Chapter 15: Glowering
Gold was mentally making a list of all the people he wanted to kill that had harmed his son.
The list was a lot longer than he liked.
And it really didn't help matters that Cora currently topped that list.
He didn't know what his ex was thinking, but when he heard what had happened to Harry last night he wanted her blood. Even more than when he found out about Harry. The only reason he didn't do a locating spell was because he was first and foremost a parent and had to protect his child.
Hence, why he as finishing up on the memory potions. He was just glad to find out that magic existed in the outside world that took care of one problem that he had been dreading. Though, he was also annoyed about how he used a true love potion to bring magic to Storybrooke when there probably would've been magic in the town after Regina's stupid curse was broken.
A waste of a good potion.
Whatever, it was the past. And Rumple had larger fish to fry. Mentally he looked at his to do list (which was currently easier to accomplish then his kill list):
1) Get out of Storybrooke with Belle and Harry and not end up a drooling idiot (Status—almost complete).
2) Get his son to confide in me (Status—easier said than done. Though they had made some progress tonight).
3) Go to New York and try to have a normal family outing and get Belle the most ostentatious/exquisite/expensive ring ever while giving Harry twelve years of birthdays (Status—hotel suite booked).
4) Go to England. Unfortunately, plane tickets are in order which require fake passports since it probably wasn't a good idea randomly appear in a country I've never been too. Finish off the Dursleys, go to Hogwarts and state that I'm pulling Harry out his son out of school. If need be crumple a few wizard hearts. And figure out this Voldemort hubbub—if need to add him to kill list and finish him off once and for all.
5) Find Bae. Apologize profusely and try to rebuild his family and settle down where none of Storybrooke could ever bother me again.
Yes, he doubted he would get to all of those. But he hoped to accomplish a lot of them, especially the last item.
He missed his eldest. Even more now, that he had met Harry. He really wanted his boys together and seeing what Harry had been through it scared him what Bae might've endured in this world.
"I'm going to give you a calming draught."
Rumple turned around startled to see his fiancée staring at him.
"You've been up all night, Rumple." She said. "He's fine."
Rumple shook his head. "He could've died last night."
"But he didn't." Belle said. "You really should get some sleep before Regina comes over."
He rolled his eyes. "Why did I invite her over again?"
"Because Harry loves her." Belle said. "And it will do some good after what happened last night."
Rumple shuddered as his mind flashed back to the events that occurred the previous night. He remembered Emma brining in a very sick Harry. Despite the fact that the boy was a lot better than he had been weeks ago, he still was very fragile. The potions that Gold used were magic, but the injuries and years of malnutrition made for a very slow healing process. An event like last night could cause Harry's recovery to relapse.
Which it did.
Rumple frowned as he looked at the sleeping boy on the bed. Way too pale for his liking. Yes, Cora must pay.
He didn't get what she had been doing last night, and neither did Regina when he asked her. Only that his ex had even become more deranged since he last spoke to her. Seriously, freezing the boy just because he was talking to Regina.
It was too bad she had left by the time he got to where the incident happened, to a knocked out Regina.
Yeah, she knocked out her own daughter.
That was the real reason Regina wasn't out last night. So not how you want to reconnect with your daughter.
Belle looked at him, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," He said. "Just thinking about what we need to pack."
Belle nodded. "So, it's almost done then?"
"Three more days." He said. "Of course, I want to find a guinea pig…"
"It will work." Belle said.
Faith. That was one thing his fiancée had that Gold didn't was fate. He guessed he really didn't have anyone to try it out on, especially since the dosage was so limited. But Gold didn't like the idea of leaving town where his memories could just go. Though, he wouldn't mind pushing Cora over the town line.
That would be too risky though, he needed someone who wasn't completely psycho to test his theory on. Which meant a kidnapping was in due order.
Hmm, who hadn't paid their bills?
Belle sighed, "To be honest, I'm glad we're going out of town."
There was something about her tone that Gold didn't like. "What's wrong?"
Belle sighed, "It's my father. I told him we were getting married."
Really, Belle?
That's what he wanted to say. Gold wasn't a stupid man though. So, being more diplomatic he asked, "Well?"
"It was a disaster." Belle said, "You probably already knew it would be."
"That doesn't mean I didn't want it to be a disaster for you, sweetheart."
She sighed. "I should know when to walk away. The things he said, Rumple, I just can't believe he would say them."
She was now in tears, and now he added Kill Moe French to his list. Really, this was not his morning.
Rumple sighed and got up from the chair he had been sitting in to comfort her. God, his leg was stiff. He really needed to just bite the bullet and use magic on that damn thing already (add that to the to do list, and push it up to number one). "It will be okay, sweetheart."
Belle shook her head. "The way he was acting, I think he might do something Rumple."
"He won't." Rumple said. "If he knows what's good for him. Perhaps, Dove should pay him a visit?"
"Rumple." Belle said.
"Well, I was just offering a suggestion."
He actually had another idea of how to deal with Moe French one that Belle was not going to like. But again, he didn't really want to sleep on the couch.
She shook her head. "I just want to get out of this town. I've been thinking of all the places we could visit in New York and then in England and Scotland."
"I'm sure it's quite the list."
"You have no idea." She said, "I never thought that we'd—"
"Be able to leave." Rumple said. "Neither do I, but I think you and are ready for some change. Harry too."
Speaking of Harry at that point, the boy decided to wake up. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Belle said. "Just talking to your father. We're talking about our trip."
"Trip?" Harry asked.
Gold inwardly groaned. He hadn't really brought up the fact that they were leaving Storybrooke. Especially since until a few days ago, really last night, he didn't have a timetable on their departure date, but it was definite now with Cora acting the way she was. The sooner they were out, the better.
"Yes, I promised Belle an engagement trip to New York, and I thought we might make a trip to the UK and pickup your things. Maybe you can show me your wizarding world?"
"You can leave the town?" Harry said.
"Of course, we can leave the town." Gold said, "Why do you ask?"
"It's sort of a time capsule around here." Harry said, "Plus, Emma mentioned something about no one coming here or leaving."
"You listen to Emma?"
"She is a sheriff."
"And a certified moron."
"Rumple!" Belle intervened.
"She did save my life last night." Harry countered.
He did have a point there. He'd give him that. Though, the illustrious sheriff's appearance lat night was one of the reasons he was pushing forward with his Get Out of Storybrooke plan.
Even though she was a bit of a moron when it came to being a detective, even Emma knew something was up when Harry had demanded that she take him to the pawnshop last night. And she asked Gold what was going on.
"His mother doesn't trust Dr. Whale, so she made a deal with me."
Yes, he was a marvelous liar. It came with being the Dark One.
Emma eyed him. "Seriously. She'd trust him with you, rather than a medical doctor."
"Whale graduated from Regina Medical School." Gold countered. "Besides, magic can do things that medical science can't do. See, Henry and the apple incident."
Emma glared at him. "I want to talk to the boy's mother, Gold."
"How should I know where she is?" Gold asked. "Besides, I'm a little busy here, Swan."
"Who is he?" She asked.
He looked at her. "In the old world a random peasant. I don't tend to learn their names. They don't have stories in your son's book. Therefore, they're not important."
Emma glared at him. "Well, his mother was important enough to make a deal."
"She had a nice cow." Gold said.
"You're providing medical advice for a cow? Somehow, I don't buy it."
"Believe what you want," He said with a shrug. "I can be merciful."
"What would you want with a cow?"
"Good-bye, Swan."
"I want to…"
That was the beauty of magic. He zapped Emma back to the sheriff's station. And by the time she came back, well, he had gone Cora Hunting. He supposed she'd probably make an appearance this morning and preparation would need to be taken. Like producing a random peasant to be Harry's mother.
Way too much work to do.
Back to the conversation he was having with Harry, "She might've saved your life, but she lacks brain cells. But yes, we're leaving. I thought it would be nice. You've been mentioning that you wanted to get out?"
Harry nodded. "But last night…I didn't realize…"
That he wasn't completely healed. That was why they hadn't pushed leaving sooner. Rumple was concerned about the welfare of his youngest, first and foremost. Harry was mostly healed, now, but he really couldn't exert himself. Hopefully, eventually he'd feel better than he had. Rumple had been sneaking nutrition potions and all sorts of things that were supposed to repair what had obviously been a childhood filled with a lack of care.
Oh, how he was going to enjoy meeting with the Dursleys again.
"Don't over exert yourself and you'll be fine." Gold said as the doorbell rang. "And that would be Regina."
"Regina's here?" Harry's eyes lit up.
Seriously.
"Yes, stay in bed. I'll send her up."
Harry nodded. Gold wasn't surprised; the boy's energy levels were still extremely low. Looking at Belle he said, "Do you mind bringing him his breakfast?"
"If he doesn't mind cereal." Belle said with a small smile.
"Cereal's fine." Harry said being the victim of Belle's less than edible pancakes.
Rumple laughed as he went down the two flights of stairs to the ground floor. Yeah, he really needed to zap his own leg before going to New York. There was no need walking with a limp when he needed to be in full Dark One mode in England.
Expecting to see Regina, Gold was going to berate her for the stairs—seriously, did she think it was okay for a man with a limp to endure that every single day—but imagine to his surprise when he saw Emma there.
"Do you sleep in a suit?" She asked him.
He glared at her. "What are you doing here, Sherriff?"
"I want to finish the conversation we started the other night about Just Harry."
"Just Harry?"
Was that what she was calling his son? She should be glad he was a morning person; otherwise, she would be oozing slime right now.
"The boy, Gold." Emma said. "Can I come in?"
"I'm expecting company." Gold said. "So, no."
"Gold." Emma whined.
"Do you have a warrant?" Gold asked.
"No," Emma said. "I could get one though if need be."
"You don't have probable cause." Gold said going into lawyer mode. "Or a reason for a warrantless search. So, that would cause the fruit from the poisoness tree doctrine to kick in, and I really don't think you want that Sherriff Swan. The DA would hate you."
"So, there is something to arrest you for then?"
"No, dearie." Gold said, "I was just giving you some free legal advice, so that you can keep your job and bank account."
Emma crossed her arms. "I'm not worried about the status of my job, Gold."
He gave her a dubious look. "Maybe you should be. That boy got mugged last night. And you call him Just Harry."
"Well, if you could give me the boy's mother's address then maybe…"
"What is going on?"
Saved by the Evil Queen. Who'd thought?
Regina looked terrible. It seemed that Cora had decided to share the abuse with her children. Regina got the brunt end of it, it seemed and it looked like she hadn't decided to resort to magic to heal either.
"Regina…" Emma said, "What happened?"
"I was mugged." Regina said.
Something came over Emma's face. "No."
"What?" Emma said.
"That boy isn't a peasant, is he?" Emma said. "Oh, my God, Just Harry is your son isn't he, Regina?"
Regina and Gold looked at each other, trying to figure out how Emma came to this conclusion of stupidity.