"Baelfire, you deserve an explanation. You deserve to know why I kept this from you," Rumple started to speak as they started walking down the street, with nowhere in particular in mind, but heading to the forest.
"You already told me, Papa. You did it because you couldn't care for her and you couldn't just bring her home with Mom and I. You did it to save your own skin. I get that." Baelfire started walking a little quicker and Rumple quickened his pace to keep up.
"Yes but I also wasn't sure what to do. I was barely a father to you, how could I ruin another child's life?"
His father's words stopped him in his tracks. "Is that what you think you did? Ruined my life?" Baelfire asked, turning to look at Rumple.
"What kind of father could I be, with the darkness taking over more and more every day? No child deserved that. And I refused to allow another child to suffer that same fate. So, I sent her away thinking it was the best choice and the better choice than trying to raise her on my own. Your mother would have thrown me out, her along with me."
"Papa you didn't ruin my life. I hope you know that. You set me on the path that led me to Emma, and led me to fatherhood myself. For that I can't be angry with you. But it does hurt that you hid Zelena from me, even after all we have been through more recently. You had plenty of time to mention her." Baelfire continued walking, and they soon found themselves at the old wishing well. He rested against it, looking at his father.
"You're absolutely right, Bae. But it just never seemed like the right time. How did I just throw that out there? It's not exactly a dinner table topic. By the way, you have a sister that I banished at birth to a far off land, now pass the potatoes?"
Baelfire opened his mouth to say something but Rumple cut him off. "I wanted to tell you so many times. I almost did. I kept it inside for so long. I did it at first to protect you but then it just became easier and easier to just push it out of my thoughts. Belle was quite upset with me too. But she is the one who really pushed me to talk to you."
"I know. I could tell at the diner."
"She pushes me but in a good way. She makes me want to be a better person. But I… I want to be a better father for me. And for you and your sister and the new little one on the way. You deserve that even after all these years. If you will let me, I want to try. I can't promise I'll be particularly great at it but I want a relationship with you," Rumple moved closer to where Baelfire stood, peering down into the dark abyss of the well.
"So she really will grow up without memory of any of it?" Baelfire asked, looking over at his father.
"The Blue Fairy wiped her memory and gave her brand new ones. She knows Belle as her mother and I as her father. She knows you're her brother. But she has powers, I won't know the extent of those until she's older but for now, she is showing a lot of potential. Belle is worried, and I have tried to reassure her that everything is going to be ok."
"I'll help in any way I can, Papa. I love you," Baelfire said, opening his arms for a hug.
Rumple smiled and took his son into his arms, hugging him back tightly. "I love you son. Thank you. Thank you for everything." They pulled away. "I'm scared, Bae. I don't know much about being a father and especially not to small children. What in the world will I do with a newborn?"
"You'll learn on the job. From what I've seen so far, you're doing well with Zelena. When they are younger they really just need to feel loved and cared for. But in her case, she is going to need more help with her powers and that can be a good bonding experience for you both. I wish I had these years with Henry and I know if I ever am lucky enough to have another child, I will be there for them every single second. Just be there for them."
"Mind if I come to you for advice?" Rumple asked, chuckling.
"I'll give you whatever advice I can, old man. Now how about we head back and get some lunch before Belle starts to worry about us."
"That is a good idea, son. Let's go."
"They're fine," Henry said once again, trying to convince Belle. Her glance kept darting up to the door, every time it opened.
"I know. I worry though. I can't help it," Belle told him. "Have you decided what you want for lunch?"
"I think I'll just go with a burger and fries," Henry answered, placing the menu back on the table.
"Yum! That sounds delicious. I think I might just do the same," Belle grinned. Ever since she'd had a hamburger here at the diner for this first time, it still was her favorite go-to meal. "And Miss Zelena, what you would like?"
"Ice cweam!" the two year old again exclaimed and Henry laughed..
"How about a grilled cheese, first and then maybe we'll talk about dessert. You can ask your Papa when he comes back," Belle told her, knowing very well Zelena would probably convince him.
The chime on the diner door dinged and Belle looked up, relieved to see Rumple and Baelfire heading inside. They both looked like they were in good spirits and Belle was relieved.
"See? I told you everything was going to be fine," Henry told her as the two men took their seats next to each other.
"Yes, everything is ok between us," Baelfire said, but looking directly at Belle who must have still had a little skepticism written on her face. "No one is perfect but we are all going to work on it together. We're all a family and we're in this together. Now that's settled, have you ordered yet?" Baelfire picked up the menu, looking over the options.
"I can guess my grandson and my wife have both chosen burgers, but how about for my Zelena?" Rumple asked.
"I can have ice cream?" Zelena asked her father and Belle tried hard to contain a laugh but failed miserably.
"I told her she had to ask you. But I also told her she needed to have some lunch first. Maybe grilled cheese?" Belle asked her daughter.
"Ok," Zelena said with a slight pout.
"That is not fair at all. How am I ever going to be able to resist that?" Rumple asked.
"Welcome to fatherhood," Baelfire replied with a laugh. "Burger sounds good. I think I'll do the same."
Granny came by when she saw everyone return. "Are you folks ready?"
"Three burgers, a grilled cheese for the little one and I think I'll have a hotdog," Rumple gave her their order.
"Coming right up!" Granny replied, writing it down and going into the back.
Regina came in just as their food arrived at the table and she saw them all gathered, heading over to them.
"Did you find out anything?" Rumple asked her.
"Maybe. I mean, I think so. I'm going to try a few things but I am not sure they'll work. How about you, anything in the library?" Regina asked Belle.
Belle shook her head. "Very few leads. I thought I found a few things, I wrote them here for you," Belle took a folded piece of paper out of her purse and handed it to Regina.
Regina unfolded it and read it. "I hadn't thought of this. I wonder if I can factor that into what findings I do have. Thank you, I'll let you know if I figure it out."
"Auntie Gina, come sit!" Zelena exclaimed.
"I wish I could sweetie, but I'm here to grab my lunch to go and heading right back out. Maybe next time." Granny waved her over, with a bag in hand. "I'll keep you posted." And with that she grabbed her food and headed back out the door.
"So have you thought any more on how you might contain her magic?" Baelfire asked, changing the subject a bit, taking a bite of his hamburger in the process.
"It is not so much containing it as it is helping her learn to control it. I never anticipated a child of mine having the powers I do. Of course, you were born long before I became the Dark One so I had no way of preparing. She doesn't know her own strength and I want to see how much I can teach her in the short amount of time we have left before the new baby arrives. She could harm him or her very easily, without meaning to," Rumple explained.
"And that is what still frightens me. I am helpless in that regard. I wouldn't be able to stop her," Belle cut in.
"That is why you have me, love. I will do everything I can to help her. Regina is all in as well but she is trying hard to figure out this curse at the moment."
"Rumple you can't possibly be with us every second of the day. And if you do leave to go find the curse's origin, then I will be on my own with her," Belle reminded him.
"That is still not a sure thing, you know that. I am hoping whatever you gave Regina might be enough or she found "something. I wish we could get the information out of Zelena but that is impossible at this point," Rumple replied.
"Is it?" Baelfire spoke up.
"What do you mean?" Rumple asked.
"If the Blue Fairy was able to get rid of her old memories and give her new ones, maybe she can give her the other ones back? At least for a short amount of time," Baelfire suggested.
"Do you think a two year old could really comprehend that? And be able to tell us what we needed to know?" Belle asked. "Right now her mind is set on i-c-e c-r-e-a-m," she said, spelling the last part. "How could we ever get her to give us that sort of complex information even if it was stored in her memories?"
"Maybe we age her back. Just for a short while," Baelfire answered. He could tell his idea was not going to be one easily accepted, just by looking at his father and Belle's faces.
"Do you know what you're suggesting? Even if it were possible because I honestly don't know if it was. Bae, she was dangerous. Hell bent on destroying Regina and the Blue Fairy stepped in and ended that. And now you want us to revert her back to that?" Rumple was not sure at all of this plan. Would it even work? And if it did, could it cause more harm?"
"It wouldn't hurt to at least ask Blue Fairy, right?" Baelfire asked. "If it does work, we could lock her up somewhere where she wouldn't be a danger to anyone and get her to tell us how to reverse the curse."
"But that could also mean we all get sent back to the Enchanted Forest. It's not like I don't miss living in a castle but I am kind of accustomed to electricity and indoor plumbing," Belle replied. "Besides, locking her up?"
"We could just put her in a holding cell at the jail. Just for a while until we figured everything out," Baelfire suggested.
Rumple shook his head. "I don't know if I like this idea. It probably wouldn't even work."
"The least we can do is ask Blue Fairy and try," Baelfire replied.
"Alright, I'll go talk to her after lunch and see what she has to say," Rumple agreed.
"Rumple, what if she changes her back and then that's it. We lose our little girl as she is right now. What if she still won't give us the curse information? What then? Do you torture it out of her? Look at her now, can you honestly say you would be ok if things go wrong?" Belle asked her husband.
Belle had an excellent point but he knew what he needed to do. He only hoped this worked and they could turn Zelena back into the innocent toddler she was currently. But there was no way of knowing what else this curse had in store for them. They had lost one year, what if that wasn't the end?