In this chapter, Rumple asked for some advice and immediately regrets voicing it out while the Doctor realizes that somethings never change when it comes to his friend.

Chapter 9

The beauty of a time machine is that when you are faced with a decision...you can actually stop and get away from it...have some distractions like alien invasions and mind controlling insects plus salt and pepper shaker shaped aliens firing death rays at you.

And then be brought back maybe after a minute has gone by so you can make the decision you would have pondered months over.

Well that was how Clara had put it when she had cornered Rumple again while walking the halls of the TARDIS.

But the things was, in the end they were going to run into a dead end and they had no other choice but to head home.

Clara had her students...frankly Rumple even had his job. They had to return...the only problem was Rumple still didn't know what to do.

He didn't want to ignore Belle outright. She may have banished him from Storybrooke but he could never really deny her of anything...even now.

And even now, after a few more adventures with the Doctor and Clara...he still didn't know what to do.

It was unfair to ask Clara to put on hold her life while he was too incompetent to decide what to do with the whirlwind that Brian had emailed him. But knowing the woman, she wouldn't head back to earth without him.

Rumple sighed and leaned back on the railings of the empty TARDIS console room. The Doctor had disappeared to who knows where and Clara was taking a shower after the dust of the last planet had basically stuck to their clothes.

"Any advice?" asked Rumple aloud, knowing fully well that the chances of the TARDIS replying was slim to none. Oh he knew the police box was alive in her own sense...but he has never interacted with her before.

"Voice interface enabled."

Rumple shot to his feet as a hologram materialized near the TARDIS console. A figure he thought he would never see again…

"Bae?"

"I am not Baelfire. I am a voice interface." replied the hologram of his deceased son blankly, looking the same as the day he died. Rumple knew he should have quelled that hope in his chest the minute he had turned around.

Rumple cleared his throat, willing himself to not shed the tears that were already threatening to fall from his eyes.

"I…"

"You require my assistance," said the hologram.

"Not like this," replied Rumple blankly as he descended the steps to stand in front of the hologram of his son.

"Do you wish me to take a different form?" asked Baelfire and it was unsettling for an image of his son to speak like that. "I usually take form of someone who is admired and-"

"I'd actually prefer the Doctor," began Rumple. "Any of them, take your pick."

"But you won't listen to them as much as you'd listen now to this form," replied the interface and Rumple studied the hologram. He should never have underestimated the TARDIS...because what the hologram had just said rang true. He would have listened and done whatever Bae had asked him to do...except for that one night with the bean and-

"Rumple?"

Rumple's eyes widened as the new voice rang through the room. "No, please, anyone but her...I can't-"

Rumple collapsed to the floor on his knees, his tears already running down his face as the interface, now in the form of Belle walked closer to him. "Please...anyone else-"

"What about this form?"

Rumple's head shot up as the voice of his grandson filled the room. Henry was looking at him curiously...the same expression that he had worn whenever he encountered a trinket in the shop. His eyes...so very much like his father, looking at him as though he was the most interesting thing in the room.

"I'm sensing this form is far acceptable than the other two," said the hologram in Henry's voice and Rumple sighed. Seeing Henry was...different. It didn't bring the failure he felt when seeing Bae and the hurt when it was Belle...seeing Henry, felt...Rumple didn't have any word for it. It just felt different.

"What are you supposed to be again, I'm sorry I didn't catch the first part," said Rumple, straightening up and rubbing away the tears that had fallen.

"I am an interface, enabled by your request earlier," replied Henry and it was very weird hearing the teenger talk like that. "You requested for my assistance."

Rumple snorted and walked to the console. "Unless you can tell me what to do with Belle's email, I doubt-"

"You asked for advice," interrupted holo-Henry and Rumple turned to it.

"And do you have any?" asked Rumple, his voice surprisingly gentle...as though he was resigned to whatever-

"What are you afraid of?"

The question threw him off and Rumple should have learned by now that the TARDIS was always full of surprises. "Everything."

"You're not a coward," replied holo-Henry, his voice surprisingly sounding like the real boy. "You don't run away...you run to save the people you care about."

"It's still running," replied Rumple with a sigh.

"Running is an act," said holo-Henry, eyeing him closely. "The reasons behind the act, that is what's important." He paused and turned to Rumplestiltskin. "What is your reason?"

"Reason for what?" asked Rumple, confused.

"People act and think of the reason to justify said act later...maybe you should think of the reason first before you decide on what to do," said holo-henry and Rumple was surprised...because that was an advice...a pretty sound one too.

"I gues…" began Rumple, looking away from the holographic image of his grandson. "I guess I want to say a proper goodbye...I want to-I have to…" He paused to met holo-Henry's eyes. "I have to let her go."

"And what's the best way to do that?" asked holo-Henry.

Rumple sighed and nodded. "Helping her one last time."

The Doctor and Clara had stayed in the hall just outside the console room, listening to the exchange. Clara had pointed out that the voice interface had taken the form of Rumple's grandson.

"Are you sure this was what he needed?" asked Clara as they watched the exchange.

"Contrary to popular belief...I do not control the TARDIS," replied the Doctor. "She has a mind and consciousness of her own."

And Rum had asked for some advice and the TARDIS would always lend a hand to the people who asked for help….even those within her walls

The Doctor wasn't really surprised. Ever since they had met the young magician, the TARDIS had always showed a soft spot to the young boy then man then Dark One. Even with the glittering scales and crocodile image, the TARDIS liked Rumple...hell, anyone was bound to like rumple. They just had to unearth the side of him that was buried in all the man's walls.

When Rum had said that the best way to let go of Belle was to help her one last time, the Doctor and Clara both sighed. That was the best course of action but Rumple was hesitant to do so, mainly because of them.

Clara and the Doctor but understood that Rumple was hesitant because he was scared of what they would think. That maybe this act of helping Belle would look like he wanted to leave them...but Clara and the Doctor knew that it wasn't the case at all.

Rumple and holo-Henry where now talking about the other times the TARDIS voice interface was activated and more of what the TARDIS was capable of and the Doctor smiled. Rumple was always a curios lad and having a hologram form of the TARDIS to talk to opened the flood gates of questions the sorcerer had for the ageold time machine.

"Safe to say he's going to be occupied for a while," said Clara, turning to her room. "I'm going to get some sleep. Wake me when we're heading somewhere."

"Home?" asked the Doctor.

"Anywhere, as long as Rum's ok," replied Clara and she smiled before heading to her room to retire.

The Doctor watched her go and sighed. He could hear the voice interface and Rumple continue talking in the other room and the Doctor coudln't help but grin at the mention of long colorful scarfs that Rumplestiltskin had made for him…

The Doctor had never really seen Market Day in the Enchanted Forest...until now. It was such a site to behold with all the different merchnats selling their trade. Farmers, fisherman, spinners and the like with even some dwelling in magic and selling potions.

The Doctor wanted to grab a few vials and study the scientific properties of their so-called elixirs when a group of young boys running around caught his attention. They all ran towards one of the spinner stalls.

"Come on Rumple! I'm sure the ladies can spare you for a while."

"We need your brains for a game!"

"Please Rum!"

The boy he had expected to not be able to recognize turned to his two guardians who smiled at him had grown taller since the last time he had seen him but his face was still that of the boy he had found lost in the forest what seemed like a lifetime ago.

Rum joined the other boys running around the market but as they ran past him, Rumple stopped in his tracks and turned to him. The Doctor gave the boy a smile, knowing fully well that the boy would recognize him given any face but his age-mates all but dragged him and the Doctor could only watch as Rum looked his way before running with his friends.

The Doctor headed for the stall. He promised himself that he would just check-in and not dally, that he would just talk to the ladies and leave…

"We're all out sir," began the blonde spinner but she stopped short when she saw the long colorful scarf the Doctor was wearing.

"Oh now I understand why Rumple looked at you strangely," came the voice of the raven haired spinner. "Suits you Doctor."

"Rumple must have been surprised to see you actually wearing what he had made, especially when it was that long and colorful," added the blonde spinner with a smile. "Come to ask about his well being and up and leave again Doctor?"

"Now, now-"

"Oh come off it, you've tried it twice and it didn't go well, now did it?"

The Doctor sighed. "Yes, well this time I have to keep that little promise. How is he?"

"An amazing boy growing up way too fast for my liking," replied the raven head spinner. "He's such a wonderful lad that I can't believe that his bastard of a father could just leave him like that...he's son is the most amazing boy in the whole realm!"

"Now, now," began the blonde spinner. "We've promised not to mention that name ever again, Rumple might come back and hear us."

"I'm glad he's doing well," mentioned the Doctor.

The two women turned to each other then back at the Doctor with a curious look. "I'm sensing you want more than that answer Doctor."

The Doctor sighed. He hadn't mentioned his little theory to the ladies that Rumple might have the ability to control the energy in his surroundings...or maybe in their terms, the lad has magic.

"It was nice to see the two of you again," said the Doctor. "I'll try and check in soon."

The expression on the two ladies' face spoke volumes but they did not press him further as he turned on his heel and left.

The Doctor hoped the TARDIS would cooperate and he sighed when he found the familiar blue box just where he left it. It's not he didn't want to see Rumple...but each time he visited the lad, the Doctor feared that the request would come.

And of course as Rumple grew older, it was only inevitable for the boy to ask..to realize what the Doctor could do for him.

"You shouldn't really park her in the middle of a clearing," came the voice behind him and the Doctor turned to see Rumple looking at him sadly. "Anyone could just come and take her, you know."

The Doctor offered him a smile but the boy didn't return the gesture. "You were going to leave without talking to me…"

"Oh Rumple it's not that-"

"Everyone leaves…" whispered Rumple before he turned to run the opposite direction. The Doctor seeing the tears that were already falling and he didn't hesitate. He got into the TARDIS and she dematerialized.

Rumple heard her leave and he just ran faster...that was until the sound surrounded him and he stopped and was amazed at how he was suddenly in the TARDIS herself.

"I'm sure the ladies have mentioned that walking out on someone is very rude, Rumplestiltskin." said the Doctor as he pulled down a lever and Rumple just looked at him. The Doctor walked to the doors, opened them and sat down on the edge. Rumple being curious, followed him and almost fell to the TARDIS floor at the view…

They were floating over the market and Rumple could just see the many stalls and people going about their business, unaware of the floating box above them. The Doctor was dangling his legs over the edge and...it looked dangerous but who was Rumple kidding, this was the Doctor.

"Come sit Rumple," said the Doctor, motioning for him to sit next to him. "We won't fall, the TARDIS will prevent us from going overboard."

Rumple shakingly went over and settled next to the Doctor, noticing how his long scarf flew in the wind. "You kept it."

"Of course I kept it," said the Doctor with a bright smile. "You made it for me. So when I had to pick a new attire for this new face, I knew I had to include the scarf that the spinner Rumplestiltskin made for me."

"I'm not a spinner...well yet," replied Rumple blankly. "I'm just a boy."

"A remarkable boy from what I'm hearing," replied the Doctor. "Now...I suppose I have upset you with up and just leaving without even saying a proper hello and goodbye-let me finish."

Rumple was about to speak when the Doctor cut him off. The boy surprised but his sudden tone of voice and so he remained quiet.

"You have every right to be upset, Rumple," admitted the Doctor. "I shouldn't have done that...I tried before and she intervened-I should have learned my lesson by now."

"Why were you going to do then?" asked Rumple, his voice low and barely above a whisper.

"It's because I was scared, Rumple," admitted the Doctor, meeting the boy's gaze. "I was scared to disappoint you."

"You would never disappoint me, Doctor," said Rumple, a little surprised at the Doctor's reason. "Why would you even think that?"

"What does the TARDIS stand for Rumple?" asked the Doctor and Rumple thought that he was trying to distract him but he didn't want to upset the older man and so he answered.

"Time and Relative Dimension in Space."

"And what can it do?"

Rumple opened his mouth to answer when it hit him. "Oh Doctor, I won't ask for you to change my life."

"You won't?" asked the Doctor, a little surprised that the boy understood him easily.

"My father made his choice," said Rumple sadly, his voice lowering once again. "He sent me away and that what was he had wanted...I won't force him to do anything else." He paused and looked down at the market. "I have a good life...the two ladies have been more of a family to me than…" Rumple paused as tears threatened to fall from his eyes once again.

The Doctor wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders. "He made a bad decision Rumple."

Rumple remained quiet, clingy to the other man.

"I meant what I said," continued the Doctor, looking at the boy. "You are a very remarkable boy...willing to sacrifice your own happiness for the happiness of the people around you, even if they don't deserve it." He paused. "Your father may think he's happy without you in his life, his choice but he's very wrong."

He offered the boy a smile as brown eyes rose to meet his own. "And we're not going to help him realize his mistake...let him live in his regret of sending away the most brilliant and amazing boy in the whole universe."

"I'm not-"

"Oh yes you are," said the Doctor, his smile brightening even more. "No one else could make a scarf like this and not be just as amazing as his creation."

Rumple smiled slightly and the Doctor counted that as a victory.

"So you've decided then?" asked the Doctor as he returned to the console room to see Rumple sitting on one of the steps leading up to the higher levels.

Rumple sighed and did not meet the Doctor's gaze. "She sent me away and that what was she had wanted...I won't force her to do anything else." began Rumple, still not meeting his gaze but just looking at the time column.

"It was her choice," finished the Doctor for him, remembering the same lines from Rumplestiltskin all those years ago. "I think it's my turn to say the phrase 'I heard that before' Rum."

Rumple chuckled slightly before finally meeting his eye. "I have said that before haven't I?"

"Yes," replied the Doctor, walking over to sit next to the sorcerer. "Though I'd never imagine that your Belle would be equated to that monster of a man you called father."

"I called him Papa, not father," tried Rumple and the Doctor just glared at his feeble attempt to lighten the mood.

"So what happens now?"

"You could drop us back at the flat...maybe an hour after we left?" asked Rumple and the Doctor nodded.

"And then?"

"And then I'll email her the translation...and that will be the end of it," said Rumple with a sigh, a lone tear falling from one eye as he bowed his head to look at the floor. "She's made her choice...she wants me out of her life and I've been a little stupid for not accepting that...for even hoping that there was a chance-"

"Rumple, it's not stupid for you to hope that you could fix your marriage," said the Doctor. "I would have done the same thing."

"That I can imagine," said Rumple earning him a glare from the Doctor. "If you've found the right person I guess...I remember you said you basically ran away after marrying Queen Elizabeth."

"How do you even know who Queen Elizabeth is?" asked the Doctor.

"I'm Scottish," argued Rumple with a cheeky grin.

"Cursed self does not count," shot back the Doctor.

"And regenerating into a Scottish man does?" argued Rumple with a raised eyebrow and he barely dodged the book thrown his way as he lost himself in a fit of laughter.

"Alright you've had your fun," said the Doctor, helping him to his feet. "For what it's worth, I think you're making the right decision."

"Thank you," replied Rumple as he straightened his clothes. "I guess I have to ask Clara for help in finding a decent flat to move in."

"Or you could just move into the TARDIS permanently," offered the Doctor. "Could use the company, besides Clara of course."

"You are going to regret that," said the woman in question as she strolled into the console room. "Besides Rum prefers living with me."

"He just said he wanted to move out," argued the Doctor.

"That is not what he said," replied Clara.

"That was exactly what he said," fired back the Doctor and they continued to argue as Rumple just watched their usual antics with a smile on his face.

Belle had made her choice and he was making his own. If Belle found her happiness in Storybrooke, well Rumple seemed to be finding it inside the TARDIS with the two bickering people inside.