5
~ A Little Bit of Nevenger Magic ~
There were still plenty of Disney characters the children wanted to meet and they wanted to dedicate a day at the park looking for them. Even Bae and Emma were curious. Selene had to work so Archie spent the day with the Golds trying desperately to avoid Belle's barrage of questions about how their evening at the park went, more specifically if he kissed Selene or not. He wanted to but he didn't want to rush things either.
"That's it," she grouched to Rumple. "M'gonna ask Bae to take us to that park so's we can see that fountain lit up, go for a boat ride and we're gonna get Archie to kiss Selene!"
Rumple sighed. "Belle, he's gonna get mad if we keep pushin it!"
"But they have true love. You know that an so do I!"
"Yes, dearie but we gotta let 'em figure that out themselves, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know but even a cricket hasta get the girl,"Belle said with a smile.
"I know...we can all sing Kiss The Girl like the crab does in Little Mermaid!" Killian exclaimed.
"Least singin that won't get your butt spanked like that other stuff," Regina teased. Killian stuck his tongue out at her.
"Should be a song 'bout that creepy toy shop guy," Rumple muttered.
"Oh ya mean like keep away, keep away, keep away now?" Killian asked doing an impromptu parody of Give It Away by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
They all laughed. "Yeah somethin like that Killian. Ya got anymore?" Rumple chuckled.
"Mate, I got LOTS more!"
Killian was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he started singing songs making fun of Rasputin. "Ohhh he's sick, he's sick...really really sick!" Killian sang parodying Michael Jackson's Bad.
Up ahead they saw a blinking light and a sign that said This Way To Neverland-follow the fairy!
They all cast nervous glances at each other.
Belle held Rumple's hand tight, fearful the Pan in there was like Rumple's father.
Rumple gripped her hand like a lifeline. He wanted to be brave and show the others there was nothing to fear, since he knew his papa was dead, but he shivered.
"If he's a dick we can run him over in the Justice Mobiles," Regina suggested.
"Yeah and look-!" Killian pointed. "I see the Jolly Roger! Ahoy, mates!" he bellowed and started running down the walkway towards the floating ship.
"Killian Gold you halt right there!" Emma ordered in her sheriff's tone.
"Aww! But Mo-o-om!"
He skidded to a stop.
"No buts...you stay with the adults at all times, understood?"
"Yes'm," he sighed. "But c'mon! Move your butts, there's a sword fight goin' on!"
Emma groaned. "He's gonna make me pop early at this rate." She patted her belly.
"C'mere, little imp," Bae picked him up. "We'll meet you there, Em." Then he jogged down the walkway with Killian on his shoulder.
"Dad, you think Pan's like that jerk who was Rumple's papa?"
"No. This Pan's an actor, remember, and the story of Peter Pan they tell here is way different. In this story, Peter's a good guy."
"Good. 'cause we'd make him Pan Cake otherwise," Killian muttered.
Bae chuckled. Then they stopped and Killian could see that a boy in a green tunic and tights was fighting a man with curly black hair in a red coat . . .with a hook for a hand!
"It's...Hook? Huh! What the heck kinda getup is that?" Killian scowled. The man looked nothing like a pirate.
"That's what they wore in the olden days," Bae smirked. "He's a gentleman pirate, kid."
"No such thing as one a those...Dad...least not like I 'member."
"Well, in this story he is," Bae told him. "Watch."
Peter flew down and smacked Hook's sword out of his hand and cried, "Say it, Hook!" He rested the tip of his rapier at Hook's throat. "I'm a codfish!"
"Bad form!" bawled the pirate. "You flying jungle rat!"
"Should make him say I'm a lamebutt 'scuse for a pirate," Killian grouched.
"I won, fair and square!" Pan chanted. "Now say it!"
"I'm a-cod fish!"
The other children cheered and clapped wildly as Peter tied up Hook and freed Wendy, John, and Michael from the brig and Tink from her cage.
"Douchebag!"
The other Nevengers snickered.
Bae gave his son a Look. "Young man, you are getting an Ivory snack and a time out when we get back to the hotel. And that's a promise!"
"But Da-ad he's a poor 'scuse for a pirate!"
"I don't care, you don't use that language, Mister! How many times must we go through this?" Bae growled. He could feel his hair turning gray on the spot.
Killian bowed his head shamefully. "M'sorry Dad."
"So am I," his exasperated father sighed. Because the last thing he wanted was to punish his son on a vacation. "Now watch your mouth. You weren't raised in a barn."
Kids were now clustering about Peter and shaking his hand and taking pictures with him.
"He seems nice, Rumple. Let's go!" Belle encouraged.
Holding hands, the two children moved into the crowd to wait for their turn to speak with Pan, Killian and Regina behind them. The Nevengers were still on their guard in case he did turn out like Rumple's father.
Finally it was their turn. "Hello!" Peter greeted in a more feminine sounding voice. The children looked at each other.
"Hey, you're not a boy. You's a girl!" Rumple cried.
"Yes I am...my real name is Wendy if you can believe it," she said with a smile.
"So why're you playin Peter? Why don'cha play Wendy?" Regina demanded.
"Because Peter Pan is my favorite character in the stories."
"An' girls can play boys when they's acting. They do it all the time now," argued Belle.
"You're absolutely right. What is your name, sweetie?"
"I'm Belle. This is Rumple, Killian, Regina, Henry, Bae, Emma, an' Archie." The little librarian introduced everyone in the group to Wendy. She pointed to Emma's stomach. "An' Aria's in there waitin to come out."
"Well I'm very pleased to meet all of you."
"Do ya like dressin up like a boy cause ya wanna be one like that guy wants ta be a sweet transvestite in Rocky Horror?" Killian asked. Emma gasped in shock; Bae buried his face in his hands. Archie looked away. Henry was trying not to laugh.
"I...am...going...to...KILL...you," Emma said to Bae through gritted teeth. "You want to tell me when our son watched THAT?!"
He threw up his hands. "I don't know!"
"You'll have to excuse our son...Killian! What did Dad and I tell you about your mouth?" Emma scolded.
"Oh, it's all right, Emma. I'm used to kids saying some outrageous things. No, Killian. I just dress up like Peter because I guess I wanted to be like him while I was growing up...be able to go to a magical place when I was sad and have a lot of friends. And did you know I'm not the first girl to play Peter Pan."
"You're not?"
"No. I was inspired watching a very talented actress named Mary Martin play him a long time ago. People thought it was strange for her to play a boy too but for a lot of people she was Peter Pan."
"Cool!"
She kneeled down to be on the little ones' level. "What I'm trying to say is you can be anything you want to be...you just have to believe in yourself."
"I wanna be a librarian that goes on 'ventures with Rumple round the world!" Belle announced.
"Think I wanna be President...that's kinda like a queen," said Regina.
"Gods help us all!" Archie said under his breath.
"She'd be a good one, Archie...would kick all Congress to the curb," Henry said. "She's said it a few times."
"Dunno maybe I jus wanna be a sailor...y'know like in the Navy only not gonna sing that stupid Village People song. Yuck!" Killian made a face.
"M'gonna be a 'torney...send all the bad guys to jail an' sue the pants off people who 'serve it!" Rumple declared.
"And I think you can be. You can all be what you want. Never give up on those dreams. Who wants a picture?"
"I do!" they chorused and posed as Bae and Emma snapped pictures on their phones. Henry took one for the Nevenger Adventures In Disney album calling it: Shocking Peter Pan.
They then posed with the Darling children and Tinkerbell. Tink sprinkled some glitter on them that she was using as fairy dust, all of them wondering what happened to Tinkerbell in the real Neverland when Rumple's father controlled it.
After giving Killian a stern warning to watch his mouth, Bae and Emma took the children to meet Captain Hook. His real name was Jonathan and he admitted that he didn't care for his costume either and emphasized that real pirates were not always people to be admired.
"We know...we wanna be good," Killian said while they posed for pictures, Jonathan even allowing the little pirate to give him bunny ears in one of them, much to his parents' dismay.
While they were walking to the Under the Sea exhibit, they spotted the Evil Queen and Snow White. The four toddlers raced over to them while Bae, Emma, Henry, and Archie tried to keep up.
The two women felt like they were being baked alive in their costumes and were looking forward to spending their lunchtime in a nice air conditioned restaurant but when they saw a group of toddlers running toward them, they were happy to put their plans on hold for a bit.
The Evil Queen, whose real name was Rayna, was a mother of two, her daughters not much older than the children they were about to meet. Rayna was especially curious about the little boy with the floofy hair who walked with a cane. Rayna sometimes visited the hospitals with Andrea, the girl playing Snow White and they would do a little skit for the sick children.
"Finally I gets to meet the Evil Queen!" exclaimed Regina. "Ya got your apple on ya?"
Rayna laughed. "I accidently left it at home. And who might you be?"
"I'm Regina and these are my friends...we's the Nevengers!"she bragged.
"The Nevengers?"
"Uh-huh cause we went to Neverland to kick butt an' take names," explained little queen. "You sure kicked Snow White's butt when ya gave her that apple. Really Snow White, who lets a stranger in the house when you know yous not 'sposed to?" she scolded Snow White.
"You have a point there, honey," Andrea said, giggling.
"Or take things from strangers," Rumple reminded. "That's how they drug you an' take you away."
"We're glad to see you all found some valuable lessons from the movie," Andrea praised.
"Yeah an' who runs off with a guy ya barely know...what if he was a sicko?" Regina went on.
"Your kids are very smart for their age," Andrea said. "Most of them wouldn't pick up on that till they're older."
"We feel they should learn early so that they can avoid a dangerous situation," Emma told her.
"Uh-huh an we know who the good guys are an who's the creeps...right Rumple?" Belle asked him.
"Yeah. You gotta watch out for the creepy toy guy," said the small attorney.
"Have you seen him doing anything strange?" Henry questioned.
Rayna scowled. "You talking about Mr. Putin? He reminds me of Stalin. He gives me the chills."
"You gots kids...better keep em away from him...we think he does nasty stuff to them," Killian cautioned.
They all shivered.
Rayna agreed silently. She'd rather have her kids play in the city dump than go into Putin's Toy Emporium.
Andrea noticed that a group of children she was posing for a picture with a week earlier were happy with her but when they went into the toy shop they all came out looking like they wanted to hide under their beds and not come out for a week.
There was definitely something wrong there and word about the park was a detective from the Orlando PD had paid Putin a visit yesterday morning. She wasn't surprised.
They weren't aware of it but Detective Carlyle was at the park doing surveillance...after he had the difficult task of informing Brian's wife her husband had been killed in the line of duty and now her children were fatherless.
He was a good friend of the family; he had been Brian's mentor at the Academy and stood as godfather to his youngest daughter, two year old Fiona. It had been a rough morning, but he had to get back in the saddle and do his job.
And his first priority was ensuring the safety of the children who visited the park, especially the two Gold boys. Though the report from Interpol came back clean, Nick knew there was nothing clean about the man who ran the toy shop but he needed proof.
That was what he needed to do now, get the proof he needed to put this bastard away for life, because he knew Putin was guilty as sin. Everything in his gut pointed to it.
The children posed for pictures with Rayna and Andrea.
"Whadda you think a real prince is...someone who has good looks but dumb as a box a rocks or a guy who's really smart?"
Belle was curious.
Emma and Bae wanted a hole to open up and swallow them. The things these kids came out with!
"Hooo boy, here she goes again," Killian sighed.
Andrea smiled. "I think a real prince is someone who loves you for who you truly are, and doesn't try and change you, but accepts you. So he's not just into looks. And he's smart."
Belle beamed. "See...she gets it!"
"And when you find a good man, sweetie, you hang onto him, because looks fade but a good heart never dies," Rayna told her. Her husband, Chris, was an ordinary looking guy who loved her for her brains and not her looks, and many people wondered what she saw in him.
Belle reached for Rumple's hand. "I'm gonna marry him when I get big an we're gonna live in a big house with lotsa kids."
Killian rolled his eyes. "Ya tole us that a million times now...why don'cha just do it now an get it over with!"
Rayna laughed. "You do that, sweetie. I married the boy next door to me and we have two beautiful kids and we're still together."
"Cause you have true love." Belle said.
She glanced over at Archie. "Now if we could just get Mister Hopper over here to get his head outta his butt he'll be married to Selene 'fore we leave here!"
The former cricket's face was beet red.
"Belle..." he groaned.
"Will ya relax?" Regina huffed. "He's old, it takes him time ta work himself up to the touchy feely stage."
"Bae...find me a hole and stick me in it..." he whispered to Bae.
"I think you're gonna have company," Emma said.
"Okay . . .why don't we go and see Ariel now?" suggested Bae, thinking that he was going to need Prozac after this vacation was over.
"Yay!" They cheered.
They bid goodbye to the Evil Queen and Snow and went towards where the Under the Sea exhibit was set up.
They were curious to see if this Ariel was like the real one or nasty like the fake Belle.
Henry still wanted go on the rides, anticipating going on a roller coaster the most.
There was one called Urusla's Revenge at the end of the Under the Sea exhibit he really wanted to go on-it went through an underwater tunnel and upside down three times.
"S'gonna make ya puke!" Rumple warned.
"Nope! I NEVER get sick on rides!" Henry boasted. They moved into Triton's palace.
"Kay we'll 'member that when ya lose your 'testines!" Regina teased.
"Not gonna happen," his grandson said, and as if to prove his cast iron stomach, he bought a large powdered sugar sea-cake, a funnel cake shaped like an octopus, and ate it as they walked.
"Yup...that's gonna be comin back up," Regina concluded.
They found Ariel standing on a seashell with Eric and Triton, waving and snapping pictures with excited children.
"Hey Ariel!" Regina called out.
Ariel waved to her as they stood on line. "Hello!" she called.
"Wonder if she sings like Ariel in the movie," Belle mused.
"She's pretty," Killian said. "I like her hair."
Rumple eyed it critically. "It's not real, dearie. Prolly a wig."
"Ya mean Ariel's BALD!" yelped the little girl standing just before them on line.
Emma prayed to be struck by lightning.
Bae slapped his forehead.
"What if her hair fell out?" mused a little boy behind them.
"That happened to my aunt," remarked the little girl.
"Why?" asked Belle.
"She had cancer," the other child replied.
"Oh my goodness!" cried the other little boy. "Maybe Ariel's got cancer!"
"Guys...come on...!" Emma pleaded.
"Then we gotta pray for her," the other little girl cried. "It worked for my aunt."
"I don't think mermaids get cancer, do you?" Killian asked Henry.
"Ummm...I don't think so..."
"Well, I'm still prayin' cause it can't hurt," replied the other girl. And she began to mutter a Hail Mary.
Emma groaned. She could just hear the rumor mill now. Disney's Ariel Battles Cancer-please send donations . . .!
Soon some of the other children started praying with her.
Rumple started reciting the Our Father.
Henry almost choked on the last piece of his sea-cake.
"Archie, how much do you charge?" Bae whispered. "Cause I think I'm gonna need some therapy."
"You and me both!" Emma added.
"I think I'll have to do a consult because I'll need therapy too!"
He was learning quickly just how hard it was raising children. They always kept you on your toes. Now he understood why Rumple had so many gray hairs...Bae did tell him he was a bit wild as a boy. If this was what Rumple had to deal with all the time, he thought he should invest in some hair dye. Still, he wanted to be a father himself someday, the complete opposite of his own.
No child of his would be picking pockets or running cons.
Emma dreaded what would happen when it was their kids' turn to see Ariel.
Unfortunately one of the other children did ask about the mermaid's hair and if she had cancer.
Melody Pond, the young actress portraying Ariel was stunned.
She was used to children saying outrageous things but never suggesting she had a terminal illness before.
"Umm . . .no, where did you hear that?"
"Then why you wearin' a wig?" the child asked. "You sure you ain't sick?"
"I promise sweetie."
"Good! I hope you an' Eric have lots more kids!"
"Ummm...well...yes..."
The little girl cheered and then jumped down from the platform after having her picture taken. Then it was the Gold children's turn.
"You go first Rumple," Belle suggested.
"Hello, Ariel," Rumple said. He looked her up and down.
She smiled at him and moved aside to make room for him.
"So do I. It's my favorite."
Then he whispered, "Hey, is that your real hair?"
"No," she whispered back. "Mine is brown and short."
"I didn't think so. I know someone with natural red hair," he whispered back.
"Are you disappointed?"
"Umm . . .no . . .cause I have brown hair too," he said. It was true.
She ruffled his hair affectionately. "Yes you do. What's your name sweetie?"
"I'm Rumple," he said.
"I'm Melody like Ariel's daughter."
Rumple grinned. "That's what the baby's name means. Her name's gonna be Aria." He pointed to Emma. "Only she's not ready to get born yet."
"Oh, that's a lovely name. Did you pick it out?" She sensed this boy was highly intelligent which was why she felt comfortable giving him her real name.
"Yes. It also means 'telligence of an eagle and a person who 'spires to high causes." Rumple said.
"Very inspiring," Melody said softly. She smiled at him. "And do you know that you can inspire someone just be doing something small. This baby will be looking up to you too so make sure you always teach her the right things."
"I will, Ariel."
"All of you come up and sit with me," Ariel invited. The Nevengers all smiled at each other and joined her on the platform.
"Can ya sing for us Ariel?" Belle asked.
"I certainly could." She picked up a small bag and took a fork out of it, showing it to the children.
"Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete
Wouldn't you think I'm a girl, a girl who has everything..." Melody sang.
"Ooooh I love this song!" Regina cried clapping her hands.
"Everyone can sing it with me," Melody invited.
The parents stood back and watched their children singing along with the Little Mermaid and she didn't care one bit if they sounded a bit off key. After the song was over, the Nevengers posed for pictures with her. For his Nevenger Adventure Album, Henry called this set Sing Along With Ariel and even recorded a video for it but now he wanted to go on the rides.
"You puke m'gonna laugh my butt off an' say we tole ya so!" Rumple teased, shaking his finger at his grandson.
Henry laughed. "Not going to puke," he insisted.
Rumple rolled his eyes. "Kay...if you say so."
Rasputin locked up the shop for a few hours while he scouted the park for more souls to add to his collection, finding none that suited him until he spotted the Gold family.
The unholy images playing themselves out in his mind would horrify the family had they seen them. There were no limits to his depravity and sometimes he wished he did not have to hide his true nature but the only realm that would welcome such a man was the deepest pit in Hell.
As Rasputin was about to approach them he quickly backed away when he saw Detective Carlyle walking past them.
Dammit, he cursed to himself in English with more vulgar words in his mind in Russian for Cruella whose little plan to distract the detective was not going as well as they thought.
"Tective Carlyle! Hi!" Rumple called out, waving his hands to get the older man's attention. Nick smiled faintly and walked over to the bench where Rumple was sitting with his friends.
"Hi there," Nick greeted pleasantly. "Are you having a good day?"
"Uh-huh! We saw Snow White, the Evil Queen, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, the Darlings, Tinkerbell an' we just got done singin with Ariel!"
Nick chuckled. "Sounds like you've had a busy morning."
Rumple eyed the badge on the detective's shirt, frowning. "Why you got a black stripe on your badge?"
Nick lowered his head. "One of...my friends...another officer...passed away," he said sadly.
"Awww...m'really sorry. Was he a really good friend?"
"He was my best friend," Nick confessed.
"We're so sorry." Bae offered. They read about the officer's death in the newspaper that morning and decided to send a donation to his family in the sympathy card they mailed to his widow that morning.
"Did he have kids?" asked Belle.
"Yes. They're young like you are."
The four toddlers looked like they wanted to cry and they were on the inside for the detective and the family of the murdered officer.
"Detective, if you need to talk..." Archie began, knowing losing his best friend had to be difficult for the officer and though Archie was a stranger in this city, he was always willing to offer counsel to anyone who needed it.
"I already have an appointment with the department's psychologist," Nick said. "But thanks."
"You look like you could use a hug though," Belle said.
"I…"
"GROUP HUG!" the little beauty yelled and four toddlers rushed over to him and hugged him. Nick found himself smiling again. He couldn't understand it but there was something special about this group of children.
"We're really sorry, Detective…" Emma said.
"Don't be….I needed this," he murmured. "Thank you...all of you…"
"S'okay….know you're tryin to be brave but if ya wanna cry you go ahead," Rumple encouraged.
He did plenty of that while he was talking to Brian's widow. He held onto them a bit longer, touched that wanted to comfort a person they barely knew yet when he gazed down at their small faces he could have sworn that they'd been through something similar. He just didn't understand how. They were three and half year olds who acted and talked like adults sometimes.
"It still astounds me how far they've come since the curse was broken," Archie whispered to Emma.
"I know."
"You and Bae played a large part in that, you know."
"That's what they've all told us," Bae said.
"I have to be going now but I'll see all of you around," Nick said to the children.
"Kay. Bye 'Tective Carlyle!"
Henry returned a few minutes later. Regina and Rumple took one look at his pale face and smirked.
"Feel like you're gonna barf up your lungs, Henry?" Regina teased.
"Nope!" he insisted. Moments later he felt the bile rising in his throat and raced to the nearest trashcan only he didn't make it in time. He collided with someone walking in his direction and vomited all over them.
"What….why you little BRAT!" Rasputin bellowed.
"Holy crap!" Killian exclaimed. "He puked on the toy shop guy!"
"Uh-oh…" Belle mumbled.
Regina poked Rumple in the ribs. "Hey Rumple look, it's Mister…Pukin!" They giggled.
Oh God, I am so dead, Henry thought. The toy store owner was looking at him like he wanted to cut him to ribbons and ship him home to his parents in a shoebox. It wasn't like he was planning on doing it!
"Mister, I am so sorry….allow me to…" Bae pulled some napkins out of Emma's purse and tried hand them to him. The elderly man slapped his hand away.
"You've caused me enough trouble!" he barked.
"It was an accident!" Emma glared at him.
"That boy being born was an accident…an unfortunate one!"
"Hey, buddy, maybe you caught something somewhere and need to be in bed, huh?" Bae said to his son, then gave Rasputin a rueful glance. "Sorry about that, but well, sometimes you can't help it." He wrapped an arm around Henry protectively.
"Of course you can't," Rasputin sneered. "Do you think I just got off the boat, boy? It was intentional!"
Henry shrank away from him. "No . . .it wasn't . . .I didn't mean to . . ."
Bae was now glaring at the other man. "Look, mister, he got sick and he happened to bump into you, now back off. Or maybe I ought to ask a few of these people here what THEY saw?"
"Is there a problem here?" they heard Detective Carlyle ask.
Rasputin cursed in Russian.
"Detective, my son accidentally got sick all over Mr. ahh Putin here and he's accusing him of deliberately doing so after we apologized," Bae told him.
"It was clearly an accident, Mr. Putin. I saw the whole thing...or are you questioning the word of a police officer?"
Rasputin sputtered, muttering something under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, sir. You are correct. I am a little upset so . . .perhaps I took it the wrong way," he gritted out, wishing he could tear the police officer to shreds with some of his shadow demons.
"Well then...you might want to go get cleaned up."
Get away from them you bastard, Nick thought angrily.
"Yes, of course . . ." still scowling, Rasputin backed away.
Nick stepped in front of the family. This man, whoever he was, wasn't going to harm them, not while he was around. He just wished the Russian authorities would hurry the hell up and respond to his inquiries.
"Dad, there's something seriously WRONG with that guy," Henry muttered. "Anybody else would have just let it go . .but he . . he looked at me like he wanted to . .. rip me apart. I'm sorry it had to be him who was in my way."
"He's evil!" Belle said, cringing.
Rumple nodded. "Yeah and just why was he here, anyway? He oughta be mindin' his shop an' working. It's the middle of the day."
"I thought that too, Rumple," said Nick.
"Something's fishy and it ain't a mermaid," Regina snorted. "Seems like he's always around when we are."
"I'm trying to find out who he is but I'm not having much luck, I'm afraid." Nick confessed. "And...unfortunately...I can't arrest him without solid proof of a crime."
"We understand that," Emma said. "I'm in law enforcement too."
"Oh? Are you a detective?"
"Sheriff, actually. For a very small town up north."
"Then you know how frustrating this is for me."
"Yeah, I know. That guy-something's not Kosher with him. But he's covered his tracks well, hasn't he? Still, maybe you'll get lucky and he'll slip up. His kind always do, eventually."
"Let's hope so. I'll look after you as best I can but if he tries anything and I'm not around, you call me." He handed her a card with his home and cell numbers on it.
"Thanks." She tucked it into her pocket. She had an eerie feeling she was going to need those numbers.
They heard a cell phone ringing. Nick took his out of his pocket. and listened for a minute or two. "I'm on my way." He sighed. "I have to go...there was another...incident I have to look into." He didn't dare say it was another murder.
"Good luck," Emma said, and immediately thought who died now?
"Can we see Cinderella now?" Belle asked.
"Okay, let's go." Emma knew keeping the children busy would take their minds off Mr. Putin but she couldn't. The man gave her bad vibes and she was hoping Nick Carlyle could find something out on him soon. She had her suspicions he was a pedophile based on the earlier encounter Rumple and Henry had with him but as she said to the detective, he was covering his tracks well...too well.
Belle and Regina were singing A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes while they were walking to Cinderella's castle.
Emma and Bae were hoping the kids wouldn't do anything outrageous with Cinderella, forgetting with that group there was always some kind of mishaps going on.
The girls wanted to go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to be made over into princesses. The boys were a bit reluctant to be turned into knights until Belle threatened them with a book to the butt.
Rumple knew she would use the thickest book she had in her arsenal.
"Speakin a that...ya think we should have our own little weapons?" Killian asked.
"You mean like Batman?" Rumple asked.
"Uh-huh...you gots your cane...maybe you can 'chant one of Belle's books to have teeth like a monster an scare baddies."
"Oooh, a book monster! I like it!" Belle exclaimed.
"It's gotta have angry eyes too," added Regina.
"Yep. I don't have my hook anymore so I gotta find somethin else as my special weapon." Killian said.
"M'gonna make rotten apple bombs," Regina giggled wickedly.
Belle's eyes widened. "You'd get put in jail for making bombs!"
"Not real ones! They just 'splode rotten apple all over ya."
Henry laughed. "Leave it to you, M...Regina to create a new use for apples."
"Love to see one 'splode on Mister Pukin!" Rumple muttered.
I'd love to dump a cart full of them on Carla Paddington, Archie thought bitterly.
"Look...there's Cinderella!" Belle yelled and grabbed Rumple's hand, nearly dragging him over to where the princess stood surrounded by other children wanting pictures taken with her.
"Belle Gold, you wait for the rest of us!" Emma scolded.
"Sorry Rumple. Your leg bothering you?" Belle asked him.
He shook his head, not wanting her to see that he was having some pain after trying to keep with her.
Killian and Regina caught up with them. "Hey mate, Gina's got a good idea for my toy...kinda like a frisbee with spikes on it. Whaddya think?
"I like it," Rumple said. "Like Batman's batarangs."
"Yep."
"Yeah an now I want my own Justice Mobile," Belle huffed.
Rumple groaned. "Why can't we just share, like other people?"
"Cause you always wanna drive an I like to drive," she replied.
"You crash more'n you drive," Killian taunted.
Belle glared at him. "Like you can talk! YOU crashed into the 'lectrical box once!"
"Sun was in my eyes," Killian grumbled.
She rolled her eyes. "Why wasn't you wearing sunglasses, smart guy?"
"Cause Matt broke em."
Rumple frowned. "That kid needs a trip over somebody's knee."
"How bout the Book Monster bite him?" Belle asked.
"Good one, dearie! Right in the butt!"
"Gonna call him Mister Sense. Ya know like the book Common Sense?"
Rumple giggled. "He's gonna have a lotta people to bite the sense back into, cause people nowadays don't have ANY common sense!"
"Nope. An I'm gonna have to make lotsa stinky apple bombs 'case the book don't work," Regina added.
"You wouldn't want to make a few for me, would you, Regina?" Archie asked.
"Sure! Who ya gonna bomb?"
"Mrs. Paddington if she gets my name wrong one more time!"
He knew she was only doing it to irritate him.
The line was getting long to see Cinderella so the kids decided to skip the salon visit.
They could see Cinderella during their dinner in the Beauty and the Beast dining room as well, since she visited some of the tables.
She seemed pleasant enough but they were learning quickly that reality was sometimes more unpleasant than fiction.
Rumple had a problem with the whole Cinderella story, and it started with the real Cinderella in his homeland.
She wanted to snag herself a prince and she did...by pimping herself out.
He cleared his throat and said, "Why was it so important for ya to marry a prince? What-a regular guy ain't 'nough for ya? Ya had to snag yourself someone rich n' handsome-like on the Bachelor when all the girls pimp themselves so they can get the billionaire?"
Cinderella, whose name was Billie Tyler started laughing.
Regina piped up with, "Yeah an' you gotta respect yourself! Ya don't need a man if you can get a good job an' everything."
"You must be the bunch Snow and the Queen warned me about," she said with a smile.
Rayna and Andrea told their friend about a group of children who called themselves the Nevengers but they pointed out some eye opening facts about the fairy tales.
Belle nodded. "You gotta be careful to not just marry a guy you barely know . . .he could be some sick and bad person and kill you in your sleep-like what happened to that girl who met a guy she thought was nice on the Web and when she met him he kidnapped her and killed her. You gotta get to know the guy first and then trust your heart."
Bae groaned. "I should be used to this by now, but I still want to crawl in a hole," he whispered to Emma.
"Make room for me."
Billie kneeled down. "My boyfriend David isn't a billionaire...he makes games for the computer."
And he was still trying to get a major company to distribute them but not having much luck because they were learning games for children. Violent games were in demand and he refused to write one.
Rumple looked alarmed. "Are they games where you kill people n'stuff? We're not 'llowed to play those. Mom says they corrupt you n' stuff."
"Oh no...they're children's learning games. One of them is like a virtual classroom that teaches math and another is an interactive story."
"That's okay then," he nodded. "What kinda story is it?"
"It's mostly to teach you to be safe...one scene is in a kitchen."
She suggested that one after her sister got burned touching the stove.
"You gotta be careful in the kitchen, right, Killian? Else you could burn the house down," Rumple said, referring to a time when Kilian tried to "make" breakfast before Bae got up one morning and burnt eggs so bad the smoke alarm went off and lit a dishtowel on fire trying to get the pan off the stove.
"That's one lesson and another is about safety with chemicals like your dishwashing liquid and house cleaning supplies. Do you know who Mister Yuck is?"
They all shook their heads.
"When I went to school we had this green sticker with an upset face and his tongue was sticking out. We put that on those bottles so we knew it wasn't safe for us to eat or drink them."
"Or the one where it's got the black skull on it for poison," Killlian pointed out.
"Yes but Mister Yuck was used because they thought children would be more cautious since the skull and bones makes them think of pirates."
Killian nodded. "S'what I thought too."
"But when you see Mister Yuck you think of something gross right?"
"Yeah, I would." Rumple said. "An' you never mix bleach with ammonia cause it makes a poison gas and you can die."
"Another thing it teaches about is strangers."
"You never go with a stranger . . .even if they give you candy or say they're gonna buy you something," Belle recited.
"That's right."
Billie had them all pose for a picture and Emma asked if she could get copies of David's games for the kids, mostly Killian and Aria.
They would all dine Belle's ballroom that evening with a few Disney Princesses but Belle refused to be anywhere near the fake Belle.
"She'll make me puke, 'sgrace to the Belle name."
"You mean Lacey? She ahhh...isn't here anymore."
"She get fired?"
"Well...yes..."
"Good she was mean an dumb!"
"They have a new person playing her-I think you'll like Emilie," Billie said.
"She better be nice. Are we gonna meet her tonight?"
Belle was going to give her the test, the same questions she had for Lacey and Belle's opinion of her would depend on her responses.
After all, this girl was representing her.
After dinner they were going to Lake Eola where the Nevengers would put Operation: Kiss The Girl into action.
"Yes you are. She's very excited."
There was a waltz planned with Belle and the Beast for that night.
"We're gonna see Beauty an the Beast dance, Rumple! I can't wait!"
He looked excited too. "Hope they do it right."
Cinderella smiled. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised." Emile was a former dancer on Broadway in New York and Rich could also dance, having taken a course in ballroom dancing.
"Can we record it ,Henry?" Regina asked.
"Yeah, I charged my phone before we came," he said.
"Goodie!" Even she was excited to see the dance.
"After you have dinner, it will start," Cinderella promised. Then she bid them goodbye and went to visit another table with a family.
"Hey guys better rest your voices...need 'em for...owwww!" Killian yelped when he felt Belle's foot kicking him under the table.
"No more shenanigans today guys," Bae warned.
He didn't know how much more his blood pressure could take.
"We're being good as gold...right guys?" Regina winked at her friends.
"Uh huh!"
Emma shook her head. "You're up to something."
Rumple gave her an innocent look.
"Don't think you can fool me, imp. Remember my superpower?"
"I didn't say anything."
"It doesn't just apply to what you say mister."
"Not gonna do anything bad," he objected.
"Maybe not bad but something crazy I'm sure."
"When we gonna have dessert?" Regina asked to change the subject before one of them cracked under Emmaterrogation.
"I hope soon," Killian said. "And what are we gonna have?" Unlike some of the other places, there was a set menu for this dinner-and you could only pick the main course, everything else was chosen for you.
"Hope nothing 'gusting!"
The servers came around with pieces of cake-vanilla and chocolate with cannoli cream in the middle, with swirled frosting and a scoop of birthday cake ice cream on the side. You could drizzle chocolate or caramel syrup over it if you wanted.
Henry laughed when his little brother drowned his in chocolate syrup. "You gonna be able to eat that?"
"Uh huh. I like it!"
"You get sick 'fore we go to the lake m'sendin Mister Common Sense after your butt!" Belle threatened.
"I won't," Killian assured her. "Never get sick with chocolate."
"Neither does your father," Emma said, eating her piece slowly. She was still full from dinner.
"Are you all having a good time?" inquired Jasmine as she approached the table.
She, Aurora and Cinderella were all scheduled in the castle that evening.
"Yes!" they chorused. Jasmine was one of the few princesses who didn't act like a princess, but defied convention.
"Mind if I sit down a bit?"
Killian moved his chair over. "You can sit by me."
Like Cinderella, Jasmine also knew who this group of children was from gossip by the princesses who already met them and was promised shed have a few good laughs from what they said and did.
Regina rolled her eyes. "She ain't available!" she hissed to the former pirate.
"M'not trying ta pick her up. Sheesh ya think I'm a manho!"
Archie nearly choked on his coffee.
"Emma, where's your gun?" Bae wanted to know. "Because I'm putting myself out of my misery."
"Not gonna be a manho. They get crabs!"
Rumple scowled at his son. "You do that, Bae and you're gonna be in Lucifie's stew pot!"
"Yep an he'll pick his teeth with your bones!" added Belle.
Jasmine laughed. "Well you guys sure do live up to your reputation."
"They have a reputation?" Bae moaned. "Do I want to know?"
"Oh just that they can give you good laugh or make you think."
"Oh they can surely do that!" Emma snickered.
"They're always thinking of something," Archie added.
"Uh-huh like you kissing the girl!" Belle reminded him.
"Belle!"
At nearly the same time, Rumple asked Jasmine, "Now that you n' Aladdin are married, when you gonna have a baby?"
"Ummm...well...when they decide its time..."
"Takin' forever!" Rumple grumbled. "They need to hurry up! Fore your biological clock stops ticking!"
"Speaking of hurryin' up, cricket...you better kiss Selene 'fore her clock stops ticking!" Belle informed him tartly.
Killian and Regina merely sat back and watched with identical smirks on their faces while Henry recorded the event to add to the album The Rumbelle Roast of Jasmine and Jiminy Cricket. His little grandparents were acting just like the stars on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. It was one of Rumple's favorite old shows.
"Maybe you should write the studio and tell them?" suggested Jasmine wickedly. She would love to see the letter these two sent to the studio execs. It would knock them right off their pedestals and onto the floor.
"We could," Belle said. "I can write good."
"So can I. An they need a wake up call, right, dearies?" Rumple said.
"Yep. Gotta tell 'em not to keep making the princesses marry dumb good lookin' guys."
"And sometimes the villains 'serve happy endings too," Regina added.
"If they're sorry an' wanna be good again," Rumple agreed.
"That doesn't apply to Jafar."
"No. He's just nasty," Rumple said. "Some people are like that."
"An how about makin' a smart hero-who's not strong but he can use his head . . .and he saves everyone by his wits," Belle declared. "And he's not a pretty boy, but he's pretty to the girl who loves him."
"Yeah so you don't have to feel like you're not ever gonna be like a prince or something cause you're not handsome, or strong, or whatever," Rumple said, and tapped his cane pointedly. "Kids like me . . .we need somebody like that . . . since we're never gonna be like those princes in the stories."
"You know, you're both right. About needing more stories like that."
Rumple and Belle beamed.
Jasmine stood up. "I'd like to stay longer but Belle and the Beast are about to start their dance."
They all clapped.
The lights dimmed and a door opened towards the front of the dining room, where the stained glass window with the rose motif was. The Beast, dressed in his signature blue outfit, escorted Belle, in her familiar gold dress, into the room.
A hush settled over the room as the song that had made the couple famous began to play.
Belle and Rumple were riveted to their adult Disney counterparts.
Emilie put her hand around Rich's waist in the opening steps of the waltz, tilting her head and smiling up at him with love in her eyes.
Then he spun her gracefully about and they began to dance across the floor, graceful as feathers dancing on the wind.
The golden dress billowed about her feet and she twirled across the floor, her golden shoes sparkling.
Despite his heavy costume, Rich managed to make the waltz look almost effortless, his boots tapping out the rhythm easily, and they danced up and down the "ballroom" twice before spinning about to a halt and bowing to the audience.
The lights came up again and Belle and the Beast waved to their audience, and the Beast presented Belle with a rose.
Belle accepted it and then leaned over and kissed the Beast.
People clapped and cheered wildly.
"Yay Belle!" Belle cheered.
Traditionally, the Beast should have transformed back into a prince, but the couple chose not to go that route, and instead he remained the Beast as they walked around to greet their guests.
"You ready to meet the Nevengers, Emilie?" he asked her.
"Oh yes! Anyone who can get that tramp Lacey revealed for what she was has my vote," she replied to her partner. She took his arm as they made their way over to the Gold table.
"They's coming over here, Rumple!" Belle cried excitedly, grabbing his sleeve.
"I see them, Belle. M' not blind."
"Don't be a Mister Smarty Pants!"
He rolled his eyes.
"An don'cha roll your eyes at me, Mister Gold, or m'gonna send Mister Common Sense after you!"
Rich and Emilie approached the table right in the middle of the tiny couple's argument.
"Don't get in a snit, dearie. You like me this way an' you know it," he hissed to her.
"That's it...your butt is getting booked, dearie."
"You're the one who doesn't want a dumb prince for a boyfriend," he retorted. "An' I'm not dumb an' I'm not a walk-on carpet neither!"
"Never said you were!"
"Guys, cool it!" Emma snapped.
The couple bowed their heads in shame. "Sorry."
"For a minute we thought we were listening to a married couple," Rich joked.
"They act like it," Killian muttered.
"Why'd you stay the beast after the kiss?" Regina asked.
"We wanted to change things a bit," Emilie admitted.
"We liked that better Belle should be with the beast not a prince who's dumb." Belle said.
"You all bring up some interesting points about these stories. Impressive at your age."
"Makes sense when you think 'bout it,'" Rumple put in.
"An' you're not a 'sgrace to the Belle name like that Lacey."
"Yeah she's prolly on the street corner now spreadin crabs!" Killian laughed.
"Oh my God, Rich, they are hysterical!" Emilie was nearly doubled over laughing.
"I don't know how you keep your sanity," Rich remarked to Emma and Bae.
"We're close to losing it," Bae frowned at the group.
They all looked slightly ashamed.
"Oh it's all right, Mr. Gold."
Emilie looked at Emma. "And I see you're having another soon. Boy or girl?"
"Her name's gonna be Aria," Rumple announced. "Cause she's gonna be smart and do great stuff like her mama."
Emma blushed.
"Well ya did an still do." Rumple insisted.
"Why don't you all introduce yourselves," Emilie suggested.
Rumple held out his hand to her. "I'm Rumple."
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Rumple."
"An I'm Belle, like THE Belle," Belle shook her hand next. "Do you sing, Emilie? You have a really pretty voice an you kinda sound like Selene."
"That's because I'm from England too...and I do sing but I like dancing more, especially with the Beast."
"I'm Regina. We really like you better than the other Belle. She looked like a ho."
Oh she was all right, Emilie thought. Emilie always wanted to be Belle from the day she was hired but she'd been warned it would be hard to oust Lacey from the position when word around the park was that she was sleeping around with someone in the office.
They were forced to fire her after several complaints from guests about her showing up to Storytime drunk.
Killian kissed Emilie's hand. "You have a boyfriend?"
Emilie giggled. "Ummm...yes..."
His face fell. "Aww crap. Cause I'd ask ya out if you didn't."
"Umm...Killian, need we remind you again you're too young?" Bae asked.
He sighed. "No."
"I'm Henry." Henry shook her hand next. "And this is my mom and dad, Emma and Bae and our friend Archie."
"Archie's Selene's boyfriend." added Belle.
"Oh I know. She talks about him a lot."
Archie blushed. "She...does?"
The four Nevengers winked at each other.
"So Emilie, do you really think Belle should be with the beast or a prince?" Belle quizzed.
"I think you should be with who you love, no matter what they look like and even if he has some faults...we all do...you learn to take the good with the bad. Of course there are some exceptions but for the most part, that's what true love is."
It was what she wanted for herself.
"I guess we're trying to demonstrate that this evening," Rich added.
"You made these little rugrats happy," Emma said.
The group posed for a picture with Emilie and Rich with Emilie holding Belle and Rich held Rumple. Henry took a second picture with his phone and added the caption: Tales as Old as Time.
Before they left they surprised everyone by suggesting the girls dance with Rich while the boys danced with Emilie.
Emma and Bae fought back tears while they watched, even with all the mishaps and mysteries, there were some wonderful moments in this vacation.
Belle and Rumple danced with them last, Emilie took special care with Rumple because of his leg and picked him up a few times to make sure he wasn't sore or tired.
"I'm not going to make Belle jealous am I?" she teased.
"Nope. She's already got our wedding planned out. We're gonna dress up like you guys."
"That will be lovely."
At the end of their dance Rich set Belle on her feet, bowed and handed her a rose. "Until we meet again, little lady."
She hugged him. "We'll see you around."
Beauty and the Beast bid their final goodbyes to the family and went to another table.
Henry added more videos to his growing Magic Kingdom Adventures album but there was one last entry he needed to do tonight and there was no doubt in his mind that with Belle running the show things would go according to plan.
They met up with Selene at the front entrance. She and Archie drove to the lake in her car while the Golds rode in theirs. Rumple and Regina took a nap during the ride. They were going to be using a lot of magic and so was Henry.
You sure this will work? Rumple heard Pongo send to him from Selene's car.
It'll work. You an Perdy can relax. We have it covered.
Selene's a bit upset, Perdy sent. She had a fight with her mum over Archie. Carla keeps telling her to break it off but she told her no.
Good. Bite her next time.
Oh I will.
The children were excited when they finally arrived at the park, relieved that they still had time to take a short ride around the lake in the swan boats.
They were paddle boats that seated four people and Selene offered to stay ashore with the dogs and film everyone while they took a ride around the lake.
"You sure you don't want me to paddle, Mom?" Henry offered from the boat he was riding in with Emma and Regina.
"No...I need the exercise and you're not old enough to be operating it yet."
"I could just make it do it for us," Regina offered.
"No magic, Regina."
"Not yet," Henry whispered in her ear.
"Kay."
"This is really cool," Killian was saying from his boat. He was riding with Bae and Rumple.
"Gonna make us one for back home," Rumple said to his son. "Emma hasta have her own swan boat."
"I'll tell you what: make me one for her birthday," Bae suggested.
"You gotta deal, Bae!"
"Mom's gonna love it," Killian agreed.
"Why you look like you're gonna pass out Archie? You gettin seasick?" Belle asked him from their boat.
"No...just a bit nervous."
"Ah, Selene really likes you so relax. Now if you kiss her you'll feel better."
"You aren't going to give up on that, are you?"
"Not till you do it."
He wanted to, but he thought it was too soon and the moment had to be just right.
On the shore Selene was sitting on a bench with the dogs at her side, trying as best she could to get a clear video not knowing Henry already magicked the camera so that it was recording from the boats as if she were actually on them filming. It was a simple spell Rumple taught him.
Archie kissing her will be the perfect end to a rotten day for her, Perdy said to Pongo.
Yes. These humans take too long figuring things out. They belong together and hopefully tonight they'll see it...with a little help of course.
Any hints to what our little toddler friends have planned?
They said it's going to be a surprise.
"We gotta do that again!" Regina cried while they walked back to Selene and the Dalmatians.
"We will before we leave, honey," Bae promised.
"Okay...now it's your turn," Henry said to Selene taking the phone back from her while Rumple watched the dogs.
"I'm sorry I vented to you in the car," Selene murmured to Archie once they were alone in the boat.
"That mother of yours...she's enough to drive you to drink!"
"Now do you see why I have such a bloody awful track record with men? She drives you all away."
"Oh I've dealt with far worse than her."
"If I didn't owe her a damned fortune in loans I would move out and get a flat of my own!"
"You can't get another one to pay them back?"
She shook her head. "I've tried. She has to cosign for them!"
He put his arm around her shoulders. "There has to be some way you can manage on your own."
You're a good one to talk, cricket. How long did it take you to crawl out of your parents' hole? Oh and let's not forget how you botched that up and ruined a little boy's life in the process.
"It's not just Mum that's driving me mad...the nightmares too."
"What nightmares?"
"I'm a house in England, not one I remember living in, locked in a closet with an older lady I call Mrs. Tisdale. I think she's a nanny but I don't remember having one of those either. Then we hear someone breaking in the house. Mrs. Tisdale tells me to stay in the closet and be quiet. She goes out...I hear two men yelling and her screaming. The next thing I see are the two men staring down at me and Mrs. Tisdale is on the floor all bloody...like they've beaten her to death! It's the worst nightmare I've ever had and doesn't make a bit of sense!"
Archie frowned. "Selene, that doesn't sound like a nightmare. That's a memory...one you've forgotten until now probably because it was too traumatic. Have you told your mother?"
"Yes but she insists it's a nightmare."
"I'd like to try something with you tomorrow if you're comfortable with it."
"You want to hypnotize me."
"It might help us find out what this nightmare means and why you're having it."
"All right but I've tried that before with my regular therapist and it didn't work."
Her mother was still arguing with her over that too.
The children hadn't planned on listening to the couple's conversation while Henry was filming it but Selene's talk of nightmares piqued their curiosity.
"Archie's right an' that hag is lyin' through her teeth if she thinks Selene's jus havin' bad dreams," Rumple concluded.
"Yeah what's she tryin' to hide?" mused Belle.
"Bet she had the nanny killed cause the other lady knew the hag was a bad mommy an' was tryin' to get Selene taken away from her," Regina said.
"I'll see if I can find something on the computer about it when we get back to the hotel but Archie might find out more when he puts her under." Henry offered.
"Yeah an see what you can find on Pukin too," Killian instructed.
"We gotta be careful guys. Mom and Dad will have a royal fit if they find out we're playing detectives."
"Yeah well somethin stinks here, Henry an it ain't rotten apples." Rumple insisted.
"Yeah first we got Pukin the pervert an now we have the old hag who reminds me a bit too much of ole Cruella De Vil," Belle said.
Pongo and Perdy whined and huddled closer together.
Emma and Bae were enjoying a short walk around the park. Aria gave her mother a few small kicks to let her know she was still awake.
"So when does this light show start, Selene?"
"Oh, not for another hour."
Archie noticed that Selene was still distressed and suggested they take a walk alone.
"Mom, I'm gonna take these guys to see the rest of the park while you relax," Henry said.
"Okay Henry but you be careful!" Bae cautioned.
"We will."
They found the couple standing underneath the illuminated Chinese Pagoda and concealed themselves behind the bushes.
"I'm sorry, Archie. I should just forget about Mum for the evening and have a good time."
"It's all right," he said softly.
"Ready, Belle," Henry whispered to her.
"Yep! Kay…do your stuff!" she ordered Rumple, Henry an Regina.
"What'm I doin'?" Killian asked.
"Yous the band."
Rumple and Regina conjured instruments and Killian took his place behind a drum set while the others played the rest of them through magic.
"There you see her
Sitting there across the way
She don't get a lot to say
But there's something about her
And you don't know why
But you're dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl…" Belle sang softly.
"Did you hear that? It sounded like someone singing," Selene said.
"Oh I heard it all right…okay, where are you guys?" Archie demanded, looking around.
"Cloakin' spell comin' up!" Rumple whispered.
Archie followed the sound to the bushes but he couldn't see anything. He shook his head and returned to the pagoda thinking it was just his mind playing tricks on him.
"Archie, what's out there?"
"Oh…umm…I thought I saw my friend's kids. Never mind." He put his arm around her again. "Forget about Carla for a bit."
And having him hold her close was making it much easier.
Belle gave her friends the thumbs up and continued to sing.
"Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
It's possible she wants you too
There's one way to ask her
It don't take a word, not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl!"
"There's that singing again…must be a wedding somewhere," Selene murmured.
"People get married here?"
"Oh, all the time. It's where I would…"
"Where you would what?"
It was insane but the image was already in her mind: the two of them standing under the pagoda at night, she in a blue strapless dress, him in a tuxedo while Father Billingham conducted the ceremony.
"It's nothing."
He looked around the lake, thinking this would be the perfect place for him to get married and though it was madness, he had an image of the two of them exchanging their vows right where they were standing with Nova officiating.
"Okay guys…let's give em the works!" ordered Belle.
Regina and Henry conjured a cloud to shower the couple with rose petals and Rumple spoke to the fish in the lake to ask them to dance and sing in the water. They were more than happy to help as were the crickets when Rumple told them Archie was once one of them, chirping in harmony along with Belle and her friends. Henry moved her over to a small platform near the lake.
"Shalalalala
My oh my
Looks like the boy's too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Shalalalala
Ain't that sad
It's such a shame
Too bad, you're gonna miss the girl
Go on and kiss the girl!" Belle and the fish sang together as the couple was being showered with rose petals.
Selene didn't know what was going on or how but she felt like Ariel in the Little Mermaid at that moment…and now she DID want to be kissed.
Regina opened her hand and blew a spray of glitter into the pagoda.
A flock of swans made the roof their perch and started singing along with the rest of the group.
It's too soon, Archie kept telling himself but every time he looked at Selene it was getting more difficult not to kiss her.
"Now's your moment
Boy, you better do it soon
No time will be better
She don't say a word
And she won't say a word
Until you kiss the girl!" Belle urged, modifying the lyrics a bit to match the scene.
Pongo and Perdy jumped off the bench where they were sitting with Emma and Bae and joined Belle on the invisible platform, adding their voices to the chorus.
"Shalalalala
My oh my
Looks like the boy's too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Shalalalala
Ain't that sad
It's such a shame
Too bad, you're gonna miss the girl
Shalalalala
Don't be scared
You better be prepared
Go on and kiss the girl
Shalalalala
Don't stop now
Don't try to hide it how
You wanna kiss the girl
Go on and kiss the girl!" they sang louder.
Henry gestured and the night sky became the canvas for a beautiful fireworks display leaving the other guests scratching their heads when the show wasn't supposed to start for another hour. Even if they wanted to see what was going on, they wouldn't be able to get through the barrier the three mages set up.
"Shalalalala
My oh myyyyy
Looks like the boy's too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Shalalalala
Ain't that sad
It's such a shame
Too bad, you're gonna miss the girl
Lalalala, Lalalala
Go on and kiss the girl
Go on and kiss that girl!
Kiss the girl
Kiss the girl
Go on and kiss the girl!"
Come on Archie…take a chance, Pongo pleaded.
Oh Selene, you're a fool if you let this moment pass you by, Perdy thought sadly.
Archie and Selene were now facing each other and gazing into each other's eyes. Animals and children watched, hoping all their efforts weren't for nothing.
Sending his last shred of fear and doubt packing, Archie wrapped his arms around Selene's waist to pull her closer and lowered his lips to hers, his kiss sending pleasant shivers through her body, and making her heart pound like a bass drum in her chest.
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back, no longer caring if it was completely crazy and they barely knew each other but he was the kind of man she'd been looking for her whole life.
"I…I'm sorry," Archie said when they broke their kiss. "I barely know you but I feel like you're what I've been looking for…"
"My whole life," they said together and smiled. "Archie," Selene went on.
"Yes?"
"Kiss me again," she pleaded.
He was more than happy to oblige now.
"We did it, we did it!" Belle cried jumping up and down and hugged Rumple.
"You were great, dearie!" he praised.
"No WE were great!" she corrected.
"Whoo hoo…give 'er the tongue, Archie!" Killian hooted.
"Killian! Thank God he can't hear you!" Henry moaned, facepalming himself.
"Gonna need to come up for air soon!" Regina giggled.
Finally! Pongo and Perdy snorted.
Bae and Emma, worried when the children were gone too long went looking for them and were shocked to see Archie and Selene standing under the pagoda sharing a passionate kiss. Then they found their little rugrats hidden in the bushes having a celebration while under a cloaking spell.
"You have something to do with that?" Bae asked, pointing to the other couple, still oblivious to everyone but each other for the moment.
"All we did was create….the mood," Belle replied, imitating Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. "With a little help. Thanks guys!" she called out to the swans, crickets and fish while they flew and swam away.
"Come on…let's go watch the show and give them some time alone," Emma said softly.
"Kay…but lemme do this first." Rumple cast a cloaking spell on the pagoda. "So's nobody bugs them."
The children were amazed to see the fountain light up with vibrant colors in tune with the music that was being played. They were told by some of the other spectators that the park had several themed shows throughout the year but the fan favorite was the Fourth of July celebration that included fireworks.
"Must've decided to do something different tonight by adding fireworks before the show."
The Nevengers grinned. There'd been a show all right, but a private one and on the other side of the park two people were falling in love with a little help from friends old and new.