Regina left the apartment with little argument. Almost as little argument as Mary Margaret had given her when she'd wanted to take her damn heart! It was discouraging watching such a strong woman capable of so much put herself in such a state of self-deprecation that she didn't even make an attempt to spare her own life. But, of course, her lack of action did have its benefit for him.

All magic came with a price. After the encounter with Regina, it seemed that the magic inside of him was satisfied that he'd paid his debt to Mary Margaret.

It made sense. If he hadn't stopped Regina when he did, then Mary Margaret would easily be dead. Standing up to Regina and stopping her, even if it hadn't taken magic at all, had spared her life. And the second she'd walked back out of the door, he felt all ties that he had to her, every inkling of guilt and responsibility fade into the background.

Free. He was free. He felt it with the pronouncement of her words. No more did he need to be here. He'd done the job that was required of him, not by David or Mary Margaret's standard, but rather the magic's. It was wholly satisfied. And if the conversation they'd been having before Regina had barged in was any indication, then as far as Mary Margaret was concerned, the debt was paid as well. She didn't want to be babysat, and he could leave free and clear of any and all guilt over what happened next.

But could he? Could he really do that? The magic was satisfied. But was he?

He growled in irritation at himself before moving into the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Mary Margaret asked. Now she was a downright chatterbox.

"Making you tea," he answered, grabbing for a kettle. "It's what Belle always makes when she's unhappy. It's all I know how to offer for comfort."

"I don't want it."

"The tea or comfort?" he snapped, glancing over at her.

She stared back for a moment, mouth closed, and then turned in her place and rested her back against the footboard of her bed so that she could no longer see him. He wasn't great at understanding women, but he'd take that as "neither."

He left the kettle alone and turned toward the door. Regina had left it open, and in the absence of a single word from a woman who didn't need or want him here, the world beyond that door beckoned. He could go, and he should. He didn't want to be where he wasn't needed, and he didn't need to be where he wasn't wanted. Regina was gone and thought that he was guarding her. The chances that she'd come back to this place any time soon were slim.

But how would Baelfire react if he up and left without telling anyone and he was wrong? What would happen to Mary Margaret if Regina did come back?

Fucking human emotions…

Leaving the kettle behind, he used magic to slam the door closed and slide the lock back into place. Then he walked back into what counted as the bedroom and sat back down in the chair. If his body language showed just how unhappy he was at his own damn inability to get up and walk out of the door, then Mary Margaret said nothing about it. She barely paid him any mind at all, just sitting there and staring out the window, arms and legs curled against her chest.

"Are you disappointed?"

"What's there to be disappointed about?" he asked, trying not to sneer even though he wanted too desperately. They both knew what the problem was. They both knew what he'd found so disappointing.

"You hoped that I'd fight back against her, didn't you?"

He stayed silent. He wasn't going to answer that. The truth was that he hadn't "hoped" she fight back because hope came from having an investment in something or someone. He had no investment in dear Mary Margaret or her family, not now that he had Baelfire back in town and everything he wanted was within his fingertips. No, he hadn't "hoped" anything. But he had thought that the former Queen had more common sense than she'd shown.

He'd thought that when Regina had come for her then normal, rational human instinct would have taken over, and she would have fought for her life. He'd thought that she would have at least attempted to defend herself. He'd thought that the woman who believed all life was precious would suddenly snap the fuck out of whatever stupor she was in and would realize that no matter what she'd done, her life was still worth living for her family, and she'd fight back! He hadn't planned on her sitting on the fucking bed practically inviting Regina to take her heart!

The phone in his pocket buzzed without warning. His own instincts had him pulling it open, heart thrumming in nerves that it was Belle or someone from the hospital calling to tell him bad news. Instead, he saw that it was merely David and silently prayed that he was calling to say Regina was taken care of.

"I hope you have good news, Mr. Nolan-"

"Is Henry with you?" the man barked out before he could even finish his opening snarky comment.

He felt his blood chill. Henry. Why were they calling about Henry? Henry was supposed to be with Baelfire.

"Last time either of us saw Henry, he was on his way out the door in an angry rage. I believe it was I who suggested to you that Baelfire take the boy somewhere public to keep him safe from Regina. In taking his bag, I assumed that was your goal."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement, a snap of the head from Mary Margaret, listening to him talk to David.

"Yeah…funny thing…he was safe from Regina but not from himself. He slipped away. We're looking for him now. I was hoping that he would just go home and talk to Mary Margaret, but if he's not there, then…Emma thinks that he might have gone to Regina, to see if he can get her to stop all this madness. Ruby's on the scent. We're tracking him now."

Fuck.

Henry was a boy who was, in many ways, the spitting image of everyone in his family. Optimistic as his grandfather, determined as his mother, sly as his father, and confident he could make a deal out of everything just like…

"You know that if she gets him, she'll not let him go, at least not without a fight," he insisted.

"We know. We're working on it."

"Work faster," he muttered before hanging up the phone. He didn't tell him about Regina breaking into the apartment and making an attempt, however long ago that was. There was no point in talking about what had happened in the past, only what would happen now and in the future. And he knew one thing for sure. He wasn't going to get anywhere if Henry walked right into Regina's arms, and in return, Regina tried again and succeeded because Mary Margaret wouldn't fucking move!

Talking about Henry on the phone had gotten a rise out of her, a small glimmer of concern. It wasn't for herself, but if she was so worried that he wasn't concerned about Henry, maybe he could play off of her concern for the boy.

"That's your husband…asking if Henry is here with us," he stated, glancing at her. Her eyes were wide as she watched him, hanging on every word, already sensing that something terrible was happening. "It seems the boy snuck away from Baelfire and his safe spaces. They think he's going to find Regina and attempt to stop all this madness."

He'd wanted a reaction, and he got one. It was small, a short, stifled gasp of shock and surprise as she turned to look out the window her bed sat against. No. She wasn't pleased with that development at all. And he wasn't pleased with the slight reaction that she'd given as he'd been hoping for something a little bit grander, but he'd take what he could get.

"Still want to sit here on your arse doing nothing while your grandson fights your battles. I'm sure another person out there looking for him would make a difference."

"Our."

"What?" he questioned. He'd pushed her. He knew that. He understood it. But he'd pushed her to try and get something out of her. He hadn't expected that single breathy word that made no sense to him, given the situation.

"Our grandson…Henry is our grandson," she insisted. "And you could leave my side just as I asked to go find him too."

He rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. "And this conversation sounds vaguely familiar," he grumbled. How had they circled back to this topic? Hadn't they already had this little talk? Hadn't he made himself perfectly clear?!

But suddenly, Mary Margaret shifted in her seat. She turned her body in his direction and leaned into it, making their conversation look like a chat between schoolgirls who was having a slumber party and eager to hear each other's secrets. She'd be sorely disappointed.

"What would it take?" she asked. "What would it take for you to see Henry as your grandson and not just the son of your son?"

He sighed, not out of frustration, but rather relief because this was not the same conversation they'd had earlier. It sounded similar, but it was born out of something different inside of her, something desperate and sad that she'd mentioned only in passing. She was asking him about himself, but the reason behind it wasn't for him. It was about her. It was about Emma.

"Are you asking for me or yourself?"

"I already accept Henry as my grandson."

"But you confessed your daughter has a difficult time seeing you as a parent instead of a friend and roommate," he explained with a smile. "So, are you asking for me, for my sake and Henry what it will take for our relationship to mimic the relationship you think it should look like? Or are you asking for you and your daughter? To find out what it would take for that relationship to look as you desire it to."

Calling someone to task with truths they'd rather not admit to was always tricky. If they weren't aware of the truth, it could lead to a revelation, and often times that led to conversations he wasn't inclined to have. Not because they were personal, but because Dark Ones were not therapists, and those conversations were best left for people like Archie. On the other hand, if the individual didn't like what they heard, it could easily lead to the individual shutting down. Given Mary Margaret's state, he expected her to shut down again. He expected her to realize what she'd done and no longer want to have the conversation. Instead, she paused, cast her gaze down past her nose to the empty floor space between them as she thought for a moment. Finally, she shrugged.

"Maybe both…" she answered in a small voice.

He nodded, secretly satisfied with the answer that she'd provided. He didn't particularly care for personal conversations, but he had respect for people who were honest. A truth for a truth was a fair trade.

He leaned in closer to Mary Margaret and whispered gently, "An unexpected intervention of the fates," in answer to her question.

Again, the woman went silent as she processed first what he was saying and then what his words meant. After a heartbeat or two, she looked up at him again. "A miracle?" she translated.

He offered a sharp singular nod. "For people like Emma and I, conditioned over time not to trust anyone, not even the people we should trust and love…yes. It would take a miracle."

I think another reason I really liked Rumple having these conversations with Mary Margaret is because it's hard to tell who the therapist is and who the patient is. If I'd tried to have these conversations with other characters I think no matter what it would have come off as condescending or preachy. But with Mary Margaret, they've both got issues in this moment that are related. They are the two sides of the same coin. Mary Margaret feels rejected by her daughter, Rumple is the one rejecting Henry (at least in a physical sort of way). I think in this conversation they have the opportunity to help each other understand the opposite point of view. Rumple can help her see with his last sentence that it's not a rejection it's an issue of trust and self-preservation. And Mary Margaret can help him understand his new title as "grandfather".

Thank you so much rsbeall12 and Grace5231973 for your reviews on the previous chapter. It's hard to believe we're on the other side of the halfway mark with this chapter, but here we are. It feels like a good place for these conversations to be taking place, yes? Like it's a turning point in a way. Also, personal note, I kinda love that Rumple attempts to make Mary Margaret tea in the beginning of this chapter just because he doesn't know what to do. It makes me smile. Peace and Happy Reading!