7

Babysitting for Chicks

"Rubber duckie, you're the one! You make bathtime lots fun!" Henry yodeled as he squirted Ilyssa with her mini rubber duck as he assisted in bathing her along with Bae. "Quack! Quack!"

The infant splashed her hands in the warm water and giggled happily, soap suds trailing all over her little body like feathers from the baby bubble bath.

"Gee, tiger, I didn't know you liked Sesame Street," Bae teased as he put down a thick towel, a diaper, and the "sunshine" lotion that Emma had made for her using her newly acquired potion skills last weekend. It smelled wonderful and would protect Ilyssa's delicate skin from rashes, sunburn, and insects. Rumple claimed she had done well for her first successful lotion, but he didn't bother telling them about the twenty or so other times she'd nearly wrecked his lab trying.

"Mom had it on the other day," his eldest replied, letting his baby sister grab the duck. "You like that rubber duckie, Ilyssa?" he cooed at her.

She giggled again at him.

"Rubber duckie, I'm awfully fond of you!" Henry sang and then made the duck kiss the baby.

As the baby burst into gales of laughter, obviously thinking her brother was the best performer ever, Bae said, "You know, she giggles like her grandpa."

"Must be a Stiltskin thing," his son said. "You think Grammy's gonna have her baby today?"

"Dunno, tiger. That's the thing about babies. They come when they're ready. Right, swan chick?"

His daughter smirked at him, unmindful of the soap in her face.

Emma had gone to bring Snow to get checked by her doctor, though she suspected it was false labor pains, as it was almost two weeks early. She had gone because David was so nervous every time Snow had a contraction, he jumped, and her mother said they'd never make it to the hospital without crashing. So Emma had come to the rescue.

Bae picked up a soft downy washcloth and began to wash Ilyssa's back, singing, "Splish splash I was takin' a bath . . ." and was joined by Henry.

His daughter was delighted and made little purring and squeaking noises and splashed them both with water in appreciation.

"You know, Dad, maybe we don't sound half bad," Henry remarked.

"Don't kid yourself," Bae chuckled. "Ilyssa doesn't know any better. And she just likes to hear people sing. Doesn't matter who it is. Now your grandpa can carry a tune . . ."

They played some more with the baby until the water started to cool, then Bae took her out and dressed her in a cute little dress Belle had bought her that looked like the one Belle in Beauty and the Beast had worn, with the blue smock and white sleeves. It was accompanied by lacey little socks that looked like she had on blue slippers, and he also accompanied it with a bib that said Mommy's Swan Princess, because the baby drooled all the time.

"Let me see if I can get her to sleep, Henry," he called to his son, who was cleaning the sink.

He had just sat down in the rocking chair when Emma came home. "Hey, I guess the newest Nolan hasn't made his appearance yet?"

"Nope. False alarm," Emma said. "You want me to take her? I'm kinda beat so hopefully if I start falling asleep, she will too."

Bae handed her Ilyssa. "Here you go, babydoll. Henry, what do you say we try that new Soda Stream thing David brought over?"

"Okay, I want to see if I can make cinnamon Dr. Pepper."

Emma made a face. "Kid, that sounds gross."

"Why? I like cinnamon."

"Me too, but not with Dr. Pepper," she called back, then went into the bedroom to lie down with Ilyssa beside her. Usually her daughter tended to mimic whatever Emma did in a funny kind of imprinting thing.

"I think your mom's right, tiger, that does sound kinda nasty. How about chocolate cherry cola?"

Emma and Ilyssa drifted off listening to their menfolk bicker over what kind of soda they were going to make.

Three hours later, Emma woke to find a chocolate cola float sitting on the night table with a spoon in it and a note that read Truly madly deeply in love with you, my wild swan—Love Bae.

Emma smiled and then whispered to her sleeping baby, "See, that's why I married your dad, Ilyssa Maria Gold."

Page~*~*~*~Break

"If I don't get out of this house soon, Belle, I'm gonna end up in the asylum," Snow half-sobbed over the phone to her friend and inlaw. "David's driving me insane worrying about every little twinge and Regina and Princess are running around like banshees."

"Sounds like you need a night out, sweetie. Why don't we go to the Enchanted Rose for dinner tonight? You can bring Regina and Princess over here and Alina and Jimmy can watch them."

"With the twins too?" Snow said doubtfully.

"No, the twins can go spend some time with Auntie Alice and Uncle Jeff," Belle said. "So what do you say? Five o'clock sound good?"

"Sure. If that's okay with you and Rumple?"

"Rumple's got a half day at the shop today, so it should be fine."

"Then you've got a date, sister," Snow said with relief. A moment later, Belle heard her call, "Regina, how would you like to go over Uncle Rumple's house tonight?"

The next thing she heard was Regina screeching, "Yay! UNCA RUMPLE'S!

Page~*~*~Break

Bae was visiting Rumple at his shop, picking up a soft lavender throw his papa had made for his new granddaughter when Rumple got a call from Belle about going out to dinner that night. "That sounds lovely, dearie," her husband said, then he looked at his son. "Bae, why don't you and Emma come with us?"

"Uh, sure but . . . who's gonna watch Ilyssa? Henry's got a science project due and he's over Ash's house working on it tonight."

"Well . . ." Rumple looked thoughtful. Then he grinned impishly. "You know, I think it's time Ilyssa met her Uncle Jimmy, don't you?"

"Papa! Jimmy doesn't know anything about taking care of babies!"

"Of course he does, Bae! What do you think I've been having him do around the house since the twins were born?" his father reassured him. "Besides, he won't be alone. Alina will be with him, and you know you can trust your sister."

Bae knew that was true. Alina, who was Belle and Rumple's eldest girl, was very much like both her parents, trustworthy, reliable, compassionate and she also was an enchantress. "Okay, Papa. Guess I'd better tell Emma to get ready to go out on the town."

Page~*~*~*~Break

Jimmy Jones considered himself something of an expert when it came to watching babies, after his baptism by fire babysitting the Gold twins for long stretches for several months. The twins seemed to love him, and the former pirate found he adored them. Jimmy had never had any siblings before, or been around small children, so he was as shocked as anyone to find he actually enjoyed playing with them. In a way, he supposed, it was like reclaiming a piece of the childhood he'd never really had.

As the only son of Milah and Killian Jones, also known as Captain Hook, Jimmy's life had been a steady diet of hatred and revenge—because Milah blamed her former husband, Rumplestiltskin, for all her woes, and encouraged her husband and son to find him so they could kill him in revenge. It was something that Jimmy had been taught practically from the cradle, but since coming to Storybrooke six months ago and actually speaking to and getting to know Mr. Gold and his family, Jimmy had seen something he never had before—he had seen the truth about revenge and hatred, and that there was more to living than killing a man who his mother had wronged to begin with. He had also met his half-brother, Bae, and discovered that he too was not as Milah had made him out to be.

After long days of soul searching and realizing as he'd been forced to help the people of Storybrooke recover from the great blizzard that had smothered the town in snow three feet deep, Jimmy finally had a change of heart and asked Rumple if he could be a member of the family, because at last he understood what a real family was and acted like. And he wanted, for the first time ever, to be someone other than a revenge-driven pirate who took away others' happiness. The Golds had given him a second chance at a new life, where he could do and be whatever he wished, and not just his mother's lackey bent on revenge for a man he now admired and regarded as almost another father.

He shuddered to think of how furious his mother and father would be when they discovered his betrayal—except it wasn't one-because for the first time Jimmy was actually following his heart—and his heart wanted to belong with the Golds. But he knew his mother, bitter and filled with hatred for so many years, would never understand why her son had chosen as he had. She would most likely disown him for it. But since they were still back in the Enchanted Forest, Jimmy could worry about that tomorrow.

The only child he had trouble with on a regular basis was Regina, but then again, Regina was a class unto herself, and she even gave Rumple a hard time. But at least tonight he had help from Alina, and usually she could get Regina to behave. So Jimmy really only had to worry about his six-week old niece.

And surely he could handle one small newborn baby.

The night started out fine, with Regina and her Dalmatian, Princess, being dropped off around four thirty, so the little girl could visit with her aunt and cousins and blow off steam before Ilyssa arrived. Princess ran around like a crazy dog for the first ten minutes in the Golds' backyard with Rumple's collie, Freya, who was a gentle dog but not minded to let Princess walk all over her. But after two times of Freya knocking the younger obstreperous canine off her feet and making her submit, the Dalmatian conceded that Freya was the boss of the Gold house, much to everyone's relief.

Nala, their black cat, watched from the window, she dislike the rambunctious spotted dog, and licked herself, pleased at the collie's dominance. She could tolerate Regina, but only until the child tried to pick her up or started yelling, then the cat would vanish like smoke, to hide under Rumple's bed.

Soon after Regina's arrival, Belle went to drop off Dylan and Daria at Alice's house and it was then Regina popped the question. "Hey Jimmy, you ever seen a scary movie called Poltergeist?"

"No, not yet. But I think Henry told me about it," the older teen replied. "Why?"

"Cause I was wondering if you could watch it," the little girl said slyly.

"I could. If I wanted." He shrugged, his hands in the pockets of his black jeans.

"I heard it's really scary . . .like with ghosts and all," Regina continued. "And a little girl who's possessed!"

"Sounds like you," he teased.

She glared at him. "I is not possessed, Jimmy!"

"How do you know?" he challenged.

"Cause I don't have devils in me!" she retorted.

Jimmy thought that might be debatable.

"Jimmy, don't start with her," Alina sighed from the next room. She was reading a book called The Fire Rose and hoping to finish the chapter before Ilyssa arrived.

"Alina! Jimmy said I'm possessed!" Regina cried, running over to her cousin.

"You believe everything Jimmy says?" Alina queried.

"Umm . . . No!"

"Well then what are you worrying about?"

"Nothing!" Regina sang gleefully. "I'm gonna watch cartoons!" she cried and grabbed the remote off the couch.

Just then the doorbell rang.

Jimmy listened with half an ear to the litany of instructions Bae was giving him. When his older brother ran out of breath, he said, "Chill, Bae. I'm not clueless, you know. I help with the twins all the time now."

"I know, but . . ." he let the words remain unspoken that this was his baby. "If anything goes wrong call me immediately. Because if I find out something's happened to her when I get home, you and I are gonna go out back and go a few rounds, little brother," the martial arts instructor warned.

"Will you relax?" Jimmy huffed. "Neptune's arse, you're worse than a damned girl!"

"Hey!" chorused Alina, Regina, and Emma.

"What? It's like he's got PSM or something!"

Alina and Emma nearly fell on the floor laughing.

Bae nearly did too, his mouth twitching. "Okay, but you remember what I said, boy."

"Aye aye sir!" his brother said sarcastically and saluted him.

Bae cuffed his ear playfully.

"Ow!" Jimmy yelped in mock-pain, then called, "Hey, Uncle Rumple, he hit me!"

"Boys, take it outside before I knock your heads together!" Rumple ordered.

Bae shot him a dirty look. "Brat!"

Jimmy smirked until Rumple saw and said, "Behave, young man."

Then the boy subsided, for he respected Rumple as he would a captain of a ship.

"Have a good time, guys!" Alina told everyone as they went out the door.

"Just remember, Regina needs to be in bed by eight!" called Snow and then the door shut and there was blessed silence in the house.

Until Regina said, "I'm hungry? What we makin' for dinner?"

For a minute Jimmy was stumped. Then, recalling something, he said, "We're having Chinese. Roast pork egg foo young, fried rice, wonton soup, and eggrolls." They had leftovers from last night, enough for all of them.

"Yum!" Regina said. Then she asked, "What's for dessert?"

This time Alina answered, "Ice cream cones."

Another win.

Page~*~*~*~Break

Ilyssa remained asleep in her infant carrier until dinner was done and they were all eating ice cream cones on the couch in front of the TV. When she woke, wet and hungry, Freya came and nudged Jimmy and Alina, whining worriedly. The collie hated when the babies cried and would come to "hurry" an adult into taking care of them so they stopped.

"Okay, girl, calm down," Jimmy said, and stroked the collie's ears.

Princess whined too, and covered her ears with her paws.

"I'll change her, you feed her," Alina said, and rose to get the baby.

Ilyssa knew Alina, and stopped wailing when she saw Belle's daughter. She made a funny purring noise instead.

"Hey, pretty girl!" Alina tickled her tummy, making her squeal. "You like that, huh, little dearie?" That was what her papa called her baby sister sometimes. Then she blew a raspberry and Ilyssa giggled hysterically.

Once the baby was laughing, Alina picked her up and took her into bathroom, which had one of the twins changing tables in it.

Regina eyed the older girl curiously, then recalled that she wanted to see if Ilyssa's feathers had grown in yet, so she shoved her ice cream cone at Jimmy and said imperiously, "Hold this."

"Hey, what the—" the startled boy sputtered, now holding a slightly melted birthday cake ice cream cone. "You think I'm your servant or something?" he called, irritably.

"I'll be right back! I need to see somethin'!"

"Yeah, like the corner of a wall!" he muttered aggravated. Then he flipped the channel of the TV to one of the ones that showed old 80's flicks. As luck would have it, it was playing Poltergeist, but since he'd never seen it, Jimmy didn't know what was on.

Regina peered over the changing table railing, watching avidly. "You sure you know what you're doin'?"

"Uh huh. I've changed the twins a lot," Alina laughed. Luckily, Ilyssa was just wet, but Alina made sure she was clean, dry, and put some of the special salve Emma made on before she put her in a new diaper and her pajamas.

"Where's her feathers?" Regina grumped. "How come she ain't growed 'em yet?"

"Grown not growed," Alina corrected automatically. She unconsciously imitated Rumple, who had always corrected her when she said something wrong as a toddler. "And it's how come she hasn't grown them yet. Ain't ain't a word cause it ain't in the dictionary."

"Well, why hasn't she?" Regina said, completely ignoring the grammar lesson in favor of the more important question.

"Because she's a baby, and babies don't have feathers," the older girl answered.

"Yeah, she's a swan chick, so she's supposed to!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Cause that's her special power! Like you got magic an' Henry. Cause you're True Love babies. She is too!"

"Yeah, but we didn't start showing signs till we were older," Alina pointed out. Though she wasn't sure if that was because of the Dark Curse or not.

"Well, she's gonna become a swan!" the little girl stated implacably. "I know it like I know I'm gonna marry Stefan when I get bigger."

Alina raised an eyebrow. "Okay, whatever you say." She picked up Ilyssa. "C'mon, sweetling. Let's take you back to Uncle Jimmy so he can feed you."

Jimmy had the bottle ready as Alina came back and handed him the baby. He took the warm little bundle in his arms and crooned, "Hello, sweet thing! Are you hungry? I bet you are. I know I'm always hungry after I wake up from a nap."

Alyssa gazed at this new face, her nose twitching as she assimilated Jimmy's voice, touch, and face. Her hand reached out to touch his nose. This was something she did to all "new" people she met.

Jimmy grinned. "Here, lass. Here's some milk for you," he gently stuck the nipple into the baby's mouth and was rewarded with her drinking soon afterwards.

Regina watched them for a moment, as if hoping the baby would suddenly sprout wings as she ate, but after awhile she turned to see what was on TV and became fixated by the movie.

The phone rang, it was Henry, wanting to ask Alina a question about the science project he was working on, so Alina went into the kitchen to talk.

Jimmy was so busy feeding the baby that he barely paid attention to the TV, until Regina screamed and grabbed his arm. "Hey! What's wrong with you?" he snapped.

"An evil ghost's coming!" Regina yelped, hiding her face in Jimmy's shirt.

"Oh for the love of—" he began. Then he stopped what was about to come out of it, because the last thing he needed was Regina Big Mouth repeating it and getting his mouth washed out with liquid Dawn by Mr. Gold.

Rumple had serious issues about swearing in front of children, and through dint of many scoldings and repeated applications of soap, had managed to get his ward to think before he spoke—usually.

He flicked the channel, changing it to some cartoon with ponies singing. "There! It's some horse show."

But Regina decided she didn't want to watch TV anymore and ran upstairs to her little room and buried her head in her goosedown pillow, totally freaked out by the little girl on the TV.

Princess followed her, and the Dalmatian decided to play one of her favorite games—tug-o-war—with Regina's blanket.

"Princess!" she yelled. "No! Bad puppy!" She grabbed the blanket but the dog wouldn't let it go.

Frustrated, Regina banged the dog over the head with her pillow.

Princess grabbed the pillow and growled, shaking it back and forth.

"No! Stop!" Regina hollered.

There was a tearing sound and the pillow tore, and feathers fell out.

"Oh no! You bad dog! Now lookit what you done!" she scolded. "Auntie Belle n' unca Rumple are gonna be mad." The toddler quickly stuffed the pillow under the blanket, then she pulled the Dalmatian downstairs and put her in the yard. "Now you is in time out!" she shook a finger at the dog, who hung her head. "You gets five minutes!"

Nala meowed from the top of the counter.

"Nala, are you hungry? You want milk?" Regina asked.

Then she went to get the milk and pour it into the cat's dish.

Some slopped onto the floor, but Freya came and licked it up.

She put the milk back in the fridge then went to see what the others were doing.

Alina was eyeing Jimmy in concern. "Jimmy, you'd better burp her now."

"Yeah, in a minute," the boy answered, and then took the bottle out of Ilyssa's mouth. The baby began to fuss. "Hey, little Bae-bee, calm down. You gotta burp or else you'll puke."

He began patting the baby on the back.

She grizzled and wailed and refused to burp.

After five minutes, Jimmy looked desperate. "Alina, can you—err—magic her?"

The girl shook her head. "No way. Papa says nobody but him can use magic around the babies. Because we might accidentally hurt them." She held out her arms. "Let me try."

Jimmy reluctantly handed the baby over to her. Rumple's daughter began humming and rubbing and walking around with the baby on her shoulder. Ilyssa fussed.

"Alina, lemme try again," Jimmy urged.

"Hang on," the girl muttered and patted harder.

Suddenly Ilyssa arched her back and let out a weird kind of noise—just before she projectile vomited.

All over Jimmy.

"Ugh! Bloody hell!"

He was covered with puke, it dripped off his shirt, his jeans, and even some was in his hair.

"Ewww!" Regina shrieked. "Gross!"

"Aww God!" Alina groaned. "I think you fed her too much."

"I think she drank too fast," the boy groaned.

He looked around the den in dismay.

The carpet was covered with baby puke.

"Ewww! It's everywhere!" Regina announced.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious!" Jimmy growled. "Now I stink like . . .puke. Umm . . .I think I need to go get changed."

"And take a shower," Alina said, wrinkling her nose. She went and examined the baby, who seemed fine now that she had gotten rid of the milk inside her tummy. "Okay, swan chick, lemme put you in your seat while I clean this up." She went to put the baby in the infant seat.

"No! Freya, don't eat the puke!" Regina yelled as the collie came and sniffed at the mess.

"Gross, Freya!" Alina said, and went to put the collie in the yard.

Then she moved the baby into the kitchen while she went and filled a bucket with cleaner and got a mop. She determined that if she couldn't get the stain out of the rug the normal way, she would use her magic and enchant the water, but Rumple stressed to try and not rely on magic for everything, even though she was a mage. He said doing so could make you dependant on it for every little thing.

"You want me to watch Lyssa?" Regina offered. "I don't wanna be in there. It smells like something died!" She held her nose.

"Yeah you watch Ilyssa while I clean this," Alina agreed. "But no picking her up or giving her anything!" she ordered. "Promise me, Regina."

"I pwomise," the child agreed.

Alina took the bucket back into the den, figuring she'd only be a few minutes.

Regina looked around the kitchen, bored. Ilyssa was eating her foot, or trying to. On the counter beside the phone, Regina spotted some art supplies Alina had put there while making a poster for her history project.

Above that was a small calendar with cherubs, Belle had hung it there to mark off certain dates.

Regina studied the calendar and then looked back at Ilyssa.

Then she looked at the art supplies.

And what her dad called "the imp of mischief" woke up.

Page~*~*~*~Break

Ten minutes later, Jimmy emerged from the shower and came downstairs. "Alina—did you clean up the mess in the den?"

"Yeah. I had to use a little magic, but look, I got it all cleaned!" she said brightly.

"Good. Because the last thing I needed was them to come home and find that all over." Jimmy declared.

He took the pail into the kitchen to empty it into the sink. "Where's Ilyssa?"

"In the kitchen. With Regina." Alina answered, following with the mop.

Jimmy nearly passed out when he caught sight of the baby. "Holy f—bloody damn hell!"

"What's happened now?" Alina frowned. Then she dropped the mop with a clatter. "Regina Nolan, what have you done?"

Regina looked up from her handiwork proudly. "I's gave Lyssa feathers! Now she's a real swan chick!"

Jimmy's jaw dropped. The baby was covered in goose feathers. They were stuck on her head, her arms and even her legs. "Oh gods! They're stuck on her! Like with glue!"

Ilyssa didn't seem to mind, however. She was gurgling and waving her fists and feathers were drifting about her in a blizzard.

"Regina! You glued feathers on Ilyssa?" Alina cried in horror. "Where'd you get the glue?"

"From there," the child pointed to the counter. "Isn't Lyssa beautiful?"

"Beautiful? Kid, she's a wreck!" Jimmy moaned. "Bae's gonna kick my ass! How do we get the feathers off?"

"No! You can't takes them off!" Regina howled. "She needs them!"

Alina began to try and clean up the feathers with a quick summoning charm, but as if on cue, the door opened, and all of their parents walked in.

"So Jimmy, how was Ilyssa for you?" Emma began.

"Yeah, did she pee on—Jesus H. Christ!" Bae hollered when he caught sight of his precious baby girl covered in feathers.

"Oh my God! What on earth?" Belle gasped.

"Dearie, what's—" Rumple began until he caught sight of Ilyssa. "Jimmy Jones, you have some serious explaining to do!"

"Uncle Rumple, it wasn't my fault," Jimmy began.

Until Regina burst out with, "Lookit, Emma! I gave Ilyssa feathers!"

"Regina, you did this?" Emma sputtered, her blue eyes wide with dismay.

"Uh huh! Now she's like a real swan chick!" the child said proudly.

Snow facepalmed herself. "Oh, Regina! How could you . . .put feathers on Ilyssa?"

"With glue!" the toddler told her.

"Papa, can we get them off?" Bae cried, picking up the baby.

Feathers transferred themselves to him.

"Let me see, dearie," Rumple came over to examine the baby. "It's just Elmer's glue. Non-toxic. I think a bath with warm water and soap will do it."

"I'll run a bath for you, Emma," Belle said. "Alina, how did this happen?"

"I'm really sorry, Mama. But you see, I was cleaning the rug . . ." her daughter said, looking guilty.

"Because Ilyssa puked all over it," Jimmy continued, looking chagrined. He began telling Bae and Rumple what happened.

David gave Regina one of his I'm-Very-Disappointed Looks. "Regina Nolan, that was very naughty of you!" he scolded.

"But Daddy, I just wanted Ilyssa to be able to fly!" Regina sniffled. "Like them!" she pointed to the picture of the cherubs.

Charming looked at Snow. "Do you want to explain this or shall I?"

"I think we both need to," his wife said, and they took their intrepid toddler into the den to explain to her again why she couldn't glue feathers onto Ilyssa, and to give her some time in the corner also.

Meanwhile, Rumple, Bae, and Jimmy carried Ilyssa upstairs to where Belle, Emma, and Alina had prepared the bath. "Uncle Rumple, I didn't mean to—"

"I know, son. It really wasn't your fault. Or Alina's. Regina's like the ocean though—you can't turn your back on her for a second."

"Isn't that the truth!" Bae said, brushing a feather out of his hair.

An hour later, Ilyssa had been bathed and changed into a new set of pajamas. She was sucking her fist and half-dozing on Rumple's shoulder as he carried her downstairs.

"I believe Regina has something to say to you, Emma and Bae," David said, and gestured to Regina.

The little imp came forward, head bowed, and said softly, "Sorry, Emma, for puttin' feathers on Ilyssa."

"Okay, kid just don't ever do that again," Emma said a trifle sternly.

"I won't."

"You're forgiven then," and then she caught the small girl in a hug.

Bae hugged her also, then the two new parents went to pack up their stuff to go home.

"So how was your dinner?" asked Jimmy.

"It was nice, but I'm glad to be home," Bae told his brother.

"Me too."

"Help me carry this stuff out to my car?"

"Sure," Jimmy picked up a diaper bag. "Bae, I'm sorry I didn't—"

"Kid, you apologize one more time and I'm gonna kick your ass just to shut you up," his brother threatened softly.

"Okay, okay!" Jimmy smirked. "You know, you've gotten . . . mellow since you had the baby."

Bae raised an eyebrow. "Fatherhood will do that to you . . .or else drive you crazy. Right now Ilyssa hasn't gotten me to the crazy part yet."

"But she will," Jimmy predicted.

"No doubt. She's a Gold . . .and a Nolan." Bae laughed.

"Night, Bae," his brother said, waving.

Emma came out, carrying Ilyssa. "I guess it could've been worse," she said philosophically as they drove home.

"It could've always been worse, Em," Bae answered.

"You got that right. Poor Ilyssa could've been hanging by the ceiling fan or something as Regina tried to make her fly," Emma hypothesized, shuddering.

"Don't even go there," Bae ordered.

They texted Henry and he told them he was sleeping over Ash's house and would go to school with him the next day. When they got home, they put Ilyssa into the cradle and then crawled into bed themselves.

Page~*~*~*~Break

The next morning dawned bright and clear, and Emma woke up in a better mood than she had gone to bed last night. She had only woken up once to feed the baby and now she heard the little imp cooing in the cradle, awake but not seemingly in need of anything.

Emma turned her head and saw Bae sleeping peacefully, his head on her pillow. Deciding to let him sleep in for once, she rose and went to greet her daughter.

"Baelfire!" she yelled. "Wake up!"

"What?" he muttered, jerked away by his wife's scream. "Emma? What is it? Is Ilyssa okay?" He turned over to see Emma standing gaping beside the cradle.

"Bae . . .Bae . . .look at this . . .and tell me I'm not seeing things."

"Emma, what's wrong? Is the baby sick?" Bae stumbled over to see what had his normally stoic wife gaping in shock. Then he saw why, and he almost fell down. "Holy cow! She's got . . .wings!"

He rubbed his eyes, peering hard, convinced he was seeing things.

But no, his baby girl was lying there in the cradle, and a pair of the softest silkiest downy white wings was fluttering on her back.

Emma reached out to touch one. "They're real!" she breathed.

"How'd this happen?" Bae murmured.

"I don't know," the sheriff repeated, dazed. "Except . . .maybe her magic's awakening."

"I think we better call Papa." Bae said, and began to dial Rumple's number.

A few moments later, Rumple was standing over the cradle, marveling as well at his granddaughter's wings.

"Rumple, how'd this happen?"

"Magic, dearie," the master mage replied. He peered at his granddaughter's aura. "Transformation magic, and quite powerful too."

"You mean . . .Regina was right? She really can become a swan?" Bae asked, awed.

"When she's old enough, yes. Right now though . . ." he trailed off as the wings suddenly shimmered and then disappeared.

"They're gone!" Emma exclaimed.

"Yes, I believe she can only manifest them for a short time at this stage," Rumple murmured, picking her up. "Right, dearie?"

Ilyssa yawned.

"And using her magic makes her tired," the old sorcerer said, rocking her.

"It's okay for her to use magic at her age, though?" Emma asked worriedly.

Rumple nodded. "Yes. She's a mage like you and me, and using the magic is a natural thing. Of course, being a baby she might only be able to do little things like this for now. Like my twins. As they grow older their magic will grow until it manifests fully like yours and I can train them."

"I just can't believe she has . . .wings!" Bae repeated.

"Get used to it, Bae. She's your swan chick," Rumple grinned, then he kissed the top of Ilyssa's head.

He could foresee many adventures ahead of this tiny baby, and for all the children in his family, but as always, come what may, they would meet such challenges head on, together, for their strength was in each other, now and forevermore.

A/N: so here ends this little tale, but someday I have a much longer story to write, which shall feature Cora and the Hooks and their undead army invading Storybrooke, and more of Gold's past shall be revealed, including his mother's, and one last missing family member shall return home at last. Until next time, dearies!