Truly thankful: Castle'sGirl, Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape, jjxox8d, .Roared, AshRedDragon, Grace5231973

I do not own Once Upon a Time

Chapter 38 – Day 30 and 31: Forgiveness

The family from the Highlands laughed merrily. Angelina had just introduced her baby girl to her cousin. She put the infant on Baelfire's arms and the boy couldn't help but stare at the little thing with great awe, for it was the first time he held a baby.

"She's so…" He frowned, thinking of the best word to describe the little human he held on his arms. "…fragile." A wave of amused laughter filled the room and the baby stared back at Baelfire with curiosity, her little chubby pink fingers trying to grab any part of his head.

"She is fragile." Rumpelstiltskin confirmed, as he peeked his grandniece over Baelfire's shoulder. "But she'll grow soon fast and stronger."

The infant, as taking pleasure in the man's words, squirmed and bounced her little arms up and down, emitting a sound of excitement. Baelfire looked scared, suddenly afraid he would let the little bundle fell and quickly returned the baby to the mother.

"She's really pretty." He said smilingly to Angelina, who smiled in return, full of motherly pride. Soon little Ravenna would fell into a sweet sleep, in the protectiveness of her mama's warmth. And so, the young mother and father retreated to their home to rest, for the night had already arrived.

Thumbelina and her parents spent long happy hours chatting with Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire. Joy dissipated all anguish and sadness from the past weeks. Nobody touched the subject of war, though. It was true. Rumpelstiltskin and Baelfire looked well and healthy, but the family didn't miss the little fleeting moments of silence and brief switching of sorrowful looks between father and son. Everybody knew they had travelled far and long, and despite wanting to know what happened on the way, they knew the cripple and his son needed to rest and settle down a bit first. Instead, the village's daily life and the newest family member were subjects of conversation. Easy and safe talk. They knew it was a matter of time for their many questions to be answered.

It was already late when Thumbelina retrieved to her home, to her husband and boys. Rumpelstiltskin stayed in his parent's home, as he always did during his visits to Kriemont. Baelfire wasn't the least upset with the lack of space in the house and happily nestled against his father's body. He smiled amused as he noticed his father fell asleep almost the moment he laid down. He was happy they had made it. The teenager couldn't believe the things they had gone through the last weeks and couldn't help admiring his father. Rumpelstiltskin wasn't aware of his inner strength, Baelfire thought. The boy witnessed, during this long month, his father grow from the scared feeble peasant, to a more self-assured and determined person. He wondered if his father even realized the quantity of difficult probations they went through, how often he had to take fast decisions and be the unwavering leader. By the gods, he had even confronted an Ogre! Baelfire lied down with a happy sight and put his arm around his papa's chest. He smiled contented at the prospect of living with his family. He knew it was a sacrifice for the cripple to remain in the closeness of his grandpapa, and Baelfire highly appreciated the spinner's decision. And with these thoughts, the teenager slowly gave into slumber, feeling fully safe for the first time in weeks.

…

The morning arrived, bringing a beautiful sunny early winter day. The ice was in the air and small puddles had already a thin hard layer, which would melt during the day. Nobody was surprised to see Rumpelstiltskin still in deep sleep when everybody was starting their daily tasks. Baelfire informed his grandparents his father was had a bit temperature, something they all had expected. Grandmama promised to keep an eye on the spinner so the boy could relax and be with his cousins.

When Rumpelstiltskin finally woke up, it was already half way the morning. He felt numb and weary, feeling all the tiredness from the past weeks' tumultuous events take its toll. Still he got up and was welcomed with the smell of fresh tea.

"Ah, you're awake." His mother said, when she saw him get up. He sat by the table next to her. "How do you feel?"

"Completely worn out." He murmured while he stroked his temple. Meanwhile his mother placed a mug of hot chamomile and honey tea before him, which he gratefully took. Rumpelstiltskin saw from the corner of his eye, his father sitting by the door, getting some warm sunrays on his old bones. He chose to ignore him, not having the least energy to start whatever argument his father would conjure.

"Any news from Bram?" His mother asked.

"He won't leave his house. He won't let go of her memory." He said and sipped some of the warm liquid. His mother frowned a bit worried. She loved Bram as a son, having him often in her home. She could only imagine how much her son must have tried to convince his best friend to leave Armithil. But thought it was better not to push the subject any further.

"Did you see anybody else?" She continued.

"Jefferson and his girl. They were leaving to the City of Gold."

"Oh yes, that young lad. The tea-maker, right?" Rumpelstiltskin nodded. All the sudden he looked sorrowful. His parents didn't miss the look. Elisabeth rested her hand on his. "What is it, son?" He lifted his eyes to meet hers, gave a quick glance to where his father sat and looked back to his tea. He let out an uncomfortable sigh.

"Milah is dead." His mother froze and became instantly pale. His father almost stumbled from his chair. A heavy silence filled the room afterwards.

"Are you sure?" This time was his father's voice, surprise and shock all present in it.

"I buried her myself. She was…she was traveling to Snowland too, but with a caravan and…" He paused, remembering all the blood and dismembered bodies he had seen. His boy had seen. "…they were attacked and killed." Another awkward silence felt. Elizabeth stared shocked at her husband, who, like her, had no idea what to say. "Bae has no idea. If he ever asks, please stick to our version." His parents both nodded, understanding his wish, but still taken aback by the fact Rumpelstiltskin had somehow crossed paths with Milah and that she had found such a tragic end. "Excuse me, I need some air."

The cripple got up, feeling too sick and depressed to talk about anything else. His father quickly got out of the way, so his son could step outside. Again husband and wife switched startled and worried looks. Elizabeth nodded encouragingly. It didn't take long before the old man would follow his son. He found him sitting under a tree, on a hill. He always sat there when he was upset with something, most of the times with his father. Rumpelstiltskin cursed internally when he heard his father's footsteps. The old man sat next to him. They were silent for a long while, both staring at the golden trees in the distance, watching people work on the lands, children play in the meadows.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Charleston said after a long hesitation.

"Don't feel like talking, pap." For once, Rumpelstiltskin didn't sound upset or annoyed. Just genuinely tired. His father moved a bit uncomfortable, himself feeling troubled by many thoughts.

"So…how long are you planning to stay this time?" The old man asked casually without looking at his son. Rumpelstiltskin gave him a brief glance and then his eyes lost themselves in the vastness of the horizon.

"This time I'm staying." He murmured softly, just enough for his father to hear. Charleston looked shocked but felt a feeble happiness and hope grow in his chest. "Bae…He's seen things…He's lived things…" The cripple shook his head, pain hitting him with the knowledge he could not spare his boy from horrific events. "… that nobody should. He needs to grow up in a place where he can feel safe, where he can have a normal life."

"With his family." His father concluded, still amazed with his son's decision. Rumpelstiltskin nodded. Another long silence followed.

"What about you?" Charleston asked after a while.

"What about me?"

"You too went through a lot too lately." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"I'll get over it."

"No, you'll keep it all inside, building up all your worries until you burn up of sickness." Charleston stated again, this time with a bit of his typical impatience, which Rumpelstiltskin recognized right away.

"I get sick from the leg." He replied annoyed.

"Nonsense. We both know very well what's the real cause of your fevers. You were like that already before you damaged your leg! You always were like that." The old man spoke in an almost scolding manner and Rumpelstiltskin could already feel his face get hotter from anger.

"And what do you care?" He practically spat, bitterness all present in his voice.

"I'm your father, for goodness sake!" Charleston exclaimed. He wanted his son to see he was there for him, but the dark look Rumpelstiltskin gave him told him he didn't believed it.

"Really? After all these years, you suddenly care?"

"Look I know I haven't been much of a fath-" But Rumpelstiltskin cut him.

"Trully? Do you really know how much of a worthless father you are?" Charleston licked his lips nervously as he stared into his son's dark orbs, reflecting anger and pain. "Where were you when I needed you?" The old man swallowed hard at his son's cracked voice. He knew he had damaged so much that he wondered if his boy could ever forgive him. He wondered if he would ever forgive himself.

"Look…I know I made a lot of mistakes. I know I shouldn't say the things I said…but…but…"

"But you did!" Father and son locked their gazes and a short deep silence fell between them. "You said such horrible things…you have no idea." Rumpelstiltskin whispered, fire burning in his eyes. "I mean, what have I ever done for you to…" hate me, despise me, humiliate me, reject me, abandon me. Those were the words he thought but he was unable to speak them. He could already feel the knot in this throat and his body was shaking from the accumulated emotions. "Why…" he said with a shaky voice. "Why did you always treat me differently?"

Charleston looked back at his son, unable to hide any regret and guilt he felt. Rumpelstiltskin was a bit stunned to see these new emotions in his father's eyes and avoided to look at him. He felt tired and depressed, but most of all, he felt put aside by his own father all his life. Since childhood, Rumpelstiltskin had been aware his father, unlike his mother, treated him differently. For years he had convinced himself it was because he was a boy. But later on, he convinced himself his father didn't love him. And then he started hating his father. Because when he hated him, it hurt less. Charleston rested a hand on his son's shoulder, who shrugged from fright, never expecting a caring gesture coming from the man. Charleston smiled sadly at his son's bewildered look, feeling ashamed such a gesture should shock his son.

"Because I was stupid. Because I could not see. I thought you were the weak one. You were always so quickly scared, while your sisters confronted anything. But I was blind, I failed to see that you were patient, generous… persisten." Rumpelstiltskin stared at his father with pure surprise, not believing what he was hearing. The old man was almost in tears and the cripple could see his eyes were pleading. "Odete was strong minded, Thumbelina the brave one, Angie obedient…But you…you were always the persistent one." Charleston frowned realizing the one thing he always admired in his son but was never able to admit. "You go through any possible tribulation and always come back out of it wiser." The old man paused and looked at his son, whose eyes were already watering, but refusing to let any tear escape. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I'm proud of you and I do love and care for you. And I am so sorry I hurt you so many times! I'm so sorry I didn't know how to be a father! Because I want to be one for you. I want to be there for you." Charleston's eyes were cascading as he finally managed to utter the words he had kept inside too many years. The built up guilt and regret were finally revealed. The old man wiped his tears away, feeling embarrassed he was weeping on front of his son. Rumpelstiltskin remained a long while staring at him with wide eyes in pure shock. "For goodness sake, lad! Say something!" The old man yelled frustrated and desperate by the other man's non-reaction. Rumpelstiltskin blinked a few times, like if he was waking up from a dream.

"I wish you had told me this sooner." Rumpelstiltskin mournfully said.

His father's sobs worsened. The cripple, hesitantly, put his arms around his father, who desperately pushed him closer, pressing his son's body against his. Charleston wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. A wonderful feeling run through his body. He kissed his son's temple and wiped the fresh tears from his eyes. Charleston smiled. His boy had forgiven him.

Puff, quite an emotional chapter. I love Rumpel's family :3

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