A/N: And finally, the ending of the story. This has been interesting and I'm very reluctant to finish it, but it must be done. Also, once again, in case if anyone forgot, in chapter 3, Gold and Regina were working on some unknown deal that ties in here. FYI, everyone, please check out, The Devil's Next Step by: Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki. Really, the entire series is fast becoming one of my favorites!
Pinching his brow in frustration, Mr. Gold did his best to keep his temper as the tiny infant squalled for hours upon hours. It had taken him four days to drive to Phoenix. In reality, it was only a two day drive, but he stopped for several long breaks in between to enjoy the scenery and it just wasn't time yet. He had scoffed when the nurse had said he was early. Quite the contrary, he was right on time. He had secretly hoped to see Emma, but as if on instinct, she turned her back to him and refused to see him. He could hear the newfound hardness in her voice, a far cry from the vulnerable, innocent girl that he had grown so fond of. She was an entirely different person now. He fought the urge to scoop her up in his arms, but even if he did so, she probably would've fought him off. She hated him, even though she thought she didn't know him.
He had only made a brief stop on his way back to Storybrooke to catch a few hours of sleep. Inside the motel, the little infant continued to scream. Indeed, from the moment he was taken from his mother and placed in his arms, the child hadn't stopped crying. In the last few hours, the child had barely eaten anything and had only dropped off to sleep once, probably from exhaustion. Obviously, the dislike and distrust carried from mother to son. Moving to the other side of the room, he couldn't help but feel slightly insulted that as the farther he moved away, the quieter the infant became.
When the infant finally quieted, a strange emotion ran through him, one that he hadn't felt since he lost Bae. With a shaking hand, he reached out towards the baby, frowning when he instantly yanked his hand away. Peering down at the little infant, he did his best to keep himself as cold and aloof as possible. This was Emma's son, not his. He had to remember that. He couldn't allow himself to become entangled in another attachment. If he did, he never would find Bae. Swallowing the cold lump in his throat, he turned his back on the child. While under his watch, he would see that the boy was never hurt and well cared for, but forever at a distance.
The drive back to Storybrooke had only been two days and thankfully, the child had dropped off to sleep. Brow furrowed in agitation, Mr. Gold just wanted this entire ordeal to be over with. He was so shaken by the sight of Emma and the small child in the backseat of the car that he felt the need to be rid of the child as soon as possible before he did something desperate. It was very late when he arrived back to Storybrooke, and he instantly headed straight for Regina's house. Parking on the sidewalk, he opened the door to allow the baby some fresh air as he gathered several items. The child had begun crying again, as if he knew his fate.
"Is that a baby back there?" he heard a soft voice behind him, and he flinched inwardly when he saw the gentle face of Mary Margaret peeking into the backseat of his car. Really, he just couldn't get away from the family at all.
"Yes, he's to be the Mayor's son. Whatever are you doing here at this time of night?" he asked her, trying to hide the growing fatigue in his voice.
"Couldn't sleep, so I was just out for a quick walk" she smiled warmly at him as her eyes averted back to the baby, "Oh, he's precious! May I hold him?"
He paused for a moment, but allowed to woman to hold the child. The infant gave a soft coo, but instantly stopped fussing, seeming content in her arms.
"Indeed he is. All children are, especially when they are so small" he smiled as a thought passed through his mind, "Ms. Blanchard, I seem to remember that you teach"
"Yes, I do. We're learning about mythology soon, and some fairytales" her face lit up as talked about her school children.
"Is that so" he said, pretending to take an interest, "Well, that's a coincidence. A while ago, I rented an apartment out to a girl who one day just up and left. She left a lot of stuff back at the apartment, and I believe I still have some of it"
"Ok?" Mary Margaret's brow furrowed in confusion as she continued to hug to the infant. "I think I remember who you're talking about, but the name escapes me"
"Of course" he said with a sly smile. The curse was very accurate at stealing even new, unwanted memories. "And well, she left this big book of stories. It was really unique and I just haven't been able to part with it. Now, if you'd like it, perhaps we can strike a deal"
"What's that?"
"My price is that you give it to your grandchild one day" he gave her another smirk, "It's truly one of those books that deserves to be passed down from generation to generation. Or, if you come across one of your students who you feel would actually appreciate it, I'm sure it would be a nice gift"
"I'd love it!" Mary Margaret's face lit up in another smile, "I used to love stories as a child!"
"I'm sure you did" with that he extended his hand, and watched as she reluctantly handed the baby back to him. Almost immediately, the little boy began crying again. "Stop by the shop tomorrow Ms. Blanchard, and I'll give you the book. It's called Once Upon a Time"
With a nod, she gave a wave and she was off, continuing her walk. He watched her go for a moment, his heart momentarily growing heavy with the bothersome human emotions. Pausing for a few minutes outside of the large home, he pulled out his phone and made the one call he wished he hadn't had to do.
"Gold!" came Regina's groggy voice on the side of the line, "What the fuck is your problem?"
"Now, now, language ma dear" he said as calmly as possible as he adjusted the child up in his free arm.
"It is nearly midnight!" Regina shouted into the phone, "You'd better have a good reason for this calling this late!"
The infant cried over him. "Oh, trust me dear, I think you'll be happy. After all, I seem to recall that we made a deal a while back"
The other side of the line was silent for a brief minute. "Are you serious?"
He rolled his eyes at the choked emotion in Regina's voice. "Why don't come down and say hello to your new son"
The lights in the large home flew on, and he glanced down at the child. The baby had begun screaming even louder, if that was possible. He closed his eyes and for a moment, he contemplated turning around and leaving with the infant. This child did nothing to end up with the life he was going to grow up in. Swallowing, he stared at down at the now suddenly quiet boy who was staring up at him.
"Where is he!" he heard Regina frantically crying, and he regained his composure. The baby began to cry again. "Give me my son!"
Front door swinging shut behind her, he couldn't help but smirk as the disheveled Mayor Mills scurried down the sidewalk towards him. Eyes glistening with unshed tears, she looked at the squalling and stretched out her hands to take him in her arms. Gold's hand held onto the infant just a little bit longer than he should have, but Regina didn't seem to notice as she stared at the little miracle in her arms.
"Hi baby" Regina crooned down at the baby in her arms, her lips stretching in a rare smile as the baby momentarily stopped crying to stare up at her, "Hi there. I'm your mommy"
'No' he thought with a frown, 'He's Emma's. He'll never be yours'
"I do hate to part this tender moment, but he is not yours" Gold said with a click of his cane, earning a thunderous look from Regina, "Not yet, legally. There is still some more paper work to file. Give it two to three weeks, and he'll be all yours"
Regina's eyes narrowed as she pulled the baby closer to her, her eyes once again glazing over frostily. Pulling herself up to her full height, she was once again the menacing Mayor of Storybrooke, despite being in a silver bathrobe and her hair is a disarray.
Craning her long neck towards Gold in a scowl, her voice was threating and sharp. "He is my son. And no one is going to take him from me, do you understand?"
Lip curled up in a half smile, Gold matched her a sneer of his own. "As you wish, Madam Mayor"
Giving on last look at the boy in her arms, Mr. Gold turned his back on the pair. He gave a slight chuckle as he heard Regina coo at the baby in her arms.
"Yes, I'm your mommy…Henry"
With a slight shake of his head, he turned and continued down towards his car. Yes, Henry indeed.
The loud screeching noise hurts my ears as the door open. Fumbling the large yellow envelope in my hand, there is just enough in the check for me to get back on my feet again. I am being released nearly a month early. For good behavior, or so they say. Also, I was given a lot of extra privileges here as well, such as having a job of sorts, which allowed saving up even more extra money for a bus trip out of here. Another benefit of good behavior. There was a rumor that I had a benefactor of sorts, or someone who had taken pity on me. They wouldn't tell me who, or where they had heard it from.
"Maybe it's that baby daddy of yours" one of the girls had said sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes at the thought. Whatever. Whoever he is, he hasn't made any attempt to try and contact me and I am fine with that. I do not care how I came to the extra privileges, but they had been my saving grace regardless. During my last few days at the prison, I was allowed to do some research and ironically, I have managed to impress the Headmaster here, or whatever the boss here calls himself. I have been accepted into a school for criminal justice and I will have a paid internship. As a security guard. Translation: Patrolling. I just can't seem to get away from it. I did it my last year at the Orphanage. I used to patrol around a hospital and-
-and my mind draws a blank. Frowning, I scoop up a new book bag with the few clothes and items and I had in the trunk of the stolen car. Luckily, my baby blanket is still intact. I have lost the book Ms. Jenna had given me so long ago. There's not a thing in the world I can do about it though. I am alone in this and that is fine. There isn't anything I can't handle. Grabbing the clipboard in the office, I sign my release papers. Glancing at the clock, I hurry out the door, desperate to get out.
Squinting in the sun light, I inhale a deep breath of air, relishing in the idea of being free. Opening my eyes, I spot the large greyhound bus at the end of the road. The bus that'll take me to my new destination; Tallahassee. I won't go back to Boston if I can help it. Staring off towards the north, a strange longing fills me. Boston was never my home. I still have to search for a place to call home. Still, something about the north was calling to me. I know my son was taken to around that area. Heart clenching into a fist, I refuse to allow myself to think about. Or about that repulsive man who had the audacity to come early to take my baby from me.
"Emma" A thin voice whispers in my head. There is a sudden gust of air that bursts pasts me rustling fallen leaves into the northern direction. It is strong enough that it pushes me forward a few inches. Insides running cold, I swallow as I turn away and walk towards the bus.
"Emma" Gold thought to himself as he vigorously polished the lamp in his back office. The girl was finally on the move again. Pausing for a moment, he gathered his thoughts, smirking before he returned his attention back to the lamp. She was going to try to run.
"That's right, little dearie" he said with another knowing smirk, "Run"
To be continued