I DO NOT OWN ANY ONCE UPON TIME CHARACTERS THEY BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL CREATORS

WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE

INTRODUCTION

"If you truly love someone you'll stick with them no matter what, don't you agree?"

Esmeralda carried the last box into the house where she would be staying from now on – her knee-length light-blond hair was tied in a loose ponytail and she wore a black jacket with a red shirt underneath and black jeans with white sneakers; She had decided that she should start living in a house rather than an apartment. She put the box down on the kitchen table and then she looked around there were a lot of boxes and the furniture had already arrived this morning now all that was left was to unpack everything and find room to put everything up. She also had to buy new curtains she had been planning to go to the shops tomorrow to buy the things she needs. She sat on the chair with a sigh her muscles ached with carrying the boxes from the driveway to the house alone, she at least had a bit of help with the furniture.

"I see you have everything inside, Esmeralda." A voice broke into her thought making her jump with fright she turned in her chair to face the man standing by the doorway. He wore a black suit with a lavender shirt and black tie, he held a cane in his right hand and his brown hair reached till his shoulders. She smiled up at him.

"Ah, yes Mr. Gold it wasn't as easy as I thought. I think this will be for the best my apartment was getting a bit too small for me. Thank you for showing me this house." Esmeralda stood up and grabbed a chair putting it next to her. "Won't you sit down for a bit Mr. Gold?" She added politely and he nodded and went to sit next to her.

"I heard you had a run in with Mike Monroe this morning. Should I be worried?" Mr. Gold asked knowing that Mike Monroe, was the man who had recently been bothering Ms. Esmeralda Philips. Esmeralda made a small smile, it was strange but she found it easier to talk to Mr. Gold than anyone else when something or someone was bothering her.

"Yes, he just wanted to know why I didn't want to answer his question and I told him I had my reasons and then he left. Why should you be worried Mr. Gold?" She asked curious why Mr. Gold said should he be worried it was unlike him to be nosy but that is why she enjoyed his company – he accepted and spoke honestly with her and she liked that, in her past she only knew men who had lied or used her, or just plan annoyed her because they wanted to change who she was. She had known Mr, Gold as long as she could remember but she had a feeling that they knew each other longer than that. Mr. Gold made a small smirk as he regarded Esmeralda, he had been the one who had seen all her emotions those she hid from others, he had also been the one whom she talked to most and he knew very well the question that Mike wanted to know he had accidentally been walking passed when he had spotted the two talking and had seen straight away Esmeralda's annoyance when Mike had asked her if she loved him, she had said nothing but merely changed the subject.

"No, reason but I am curious to know why you do not want to answer the man. It appears he is rather fond of you." Mr. Gold said and she made a small smile shaking her head a little.

"Fond of me? Don't be silly Mr. Gold, he is just-" She paused and looked away from his gaze. "He's just trying to soften me, letting my guard down is something I can't easily do again." She said and then faced him again. "I have too much now to do and think about now.-" She paused and then smiled at Mr. Gold. "That reminds me, you'll come with me to get the twins won't you Mr. Gold, I'm looking forward to it." She then looked sadly to the ground. "The social worker told me that the twins were still in shock about Jack's suicide – the man was very depressed with losing his status, job and estate and having the twins pushed onto him, he eventually killed himself to get away leaving them alone. The social worker told me that their other relatives didn't want them because they were unwanted and poor – they told the social worker that they didn't have place for such disgraceful brats.-" She narrowed her eyes when she remembered the social worker's sad expression when she told her the details it had taken all her strength not to grab the phone and call those asses and give her a piece of her mind it was what she would do if anyone tried stopping her from taking the twins. They were only six years old but already they had to see such a terrible thing and experience such a lost. " So I am the only relative left and I told the social worker that I'll be happy to look after the twins no matter what others might think." She finished and faced Mr, Gold she had told him before about her half-brother Jack and his lovely twins Alvin and Ivan. Though Jack wasn't a snob he was a sensitive man and was the only one in that whole family who had excepted her as his family even though she was his father's bastard. She had been herself, and had excepted the fact that she would never be excepted into that family and so she found a job and saved money for herself and when her father had died he had given her a generous amount of money which she had saved and so here she was on her own happy to be away from those snobbish people. Mr. Gold watched her carefully he knew that her half-brother's suicide had been rough for her.

"I'd be delighted to go with you Esmeralda." He smirked "For a prize of course." He added quickly and she smiled.

"I knew you'd say that – so what is the prize Mr. Gold?" She asked happy to have company go with her; she wasn't sure just how bad the twins will look and if they will accept this middle life.

"Well, I haven't thought of anything as of yet so why don't we say you owe me a favour." He said and raised from his chair. "So when will we be getting the twins Esmeralda?" He added as he turned to face her she stood up and walked with him towards the door.

"I'll be fetching them Thursday Morning. Thanks again Mr. Gold." She said and he said his farewell she closed the door and leaned on the door. Now she had to unpack and get everything ready so that she could take care of the twins. She wasn't all that sure if she was ready to be an adoptive mother but she couldn't just say no and leave them alone; she would do what she could to protect them.