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''So is it true what Red told me the other day?''
''What did she tell you?'' asks Charming curiously to his wife.
''That you gave this wonderful speech so that people would stay within the area of the town line?''
''Yeah, now you mention it, I vaguely recall something like that happened…'' smirks Charming as he furrows his forehead, pretending to have to dig deep into his memories.
''Charming!'' grins Snow, ''why didn't you tell me? I love to hear these kind of things.''
''Because I don't like to brag about it.''
''I'm so proud of you.'' She presses a loving kiss against her husband's temple. ''And next time, you have to tell me, so that I can brag about the amazing husband I have to my friends,'' she smiles.
''In that case, I never tell you anything again,'' he teases, ''I don't think I can handle all the attention, especially the female-like-attention that I will draw with performing these heroic actions…''
''Charming, you're officially unbearable.''
''I know, and that's why you love me.''
''Don't be too sure about that!'' she comments kiddingly. ''Maybe I trade you in for someone who isn't so perfect.''
''You wouldn't…'''
''Wait and see Charming. Wait and see!''
The chirping sound of an incoming text message is the reason for Snow to drop the sheets she was changing and to run to her phone, followed closely by Charming.
He positions himself right behind her so that he can read over her shoulders, one hand placed assuring on her lower back.
Mary, we're in Manhattan, New York. Gold is sure that his son is here. Had some problems at customs at the airport, but Henry and I are fine. Call you tonight. Say hi to David. We both miss you but be back as soon as we can. Xox Emma
''Rumple's son is in New York?'' asks Charming unbelievably.
''I'm so glad that they're fine and that we're able to speak to them tonight,'' says Snow all excited, worrying more about the emotional aspects of the message than the practical things.
''Yes me too,'' smiles her husband as he gives her an encouraging squeeze in her hand. He glances a look at the watch on his wrist. ''I've to go to the hospital, my shift almost starts,'' he says. He presses an apologizing kiss on Snow's temple.
''I think I'll come with, it has been a few days that I visited Belle.''
''That would be nice,'' says her husband.
''Happy, how's he doing?'' asks Charming, nodding to Hook who is lying in the hospital bed.
''Dr Whale operated on him last night and apparently it went well. The doctor said he can wake up any minute now. ''
''Okay, thanks Happy for watching him. I really appreciate all of your help.''
''No problem,'' smiles the dwarf as he walks out of the hospital room.
Charming sits down on the same chair as Happy just sat on. He takes a magazine from the pile next to him and starts reading. The minutes are ticking away slowly, even though he has something to read. He sighs. He can imagine better things to do with his time than watching how Captain Hook is knocked out in a hospital bed. But he knows that it is the necessary thing to do. They can't afford the captain to escape and run back to Cora. That would be devastating. A sudden cough rising up from the bed startles the prince. He looks up from the magazine and sees that Hook's eyes are open, disoriented looking around.
He coughs another time. Then, his eyes focus on Charming. ''Prince Charming'', rasps the captain mockingly. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company at my bedside?''
''Get that smirk off your face,'' replies the prince. His blood is boiling. ''You know why I'm here.''
''Actually, I don't really. Where's that hot daughter of yours? Don't take it personal, but I really prefer her company over yours.''
''Don't say another word about my daughter.''
''She's a feisty one huh? Now I see where she gets that from.''
This was the proverbial last straw for the prince. He stands up and bends over the hospital bed. He raises his fist and lashes out, aimed directly at the face of the other man. ´´Don´t talk about her like that, EVER, you arrogant, lying bastard!´´ He lashes out once more.
´´CHARMING!´´ Snow runs into the hospital room when she sees her husband leaning over the bed, and she rushes to him.
The prince didn´t even hear his wife come in, as he keeps hitting Hook.
''CHARMING, STOP! STOP!'' she yells as she tries to pull her husband away.
It's only now that the prince realizes that his wife is trying to make him stop. Continuing hitting the captain he says: ''No, I can't Snow, this man hurt you. Hurt our daughter. He deserves this more than anyone.''
''Listen to me! He's not worth it! Please Charming, stop!'' Her small posture isn't strong enough to pull her husband away.
But her words finally have some sort of effect on the prince. His body relaxes and he steps back.
''Ahh sweet words from the missus and mister is as obedient as a dog,'' mocks Hook as he touches his face, measuring the damage.
Charming's fist raises up again.
The captain prepares himself for another hit.
''No, Charming, NO!'' cries Snow, determined this time. ''Shut up!'' she snaps at Hook.
The prince drops his fist.
''Where's Cora?'' Snow asks in a low voice.
''Who?'' smirks the captain.
''Where's Cora?'' she asks again, not going into the question.
''I've no idea who you're talking about.''
''Don't play games Hook, just tell us where she is.'' Snow takes the lead in the conversation while Charming is standing in a corner of the room, still filled with anger.
''Do I know someone named Cora? Well than my head injuries might be worse than I thought,'' he ponders out loud, with a worrying expression on his face. He tries to break loose, moving his arms and legs, but the straps of the bed retain him firmly.
''Oh no, you're not going anywhere,'' says Snow.
The innocent look of the captain turns malicious, giving away that all he's doing is putting up a show for the two royals. ''Where's that imp and his pet?!''
''You mean Rumplestiltskin and Belle?'' asks Snow, this time with the innocent face. ''They're far away. Crossed the border,'' she says lightly, partially telling the truth.
''You're lying.''
''No I'm not,'' she says looking straight into his eyes.
''Ah our visitor is awake I see?'' asks Dr Whale as he enters the room. He walks towards the man in the bed and performs some basic tests. As he sees the angry expression on Charming's face he suggests: ''Why don't you go home? It's fine, I can ask one of the male nurses to watch him.''
''Thanks Whale,'' answers Snow. She takes her husband's hand and leads him outside. ''What was that all about?!'' she asks him when they're outside hearing range of the doctor and captain. ''I've never seen you so mad before. You were out of control!''
''I know. I promise, it won't happened again.''
Snow frowns, waiting for more, but that's all her husband says. She is not completely satisfied with the answer, but decides to leave it for now.
Earlier that day at Logan Airport in Boston, Maine.
''Here are your tickets,'' says Gold when he hands two tickets to Emma.
''We're going to New York?!'' she cries as she reads the destination on the tickets.
''Yes we are.''
''Cool!'' says Henry.
''And how 're you planning to find your son in one of the world's biggest cities?'' Emma continues.
''That's where your help comes in. You're going to help me find him there.''
''You're crazy. That's impossible!''
Gold doesn't reply.
The group moves to the check-in desk and checks-in their suitcases. As they only have about 45 minutes before they can board at the gate, they continue to customs. There's a long queue at the passport- and idcard check.
The shop owner gets nervous sees Emma.
When it's finally their turn to show their id-cards, the man behind the desk looks suspicious from Gold back to the picture on the id-card. Then, he types in something on the computer in front of him. It seems like forever before he starts to speak. ''Sir, your details are not registered in this country, at least not that I can see here.'' He looks at his screen again. ''I'm afraid I've to ask you to follow me to the office Sir,'' he says to Gold.
''I won't do such thing!'' says Gold furious.
Emma feels that this is going the wrong way. She suddenly realizes that her sheriff's badge is still in the pocket of her jeans. She steps forward and shows the badge to the man behind the desk. She whispers: ''this man is with me, he's in the protective witness program and I'm flying him to New York where he will get assigned his new identity.'' She looks around as if she's afraid someone heard her.
Three tones, followed by a canned voice sounds through the airport: ''Ladies and Gentlemen, flight 1063, to JFK, New York, operated by United Airlines, is ready for boarding at gate 2.''
''I see,'' the man says to Emma. ''Can you and Mr Gold please follow me to my office, so that I can perform a final check?''
''Please sir, we're already late and we really have to catch our flight.'' Emma's begging puppy-eyes do the rest.
''Well for this one time I will let you go through, but…''
''Thank you so much!'' interrupts Emma with a big smile. ''I really appreciate your understanding.'' She quickly shows her and Henry's id-cards and pushes her son ahead. As soon as they all are at the gate she turns to Gold. ''So, magically creating an id-card but forgetting about registration?'' she hisses.
''Well I think you handled it all fine miss Swan.''
''If you were prepared better, nothing like this would've happened.''
Henry looks expectantly at Mr Gold's reaction, but there is none.
Later that evening, Emma and Henry are in their hotel room, which is next to Gold's. The hotel is conveniently located in downtown Manhattan and they're staying at the 38th floor.
Henry loves New York. When they were in the cab from the airport to the hotel, he was astounded by all the high buildings, countless lights and tremendous billboards. His nose was constantly glued to the window and when they passed Times Square his mouth fell open in amazement.
Now, he's looking outside the hotel room's window for almost an hour and constantly points at familiar buildings and sights he sees in the distance. ''Look mom, that's the Empire State Building!'' he cries. ''Oh and there, that's Central Park!''
Emma smiles and joins her son at the window to gaze at the city. ''It's beautiful isn't?''
''Yes it is.''
Emma ruffles his hair. ''Shall we call your grandparents?''
''Yes! Than I can tell them all about it!''
Emma dials Snow's number and gives her phone to Henry.
''Emma?!''
''Grams? It's Henry!''
''Henry, hi! Oh it's so wonderful to hear your voice! How're you?''
''We're in New York grams! It's amazing! We're staying at the 38th floor of an hotel and I saw the Empire State Building and Times Square and…'' Henry rattles on.
''That's sounds amazing Henry!'' Snow laughs out loud at the other end of the line.
''I wish you and gramps could be here to see it.''
''Me too Henry, me too.''
Emma is sitting on the bed looking at her son.
''Would you like to speak to mom as well grams?''
''Yes please. Speak to you later Henry, I love you.''
''Love you too grams, bye!'' Henry passes the phone to his mother.
''Mary? Hi, it's me.''
''Emma, how 're you?''
''I'm fine. How's everything in Storybrooke?''
''Hook woke up this afternoon, but refuses to tell where Cora is. We still have no idea.''
''That annoying son of a…'' Emma looks at Henry. ''Anyway, please tell me that there's some good news as well?''
''The only good news there is, is that Belle is slowly getting her memories back. Bits and pieces though, but still, it's a start.''
''That's great news!'' replies Emma.
''So tell me, what happened at the airport?''
Thank you all for reading! Please leave a review with your comments, suggestions etc. I promise I'll take every bit of feedback into account! :)