Chapter 4

Reunited

They were trekking when they came upon Mr Gold putting a mark on his face. "Hard at work I see" said Hook.

Mr Gold looked at them and said "yes, actually, the coat isn't enough, I need to resemble the dark one even more to have any hope of saving Henry".

Emma said "from where we're standing we've gotten further than you have".

"Everything needs to be thought through" Mr Gold said then asked "and have you made your exit plan yet"?

Emma said "we'll figure it out".

"I sincerely doubt that once on this island it's not so easy to get off". He stopped staring at his granddaughter, he had seen Tally rubbing her chest and saw a black vein only slightly coming out of the shirt. To anyone else it would be as noticeable as a freckle. She spotted him looking at her with sadness and realised he knew. They were about to move on when Tally quickly said "I want to stay with Grandpa Gold".

Emma not wanting to waste time arguing said "Gold, protect her and do not let her out of your sight".

Mr Gold replied "I know how to take care of a child, rest assured I won't let anything happen to my granddaughter".

They were going through the jungle and Mr Gold asked "are you planning to tell her? Your mother, about being poisoned"?

"No, I don't want to upset her, I'm using it to make me want Henry back more" replied Tally.

"Do any of them know"?

"Grandpa David, he is too and Hook noticed his. Grandpa David told me Hook told him I have a month and a half, but he has even less. Can you do anything for us"?

Mr Gold had actually been working on a cure for Dreamshade but it wasn't finished yet and he came to Neverland with the intention to die but now it would seem he might need to choose between his grandchildren. If he died saving Henry Tally wouldn't be able to survive, if he wanted to save Tally he couldn't risk dying for Henry. "My magic can't stop this poison" he replied wanting to help but not wanting her to get her hopes up.

They were in Pan's compound and came across two lost boys in a clearing. "Stop, by order of Pan".

With a wave of his hand they fell asleep, Mr Gold said "I'm not one to follow orders" and he took one of the lost boys spears.

They heard a rustling in the bushes and Mr Gold made himself ready and a figure rushed towards them. Once they saw who the figure was they were speechless. Eventually Mr Gold said "Bae, no, you're not real, you're dead",

Neal said "what, of course I'm real".

"No, you're a vision, just like Belle".

"No, no, listen I was shot but I survived, see I'm alive".

Mr Gold grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against a tree, "no, my son is dead, you're just here to remind me of my failure".

Neal choked "no, it's really me".

"No you're just here to remind me of my weakness, to question my resolve. It won't work I will sacrifice my life for Henry and nothing will stop me".

Tally just watched, she missed her daddy terribly and would love for this to be him but she also knew Grandpa Gold might be right.

Suddenly Neal looked at her and choked "no two people can have the same vision at the same time, if he sees me you wouldn't be able to, but you do see me don't you Sugar Plum".

Tally cried "Grandpa it's really him, only daddy calls me Sugar Plum".

Mr Gold dropped him "Bae, I thought I lost you forever".

Mr Gold asked "how is this possible"?

Neal replied "long story, let's just say Robin Hood debt to you has been filled".

Tally asked "you met Robin Hood, did you meet Maid Marian too? was she pretty? is..."

Neal laughed and said "I met Robin Hood, but not Maid Marian, but Robin Hood has a son about your age."

"You were back in our world"? Mr Gold asked.

Neal said "yeah, and I made it here. All that matters is I help Emma save Henry. Where is she"?

Mr Gold said "she and the others are getting help from Tinkerbelle but Tally decided to come with me".

Neal asked "and what did you do to these boys"?

"Oh, it's fine they're just asleep".

"I take it you have a plan, the whole you sacrificing your life thing was just you being dramatic"

"That's the only way, Pan is too powerful, you can only beat him if you're willing to die, which I am".

Tally cried "I don't want you to die Grandpa Gold".

Neal said "don't worry Sugar Belle, I may have a plan that doesn't kill anyone". He took the spear and some rope.

They reached a lagoon Tally asked "why are we here"?

She was nervous being this close to the water since being on the Jolly Roger. Between the mermaid and the killer storm that almost killed her mommy it left her a little afraid of the water.

Neal bent down a picked up a shell and said "remember when mommy taught you that if you put a shell up to your ear you can hear the ocean"?

Tally said "the ocean must have been very quiet that day because I couldn't hear a thing".

Neal mentioned "I don't think scallop shells are the kind you can listen to. With some shells they work the other way around and the ocean can hear you. Neal blew into the shell.

Mr Gold asked "why would we need the ocean to hear us".

They saw a ripple in the water, before whatever it was surfaced Neal took Tally behind a tree and said "stay here while grandpa and I get something".

A squid surfaced and Neal threw the spear and caught the squid and then he and Mr Gold pulled the squid on to the shore. When it stopped struggling Neal called "it's alright Sugar Plum, you can come out now".

Mr Gold asked "a giant squid, this is your plan".

Neal said "last year when Henry needed to go to the Dream Realm you communicate with Emma and Mary-Margaret you said you could get ink from one of these bad boys".

Mr Gold said "squid ink, so that's your plan".

Neal said "they can immobilize the most magical of creatures at least for a little while, even Pan".

Tally said "so the ink can stop him".

Neal said "not stop him forever, just long enough for us to go in, get Henry and get out".

Mr Gold said "how do you plan to get close enough to use it"

Neal picked up a crossbow and said "I don't need to get too close. All I need is a clean shot to get Henry back".

Mr Gold said "leave that to me".

They arrived at Pan's camp and saw him with a load of lost boys and one boy at the edge of the camp looking away, Henry. Mr Gold waved his hand and some of the torches went out, all the lost boys fell asleep plus Henry. Peter Pan said "looks like we have a guest, no doubt someone who knows how much I like guessing games. I guess"... A touch got relit "the Dark One". Neal crept along to surprise Pan while his dad kept Pan's attention. Meanwhile Tally watched from the side line. "Come to save Henry laddie, the dark one ready to sacrifice himself for his family. Speaking of family, you can come out now Baelfire".

Neal came out of the jungle pointing the crossbow at Pan, "the name's Neal now".

Pan replied "new name, same old tricks. It's so heart-warming to see a family working together, wouldn't you agree Tally"?

Tally came out and quickly ran behind Neal's legs "it must be so inspiring for to see a father and son work together especially after you abandoned him Rumple".

Mr Gold felt a pang of hatred "what are you waiting for, shoot him"?

Neal replied "I got this".

He shot his arrow and Pan caught it an inch away from his chest. Pan said "clever, but we've been through this before Baelfire, have you remembered nothing".

"I remembered plenty" said Neal. "That's why I didn't coat the tip".

Pan dropped the arrow and Mr Gold said "grab Henry"

Tally watched in awe as the ink paralysed Pans body as her daddy and grandpa Gold got Henry's sleeping body.

"How about that, I'm impressed, but are you sure you're really saving him Bae"? Pan asked.

Neal asked "what could be worse than leaving him here with you"?

Pan answered "why don't you ask your father, sometimes the ones we should fear the most are the ones closet to us"?

Neal turned to Mr Gold and asked "what's he talking about"?

Mr Gold said "don't listen to him

Pan asked "you mean you haven't told him"?

Neal asked "told me what"?

Pan said "why about the prophesy of course".

Neal asked "what's he talking about? What prophesy"?

"The one that say's you've been tricked, your father isn't here to save your son, he's here he murder him".

Tally could see this was making Grandpa Gold uncomfortable and yelled "you're a liar, Grandpa Gold would never hurt Henry".

Pan smirked and said "he risked Henry life once before, not too far of a stretch to believe he'd try murdering him to get what he wants".

Tally replied "he risked Henry's life to save him and everyone else".

They escaped but Neal couldn't get Pan's words out of his head. Once they were far enough into the jungle Neal lay Henry down and tried to wake him up. Mr Gold said "pulling him out of the spell could be dangerous, he'll awake naturally in a few hours".

Neal said "okay, then maybe you can tell me what the hell Pan meant. What's this prophesy? Why's he say you'd kill Henry"?

Mr Gold answered "I don't know, to drive a wedge between us".

Tally was satisfied with that answer, it made sense and sounded like what a clever demonic boy would do on the verge of losing. Neal knew his father better "that's not a denial, this has to do with what happened when I found you. You thought I was a hallucination". His voice changed to a yell "you said you had to do the right thing and save Henry, now what did you mean"?

"Baelfire"...

"IT'S NEAL, Baelfire hasn't existed since I got off the god-forsaken island now stop dodging and tell me what's going on"?

Tally had never heard her daddy sounding so furious, it was the first time she felt truly afraid of him.

"There was I seer, she told me my actions on the battlefield would leave my unborn son without a father. Despite my best efforts and the fourteen years thinking I got around it, it still came true. When I found her again she told me a boy would help reunite me with you, and that boy would be my undoing".

"Henry" Neal whispered.

Mr Gold tried to explain "I didn't know he was going to be my own grandson until I found out the saviours husband just so happened to be my beloved long lost son".

Neal mentioned "you were planning to kill him no matter who he was weren't you? To try and cheat fate, to get around the prophesy, you cold-blooded... ".

Mr Gold said "three hundred years ago yes".

Neal started backing up "get back, you stay away from him".

"That was then, things have changed, I didn't come to Neverland to hurt Henry, I came to save him".

Neal asked "after what you just told me I'm supposed to believe you".

Mr Gold said "I won't lie to you Bae, self-preservation has been a nasty habit I've had my whole life. But I came here to break it, to do the right thing and save your son, even if that meant sacrificing my own life" Neal's eyes widened "you have to trust me".

Neal asked "how can I? I've made that mistake too many times".

When Neal walked away from him Tally saw Grandpa Gold looked hurt so she went to comfort him. "Sugar Plum, stay away from him" Neal called seeing her approach him

"But daddy..."

"Tally, don't go near him " he said in a tone more stern than she'd ever heard.

"Nevermind" she murmured and came back towards her daddy.

After a while Mr Gold asked "tell me what I can do to gain your trust and I'll do it"?

Tally said "maybe you should give him a chance daddy"?

Neal had a think and then said "give me the dark one dagger". He saw the hesitation on his father's face "I know you, you wouldn't come all the way to Neverland without it. It's the only thing that can control you, it's the only thing that can stop you. I don't need to trust you, if I can stop you. You wouldn't take any chances with it".

Mr Gold said "I don't have it"

"Why are you lying"?

"I'm not lying, I've hidden it, so Pan couldn't get it, so he couldn't stop me"

Neal simply said "then unhide it".

Mr Gold said "my shadow took it".

Neal chuckled before replying "your shadow, you have an answer for everything don't you".

"I'm telling you the truth, I swear".

Tally said "I think he's telling the truth, if he wanted Henry dead he's had a million chances to do it. He could've left Henry to Pan, he didn't think mommy could beat him anyway."

Neal stood up "maybe you're telling the truth, maybe you do want to do the right thing". Mr Gold and Tally happily thought maybe he was reconsidering. "But that's today. What about tomorrow"?

"I've changed"

"Have you? The prophesy still stands, you save him he's still your undoing".

"I'm still willing to die for him"

"What about when we get back home, and you're reunited with Belle, and you realise the only thing standing between you and your happy ending is my son, and suddenly undoing doesn't sound so great".

"You're my happy ending, this is because it's my redemption, I can be strong, if you have faith in me".

Neal put his hand in his father's "you know when I was living here sleeping in a cave I used to dream of you coming to rescue me. Then I'd wake up and I'd remember how you left me behind. You left your own son behind for the power of that dagger how can I believe things would ever be any different".

Neal removed his hand and Mr Gold saw he's pressed a leaf into his hand. As he shook the leaf off he saw it had to stick to his hand with squid ink. "Neal...what are you doing".

Neal grabbed Henry and said "I'm finding Emma and the others and I'm getting my family back home".

Mr Gold said "you can't go into the jungle alone, without my powers to keep you safe Pan will capture all three of you".

Neal said "sorry, I've got no choice, we're safer without you, goodbye papa. Sugar Plum come on".

Tally gave Grandpa Gold a quick hug then went with her daddy. Before she left she said "bye-bye Grandpa Gold, I still believe in you".

As they left tears fell from Mr Gold's eyes.

They came upon a camp and Neal put Henry down. Tally said "this is our camp daddy. We can leave when they get back now we've rescued Henry".

"You were so close to finding them" Pan came out of the undergrowth. Lost Boys appeared from all around the camp.

Neal yelled "Tally run".

As the Lost Boys surrounded Pan said "don't worry we're not interested in her. When we leave we'll leave her here, besides we wouldn't want the poison to spread faster".

Neal breathed "poison".

"Something else your father didn't tell you" said Pan. "Your daughter was unfortunate enough to be poisoned with Dreamshade. You know you disappoint me, I thought I taught you better, never break in somewhere unless you know the way out."

Neal replied "I'll remember that for next time".

"Pan smirked "there isn't going to be a next time. Don't feel bad, your father could have protected all of you, but then who would protected Henry from him"?

Pan's right hand Felix took Henry away Tally cried "no Henry".

Neal pulled her back "it's no use Sugar Plum there's two of us and about twelve Lost Boys". He told Pan "I will get my son back no matter what it takes, and find an antidote for my daughter".

Pan told him "you're not getting it, first off there is only one antidote, but if she takes it she'll only survive id she's on this island. The moment she's home the poison will kill her. Secondly you got your son, I got him back, that's the game. Your real problem is there is no escaping Neverland. No one gets off this island without my permission".

Neal smugly replied "I did once before".

Pan asked "did you? Think about it, had you not left you wouldn't have grown up, met Emma, and had created the truest believer. And look where you are now, it's like you never left".

Neal asked "you're saying you let me go"?

Pan answered "I'm saying everyone's exactly where I want them". They heard Henry stirring "something to chew on". Addressing the Lost Boys he said "you know where to take him"

The Lost Boys took Neal away, as Tally watched on in horror a few Lost Boys pushed her back. Neal yelled words of protest and Henry's name. Pan said "don't worry it won't be for very long. Just until I reset the board, you see the game is about the change".

All the Lost Boys left leaving Tally all alone, feeling scared she sat down and cried.

Emma and the others arrived back at the camp and saw Tally. "Tally" Emma called.

Tally's head shot up, in a hurried pace she said "Mommy, daddy and Henry".

"What about them"?

"Daddy's alive".

"You must have been dreaming sweetheart".

"No, he survived, we saved Henry but Pan caught us and took him back, and had daddy taken away she started crying again.

Hook said "I'm sorry but that was a dream. Pan's too powerful to be stopped by a former Lost Boy".

Emma held Tally and said "I would give anything to believe he was really back but soon enough we'll move on because he'd want us to be happy".

Tally said "but I know what I saw, and that he let daddy leave so he could grow up and make Henry".