Disclaimer: I don't own OUaT otherwise RumBelle would be canon!
AN: This chapter gave me a fight, but hopefully it'll get easier from here. Next Episode is simple and then Selfless, Brave, and True followed by the big one which is Lacey. That one is going to be completely rewritten! I hope you enjoy!
Rumple groaned at the pain shooting through him. He looked down in hopes that the groan didn't wake his precious girl and it hadn't. He knew that she hadn't been sleeping well since what happened with her mother. He thought of his beautiful Belle and how she and Katelyn would be without him and his protection. He didn't want to leave them or Bae especially after just getting him back. He knew there was a lot he had to reconcile for with his son and knew that their problems may never be reconciled. He sighed and hissed as the sigh caused more shooting pain. Katelyn moved and moaned, but didn't open her eyes. He caressed her face gently, ran his fingers through her curls that reminded him so much of her mother. She whimpered and buried her face into his shoulder.
"It's okay, little one, it's okay. Papa's here; Papa's got you," he said soothingly.
She whimpered again then sighed as he continued to run his fingers through her hair. He noticed the tears on her cheeks that had fallen during her slumber. She whimpered again and thrashed about before crying out.
"PAPA! NOOO!" she wailed.
"Katie, it's okay! Papa's here! Shhhh, waken up, my love! Papa is right here!"
Katelyn opened her eyes and sat up quickly, narrowly missing the top bunk with her head. She looked around. Rumple noticed the frightened look in her eyes. He reached for her and she locked her gaze on him. She then threw herself on his chest. Rumple had to bite back a groan of pain as he wrapped his arms around her shaking form. She sobbed loudly.
"What is it? What happened?"
Katelyn shook her head and curled into him a little more, causing a grunt of pain. She pulled away quickly and looked at him with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry, Papa! I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!"
He pulled her back to him and wrapped his arms back around her.
"It's okay. I'll endure anything to make sure that you're okay. Don't worry about me, sweetheart."
"But I am worried, Papa, I'm so scared. I'm losing you and I've lost Mama."
It was the same fears being brought up again. She was terrified of being left alone. His heart broke a little more as she sobbed again, her hot tears soaking through his shirt.
"It'll be okay, Katie. I promise you that it will be okay."
"You promise you'd never leave me too and you are! You're dying!"
"Hey, hey, don't talk like that. Don't think about it, okay? Let's think about me getting better, and about the Charmings finding a way to stop Cora and Regina."
Katelyn sat up and looked at him.
"Who are you and what have you done with my father?"
Rumple chuckled at her.
"It's just…maybe I'm finally trying to have hope that I can be saved."
"Could you say that again? I don't think I heard you clearly."
Katelyn put a hand to her ear. Rumple reached out and tickled her. She squealed loudly and he laughed. For the moment, the pain was forgotten and they could just laugh.
Emma rushed down below after hearing the screaming and the squealing. She feared that something had happened to the kid and Gold. She stopped outside the quarters and listened to them laugh. Emma felt confused. How did a man who was dying and a girl on the verge of being an orphan, so to speak, laugh so freely? She knocked at the door as she walked in.
Rumple and Katelyn looked up at her as she walked in.
"Yes, Miss Swan? Have we arrived?" he asked.
"Yeah, Neal is docking the ship and then he's going to come help me take you up and off the ship. Everything okay here?" she inquired curiously.
"Fine, Emma. Papa and I were just having some fun," Katelyn replied as she grinned at her father.
"Okay," Emma said.
Neal came in the room with Henry following behind with Ruby in tow.
"Hey, um, Ruby came to help and there's a truck coming this way," Neal said.
"Hey, Ruby," Katelyn said as she wrapped her arms around the she-wolf.
"Hey Katie," Ruby replied.
"How's Mama?" Katelyn asked as she looked up at her.
"She's the same. That man is up and roaming about. We've all been watching him," Ruby reported.
"So, he's fully recovered?" Emma asked.
"Yep, Whale is ready to discharge him from the hospital," she said.
"Good," Rumple spoke, "The faster he's discharged, the faster he can go home."
"Hey, hey, Papa, let's worry about getting you better first," Neal said as he moved to Rumple's side as he struggled to sit up.
Ruby got on one side of him and Neal got the other and they helped him to his feet. They got him through the door with Emma following along behind.
"Wouldn't it be better if I just teleported everyone off the ship?" Katelyn asked.
"No….I don't….want…you to…..use magic," Rumple said.
"But Papa, we came here so that I can heal you, didn't we?" Katelyn asked softly.
"Sweetheart….let's talk….about….this later," he gasped out.
Katelyn nodded and they were on the move again. They got topside and then disembarked the ship. They were close to the end of the docks when David and Snow pulled up. They both jumped out of the truck to help.
"Are you okay?" Snow asked frantically.
"Yeah, yep, we're alright," Emma replied.
David ran to Ruby and took Rumple from her.
"Uh, I drove a ship," Henry declared happily.
"Did you now?" David asked grinning at his grandson.
"Yeah, my dad showed me how," Henry replied as he looked at Neal who looked at him proudly.
David looked at Neal.
"That's me," he said with a grin.
They got Rumple to the truck. He looked extremely wiped out.
"Thank you," he said, his voice strained, "Thank you."
Rumple turned to sit on the bumper.
"Is Cora trying to control you with the dagger?" David asked.
"Oh, you'd know if she was, and most of you would be dead by now," Rumple replied.
Snow stepped up.
"Well, we'll just have to take the fight to her before that can happen," she said.
"We will," said David.
"And this time, we finish it," Snow snarled.
"Mary Margaret-,"David began.
"David, she needs to be stopped. She needs to be killed. This is our family. We are going to protect it," Snow interjected.
David grabbed her arms and pulled her to him.
As he spoke to Snow, Katelyn made it over to her father's side.
"Papa, are you okay?"
"I'll be fine, love. I just have to catch my breath."
"Are Snow and David going to kill Cora?"
"I don't know."
The others walked over to join them.
"You okay?" Emma asked.
"Ah, I'm beginning to feel a bit stronger. Take me back to my shop. The magic there can protect us," Rumple replied.
Neal and David helped him off the bumper and into the truck. Katelyn stood up and began to walk behind them.
"Emma is sending Henry with Ruby. Shouldn't we send Kate too?" David asked.
Katelyn hurried up to them.
"I'm staying with my Papa! I'm not leaving him!" she shouted.
"Sweetheart, don't shout. It would be better if she went with us. I don't want Cora getting to her," Rumple said.
David and Neal nodded and helped him into the truck. Katelyn got into the truck beside him. She leaned against him as Neal got in beside her. David got in and told them the others would follow in Ruby's car.
"Are you sure you want her here for this?" David inquired.
"No, I'm not, but she won't leave me. If I do send her with Henry and Ruby, she'll just teleport back to me," Rumple replied.
"You could send her to Belle," David offered.
"She doesn't even remember her. How can I expect her to take care of a little girl that she has no recollection of?"Rumple remarked.
"Maybe…"
"No, she's staying. If it gets too dangerous, I'll send her away."
"You will not! I told you I'm not leaving you and I can hear you! I'm right here!"
Rumple looked over at Katelyn.
"If I decide it is too dangerous, you will go somewhere else that's safe! I'll not have you hurt because of me!"
Katelyn folded her arms across her chest and huffed as she threw herself back against the seat. Rumple groaned, partly because of the pain and partly because he didn't want to deal with his daughter's stubborn streak at that moment.
"Kid, Papa knows what's best for you. Let him keep you safe for as long as he can," Neal said softly.
Katelyn glared at her brother.
"How would you know? You haven't been with him for a long time! You don't know anything!" Katelyn growled at him.
"Now, that's enough! I'll not have you squabbling with your brother, young lady. If I have to send you away, I will! That's final! Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir," she grumbled as tears fell down her cheeks.
"The tears won't help your case either. I understand that you're scared of losing me, and I understand that you want to be with me as long as you can, but I need you to be safe. I love you, my little one."
Katelyn buried her face into his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her. She sobbed quietly. Neal took her hand in his. She looked at him.
"I'm sorry I said that. I shouldn't have."
"It's okay, kid. I understand why you did."
David pulled up outside the shop. They got out of the truck. He and Neal helped Rumple into the shop while Katelyn hung back. She stared at the library her mother never got to open, hoping that one day it would be.
"Hey, Kate, come on," Neal called to her.
As they walked in, they noticed that Emma and Snow were already there.
"Emma, could you go in there and see if you can find what looks like an empty jar and bring It here, please?" Rumple asked breathlessly.
"An empty jar?" she said with an eyebrow raised.
He nodded as the guys carried him to the back of the shop and helped him onto the bed.
As he settled on the bed, Emma came between Neal and David holding a glass jar that looked empty.
"Emma, did you find it?" he asked.
"Yeah. There's nothing in it," she replied as she gave it a shake, She looked at it confused.
Neal and Katelyn shared a knowing look.
"What the hell?"Emma exclaimed as she reached in and pulled out something in her hand.
"Invisible chalk," Rumple said and pointed to the front, "Use it in the front doorway. Draw a line. The rest of you, you might wanna prepare for battle."
They walked away to prepare themselves, Katelyn stayed behind. Snow followed before Rumple called to her.
"Oh! Oh, wait. Wait, please. Can you get me a warmer blanket?" he asked as he pointed to the cabinet, "In the cabinet."
Snow went to the cabinet and opened it. She stood shocked for a minute before she turned with a two-sided candle in her hands.
"Katelyn, go check and see how they're doing please."
"Papa…"
"Please…"
Katelyn left the room to Snow and her father. She walked to the front to see Emma knelt down scratching the floor with the chalk. Her brother walked over to her.
"Missed a spot," he remarked.
"You're hilarious," Emma deadpanned.
"I didn't know you were magical," Neal said.
"Oh, my. Are you getting judge-y about this? 'Cause you're not allowed to have opinions about surprises, Mr. Son of Rumplestiltskin," she snapped and went back to drawing the line.
Katelyn snorted and giggled. Neal looked at his sister and then back to Emma.
"Oh…" he started.
"What "Oh?""
"I didn't mean for Tamara to be a surprise."
"You think I care that a guy I dated a decade ago is engaged?"
Katelyn looked at Neal with wide eyes.
"You're engaged?! Why am I just hearing about this?" Katelyn exclaimed.
Neal was saved from answering when David walked in.
"We're all clear outside," he said as he walked to the two, "Everything okay?"
Neal smirked and looked over at Emma who nodded that they were good. Katelyn turned to head back to her father. She stopped at the door as she heard Snow and Rumple talking.
"…I control her and make her do the right thing and I let you die. Takes care of two evils at once," Snow said.
Katelyn gasped. She pulled back the curtain and saw Snow standing before her father with the double-sided candle between them. She was about to say something before her father spoke.
"I'm just imagining poor Henry's face when he finds out that you killed his grandpa. Not to mention the fact that Katelyn will be inconsolable without me and just imagine what that could mean for the town when her powers are erratic due to her emotions," Rumple replied.
Emma pushed past her and Katelyn followed behind.
"I drew the invisible line…I think," she said as she walked over to Rumple, "What now? You cast a protection spell?"
"No, no. You're gonna do that for me. I'm relying on you," he replied as he flicked his gaze over to Snow.
Snow turned to Emma.
"I'm going to go check on your father and Neal," she said as she walked away.
Emma nodded.
Katelyn cornered Snow and used her magic to pin the princess to the floor.
"Wha…Kate, what are you doing?" she asked as she gaped at the girl.
"You'd let my father die?!" Katelyn exclaimed.
"Your father isn't a good man, Kate. He's evil and he wants me to do something evil to save his life," she said as an explanation.
"So? Do it! As long as my Papa lives! I need him, Snow. I can't live without him!" Katelyn cried.
"Kate, if I let him die, we won't be in danger anymore," she replied.
"What about the fact that I'll be an orphan if he dies?" Katelyn said as tears ran down her face.
"You still have your mother," Snow said.
"She doesn't know who I am!" Katelyn cried.
Snow reached out to touch her but stopped when Katelyn pulled away and looked up to see a protection spell being put on the shop. She glared at the princess again before rejoining her father.
He laid back on the bed as she came over. He looked up to see his daughter standing with tears in her eyes.
"What is it, love?" he asked.
She shook her head and then the shop began to rumble. She looked around and David came in.
"It's them. Regina and Cora," he said as he handed Emma a short sword, "They're here."
He left the room and Emma turned to look at Neal and them. They followed David out into the front. They heard the door crash open.
"Come here, love."
"Papa, I'm scared."
"It'll be okay, sweetheart."
They heard crashing and yelling before Emma and Neal came running back into the room. The door bell sounded someone's departure. Katelyn huddled next to her father.
"What happened?" Rumple asked.
"Cora had to choose between Regina and the dagger and she chose the dagger. I threw them both over the counter and we ran back here after I drew a line with the chalk," Emma said breathlessly.
They stood there idly as they waited for Cora's next attack when Emma's phone rang.
"David? For now. I got the spell up in the back room," she said, "She's not with you? I don't know. Find her, David."
Emma hung up the phone.
"Did anyone see Mary Margaret leave or get thrown?" Emma asked.
They shook their heads. Emma looked worried.
"She's not with David?" Neal asked.
"No, where the hell could she have gone?" Emma asked.
Emma and Neal stood beside Rumple and Katelyn. Katelyn was tucked just behind Neal who held a sword towards the door.
"It's getting weaker," he said, "She's gonna get through."
"Maybe it's for the best," Rumple said, "At least this cursed power will pass from this world."
"No," Neal said as he set the sword down, "No, you're not dying."
Katelyn buried her head into his shoulder.
"I am dying. That much is certain. I need to talk to Belle. Emma, please," he replied as he reached towards Emma.
She pulled her cell from her pocket and scrolled for the number before handing it to him.
"Belle as in Kate's mom?" Neal asked.
Emma nodded. Rumple put the phone to his ear.
"Hello, Belle. It's Mr. Gold," he said, "I-I-I know. I know. It's just, uh, sweetheart, I'm dying. I know that you're…you're confused about who you are. So I'm gonna tell ya. You are a hero who helped your people. You're a beautiful woman who loved an ugly man. Really, really loved me. You find goodness in others. And when it's not there, you create it. You make me wanna go back, back to the best version of me. And that never happened before. So when you look in the mirror and you don't know who you are, that's who you are. Thank you, Belle."
He hung up. Katelyn started sobbing. Emma opened her arms from the other side of the work table and she ran into them. Emma picked the girl up and held her as she cried.
"Didn't know you had that in you," Neal said.
"Oh, I'm full of love. I've spent a lifetime looking for you…for a chance to say "I love you." And I'm sorry."
"I didn't think you would go back on our deal."
"I just made the wrong choice. May I?" Rumple reached a hand to his son.
"I'm still angry," Neal said as his voice broke.
"I know," Rumple replied.
Neal grabbed his father's hands and sat with him. Katelyn buried her face in the crook of Emma's neck.
"Is….he…r-r-really gonna…die?" Katelyn sobbed out.
"I don't know, kid. I really don't know."
"I'm….gonna…be…an…orphan."
"No, honey, you have family. We'll look after you."
"How…can…I-I…trust…some-one…who is…will-ling…to let…Papa die?"
"I'm not willing to let him die. I'm trying to help him."
"N-n-not you."
They turned as they heard the shield come down. Cora walked into the back room as soon as Emma shoved Katelyn behind her and Neal shoved Emma behind him.
"You two, outta the way," she said as she waved her hand and they were enveloped in purple smoke.
Katelyn was left standing between her father and Cora.
"Stay away from him!" Katelyn yelled.
"Katie, go," Rumple gasped.
"Papa…no!"
"Go!"
Katelyn looked to Cora one last time before teleporting away from them to just outside her mother's room. She stood in the door with tears in her eyes as she waited to feel the final pain of her father leaving this world. She sobbed loudly and her mother looked up at her.
"Is…he?" Belle asked.
"I…don't know. He…made…me…leave," she replied.
"Come here," she said as she patted the bed beside her.
Katelyn ran over to the bed and climbed in. She tucked herself into Belle's side and cried. Belle stroked her hair gently though she didn't know what she was doing.
"Ma…Miss Belle…what happens….to a child…whose father…is dead…and mother…doesn't….know…who she is?" Katelyn asked.
Belle was taken aback from the question. It seemed that this child really did believe that she was her mother.
"I don't know, really. Surely there's some family that the child has."
Katelyn sniffled and sat up.
"Not ones she'd trust."
She felt a shiver as if being called.
"I have to go."
"Go where? Are you okay?"
"Fine, but I really have to go. Thank you, Ma…Miss Belle."
"You're welcome. Be careful."
"I will."
Katelyn left the room. She disappeared in the hallway and showed up to where she felt her name being called, the shop. She looked around and saw her father standing there, healthy.
"Papa? How?"
She ran to him and hugged him tightly. Happy tears fell down her face and she looked up at him.
"Papa, you're okay! I'm so happy you're okay! Where's Cora and Regina? Are they gone?"
"Cora…is dead and Regina has gone to make arrangements for her body."
"How is…the candle…wasn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I remember reading in a book that the candle can save a life by taking one, oh Papa, you didn't?"
"I didn't. Snow did."
"You corrupted Snow White to kill someone?! I understand why she said what she said now!"
"What do you mean?"
"When I walked back to the room, I heard her say something about letting you die. I got mad at her and now I understand why she said that about getting rid of two evils at once."
"Kate…"
"I told her that I would do it if I could save your life, but I didn't know what the price would've been. Now, I know. Papa, you told her to kill Cora and save you, didn't you?"
"I implied it, but she was the one with a choice and she made it."
"Because you put the idea in her head and told her how sad Henry and I would've been, knowing that she just let you die!"
"Kate, I…I'm sorry. I just couldn't leave you or Bae. Not after having you together. I wanted to get your mothers memories back so that we could be a family."
"At the cost of Cora's life and Regina's ire, now she's going to try to kill Snow! You have to warn the Charmings!"
"She won't try to kill her."
"She will and you know it!"
"I have to go pay my respects to Cora tomorrow. I'll find out what she's up to and if it's trying to kill Snow, I will warn them, okay?"
Katelyn nodded.
"Can we go home now?"
"Yes, we can. Call Emma and let her know that everything is okay."
"Okay, Papa."
She walked to the front of the shop and called Emma. She answered all her questions and told her that they were going home.
