzzed open and he began to ascend the stairs.
Emma looked at Katelyn and Henry who followed after him. They get to the hallway where Bae's apartment number is.
"He's gone," Emma said as Rumple bends to begin picking the lock.
"But he lives here. He'll be back, and I'll be waiting," Rumple replied.
"Stop. You can't just break in," she said.
"Yeah, well actually, that's something I'm quite adept at," he grumbled back.
"He might not come back," she tried to reason with him.
"Okay. Finding people is what you do, Ms. Swan. I'm simply going to assist you. There may be information in here—Who he is, what he does, who he loves," he murmured.
"No. Don't do this. There are things called laws," she said.
"I'll be lookout," Henry chimed in and went to the end of the hallway to look around the corner. Katelyn looked stuck.
"No, I…" Emma said to Henry before looking back to Rumple, "You could get arrested."
"Then my son will have to testify against me, and we will be reunited," Rumple said as the lock clicked and he opened the door.
"Papa, this doesn't seem like a good idea," Katelyn said softly.
"It's the only way to get your brother back, love, I'm willing to do anything," he replied.
"But breaking the law, Papa, you know better."
He walked into the small apartment as the others followed him. Emma still protested, but when something caught her eye, she stopped. Katelyn watched as she walked to the window and pulled the Dreamcatcher hanging there down.
"You find something, dearie?"
Emma started when he walked up behind her.
"Nothing," she replied, "Uh, it just looks like a Dreamcatcher."
"Yeah, well, if it's nothing, why are you still holding it? You're lying to me."
"Just get back to looking, okay?"
"No, no, no. You saw something. Tell me."
"You don't know what you're talk-"
"Tell me!"
Emma looked to Henry and Katelyn.
"Kids, go wait in the bathroom."
"But I can help-" Henry began to protest.
"What? Why?" Katelyn asked.
"Henry, go!" Emma ordered. Henry took Katelyn's hand and they walked to the bathroom. "There's nothing here. The guy's a ghost."
"What, you think me a fool? You're holding back. I want to know what and why."
"I'm not holding back-"
"Did he tell you something?"
"Gold-"
"Did he tell you something?!"
"Nothing. He didn't say anything."
"But you talked to-"
"Ah! Don't put words in my mouth-"
"Tell me! You tell me, or I'm gonna make you tell me!"
"You don't have magic here."
"Oh, I don't need magic."
"You really wanna do this?"
"Do not push me."
"Don't push me."
"We had a deal! A deal! No one- no one breaks deals with me!"
As the last word came out of Rumple's mouth the door burst open and the man, Bae, came running in.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" he shouted at Rumple.
"Bae?" Rumple said as the man nodded, "You came back for me."
"No, I came back to make sure you didn't hurt her. I've seen what you do to people who break deals."
"Please, Bae, just talk to me."
"I have no interest in talking to you. You can go."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Get out of my apartment!"
"Neal…" Emma said.
"Emma, I got this."
Rumple looked curious at the two.
"You two know each other," he surmised, "You two know each other. How?"
"You sent me chasing after him," Emma said.
"No, no, no. Stop it! You're lying! How do you two know each other?!"
Henry and Katelyn both walked into the room.
"Mom? What's going on?" Henry asked Emma.
"Papa, are you okay? What's happening?" Katelyn asked Rumple, a little scared from all the yelling.
"Hey," Emma said softly as she tried to comfort Henry.
Rumple put a hand on Katelyn's shoulder and pulls her to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at Neal.
"Who is this? Who are they?" Neal asked looking from Henry to Katelyn.
"My son," Emma answered shortly. Neal looked to Rumple.
"My daughter, your sister," Rumple replied.
"What?" Neal looked confused.
"Is that Baelfire?" Henry asked Emma. Katelyn looked up at Rumple who just nodded.
"I need you and Katelyn to stay in the other room for a little while longer, okay?" Emma said as she began to usher him and Katelyn to the other room, "Come on."
"Wait," Neal said, "How old are you?"
"Don't answer him," Emma told Henry, still pushing the both of them to the other room.
"How old are you, kid?!" Neal shouted.
"Eleven! Now why is everyone yelling?" Henry shouted.
Katelyn looked at Henry before looking back to Neal. She then looked at her father who was just as confused.
"He's eleven?" Neal asked.
"Mom?" Henry said to Emma.
"Is this my son?" Neal asked Emma.
"No. My dad was a fireman. He died," Henry said as he looked to Emma, "That's what you told me. You said…"
Emma cupped Henry's face in between her hands.
"Is this…my son?" Neal asked again.
Emma, still cupping Henry's face, whispered, "Yes."
Henry backed away from Emma and climbed out the open window onto the fire escape. Katelyn looked stunned at the news, as did her father. She glared at Emma before taking off after her best friend.
"Kate, no!" Rumple called.
"Papa…"
Rumple saw the look on her face and he nodded and Katelyn continued through the window. She climbed up the steps to sit next to him.
"Why would she lie to me about my dad?"
"I don't know, Henry. Maybe he hurt her. Maybe she didn't want to share you, I don't know."
"I'm so mad at her right now."
"I know. She lied to you. It's the first time she's lied to you."
"If she lied about this, what else has she lied about?"
"I don't know."
"So my dad is your big brother. That makes you my aunt."
Katelyn grinned.
"I guess it does. Does it make you happy that we're family?"
"It does, but I don't like the way I had to find this out."
"Me either. Maybe she did have a good reason."
"Henry," Emma said as she walked over to them. Henry looked away from her and Katelyn glared at her.
"Katelyn, can you give me a moment to talk to Henry, alone?" Emma asked.
"Why? So you can lie to him some more?"
"Kate, it's okay," Henry said softly.
Katelyn looked at him and nodded. She touched his arm gently and he smiled at her.
"I'll be inside if you need me," she said as she walked back into the apartment to her father and brother talking somewhat civilly to one another.
"You were once a good man," Neal said.
"I can be that man again," Rumple said, "I've changed. Look…I came here…to this city without magic."
"Yeah, yeah, and you're still trying to use it to make up for your mistakes. Still think that that can make it all better. It won't. You can't," Neal said scoffing, "You have no idea what I've lived with. You're so worried about you. You know what I've dealt with? Every night for more years than you could know... the last thing I see before sleep is the image of you—You and me over that pit, your hand... wrapped around mine. And then you open your grip. And as I fall away, all I can see is your face. Choosing all…this... crap over me. Letting me go... now it's my turn. Now I'm letting you go."
"I'm sorry," Rumple said.
"I don't care," Neal replied, "I didn't get closure, so you don't either. Gotta go."
"Oh Bae."
"No," Neal said, "Time's up."
"Well, what about me?" Katelyn said, "I've done nothing to you and all I wanted was to meet you."
Neal stopped and turned to the little girl standing there with her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry, kid. I didn't ask for a sister."
"You didn't ask for a son either, but you've got both now."
"Why are you here? Where's your mother? Better yet, who's your mother? I'm surprised anyone could love him enough to have a child with him."
Katelyn walked over to Neal and kicked his shin. Neal grabbed it and began to rub where her shoe connected with his leg.
"Katelyn Jane, don't kick your brother!" Rumple scolded.
"But Papa, he was talking bad about Mama!"
"It doesn't matter. You don't kick people! Now, apologize."
"I'm sorry for kicking you," she grumbled.
"It's okay. I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry. So, who is your mother?"
"My Mama is Belle. She's back in Storybrooke."
"Belle? Why didn't she come with you?"
Katelyn looked at her father. He nodded.
"She's in the hospital. A pirate shot her and now she doesn't know who she is or who we are."
"Oh man, she doesn't remember who you are at all?"
Katelyn shook her head with tears in her eyes. Neal felt horrible and knelt down in front of Katelyn.
"I'm really sorry for saying what I did. I didn't know."
"It's not your fault."
Katelyn's voice cracked as she spoke and Neal pulled her to him in a hug. She buried her face into his shoulder.
"I guess I could use a little sister."
Katelyn laughed and pulled back. Neal wiped the tears from her face.
"You're not so bad for a brother."
"How did you and Henry meet?"
"When go to school together. We've been best friends since the day we met."
"So now you know he's your nephew."
"It explains the connection we have with each other."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see. Just don't hurt him. He's special."
"I promise you that I won't do anything to hurt him."
"Good."
Emma came in the window.
"He wants to meet you," Emma said. Neal nodded and climbed out the window, leaving Emma, Rumple, and Katelyn looking on.
Rumple sighed.
"I'm sorry things didn't go the way you wanted them, Papa."
"It's not your fault, love. It's mine. I don't know if he'll ever forgive me."
"Just give him time, Papa. You can't expect forgiveness from the first meeting. It's going to take time."
"I hope so."
Katelyn looked at Emma who watched Neal with Henry.
"You shouldn't have lied to him to begin with. Now he's going to have a hard time trusting anything you say."
Emma looked over at Katelyn.
"I know and I regret it."
"Why did you lie to him about Bae?"
"I didn't want him to think of his father as a bad guy or as the man who let me go to jail for something he did."
"You should've told him."
"I know that now. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to him."
"Good."
"How does it feel to meet your big brother?"
"He's not what I expected, but he's okay."
"Do you think he'll ever talk to your dad?"
"I don't know. He's as stubborn as Papa."
"I heard that!" Rumple said.
"I'm sure you did!" Katelyn replied with a grin.
"Cheeky," he said with a smirk.
Katelyn laughed. Emma smiled at the two of them.
"Maybe getting to know his father won't be so bad if Neal is any type of father like your Papa is with you," Emma said.
"Papa is the best. He would do anything for family, but especially me, Bae, and Mama. I'm sure that goes for Henry now."
"We're all family now," Emma said.
"Who knew, right?" Katelyn said.
They all laughed.
AN: I do apologize for the wait. Real life has been extremely hectic and I haven't been feeling up to writing. I'm iffy on the scene where she and Bae finally meet and all that afterwards, but I hope you guys enjoy. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
