Part 4: Dessert

As Neal headed out of the kitchen, he snuck his head into the family room to check on the children. Leo and Rose were currently back to crashing their plastic swords into one other while little Meg was coloring at the small table in the corner. Seeing that they were okay, he continued down the hall into the parlor. While most would call it a living room, the term parlor fit the grand Victorian. The first thing that stood out when entering was the beautifully ornate fireplace opposite the entry. It stood from floor to ceiling and was encased in beautiful oak, typical of a house its age.

As he entered the room, he took in his father and son playing chess on the round table set before the large front window. While he knew better than to ever play chess with his father, Henry was determined to master the game.

"Grandpa," Henry exclaimed, "I've only move three pieces. How can I be in check already?"

"You've got to think multiple steps ahead of the game, my boy," Gold informed his grandson.

"Someday he's going to beat you, Gold," Emma informed him from her position reclining on the chaise in the corner of the room. Walking over to his companion, Neal sat at the end of the lounge and placed her feet on his lap.

"I hope he does," Gold replied. "At least someone will have inherited my intelligence."

"How do you know he didn't inherit his brains from me," David asked from his perch on the sofa.

"Let's pray he didn't inherit your intelligence," Gold sallied back. Not ready to quit with the rejoinders, Gold added, "Or his sword fighting skills."

"I'll have you know I was the best swordsman in the Enchanted Forest. I bested the dragon plaguing Midas's kingdom." David informed the group, proud of his accomplishments. "And I seem to remember doing you a little favor with a certain beast."

"Aye, that you did," Gold commented as he reset the chess board. "But I remember what happened before you placed my precious potion in the belly of the beast. Would you care to inform the others."

"What happened?" Henry asked with avid interest, looking between his grandfathers. While he knew the basics of how the curse came to be, he didn't know all the specific details.

"We had a little fight of our own after your grandfather over there pulled a sword on me." Gold informed his grandson. "One to which I remember soundly beating him."

"Because you used magic," Charming exclaimed. "And only after you took my mother's ring."

"How else was I get you to do my bidding," Gold answered, as if that was justification enough for his behavior. "Besides, sword fighting takes more than physical skill. It takes reaction and planning. Magic isn't responsible for everything."

"Says the man who orchestrated everything he did with magic," Emma commented from her corner of the room as Neal rubbed her feet. "And I remember getting that damn potion out of the belly of the beast. I deserve some recognition, too."

"Yes, dearie," Gold informed Emma. "You did wonderfully. Must have inherited that from your mother."

"Of course, I was ready to run that sword right through you soon after that," Emma retorted. "I would have too, if I had seen you."

"I told you the boy would be fine," Gold explained. "and here he sits, fit and fine as ever. You never did need that potion. Like I told your father before you, true love is the most powerful magic of all."

"How was I supposed to know. You were so damn cryptic and then you disappeared," Emma complained

"I'm truly sorry, Emma," Gold said with regret in his voice. "You do know I would never have allowed anything to have befallen Henry. Even not knowing he was my grandson at the time, I would not have let him perish." Reaching across the table, he gripped his grandson's hand in affection.

"Well, considering I'm lying on your lounge, eight and half months pregnant with your grandchildren, I think we've moved past that."

"Grandchildren," David exclaimed from across the room, noticing her use of the plural. "As in multiple?"

"Yes," Neal informed the men, trying to move away from the somber mood that temporarily had descended upon the room. "Two, as in twins. One of each."

"How long have you known?" David asked his daughter.

"We've known for a while now, but we wanted to wait for the holiday to tell all of you guys together." Emma explained as she moved her feet off of Neal and turned to sit up.

"But Snow dragged it out of me before dinner and now I've accidentally let it out to you guys."

Turning to his partner, Neal asked, "How did they get it out of you? You're usually not tripped up so easily."

"I blame the turkey," Emma answered. "I walked in and smelled that thing and everything else fled my mind. The babies were really hungry. And right now I was just tired and it slipped."

"Well, now everyone knows." Gold said as he got up from his seat at the side table and moved to a leather chair near the fire. With his father no longer playing, Neal moved over and sat down at the chess board with Henry.

"We haven't told the little ones, yet. We'll tell them when they come in for dessert." Emma informed everyone as she rested her head against the back of the chaise and closed her eyes.

No sooner mentioned, little Meg scampered into the parlor with a large piece of paper trailing in her hand behind her. Crawling up beside her father on the sofa, she handed him the picture she had been coloring in the family room earlier.

"What have we here?" David asked his daughter as he looked at the piece of paper she had handed to him. It was ripped out coloring book page of a unicorn, the lines acting as only a guide to the three year old's colorful handiwork.

"I made a oonicorn, Daddy," she informed him.

"It's very pretty," he told her as he kissed her forehead and set the paper on the coffee table before him. "We'll have to put it up on the refrigerator."

"You know, Miss Margaret," Gold said to the Meg from across the coffee table in his chair, "I once had a unicorn."

"You did!" Little Meg cried in wonderment as she left her dad's side to hear more about the unicorn. Crawling up on Gold's lap, she settled in to listen to all the details.

"Yes," he informed her. "It was pure white with a silvery mane and a long coiled horn." He shifted her over to a more comfortable position after Meg began bouncing in excitement.

"Where is it," she asked, clearly eager to see a real live unicorn.

"Alas," Gold informed the little girl, "I let it go. It couldn't have come to this land anyway. Unicorns are meant for the Enchanted Forest."

"So I'm deserted for a story about a unicorn?" David asked his little girl. Shaking his head, David took in the sight of his daughter sitting in the infamous Rumplestiltskin's arms waiting for more details about unicorns. Never in his former life would he have believed the scene before him.

Looking at her father, Meg asked, "Did you have a oonicorn, Daddy?"

"No, we didn't have any unicorns, honey," he told his daughter, "they were extremely rare. I've never even seen one, myself."

Clearly unimpressed, Meg turned away from her father and focused again on Gold. "Did you ride it?" she asked.

"No," Gold told the little girl. "I just let it run in the paddock outside." He didn't tell her the real intended purpose for the unicorn. At the time, he had planned to put it down and use it's horn as a powder for his potion making.

"What stories are you telling my daughter, Gold," Snow asked from the doorway as she pushed an antique serving cart laden with dessert into the room.

"He's been telling her about his unicorn," Emma replied as she rolled her eyes at the thought of Rumplestiltskin with a pet. Now rested and ready for dessert, she stretched on the lounge and turned to her son. "Henry, go get the others."

Getting up from his seat by the window, Henry passed Belle who was carrying a pot of coffee as he left the room to get Leo and Rose.

"Oh, are you talking about Angus," Bell asked as she set the pot down on a trivet on the serving cart. "I was so happy when Rum decided to let him go."

"Auntie Belle," Meg asked, "Why?" She didn't think there was any reason to give up a unicorn.

"Well…" Belle said as she was trying to think up an answer to tell the toddler. She didn't want to tell her the truth, that she asked Rumplestiltskin to release the unicorn before he could use it for his nefarious purposes, but she was having trouble coming up with a plausible excuse.

"Belle was happy because it wanted to go back to its family," Gold told the little girl as he set her down, covering up for his wife's stumble.

"Okay, enough about unicorns. Meg, come over her," Snow ordered as she placed the children's pie on a small square kid's table nestled in the corner. As she pushed her daughter in, the other two entered the room followed by Henry. Leo and Rose took their seats next to Meg as Henry went to sit beside his mother on the chaise. After finishing passing out the dessert and drinks, Snow and Belle settled on the sofa with David.

"Okay, now that everyone is gathered," Snow said to everyone in the room, "I think that Emma and Neal have an announcement to make."

"Not so much of an announcement anymore. Everyone knows now," Emma retorted as she took a bite of her pie.

"Still," Snow told her daughter as she nodded toward the kids' table, "let's hear it."

Looking over to their little siblings who were really the only ones left at this point who didn't know, Neal announced to the group, "We're having twins. A boy and a girl."

"See," Rose said to Leo in a know-it-all manner. "I told you Daddy was right."

"Quit rubbing it in," Leo said in a disgusting manner. "So what, you can't do anything with babies, anyway. They can't even play."

"Okay, you two," David admonished the pair. "That's enough arguing. Just eat your pie and be quiet."

Ignoring the two little kids arguing the corner, Belle asked her friend, "Are you going to go back to work after the babies are born?"

"I'm going back part-time after maternity leave," Emma informed everyone. "Granny said she'd watch the babies when it's time to go back. Since she's retired and Red took over the café, she said she'd be more than happy to help.

"I'll help," Snow volunteered. "They're my grandbabies."

"I've got free time, too," Belle answered, eager to help her friend with the newborns.

"That's great, guys," Emma answered, "but Snow, you're not off until summer and Belle, you've got your own to prepare for. Plus, you've both got a handful with that tribe over there." Emma finished as she nodded in the direction of the kid's table.

"Well, anytime you need help," Bell responded, "just give us both a call. I'm available in a snap."

"Thank you," Emma said with gratefulness in her voice. "I know I'm going to need all the help I can get."

"Have you thought of any names, yet?" David asked.

"We've got a handful picked out, but it's hard enough decided on one name, let alone two," Neal answered.

"You know, Emma," Gold said in a thoughtful manner as he set his plate down on the coffee table. "I deal in favors."

"Oh," Emma replied as she rolled her eyes, "so slaying a dragon for you or finding your son weren't enough things to pay you back."

"I never said they were in return for that favor," Gold informed her in a teasing manner.

"Nobody ever listens or asks for details. When are people going to learn the intricacies of deal making?"

"Okay, Gold," Emma asked him, "What's your game?" As she inquired just what the former imp had in mind, her partner at the table nearby sat chuckling around a mouthful of food.

"Well, they are my grandbabies." Gold informed Emma. "I was just going to suggest a few names. You do know that a name is very important. People don't realize how powerful a name really is."

"So what have you got picked out, Pop," Neal asked, amused that his father was interested in naming his children.

"Wait," David cut in. "You have your own kid to name in a few months," he reminded his nemesis. "If you get to recommend names, then so do I. I'm their grandfather, also."

"Hey, hey, hey," Emma declared. "They're our children. If anyone has a say in what they're named it's us."

Gold turned to Emma with an all knowing smile and said in placating manner, "Yes, dearie. They are your children." And left it at that.

"Is anyone ready for Christmas?" Belle asked, eager to change the subject. As a collective groan was heard at the thought of the hectic Christmas season, they settled in to discuss all that needed to be done before the holiday arrived.

Hours later after all the goodbyes were said and Neal was helping Emma into the car, she turned to her companion and said with a note of horror in her voice, "Oh my lord, your father is going to come up with some God awful names for the babies. Isn't he?"

"Why do you say that?" Neal asked her as fastened his seat belt and started the car.

"Just look at you," Emma said as she looked at the man sitting next to her.

"What do you mean, Mom?" Henry asked from the backseat.

"Come on, Henry." she told her son and pointing to his father as if that was explanation enough. When Henry still didn't understand his mother's meaning, she continued, "His name is Baelfire. Even in their world, that doesn't seem like a common name."

"Well, that is true," Neal responded. "There weren't any other Bae's or Baelfire's that I remember. Nor any other Rumplestiltskin's.

"See," Emma said, "Proof that bad names run in your family! I am not naming my kids something ridiculous. They'll get beat up daily on the playground."

"Considering most of the families they'll go to school with once lived in the Enchanted Forrest, I think they'll have other things to deal with besides odd names.

As they continued home, Emma sat and pondered the subject of names. They would have to make a decision and soon. She had a sneaking suspicion that these two weren't going to go by any schedule the doctor had in mind.

The End.

Whew. *whips sweat from brow*

My Thanksgiving story is done. Should I continue on? Emma is due anytime now and I am curious to what Gold actually wants to name the babies. Plus, there's also Christmas right around the corner. Christmas dinner will be even more chaotic with newborns in the house. Maybe Christmas could be at Snow's and Charming's place.

A note about names. I mentioned in Chapter 2 about calling Charming David instead of James because James isn't his real birth name, it was the name of his twin. I picked Meg, which is short for Margaret, in honor of Mary Margaret, Leo for Snow's dad King Leopold, and Rose for the Beauty and the Beast story.

Let me know in the reviews if I should continue.