When they returned Belle and the Beast were playing in the snow.
"Can we rewind it to the singing plates again?" Rumple asked as they reentered the room. He hated snow.
"Let's just pause the movie now," said Kate softly, suddenly serious.
"Why? What's going on?"
Chris took the TV remote and paused the movie.
Rumple focused his gaze on his mums. Kate was now sitting on the arm of her favourite chair and Chris was perched on the edge of the coffee table.
"Rumple," said Chris, "Me and your Mummy Kate need your help."
Of all the things he expected them to say, he hadn't expected that. What did they need his help for? What could he do for them?
"You know how Belle's mum has been in the hospital for a long time?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well, she's there because her lungs got sick and stopped working properly. She needs special machines to help her breath."
"I know, Belle told me." Rumple looked at his mums. Why were they telling him this? Belle had explained it all to him. He knew her mom was very sick.
Oh.
Suddenly, a terrible thought occurred to him. He didn't like where this was going. "Did—did Belle's mum…?" He didn't want to say die, because he was afraid if he said that terrible word it would make it really happen. His heart went out to Belle.
"No, no, no," said Kate quickly. "Belle's mum has been waiting for a long time to get a new pair of lungs because the lungs she was born with aren't good anymore.
"A new pair of lungs? Why is it taking so long? Can't they just give them to her?"
Rumple stared at them confused as his mums struggled to explain it in a way that would make sense to him.
"Yes, but it was taking them a really long time to find just the right pair. You know like clothes or shoes, they have to be just right, a perfect fit, and matching her blood and everything or they just won't work. And now… well, it seems like they've finally found a pair that will match!"
"And Belle's mum got new lungs and is okay now?"
"Not exactly. It isn't easy to get new lungs put inside."
Oh, Rumple nodded. He understood this part from personal experience. "She needs surgery right?"
"That's right. Maurice is going to the hospital to be with her now, so that he is there when she wakes up from the surgery and is around so the doctors can tell him if anything isn't going right."
"Is Belle going too?"
"No. Kids aren't allowed to go."
"So she's going to stay at home? All alone without her mum and her dad too?" asked Rumple alarmed, thinking of all the times he'd spent alone by himself in the big old house. "She'll be scared! Quick! We have to go to her! We have to help look after her!"
Kate smiled. She loved how much Rum cared for his friend. "We thought you might see it that way Rum, so we invited Belle to come stay with us for a bit."
"Yay! So then she won't be alone! And we'll have fun and I won't be bored! Yah! You're the best mums ever! "
"Uh-huh, that's right. But first you have to calm down Rumple. Because right now, Belle's dad says, Belle is really scared and worried about her mum. Also she's never even slept anywhere without her mum or dad nearby. We don't want to freak her out any more by yelling a lot and frightening her, okay?"
"Why's she scared about her mum? Isn't it good that she's getting new lungs and is going to be all better?"
"Well, her mum has been very very sick and her body is not so healthy. Sometimes an operation like this- it might be too much for a person who is that sick. Sometimes they don't recover afterwards, so nobody's really sure what's going to happen. Belle knows that and that's why she's so worried about her mum."
Rumple sat up a little straighter. "But how can I help with that? I can't help her mum!"
"It's true, but you can help Belle. We were hoping maybe you could distract her a bit so she forgets her worries a little. Play with her, help her. She likes playing with you. Make her know that whatever happens she's got a friend in you and that she can feel safe and comfy and at home here."
"Absolutely!" Rumple enthused. "I can do that! I can help Belle! I'm super good at being distracting!"
"Okay, great, now it's getting late now and it's almost time for bed. Maurice will be coming by with Belle to drop her off with her stuff on his way to the hospital. So let's get you changed into your jammies and with your face washed and teeth brushed so you'll be all ready for when Belle comes."
Rumple nodded seriously. He was ready to take on this very important mission.
