Emma.

He might as well have been shot in the gut, the reaction would have been the same and for a moment everything blurred. He tightened his grip on the cane in his hand and steadied, widening his stance a bit and he looked up at the woman, the savior. "Emma," he said and she was clearly startled. He couldn't hide the small smile on his face, feeling the curse's breaking coming closer. Her blue eyes held his brown. "What a lovely name," he commented offhandedly.

"Thanks," she said, not entirely sure it was the right response.

He gave her a smirk while Madam Lucas handed him a bundle of bills. He took it as per his Gold-persona's instructions and waved off the lady's reassurance that it was all there.

"You have a nice stay. Emma," he said and turned, grabbing the doorknob. He caught Miss Lucas' disdainful look but he didn't comment or let his face react. He knew he wasn't exactly well liked. He went for his car, the cane clicking on the pavement and alerting everyone still outside that Gold was on the prowl. He quickly fired up the engine and went for the place he now knew as home. On the way, the streetlights flashed in a bright golden band around his finger. He frowned then hoped Regina hadn't married him off to one of the princesses. As he drove he counted off the people Regina could possibly pair him with out of spite.

He walked up to his front door, having come to the conclusion that all the princesses he knew he had already seen in this town with someone else or too afraid of Gold to be married to him. He saw light in the windows, so whoever it was, was definitely home.

Brace yourself Rumpelstiltskin, he thought and pushed the door open silently. He sneaked inside, hoping to see whoever was inside before they saw him. To try and soften the surprise and possible heart attack he was about to give himself. He could hear noises from the kitchen and he put his cane down as gently as he could as he took careful steps towards the sound. But all he saw when he entered the room was a whirring mixer and a cookbook with some sort of cake recipe opened.

Then a hand covered his eyes from behind him. Gold could faintly spot the glint of a golden ring similar to his own. The hand was definitely too large for a woman, but Gold shrugged it off. He could deal with a man. It might be a tad awkward but he could deal with it.

"I'm not guessing who," Gold deadpanned. The person behind him chuckled, and it was definitely a man. The person breathed on his neck and Gold quickly stepped out of the guy's reach, suppressing an uncomfortable shiver. He turned his head and received possibly the biggest surprise of his life.

This man was not from Fairytale Land. Gold remembered this man had come from the Land Without Magic; he'd crossed the border, as the man and son had so many years ago. He'd been camping by himself by the water and he'd been inside the town border as the town appeared before him. What was his name- His name was Ian.

Ian.

Ian gave him an odd look and Gold realized he'd let his surprise and confusion show, "Hey."

Ian raised an eyebrow, "Hey? You're home late and that's what you have for me?"

Oh, the guy was British, probably English. His tone was playful and something similar to a smile pulled at the corners of Gold's mouth, feeling the familiarity of the situation. Ian was like that. It felt homely.

It all felt a little overwhelming all of a sudden and he tried to focus on his breathing. He tried not to let the stress show but then he got dizzy and his vision darkened. Moments later his surprise took over and he fell forward into complete blackness and a pair of arms.

-x-x-x-

When he woke up again it was to a beeping heart monitor and bright lights above him. He squinted and turned his head to the side, feeling a headache approach. As he turned he could make out a person sitting by his bedside and upon further inspection- it was still Ian. Why was he- Oh, right. Domestic partnership was what they called it. He glanced down and raised his hand, staring at the gold ring around his finger. He looked back to Ian, his hands folded in his lap. He dug deeper, his fake memories slowly surfacing and melting together with his real ones. Regina was an imaginative one, the town feeling as natural as Fairytale Land had.

He had actually planned to go to Regina's to subtly gloat at Emma Swan's arrival, but there was no way he was doing that now. Plus, now he had the added bonus of pretending he was in love with this man. Years of memories would hopefully make that easy. He swallowed, considering cutting his ties with Ian completely, giving a lame excuse. But he decided against it; Regina would be on him like a hawk. Something in his head had hoped it was Belle wearing the golden band, but then the rest of his head reminded him that she was dead and couldn't be part of the curse in the first place. On the other hand, Ian wasn't a part of the curse to begin with either. At least he didn't think so, knowing most faces on Fairytale Land pretty well after 300 years of deal making. Regina must have thought Ian would distract him from gaining too much power in town and let him be included in the curse. There was no other reason, Regina surely not wanting him to be happy when she assimilated Ian to the curse. But he had been pretty happy with Ian.

"Nathaniel," Ian suddenly caught his attention. Nathaniel was his name? Regina didn't have the best imagination after all. More memories settled in his head, Ian awake and moving the chair closer. He grabbed Gold's hand and Gold had to suppress a grimace. But for now he had to allow it, and it wasn't exactly uncomfortable either. Ian had a habit of holding his hand and hopefully Gold would fall back into this routine fairly quickly. "How are you feeling, luv?" Ian asked, concern burning in his eyes.

"I'm fine," Gold said, his voice bordering on slurring. True, his head hurt but that was because of the lights. And there wasn't anything to be done for his leg anyway.

"Christ, you almost gave me a heart attack," Ian breathed out.

"For a moment I thought I was actually having one," Gold retorted, not entirely as caustically as he could have. Ian flinched but he was used to Gold's sarcastic quips and only shot him a not too kind look. Gold swallowed, "What're the doctors saying?"

"They don't know why you fainted. They said they'd run more tests but last I heard, they didn't know anything more than the fact that you collapsed," Ian said, glancing at the door to the room.

"I could have told them that," Gold snapped.

"I told them, and then they asked another dozen questions," Ian complained.

"Had a tough day then," Gold said dryly.

Ian groaned, "You have no idea." Ian then squeezed Gold's hand and their matching rings clinked together. Gold cast a quick glance to the golden bands and then let his eyes drift to the window. The sun was up, but clouds covered it pretty well.

"Mr. Gold? Mr. Rawlings?" Whale's silent entrance startled them both and he looked apologetic. "How are you feeling, Mr. Gold?" he asked, a clipboard under one arm.

"Fine," Gold said shortly.

"No pain?"

"Only the one in my leg, but I'm rather used to that one," Gold said calmly. It was no secret he didn't like doctors and Whale – Victor Frankenstein – was certainly no exception. Ian coughed but Gold ignored him, nodding to the clipboard under Whale's arm, "I'm assuming you have some sort of conclusion for me?"

Whale grimaced and took a step closer, "That's the thing; there's no explanation. We have tested practically everything, but there's no explanation what so ever for your collapse."

"I see," Gold said with a tight smile. "I'm free to go home then?" he asked.

Whale shook his head negative, "Not yet; could you please describe how you felt just before you passed out?"

Gold frowned, "Dizzy. It was difficult to breathe and then everything turned dark."

"No nausea, no pain of any kind?" Whale prodded.

"No, none of that," Gold said firmly. Was Whale questioning his explanation?

Whale nodded, "I'd like one final check of the basics and then, I suppose, you can be home within the hour."

-x-x-x

It was interesting walking from the hospital, Ian on one side and his cane on the other. He could feel the stares, most were aimed at him, but a large portion was also directed at the pair of them as a whole. Ian ignored it and so did Gold, even if his eyes twitched at every hushed whisper echoing in the hall. Though he couldn't hear them, there was no doubt it wasn't people wishing him – or them – well.

Ian gave a not entirely sad smirk, "You'd think they'd be over it by now."

"Oh, but that would be assuming something more interesting has happened in town," Gold retorted, rolling his eyes.

Ian shrugged, "Guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right," Gold said and Ian chuckled. Gold didn't know how to feel about making Ian laugh. Every emotion Ian felt towards him were fake – right? But if Ian had come into town of his own will, Regina assimilating him to the curse after he'd asked Gold out, then the emotions could be real? He remembered falling in love the man, every awkward moment up to their first kiss that Ian would tease him with now and then. He also remembered seeing Ian very naked and- Okay, that was definitely enough for now! For now he had to continue making Ian smile, for the sake of appearances and so that Regina didn't catch on.

"Mr. Gold."

Speaking of the devil. Regina looked like herself, except her hair was shorter. She was in business attire and a smile on her crimson lips. Ian eyed her with disdain and Gold coughed, "Ian, wait by the car please?"

Ian shot him a look but also nodded, not really wanting to deal with Regina himself.

Regina watched him leave, "I heard you took a tumble Gold. I hope you're okay."

"I'm quite fine," Gold said, his tone bordering on the pleasant.

Regina's smile was tight, like a spring, "I'm glad to hear that."

Gold cleared his throat, "By the way, I caught wind that a Miss Emma Swan came to Storybrooke last night. I remember the name from Henry's adoption. Have you introduced them yet?"

Regina's face darkened, "They've met yes, but she's already on her way back to Boston. She simply wanted to be sure he was happy."

Gold smiled coolly, loving watching Regina try to cover up the fact that she wanted Emma gone. And the savior wasn't gone. She couldn't be. It was destiny that she'd break the curse, so she had to still be here somewhere. He wasn't going to investigate however, needing to keep of Regina's radar for a while. Might take a few sick days. "I trust she was well assured. Now, I must be going. Ian's waiting," he said, his mouth maneuvering fondly around the man's first name with cursed ease.

Regina smirked, "I see. Better not keep your… partner waiting." Gold gave Regina a poisonous smirk. The sentence was an unnecessary jab at the fact that they could not be married in the state of Maine. It had almost been legal in 2009, but protesters had brought the law down before it could be put into action. Rumor had it they were planning for another go at the law in early 2012, only a few months away. Gold mentally shrugged. He really shouldn't care, but he had to keep up to make sure Ian wouldn't think he was being strange.

He went for the car and rolled his eyes as he settled in the passenger seat, Ian wearing a smirk. Ian pulled out of the hospital car park swiftly. The house hadn't changed in their absence and Gold let Ian help him out of the car simply because of the goofy look on his face. Even out if the car, Ian didn't let go of his hand and Gold endured it. Once inside, Ian pressed a quick kiss to Gold's forehead and he couldn't help but pull a face at that.

Ian chuckled, "You wound me, my love."

"No, you'd definitely feel it if that was the case," Gold said casually.

"You go get changed for bed, I'll make you some tea," Ian said, ushering him towards the stairs.

"It's not even 2 o'clock," Gold protested.

Ian shrugged, "You need to rest. Whale's orders."

"I'm not a child, Ian," Gold growled, but his tone lacked the usual edge and Ian simply smiled at him. Gold sighed and went upstairs to the bedroom and for the first time since he woke from the curse, he became keenly aware of the fact that he actually shared a bed with Ian Rawlings. It seemed like he was going to sleep in his clothes today – and until he would get comfortable with this arrangement. He shrugged out of his jacket, vest, and pulled off the tie, then jumped under the covers and breathed out. He needed to think.

Ian tutted as he entered the room with a cup in his hands. He put it on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed, "You should change, luv."

"Too tired," Gold grumbled.

Ian raised a lewd eyebrow and tugged on the collar of Gold's shirt, "I could help."

"Definitely too tired for that," Gold insisted, batting the hand away and tugging up the covers further.

Ian laughed and carted a hand through Gold's hair, "My poor little Nathaniel."

"Are you calling me short, Rawlings?" Gold asked and Ian huffed.

"Of course not."

It was an old argument, and it was strangely distracting at the moment.

"Not short. You're only a quarter of an inch taller, you twat. Now let me sleep."

Ian nodded towards the tea cup, "At least drink your tea?"

"Sleep first. Tea later," Gold said finally, turning in the bed and breathing out.

"You're a traitor to the flag, Nat," Ian mumbled, putting a hand on his arm before leaving him to rest. Gold turned back to the tea and picked up the cup suspiciously. The cup held the same pattern as the one Belle had dropped in his castle so many years ago. But the edge was prefect, so perfect it was a flaw. He took a quick sip of the still steaming tea and put the cup back on the table. He wasn't one to waste good tea. He closed his eyes and tried to think but his mind drifted before he could do a whole lot of thinking.

Then suddenly he was startled awake, the bed dipping in the other side and he opened his eyes, noticing the sun had gone down completely and his breath hitched. Ian Rawlings was sharing a bed with him. He closed his eyes again and tried to continue sleeping.

"You sleeping, luv?" Ian asked softly.

Gold didn't respond, hopeful that the man would go to sleep soon instead. He felt Ian shifting and then there was a hand on his shoulder and he felt Ian lean in. A gentle kiss was pressed to his cheek and Ian leaned back with a satisfied sigh. Gold swallowed and resisted the urge to scrub his face clean. But the kiss had been too gentle to bother him.