Chapter 10: Today's Wounds

A/N: This chapter is only a little companion piece to the previous one.

He stood frozen and waiting. He dared not approach her. His beautiful Belle. He could almost not believe that it was really her standing only feet away from him now. How often he had imagined this moment of finally seeing her again and hoped against hope that one day this day would come. She was even more beautiful than he had remembered her, her sapphire eyes still her most prominent feature. Her dark brown hair fell in soft waves, longer than he recalled. Belle was wearing a black blouse, purple skirt and grape platform pumps. She was a whole lot thinner than he remembered her though, which worried him and he did not like at all. He gazed at her, an unspoken plea in his eyes. If only she would give him a chance to explain, to explain it all.

Rumple studied his wife's face and her movements. She was incredibly pale and swaying where she stood. He knew that his unexpected appearance must have come as a great shock to her. Ever since Ivy had turned up on his doorstep he had had time to prepare for the possibility that he would see her mother again - and soon. Therefore, he wasn't nearly as shaken by this rather sudden encounter as Belle appeared to be.

When she walked towards him, he kept perfectly still, afraid that any sudden movements would scare her away. His own heartbeat was drumming in his ears.

"Rumplestiltskin."

Her speaking his name was both pleasant and painful and made him go weak in the knees. He tried to stand up straighter to keep himself from sinking to the floor.

"B-elle." He breathed and reached out for her cheek on instinct, but caught himself early enough to place his hand over his own heart instead. He longed to caress her porcelain face and hug her close to make things alright, but her cold facial expression left no doubt that she would not permit it.

"I see you have met our daughter. Did you ever wonder however I came to pick her name?"

He blinked confusedly. Ivy. No, he hadn't even thought about that at all. The ivy plant was usually a symbol of eternity and immortality, with strong connotations of femininity and fidelity. The way that ivy clung and bound also made it a powerful symbol of faithful friendship or ... everlasting love. But surely that could not have been what Belle had meant? Hopeful, he looked up at her again, his heart beating faster. "I-"

But Belle would not let him speak, her own words flying from her mouth quickly and almost tumbling over one another as she drew closer.

"The old Druids prized the ivy plant as a symbol for tenacity and determination. Ivy can grow, spread and flourish under many conditions - cultivated land or wasteland, in light or near darkness, fertile soil or upon rubble and stones. It will push its way through tiny cracks and crevices to reach the light and is strong and difficult to destroy."

Gold could hear the little tremble to her voice and the agitation. She was forcing the words past her lips and forcing herself to look him directly in the eyes, which made them both uncomfortable. This wasn't like Belle.

"She is beautiful and strong now -which is why you don't get to be near her ever again from here on out. Do you hear me, Rumple?! I won't take chances with you no more. You don't get to corrupt her. You don't get to hurt her. I won't allow it."

Her face was inches from his now, her hot breath on his skin. She was so angry that he did not dare speak. Her cold fury came as surprise to him. He had not expected this. It was like they were picking up seamlessly were they had left off so many years ago. He felt like they were still at the town line somehow. Only this time he listened without interrupting. He had always listened to what she had had to say, but right now he listened for more than her words. He tried to listen beyond what she was saying to hear what she was not. This was about Ivy, but simultaneously it wasn't - he was sure of that. This was about the two of them. The hurt and rage so apparent in Belle's voice and demeanor could only partially hide the mixed signals he was getting from her. He just wished that she would keep the girl out of this. Ivy did not deserve to get mixed up in the mess he had made. He hung his head, thinking. But maybe it was already too late for that. Belle and Ivy already had had to pay for his mistakes and it looked like they would continue to pay. Maybe Belle was right, maybe it was better if he kept his distance.

"Good then" She turned on her heels now and walked back to where their daughter was standing. Gold wanted to say something as he watched her go, but he did not get the words out. He did not know what to say – to either of them. He wanted to make it up to them, but he did not know how.

Ivy looked at him over her mother's shoulders then, fire in her eyes. Gold smiled at her weakly. It would be alright. He stood and watched as Belle, Ivy and Ruby talked, but he couldn't catch most of their exchange. The only thing apparent to him now was that Ivy did not agree with Belle. He wasn't sure how that made him feel. The idea that his daughter might actually like him and want to spend time with him, made him strangely happy, but he also did not want to drive a wedge between daughter and mother by insisting on his paternal rights. He was well aware that he actually had those. Given that he and Belle were still legally married to one another, Ivy was half his -both biologically and legally.

When the three women passed him, he did not try to stop them. Belle sprinted past him without even looking at him again, hiding her face behind curtains of her hair. He wanted to reach out and hold her back by her arm, but thought better of it. It wouldn't be of any use to argue with Belle any further now. She could be very stubborn if she wanted to be and their causing even more of a scene in the ED of a pediatric hospital would not do anyone any good.

Wobbly on his legs he bent down and finally picked up his cane again, the papers remaining forgotten on the floor. He had almost turned to leave towards the stairs and elevator too, when his cane was knocked out of his grip again as a tiny blonde whirlwind flung her arms around his neck unexpectedly and rested her head on his shoulder. He slowly rubbed Ivy's back. He could feel his daughter's heart flutter inside her chest, like a little trapped bird.

He looked up, amazed. He could see Belle and Ruby on the stairs, waiting. His eyes found Belle's tear-stained face and he tried to put what he was feeling into his piercing glance. If only she understood that he wanted nothing more, but to make things right. He just wanted a chance to talk. A chance to get to say he was sorry. If only he could make Belle see that he had always loved her, that she had always been the most important person in his life. He had done it all for her. He had wanted to be free with her!

When Ivy stirred against his chest, he looked down. He stroked her cheek to get her attention. As touched as he was, she still had to go with her mother. That would be best for all of them - for now anyway.

Ivy raised her head "I don't wanna go." She tightened her grip around his neck "What if I never see you again?"

"Oh, you will. Don't worry."

"She doesn't want me to." Ivy looked at him with her eyes wide.

"Yes, she does." He said, reassuringly. "Give her some time."

Ivy looked doubtful.

"She needs you right now." Gold said.

"But-"

"Ivy, you know where I am." He gave her a meaningful look.

She looked up at him, mouth slightly open, arching her brow. Then she smiled and let go of him.

He lifted her chin up "We'll figure it out. Now, go."

He watched her go and embrace Belle. Ivy was like a little dove flying back and forth between the two of them, he thought. Seemingly the last and yet also the strongest connection he and Belle still shared. Gold found his wife's face again. They were literally bound by vines of ivy.