Chapter 11 Deals
Word count 1641
After Blue fell asleep in Emma's bed and Jefferson had taken to the bathroom to clean up, Snow, Emma, James and Cleo joined together to discuss everything. "I wish you would've told us you had gone there Emma." Snow said sternly, "We could've prevented this."
"Maybe we could've." Emma admitted, "But I couldn't help but want to help the people I am supposed to save." She sighed and shook her head in frustration, "These are your friend's mom, and you have to understand where I am coming from. The first night I went into the woods I found Red." Snow's eyes grew wide and a hand went to her chest in surprise but Emma continued, "She was a wolf mom. But she didn't attack me. Okay maybe at first but Cleo was there. Even as a wolf… she could still see that I was there to help her. The next day I went back and that's when I met Henry, but not just him. I met Grumpy, and Red again as a human. She's so nice mom, but she doesn't know who she is. She's lost."
Small tears formed at the cusp of Snow's eyes and she nodded solemnly, "I think I'm beginning to understand."
Emma smiled, "So now you see why we have to go back?"
Snow looked to James, "I don't know Emma. Rumplestiltskin said you would break the curse on your 28th birthday."
"Maybe he was wrong—"she turned from her parents thinking other options, "—or maybe he lied. Regina told me he's playing both sides of the fence. There is something we're missing."
"Like what Emma?" James asked.
Emma turned to her parents, "I don't know. But there is only one way to find out."
Snow's eyes furrowed, "Oh no you don't. You are not going back there!"
"I have to!" Emma stressed, "He'll know what we need to do."
"Emma, you can't trust him. He is a man of deals and you can never leave a conversation without making one." Snow pleaded.
"I'm sorry mom. But I have to. I am the savior, this is my job."
"Alright." James said. "We'll get a good night's rest and Cleo and I will accompany you into Storybrooke tomorrow."
"You agree with this?" Snow questioned, "You can't. We'd be sending our daughter into the mouth of the dragon."
"She's right Snow, this is her job. This is everything we've trained her for. She rescued two people from Regina's clutches and it's time we rescue more."
Emma smiled at her father, "Thanks, but we can't wait until tomorrow."
"Why not?" James questioned.
"Regina is already shaken up, she couldn't have expected me to save Jefferson or Blue. Tonight she'll be at home licking her wounds not expecting me to return. If we went tomorrow she'd expect it."
This time Snow agreed, "She's right." A smile grew on her face as she admired her daughter's tactics. "You three return tonight, I'll make sure Jefferson gets to bed and that both he and Blue are cared for."
Emma quickly closed the space between her and Snow wrapping her arms tight around her mother, "Thanks mom!"
Snow held her daughter even tighter, "Just be careful Emma. This world we come from is so dangerous."
She pulled away and looked at her mother, "I know but, you've trained me well. Plus Dad will be me."
"We'll be fine Snow." James said as Cleo and Emma exited the house, "I'll keep her safe but I'm sure she can do that without my help."
"I know." Snow admitted, "It's just that she's my daughter. And I worry."
James smiled and kissed her, "See you later."
Emma and Cleo were already in the car when James opened the door to get into the back seat. "Excited for your first car ride dad?" Emma asked turning to face him from the front seat.
"Funny thing Emma, I actually own one of these." James laughed at the expression on Emma's face as Cleo started the engine to drive them into town.
The drive seemed quick but their thoughts were filled with the possibilities of what could happen. Could Emma be wrong and Regina was waiting at the town line? Could Rumplestiltskin put them in harm's way? None of those questions mattered anymore as they crossed the town line. Regina wasn't there and that was a start.
"Try his shop first." Emma told Cleo.
"His shop?" James questioned.
"He goes by Mr. Gold here." Emma said, "Jefferson told me he owns a shop full of trinkets from the Kingdom."
"Mr. Gold—suits him." James said as Cleo pulled the car over by the pawn shop.
They all exited the car and a closed sign was draped over the front door. Emma didn't even think twice before she rapped on the door. "Emma the sign says closed."
"And I'm sure it is but for me he'll open it."
"For you?"
Emma continued to pound on the door but looked at her father over her shoulder, "I happened to run into him on my second visit here. He seemed very interested in me but I ran away before he could learn anything about me other than my name."
"He knows your name?" James demanded.
Emma frowned, "It was an accident, I didn't know who he was at the time." She turned back to the door and pounded her fist on it even louder when finally she heard a click and the door swung open.
Mr. Gold stood in the doorway and smiled at the three, "Why, if it isn't Emma, James and-" he looked at Cleo and his grin grew wider, "Cleo, I would've never expected to see you with these two."
Cleo stepped past Gold and into his shop, "I'm playing for the other team." She stated. "You'll find it wise to do the same."
Emma and James followed her into the store as Mr. Gold closed and locked the door, "I'd find it wise? You do know who you are talking to?"
"We do." Emma interrupted, "Mr. Gold, Rumplestiltskin, The Dark One." She took a few steps forward so she stood directly in front of him, "Jefferson has told me all about you. Your deals. The way you manipulate people."
He laughed manically, "Oh dearie, I don't manipulate I just guide. You see your friend Jefferson has a dark side despite wanting to believe it. He did the things I requested because he enjoyed it not because I manipulated him to do it."
She rolled her eyes and continued, "Regardless you don't do anything without yourself in mind. You told my parents that I would break the curse but you told Regina too. You wanted me to know that she knew about me—" Emma turned as she slowly thought out the entire curse, "—you created it didn't you?" She questioned, "This whole curse was created by you."
Mr. Gold smiled as he walked forward into his shop, "You definitely have your mother's wits. And from what I've heard from Regina your father's bravery."
"You talked to Regina?" James asked.
"In fact I did James. She was concerned that Emma would return and foil all her plans." Mr. Gold said as he moved behind the counter.
"What are her plans then?" Emma asked.
"To be happy." Gold said simply, "Isn't that obvious?"
Emma rolled her eyes as she walked towards the counter, "Well she isn't helping herself in that department. Tell me then, what do I need to do to break the curse? Why did you create in the first place?"
"I'm glad you asked that Emma." He turned from her and pulled a cloak off his shelves, "This is my sons." He folded it gently on the counter, "Years ago when I had just became The Dark One my son asked me to choose my power or my love for him, regretfully I chose wrong."
"What do you need me to do then?" Emma asked as Cleo and James stepped next to her.
"I need you to find him."
"Why can't you?" Emma questioned. "Jefferson and Blue crossed the town line without a problem why couldn't you?"
Mr. Gold laughed, "They are okay for now, give them a few hours and they'll be feeling an insanity inside of them that is absolute."
"What do you mean?" Emma pressed, she had grown to think of Jefferson and Blue as two of her best friends.
"They'll go crazy." Gold smiled simply, "So Emma. If you find my son I will tell you how to break the curse."
Worried about her friends Emma needed to hurry this conversation up, "And where do I find them?" Emma questioned.
Gold pulled a small purple vile from his shelf, "This is filled with magic. If you use it on yourself the magic you have inside of you will grow."
"The magic inside of me?"
He laughed just like the imp he was before, he continued, "Of course Emma. You are a product of true love the most pure and true magic of all. There is a spark inside of you. That's magic."
She held the small vial in her hands, "So how do I use it on myself?"
"Drink it. The potion will spread inside of you touching every inch of your body. With that bit of magic you will see things that nobody else does. Hear things from far away. You can be in a town and know every little thing going on with only having stepped a foot inside of it."
"This potion will help me find your son and eventually lead to the curse being broken?" Emma asked.
"That potion will help you with that, and it'll help you defeat Regina."
Without a second thought Emma unscrewed the cap, "Deal." She tipped the vial into her mouth and drank.