Chapter Eleven: Never play with the Curse
Gram was dead; it shouldn't have come as a surprise to Rumple. Though it obviously had to Tink; luckily Killian seemed to have Rumple's sense of how far Regina was willing to go to get what she wanted, so he wasn't as shaken as the poor fairy.
It had also shaken Henry's faith in Emma's ability to break the curse as well. Obviously the young boy had cared deeply for the sheriff, and Rumple couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. After all, the boy hadn't just gone to his room and cried, instead he had snuck out of the house and gone and told them; though he had appeared shocked at the idea that Killian and Rumple were working together. Apparently, the book revealed more about those who lived in the enchanted forest than he had originally thought. Go figure.
Currently the four of them were sitting in the back of Rumple's shop, drinking tea, or in Henry's case hot coco.
Rumple and Hook were both standing with their backs to the front of the shop while Tink sat in the chair behind Gold's desk, and Henry sat criss cross on the bed he had in the back.
For a while, none of them said anything. They just drank their drinks and allowed Henry to mourn in silence. It wouldn't be long before Regina went looking for Henry, that much Rumple did know, but at the moment, he knew that the former evil queen would be the last person the young boy wanted to see.
Rumple took a deep breath, the boy remained him far too much of his own son, Baelfire to remain still or silent much longer. So he walked over to the bed and sat down beside him, seemingly to Hook's surprise.
"We shouldn't have been playing around with the curse," Henry mumbled miserably, "She'll make sure anyone gets hurt so that Emma won't break the curse". Rumple said nothing, for once, not knowing what to say. Instead he rubbed the boy's back, trying to calm him down a little. Finally he thought of something.
"Do you remember when Snow went under the sleeping curse?" Rumple asked gently, still rubbing the boy's back.
"Yeah," Henry sniffled, "And then prince charming saved her by true love's kiss". Rumple's throat tightened at the mention of true love's kiss, he remembered his with Belle only too well.
"Everyone thought it was hopeless because it kept getting worse, but in the end it got better," Rumple reminded him gently, "Things have to worsen before they get better Henry, you'll see it'll turn out right".
Henry nodded, "You're right," he murmured. Then before Rumple knew what was happening, the boy had thrown his arms around him in a hug, one that Rumple only hesitated a moment before returning.
A moment passed, and then Henry hopped down off the bed, wiping his tears away, "Thanks Rumple, I needed to hear that". Rumple found himself smiling and nodding and was glad to see that the others were smiling as well.
"Come on Henry, let's get you home before Regina has a cow," Tink said, walking the boy out, "I'll walk you home," she added before the two left the shop.
As soon as they were gone, Rumple stood, leaning on his cane for support only to find Killian still smiling at him like the bloody chesire cat himself.
"What Killian?" Rumple asked irritable. He was reluctant to find himself not only growing fond of the bloody pirate who had been his worst enemy for who knew how long, but also of the savior's son, as well as the fairy. Shoot, he was going soft.
"You've regained your parental instinct," was all his new friend said.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, the next one should be up soon.