Home at Last

Rose couldn't remember the last time she'd been in a car. After walking around for a while they decided it would be best to take the car home for the sake of Mr. Gold's leg. She certainly couldn't complain, everything that had happened in the past hour had been endlessly exciting to her. Walking down the sidewalk, touching the flowers, seeing all the different people pass by in their different clothes. She shook her head, how foolish she must seem to this man. He pulled up to the side of the street and parked the car.

Rose looked out the window, admiring the row of large houses "So which one of these is yours?"

He motioned to the coral colored Victorian home with pine green trim. "That one."

She couldn't help but giggle, it just looked so out of place next to all the other homes, and to belong to a man who seemed so reserved. The whimsy of it tickled her. "It's lovely!"

"Thank you," he said, getting out of the car.

She marveled at it as they approached, it was almost reminiscent of a gingerbread home, very large too. She wondered what he did with all the space. "So you live here all alone?"

"Not anymore, it would appear." A teasing smirk played on his features.

Rose returned the smile, blushing at silliness of her question. She had to wonder though. It seemed strange to purchase such a large house, though nice it was, solely for oneself. She wondered if he ever had a family of his own, a wife perhaps? But now did not seem like the time to ask. It suddenly occurred to her how little she knew about him. When she thought about it, the whole arrangement was a bit strange. Here she was, staying in a man's house who she barely even knew. It would be natural to feel uncomfortable, but for some reason she didn't feel that way. She had been so enchanted by her freedom that there hadn't been room for feelings of uncertainty. Should she be uncertain? It was a big step, moving in with a stranger.

It wasn't until they reached the front steps that she noticed the brightly colored window panes on the front door. For as strange as her situation was, it was the most wonderful strange she had ever experienced.

The jingle of keys brought her back to attention. She watched him as he unlocked the door, he held it open for her.

"After you."

She stepped inside and looked around, smiling widely. It was like stepping into wonderland. The hallway and living room were a similar coral color as the outside, all bordered with dark wood to match the floor. She waited for him to proceed. It wasn't until she looked back that she could truly appreciate the sun coming in through the colored windows behind them, making a pattern on the floor. He pointed out the living room and dining room. The intricate woodwork in the corners of the doorframes was reminiscent of spider webs. A wool, oriental rug sat in the middle under the elegant damask couch and chairs. He turned on the lights and it brought her attention to the large chandelier hanging above her. It was so much to take in, so many trinkets and antiques scattered about. In the back of the room sat a wooden statue of a carousel horse, and to the left of her, a cello and a harp. Everything was so ornate and authentic, if not also in need of repair. In the next room she noticed the top hinges broken off of one of the cabinets, the door hanging on by the bottom. There were also a number of empty picture frames scattered about.

"You have a beautiful home," she said at last, "There are just so many things! How did you acquire all of this?"

"Just one of the perks of being a pawn broker, I suppose."

She nodded. He must have gotten very good business to be able to afford something on this scale. Either that or he must have done something else on the side. "Did you have any other jobs before that?"

"I was a lawyer before this, I'm also currently a landlord. That's where I make most of my money, owning a pawnshop is more of a hobby really."

"That's fascinating!"

Gold smiled at this, "We can visit my shop when we go into town."

"I would love that," she said, turning to inspect a small, porcelain statue.

"I can show you the rest of the house, if you'd like."

Rose smiled, "I would love that too."

There were so many rooms, she felt like she would need a map to find everything again. They had now made their way upstairs. Mr. Gold casually pointed out his room and the steps leading up to the third floor. "There are a few other rooms and a balcony up there, I'll show you that in a minute. Right now I have something else I'd like to show you."

She followed him down the hall until they reached the third door, he turned the handle. "Your room."

Rose could do nothing but smile as she marveled at the place laid out before her, her very own room. She took a mental inventory.

Cream wallpaper decorated with green vines climbed the walls. To the left, a dark, wooden dresser that looked well-used. Across from the dresser, a queen bed quilted in pastel yellows, blues, greens, and pinks. There were boxes of things in the corner and various antiques placed around the room. A tall, cream colored mirror with pink, delicate roses painted in the corners.

She ran her hand across the textured quilt, feeling the along edges where the seams met. Mr. Gold remained like a statue by the door as she looked around.

"Sorry about the clutter, I mainly used this room for storage. I haven't had time to clear everything out yet," he said, "It could certainly use some redecorating, feel free to do with it what you please."

Rose laughed, "I think you're forgetting what I'm used to."

He smirked at her, she could sense twinge of remorse in his eyes.

But really, what most enchanted her about this room were the large, hinged windows. She approached them in wonder and pulled back the lace curtains to reveal the chipped, cream painted frame.

"Mind if I open them?"

"Be my guest."

The hinges creaked as she pulled the handles toward her, opening the windows like doors to the world outside. Rose took a deep breath of fresh air and marveled at the acres that stretched out before her, everything so clear and tangible, like the world was inviting her to experience it. "You can see everything from here," she said quietly.

She heard his cane tap the hardwood floor as he approached her, "Yes, I've always been fond of this room myself, particularly for the view." He stood beside her now, staring off into the sky.

For a moment, there was not a sound but the birds in the trees and the wind rustling through the leaves. She placed her hands on the windowsill, curling her fingers over the edge so that they touched the siding of the house. There were no bars here, not even a screen to hold her back. She leaned out of the window and looked down, the adrenaline of height filling her with a sudden rush of freedom. Mr. Gold, when he was certain she wouldn't see, stole a glance in her direction, softening his features as he watched her in her moment of bliss.

He shifted his gaze back toward the horizon as she began to turn her head. Rose leaned against the windowsill and looked at him this time, a curious expression playing on her features. Feeling her stare, he glanced in her direction, raising an eyebrow in an inquisitive manner. There was no answer. She held his gaze for a moment, her expression still curious and warm, as if she were now asking the question. What was it she wanted to know?

"I do have one last thing on this floor I'd like to show you," he said at last.

Her face lit up at this, "You do?"

"Yes, at the end of the hall, in fact. I have a feeling you may like it."

Rose left the window and followed him out into the hallway. On their way he pointed out the bathroom, closet, and other miscellaneous rooms that were apparently of too little importance to make full stops. Rose made a silent promise to herself that she would experience each one of them as soon as she got the chance.

"Here we are," he said finally, stopping at the door at the very end of the hall.

She recognized it as soon as he cracked it open, she could never mistake it. The smell of old books. The room she entered took her breath away. The ceiling must have been twenty feet high, the walls entirely lined with books save for the long, lone window that split the room in two. Rose beamed, blinking back tears. It even had a ladder that swung around. In the back by the window sat a red, leather chair and a small coffee table made of dark wood to match the shelves.

"I hoped you would like this one," she heard Gold say softly from beside her.

Rose chuckled, wiping a tear before it could escape. She took a few steps forward, still drinking it in. The gold lettering on the spines caught her eye as they sparkled in the sunlight. There were books of all sizes, bindings, and ages. She could hardly believe it; a library, right down the hall.

Finally, she turned to him with every genuine intention, "I used to dream of a place like this," she said, "You have no idea what this means to me, what all of this," she swept her arm across the room, "means to me." His features softened, a tenderness in his eyes that was so rarely seen. She stepped closer to him. "I don't know what possessed you to rescue me, but I will never, as long as I live, be able to thank you enough."

"Your safety is enough," he said at last, "You don't owe me anything."

Then suddenly, before she could even think, her arms came around him in a tight embrace. He staggered backward, startled by the sudden gesture. She was already mid-hug before she considered that her impulsive behavior might be received as inappropriate, but it was too late now, she was committed. She could feel the tension in his body, the heaviness of his breathing from the shock. And then, slowly, she felt an arm around her back, timidly, as if surprised to find that she was real, as if any sudden movement would scare her away. She shifted her head so that it rested on his shoulder, as if trying to tell him that it was ok to hug back. She felt him exhale and awkwardly bring the arm that held his cane around her too. There was a slight pressure of it on her back as he finally and fully embraced her. They stood there for a moment in silence, each of them secretly basking in the warmth of a gesture not received since either could remember. She closed her eyes and smiled. As if everything she wanted to tell him could be expressed in a simple hug.

It was a start.

A/N: Super sorry for the wait guys, I went out of town for most of last week and had a ton of things that I needed to catch up on before working on this. I aim for posting at least once a week, so hopefully things will be less chaotic in the future. Once summer hits I will have much more time.