Chapter Five--Medicine for the Sick

~Storybrooke~

Another week turned into two, which turned into a month and before the citizens of Storybrooke knew it, two more months had past. Henry and Roland's list was almost complete. In the past two moths, then had figured out most of the characters.

There were a few characters who didn't seem to have Storybrooke counterparts; Cora/the Queen of Hearts, Maleficent, Ursula, and the Huntsman, for example. But most everyone else was there.

"So what are you going to do with that list now?" Emma asked Henry. The two were eating supper at Granny's while Neal was working.

"Go through it again," he replied without looking up. "I'm still not completely convinced Regina is the Evil Queen..."

"What convinces you she isn't Snow White?" Emma questioned, "Apart from the fact that Robin isn't Prince Charming?"

That sent Henry spiraling into an explanation of how since David has a scar matching Prince Charming's, he must be Charming, and Charming and Snow will "always find each other". Henry was almost done with his speech when Mr. and Mrs. Gold entered Granny's. Mr. Gold went to find a table for he and Belle while Belle stepped over to talk to Henry and Emma. Emma mouthed 'hello,' so she didn't interrupt Henry.

Henry stopped his explanation to look up at Belle, "Hi."

"Hello," Belle smiled. "So, Henry, do you still have that list?"

Henry nodded and handed the list to Belle. "Why?"

"I was wondering if you were still looking for evidence that this is all real," Belle said as she skimmed over the list.

Henry shrugged. "I'm mostly confused about what happened between the end of the book and now. Something obviously happened, but I have no idea what...It's like someone erased the middle of a sentence, and all you've got is the beginning and end."

"Interesting. Well, from what I've heard, I think Emma must have somehow broke the curse."

Emma rolled her eyes at this. "I never broke a curse."

"If the book is real, you did," Belle argued. "Then I'd say if Regina really is the Evil Queen, something happened and Regina saw that she had been wrong. You're right-this can't be the first curse because Regina is friends with Mary Margaret, who is Snow White. If this was the first curse, Regina would never allow that to happen. I'd guess we ran i to another villain who cast the Dark Curse again."

"I like that idea," Henry approved. "But how is this curse supposed to be broken? Maybe we could figure it out if we knew how the first curse was broken..."

"Maybe. Well, you think about that. I'm going to go eat." Belle handed Henry the list back.

Henry read over the list again before folding it up and putting it in his pocket, only he and Roland believed that the storybook was true, everyone else in Storybrooke just went along with it, so as to not crush the boys' hopes and dreams. But Henry wanted to find some way to prove the book was real.

~The Enchanted Forest~

Spinning, spinning, spinning. That was what Rumpelstiltskin spent most if his time doing. That is, when he wasn't making deals. And while Rumpelstiltskin was spinning straw into gold, Belle was cleaning or reading or doing a combination of the two.

There was a knock on the doors of Rumpelstiltskin's castle.

"Would you get that?" The Dark One asked as he continued to spin his straw. Belle sighed before walking over to the door and opening it. A woman was standing at the door. A woman who Belle recognized.

"Are you the woman someone stole a magic wand to heal?" Belle asked in a hushed voice.

The woman nodded. "That was my husband, Robin. I'm Marian, and I know this is risky, but I need Rumpelstiltskin's help."

"What could possibly be worth this risk?" Belle asked confused.

"Our son is ill. We fear he may die if we don't use magic to heal him, and despite my husband's warnings, I decided to venture here to find something."

Belle stepped aside to allow Marian in. "Just be careful. I'll try to control his rage for you."

Marian nodded and followed Belle to Rumpelstiltskin.

~Storybrooke~

Henry loved Killian's boat. It looked like a real pirate ship. Another piece of proof that the book is real, Henry thought, why else would Killian have a pirate ship and only one hand? Henry was sitting on the bench at the docks, looking at Killian's ship and trying to come up with some more evidence that the storybook was real.

Doctor Hopper sat down next to Henry. "Still trying to find proof that the storybook is real?"

Henry nodded. "I can see all of the proof I need, but Roland is the only other person who believes it."

"Why is it so important to you that the book is real?" Doctor Hopper asked.

Henry thought for a moment before choosing his words carefully. "Because there has to be more than this."

Doctor Hopper let Henry's words wash over him, and for a moment, he was on Henry's side. The storybook must be real. But as quickly as it had come, the moment disappeared. He nodded, "I think I understand. Just don't spend too much time out here, you wouldn't want to catch a cold." Doctor Hopper stood and walked away.

He was right, though. With the cool fall changing into the freezing winter, Henry really should have been wearing something thicker than his sweatshirt. Henry stood up and began to walk back home, which was only a few minutes from the docks.

~

Henry slipped inside he, Emma, and Neal's apartment. Emma was at work and Neal was with Killian and Robin. Henry was supposed to stay inside while home alone, but Emma and Neal wouldn't find out. He slipped his shoes of and went to his bedroom. He set the list on his bed and was about to start on his math homework when the door opened.

"Henry?" Emma called.

"In here!" Henry called back. He walked out to the kitchen.

"Hey, kid," Emma greeted. "Your dad's eating dinner with Killian and Robin tonight, so it's just you and me. What do you want?"

"Well, we could get grilled cheese from Granny's and bring them home," Henry suggested, knowing Emma loved Granny's grilled cheese.

"I like the way you think."

~The Enchanted Forest~

"Rumpelstiltskin," Belle called.

Rumpelstiltskin stopped spinning and turned to face her and Marian. "What do we have here?" Rumple giggled. "Wasn't it your husband who stole a wand from me?"

Marian nodded. "I was sick, and he was only trying to help. But now our son is sick. Is there anything you can do to help him?"

"I'm afraid your son's illness is the price of the magic you used to make sure he was brought into the world in the first place."

"Rumple, there's got to be some way to heal him," Belle persisted, trying to help Marian.

"And why should I listen to you?" Rumpelstiltskin turned his attention to Belle. "You're just the help."

Belle glared at him. "Yes, and now I'm trying to help you make a deal. Isn't that what you do?"

"Fine. What do you have to offer me?" Rumpelstiltskin focused on Marian again.

"What do you want?" Marian asked. "We don't have much."

"Hmm," Rumpelstiltskin pretended to think Marian's question over for a moment, though he knew exactly what he wanted. "Tell me your husband's name."

"Robin Hood," Marian replied automatically.

"No, no, no, his real name."

Marian bit her lip. It was unlikely that Rumpelstiltskin didn't know Robin Hood was the same Robin that had failed to steal the Elixir of the Wounded Heart for him, but Marian had been hanging on to the hope that he didn't. She took a deep breath. "Robin of Locksley."

"Exactly as I thought."

"Why is that bad...?" Belle asked slowly.

"Because her husband failed me. Couldn't even steal a simple potion for me. I do hope he's gotten better at his little thieving business. I hear now he has a thing for-"

"Rumple!" Bell interrupted. "She's paid her price, now help her."

Rumpelstiltskin glared at Belle. "Fine." A vial appeared in his hand in a cloud of red smoke. "This will heal your son." Rumpelstiltskin went to hand it to her before pulling his hand back quickly. "However, there is, of course, a price."

"So what is it?" Marian asked.

"Your son may come down with this sickness again. You can heal him with a true love's kiss, though. One from you or Mr. Robin of Locksley will do, as long as you truly love him. So you must keep him with you until he finds 'true love' of his own." Rumpelstiltskin handed her the vial.

Marian nodded. "We will. Thank you."

"Now, be gone. You're son is about to die."

Marian nodded once more before running for the doors.

~

When Marian reached the merry men's camp, everyone was crowded around Roland. He was only three months old, and the thought of him dying saddened every one of the merry men.

"Robin!" Marian called.

Robin turned around. "Where were you?! I was worried! Roland is doing worse."

"I have a way to heal him," Marian handed Robin the vial from Rumple.

Robin studied it for a moment. "Where did you get this?"

"What does it matter?! Give it to him, or I will."

Robin gave Marian the vial back. "You should."

Marian rushed over to where Roland was laying. She tricked the liquid from the vial into Roland's mouth. Instantly, his skin began to return to normal color and his fever lowered.

"It's working!" Little John announced.

Marian stood up, ran over to Robin, and threw her arms around him. "It's working."

"I heard."

When Marian pulled away, Robin looked her in the eye. "Now, can you tell me where you got that from?"

Marian's eyes flicked towards the ground. "Rumpelstiltskin."

~Storybrooke~

Emma, Neal, Henry, Killian, Mr. and Mrs. Gold, and Regina all met at Mary Margaret and David's apartment for supper.

Once supper was over, everyone talked for a while. Just as Killian was leaving, Regina's phone rang. She answered it, and her smile slowly faded into a frown. "What?" There was a pause, and then, "I'll get there as fast as I can." She hung up, then spoke the news to everyone else.

"Roland's sick, and according to Doctor Whale, it's really, really, bad."