20
The Witches of Little Italy
The family had a good time at Jekyll and Hyde, though Regina was a little creeped out by some of the décor and spent some time huddled in Charming's lap until she asked Rumple to cast a spell on her to protect her from all the monsters, and her sorcerer uncle pretended to do so to make her feel better, and then she was okay. She went with Alina and Henry to see the talking wolf's head on the wall, and giggled when it snorted at her and said ridiculous things.
And during the show, when they had Jekyll raise a man from the dead, she wasn't scared at all, but yelling, "Hey, mister! You can't do that! Magic can do much, but not that! Dead is dead, don'tcha know that!"
Emma almost fell off her chair from laughing. "Gold, she's quoting you now! It's freaking hilarious!"
"It's mini me Rumple, Mom!" Henry said, then he started laughing too.
"Or Rumple Says," Alina added, giggling.
"This is the funniest trip I've ever been on," Emma declared, wiping her eyes with a napkin as David and Snow tried to calm the toddler down.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or bang my head into a wall," Rumple admitted to Belle.
"You could do both," she suggested impishly.
"I love you too, dearie," he muttered, rolling his eyes.
"They say imitation's the sincerest form of flattery, Papa," his son reminded him.
Rumple arched an eyebrow then and said, "Really, son? Was that why I caught you trying on a pair of my leather pants that day and borrowing one of my vests too? So you could flatter that pretty girl who lived down the road from us . . . what was her name again? Morraine?"
"Papa!" Bae gasped, turning red. "I can't believe you remember that!"
"Don't you know, Bae? Parents always remember the most embarrassing things about you," David snickered. "My mother did. I was just lucky she never talked to Snow long enough to repeat half of them."
"You sure about that, David?" Snow teased. "There was the one time when you ran out of the house in your underwear . . ."
David hid his face in his hand. "Mary Margaret! I thought a wolf was after my lambs and I didn't want to let it get away."
"I'm sure the wolf was terrified of you appearing in your underwear, dearie," Rumple said, smirking.
"You shut up!" cried David, then he started to laugh too.
"Thank God they didn't know me when I was growing up," Emma muttered to Belle. "I'd never live down some of the dumb things I've done."
"Alina, remember the candle making incident?" Henry poked his aunt and winked at her.
"Oh please, not the 911 story again!" she groaned.
"What story's this?" Belle asked, curious.
Alina shot Henry a dirty look. "You just had to bring it up, didn't you?"
"Because it was one of the few times you did something dumb."
"Yeah and you were Mr. Brilliant, right?" she snorted.
"What happened?" asked Regina.
"We were making candles from this kit Grace bought Alina for Halloween," Henry explained. "In Grandpa's kitchen. And it didn't tell you in the kit to watch out because you could overheat the wax and it could catch on fire."
"And we were stirring it in this big stainless steel pot on the stove and all of a sudden it caught on fire," Alina said.
"My God, you were a pyro too?" Bae chuckled.
Alina stared at him. "What do you mean, Bae?"
"Uh, I set the forest on fire when I was eight," he admitted.
"Wow, Dad! And I was like, we'd better call 911, we were like uh . . . nine," Henry recalled.
"Where was Alice?" Belle asked.
"Shopping," Alina answered. "And Papa was working. So . . . Henry's dialing the police and I try to put out the fire with a pot lid . . . and it gets too hot and I burn myself and meanwhile Henry's screaming into the phone the candles are burning and the kitchen's on fire!"
"And the idiot taking my call asks my name and I say it's Henry Mills and she yells, oh God, the mayor's house is on fire and then hangs up before I can tell her she's wrong," Henry continued.
"So I grab a towel and try to beat out the flames and then it catches on fire," Alina sighed. "And Henry calls back and starts yelling, "It's not the mayor's who's on fire, it's Mr. Gold's! And again the dispatcher hangs up and sends the fire department over to Papa's shop."
"By the time we got it all straightened out, my house should have burnt down," Rumple said. "But luckily Alice got home before then and put out the fire." He shook his head. "I really don't know why all my kids are in trouble with fire. It's not like I didn't teach them not to play with matches."
"Rumple, we're hiding all the matches, candles, and lighters before the baby's born," Belle told him. "Just in case."
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
The next day they had planned a trip to Little Italy to taste some different authentic New York pizza and go to Ferrara's pastry shop for cannolis, Napoleons, tiramisu, and other Italian goodies. In order to not be so touristy, most of the family wore casual attire, jeans and T-shirts, though Regina insisted on wearing her Statue of Liberty crown and carrying her light up torch with her. Gold was wearing his usual Armani/Gucci ensemble, and looked like a rich fashion designer.
"Or a Mafia don," Bae remarked irreverently, and Rumple promptly whacked him on the back of the head. "Hey!"
"Show some respect," Rumple said, shaking a finger at him.
Bae promptly glared at him. "I'm twenty-nine, not fourteen."
"And you've got the same smart mouth now as you did then," his father pointed out.
"Some things never change," Alina pointed out, then she ducked as Bae snapped a dish towel at her.
"Children behave," Belle intoned. "Before you give your papa a coronary."
"Yes, Mama," they chorused, then they looked at each other and groaned.
Suddenly Regina ran into the kitchen, waving her torch about like it was a wand and thrusting it into Rumple's middle and yelling, "Shazam! Immobulus! You're under arrested!"
Rumple stared down at her. "Who are you? A cop like Emma or a witch like Hermione?"
"I'm a witch cop, Unca Rumple! And you're my prisoner," Regina said, poking him again with the torch.
"Really, dearie? And do you know how to hold a magical prisoner?" he smirked.
"With magic. Duh!"
"Forget I asked," Rumple groaned. "Okay, you can read me my rights, scamp."
"You've got the right to remain silent," Regina recited. "Anything you say will be used 'gainst you in court . . . what's court Unca Rumple?"
"It's where criminals are judged and sentenced. You can ask Emma about it, she's been in court a lot." Rumple told her.
"Okay. Uh . . . you have the right to a torney an' if you don't have one, one's given to you," she continued.
David stared at his daughter. "How's she know all this?"
"She watches Law and Order and K9 Cops with Emma," Snow replied. "And last month she wanted to be a sheriff."
"That's incredible!" David said. "I don't even know my Miranda rights."
"Just get arrested," Snow replied blithely. "You'll learn them."
"Or you could come over our apartment when the next Law and Order marathon's on cable," Bae offered. "Emma's like glued to the TV. It's like she's obsessed."
"Be quiet, Baelfire," Emma ordered. "Before I whack you in the back of the head."
"Yes, dear," he said, pretending meekness. Then he grabbed her and kissed her. When he released her, he winked at Snow and said, "Learned how to distract her a long time ago. Works like a charm."
Then he yelped as Emma whacked him on the back of the head.
"Uh . . . except when it doesn't," he amended.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
The Golds strolled down the sidewalk of Little Italy, enjoying the mild weather and the colorful signs advertising everything from purses to the best shoes and authentic Italian cooking. There were booths that sold imported pasta, spices, and beautiful shawls and statues of saints. The air was redolent with the smells of marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, meatballs, sausage, and fried zeppoli. Some vendors sold torrone, an Italian candy made of nougat and nuts, and Bacci, a chocolate hazelnut confection, which was a favorite of Gold and Belle's.
There was one vendor selling Italian soda and Pelligrino water, and another selling Amaretto, Sambucca, and limoncello.
They passed several little cafes and restaurants serving coffee and biscotti, pizza, and homemade specialties like chicken parmesan, ravioli, fried eggpant, lasagna, and freshly baked bread.
The fantastic smells coming from all over made Emma drool as they walked down the street, and she was sure she put on a pound just sniffing the air, it smelled so darn good!
They passed a small shop that sold handmade signs, some in Italian, some in English, all beautifully carved and painted. Belle saw one that caught her eye and said, "Rumple, we need to get this." She picked up a sign that looked like it was made of ancient marble with a picture of grapes and vines on it. It said La Vita `e Bella, which translated into English meant A Beautiful Life. "Do you know what this means?" she asked her husband.
"Yes, I do. It's one of the few phrases I do know."
"Besides do we have a deal?" Charming remarked.
Gold rolled his eyes. "Okay, dearie. Buy it. We'll put it up on the doorway before the nursery."
So Belle bought the sign and the little Italian vendor beamed and wrapped it for her, also giving her some fresh figs as a thank you for patronizing his establishment. Belle shared the unexpected bounty with the children and Rumple, who loved the sweet black fruit.
They passed a large stretch of grass, rather like a park, where some kids were playing baseball. Henry and Alina paused to watch, and all of a sudden the batter, a dark-haired boy wearing Yankees ball cap, hit a flyball and it went wild, soaring right at Henry.
Before anyone could do anything, a small girl with dark hair and eyes wearing a blue cap with wings painted on it darted in front of him, jumping up to snatch the ball right out of the air with her mitt.
As she did so, Henry gasped, because he had felt the familiar tingle of magic. And it was coming from the girl standing before him.
The girl landed on the ground, tossed the ball back to the pitcher and yelled something in Italian at the batter, then turned to Henry, and said, "Hi! Sorry about my stupid cousin, he still doesn't know how to hit right. My name's Angel Tessaro." She held out a hand to shake.
Henry took it, and felt the familiar thrum of another magic wielder. His eyes widened. "I'm Henry Gold."
The girl looked startled, then she dropped his hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Henry. And you are?"
"Alina Gold. I'm technically his aunt, because he's my older brother's son," Alina said, also sensing the other's aura.
Angel didn't seem surprised by that. "Happens a lot around here. We have big families. With . . . unusual gifts."
One of the other players yelled at her in Italian. "Gotta go, I'm third base. Want to play with us?"
"Umm . . . maybe later," Henry said, noting she looked to be around ten or eleven. "My family came here to shop and eat some real Italian food."
"I didn't think you were from around here," Angel said. "Where do you come from?"
"Storybrooke, Maine," Alina answered.
"Oh. That's a long way from here." The girl looked thoughtful. "You know what? My grandma's restaurant is just down past here, on the right. It's called Strega Nonna's Ristorante. Go inside and tell Teresa, she's the hostess and my big sister, that Angel sent you, she'll give you the special table in the back. There's no finer restaurant in all of Little Italy, you won't be disappointed."
She tugged her ball cap down again and said, "Arrivaderci!" Then she ran back into the field, her long hair bouncing down the back of her red T-shirt.
"Hey, tiger," Bae said, coming up to them. "What was that all about? You making friends with that sweet little girl?"
Henry blushed. "No, Dad! It's not like that! She . . . saved me from a fly ball and she wants us to try her grandma's restaurant. Her name's Angel Tessaro and the name of her family's restaurant is Strega Nonna's. She said to go and tell some girl named Teresa inside that she sent us and we'll get us a special table or something."
"Maybe we'll get a special discount too," Bae mused. Then he turned to tell the others.
Once he had left, Henry hissed to Alina, "Hey, did you notice her aura?"
"Yeah. She's a sorceress, like us. I felt it the moment we shook hands," Alina said.
"I think it's pretty amazing, finding new magic wielders here," Henry said.
"Well, Papa did say magic's awakened again in this world," Alina recalled. "And since this world really did have magic before we came to it, it makes sense there'd be magicians in it."
"Should we tell Grandpa?" Henry asked.
"Yes, just not out here. I'm willing to bet even here they're not really open about what they can do."
They went back to where their family was, and started walking down towards the restaurant Angel had directed them to.
Strega Nonna's was a long low brick building with a sign with letters in red, white, and green, the traditional colors of the Italian flag. In the window was a pasta bowl with some fake spaghetti in it and some authentic looking china and on the window itself was etched an old woman with a spoon stirring a cauldron.
The most amazing smells were coming out from beneath the wooden door.
As they walked towards the door, Gold stiffened, sensing the familiar tang of magic. He scanned the building with his Sorcerer's Sight, and saw the faint aura of a protection spell about it.
"Papa, do you feel that?" queried Alina.
"Yes, dearie. This place is warded by pretty strong magic," he replied.
They entered the restaurant and Bae walked up to the pretty hostess standing behind her wooden desk with a paper and a pen, smiling at him. She looked to be about eighteen. Her name tag said Teresa. "Hi. You're Teresa right? My family and I were told to come here by your little sister, Angel. There's nine of us."
"Nine. An auspicious number. Angel sent you?" Teresa said, her eyes suddenly running over the group of Golds. They widened suddenly as they came to rest upon Rumple, Alina, Emma, and Henry. "Okay. Welcome to Strega Nonna's. Come this way please."
She led them through the restaurant, which was bustling with customers sitting at the bar and long low tables with red checkered table cloths on them. Pictures of beautiful landscapes and the ocean hung on the wall amid postcards and Italian signs. Teresa walked purposefully towards a long table in the back which could easily seat them. It was near a fireplace that was cold, since this was still summer.
As they were seated, Teresa said, "I'll send Carmella around to take your order. Maybe we'll start with some drinks. May I recommend the house sangria. It's an old recipe of my grandmother's."
"We'll take a pitcher," Emma told her, wondering why her magic sense was buzzing like mad.
"Coming right up," Teresa said, smiling. Then she left.
"Okay, why do I sense magic?" Emma asked, puzzled.
"Because this establishment is warded with it." Rumple answered. "And that young lady we just spoke with is a magician."
"So's Angel," murmured Henry.
A bouncy girl wearing a green apron with a nametag that read Carmella came up to them and took their order for drinks.
"Is she magical?" asked Snow.
"No, dearie," Rumple shook his head. "But there are others here who definitely are."
Carmella returned with their drinks, and Bae poured sangria for everyone, even Henry and Alina got a little taste.
"Not only that, but this place is warded," Rumple whispered. "And the name of this place . . . in Italian, a witch is called strega."
"Very clever, sonny!" cackled a wizened old lady, making them all jump. She was small, about the size of a half-grown child, with sparse wisps of graying hair escaping from her bun. She wore a black dress and eyed them all knowingly.
"I'm Strega Nonna. And since you know what that means, you know as well who we are."
Snow looked confused. "What are you?"
Strega Nonna smiled. "Why we're witches, cara mia." Then she waved a hand and suddenly a silvery curtain appeared around them. "That's better. Now we can talk in peace." She looked straight at Rumple. "I've never met anyone as strong as you are. What's your name, sonny?"
"I'm Rumple Gold, dearie."
"That's not your true name, anymore than mine is . . . well in a literal sense," she mused. "What brings you to New York?"
"Just a vacation," he replied.
"I see. But sometimes, Signori Gold, vacations aren't always what they seem," she said mysteriously. "My granddaughter sent you here, knowing you were of our kind, and wanting to offer our hospitality to you as a fellow practitioner." She smiled again, revealing slightly crooked teeth. "It's lucky she caught you when she did, for you were heading into Fabrizio's territory and that's not a good man to dicker with, he's a dark warlock. But I'll explain everything when my granddaughter Maria returns with your appetizers. I hope you like fried calamari and stories."
A/N: Okay, I made myself hungry writing this chapter! LOL! Who was surprised by how it turned out? Thanks so much for all your kind reviews and favorites, ect. I'm so glad you like my AU Gold family and baby Regina.