Chapter VIII
Enchanted Forest
Katrina was up on her feet one day after the birth of Baelfire. She was the loving mother, and Rumplestiltskin was the doting father. He worked. While she cared for the house and their son. Their life was perfect.
One late morning, Katrina was baking over the fire. She had started a small business. She made small cakes and sold them to the villagers. She had lain Baelfire on top of the furs on the bed, where she could keep an eye on him and he was safe from harm. He was now 6 months old, and growing fast. He lay on his back, kicking his legs in glee, and gurgling happily to himself. She smiled herself when he gave a squeal of laughter. She wiped her floury hands on her apron and walked over to him. "What are you so happy about?" She laughed as she lifted him up. She kissed his chubby cheek and held him close. "You are getting so big." She lifted him high above her head, making him laugh. "Look at you." She laughed, bringing him back to her shoulder. "Right, Mama has a few more things to bake and then you have my undivided attention." Kissing his cheek once again. A knock on the door moved her attention away from her son. She held him close and walked to the door. She opened the door to find her father standing there. "Papa."
"Hello Katrina." He smiled broadly to her. "May I come in?"
She chuckled lightly. "Yes. Please come in." She stepped back and allowed him into her home.
"Where's Rumplestiltskin?" He asked as he moved into the small holding.
"He's at market." She had not stopped smiling ever since she had seen him standing in her doorway. "Why are you here, Papa?"
"I had to see you." He smiled broadly to her. He looked so out of place in her home. His riding clothes were too rich but it suited him. His eyes were fixed upon his grandson. "And who is this?"
"This. Is Baelfire. My son." She looked down at Baelfire proudly. "He's 6 months old today."
"He's a handsome fellow. Just like his grandfather." He smiled as he took Baelfire from her. The boy reached and grabbed the older man's beard. "Got a firm grip too." He pulled his grandson's hand away from his beard. "How are you, my child?" He moved and sat on a chair, in front of the fire.
"I am very well, Papa. Thank you." She smiled as she pulled her baking off the fire. "I'm busy. But I like it." Placing the tray of biscuits on a small table. She sat down opposite him. "Why are you here, Papa?" She gave a small cough, covering her mouth with her handkerchief.
"I miss you." He sighed heavily as he bounced his grandson on his knee. "Your mother has completely disowned you. No one speaks your name at family gatherings."
She chuckled softly. "I knew that would happen." She smiled at her father, tucking a strand of her hair, which had come loose from her plait. "I am happy, Papa. Rumplestiltskin takes care of us. I love him so much."
He smiled widely. "I can see that. You look so much happier than you did at home." He kissed the top of Baelfire's head. "So, will Baelfire be having any siblings any time soon?"
"Papa!" She scolded him but laughed. "Bae is still young." She blushed brightly. "Does mother know you are here?"
"Of course not." He shook his head and stood up with Baelfire in his arms. "She thinks I'm dealing with business."
The door opened and Rumplestiltskin came in. "Oh. Good day, my Lord." Taking off his cloak and hanging it on the back of the door. "I did not realise we were expecting you."
"You weren't. This is a surprise visit." He strode forward to his son-in-law, holding his hand out. "I came to meet my grandchild."
Rumplestiltskin took his father-in-law's hand, shaking it in greeting. "I am glad you could." Baelfire held out his hands towards his father. "I have missed you too." He took his son from the older man. He walked over to his wife and kissed her cheek. "Hello, darling."
Katrina wrapped an arm around her husband's waist. "As you can see, we are perfectly happy and perfectly well." She gave a small cough, which grew into a bigger one. "Silly flour." Pouring herself some water. "Papa, we have things to do." She felt a tear prick at the corner of her eye. She didn't want to send him away but she had so much to do. "I miss you, Papa." She stepped up to him quickly and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."
"I love you too, my darling." He held her tightly. "You take care of yourself and those two men in your life." He stepped back and kissed her forehead. "You know, I cannot visit much. But I will be back in two weeks. I have business nearby." He winked at her. "Take care of her." He held his hand out to Rumplestiltskin.
"I will do, sir. She's the one who looks after me." He smiled to his father-in-law.
He lets go of Rumplestiltskin's hand and walked to his daughter. "I will come back."
"I hope so." She smiled, tears falling down her cheeks. "I'll walk you out." Father and daughter walked out of the house together, for a more private farewell.
Storybrooke, Maine
He and Mother Superior sat on opposite sides of the bed. Doctor Whale stood at the foot of the bed, with 2 nurses. The three of them were waiting in case something terrible happened to Katrina. "Are you sure?" Mother Superior, or the Blue Fairy, asked Mr Gold once more. "Once I awaken her, there will be no way to place her under the sleep."
"Just do it." He spoke through gritted teeth. He was becoming more and more annoyed with this fairy. Fairies were kind and good creatures, but by god they could be annoying. He thought to himself as he watched his sleeping wife. Well, comatose wife. He wasn't allowed to touch her, just in case it did something to her.
She nodded slowly and held her hands over Katrina's body. She spoke in an odd tongue. She silently spoke under her breath. Every person stared at her as they waited for the magic to happen.
Enchanted Forest
Two weeks later, Katrina found herself crouching over a bucket and bringing up the contents of her dinner. Baelfire lay crying on her bed. She could not bring herself to go to him. She could not stop herself from being sick. She smiled to herself. Could she be expecting another baby? So soon after their first? She couldn't be. She bled last week. She wiped her mouth on a cloth and stood to attend to her son. "I'm coming, Bae." She reassured him, but it was useless. She fell to her knees, clutching her stomach as a pain grew inside her. "Bae..." She whispered as she collapsed, face down, on to the floor.
She was not discovered for another hour when her father came knocking on the door. Returning as he had promised. "Katrina?" He knocked on the door once more. He could hear Baelfire crying from within. He pushed open the door, let his eyes adjust the slight darkness of the cottage, and his heart dropped. His youngest child unconscious on the floor. "No!" He cried out and rushed to her. He turned her over and held her in his arms. "Katrina... Katrina..." He tried to shake her awake.
The piercing screams of his grandson brought him to his senses. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't leave his daughter on the floor to attend to Baelfire. But he couldn't leave Baelfire to care for his daughter. The door swung open and Rumplestiltskin sped in. "What...?" He looked at his father-in-law on the floor with his wife and then to his screaming son on the bed. "What have you done?" He glared at the old man.
"Nothing. I found her like this." There was genuine despair on the man's face as he cradled her in his arms.
Rumplestiltskin rushed to the bed and picked up his son, holding him close to calm him. "Get her on the bed." He watched as the older man lifted Katrina and carried her to the bed, laying her on the soft furs. "What did you do?" He held his son close to him and held out his dagger. "I knew you did not want us to be together. You didn't have to hurt her!"
"I did not!" He stood up and faced Rumplestiltskin. "I love her with all my heart. I swear to you that I found her like that." He held his hands up and stepped away from Katrina. "I promise. Look. I'll leave." He edged his way to the door. "Just promise me that you will send for a physician."
"I will." He answered quickly, still holding Baelfire and still holding the knife. He waited for him to leave and rushed to his wife's side, dropping the knife as he did. "Katrina? Katrina?" He tried to shake her awake with his free hand.
Storybrooke, Maine
"Now we wait." Mother Superior said as she sat in the large, hospital chair. She had agreed to watch over Katrina, in case something went wrong. "It will take time."
Mr Gold nodded and rested his elbows on the bed, with his chin resting on his hands. "Come on, darling. I'm here."
Emma and Henry watched from the other side of the glass door. "Do you think it will work?"
"I don't know." Henry spoke quietly. "Do you think it will make Mr Gold a better man?"
"No. He will always be a double crossing ass." Emma said without thought. "Come on. Let's go home." She led the boy away from the door, not before looking back to see the woman slowly waking up.
Enchanted Forest
"Father, what's wrong?" Theodore asked as his father stormed into the study.
"I have been to see your youngest sister." He growled angrily. "I found her unconscious in the cottage. When that husband of hers came home, he threatened me. He blamed me for Katrina being ill." He stood up and started pacing in front of the fire, with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Why in the world did you go and see her?" Theodore glared at his father. "She shamed us by running away with a pauper."
"Oh, shut up, Theodore!" He stopped pacing and stood in front of the fire, staring at the flames. "She's not safe there."
"Well, she will have to stay there. She climbed into bed with him and she will now have to deal with the consequences of her actions." Theodore stared at his father, who spun around and struck his son with the back of his hand. "What was that for?"
"Your sister married for love." He grabbed his son's shoulders. "Something none of you ever did. I let her go because I wanted her to be happy."
"You let her go?"
His father let go of his shoulders and sighed heavily. "I knew she was going to run away. I caught her. I gave her some money and let her go." He walked away and sat on the large chair. "I think I put her in danger. Her and her son."
"Son? She has a child?" Theodore sat in the opposite chair.
"Yes. Baelfire." He smiled a little. "But I think they are in danger. She looked so ill when I was there two weeks ago and then today."
"Who looked ill?" His wife spoke from the doorway.
"Katrina." Theodore said, as he looked at his mother. "Father has been to see her."
She walked into the study, her blue skirts brushing against the floor as she walked. "You went to see her?" She stared at her husband, who was just looking into the fire. "You went to see the girl, who threw her life away for some spinner?"
"Yes, I did." He mumbled. "But I'm going to get her back." He stood up and brushed past his wife. "She's sick. I let her go on the belief that she was being well looked after. But she isn't. I am going to get her and her son. They are coming back here."
"No! I forbid it!" Hid wife said stubbornly.
"Martha. There is no question about it. They are coming here. Her husband is not to come here at all." He strode out of the room and went to begin preparations for the arrival of his daughter and grandson.
"I don't know what is wrong with you." The physician spoke as he examined Katrina, who was fully conscious. "You've been ill and then you fainted?"
"Yes. That is all." She nodded and slowly sat up on the bed.
"Well, I suggest you rest for the rest of the day and tomorrow." He stood up straight, packing his things away. "I will come by in two days."
"Thank you." Rumplestiltskin held out his hand but the man did not take it. He then took out 3 coins for the man, who took it immediately. Once the physician was gone, Rumplestiltskin sat on the edge of the bed with Baelfire in his arms. "What happened, my love?" Transferring his son to his wife's arms. "I came home to find you unconscious."
"I don't know." She sighed heavily and rocked her slumbering child. "I just remember being sick and then nothing. Waking up here."
"Here, let me take him." He took their sleeping child from her. He gently kissed her on the forehead. "You get some rest." He climbed off the bed, walking to the crib and placing Baelfire into it. He turned to check on his wife and saw her fast asleep. He was terrified for her. He hoped there was nothing seriously wrong with her. He had only just found her again and he was not willing to let her go.
A/N: Next chapter will be the last chapter. What did you all think of this chapter? And what did you think of the series opener? OH MY GOD! Amazing! This season is going to be amazing!
Responses from chapter 7:
LoverOfRumpelstiltskin: Awwww I can't promise anything. I don't know think they've mentioned how Rumplestiltskin hurt his leg... yet. I haven't included his limp in this story nor will I be giving the reason as to how he hurt his leg.
Samanthatm: Thank you.
