Happy Holidays, gvspurlock! (1/2)
Title: Holiday Celebration Times Three
Recipient: gvspurlock
Author: Anon
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Emma Swan, Neal Cassidy, Henry Mills, Mr. Gold|Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Mary Margaret Blanchard|Snow White, David|Charming; Snowing, Rumbelle and kinda Swanfire
Word Count: 10,326
Warnings: conflicting religious doctrine
Summary: When he found out who Henry's father was, it wasn't Thanksgiving Charming should have worried about. Christmas turned out to be the real issue.
Author's Notes: Continuity on this is a bit tricky. Assume everyone is home, safe and in their own persona after the trip to Neverland.
Chapter 1
“So if the dwarfs bring bring both a tossed salad, that would be for Demeter, and a macaroni salad with shrimp to cover Ursula's offering, we should be all set for food.” Mary Margaret made a notation on one of a number of lists she had covered the breakfast bar with in the course of her planning marathon.
Emma, who had spaced out on her mother's comments several notes ago, managed to mutter. “Uhm, good.”
“Which only leaves the invitations.” Mary Margaret tapped her pen on the table. “For a little family Solstice gathering like this they should really be handwritten, but I don't think anyone would really mind if we printed some up on the computer and just hand addressed them. You and I could probably get that done in one long evening.”
Pretty sure the guest list for this 'little family gathering' had expanded to more people than she had ever known at any one time before coming to Storybrooke, Emma hastily suggested. “Or we could just send a blanket email and let everyone know that way.”
“Email?” Mary Margaret looked uncertain. “That seems very impersonal.”
“But efficient.” Emma pointed out. “Ask people to RSVP if you're worried somebody might miss it.”
“Emma,” The look of uncertainty had been replaced with worry. “You are okay with having this Solstice celebration? I know you weren't raised with the gods. If this bothers you we don't have to do it.”
“It's your party. I'm just along for the ride.” Emma started to blow off the question. But her mother had that look. The one where she was regretting missing Emma's childhood. Sighing Emma assured her. “Mostly I was raised paying lip service to whatever faith the particular foster family I was living with was into. The closest I've got to any kind of personal faith is that I don't much care who's turning the crank as long as he, she or it, doesn't stop doing it. Believe me, I'm not going to be offended no matter what you do.”
Mary Margaret did not look overly reassured by this statement, but went back to her party planning clearly determined to put a good face on it.
The return of her son from an afternoon with his father a couple of hours later was a welcome break from the party prep. “You guys have fun?”
“We went shopping.” Henry told her. “Dad helped me get presents. Which you aren't suppose to know about. Cause it's Christmas.”
“We're actually doing Solstice this year, Henry.” Mary Margaret smiled. “But if you want to wait and give your gifts at Christmas there's not reason why not.”
“Well, yeah.” Henry clutched his packages. “Two celebrations are better than one. Do we have wrapping paper? I want to get this stuff wrapped so nobody accidentally sees what I got.”
“I'll get it for you.” Henry followed Mary Margaret to her craft cupboard.
“You got time to grab a coffee?” Neal looked serious. “We need to talk.”
As Emma eyed him, he added hastily. “About the kid. But I don't want to do it here with Snow and David listening in.”
“Sure.” Emma grabbed her coat and scarf.
They got their drinks to go as half the town seemed to be at Granny's, most of them talking about holiday plans. They had walked as far as the beach before Neal finally broached what was on his mind. “Henry's real excited about this Solstice celebration Snow's got planned. He spent half the day talking about it.”
“Everybody is talking about it.” Emma sighed. “I've kind of reached the stage where I'm missing a good old fashioned real world commercial Christmas. Before Storybrooke all I had to do was get a dress to wear to the parties and pick up a secret Santa present for the somebody I worked with.”
“Thing is...” Neal took a fortifying drink of the tea he had ordered. “I don't know whether it's having Henry, or having been back to the Enchanted Forrest or being in Storybrooke or what, but stuff is starting to matter to me again that for a long time I didn't really think about. Hell, I went out of my way not to think about it. Cause I didn't want to remember where I came from, you know?”
“Mary Margaret's going to invite you to the Solstice thing, Neal.” Emma assured him quickly. “You're family. She was dithering about whether you would want her to invite Gold and Belle.”
“That could be touchy.” Neal sighed. “Thing is, Emma, after all this time and after all I've seen I like to think I'm open minded. Up until recently I'd have said what other people believed was their business and none of mine.
“But apparently when it comes to my kid, I do care.” He glanced her way. “Do you think we can work something out about this? I mean I understand that Snow and David, hell, probably nearly everybody in Storybrooke, are Pantheists of one kind or another. But it's not like Henry was raised as one. From what he's told me, before the curse broke he was being brought up pure white bread American. I'm only asking for equal time here. Henry will decide for himself in the end anyway.”
Emma took a long drink of hot chocolate. Clearly she was going to need it. “Neal, I've got no idea what the hell you're talking about.”
“Oh. I guess this never really came up. I'm a follower of the Logos, or well I was raised one anyway.” Neal looked a little sheepish. “Kinda lapsed over the years.”
“Still clueless, Neal.”
She was not much more enlightened half an hour later when Neal finished trying to put in context the difference between religions in the Enchanted Forest. “So putting this in terms I can relate to, there are a whole slug of gods and most people pick and choose which ones they want to worship. Sort of like picking sports teams to root for.”
Neal winced a little, “Not too far off, but you might not want to put it in those terms for Snow. She strikes me as pretty devout.”
“But not like those clerics you mentioned who sound like something out of the Spanish Inquisition?”
“There you've got a pretty good comparison.” Neal agreed. “Stay clear of them. They've started actual wars about which gods are the right ones and how to worship them.”
“But you guys, I assume Gold is a follower too?” At Neal's nod, she went on, “Don't follow any of the gods. You're what? Atheists?”
“No.” Neal shook his head. “We just don't believe in an incarnate god. There's a single creative force, usually referred to as the One, who made the world, well worlds, and magic, but we're more deist than theist. The One isn't involved in this world. And if you gain enough wisdom you can leave this existence and become part of the One.”
“Don't get me wrong here, but this all sounds kind of Buddhist and frankly, Neal, you're about the least Zen guy I know. Excepting maybe your father.” Emma checked her cup. More cocoa had not appeared.
Neal chuckled. “Didn't say I was all that good at it. And the Logos isn't all that Zen, It's based more in reason than emotion. The closest I've run across to anything in this world is some of the ancient Greek philosophies.
“Thing is it's as much an ethnicity as a religion.” Neal explained. “Which is part of the reasons I'd like to teach Henry about it. Well, that and I want him to know there are other options beside worshiping any of the pantheon. Never quite figured out why people do. I mean, yeah they're powerful as all get out, but it's not like they ever do anything for anyone but themselves.”
“Wait a minute. Are you saying that those gods of Mary Margret's are real?” Emma was trying to take that in.
“Don't know about all of them. That's one of those theological debates that started wars back in the old world.” Neal shrugged. “And I'm not sure which ones Snow follows. But, yeah, some of the pantheon are actual beings. Powerful ones sure. But not gods like they think of God in this world. Both the Blue Fairy and Papa in full Dark One mode are probably more powerful than they are. And the couple I've met were real assholes.”
“You've met gods?” Emma eyed him skeptically.
“I knocked around a lot before I ended up here.” Neal told her. “Back to the point, is it okay if I teach Henry about the Logos?”
“Fine by me.” Emma found a bin to toss her cup into. “Like you said. Kid will make up his own mind in the end.”
“Neal is a Wordist! Ye Gods, I've been blathering on to him about the Solstice celebration.” Mary Margaret exclaimed. “Oh, dear. And Henry. We can't have the party and not have him come. Should I cancel?”
Shrugging Emma told her. “Why would you? Neal just wants equal time to show Henry his family's tradition. It's no big. Lots of kids get raised in more than one religion. Every foster family I lived with had a different faith.”
“The Enchanted Forrest wasn't anywhere near that flexible about it.” Snow told her. “Are you sure Neal, and more importantly Gold, doesn't mind? Wordists tend to put a lot of emphasis on education. They'll want Henry to study the Logos.”
“Kid loves books. He'll probably enjoy it.”
Henry liked the sound of this new aspect of his heritage when his Dad told him about it. “How come this didn't get mentioned in my book?”
“Don't know.” Neal confessed. “Maybe the author thought that it would be too complicated for a kids' book.
“Or maybe the author was tied to the Royals.” Neal rather guessed that was the case. Figuring out how to explain it without insulting the other half of Henry's family was going to prove a bit tricky. “There are... political aspects to not believing in the gods. Most of the royal houses claim they rule by divine decree.”
“Oh, we studied this in school.” Henry declared excitedly. “That's where the King thinks he rules because God appointed him. Which, if there really are gods in the Enchanted Forrest, they could like actually appoint people.
“Except,” Henry considered. This was complicated. “What if more than one god tries to appoint someone King or Queen in the same place?”
“Wars break out and a lot of peasants die.” Neal told him dryly. “Which, from the prospective of the peasants kind of sucks.”
“And you and Grandpa Gold were peasants.” Henry said thoughtfully.
“Technically Papa was a tradesman, which put us one step above peasant, but when the war crashed the economy and most of the food was being requisitioned to feed the army, it wasn't a difference that mattered a lot.” Neal told him.
“I can kind of see how that might make you... not like royals much.” Henry said softly.
“Well I like you a lot, kid.” Neal ruffled his hair. “And your Mom, too. And Snow and David seem like they try hard to be good rulers. I just don't think that their in with some powerful beings is what should give them the right to govern.”
“That does sort of make sense.” Henry agreed. “But I'm not sure elections are any better. Regina kept getting elected mayor.”
“She did kind of rig the vote.” Neal pointed out. Then getting back on topic.
“The deal is, Henry, part of the Solstice party Snow is throwing is about renewing your connection to the gods and showing fealty to them.” Neal explained. “You're nearly old enough to make that kind of commitment and your grandmother at least will probably want you to go through the ceremony so that when you are old enough you'll know how to do it. In the old world that sort of pledge was binding. Once you agreed to follow one or more of the gods getting out of it was... really tough. I have no idea if there's enough magic here to for the ceremony to actually be effective, but if you learn anything from me and your grandfather it's the need to understand the terms of a deal before you make it. I'd really like you to wait until you're older to make that kind of a decision.”
Henry considered. “This party is is really important to Grandma.”
“And the last thing I want is for you to disappoint her,” Neal told him quickly. “At least not over something like enjoying her party. I guess I am kind of hoping that you decide to follow the Logos rather than the gods which might disappoint her a little. I just want it to be your decision. Not something you do 'cause you think Snow or even I want you to.”
“So as long as I don't actually promise anything to the gods it's okay?” Henry nodded seriously. “That'a be okay I guess. What about Christmas? Regina wants me to celebrate that with her.”
“From what you told me it sounds like Regina's version of Christmas is pretty secular.” Neal smiled. “I don't think you need to worry about it much.”
“So what do followers of the Logos do at Christmas time?” Henry asked.
“Mostly try to keep their heads down and avoid being pulled into worshiping the gods.” Neal said dryly. “Some folks were fairly loud about it. Going so far as to fast throughout the celebration. We took a more pragmatic approach. Papa used to say if was silly to go hungry out of spite. But we would have an especially nice meal the morning after the Solstice celebrations. Most followers did. And we did give or exchange books and other educational stuff. As a counterpoint to the presents everyone else exchanged at Solstice.”
“Papa used to cheat a little when it came to presents.” Neal smiled slightly. “There were only like three families that followed The Logos in our village, so he'd always get me some new clothes at solstice so I wouldn't feel left out when the other kids were showing off their presents. New clothes didn't really count as gifts you see, cause it was stuff he would have had to get me anyway. Even when times were really tough he made sure I had some new socks and would usually make me a vest or sweater.”
Henry made a face. “Regina always gives me socks and a sweater at Christmas. Not much of a Christmas present.”
“Kid, when the temperatures haven't broken freezing for a month and there's three feet of snow to walk through on your way to the privy, warm woolen socks and a thick fuzzy sweater are really welcome.” Neal bumped the boy's arm.
“Which,” Henry told his mother over cereal the next morning, “Sounds a whole lot like those stories you hear about grandparents telling their grandkids they had to walk ten miles to school, in the snow, up hill. Do you think he was making it up?”
“Well, Neal can spin a pretty good story when he wants to.” Emma admitted.
“I doubt he was this time.” David grabbed the milk to add to his coffee. “Gold's accent is pure Frontlands. The winters there are fierce.
“A lot like Maine's actually.” He mused. “Might explain how we ended up here.”
“I'm less concerned about history and more about how this effects our Solstice plans.” Snow hurried in buttoning her sweater and stealing her husband's cup of coffee for a quick drink. “Are you sure Neal is okay about coming to the party? Some Wordists can be rather... intransigent about anything that smacks of worship of the Gods.”
“Yeah, apparently he's reform.” Swallowing a mouthful of cereal, she added. “Sounds like Gold's more conservative though. And it's not like he's much for parties anyway, so Neal says don't worry about inviting him.”
“What about Belle?” Snow looked worried. “I have no idea how to label her relationship with Gold, but I'm pretty sure she counts as family. Do we invite her or not?”
“Given how thick Moe French is with the clerics, our version of Solstice might be too frivolous for her.” David poured another cup of coffee and swapped it for the one Snow had stolen from him.
“If she were a follower of the clerics, she wouldn't be... doing whatever she's doing with the Dark One.” Snow told her husband tartly.
“They're shagging.” Henry put in helpfully. Causing both David and Emma to choke on their drinks.
Mary Margaret, more used to the ways of children, managed to keep a straight face. “And why do you say that, Henry?”
“Dad told me.” Henry looked very pleased with himself. “He said it was past time I knew about sex and if I was going to be spending any time around Grandpa and Belle it would be less embarrassing for everybody if I knew what was what.”
“Remind me to thank Neal for providing that little lesson.” Emma commented sarcastically.
That afternoon Neal found himself standing on his father's porch working up the nerve to ring the bell. Despite the rapprochement they had begun in Neverland, they were a long way from being able to comfortably relate to each other. This was only the second time Neal had visited the pink house.
Telling himself firmly that he was being silly he rang the bell. He had reason to talk to his father. Nothing here was going to bite him (he hoped).
Belle opened the door. “Neal! How wonderful! Come in! We were just about to have tea. Would you like some? I'm trying out a new cake recipe. You can tell me if it's any good. Your father won't give me an honest opinion of my cooking.” She ushered him in with a huge smile.
Except for a pair of woolly slippers instead of her usual heels, Belle was dressed as though she was going out, so chances were he was not interrupting anything.
At least not anything that had actually gotten started. “If it's not intruding?”
“Of course not.” She practically stripped his coat off his back. “Rumple, Neal's here!”
His father, equally dressed except for his suit jacket, had appeared by now. Neal wondered how long it would take before they could meet without Papa having that haunted expression. “Bae, it is
good to see you. Was there something you needed?”
“Actually, yeah.” Belle was herding them both toward the dining room. “I was hoping you have some books on the Logos I could borrow. I'm trying to counter all of the Solstice tales Snow is teaching Henry.”
“Why of course.” Gold looked delighted. “Let me get you a couple.”
“The Dialogues is under my side of the bed.” Belle told him. “I haven't finished it, but Henry and I can share.”
“I think The Dialogues might be a little heavy going even for a boy as bright as Henry.” Gold told her with a smile. “Why don't I find something a little more basic.”
Gold went off to find the books. Leaving Neal alone with his father's... girlfriend. Whom he barely knew. Well no time like the present to start to remedy that. “You're reading The Dialogues? Nobody we knew had a copy of that one, but they used to have one of the elders quote what he could remember from it to us kids during catechism. Gotta say he managed to make it pretty boring.”
“The writing style is not terribly fluid.” Belle agreed. “Uhm, you know I was raised in a very strict clerical community?”
“Really? I didn't think any of the royals went for that. Too... ascetic.” Neal hoped that did not sound critical. This woman clearly had a large place in Papa's life. He did not want to get off on the wrong foot.
But the small smile she gave him suggested he had not. “We weren't royals. Papa was only a knight. And the clerics were smart enough not to push him too hard on the more austere elements.” She ushered Neal into an open dining room kitchen area. Tea things were laid out.
Getting another cup down she went on. “I actually brought it up because you should know, I'm not really a Wordist. Although I've been reading up on it since I met Rumpel.”
“Follower of the Logos.” Neal corrected her. “We don't call ourselves Wordists. At least we didn't in the Frontlands when I lived there.”
Belle frowned slightly. “Rumpel never mentioned that.”
“Well he wouldn't would he?” Neal could not contain his grin. “Not going to give a philosophy lecture to a pretty girl he's trying to make time with.”
But Belle was chewing on her lower lip as she fiddled with the electric kettle. “Do you mind?”
“You and Papa? Of course not. You're a great influence on him and I've never seen him as happy as he is with you.” Why would she even think that? Then again the high born in the old world had really different attitudes about sex. “Attitudes about relationships in our village, among most peasants come to that, were a lot more like they are here. And I wouldn't be in a position to criticize in any event. What with Henry and all.”
“I meant about my not being a follower of the Logos.” She told him with mock severity. “Not about that.”
He shrugged. “Nah. My mother wasn't either.”
That really got her attention. “Do you remember her?”
“Some.” He shrugged again. This was touchier. “Mostly I remember her leaving. And her fighting with Papa. She had a tongue like a whip. I didn't really understand what was being said. I just knew that it hurt.
“I realize now she wasn't really cut out for the domestic life. Or living in a gossipy small village either.”
“Perhaps she should have thought of that before she acquired a husband and small child.” Belle said tartly. Then her hand flew to her mouth. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... well, I did mean to criticize, but I shouldn't. It's terribly rude to say something like that about your mother. Rumpel has certainly never spoken ill of her to me.”
“No. Papa never spoke ill of her to me either.” The corner of Neal's mouth turned up. “With the result that I got to hear it all from the neighbors, with, I'm sure, the worst possible interpretation.
“Even that was better than the version I got from Hook, which made her out to be some kind of free spirited heroine.” He took the teapot from Belle to carry to the table. “There's nothing a teenager wants to hear more than his mother could only find happiness by dumping him to run off to have adventures. With Hook in the role as her True Love.
“I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention any of this Papa.” He added. “I'm pretty sure he thinks he kept me shielded from the talk that went around. No reason to upset him. He seems inclined to let Hook continue to exist for now. If he knew Hook tried to claim a relation with me because he shagged Mama, Papa would probably gut the guy. And he's being doing so well lately about not killing people.”
“It'll be our secret.” Belle assured him. Cutting large slices of cake she added. “Now be honest. What do you think of this?”
“What secrets are you keeping, Dearies.” Gold came in holding some old volumes.
“That Neal and I are combining efforts to keep you from misbehaving.” Belle responded. “Come try the cake.”
Neal hoped his grin to her conveyed just how nicely done that handling of his father was. This woman was a force to be reckoned with.
And a damn good cook. “This is great.” He mumbled around his first bite of cake.
“Really?” Belle seemed skeptical. “Your father always says that, but none of my cooking seems quite up to what our cook used to make.”
“I keep telling you, my dear, your cooking is wonderful.” Gold was enjoying his piece as well. “Your father's old cook is running Storybrooke's finest restaurant these days. You're using too high a standard of comparison.”
“For sure.” Neal put in. “Any time you need a taster let me know. Granny's food isn't bad, but I getting kind of tired of it.”
“Oh, you must come eat with us.” Belle seemed to light up. “In fact, you should come to brunch on Solstice Day! Bring Henry. And should we have Emma as well?”
Neal wasn't sure if that last was addressed to him or his father, but it did not matter since she did not give either of them time to answer. “Definitely. Ask Emma if she would like to come as well. We can have the ceremony and then a lovely family meal. It would be perfect!”
“Uhn, sure?”
The rest of tea was spent planning brunch. Or rather it was spent with Belle coming up with ideas for brunch, Neal nodding while he ate his cake and Gold throwing out an occasional, “Yes, dear. That would be lovely.” when Belle had to pause for breath.
She was ransacking a cookbook, when Gold walked him to the door. Neal had to ask, “What ceremony are we having Solstice morning?”
“The Dialogues goes on at length about the symbolism of lighting a candle. She latched onto it as a replacement for the elaborate ceremonies the clerics do. I'm afraid I may have further muddled things for her by mentioning in passing that we used to do it on Solstice morning.” He admitted.
“We used to do it every week. And most special occasions.” Neal pointed out. “The only reason we did it Solstice morning was so you could explain solstice was just an astronomical event.”
Gold sighed. “The clerics haven't taken Belle's... association with me very well. She doesn't mind that so much, she was an agnostic before we even met, but her father now views her as damned and it's intensifying the friction between them.
“So when she became so taken with the idea of that little family tradition I didn't have the heart to quash the idea.”
“Fine by me.” Neal told him. “I just hope it doesn't prove too much of a let down.”
Gold handed him the books he was holding. “I found your old primer. It's probably too simple for Henry, but I also have a book of parables. I thought Henry would take to those. He likes the stories in his fairy tale book so much.”
“And it will be a good counter to Snow's mythic Solstice tales.” Neal glanced at the books. The small primer had clearly seen better days. “You kept my primer?”
“I kept nearly everything you didn't take with you.” Gold glanced down. “It wasn't much. But it helped me remember you. For years that memory was all that kept me from being overpowered by the magic of the Dark One.”
Not sure what to say to that, Neal told him. “Thanks for the books. I'll talk to Emma about brunch.”
“Brunch with Gold and Belle the morning after the party? Sure I guess that's only fair. You're going to put up with my folks the night before. And Henry will want to see them.” Emma agreed.
“The difference being that your folks are, well, charming. And my Dad is the Dark One.” Neal pointed out.
“Snow and David can be so sweet as to set your teeth on edge sometimes.” Emma snorted. “Your Dad's snark can be a welcome antidote. I'll admit sometimes I want to punch him. But he helped me a lot even before he found out Henry was your kid.”
“Belle's going to want us to do a thing before brunch.” Neal figured he had better warn her. “Basically we each light a candle. It signifies a continuing search for wisdom. I'm sure she'll understand if you don't want to take part.”
“As long as I can do it without signing up for anything beyond brunch, I can use all the wisdom I can get.” Emma told him. “Sound a little like Hanukkah. I did that at a couple of foster homes when I was a kid.”
“Different background. Same act. The only promise you're making is to try and be a better person. It doesn't convert you or anything.” Neal assured her.
“Speaking of invites, Regina said to tell you you're welcome to stop by and see Henry at her place Christmas day if you want.” Emma sighed. “I got the distinct impression she's hoping it will be a brief visit and you won't bring Gold.”
“Papa only views Christmas as a retail opportunity. But I got Henry a Christmas present. I figured it was what he was used to. So I'll drop by Regina's to give it to him.”
“Don't eat or drink anything she gives you without clearing it past Henry first.” Emma warned him. At his questioning look, she sighed. “Long story. Not holiday friendly. But, you ever see the Disney version of Snow White?”
“Yeah.” Neal's eyebrows went up. “And we're letting our kid spend the day with the Evil Queen?”
“Henry's safe. She's even been more or less behaving toward the rest of us. I just...” Emma was not sure what she just. This relationship was really confused. “Let's just not take any chances, okay?”
Read Chapter 2 here
Recipient: gvspurlock
Author: Anon
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Emma Swan, Neal Cassidy, Henry Mills, Mr. Gold|Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Mary Margaret Blanchard|Snow White, David|Charming; Snowing, Rumbelle and kinda Swanfire
Word Count: 10,326
Warnings: conflicting religious doctrine
Summary: When he found out who Henry's father was, it wasn't Thanksgiving Charming should have worried about. Christmas turned out to be the real issue.
Author's Notes: Continuity on this is a bit tricky. Assume everyone is home, safe and in their own persona after the trip to Neverland.
Chapter 1
“So if the dwarfs bring bring both a tossed salad, that would be for Demeter, and a macaroni salad with shrimp to cover Ursula's offering, we should be all set for food.” Mary Margaret made a notation on one of a number of lists she had covered the breakfast bar with in the course of her planning marathon.
Emma, who had spaced out on her mother's comments several notes ago, managed to mutter. “Uhm, good.”
“Which only leaves the invitations.” Mary Margaret tapped her pen on the table. “For a little family Solstice gathering like this they should really be handwritten, but I don't think anyone would really mind if we printed some up on the computer and just hand addressed them. You and I could probably get that done in one long evening.”
Pretty sure the guest list for this 'little family gathering' had expanded to more people than she had ever known at any one time before coming to Storybrooke, Emma hastily suggested. “Or we could just send a blanket email and let everyone know that way.”
“Email?” Mary Margaret looked uncertain. “That seems very impersonal.”
“But efficient.” Emma pointed out. “Ask people to RSVP if you're worried somebody might miss it.”
“Emma,” The look of uncertainty had been replaced with worry. “You are okay with having this Solstice celebration? I know you weren't raised with the gods. If this bothers you we don't have to do it.”
“It's your party. I'm just along for the ride.” Emma started to blow off the question. But her mother had that look. The one where she was regretting missing Emma's childhood. Sighing Emma assured her. “Mostly I was raised paying lip service to whatever faith the particular foster family I was living with was into. The closest I've got to any kind of personal faith is that I don't much care who's turning the crank as long as he, she or it, doesn't stop doing it. Believe me, I'm not going to be offended no matter what you do.”
Mary Margaret did not look overly reassured by this statement, but went back to her party planning clearly determined to put a good face on it.
The return of her son from an afternoon with his father a couple of hours later was a welcome break from the party prep. “You guys have fun?”
“We went shopping.” Henry told her. “Dad helped me get presents. Which you aren't suppose to know about. Cause it's Christmas.”
“We're actually doing Solstice this year, Henry.” Mary Margaret smiled. “But if you want to wait and give your gifts at Christmas there's not reason why not.”
“Well, yeah.” Henry clutched his packages. “Two celebrations are better than one. Do we have wrapping paper? I want to get this stuff wrapped so nobody accidentally sees what I got.”
“I'll get it for you.” Henry followed Mary Margaret to her craft cupboard.
“You got time to grab a coffee?” Neal looked serious. “We need to talk.”
As Emma eyed him, he added hastily. “About the kid. But I don't want to do it here with Snow and David listening in.”
“Sure.” Emma grabbed her coat and scarf.
They got their drinks to go as half the town seemed to be at Granny's, most of them talking about holiday plans. They had walked as far as the beach before Neal finally broached what was on his mind. “Henry's real excited about this Solstice celebration Snow's got planned. He spent half the day talking about it.”
“Everybody is talking about it.” Emma sighed. “I've kind of reached the stage where I'm missing a good old fashioned real world commercial Christmas. Before Storybrooke all I had to do was get a dress to wear to the parties and pick up a secret Santa present for the somebody I worked with.”
“Thing is...” Neal took a fortifying drink of the tea he had ordered. “I don't know whether it's having Henry, or having been back to the Enchanted Forrest or being in Storybrooke or what, but stuff is starting to matter to me again that for a long time I didn't really think about. Hell, I went out of my way not to think about it. Cause I didn't want to remember where I came from, you know?”
“Mary Margaret's going to invite you to the Solstice thing, Neal.” Emma assured him quickly. “You're family. She was dithering about whether you would want her to invite Gold and Belle.”
“That could be touchy.” Neal sighed. “Thing is, Emma, after all this time and after all I've seen I like to think I'm open minded. Up until recently I'd have said what other people believed was their business and none of mine.
“But apparently when it comes to my kid, I do care.” He glanced her way. “Do you think we can work something out about this? I mean I understand that Snow and David, hell, probably nearly everybody in Storybrooke, are Pantheists of one kind or another. But it's not like Henry was raised as one. From what he's told me, before the curse broke he was being brought up pure white bread American. I'm only asking for equal time here. Henry will decide for himself in the end anyway.”
Emma took a long drink of hot chocolate. Clearly she was going to need it. “Neal, I've got no idea what the hell you're talking about.”
“Oh. I guess this never really came up. I'm a follower of the Logos, or well I was raised one anyway.” Neal looked a little sheepish. “Kinda lapsed over the years.”
“Still clueless, Neal.”
She was not much more enlightened half an hour later when Neal finished trying to put in context the difference between religions in the Enchanted Forest. “So putting this in terms I can relate to, there are a whole slug of gods and most people pick and choose which ones they want to worship. Sort of like picking sports teams to root for.”
Neal winced a little, “Not too far off, but you might not want to put it in those terms for Snow. She strikes me as pretty devout.”
“But not like those clerics you mentioned who sound like something out of the Spanish Inquisition?”
“There you've got a pretty good comparison.” Neal agreed. “Stay clear of them. They've started actual wars about which gods are the right ones and how to worship them.”
“But you guys, I assume Gold is a follower too?” At Neal's nod, she went on, “Don't follow any of the gods. You're what? Atheists?”
“No.” Neal shook his head. “We just don't believe in an incarnate god. There's a single creative force, usually referred to as the One, who made the world, well worlds, and magic, but we're more deist than theist. The One isn't involved in this world. And if you gain enough wisdom you can leave this existence and become part of the One.”
“Don't get me wrong here, but this all sounds kind of Buddhist and frankly, Neal, you're about the least Zen guy I know. Excepting maybe your father.” Emma checked her cup. More cocoa had not appeared.
Neal chuckled. “Didn't say I was all that good at it. And the Logos isn't all that Zen, It's based more in reason than emotion. The closest I've run across to anything in this world is some of the ancient Greek philosophies.
“Thing is it's as much an ethnicity as a religion.” Neal explained. “Which is part of the reasons I'd like to teach Henry about it. Well, that and I want him to know there are other options beside worshiping any of the pantheon. Never quite figured out why people do. I mean, yeah they're powerful as all get out, but it's not like they ever do anything for anyone but themselves.”
“Wait a minute. Are you saying that those gods of Mary Margret's are real?” Emma was trying to take that in.
“Don't know about all of them. That's one of those theological debates that started wars back in the old world.” Neal shrugged. “And I'm not sure which ones Snow follows. But, yeah, some of the pantheon are actual beings. Powerful ones sure. But not gods like they think of God in this world. Both the Blue Fairy and Papa in full Dark One mode are probably more powerful than they are. And the couple I've met were real assholes.”
“You've met gods?” Emma eyed him skeptically.
“I knocked around a lot before I ended up here.” Neal told her. “Back to the point, is it okay if I teach Henry about the Logos?”
“Fine by me.” Emma found a bin to toss her cup into. “Like you said. Kid will make up his own mind in the end.”
“Neal is a Wordist! Ye Gods, I've been blathering on to him about the Solstice celebration.” Mary Margaret exclaimed. “Oh, dear. And Henry. We can't have the party and not have him come. Should I cancel?”
Shrugging Emma told her. “Why would you? Neal just wants equal time to show Henry his family's tradition. It's no big. Lots of kids get raised in more than one religion. Every foster family I lived with had a different faith.”
“The Enchanted Forrest wasn't anywhere near that flexible about it.” Snow told her. “Are you sure Neal, and more importantly Gold, doesn't mind? Wordists tend to put a lot of emphasis on education. They'll want Henry to study the Logos.”
“Kid loves books. He'll probably enjoy it.”
Henry liked the sound of this new aspect of his heritage when his Dad told him about it. “How come this didn't get mentioned in my book?”
“Don't know.” Neal confessed. “Maybe the author thought that it would be too complicated for a kids' book.
“Or maybe the author was tied to the Royals.” Neal rather guessed that was the case. Figuring out how to explain it without insulting the other half of Henry's family was going to prove a bit tricky. “There are... political aspects to not believing in the gods. Most of the royal houses claim they rule by divine decree.”
“Oh, we studied this in school.” Henry declared excitedly. “That's where the King thinks he rules because God appointed him. Which, if there really are gods in the Enchanted Forrest, they could like actually appoint people.
“Except,” Henry considered. This was complicated. “What if more than one god tries to appoint someone King or Queen in the same place?”
“Wars break out and a lot of peasants die.” Neal told him dryly. “Which, from the prospective of the peasants kind of sucks.”
“And you and Grandpa Gold were peasants.” Henry said thoughtfully.
“Technically Papa was a tradesman, which put us one step above peasant, but when the war crashed the economy and most of the food was being requisitioned to feed the army, it wasn't a difference that mattered a lot.” Neal told him.
“I can kind of see how that might make you... not like royals much.” Henry said softly.
“Well I like you a lot, kid.” Neal ruffled his hair. “And your Mom, too. And Snow and David seem like they try hard to be good rulers. I just don't think that their in with some powerful beings is what should give them the right to govern.”
“That does sort of make sense.” Henry agreed. “But I'm not sure elections are any better. Regina kept getting elected mayor.”
“She did kind of rig the vote.” Neal pointed out. Then getting back on topic.
“The deal is, Henry, part of the Solstice party Snow is throwing is about renewing your connection to the gods and showing fealty to them.” Neal explained. “You're nearly old enough to make that kind of commitment and your grandmother at least will probably want you to go through the ceremony so that when you are old enough you'll know how to do it. In the old world that sort of pledge was binding. Once you agreed to follow one or more of the gods getting out of it was... really tough. I have no idea if there's enough magic here to for the ceremony to actually be effective, but if you learn anything from me and your grandfather it's the need to understand the terms of a deal before you make it. I'd really like you to wait until you're older to make that kind of a decision.”
Henry considered. “This party is is really important to Grandma.”
“And the last thing I want is for you to disappoint her,” Neal told him quickly. “At least not over something like enjoying her party. I guess I am kind of hoping that you decide to follow the Logos rather than the gods which might disappoint her a little. I just want it to be your decision. Not something you do 'cause you think Snow or even I want you to.”
“So as long as I don't actually promise anything to the gods it's okay?” Henry nodded seriously. “That'a be okay I guess. What about Christmas? Regina wants me to celebrate that with her.”
“From what you told me it sounds like Regina's version of Christmas is pretty secular.” Neal smiled. “I don't think you need to worry about it much.”
“So what do followers of the Logos do at Christmas time?” Henry asked.
“Mostly try to keep their heads down and avoid being pulled into worshiping the gods.” Neal said dryly. “Some folks were fairly loud about it. Going so far as to fast throughout the celebration. We took a more pragmatic approach. Papa used to say if was silly to go hungry out of spite. But we would have an especially nice meal the morning after the Solstice celebrations. Most followers did. And we did give or exchange books and other educational stuff. As a counterpoint to the presents everyone else exchanged at Solstice.”
“Papa used to cheat a little when it came to presents.” Neal smiled slightly. “There were only like three families that followed The Logos in our village, so he'd always get me some new clothes at solstice so I wouldn't feel left out when the other kids were showing off their presents. New clothes didn't really count as gifts you see, cause it was stuff he would have had to get me anyway. Even when times were really tough he made sure I had some new socks and would usually make me a vest or sweater.”
Henry made a face. “Regina always gives me socks and a sweater at Christmas. Not much of a Christmas present.”
“Kid, when the temperatures haven't broken freezing for a month and there's three feet of snow to walk through on your way to the privy, warm woolen socks and a thick fuzzy sweater are really welcome.” Neal bumped the boy's arm.
“Which,” Henry told his mother over cereal the next morning, “Sounds a whole lot like those stories you hear about grandparents telling their grandkids they had to walk ten miles to school, in the snow, up hill. Do you think he was making it up?”
“Well, Neal can spin a pretty good story when he wants to.” Emma admitted.
“I doubt he was this time.” David grabbed the milk to add to his coffee. “Gold's accent is pure Frontlands. The winters there are fierce.
“A lot like Maine's actually.” He mused. “Might explain how we ended up here.”
“I'm less concerned about history and more about how this effects our Solstice plans.” Snow hurried in buttoning her sweater and stealing her husband's cup of coffee for a quick drink. “Are you sure Neal is okay about coming to the party? Some Wordists can be rather... intransigent about anything that smacks of worship of the Gods.”
“Yeah, apparently he's reform.” Swallowing a mouthful of cereal, she added. “Sounds like Gold's more conservative though. And it's not like he's much for parties anyway, so Neal says don't worry about inviting him.”
“What about Belle?” Snow looked worried. “I have no idea how to label her relationship with Gold, but I'm pretty sure she counts as family. Do we invite her or not?”
“Given how thick Moe French is with the clerics, our version of Solstice might be too frivolous for her.” David poured another cup of coffee and swapped it for the one Snow had stolen from him.
“If she were a follower of the clerics, she wouldn't be... doing whatever she's doing with the Dark One.” Snow told her husband tartly.
“They're shagging.” Henry put in helpfully. Causing both David and Emma to choke on their drinks.
Mary Margaret, more used to the ways of children, managed to keep a straight face. “And why do you say that, Henry?”
“Dad told me.” Henry looked very pleased with himself. “He said it was past time I knew about sex and if I was going to be spending any time around Grandpa and Belle it would be less embarrassing for everybody if I knew what was what.”
“Remind me to thank Neal for providing that little lesson.” Emma commented sarcastically.
That afternoon Neal found himself standing on his father's porch working up the nerve to ring the bell. Despite the rapprochement they had begun in Neverland, they were a long way from being able to comfortably relate to each other. This was only the second time Neal had visited the pink house.
Telling himself firmly that he was being silly he rang the bell. He had reason to talk to his father. Nothing here was going to bite him (he hoped).
Belle opened the door. “Neal! How wonderful! Come in! We were just about to have tea. Would you like some? I'm trying out a new cake recipe. You can tell me if it's any good. Your father won't give me an honest opinion of my cooking.” She ushered him in with a huge smile.
Except for a pair of woolly slippers instead of her usual heels, Belle was dressed as though she was going out, so chances were he was not interrupting anything.
At least not anything that had actually gotten started. “If it's not intruding?”
“Of course not.” She practically stripped his coat off his back. “Rumple, Neal's here!”
His father, equally dressed except for his suit jacket, had appeared by now. Neal wondered how long it would take before they could meet without Papa having that haunted expression. “Bae, it is
good to see you. Was there something you needed?”
“Actually, yeah.” Belle was herding them both toward the dining room. “I was hoping you have some books on the Logos I could borrow. I'm trying to counter all of the Solstice tales Snow is teaching Henry.”
“Why of course.” Gold looked delighted. “Let me get you a couple.”
“The Dialogues is under my side of the bed.” Belle told him. “I haven't finished it, but Henry and I can share.”
“I think The Dialogues might be a little heavy going even for a boy as bright as Henry.” Gold told her with a smile. “Why don't I find something a little more basic.”
Gold went off to find the books. Leaving Neal alone with his father's... girlfriend. Whom he barely knew. Well no time like the present to start to remedy that. “You're reading The Dialogues? Nobody we knew had a copy of that one, but they used to have one of the elders quote what he could remember from it to us kids during catechism. Gotta say he managed to make it pretty boring.”
“The writing style is not terribly fluid.” Belle agreed. “Uhm, you know I was raised in a very strict clerical community?”
“Really? I didn't think any of the royals went for that. Too... ascetic.” Neal hoped that did not sound critical. This woman clearly had a large place in Papa's life. He did not want to get off on the wrong foot.
But the small smile she gave him suggested he had not. “We weren't royals. Papa was only a knight. And the clerics were smart enough not to push him too hard on the more austere elements.” She ushered Neal into an open dining room kitchen area. Tea things were laid out.
Getting another cup down she went on. “I actually brought it up because you should know, I'm not really a Wordist. Although I've been reading up on it since I met Rumpel.”
“Follower of the Logos.” Neal corrected her. “We don't call ourselves Wordists. At least we didn't in the Frontlands when I lived there.”
Belle frowned slightly. “Rumpel never mentioned that.”
“Well he wouldn't would he?” Neal could not contain his grin. “Not going to give a philosophy lecture to a pretty girl he's trying to make time with.”
But Belle was chewing on her lower lip as she fiddled with the electric kettle. “Do you mind?”
“You and Papa? Of course not. You're a great influence on him and I've never seen him as happy as he is with you.” Why would she even think that? Then again the high born in the old world had really different attitudes about sex. “Attitudes about relationships in our village, among most peasants come to that, were a lot more like they are here. And I wouldn't be in a position to criticize in any event. What with Henry and all.”
“I meant about my not being a follower of the Logos.” She told him with mock severity. “Not about that.”
He shrugged. “Nah. My mother wasn't either.”
That really got her attention. “Do you remember her?”
“Some.” He shrugged again. This was touchier. “Mostly I remember her leaving. And her fighting with Papa. She had a tongue like a whip. I didn't really understand what was being said. I just knew that it hurt.
“I realize now she wasn't really cut out for the domestic life. Or living in a gossipy small village either.”
“Perhaps she should have thought of that before she acquired a husband and small child.” Belle said tartly. Then her hand flew to her mouth. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... well, I did mean to criticize, but I shouldn't. It's terribly rude to say something like that about your mother. Rumpel has certainly never spoken ill of her to me.”
“No. Papa never spoke ill of her to me either.” The corner of Neal's mouth turned up. “With the result that I got to hear it all from the neighbors, with, I'm sure, the worst possible interpretation.
“Even that was better than the version I got from Hook, which made her out to be some kind of free spirited heroine.” He took the teapot from Belle to carry to the table. “There's nothing a teenager wants to hear more than his mother could only find happiness by dumping him to run off to have adventures. With Hook in the role as her True Love.
“I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention any of this Papa.” He added. “I'm pretty sure he thinks he kept me shielded from the talk that went around. No reason to upset him. He seems inclined to let Hook continue to exist for now. If he knew Hook tried to claim a relation with me because he shagged Mama, Papa would probably gut the guy. And he's being doing so well lately about not killing people.”
“It'll be our secret.” Belle assured him. Cutting large slices of cake she added. “Now be honest. What do you think of this?”
“What secrets are you keeping, Dearies.” Gold came in holding some old volumes.
“That Neal and I are combining efforts to keep you from misbehaving.” Belle responded. “Come try the cake.”
Neal hoped his grin to her conveyed just how nicely done that handling of his father was. This woman was a force to be reckoned with.
And a damn good cook. “This is great.” He mumbled around his first bite of cake.
“Really?” Belle seemed skeptical. “Your father always says that, but none of my cooking seems quite up to what our cook used to make.”
“I keep telling you, my dear, your cooking is wonderful.” Gold was enjoying his piece as well. “Your father's old cook is running Storybrooke's finest restaurant these days. You're using too high a standard of comparison.”
“For sure.” Neal put in. “Any time you need a taster let me know. Granny's food isn't bad, but I getting kind of tired of it.”
“Oh, you must come eat with us.” Belle seemed to light up. “In fact, you should come to brunch on Solstice Day! Bring Henry. And should we have Emma as well?”
Neal wasn't sure if that last was addressed to him or his father, but it did not matter since she did not give either of them time to answer. “Definitely. Ask Emma if she would like to come as well. We can have the ceremony and then a lovely family meal. It would be perfect!”
“Uhn, sure?”
The rest of tea was spent planning brunch. Or rather it was spent with Belle coming up with ideas for brunch, Neal nodding while he ate his cake and Gold throwing out an occasional, “Yes, dear. That would be lovely.” when Belle had to pause for breath.
She was ransacking a cookbook, when Gold walked him to the door. Neal had to ask, “What ceremony are we having Solstice morning?”
“The Dialogues goes on at length about the symbolism of lighting a candle. She latched onto it as a replacement for the elaborate ceremonies the clerics do. I'm afraid I may have further muddled things for her by mentioning in passing that we used to do it on Solstice morning.” He admitted.
“We used to do it every week. And most special occasions.” Neal pointed out. “The only reason we did it Solstice morning was so you could explain solstice was just an astronomical event.”
Gold sighed. “The clerics haven't taken Belle's... association with me very well. She doesn't mind that so much, she was an agnostic before we even met, but her father now views her as damned and it's intensifying the friction between them.
“So when she became so taken with the idea of that little family tradition I didn't have the heart to quash the idea.”
“Fine by me.” Neal told him. “I just hope it doesn't prove too much of a let down.”
Gold handed him the books he was holding. “I found your old primer. It's probably too simple for Henry, but I also have a book of parables. I thought Henry would take to those. He likes the stories in his fairy tale book so much.”
“And it will be a good counter to Snow's mythic Solstice tales.” Neal glanced at the books. The small primer had clearly seen better days. “You kept my primer?”
“I kept nearly everything you didn't take with you.” Gold glanced down. “It wasn't much. But it helped me remember you. For years that memory was all that kept me from being overpowered by the magic of the Dark One.”
Not sure what to say to that, Neal told him. “Thanks for the books. I'll talk to Emma about brunch.”
“Brunch with Gold and Belle the morning after the party? Sure I guess that's only fair. You're going to put up with my folks the night before. And Henry will want to see them.” Emma agreed.
“The difference being that your folks are, well, charming. And my Dad is the Dark One.” Neal pointed out.
“Snow and David can be so sweet as to set your teeth on edge sometimes.” Emma snorted. “Your Dad's snark can be a welcome antidote. I'll admit sometimes I want to punch him. But he helped me a lot even before he found out Henry was your kid.”
“Belle's going to want us to do a thing before brunch.” Neal figured he had better warn her. “Basically we each light a candle. It signifies a continuing search for wisdom. I'm sure she'll understand if you don't want to take part.”
“As long as I can do it without signing up for anything beyond brunch, I can use all the wisdom I can get.” Emma told him. “Sound a little like Hanukkah. I did that at a couple of foster homes when I was a kid.”
“Different background. Same act. The only promise you're making is to try and be a better person. It doesn't convert you or anything.” Neal assured her.
“Speaking of invites, Regina said to tell you you're welcome to stop by and see Henry at her place Christmas day if you want.” Emma sighed. “I got the distinct impression she's hoping it will be a brief visit and you won't bring Gold.”
“Papa only views Christmas as a retail opportunity. But I got Henry a Christmas present. I figured it was what he was used to. So I'll drop by Regina's to give it to him.”
“Don't eat or drink anything she gives you without clearing it past Henry first.” Emma warned him. At his questioning look, she sighed. “Long story. Not holiday friendly. But, you ever see the Disney version of Snow White?”
“Yeah.” Neal's eyebrows went up. “And we're letting our kid spend the day with the Evil Queen?”
“Henry's safe. She's even been more or less behaving toward the rest of us. I just...” Emma was not sure what she just. This relationship was really confused. “Let's just not take any chances, okay?”
Read Chapter 2 here