I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this so much! I love writing this and hearing from you! Hope you guys like this chapter! Gold and Anne's relationship further develops. Enjoy and review!

Chapter 9: The Shepherd

Anne stared blankly at the empty booth seat opposite of her. It could have been occupied by someone, but she wouldn't have even noticed. Her tired mind was far from the real world at the moment, contemplating two things.

Loneliness and loss.

Of course, she wasn't really lonely. She had her friends; Mary Margaret, Ruby, Emma, and little Henry. But she had almost him today.

Regina had gotten the dangerous idea of ruining the poor boy's imaginative land and world of fairytales. Naturally, Henry had felt he needed to prove he wasn't crazy. This had led him to a near death experience in the mines.

Even with her friendship with her friends and...whatever she had with Gold, she felt a sense of loneliness and loss deep within her. Other than her parents, she hadn't ever lost anyone. She couldn't remember ever losing anyone, but she had the slightest feeling haunting her heart and mind. Some sadness and loneliness haunted her.

The front bell in Granny's diner jungle cheerily, but the sound didn't reach Anne's ears. Or a least the sound didn't register in her mind. She didn't even notice the shadow that fell across her table and the seat she absently stared at.

"Anne," came a panicked voice. Mary Margaret plopped into the seat across from Anne, wrapped in her coat and scarf with her beanie atop her head. The dark haired woman observed her blonde friend and the blank look on her beautiful face.

"Anne!" she called again, reaching out to touch Anne's small hand on the table beside a glass of hot chocolate.

Anne blinked multiple times, her glazed-over green eyes focusing on her friend.

"Mar!" she said in surprise, seeing the worried and stressed look on Mary Margaret's face.

"Are you alright, Anne?" Mary Margaret asked, her dark brows furrowed. Anne offered a smile, nodding her head.

"I'm fine. I was just...lost in thought," she answered, observing her friend's stressed nature. "What's wrong?"

"He left her, Anne."

Anne's brows furrowed in confusion, but slowly realization appeared on her face.

"Oooooh..." she drawled out, her accent prominent. Mary Margaret nodded frantically.

"David left his wife! He left her! He left Kathryn for me!" she whispered intensely, her eyes darting around the relatively empty diner.

"Hey, calm down," Anne whispered soothingly, taking her friend's hand in her own. She looked down at her mostly untouched hot chocolate and pushed it towards Mary Margaret. "Here. Drink some and tell me what happened."

Mary Margaret nodded and took a sip, but then she was immediately jumping into the story, making Anne smile fondly. It was the loving kind of smile one gives a close friend they've know for...forever.

"He did it for me, Anne! And he wants to meet me tonight. Emma says I should go, but I don't know..." she slowed down, averting her gaze. "I guess I still feel...guilty?"

Mary Margaret even looked confused as she spoke.

"Guilty that you don't feel guilty, you mean?" Anne clarified. Mary Margaret nodded quickly. Anne thought for a moment before she continued. "Well...you shouldn't feel guilty. He left on his own accord. I think you should go. This is all you can ask for."

Mary Margaret looked a little surprised, much like she had when she heard the same exact thing from Emma.

"Really? That's exactly what Emma said," she said quietly, though some of the stress seemed to disappear.

Anne smiled, watching her friend with some amusement.

"Mar, go."

Mary Margaret smiled brightly, but only fleetingly. Her beaming smile was replaced with a frown very quickly.

"What about Regina? She's become good friends with Kathryn," she said quietly, looking into Anne's eyes with worry. She saw her beautiful blonde friend smile mischievously.

"All the more reason to do it," Anne answered with a smirk. Mary Margaret let out a laugh.

"That was Emma's exact response!" she said, chuckling. Her worry was slipping away.

"Well, listen to your two wise friends, Mar," Anne laughed, giving Mary Margaret's hand a light squeeze. "And your heart," she added with a wink. The bell suddenly jingled again and Anne found her gaze turning to the door, her heart fluttering in anticipation as she remembered the reason she had been waiting in the diner in the first place.

It was just Leroy.

With disappointment, Anne turned back to her friend to see a confused look in her eyes.

"Are you expecting someone?" Mary Margaret asked, a small teasing smirk appearing on her lips. Anne blushed slightly, a smirk on her own lips.

"Maybe," she answered teasingly. Mary Margaret laughed, shaking her head.

"Then I guess I'll go. Thanks for the help, Anne," she said as she got up from the booth. "Oh and for the hot chocolate," she added with a laugh. Anne laughed as well.

"Any time. Don't ever hesitate to come to me, Mar," she said sincerely. Mary Margaret gave her one last smile.

"Bye."

"See you later," Anne answered with a chuckle. Reaching for her hot chocolate, Anne pulled the mug closer to her. She heard the bell jingle as Mary Margaret left the diner.

And she was alone again, but the feeling of loneliness she had felt earlier did not return. Instead, her thoughts turned towards the date she was waiting on.

A shadow soon crossed the table and Anne looked up to see who had interrupted her thoughts. A smile immediately appeared on her lips.

"A beautiful woman such as yourself could not possibly be alone this fine afternoon, my dear," a Scottish accent spoke to her, making her heart skip a beat. Gold looked down at her, looking handsome as always.

"Is this seat taken, dearie?" he asked with a charming smile. Anne smiled, tilting her head and furrowing her brows playfully.

"I am expecting someone," she answered. Gold pretended to look disappointed.

"Oh," he playfully scoffed, his lips turning up in a smirk. Anne smiled an alluring smile, pretending to think as she looked up into his eyes.

"But...I definitely wouldn't mind the company of such a handsome man," she said, her stomach full of butterflies despite the bold, confident comment. With a smirk, Gold sat down across from her.

"Won't the company you are expecting be disappointed?" he asked coyly.

"I find myself enjoying you far too much, I'm sure my date wouldn't mind," Anne answered with a laugh, making Gold's smile grow and his eyes light up happily. Anne's eyes twinkled mischievously as she watched Gold lean in, his arms resting on the table.

"Let me assure you, dearie. If it were anyone but me, he would mind very much," he whispered in his Scottish brogue. Anne's heart beat quickly and forcefully in her chest, a blush creeping up her neck at the feelings Gold was eliciting in her.

She felt herself smile happily as Gold laughed, finding her silence amusing.

"Have I made you speechless, my dear?" he asked with a chuckle. Anne laughed, shaking her head at his teasing. Without a thought of it, she reached out and covered his hand with her small soft one.

"How has your day been?" she asked, feeling the sparks of pleasure that shot through her as her skin touched his.

Gold immediately turned their hands over and gripped hers in his larger hand. Looking up with a soft smirk, he carefully leaned forward and brought her hand to his lips. The feeling of his warm lips on her hand made her breathing quicken, and a soft smile appear on her face.

"Much better now, dearie," he answered, smiling affectionately at her. Anne sighed happily, leaning forward on her arms.

She suddenly felt eyes staring into the side of her head, and she turned to see Leroy watching her with judgment in his hard eyes. He slowly turned away from her, and Anne frowned.

Gold softly stroked his thumb over her hand, drawing her attention back to him.

"Don't pay him any mind, Anne," he said, his voice sad and slightly guilty. He was ruining her reputation, he knew and that made him feel guilty. He knew what people thought. Why would the prettiest girl in Storybrooke, someone everyone adores, spend her time with the most dangerous man in town?

Anne sighed as she turned to face him completely, and she forced a smile onto her face. As she looked into his caring eyes and felt his thumb still caressing her skin, her smile became real.

"I won't," she promised. "After our late lunch, what shall we do?"

Gold grimaced slightly, but he continued his gentle ministrations on her hand.

"Unfortunately, I left some things out in the shop that I need to finish cleaning and appraising," he answered apologetically. Anne only smiled.

"Perfect. I can finish cleaning the rest of the shop. For someone who spends so much time cleaning antiques, you don't keep the rest of your shop very tidy," she teased, tilting her head to the side as she looked up at him through her long eye lashes. Gold chuckled, shaking his head at her.

"I'm very thankful I don't, or you wouldn't want to spend so much time in there with me."

"On the contrary, my dear," she spoke, shaking her head, "I would find another excuse."

Gold chuckled fondly at the way her charming accent slipped into her words. The accent was a soft, gentle British one.

"I'm glad to hear that."

Anne beamed, and looked down at their hands. Slowly, she turned his hand to face palm up. He watched with amusement as she traced the lines of his palm with her painted white nails. Then she fit her hand back into his and looked up with a smile.

"What?" he asked, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

"I like your hands," she said with a shy smile and a laugh. Gold laughed at her answer.

"And I like yours, dearie," he said, giving her knuckles a soft kiss.

Just then someone cleared their throat, interrupting their conversation.

Looking up, Anne saw Granny and a smile lit her face.

"Hello, Granny!" she said cheerily. "How are you today?"

Anne's sincere, genuine happiness moved the scowl from Granny's face, and the older woman gave the beautiful blonde a small smile.

But then Granny remembered the man sitting across from Anne and her frown returned.

"Good afternoon, dear," Gold greeted Granny with a confident, crooked smile as she turned to look at him. The grey haired woman grunted.

"What can I get the two of you?" she asked, clicking her pen and raising her notepad. Anne smiled across the table at Gold, finally retracting her hand.

"Hmm...lets see," Anne paused, narrowing her eyes in concentration as she pretended to study him.

"Lasagna?" she guessed. She noticed the very quickly masked look of disgust and she shook her head. "No that's not it. Hmm...burger?"

Gold chuckled, nodding his head.

"Much better," he said, ignoring the annoyed look Granny gave him. He turned to look up at her with a smirk. "Two burgers and a basket of fries. With two waters."

Granny quickly scribbled it down and sighed.

"It'll be right out," she said, in an irritated and bored voice. She then walked away without another word. But she did spare a glare at Gold.

"I have a complicated relationship with that woman," he said with a sheepish smile, squirming slightly in his seat as he leaned forward again. Anne chuckled, though she knew he was right. That was his relationship with most of the town.

"No lasagna?" Anne asked to change the subject, her nose scrunched and a grimace on her face. Gold shook his head, his face a matching grimace.

"The lasagna here is extremely over-praised," he said seriously, making Anne giggle softly.

"I agree, but don't tell her that. She's my best customer," Anne whispered with a quiet laugh. Gold nodded his agreement.

"My lips are sealed, my dear."

At the mention of his lips, Anne's eyes glanced to them. She remembered back to their first date, where she had kissed him. She quickly looked back into his eyes.

Gold's brown eyes twinkled mischievously, as if he knew what she was thinking. And that made Anne blush.

This man seemed to have that affect on her.

But she loved it.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, and shadows fell over Storybrooke, Anne and Gold walked arm in arm towards his pawnshop.

When they entered the shop, Anne followed him into his office.

Gold smirked at the look of shock on her face. This room was even messier than the front room.

But to her credit, she didn't say a word, and Anne began tidying up the area. He went back to cleaning the item that sat on his desk, a smile on his face as he watched her move about his office.

"I do hope your kitchen is cleaner than this," she finally spoke, unable to ignore the issue any longer. Gold chuckled.

"My kitchen is quite tidy. It's the front room that needs cleaned up, dearie," he answered, his eyes returning to focus on polishing the item on his desk, a wooden clock.

Anne paused, her hand and the duster poised in the air, frozen as she studied him. His attention was on the clock, and his hands carefully wiped the clock down, paying careful attention to each edge and crevice in the wood. And his lips frowned softly in concentration. Again, Anne thought of the night she had kissed him. It seemed so long ago.

As Anne pondered over the feeling of his lips, her eyes still on him, Gold looked up. He had felt her gaze.

With wide eyes, Anne quickly turned away, returning to dusting and moving clutter around.

Gold smiled to himself, watching her as she made herself busy. He found his eyes traveling down her figure. Today she wore a white sweater tucked into a short black and white striped skirt. The tucked in sweater showcased her slender waist, and Gold found himself spending extra time looking in that area as well as below it. Today, she had left out the pantyhose and wore tall knee-high black heeled boots. Her smooth creamy legs peaked out from beneath the skirt.

Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back in curls.

Gold swallowed. She was beautiful. More than beautiful.

Clearing his throat, Gold stood from his desk. Anne turned her head slightly to listen if he spoke, but she didn't turn fully to face him.

"If you don't mind, dear, I'd like to try something," Gold said, his Scottish voice husky and low. Anne continued to place some items from a shelf into a box so she could dust said shelf.

"Hmm?" she hummed, still listening but unaware of him moving towards her slowly. He smiled as he stopped right behind her.

"Anne," he spoke, causing her to turn around and come face to face with him. Anne swallowed as she took a half step back, her wide green eyes looking up at him.

Gold stood in front of her, not touching her but just looking. He saw Anne's eyes flicker to his lips then return to his eyes.

"Do you like my lips as much as my hands, dear?" he asked bluntly, a small smile on the corner of his lips. Anne's eyes widened even more, a blush flooding her cheeks.

"Wh-what?" she stuttered, her breathing quickening. Gold smiled.

"Don't be embarrassed, dearie," he said softly, reaching a hand out. He paused though and looked into her eyes. "May I?"

Anne gave a slight nod and watched with confusion and shock as his hand neared her face. His warm hand cupped her cheek, and his eyes watched her intently, studying her.

"Earlier you said you liked my hands, and I like yours as well," he reminded her, making her look down in embarrassment. "Now, when I look at your lips, I can't help but like them too."

Anne finally let a smile slip onto her lips as he spoke. She was slowly becoming comfortable in the position they were in. As if he had held her this way many times.

"Soft...pink...always smiling a warm, kind smile," he whispered, taking a step closer. His other hand slowly drew her nearer by her waist, and Anne felt her heart speed up immensely at the feeling of his arm around her. They were just inches apart now. "Distractingly and dangerously alluring..."

Gold slowly leaned in half an inch, his breath tickling her lips. He could feel Anne grip the lapels of his suit, the warmth of her hands touching his skin through his suit.

Anne watched him carefully, her eyes half closed in anticipation and desire.

Gold smirked, looking down into her eyes.

"Gold," Anne whispered, her lips lightly brushing his as they formed the sound of his name. He smiled and allowed his thumb holding her waist to lightly caress her curves.

He saw her desire in her eyes. That was all he needed.

His lips softly touched hers, making her breathe a sigh. Without a moment of hesitation, Anne wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Gold smiled against her lips and pulled her tightly to his body, his other hand moving to hold the back of her head and burying itself in her soft hair.

Anne heard a moan escape her throat and Gold deepened the kiss, gently pushing her back against the shelf she had been cleaning.

Driven with desire, Gold kissed her hard, but she responded just as eagerly. He moaned as her lips parted and she allowed him to further deepen the kiss.

Suddenly the sound of a bell jingling sounded from the front. Anne heard someone walking around and she grew uncomfortable, turning her head towards the front room and away from Gold's kiss. She heard him sigh in frustration and her eyes quickly returned to him.

"I should have switched my sign to 'closed'," he whispered to her, his hair hanging in his eyes as he leaned over her. Anne had to smile at this.

"Why? Were you planning this all along?" she teased softly, her hands working to straighten out his suit. As Gold smiled slightly at this, Anne brushed his long brown hair behind his ears.

"Hello?" came a man's voice. Anne turned her head towards the front room at the sound. "Hello?"

"Go help him," she told him, quickly wiping a little bit of her chapstick from Gold's lip and chin.

Gold sighed, nodding but didn't move.

"We will talk about this after I deal with this interruption," he promised, a smile on his lips and in his eyes as he thought about what had transpired between them. Anne smiled and nodded, pushing him towards the door.

Gold grabbed his cane on the way out of his office, and walked to stand behind his display.

David Nolan stood, staring at a glass mobile.

"Charming."

David looked up in surprise and confusion.

"I'm sorry?" he asked as he walked towards Gold. Anne waited in the office and caught a glimpse of David. Her eyes lit up. Mary Margaret was supposed to meet him tonight.

"The mobile. Isn't it charming?" Gold asked. "Exquisitely designed. Masterfully crafted. I could get it down if you'd like."

"No, no, no. I mean, it's very nice, but actually I'm looking for the toll bridge," Annora heard David say, and she couldn't help it any longer. Wiping her lips and straightening out her clothes and hair, she moved to leave the office.

"The mayor said there was a fork in the road by your shop, but..." David said as Anne came into the room. When he saw her, he looked slightly surprised but nodded his greeting with a smile. Gold turned his head to smile at the beautiful woman as well before turning back to David.

"It seems Madam Mayor has led you astray," Anne said, masking her bitterness and sarcasm well but not completely. This made Gold smirk.

David smiled and laughed shortly.

"Yeah. Yeah, you'd think the mayor would know her own town," he commented, his brows furrowing slightly. Anne smiled tightly. She was not fond of the mayor at all.

"One would think," Gold answered. "Out of the door, turn right, two blocks, you'll find the trail. Can't miss it."

"Thank you," David smiled and turned to leave. Gold turned to Anne, thinking they could be alone again, but David suddenly froze. Anne saw him stop and her eyes turned to him, causing Gold to look back as well.

David stood, staring at a wooden windmill.

"See something you like?" Gold asked, slightly irritated but also interested.

"Where did you get that?" David asked.

"That old thing? That's been gathering dust for...forever," Gold answered. Anne watched with furrowed brows as David reached out and spun the windmill.

"I think this belonged to me," David said, pointing at the spinning windmill.

"Really?" Gold asked, a glint in his eyes as his interest peaked. "Are you sure?"

Anne watched with a frown. Didn't David have amnesia?

"Yes. I remember," David answered, turning and looking at Gold and Anne. "I have to go. Thank you!"

And with that, he hurried out the door.

Gold turned to Anne, a smile on his lips, but he saw that she was not smiling. She stared at the door, where David had just disappeared out of. Her brows were furrowed in thought and a soft scowl was on her lips, lips he had just kissed.

"What's the matter?" he asked her, reaching his left hand out to touch her elbow affectionately. Anne's gaze snapped to his, and she folded her arms.

"He was supposed to meet Mary Margaret tonight. He left his wife and chose Mary Margaret, but now that he has his memories back...?" Anne answered, her shoulders ending her sentence with a shrug. Gold frowned, seeing her so concerned over the matter.

"I'm sure everything will work out. If it's meant to be, it will be," he told her, reaching his hands out to grip her arms, despite his cane being in his right hand. Anne forcibly smiled, but took a step into his arms.

"So...what might this be?" she asked, looking into his eyes with a smile. She tried to tease him, but her eyes showed worry.

Gold smiled and pulled her closer, making her smile up at him and wrap her arms around him.

"Well...I hope it's something special," he answered, setting his cane aside so he could hold her properly.

"It's...it's moved so fast," she said quietly, carefully. Gold frowned. "But I feel fine," she added quickly, seeing his disappointment. "I mean, any other man...I never kiss on the first date. And yet I did with you. And now..." she sighed blissfully, a blush creeping up her neck. Gold smirked, feeling satisfied with himself. He pulled her tightly to him.

"Now, may I kiss you again?" he asked, his attractive smirk causing Anne's breathing and heartbeat to speed up. Gold saw her answer in her eyes, and he slowly leaned down, his forehead touching hers.

"Forgive me for being straightforward, but I don't ever want to let you leave this shop," he whispered huskily, a teasing smile on his lips. Anne laughed, feeling him shuffle his feet slightly so that they swayed together.

"I don't want to leave," she answered in a whisper.

Hearing these words, Gold leaned down and captured her lips with his. This kiss was passionate, but gentler than the kiss they had shared earlier. Slowly, Anne backed into his office, pulling him with her.

This behavior was so unlike her. Teasing, flirtatious, amorous.

But every time she was around him, these things were brought out inside her. And she loved the feeling. She loved being around him, seeing him for lunch or when he stopped by her bakery. She loved hearing his voice. She loved...him.

As Anne brought him to his office, she smiled upon her realization. Or more so her acknowledgment.

Gold broke their kiss, smiling as she breathed heavily, catching her breath. Anne looked into his brown eyes, smiling alluringly. She was suddenly aware of his hurt leg, and she felt guilty that she had forgotten his comfort. Slowly, she led him by the hand to his desk.

"Anne," he said huskily, his voice full of satisfaction. She watched him with a smirk, pushing him gently into his chair. She stood in front of him, her lips plump and her cheeks flushed. She was absolutely gorgeous.

"Come here," he ordered with a smirk, reaching for her hips and pulling her towards him. He pulled her into his lap, melting into her touch as her hand cupped the side of his face.

"Everything I've ever known, everything I've always lived by tells me I should leave right now," she whispered to him with a smile, her hand brushing his hair back. Her eyes strayed from his, to see the scar on his temple, the one he had gotten when Ashley had broken into his shop. Without thinking, Anne leaned in and kissed the scar. Slowly, her lips traveled down the side of his face. Anne smile into her kisses as she felt his hands grip her sides, his fingers splayed across her ribs. Those hands she loved so much slowly slid up, across the expanse of her back before slipping to her hips.

Gold sighed as he felt Anne's lips on his neck. He hadn't felt this way in 28 years. He hadn't touched her in 28 years. It took all of his self control not to take her right then and there. She was just as passionate and sexy as he remembered.

And he loved her. He loved her with all that his heart was capable of.

She was the love of his life.

Later that night, Anne found herself walking up to her apartment, alone. Gold had driven her home in his car, and he watched her as she walked towards her apartment. Their kissing had lasted a while, conversation sweet and comfortable in between bouts of passionate kisses. They had spoken for a long while, her in his lap and cuddled against his chest. They spoke of seemingly insignificant things, but their happiness enveloped the room about them.

And then as they said goodbye in the car, they had shared another long kiss, bidding each other goodnight. The hardest thing Anne ever did was walk away from Gold and up to her apartment, alone.

But she had a smile on her face as she entered the complex, turning to look one more time at the black car parked on the side of the road. She could barely see Gold's figure through the windows, the moon shining through.

With that, she turned and went into the apartment building, closing the door behind her.

Anne walked to her door, her hand on the knob, but she heard someone moving upstairs and she paused. She knew it was Mary Margaret. Her smile slipped from her lips, and she let go of the door knob. Turning towards the stairs, Anne moved to climb them.

Mary Margaret sat at her kitchen counter, a drink in her hand. She stared at the counter top, frowning. She was wallowing in her sadness, something she didn't usually do. But this thing with David had put her down.

How could he do that to her? Lead her on and then come out and say he can't leave his wife.

Mary Margaret let out a long sigh, closing her eyes and letting her head hang.

Suddenly two soft knocks sounded on her door. She knew who it was and she knew they'd let themselves in.

She heard the door open and close softly, heels clicking against her wooden floor.

"Mar?" came the softly accented voice. Anne.

When Mary Margaret didn't answer, she heard the footsteps come closer and she felt her friend sit beside her on a stool.

"Hey," Anne said softly, sitting sideways in the stool to face her sad friend. Mary Margaret opened her eyes and looked up sadly.

"I should have known this would happen," she spoke quietly. Anne shook her head, putting a comforting hand over Mary Margaret's hand.

"No. You couldn't know, Mar," she spoke softly, leaning in slightly.

"Some things just don't work out, Anne," Mary Margaret answered, shaking her head. "There was always something against us from the beginning. His coma, then his wife, now his memories..."

Anne shook her head at her friend, her eyes full of concern and offering comfort.

"If things are meant to be, they will be, Mar," Anne spoke softly. She felt her heart drop as she saw tears form in her friend's eyes.

"I thought this was real...I thought it was meant to be," Mary Margaret said quietly, her voice breaking as her wall of strength crumbled and tears began to fall.

With eyes full of sorrow and love for her friend, Anne wrapped her arms around Mary Margaret. They sat there together, without words. And like a good friend, Anne comforted Mary Margaret.

Anne didn't think of the late hour of the night, or the thirst in her throat. She was entirely focused on comfort in her friend.

Anne gently rocked Mary Margaret in her arms.

Mary Margaret deserved happiness. She deserved love.

Anne sighed softly, rubbing her friend's back as she cried.

Mary Margaret deserved her happy ending.