Finding You ( A sequel to A thief who stole her heart)

10. Operation Condor

The door closed shut behind Emma as she entered Mr. Gold's pawn shop. Her parents and Regina trailed behind her.

"Gold, are you ready?" She asked.

"Ms. Swan, something as complicated as crossing realms take time." Mr. Gold explained to her as if she was an incompetent child.

"You've had a whole three days, Gold, someone as powerful as you shouldn't need that much time." Emma countered.

"You wanted my help, so we do things my way; after all this is my son we're talking about."

"You're not the only one that misses him. I'd suggest you remember that. Now, I will give you until 9 o'clock tonight. I expect progress by then." Emma demanded. She stood taller and looked the man straight in his eyes. She wanted Neal back; for her and Henry. She wouldn't take his stalling any longer.

"Very well," Mr. Gold said bitterly and made a dismissive motion with his hand. Emma cast one last glare in his direction before leaving.

...

"I didn't know you had that in you, Emma, I'm impressed." Regina commented as they sat down in a booth at the rear of Granny's.

"Well, Gold needed a little fire behind him that's all," Emma shrugged.

"We should still tell Henry," Mary Margaret spoke up. David nodded his head in agreement.

"We could do it together; all of us." He added.

Emma exchanged a look with Regina. Regina gave her a look that said that she was in agreement with her parents. Emma let out a sigh.

"But we're going to get him back. Should we really break his heart only to try to heal it again?" Emma argued.

"Emma, it's the right thing to do. He deserves to know about his father." Mary Margaret pleaded with her daughter.

"I hate to agree with them, but he needs to know. If you don't tell him, then I will." Regina gave her an ultimatum.

Emma begrudgingly agreed. They would wait until Henry was out of school, which would be any minute now and sit down and tell him.

"He's stronger than you're giving him credit for." David tried to ease his daughter's worries.

"He is." Regina agreed.

...

Henry knew something was off when both his mothers came to greet him as he got off the bus. He half-waved goodbye to a classmate as he headed towards them.

"Hi kid," Emma greeted. Regina smiled, but said nothing.

"Let's grab something to eat at Granny's?" Emma suggested. Henry followed along, all the while wondering what was really going on.

They walked the short distance back to Granny's and reclaimed their seats. Mary Margaret and David scooted over to make room for Henry and he sat at the end. Regina slid in opposite of them and Emma followed after her.

Silence fell over them until a waitress came to take their order. Emma ordered grilled cheese for everyone with hot chocolate with cinnamon for Henry; his favorite. As Henry took his last bite of his sandwich, he looked up at Emma.

"So, is anyone going to tell me what's going on?" He asked.

Nervous glances went back and forth between the Charming's and Regina. Emma met her son's gaze and decided it was now or never and never was no longer an option.

"Henry," she reached across for his hand. "I need to tell you something about your father."

"Where is he?" Henry wondered and looked around as if he expected him to appear.

"He's um...there was an accident at the cannery." She began to explain.

"Is he hurt? Is he in the hospital?"

"He's ...g-gone, but we're going to get him back! It'll just take a little time..."

"Gone? I don't understand."

"He fell through a portal, honey. We know where he is though and we're going to bring him back. We promise." Mary Margaret assured him.

They feared Henry would be doubtful and upset, but he proved them wrong. Being the optimist he was, he smiled.

"Good. What are we calling it; the mission I mean?" He asked with a smile. Nervous laughter broke out among them all and they all felt relieved.

"Whatever you want to, kid," Emma answered.

Henry thought for a moment and then a light bulb went off.

"Operation Condor," Henry said proudly.

Emma raised a brow, wondering what it meant.

"Operation Condor it is, kid."

A/N: So I chose Condor because of this definition: Condor: ancient mysteries of life and death, spirit communication, overcoming limitations. It's a bird, by the way :)