In this chapter, we have the much awaited family dinner.

Note: So this chapter might be short but I just wanted to feature this particular scenario and no one else.

Chapter 12

Adam and Moe had been in deep conversation all day since he, along with his aunts, had picked up the older man from the park near his office building.

The man was a bit eccentric but his ideas were very innovative and his opinions mixed with his uncanny wit was entertaining to say the least.

"Mind you I was never a big fan of fiction," began Moe as they studied Adam's study which was filled to the brim with books. "I was more on a non-fiction time of man."

"I'd wager the DIY manuals and scientific papers," said Adam as Moe walked around the room.

"Well you're a journalist and trained to be observant," replied Moe with a smile. "I'm more of the new ideas and perspective type of man." He stopped and turned to Adam. "You've read Einstein's five papers?"

Adam laughed as Moe took the book from the shelf. "I have to admit I thought I wouldn't understand a thing but he had written it that even a man who wasn't exceptional in Physics understood every word he said."

"You are certainly a man of many talents, Adam," said Moe motioning with his hand to the guitar on the corner of the room. "Art and science, a complete balance of both."

Adam made to reply but the doorbell rang. "That must be Milah. Would you like to continue this conversation with a glass of whiskey and a comfortable couch?"

"You had me at whiskey," said Moe as they headed to the door and just as Adam had thought, it was Milah.

"Care to join us for a drink?" asked Adam as she helped her out of her coat. "The ladies are in the kitchen with strong instructions to not let us in and get a few early pickings."

"I'll just go see if there's anything I can help with," began Milah.

"We've tried and they just shooed us off," said Moe.

"Well maybe they'd rather have a woman's touch," said Milah with a wink.

"Suit yourself," said Adam as he led Moe to the living room.

Miah watched the go and turned towards the kitchen, debating whether to go through with it or not.

She sneaked a glance at the three women preparing a feast in the Gold's kitchen. She's been thinking how to broach the subject but really had no clue how to really go about it.

Also, she was being a little too hard on herself for not seeing the signs sooner. It was only when Belle mentioned that her father had surprised her the previous day when alarms went off in her head.

"Why don't you bring him along later?" offered Milah as she finished her lunch meeting with the book editor.

"He said he was going to have dinner with a couple of friends he had met during his flight over," answered Belle.

That was the kicker and now Milah stood watching the three women move in precise movements like a choreographed dance routine as they went about in the kitchen. She debated whether to ask, if her suspicion was even true, many men visited their daughters...a lot of them meet people in the airport or airplane. She was just overthinking things.

"Milah think harder and you might just explode," came the voice of Aunt Ana as Milah finally got out of her own head and looked to see all three women looking at her. "Did you want anything?"

"I was wondering if you needed any help," began Milah, already having the excuse in mind. In all honesty, she wanted to see what was going to happen, whether the three ladies did know something or not and what their plan was.

"Oh we've got everything covered," said Aunt Flo with a wink. "Just sit back and enjoy the evening my dear."

Now she was really suspicious but gave up and headed back to the living room where Moe and Adam were. Bae was upstairs finishing his homework and Killian was still in the office.

Belle had headed home to freshen up before heading their way.

If the three women did have something up their sleeve, Milah would just enjoy the show and at least she had deniability.

She turned as she heard Adam's footsteps. The man had his phone to his ear and was whispering quietly. Not wanting to eavesdrop, Milah headed to keep Moe company.

Adam caught her eyes and nodded in gratitude before turning his focus on the person on the other end of the line.

"Why don't I just pick you up?" asked Adam for maybe the tenth time and Belle had to chuckle lightly.

"Because if I do not have a car, I will be easily persuaded to stay the night," reasoned Belle as she looked at herself in the mirror of her bedroom. "And I have to go home later because like I've mentioned my father is visiting."

"You could have invited him," said Adam, leaning his back against the hallway wall. "We could do the meet the parents at the same time."

Belle laughed as she got her purse. "You'll meet him eventually, Adam. I'll see you soon."

"Drive safe," replied Adam before finally ending the call. He turned and was surprised to see his three aunts watching him closely, all with smiles on their faces.

"What?"

"Nothing," came the chorused reply. Adam's eyes narrowed but decided not to push the subject. Belle had wanted to meet his aunts, if he had to endure a few hours of embarrassment, then so be it. Belle was worth it.

He went back to the living room where both Milah and Moe were engrossed in conversation. Killian was following a lead but he promised to be there just in time for dinner.

He went and poured himself and Moe a drink which he handed the man as he sat besides him on the sofa, Milah sitting on one of the lounge chairs to Moe's right.

"So how's your daughter Moe?" asked Adam.

"She's absolutely great," replied Moe with a small smile. "Shame she had a prior engagement tonight. I would love for all of you to meet her."

"I'm sure we can arrange that," said Milah. "How long are you staying in Storybrooke?"

"Maybe a couple of weeks," answered Moe. "I could never consider leaving Australia for this place. I mean, it looks lovely enough but back there is my home."

"Can't help you there, Moe," began Adam. "Milah and I moved here permanently after graduating."

"Yes, your aunts did mention that," said Moe with a small smile and making the younger man blush slightly. "Is that why Baelfire doesn't sound like either of you?"

"Oh he can turn it on of he wanted to," said Milah. "Takes after his father."

The doorbell rang and Milah excused herself to get their guest only to be beaten by Baelfire who was already opening the door for Killian who looked to be stressed to no end.

"Hey," greeted Milah as they shared a quick kiss. "What's wrong?"

"Dead ends," whispered Killian. This was the last day of Gold's mandatory leave and if Killian brought any subject of work, those three ladies in the kitchen my just skin him alive. "I hope he doesn't blow a fuse on us tomorrow."

"Oh believe me," began Milah. "Ethan must have already briefed him on your status." She dragged him to the kitchen. "Ladies, you remember Killian?"

Killian swallowed as all three women turned to stare at him. Sure they have only had interactions via video chat whilst Adam, Milah and Bae talked to them...but being scrutinized in the flesh was very unsettling.

"Good evening madames," said Killian with a slight bow, the quiver in his voice not falling on deaf ears.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person Mr. Jones," said the woman closest to him. "I'm Ana, taller one is Flo and smallest one is Mary."

The other two gave offered him a smile but it reminded Killian of the smile his boss usually wore when he was planning something.

"Um," began Killian, swallowing the growing lump in his throat. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Oh what a charmer, Milah," began Floe, not taking her gaze from the young man.

"Definitely a keeper," added Mary as Milah blushed and gave a quick farewell and dragged Killian to the living room.

"Never leave me in a room by myself with them," said KIllian as he sat on Milah's vacated chair, whilst the woman sat on the arm rest.

Milah laughed then turned to Moe. "Moe this is my boyfriend, Killian Jones."

"Boyfriend?" asked Moe turning from Milah to Adam. "You two aren't married?"

"They're best friends who got drunk out of their mind one night," explained Baelfire from the corner of the room. He looked up to see his parents glaring at him while Killian was giving him an amused smile.

"To paraphrase that," began Adam as Moe turned to him. "Milah and I are childhood friends, Moe. During our days in uni, we sort of had one too many drinks and well, as they, it's history."

Moe slowly nodded his head before turning to Milah and Killian. "Does that mean I can introduce my daughter to Adam then?"

Milah, Bae and Killian laughed as Adam blushed profoundly. "Sorry to rain on your parade, Moe. But Adam is also taken right now."

"She'll be here in a few minutes," said Adam, trying to lessen the attention on him.

"Seems to be a trend," said Moe. "My daughter is also seeing someone. I cannot wait to meet this man and be the overprotective, terrifying overprotective father."

Adam nodded his head and turned to Bae who was already shaking his head. "Don't even get any ideas Papa."

"I wasn't," replied Adam with a cunning smile but he was cut short when Aunt Ana entered the living room.

"We could use some help with setting the table," said Aunt Ana with a small smile but motioned for Moe to remained seated. "Not you, Moe. You're our guest. Just relax."

Moe raised his hands in surrender and Adam told him he could pour himself any drink that he wanted from the cabinet.

"That smells so good Aunt Ana," said Bae as he helped his father with the plates while Killian and Milah arranged the utensils.

"I cannot wait to eat myself," added Adam but he was a bit uneasy since Belle had yet to arrive.

It was as though he had summoned her there himself because as soon as the thought crossed his mind, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," called Moe from the living room which was closer to the door. He was already opening it when the others reached the hall.

"He-Papa?"

"Belle?"

"What are you doing here?" they chorused and Adam felt his heart skip a beat. It wasn't-

He heard a giggle from behind him and true enough as he turned, his three aunts were beaming at him.

"Now that is a funny coincidence."


"I knew you planned this," whispered Milah as she helped the ladies carry the food to the table. "I knew it!"

"We always knew you were smart, my dear," said Aunt Flo with a mischievous grin.

"Why didn't you tell both of them?" asked Milah.

"Do you honestly think that they would have talked to each other like that if they had known?" countered Aunt Mary.

"Fair point," conceded Milah. "But how did you confirm it?"

"Australian single father with a daughter named Belle who was just promoted," recited Aunt Ana. "Not very hard to figure it out, Milah."

"Tell that to your adopted son," said Milah with a grin. "He's probably beating himself up for not seeing it sooner."

"Well," began Aunt Ana. "He shouldn't be too hard on himself. One is easily distracted when they're in love."

They arrived in the dining area and Moe, Belle and Adam were still in good conversation.

"So this is the man you told me about Papa?" asked Belle teasingly, looking over at her boyfriend. "The man who has a good head on his shoulders though it was a shame he's married?"

"To be fair," began Moe, raising his hand in defense. "I did not know about Mr. Jones until he had arrived earlier."

"And my aunts could have introduced us properly," said Adam as his aunts and Milah came to the table. "I'm pretty sure they had known all along."

"Oh don't be a sourpuss, Adam," said Aunt Flo. "At least you and Moe have gotten to know each other already."

"Yes and this dinner wouldn't be awkward," added Aunt Mary.

Adam raised his arms in surrender. "Yes, I do believe that would be correct." He turned and shared a look with Moe. "But we could have used a proper heads up though."

"Oh Adam, where would be the fun in that?" said Aunt Flo. "You should have seen the look on your face when Moe and Belle saw each other at the door."

"I knew I should have had a camera ready." mumbled Aunt Mary as they all sat down.

"Alright, I think we've embarrassed him in front of his girlfriend enough for the night," said Aunt Ana.

"How about enough for the next century?" mumbled Adam as they all settled in for dinner.

"I think it's sweet," said Belle with a small smile.

"Yup," his three aunts said in unison.

"Definitely another keeper here," added Aunt Mary.

They ate under comfortable conversations and Adam had to admit, meeting Moe and spending half a day with the man before he knew he was his girlfriend's father had done wonders to the would have been boyfriend introduced to the father conversation.

Especially if Moe had already told Belle he had wanted them to meet.

Though now, he was a little more hesitant to be left in the same room as the man.

Belle must have sensed that because under the table her hand found his and she gave it a reassuring squeeze. He turned to find her already looking at him, a small smile on her face.

They didn't have to exchange any words because a silent conversation already passed over them.


"I am actually relieved," said Moe as he and Adam were once again back in the living room nursing their own glass of strong alcohol.

"I guessed that," replied Adam with a small smile. "Although I am beating myself up a little for not recognizing you. Belle has shown me a picture of you and your late wife already."

"Yes well I should have picked up on the journalist..I mean there aren't many newspaper companies here." countered Moe as he took a sip from his glass. "I must say, I am very very thrilled that it turned out to be you, Adam."

"Now I'm a bit hurt," said Adam with a smile. "Not really the man you pictured."

"No," said Moe. "But when it was revealed, it made a whole lot of sense."

"I am taking that as a compliment...in some way," remarked Adam and this got Moe to laugh.

"It's very nice to meet you formally, Belle's boyfriend," said Moe as he raised his glass.

Adam clinked his own with the other man's glass. "Likewise, Belle's father."

In the kitchen, a somewhat similar conversation was also taking place. Belle thought she wouldn't be able to keep up with the three women but they were surprisingly not as bad as Adam had painted them to be.

"Don't believe everything you hear from Milah and Adam, my dear," began Aunt Flo. "We've scared them until they're dying day."

"Not to mention how we can be a bit overprotective when it comes to those two," added Aunt Ana. "Not that you should be worried, Belle."

"Yeah, we're just glad that he's finally getting some," finished Aunt Mary.

"Mary!" chorused the two other women as Belle's face reddened slightly. This was not the topic she wanted to discuss with the three women her boyfriend considered his mothers.

"So you always took care of Milah?" asked Belle, desperately trying to change the topic.

"Milah's parents were always away for most of the day and could not get a hold of a housekeeper that would stay for more than a month," explained Aunt Ana.

"Since she was friends with Adam, her parents would often leave her with us when they didn't have a housekeeper or sitter available," continued Aunt Flo. "Mind you, those two got into an awful lot of mischief."

"That is something I'd love to hear," said Belle.

"Oh we've been sword the secrecy," winked Aunt Flo. "But I'm pretty sure Baelfire would be more than willing to share the knowledge."

Belle laughed as they continued to clean up in the kitchen. She debated whether to ask but Adam wasn't really conscious yet of things happening around him when he was found by these women.

"I can sense you want to ask something, Belle," said Aunt Ana, nudging the younger woman with her shoulder. "What is it?"

"It's….well I'm not really sure if it's alright to ask," managed Belle. "I mean I should probably ask Adam but I doubt he remembers any of it-"

"You want to know how we found him," finished Aunt Flo. "Well you can certainly ask, my dear. I'm sure Adam would have told you as well if he actually remembered."

"We were still selling our handmade garments in the market back then," continued Aunt Mary. "Our stall was right near the entrance of the marketplace and when we arrived one morning, there was a bundle of blankets there."

"A bundle of blankets that was moving slightly," added Aunt Flo. "When we came closer, sure enough we were shocked to find a young infant."

"There was no note, nor any other possession except for a straw doll that the infant was hugging." said Aunt Mary. "We didn't think twice about giving him up so we went and asked around how we could legally adopt the boy."

"Whatever it was that brought Adam to our little stall back then," began Aunt Flo. "We three are very grateful that it had happened. I can't bare to think if he had grown up with his real parents, those who abandoned him, what would have happened to Adam today...that boy was such full of love and joy, I hate to think of him being raised in an opposite environment."

"It's that thought that reaffirms our decision all those years ago," said Aunt Ana. "That we did the right thing by raising Adam as our own son." She motioned towards her sisters. "We've already knew from the beginning that we wouldn't marry and that we were basically stuck with each other. But that didn't mean we didn't want to have a family of our own, or a child. In a way, we helped Adam just as much as he helped us."

Belle smiled as she studied the three women. Their lives were thrown into whirlwind that day when they found a baby on their market stall...but rather than think of it as a curse, they did everything in their power to help the young boy and even raised him well.

"He mentioned that he never tried to look for his biological parents," began Belle. "Did you try?"

"We tried searching for them yes," replied Aunt Flo. "But with nothing to go by, we were always getting dead ends."

"He was very young to fit any description of the missing children in our town," added Aunt Mary. "We always waited for the day that they would come and take him away...but no one came."

"We would even call and ask the our local authorities in case someone did ask for him," said Aunt Ana. "But no one did."

"We never told Adam did because we thought he may think that we didn't want him," said Aunt Flo. "We just wanted to be able to answer his questions when he was older. But you know, Adam. The lad's smart."

"He told us himself that he didn't need any other family," began Aunt Mary, tearing up a little and Belle gave her a small smile. "That we were already his family and he didn't need to look anywhere else...we were it."

"He has mentioned that to me before," said Belle as she looked at the three women. "Adam's family is the three of you and Bae. He's happy and contented with you. He doesn't need his biological parents because he already has you."

The three women smiled and Aunt Ana, closed her own hand over Belle's. "That little group involves you now, Belle."

"And we've never seen him this happy since the day Baelfire was born," added Aunt Flo.

"Like I said," continued Aunt Mary. "Definitely a keeper."