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[intellixsoftware1]

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[a-monthly-rumbelling]

The Empathy Exercise

Submitted by @darcyfarrow2005

A/N. For #amonthlyrumbelling for March.  Part II of “The Couples Retreat.” Rated T. Archie’s next challenge for the couples is to walk a mile in each other’s shoes.

Intermission

It didn’t escape Archie’s notice that immediately following the Communication Exercise, as everyone flopped down on the furniture to rest, seating positions changed: Snow and David huddled in conversation, elbow-to-elbow on the couch; Belle and Rumple had confiscated the love seat and were holding hands, glancing at each other in between watching Archie patiently for further instructions; and, having lost their former seat, Hook and Emma had assumed the wingback chairs. They, like the Golds, were watching him and waiting for more, though Emma’s foot was jiggling and Hook’s eyes were narrowed in thought. Archie relaxed in the desk chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his body language signaling no urgency to move on to the next program. This in itself was a small test, to see who would break the silence first, and how: his money would have been on David—as a leader by nature as well as marriage, he would likely want to move the agenda along—except that jiggling foot of Emma’s suggested either impatience or nervousness, and she was very much her father’s daughter.

But a squeaking floorboard and a rumbling service cart undercut the silence and Ruby, eyes fixed firmly on the sideboard set up near the desk, pushed into the room, and that woke Hook from his reverie. Pulling thoughtfully on his lower lip, he watched Ruby unload a tray from the service cart and arrange the cups, coffee pot and tea pots prettily on the sideboard. As she’d promised Archie, she resolutely avoided eye contact with the couples: she’d been informed in advance how many guests to expect, and who, so that she could provide for their dietary preferences, but she had promised to ignore anything that was said or done in this room, lest she might be tempted to share her observations with her friends or family. This was a bit of test for her too: she’d been struggling to break her gossip habit.

As Ruby and her service cart vacated the room, Hook released his lip and his breath. “All right, Doctor. What’s the right answer?”

Archie raised an eyebrow. “Answer to what, Captain?”

“That exercise you just had us do. The communications exercise.”

“There is no ‘right’ answer,” Archie replied. “Just a chance for each of you to see what works and what doesn’t in how you communicate with each other.”

“Aw, come on,” Emma groaned. “I don’t buy that.”

“Neither do I. Life is a contest. People win, people lose. So what was the right answer?” Hook leaned forward, studying Archie for any indication of surrender.

The psychiatrist shrugged slightly. “There are as many ‘right’ answers as there are ‘right’ relationships. What matters is how you interacted with each other, and how you felt about how your significant other interacted with you.”

“I still think we won, because I had fun.” Hook sat back, as best he could in the straight chair. “How about you, love?”

Emma chuckled. “Yeah, I have to say I did too.”

“I feel pretty good about how ours went,” David commented. “I mean, it took a little persuasion, but Snow gave me the tiara. That shows trust.”

“I’ve trusted you with my life,” Snow reminded him, linking her arm through his. “Many times.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Yeah, you have. And my life’s been in your care time and again too.”

“We always find each other.”

Archie spoke gently. “And you, Belle? How do you feel about the outcome of the exercise?”

“Well.” She glanced at Rumple, blushing. “I guess we messed it up. We kind of got distracted.”

“But it still feels as though we won something bigger,” Rumple said, bringing her palm up to his lips to kiss.

Archie nodded, smiling at them, then smiling at the others. “If you’re all happy with the outcome, I’m happy. I will mention, though, a point that seemed to have escaped everyone’s notice. I told three of you to hold an object tight, and the other three were supposed to take that object. That was the extent of the rules. There was nothing to stop the takers from simply asking for the object, and the givers to simply release it.”

“So a ‘please’ would’ve been enough,” Snow surmised.

“Yes.” Archie stood. “A couple has enough to contend with from the outside world. You need not manufacture conflict within the relationship.” He waved a hand toward the sideboard. “Something to think about: marriage is a lot easier if it’s approached as a team sport, not a tug-of-war. Coffee break time.”

He stood aside as he watched the couples react to his small announcement. “Your usual, dear?” David rose from the couch and held a hand out to Snow, helping her up; hand in hand they made their way to the sideboard and he prepared her a cup, first with two teaspoons of cream, then the coffee, and finally a teaspoon of sugar. Meanwhile, as she prepared his cup, though she tried to be stealthy about it, her eyes roamed the room, in search of something. Archie was puzzled at first, but he caught the words “Neal” in their quiet conversation and that tipped him off: Snow wanted a phone so she could call Ariel and check on the baby. But all the couples had agreed there would be no routine phone calls this weekend, or any other distractions from the outside world, and they’d surrendered their cell phones last night with little complaint after he’d reassured them that the babysitters and the deputy dwarfs could reach them through his phone if there were an emergency.

Archie saw David stroke Snow’s arm reassuringly as he handed her her coffee. The father of two was just as nervous as his wife about leaving their six-month-old for the first time, and Archie couldn’t really blame them: after all, their son had been kidnapped less than an hour after his birth. Even with Snow’s former Royal Guard out there patrolling the streets and Regina’s sensors wide open for any magical disturbance, the citizens of Storybrooke had learned the hard way that the worlds were full of power- or revenge-seeking miscreants. The Nolans were right to worry, and in fact since Neal’s kidnapping they’d adjusted their work schedules so that one of them could always be home with the baby.

Which was why this weekend was necessary for them, to give them time together—and time to rest.

Their hands tucked into each other’s back pockets, Emma and Hook strolled over to the coffee service and filled their plates with finger sandwiches and macaroons. Well fortified, they chatted a bit with the Nolans, Hook getting his future in-laws to laugh at some toned-down but still salty jokes. When their plates were empty, they wandered over to the french doors and pushed them open to admire the (magically) blooming garden. A breeze carried their laughter back throughout the deep room.

Archie pursed his lips as he watched them. Emma needed the laughter. She’d carried a tremendous burden on her young shoulders ever since she arrived in Storybrooke. Leaning against the door jamb, Hook appeared, as always, at ease and confident, but Archie knew a different story. Avoidance and denial were Hook’s burdens: responsibilities he’d ducked, guilt he hadn’t yet accepted but needed to, if he were to deal with his past. His charm was a much-needed ice breaker for him and Emma, but they both had a long way to go before they could match the level of trust and understanding that her parents enjoyed.

The doctor shifted his gaze back to the sideboard, where Belle, nibbling nervously on a cucumber sandwich, cast those same searching eyes about the room. Recognizing the look, Snow touched her elbow and spoke lowly; though Archie couldn’t make out what was said between them, he noticed the tension release from Belle’s shoulders. Nodding, the librarian reached for another sandwich. Archie was pleased to see her eat: the spell that had accelerated her pregnancy had taken a toll on her body, and his first prescription for her, when she and Gold came to him for counseling, was to place her on a restorative diet. Though Mr. Dove and his wife (both over 6-foot-2 and trained in three forms of hand-to-hand combat) were babysitting Gideon and Gold had placed impenetrable wards around the pink house (Regina had thrown her worst magic at them to test their strength), Belle felt the same insecurity as the Nolans. Archie had encouraged the two families to spend time together, under the guise of play-dates for their babies: trauma survivors could help each other in ways that no doctor could. He’d expected the reclusive Rumplestiltskin to balk at the recommendation, but surprisingly, he’d put up no resistance. He’d even brought over a bottle of Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia ($200 Archie had learned from an Internet search) to the first meeting, to accompany Snow’s potato salad and David’s fried chicken.

Gold was trying, genuinely trying, even in their counseling sessions, though he had to pull the words from his gut, speaking slowly and precisely. Archie appreciated that and had hope for them. Belle, too, had begun to rebuild her trust in Gold when in their first session,she had learned what his truthfulness cost him, physically; pressing his hand against his temple, Gold had admitted that the Dark voices filling his head sometimes made speaking difficult. Concerned, Archie had applied a blood pressure cuff and reported the result to them both: Gold’s blood pressure had jumped from its normal rate of 120/80 to 140/90. From that point on, Archie began and ended every session with a blood pressure check and steered the conversation onto safer ground when he noticed signs of pain in his client.

And he was trying now. Though he’d long envied David’s youth and muscular good looks, he had gone over to the prince and started what was for him, a casual conversation: something about the best breeds of dogs for a household with small children. Gold even smiled a little as David recalled his own childhood pet.

This was just what Gold needed: plain, ordinary, garden-variety socializing. And maybe, someday, friends.

Archie had hope for all these couples. He had faith in the strength of each of them, regardless of where their relationships might take them: they’d been tested by fire, over and over again, and had come out strong as steel. After five years of mending curse-broken families, he had faith in himself, especially when he felt the power of True Love driving his efforts. And he had confidence in Storybrooke as a nurturer for these families: the community had rebuffed the worst that its enemies could throw at it and had come out wounded but recovering.

Archie clapped his hands. “All right, everyone, let’s resume.”

—————————————————————–

Chapter 2: The Empathy Exercise

“Whatcha got next for us, Doc?” His arm draped around Emma’s shoulders, Hook urged her away from the french doors and back to her wingback chair. He dragged his own chair alongside hers and dropped down, his booted feet stretched out before him. The other couples resumed their seats as well.

“One of the biggest challenges each of you face is that, although you’ve faced down many, many threats together, as couples–”

“Cora,” Snow blurted.

“George,” her husband growled.

“Jeckyl and Hyde,” Hook contributed.

“Zelena,” Belle spat.

Casting a hasty glance at Belle, Emma put in, “Gideon. Sorry, Belle.”

His jaw tightening, Gold corrected, “The Black Fairy.”

Emma nodded. “Yes. She was the real enemy.”

“Although you’ve faced down many threats together, as couples and as a community,” Archie continued, “and that has helped you to forge strong bonds in your relationships, you are, individually, very, very different from each other. Different educational backgrounds, different economic backgrounds, different social ranks, growing up in different lands, even in different generations. We are shaped in large part by those backgrounds, and they influence our world view, shape how we react to situations and how we respond to each other.”

“Are you saying we’d be better off if we’d pick mates that we have stuff in common with?” Emma wondered.

“Not ‘better off,’ Emma; just that for couples that have similar backgrounds, it’s easier to share a point of view. When a couple has more differences between them than similarities, you may have to work a bit harder to understand each other. Over time, as you come to know each other better, you’ll be better able to predict how your spouse will react to certain events; you may even come to know why he reacts the way he does. But to be able to feel what he’s feeling, to truly empathize with him, that will strengthen your bond to the point where it’s unbreakable. As it’s been said,” Archie tilted his head in recognition toward Belle, “’You can’t know what’s in a person’s heart until you truly know them.’ And to do that, you need to walk a mile in his shoes.Unfortunately, we have only our imaginations and our knowledge of our significant other’s lives to go on, and so I have a writing exercise that we’ll try next–“

Emma interrupted, “No, that’s not exactly right.  I mean, we have two magic people here, and there is such a thing as, uh, what do you call them, Gold? That spell when Cora made herself look like Archie?”

Gold’s mouth tightened. “Glamour spells.”

Archie shuddered, remembering. “Ah, yes, well… .”

Snow raised an eyebrow. “Emma, are you suggesting that we use magic so we can literally walk in each other’s shoes?”

“I don’t know about that,” David shook his head. “Magic usually causes more problems that it solves.”

Hook rested his hand supportively on his fiancee’s knee. “Well, I for one wouldn’t mind, if it’s just for an afternoon, being Emma. If I must become a woman for a day, I can think of no other I’d rather be than the bravest and loveliest in the land.”

Emma butted her head against his shoulder. “Thanks, Killian.”

“Just what would this entail?” David asked. “I mean, from what I understand, Cora just–” he waved his hand across his body, “made herself look like Archie.”

“And Regina and Henry and who knows how many other people,” Snow muttered.

“She didn’t actually become them. Did she?”

Five heads turned toward Gold for the answer. He squirmed. “It depends on what you mean by ‘become.’ Obviously, the mind and the soul do not change. Nor, in reality does the body change. What the magic changes is solely the outward appearance of the body. It’s a very complicated spell and quite draining for the sorcerer who attempts it.”

“But you have, right?” Emma prodded.

“Yes. Though I prefer not to.” He cast a guilty glance at Belle.

“You’re good at it, right? As good as Cora?”

“I taught her how it’s done. She perfected the skill with much practice.”

“You could do it for us?” Snow asked. “Make me look like David, and him like me?”

“Do you have enough magic to change all six of us?” David asked.

“Or I, like, added some of my power to yours–” Emma volunteered.

“That would not be necessary. But understand, it’s not a transference, simply a mass illusion. A Los Vegas trick that acts on the eye of the beholder. Your thoughts and feelings are still your own. This won’t achieve the empathy Archie is talking about.”

“No.” Archie rubbed his chin. “Clearly not. I doubt if Cora gained any understanding of her victims’ beliefs and emotions by taking on their appearance. But it could be a single step in your spouse’s shoes.”

“How?” David queried.

“If you walked around town, interacted with people who assumed they were talking to the person you appear to be, you could get a sense of what that person goes through. What the community wants from them, what they expect of them.”

“What it’s like to be the savior,” Emma said with a note of bitterness.

Hook snorted, “Or an ex-pirate when nobody wants to believe the ‘ex’ part.”

Snow glanced over at David. “Or a prince who’s expected to fight everyone’s battles for them.”

He smiled a little in sympathy. “Or a queen who’s expected to always have the right words to soothe over every argument.”

Archie raised his eyes directly to Gold’s. “I think it could be especially insightful for those of you who have been marginalized in this community.”

“So you’re on board,” Hook surmised. “Who else is with us?”

David shrugged. “I’m up for it, I guess, as long as it’s just a couple of hours. I’ve always wondered what it feels like, that connection Snow has with birds.”

Snow rolled her eyes. “I suppose I wouldn’t mind either, as long as you can guarantee it’s temporary. It might be fun to be tall and charming for a day.”

“So that’s four,” Emma counted. “What about you, Belle? You haven’t said anything. Would you like to have magic for a day?”

“That wouldn’t happen,” Gold corrected. “Nothing is transferred with this spell. Hook wouldn’t gain your powers, nor would you suddenly know how to pilot a ship or acquire a thirst for rum.”

“Could you give her a little magic, though, so she’d get more of the Rumplestiltskin experience? Like that charm you gave Henry to wear when he was under the sleeping curse. A little magic Belle could draw on.”

“It… might be wise,” Archie said thoughtfully. “Some magic she could summon if she needed protection… .”

“From any of my enemies she might encounter,” Gold spat. “Yes, I suppose it would be wise.”

“Maybe you could put controls on it,” David suggested. “ No accidental magic, like ‘I wish you’d shut up’ and then the other guy’s tongue disappears.”

Snow added, “And a time limit, so any magic she casts would wear off after an hour.”

“It would be a useful aid, since magic is such a big part of who you are,” Archie said.

“We have not yet heard Belle’s opinion on the matter,” Gold pointed out. “I will not cast this spell or any other upon her unless she wishes it.” His voice dropped as he turned to her. “Ever again.”

“Thank you, Rumple.” Belle sat back on the loveseat, her hands folded as she considered the idea. No one pushed her for a hasty answer. At length, she said hesitantly, “Because magic has been a matter of contention between us, and because my son was born with it, it would be helpful, I think, if I could experience it, just temporarily. But, Rumple, will having magic, even for just an hour or two, change me permanently?”

“You mean, will it corrupt you?” He winced.

She bent her head. “When I held the dagger, I was changed. Corrupted. And permanently, I fear.”

“No, Belle.” He leaned forward to take her hands, ignoring the others’ stares. “You’re not corrupted. Your light is just as bright as it’s ever been.”

“But I fell to the temptation.”

“But you picked yourself back up again, and you always will. That’s the difference between you and me. Where I need a crutch, your bravery gives you the fortitude to stand on your own two feet. That’s your protection.”

“You’re fighting the temptation,” she assured him. “And you’re winning.”

“Today, I am,” he answered. “But tomorrow?”

“All we can control is today,” Archie reminded him. “And she’s right; you’re winning. What do you say, Mr. Gold? Four hours to walk around in Belle’s skin, and her in yours?”

Hook snorted. “I’m glad you didn’t say ‘high heels.’ That’s a sight I never want to see: Gold in Lumbertons.”

“Louboutin’s,” Snow corrected.

Gold sighed. “All right. Four hours.” He stood and moved toward the garden doors, away from the furniture; he positioned himself in front of the doors and waited quietly with his hands folded before him—but little sparks of magic flickering off his fingernails. He said nothing but his stance spoke for him: he was ready, albeit something less than willing.

“How should we do this: one at a time or everybody at once?” Archie asked. “What’s easier for you, Mr. Gold?”

Gold’s shoulders lifted slightly in his custom-tailored D & G jacket. “As you wish. It makes no difference to me.”

Emma leaped to her feet. “Let’s do this couple by couple. It’ll be more fun.” Hook took the hint and joined her, an arm’s length away from the master sorcerer. “Ready, Gold.”

Gold dipped his head slightly in agreement. “Very well. You will feel a warm tingling as the magic spreads across your skin. It will last less than a minute, and then the spell will be complete. You will not notice a difference until the people around you react to the change. It will aid the illusion if when you talk you try to use the same speech habits and gestures your partner does. But don’t bother to try to mimic your partner’s voice; the magic will encourage the observer to hear what he expects to hear If you try to fake it, your imitation will come across as exaggerated. Do you wish to continue?”

“Of course,” Hook replied.

Gold didn’t move a muscle, but magic surrounded the young couple just the same, momentarily hiding them from view. In those seconds as the spell took effect, Archie wondered about the reason for Gold’s reluctance. He suspected it had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with a dread of what he might learn from the experiment—or what Belle might learn. Archie opened his mouth, ready to call it off: maybe Gold was right to be worried. Maybe Belle and Gold weren’t the only couple for whom the experiment could be detrimental.

But before he could order a halt, the spell was cast. Emma and Hook had reversed positions: she was now standing on the left, staring at the tip of her ponytail, while Hook was tugging at his black t-shirt.

Gold’s quiet voice broke the silence. “How do you feel, Ms. Swan?” But he was looking at Hook.

Hook patted himself as if making sure all his body parts were still there. “Okay. I don’t feel different, but–” His gaze roamed down his jeans to his boots, then over to his arms. He rubbed the bristle on his chin. He whistled in amazement. “Whoa!”

Snow darted to Emma’s side and grabbed her arm. “Emma?”

“Sorry, Snow. It’s me. Killian.”

As David came up on the other side, Snow released the arm she thought belonged to her daughter and leaned across him to gape at the body that appeared to be Hook’s. “Emma? Are you okay?”

“Fine, Mom.” Emma/Hook grinned cockily. “In fact, I’m devlishly handsome.”

“Indeed.” Hook/Emma smirked back at her. “And I,” he surveyed his new appearance, “am gracefully gorgeous.”

“Thank you, Killian.” Emma/Hook took his hand.

“I suggest you plan your afternoon out on the town,” Gold motioned to the couch. “Over there.”

“Gotcha, Gold,” Hook/Emma slipped his arm across Emma/Hook’s shoulders and winked at her as he led her to the couch. “Just practicing my Emma-isms.” Archie sat down beside them for a brief conversation to assure himself that both still wanted to go forward with the test.

Meanwhile, Gold turned his attention to the Nolans. “Do you wish me to–” He wiggled his fingers.

Exchanging a glance, both Nolans nodded. “It’s just for an afternoon,” Snow confirmed; and David decided, “We’ll probably learn from it. Go ahead, Gold.”

Again, without blinking, Gold wrapped his magic around them, and in less than a minute the illusion—because it couldn’t really be called anything else; no transference or conversion had taken place—had settled around the Nolans. This time the spectators were wiser: Emma and Hook addressed the Nolans correctly as they came up to admire the handiwork.

“Now remember, Emma always folds her arms like this,” David demonstrated, while Snow cocked her head to the side, “And when she smiles at Henry, she kind of does this, like she’s amazed just to see him.”

Belle drew in a deep breath as she joined her husband. “That leaves just us, Rumple.” Her smile asked a question that the confidence in her voice belied.

“Just us,” Gold agreed. As he took her hands in his, the magic enveloped them.

Gold/Belle conjured three floor-length mirrors and invited the couples to closely examine themselves in them. “Get used to your new look so you won’t be startled by the way people look at you. The height difference, for example. You–” he pointed to David–”may feel that they’re staring at the tip of your nose, when to them, they’re looking Snow in the eye.” His eyes twinkled just a little as he turned to Emma. “And don’t be horrified when Granny cautions you that ‘the scruffy look is over’ and offers you a razor.” As Emma chortled, he faded to the back. Only Archie noticed that from the side of his eye, Gold was looking over Belle’s shoulder at his own, seemingly altered reflection. Archie wondered what he saw: did the magic fool him too?

Touching her new face, Belle leaned into the mirror. “Do you know when I first realized I was attracted to you?”

“Not in the Enchanted Forest days, that’s for certain,” Gold snorted.

“Yes, it was,” she insisted, running a finger along the edge of her new ear. “I’d been in your castle about a week. You’d just come in from a rainstorm and you were standing in front of the fireplace, warming up. You turned around and your hair was plastered down, and for the first time I could see your ears.” She smiled into the mirror. “Your sweet, mischievous, pixie ears. And that’s when I started to feel butterflies in my stomach any time you walked into the room.”

“My…ears,” he repeated doubtfully.

“Your ears,” she repeated firmly. She wheeled and slid her arms around his neck, raising on tiptoe to kiss his earlobe. “Your sweet, mischievous, pixie ears.”

Those ears turned bright red. From the corner of his eye, Archie spotted Hook taking close notice of both the compliment and the reaction; the doctor suspected this little affectionate exchange would soon become an ongoing joke.

Archie rescued Pixie Ears. “All right, folks, day’s a-wastin’. Split up, go out onto the streets, in opposite directions, and find out what it’s like to walk in your spouse’s Lumbertons.”

———————————————-

He’d finished updating his notes on the morning’s exercise and was skimming the latest online issue of Journal of Marital and Family Therapy when the first participant returned from his/her adventure. Archie had to give himself a mental shake to remember that the tall, blond young man pushing the parlor doors open was in actually a somewhat-tall brunette young woman. Snow White Nolan appeared lost in thought as she gave the psychiatrist a silent nod of greeting, then beelined for the sideboard to gulp down a cup of chamomile. “Welcome back, Snow.” Archie made a quick, subtle note in his iPad concerning the time of her return and the expression on her face.

“Hi” was her only answer. He didn’t press for more—yet. It was important that her husband be here before she described her experience; this experiment was as much a lesson for the spouse as for the adventurer.

Close on her heels was her daughter, scratching her chin—no, Archie mentally whacked himself: this was the pirate in Swan’s clothing. He flopped onto the couch, propping his long legs one atop the other. Small sounds of frustration escaped him, even as he nodded in reply to Snow’s offer of a cup of tea. “Lot to think about, Doc,” he muttered as he set the cup on the coffee table.

Belle was next to return. The sunny smile she usually had for Archie had been replaced by a chewed bottom lip. Before anyone could strike up small talk with her, she carried her tea to the bay windows that looked out onto the front lawn and white gravel drive, signaling a desire to be left alone with her thoughts.

David bounced in next, head high, steps light and a kiss on the cheek for his wife, who poured him a cup of coffee. “Great exercise, Archie,” he boomed from across the room. “Solved a problem I’ve been mulling over ever since the curse broke.”

A snort from behind the couch wondered, “Which curse? Last I counted, there’ve been five, and that’s just since I got here.”

“Didn’t go so well for you, I take it,” David remarked.

Before the pirate could respond, Emma/Hook ambled in. When she opened her mouth to accept her mother’s offer of hot chocolate, Snow gasped. “Emma! Your tongue and lips are blue! Archie, is the spell backfiring?”

Emma chuckled. “It’s just the coconut and pomegranate Icee I had.” She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, then bared her teeth for inspection. “Better?”

“Better,” Snow confirmed.

Gold slipped in so silently that Archie didn’t hear him until he spoke, in his usual low voice. “I’ll lift the spell now, Dr. Hopper. With your permission?”

David/Snow positioned himself in front of the sorcerer and motioned his family over. “Fire when ready, Gridley.”

As Belle and Hook joined the group, the former queried, “Who’s Gridley?”

“Beats me. Just something I heard in a movie, but I like the sound of it.” Before anyone could say more, a whirl of purple magic swept up from the hardwood floor and momentarily blinded them from each other. But, as usual, Gold’s magic acted efficiently and in less than the draw of a breath, the illusion fell away. The Charmings and Hook moved over to the mirrors to assure themselves of the restoration, but Belle, utterly confident that Rumple could lift such a routine spell, merely helped herself to a macaroon.

“Very good. Thank you, Mr. Gold. And now, if everyone would be seated again?” Archie resumed occupation of his favorite chair as the others drifted into the seating area. “Let’s debrief. Who would like to start?”

David raised his hand. “I will. I want to say thanks for the idea, Archie. Like I said, it cleared up something that had been bothering me for years now.”

“I’m glad it was so productive, David. Please describe where you went and who you saw.”

“Well.” His arm about Snow’s shoulders, David relaxed into the couch. “I started back for the sheriff’s office. Just habit, I guess. But before I got across the parking lot, Max Grimes stopped me.” The deputy explained to Hook, “That’s the principal of the elementary school. Of course he thought I was Snow. He started talking about how low a turnout they’d been getting for the PTA meetings and he wanted to know if I—I mean, Snow—had any suggestions. So we chatted a while about that and I said maybe we should hold the meetings on Saturday afternoons instead of Monday nights. I said—speaking from experience—that on a weeknight, it’s kind of hard for a parent to go out, you know, after a long day at work and rushing home to pick up the kids and get them fed and bathed and in bed.”

“I think you’re onto something. Good idea, David,” Snow praised.

“Grimes thought so too. I’d just gotten done talking to him when a little kid called to me from across the street. He came running up with a sheet of paper in his hands. It was his math homework. He was having trouble multiplying fractions.”

“A fifth grader,” Snow surmised. “Most of them have trouble with fractions.”

“So do I.” David ran a hand through his hair. “I was wishing that we’d done a body swap instead of just a glamour thing, so I could help him. Best I could do was to invite him to come to class a fifteen minutes early on Monday and I—I mean, you—would help him then. Sorry, Snow.”

“Nothing to apologize for. That’s exactly what I would have done.”

“I never did make it into the sheriff’s office. There was a mom who wanted to talk about Snow writing a recommendation letter for her kid to get into BU. And one of the nuns said something about collecting used school uniforms for the poor kids in town. There were a couple of others–” he interrupted himself to squeeze Snow’s shoulders. “Honey, I know that’s nothing out of the ordinary; we get stopped on the street every day, seems like. We just deal with it and go on. But this time it hit me. Snow, do you remember when we were talking about moving back to the Enchanted Forest? I wanted to go and you didn’t. Well, I found out today that people really need you here. More, I think, than in the Forest. This is going to sound odd, but—you were a great queen but you’re one of a kind as a teacher. The kids here need you. You’re the one who teaches them to respect nature. You’re the one who teaches them to respect each other. These kids will be sheriffs and doctors and bridge builders and mayors someday, and you’re the one who’ll prepare them for it.”

Snow borrowed a corner of his sleeve to pat away the moisture collecting in her eyes. “Thank you, David. You say a lot of nice things to me, but that’s just about the sweetest.”

“So you changed your mind, Dad?” Emma brought the conversation back to practicalities. “About going back to the Enchanted Forest?”

David was looking at Snow as he answered. “I did. If that’s okay with your mother, I want to stay here.”

“It’s okay.” Snow sniffled. “More than okay.” She straightened. “Now it’s my turn. I had an educational experience too. I’ve always known, of course, that the people of Storybrooke depend on David for solving all sorts of problems, whether it’s slaying dragons or rescuing cats from trees.” She winked at her husband. “Ms. Shoemaker’s boxer chased one of Ms. Ginger’s tabbies up a tree, by the way. Good thing I still remember from my highwaywoman days how to climb. Anyway, after I got the tabby down—and got repaid for it with claws digging into my arm–”

“Ernestine,” David nodded knowledgeably. “She’s a biter, too. You escaped the worst of her.”

“After Ernestine, I walked over to the park to rest a while, but Sleepy spied me and wanted to know what we’re doing about the protection spell on the coastline. He’s been reading a book about this mythical ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman, and he’s scared to pieces that it’s going to appear at our docks and Cora, Cruella, the Black Fairy, Hyde, Hades and a hundred other villains are going to bomb the town.”

“He’s been having nightmares ever since Dopey got transformed into a tree.”

“Tell him to call my office on Monday,” Archie encouraged.

“Will do,” David acknowledged.

Snow continued, “So I sat with him for over an hour, listening to his dreams. I tried to reassure him that dead is dead, but… .”

“The phrase has lost its meaning of late,” Belle murmured.

“There was a time,” Gold grumbled, “when the rules of magic meant something. Before people like Zelena started disrespecting them.”

Archie noticed that at this remark, Belle lowered her head.

“So then I tried to assure him that Emma and Regina and Blue are all working together to tighten up all the various spells shielding this town from intruders. I don’t think I convinced him—I’m not sure myself that magic is the answer to our problems—but I did calm him down. I reminded him that we have patrols covering the perimeters of the town, night and day. ‘I feel better,’ he said, ‘with you and Snow and Emma on the job.’”

“As do we all,” Archie remarked.

“I found that there are still dragons to be fought, and people still come to their prince to slay them. Even if the dragons come in human form, the people want David to take care of them.” Snow smiled proudly at her husband. “So don’t put your sword away just yet, Charming.”

“I had a similar thing happen,” Hook volunteered. “The man who owns Standard Clocks—we haven’t been introduced, so I don’t know his name—he caught me as I was walking along the docks. He insisted on knowing my—that is, the sheriff’s—plan for getting rid of Zelena, Regina and Gold. He was of the impression that that’s what a savior is meant to do: slay villains. Or at least drive them out of town. I reminded him that banishment seldom sticks around here.”

Gold’s mouth tightened in a thin line and Belle reddened.

“That’s not very reassuring,” Snow said, as David added, “It’s not the kind of thing Emma would say.”

“What else happened, Captain Jones?” Archie nudged the conversation forward.

“Like father, like daughter, as the saying goes. I went into the Crab King for a bite of lunch and I’d no sooner picked up the menu when I was besieged with requests for assistance, much of it of the magical sort—and not all of it ‘requests.’ ‘Demands’ would be a more accurate word. Everything from erecting a stop sign at First Street and Cassidy Lane, to, as one of the nuns expressed it, ‘layering the abandoned mine with fairy dust so we can safely imprison the next magic wielding villain who disturbs our peace.” He gave Emma an apologetic half-smile. “I do apologize, love, for all the times I ‘got pissy,’ as you put it, over citizens interrupting our dates with their petty problems. Between enforcing the law and saving our mangy hides, you carry the weight of this town’s worries on your slender shoulders.”

“She does, indeed,” Snow agreed.

“Always glad to be appreciated,” Emma quipped.

But Archie suspected that her humor, as it so often did, was a cover for other emotions, and a study of Hook’s fingers, tapping on the back of the loveseat, showed him that Hook was covering up too. “What else, Captain? I get the feeling there’s more to your story.”

Emma poked her elbow into Hook’s ribs. “Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but, remember?”

“Well,” Hook sighed. “We need to have a chat, in private. In all the excitement of defeating the Evil Queen and the Black Fairy, not to mention our engagement, it seems we neglected a rather important matter… a question prospective spouses should find agreement on, before the wedding… .”

Emma’s brows drew together. “Go on.”

“Well.” He sat up straighter. “I strolled into the pharmacy for a pack of gum, and mistaking me for you–”

“Which was the point of this exercise,” David reminded them.

“Our eternally sneezing chemist informed me that your prescription was ready.” He reached into his jacket for a small white package and presented it to her.

She peeked inside and shrugged. “My birth control pills. So?”

“He also said that in answer to your earlier question, he’d done some checking and fertility rates do decline after age 35 but your chances of conceiving are still about 78 percent.”

“Oh.” Emma caught on now, and Archie was just a step behind her. “I was asking—I’m going to be 35 when we get married, and I thought–” she shrugged. “With things settling down here, and Henry in high school–”

“I’d assumed that once Henry graduates, we’d be free to travel–” He rested his hand on her knee. “Emma, there’s a big, beautiful world out there, waiting for us to explore. A world free of magic, where you don’t have to save anyone. A baby would tie us down–”

“A baby would give us a future.” Her voice crept up. “A chance for a normal life. A chance to have what you and me both were robbed of.”

“May I suggest we leave this topic for another, private time?” Archie butted in.

“It’s not one you can work out in single conversation,” Snow reminded them.

“Yeah, good idea,” Emma said, and Hook nodded. “A wise decision.”

“Wow,” David breathed. “This really was a major exercise.”

“More than I had anticipated,” Archie admitted. “Let’s move on. Emma, tell us about your experiences as Hook.”

“Well, mostly, it just reinforced what I already knew.” Archie detected a thin line of annoyance under her tone; he made a mental note to talk to her alone this evening, apart from Hook. He wasn’t worried for her, though; her eyes had been opened to the fact that an engaged couple had numerous questions to resolve before they were ready to become a married couple, and Archie was confident that Emma would make certain all those issues were hammered out before she started shopping for china patterns.

Hook smirked. “What? That I’m devilishly handsome?”

“Yeah.” Emma slugged him in the arm. “Emphasis on ‘devilish.’ And irresistible to women and kids. I had a troop of little boys traipsing along behind me everywhere I went, bombarding me with questions and begging for a ride on The Jolly Roger. And a pair of teenage girls that were shopping in Prubeck’s came out to the street to stare at me and giggle, like I was a–”

“Movie star,” Hook finished for her.

“I was going to say, ‘Three-headed hydra,’ but okay, ‘movie star.’ While me and my entourage were standing on the corner, waiting for the crosswalk light to change, Frau Trude came up and started pawing at me, messing with my collar and my medallion—when she started inviting me up to her place for a bottle of Cuban rum, I yanked my shirt out her hands and beat it. Escaped into Any Given Sundae. Forgot that the Goose Girl works there on weekends now–”

“She goes by Amanda now,” Snow explained. “She was unanimously voted head cheerleader this year and Most Beautiful Sophomore.”

Emma growled, “Should’ve been voted ‘Girl Most Likely to,’ from what I saw. She pushed the top of her apron down to show a little cleavage, and then she leaned across the counter to serve me samples of ice cream.”

“Ice cream is one of this world’s delights.” Hook licked his lips. “Those little plastic spoons are so cute.”

“Yeah, well, I kinda forgot who I was for a minute there, ‘cause I pushed her hand away and ordered a coconut pomegranate Icee, and she said, ‘But Captain, you hateIcees.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, but Emma, my fiancee, loves them, so I thought I’d better get used to them. So she shrugged and flipped her hair and batted her eyelashes at me while she poured the Icee.” Emma shuddered. “I dunno. I knew from the beginning I’d have to put up with this crap if I got involved with you, but it’s still damned annoying.”

“I’ll try to be a little bit resistible in the future,” Hook promised.

“When she handed me the drink, she grabbed my elbow and ran her fingers along my wrist, like this.” Emma demonstrated with Archie’s arm, causing Hook to scowl and Archie to redden. “When I dug into my jeans for some money, she waved it away. ‘On the house,’ she said. ‘Your money’s no good here.’ That’s when Marcie slammed in from the back. ‘His money’s no good anywhere. It’s fake bullion. Put the charge on Emma’s tab.’ And she stood there glaring at me from behind the counter while Goosie wrote up a bill. ‘As soon as he leaves, you and I are going to have a long talk, Missy.’ So I took the hint and hightailed it out of there, and I finished my Icee on the bench at the bus stop, all those kids standing around me begging for ‘blood-curdling tales of the high seas.’”

Hook managed a blush. “Most people don’t realize how much work it is to be a pirate. He must always keep the image up for his public.”

“I finished my drink and started walking toward the pier, but that proved to be a bad idea, because the kids who were following me started shouting for other kids to come along because they thought I was going to give them a ride on the Roger. So I changed direction and went into Clara’s Crafts and started looking at embroidery needles—thanks, Mom, by the way, for teaching me.”

“Embroidery calms the nerves,” Snow said, then glanced at Archie. “I could teach a class for your patients.”

“We’ll discuss that later. Thank you, Snow,” Archie said.

“My entourage got bored waiting for me and they wandered off. But Clara came over… .” Emma paused, chewing on her lip; Archie recognized this as an indication of uncertainty and he gave her the space to decide whether to continue with her story. After a long moment of deliberation, she proceeded, “Clara came over. She said she’d talked to her husband… .” She shifted in her seat to face Hook. “See, he has an opening at the bank for a security guard, and I thought—it seems like a good gig, pays well, working daytimes.”

“Better than being a part-time bouncer at the Rabbit Hole,” Hook concurred, but his shoulders hunched. He shook his head, shaking off his annoyance, then grinned. “It would certainly improve our social life. Well done, Emma. I suppose I’ll need a uniform and a firearm?”

“Well,” Emma twisted her engagement ring. “The thing is—they, ah, filled the position.”

“With whom?”

“It doesn’t really matter, Killian.”

“With whom, Emma?”

She threw her hands into the air in surrender. “All right. They hired Thumbelina.”

Hook’s voice fell. “I see. Was it–” He raised his left arm. “Because I’m still quite capable of handing myself in a fistfight or a sword fight, as I’ve proven more than once here.”

“No,” Emma assured him. “I know—everyone knows—it’s stupid to pick a fight with Captain Hook.”

David snorted. “Just ask Will Scarlett.”

Hook ran his hand over his chin. “It’s the scruff, then. I’ve noticed people who work in banks and the like have that clean-shaven, button down look.”

Emma laced her fingers and stared at her ring. “It’s not the scruff. Or your clothes. It’s—it’s time. I mean, it’s a matter of time. The town… isn’t used to you yet. It took a while for them to warm up to me too. They’re not used to strangers. You’ve got give them time to get to know you.”

“You mean, they don’t trust me.”

Silence filled the room until Emma finally nodded and added, “But they will. Give them time. You’ve done so much for this town already; they’ve seen that. They just need time for it to sink in.”

“They will come around,” Snow contributed. “Being accepted is still a struggle for Regina, too. But you’ll both get there.”

“I could talk to a few of the guys,” David volunteered.

“Thank you, mate, but I think Emma’s right: I need to prove myself to them. And I will.”

Emma hung her head. “There was something else.” She kept twisting her ring, until at last she lifted her left hand. “This.”

Hook raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation, so Emma prompted, “I walked past Joan of Diamonds, and she grabbed me and hauled me inside.”

“Oh.”

Archie interceded, “We can stop there, if you prefer.”

“No, I suppose–” Hook looked at David. “You’re going to find out sooner or later. I owe money on the ring.”

“How much? Maybe I can–” David’s offer was interrupted by a jab from Snow’s elbow.

“Suffice it to say, I’m a bit behind in payments. I, ah, expected to have employment by now. I made a deal with Joan… .” It was his turn to sigh. “You’re right, love, about trust being a problem. Joan wouldn’t make a deal with me until one of her clerks reminded her who it is I’m marrying… and who her parents are. It wasn’t what I would have preferred, but that ring was so perfect for you, and it would take me years working at the cannery to save up for it. So I took advantage—I traded on the Charming name. Merchants may not trust me yet, but they are as certain of the Charming family as they are of the sun rising in the morning.”

With a quick glance at Belle, Gold intervened. “I could make you a loan. Or buy out your loan from Ms. Diamond.”

“Let me guess,” Emma muttered. “She owes you a favor.”

“Thank you, no,” Hook curled his lip at the pawnbroker. “I’m sure a loan from you would cost an arm and a leg.”

“No interest. You and Regina are not the only ones struggling to change,” Gold admitted. “I don’t care what others think of me, but my son and my wife live here too.”

“So,” Emma said slyly, “accepting a loan would kind of being doing you a favor.”

“In a way. I suppose.” Clearly, he wasn’t too pleased about the change in perception of his offer, nor about even making the offer, but when Belle rewarded him by resting her head against his arm, his smile became genuine.

“In that case, I accept.” Hook appeared rather pleased with himself—as well as relieved.

“We’ll find you a good job,” Emma promised before turning back to Archie. “So I learned what it’s like on both sides of the fence: being fawned over by a gaggle of fans and being mistrusted because of your past. Apparently, it’s harder being Captain Hook than anyone would think. End of report, Doc.”

“Very good. Thank you, Emma. And that brings us to the Golds. Who would like to go first?”

To everyone’s surprise, the pawnbroker spoke up. “I would, if it’s all right with you, sweetheart.” At Belle’s nod, he began. “Actually, this lesson taught me nothing about Belle; it merely confirmed what I already knew, that, much as with Mr. and Ms. Nolan, she is well regarded and much needed in this town. Loved, in fact. But that doesn’t surprise me in the least.”

Belle blushed, but Archie pressed for details.

“Everywhere I went, I was welcomed.” Gold shook his head in wonder. “I was hugged more in one afternoon than in a lifetime… .” His jaw worked as he fought back emotions. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, remembering that Modern Fashions had called yesterday about a dress that was ready to be picked up, I went there first. The counter clerk–”

“Melanie,” Belle provided.

“Rushed out to the floor to hug me and she promptly invited me to the back for tea with the dressmaker–”

“Amelia.”

“She sat me down at the workbench and I chatted with Amelia as Melanie prepared the tea. She remembered that Belle has been craving peppermint tea, no sugar, ever since Gideon was born.”

Belle grinned. “She always remembers.”

“And she remembered that your birthday is coming up next month, and she asked if we would be doing something special. I told her we have no plans yet, so she and Amelia invited me—that is, you—to lunch that day, if you’re available. They asked after Gideon and were disappointed that I didn’t have my phone with me, so I promised I’d show them photos next time. They said I—Belle–was looking great and seemed to have added a few much-needed pounds. Amelia took my measures to confirm it and said she’d let the dress out a little. It will be ready on Tuesday.”

“Thank you,” Belle said.

Gold ducked his head. “And then they asked after my husband. They seemed to know we’re working on our relationship.”

“Honey, the whole town knows we’re all working on our relationships,” Snow sniffed. “And yours is one of the most interesting.”

Gold raised his eyes to Belle’s. “They wished us well. They said any time you need someone to talk to, just call. They’ve both been through rough times with their spouses.” His eyes widened. “They said they hope we can work it out, because… because we’re good for each other. Both of us, good for each other.”

“They’re sweet women and good friends.” Belle linked her arm through his, then answered his unspoken question. “And they might be right.”

“And, they said, even in infancy, a child needs its father too.” He swallowed hard. “I mentioned that the reverse is true as well. We chatted then about dresses and books, and then I paid for the dress and went on about my way. I checked on the library: Regina was raising cain with the Old Lady in the Shoe about all the books her children have lost. Had the poor woman in tears.”

“I’ll speak to her on Monday. Those children need books.”

“Marco was browsing the cookbooks and kept asking Regina for suggestions, but Madame Mayor just grunted at him. ‘How should I know? Hire a cook, like I do.’ And there was a study group asking for you, five teens who are preparing to take college entrance exams.”

“I’m glad Regina got to see all that,” Belle chuckled. “She’ll think twice about cutting the library’s budget.”

“It’s you, sweetheart, more than the books or the computers. It’s you they need. I went into Granny’s next and as soon as she heard my—your–voice she came out from the kitchen and threw her arms around me. ‘How’s the therapy going?’ I explained that we were on a break for the afternoon but that it was going well. She thrust her fists onto her hips and looked me up and down, and she said I was looking better. She said when you and I first split up, it was a race as to which would bring me down first: lack of sleep or lack of a good meal. She said she doesn’t trust Rumplestiltskin farther than she can throw a dragon, but he does seem to be taking a page from Regina’s book and behaving himself better. Then she offered to loan you her crossbow if I screw up.”

“Granny,” Belle chuckled. “What would this town be without her?”

“I ordered pancakes—Belle, when I went to pay, the ticket was half as much as I expected. She’s been overcharging me all these years. In the hour I was in the diner. I was invited to two birthday parties, a fundraiser for the animal shelter, and a retirement party. I made six book recommendations and agreed to speak to Mr. Hemingway’s tenth grade English class on Friday—about F. Scott Fitzgerald. I was hugged, complimented and kissed, no more or less than to be expected in a typical day for Belle French Gold. I learned nothing new about Belle in all this.”

“But?” Archie prompted.

“But the experiment uncovered a weakness in me. It seems, after all these years, I enjoy hugs. Even from overcharging cafe owners.”

“You’re human, Mr. Gold. Humans need touch as much as they need air,” Archie said.

“Perhaps.” The pawnbroker fell silent and Archie took the hint to end the conversation. They could discuss this further in private.

“That leaves you, Belle.”

She cleared her throat as her expression shifted from worry to—Archie wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw fear. But then she dug her fingernails into the loveseat’s upholstery and her eyes flashed at Snow. “We have to do something about Zelena.”

“What?” The former queen was puzzled.

“You think she’s changed but she hasn’t. Not enough, anyway. She’s still wicked and dangerous, and I fear for my son as long as she’s in this town.”

“Did she threaten Gideon?” Gold barked.

“She’s behaved herself of late,” Snow thought. “Regina’s vouched for her, but… .”

“Did she make threats, Belle? I can arrest her if she did,” Emma said, “but unless she’s actually broken the law in the last six months, the city council voted to give her a second chance and I have to go by that.”

“No. I don’t know.” Belle fought against herself. “She said things–”

Archie crossed the room to kneel beside her, taking her hand, as Gold slid his arm around her shoulders. “Start at the beginning, Belle,” Archie urged. “David, would you bring her a cup of tea?”

Belle drew in a deep breath. “Okay, first I walked along Chatam Street. It’s always quieter than Main Street and Rumple likes to come down to the shop from home that way. There were some kids playing kickball in the empty lot across from the Hotchkiss Dance Studio. When they saw me coming down the sidewalk, they pointed at me and yelled. ‘Run!’ they said. ‘He eats kids! My mom said so.’ Mikey Patterson said that Rumple crawled through his bedroom window and tried to kidnap him last week.”

Gold shook his head.

“And Frankie Patterson said that the Black Fairy is still alive and Rumple’s plotting with her to turn everyone into statues.”

“Kids have wild imaginations,” Snow explained apologetically. “The Patterson boys especially.”

“As I got closer, they turned and ran. I crossed the block and saw Bessie Barwell hanging out her wash. I waved to her, but she—well–” Belle elevated her middle finger.

“Bessie plays the ponies, not successfully. My loan saved her from Danny Devine, but put her in debt to me.”

“As I walked along the street, people closed their window blinds or slammed doors or turned the other way. Except for a few who just stood there and stared.”

“Captain Jones is not the only resident with town trust issues,” Gold admitted. “It played in my favor in the past, but that was before you and Gideon.”

“Most of the town sees you’re changing too, Mr. Gold. They will come around,” Archie said.

“This could not have been a surprise to you, Belle. You did know when we married how the town feels about me. Lord knows, we’ve had enough such streetside encounters.”

"No, it didn’t surprise me, but I felt it. For the first time, I felt it from your perspective. It felt weird, both awful and good at the same time. The way people were reacting to me, I felt powerful and—kind of safe. Like they wouldn’t dare mess with me, you understand, Archie? But then right away I felt conflicted. Not everybody thinks ill of me, I thought, but hardly anyone thinks well. And I worried what Gideon would have to cope with as he grows up.” She glanced over at her spouse. “And I felt bad for myself, because other than Dove, I don’t have anyone I can just sit down with and have coffee, you know? I learned that you never get used to loneliness. Even Rumplestiltskin needs friends.”

“Perhaps so,” Gold allowed.

Belle clenched her fists. “And then I walked up to Second Street. I thought I’d pop in to Ichiro’s. Rumple loves their green tea ice cream. But you know Rapunzel’s Salon is next door, and Zelena was coming out. She saw I was alone and so was she, and I guess she took advantage of that. She sashayed up to me and made some snide comments about a rumor going round that Child Protective Services is planning to take Gideon away unless… .”

“Unless I remove myself from his life and yours,” Gold finished. “I’ve heard those rumors too. Don’t fear them, Belle. It’s just vicious talk.”

"We won’t let them take your kid,” Emma said with some venom. “Not from either of you.”

“While she was railing at me, that’s what I was thinking,” Belle said. “I reminded myself, in this world, Gold is a lawyer with an expertise in family law. He’ll fight tooth and nail to keep his son. But a small voice deep inside cried, ‘Not another one. I can’t lose another child.’ She saw she was getting to me and she laughed.”

“The bitch,” Emma muttered.

Snow stood and with folded hands, addressed the Golds. “Let me assure you, no one will take that baby away from you.”

“Least of all, Zelena,” David’s voice shook as he came to his wife’s side.

“She’s screwing with you, mate,” Hook suggested. “She’s wicked. That’s what she does.”

“I’m going to have a talk with Ms. Green,” Snow decided. “With the mayor present. As a city councilwoman, I’ll let the witch know that we don’t appreciate her shaking up our town with foul rumors. And I’m going to remind her that we don’t cherry pick forgiveness. Those who will work for it will receive it.”

“Right now she doesn’t seem to be doing much work,” Emma sniped.

“You might feel alone in this town, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” David said to Gold.

Archie folded his arms as he surveyed his clients. “You have allies, Mr. Gold, perhaps for the first time, and in time, you may have friends.”

Gold’s eyes traveled from face to face. “Perhaps so.”

“Good exercise, Doc,” Hook clapped the psychiatrist on the back. “We all got something out of it.”

“Smells like there’s more to come,” David sniffed the air. “I’d say Granny’s Yankee pot roast and rosemary rolls.”

Emma sniffed too. “And cherry pie. I know we’re supposed to wait for Ruby to ring for us, but–”

“Yes, we can go in now,” Archie allowed. “We’ve done a lot of important work today and we’ve earned our dinner. Let’s go into the dining room and see if there’s a salad we can start on. A good start, everyone.” He stood back to admire them. “Much more than I could’ve asked for. A very good start.”

[seriouslyhooked]

Just a Taste (A CS AU) Part 10/10

AU where Emma and Killian are contestants on the Great American Baking Show and all twelve contestants hail from Storybrooke Maine. In this AU Emma is a book editor by day, while Killian is an architect who just moved to town a few months prior. Expect baked goods, flirtatious interactions, a little drama and a whole lot of fluff with a guaranteed HEA for Captain Swan. Rated M. Story on FF Here.

Part One Here, Part Two Here, Part Three Here, Part Four Here, Part Five Here, Part Six Here, Part Seven Here, Part Eight Here, Part Nine Here.

A/N: I cannot believe the ending of ‘Just a Taste’ is here, but this story was definitely fun to explore and to develop. It’s easily one of my favorite AUs I ever dabbled in and that’s only compounded by the fact that the Great British Baking Show put two more seasons on Netflix! I’m sending it off exactly how you would all expect, lots of fluff, a little smut, and a happily ever after worthy of my CS babies. I hope you all enjoy!

“Okay this is pretty freaking cool.” Mary Margaret’s words in the face of their surroundings were an understatement.

The production team had really outdone themselves for this last day of competition and the entire feel under the white tent was different. To ring in the final day of shooting, Liam and the crew had created a huge carnival that the entire town was invited to attend. The showing was amazing, hundreds of people had come out in support of Emma, Mary Margaret, and Tiana on their last day, and everyone was all smiles and laughter.

After yesterday, a day that had felt pretty empty to Emma and the others (since it was just the three of them left), this was a welcome change. To have so many people here enjoying the abnormally mild November day outside was wonderful, and it took some of the edge off of this final challenge. They were nearly done with their bakes, but Emma would be lying if she said she wasn’t a little jealous of the people who had already gone home. All of the original contestants were here, and while the three finalists were slaving away over the final details of their bakes, the others were enjoying a beautiful picnic and an all together relaxing Sunday.

Emma had always expected this final challenge to be in the form of a cake, something big and complex and demonstrative of each contestant’s full range of abilities. That they had just made their Storybrooke birthday cakes last week didn’t matter, she was sure that they would be wanting more, but she’d been wrong, at least in part. To continue with the Americanization of the show, and to incorporate the ever-present trend towards cupcakes, the judges had decided that the final challenge should be a mammoth undertaking to help fuel the festival around them – a true cupcake tower, with four separate varieties. The bakers were then expected to make two-dozen of each flavor and though given an extra hour to do this, were expected to have each cupcake tasting great and looking exactly the same.

After a lot of deliberation on her part, and in conjunction with Mary Margaret, Emma had decided to elevate the simplest of flavors to the next level. Her intention was to create a great tasting and beautiful bake, but she realized that this choice might harm her when it came down to judging. Gold, Regina, and Granny might criticize her for going too safe with these three flavors (molten milk chocolate, vanilla bean and honey, lemon meringue, and raspberry swirl), but she knew that the guests at their festival would love them and that they’d look good for the cameras.

In all honesty, Mary Margaret and Emma had already chosen this route together. It wasn’t that they believed Tiana couldn’t win under the weight of their full participation, but they worried that it might make a better story for Emma to win. By Emma taking a step back (as well as Mary Margaret just to be safe) they would allow this bright young woman with big dreams the chance to make her name. There was no reason for her not to win simply because she hadn’t found love on the show, and both Emma and Mary Margaret had won enough from this competition already. Neither of them had plans to take their baking past the privacy of their own homes ever again and a win on either of their parts would be a waste.

“I think we might have missed a lot of opportunities at great nicknames for you this year, Emma.” The words from Graham as he approached while Emma was frosting the last of her cupcakes made her smile.

“Oh yeah? What makes you say that?” Graham grinned.

“You’re always unflappable. Cool as a cucumber in the face of every challenge. Seriously, America is wondering, how do you do it?” Emma laughed at the question.

“I have a great poker face. Maybe I look calm to you guys, but on the inside it’s panic central.”

That was a slight exaggeration, and one she felt she’d made before, for Emma hadn’t truly stressed over a bake this season in quite a while. But it didn’t sound great to say that this competition wasn’t the end all be all. The last thing she wanted was to underplay what a win could mean if given to the right person.

“The results will be in, in just a matter of time. Any thoughts on who of the three of you will win?” Emma shook her head, not interested in going on camera and making such a claim.

“Not to be too corny, but I think all of us have already won in many ways. We all made it to the final round, each of us has won star baker before, and most importantly we pushed ourselves into finding awesome recipes and hard won successes. I’ll be happy no matter who takes home that dish.” Graham shook his head.

“It still confuses the hell out of me that all of this has been for a dish. This is America! What happened to good old fashioned cash prizes and trophies?”

“It is funny, isn’t it? How they changed so much about the original show but kept the simple prize. Something to consider when they go into the next season.”

Emma noticed Tink bite her lip where she was overlooking the camera crew trained on Emma, and in that moment, she realized that Graham might actually be setting up a surprise addition to whatever the winnings were. It would be interesting to see what happened, but there was no prize they could really give that would change Emma’s mind on Tiana’s deserving to win.

With that, Graham bid her good luck on the rest of the bake, and the clock ran down until finally all three women had created and presented their cupcakes in their individual towers that production had made to each contestants standards. Emma had designed hers to look like a big book, after her thematic tie between the weeks, Mary Margaret had opted for a modern design that was sleek and beautiful, while Tiana had gone for that extra bit of home-town charm, using a display stand that looked like a light house. All three looked great, but it was down to the judges to decide who would take home the title. In the meantime, Emma and the others were led outside to join the festivities. When they finally reached the festival the three of them were greeted by a huge round of applause from their friends and neighbors.

“So, is it all going according to plan, love?” Killian whispered in Emma’s ear as she came to hug him. She laughed into his chest and shrugged when she pulled back.

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see. How are things going out here?”

“Leroy’s been drunk all morning, but the soup station is top notch.” David’s commentary made Emma smile just as Killian’s reply did.

“Dave’s a bit overexcited about the soup really. He’s already dragged me there three separate times and told me all about what makes a soup verses a stew.” Dave looked a little cross at Killian’s lack of enthusiasm.

“Hey! I was sharing some great insight with you, man.” Mary Margaret kissed David lightly before chastising him a bit.

“Soup is a pretty universal thing, David. I’m sure Killian’s run into it before.”

“Indeed I have love. But I will admit, it is rather good.”

Emma eagerly anticipated getting the chance to go try some, and to relax a little at the fair but the judges were already back, the decision seemingly made, and things were being set up for the big reveal outside.

“I just want to say, before we announce the winner, that you should all be so proud. Each of you has come to this tent every weekend and shown us not only how capable you are, but that passion and love in baking adds all the more richness to any bake.”

Regina’s words were unexpectedly kind, but Emma wasn’t too surprised. In the past week she’d seen the woman with Robin more than once, and had been informed that despite their vastly different lives, the two would be trying to make their relationship work post-Storybrooke production. It didn’t escape Emma’s notice that Regina looked over to Robin more than once while out here thus far either.

“You’ve all done Storybrooke proud, girls. This town is very lucky to have you all representing us as you have.” Another cheer sounded through the lawn, and Granny had tears in her eyes as she said the words. For some reason the woman’s emotions made Emma a little teary too. As she stood between Mary Margaret and Tiana, she extended a hand to both women and silently congratulated them both.

“If we’re quite done with the sap, let’s be down to it,” Gold practically snapped.

Emma didn’t think for a second she was the only person to roll her eyes at Gold’s brashness, but she knew it would play incredibly well. Whether he meant to or not, Gold had done an excellent job at making himself an indispensible part of the show, at least as a villain that contestants had to succeed in spite of.

“There’s one last thing. We know that all season long we’ve had the running joke that all of this is for a dish,” Ruby said from her perch near the judges. “But the truth is, all three of you will be walking away with something.”

Ruby waved her arm over to the crew members who were bringing in a table with not one but three dishes, all plated in bronze, silver or gold. Emma, Mary Margaret, and Tiana all laughed.

“In third place, is Mary Margaret!”

The crowd went crazy again, congratulating her as if she was the winner herself. Mary Margaret accepted her prize dish and flowers from the judges, and then returned to the fray of the other contestants, taking her place beside David. Emma did notice however, that there was an envelope attached to Mary Margaret’s dish, and wondered what could be inside. She didn’t have much time to speculate though, for now it was the moment of truth.

“To declare a winner for this show has been an incredibly difficult challenge. Both of you have remained neck and neck throughout the competition, and both have proven that for amateurs, you really are experts at finding great tastes and great bakes. But there can only be one winner, and that person is… Tiana.”

Emma quickly hugged the woman, who was crying tears of absolute joy, and in that moment Emma knew this was exactly as things should be. Watching Tiana receive her dish, flowers and envelope, was a heartwarming experience. When it was finally Emma’s turn to retrieve her dish, she expected it to go pretty typically, but from beneath the table, Granny pulled out a medal.

“In a final twist, we are awarding what for now is being called The Great Storybrooke MVP Medal, to you Emma. Though you technically didn’t come out on top with the judges, you ran away with the hearts of your competitors and the audience alike. Kindness and good humor should be rewarded, and so we give you this.”

Emma couldn’t help the big smile that came as the whole town cheered for her and Granny put on her medal. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and really the best title she could have won.

“And that’s a wrap on season one of The Great American Baking Show! Until next time!” Emma barely heard Graham and Ruby’s goodbye to the cameras, as she was quickly in the arms of Killian and being congratulated by swarms of people. It was truly overwhelming, but a great feeling nonetheless.

“Girls, open your envelopes. Trust me you want to be seeing those.” Tink’s words prompted Emma, Mary Margaret, and Tiana to do just that.

“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Tiana said, her happy tears back and bigger than ever. Tiana immediately ran off and Emma was confused.

“Regina’s investing in her café. She wants to be a silent partner.” Emma was blown away by Robin’s words since they were so amazing. Across the lawn, she saw Tiana give the judge a huge hug, taking Regina by surprise.

“Holy wow that’s incredible!” Mary Margaret said as she opened her own envelope and nearly passed out herself. Wordlessly she passed it to David, whose already prevalent smile only grew wider.

“The show is donating fifty thousand dollars to the Storybrooke school systems to help with the budget cuts to after school activities in Mary Margaret’s name.” Emma could feel her hands shaking, having now detected a pattern to the prizes.

“But how – why –,” Emma could barely get the words out after opening her envelope. She was staring at a check just made out to her for an obscenely large amount of money, and the memo line read only ‘for your happily ever after.’

“Because you all deserve it,” Liam said, coming to stand beside Tink and taking her hand in his. Before Emma could reply that it was too much, Killian had wrapped his arms around her more securely and kissed her lightly.

“No arguing, love. You’ve earned it.” Emma shook her head.

“But we all did though. Everyone who did the show should share in this, not just the three of us.”

“We agree,” Liam said, and it turned out that each person received an envelope with something in it, something important to them that they wanted. Killian though, didn’t receive one of these envelopes, and when Emma asked why, he shook his head at her.

“What I want isn’t something that they can hand me in an envelope, love.”

Emma was going to ask him what that was, but instead, allowed him to show her the festivities she had missed while baking. For the rest of the afternoon, Emma spent her time relaxing, and truly enjoying everything the day had to offer. She didn’t give much more thought to prizes or titles, but instead focused solely on appreciating this time she had with the man she loved, and the friends she cared for dearly.

All around her, Emma saw how truly happy this experience had made people. Mary Margaret and David, Robin and Regina, Tink and Liam, even Ruby and Graham finally got in on the action when flirtation was supplanted by an actual kiss that everyone saw. Belle was thrilled, for her award at the end of the show was the rights to use her experience for that novel she’d been floating around in her head, and even Leroy got a tab set up for him at the local pub to drown away his sorrows for a little while. Everywhere she looked, Emma saw nothing but happiness. It was amazing that they’d all been afforded this opportunity and that it had turned out this well in the end. Despite how touch and go things had been for a while, it was all truly worth it.

“Emma, love, would you come with me, just for a minute,” Killian asked a while later. “There’s something I think you should see.”

Emma nodded, for of course she would go with Killian anywhere. He led her back down the hill and to the big white tent. Emma knew that there was likely nothing left there, for hours ago the crew had been deconstructing the set up and packing away all of the cameras and the like, but she trusted that whatever it was Killian was bringing her to, it would be important.

Just outside the flap to the tent, Killian stopped, turning to face her. He’s already been holding her hand, but now he took her second in his as well. Looking up into his face, Emma sensed love but also something else. A little trepidation maybe, but she couldn’t understand why.

“Close your eyes, Swan.” Despite her worry about him, Emma followed Killian’s request instantly and she heard him exhale a relieved breath. Carefully he guided her into the tent making his way in further before speaking again. “Alright, love, you can look.”

There, all around them was the most amazing collection of flowers Emma had ever seen. This place that Emma had come to see as ordinary was completely changed, between the beautiful blossoms, twinkling lights and a hint of music lightly playing in the background. Emma looked around, trying to take it all in, but when she looked back at Killian he was on bended knee. In an instant she understood what was happening, and the happiness she felt in her heart was beyond any she’d ever felt before.

“Emma, crazy as it is, this show brought us together. Before, I was a man afraid, but everything about you eased my worry. You are beautiful and miraculous and kind, talented beyond words, but mostly you are good and I know in my heart that you are the one for me. Under this tent, we began a journey I’m hoping will last the rest of our lives because I want everything Emma, and I only want it with you. Yes it’s fast, but when you love someone you just know, and I love you Emma, more than I can ever say. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

A bubble of laughter came from her chest as she nodded and promised him that yes she would and that nothing would ever make her happier. He presented her with the ring, a gorgeous diamond enveloped in a sapphire wreath, and kissed her. The world stood still in that moment, and all that mattered was their love. It was the most liberating and empowering feeling, to know so fully that she had found the love of her life. This was their moment, the one that would set them on the path to the rest of their lives, and when she pulled back she realized that was what her prize had meant. Emma had been given something to share with Killian and to make more memories, like the incredible, once in a lifetime ones they’d made from this show.

Running her fingers along his jaw, Emma gave a happy little sigh. The world was a magical place, and with Killian by her side, she knew it would stay that way. Whatever came next, whatever the universe had in store for their future, they would handle together, and Emma was certain they’d carve out the kind of happiness she’d always been looking for.  

……………………….

A few months later, when spring had sprung again in their little coastal town, Emma and Killian were married. The ceremony itself was small, only involving their closest friends and family, but it had been wonderful. The dress, the vows, the cake, all of it was out of one of Emma’s grandest daydreams. Part of her hated to see the evening end, but since it had, she was now free to pursue this, a wedding night with the man who truly owned her heart.

“I’ll never understand it,” Killian said as he helped Emma remove the ivory lace gown she’d chosen.

“Understand what?” Emma asked, her voice breathier than usual as his fingertips grazed her bare skin.

“How I’m lucky enough to call you my wife. I don’t deserve you Emma, but I will do everything in my power to give you the world.”

Emma turned around, letting her dress fall to the ground and stepping out of it, moving close enough to him to pull him down for a kiss. How was she ever going to make him see that he was perfect for her just as he was?

“I don’t need the world. I just need to know that you love me as much as I love you, for now and forever.” Killian’s hands ran across her back and he nodded.

“Always, Emma.”

“Good. Now take me to bed, and remind me why I became Mrs. Killian Jones today.” The approving growl that ripped from his throat, coupled with Killian’s stripping off his own clothes had Emma’s whole body humming with anticipation.

Killian took her challenge seriously, stopping at nothing to give Emma a wedding night to remember. Despite how good things had always been between them, something had changed. Making their vows, and their promises to truly have forever made every touch all the more powerful. The sensations of his hands roaming across her body, and his mouth with kisses both gentle and demanding everywhere was only more affirmation that they’d been meant for each other. But where Emma wanted instant gratification, Killian wanted to draw this out, to make it last.

“Killian, it’s too much!” And not enough, she thought. Emma didn’t think she’d ever get enough of him.

“Don’t you trust me, Swan?” He asked as he kissed her inner thigh. He’d made her tumble into bliss twice already, but seemed uninterested in giving up that pursuit just yet.

“Yes,” He moved his mouth to kiss her sex again and she arched towards him.

“Then let me give you this.” The licks and sucks and intricate love he gave her with his mouth coupled with the reality that Killian was doing all of this to see her happy and sated, had Emma wild with emotion and hunger. He didn’t relent, not until she’d shattered again, and only then did Emma get what she truly wanted, the two of them together as one chasing something they would share.

The night was filled with such exertions, flirting between languidness and a nearly rabid hunger, but hours later, when Emma was finally ready to succumb to sleep she whispered one last hope she had. It was for a child, one who would bring together all the best qualities of she and Killian, and no one could have been more enraptured with that idea than her doting husband, who promised her they’d have one very soon.

……………………….

“Do you think they’re ready for this, love?” Killian asked Emma as they drove down the main street of a small town in Oregon called Hampton. It was similar in size to Storybrooke, with a down-home, close community feel, but it would never compare in her book to the town they hailed from. She shook her head.

“No, I mean how can they be? They’ll go from a place no one’s heard of to an overnight sensation.”

“I’m not sure about that. I mean, really, what are the odds that they can ever compare to what we had?” Killian made a good point. Their season had drama, conflict, and so much love it was borderline insane. In the year since the show began production in town, Emma’s life had completely changed, as had many of the contestants and everyday townspeople. It wouldn’t be easy to recreate that likeness.

“That’s probably why we’re here. To remind people of the fairytale they stumbled upon in a small town in Maine.” Killian smiled and brought her hand to his lips in a gentle kiss. “Well that and Tiana was so busy with the café opening, she couldn’t go.”

“No offense to her, but I think we make for better television love. Everyone likes to see a success, but a newlywed marriage with children on the way probably beats out the start of a business.”

Just the mention of their twins had Emma’s hand moving to her stomach. She was so thrilled about this next step and about finally starting on the family she’d always dreamed of, but Killian was right, them being still so in love and even further on their way to happily ever after would be great for Liam and Tink, who were now co-EPs on the show.

As the car pulled up to Hampton’s version of the big white tent, Emma was stuck by the familiarity of it all. For two months this had been her life, but just as easily it had faded away. In the time since the finale, she and Killian had had dozens of lazy Sundays, and restful weekends. They’d gone on an extended honeymoon through Europe and watched their friends who’d connected through the show all grow stronger in their own relationships. Their time on The Great American Baking Show had become a sort of inside joke, something that came up every so often, but no one really lingered on. It was a moment in time that had passed, but standing here now, it kind of felt like being back at the beginning of the journey.

They were greeted by Tink and Liam and reunited with Graham and Ruby (who had been so beloved by the audience, that she was asked to stay on as a permanent host in lieu of finding someone from Hampton). The day went by rather enjoyably, and Emma and Killian were a part of bringing the new competitors into the arms of the show. They gave their little jokes, thanks to the same writer’s who worked so diligently with Graham and Ruby, and in the end, they got to do one more testimonial. When it was all over, and all the questions had been asked, Emma surprised the others and herself with a request.

“Could I just say one more thing?” Tink nodded, signaling the cameras to remain on, and Emma took a second to look at Killian who was now off screen, before returning her gaze to Tink.

“I just wanted to say thank you, for everything. The good, the bad, and all of the stuff in between brought me to a life I didn’t think I could have. I was just a girl who loved baking, and who thought this show would be a fun way to spend a couple months. I never dreamed it would become so much more than that. This show gave me the means to find my happily ever after, and even though it would have happened either way, you also gave us something incredibly powerful – a story that no one else has, something that Killian and I can share forever. Whether you have one season or a hundred more, I’ll never forget it, and I’ll always be grateful for what you’ve given me.”

“So I was right then,” Tink said as Emma finished her statement and took off her microphone. “You did end up happy.” Emma pulled Killian close and just before she kissed him, she agreed.

“Yeah, I really did.”

Post-Note: So there is the fluffy conclusion to this fun little fic. I hope that you guys enjoyed, and I have truly loved seeing how much of this fandom not only loves Captain Swan but also the original GBBO franchise. Thank you so much for joining me on this little journey and I hope you’ll continue on with me in some of my other stories as well!

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