A/N: Hello all, chapter seven ready. Hope you enjoy. I don't own Once Upon a Time, just my idea.
Chapter Seven: What's Stopping You?
"Henry!" He could barely look up, the revving of his mind making his head feel a full ton heavier. Archie Hopper's words circulated, buzzing and begging him to take notice, so much so that he couldn't bring himself to meet his friend's eyes, both for want and for fear of a scheme. A scheme he couldn't afford. "Hey!" Henry felt Peter reaching for his arm, a swat.
"Sorry." Henry tried to smile. "Just a bit distracted."
"Oh yeah," Peter said. He jumped up onto the edge of the dumpster, shut and sitting at the end of the alley, just close enough to the therapist's office to not draw attention, and far enough from Granny's to avoid the wrong sort. It was Peter's favorite hideaway and as a result soon became one of Henry's. "You had your visit to Cricket."
Henry rolled his eyes. "Why do you call him that?"
"He's a cartoon!" Peter smirked. "It's all very Pinocchio don't you think? He makes you feel bad about whatever it is you did wrong."
Henry smiled in spite of himself. "It does suit him, I mean his last name's Hopper."
"Now you're getting it!" Peter clapped him on the shoulder. "Seriously though Mate, what's wrong?"
Henry shrugged. "Something Dr. Hopper said. He… well he asked me if I ever asked Grandpa about my dad."
Peter's mouth disappeared into a line. "What's so bad about that? You've been wanting to find out about what happened to him right?"
Henry squinted, staring at his hands. "It's just...I don't really know him. He never comes around and mom never told me anything about him. I don't think he was even in any pictures."
"But… what's stopping you? Doesn't he work at that old shop? You could pop in and out." Somehow, Peter managed to make it make sense, even as Henry could see his friend's wheels turning.
"I don't think that's such a good idea. Mom wouldn't…"
Peter laughed. "You actually care? If they won't tell you themselves, you have to talk to Mr. Gold!" He hopped down off the dumpster. "If you wait for permission, they'll just keep shoving it off. If you want answers, get them, what's stopping you?"
Henry frowned. There was something right in what Peter was saying. They never did tell him anything, what actually happened. Just that there was a fire uptown, his dad had been called to help and then never came home. Leroy had told him once that his dad had managed to save people inside the building, but the smoke took him. And that was the last he heard of the subject. There was something strange about it though. Later, he'd decided to check the records at the library, but there was nothing about a structure fire, nothing that could fit the description of what everyone told him. If he was honest with himself, it was this that made the idea of Neverland still so appealing. It was this that made the idea of the family dinner in just a few short minutes so frightening. Somehow he knew that the story, the land they had shared could offer more answers than his own family. That's why he kept going back. Even this stranger that was supposed to be his grandfather seemed a more appealing choice.
"Henry!" he heard his mom's shout.
Peter shrugged. "Have fun."
Yeah. Henry waved, shouldered his backpack began walking in the direction of the odd yellow bug. Fun.
Gold watched the old-fashioned phone, tapping his fingers against the counter. It was nearly impossible to find good help these days. The fact that his phone hadn't rung yet meant one of two things. Either the young man was lost or he had simply forgotten. His thoughts drifted to the afternoon, and the conversation with Miss Swan. He hadn't seen her in...well it was better not to think of that. Her unexpected appearance brought up feelings he had done well in tamping down regarding his son, what he knew had happened nine years previous. And the fact that Miss Swan had asked for help with the boy. It should have given him a semblance of joy, but all that Aiden could think about was the fact that she had lied. They both knew what had really happened, and she expected him not to share the truth.
"You believe you are doing what is best for him." Gold nodded. "I can respect that, but I cannot be a part of it."
Emma pursed her lips. "All I'm asking is, if Henry asks you about...about him, don't tell him that he may be… that he is…"
"You've dug yourself into quite the ditch haven't you Dearie?" Aiden's mouth curled. "I cannot make any promises. I will not lie to my grandson." He leaned against his cane. "I will answer any questions he asks me, and I will try my best to correspond with the… tale you've told, but this shop is full of secrets Miss Swan. If your boy finds something you do not want him to see, well… you should have thought about that before you asked for my help."
"You'll let Henry work here?" Emma asked.
"Yes, but Emma?" Gold held up a finger. "There is a certain way I run things. If he cannot hold himself to the standard, I'm afraid the deal is off. Family or no."
"Right." Emma sighed. "So he can start coming in…"
"Friday."
"Thank you." Emma sighed.
The twinkling ring of the phone snapped Gold out of his reminiscing. "Gold's Antiquities, mmhmm. Yes, wonderful to hear from you Captain. Yes, well, you had better hope that he is as hard a worker as you believe, because apparently he is lost. Storybrooke is not nearly so large that one should be lost." Gold listened to the man on the other end of the phone as his protests grew in volume. "No I do not think it is unreasonable. I appointed a time, and it is already ten minutes past. I expect my employees to be on time." Gold lifted the phone from his ear and slammed it into it's cradle. Yes, it was definitely impossible to find good help.
A/N: So, what do you think? Let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts.