Chapter Text
Rumpel paced back and forth along the hospital corridor; agitated that he was not in the room with the child and the others. It was his deal after all, why was he not in the room? The closed door seemed to mock him with its little window. The window offered the hope of seeing what was happening inside, but the pattern of the glass allowed only light to be visible through it. What was the point of a window you could not see through?
After calling the Sheriff, he had placed a call the town’s best… well only… psychiatrist, Dr. Hopper. Currently the two were in with Sarah talking about who-knows-what and it was taking forever.
He had told the little one to be honest; to trust the truth, and the adults in the room. He had decided to leave her alone with them, so he could not be accused of influencing her story. Not knowing what was happening, however, was driving him nuts.
Sarah was afraid. He had seen it in her eyes as he closed the door behind him. Would she be too afraid to speak to the other adults? Would she lie and say everything was fine? He could not help her without the help of those two. But what if they didn’t want to help? Damn it! He needed them, and he had no influence on what was happening behind that stubbornly closed door.
His pacing continued up the corridor off the ER, then down to the nurse’s station, up the corridor again, then down to the nurse’s station once more. Each time he passed that door, he paused to give it his best evil glare. The door didn’t seem to care and remained shut.
Stupid, stubborn door
It was about the twelfth time he had walked up the corridor; he turned to walk back and saw Belle standing talking to a nurse. She looked really concerned, and it wasn’t till she saw him that a smiled finally graced her lips. She rushed up to him, and threw her arms around his neck, only to pull back, and plant a kiss on his lips. Not that he minded the show of affection, but it was clear she had thought something had happened to him.
“Sweetheart, what are you doing here?” He looked down into her eyes, happy to have a distraction from that damned door.
“A couple of women came into the library, and I overheard them saying that they had seen you at the hospital. I got worried, so I asked Clover to mind the library, and came to check to make sure you were ok.”
“Why didn’t you just call me?” He asked confused.
She gave him that look. It was the look he had first seen when he had told her that Robin Hood’s bow had missed its target.
“If you were here because you were hurt, would you have really told me?”
She had a point. He still hated to admit weakness, even to her. So he just smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
“What are you doing here anyway?” She asked him. “Does this have something to do with the deal you asked me about earlier?” She was a very perceptive woman. Before he could answer her, however, Dr. Hopper and Sheriff Swan emerged from Sarah’s room.
The two looked grim. It was obvious that what they had heard had affected them greatly. Gone was Archie’s constant twitching movement, and Emma seemed lost in her own thoughts.
Most likely lost in her own memories. Was Rumpelstiltskin’s guess.
They approached the couple slowly, as if the weight of the little girls story rested on this shoulders now. In a way, it did.
“The child cannot stay where she is.” Came Dr. Hopper’s, surprisingly, firm verdict. “She must be removed from her father’s care immediately.”
“But where can she go?” Sheriff Swan asked. “Would the hospital let her stay here? Even then that would not be a permanent solution.”
Dr. Hopper shook his head. Rumpel heaved a sigh of relief; they were going to help him. Now he just needed to wait for the right moment to play the ace up his sleeve.
“The hospital staff cannot accommodate the full time care of a child. She needs a home.”
Emma looked at Archie expectantly. “Then let’s find her a home. I am sure there is someone in this town who would happily adopt a child like her”
As she spoke Archie continue to shake his head. “It’s not that simple Emma.” He seemed distressed by the ideas in his head. “These things take time. We need a court order to take her away permanently from her guardian, then we need to locate her parents. If her parents can be found, then only a court can take away their parental rights… IF we can prove negligence on their part. Only then can she be placed for adoption. It is going to take time.”
Emma rolled her eyes frustrated. “And where is she going to stay until then? It is not like there is a foster care system in Storybrook, and we can’t take her to Boston or anywhere beyond the town line.”
Rumpel knew his moment had arrived.
“Actually, strictly speaking that is not entirely true.” At this statement the three others looked at him in surprise.
“When I… procured… Henry for Regina, I was required to register as a foster parent to facilitate the adoption. While the proper procedures are taking place, young Sarah can live with me.”
Now the others were looking at him really shocked. They were most likely wondering what on earth had possessed him to make such an offer. In truth he was wondering what on earth had possessed him to make the offer, but then again it was the only solution he could currently think of to keep his side of the deal. Dr. Hopper was right; the process of finding Miss. Sarah a new family was going to take time. Until then he still had to keep his word to keep her safe.
“Why did you never mention this before?” Emma asked, suspicious of the Dark One
“It has never come up before.” He replied flippantly.
“Yes it has.” Now Emma was looking at Rumpel, annoyed at what she perceived to be his lie. “When I was looking for Ava and Nicholas’ father, I came to you for help. You never mentioned that you were a foster parent; I almost had to take them to Boston.”
“I am sorry Miss Swan, but as I recall you came to me asking about a compass. You never mentioned the two children at that time.”
Strictly speaking that was true, but Emma was sure that Mr. Gold had probably known why she was asking for the identity of the owner of the compass. It grated on her nerves that she could not dispute what he was saying, even though she knew he was lying through omission. He could see her frustration, and smirked. He always enjoyed this game he played with the Sheriff.
“It would offer us the time we need,” Archie stated in a worried voice, “but I wonder if the town will go for it, knowing… well… you know… who you really are.”
Well yes that was an issue. One that Rumpel was worried about, but was hoping that no one else would really pick up on until it was too late. He really should have expected the good Doctor to think of it. Throughout the years The Dark One had watched the cricket grow from an insecure rash youth, who was dominated by his parents, into the level headed, intelligent man he was today. He respected the Doctor; and if the man could just get over his annoying stuttering and shyness he could even see himself enjoying the man’s company. Not that he would ever tell the man that.
“He’s right,” the Sheriff interjected, “there might be concerns.”
“What if I move in and help?” Now it was Rumpel’s turn to look surprised as Belle’s beautiful voice stopped the group in their arguments.
Their relationship had been progressing well, but was it really at the point where Belle would be willing to move back in with him? Even if it was temporary, that raised another set of issues; Like could he let her go again at the end? She had been coming over to stay a night or two during the weekends, but this would be different. Having her in his home day in and day out, baking, singing to herself in the shower, cuddled next to him watching tv, it would heaven. How do you give heaven up? The others, however, were nodding their heads in agreement to this solution, and so he realized that he didn’t have a choice in this decision. If he was going to foster Sarah, then Belle would have to move in too. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he might actually benefit from this deal.
“Then that is our plan… IF … Miss Sarah is in agreement. She will come live with Belle and I as we go through the legal procedures to remove her from her guardian’s and parents’ care. After that, we will search for a suitable home for the child. Agreed?” The Doctor and Sheriff nodded. “In order to begin I will need full reports of your interview with the child as soon as possible.”
Dr. Hopper and Sheriff Swan said their goodbyes and promptly left; the doctor to go write his report, and the Sheriff to speak to the hospital staff about Miss Smith’s new legal status. Rumpelstiltskin started to move toward Sarah’s door, when Belle’s hand griping his arm stopped him.
“All right Rumpel. You are now going to explain to me exactly what I have gotten myself into.”