That Dinner Would Stink Chapter 11: True North, an once upon a time fanfic

"What are you reading?"

Henry looked up to see a girl talking to him "The Hulk versus Wolverine."

"I'm Ava." The girl, Ava said. "I kept seeing you around the school. You're in Miss Blanchard's class, right?" Henry nodded

"Almost ready, Ava?" A boy said.

"This is my brother Nicholas."

"Hi. Come on, let's go."

Ava turned to Henry and said. "You wanna come hang out?"

"Sure." Henry said picking up his backpack and following them, but before they could leave, Mr. Clark stopped them.

" Where the hell do you think you're going?" He then sneezed and pointed at Henry. "Open up your bag."

Henry was very confused "What?"

"Don't think I didn't see you robbing me. Open your bag."

"But, I didn't take anything."

Mr. Clark then grabbed Henry's bag and after looking through it for a second takes out some chocolate bars from it. "And a liar too."

"That's why you were talking to me. So your brother could put the stuff in there." Henry looked very sad at the betrayal.

"Henry, I'm shocked." Mr. Clark turned to Ava and Nicholas. "And you two, just who do you think you are?" Clark looked at the two other children. "I'm calling the Sherif."

"I don't think that will be necessary." Clark looked up from the kids to see Michal standing in the door. "I was coming to pay for what they were going to by, a little treat for Henry and his friends I guess they forgot." The kids looked shocked; Mr. Clark looked like he really didn't believe that.

"Michal, if you actually expect me to believe that, then you must think I'm an idiot of the highest caliber."

"You are." Everyone looked shocked. "You're looking a gift horse in the mouth. Your asking questions when I'm offering a chance to save your hide from an unpleasant fiery death."

"What are you talking about?"

"You were going to call the Sherif and accuse her son of stealing, she will call the mayor and they both will be down here, only to find out that Henry was the unknowing accomplice in the crime. And if you're very unlucky, Gold will find out about you wrongly accusing his stepson. Now ask yourself, what you think any one of these people can do to make your life a living hell, and remember that the two with the most power are the least forgiving." Michal then took out some money, and Clark looking defeated and took it. "Come along children."

"Hey, wait, you can't take all of them. They stole."

"Really, I thought everything was paid for, and if you want those two, you have to take Henry in to." Michal then smiled and left with the children.

When they were a block away, he spoke to Ava and Nicholas. "I hope you both realize that the adults I mentioned could have gone after Clark and you two."

"Were sorry." Ava said. "But we better get home, mom will be worried sick."

"I suppose you could be right." Michal said, the kids then started to leave. "But the dead don't often get sick, do they." They stopped. "My, that seems to have stopped you dead in your tracks, no pun intended."

"What are you talking about, our moms at home, and she must be worried." Ava said.

"No. She's not. Your mother is dead, died a long time ago, you father is at work and doesn't even know you exists. You are going to run to a home that is abandoned, climb over the fence and duck into the store room that you've been living in for the past few years." Michal then opened the back door of his car. "Now you can either get in and I can give you a hot meal and help, or you can run away and if and when the Sherif finds out about you I won't be there to help." After a moment all three kids got in.

Michal then got into the car, and as he was driving, he made a call. "Emma, I would like it very much if you would do me the great honor of having your lunch break at my home… yes today… well, let's just say it's important that you come… Emma, it involves Henry." Michal then smiled at Emma's response. "I knew you'd see it my way, see you at noon."

Michal's Home.

"Who are they?" Emma asked, when she arrived Michal had taken her to the, not quite living room, but it did look comfortable and have a clear view of the kitchen and dining room. The dining room currently had Madelyn, Henry and two other kids eating steak, and they looked like they were in heaven.

"Ava and Nicholas Zimmer. Orphans living in the basement of an abandoned house Gold owns; and I just so happen to rent for a pittance."

"You rent a place." Emma looked shocked. "Why, your house is great?"

"Gold and I have a soft spot for children in trouble. My renting the house let's there be water and heat going to it."

Emma laughed. "So, why do you need me?"

"Today they were clumsy. Normally they are better at stealing from Clark, his inability to not sneeze every 30 seconds means his eyes are often closed." Michal chuckled at that. "But today they tried to use Henry's backpack as a way to smuggle more ill gotten gain than normal. If I hadn't come by, you would be learning about this because Clark had called the sheriff office."

"So, why bring me in, it sounds like they made a pretty good get away."

"I'm preparing for the evil queen to realize that someone is innocent and having a decent life, something she despises. And add to the fact they almost got Henry in a little trouble, well. Imagine what she could do with one phone call to child services to two orphans who don't want to be separated."

Emma didn't need to think long. "They'll be separated and lose everything." She said sadly. "Ok, what do you need?"

"Gold is a smart man, and this." Michal held up a compass with a crack in the glass. "Is something he would most likely have seen come threw his shop at one point or another, why not you ask him about it, see if you happen to find the owner. And I bet you $1,000 that it's a man that lost it twelve years and nine months ago. Perhaps you could return it to him and introduce him to the people that had it."

Gold's Shop.

"Emma." Gold said setting down a lamp he had been polishing. "How lovely to see you. I'm flattered you'd take time off your busy schedule for me darling. What could I do for you?

"I'm sorry Gold, but this isn't a social call, Michal sent me. I'm looking for information on this old compass. Any idea where it could have come from?"

"Well, well. Look at the detail." Gold said, slowly caressing the compass, Emma was staring to regret it not being a social call. "You know, this is crystal. This jeweled setting… And despite the rather unfortunate shape it's in, this is actually a very unusual piece." Gold then puts the compass down to the table again. "The person who owned this obviously had great taste."

"And where would someone like that buy it?"

Gold laughed. "Right here, of course."

Emma smiled. "You know him?

"Indeed. A piece like this is difficult to forget."

"Do you happen to remember who bought it?"

"Well, I'm good with names, sweetheart." He began walking toward the cash register. "But, maybe not that good. However, as luck would have it, I do keep quite extensive records." He pulled out a drawer and began looking threw it. "And… Yes, here we are." But then Gold didn't say anything.

"What is it?" Emma asked concerned.

Gold squinted. "Funny, it appears you visiting and not even offering me a kiss has caused my eyes to fail me." He set the card face down with a sad sigh. "I'm afraid reading it to you will be impossible."

Emma gave him a small laugh. She then leaned across the counter and held his head; she then kissed both of his eyes and his lips. "Better?"

Gold picked up the card and looked at it. "Well, it appears I can read again. Now tell me dear, what you are willing to give me for the information."

"How about a replay of the second day in New York, the part with hand cuffs and the belt." Emma smiled wickedly at him.

"I may soon starve if I keep giving you such good deals, but I'm feeling generous." He said laughing, and Emma looked at him trying to look mean. "Well, that's a start. The compass was purchased by a Mr. Michael Tillman."

"Anything else?"

"Just a name. But I generally find that's all that one needs." He said smiling as Emma left. "Good luck with your investigation dear." Gold then looked down at the blank card, tonight would defiantly be fun.

A Garage in Town.

Michael Tillman looked like a nice guy, he looked old enough to be the father, and there was some resemblance. But at the moment while looking at the file, he resembled a fish more than anything. "Not possible."

"Actually, it is."

"Well, I'm sorry, but Dory – she wasn't my, um… It was just once."

"Sometimes, that's all it takes."

"I met her when I was camping and we, um… No. It's not possible. I don't have twins." He turned back to the care he was working on.

"Yes, you do." Emma said insistently, getting his attention again. "You have twins that have been homeless ever since their mother passed away. You have twins who have been living in an abandoned house because they don't want to be separated from each other. You have twins who could be shipped off to Boston and separated and damaged for life, unless you step up and take responsibility for them."

"Look – I can barely manage this garage. I can't manage two kids." He says, walking over to a work table. And why are you so sure they're mine?"

"Besides the timing. Have you ever seen this?" Emma took out the compass.

He walks over. "I lost this."

"Let me guess, twelve years and nine months ago?" Michael looks up at her in shock. "I know it's a lot, believe me, I know. A month ago, a kid showed up on my doorstep, I gave up for adoption, asking for help with… something, I ended up moving here for him."

He looked sympathetic. "I heard about that. It's the mayor's son. But staying in town is, a lot different from taking him in."

"I don't have my kid, because I don't have a choice. You do. Those kids did not ask to be brought to this world. You brought them into this world, you and their mother. And they need you. If you choose not to take them, you are going to have to answer for that every day of your life. And sooner or later when they find you, because believe me they will find you, you are going to have to answer to them."

He just stood there for a long time. "I'm really sorry, I don't ," He puts the compass back into Emma's hand. "I don't know anything about being a dad. If it's a good home you're looking for, it's not with me." Michal then tries to leave and close a door but Emma sticks her foot in.

"I'm pregnant." She says, instantly stunning him, and even her. "And believe me, it's terrifying. I have a man who can care for me, I know. But when I had Henry I didn't. I though giving him up was best, and maybe it is, but it also might not be. And if you ever become a father again, you're going to have to look at your kids with regret, knowing that you gave up the big brother and sister they will never know." She then holds the compass out to him. "You kids, might get separated, that means odds are they will never see each other again. And the man who stopped them from almost getting the Mayor's wrath. Michal Myrddin, he told me that he has been trying to help those kids, but he can't always protect them."

"Myrddin is helping my kids." The man looked shocked. And Emma was glad he had said 'my'. "Why?"

"Because he is a good man, I'm sure you could talk to him and get him to help. He also told my husband that we can never know if we will be good parents, we can only try. And take it from an orphan herself; any parent is better than none."

"You really believe that?" He asked, because it was defiantly a question.

"Yes." Was all Emma said.

Michal just stood there. He looked like he was tackling a question like the meaning of life or what is really in a hot dog. He just stood there, a million questions being asked and answered, all dancing behind his eyes and through his head. Emma knew that this was his final answer. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to meet them. But please don't tell them I'm their father yes, I want to be sure."

"Of course." But Emma knew, the man was sure.

Michal's Home.

"Michal." Emma said.

"Emma, back so soon." Michal greeted.

"Yes, this is the man you wanted to see…" She paused "About the car repair."

Michal understood. "Ahhh, yes. Wont you come this way sir." He led the way to another room. "Madelyn."

"Yes." The young woman said.

"I was wondering if any of the children would like to come and see a car repair, maybe even help a bit."

"Sure."

"Sure." Came the three responses.

Michal smiled. "Excellent. Come along, Mr… I'm sorry, what was your name?"

"Michael, Michael Tillman."

"Well, Mr. Tillman, this way." And to the garage they went.

They didn't stay long, because nothing was wrong with Michal's white 1958 Cadillac. But in those ten minutes that the children were with their father was enough to make him realize that they were not only his, but that he was keeping them.

And so they left as a family, happy and content. But before they could leave, Michal called out. "Oh. Mr. Tillman."

"Yes."

"I almost forgot your pay." And Michal handed the man $5,000.

Michael eyes and the eyes of his children went wide. "Sir, what one earth is this for."

"Why, the check up of course, $500 a minute for ten minutes. You get $5,000."

"Sir, I can't possibly exspect…"

"Michael, I won't hear of it, if you do not take this money, then I will right the bank a check with strict instructions to not allow you to give me back even on red cent of it. You did your work; it was my fault for assuming something was wrong with that car. And I will not be called a cheat. Now except this money, and go and buy you children a bed, maybe some blankets, and I'm sure your garage could use some help."

"Sir, I can't except this much money, I won't be a charity case."

"Charity, how dare you." Michal looked offended. "This isn't charity, this is money you earned." Michael looked like he was about to say something. "Tell me Michael, is this my money." The man nodded. "Did I not bring you hear for a job." He nodded again. "Then this is me paying you, what I feel to be a just amount. Not get going before the stores all close."

Michael sighed defeated, and so he took the money and his kids and went home.

"Michal." Emma said, and he turned to her. "I hope you realize that you are one of the kindest men I have ever met." She said smiling to him."

"I thank you. If you want to repay me, tell Gold I want the position of godfather and some say on the name of this little bundle of joy." He then went up to Emma and his face grew stern. "And Emma."

"Yes?" She half asked half said a bit concerned.

"I want you to promise me that you will be careful." He then put a hand on her stomach, and felt a slight tingle. "I can fell a strong life growing in here believe it or not, your children will be tough, crafty, inventive, and worry us all sick." He then looked her in the eye, and Emma saw something in his eyes, a fire that a true parent has to protect their child. "But right now they are very vulnerable; they are nothing more than a clump of goo that's barley starting to form. I want you to promise me that you will be careful, the life in you is precarious, and I can promise you Gold has already bonded with them over the last week. To lose them would kill him, and I don't think I could bear to watch that." He then looked regretful. "He's lost a lot in life, he can't lose this."

Emma wasn't sure why he was telling her this, but she was grateful for it. "Thank you. I don't know why, but thank you. I think I needed to here that, and I'll be very careful." And then the tingle went away and he moved his hand.

"Thank you Emma that is all I can ask." And then he went inside, and in a minuet Henry came out and Emma took him home.

The Infinite Forest.

"Hansel, wake up! Hansel!" Gretel said. Her brother wake up and look around, they are in the middle of a forest. "She let us go."

"I'm scared." Hansel said.

"Don't be. Everything will be fine."

"I'm afraid you are wrong." Both children looked up to see an old man in a long white/ silver-ish robe. He had a long silver staff with a blue orb on top, six equally sized bands at equal distances wrapped around the orb, going straight up and meeting at the top. "This is the infinite forest; nothing can escape it without magic."

"Who are you?" Gretel asked, scared.

"I am Merlin. And you are both lost." Merlin's staff just glowed slightly. "Your father in now in the forest."

"Where is he?"

"Well now, that is the question." Merlin then waved his hand causing a puff of silver smoke, and when it cleared the compass was in his open hand.

Gretel reached down, and was horrified to realize that the compass wasn't in her pouch. "Give that back." She demanded.

"I will, but first." He rotated his hand around, and when the compass was facing up again, it disappeared from his hand in another puff of silver and into Gretel's open hand. "This is a test for you my lovelies. Rules are simple I have enchanted the compass to guide you to the thing you want most. But the enchantment is powered by your love and want for that object."

"So it will find our father?" Hansel asked.

"Yes, but you must stay focused on your love for him and want to see him. If you become focused on food, shelter, water, and it becomes greater than your want to find your father, the compass will lead you to that instead of him."

Gretel looked down at the compass, and focusing very hard, the needle pointed to the South west. But when she tried to move, she couldn't. "There is a small matter of payment, you can't get something for nothing you know."

"What do you want?" She asked.

"One day, I will come to you and ask to borrow that compass; you will let me for however long it is needed. Understand?" Merlin stretched out his hand.

"Deal." She shock it, and then off the children went.

Gold's Shop.

"Would you like the good news, the great news, or the really great news?" Michal asked as he entered the shop.

"Give me the good news, then the great." Gold replied.

"The spell worked, Emma has agreed to be careful, so now anything short of her own death will not prevent the birth of your child. I also added a sub A clause to it, for her benefit. Say goodbye to 90 percent of her mood swings, morning sickness, and other un-pleasantries. And the compass works."

The last one really got Gold's attention. "It works, here." He smiled.

"Powered by the true love of a parent for their child, or in this case, the child for the parent." Michal was smiling broadly. "We have just turned this plan from a needle in a hay stack search into a needle in a hay stack search with a magnet."

Gold cringed. "You really need to work on your helpful metaphors."

"And miss the look on your face, heaven forbid." Michal was still smiling.

A Street in Storybroke

"Hay, Emma." Henry yelled.

"Hay kid." Emma said. "What you got there?"

"So pie, pumpkin actually. Want some?"

"Where did you get it from?"

"Granny's."

"Then it's probably safe." She said laughing as she took a bite. "Yep. Store bought pumpkin pie can either be heaven of hell, this is heaven."

Henry sat there with her, and they ate pie. "Can you tell me about him?" Henry suddenly asked.

"You realize that "him" is half the world's population, right." Emma said, trying to keep the good feelings of the day going. She had another bite of pie.

"I mean my dad." Henry said, and suddenly the bite she was about to swallow felt like a rock.

"What?"

"Can I know about him? Can you tell me?"

Emma sat looking at him. 'He wants' to know about his dad!' This was the toughest thing he could ask. The truth was a horrible and unpleasant memory. She could lie. 'Say it was a magical night with prince charming, not bad; it was a drunken haze, ok that is almost as bad; you can't remember from amnesia, what are the odds Henry would buy that?'

'The truth.' Her Gold voice said. 'The boy deserves to know, he won't think any worse of you. He absolutely adores you.'

"His name was Neal." Emma said before she could think. She was stunned by what she had said, not meaning to. But when she looked at Henry, she knew she had to keep going. "He and I met when I stole a car he had already stolen. We hit it off, going around stealing from convince stores, going into motels between checkout and the cleaning lady for a quick shower. We were going to settle down and start a family with a picket fence and a stable life. We went and got some watches he had stolen a long time ago and then he had me take the fall for it. He ran off to LORD knows were and I went to prison. The last thing he gave me was the car. I never knew why." Emma was tearing up a bit. And then suddenly she was crashed into by Henry, he then gave her the mother of all bear hugs.

"I'm sorry." He said very sadly.

She then awkwardly returned the hug. "Hay, hay. It's all right, I have you back, and Gold is a much better guy."

'Thank you.' The Gold voice said.

Henry looked up at her, clearing away the tears. He had that look in his eye that he had an idea. "Emma, could Gold be my dad?"

Emma dropped the pie, her jaw hit the ground, and she was almost certain the sky flashed green, red, yellow, pink, and white. That was a shock. "You would have to ask him." She said slowly. "But it's fine with me."

'! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES,!'

!AND YES!

Was the Gold voice's response.

Gold's Shop.

Gold was finishing up his inventory taking and cleaning. He had had fun talking to Emma earlier and was looking forward to his night with Emma. He had a lot more belts at home, and she had more handcuffs here then she did on the trip.

Gold was certain that his having them just leave town is the only reason she had the one pair on the trip, and he was now sure that that was one of his best decisions ever.

Gold was about to lock up when he felt something catch in his throat. And it tasted like Pumpkin pie?

'What?' He heard Emma's voice.

'Can I know about him? Can you tell me?' That was Henry.

'He wants' to know about his dad!' Emma said. Gold realized that it was the sudden stress of Henry asking about his father that brought this on. Thinking about the man was ebiugh to activate the spell in Emma's ring that she thought she was in trouble.

'Lie'. The word came in clear threw the connection. 'Say it was a magical night with prince charming, not bad; it was a drunken haze, ok that is almost as bad; you can't remember from amnesia, what are the odds Henry would buy that?'

Oh no. Then Gold jumped in. 'The truth.' He said. 'The boy deserves to know, he won't think any worse of you. He absolutely adores you.'

'His name was Neal.' He got Emma to say before she could think. She was clearly stunned by what she had said. But when she looked at Henry, she knew she had to keep going. 'He and I met when I stole a car he had already stolen. We hit it off, going around stealing from convince stores, going into motels between checkout and the cleaning lady for a quick shower. We were going to settle down and start a family with a picket fence and a stable life. We went and got some watches he had stolen a long time ago and then he had me take the fall for it. He ran off to LORD knows were and I went to prison. The last thing he gave me was the car. I never knew why.' Gold could feel Emma was tearing up a bit. And then suddenly she was crashed into by Henry, and Gold felt it as Henry gave her the mother of all bear hugs.

'I'm sorry.' He said very sadly.

She then awkwardly returned the hug. 'Hay, hay. It's all right, I have you back, and Gold is a much better guy.' Gold heard her say.

"Thank you." Gold said, smiling. In retrospect it was a small victory to be better than that man, but he would take it.

'Emma, could Gold be my dad?' The words caused Gold's entire world to spin in every way possible. He could feel that Emma had dropped the pie, her jaw had fallen open, and she was confused because the sky had flashed green, red, yellow, pink, and white. It had for him to because of the link, a shock like that would have disrupted it.

'You would have to ask him.' He heard her say slowly. 'But it's fine with me.'

"! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES,!"

"!AND YES!"

Gold was so happy that he only just realized that not only did he answer Henry out loud, and many time, by shouting. But that the lad couldn't hear him. But he was way too happy to care, so he cut of the connection and went home. Not even bothering to lose the giant smile that was on his face, even if he thought he could.

Thank you to lozzy035, power214063, and of course Twyla Mercedes for the reviews.

Sorry this chap wasn't up sooner, I was updateing other stuff, and even posted my first One-shot. It is The End of the Line for The Blacklist, the best show on…

*Tomatoes are thrown at me from the audience of die hard OUAT fans*

On NBC, I was going to say NBC. OUAT is the best on ABC. Note the different letters before BC. No comment on which of the two shows is better.

Now, something has been bugging me. All my other stories have a rather loyal following based on their reviews, for Rumpelstiltskin's strangest deal and even Ashes of the Dark One, I 95% of the time see the same loyal number of people review with the occasional new guy.

Not to say I don't have loyal Reviewers on this story, it's just a number of people review for a few chaps and then stop, and it makes me thing you have lost interest. And it has happened the most here, on this story.

So my question is, is there a problem with this story. All my other ones seem to be more popular and it's a little discouraging because this is the first story idea I had. (Not first published story, that is The First Dark One, but this is my first idea for a story.)

So if there is a problem of some kind that just makes my other stories better, tell me. Or am I just crazy and there is no problem.

And on that note, please review.