A/N - So people seemed to really like Granny! That makes me so happy! Here is the final member of the Eleven left to be recruited, Emma!
Chapter 6
"So with Granny that makes ten." Neal opened the door to their hotel suite and immediately headed to the mini bar. "Ten should be enough."
Mr. Gold sat down on the plush leather sofa and stretched out his leg. "We're not done yet, dearie. We need one more."
"Really?" He counted them off with his fingers. "By the end of the week, we should have our Bankroller, two Grifters, a Boomer, a Shadow, a Pickpocket, an Acquisitioner and the best damn Flimflammer of her generation. Not to mention you, the Evil Genius, and me, the Jack-of-all-Trades."
"Very true. However, we need someone capable of bypassing Regina's security measures and hacking into her computers." Gold glanced furtively over at his son. "It would also be useful if this person is familiar with standard operating police procedures."
"That's quite a tall order," Neal said, opening a very expensive jar of peanuts. "Do you have someone in mind or…wait! No!"
"We need her, Bae," Gold whispered.
"No! Absolutely not! No, no, no, no, no! End of discussion!"
"As you just so eloquently put it, I am the brains of this operation, not you. She happens to be living right here in Boston and we are going to pay her a visit. Tonight."
"She hates my guts, Papa! I ruined any chance she and I had together, not to mention destroyed her life! Why would she want to help us?"
"Because she owes me a favor, son. A big one. And I'm ready to collect."
~8~8~8~
"I can't do this, Papa! We can find someone else."
They walked down the softly lit hallway of the downtown apartment building, Gold having easily picked the lock on the outer security door. He didn't want to give her the chance to refuse them entrance by buzzing her unit. It was always better to catch someone off their guard.
"It's not like you to be the coward in the family, son. You've always been the bigger man; the better man. Don't make the same mistakes I have."
They stopped at the last door on the left and took a moment to read the inspirational messages painted across her door. Before Bae could lose the last of his courage, Gold knocked sharply with the handle of his cane and stood aside.
She answered the door wearing a sleeveless form fitting pink dress that accentuated every curve of her body. Golden hair cascaded down her back in seductive waves. She was even more beautiful than Neal remembered.
"Hey, Emma. It's been a long time."
The punch connected with the left side of Neal's face with a resounding crack. His body buckled from the blow and Gold had to reach out an arm to steady him.
"Good evening, Miss Swan," Mr. Gold said pleasantly, unsurprised by Emma's sudden assault on his son. "May we come in?"
"What the Hell are you two doing here?" she whispered, quickly glancing back into her apartment and shutting the door behind her.
"I assure you, dear, that we are not here to… dig up the past." He gave her a pointed look while Neal flexed his jaw and wiped the blood from his chin.
"All right," she said, eyes darting back and forth between father and son. "What do you want then?"
"Forgiveness?" asked Neal.
Emma narrowed her eyes. "Let's start with tolerance and go from there."
"Fair enough," Gold interjected. "Miss Swan, we come bearing a business proposition for you."
"Business proposition?" she scoffed. "You do realize what I do for a living now, right?"
"Yeah," said Neal. "Bounty Hunter. Odd choice of profession for a former thief, don't you think."
"It's my life-long ambition to find the name Baelfire Gold on my Wanted list and haul your sorry ass to jail."
"I'm afraid that will never happen, dear. He changed his name to Neal Cassidy some time ago." Mr. Gold glanced down the hall as a young couple emerged from another apartment. "Perhaps we could continue this conversation in a more private setting?"
She reluctantly let them in, guiding them to a small kitchen. A cupcake lay on the counter, a faint wisp of smoke rising from the solitary candle in the shape of a blue star.
"Today's your birthday, isn't it?" asked Neal awkwardly, gesturing to the cake. "Did you make a wish?"
"I'm making one right now." She squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her fingers. When she opened them back up she sighed heavily. "Damn! You're still here. I guess there's no such thing as magic."
Before Neal could reply Gold cleared his throat loudly. "Son, perhaps you should go to the washroom and tend to your wound. You're bleeding on her floor."
"Down the hall on your right. And don't snoop in my cupboards!"
Once Neal was safely out of earshot, Emma rounded on Mr. Gold. "Does he know?" she whispered furiously.
"Of course not, Miss Swan. We made a deal that I would not tell him and in exchange you would owe me a favor. And am I not a man of my word?"
"I swear to God, Gold. He cannot find out about Henry! Not yet."
"Then you'd best agree to my little proposition, dearie, because it's time to pay up."
~8~8~8~
Neal stood in front of the small mirror and assessed his injury. Emma sure knows how to land a punch, he thought ruefully. He washed the blood off of his face and winced slightly at the pain. Opening up the medicine cabinet, he went in search of some aspirin.
"Why the Hell does she have Incredible Hulk Band-Aids?" he asked out loud.
"Those are mine," said a small voice behind him.
He jumped at the sound. Spinning around, he found a young boy wearing pajamas depicting The Avengers staring at up at him.
"Hey! You're hurt! You can have one if you want. I don't mind."
"Thanks, kid," he replied warily. "Who are you?"
"I'm Henry. Henry Swan. What's your name?"
"Henry!" Emma appeared around the corner, a panicked look on her face. "What are you doing up?"
"The babysitter gave me too much juice before I went to bed. Was this your date?"
Emma's face flushed scarlet. "No. This is just an old…friend. Once you're done in there go straight back to bed, okay?"
"Okay. Nice to meet you, Emma's friend."
Henry closed the washroom door behind him, leaving Emma and Neal staring awkwardly at one another. She took the Band Aid from his hand, opened it and carefully covered the cut on his face.
"The Hulk is a good choice for you," said Emma, breaking the silence. "He was a two-faced bastard as well."
"I know I deserved that." Neal looked down to his feet in shame. Nervously, he hooked his thumb back towards the door. "Ummm…Why is there a kid living with you?"
"He's my…I'm his…"
"Miss Swan very kindly adopted young Henry two years ago," interrupted Mr. Gold, suddenly appearing around the corner. For a man with a cane he sure could sneak up on people. "He had been in and out of foster homes his entire life. When I heard of his predicament, I contacted her to see if she was willing to open up her home. After all, she went through the same thing herself. Every child deserves to be given their best chance."
"Huh," replied Neal. "Emma Swan as a mother figure. It suits you. He seems great."
"Yeah. He really is."
"So why were you involved and how come I never heard about it?" he demanded Gold.
"I think it's safe to say that none us here have any love for the system. I happened to stumble across him and made the arrangements before I was shipped off to prison."
"Wait a minute! How are you out already? Please tell me I'm not harboring a fugitive right now!"
"Not to worry, dear. I was released this afternoon on good behavior. But I believe we were here to discuss a lucrative business offer with you."
They were back in the kitchen and Emma began filling the kettle to make tea. "Well, in case you haven't noticed, I have a kid to look after now. I have to do what's best for Henry and that's not to end up in jail…again!"
"But being a Bounty Hunter is?" Neal asked, swiping a bit of icing off her cupcake. He was a sucker for buttercream.
"Don't you think he deserves to know that his new mom is safe and sound when he goes to sleep at night?" added Gold.
"I have a very limited skill set," she replied, seething. "I need to provide for him somehow, don't I?"
"Not to change the subject," said Neal, looking around puzzled, "but did you just move in here? Where's all your furniture? I think we had more stuff in the back of the Bug!"
"I'm a minimalist. It makes moving easier."
"That can't be good for Henry. He requires some real stability in his life. Doesn't he deserve a house with a yard in a safe neighborhood?"
"Why stop there? Why not a castle with a pet unicorn? Those things cost money. And lots of it."
"Would ten million be sufficient?"
Emma was struck silent. "Are you serious?"
"Well, give or take a million, depending on overhead expenses." Neal approached her slowly and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. When he spoke again, it was barely above a whisper. "I give you my word, Emma. No one gets left behind this time. I promise."
When she finally looked up at him, her eyes were cold and hard. "What's the job?"
"We are going to break into the vault of the Storybrooke Casino and steal all of Regina Mills's money."
"But why?"
"Because we can. But only with your help."
A/N – So the team is now assembled! How will Gold's Eleven carry out the heist?
I'm not sure when my next update will be. I will be travelling to the Arctic Circle! Awesome, right? I can't wait! I'm having myself a little adventure! So hopefully the delay won't be more than two or three weeks. I promise it will be worth the wait!
A/N – Fun Fact: As I'm sure most of you are aware, several members of The Avengers had their own movies. Josh Dallas, who plays Charming, was a loveable sidekick (with a really stupid beard) on Thor while Sebastian Stan, who plays Jefferson, was Captain America's best friend!