8
A Golden Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving morning:
Fire Mountain dojo:
Emma found herself awake at seven o'clock the next morning, despite the fact that she didn't have to wake up early, as she was off on Thanksgiving . . . unless there was a real emergency, like the whole town getting bombed or something. She slipped from her cozy bed, leaving her husband asleep for once and walked down the hall to look in on her son, who thankfully was asleep where he belonged. She checked twice before making herself go into the kitchen and make some tea.
Her recipe for her Thanksgiving rolls sat upon the counter, a silent reminder that she had yet to make her contribution to today's dinner. She eyed the paper ruefully. "I hope I don't burn them," she muttered, and started getting out the things she would need to make them.
She drank her tea and ate an English muffin while she read through the recipe again, making sure she remembered exactly what to do, recalling the way Alice had patiently shown her how to make them, going through each step slowly and calmly.
She heated the milk in the microwave until it was warm and stirred in the yeast and some maple syrup, letting it sit until it was frothy.
As she sipped the remainder of her tea, she heard the quiet patter of someone entering the kitchen. She turned to find her son watching her, his hair sticking up like a haystack. "Henry! You're up early."
"I wasn't tired anymore. What are you doing, Mom?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"I'm . . . uh . . . making rolls for Thanksgiving," she said.
He blinked. "You're baking? I didn't think you knew how," he blurted, then he gave her a rueful grin. "Sorry, that didn't come out right."
Emma chuckled. "Yeah, it did. I know I'm not the world's greatest cook, but Alice gave me a few lessons, so here I am, trying to make these rolls here." She showed him the paper with the recipe.
"Maybe I can help you," her son suggested. "Alice taught me some things too."
"Sure, kid. And if these turn out terrible . . . I bought crescent rolls," Emma said, smirking slightly. "They're in the fridge."
"I'm sure you'll be fine, Mom. Just . . . follow what the recipe says," Henry stated. "Okay, what step are you on?"
"I just did the first one," Emma told him.
"Uh . . . okay, now we have to cut up some butter, and mix together the herbs," Henry said.
"You do the butter, I'll do the herbs," Emma said, and she handed him a bowl and half a stick of unsalted butter.
Together, mother and son worked on making the rolls, and soon Emma had the dough formed and they took turns kneading it, and getting flour all over their pajamas and themselves.
"Mom, you have flour right there," Henry said, pointing to her chin.
"Where?"
"There," he said, and promptly dabbed her face with his finger, covering her chin in flour.
She mock-glared at him and then smeared flour on his nose.
"Look, it's Frosty!" she teased.
Henry crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her. "Now it's Frosty on crack!"
Emma started laughing.
"Hey, what's going on in here? You having a party and forgot to invite me?" Bae asked, coming into the kitchen. He glanced from his flour-covered wife to his son and snickered. "You two having some problems?"
"No. We were having a food fight," Emma said, then she threw flour at her husband, getting him right in the face.
"Aww! Ten points, Mom!" Henry cheered.
"I'm going to get you for that, wild swan," Bae mock-growled, and then stalked Emma around the kitchen. He grabbed a fistful of flour from the counter and threw it at his wife, getting it in her hair.
"Baelfire! You're dead!" she shrieked, then she ran at him and smeared her floury hands all over his shirt.
"Emma! That's my limited edition Phoenix Fire Mountain shirt!" he objected.
"Now we're even, since you got flour in my hair, hotshot," she returned impudently.
"Dad, don't be a girl," his son remarked.
Bae whirled on him. "You just call me a girl, mister?" he demanded, pretending to be angry. "Get over here!"
Henry ducked and tried to run out of the kitchen, but Bae was quicksilver when he wanted to be, and he caught the fleeing boy and began to tickle him unmercifully. "What did you call me? A girl? Huh?" his father half-growled.
Henry collapsed against him, howling with laughter. "Okay . . . I take it back . . . s-sorry . . . you're not a girl . . ."
Bae relaxed his hold slightly, and Henry almost wriggled free.
The boy gave him an insolent smirk, and cried, "You're Wonder Woman!"
"Excuse me?" the martial arts instructor promptly dragged his son back to him and began to tickle him unmercifully, until the boy was laughing so hard he was almost in tears. "Now what do you say, huh?"
"Stop . . . please . . ." Henry gasped.
"Bae . . . you're going to make him wet himself," Emma said, grinning.
"Payback for what he just said," he replied, tickling his son's ribs.
"Dad . . . I'll be good . . . you're Hercules . . ." Henry giggled.
"That's more like it," Bae said, and stopped tickling him. "The Stiltskin Tickle Torture works every time to keep mouthy brats in line," he said to Emma.
"Uh huh. And I'm going to ask your papa how many times he needed to use it on you," Emma threatened.
"Don't you dare!" Bae yelped. Then he released his son. "It works on nosy wives too," he purred.
Emma grabbed a wooden spoon from the drawer. "Those hands make one move towards me, Gold . . ." she waved the implement threateningly.
"Who do you think you are, my mother?" her husband teased, then he ducked her retaliatory swat and pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. "You were saying?"
"Forget it," she murmured, kissing him back.
Henry rolled his eyes. "Aww, God! Get a hotel!"
"Quiet, tiger," Bae ordered. "Unless you want some more torturing?"
"No!" his son yipped.
"What are you making anyway?" Bae asked after he quit kissing Emma for the third time.
"Maple-rosemary rolls. Alice gave me the recipe," Emma said. "And it's a good thing I put them to rise before you came in here." She looked about ruefully. "This kitchen looks like World War III."
"Uh . . . yeah . . ." Bae agreed.
Flour was everywhere . . . on the counter, the floor, the walls . . .
"Good thing I've got magic," Emma said, then clapped her hands and a green wave of light flew about the room, cleaning the room and their clothing in a twinkling.
"Now this looks like Betty Crocker cooks here," she said, pleased.
"You've got to teach me that spell," Henry said, and hugged her.
"Let her concentrate on her cooking, tiger," Bae told him. "Otherwise we might end up eating cardboard."
"Thanks a lot!" Emma cried, and she whacked her husband with her dish towel.
"Hey! I'm citing you for domestic abuse," Bae accused.
"You call that abuse?" Emma smirked. Her blue eyes gleamed. "Henry, get him!"
"What? Hey!" Bae yelped as both his son and wife flew at him . . . and began tickling him.
"It's Swan's Revenge!" Henry cried, attacking his father behind the knees.
"Stop, tiger!" his father ordered, laughing. "Damn it . . . how'd you know I'm ticklish?"
"Somebody tipped me off," Emma cried gleefully, tickling his ribs.
"Dammit, Papa!" Bae groaned, and danced away from his tormentors . . . until they cornered him against the table.
The kitchen rang with laughter as the three horsed around . . . until Emma's timer beeped and it was time to take out the dough and make the rolls.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Over at the Charming's loft, Snow was busy cutting up all different kinds of apples for her apple pie and putting them in a bowl. She had already rolled out the pie crust and put it in the pie plate and was currently tossing the apples with some lemon juice when Regina came into the kitchen wearing her Pocahontas costume. "Hi, sweetie!"
"Mommy, whatcha doin'?"
"I'm making apple pie," Snow answered, slicing an Empire apple.
"Ooh! I love apple pie!" Regina yelled, standing on a chair near the counter so she could see what Snow was doing. "Can I help?"
Snow smiled at her daughter, thinking how ironic that request was. Then she just decided to go with the moment, and nodded. "Sure you can! Get that big spoon there and stir these apples for me."
Regina picked up the large metal spoon with the long handle and began tp stir the apples as Snow added them.
"Now what?" she asked when Snow was done peeling them all.
"Now we add the cinnamon and sugar, nutmeg, and ginger," Snow informed her.
"I stir it, Mommy!" Regina said, stirring vigorously as Snow added the ingredients to the apples.
Snow smiled at the child, who stirred so much that some of the cinnamon and spice mixture got on her face, making her look like she'd been splattered by mud. "Okay, Regina, that's enough. Now we have to put it in the pie plate."
Snow took the spoon back and began scooping the apples into the pie plate, filling two pie crusts with the mixture. Then she took the pre-rolled crusts and put them on top. She showed Regina how to flute the crusts and make them even, and then let the child brush beaten egg whites on them and sprinkle the tops with sugar.
Then Snow cut slits in them and slid them into the oven to bake.
She set a timer, then said, "Now you want to help me wash the dishes?"
"Uh huh!" Regina clapped and got out her little stepstool and together she and Snow washed the bowls and spoons and Snow washed the knife she had used to cut up the apples.
The little girl had fun swishing the sponge about in the soapy sudsy water, and Snow taught her a familiar tune as she did so, reflecting that this was possibly the most fun she'd ever had with Regina before—baking an apple pie. Life was just full of little miracles, she thought . . . then tweaked her daughter's nose, making her giggle.
"Mmm! What smells so good in here?" David asked, coming into the kitchen.
"Daddy! Mommy and I baked apple pies!" Regina told him, jumping off the stool and into his arms.
"Is that what I smell?" David asked, then he pretended to nibble on Regina's neck. "Mmm! Fee fi foe fum . . . I smell a little girl with cinnamon! And I'm gonna eat her all up! Yum!"
Regina shrieked in pretend fear. "Help! Mommy!"
"I'll save you!" Snow cried, and pretended to "fight" the giant while Regina scrambled away towards the phone.
"What're you doing, Regina?" the giant called.
"I's callin' for help!"
"Who're you gonna call?" David laughed wickedly.
"Unca Rumple!" she yelled, and picked up the phone.
"Quick, Snow!" David gasped. "Get the phone before she really does call him!"
"She knows the phone number?" Snow cried.
"I've got it on speed dial," panted her husband.
"Regina, stop!" Snow called. "Look, the giant is friendly now," she said, and hugged David. "True Love conquers all."
"Yay!" squealed the little imp. "'Cause if he was mean an' nasty, I was callin' Unca Rumple to kick his butt!"
David rolled his eyes. "She thinks Rumple can kick my butt."
"What do you mean she thinks he can? Honey, sorry to break it to you, but she knows he can," Snow pointed out.
"Oh, gee thanks, Snow!"
"What? It's true."
"Yeah, well, you could have . . .exaggerated a little," David said defensively.
"Okay . . . she knows he can kick your butt six ways to Sunday," Snow returned impishly. "And that's why I'm glad he's family."
"Mommy, when we goin' to Unca Rumple an' Auntie Belle's house?" Regina queried.
"Later. When the pies are baked," Snow told her. "David, is the gravy made?"
"Did that last night, hon. And Alice is cooking the you-know-what," he whispered to her.
"I know. And Belle's making ham and some cod with bruschetta," Snow reminded him.
"Yay, ham! An' no turkey!" their daughter bellowed.
"That's what you think," David snorted. It had been arranged that some of the family would eat turkey and some would eat ham and fish, depending on what they preferred. But he hadn't told Regina that, not wanting her to have a fit.
"Let's comb your hair, chatterbox," said Snow.
"'Kay! I gets the brush," Regina called and ran into the bathroom to grab the hairbrush.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
In Gold's Victorian, Belle was basting the ham with some special habanero pineapple glaze while Rumple and Alina set the table with the good Irish linen table cloth, the Delft blue and gold china and Waterford crystal water glasses and champagne flutes, though the flutes were for sparkling cider for herself, Rumple, and the children.
Rumple put a cornucopia made of chocolate in the center of the table, which had cookies and chocolate covered Oreos, pretzels, and graham crackers spilling out of it, accented with fake maple leaves.
"There! Doesn't that look lovely?" he asked Alina.
"It does, Papa. You should take a picture of it with your phone," she said, gazing at the long table in the dining room, which hadn't held so many people since Emma and Bae's wedding.
Gold reached into a pocket of his jacket for his cell, and just as he went to snap a picture, Nala jumped onto the table and sat next to the cornucopia, her tail wrapped about her paws, like a statue.
"Aww! How cute!" Alina giggled.
Gold took a picture, then went to take the kitten off the table, saying, "Pretty baby, your mama would have a fit if she saw you on the table." He cuddled the black cat to him, who purred and rubbed her face along his chin. The sorcerer reached into his other pocket and withdrew a handful of treats and set the kitten down. "Here, Nala. You eat these and after dinner, you'll get some turkey."
Nala meowed and stropped his ankles before settling down to eat the cat treats.
Rumple stroked her some more, before he rose and went to see if Belle needed help in the kitchen, leaving Alina to arrange some of the desserts on the buffet table, and plug in the Crock Pot with the spiced apple cider in it.
"This should be the best Thanksgiving ever!" Alina said to Nala. "Because it's not just me, Papa, and Alice anymore . . . it's all of us."
Smiling, she arranged the cups for the cider around the Crock Pot, and put the ladle next to it, sniffing the aroma of cooking ham, stuffing, and candied yams that filled the whole house with their tantalizing, mouthwatering smell.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Around three o'clock in the afternoon, the rest of the family started to arrive. Alice, Jeff, and Grace came first, with Alice bringing the turkey, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole, Indian pudding, and sweet potato bisque. Alice went to help Belle in the kitchen, and after Rumple had made his mashed potatoes, shooed him, Jeff, and the girls out the door and told them to go play horseshoes until everyone else arrived.
Jeff and Grace teamed up against Rumple and Alina, and they were tied two to two when Bae and Henry arrived and soon after them David and Regina. They all wished each other Happy Thanksgving, and Regina, who was still in her costume, handed out hats to all of the family.
"What's this, dearie?" asked Rumple as Regina held out a paper Indian chief's headdress to him.
"It's a Indian bonnet, Unca Rumple!" Regina declared.
"And why do I need one of these?" he asked, kneeling down so he could speak to her at her own level.
"'Cause you is the chief of the Indians, an' you need to put it on an' wear it."
"You want me to wear this?" he asked, wincing. The bonnet's "feathers" were slightly droopy, and colored lovingly if inexpertly by Regina's little hand.
"C'mon, Papa," Bae snickered. "You're . . . uh . . . Chief Shaman Dark Dealing Dearie."
"I'm what?" Rumple glared at his son. "And who are you—war chief Pain-in-the-Ass?" He pointed to the headband with three "eagle" feathers Bae had in his hand.
Jeff started laughing, holding in his hand a Pilgrim hat. "Good one, Rumple. And your grandson there's Heap Big Trouble," he indicated Henry.
Henry grinned. "Who're you, Jeff?"
"He's Charles Ingalls," Grace put in. "And I'm Mary. And my mama's Caroline."
"From Little House on the Prairie?" Alina cried. "But Mary goes blind, Grace."
"So? That's when she grows up, and I'm blond, so I have to be Mary. I can't be Laura. You could though, except you're the chief's daughter. Princess Magic Touch."
"How about Magical Mischief?" Henry suggested. "What's Grammy called?"
"Auntie Belle's Princess Pretty Heart," Regina put in. "Mommy's Princess Snow Bird, an' Daddy's . . . uh . . ."
"Shepherd Prince," David said quickly before anyone could name him.
"What's Emma?" Alina wondered.
"Emma's Princess Shoot-'em Up," Regina informed her.
"Oh, brother!" Bae rolled his eyes. "And what about you, Regina?"
"I'm Pocahontas, Bae!" she cried. "Don'tcha know that?"
"Little Mischief," Rumple translated. "Fitting, dearie."
Regina gave him a gamin grin. "Now put you hat on, Unca Rumple!"
"Maybe we ought to change her name," her uncle speculated. "To Princess Big Mouth Bossypants."
"No!" Regina yelled. "I's Pocahontas!" She put her hands on her hips and glowered at her uncle. "Now you put you hat on!"
"Hey! You don't talk like that to your uncle," Charming reproved. "How do you ask?"
Regina huffed, then she said, giving Rumple her best puppydog eyes, "Please, Unca Rumple? With a cherry on top?"
Rumple groaned. "Okay!" Then he put on the war bonnet.
Regina whooped, then ran around the horseshoe pit neighing and screaming war cries.
Bae stared at her. "What'd you feed her, David? Three Five Hour Energies?"
David shrugged. "Sometimes she's like that, I don't know why. She only ate one cookie."
"And how many did she sneak behind your back?" Rumple asked knowingly.
"Uh . . ." Charming looked rather chagrined.
"That's what I thought."
"Shut up, Rumple!" he ordered.
The sorcerer smirked. "Word to the wise, David. Don't ever let her watch Babe. Or read Charlotte's Web . . . at least not till she's twelve. Otherwise we'll have a save the pigs crusade next and be eating cookies for Christmas."
"Uh . . . you're right. Never thought of that. I'd better warn Snow."
"Now let's play some horseshoes," Bae said. "We'll have a tournament."
The tournament had just gotten underway, however, when they were all called inside to eat by Alice.
"We can finish this later," said Charming, and he started inside. His mouth was watering from the delicious aromas coming from the house.
They all filed inside, wearing their Thanksgiving hats.
Rumple surprised Belle coming out of the kitchen with her pan of candied yams, and promptly levitated it from her and floated it to the table, then wrapped his arms about her and kissed her, whispering, "Happy Thanksgving, my princess Pretty Heart."
Belle smiled up at him. "Is that my new Indian name?"
"According to Regina," Rumple replied.
"What'd she call you?"
"Bae called me Chief Shaman Dark Dealing Dearie," Rumple said.
"Oh? That's good, but I prefer Chief Sexy As Hell in Leather Pants Dearie," Belle whispered into his ear.
Rumple chuckled wickedly. "I prefer that too . . . when we're alone. Now, I think we need to go to the table . . . before there's a riot."
He escorted Belle to the table, she was on his right, for he was at the head of the table, with Bae on his left, and the others were all spread out down the line. Rumple picked up his glass of sparkling cider and said, "Here's to our family, who have, despite all obstacles, managed to get together for this holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, dearies!"
"Here! Here!" Jeff said.
They all drank, and then Belle said, "Before we eat any of this delicious food, I think we need to all say what we're thankful for this year. Rumple, you start."
Rumple paused, then said, "I'm thankful to have my family here to celebrate this holiday with me. Belle?"
Belle thought for a moment. "I'm thankful we're all together too . . . and that my babies are healthy and lively." Then she put a hand to her tummy, as one of the twins kicked her. "Bae?"
"I'm thankful to have my wife and son here beside me . . . and be reunited with the father I thought I'd lost. Emma?"
"I'm thankful for finally having a family again," Emma said, blinking back tears. "And . . . uh . . . I have something else to tell you after dinner." She looked at Alice. "Your turn, Alice."
Alice cleared her throat. "I'm thankful to have such wonderful friends, a hot and sassy husband, and my baby girl back where she belongs."
Jeff hugged her. "And I'm thankful for everything Alice said, except I've got a hot and sassy wife. David?"
"Uh . . . I'm thankful for all of my family, old and new, and that this dinner looks as good as it smells. Snow?"
"I'm thankful for finding my husband and daughters again," she smiled at Regina. "Grace? Your turn."
Grace smiled shyly. "I'm thankful the curse is broken and we all have our memories and families back. Alina?"
"I'm thankful my mama's alive . . . and so's my brother and we're all getting along with each other. Henry?"
"Uh, I'm thankful I found my dad . . . and we're all here eating dinner together. Regina?"
"Uh . . .I'm thankful we don't gotta eat turkey an' Reggie was pardoned!"
Everyone cracked up laughing.
Then they all began to pass around the dishes. Snow, Jeff, and the children all took some of Belle's ham and fish, as well as the other side dishes, bypassing the turkey which Bae had carved up and was now eating happily with his cranberry-orange relish.
Emma, Belle, and Rumple ate some of everything, and Belle praised Emma's rolls, saying, "They taste like yours, Alice."
"Well, she's the one who taught me how to make them," Emma said, blushing.
"And I helped, Mom," Henry reminded her.
"Yes, you did," Emma said. "You were a big help to me, and I hope you'll continue to be so." Then she took some stuffing and ate it with some gravy. "God, this is incredible!"
There was the turkey, all crispy and juicy, the ham with the spicy sweet habanero pineapple glaze, the cod bruschetta, the chestnut cranberry stuffing, green beans with crispy sausage casserole, Bae's relish, Emma's maple-rosemary rolls, Belle's candied yams, Rumple's buttery garlic mashed potatoes, the creamy and rich sweet potato bisque, and David's homemade gravy and broccoli cheddar bake.
Everyone ate till they were stuffed, and still it looked as though they could feed twenty extra people.
"My God, we need to call up the convent and tell the sisters to come and pick up some of this for the needy families," Emma exclaimed.
"We already did that," Gold said. "And now you all get to take home leftovers, dearie."
Nala stood up on his knee, meowing.
He reached down and petted the black cat, murmuring, "Okay, dearie. Here's your turkey," and he snapped his fingers and a piece of turkey cut itself into bite-sized pieces and he put it on a small plate and gave it to his begging kitten.
A purring Nala licked his hand before tearing into the turkey as if she hadn't seen food for a month.
Regina frowned. "Mommy, Nala's eating turkey."
"Honey, Nala's a cat and cats eat turkey," Snow told her.
"And so does your father," David pointed out.
"Me too," Bae said.
Regina looked like she was about to protest, but then Rumple said, "Think of it this way, dearie. You eat what you like and I'll eat what I like and then we'll both be happy. Okay?"
Regina thought about it for a few long moments. Then she nodded. "Okay, Unca Rumple."
"Now finish your ham," David urged, watching until his daughter ate what was on her plate.
Henry, Alina, and Grace were on kitchen duty, as it was part of their punishment, and while they were all washing and scrubbing, Belle, Alice, Snow, and Emma were making coffee and putting away leftovers and packing some up to take home.
Meanwhile, the men helped clear the table and set out the desserts.
After about an hour or so, the coffee was brewed and so was the cider and they all ate dessert, which was Indian pudding, apple pie, chocolate pretzel pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and the chocolate cornucopia.
While they all nibbled their way through their dessert, Henry, Alina, Regina, and Grace all played Thanksgiving trivia with each other. Bae and David watched the football game, while Jeff, Rumple, Alice, and Emma played poker for pieces of the cornucopia. Belle and Snow discussed the nursery for the twins, and Snow gave Belle a questioning glance, her eyes widening when Belle shook her head no.
"Okay, I'm about to go into a coma and sleep for a year," Emma declared. "I feel like I ate the whole turkey. But before I do that, I have something to tell you." She cleared her throat. "Bae! Quit screaming at them to sack the quarterback and come over here for a minute."
Her husband looked up, met her eyes, and rose to his feet. He came over and sat down next to her, saying softly, "Okay, wild swan. Go ahead."
Emma cleared her throat. "Uh . . . Bae and I have a surprise we want to share with you."
Henry looked up from reading his trivia card. "Like what, Mom? Did you win the jackpot in that scratch off game you bought?"
"No, Henry. Better. I'm . . . going to have a baby."
"Oh my God!" Snow cried, then she hugged her daughter. "Emma, you're pregnant? That's wonderful!"
Henry's mouth hung open. "Y'mean, I'm gonna be a big brother?"
"That's right, tiger," Bae was smiling quietly.
"Congratulations, Bae!" Rumple said, and hugged his son. Then he winked and said, "You sure you didn't plan it this way? Because our kids are going to be . . . well . . . almost a year apart in age."
"I swear, Papa, I had no idea . . . until Emma told me this morning. Right after she . . . uh . . . put her buns in the oven . . . umm . . ." he flushed a he realized what he'd said.
Alice and Jeff started giggling, while Emma smacked him in the head.
"Real nice, hon!"
"Hey! That . . . uh . . . came out wrong, okay? But it's the truth. You did tell me after you started baking them," Bae said defensively.
"Better watch what you say, Baelfire," Rumple warned. "Pregnant women are dangerous."
"Oh, Emma! I'm so happy for you," Belle said. "Now our little ones will grow up together."
"I'll be an aunt again," Alina said.
"And I'm going to be a grandma," Snow said, beaming. "David? You're going to be a grandpa again. David!"
"Huh? Snow, they just made a touchdown!" David cried, pumping his fist in the air. "Yeah! Stick it to 'em!"
"David! Didn't you hear what I said?" Snow demanded.
"Uh . . . you said something about me being a grandpa. What about it?"
"Somebody hit him in the head," Snow growled. "David, Emma's having a baby!"
David froze. Then he turned to look at Emma and Bae. "You're having a baby? For real?"
"No, Dad. We were kidding," Emma said, grinning. "Yeah, for real."
"Oh my God. She's having a baby!" he repeated, looking shell shocked.
"Now don't have a breakdown, dearie," Rumple said, smirking.
"Rumple . . . she's having a baby . . . and that means . . . I'm going to be a grandfather . . .and so are you . . ."
"Yes, I know. Now breathe, Nolan," Rumple urged. "Before you hyperventilate. Snow, maybe you ought to get him checked out for an anxiety disorder."
"I don't have any anxiety disorder, Rumplestiltskin!" David cried. "I'm just . . . startled, that's all." He looked at Emma sheepishly. "Sorry. It's just . . . you kind of . . . caught me off guard. That's the last thing I expected . . ."
"It's all right, Dad. You should have seen Bae's face when I told him. He almost fell over right there in the hallway," Emma said gleefully.
"It was the last thing I expected either," Bae began.
"Where's Regina?" Grace asked, noticing the toddler was missing.
Suddenly, Regina walked into the room, her belly bulging under her Pocahontas costume. "Emma, guess what? I'm havin' a baby too!"
Henry nearly fell out of his chair.
So did David.
Alina and Grace burst out laughing.
"I guess she didn't want to be left out," Snow said, cracking up.
Regina frowned, then walked up to Rumple and said, "Unca Rumple, what's so funny? I'm havin' a baby too!"
Rumple's lips twitched as he struggled to control his mirth. "I see that, Regina. Um . . . that's great . . . and what are you going to name this bundle of joy?"
"Sofia, of course!" Regina stated. "An' once she's born, I'm gonna put her on my back like the Indian mommies do and she'll be a . . .what's an Indian baby called again, Unca Rumple?"
"A papoose," he answered, biting his cheek hard.
"Uh huh. A papoose!" Regina warbled.
"Regina!" Henry cried, regaining his power of speech. "You don't even have a boyfriend. How can you have a baby?"
"I don't need a boyfriend, Henry," the little tot informed him. "I just wished for a baby an' now it's here. Like the fairies do. Duh!"
"Yeah, Henry. Like the fairies!" Alina said, then she started laughing hysterically again, along with Grace.
"Is there such thing as an Indian fairy?" Bae wondered.
"According to Regina, there is," Belle said, wiping tears from her eyes.
Emma smiled at her little sister. "So . . . Regina . . . when are you due?"
The little girl looked puzzled. "I dunno, Emma. I'm not doin' anything 'cept havin' a baby."
Emma chuckled. "I mean, when are you having the baby?"
Regina shrugged. "Whenever I want to, I guess. When're you?"
"Uh . . . in about thirty-eight weeks," Emma replied.
"An' what's it gonna be?"
"I don't know. I'll have to wait and see."
"I'm havin' a girl an' her name's Sofia," Regina told her. "Maybe you'll have a girl too. An' what are you gonna call her?"
"Emma and I will have to talk about that," Bae said, his eyes twinkling.
"It could be a boy," Henry said.
"Nope. It's a girl," Regina said decisively.
"How do you know?" Henry snorted.
"I just do," Regina answered, then she turned and walked out again.
A few moments later, she returned holding Sofia in her arms. "See? See? Here's my baby girl, Unca Rumple!" she ran over to show him her doll.
"She's beautiful, dearie," Rumple said.
"Make her a . . . papoose," Regina ordered. "Please!"
So Rumple conjured a little cradleboard and showed her how to put Sofia in it. Regina put it on her back and ran about, showing her new "baby" to the rest of the family.
"I wonder how long that phase will last?" David said.
Rumple started chuckling. "She's a little girl, dearie. It usually lasts a long long time."
Nala jumped up on his lap and he began to pet the kitten, thinking that this holiday had been one surprise after another.
Little did he know that the biggest surprise of all was yet to come.
A/N: How do you think Rumple will react to Belle's news?
Rumple's Recipe Corner:
And here's two more for you!
Snow's (and Regina's) Apple Pie
1 c sugar
3 T flour
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 T butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1 egg white
7-8 thinly sliced peeled apples, different varieties-Rome, Empire golden delicious, Macintosh, Fuji, Granny Smith, Honey crisp
Pie crust
Additional sugar for sprinkling
In small bowl combine sugar, flour, spices—set aside. In lg bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture, toss well to coat. Line 9 inch pie plate with half the pie crust. Place filling into crust, dot with butter. Top with remaining crust, flute edges, cut slits on top. Beat egg white till frothy and then brush over pie & sprinkle with sugar.
Bake 375 35 minutes, increase temp to 400 and bake 10-15 minutes more until golden.
Pie can be frozen before baking, just do not brush with egg white or cut slits till ready to bake.
Cool and then serve with ice cream!
Emma's Maple-Rosemary Rolls
1 c whole milk
1 pkg dry active yeast
3 T pure maple syrup
4 T unsalted butter, at room temp
1 sprig + 1 T chopped fresh rosemary
2 ¾ c of flour
1 ½ t kosher salt
Oil, for bowl and pan
1 t sea salt flakes
In small microwave safe bowl, heat milk till warm to touch. Stir in yeast and 1 T maple syrup, and let sit till frothy, 10 min.
Meanwhile, chop 3 T butter in medium bowl, whisk together the rosemary, kosher salt, and flour. Make a well in the center and add the milk mixture and chopped butter. Using a wooden spoon, stir gently till just mixed (will look shaggy). Transfer to lightly floured surface and knead until smooth 5-6 min.
Put dough into lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set in warm place and let rise till doubled, about 45 min. Lightly oil a 8-9 in round cake pan. Cut dough into 16 pieces, lightly roll into balls, and arrange in prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again till doubled, about 30 min.
Heat oven to 350. Melt remaining T of butter. Gently brush tops of rolls with butter, bake until puffed and lightly golden brown 30-35 min.
Meanwhile, in small saucepan, heat the remaining T of syrup and rosemary sprig over med low heat till barely simmering. Remove from heat.
When rolls are done, discard rosemary sprig and brush syrup over rolls. Sprinkle with sea salt. Let cool 15 min on wire rack before removing from pan.