Once Upon a Time is the property of Adam Horowitz, Eddy Kitsis, and ABC. I'm making no money from this: it's purely for fun.

As He Lies Sleeping

Part One: Henry

She brushes his hair back and strokes his cheek. Then she rests her hand over his heart and smiles when she feels the slow but steady thump of it against his ribcage. She's been doing that a lot: just checking to be sure he's still with her. She thought she'd lose him, but he's still here, still holding on, and now the Darkness has been removed, so he's just Rumple now, or he will be again, once she can figure out how to wake him up.

So far, the books haven't said anything about how to wake someone up after a spell like the one the Apprentice performed, and the Blue Fairy hasn't been able to find anything that might help either, so Belle thinks this might be something that has to happen on its own, unless the Sorcerer can help. The books don't say much about him either, except that his name is Merlin and that he helped King Arthur found Camelot and make it a great kingdom. They also say what she already knows, that he battled the Darkness and bound it to a human soul. Rumple was that soul, or one of them, at least, since she knows he wasn't the Dark One all that time. That's why he could be controlled using that awful dagger. Not any more, though: that's something, but now someone else has to endure that fate, so there's another reason besides saving Rumple that they need to find Merlin. Emma must be saved from the fate Rumple endured for all those centuries.

She tucks the blanket around Rumple and holds his hand.

'I'll find a way to help you wake up, Rumple,' she tells him: 'I promise.'

The bell over the front door sounds and she looks up. No one has come here since Robin came and told her what happened to Emma, three nights ago.

'Hello?'

It's Henry. Belle hasn't seen him since that night his mother disappeared. She checks that Rumple is comfortable once more and then stands and goes to the front of the shop to meet him.

'Hello, Henry,' she greets: 'it's good to see you.'

'Hi, Belle: it's good to see you too.' He comes a little closer.

Even in her heels, he's taller than her now, and she has to look up a little to meet his eyes. He's tired, she sees, and worried.

'Is there something you need, Henry: anything I can help with?'

He shakes his head. 'I know you're busy taking care of Mr Gold…Grandpa.' She smiles at that. 'How is he?'

'There's been no change,' she tells him, 'but he's stable, so at least there's that. I've been going through the books to see if I can find a way to wake him. I've been looking for information on Merlin too. Once we find him, he may be able to help Rumple wake up, and help your mum.'

He nods. 'We've been combing his house too: Regina's wrecked the place trying to find answers, but nothing so far, and Emma hasn't come back.'

She can hear the tremor in his voice and she reaches out and curls her hand around his shoulder. She can feel him shaking.

'Henry, she will come back, and we will find Merlin: you have to believe that. Don't lose hope.'

He turns and steps into her arms, and she holds him as he shakes from fear and sadness and exhaustion.

'It's going to be alright,' she whispers: 'it will.' She can feel him sob and hugs him a little tighter.

'How come you have so much faith?' he asks a few moments later, pulling back and wiping his eyes.

She smiles a little. 'I didn't for a while there,' she tells him, 'but, lately, I've found it again.'

'Since Grandpa came back?'

'Yes, and since I realised that I was wrong about some things that I thought about him and us. Now that he's free of the Darkness, we can have another chance.'

'So, if Grandpa isn't the Dark One any more, what will he be like?'

She smiles again. 'That remains to be seen, but without the Darkness corrupting him, I hope that people will be able to see the good man that I always saw before the Darkness started to take over.'

'Will that happen to my Mom?' he asks. 'Will the Darkness take her over?'

'No,' she says emphatically, 'because we're going to find Merlin before it does.'

'I hope so,' Henry says earnestly.

'I think that with you helping, Merlin will be found before we know it,' she says.

'What makes you say that?' he wonders.

'Because I know that you're brave and resourceful, and you have a wonderful gift.'

'You mean me being the Author?'

'I mean that you have the heart of a believer,' she says, 'but being the Author will come in handy too, I'm sure. That's an amazing gift, and I'm sure you're going to do extraordinary things with it.'

'You think so?'

'Of course: just look at your family tree.'

He smiles and she does too.

'That's better,' she murmurs, pleased to see him smile.

'Thanks, Belle. I guess I needed a pep talk.'

'You're very welcome.' She pats his shoulder gently.

'Can-can I see Grandpa: just for a minute? I promise I won't disturb him.'

'Of course,' she says, and gestures for him to follow her.

Henry looks down at his grandfather as he lies on the cot.

'He looks just like he's sleeping,' he observes.

'Yes,' Belle says. 'You can sit if you like,' she says. 'I usually sit and talk to him: I think maybe it might help him come back if he hears my voice. I'm sure he'd like to hear yours too.'

'Ok,' Henry says, sitting down on the stool. 'What should I say?'

'Anything you want. Right now, he's a very good listener: he won't tell your secrets.' And she smiles a little. ' You know, I'm a little hungry. I was thinking of grabbing something to go from Granny's. I could pick you up something if you like?'

'That'd be great,' he says: 'I haven't been eating much lately. Guess I've been too worried.'

'That's understandable. What do you feel like?'

'Maybe a grilled cheese sandwich and onion rings?'

'Like your mum, right?'

He smiles. 'Yeah.'

She nods. 'Coming right up, and a coke to wash it down?'

'That'd be great: thanks, Belle.'

'You're quite welcome.' And she picks up her purse and leaves him to watch over his grandfather.

When she returns, Henry is reading from the story book. She smiles as she recognises words she said to her father and Gaston.

'Is that our story?' she asks curiously.

'Yeah,' Henry says. 'How you met is the only part that's in the book. Maybe when he wakes up, you can both tell me more of it so I can write it down.'

She smiles again. 'You really want to tell our story?'

'Yeah. I want to tell the true stories,' he tells her. 'The book doesn't tell all the stories properly. I guess that's because Isaac thought some stories were better or more important than others, but I want to tell all the stories.'

'I think that is a very noble project,' Belle says, 'and I think that when Rumple's recovered and we've sorted everything out, we'll be happy to tell you our true story.

'In the meantime, how about some lunch?' And she holds up the bag and cup holder she's carrying.

'I am actually pretty hungry now,' Henry admits.

'Good,' Belle says, and she unpacks the bag and hands him out his sandwich and onion rings, and his coke, and, taking her burger, fries, and iced tea, she pulls over a second stool to join Henry and Rumple.

'This is nice,' Henry says as they eat together.

'It is,' Belle agrees. 'We're very glad you visited with us, Henry.'

'Me too. Can I come back some time?'

'Any time you like: you're always welcome here.'

'Thanks. Hey, you think maybe Grandpa will smell our food and wake up hungry?'

Belle laughs. 'You know, he's very fond of hamburgers, so maybe.'

Henry grins.

Next up will be a less pleasant visitor that will enable Belle to get something off her chest.