Chapter 3
Belle's powers vanish.
From shock or pain she doesn't know, but she knows it's gone. Belle manages to make it over to the vacant bed before falling onto it. It was cold. Pinocchio's been out of it for a while. Belle's eyes begin filling up with tears, but something else comes to her mind. If her powers are gone, does that mean-Rumplestiltskin!" Belle sits up and quickly pulls out her phone.
"Hello?"
"Rumple!" Belle nearly shouts and jumps off of the bed. "Do you know who I am?"
"Of course I know who-"He pauses. "What's happened?"
Belle breathes a sigh of relief and lies back down on the bed. "I thought-"She covers her face. "I came up to talk to Pinocchio, as I do, and, well…he's gone."
"What do you mean he's gone?"
"I mean he's not in his bed. I don't know if someone, I don't know, took him, or the spell suddenly wore off and he got up and walked away himself." Belle uses her free arm to reach for the roof and curl her fingers into a fist. "Look, when I saw the room empty…I felt my power disappear."
"That or it's hidden itself away because you've just been faced with a tragedy." She hears him sigh deeply.
"That can happen?" She blinks and sits up.
"It can if the event is personal." He explains. "Don't worry the power is still there, but it may take a while for it to show itself again, not that you have any complaints about that, I'm sure."
"None at all." Belle laughs and lies down again. "But you're okay?"
"Belle, I'm fine." Rumple assures her. "It's like I said, the power didn't disappear, it's just hiding at the moment. The same thing happened to me after I…abandoned Bae. Of course, it was only a couple of days, but to me it felt like an eternity."
"Of course it did."
"I was far too dependent on my magic back then, I admit."
"Yes you were." Belle smirks and then sighs deeply. "And now I'm stuck with it."
"Again, very sorry about that."
"It's alright." She smiles. "So what are the three of you up to?"
"Just finished dinner, actually." He informs her. "Emma and Henry just left to go and look a bit more before going to…wherever it is they're going to tonight."
"At least they're enjoying Manhattan." Belle laughs. "Sorry."
"For what?" He scoffs. "You were worried about me and felt the need to call. It's fine." Belle can almost hear the smile in his voice. "Look." He continues. "I'm sure Pinocchio's fine. I know you'll find him, or at the very least figure out what happened to him."
"Thanks." She smiles weakly.
"And don't worry about your power. It will come back." He assures her. "I love you Belle."
"I love you too Rumple." She hangs up and sighs deeply, before sitting up and walking out of the room in a hurry.
Dear gods, where had that puppet disappeared to now? Rumplestiltskin wonders vaguely shaking his head and continuing to make his way down the crowded street. He hates when Belle sounds like that though. That puppet had better make himself known, and soon. He already regrets leaving Belle practically by herself in that town; he didn't want Pinocchio to do the same. Lost in his own thoughts Rumplestiltskin didn't see the man in front of him and the two bumped into one another.
"Sorry." The man murmurs and continues walking.
Rumplestiltskin turns around and only catches a glimpse of the man, but takes note of the shady clothing he seems to be wearing; an old grey sweater he assumes had reached its limit months ago and a pair of baggy jeans, a common combination. Still distracted by his thoughts however Rumplestiltskin only nods his head and continues on his way down the street.
"Granny!" Belle calls out to the woman just as she's leaving the inn. "Gah!" Belle slides into her, after jumping the final step. "Yikes, sorry Granny."
"Belle dear, what's the matter?"
"Huh?"
"Dear, you're crying." Granny murmurs, concern laced in her voice. "Are you alright?"
"I-"Belle holds her hand up to her face to feel it damp. She blinks in surprise. Why on earth was she crying? She laughs. Of course she had been crying her son was missing for God's sake! Belle shakes her head. "Have you seen Pinocchio? He's not in his room."
Granny looks at her in confusion. "What do you mean he's not in his room? Belle, dear, he's a giant puppet."
Belle gives her an incredulous look. "Well I know that! However, he is not in his room."
Granny looks at her a moment, before nodding. "I'll call Ruby, we'll help you look."
Belle hugs her tightly. "Thank you so much Granny."
"Of course dear, just let us know if you find him first." Granny smirks.
Belle lets her go and walks over to the door, laughing. "As if I could beat two wolves at finding someone." Belle jokes, and enjoys the smirk on Granny's face, before leaving the inn.
Belle's first instinct is if Pinocchio actually is a human again, he would go to his father's house, so she jumps up the few steps of Geppetto's home and knocks on the door. He answers quickly, but Belle's heart drops. She can tell just by the look on his face that he has no idea what's happened to Pinocchio.
"Belle!" He exclaims happily. "What are you doing here?"
"Pinocchio's missing." She tells him, finding no point in hiding that fact from him. "I was hoping he was here, but I can see now that he's not."
"What do you mean he's gone, have you tried using your powers?" He asks, his voice cracking. Belle couldn't blame him for being upset, after all, he's lost his son twice now. "You told us just the other day that you can pinpoint everyone's location in town." He continues.
Belle bites her lip. "My powers have…decided to bury themselves somewhere inside me, to the point where I can't use them, at the moment."
"Why on earth would it just disappear on you?" He asks in surprise.
"Rumple tells me it's from shock." Belle explains and shrugs her shoulder. "I faced a big shock and in order not to panic, or freak out, my powers disappeared on me."
"It's protecting you now?"
"A bit."
He blinks in surprise and shakes his head. "Just let me go and grab my coat, I'll come with you and help you look for him."
"Thank you Geppetto." Belle gives him a grateful smile and waits patiently for him to come back. "And I am sorry." She calls out. "If I knew where he was I wouldn't have come over only to worry you."
'Belle, it's fine." Geppetto comes back and places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yesterday he was a motionless puppet lying in a bed all day, and now, he could just be wandering around Storybrooke trying to figure out where you are." He points out, closing the door behind him. "Considering how calm you are at the moment, you're doing a lot better than I thought you would."
Belle laughs at that, as they make their way down the street. "Yet my power seems to think I'll freak out and has decided to go into hiding."
"Your power, it seems to me, is trying to protect you."
"Yes, it's odd isn't it?" Belle notes, as they walk into an alleyway to find Pinocchio's bike leaning against the wall. "The Dark One's power is supposed to be this sinister…evil power, but it's proving not to be that difficult to control." Belle hands Geppetto one of the helmets. "I don't know." She continues. "I should probably be more concerned that I'm having an easy time with it."
"No you shouldn't." Geppetto argues, putting the helmet on. "You seem to be a natural at whatever you put your mind to."
"This is different." Belle states firmly. "I'm afraid. The Dark One's power tends to have a mind of its own." She swings herself up onto the bike and helps Geppetto. "I feel as though it's playing a game with me, and as soon as it finds what it wants, it's going to turn on me."
"Well I'm sure, that when the time comes, your husband will be able to help you figure it out."
"One can only hope." Belle turns to smile at him. "Now-" She turns back around. "Let's go and find your son." She states, starting up the bike and driving out of the alley.
Hours later and with no luck, Belle parks the bike in her driveway, and nearly laughs at the sight of the bike next to her car. The only reason Rumple bought her the car, was in order for her not to ride the bike. Honestly, he would kill her if he knew she was still riding it, he wouldn't, but still the thought was funny to her.
Belle jumps up the few steps onto her porch and reaches her hand into her pocket to grab her keys, and notices the door is unlocked. Belle pulls out the knife Rumple had insisted she keep, from the holster by her ankle, and opens the door wider. "Who's there?" She calls out, entering her house and closing the door behind her, her voice is shaking she notes offhand. "You really picked the wrong house to break into." She continues, glancing up the stairs, before moving slowly towards the kitchen. "I know you're there-" She walks into the kitchen and drops her knife. The man closes the opened fridge and looks at her, with a mouth full of food.
It was Pinocchio!
"Mother." He swallows the food in his mouth and continues. "There you are, I was getting worried." Within seconds Belle had crossed the room and slapped him as hard as she could. "Mother-?"
"Where the hell have you been?" Belle snaps. "Your father and I have been worried sick!" She cries, tears are forming at the corner of her eyes .
"Ow." He responds, rubbing his face. "I could swear you've gotten stronger."
"I have." She states, still glaring.
"Alright, Alright." He holds up his hands in defense. "Please don't hit me again, look." He smiles weakly at her. "I think the effect of true love's kiss was a bit delayed but I woke up this morning as a man again and my first instinct was to come here and find you." He looks back at the fridge. "By the way, sorry about that, I'm starving."
"Why?" Belle pauses. "Why would you come here instead of going to your father's first? When I went to go talk to you and found that you weren't in your bed-I panicked and went to your father's thinking you were there."
"I wanted to go to him, but I thought that you would be happier to see me, after all, you were the one there when it happened."
Belle opens her mouth to say something, but her bottom lip starts to tremble and she begins to cry. Belle hugs him tightly. "Damn you." She murmurs, crying into his chest.
"I love you too mother." He holds her tightly for a few moments. "However, I don't understand how you didn't realize I was here." He pushes her away slightly in order to look at her. "Don't you have the Dark One's power or something?"
Belle lets go of him and blinks in surprise. "How do you know that? I didn't get my power until after you had turned back into a puppet."
"I heard you mother." He smiles at her warmly. "Every time you came into my room to talk to me, I couldn't respond of course, but I could hear you."
"You're not mad?" Belle asks cautiously, knowing he would have heard her confess to him about the blood exchange ceremony.
"Furious, but you seem to do as you please." He shrugs. "There's really nothing I can do about that."
"No." She laughs. "There isn't."
"So what happened to your power then?"
"Oh, right!" Belle shakes her head. "Sorry, I went into your room earlier at the inn and when I saw that your bed was empty my powers…vanished."
"That can actually happen?" He looks at her in surprise.
"I asked Rumple about it earlier. Apparently, it only happens when the user has witnessed a tragedy, and yes-I consider not knowing where you were a tragedy." She smirks, before he could ask, or make a smartass remark.
"And for that, I am terribly sorry mother."
"You know, I tried calling you, several times."
He gives her an incredulous look. "Mother, I've been in a coma like state for how long?" Pinocchio pulls out his cell from his pocket and hands it to her. "It's dead."
"You could've plugged-"Belle pauses. "I have your charger." She laughs heartily. "I'm so sorry Pinocchio."
He shakes his head. "Its fine mother, but really, how long have I been out?"
"Nearly three months." Belle smiles and jumps up onto the counter. "Rumple, Emma, and Henry have already left town to go and find Bae."
"Your husband figured out a way to cross the town line then?" He asks, opening the fridge back up and grabbing a bottle of water.
"Sort of." Belle notes. "And trust me; it's not something I'm enjoying."
"What do you mean?" He asks, his voice guarded.
"In order for him to be able to cross the line and keep his memories, I have to stay behind…and keep both sets of power."
He stares at her a moment. "So, right now you have-"
"All of the Dark One's power, yes."
"…Are you okay?"
She laughs. "I appreciate that your first concern is whether or not I'm okay."
"There's no point in being mad, but I am concerned over whether or not you can handle it."
"Trust me." Belle holds her hands up in defense. "You're not the only one worried about that." She takes the bottle of water he hands her and takes a gulp. "Keeping it from the rest of the people in town isn't helping matters either." She continues, sighing deeply.
"I was about to ask whether or not you're still keeping it a secret , how's that going?" He asks, taking the bottle from her and finishing it up.
"Not well." She admits. "I mean, it was easy today, but it helps that my powers are hiding at the moment."
"Yeah that helps." He laughs. "Have you got at least a bit of control over it?"
"A bit." She admits. "Rumple says I'm the fastest learner he's ever taught though."
"You sure he's not just saying that?"
"Rude." Belle laughs, throwing an apple from the bowl on the counter at him.
"You know I'm kidding." He laughs catching the apple before it hits him and taking a bite out of it.
"Just call your father and let him know you're okay." Belle shakes her head and jumps off the counter.
"My charger-"
"Use the house phone." Belle argues. "I'll go get your charger from upstairs." She watches him groan and pick up the phone, before leaving the room.
Belle enters the sitting room and finds Pinocchio wandering around the room. "You two don't take a lot of pictures do you?" He remarks, gesturing to the nearly bare mantle.
"You really think I can get Rumple to take a picture?" She jokes, tossing him his charger.
"Yes, I suppose it would be rather difficult, wouldn't it?"
"You think?" She laughs, falling down on the couch and putting her legs up. "Did you talk to Geppetto?"
"I did." Pinocchio smiles warmly and falls down next to her. "He is very happy to know I'm alright. Though-" He scratches his neck. " He did snap at me for not calling him sooner."
"Good."
"I am sorry about that mother."
"I still love you Pinocchio." She laughs and moves her legs back in front of her.
"I know." He wraps his arms around her and kisses his forehead. "Also, I figured I'd call your husband tomorrow and let him know where Bae is staying.
Belle kisses his cheek. "Thank you Pinocchio."
"Well I know you want him home." Belle lays her head on his shoulder. "Are you still having those nightmares?" He continues, rubbing her shoulders.
"I am." She sighs deeply. "They don't stop, it's been happening nearly every night for the past month. Someone dies every time too, it worries me."
"Are you afraid it's going to come true?"
"I know it will." She states, shivering. "I mean it won't exactly happen the same way as my dream, but it will happen."
"You're sure?"
"100 percent."
He kisses the top of her head. "I'll help you through this Belle." He assures her. "You know I will, nothing is going to happen to you."
"It's not me I'm worried about!" Belle snaps. "I can handle myself, it's the town I'm worried about."
He sighs and leans back in the couch. "Your concern for this town is ridiculous. It's going to be your ruin one day, you know that right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I only mean that, when the time comes, you're going to sacrifice your own happiness for this town."
"I wouldn't-" He gives her a look. "…I might do that." Belle bites her bottom lip. "Alright." She shakes her head. "I'm going to bed."
"You mind if I crash here?" He asks.
"Of course not." Belle insists, standing up. "You're my kid, you're supposed to use me."
"That's really assuring." He scoffs.
"Pinocchio, its fine." She laughs again, helping him up. "Look, you can sleep in the room I was supposed to sleep in after I escaped from the hospital."
"Have you ever slept in that room?"
"Not once."
He laughs and kisses the top of her head again. "Alright, goodnight mother."
"Sleep well." She tells him, as he disappears around the corner."
"How far did you manage to even get yesterday?" Emma asks Rumplestiltskin, as the three of them are eating breakfast again.
"Not far." He admits, taking a bite of his English muffin, he didn't feel like eating, but it was best to keep up appearances. "But I assume you didn't get far either."
"We-"
He holds up his hands to stop her. "Miss Swan, its fine." He assures her.
"No it's not." She argues and leans back in her chair. "We've been here nearly a month, how long do you think we can stay here…I mean-"
Rumplestiltskin gives her a look. "Miss Swan, if you are concerned about us financially, we're fine." He smirks. "You're talking to the man who can spin straw into gold. I assure you we can stay here as long as we need to."
Emma leans back in her chair. "Still, if I hadn't spent nearly an hour chasing that guy who kept following the two of us we probably would've covered a lot more ground."
"Why did you feel the need to chase him?" Rumplestiltskin asks, hiding his smirk behind his cup of coffee.
"He had been following us for over an hour." She states. "Besides, it's gearing me up to chase after your son."
He smirks once and is reminded of the man that had passed him last night. "What was this man wearing?" He asks curiously.
Emma gives him an incredulous look. "Why on earth do you care?"
"A man bumped into me a few moments after I left the restaurant." He remarks. "I was simply curious as to whether or not it was the same man. However, I realize that there are about a million other people in this city so the probability of that is…astronomical."
"Could you possibly use smaller words?" Emma gives him an incredulous look. Rumplestiltskin is about to say something when Henry tugs at both of their sleeves. "Henry what is it?" Emma continues and they both look up to see the same man staring at the three of them.
"You have got to be kidding me." Both Emma and Rumplestiltskin state at the same time.
They turn and look at one another. "Same guy?"
"Yeah!"
Henry looks at the two of them in surprise. "How are the two of you doing that?"
"It's not on purpose!" The two of them state in both irritation and surprise. They glare at one another again, until Emma stands up.
"Hey, watch Henry for a while would you? This guy is following us for a reason and I'm going to find out why."
Rumplestiltskin looks up and sees the man beginning to run. "Good luck." He waves his hand in an unconcerned manner and takes another drink of his coffee.
Emma starts chasing after the guy and before she is even around the corner Rumplestiltskin's phone starts ringing. "Hello?"
"Rumple!"
"Belle!" He exclaims cheerfully. "You sound as if you're in a better mood then yesterday. I assume you found him?"
"I did." He hears her laugh. "Raiding our fridge at home."
"I suppose he would be hungry after sleeping for nearly three months huh?"
"And here I thought you'd be mad." She jokes.
"I am, a bit." He smirks. "But that damn puppet is always trying to piss me off, so I'd rather not let it bother me anymore."
"Damn, and here I thought I was getting better at it."
Rumplestiltskin sighs deeply. "Hello Pinocchio."
"Pinocchio's back!" Henry exclaims excitedly.
Rumplestiltskin bites his lip. He had forgotten to tell the two of them about that. Well, he supposes, it was better they find out he was okay rather than worrying about where he had disappeared to the night before. "Sorry." He murmurs. "He woke up yesterday. Belle called me after the two of you had left."
"He's okay?"
"He's fine." Rumple hears Belle respond and puts his phone on speaker.
"Pinocchio!"
"Hey kid."
"How?"
"We believe True Love's kiss worked in this case, but the affect was delayed." Belle continues. "It was the same thing with you and Emma, or at least it was the same type of bond."
"That was quite the delayed reaction." Rumple notes. "It took nearly three months to take effect."
"I think it's because I kissed him before the curse actually broke, so it worked, but it had to register that I kissed him…as a true love."
"That still doesn't make any sense."
"It's magic." Belle states. "Does it really have too?"
"I suppose not." Henry notes.
Rumplestiltskin scoffs.
"Right." Belle laughs, "Because you could explain it any better."
Rumplestiltskin cocks his head as if agreeing with her and continues. "Look, it doesn't matter. Surely you haven't just called to tell us that the puppet is up and about."
"We called because Pinocchio and I agree that it's time for Baelfire to stop running." Belle tells them.
Rumplestiltskin can almost hear the smile in her voice. "Belle, what are you-?"
"1465 73rd Avenue, apartment 23b is where Bae is." Pinocchio states. "1465 73rd Avenue, apartment 23b, you will find your son there." He continues. "Though, I suppose he could have moved within this last year, but I doubt it." The line is silent for the longest time, before Belle and Pinocchio hear Rumple say thank you and hang up the phone. Pinocchio stares at the phone and blinks in disbelief. "Is he serious?"
Belle laughs and falls back onto the bed. "Yes he was serious you daft puppet, he's grateful." She sits back up again and kisses his cheek. "Thank you Pinocchio."
"Of course mother." He smiles.
Belle's phone goes off again and she half expects it to be Rumplestiltskin again and is surprised when she hears Ruby's voice screaming at her from the other end.
"Belle! Freaking finally!"
"Ruby." Belle acknowledges calmly, knowing how her friend could get. "What is it, what's wrong?"
"It's Regina! She just started attacking Snow. Granted, we knew this was coming, but it's getting a bit out of hand."
Belle groans. "Understood, I'll step in, where are they?"
"You really can't miss them, they're causing quite a scene in front of the library."
"Of course they are." Belle growls. Really, how much more damage can her library take? "Just make sure they don't break anything before I get there please."
"No promises, just please hurry up."
Belle hangs up the phone and turns to Pinocchio. "We really have to get into town, now!" She takes his arm and pulls him towards the front door. "Apparently Regina's causing a scene in front of the library."
"You don't have your magic though, what are you going to do?"
"My magic's only hidden away." She argues tossing him the bike keys, as they run out the door. "It's still detectable, I just can't use it." He hands her a helmet, as she jumps on behind him. "Look, if it comes right down to it I can always knock her out the old fashioned way."
"You wouldn't do that though."
"Can we just go?" She tightens her arms around his waist just as he starts the bike up and they drive off.
Belle and Pinocchio pull up behind a building about a block from the library and can already hear the commotion going on down the street. Belle flinches slightly as it sounds as though a building just lost a few bricks of its structure. "Damn it Regina." Belle growls, half to herself, as they make their way down the block and see the large crowd gathered.
Belle reaches the front of the crowd just in time to watch Snow White being thrown into a street lamp and possibly knocked out. "Regina!" Belle calls out angrily. Regina turns to look at Belle and her eyes flicker in fear for a moment. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?" Belle continues, running over to Snow and helping her up, thankfully she wasn't passed out.
"You don't scare me Maid." Regina snaps, but there's no malice in her voice.
"I'm not trying to scare you." Belle snaps, in a way that actually causes Regina to flinch slightly. "I just want to know what you think you're doing." David runs over and takes Snow from her.
"What do you mean what am I doing? I thought I was being pretty clear."
"Well it looks like you're trying to dig yourself an even deeper hole with Henry's family." Belle crosses her arms and realizes how much she probably looks like a parent scolding her child.
Regina clenches and unclenches her hands at her sides, before gives Belle a look and disappearing.
Belle breathes a sigh of relief and turns back to the Charming's. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Snow growls. "We should've expected it to happen at some point."
"Right." Belle nods curtly. "Pinocchio!"
"Yes mother?" Pinocchio suddenly appears from out of nowhere.
"Pinocchio!" Snow and David exclaim in disbelief. "You're alright!"
"Yes I'm fine, but it's kind of a long story." He gives the two of them his signature smirk and turns back to Belle. "What is it you need mother?"
Belle holds out her hand. "I need your bike keys and to watch the Charming's for a while." Pinocchio hands her his keys and she kisses him on the cheek, ignoring the crowd around them. "I have to go deal with a mouse." Pinocchio smirks and only nods as Belle walks off.
"You sure took your time." Regina notes, as Belle walks into her office.
"Had to deal with something else first." Belle lies easily, sitting down in one of the chairs. "Believe it or not, keeping you company isn't my first priority." She smirks, watching as Regina finishes her glass of wine.
Regina narrows her eyes at her and leans back against her desk, tossing Belle the bottle of water she had gotten out for her. "You know what people are saying after that little incident?"
"At this point I tone all of them out." Belle shrugs, catching the bottle and taking a hug gulp. "Why, what are they saying this time?"
"Something about me only running away because you're Rumple's wife." Regina fills her glass again. "And another about how I didn't want to get on the wrong side of Rumplestiltskin."
"You've always been on his bad side." Belle points out, downing the water and making an impressive toss of it into Regina's wastebasket.
"I know that!" Regina snaps.
"Regina, what are you doing, really?" Belle asks her, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands. "Why did you attack Snow and David, even though you know Henry would never forgive you if anything ever happened to them."
"I don't know." She admits, moving back around her desk and dropping into her chair. "I really don't know." She sighs heavily and covers her face with her hands. "I think I'm just going through the motions, I don't know what I'm doing Belle, I really don't. I don't know what to do, or what it is I want."
"You want Henry that much is obvious." Belle sighs and leans back in her chair again. "However, you also want happiness." She smirks and looks at Regina. "You're just going to have to figure out how to get both."
Regina lets out a laugh. "I'm happy for you Belle."
"For what?" Belle asks in disbelief.
"Pinocchio." She answers simply.
Belle smirks slightly. "Thanks for that, and I know that Henry loves you, but you need to show him that you can change for the better." Regina stays silent and Belle takes the silence as a chance for her to leave. "Oh, and Regina-" Belle opens the door. "Try to behave." Belle can swear she sees Regina smirk before finally leaving the office.
"Henry text your mother and let her know where we are." Rumplestiltskin asks Henry, handing him his phone, as the two of them make their way into Baelfire's possible apartment building and into the elevator.
"Right." Henry nods, taking the phone from him. "But are you sure this is a good idea? Meeting him without my mom here, I mean?"
"Not in the slightest." Rumple admits and grins wickedly down at him. "But I suppose we'll just have to see what happens, won't we?"
The two of them make their way out of the elevator and down the hall until they find the right door. Rumplestiltskin stops short, unable to knock on the door. His son, the person he had been searching for, the person he had ruined countless of other people's lives for. Admittedly, he was probably going to have to hear about that several times before they would return to Storybrooke, but this could be it. His son could very well be behind this block of wood and he finds he's too nervous to even knock on the door.
"Are you alright?" Henry asks.
"I don't know." Rumple answers honestly. "I really don't know." He holds his hands up to the door again, and pauses. "I've been waiting for this moment for countless years Henry…and I can't even find the strength to knock on the door."
Henry opens his mouth, as if to say something, but takes a deep breath instead and knocks on the door. "You don't have to be afraid anymore Mr. Gold, you have people who are here to help you out."
"Henry-"Rumplestiltskin isn't able to say anything else and simply places a hand on Henry's shoulders.
The two of them wait a few moments until it appears no one was home. "I'm sorry." Henry murmurs.
"Shall I teach you how to break into an apartment building?" Rumplestiltskin asks, giving him a wicked grin.
"I'm not entirely sure Emma would like me learning how to do something like that." Henry looks up at him nervously.
"You realize both of your mothers know how to do this." Rumplestiltskin points out, pulling out a set of tools and beginning on the door. "But, if you'd rather not know how, it's entirely up to you." He had barely finished that sentence when Henry wanders over and watches him closely. Rumple smirks once and within a few minutes the door clicks and swings open. "There, you see, simple."
"That was awesome!" Henry laughs. "Can you show it to me again?"
"Later." Rumple assures him, swinging the door open farther and entering the small apartment. "I promise to let you do it the next time."
"Thanks." Henry smiles and Rumplestiltskin can't help but laugh once at the prospect of Henry being excited about learning how to break into an apartment.
The two of them begin wandering around the apartment and Rumplestiltskin wonders briefly if Pinocchio had lied to him, but seeing no real reason for him to do so. Besides, he told Belle first, and there was no way he would lie to a woman he thinks of as his mother.
"Do you think someone really lives here?" Henry's voice returns Rumple to reality. "It doesn't look…I don't know, lived in." He continues.
Rumplestiltskin has to agree with Henry, as he wanders more around the room. He picks up a small pile of mail on the coffee table addressed to a 'Neal Cassidy' and gazes into the surprisingly clean kitchen, causing him to wonder, again, if someone actually lives here. He wanders into the bedroom to find Henry sitting on the small bed and looking through what looks like a photo album. "Find anything interesting?" Rumple asks curiously, leaning against the doorframe.
"Look at this." Henry jumps off the bed and wanders over to him. "It's a picture of my mom."
"Regina?"
Henry shakes his head and hands him the photo of a younger Emma, and who Rumple assumes is Neal Cassidy. Both were sitting in Emma's old yellow bug and looking happy. "Wow, Miss Swan's had that bug a long time."
"That's all you can say?" Henry asks, trying to hold in a laugh.
"I don't know what to say Henry." Rumplestiltskin admits. "If this man is my son then that could very well mean that you are-"
"Henry? Gold?" They hear Emma behind them. Rumplestiltskin catches Henry slip the photo into his jacket pocket, before returning the photo album onto the bed, and running out of the room.
"Emma!" He exclaims.
"Henry." Emma smiles and looks up to see Rumplestiltskin walking out of the room. "What the hell do the two of you think you're doing?" She asks in disbelief. "Breaking into someone's apartment?"
Rumple turns to Henry. "What exactly did you tell her in that text?"
"Only where we were."
Rumple gives Henry a look and turns back to Emma, wondering vaguely why him and Henry were being treated as if they were about to get punished by their mother. "Miss Swan-" He begins carefully. "After you left-did you ever catch him?"
"Does it look like I caught the guy?" Emma asks him, irritated. "I lost him about ten blocks from here when I got Henry's text."
"Sorry." He murmurs briefly. "Look, Belle called and gave us some very…interesting news."
Henry rolls his eyes. "Pinocchio's alive and well."
Emma opens her mouth in surprise, finally uncrossing her arms. "He's…he's okay?"
"He's fine." Rumple assures her. "We talked to him briefly on the phone and he tells us that this apartment is where my son is currently residing."
"How-?" Emma shakes her head. "No, I know how, what I don't understand is why, during the whole time Pinocchio was in town, he never told you any of this? Either of you?"
"Apparently he made a promise to Bae not to say anything." Emma opens her mouth to say something, but Rumple smirks. "Miss Swan, Pinocchio is fine, bothering the hell out of me, but he's fine."
"Thank god." Emma breathes a sigh of relief. "The last time I saw him I thought-" She pauses, as something in the window catches her eyes. Emma walks over and takes off, much to Rumplestiltskin's surprise, a dream catcher.
"Miss Swan-" He asks cautiously, remembering the photo Henry had shown him a few moments ago. "Is something wrong?"
"No…no, it's nothing." Emma answers far too quickly. "Look, can we go? This isn't right and we don't want to be here if some stranger walks in."
"Fine." Rumplestiltskin finally sighs deeply, gesturing for Henry to go in front of him. "But we're coming back." Emma doesn't even argue with him and simply nods her head.
Something wasn't right.
"Miss Swan." Rumplestiltskin grabs her arm, just as they turn to leave the apartment. "Do you know the man who lies here?"
"No." Emma insists, not able to look him in the eye.
Liar.
"Rumple are you sure?" Belle asks him. The three of them had returned to the hotel room and Rumplestiltskin had gone up to his room, fell onto his bed, and was currently talking to his wife. "I really don't think Emma knows the person in the photograph with her is possibly Baelfire." She continues.
"Well she knows something."
He hears her sigh and can imagine her laying on their bed. "Rumple, you need to calm down and think this through, please."
"Belle-"
"Neal Cassidy is the man who broke Emma's heart all those years ago and got her sent to jail. Can you really blame her for being a little on edge?"
"Belle…Henry was born in-no!" He sits up quickly.
"Possibly." Belle admits. "I'm not sure, Emma wasn't too clear on that."
"Belle, is there really any doubt that Henry isn't-"
"Careful what you say Rumple, there's a huge possibility Henry is your grandson."
"Don't even joke about something like that."
"You really think I'm joking?"
"Belle-"
"Go to sleep Rumple."
"…You know already don't you?"
"Goodnight Rumple."
He sighs deeply. "Goodnight Belle, I love you."
"Love you too Rumple." He hears her before hanging up and tossing his phone.
Belle throws her phone across the bed and hugs her knees. "Damn it Pinocchio." She growls. "You had better be lying to me about this."
"Mr. Gold?" Rumple hears Henry's voice through the door connecting their rooms.
"Yeah, come on in Henry." He calls out. A moment later Henry comes in and closes the door behind him. "Henry what is it, what's wrong?" He asks. Henry moves over to lay down on the other bed. "Henry?" Rumple asks again, sitting back up on the bed.
"Emma hasn't said two words to me since we got back to the room. I don't know what to do." Henry murmurs sadly.
He sounds so depressed Rumplestiltskin can't help but feel sorry for him. "You want to go for a walk?" He asks Henry, getting off the bed.
"Sure, where do you want to go?"
"It's still pretty early, I was thinking Central Park?"
"Yeah, cool."
"Alright, come on, text your mother when we're out of the building."
"Why?" Henry asks curiously, as Rumple grabs his wallet and the hotel key.
"How far do you think we'd get if we told her we were leaving right now?" He jokes and Henry laughs, as they leave the room.
"You know I can call Belle and you can talk to her." Rumplestiltskin points out later as they're walking through the park.
"Oh come on, if I wanted to talk to Belle I would've called her." Henry laughs.
"Then why on earth would you want to talk to me?"
"Because I actually like to talk to you and I'm not afraid." He insists.
"You really should be."
He gives Rumple an incredulous look. "Really?"
"No." Rumple laughs. "No, you're lucky I like you."
"Is Belle afraid of you?" Henry asks curiously.
"I'm afraid of her."
"Really?"
"Do not tell her I said that." They both start laughing. "Look Henry, I know how bad this must be for you, after finding that photo, but try to understand your mother's position. You're assuming things without knowing all the facts."
"What do you think I should do?"
"Wait." Rumplestiltskin states. "We don't know all the facts and there's no point in jumping to conclusions."
"And if it's what I think?"
"What do you think?"
"That this man-" Henry pulls out the photograph and points to Neal. "Is my father and your son."
Rumplestiltskin looks down at him in surprise. "You really are a bright young man Henry.
"You think it could be true too!" Henry exclaims excitedly
"I think-" Rumple pauses as he catches the eyes of a stranger heading their way. It had gotten too dark for him to see clearly. Something didn't feel right. Out of instinct Rumplestiltskin puts his arm around Henry and pulls him protectively behind him.
"Mr. Gold, what are you-"
"Shh." Rumple snaps. "I suppose it's about time for me to take you back to your mother." He continues as the man passes by. A few moments pass and Rumple finally lets Henry go.
"What was that about?" Henry asks in confusion. "We pass people all the time."
"Henry…I don't know, but I'm sorry, something was off-" He looks back. "Not off, but I got a…feeling in my gut."
"You sure?" Henry asks, looking back.
"Completely." Rumple states, and something suddenly occurs to him. "Not that I would be much help if something does happen to you or Emma."
"Without your powers you mean?" Henry jokes.
"Exactly."
"Can you die?" Henry asks suddenly. Rumple gives a surprised look. "I mean like right now." Henry explains hurriedly. "I mean you don't have your powers and your dagger is currently with Belle-"
"Henry I get it, and I honestly don't know. My name is still on the dagger with Belle's and-" He takes off his left glove, revealing his wedding ring and his mark. "I still have my mark so I really don't know. However, I'd also rather not test that theory."
Henry laughs. "No, I wouldn't either."
"This coming from the kid who ate a poisonous apple turnover, just to prove a point to your mother?" Rumplestiltskin jokes, putting his glove back on.
"That's different, I knew I would be okay." He argues.
Rumplestiltskin's phone starts ringing.
It's Emma
"It's your mother, she seems to be looking for you."
"She's looking for you too you know." Henry argues.
"I don't need a babysitter."
"Belle seems to think you do." Rumple glares at Henry a moment, before shaking his head. "Thank you Mr. Gold."
"For what?"
"Nothing." Rumple looks at him curiously before the two of them leave the park.
"Miss Swan, you seem more frightened then I am about this entire thing." Rumplestiltskin notes. The three of them were back at 'Neal's,' once again, empty apartment. Henry was scrounging around the bedroom again, Rumple assumes looking at the photo albums, while Emma was pacing around the room in a fervent manner and driving him mad. "What are you even doing?" He continues.
"I don't like this, we shouldn't be here."
"Are you worried we'll get caught breaking and entering, or does this involve something a bit more personal?"
"What could be personal to me about any of this?"
"Was that even a proper sentence?"
"Listen you-"
"Mom." Henry wanders out of the room and his eyes flicker over to Rumple's once, before landing on his mother's. "Stop lying! Who is this man?"
"Henry I don't know." Emma insists.
"You're lying!" He snaps, taking the photograph of his mother and Neal out of his pocket and handing it to her. "That's you." He argues, as she takes the photo from him.
Emma turns to Rumplestiltskin. "This is your fault, where did the two of you go yesterday?"
"How is this my fault?" Rumplestiltskin gives her an incredulous look. "Your son is clever. What is it that you're trying so desperately to hide?"
"I'm not hiding anything!"
"Miss Swan, I don't even need my powers to know you're lying to us." He insists, knowing he needed to be careful with his next words. "That's clearly you in the photograph and every time you come over here, you act like a mouse about to be caught by a cat."
"I do not!" Emma snaps and curls her hands into fists. "What do you want me to say, I fucked up. I've made some, frankly terrible decisions, and…okay!" Emma looks down at the photograph again and sighs deeply. "This man…Neal Cassidy." She looks at Henry and pauses. "…He's your father."
The door closes behind them and the three of them turn around to see a man staring at the three of them. "That boy…is my son!?" He manages to choke out. The man takes off his sweater and Emma groans loudly, recognizing Neal.
Rumplestiltskin gives Neal a hard look and when Neal turns to face him, it clicked
"-Baelfire!?"
And i'm done with chapter 3 of Turning Tides. I've got mixed feelings about this one, I like it, but i'm not sure I got it...worded right on the page, I don't know, it's definitely me. If I have this plotted out right it should be about 9 or 10 chapters, I think. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you next time.