A/N: Thank you all so much for the kind words and many favorites and followings, they all mean so much to me. Unless another idea pops into my head, there should be one more chapter after this one. So as always please enjoy and let me know what you think. And happy Once Day! Only a little over 8 more hours, till us east coasters (and all that will be livestreaming) get to watch the new episode.

Their morning had been just as hectic as Charming thought it would be, possibly even more. It seemed like everyone in town had a problem that needed to be fixed immediately, plus the fear and worry of what Regina and Mr. Gold were up to. He barley even had time to talk to the Blue Fairy about possible ways to bring Snow and Emma back.

And then there was Henry. The kid had been awfully quiet all morning only saying a handful of words when needed to. He was the main reason why the two had left the crowd at town hall for Snow's apartment. Maybe there he could get his grandson to open up more.

Once inside the kid immediately went to the counter and laid his head down, similar to what he had done the day before. Charming followed slowly behind watching Henry carefully to allow him to make the first move. When he saw that was not going to happen he approached the counter laying a gently hand on the base of Henry's neck so not to startle him.

That was when he noticed the unusual warmth coming off of his grandson. He quickly moved his hand from Henry's neck to his forehead. Now was it the palm or back of his hand he used to feel for a temperature? He had never done this with a child before and he was a little rusty in general. He tried to rack his brain for what his mother had done when he was sick. In the end he gave up, there was no denying that Henry felt too warm.

"Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?" He asked trying not to sound too harsh.

Henry shrugged, "You had too much to do today, I didn't want you to have to worry about me too."

"Kid it's my job to worry about you. No matter what is going on out there you are my number one priority, got it?" Henry nodded his head yes, "Good. Now why don't you go change into pajamas and get back into Snow's bed."

Henry pushed himself off of the counter and headed upstairs to change. Once he was sure his grandson had made the trip safely he walked into the bathroom to find a thermometer, Snow had to have one right? He opened every single draw he could see until he found the object. Next on his list was some sort of medicine, anything really that would help lower the fever.

Once he found that, or what he assumed was it, he walked back into the main room. Henry had already curled himself up under the blankets in the bed. At closer inspection James noticed just how miserable his grandson looked. How had he not seen it sooner? Even if he had laid a hand on the boy's neck he could have caught on faster to the real problem. But he couldn't dwell on the what if's now, he had a sick kid that needed his full attention if he was going to get better.

"Open." James instructed and placed the thermometer in Henry's mouth.

He waited for what like the appropriate amount of time, he still wasn't too sure what he was doing. At least he was able to read the device, which showed a steady 102. That he knew was much too high. He shook the bottle of medicine, mostly because he thought that was what he was supposed to do, and poured a teaspoon out. Without having to tell him Henry opened his mouth again and allowed his grandfather to give him the medicine.

"Get some sleep kid." He knew for sure sleep was one of the best ways to get better.

"What are you going to do?" Henry asked.

"Take care of you of course."

Henry struggled to sit up in bed a worried look coming across his pale face, "But what about the meeting and your plan?"

"They can wait." Charming answered using a gentle hand to keep his grandson from sitting up.

"But they are all expecting you to say something. You have to go."

"No I don't Henry. They will understand that I was needed at home to take care of my sick grandson. All I have to do is call Red up and have her pass on the message. And if I do come up with a plan I will have her share that as well. Does that sound okay?"

"But…"

"Henry no more buts. You have only one thing to worry about, which is getting better. Let me worry about everything else."

"Fine." Henry finally gave in and sunk back down into the bed.

"Good, now please go to sleep." Charming tucked the sheets in around his grandson before placing a kiss on his warm brow.

It didn't take long for the kid to fall asleep. The fever plus the little sleep he had gotten the night before aided in that. If Charming let himself he could stand there and watch Henry sleep all afternoon. For hours he could find the nuances that his grandson had inherited from his mother, grandmother, and himself.

He could not allow himself to do that or at least not yet. Once all the mayhem calmed down then he could indulge, but for now he had to tear himself away. He needed to figure out what he was going to tell the town's people to ease their fears, and still find time to talk to someone about getting Snow and Emma back.

First thing was first he had to call Red to let her know that he could not be coming to the meeting. Then he could start figuring out everything else.

Two hours later he was in the same position as he earlier, no plan for the town nor a way to get Snow and Emma back. He sat on the couch looking through Henry's storybook as a final desperate act. He was so lost in the current story that he didn't hear the rustling coming from the bedroom.

"Grandpa, what are you doing?" A weak voice asked breaking Charming's focus on the book. He looked up the see his grandson standing in the middle of the living room shivering.

"Trying to find some inspiration, what are you doing out of bed?" He asked instantly worried about the kid, he beckoned him over to the couch.

"I couldn't sleep anymore." Henry answered. The kid curled himself up on the couch and leaned against his grandfather.

Charming used his free hand to feel for a temperature, "Are you feeling any better?" he asked even though he already knew the answer to his question. Henry did not feel any cooler then before, plus the shivering was a giveaway that the fever was still raging on in his body.

Henry shook his head no and curled himself into his grandfather trying to get warmer. Sensing what the kid was doing and needing to do something useful he picked up the blanket that was thrown over the couch and spread it over his grandson's body.

"Do you think you could eat something? Red brought you some soup." Trying again to be helpful.

After calling Red to tell her why he wasn't going to the meeting Granny had insisted that she bring food over to the apartment along with getting Charming's word that he would call her if things got worse.

Again Henry shook his head no, "Why are you reading my book? Don't you know all the stories?"

"I only know mine and Snow's, and I am hoping that the book will help me figure out a plan of action."

"You still haven't thought of anything yet."

"I'm afraid not kid." Charming sighed.

Henry lifted himself off of his grandfather getting himself worked up again, "But what about the meeting? Did it start already? What is Red going to tell everyone?"

"I told you before the town is going to be okay for now while I take care of you. Now please calm down, I don't want you getting sicker."

Henry let out a frustrated sighed, but curled back into his grandfather. Charming ran his hand over the kid's forehead again. He knew that his temperature probably hadn't risen since last time he checked, but he still wanted to play it safe.

"So now what are we going to do?" Henry asked looking up.

"I am going to continue to try and figure out a plan of action and you are going rest so that fever will break."

"Will you read to me?" his grandson's eyes had shifted down once again as he mumbled his request.

The way the question was asked made his blood boil over. No kid should be ashamed to ask an adult to read to them. Without even a pause he began to read aloud the story the book was open to.

Every so often he would glance down at his grandson. Henry was fighting hard against the pull of sleep. His eyes would flutter close only to burst open a few seconds later. Charming did his best to let his voice lull the child back to sleep keeping it at a low and steady pace.

Even though it wasn't under the ideal circumstances, he was enjoying this tender moment with his grandson. This was something he should have been able to do with Emma. He had no idea if any adult had ever read to her when she was a child, something else that made him angry. But he couldn't dwell on that now with his new task of trying to get his grandson to fall asleep. He would just add it to the ever growing list of things the curse had taken away from him.

After many pages Henry finally lost the battle against sleep. Charming continued to read, his voice just above a whisper, to make sure that the child was not going to wake up again.

When the story came to an end he put the closed the book and placed in on the coffee table. Henry's eyes had not opened again. He took a moment to just watch his grandson sleep. Despite the fever he looked peaceful, and not at all worried like he was when he was awake.

Knowing that Henry was better off resting in a bed, he carefully lifted him off of the couch. The child did not move at the change in position. He slowly walked to Snow's bedroom and laid Henry down in the bed. After making sure the blankets were tucked in securely he went back to his post on the couch to continue on with his research.