Chapter 8
Bae's Meat Pie
When Papa finished crying, they sat and talked for a while. Baelfire told him all about living on a pirate ship, and got to hear Papa's story in return. He hesitated about telling Baelfire certain things, but he was open about his reasons behind everything Mama said made him a coward.
"I did it all for you, Bae," he said, hugging Baelfire to his side and stroking his hair. "So you wouldn't have to suffer the same fate I suffered, growing up without a father."
But Mama had made that happen anyway, even though she wanted Killian to take Papa's place.
"I can't make up for the lost time," Papa continued. "But we can make new memories, make good use of the time that we have."
Baelfire fingered the coins Mama had given him, thinking. "What was your favorite treat when you were little?" he asked, looking up.
"Meat pie." The answer came quickly, but without the happy tone Baelfire had expected. Maybe it had been a really long time since Papa had eaten one.
"Would you like to try one?" he asked, holding up the coins in his palm.
Papa stared at the coins. There was a look in his eyes that Baelfire couldn't read. Then the sadness came back, but Papa turned to him with a smile. "I would like that."
Baelfire jumped up and darted off to find a meat pie so fast, he almost missed the startled noise Papa made. But then he caught sight of the baker's sign.
It wasn't hard for him to duck between the sea of adults to reach his destination, but once there, he had to wait for the baker to notice him after he finished helping some other people. By the time he got back to where he had left Papa, he was afraid he might have disappeared. But then he recognized Papa's staff in the hands of a beggar slumped outside the spinner's storefront, his face hidden by his hood.
That made Baelfire pause. Papa was a beggar. His cloak was worn, patched with bits of cloth that might once have been a blanket. Everything about him was worn. All because he had left home to find Bae.
He approached slowly, inching forward quietly, holding the meat pie in front of him like an offering. Papa never moved, and Baelfire wondered if he might be asleep. He knelt in front of him and looked under the hood.
Papa's eyes jumped to his. They glistened with fresh tears, and Baelfire was afraid. Then Papa slowly raised a hand to touch Bae's face.
"Papa?"
He didn't move for a moment. Then he blinked away the tears and seemed to breathe again.
"Bae."
Something was wrong, but Baelfire couldn't tell what. "I brought you that meat pie you wanted," he said, holding up the pastry.
Papa's smile looked forced. "You eat it, son. It's your birthday." He leaned back against the shopfront, tilting his head back but keeping and eye on Bae. His hand fell from Bae's face to rest in his lap.
Uncertain, Baelfire shifted to sit next to his father, snuggling into his side so Papa would feel that he was still there. He took a couple bites of the meat pie.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "Cuz this is delicious." And it was. Warm and soft and flakey and meaty and delicious.
"I'm sure," Papa said.
Now Baelfire knew something had to be wrong. Nobody could say no to their favorite food twice when it was right in front of them being offered. Unless he really wasn't hungry, which Baelfire doubted. If that was the case, who could say no to just a bite?
He took a few more bites, thinking.
"After this, can you make me something?" he asked. "Something I can take with me like that drawing?"
"Your mama is the artist, not me. You know that. And I don't have anything to spin or weave or sew with."
"I'll think of something," said Baelfire. He still had most of the meat pie untouched. He held it up in front of Papa. "Can you finish it? I'm full."
Papa stirred, looked down, and finally accepted the meat pie in his hands. "If you're sure," he said.
"I'm sure," said Baelfire, happy the trick worked. He wasn't full, but he wasn't hungry either, and it was funny to watch Papa be afraid of eating a meat pie. It didn't make any sense. It wasn't vegetables or fish guts.
Once Papa took a bite though, the fear faded and relaxed into a genuine smile. Papa put an arm around Bae, holding the meat pie in his other hand. Baelfire hugged him back, and they sat like that while Papa ate.
A/N: I thought I should post one more happy chapter before the Season 4 premiere on Sunday. Who's excited? I sure am. Also, invisible chocolate chip cookies for anyone who knows what was wrong with Rumple when Bae came back with the meat pie.