Author's Note: Okay dearies! Here is the sequel to Running From Devils! I'm really excited to finally have this first chapter down. I'll try to work on a schedule for this, but I make no promises! Enjoy! Please R/R!
Family Above Everything
Chapter 1: Family Values
"Da!" Sam chirped as he ran into his father's shop. The two year old's curly brown hair looked almost like an afro while his big brown eyes danced as only a child's can. He darted to the other side of the counter and attached himself to Rodric's good leg, already learning to be easy with his bad one.
Rodric Gold, the self proclaimed (and not entirely undisputed) Monster of Storybrooke, gave a heart melting smile to his young son before picking him up and setting him on the counter. "Well hello there. And how are you today, Sam?"
Samuel Rodric Gold smiled big at his father and hugged him. "Good. Aunt Ruby gave me cookies." He said lightly.
Gold gave an indulgent chuckle. "Oh my. Well did you at least thank her?" he asked.
Sam nodded and turned when the bell rang. He grinned again. "Mama's here!"
Belle smiled at two of her boys while the third trailed in behind her. "Sammy, what did I tell you about running off like that?" She asked; a semi warning tone in her voice. She wasn't too mad because he didn't leave her sight, but it was still a habit she was trying to break him of.
Adam smiled at his little brother too while he leaned against the counter. At ten years old, the elder son was becoming quite lanky and he picked up a few of his adoptive father's mannerisms, including being a man of few words unless absolutely necessary. That's not to say that he wasn't still playful when the occasion called for it. The first snow still sent him into a mood that reminded Belle so much of the little boy that he used to be only a few years ago.
Sam looked properly ashamed for all of three seconds before he looked back to his dad and gave a bright smile. "Can we go to the park, Da?" He asked. "I wanna play soccer!"
Belle shared an amused look with Rodric and Adam snickered some. Sam had become obsessed with the game since Adam started playing it. Adam had been confused by it at first, but Belle understood completely. When she was younger, she always wanted to be doing whatever Danny was doing. It didn't matter if it was the most dangerous thing in the world; if Danny was doing it then she wanted to do it. That guy was her whole world for so long. She moved her fingers through Adam's hair and got a sort of far-away look in her eyes.
Rodric cleared his throat a little to bring his wife of three years back down to earth. He hated that look and would chase it away however he could whenever he saw it. That look meant she was thinking about unpleasant things. "I don't see why we couldn't go. I just have to close up shop. Do you have your ball?" He asked his son.
Sam smiled big. "Yes, sir. Well... Adam has it." He admitted, looking over at his big brother. "Don't you?"
Adam just nodded and slid his backpack off his shoulders and pulled out the mini soccer ball for his brother to see. He gave his brother a crooked grin before he put it back in his bag and looked over at his dad.
Rodric just smiled at his sons and was about to say something when the bell clanged loudly as Regina barged into his shop. Instantly the father of two and fond husband was gone, and in his place was the notorious deal maker that liked nothing more than to piss the mayor off. "Regina." He said drily. "What a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately we were just about to leave." Gold helped Sam down from the counter but the boy stayed glued to his father's side. The mayor scared him.
Regina glared at the pawnshop owner and pretty much ignored the fact that his family was there. "Where's Henry?" She snapped. "What did you tell him?"
Belle blinked and suddenly Adam looked a little nervous. "What are you talking about, Regina?" She asked, tilting her head, keeping her older son close to her. "The last time any of us saw Henry he was with you."
The mayor rounded on the librarian and narrowed her eyes dangerously. "I wasn't talking to you, Mrs. Gold." She sneered. "I was addressing your husband. Your presence isn't really needed for this conversation unless you know something of use, which I highly doubt."
Belle drew herself up and was about to tell Regina exactly what she thought about her opinion when Gold cleared his throat. "Belle, I'll see you and the boys at the park. This won't take long." Anyone else would have thought he was dismissing her like a master would a servant, but Belle knew better. He was in business mode and trying not to throttle Regina where she stood. Rather than argue, Belle just nodded some. "Come on, Sammy. Let's go to the park." She said, forcing her voice to become light for his sake.
Sam peeked around the counter and dashed into his mother's arms. He buried his face in his mother's shoulder in a poor attempt to hide. Belle just held her young son close and carried him out of the shop in one arm while the other arm was around Adam.
Rodric watched his wife and sons leave and the second the door closed behind them, Mr. Gold's eyes went almost black and he came very slowly out from behind the counter. "Before you say another word, Madam Mayor, I would like to inform you that if you ever talk to my wife in such a manner again that I will do my best to make your life a walking nightmare. And please don't underestimate me. Your former pet can attest to my...abilities." His brogue made his words a little harder to understand than normal, but the message was clear in his eyes. If she insulted Belle like that again, what happened to her would make Sydney Glass' punishment look like a relaxing day at the beach.
The mayor actually took a step back before clearing her throat and composing herself once more. "I apologize, Mr. Gold. My emotions got the better of me. As a parent, I'm sure you can understand that. I just want to find my son."
Mr. Gold eyed the mayor before relaxing his own stance, resting both hands on top of his cane. "And what makes you think I know where he is?" He asked simply. "You know I have no problem with your son. He's Adam's best friend."
"Trust me, if I thought you harmed Henry then I wouldn't be talking to you. I'd be a witness to your shop burning down around you." Regina said simply. "But the fact is that you keep up with a lot of people. Henry found out that he was adopted the other day and I think he went to find his birth mother. Now I'd like to know where she is so I can go get him."
Rodric ignored the threat and went to the back room to look through his files, trying to remember the name of the woman that gave birth to Henry. Swan was the last name he thought. Hm. He finally found the file and nodded. "Emma Swan." Mr. Gold commented, coming back into the front part of his shop. "She's been a bit difficult to keep track of, Mayor, but as far as my records indicate, she's in Boston." In truth he was relieved for the boy. Boston wasn't that far away. It was far enough to be sure, but at least he wasn't trying to get half way across the country.
Regina seemed to have the same thought and relaxed a little too. "Well then..." She looked a little unsure at her next move. Dragging Henry back to Storybrooke might not be the best idea, but leaving a ten year old to fend for himself in Boston would be just as bad. Her jaw clenched softly before she looked back to Gold. "What do you suggest I do?"
Mr. Gold raised an eyebrow for a moment before he shrugged. "Henry's always been a curious lad, Regina, but he's careful. I think he'll come back home. And if this Emma Swan has any sense of honor then she'll be the one to bring him back. Give him the day. If he's not home by tonight then I'll make some calls and he'll be back here before dinner tomorrow."
"And you can guarantee that?" The mayor asked, sounding a little doubtful.
Gold just chuckled some. "Of course I can. And sense Henry's involved you'll just owe me a favor. How's that sound?"
Regina narrowed her eyes some. "Fine." She snapped. "Either way, I'll get my son back."
Rodric nodded and for once was in complete agreement with Regina. He knew that he would go beyond Hell and back if either of his sons were taken from him. Of course he would have to keep Belle sane during the process and that would be a whole other matter entirely. "Of course you will, Regina. But for now waiting is going to be your best bet. Not to worry. I'm sure he'll be home soon."
"He better be..." The mayor said darkly before clearing her throat again and taking a breath. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Gold. I'll let you get back to your family." With that, she walked out of the shop and returned to her office. She had work that would keep her at least somewhat busy.
Gold just shook his head some and returned the file to its proper place before locking up his shop and heading to the park. His face softened at the sight of his wife and sons playing soccer in the middle of the field. Rodric always did like watching Belle play with Adam and Sam. It made him even more grateful that he found her. Milah would have never done such a thing with his Bae. She would have been worried about getting dirty. Belle didn't seem to care though. In fact he could hear her encouraging Adam to play harder.
"Come on, kid! You can do this!" Belle said lightly, moving her feet quickly as she kept the ball away from her older son. "Those coaches are going to want to be impressed!"
Adam narrowed his eyes some and made a quick dash at his mom, knocking her out of the way and stealing the ball.
Belle laughed and clapped. "There ya go! That's how you need to play!"
Sammy giggled and chased after Adam to try and get the ball from him. "My turn!" He chirped. "My turn!"
Belle smiled and watched her sons, needing to catch her breath for a moment before she felt a familiar hand on the small of her back. "He's becoming quite the footballer." Rodric commented.
"You've been here how long and you still call it football?" Belle teased her husband, looking up at him.
Rodric just rolled his eyes and smirked. "You Americans are strange. That's hardly my fault. You play it with your feet so it's football. Honestly, where did the name soccer come from, anyway?"
Belle laughed and leaned against Rodric, shrugging some. "I really don't know. Either way, he's very good."
"On that we can agree." Gold rubbed his wife's arm for a moment and watched Adam and Sam play together with a soft smile on his face. God he was so glad to have his boys in his life. They made everything brighter in his world. Their mother contributed to that light as well. Rodric leaned down and kissed Belle's cheek softly. "Henry went to find his birthmother. Does Adam know anything about that?" He murmured in her ear.
Belle sighed deeply and shook her head. "No... But Henry mentioned it to me. Not actually going to find her, but the fact that he was adopted. I think it's because you adopted Adam and he wanted to know how everything worked. Didn't see the harm in talking to him about it; I know Regina isn't easy to talk to about certain things."
Rodric nodded some and squeezed Belle to his side gently. "Well I think he'll be back soon so we don't really have to worry about him. The boy is just curious."
His wife smirked up at him. "Would you be saying that if it were Adam that ran off?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
Gold snorted. "Of course not. I'd call Carter and have him waiting for Adam when he got to the bus station and have him promptly driven back home and ground him until he turned 18."
Belle laughed at that and kissed Rodric softly. "I love you." She cooed.
The pawnshop owner chuckled some and shrugged. "I'm telling the truth. But I do love you too." He said fondly before kissing his wife back.
The Gold family stayed at the park for another half hour before Belle decided it was time for dinner and then baths. They went back home and Belle started cooking while Rodric wrangled his younger son into one bathroom, leaving Adam to his own devices. Bathing Sam was always an adventure because the two year old was so full of energy and rarely liked to sit still. It wasn't a problem for Rodric as long as Sam wasn't squirming while Rodric was trying to carry him. "Alright now, time to be still." Gold said to his little boy. "Don't want Da to drop you know do you?"
Sam was wrapped up in a towel and shook his head. "No, sir." He responded, wrapping his arms around his father's neck so he could be picked up easier. It would have been quite the sight to see for the townspeople. The infamous Rodric Gold with no jacket or tie on, his trousers soaked about the legs and his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows, carrying a two year old wearing only a bright yellow duck towel. About an hour later, dinner was ready and both boys were in their pajamas, ready to eat.
Belle listened to stories from all of their days before sharing a few of her own. She loved dinner time with her family. It was so different from her old life. It was hard for her to believe that only five years ago she was with a man that would have killed her had she not killed him first. They were in the middle of laughing at Adam's story of Mary Margaret chasing a bird out of their classroom when the phone rang. "Oh I'll get it." Belle said, getting up first so Rodric wouldn't have to. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Gold? It's Mayor Mills." Regina said briskly from the other end of the line, trying to keep up appearances like always.
"Regina." Belle blinked and was honestly shocked that the mayor was calling them so late. "Is everything okay? Is Henry home?" She asked, hoping that's what the phone call was about.
"Yes, Henry's back home safe. His... birth mother... brought him back about a half hour ago." Regina explained, having to force her voice to stay pleasant at the mention of that woman. She had the gall to question her parenting skills! Who was she to do that when she was the one that gave him up ten years ago? "Could you please tell your husband that I won't need to take him up on his offer?"
Belle didn't want to know about whatever offer she was talking about. She was perfectly content in staying out of her husband's business when it came to Regina. "I'll do that. I'm glad he's home safe, Regina. I was worried about him when Rodric told me what happened."
Regina relaxed a little and nodded some. "I appreciate that, Mrs. Gold. Thank you. I'm sure we'll run into each other. Have a good night."
The mother's said their goodbyes before Belle returned to the table. "Henry's back home safe." She announced.
Adam visibly relaxed while Sam was still far too interested in his food to pay attention. "How much trouble is he in?" Adam asked quietly.
"Oh plenty, I'm sure." Rodric quipped from his seat. "And, for the record, if you ever try something like that, your mother and I will ground you until you're eighteen. Do you understand?"
Adam gulped some and nodded fully believing that they would do something like that. He wasn't afraid of Rodric like he had been of Devin, but he did respect him a hell of a lot more and Adam would never want to disappoint Rodric by doing something stupid like that. "I told him that it was a bad idea, but he said that he had to know. I told him that it could always be worse..."
Belle smiled a little sadly at her son, understanding where his thoughts went to when Henry started talking about birth mothers and being adopted. "Well... She was the one that brought him back so we'll see how things go, if she even stays."
The ten year old just nodded and soon they were cleaning up the kitchen together and Belle and Rodric were taking the boys to their room to tuck them in for the night. Belle read one chapter from the book they were currently working on and kissed both of her sons goodnight before joining Rodric in their room.
"Things are going to be interesting if Henry's birthmother sticks around. What's her name, anyway?" Belle asked. Regina didn't mention it and Belle didn't think it proper to ask.
"Emma Swan." Rodric sat down on his bed and rubbed the soreness out of his bad knee before lying back in bed, waiting for his lovely wife to finish brushing her hair out so she would join him. "She had Henry when she was in jail at the age of eighteen."
Belle blinked before getting in bed and curling up against her husband. "Wow." She said softly. "No wonder she put him up for adoption. It was either that or foster care..."
Gold nodded and kissed Belle softly before closing his eyes. "That's an adventure for tomorrow." He murmured. "Right now it's time for bed."
"Okay." Belle said, giggling softly. "Good night, Rodric. I love you."
"Love you too." He murmured before falling fast asleep.
Belle stayed awake for a little bit longer, wondering what must be going though Emma Swan's head now that her son that she gave up for adoption had found her. Was she even in town still? Part of Belle hoped that she was. Henry deserved to know her, but the main question was: did she deserve to know Henry? Only time will tell, I guess. Belle thought to herself before finally allowing herself to sleep.