A Tangled Web

Chapter Six: Family Reunion

A/N: At long last, the drought is ending! We're getting a new episode Sunday! And it's going to be awesome, since it is Rumple-centric! It's also going to be very sad, because we finally find out what became of Baelfire. In the meantime, enjoy this chapter.

Ruby was sipping on her coffee when Belle came into the kitchen, looking much better than she had the day before. "Morning, Belle. How did you sleep?"

Belle grinned at her. "Better than I have in years. Although I did have a bit of trouble at first. I kept hearing this strange howling. Sounded almost like a wolf."

Ruby suddenly became very interested in the table cloth. "Oh, did you?" Belle laughed, and Ruby looked up at her, and then broke into a fit of giggles. "Well, I'm sorry if we kept you awake."

Belle sat down, still giggling. "Oh, I could have slept through anything in that bed. Rumple doesn't skimp when it comes to luxurious bedding, does he?"

"Well dearie, if you had spent six months sleeping on cold dirt, you'd want the best bed and linens money could buy. And since you spent twenty eight years in that bloody asylum, I'm sure you can sympathize." Gold limped into the kitchen, kissing Ruby on the cheek before pouring himself a cup of coffee. Belle watched with interest.

"What's that stuff?"

Ruby pushed her cup towards her. "It's coffee. It helps people wake up in the mornings." Belle took a sip, and then made a face.

"Bitter! But not bad. Is there any way to make it a bit sweeter?"

Gold nodded. "Yes, you could add milk, or sugar. I prefer it strong and black. Bitter taste for a bitter imp, right?" He winked at the two women, and they exchanged looks of amused exasperation. Gold sat down, then took a long sip of the coffee before speaking. "We need to get Emma and some others over here today. My intuition tells me that the final battle is about to begin, and we need to figure out plans for defeating Regina."

Belle shuddered. "I know you said she couldn't touch me while I'm here, but what if I want to go other places? What's to stop her from grabbing me?"

Ruby squeezed her hand. "I'll keep an eye on you. Regina won't dare to mess with me. There are advantages to being married to Rumplestiltskin. Plus, anywhere she takes you I can track you. I've noticed my wolf senses coming back." She cocked her head and smiled. "Speaking of which, I do believe Emmalyn and Maggie are awake. Belle, you can come meet them." Belle grinned and followed Ruby into the bedroom. Sure enough, the twins were wide awake, their chubby little hands grasping the bars of the crib as they stared up at their momma and the other person.

Belle melted. "Oh, Ruby, they're so precious! Which one is which, and how old are they?"

Ruby lifted Emmalyn out of the crib. "This one is Emmalyn, and that cutie still in the crib is Maggie. Go ahead and pick her up, she won't break. They're almost four months old." Belle hesitantly picked up Maggie, holding her gingerly, and Ruby laughed. "Belle, trust me, these babies are very hardy. You don't need to hold her as if she's going to break. Just support her head and butt, and she'll do the rest. You'll do fine."

Belle did as Ruby said, and Maggie relaxed against her shoulder. "I did it! Now what?"

Ruby laughed. "That will all come in time. They're pretty easy to care for. Just keep one end empty and the other one full. But if you really need help, ask Tomas or me. But I doubt you'll have any problems, they both seem quite taken with you." She looked at Emmalyn, who was staring at Belle in curiosity. "What do you say, Lyn? Do you like Miss Belle?" Emmalyn smiled, and Ruby grinned at Belle. "See, she likes you."

"Yes, but she likes her Da better." Gold entered the room, and Emmalyn's grin grew wider. "Hello love." Emmalyn reached for him, and Gold took her from Ruby, holding her close and crooning to her. Ruby and Belle smiled as they watched him, this man and imp that caused terror in everyone's hearts except theirs, the man that controlled all of Storybrooke with an iron fist, the imp that caused destruction, chaos, and mayhem wherever he went, the feared Dark One, babble in baby talk and make silly faces at his daughter. "Such a wonderful lass, both of you."

Ruby giggled. "Tomas, did you come in here for a reason?"

"Me wanting to see my lovelies isn't a reason enough?" Ruby gave him a look, and he sighed. "OK, I called Emma and asked her to come over and to bring David, and also Henry if she can manage it. They should be arriving in about ten minutes."

Exactly ten minutes later, the seven of them were gathered in the Gold's living room. Gold took charge, addressing Emma. "Well, Sheriff, I suppose you're wondering why I asked you three to come here." Emma nodded, and Gold clucked his tongue. "Well, let me ask you something. How have you been sleeping?"

Emma frowned at him. "Fine, why?"

Gold gave her a look of skepticism. "Really? Those dark circles under your eyes would say otherwise. And David, you look as though you've lost some nights of sleep as well." He let his voice change. "Bad dweams?" Emma and David gaped at him, and Henry's eyes grew wide as saucers. Gold waved his head, giggling. "I'm right, aren't I?" He pointed at David and Emma, speaking in a sing song voice. "You haven't been sleeping!"

David sighed, leaning back against the couch. "You're right, I haven't had a good night's sleep in almost three weeks. I keep having the same dream. It's so vivid, and each night, more happens in it. But at least I'm not blacking out anymore. And…Kathryn served me with papers this morning. I just wish I knew what happened to her. She's changed so much."

Gold shook his head. "Those black outs weren't what you thought. They weren't blackouts, they were memories. Your true memories and they're coming back. I think within the next day or so, both you and Mary Margaret will remember who you truly are. Mary's true self is already coming back-I heard what she did to Jefferson. Of course, I could simply circumvent all the waiting and give you something that will make you remember."

David blinked at him, completely lost. "What are you talking about?" Gold grinned impishly and reached behind his chair, pulling out a long, thin object wrapped in cloth. He handed it over to David, who unwrapped it.

"A sword? What does that have to do with…" he stopped speaking, eyes wide and faraway as he stared into the bright blade. He was still as a statue, and Emma and Henry exchanged looks of alarm. Finally, Emma shook him.

"David! David, snap out of it! Gold, what is going on? ! David! Come on, wake up!"

Henry's eyes suddenly went wide in realization. "He's starting to remember! That's his sword, isn't it?" Gold nodded, and Henry punched the air. "YES!"

Emma shook David again. "David, snap out of it!"

"James." The voice was different, much surer than normal. Emma blinked.

"What?"

David turned to her, a strange expression on his face. "My name. It's James. Emma, you've grown up. I can't believe how lovely you are." He touched her cheek, and grinned. "You have her eyes."

Emma pulled away, a bit confused. "Whose eyes?" James smiled.

"Snow's. Your mother. You have her eyes. And her chin. Emma, I'm your father." Emma gawped at him in disbelief, and James nodded. Emma shook her head.

"No, you can't be. You're only a few years older than me! You couldn't be my father! That's just…"

"Not possible?" Gold asked, his voice laced with amusement. Emma nodded, and he grinned. "Oh, but didn't Jefferson tell you to believe in impossible things? You can keep denying it all you like, but a larger part of you is beginning to realize that everything Henry has been telling you for the past eight months is true. You're having the dream, after all. Aren't you?" Emma nodded, shocked, and Gold cackled. "So, what are you going to do, Emma? Keep insisting that what is obviously true is not? Or will you accept the truth? You had better make the decision soon, since the battle cannot be won without you."

Emma sat back against the couch, her mind reeling. After several moments, she looked over at Gold and nodded once, then turned to Henry. "I believe you." Henry grinned and hugged her. Emma looked over at James, and extended her arm. "Well, Dad, aren't you going to give your kid and grandkid a hug?"

James pulled them both into a tight embrace. Rumplestiltskin watched a grin of triumph on his face. Once Snow White received her trigger, than he could free her from the bogus charges against her, and the plans for the battle could go forward.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with a little magical push to insure his victory.