#rumpleshtiltskin

“No.”  She stood at the top of the stairs.  She wasn’t angry, simply stating a fact.  “I’ve prepared the bedroom at the top of the stairs for him.  I borrowed the picture you had of Neal to the mantel, I thought it might be something Henry would like next to his bed.”

“He can’t stay here.”  He didn’t even want to think how Regina would react once she found out.  Belle had the powers of the Dark One but they were still new to her.  If Regina and Emma teamed up there was no telling what would happen.  He was worried about her safety.  Worried for Henry too; he didn’t need to be in the middle of another fight.  “He’s Emma’s son.”

“When she starts acting like a mother again we can discuss where he would like to live.  Until then he’s staying here.  You heard what she said, Rumple.  She’s looking for a house to share with that man.  The man that found delight in the idea of torture and murder, that hurt Will and Archie and too many other people.  What she chooses for herself is one thing but I won’t let her chose it for Henry.”  Gold started walking up the stairs towards her, but with his bad leg he was only halfway up when Henry came out of the room.

“I’m alright, grandpa.  Just a little nauseous from that vanishing in one place thing and showing up someplace new.  Is it always like that?” he asked.  

“You get used to it,” Gold shrugged.  You could get used to a great many things, he’d found.

“Is my mom mad?”  Henry looked a great deal older than his thirteen years.  The lad had dealt with far too much when it came to parents.

“She’s sad, Henry.  And upset.”  He knew what it was to lose a son.  no matter what he thought of Hook or her choices, he knew that pain.  he wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“Can I call her, Belle?  Let her know I’m okay?  I don’t want her to worry.”  It was impossible to tell what Henry thought, other than his concern for his mother.  Certainly he didn’t want to stay, did he?  But then again his other options weren’t much better.

“You can call.”  Belle nodded and gestured with her hand.  A phone appeared, which she handed to Henry.  At the same time the door behind him clicked shut.  The deadbolt had been thrown.

“Belle...”