I do not own Once Upon a Time. Like you didn't know that!

This little idea popped into my head after the episode from 10/30/16.

Reviews are appreciated.

Chapter 1

"I like your haircut," the tall young man said bluntly. He scrubbed a big, dirty hand through his chestnut curls. "You're shorter than me," he added. Pulling up the collar of his t-shirt, he began chewing on it, looking at Mr. Gold with bright blue, innocent eyes.

Standing at his open door, Mr. Gold looked up at the tall young man standing there. He frowned. "I'm sorry," he said as politely as he could, "but I don't know you."

The dirty shorts, the grimy sneakers, the sweat covered t-shirt did not engender any feelings of trust in Gold. His own immaculate gray suit by Brooks Brother's was brand new. It, along with the pale blue shirt, was tailor made just for him. The boy was most certainly out of place here.

The young man popped the saliva soaked collar out of his mouth and grinned, a perfect set of white teeth showing. "Do, too," he said in a sing-song tone. "Do, too. Do, too." He bounced on his toes, peering over Gold's head, and then he pushed passed the older man into the house.

Staggered by the young man's strength, Gold caught the door to keep from falling. He was irritated already, angry and hurt by Belle, and this did not bode well for the young stranger who was invading his home. "Just what the hell do you think -" Gold growled at the young man's back.

"Mr. Gold, please excuse my brother," a woman's voice said.

Gold turned around to see a lovely young woman standing on his porch. She was as tall as her brother, with the same beautiful chestnut colored curls. Although she was dressed as informally as her brother, she carried herself with grace. By Gold's standards, her shorts were too short, and her halter top was too tight. It was obvious that she wasn't wearing the proper foundation garment, all the more so because that particular part of her anatomy happened to be right at his eye level.

The thudding of size 12 Keds sneakers running up and down the stairs caught his attention, and Gold jerked his eyes and thoughts back towards his home. Furious, he spun back to face the woman, his head tilted back to face her. "Young woman," he growled between clenched teeth, "could you please control your brother and explain to me what is going on?"

She leaned to the side and yelled over his shoulder. "Jack! Get back down here now!" Then she straightened herself to face him, tucking a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, sir," she said, "I'm usually the first to reach a new customer's door, but Jack beat me here first."

Again, Gold was rocked by the young man's rush to get out the door. Jill!" he exclaimed, "Jill!" He jumped up and down grabbing at her hands.

She took him firmly by the arm. "Jack, you need to sit down," she instructed him. "You're getting too wound up." Jack stilled. He nodded and sat down on the porch. He drew up his knees, laid his head on them, and began taking slow, deep breaths. She reached down and began to gently stroke his hair.

Mr. Gold, watching this scene play out, was confused - half angry and half concerned. "I'm sorry," he said in a neutral tone. "Did you say 'customer'?"

The woman smiled. It was as if the sun came out from behind the clouds. She really was very beautiful. "Yes," she stated simply, keeping a hand on her brother's head, "I'm Jill Hillyard, and this -" she thrust her chin towards the young man "- is my brother Jack. We're here from J&J Cleaning Services." She turned to point out a blue van parked in front of the house.

"Oh," Mr. Gold muttered to himself. Then, more loudly he said, "Yes, of course, I've been expecting you. Won't you come in, please?" He held the door open. "The study is on your right."

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"Normally, I would use magic to clean my home," Gold informed the girl, "but my wife prefers that I don't use it."

Jill smiled sadly. "Yes, sir," she said respectfully. "A lot of us went through hell this year."

"The house looks like hell. Did you take it with you?" Jack asked innocently. He wrote his name in the dust on a nearby table.

Jill cleared her throat loudly and re-crossed her long legs. "It's not as bad as it looks, Jack. That's just dust." She focused her attention on her client. "You were saying, Mr. Gold?"

Gold's eyes flickered back to the girl. "Uh, yes," he explained, "like I said, my wife isn't fond of magic, so I hired John and Robert Houseman to install a lift in the sitting room for my wife. She's with child, and I don't want her climbing all those stairs."

Jill smiled. "That was very thoughtful of you," she declared.

Gold turned his attention to the odd young man. "That's why there's so much dust about, I'm afraid."

"That won't be a problem," Jill informed him. "We've cleaned up behind construction before." Despite her appearance, she was all business. "The first cleaning service usually takes longer than normal," she explained, "and it will be a trial cleaning. If you're happy with our work, we can arrange to return on a regular basis - say, once a week or once a month as needed."

"That sounds reasonable," Mr. Gold said. "Can you begin today? As the young man pointed out, the house is badly in need of cleaning."

"Sure," Jill smiled. "We can sign a one time contract today. Jack, go to the van and get a blue contract, and be -"

"I know! I know!" he shouted. "Be careful." He ran from the room.

Because he still felt a bit uncomfortable, Gold asked, "Your brother, Miss Hillyard, he helps you in the business?

She nodded. "He does." She lowered her voice. "When we were kids, Jack had an accident, a bad one. He suffers from a brain injury. When mom passed away last year, well, it was up to me to take care of him. I do the best I can, but sometimes, well -" She looked up at him, fierce tears in her eyes. "Family is important, Mr. Gold," she declared. "I'll do whatever I have to do to take care of him."

He nodded. "I understand completely."

Jack returned with the paper work, and Gold perused it carefully. He signed his name to the bottom and separated the copies, placing one inside his desk. Then he wrote out a check.

"I need to attend some things at my shop," Gold told Jill. "Here is my payment for today's service." He handed her a check. "If I am pleased with your work, I'll add a substantial tip when I return, and I will engage your services full time." He paused. "I may also hire you to clean my other businesses."

"Thank you, Mr. Gold. I really appreciate this," Jill said as they walked to the door. "I'll just lock the contract in the van, get the cleaning supplies, and get started. Jack! Come on, I need your help."

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Gold drove slowly down the street, intending to go to his shop. He hadn't been there in ages, and it was sure to be a colossal wreck as well. If the Hillyards are as good as she claims, he thought, I'll hire them to clean the shop as well as my rentals.

He slowed down further when he saw Belle and Mary Margaret - now known as Snow White - entering Baby Bunting. His wife was beginning to shop for their child. The least he could do was pay for the purchases, carry them for her, drive her back to - He clenched his teeth. Pulling over, he slammed the car into park and got out.

He took several moments simply to breathe. It wouldn't do to approach her with anything akin to anger. Once he had mastered his emotions, he squared his shoulders and marched across the street.

A tiny bell over the door tinkled, announcing his entrance. Glancing around quickly, he spotted the two women "oohing" and "ahhing" over a variety of nursery furniture. He moved silently over to them, taking advantage of their lack of attention to their surroundings.

"Belle?" he questioned softly. "I'd like to -"

She wheeled around in anger and alarm, cutting him off. "No!" she said forcefully. "I don't want to talk to you. Haven't I made that clear by now?"

He clamped his back teeth together and dipped his head. He must not give in to the anger. Lifting his face, he replied softly, "Belle, I'd like to help."

"You've done enough!" she complained loudly. "Just go away and leave us alone."

"That's not really fair, Belle."

"No, it's not," Snow asserted. Both Gold and Belle turned to look at her. "Like it or not, Belle, he is your child's father, and he has just as much right as you do to be a part of the child's life."

Belle turned to glare at her friend. She wanted to blast her, but she couldn't. In her heart, she knew Snow was right. She pinched her lips together and turned away for a moment.

Gold gently touched Snow on the elbow, garnering her attention. "Thank you," he mouthed.

Snow shook her head. "I didn't say it for you," she whispered. "I said it for the child. He has a right to a father and mother."

"All right," Belle declared as she turned back around, "you can help. Today. But we are not discussing anything other than baby furnishings."

He smiled. "Whatever you wish," he told her and clasped his hands behind his back. "Mrs. Nolan," he turned to their peacemaker, "what furnishings do you think we need?"

Before Snow could answer, Belle interrupted. "Rumple, you've had a child before. Surely, you know what is needed for a baby." She managed to look both confused and suspicious at the same time.

Gold looked sad for a moment. "Ah, Belle," he replied, "that was well over three hundred years ago, and I was just a poor spinner. Milah and I, we made do with what we could." He dared to reach out to touch her arms. "This baby, our baby, will have all the modern conveniences, anything you want. I'm more than able to buy everything you and he may need."

She frowned. "I'm not allowing you to pay for everything. That's not right."

His frown matched hers. "Well, Belle, you're in no position to pay for it, and I am," he argued. "You're not even supporting yourself right now, and -"

"Stop," Snow ordered them both in her best teacher voice. "Belle, he's right about that. You don't have a job or permanent home yet -"

"I'm planning to return to work at the library," she snapped, "and the apartment above it once -"

"That's great," Snow interjected, "but for now you're still without an income."

"Please, Belle," Gold put in, "allow me to purchase the items you need. Once you've gotten back on your feet, you can pay me back for half the cost if it makes you happy."

Common sense and obstinacy fought for the upper hand. Finally, Mrs. Gold relented. "All right," she said, "you can purchase the items, but I'll begin making payments to you when I start receiving my paychecks."

"For half," he insisted. "The baby is my child, too, Belle."

With Snow playing the occasional referee, peace reigned in the Baby Bunting store. The Golds purchased the basic items to fill a nursery with ease, and it was amazing at how their tastes ran along the same lines. The harmony, however, lasted only until they were ready to leave.

"Would you like to take the furniture now?" the young sales clerk asked. "We can help you load it."

"It won't fit in the Cadillac," Gold mused. "If I use my magic, though, I can shrink it. Then later, I can re-size it."

"No," Belle asserted, "I don't want you to use your magic. You know that."

"We can deliver it," the clerk told them. "What's the address?"

"Deliver it to 410 St. George Street," Gold told him.

"The Victorian?" Belle asked in astonished disbelief. "Do you really think I'm setting up a nursery there?" She ordered the clerk, "Have it delivered to the Jolly Roger at the pier."

"That will never happen," Gold exploded. "I don't want you on Hook's ship, and I'll not have another child of mine there either!"

Belle and Gold locked eyes. Slowly, her anger drained away as she realized just how hurt he was. After all, his first wife left him to live aboard the pirate's ship, and now here she was doing the same.

Shaking with repressed emotions, Gold lowered his voice. Gently, he asked her, "How about a truce, Belle? I'll hire a cleaning crew to prepare the library apartment, and the furniture can be delivered there."

She furrowed her brow thinking it over. "Well…," she said slowly.

He gently pushed the issue. "Everything will be in place, spotless, and waiting on you to move in by Friday. I guarantee it."

Still Belle stared at him, her eyes dark with suspicion. "Why are you being so reasonable all of a sudden?"

Gold threw his hands in the air. "Gah, woman! For the last time, the child is mine, too! I love you and the babe! I want to make things as easy for you as possible. Don't you get it?"

"Belle," Snow added softly, "he is trying, you know. Sooner or later, you'll have to decide whether or not to get back together or get a divorce." Mr. and Mrs. Gold both flinched at her words. "Either way," Snow persisted, "you'll have to share the child with him, and you'd best find a way to do it amicably. If you two can't provide your son with a happy home together, the least you can do is see that there isn't open war between the two of you."

Belle reached up to brush the tears from her eyes just as he held out his handkerchief to her. Muttering a polite thank you, Belle dried her eyes. "Please have the furnishings delivered to the apartment above the town library," she told the clerk firmly.

"And," Gold added, "send a duplicate of everything to the St. George Street address."

"Rumple," Belle growled a warning at him.

"Belle," Snow interrupted, "he's just being practical. If you guys split, he'll need a nursery for when the baby stays with him."

"You're right, Snow," she grudgingly admitted. "Rumple," she addressed her husband, "I suppose we do need to sit down and hash this out."

It was all he could do not to explode with happiness. "Whatever makes you happy, Belle," he told her. "That's all I ever wanted."

"Well," Snow said with a clap of her hands, "how about lunch? I know I'm starving."

Gold took the hint. "May I escort you ladies to lunch? Any where you choose," he offered.