In this chapter, the TARDIS fails to get back to Storybrooke, Robin contemplates his new life in New York and in a flashback to the Enchanted Forest, a boy is reunited with an old friend.
Note; So we won't be focusing much on Storybrooke for the next couple of chapters. But rather we'd be dwelling more on Rumple's past interactions with the Doctor and other companions.
Chapter 5
The TARDIS lighted up as the Doctor, Clara and Rumple watched the time column rise and fall. The lights dimmed and the sound of the machine taking off echoed throughout the room.
They were all still for a moment, except for the time column but as the moment stretched the TARDIS suddenly jolted and both Clara and Rumple hit the floor hard. The Doctor was caught off balance but because he had a firm grip on one lever he managed to not be thrown across the room unlike his companions.
The Doctor swung back the lever and the TARDIS stopped moving.
"Dead end," said the Doctor as Clara and Rumple both groaned and got up from the floor. "I don't think you two can handle another round."
"You try being tossed around the hard floor of the TARDIS ten times," mumbled Clara as she got up and turned to Rumple. "You okay, Rum?"
"I'll live," replied Rumple as he shifted to sitting on the floor, back leaning against the railings. "I don't think it's wise to try again, Doctor…"
His voice was resigned and Clara immediately sat down next to him, clinging to the older man's side. "I've told you, Rum. You're welcome to come stay with me."
"Or me," added the Doctor who stood a couple of feet from them. "You won't get rid of us that easily."
They've been trying to breach the protection around Storybrooke and materialize near Rumple's cabin, not even the town itself, but even that isolated place couldn't be reached. It was after all already inside the barriers of Storybrooke.
The Doctor had said that he had pinpointed the exact location and the correct time, but materializing at the moment that Storybrooke had been created proved to be protected by magic, energy as the Doctor called it, stronger than the TARDIS could overcome.
The Doctor tried different time frames but with their tenth reaching the same outcome, Rumple knew it was pointless to continue trying.
He knew before that it was a pointless attempt...he just clung to the hope that maybe, with the curse altered, that maybe he could go home.
But that wasn't the case…
He no longer had a home.
"Rum?"
Rumple put on a small smile for her as he slowly got to his feet. "I'm fine, Clara." He stopped and turned to the Doctor who clearly saw past his facade. "I just-I think I need something to drink. Excuse me."
He slowly headed out of the console room. Both the Doctor and Clara understanding that he needed the time alone.
"We have to do something," said Clara as she continued to look at the doorway leading out of the console room.
"We already did it, Clara," said the Doctor as he worked on the controls of the TARDIS and let them stay in the Time Vortex for a while. "It's up to him now."
"He's better off with us, Doctor," argued Clara as the young woman turned to him. "You can't seriously tell me that if he decided not to stay, that you're just going to let him walk out of those doors. Alone."
"If that's what he wants, Clara," reasoned the Doctor. "I'm not going to force Rum to do something he doesn't want to."
"It's what's best for him," fired back Clara.
"Yes, it may be what's best for him," began the Doctor. "But it may not be what he wants."
He let his words sink in for a bit as he turned and headed to the second level of the console room. Clara followed him after a beat. "I've taken in many companions, Clara. But never did I force them to come with me, made them come along without them agreeing to what was coming. It's a choice."
He leaned over the railings and turned to her. "It's always been a choice and Rum's knows that."
Clara sighed and nodded, copying his posture and leaning over the railings. "I just hate seeing him like this."
"You and me both."
New York was different.
Well different, new and very very complicated as Robin came to realize.
He, Marianne and Roland had manage with Regina's help. It was weird trying to go about the usual routine of being in the Land Without Magic when you had no clue what normal was.
They had been staying in Baelfire's old home and Robin felt his heart sink a little with that realization. He had only known the man briefly but he sympathised with his father, even if said father was the Dark One.
He himself couldn't bear the thought of losing his own son.
He shifted the brown bags he was holding to get a good grip on the keys to the apartment. They had enough money for food and rent, if he remember correctly, to last a couple more weeks. But he really needed to start venturing out to this unfamiliar world and devote his efforts in making a life for his family…
Not thinking about the woman he had left behind in the town of Maine.
Robin shook the image of Regina from his head. He had a family, he had Roland, he had Marianne back...this is where he was supposed to be.
He finally managed to open the door and sure enough the site of his wife and son was what greeted him.
He should be happy...no, he was happy. Everything he needed was right here in New York. Not in a magical town in Maine.
Marianne smiled up at him as he closed the door. "Got everything we need?"
Robin nodded as he deposited the bags on the table. "Food-wise yes. Next would be clothes for you. Though the people back in Storybrooke some garments on this realm." And by people he actually meant Regina but he didn't dare say that outloud.
"We can focus on that later," said Marianne as she came closer and ran her hands over his chest. Robin had noticed that she was more touch starve these days...well ever since he got her back. She couldn't go an hour without seeking his touch...and his lips and it was slowly driving him insane.
But he didn't complain...he had spent years without her, raising Roland on his own and crying himself to sleep sometimes wishing that he had Marianne back. And now here she was, and yet why was he not all that grateful?
Maybe because his thoughts were no longer solely focused on her.
She on the other hand had no other thoughts but him.
"Papa?" the sound of his son's voice proved to be the best distraction and Marianne backed off and both turned to look at their son.
Robin thanked whatever magic there was in this realm that gave his son some perfect timing. He turned to his son and swiftly picked him up before giving Marianne a small smile which she returned.
This was his family. He couldn't give up on them...no matter how his heart told him to go back to Storybrooke.
Rumple was back in the console room which was empty except for him. He sat on one of the steps leading up to the higher level where a more comfortable chair was located...but he preferred to sit there and watch the glow of the TARDIS console.
The Doctor mentioned that they were currently parked in the Time Vortex, just floating idly by. The Time Lord mentioned that they could probably hover somewhere else, like over a planet that put on a great light show every rotation but Rumple just shrugged whenever the Doctor asked what he wanted to do.
It's not that he didn't want to do anything...it's more of the fact that he didn't know what to do anymore.
His curse was somewhat fixed...dormant would be the more accurate term but there was no longer a chance that the Darkness would eat away at the last flicker of humanity he had left in him. He still had magic which was one of the main reasons why he wanted the Hat.
He had gotten everything he had wanted for his curse and for his magic…
But what he wanted most of all was to be in his bed back in Storybrooke with his wife by his side.
Rumple sighed. That would probably be ex-wife now. Banishing from the town would probably already equate to signing divorce papers in the Land Without Magic.
He heard footsteps but made no intention to move. He just continued to stare at the console until Clara sat down beside him.
"Hey."
"Hey."
To be honest, he already hated the question 'are you ok' but he didn't want to snap at the two only friends he had left. He was glad that Clara didn't ask but that one word was enough already.
"You can stay with me, if you like," offered Clara and Rumple turned to her all of a sudden. "You don't have to travel with us if you don't want to. You could stay with me and live a normal, land without magic life if that's what you truly want."
Rumple just stared at her.
"I mean that was what I am assuming you were going to do when we found you." continued Clara. "You were already moving away from the townline."
"Because I was going to try and find a few more people from the Enchanted Forest who were banished here," explained Rumple. "With their help, I was going to find a way to get back to Storybrooke."
"Is that what you want to do?"
Clara sure didn't waste time. She just cut to the chase and Rumple found himself sighing. "Honestly, I don't know anymore…"
He trailed off as he turned back to the console. "I don't know what I want anymore, Clara."
Clara studied him for a moment and then turned to follow his gaze. "For a long time, I felt the same way you did." He didn't make any sound of acknowledgement so Clara continued. "I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life...especially since the person I loved-"
Clara stopped as memories of Danny Pink resurfaced and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying. She had moved on from that and bringing it up now wasn't just because she wanted to reaffirm the she'd moved on...but it was also to help a friend.
"Since he died," continued Clara and at this she knew Rumple had turned to look at her. "I didn't know what I wanted anymore. I didn't travel with the Doctor for that time because I had thought he went home to Gallifrey."
"It wasn't destroyed?" asked Rumple all of a sudden. "How? I thought the Time War-"
"He just didn't remembered that he saved his home," replied Clara with a sad smile. "I should really tell you that sometime. I think it was right after he had brought me to you...and then I had to deal with three Doctors and you can just imagine them all."
"Three?!" asked Rumple in disbelief. "How in all the realms did you survive three doctors? I can barely keep up with one."
"Ah you see Rum,' began Clara with a mischievous smile. "You just have to make sure you're the boss."
The Doctor stood in the shadows as Clara continued to tell Rumple the story of how he and his past selves had saved Gallifrey.
To be honest, he had liked how the conversation had turned. Both of them were still hurting because of the loss of their loved ones...in fact the Doctor would have felt the same if not for Santa Claus' little interference.
He stood and leaned back on the hall just right outside the console room, listening to Clara's voice as she got to the part of the story were the three doctors have managed to come up with a plan to get into UNIT's Black Archives.
Maybe he could bring Rum there...the lad was always the curious fellow ever since he was a child. It could prove to be a great distraction, not to mention he could probably check on UNIT and the other peace treaties that Earth was currently under.
Maybe Kate and Rum would even get along…
"And then all of a sudden they were jumping up and down that little barn because they were apparently all thinking the same thing," said Clara with a laugh. "And then they were off, all three TARDISes zooming who knows where...they didn't bring me because apparently it was too dangerous."
"And they saved Gallifrey…" finished Rum. "I'm guessing this War Doctor regenerated after that...that's why he didn't remember that he saved Gallifrey."
"The previous Doctor said that he would be the only one who would remember," said Clara. "Well him and future Doctors anyway."
"So the whole twelve regeneration limit has also been altered?" asked Rum and the Doctor had to smile as to how the curious lad he had known long ago was still inside the centuries old sorcerer.
"So here we are Jamie, Victoria, the Enchanted Forest," announced the Doctor as the trio exited the TARDIS. "Now don't get lost while I just have a few words with two lovely ladies about a coat."
"Why don't you just replace the old frock coat Doctor," said Victoria as she and Jamie looked around. "It is too big for you anyway."
"It's useful," replied the Doctor as he took off. "I trust you wouldn't get lost!"
Not that he didn't want the company of Jamie and Victoria but the spinner ladies weren't much for visitors that they didn't know, especially since they now had a small charge. A fact that still confused the Doctor, seeing as the two ladies were neither married nor had any immediate family members that had children.
Upon reaching the cottage, the Doctor thought he had the wrong day seeing as the home was empty. He had been lectured so many times to never show up when it was market days and now maybe he did punch in the coordinates wrong.
He was about to head back to the TARDIS and maybe catch up with Jamie and Victoria when a young boy came out of the small house and immediately stopped and the young one saw him.
"The ladies just went to the market for some herbs, sir," came the young boy's voice and something instantly snapped in the Doctor's head as recognition came. He has seen this boy before...not just seen but even helped get back to the small town he had wandered off from.
"Oh Doctor!"
The Doctor turned and true enough the two spinsters were walking back to the house, both with baskets filled with whatever plants they could have brought from the market, which was a lot. Last he saw them, they were barely getting by but now it seems trade was good.
"Knew it had to be you," the first woman said. She had blonde hair that ended by her shoulders and engulfed the Doctor in a hug. "There were two new people in the market who looked lost but had smiles on their faces…"
"Must be travelling with the Doctor," finished the other woman who had long black hair.
"Doctor?" came the small voice and all three turned to the boy who was looking at the Doctor skeptically.
"Rumple, why don't you go to the market." began the woman with blonde hair. "I think I saw some of your friends already there waiting."
Rumple studied the Doctor for a while before finally nodding and walking the same way the two ladies had come. He took a few steps before looking back to them. The Doctor offered him a small smile and Rumple seemed to be taken aback slightly by it...before he turned completely and walked back over to them.
"I think I'll just spin for today," said Rumple with a small smile as he headed back inside the house.
The Doctor's smiled dropped as soon as Rumple was inside. "So it's Rumple that's been in your care."
"We made the mistake of giving him a magic bean," offered the spinster with long black hair. "He of course gave it to his father."
"Pity the feeling isn't mutual between father and son," said the Doctor. "So Malcolm left him?"
"No they went to Neverland," said the other woman with blonde hair.
The Doctor turned to her. "Neverland?"
"Well that's what Rumple told us," continued the other spinner. "Do you know the place?"
"Heard of it," answered the Doctor.
"Well Malcolm brought him but then I don't know what came over that man and he just sent Rumple away," continued the spinner. "Good thing that Rumple was intelligent enough to find his way back to us."
"We're glad you made us keep an eye on them Doctor," added the other woman. "I hate to think what would have happened to that boy if he had no one."
"You think he recognized me?" asked the Doctor as they all headed inside.
The boy was nowhere to be seen but that fact seemed not to alarm the two women.
The question received a chuckle in return as the woman started keeping the herbs while the spinner just patted him behind the back. "With your clothes, Doctor. I believe so."
The three then proceeded to get to the matter at hand, his torn coat. The two ladies had of course wanted to bring the coat to the same size as he was now unlike his previous self which was built more narrow that his current self.
But the Doctor relented and just argued that a bigger coat was useful and that the reason why he came to them was because they wouldn't pester him about it.
While the two ladies just pointed that yes that was the reason and not because he wanted to check up on them.
Eventually, the spinner who was doing the work mainly, the one with the long black hair ushered the Doctor out because his boredom was getting under her nerves.
The Doctor made to protest but the door already shut on his face and he humphed in annoyance.
"You shouldn't really bother her when she spins."
The Doctor turned to see Rumple by the side of the house. He sat on one of the tree stumps and appeared to be knitting something colorful.
"What have you got there?" asked the Doctor, sitting next to the boy on the next available tree stump.
"A scarf," replied the boy. He continued to work but then he raised his hand and locked eyes with the Doctor. "I met a doctor before...he sort of reminds me of you."
"Really?" asked the Doctor knowing full well that the boy had already put two and two together.
"Are you a sorcerer?" asked the boy, trying to find an explanation. How could a man changed his whole being and still be the same person. The Doctor guessed that Rumple wanted to make sure who he was first before doing anything else...and that first step would be to find a reasonable explanation.
"No, I'm not, my boy," said the Doctor. "Frankly I do not believe in that mumbo jumbo."
Rumple rewarded him with a small smile so the Doctor thought it was time to maybe push things onward. "Do you trust me?"
Rumple's eyes widened as the Doctor smiled. "There's your answer then, Rumplestiltskin."
"Oh Doctor!" the boy exclaimed suddenly standing in front of the man. "It is you!"
The boy looked at him curiously. "How did you do it?"
"How did you know it was me?" asked back the Doctor with a small smile.
"I just felt it," replied Rumple, still a big smile on his face. "It's weird...but I just knew it was you when they had called you 'Doctor'."
The Doctor smiled and made no further inquiry of that. He may not be a sorcerer but it looked like he was in the presence of one.
"Enough about me," began the Doctor, as he took the young lad's hands into his own. "What have you been getting yourself into since the last time we saw each other? I hope you've put wandering in the woods behind you."
Rumple laughed and he proceeded to tell the Doctor about how the two ladies have been teaching him a lot of things. From spinning to reading and writing, to even some gardening that the two seemed to be absolutely baffled that Rumple could grow about any plant there was.
No question that Rumple would truly be a remarkable man as he grew.
"So how did you do it?" asked Rumple as he completed his many tales. "Please, Doctor. I'm very curious."
"Well you see Rumple," began the Doctor. "I have the ability to change every time I am close to dying."
"Is it a thing only a Time Lord can do?" asked the boy.
"Yes, I do believe so," answered the Doctor. "But I can only do it 12 times. So you'll probably see 13 versions of me floating around the TARDIS."
"Where is the TARDIS?" asked the boy suddenly excited.
"Just a few trees from here," said the Doctor. "Would you want another spin at it?"
"Well…" trailed off the boy as he looked back to the house. "I'll have to ask-"
"Go ahead Rumple!" came the call from inside the house.
"Just make sure to bring back the Doctor in one piece!"
"Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to listen in on other people," said Clara as he and Rumple emerged from the doorway of the console room.
"I wasn't eavesdropping," countered the Doctor. "I was-"
"Leaning on the wall," remarked Clara. "I'm going to try and salvage any food from the kitchen. She walked off leaving the two centuries old men alone.
"I take it you heard," asked Rumple with a shy smile.
"Just the part where she was telling you all about our little adventure in saving my home planet," replied the Doctor as he went to the console room, Rumple following him.
"What brought that on anyway?" asked the Doctor, playing around with a few buttons.
"She was to comfort me...I guess," replied Rum, leaning back on the console. "To be honest, Doctor. I have no idea what I want to do now...and Clara just began that she felt like that before as well...when she had lost someone and you apparently went home.'
"Yes, well that wasn't the actual case," replied the Doctor.
"She told me as much," said Rumple, not meeting his gaze and was contented to just stare at the floor.
"You know, Rum," began the Doctor, making his way to stand next to the other man. "You don't have to decide anything right now."
"What do you mean?" asked Rumple, looking up and giving him a very confused look.
"It's not like I'm going to kick you out of the TARDIS anytime soon," said the Doctor. "You're always welcome here." He stopped and placed a hand over the other man's shoulder. "But like I said, you don't have to decide on anything yet. Call it a trial period. See what happens when you travel with us and if it's really not what you want then so be it…"
He patted the man's shoulder and descended the steps to get to the doorway leading out of the console room. But just as he reached the bottom step, he turned to Rumple with a smile.
"You can't really know what you want without giving some things a try, right?"
Rumple chuckled and nodded his head. "Yes, I believe that is true."