AN: Thanks for the reviews!

Chapter 22: Long time no see

In which friends and family are reunited—sort of

"This can't go on like this anymore. He is driving me crazy!" Granny was complaining to Ruby. Mr. Gold was seated at the bar and followed her with his eyes, and hands, whenever she came too near. "We need to do something!"

"Should we, maybe.. get Emma? She is the savior after all." Ruby joked.

"Yes, why don't you! She could arrest him for stalking or harassment, since she is the sheriff as well!" her grandmother replied brusquely.

Ruby knew when not to get into an argument and rushed out of the door to find Emma. Fortunately, she was just coming up main street and was inside the diner in no time at all.

Emma was just deciding whether to read Gold his rights or to try and perform magic as he was clearly under some spell, when they saw a burst of light. All the customers were blinded for a second, but when they opened their eyes, they could see it's source.

"It's coming from the mayor's office," one of the dwarfs said pointing his finger.

"What the hell…was that?" Emma swore. "What on earth is going on here?"

"Let's go and see." Ruby dragged Emma with her, taking her forcefully by her arm.

"Hey, hey! Don't forget this guy!" Granny shouted, motioning them to take Mr. Gold too.

Emma complied, which was easier said than done. "I wonder what Belle will say about all of this…" she said to him, "you're going to get into so much trouble…"

As Emma, Ruby, and Rumple were heading towards the mysterious light, Baelfire and Radolph just passed a sign. On it was a rather strange name: Storybrooke.

"We're here, Radolph! We've found it!" he said triumphantly, but Radolph's eyes were darkening.

"Nothing to be pleased about, Neal, nothing at all. I've tried to escape this town and now you're taking me back as your hostage…"

Neal didn't reply. What could he say? Radolph was right, but he was unstoppable. This was his chance to be reunited with his father, if he was in fact here.

Radolph's memories had returned after the hypnosis. He had been reluctant to speak about things, but Neal had made him. He couldn't deny that it felt good to wield such power and that realization had softened his heart towards his father. A man with a coward as father, a man who was a coward himself and with a wife who abandoned him, such a man would be drawn to this power. It would have been be irresistible in a world that valued him so little. It would be a safeguard against trouble, a security in evil times.

"So where does he live again…? My dad? The previous Dark One?"

"He is usually in his pawn shop during day time, if he isn't in the library wooing over that woman of his…"

"Who? My dad has a… I didn't see that coming."

"Power draws people in, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does." Neal remembered his father's change into the Dark One. Radolph needed controlling too, and just the power of controlling him was already making Neal greedy for more. Neal shook his head almost imperceptibly. No, he shouldn't think like that. That's what got him into this situation in the first place!

"Stop dragging your heels, Gold!" Emma was becoming impatient. She wanted to see what that light was. Gold kept resisting and making moves towards the diner.

"I hear something… It's, it's a car, coming from out of town!" Ruby said.

"From out of town? I thought that was almost impossible!"

"Well, you did it, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I… I belong here.." Emma only heard her words after she'd spoken them.

Ruby grinned. "Your family will be pleased to hear that," she said.

"A car from out of town is the last thing we need. I sure hope it isn't someone evil, like, like an ogre!" Emma had quite enough on her plate with Gold and some alien light source.

"At least they aren't very smart… I doubt they'd be able to drive a car," Ruby joked. "It should be coming around the bend just about now…"

They stopped walked and peered at the car which was approaching quickly. "I bet they're going over the speed limit," Emma remarked. "I'll have a word with them about that…"

She gave the signal for them to stop, during which Mr. Gold wrestled from her grasp and ran towards the diner, when the sight of someone in the car stopped him in his tracks.

"Emma, it's that Radolph! He's returned!"

"Papa! It is you!" Baelfire shouted.

Rumplestiltskin looked astonished at the driver. A adult man was calling him "papa." He was about to say something—anything—when Emma approached the car and slapped said driver.

"You bastard! You evil… What the hell are you doing here? Don't think you can get your hands on… Why are you even here…? Papa?" She turned to look at Gold.

"Baelfire?" he whispered hesitantly. "Is it really you?"

Neal laughed sheepishly. "It's me, alright.. I've grown a bit..."

"My boy, my dear boy.." Rumple spread his arms and Neal couldn't get out of the car quick enough to answer his embrace.

Then Mr. Gold turned around and pointed his finger at Emma. "You slapped him! Why ever would you hurt my son?! You'll answer for that!" He lunged towards her but Emma quickly stepped out of the way, leaving him in a pile on the street.

"That is Henry's good-for-nothing dad over there," she replied. "A petty criminal who let his girlfriend go to jail in his stead!"

"You did?" Rumple asked surprised, striking the dirt of his pants. "Now son, I did not raise you like that!"

"You didn't raise me at all," Neal scoffed. "Remember?"

In the meantime, Radolph had stepped out of the car as well and was running for cover. Ruby started a pursuit, but the man was fast.

"I'll deal with it," Neal said confidently. He got the dagger out of his jacket and said: "I command you to stop running, Dark One!" Radolph stopped in his tracks and Ruby bumped into him.

Out of the light, the voice spoke: "What is that? I sense dread… Another powerful weapon is in use in this accursed town. A dagger…"

"That's not possible," the Blue Fairy answered, "The Dark One left and hasn't been seen for months."

"He has returned then. I shall summon him here."

Outside Radolph began walking again. Neal shouted various commands but Radolph did not listen. He went towards the building, on his way to the mayor's office.