The Best Tea Cup is Chipped: Book 2

Friendship and Dancing

It was early evening by the time Rumplestiltskin's Cadillac pulled up to the Hatter's house. He saw the car in the driveway and the lights on and so limped up the front porch. It was a Sunday so the man would have left Pip and Grace by now who'd have an early morning for school.

It wasn't long after he'd knocked on the door that it was opened up by his friend.

"Jesus, you look like hell," were the man's first words.

"I presume you have something stronger than tea in your cabinet?" asked Rumple.

"Come on in," said the Hatter stepping back and gesturing Rumple to his living room Rumple nearly collapsed on the couch. He could feel his emotions that he he'd tried to tamp down in front of the puppet rushing to the surface now. He put his head in his hands.

Not long after he heard the Hatter's footsteps and looked up to see a glass of expensive brandy in front of him.

"What on god's green Earth is wrong Rumple?" asked the Hatter for once being serious. "Is it Belle?"

"No. Not Belle." replied Rumple as he took a swig of the alcohol. It burned his throat a bit with how fast he drank it but he didn't care.

"Then what?"

"My son."

"Baelfire is here?" asked the Hatter in surprise but Rumple shook his head.

"No. I. I thought I'd found him. In truth I was just fooling myself. So, I let him fool me." the Hatter's eyes narrowed.

"Who fooled you?"

"August Booth. The stranger that came to down."

"Sooo do you need help hiding a body?" asked the Hatter. Rumple tilted his head back letting out a humorless laugh.

"No. Pinocchio is dying already and plans to try and convince the savior. So, he can live for the moment."

"Alright. But if you change your mind I've got a nice dark stretch of earth with the puppet's name on it anytime you want." This time Rumple managed a crooked smile.

"The thought is appreciated Hatter."

"Nobody hurts my family. Though this fellow really seems like an idiot. What did he want?"

"The dagger. He hoped to control me so I could fix him. As if I could in a world without magic."

"Well, that's freaking sick," scowled the Hatter. "We've all done a lot of bad things in our lives but taking advantage of you as a father was beyond low."

"I was foolish for falling for it. It was far too easy." sighed Rumple. "He doesn't actually resemble Bae that much."

"No, you're human. And it's been years you don't know for sure what Baelfire looks like. Honestly, I can't say I might not have made the same mistake in your place." shrugged the Hatter.

Rumple nodded truthfully; he supposed the Hatter could relate on some level. They were both fathers. Single father's too even if it had been temporary. And they both loved their children with all their hearts. It had been a part of what drew him to Jefferson in the first place first as an employee then as a friend.

He also knew it was probably the reason Jefferson had come to trust him at first. Not to mention the man had displayed the ultimate trust in Rumple in making him Grace's godfather.

It was the trust that had led him to the Hatter's doorstep tonight. Well that and perhaps one other thing.

"Thank you for this Hatter," he said quietly taking another sip.