Gold, Emma, and Henry took a plane to New York. Gold was very uneasy traveling without having his magic. He was feeling weak and powerless. But he had to do this. For his daughter and his son.
The plane ride felt long, but now taking a ride in the taxi made him more jittery.
"So Rose has a brother. That's really cool. Who's older?" Henry gleefully asked." Gold barely heard the young boy and looked at him with a dazed look.
"What?" He asked the young boy.
"Who's older? Rose or Baelfire?" Henry, still in a merry mood, had his head turned up at him with an interested look.
"Oh…" Rumple was lost in his thoughts, taking a breath in and out. Henry may not have noticed it, but Emma did. She was getting more concerned about the now older, weaker man. True, he is the dark one, powerful beyond belief. But out here in the real world, he is just your typical old man with a poor body. If things went wrong, that won't be good.
"Well…" He continued, "she and her brother are twins really. But if you want to be exact. Baelfire is older by a few minutes." Even Rumple himself noticed his voice sounded weaker. It brought back feelings of the man he was before being the Dark One. Not an accepting feeling.
Of course, Henry didn't notice. Content with the answer he was given, he concentrated on the road ahead from his seat. Enjoying the view of the New York traffic. "Wow! A twin. I can't wait to meet him."
They made it to their stop and all got out of the yellow taxi. Rumple inspected the tall, pale color building of apartments before him. He was close. Emma noticed that unlike her parents who didn't want to waste any second to talk to her and wouldn't even leave her side, Rumple was acting the opposite.
"Let me guess, he's not expecting you?" She already knew the answer, but had to ask. Rumple only gave her a slightly embarrassed look. "Well, who doesn't love a surprise."
They entered the building with a locked gate blocking the entrance, which only left them with the choice of ringing the doorbell.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cora seemed to have little trouble adjusting to life in Storybrooke. She dressed herself in nice classy clothing. Preferably in black to give her the sense of power. Leaving her hair down felt relieving and wicked. She was proud of herself for getting this far. Her and Hook managed to travel to this realm. She was able to gain information from the Cricket man. And here she is, reunited with her only daughter. All that's left was to find a way to keep it that way.
Cora had plans for them that day, but when she arrived at Regina's room, she saw her daughter had a melancholy look.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Cora asked as she sat beside her on Regina's bed.
"Where do I start? Emma took Henry with her and Gold out of town. And Rose…."
"I'm still amazed you managed to be on her good side." Cora wasn't too thrilled to learn that the same girl who didn't fall for her tricks was the same girl her own daughter grew to care about. Even if it was at first an act of revenge on Rumpelstiltskin. "She wasn't very kind with your mother"
Regina eyed her mother. She doesn't blame Rose at all for not trusting or liking Cora so easily. Rose was definitely braver than she was to face her head on.
Putting those thoughts aside, Regina returned her thoughts to Henry.
"And even though they will be back, Henry will still be with them and not with me."
"Back from where?" Regina and Cora both looked at the entrance of her doorway to find Hook in his ball black leather pirate clothes, with a face of heated glare of desperation at them. Regina wasn't thrilled to have the reason Rose was hurt in her house. Especially since the last they met he favored her mothers orders instead of her.
"Where has Rumpelstiltskin gone?" He asked.
"I don't know," Regina answered.
"Well, if he's left town then he's powerless. He can be killed." Hook's mind was already trying to come up with a plan.
"But the moment either of us leave, we lose our magic. And our advantage." Cora reminded him. Regina wasn't even planning on offering her help to the Pirate.
"And our memories?"
"None of us were victims of the curse." Regina answered as she stood up to face him closer. "And if you still think of going alone, you really think you can just walk up to him and stab him in the heart?" Crossing her arms at him.
"Well I do need my Hook. Now stop wasting time for me to have my vengeance!"
Regina darkly chucked as she took some steps closer to him. "Vengeance? Ok then. Let's talk about vengeance." Regina starts to form her hand and magically starts choking the captain. He tried to breathe and move, but had trouble doing anything.
"May I remind you that I am not thrilled at all. Finding out what you did to my Rose? You're the reason why she got hurt. You took her memories. I'm starting to wonder, why should I even keep you alive." She threatened.
Her grip was getting tighter, Hook was wheezing. Veins were starting to show on his neck and face.
"That's enough. Like it or not, we still need him. We need each other." Cora smoothly stood by Regina. Regina looked over at her, and with a frown let her hand down. Freeing Hook.
Hook fell to his knees, barely catching himself as he gasped for air. Looking up at the two witches before him.
"Didn't know you cared." He sarcastically coughed out.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Emma was right. After ringing the doorbell of a no name apartment, a man in jeans and a dark hoodie covering his face, climbed down the fire escape and ran through the street. Gold instructed Emma to get the man to talk to him, due to him not being able to run, assuring her this would fulfill the deal between them.
Leaving Henry with Gold, Emma chased after the man. It was clear he was doing his best to hide away. But Emma, being a bounty hunter type, wasn't going to give up so easily
After many turns from multiple corners. She finally managed to crash into the runaway man. Losing balance and hitting the ground herself, she couldn't believe her eyes at the face she was now clearly recognizing.
"Neal?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They watched Emma go, and began their wait. Rumple had practiced waiting, but the noises and surroundings of the city were growing his nerves. Seeing a hotdog stand and remembered he had a child with him, he thought the best they could do was eat.
"Don't worry. Emma's really good at catching people." Henry hoped that would help the older man to feel better. As they waited in line. Henry might be a child, but he was a bright one. Figuring out that even the Dark One couldn't hide a distressed look.
"Well, my son has been running away for a long time now. And I have a feeling that he's equally adapted to it." Rumple wasn't sure why, but he felt he could be honest with the boy.
"At least we found him. And you still had Rosemary with you. Well, minus the cursed life part." Gold gave a small smile at the comment. Henry felt accomplished at that and chuckled to himself. He managed to help Gold a little.
"Yes I did. She's a special girl. I am very fortunate to have her."
"I'm sorry she doesn't remember you right now. But I promise to do my best to get her memories back." Henry vowed.
Gold could see the determination still in his eyes as he received the hot dog from the worker. Definitely like his grandparents.
"Thank you Henry."
"Thanks for the hotdog."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Emma did find Neal, aka Baelfire. Definitely upsetting her, they were the same person.
She was outraged and clearly demanded answers from him after everything that happened in their past.
Not wanting his father to find him himself, Neal convinced Emma to go to a bar with him and talk. Once they got a table and some beers, Neal revealed the real reason he left her to go to jail and didn't even look for her after.
Hearing that Pinocchio told him to do it. To not take her away from living a different life with him so she could be put back into the path to break the curse. As right as these men thought it was, it wasn't for her. It hurt her, it ruined her. His reasons only made it clear to her to keep Henry as his son a secret.
Neal watched Emma grow quiet with her thoughts. Her face was still firm but frowning lips. Eyes were fighting to not get watery. Neal knew what he did was unacceptable. He still hated himself for it. But now that he knew his father was here, he couldn't help but be curious for some answers.
"Now it's my turn to ask some questions." He hesitated looking at his beer instead. He could sense Emma turning to him with a glare that, if there were magic here, he was certain she could melt him on the spot.
" You have no ri-"
"My sister." He stated, facing his head down. He was afraid of what he thought happened to his twin, but he needed to know. And if Emma knew Rumpelstiltskin, she must know something of her too.
Emma for a moment was taken back. Remembering that Neal is Baelfire, Rumpelstiltskin's son. Meaning now that he's Rose's brother too.
"Since you clearly know my old man. You must've heard about her. Her name is Rosemary. Do you know what happened to…. Is she….. Did she…" He didn't want to say it. Emma knew what he was trying to ask. Even though this could be a good moment for some revenge, she couldn't do that to Rose.
"She's alive. She's ok" She answered. Neal looked up at her stunned to hear that. He was preparing himself for the worst. Filled with guilt that he didn't take her with him. Fearing that she was alone suffering from living with a crazy man as their father. He had already accepted he may never see her again. But now, he was relieved. She was alive. And if Emma said she was good, then she really was.
Neal being relieved with a smile forming as he took a sip of his cup, Emma thought best not to say anything else about the girl's condition. Even if he doesn't deserve it.
"Is she here too? Maybe I can find a way to sneak-"
"She's not here. She's back in town." Neal was eyeing her. Observing how Emma grew quiet.
"You're hiding something. What is it? What happened?"
"Look. She's fine. But I'm only doing this for her, not for you. She… She recently lost her memories." It didn't take more than a second for him to react.
"WHAT!? Did he do that to her? He did! Why would he- He's a monster. I knew it! I should've-" He was yelling. Gaining attention from the customers in the bar.
"It wasn't him! There was an accident. Sort off…" She mumbled the last part.
"What do you mean by that?" This was not going to end well. Emma was starting to believe Rose is definitely the only sane one in the Gold family.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rose was getting some blood work done as a procedure to make sure she was all good to go the next day. Her being safely escorted to the labs, the Charming's saw this as a good moment for them, Ruby, Jim, and Belle to catch up on the agenda of Rose. Snow saw this as an opportunity to inform them of the recent news she got from a phone call with Emma.
All were quiet after hearing the news that this Baelfire was Henry's real dad.
"So… Rumpelstiltskin is Henry's grandfather?" David asked his wife.
"Apparently." She confirmed.
"But I'm his grandfather."
"You can have more than one, genius." Jim chucked. Ruby elbowed him in the stomach. Charming rolled his eyes. Not too relieved to hear that the man who was once "with" his daughter is not only back, but also happens to be the son of the Dark One.
"So would that make Regina Henry's step-grandmother? Seeing as she's your step-mother. And the Evil Queen." Ruby was puzzled.
"Actually she's his step-great grandmother." Snow corrected her, still thinking it through. "And she's also his adoptive mother." Now it was Ruby who couldn't hold her laughter. Jim jokingly elbowed her arm.
"It's a good thing we don't have Thanksgiving in our land, 'cause that dinner would suck." David said.
Snow joined in the laughter and had a glow in her eyes. "Or.. maybe this will mellow everyone out." She suggested.
"How? Not to sound rude, but I don't see Mr Gold or 'Madam Mayor' changing colors soon." Jim mentioned. He spent enough time with the two to know how far they are willing to go for their so-called "Family".
"I'm with him." Jim pointed his thumb at the teenager from his seat. "We can't get too hopeful. If anything, we should be prepared for more problems coming our way."
"And to think that Rose has a nephew." Belle was still connecting the family tree.
"If she was herself she would probably say she's not surprised. Even during the curse she was always caring for him. This will probably give her more reason to be protective of him." Jim added. Too bad she wasn't her old self though.
Dr Whale came back with a grin.
"You don't look creepy." Jim muttered. Whale ignored his comment. Giving his attention to the couple instead.
"Everything seems normal. Minus her still having "amnesia"" He quoted with his fingers, "So who does the lucky lady get to stay with?"
"She'll be with us at Granny's. Less surprises will pop up over there." Ruby said.
"And we can trust Granny to be our alarm if anything does happen." David added.
"You make it sound like a prison." Mary Margret disappointingly said. "Rose is still a child. You weren't around her much during the past year. She a good kid"
"And I'm sure she won't stop wanting to find out what's really going on." Belle reminded them. She had her fair time with her back in their land. Memories or not, Rose is still Rose.
"Then the Diner boy here will distract her." The prince decided. Jim narrowed his eyes at the older man. "What?"
"You sound just like Regina." Jim said. This startled David. Ruby tried to give Jim a "shut up" look.
"You're comparing me to her?"
"That's what Regina had me do last year. She didn't want Rose finding out about Gold being her dad. And of course didn't want to lose control over her." Jim explained.
"And you went along with it? I thought you were friends?" Mary Margret was disappointed to hear that. She honestly thought they were ok.
"Look. I messed up. And I did come clean to her. I just kept messing up." Ruby patted him in the back for comfort. She did witness most of their time together. And yes, she thought it was odd of him to show interest in Rose, but then figured it was a crush thing.
"Girls are complicated." David said. Earning him a smack in the arm from his wife.
As the adults continued with their plans, Jim kept on thinking about how life was gonna be now. Leaving Rose in the dark will do her no good, with or without her memories. She'll eventually find out about Baelfire and Henry's connection. Who knows what else will come from it.
But one thing was for certain. He will try harder to be a friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Speed walking to catch up to a hot headed Neal, they made their way back to his apartment.
Henry saw them from afar as he and Mr Gold stood outside of the entrance. He smiled wide open. Seeing Emma coming back with the mystery man himself, who was still wearing his hood up.
"They're back! They're back! Told you she'd get him." Henry joyfully declared to the man with a cane.
Rumple took a few steps towards Henry to see for himself. He had to admit, even though he had no doubts in Emma's skills, he was still shocked that Baelfire really was coming back to him.
"Bae-" But the hood man walked right past him, no hesitation slowing down as he made his way inside the building. Rumple looked back at Emma with a questionable look. She only nodded her head towards the building to follow. Confused, but they all went in.
Eventually they all made it to the floor in silence. Baelfire opened the door and stepped right in without a word. Rumple slowly followed. Henry was right behind them until Emma held him back by the shoulders.
"Actually kid, we're gonna stay out here." Emma told her son. Pulling him away from the door and more to the hallway.
"But -"
"It's not gonna go well." She quickly explained. She knew very well how nosy the kid was, and how much trouble that had gotten him. And this is one problem they really shouldn't get involved in.
Inside the apartment, Gold took notice of how his son had the place. Small amount of furniture. Books stacked up here and there. Many objects were obviously used up throughout the years. The couch for one, having stains, rips all over, and the color fading. Clearly Baelfire did not care to have the best of things.
The man himself was only a few feet away from his father, Facing his back towards him as he looked out the window. A view of the buildings in his street and the busy city of New York.
You don't need to be a genius to know there was tension in the room. With a gulp, Rumple finally opened his mouth.
"Baelfire-"
"What were you thinking?!" Baelfire yelled out as he turned and finally faced the man he's been hiding from for so long in the face.
Rumple finally got a clear look at his son. He was definitely older, a man most likely in his 30's. His hair was a darker brown now, but still ruffled. His eyes are still a chocolate color. He could see his little Bae in him.
Rumple was too emotional to speak, which let Baelfire to continue with his temper.
"Letting Rose get shot like that? What - How did- Why the hell didn't you save her?"
"Baelfire I-"
"It's Neal! I don't go by that name anymore. I left it behind a long time ago"
Rumple had to control his emotions, he was hurting. Of course Baelfire would want information on his sister, and Emma most likely told him everything. And Baelfire was making it crystal clear he was not going to make this easy. He knew from the start this wouldn't be easy. But it was still painful to finally go through it.
"What happened to your sister was an unfortunate accident." Gold started.
"Like letting go of me." Rumple winched. Again, he knew that would be brought up.
"I don't want you here at all. I'm only doing this because you made a deal with Emma, and I've seen what you do when they don't fall through. So now that you've seen me, you can go. And don't come back." Neal demanded.
With a crushed heart, Gold reached over with his shaking hands. But Neal stepped away with more rage.
"GO AWAY!"
"Stop yelling!" Henry screamed as he pushed the door open, running in between Gold and Neal. The boy and his mother had been listening in from the other side. That, and they were being very loud to ignore. Henry understood why Baelfire was being so negative against Gold. But he also didn't want Gold to get hurt. Rose will be wanting to be with them once her memories come back.
Neal rolled his eyes. "Get out of here kid."
"No! You have to give Mr Gold a chance." Neal, getting annoyed, looked at his father accusingly.
"Who is this kid? Did you take him from someone?" Emma was behind Henry and grabbed him by the shoulders again.
"Henry, I told you to wait outside." She reminded him.
"But-" Henry tried to push his way out of her grip. Neal looked at the two confused. First he wondered why a kid was here, then judging by how Emma was acting so protectively of the boy.
"You know this kid?" Neal asked her.
"She's my mom." Henry answered as Emma kept trying to rush Henry out of the door. Using herself to block Henry and Neal from each other's view.
"Let's go." Neal heard her say. He was getting cold chills all over. It had been years since he was with Emma. To hear that Emma had a son. He needed to know more.
"Kid. How old are you?" He asked.
"Ignore him." He wasn't gonna let Emma stop him.
"How old are you?!"
"ELEVEN!" Henry shouted, finally pushed away from his mom. Giving all the adults a frustrated look. And all adults were quiet indeed.
Rumple was wondering why Neal was so curious about a boy he had never met. Observing his son's face, it was as if Neal had seen a ghost. Neal was only focusing his eyes on this young boy, then finally managed to look up at a now nervous Emma.
"Is he… is he my son?" His voice was soft and cracking, but he managed to say it. Both Emma and Rumple heard him. Emma closed her eyes, not wanting to tell the truth. Rumple was too stunned himself. His son and Emma. The Savior. They had a son, who is now his grandson. Fate is definitely enchanting.
Henry didn't seem to understand why Rumpelstiltskin's son would even ask that. Emma had told him his dad was a firefighter. A hero who died in action. Why would Baelfire think he was his?
"No. My mom said my dad was a firefighter. And he died." Henry looked over at his mom for her to agree with him. But she instead gave him a sorrowful look. "Mom?"
"Emma?" This time Neal asked. Still waiting. He needed her to confirm it.
Emma slowly walked up to her son. Placing her palms around his face. Looking at him with watery eyes and a wistful smile.
"He's your son." She whispered. The tears getting in her way.
Henry felt a crash in his heart.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Henry had left the room. Going through the window and waiting in the fire escape stairs as he watched the loud noises the city had to offer. Emma joined him as Gold and Neal had their talk. She finally explained the whole truth to her son. But no matter what she said, Henry was still hurting. Emma did exactly what Regina had done. Lying and lying.
Only one person hasn't done that to him. And that someone was now his aunt. Henry started to think maybe that's why they were so bonded and she loved him so much. But with Emma lying to him, and Rose not being herself, Henry felt alone
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Neal demanded for his once upon a time father to go away. But Rumple reminded his son that Emma's deal was to get him to talk to him. So Neal gave him only three minutes to talk. And he knew exactly how to start the conversation.
"I heard what happened to my sister. Why didn't you protect Rose?" He asked.
"That wasn't supposed to happen." Gold tried to explain. But Neal was too fed up.
"But it did! All because one of your enemies was trying to get back at you. All you ever do is cause pain. First it was with me. And now Rosemary."
"I didn't hurt-"
"But you're the reason for it. Dragging her down with you. And now she's… and then you left her alone just to come here?! What- What kind of a parent does that?" He questioned him. There was a time when his dad was a father. Had he truly lost himself?
"Rose isn't alone. She is safe."
"Oh! I'm having a real hard time believing that."
"Baelfire-"
"It's NEAL!" the son shouted back at his father.
Rumple pulled his hand up as a gesture that he got it and to calm down.
"Ok. Neal. Your sister and I have been looking for you for so many years. She even had me turn time backwards for her to stay 14 every year. Just so she could live long enough to see you again." He explained. Hoping his son would see how much this meant for Rose.
"And now she'll never get that." Since she won't remember him. Rumple gave him eager eyes.
"I believe she will. Don't you want to see your sister again?"
"What are you getting at?" Neal did not like where this was going.
"Come to Storybrooke."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rose was waiting to be brought back to her room after all the tests they had her go through. Doing them this time felt a lot better than all those years when she was sick.
She was grateful for the "miracle" everyone said that happened. As much as she kept on having those strange dreams from that night, maybe it was all in her head. Being sick for so long must've made her too stubborn to accept she was finally good.
She relaxed herself. Enjoying the moment that she'll be getting out soon and can start being a normal teenager.
"Psst." She heard. She looked up from her seat in the labs and didn't see anyone. Did she lose that much blood that she was hallucinating?
"Hey." She heard a whisper. She followed the voice and saw the Greg man in the corner of the door. He kept on looking behind his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" She asked him. He was being odd.
"I want to make sure I get to talk to you before I leave and no one interrupts us this time." He came to her. Sitting in one of the seats next to her. Rose was not liking this. The one time she actually did want a nurse to come back.
Greg pulled out his phone to show it to her.
"What do you want to talk about that has to be in secret?" Still not trusting the guy. He did cause the accident.
"Ok. I know you said you hit your head and you were ok. But there's something going on in this town. And I think we can help each other. When I was driving, I saw a man on the road, he was holding someone. I assume it was you. And he had a ball of fire in his hand."
That was the dream she kept on having.
"You know, don't you? I see it on your face." He called her out. But Rose kept shaking her head.
"No. No, I think that has to do the meds they had us on." She said more to herself. Greg frowned at her..
"No. What are the odds of us both dreaming of the same thing?"
"It can happen! Maybe you heard it from me. Maybe I heard it from you. Or we heard it from someone."
They both heard noises from down the hallway. Greg grew nervous, and defeated that he couldn't convince the girl. Looking more determined, he continued.
"Ok, fine. I will have more proof. I'm gonna stay around for a while to figure out what's going on. And you will believe me."
"Why does my opinion matter? I don't know you. And how do you know I wont rat you out?"
"Because like me, they'll say you're hallucinating and will probably make you stay here on more meds. Something tells me you don't want that." And with that he left the room just before the nurse came in to take her back to her room.
Rose scoffed that this new guy was trying to scare her off. But he did have a point, she didn't want to be here anymore. So what if the guy was being crazy? She'll just ignore the guy unless he really did turn out to be a creep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After a sad and disappointing talk with his father, Neal made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with him. Neal reminded Rumple of the pain he was left with growing up for years. Growing up alone in more ways and living a hard life. Neal even refused to believe it when his father said that he and Rose were on good terms. Neal hated thinking of it, but maybe it was for the best for his sister to forget everything. That way she could start over and be happy.
Neal made sure to voice that out loud to Rumple. Not regretting watching the Dark One in pain with tears.
When the time was up, he made his way to finally see his son. Until Emma stopped him by the window. Warning him not to hurt her son like he hurt her.
Getting outside to the cold air of New York, he stood next to his son. Awkwardly trying to find a way to start a conversation.
"So, you're my dad." Henry beat him to it. Neal looked down at him as Henry kept staring at the cars driving by.
"Yeah, I am." He agreed. Henry finally looked at his new father.
"I'm Henry." He smiled softly.
"Nice to meet you Henry. Sorry it took so long." Neal returned the smile.
"It's ok. You didn't know." They were quiet for a bit. Until Henry spoke up again.
"So that makes Rose my aunt, huh."
"You know my sister?" Neal wondered how else they were connected.
"During the curse. She was my cousin." Neal thought about this. To think his sister was with her nephew that whole time and didn't even know it.
Destiny has a funny way to work.