Bae hesitates and he steps in, tells a winding story that entirely sidesteps Henry's question which of course, serves only to pique the boy's curiosity but proves enough to distract Charming who, after a few minutes looks to the dinner's clock and enquires,
"Are you still going to be alright watching Henry for a while?" Which is him well and truly busted, but then Bae knows him well enough by now to have realised he was keeping a few 'cards' close to his chest even if he isn't best pleased with the exact nature of those 'cards', shooting him a look akin to murder as he responds to Charming with,
"Sure, Neil here loves kids and it's not as though we'd had much planned past a good catch up anyway."
"Great, get him home by seven ok." With which he's shrugging back on his coat and all but running out of the dinner,
"So what's gramps up to that he's desperate enough to turn to me of all people kiddo?"
"Getting Mum and Grandma back here, though you knew that already, right?"
"Right,"
"You'll know he's looking for you as well then, right?" It's a kick in the stomach, a cheep manipulation technique which he knows nothing more than the kid's innocent, impossibly, want to make sure everyone gets their 'happily ever after.'
So he's honest, tell Henry that he's not quite ready and the kid simply gives him a look before turning to Bae and enquring,
"So how did you and August meet…?"
"Ah, of course, where are my manners? This is Neil Cassady and we happened upon one another in the very depths of hell."
"August," As much warning to do as he'd promised and keep his nose out as it is for him to treat at least this seriously.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm kidding of course, we just bumped into one another along the way."
"By which he means his publishing company felt his stuff could do with an illustrator and introduced us to see if we'd get on." It's not quite a lie, Bae is as much artist as he is author, after all, and it's enough to settle at least Henry's initial curiosity.
To get the kid thinking through the likely minute list of artistically gifted character's in his storybook to see if there's a link, which is much, much, safer ground. Bae's story had begun so many years before their own, had begun at least this part of their tales, after all, which means he'll have left no mark in the book.
So he let's the boy be, orders them all a round of Grannies decident coco and settles himself into a corner booth.
Henry follows after him, settling into the seat opposite and thanking him for his drink before his mind turns again on itself and his expression becomes somewhat sober.
Bae takes a few minutes more, composing himself as subtly as he is able and fussing a little with his appearance with aid from the back mirror a few moments in clear nervousness before, at last, settling in at his side.
"So what's the current plan?" Which earns him a clearly uncomfortable look and, glancing over his shoulder to assure themselves as much alone as possible, Bae states,
"I'm from the enchanted forest too."
"But you weren't cursed were you?"
"That's right, you see I'd come to this world a long time before anyone even dreamed a curse might be cast on our world…a time when it seemed impossible that anyone would feel that much hate or hold that much power…running away because it'd seemed the only real way out." It's the first that Bae's told at least a portion of his story without provocation, the first he's seen his friend truly risk anything and it does him well to see the thing rewarded, to watch Henry visibly relax as he leans a little towards his father and enquire,
"Then why come to Storybrooke?"
"I'm hoping I might be able to see someone again."
"Your true love?"
"Yes, but how…?"
"You looked a little like Grandma did while she believed Grandpa someone else's husband…sad and lost and so very alone." A moment and then the kid is leaning back into his chair, bundling up his hot chocolate and enquiring, "Did August tell you about the book?"
"He did but I'm not sure how much help it'll be kid…"
"We can try, right?" The face Henry makes then is a face that is all together impossible to deny and, as Bae visibly slumps the boy enquires, "So what do you remember about her?"