5
High on Eagle's Wings
They came flying from far away, now I'm under their spell
I love hearing the stories that they tell
They've seen places beyond my land and they've found new horizons
They speak strangely but I understand
And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze….
Abba – Eagle
Carina awoke around 2AM for her feeding and diaper change. Rumple offered to care for her himself so that Belle could get some much needed rest and took the baby out into the living room. Belle was so excited over the prospect of seeing the city as a different species that it was difficult for her to fall asleep at first. Just as Carina drifted off the front door opened and Archie walked in. The baby awoke again, crying in protest.
"Oh darn!" Archie cried. "Rumple, I'm so sorry!"
The sorcerer giggled. "Keeping late hours aren't you, cricket?"
"Well…ummmm….we were having a wonderful time….but nothing like that!" Archie added quickly.
"Of course not. You've just started dating and you're the type who would rather wait for marriage."
The therapist flinched. "How did you know…never mind. You're a Seer."
"It's not just that. I was the same way, dearie, My first wife, however, was not as pure as the snow." Rumple shifted Carina to his other shoulder and patted her back gently. "There dearie, now you can go back to sleep. It's just Uncle Archie."
"Sharon said she's going to drop the blanket off tomorrow before we go to lunch. Belle's going to love it."
"I'm sure she will. Better get some rest. You have a busy day too."
"Right. Good night, Rumple."
Rumple returned to his own bedroom an hour later, unsure how long he was asleep before he felt Belle shaking his shoulder.
"Rumple, Rumple, wake up!" she cried excitedly. "Do you remember what today is?"
He smirked. "Ahhh….Christmas?"
"No."
"New Years?"
"No."
"Your birthday?"
"Oh, you imp!" she cried, swatting him with the pillow playfully.
He giggled. "Maybe it's National Beat Up Your Husband Day," he teased.
"Maybe..." She swatted him again. "A little slow aren't you? Our children need to teach you how to pillow fight properly, Rumplestiltskin!"
"I didn't have pillows growing up," he returned spiritedly. "Or anyone to fight with." Then he took his pillow and whacked her with it.
"Ohhh...you think you're gonna beat me? Let's make a deal, dearie!" she countered with a grin.
"What kind of deal?" he asked, his eyes sparkling irresistibly.
"If I win I get breakfast in bed for a month."
"Three weeks," he countered.
"You drive a hard bargain."
"Are you going to make me say it?" he smirked.
"Say what?" she asked innocently.
"My trademark."
"Then say it," She leaned forward.
"Do we have a deal, Mrs. Gold?" he purred his lips almost touching hers.
"Hmm...three weeks...I was hoping for a month at least..."
"Three weeks is better than none. And I have Carina to care for also while you eat," he reminded her.
"Oh damn! I forgot about that. Three weeks it is then. Shall we seal the deal with a handshake?" she teased, holding out her hand.
He looked at her, then shook his head. "No. Let's seal it with a kiss." Then he kissed her, long and deeply, affirming not only the deal but also that she held his heart in her keeping, and always would.
"You read my mind," she murmured."
"Well . . . I AM a wizard, dearie," he murmured.
"Speaking of that...I can't wait for our tour of the city today."
"And we'll be doing it right after breakfast. Bae said he'd come over and watch his sister while we fly."
"Wonderful!"
"And now . . . let's resume our splendid little war!" he cackled and hit her in the head with his pillow.
"Better beware darling, I'm dangerous with this!" she warned.
He put a hand over his heart. "Oh dearie me! I'm so scared!"
"Better be!" she cooed, hitting him in the stomach.
"Oh no! I'm mortally wounded!" He clutched himself, smirking.
"Do you need a little nursing?"
"Maybe," he purred. "Depends on the nurse."
"Oh does it? And what nurse do you have in mind?"
"Oh . . . one with auburn hair the color of the embers of a fire and eyes the indigo of the sky at twilight . . .who's sassy and smart and makes my heart skip a beat. Know anyone like that?" He was still curled up on the bed.
She lay down beside him. "Maybe...if this means I've won," she murmured.
"Now . . . did I say that?" he queried, then he smacked her on the chest with the pillow he concealed behind his back.
"You...you sneak! I'll get you for that!" she cried and reached under his armpit to tickle his ribs.
"All's fair in love and war!" he shot back, then he started laughing. "Except that!"
"Drop the pillow or you get it...everywhere!" she threatened.
He rolled off the bed. "Not listening! Gotta catch me, my clever beauty!"
"Oh don't you underestimate me, dearie! I will get you!" She jumped off the bed and hurried after him.
He limped around the chest at the foot of the bed, singing, "Nyah nyah nyah!" He was having a glorious time, it was almost like being a kid again, with the childhood he'd never had.
Belle threw her pillow at him. "Two points for Belle!"
Rumple picked up a small pillow from off the chaise lounge and fired it back at her. "And two for me! We're even!"
"With that little dud? You need to do better!" she sang and grabbed another, larger pillow, throwing it at him. "Four points!"
Running out of pillows, Rumple summoned some from off the bed. Then he threw the biggest one at her. "Five!" he snickered.
"Cheater cheater pumpkin eater!" Belle taunted, sticking her tongue out.
"I'm no cheat!" he mock-growled. "Cheating would be throwing Big Bertha at you!" he indicated the bolster on the lounge.
"Not if I get to her first!"
Rumple planted himself on the chaise. "C'mon then! Try and storm the castle!"
"Ready or not here I come!" She rushed at him and tackled him.
But he was ready for her and wrapped his arms about her as he fell backwards, his skillful hands tickling her.
"Oh no, I AM NOT giving up that easily!"
"Surrender, dearie!" he hooted, and smacked her with a pillow.
"Never!" she giggled, grabbing Big Bertha.
Seeing her take out the big guns, he wriggled out from under her and limped towards the safety of the bed, his army of pillows trailing him like schoolchildren.
She threw Bertha and struck him in the backside.
"Rear shot! Ten points!"
"Sassy minx!" he mock-growled. "You just like looking at my butt!"
He half-spun around, a pretend scowl on his face, his eyes dancing with mischief, when the bedroom door opened and Archie and Bae came in, with Bae calling, "Papa, did you oversleep?"
His eyes bugged out.
Archie stood in the doorway his mouth agape.
"What are you DOING?" Bae gasped.
Pillows were everywhere and it looked like a cyclone had come and torn the bed apart.
"Umm . . .. exercising," Rumple said lamely, his hand still clutching the pillow he'd grabbed from the bed.
"Ummm...forgive me for being blunt...but that doesn't look like exercise to me..." Archie mumbled.
Rumple felt his ears burn. Then he said doggedly, "It's . . . err . . . a new routine . . .something I learned . . ." He looked over at Belle and mouthed "Help me!"
"On Facebook!" Belle added quickly.
Bae looked skeptical.
"It's from ancient Rome, " Rumple babbled. "The Emperor's physician recommended ten minutes of . . . err . . . running about your bed while your partner tries to . . . err . . . impede you. Promotes good evasion and tactical skills and gets your blood moving. You know those Romans!"
"Oh yes, very energetic," Belle giggled.
Bae's mouth dropped open. "I can't . . . Papa, my God!"
Rumple shook a finger at him. "Get your mind out of the sewer, Baelfire! It's not what you think!"
"Isn't it?" Archie asked with a grin.
"You've got a baby!" Bae sputtered.
"So? What's that supposed to mean? We're dried up old prunes now?" Rumple countered.
"Rumple! Really!" Belle giggled.
"Actually being playful once in a while is good for a marriage," Archie said.
Bae flushed. "Well, excuse me for crashing the toga party," he muttered. "I think I'll go watch cartoons with Henry."
"I...I think I'll call Sharon and tell her to wait a bit before she comes over." Archie laughed. "She's dropping off your blanket for Carina."
"Hmm . . . maybe we ought to get dressed," Rumple coughed.
"Yes but I think we scarred our son for life."
"Oh, he'll get over it!" Rumple waved a hand. "But it's a good thing I put on a pair of pants!" he giggled wickedly.
"But you won't be wearing them later. I won, remember."
He arched an eyebrow. "Your deal was breakfast in bed-not the Naked Chef Accompaniment!"
"Can't I have both just once?"
"We-e-ll . . ." he drawled. "What do I get in return?"
"How about a massage on those days when your leg aches the most?"
"Deal!" he agreed quickly.
He'd agree to parade naked down Broadway for one of Belle's massages.
Then he added, "And don't worry about your clothes-when we shift the clothes do also, you won't tear them like the Hulk."
"Or live up to the phrase naked as a jaybird!"
"Yes," he grinned, pulling on a T-shirt. Rumple pulled on some jeans and added a blue plaid button down to his T-shirt in case it was chilly. He also chose his sneakers instead of his Gucci loafers today.
When they joined the others in the kitchen they were all grinning like Cheshire cats.
"Sooo who won?" Bae asked his father.
"Your mama did," his father admitted. Then he added, "Because I'm a gentleman."
"What's the reward or shouldn't I ask?"
"I wouldn't ask," Archie said.
"Breakfast in bed for three weeks," Rumple replied nonchalantly.
Bae smiled wistfully. "I miss that..."
"Miss having it or making it?" Rumple queried softly.
"Both but I wasn't a good cook at first."
"They allowed you to cook? I thought you guys had servants over there," Henry asked.
"Sometimes we liked to do things for ourselves."
"Dad used to say he could cook three things when he got married-tea, toast, and microwave pizza," Rhee announced. "But he's gotten better."
"I had to or you would have every illness known to man that comes from a poor diet."
"He makes the best ham and bean soup," Rhee said loyally.
"I taught him that," Rumple said.
"Yup. And your mama taught me how to make cock-a-leekie soup," Bae recalled nostalgically.
"That sounds good for dinner tonight. We'll be tired after our trip" Belle said.
"I'll have to buy some chicken and leeks then," Bae said affably. "And at least I don't have to pluck or kill the chicken!"
"I can make biscuits," Rhee said. "The Pillsbury kind."
"I can't even make those," Henry admitted. "Mom always baked."
"I can help out too. I know how to bake a cake," Archie chuckled.
"What kind?" Rhee asked.
"In this house, dearie, you'd better hope it's chocolate," her grandpa said.
"With the new Godiva chocolate powder," Belle added.
"You can decide after breakfast," Rumple said, and then asked, "Now-who wants waffles? Buttermilk, cinnamon, or blueberry?"
"Cinnamon!" Henry exclaimed
Archie and Henry were shocked by how much food the sorcerer prepared for their breakfast, a feast fit for a small army.
There were two kinds of waffles, cinnamon and blueberry, cut up bananas and slivered almonds and maple syrup or honey to go on the waffles, bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese.
"Just a piece of advice. If you go away from Papa's table hungry...it's your fault," Bae said.
"As God is my witness," Rumple began, holding a spatula up in the air. "No one will ever go hungry in this house again!"
"You reminded me a bit of Sharon with that. She's a Virginia lady and loves Gone With The Wind," Archie smiled.
"Papa loves that movie too-he made me watch it with him one night."
"So do I but I identify more with Melanie than Scarlet," Belle added.
"So does Sharon...she and I spent nearly two hours talking about why Melanie was the heroine of the book than Scarlet," Archie chuckled. "It was...enlightening."
"And Rhett was the hero-the black sheep turned family man," Rumple interjected. He had always liked Rhett's character-the man said what he thought and did what he said-a man of his word, even if his principles were a bit shady. And he loved whole heartedly.
Then he sat down to eat his own breakfast, feeding Carina some spoonfuls of peaches and oatmeal baby cereal, most of which she ended up wearing. "Oh well, some of it got where it was supposed to, right, pretty baby?"
"Maybe she doesn't like the taste," surmised Henry. "She keeps spitting it out."
"No, she's not spitting," Rumple corrected. "Trust me. I'D be wearing it if she was. It's just that she doesn't know how to eat solid food all that well yet."
"Oh I ended up wearing a lot of my meals...didn't I Papa?" He grinned. "Some of them...I wasted in a naughty way."
Rhee's eyes were alight with curiosity. "What'd you do, Dad? No wonder Grandpa's got gray hair!"
"Well there was one time when he made lima beans...and I HATE lima beans."
"That was all that was available at the market that week," Rumple began defensively. "So I made some with some noodles. With butter."
"He tried to make them good...tried but to me they were so gross. I was four and I threw them at him!"
Henry's eyes went wide. "I threw spaghetti at my mom once because I didn't like the sauce she made. Did you get in trouble?"
"Well, Bae?" Rumple prompted.
"Umm...yeah..." He looked away guiltily.
"For wasting food, right?" Rhee guessed. "Cause you always tell me there are kids starving in India."
"And Asia," Henry added. "Were there kids starving in Fairy Tale Land too?"
Rumple coughed. "Lad, WE were the ones starving a lot of the time so, yes."
"And he laid the worst guilt trip on me ever!"
"Didja have to clean the floor? Mom made me do that." Henry recalled. "And when I said no she said either you clean the floor or get spanked and well . . . I cleaned the floor."
"That's why our floors were so clean we could eat off them," Bae boasted.
Rumple rolled his eyes. "You forgot to mention how many times I made you redo the floor, Baelfire."
"Aww you just have OCD!"
"No, I just had a fear of getting sick and not being able to make you well. And while I do hate dirt, I also had a kid that liked making messes. How many times did I scold you for forgetting to wipe your feet?"
"Plenty...and there were a few times I tracked more than mud in."
"Thanks Dad, I really wanted to think about that at breakfast," Rhee groaned.
"I used to make him take his boots off finally," Rumple told her. "Saved me from washing the floor a dozen times a day. Except for the time he let the chicken loose in the house . . ."
Rhee gaped at her parent. "Dad, you didn't! You used to yell at me if I brought fireflies in the apartment!"
"I'll bet that was a mess!" Henry predicted.
"Oh it was, believe me." Rumple sighed. "We didn't have much but what we did have was a wreck. By the time I caught the silly bird, there were feathers everywhere, broken things, and the chicken wasn't housebroken either so . . ."
Carina blew a raspberry.
"That's right, dearie. It was a MESS!"
Rumple shook his head. "And the chicken bit and scratched me too. If we didn't need her to lay, I'd have cooked her."
"Dad, that was really-" Rhee began.
"Really what?"
"Stupid," his daughter said. "If I'd ever done that and wrecked your studio, you'd have paddled my butt."
"My parents paddled mine when I brought a dog back to our wagon," Archie reminisced.
"Why? Did it make a mess?" Henry asked.
"They just didn't want me to have a pet...or friends. They just wanted me to steal."
Rumple winced. "Hmm. I know what that's like." Then he said, "After cleaning up the wreck in the cottage, I was too tired to give him a proper spanking, so he only got three swats and no supper. And the no supper was mostly because by the time everything was clean I was too tired to cook anything. I ended up eating bread and butter and tea."
"Didn't you help?" Rhee asked Bae.
"Of course I did. And I went as slow as possible, hoping he'd forget paddling me by the time we were done. But he didn't."
"I'm learning now that I'm a mother that we're like elephants...we never forget," Bella giggled.
"You'd better believe it, dearie. Always do what you say-and never say what you won't do. Or else your kids walk all over you." Rumple said sagely.
"Let that be a reminder to you, Rhee," Bae warned playfully. He pointed to his eyes and then at her.
"Yeah I know-you've got eyes in the back of your head and X-ray vision like Superman. And you can read minds like Professor X."
"Don't knock it, young lady I've caught you in a fib or two."
"Only cause you probably lied better than me when you were a kid."
"Oh no I didn't!"
"He knew better. Because any punishment he got was doubled if I found out he lied to me."
Then he looked at Archie. "And nobody can spot a liar as well as the son of con artists, right, Archie?"
"Yes...and I always knew when you were, Henry."
"Papa, you had radar or something. I swear you knew when I was gonna lie before I even opened my mouth."
"That's because you always had guilty tells, Bae. You'd look at the floor, you'd shuffle your feet, and that was when I knew."
Belle stood up and started gathering up the dishes.
Carina reached out while she was picking up her saucer and teacup and turned them to chocolate.
"Little minx!" Rumple shook his head. Then he waved his hand and turned it back. "You've got enough chocolate, imp!"
She screamed in protest.
"Never you mind, young lady. Papa said no," he told her, softly but firmly.
She screamed louder.
Henry winced. "I think I'm gonna go deaf!"
Rhee covered her ears.
Bae looked at his screaming sister. "Hey, baby sister. That doesn't work on him. Believe me, I know. Been there and done that."
The refrigerator door opened and a piece of chocolate cream pie flew out, striking Rumple in the face.
"What the-!" he cried through a mouthful of chocolate cream.
"Carina!" Belle gasped.
The baby wore a familiar smirk on her lips.
Rumple wiped his face, then he said, clearly and sternly, "Carina Gold, I'm very disappointed in you. You don't throw things at me!" And he gave her one of his famous Looks.
Bae winced. He'd always hated that Look as a child. And he still did.
Carina whimpered.
Rumple shook a finger at her. "You can't have everything you want, dearie. No means no. But if you want to scream yourself hoarse go ahead." Then he folded his arms over his chest and looked away from her.
She opened her mouth to scream again then closed it.
Rumple winked at the others. "See? Even at this age, she can learn."
"I sure as hell did," Bae muttered.
He turned back, wearing his Unhappy Face. "No more tantrums, Carina. They make Papa sad. Understand?"
She held out her arms for him, her eyes pleading.
"Are you going to be good?"
She gave a slight nod of her head.
"All right. Then I forgive you." He went and picked her up, kissing her forehead.
"There now Papa forgives you, sweetie," Belle said softly.
Carina cuddled up to Rumple, then she licked a small amount of chocolate off his cheek he'd not noticed. "Mmmm!"
Rumple burst out laughing. "Oh dearie me-I'll never be bored with you, will I?"
"Bae, I hope you're prepared for her. She can be a handful when she wants to be."
"Mama, I have the original hair-pulling breath stealing tantrum maker right here," he answered with a playful poke at his daughter. "So I can handle her."
Rhee glared at him. "Thanks, Dad! I wasn't that bad."
"Oohh, I beg to differ, honey," he smirked at her. "You don't remember when you were two, little miss, but I do. I remember very well!" He fingered her lock of white hair. "We used to call you Wreck It Rhee."
"Dad, you're losing it!"
"You wish!"
"And YOU'RE lucky I wasn't around to tell your wife what YOU were like as a child," Rumple snickered diabolically.
"I thank God everyday, Papa, for small mercies!" Bae shot back.
"But I wanna know!" Rhee cried.
"Oh no. You can learn those stories when you're eighteen," her father disagreed.
"Bae, can Rhee go with us to the city?" Henry wanted to know.
"If you want," Bae said, knowing how much Henry would want someone his own age there.
August, Donna, and Stephen spent most of the morning talking with Gepetto on Skype. The Enchanted Forest couple was amazed that they could see and speak to their son though he was thousands of miles away. It was still strange for all of them that there was now a major age difference between the couple and their son but Gepetto was thrilled to have his parents back, he no longer cared that they were now younger than him. He planned on flying to New York to be with his family the next day.
"Bae, you can be our tour guide. It's been a while since I've been to the Big Apple," August joked.
"Hey, maybe being here will inspire you to write again," Henry suggested.
"It might."
"I'm always finding inspiration for my work during my travels," Bae added. "I want Rhee to see as much of this world as possible. She'd like to see ours but you wouldn't want to live there, swanmay."
"Having seen what your world has to offer, we agree with you." Donna laughed.
Rhee and Henry helped Belle clean up the kitchen while Rumple changed Carina, grateful that he didn't have to leave a mile-long list of things for Bae to do while he was gone as he would have if they'd hired a sitter. He also left his son with a potion that could counteract any chocolatey transformation spells his daughter might cast.
"Ready to go, sweetheart?" he asked his wife.
"More than ready."
The others sat still, curious to see what their friends would look like in their new forms.
Rumple waved his hand and he and his wife were enveloped in a cloud of white smoke. Seconds later two bald eagles with white heads, yellow beaks, and chocolate colored bodies were perched on the arm of the sofa. One of them had its eyes narrowed to slits. Bae laughed.
"Damn, Papa! Your Look is even more scary as a bird!"
"Smartass!" Rumple called out, his voice actually sounding softer than they were all used to hearing in movies, more like whistles.
"Whoa! You guys really don't sound that loud!" Henry exclaimed. Rumple concentrated and cast another spell to allow them to talk as humans temporarily.
"That's because we don't." Belle replied in her human voice. "What you heard are the true sounds an eagle makes…the movies actually dub over an eagle's call with those of red tailed hawks."
"I actually prefer their natural sounds," Archie said.
"Most animal lovers do," Rumple said. "But this world is great at exaggerating things and since the bald eagle is our national bird, they think it has to sound stronger by using another bird's call."
"Have a good time guys and maybe we'll see you around the city."
"You'll see us. Bae, would you open the window please?"
Rumple cast another spell, returning their voices to those of the bald eagles and the couple took flight, ready to begin their adventure in the city.
Rumple flicked his wings and caught an updraft, riding the wind in a lazy spiral above the city streets. People were already rushing to and fro below him, walking or hopping into taxis and buses, none of them looking up to spot the pair of eagles gliding.
For a few minutes he flew in no particular pattern, getting used to the freedom of flying again. He glanced at his mate, and asked, "Are you all right, sweetheart? Getting used to the wings?"
"Yes! This is amazing! They all look like ants down there!"
"I know. And nobody looks up to see us," he said with a slight evil chuckle. "Come on, do you want to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?"
"Of course!"
"Follow me!" he urged and then he took off, screeching in joy as he did so.
At the sound, several schoolchildren looked up and spotted him.
"An eagle!"
"I see an eagle!"
"That ain't just any eagle! It's a bald eagle!"
"There's two of them! See!"
"Wow! Two bald eagles!" one gasped.
"One's a girl," stated a child with brown hair and glasses.
"How'd you know?"
"Cause if they're a pair, they're mates."
"Yeah but the other one could be a boy ya know!"
"That's what I said. Mates means a boy AND a girl!" she rolled her eyes. "Like they got married."
"I'm taking a picture cause my dad likes bald eagles!" Another girl took out her digital camera.
"Cool! Do they got babies?"
"Eaglets? I dunno. Maybe they got a nest near here."
The children ran over to their teacher, all of them talking at once and pointing to the sky.
"Missus Claar, look! Bald eagles!"
"Rumple, we have an audience," Belle chirped.
Rumple looked down and saw the excited group of children and deliberately flew several feet lower so the kids could get a good look at him.
As he cruised along, he plucked a single feather from his breast and let it fall.
"Show off!" Belle said affectionately, then she followed his example.
The children scrambled to collect the prize. "Now now, no fighting. We can frame them and put them in the classroom" Mrs. Claar said softly.
"They're heading to the harbor," the girl with glasses pointed out. She waved. "Bye, eagles!"
Rumple screed at her in farewell, then circled and flew towards New York Harbor, where the ferry was already running and ships cargoes being unloaded, while Lady Liberty stood sentry over it all.
"Race you!" he challenged, then soared away on an updraft.
The exhilaration of flight and riding the wind filled him again and he flew with an abandon he hadn't indulged in in ages.
"First one there gets a massage when we get home!" Belle called out.
"You're on, dearie!" he cawed, then he increased his speed.
Belle did the same, flying toward the tablet the statue was holding, excited to be able to read the writing close-up.
Rumple was flying somewhere close to fifty miles an hour, using the wind to propel him. He could see the green coppery tinge of the statue as he drew near, and aimed for the lady's torch to perch on.
The torch was not lit yet, as it was only done at preset times.
He dove, the wind screaming in his ears, a brown and white blur, until he snapped his wings open and landed on one foot on the torch, preening himself proudly.
Belle looked up and screeched with laughter. "Showing off again?"
He flipped his wings insouciantly "Why not? Give the locals a show they can tell their grandkids about."
The stone felt cold and slick under his talons, but he was in no danger of losing his grip.
Some of the tourists on the ground and in the statue paused at the astounding sight. One woman swatted her husband. "Don't just stand there...get a picture!"
"Cool, that one down there looks like it's reading the thing she's holding!" cried a little boy, pointing.
"The eagle-it's perched on the TORCH!" one excited woman yelled. "Oh how beautiful!" she looked about to swoon.
Yeah, he's that, all right, Belle thought in amusement.
More people coming over on a ferry crowded against the rail pointing and whispering and snapping pictures with their phones at the majestic sight of the national bird sitting on the Statue of Liberty.
Some people were crying, they were so moved by the sight of the proud raptor sitting so alertly on top of the symbol of liberty and justice for all.
"You show em!" yelled a disabled Vietnam veteran. "We're America the home of the brave!"
"I wish we'd seen something like this after September 11th," confessed a young woman who'd been in the second tower of the World Trade Center prior to its collapse.
Rumple swiveled his head and looked directly at the people.
"Rumple...some of them are crying..." Belle murmured.
Among the spectators was an up and coming writer for the New York Post. "I'm gonna get a Pulitzer for this!" he exclaimed and started typing notes on his phone.
"Well, we are the national bird, perched on the national symbol for hope and freedom." he answered.
Belle was perched on the book in Lady Liberty's hand, and she twisted her head to read the writing.
"July 4th 1776," she read.
She knew from her reading at home that this was all she would see, the other inscription was on the tablet hanging inside the statue's pedestal.
"Look! Look! The eagle's reading!" someone cried excitedly.
"What are ya, nuts? Birds can't read!"
"That one can!"
"Ah you're full of it."
"No m'not!"
Social media servers were being flooded with posts about sightings of two of the national birds at the Statue of Liberty.
People got even more excited when Belle swooped down near the base to read the inscription.
"See? See! I toldja! It's READING!"
Texts flew about the miraculous "reading eagle", even while some stalwarts insisted the eagle was looking for food.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." Belle recited.
Rumple thought they could have used a sentiment like that back in his old realm, where people had been oppressed and lived in terror of the Evil Queen and her henchmen. It was ironic, really, that Regina, who had done so much more to persecute and harm people than he would have ever dreamed of, was accepted back in Storybrooke, while he was still spit upon, rejected, and outcast.
Then he lifted his head proudly, reminding himself that he did not have to be what others defined him as. Indeed, he was no longer what they all thought him, and he lived among those who appreciated him, even if they didn't know everything he did to protect them.
He had what he had always longed for-his family, and that was more than enough.
Several children tried to approach Belle. "Can we pet it?" they asked their mother.
"Kids, that's a wild animal. It could bite you," she warned, though she longed to touch the glossy feathers of the gorgeous bird.
"Awwww!"
Belle plucked several of her feathers and let them fall at the feet of the mother and her children.
"Look, Mommy! She's giving us a present!" one little boy cried.
He knelt to pick up the feathers.
His smaller sister toddled over. "Nice birdie!" she lisped.
"Arya, don't!" her sibling called.
The little girl had her chubby hand extended, with a cracker in it. "Here, birdie!"
Everyone froze waiting to see what the bird would do.
The mother was petrified, as the eagle was almost as large as the child, with a massive beak.
Belle leaned forward and took the cracker in her beak, careful not to harm the child as she did so.
A collective gasp went up from those watching.
Arya giggled and said, "Mommy, birdie hungry!"
Then her small hand brushed the white feathers on Belle's head.
Belle happily chewed on her cracker while the child patted her head gently.
She could almost hear her husband asking her who was showing off now.
Atop the torch, Rumple shook silently with laughter.
Oh dearie me, the press will have a field day with this one!
Arya's mother fumbled in her pocket for her phone and recorded a brief video of her baby petting the bald eagle.
Afterwards, however, her maternal instinct went into hyperdrive and she picked up her child and whispered, "Thank you!"
Belle nodded and then flew back up to the top of the statue, amid sighs from onlookers.
"That little girl was adorable, reminded me of Carina."
"I know. I'm sure our little girl will be doing all kinds of daredevil stunts at that age too," her husband remarked, and began to preen her feathers.
A chorus of "awws" echoed through the air.
"I wonder if Bae and the others have heard about all this," Belle giggled.
"Oh, I'm sure we're on the news," he said. "At least we'll make the evening edition of the paper."
Bae nearly dropped the bottle of water he was holding when he turned on the television to play a movie for Carina. The station was set to CNN as if often was for Rumple and he was shocked to find several videos taken at the Statue of Liberty starring his parents being shown.
The reporter was on the phone with an ornithologist who was unable to explain the phenomenon.
"Look, baby sister, it's Papa and Mama!" he crooned to Carina, who waved her hands.
"...And you said one of the birds was reported to have been reading?"
Bae almost collapsed on the floor, laughing. "Mama, OMG!"
The video switched to Belle at the base of the statue reading the plaque and giving a gift of feathers to a family.
Bae pointed at the TV and said, "See, Carina, it's Mama!"
The baby looked at him like he was insane.
Then the feed switched to Rumple perched on the torch.
Bae was taking a drink and spit it out laughing.
Bae grinned. "And there's Papa! Goodness gracious great balls of fire!"
Carina gave him another Look.
Her brother laughed. "I know-you're saying what the hell has HE been smoking?"
Just then the phone rang.
"Hello, Gold residence."
"Bae are you watching the news? Your parents are the top story!" Archie exclaimed.
"I know. I couldn't believe it when I turned on the TV."
"Sharon dragged me down here to the Statue to see it!"
"Leave it to my parents to get on TV!"
Then he heard his cellphone beep with a message.
"Hold on, I got a message on my cell. I'll put you on speaker." He pressed a button and then picked up his mobile.
Dad, Gramma and Grandpa are really putting a show down here!
Yeah, they're on the news already, swanmay. How many people are there?
"I got a text from Rhee."
"I'm sure they all came down here as soon as they heard about it. People everywhere are taking videos and pictures!"
"Well, Papa's always been fond of an audience," his son smirked. "And for once it's because he's just being and not doing."
Grandpa is sitting on the torch like he owns the world...it's funny!
Your grandpa has always had a good sense of humor.
"Sharon thinks they're shapeshifters," Archie chuckled.
"Well, she'd be right. They are."
"Yeah...makes telling her who we are a bit easier. Oh my...public displays of affection too! Hold on..." Bae could hear laughing as Archie held the phone away from his mouth.
"Get a room!" he catcalled.
"Tell that to your parents! They're playing with their feathers!"
"What?!"
"Ask Rhee if she got a shot of it."
Rhee, what else are your grandparents doing now? Are you recording it?
Yeah...they're preening each other's feathers and the crowds are loving it.
Bae groaned. "Lovebirds! Heaven help me!"
"They could do this all day!"
"But if know Papa, he's got a schedule," Bae said.
"I'll talk to you later...I recorded a few things when I got here and I'm sure Rhee has some of her own."
"Okay, have fun!"
I'll see ya later Dad...gonna see what else they do.
Bye, Rhee. Love ya!
Carina looked up at him, puzzled.
"They're gonna be home soon, ladybug. Meantime, how about we watch some Jungle Book?"
She squealed with delight. It was one of her favorites.
He popped the DVD into the player.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
"...Do you think we should be going now?" Belle asked.
"Yes, if you want to see the Empire State Building, dearie."
"Oh I do!"
"Well, then, let's bid arrivaderci to our fans," he said and spread his wings and launched off the torch.
He flew one lazy loop around the statue, emitting the piercing whistle of the eagle.
Several people cheered and one vet saluted, saying, "Now there's the battlecry of freedom!"
"I think we're a hit," Belle laughed.
"You'd better believe it. And I think we've driven the environmentalists crazy," her husband said, then they flew off to the Empire State Building.
Given the reception they'd drawn at the statue; they were sure to get a crowd here as well.
As predicted there were crowds already atop the roof of one of the biggest attractions in Manhattan, all pointing and whispering as they came into view.
Because of this, Rumple deemed it safer to do flybys and not risk someone trying to touch one of them and falling over the guard rail.
"Look! Those are the eagles that were at the Statue of Liberty!" one woman exclaimed and pointed her phone in their direction.
"Maybe they're doing a tour, hon!" her husband cried.
"Daddy, Daddy...hurry up you're gonna miss 'em!" A little boy grabbed his father's hand and pointed as Belle flew past them.
He pointed his phone and recorded her flying.
"Thank you, birdie...Daddy...here comes the other one!"
Rumple slowed as he glided, allowing them a great shot of his wings outspread and his head.
One of the veterans set the shot he took as his phone's new wallpaper and smiled. His return from Iraq the year before had been a painful one but as he gazed at the photograph of the eagle in flight, it made him feel stronger again.
They cruised about the monument for a few more minutes, allowing Belle a good look at it.
"We'll come back here and ride up to the top in the elevator." Rumple promised, as they flew off.
"Oh! Like An Affair to Remember," she gushed. "And all I could say was hello."
She also thought of another of their favorite movies, Sleepless In Seattle. "We should come up here for Valentine's Day."
"It's a date."
"Where to next, darling?"
"Would you like to visit the site of the World Trade Center? Then we could catch the subway home."
"Yes, I would. You want us to change back before we go to the subway?"
"I believe that would be best. We've attracted a lot of attention, and I don't want some reporter filming us hanging around our house."
"Good idea."
People began to look up as they approached, "Oh my God...there they are...the eagles from the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building!" a man exclaimed. Moments later hundreds of cellphones and cameras were pointed at them. The couple decided to fly by the fountains rather than land, both of them moved to tears as they recalled how many lives had been lost on that fateful day.
Each of them plucked several feathers from their bodies and swooped down close enough to ensure that the feathers landed on each of the pools, the names of those who died engraved on them.
As he did so, the feathers glistened with magic, and Rumple murmured, "Remember. Never forget."
The spell he had cast over the feathers would make certain those who visited carried the memory of what had happened here away with them, for to forget was to be doomed to repeat the past.
A young woman picked up one of the feathers and held it up, tears in her eyes.
"Mommy, why did the birdie do that?"
"So...so everyone would remember your daddy," she croaked hoarsely.
She reached down and caressed the name engraved on the stone in front of her...her husband who was one of the first responders to the scene, a dedicated fireman who gave his life alongside his brothers.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Rumple gave a soft chirrup, the sound an eagle makes to its eaglets, before spiraling upwards again.
"Mommy, did God send them?"
"Yes. Because we are all God's creations," his mother said, strangely comforted by the odd cry the eagle had made.
A CNN reporter who had been following the story since it began faced her cameraman for her next broadcast. "The eagles have just now been spotted at the 9/11 memorial..."
A couple standing near the pool representing the second tower watched as the eagles flew away, one of them smiling, the other still in shock.
"I...I can't believe it...the imp from the fairy tale and Belle from Beauty and the Beast...they're real!"
"Just not quite like they've been portrayed in stories, Sharon."
She held the Once Upon a Time book in her hands.
Curious, Archie opened it and several pages that had been blank before were now filled with colorful illustrations of the Golds' flight through the city.
Rumple soared over to where the subway was, and as he circled, looking for an innocuous spot to land, he saw something odd.
"They're heading for the subway. Come on...we can catch up with them!" Rhee called out to Henry and the others.
"Rumple, what is it?" Belle asked him.
"That man, Belle . . .he just put a backpack down by the stairs leading to the subway . . . and left it there. I didn't like the look of him. He seemed like he was doing something illegal."
"We have to alert the police but how can we in this form?"
"We can't. And there's no place we can change without being seen," the sorcerer admitted. "But we can't leave that bag there. Who knows what's inside it? Drugs, explosives . . .money . . ."
"Can we pick it up with our beaks?"
"With our talons, yes. Together."
"All right but we need to hurry. What if it is an explosive...oh Rumple, we can't let it happen again!"
"It won't. We saw it in time."
Then he plunged from the sky, flying like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, over seventy miles an hour. His talons snagged the cloth of the backpack's straps and as Belle aided him on the opposite side, they picked up the bag-and flew away with it towards the harbor.
"Now what are they doing?" August asked breathlessly.
The two flew as quickly as they could and then dropped the backpack far away from the traffic in the harbor. If there were incendiaries in there-they could detonate safely underwater. And if not . . . it didn't matter.
Rhee froze in her tracks. "Henry...there was a bomb in there!' she whispered.
"Rhee, don't joke about that!"
"I'm not...look!" She pointed toward the harbor.
A seismic ripple of water crested the previously serene water, and crews of police and SWAT teams were investigating on helicopters and boats as soon as the ripples died down.
"Mommy, those eagles saved us!" cried a little girl.
Her mother hugged her. "Thank God! They must be angels watching over us."
"Rumple, we did it!" Belle exclaimed.
"We did-together," he said proudly. "And now, let's go home. We'll fly straight into the sun, so they can't film us, turn around and fly too high for them to see, and then we can land and nobody will know."
So that was what they did, at last finding a deserted spot behind a deli to swap flesh for feathers.
When they returned to the subway entrance they could hear everyone talking about what they'd just witnessed.
"Hope they find who the hell did this and tear em to bits!" one man said angrily.
Rhee spotted her grandparents and waved her hands in the air to attract their attention. "Over here!"
"There you are!" Rumple cried, and made his way carefully through the crowd until he reached his granddaughter. "Is everyone okay?"
"We're fine. How did you know there was...a bomb in there?" Archie whispered.
"I didn't. I just knew something wasn't right. So . . .I figured better safe than sorry," he replied. "Tell you more when we're home."
Belle said, rather loudly, "Did you enjoy your trip to the Statue, Henry?"
"Yes, we did." The teenager was grinning. "We ALL know you did."
"I'm glad," Belle winked at him. "And Mr. Gold and I enjoyed our play also."
"Gramma, did you see the eagles?" Rhee burst out. "Look, I took pictures!" She showed Belle her phone.
"Fraid we missed that, dearies," Rumple sighed. "We were watching the first act by then. But we can catch it on the news, I'm sure." He gave Rhee a sly smirk.
"Or in this..." Sharon handed him the book.
He blinked. "It . . . is in THERE?"
He knew the book magically recorded the doings of all the fairy tale characters in its pages, but even he had thought once out of its element. . . Then he coughed and said, "Archie told you?"
"He...he started talking to me about magic...I've always believed in it...even used to dream about being a fairy...but when he handed me this...something happened when I touched it...I started reading...and I believed..."
"Good. Because belief makes all things possible," the Guardian of New York said quietly. He handed the book to Henry. "Hold that for me, son. Till we get to my shop, then I'll put it back where it belongs tomorrow."
"Yeah. I'm sure there are going to be a few new stories in there."
"And I'd say you're right," Rumple agreed. Then he began to make his way down the stairs to the subway.
People were still talking about the eagles and the mysterious backpack with the explosives in it. Police were still investigating.
Back at the house, Bae cradled his baby sister in his arms. "See Carina...that was papa and mama...and they saved everyone."
The baby gazed up at him, her eyes wide. She touched his nose.
"Papa saved me too, a long time ago."
Carina began to look around, trying to find Rumple. She began to fuss upon not seeing him.
"He's coming, babygirl. He's coming," Bae crooned.
Her small face crinkled and she whimpered.
"Do you want me to tell you a story until he comes back?"
Carina peered at him, still looking like she was going to cry.
"Just a short story?" he pleaded. "It's about Papa," he added. He was no master storyteller but his stories always seemed to calm Rhee when she was fussy.
The baby seemed to be willing to listen, so he began.
"Once upon a time a young boy lived in the forest with his father who was a spinner by trade. They didn't have a lot of money but what they did have was each other..."
Carina remained quiet, enraptured by her big brother's voice.
"Then one day some mean people came and wanted to take the boy away. They wanted him to fight some scary monsters called ogres..."
Carina grabbed his hand and began to suck his finger.
"The boy's papa knew his son and the other children would get hurt by the ogres so he decided they should run away. While they were running they met a man...who wasn't a man at all but a monster..."
Suddenly Bitty jumped up beside them and curled up by Bae's knee, purring.
"But this man told Papa of a magical item that could help him save his son...but it came at price...a price Papa was tricked into paying."
Carina reached out to pet the cat, who rubbed his head against her small hand.
"But even being cursed with dark magic, Papa kept a promise to his son that he would free all the children and send them home so they would never have to fight monsters again."
Carina smiled, then yawned.
"And you'll never have to be afraid of monsters, little sister, because your big brother and papa will keep them away."
Carina made a contented sound as her eyes shut.
Bae fell asleep moments later.
And in his dreams Sorcha came to him, and she led him into a fragrant meadow and together they danced the Highland reel, her ankles chiming with tiny silver bells.
"I missed ye, my bonny spinner," she crooned. "Happy Easter, Bae!"
"Happy Easter, swanmay...I love you."
A/N: Hope you all liked this one! How did you like the Rumbelle pillow fight and deal? And the eagle's flight? And the Bae and Carina bonding moment?
An epilogue will be posted soon! Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing, as always!