A/N: That is not a typo. Roland says "purpie" instead of "purple."
Chapter Twelve
"I don't get sick, Dearie," Rumplestiltskin said while Belle looked at him and smiled when he sneezed.
"Are you sure?" she teased and he used a handkerchief to wipe his nose.
"Yes," he said then sneezed again and glared when she giggled.
"Belle?" he whispered, slowly waking up.
"Drink this," someone said then parted his lips with the edge of the wooden bowl and he sipped on the sour tasting water. He coughed then moaned as he felt his head being lowered and slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on a soft mattress in a room with cream color walls and a light green canopy was over his head. He felt weak and tired as he sighed and looked at the Wicked Witch sitting next to him. Bunfin was curled against his left hip and he gently scratched the top of the small monkey's head. "Why didn't you tell me you were ill?"
"I'm not," he said as he tried to sit up, but the dizziness moving through his head made him moan and fall back against the pillows.
"You have been unconscious for three days," she said and his heart thumped in his chest.
"I'm just tired," he said then closed his eyes and the darkness claimed him. The Wicked Witch looked at him when she got up then walked out of the room and the door closed behind her.
Belle looked at the enchanted mirror as she watched Rumplestiltskin sleeping and wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't know why he had been sleeping for the last three days, but she was concerned about the waxy look to his skin and the ragged movement of his chest as he breathed.
"Rumple," she whispered then waved her hand over the enchanted mirror and watched the blue mist swirling in soft circles.
"Drink this," Belle said as he shook his head and coughed. He felt tired and ill and she sweetly brushed the hair from his eyes. "Stop acting like a child."
"I'm not," he croaked and folded his arms over his chest. He wondered why she was smiling at him pouting as he sniffed and she stroked his cheek.
"Please?" she asked as he sighed then rolled his eyes and she helped him drink the medicine. He had instructed her in how to make it and he did admit her using some honey made it taste better.
Rumplestiltskin opened his eyes when he looked at the canopy over his head when he sighed and wiped the tears from his eyes. He had forgotten the time he had been caught out in the rain and Belle had taken care of him when he caught a cold. He never got sick since becoming the Dark One and he admitted that he liked her taking care of him. He wish she was here now as his heart thumped in his ears and a hallow feeling expanded in his chest.
Sighing, he moved the bedding back when he slowly sat up and sat against the pillows. His head ached as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose. He noticed that he was wearing a white fleece nightshirt that buttoned in the front and it was open, exposing his chest. He buttoned the buttons when he felt something sit on his stomach and looked to see the small monkey looking back at him. He held his arms out as the small monkey scampered up to his chest and he held the small monkey against him.
The door opened while Rumplestiltskin walked in the room and Bunfin sat on his left shoulder. He found she had supplied him with fresh clothes and boots and he was wearing a mint green shirt with puffy sleeves and was opened at the neck, a dark green leather vest, a dark green leather waistcoat, dark green leather trousers and black leather boots. The Wicked Witch smiled at him when she stood up and walked to him. He looked straight ahead as she looked him over and pressed his lips together after she swatted his bottom.
"I admit I had my doubts, but you have proven you're still the same old monster I remember," she whispered then glared at the small monkey and Rumplestiltskin looked at her with disgust in his eyes.
"I'm glad you're pleased, Dearie," he said and she smiled.
"Now we can discuss what I am going to do to Regina."
"If it were me, I would destroy those she loves."
"No one loves her."
"That's not true," Robin said as he slid her arms around Regina and she smiled then looked at the enchanted mirror.
"That's not true," Rumplestiltskin said, wagging his finger.
"If you are talking about that thief and his little brat…"
"Watch it," Regina growled.
"I am," Rumplestiltskin said with a small smile and giggled. "If you were to kill them…"
"Rumplestiltskin," she growled and Robin hushed her.
"I have a better idea, Darling," the Wicked Witch said as she stroked his cheek and smiled. "I want you to kill them."
"Still don't trust me?" he asked with a mocked shock look on his face.
"No," she said with a cold tone to her voice. "Show them to me."
He watched as a crystal ball appeared in her right hand and he closed his eyes, placing his right hand on top of the crystal ball. A green mist appeared when Robin, Roland and Henry appeared and she frowned.
"Who is that other boy?"
"That's her adopted son," Rumplestiltskin said with a small smile. The Wicked Witch waved her hand when the green mist faded and he gave her a blank look.
"Mama!" Roland shouted when the green fog enveloped him, Robin and Henry as Regina moved to help them, but Charming stopped her. He was shocked when he did something he never thought he do in his entire life. He held her against him as she placed her face against his chest and sobbed.
The green fog appeared as Robin, Henry and Roland walked out and Robin picked Roland up, holding him in his arms. Roland looked at Rumplestiltskin, but Rumplestiltskin barely shook his head and the Wicked Witch walked to Robin.
"So, you are the poor fool Regina married," she purred as she stroked Robin's cheek then slapped him and Robin glared at her.
"Leave my papa alone!" Roland shouted then winced as she glared at him he buried his face in his father's neck.
"Curb your brat before I make a stew out of him," she growled and Rumplestiltskin balled his hands into fists. Every nerve in his body cried for him to kill her, but he knew he couldn't and his father's voice called him a coward. The Wicked Witch looked at him when she smiled and walked to Rumplestiltskin. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"I'm waiting for Regina. Wouldn't want her to miss out on all this fun," Rumplestiltskin said with a wave of his hand then giggled.
"No, just kill them and I'll send her their bodies," she said and looked at Robin, Henry and Roland. "Start with the brat."
"NO!" Regina shouted and Charming hushed her.
Rumplestiltskin walked to Robin while Roland looked at him with wide eyes and the Wicked Witch stood behind Rumplestiltskin, smiling. Rumplestiltskin opened his mouth as he pretended to scream and Roland mocked what he was doing. Smiling, Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes when Robin held Roland close and whispered something in his ear.
"What are you doing?" the Wicked Witch demanded as she walked to Robin and he glared at her.
"I was telling him goodbye," Robin said then set Roland down and Roland looked up at Rumplestiltskin.
"Kill him!" she shouted and Rumplestiltskin waved his hands and a purple fog enveloped Roland, who screamed, then the purple fog vanished. Lying on the floor was Roland's body and the Wicked Witch laughed.
"I'll kill him!" Regina shouted as she pulled away from Charming and slammed her hands on the table.
"Regina," Belle said, looking at who was standing behind Regina.
"I swear! I'll tear him limb from limb!"
"Regina," Emma said through clenched teeth.
"Then I will kill you," Regina growled, looking at Belle.
"Mama, why are you angry?" Roland asked with tears in his eyes as she spun around and Roland was standing behind. He ran to her when Regina picked him up and held him in her arms. She hushed him as she rubbed his back and kissed his cheek.
"Mama isn't angry, Darling. I was just upset about what Mister Rumple did," she said then looked at him. "What did he do?"
"The Bad Lady wanted Mister Rumple to hurt me. I knew he wouldn't do that and Mister Rumple wanted me to scream. Papa said it was ok so I did then the purpie smoke came and brought me home," Roland said with a grin.
"Yes, it did," she said then looked at Belle and sighed. "Sorry."
"It's alright," Belle said and they looked at the enchanted mirror.
"You stinking…," Robin shouted then stopped moving after the Wicked Witch waved her hand and smiled.
"Now kill the other boy," she said and Rumplestiltskin walked to Henry. Henry locked eyes with his grandfather when Rumplestiltskin placed his hands on Henry's shoulders and Henry stood his full height.
"I can't believe you're doing this. I thought you'd changed," Henry said.
"You thought wrong," Rumplestiltskin said with a cold tone to his voice and the Wicked Witch looked at him.
"Well what are you waiting for?" she asked. Rumplestiltskin felt his heart aching as he lifted his hands and a purple light shimmered around his hands. Henry screamed as the purple fog enveloped him and the purple fog faded. Rumplestiltskin looked at his hands and noticed they were shaking and the Wicked Witch smiled, seeing Henry's body lying on the floor.
"Easy, Kiddo," Emma said after she caught Henry as the purple fog faded and he hugged her,
"Are you alright?" Belle asked.
"Yeah, but I don't think Grandpa is," Henry said as he ran to her and looked at the enchanted mirror. "He was sweating and his eyes looked funny."
"He's using too much magic," Bae said as he looked at the enchanted mirror and frowned.
"And he needs to send Robin back," Emma said and Baelfire slid her arm around her, holding her to his side.
Robin watched as Rumplestiltskin walked to him and the Wicked Witch watched him. Robin could see the glassy look to Rumplestiltskin's eyes and Rumplestiltskin flexed his fingers.
"Well, get on with it. Kill him," she said as he sighed then locked eyes with Robin and the Wicked Witch waved her hands, freeing Robin. Robin knew he could run, but didn't as Rumplestiltskin raised his hands and a purple light encircled his hands. Robin screamed when the purple fog hit him then the purple fog faded and the Wicked Witch looked at Robin lying on the floor.
"Papa!" Roland shouted as Robin ran to Regina and Roland after the purple fog faded and he hugged his wife and son.
"Are you alright?" Regina asked and Robin kissed her.
"Yes, I'm fine," he said.
"Is Mister Rumple alright?" Roland asked.
"I hope so," he said as he picked up Roland and held him. No one noticed the dagger sitting in the shoebox in the china cabinet. The silver blade was sparkling in a purple light and the scrolled lettering of his names rippled. Slowly the second five letters faded as the purple light vanished and gray smoke floated off the blade.
"Excellent," the Wicked Witch said when Rumplestiltskin slid to his knees then onto his stomach and she knelt next to him. She turned him over onto his back when she placed her hand on his chest and felt the ragged rise and fall of his chest. Sighing, she picked him up then left the room, but didn't see the three "bodies" vanish in puffs of purple smoke.
"Rumple?" he heard when he opened his eyes and could barely see Belle sitting next to him. His head hurt as did his chest and she brushed the hair from his eyes.
"Belle, I'm so hot," he croaked and she pressed her hand against his cheek. He felt like he was melting inside and his skin felt like it was on fire.
"Hold on," she whispered and reached over to brush the hair out of his eyes. His skin felt hot as the candlelight shimmered on his skin and his hair was damp with sweat. His eyes were open, but saw nothing and his breathing came in short rasps. He couched and moaned as she got up and walked to the pedestal where the pitcher and bowl sat. There was a small cloth near the bowl as she poured some water into the bowl and carried the bowl and small cloth to the bed. Rumplestiltskin moaned as she sat back down and placed the bowl on the night table. She placed the small cloth in the water then rang the small cloth out and pressed the small cloth to his cheeks then his forehead. He seemed to like the feeling of water on his skin as he sighed and half closed his eyes. "Does that feel better?"
"A…a little," he said with a crack in his voice and she placed the small cloth back in the water. "I feel like I'm dying."
"You're not dying."
"Why am I so hot?" he asked and she wrung out the small cloth, patting the sides of his neck.
"That's the fever," she whispered and he moaned
"Don't leave me," he pleaded and she titled her head to one side.
"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered and he closed his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," someone said when he opened his eyes and the Wicked Witch gently lifted his head. She pressed the wooden bowl to his lips when she parted his lips and he sipped on the sour tasting medicine. She placed his head down when he sighed and she placed her hand on his chest. "You're getting worse."
"Is that concern I hear, Dearie?" Rumplestiltskin asked then weakly giggled.
"No," she said then stood up and looked down at him. "This better not be a trick or I will kill your loved ones. Remember, Dark One, you are mine!"
He watched her leave the room when he rolled onto his side and curled up into a ball. He felt the tears in his eyes as he started sobbing and buried his face in the pillow. He didn't notice Bunfin sitting on the top of the headboard as the small monkey climbed down onto the pillow and gently stroked his hair.