Thanks to those that have reviewed. Thank you to Ravenclaw992 and PrincessofSea for being the first to review. I look forward to writing this story and your continued reviews and support. This story will take time to unfold. 7 Days was written rather quickly and I wanted to take my time with this story. So I hope you all enjoy. As you all know I own nothing of OUAT. Please read and review. I love reading them.
...
Henry looked around to see if the guards were in place. He knew the change of guard was going to start soon and he would only have a few minutes to get out of the castle. Though he loved the adventure of being in a new world he missed being able to be a normal kid. Now that he was considered a Prince he wasn't allowed outside the palace as it was deemed too dangerous. His mother understood his frustration and did her best to allow him as normal a life as possible. The problem was that the guards that followed him around only made him feel more awkward than ever.
As soon as the guards left he made his way to the front gate and left through the doors making sure not to run or walk to fast. He needed to be casual as not to attract attention. Just as he thought he was about to be free and clear a hand grabbed his shoulder. It was Leroy, no Grouchy that caught him.
"What are you doing out of the palace?" He was a gruff as ever but the smell of booze was long gone. That was an improvement.
"I wanted some freedom and do things normal children do, like I used to do before. I was only going to be gone for a short time." Henry moaned not happy to have gotten caught.
Leroy had to think of the time in Storybrooke he had memories but they were getting fuzzy. "We all had different lives then, but you'll adjust again. This world isn't as safe as you think. Not everyone here was brought to Storybrooke so they don't know you like everyone else does."
Henry had to remind himself that Grumpy was forgetting that he was never from this world. Henry nodded and headed back to the Palace where he would be met with disapproving looks from his grandparents. They seemed to be more strict and leery than they were in Storybrooke. Snow was as kind as ever but there was a confidence she held that he was not used to seeing in her. It was nice but at the same time it made her a lot less manipulative than she was before.
David, no Charming was no longer the bumbling guy who got things wrong. He was cleaver and very good at organizing people. Henry seemed to never be able to get away with anything when he was around. It almost became a game to find ways around the rules.
Grumpy brought him through the gates again and insisted on bringing him inside to the grand hall. Henry was left there as Grumpy went back to his work in the mines. He was at the palace today to speak of a new mining area that needs to be opened.
Seeing no point in being in the hall he made his way to his room where he was met with Emma who gave him a knowing smile. "They're not here at the moment. I made sure that they'll never know that you tried to make another attempt at escape."
Henry gave her a curious look. "I saw you through your window Henry."
"I just hate being locked up all the time. First I had no friends because I outgrew them each year and then because I was Regina's son and now it's because I am a prince." He picked at his collar. "I miss my t-shirts and jeans, even the school uniform."
Emma had to hand it to Henry for putting up with so much change. "I understand Henry. I forgot how much freedom we had. I miss my leather coat and my jeans. Here I have to look and act all pretty and I'm told I need to find a suitor who will end up becoming my husband."
Henry sat next to her on his bed. "It all very strange isn't it. The only other person that can relate is behind bars right now. Too bad you can't marry him."
"It's never that simple."
"No, I suppose you're right." He looked at Emma's belly and smiled. "It will be nice to have a sister though."
"I'll tell you what. I am going to visit him tomorrow how would you like to come with me?" Emma knew it would drive Blue crazy and more than annoy her parents. But this way it would ensure that she could protect Henry against his influence. She had no doubt that Henry would attempt to visit him on his own if forced to stay away.
Since Henry awoke from the sleeping curse he was fascinated by Gold, now Rumplestiltskin, that she worried about him and his reasons for wanting to spend time with him. Emma knew where that fascination stemmed from. Before returning to fairy tale land Gold had treated Henry with intelligence and didn't protect him from things or hide information from him. Though manipulative he was completely honest with Henry, something she wasn't always able to do.
"Really, that would be great! But grandma and grandpa won't be too happy. And Blue will be rather upset."
"That's part of the fun." Emma laughed and stood up. "I'll handle them. If they say no I'll just take you anyway. I'm a princess not a peasant."
...
Rumplestiltskin lay on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. This cell was considerably more comfortable than his cell in the caves before the curse was cast. Here he had a view, a bed and a means to do basic grooming. Most of his comforts were Emma's idea and no doubt had to fight to get him each one.
Emma had him do a few things with the magic he possessed while he had the memories of his life in Storybrooke. One of which was indoor plumbing. Blue nearly had a fit as she considered it too drastic a change. Emma then insisted that he receive the same luxury. He knew that she would never fit into this world and would always be considered an outsider amongst those that were her family.
Despite everything he had done to her she loved him. That surprised him the most, even after everything and all the manipulation she still loved him. Now in a few months the monster he was known as would emerge. Even how he could feel his memories slip away from him. The feel of his bed and the rich fabrics he wore and the smell of the laundry detergent were fading. He refused to let go of his memory of Emma in the bath at the cabin.
He could still smell the soap on her skin and what her body felt like under the caress of his fingers. Every moment of that time in the cabin he ran over and over in his head. The sounds of her moaning were impressed in his memory like her name all those years ago in that cave.
The other memory he refused to let go of was the memory of the night she became pregnant. That night he discovered he became a father again filled him with hope that things would get better. He was holding onto that memory for dear life.
This morning he was pleased to note that his magic could be used within this room. Emma gave him that and he wondered if she was naive or simply too trusting of his true nature. He highly doubted that she was either and smiled knowing that she too was learning to manipulate things in her life of forced luxury and gilded imprisonment.
His thoughts were interrupted by someone at his door. There were no guards near his door as it was feared that he would influence them in some way. Seeing another visitor was a rare thing.
"Ah, the infamous Dr. Whale or would you rather I call you Dr. Frankenstein?" Gold asked through the bars with no sarcasm. It was a genuine question as he had not spoken to the doctor since just before he was placed in his cell.
"Mr. Gold, I mean...I think I could ask you the same question."
"Might as well call me Rumplestiltskin now as I'll return to being him soon enough."
"Alright, as for me I go by Dr. Brook now or Dan if you don't want to use titles. I am neither Whale or Frankenstein now as my memories have remained intact. Perhaps you could shed light onto why. I fell under the same curse as everyone else."
Rumplestiltskin was surprised to hear that, as it would mean that only those originally from this land were affected by the memory loss. "Perhaps because you were not originally from this land. I am sure that is this an adjustment for you as well as it is for Emma and Henry."
"It's not easy, yes."
"You're here for a reason I presume? Getting past the guards must not have been easy."
Dr. Brook rubbed a hand through his hair and looked down at the small bag he had. "I have something for you but like you would say it comes with a price."
Rumplestiltskin was interested. The good doctor never seemed the type to propose a deal unless it meant a he got to see a naked woman in the end. "Do tell my dear doctor. I'm all ears."
Dr. Brook pulled out a journal. "I know you aren't given much to do. I also have a quill an some ink. For this I want entry to your old castle and all the books you have without being cursed in some way. There's very little in way of libraries that deal with actual science. You on the other hand must have studied science to understand the effects of magic on those in this land. The curse you cast was far too calculated for you not to understand some basic natural science at the very least."
This was an interesting proposition. "You have no desire to own them do you? The books and materials?"
"Only to read them and gather the information I need or find of value."
Dr. Brook was desperate, Rumplestiltksin could hear it in his voice. There was a subtle plea in the deal. He studied the man who held a valuable piece of his plan to wake his son but learned long ago never to look desperate. "And why are you in need of my research? Surly a man of your education and knowledge would know more than the majority in this realm. You are already the royal physician and a teacher from what I heard."
"Yes, I am those things but I've found that magic plays a huge role in how people heal here. I've treated patients with the same condition and treated them the same but their results varied considerably. I know that as individuals everyone takes to treatments different but it's far more dramatic than that. It's almost as if some were favoured over others."
Rumplestiltskin didn't let it show but he knew very well what Dr. Brook was soon to discover. A land that has no free will is a land of fate. "Oh, you want that knowledge." He had to be careful in how to ask for things as he was prevented from asking for anything that could help him escape but it didn't hold him to try and be freed. There was a difference. "It will take more than a journal to get what you want, Dearie. I would like a few things as means of entertainment are limited here. I would like two small mirrors, that journal with the quill and ink plus a vase full of fresh picked roses, any color would do. Once you give me all that you'll be able to get what you desire."
Dr. Brook stepped back and pondered if the deal would be worth the risk. He could lose his position if any of this was found out. "Fine, I'm not sure when I can get back again."
"I'm not going anywhere." He said looking at the dragon toothed bars of his door.
"Tomorrow morning, yes, I can get back then."
Rumplestiltskin was pleased that the other man was desperate. His plans would only be put forward sooner than he had expected. But timing was important and things, though desired can never be rushed.
...
Storybrooke (Day 1/14)
To say Emma was furious with Gold for putting Henry in such danger would have been an understatement. She woke up angry after getting to sleep in anger. Her dream was in video game format where she had to shoot multiple versions of Gold and each time he was shot a pot of gold was won. By the time she woke up she thought she had counted four hundred pots of gold.
Getting up she grumbled realizing that it was only a dream. Now she would have to face the reality that she owed a man that almost killed her son a favour. He also had the nerve to ask her for it directly after Henry woke up.
She took a shower, got dressed and ate breakfast. Mary Margaret wasn't anywhere to be seen as she was with David. They had a lot to catch up on as did the many residents of Storybrooke. Henry was asleep in the spare bed set up for him. Emma was actually grateful for some time to herself to sort out the many confusing thoughts that ran through her head.
So far she was the savoir of a town of fairy tale characters, she nearly had her son die and she owed one of the most feared of said characters a favour. So did that mean she had a job still or would she have to become a princess? She really hoped it was the first one as puffy dresses and balls were so not her thing.
A knock at the door took her from her thoughts and hoped that it wasn't who she thought it was. Upon opening the door her heart dropped. "I may owe you a favour but you have a lot of nerve calling it in when you did."
"I won't argue my tack but you owe me a favour and time is an issue."
Emma allowed him in, easier to get rid of evidence of a murder inside an apartment rather than a hallway.
"I'm not doing anything until you tell me what it is that you need me to help you with and why it has to be done now."
Gold was only too happy to tell her. "I've located my son and you're going to ensure that he speaks with me. Henry will come with us as well, unless you want Regina exacting her revenge and use Henry in the process."
"And where exactly are we going?"
"New York, we're flying there and have to be back by this time tomorrow."
"I thought no one could leave this town." Emma was curious to how this worked now.
Gold knew he could leave but timing would be an issue. He placed that detail in the curse so no one could leave. "I created this curse Emma and I created a few loopholes in it for my benefit. I can only leave for 24 hours at a time."
Emma took it all in and just realized he mentioned a son. "You have a son? Why not call him or something."
Gold wanted to throw something at her just then. "Yes, what a wonderful idea speak to a man that has not seen or heard from me in over two hundred years and expect not to be hung up on. I need to speak to him face to face as our parting was not a pleasant one."
"Fine, I get it. Let me get Henry up and give him something to eat."
Henry woke up and got dressed and walked into the kitchen surprised to see Gold. "Are you still collecting rent? I don't think people are going to be paying anymore since they know what happened to them."
"I'm not here to collect rent I'm here to collect the favour Emma owes me."
Henry looked at Emma for answers. She wasn't pleased at the moment. "He'll explain in the car Henry."
"Car? Are we going somewhere?"
"You're going to see New York Henry and possibly get to meet my son."
"You have a son?" Henry didn't mean for that to come out as rudely as it did.
"Indeed I do and your mother is going to help me find and speak with him." He was enjoying Henry's interest in something other than fleeing Regina's grasp. "I know you've never flown on an airplane so this will be quite the adventure for you."
Henry's eyes went wide. "Airplane? Emma we're going on an airplane?"
Emma sighed not wanting to ruin things for Henry and put a smile on her face. "Yes, first class paid for by Mr. Gold." She decided that he could afford it after all the money he took from the citizens from the town.
Gold knew what she was doing. "Of course it will be first class. I have the tickets right here." He pulled out the tickets and showed them to Henry. "I'll pay for everything, I insist."
Within thirty minutes they were in the car heading out of town. It was then that Henry realized that nothing happened to Gold.
"You're alright, I mean nothing bad happened to you after you past the town line."
"As long as I return within 24 hours." Gold smiled in the rear view mirror to Henry.
Emma was stewing in the front seat doing her very best not to have a fit. She was angry with Henry for being so OK with almost being killed by a man that supposedly destroyed the lives of a whole town to get to his son. A few months ago if anyone told her that she would live through all of this she would have called mental health services on them. Now this story was her reality.
Gold decided to have some fun with the situation. "Tell me Henry what did you see when you were asleep. I've never been put under a sleeping curse before so I have no idea what type of experience it was."
Henry was only too happy to describe it. Emma shot Gold a look that could kill. "Henry you don't have to talk about it if you don't want."
"No it was a strange place full of mirrors or what looked to be mirrors. I saw different things and people in them from time to time. Do you know if that was real Mr. Gold?"
"What would you give me if I told you the answer?
"I won't have my mother arrest you for almost having killed me." Henry looked at Gold's expression in the rear view mirror and saw a subtle smirk on his face.
Emma had to laugh at that one. "Yep, he's my son. Although a jail cell may be in your future after you find your son."
"I've been in worse cells in my time.
Emma looked back and saw Henry with the look that he was about to ask a torrent of questions. "How old are you exactly? From what I've heard you are considered immortal."
"I am immortal Henry part of the fun of being the Dark One." Gold stopped talking for a moment and answered his question. "I am almost three hundred years old. Understand Henry that in my world people lived a very long time. Childhood lasted almost thirty years. Regina is going on close to 160 now. Change is painfully slow there."
Emma remained quiet wanting to hear more about the other world. "So what's the average age for a person in your world?"
"About three hundred or so. That's only for the...few that are deemed worthy. How things are run there are far different than here. You have a freedom here that has never existed in my world." His tone became stiff if not a little saddened.
Henry heard the sadness but continued with his questions. "Can anyone learn magic?"
Now Emma grew worried. "There's no magic here Henry."
"In my world there is."
"You sound like you're heading back there again. But that's not possible."
Gold became very quiet and then told Henry a story about the time he fought Captain Hook and who the crocodile really was from the story. Emma had never seen Henry so quiet or focused in his life.
...
