Dead Reckoning

Chapter Five

Not long after Killian left, Henry walked into the diner along with Regina, Violet, and her father. The four of them took a seat in the next closest booth to the rest of their family and friends, then quickly ordered their breakfasts when Granny brought out a couple more cocoas with cinnamon for the teenagers, as well as some coffee for their Queen and former knight of Camelot. The older woman certainly knew what everyone liked and they would all be lost without her always being there to feed them when they wanted to come together in a large gathering like they were doing now and did almost every day.

Henry turned towards Emma and when he didn't see his stepfather sitting with her or anywhere else in the room, with concern he asked, "Mom… where's Killian? I thought he was going to meet us here?"

Emma glanced over at Gold, but quickly turned back to her son as she answered, "He's already on the Jolly Roger getting her ready. He asked me to tell you to come whenever you and Violet are ready. But eat your breakfast first. You guys are going to be gone all day."

"I was going to," the teenager retorted and then turned back to chat with Violet while they continued to wait for their own food.

"I was hoping for the chance to thank Hook for taking my daughter out on his ship today," Sir Morgan said when he turned around to look between Emma and everyone else in the room while the two youngest talked amongst each other.

The Savior smiled as she responded, "There's no thanks necessary. Killian is perfectly happy to take them both out on the waters. He loves any chance he can get to go out. But if you would like to tag along with us when we're done here, I was going to walk with Henry and Violet down to the harbor to meet with him before they leave. You can thank him then if you would like to."

The sixteen year old's father nodded and then he sincerely replied, "Thank you. I would like that. Uh… Emma, Regina, could I have a moment to talk with you both… in private I mean?"

"Is everything all right?" Regina then asked once the three of them stepped away from the rest of their family to talk while they sat at the bar with their backs to everyone.

"Yes… well sort of," Morgan answered nervously while he glanced back at his daughter when he heard her laugh at something Henry said, then smiled upon seeing her so happy. "What I mean to say is that, I've been thinking long and hard about moving with Violet back to my old home, down in Connecticut. I've long since missed it after I believed I would remain trapped in Camelot once I found myself in that world. And then we were brought here to Storybrooke by another kind of magic. Don't get me wrong, I do love it here. This town is beautiful, but it reminds me a little of home. I thought that I could be happy here, especially knowing that she has Henry in her life now, and a good school with good teachers such as Snow."

Regina nodded in understanding, having heard about the man's concerns already after speaking with Henry last night when he returned from walking Violet home, while Emma responded, "But you're also afraid that magic could come through here again at any moment and sweep us all away or split us apart? We do understand, Sir Morgan. You simply want to do what's best for both Violet and yourself. And Connecticut will definitely be much safer since there is no magic there, at least none that we know about, because it's a part of the land without magic. Have you already spoken to Violet about this? Has she spoken to Henry?"

The Queen quickly replied, "She talked with Henry about it last night."

"Believe me, I don't wish to take Violet away from all that she loves here, but magic is a big part of this town and while it's beautiful, it's also dangerous," the young girl's father continued sadly. "I've already lost my wife, Violet's mother, because of magic. I cannot lose Violet too. I could never bear it. You're right… I do just want to do what's best for her and for myself."

"You really don't have to explain yourself to us," Regina answered sincerely. "All of us here, we're from this world, as well as another where magic is a part of us. Including Henry. We will never be able to run away from it or deny who we are, but you and Violet can even though she was born in Camelot. I don't mean the denying who you are bit, but…"

Emma cut in as she added, "If you do decide to leave, we certainly wish you and Violet all the luck and happiness we can hope for you. Just promise us that you'll give us enough time to plan a big celebration to show you how much you'll be missed around here. As for Henry, he will miss Violet a lot, but he'll be alright. And so will Violet. She loves you very much and we all know she wants you to be just as happy as she is."

He smiled and then responded, "Thank you both. For helping me work through this conflict, as well as for your understanding and friendship. It's been an honor to have had the chance to get to know all of you, especially your son. He's a fine young man and would make a brave knight one day, should he choose to be such."

"Oh God, I hope not," Regina retorted, then laughed as did Emma and Sir Morgan while they finally walked back over to join with the rest of their family and friends.

Later, after everyone finished eating and left the diner to go their separate ways, Gold told his wife that he was going to head over to his shop to get some work done, and encouraged Belle to take Gideon home where they lived together once again now that they were no longer separated. She nodded and leaned in to kiss him, then walked away as the Dark One then headed in the opposite direction towards the pawnshop.

"If you really think you can make it up to that despicable pirate for the things we've done, then you're an even bigger fool than I thought you were," Rumplestiltskin cruelly mocked when the evil vision of himself, or devil over his shoulder as Gold had called him, from within the tormented part of Gold's mind suddenly appeared to him once again as soon as Gold walked inside. "The question is, why even bother trying? Hook certainly isn't worth the trouble and aggravation. He's done nothing, but try to kill you and mock you for over two hundred years. Do you really just want to forget about all the pain he's caused you because your beautiful wife believes you to be a better man than me?"

"Just go away," Rumple replied curtly as he walked around the being before him even though he wasn't really there and walked towards the counter to get to work on more cataloging in search of the valuables he could return to whom they truly belonged to, per Belle's prompting and encouragement. "You have no power over me any longer. I denied you down in the caves after I killed my own mother to help the heroes in the final battle."

Rumplestiltskin sneered and then he answered, "Yes… that's true. And yet I am still here because a part of you still needs me, still yearns for the power and the darkness that makes us whole. If you really wanted to be rid of me, you would look for another way to rid yourself of said darkness once and for all. If you really wanted to be the man you are pretending to be now for the sake of your wife and son, then you would have allowed Captain Hook to destroy us back when he took the chance. Yet you took away his sacrifice because then you didn't allow sentiment and love stand in your way of getting back at the pirate for all the pain he's caused you too. You can get there again. You can still have your love and your power, Mr. Gold. That name really doesn't do you justice."

Gold glared at his other self as he responded, "And Rumplestiltskin does? That was the name my father gave to me because he couldn't stand the sight of me."

"Then prove to him it's a name that stands for power now," the ghost retorted. "What do you say?"

"What do I say…?" Rumple replied, staring at the dark being still in front of him.