So, here begins the Neal arc. :) The whole chapter was written by me. Hope you'll like it and... enjoy!
Disclamer: I own nothing. OUAT goes to Horowitz and Kitsis, SM goes to Naoko/Toei.
Future Sight. Light and Thunder search.
Storybrooke
Mary Margaret, David and Little Em were helping Emma make her baggage. The previous day, Mr Gold localized his son being in New York and he already bought three plane tickets: for himself, his daughter and Emma. Then, the door of Mary Margaret's loft opened and Emily entered followed by Gold.
"So, are you ready Emma?" – Emily asked to her friend.
"I think, but… we're going to New York, and… we're not sure how long we'll be gone." – Emma commented.
"Don't worry, all the outgoings are at my charge, even the unforeseen ones." – Gold replied.
"Trying to be a gentleman?" – David asked, giving Emma her bag – "Keep in mind that it's my daughter, and if something ever happens to her, I'll…"
"You'll what? David Nolan, who forgot about everything, will pursue me on the animal shelter van?" – Gold asked sarcastically.
"…inconsolable." – David finished – "I am not threatening you, just asking you… take care of her."
"I promise you that nothing will happen to Miss Swan." – Gold promised after what he left the loft, along with Emily and Emma.
They then sat in Gold's car, and while the man was driving in the direction of the town limit, Emma asked worriedly:
"Do you think the shawl will help to keep your memories?"
Before Gold had a chance to reply, Emily said:
"I saw it working before. So, there is nothing to worry about."
Emma nodded, but felt slightly anxious anyway. Then, as they crossed the town line, she asked, to make sure:
"So…?"
"I'm still Rumplestiltskin." – Gold replied, reassuring the girl – "And I'm on my way to find my son."
Meantime, Cecilia, Danielle and Rosalie were walking on the beach. Alexandra soon joined them, seemingly in a very good mood.
"Hi girls! Did Emma and Emily already leave?"
"Yes, about minutes ago." – Cecilia replied.
"Too bad… I just learned exciting news!" – Alex said with a grin – "My mum and dad are expecting a child!"
Her three friends looked a bit surprised for a moment and then Rosalie spoke:
"Oh, that's great… but how do you feel about this…?"
"I think it's just wonderful!" – Alexandra exclaimed – "Our family is growing and that's a good thing, we're moving on."
"Well, we're glad that you're glad about this." – Rosalie said with a smile.
"From us four, you're the only who'll probably have siblings someday…" – Cecilia added.
"Don't say that, Cecilia. There's always hope, those things always come unexpected." – Alex protested.
"Don't know about you, but I'm glad to be only child." – Danielle said – "Younger siblings are so annoying."
Logan International Airport (hours later)
Gold, Emily and Emma had a hard day in the airport. Mainly, it was because of the hours waiting for their plane. But the most difficult moment was when they had to pass the baggage control. Mr Gold was asked to put his shawl in the basket, but this was what kept Gold's memories intact. At first, the man refused but the girls calmed him down and helped him pass the control, while he was disoriented without the shawl. But Emily quickly put the shawl back around his neck, which restored his normal state of mind. Good thing this was over and they were finally sitting in the plane, the two girls were ready as ever for their adventure to New York. Gold was however very anxious, and it wasn't unnoticed by Emily.
"Don't worry, Gold… we will find your son." – she said him with a reassuring tone.
"I know…" – was all that Gold replied, his eyes empty, while Emma and Emily looked at him with concern.
Enchanted Forest
Rumplestiltskin came home, where his wife Milah was weaving. After they couple briefly kissed, Milah noticed that Rumple was in a rather good mood.
"What's going on? You're quite early today." – she asked.
"I was convoked to the war." – her husband replied, showing her the document.
"The Ogres War…" – Milah said worriedly – "No, Rumple… I heard what people say about it, it's horrible…"
"I know, Milah, I know… I can't say I won't be scared, but… it's the chance I waited for my entire life." – Rumple replied, taking his wife's hands in his – "You know that my father's doings are constantly shadowing me."
"The fact your father was a coward doesn't mean you are one."
"I know this, just like you do. But the others don't. By fighting at the war, I'll have the chance to prove them wrong." – Rumplestiltskin explained.
After a moment, Milah nodded and she then said:
"Okay… go. Be brave, fight worthily."
"Oh gods, I love you…" – her husband said emotionally.
"I love you too. When you'll come back, we'll live as we always wanted to." – Milah said with a smile – "We'll have children…"
"A family…" – Rumple added, smiling too.
New York
Mr Gold, Emily and Emma exited a taxi next to a building in which Baelfire supposed to live. Gold stared at it in silence and Emily then asked:
"What's wrong…? Not the right place?"
"No, it's the right one…"
"Let me guess… he's not expecting you." – Emma said, and since the man didn't reply, she added – "Well, who doesn't like surprises?"
The three of them then entered the building. In the hall, they tried to identify in which flat Baelfire could live.
"Didn't the magic globe reveal you the apartment number?" – Emma asked.
"It doesn't work this way…" – Gold replied.
"Does any name tell you anything…?" – Emily then asked.
Gold replied that even if names were his thing, none of the names was familiar. Then, Emma pointed a doorbell, which had a number, but there was no name written on it. For the girl, there were no doubts that it was him.
"Or maybe, the apartment is empty." – Gold suggested.
"No, I don't think so… Hiding behind a number is a good way to hide." – Emma protested, after what she pressed the button and said – "A delivery for 407."
There was no answer. Then, they heard some noise outside and Emma realized that he was running away. The three of them exited and saw a guy going down the fire escape.
"The favor you owe me, here it is: make him talk with me. I can't run." – Gold said.
"Alright, I'll catch him." – Emma replied, after what she ran after Baelfire.
Emma ran through New York streets for a while, doing her best to not let the guy escape. At some point, she decided to catch him by getting around a building from the other side. And this helped; she and the presumed Baelfire collided and fell on the ground. As Emma looked up to face him and then, she got stunned by shock. Baelfire was no other than… Neal, her ex-boyfriend!
"Neal…?"
"Emma…? I don't understand… what are you doing here…?" – Neal asked.
"What I am doing here?" – Emma said with disbelief – "I won't answer until you tell me the truth. Are you Gold's son?"
"What are you talking about? Who's Gold…?"
"You lied to me…" – Emma said, feeling her anger rise – "You're from… there. You lied to me, and he did too…"
"What? Emma… Not that fast… What are you talking about? Who's Gold…?" – Neal asked, clearly confused.
"Your father! Rumplestiltskin!" – Emma almost yelled, astonishing Neal.
"He's… he's here…?"
"How else I could get in here…?!"
"Now, he came for me! Why did you do this…?!"
"I am the one who has the right to be angry!" – Emma shouted – "You knew who I was, where I came from this entire time?! Was it some plan of yours?! You actually never needed me!"
"Emma… Emma, please…" – Neal tried to calm her down.
"I need the truth!" – she shouted.
"Alright!" – Neal shouted back, making Emma shut up – "Just not here, okay? I hid from this man my entire life, I won't let him catch me. There's a café nearby, that's where we'll talk…"
"I'm going with you nowhere! If you have something to tell, tell me here!" – Emma protested.
"No, come with me… Don't worry, once we arrive, you can yell at me as much as you please." – Neal said.
Very unnerved, Emma followed Neal anyway, knowing it was the only way to finally get some answers.
Meanwhile, Emily and Gold were standing outside the building. Emily was eating a hot-dog Gold bought her and was trying to reassure her father.
"Don't worry, Gold. I'm sure Emma will catch him. I would have went with her, but her sportive condition is better than mine…" – Emily said in a somehow apologetic manner.
"I know, that's why I asked her." – Gold replied with a smile – "She's more used to run, considering she ran away from the foster system several times. But Baelfire hid from me during long years… so, he's very good at this."
"Well, at least we found him." – Emily said with a small smile, before saying seriously – "You know, I forgave you… for letting Belle and I alone. I am sure he'll forgive you too."
"But the circumstances of our separation weren't quite the same…" – Gold said.
"But now you're here. And you want to bring him back, right?" – Emily pointed out.
"More than anything." – Gold said with a nod.
"That's what truly matters." – Emily said with a sympathetic expression.
Mr Gold slightly nodded and smiled. Emily reminded him so much of Belle. He was also glad that she didn't inherit the worst traits of his personality.
Storybrooke
Mary Margaret and David were sitting on a bench, while Little Em was playing with her ball, Lux T, on the playground. After a moment, Mary Margaret stated:
"She's having so much fun… you couldn't say she went through traumatic events the last few days."
"She's a child, she'll forget this quickly." – David said – "Besides, we all move on from our worst days. Look at our friends, Ashley and Sean. Their little family is growing. And even Regina, after all those years of anger and revenge, she lives a… more or less… normal life with her daughter Danielle. Mr Gold went to New York, searching for his son."
"You're right. We should savor the happy moments." – Mary Margaret agreed and she looked amused at how Little Em was now transforming Lux T into different objects – "Now, I'm wondering what Emma might be currently doing…"
"Oh, don't worry. She'll tell everything, once she comes back. And if something goes wrong, she'll surely let us know."
"I guess you're right." – Mary Margaret agreed with her husband.
The couple was unaware that Captain Hook was passing nearby and heard the part of the conversation which stated that Gold went out Storybrooke. The pirate thought it was the best moment to get his revenge. "Since the Crocodile is outside Storybrooke, this means he has no magic. And so, he's vulnerable and I can kill him." – he thought for himself and walked back to his "Jolly Roger".
New York
Neal and Emma were sitting face to face at a café table. As a waitress brought what Neal ordered, the girl noticed that Neal ordered a cup of cinnamon cocoa for her.
"I hadn't forgotten…" – Neal simply said.
"Don't expect this small gesture soften me that easily." – Emma said quietly, but sternly.
"Alright… What do you want to know? You need the truth, so ask me." – Neal said.
"Did you know the truth when we met?" – Emma asked.
"No, I didn't know. If I did, I wouldn't even get close to you."
"Oh, come on…"
"What 'come on'…?" – Neal asked, irritated by Emma's difficult attitude – "I was hiding. I came here to go away from… all this crap…"
"So, if you didn't know, you just used me. You just toyed with my heart, before simply breaking it." – Emma said, still convinced that between them was just a game for him.
"I didn't use you… When we first met, I didn't know… I found out later. The night we planned to run away… when I was on my way to meet you, I… met your friend… Lux."
Neal started to walk away, not even giving the cat a second glance. But he did not walk too far, as he suddenly felt the cat jump on his back. Neal glared at Lux, shouting:
"Hey! Get off of me…!"
Before he had the time to push Lux, the cat suddenly whispered in Neal's ear:
"I know you're Baelfire."
"You left me alone… without even properly breaking up with me… just because some talking cat told you so…?!" – Emma exclaimed with tears in her eyes.
"Emma…"
"I loved you." – Emma stated, showing how hurt she was back then.
"I just wanted to help you…" – Neal said, not daring to look in his ex-girlfriend's eyes.
"Help me by breaking my heart?"
"Help you return to your home."
"Are you saying that our meeting was a coincidence? I mean, how is that even possible, if it wasn't your plan or your father's?"
"Think about it… he wanted you to break the curse. Our meeting would only prevent this." – Neal stated, as Emma stared at him with disbelief – "You don't believe it? But you should know better than anyone about destiny."
Emma sighed with exasperation. She hated to admit that Neal was right about it. Wasn't it destiny that brought her and the other five guardians to Storybrooke, so they could reunite and break the Dark Curse? Emma shook her head and after she made several gulps of her cocoa, Neal said:
"Maybe, our meeting had some purpose. Maybe the fact we met back then and that we're reuniting now makes some sense?"
"No, it doesn't." – Emma denied – "Well, our story is in the past now."
"But I noticed you're wearing Sailor R's pin I stole for you." – Neal pointed out with a smile.
Emma looked down and saw that her jacket was widely open, which permitted to see the inner side of it. It was there that was pinned the pins Neal gave her. She quickly unpinned it and put it on the table, as giving it back to him.
"I wear it for two reasons: one, because Sailor R is a part of my life and two, it reminds me that anyone can betray." – she said coldly – "Let's go. I made a deal with your father, so I would bring you to him."
"You made a deal with him?" – Neal asked, a bit annoyed by this fact.
"Yes, and I'll respect my part of it." – Emma said.
"But you don't have to. You can say that you missed me… if you do, you won't be forced to ever see me again." – Neal stated, making Emma wonder if she shouldn't rather take his offer.
Enchanted Forest
Rumplestiltskin was in the training camp. He got called by the chief of the army, because he was needed to look after some creature hidden in a cage covered by a blanket. The chief explained that it was someone who could help them to defeat the Ogres, and he advised Rumple to be careful because it was a sly creature. As Rumple stood next to the cage, he heard a voice from the cage, calling his name. He removed the blanket from one side of the cage and he saw a little red haired girl, who had no eyes on her face. There were scars on the place her eyes were supposed to be.
"You're… a child…" – Rumple said surprised.
The girl pointed a finger in the direction of the bucket of water and she pleaded:
"Please… I hadn't drunk for days…"
"How do you know my name…?" – Rumple asked.
"I'm a seer." – the girl replied, revealing her palms on which she had blue eyes – "I see everything."
"No, that's impossible. You must have heard someone's conversation." – Rumple said, refusing to believe in such things.
"Rumplestiltskin, son of a coward, raised by spinners… you're fearing to become like your father…" – the little prophetess said, surprising Rumple by the veracity of her words – "Could I've heard that? I'm telling you, I see everything, even what hadn't happened."
"You mean the future? You can see the future?"
"Of course I can. Even yours."
"No, no, no… I won't surrender to this… dark magic."
"Even if it concerns your wife Milah?" – the girl asked.
"What's wrong, is she alright?" – Rumple asked worried.
"Give me water." – the seer said.
Rumple then gave to the prophetess a glass of water and then he demanded her to tell him what she knew. The girl drank a couple of gulps and then she said:
"She's already with a child."
Hearing this, Rumple smiled and he asked happily:
"I'll become a father?"
"Your wife will give birth to a son. But your actions of tomorrow on the battlefield will leave him fatherless."
"I will die…?" – Rumple asked in shock – "No, no, you must tell me how to avoid this."
"You can't." – the girl said.
"So, I'm done helping you." – Rumplestiltskin said, taking the glass of water from the girl's hands.
"That's now. But someday, you'll help me again."
"I bet Milah isn't even!" – Rumple said, refusing to believe the seer's words – "You said so only for me to get you water. And now, you're trying to trick me into the deserting."
"You'll see it." – the girl said – "Tomorrow, when the troops will go on the cows to battle, you'll know that I said the truth."
"On the cows? And who's going to handle the catapults? Milkmaids?" – Rumple asked sarcastically – "I have enough of your lies!"
"There is no escaping it. You'll have a son and your actions will leave him fatherless."
Angered, Rumple put the blanket back over, to finish this unpleasant conversation.
New York
Emily and Mr Gold were now sitting inside, in the hall of the building Baelfire lived. Gold was very nervous; Emily could tell it by his tensed posture and by how he was toying with a ring on his finger. The girl then suggested:
"You know… if you're so nervous, you could… watch the future, to see what will happen?"
"It's not that easy… I didn't always have this power. And when I got it… well, it's not the kind of gift you want. Seeing the inevitable is a horrible price, and it's like a trap. The future is like a puzzle, with missing pieces. It's difficult to understand. And it's never like you think it is." – Gold explained to his daughter.
Emma then entered the building, and both of them looked at her. Gold then asked:
"Did you find him?"
"I'm sorry, your son… managed to escape." – Emma said, with a slight hesitancy.
Gold seemed disappointed, for a moment. Then, he began to ring in all the apartments, until someone finally opened the door which gave access to the stairs.
"Gold, what are you doing…?" – Emma asked.
"I'm looking for my son." – Gold replied.
"But he's not here…" – Emma said, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
"But he lives there." – Gold stated – "When he'll come back, I'll be waiting for him."
As they headed the 407th apartment, Emma said, trying to dissuade Gold:
"You can't just break and enter."
"That's actually something I'm good at."
"You could be arrested…" – Emma added.
"Good thing, my son and I will reunite at the trial." – Gold said, determinate as ever.
Emily looked at her friend, with a look of wonderment. She couldn't understand why her friend suddenly seemed so anxious. But she didn't dare to ask her, feeling that it was the wrong moment. Gold managed to open the door and the three entered the apartment.
Enchanted Forest
It was a late evening. Rumple saw how several soldiers, with missing or badly damaged limbs, were brought at the military camp. Another soldier who watched the scene said:
"Lucky guys…"
"I doubt they would agree with you." – Rumple replied.
"They didn't die, but they can't fight. That means they'll be sent back home. It's the only way to be out of there alive." – the man explained – "When the ogres will tear you apart, you should pray for the death to be quick."
This statement made Rumple quite anxious. Then, the chief of the army made an announcement. The duke sent the best supplies and so the army wouldn't go to the battle walking, but riding. Rumplestiltskin asked:
"Riding what…?"
"What a question. Riding horses, of course!" – the chief replied, reassuring Rumple before he added – "Now, everybody takes a cow and prepare yourself."
"What… what did you just say…?" – Rumple asked alarmed.
"A cow. The saddles the duke sent are made of the best leather. We call them "cows"."
As everyone went prepare themselves for the battle to come, Rumplestiltskin went to the cage where he spoke with the seer the previous day.
"So, this is all true… I'll have a son… and I'll die…?! Answer!"
But pulling the blanket up, he saw that the cage was now empty. The man began to cry in despair, as he saw a huge hammer and he suddenly had an idea. He took the hammer and he blew it at his leg, damaging it badly, after what Rumple collapsed on the ground, shouting in pain.
New York
Gold, Emily and Emma were walking around in Baelfire's apartment. Besides the furniture, a few books and movies, and some clothes, the guy didn't possess too much things. It was a typical apartment of a single and lone person. But then, Emma's attention got attracted by something. It was a map of the United States, hanging on the wall. She approached it, recognizing it immediately. It was the same map on which Neal asked her to point on the place they would run to together. Emma saw that "Tallahassee" was encircled by a red marker pen. This made Emma feel a bit emotional. But then, she noticed two points on the map, marked by black crosses. One of them was Michigan and the other was Boston. Next to each cross were written dates. Next to Michigan, it was written from 2009 to 2011. Boston indicated the year 2011 and to it was attached a phrase from a newspaper: "Where is Sailor R?" Emma understood that these were the locations where Sailor R was doing her superhero job. So, Neal was keeping informed about Rosalie's activity? Like he said her earlier, he wanted to make sure she would break the curse and finally find her family. As Emma was deep in thought, Gold noticed this and he asked:
"Did you find something, Miss Swan?"
"No… it's just a map… He seems to like Sailor R." – Emma said, as neutrally as she could manage, but Gold didn't buy it.
"If it's nothing important, why are you still staring at this map?"
Emma then turned to face Mr Gold, who after a moment said:
"You are lying to me."
"No, I… let's pursue our researches…"
"No, no, you definitely saw something. Tell me, what was it?"
"I saw nothing…" – Emma tried to dissuade the man.
"Tell me!" – Gold demanded.
"Guys, please…" – Emily stood between them, raising her hands in a calming manner.
But Gold said to his daughter:
"Emily, it would be better if your friend and I spoke alone."
"No, I can't leave you two like this…" – Emily protested.
"Let us alone!" – Gold said sternly, showing Emily that arguing with him wasn't the best option.
The girl sighed in exasperation, but before she walked to the other room, she said:
"But I hope you won't…"
"No, I won't hit her, if it's what worries you." – Gold said, making Emily walk away reluctantly.
Then, as they were alone, Gold addressed Emma again:
"What are you hiding from me…? Did he tell you something?!"
"No, he told me nothing…!" – Emma exclaimed, seeing that she was in a bad posture.
"But you've talked?!" – Gold asked, after what he saw in Emma's eyes that he got it right – "Tell me the truth now! We've made a deal! A deal! And no one breaks a deal with me!"
It was at that moment when Neal entered the apartment, shouting at his father in order to stop him:
"Hey! Leave her alone."
Enchanted Forest
Limping, Rumple walked home, where Milah was holding her newborn son in her arms. As her husband entered the house, he asked:
"Milah… how did you call him…?"
"Baelfire." – Milah replied with a smile.
"That's a strong name!" – Rumple exclaimed content, before collapsing on the ground due to the horrible pain in his leg.
"He'll need it… considering the fact he'll have to grow up as your son…" – Milah commented.
"What are you talking about?" – Rumple asked as he sat on a chair.
"Rumple, is that true…?" – Milah asked on edge of tears.
"What is true…?"
"That you crippled yourself… so you wouldn't have to fight and you would've be sent home…"
"Who told you that?"
"Everyone! Rumors go quickly from the front… Rumple, did you do this to yourself?" – Milah asked, before doing it much louder – "Did you do this to yourself?!"
"Yes!" – Rumple shouted back at his wife, who looked disgusted by his action – "A seer told me that I would die in the battle…!"
"You did this because a seer told you to do it?!"
"She was right about everything else… I left the front to be with you… to be with Baelfire…" – Rumplestiltskin tried to explain himself.
"You left because you were afraid." – Milah protested with disgust – "You're what everyone thinks you were… a coward! Just like your father!"
This statement angered Rumple, who despite his pain, stood from his chair and shouted:
"I'm nothing like my father! He did abandon me! I would never do that to my son! I only did this for him… for our boy… to save him from the same fate I suffered: growing up without a father."
"You sent him to a fate much worse… growing up as your son." – Milah said.
"What else could I do…?" – Rumple asked almost in despair.
"You could've fought, Rumple… you could've died!"
"You don't mean that…" – Rumple said, shaking his head – "You don't mean that…"
Without saying a word, Milah gave Baelfire to her husband, before she went outside to get water. As he looked at his newborn son, Rumple vowed:
"It's alright, Bae… it's alright. Your papa's here… And I promise… that I'll never, ever leave you…"
New York
Mr Gold was petrified for a moment. Finally, after long years, his son Baelfire was finally there, standing in front of him. He spoke:
"Bae… you came back for me…"
"I came to defend her." – Neal corrected him – "I saw what you do to people who break your deals."
"Bae, please, let's talk…" – Gold begged.
"I don't want to talk with you. You can go."
"I won't go anywhere." – Gold protested, determined to have a talk with his son after all those years.
"Get out of my apartment!" – Neal shouted.
"Neal…" – tried to soften him a bit.
"Emma, leave it to me." – Neal protested.
Their little interaction made Gold realize that Bae and Emma knew each other. He asked, to make sure:
"You know each other, don't you?"
"Well, you sent me after him…" – Emma began.
"Stop this, Miss Swan." – Gold cut her harshly – "You definitely know each other."
None of them spoke, awkwardly looking at each other and at Mr Gold. The man suddenly understood and he said:
"You dated each other, didn't you…?"
"How so…?"
It was Emily. She had just come back from the other room, hearing Neal's voice. She asked to her friend:
"You and Baelfire… used to date each other?"
"Yes, we did." – Emma answered, since there was no point of hiding this anymore – "Sorry I didn't tell… the past emerged itself so suddenly, so I… just couldn't cope…"
"Okay, let's leave this aside…" – Emily said, saving Emma from further explanations.
Emily herself never had a boyfriend, but she knew that relationships between an ex boyfriend and an ex girlfriend were always complicated. Plus, she knew Emma wouldn't like to discuss this in the current situation, especially not in front of Gold.
"So, this is Baelfire?" – Emily then asked, turning to her father, who just nodded.
"Who is she…?" – Neal asked a bit confused.
"Bae, her name is Emily…" – Gold started – "…and she…"
"I am his daughter." – Emily finished for him, seeing that it was a difficult announcement for him to make in this situation.
After she said that, Neal seemed shocked. He looked at her, and then at his father to make sure it wasn't some joke. But he could see that they both were serious. So… his father had another child? And the girl came on his side to search for him? As Neal was speechless, Emily spoke:
"Look, this is difficult, but… your father made a long way to finally find you. So… don't you think you should at least give him… one conversation…?"
Neal sighed. He couldn't disagree with her. True, he really didn't want to speak with his father, the one who abandoned him, but just one conversation wasn't a torment. Plus, since Emily took his side, who knew, maybe there was a tiny chance he deserved one conversation.
"Alright… you have three minutes." – Neal said.
So, both Gold and Neal walked to the other room.
"I know I made mistakes. But you must believe me." – Gold started – "I want to live them down. There's no worse pain than regret."
"What about abandonment?" – Neal commented.
"Please… Let me live down my fault."
"And how will you do this? I grew up alone. I grew up fatherless. Can you live this down?" – Neal asked, not expecting Gold have an actual solution.
"Yes, I can." – Gold replied.
"Two minutes."
"Come in Storybrooke with me. There's magic. I can make you fourteen again." – Gold offered – "We can have a fresh start."
"Fourteen? I don't want to be fourteen again, are you insane?" – Neal exclaimed, offended by this offer.
"I can't live down the lost time, but I can erase memories."
"Erase who I am? No, thank you." – Neal rejected the offer – "One minute."
"Bae, please… give me a chance…" – Gold begged his son – "You once loved me."
"When you were a good man." – Neal pointed out.
"But I can become him again. I changed. Look, I came here, in this town, without magic."
"Yes, but you still want to use it to live down your fault. You still think it can solve anything. But you can't! You have no idea what I went through. You worry about yourself, but do you imagine how it was for me? Every night, so many years that you can't imagine, the last thing saw before falling asleep was you. You and I, next to that pit… your hand holding mine… and then, unclenching it. And while I was falling, I could only see your face, when you preferred your power to me. You left me. Now is my turn. I am now leaving you." – Neal said, expressing what he had on his heart.
"I'm so sorry…" – Gold said, on edge of tears.
"I don't care." – Neal replied harshly – "I didn't get any comfort, you won't get it either. It's time for you to go."
Then, Neal left the room, leaving Gold heartbroken.
Enchanted Forest
Rumplestiltskin, now as the Dark One, was in the woods in order to meet the seer who predicted his fate years ago. The seer, who was now a grown up young woman, said:
"I was expecting you."
"So, you must know what I came for." – the Dark One said.
"What I predicted during the Ogres war got finally accomplished." – the seer stated.
"Well, if you can say so… I crippled myself, got proclaimed as a coward, my wife left me, my son got called to the front, I became the Dark One, and then Bae disappeared. So yeah, my actions at the battlefield left my son fatherless. But it would've been nice to know those unpleasant details!"
"Knowing it would have changed nothing. You would have been powerless against your fate." – the seer replied.
"Just like you are!" – Rumple said with a giggle, beginning magically to choke the seer – "Now you surely know why I came here."
"You want to find your son." – the seer stated, after what the Dark One released her, and then she said using her power – "You'll find him…"
"How?" – Rumple asked – "And this time, don't miss any details."
"That won't be an easy way… it will take long years… you'll need a curse… a curse powerful enough to take everyone away from this world…" – the seer said, beginning to feel exhausted.
"Yes, yes, I know. There's something else, tell me."
"But you won't be the one to cast it… someone else will… and you won't break it either… someone else will…" – the seer said.
"Tell more!" – Rumple ordered.
"That's all I know…" – the seer said exhausted – "Even my power has limits."
"That's not enough, dearie!" – the Dark One said, beginning to choke the seer again.
"If you want to see the road to take, there's one way…" – the seer said, offering her hands – "Take away this burden…"
Without thinking twice, Rumple grabbed her hands. A light emitted from their joined hands as he began to absorb this power and the seer was yelling in pain.
New York
As Neal entered the room where Emma and Emily were waiting, Emily asked:
"So? How did it go…?"
"He got his three minutes." – Neal said simply.
Emma then approached Neal and she said quietly:
"You know… Emily expected she could know you better."
"Yeah, we're half siblings…" – Neal muttered – "Do you think it's a good idea…?"
"She went through difficult things too. It'll make good for you both. She'll understand you, what you went through…"
Neal mused about it during a moment, before saying:
"You know… perhaps you're right. Maybe I need this too."
Neal wanted to walk to Emily, but Emma grabbed his arm, making him stop. As he looked at her questioningly, Emma warned him:
"Don't deceive her. Don't break her heart like you once broke mine."
"I won't, you can be sure of that." – Neal said.
Emma stood aside, to let the two to talk together. Neal said after a short silence:
"So… you are my half-sister. It's Emily, right…?"
"Yes. And you are Baelfire… it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too." – he said – "Never thought I would have a sibling…"
"Well, now you have one." – Emily said with a small grin – "If you're disappointed, well, just deal with it."
Neal couldn't suppress a small grin on his turn. Gold watched the two beginning to talk from the other room, and he remembered some words the seer said him long years ago.
Enchanted Forest
As Rumple was getting the seer's power, he said:
"I see… nothing. There's too much things…"
"The future is like a puzzle." – the seer stated – "It's made of pieces that have to be solved… With time, you will learn to separate what can be from what will be."
Rumplestiltskin then let go of the woman, who collapsed on the ground, her vital energy drained.
"So, that's why you gave me your power!" – the Dark One exclaimed – "To get rid of your torment!"
"With time, you'll work on it…"
Rumple was about to walk away, but the seer stopped him:
"Wait… to thank you, I'll give you one piece of puzzle… you'll reunite with your son… and it'll happen in the most unexpected way…"
"How?" – Rumple asked irritated.
"A young girl will help to reconcile…" – the seer began, picking Rumple's interest – "She's special… But be careful, Rumplestiltskin… she's one of those people… who will start a new era of light… An era where darkness doesn't have its place…"
At those words, the seer died. Rumple thought about her words for a moment. No darkness? Would that mean he will eventually…? No, there had to be a way to prevent this. An era of light can't be eternal.
"Well… I'll find a way for my darkness to kill the light." – Rumple said to himself.
A/N: The reason why I didn't make Emily be Rumple's fate, it's because it would create plot holes in season 3. And for Ashley and Sean expecting a child is because later in the series we see Ashley with her baby, so my friend and I decided that Alex could have a sibling. Reviews are always welcome.