Ruby was the last person Gold expected to show up at the Victorian. His heart started to beat wildly because her appearance could mean anything, but most probably that Belle didn't want to see him and Ruby came instead, to tell him what he did wrong again.

He wasn't mistaken.

Auntie Marjorie showed them into the best room and served tea. Ruby smiled at her with a somehow strained smile. When they were alone, she fished his letter from the bag. It was scrunched, dirty and somewhat smelly. Also, it wasn't opened. Ruby slammed the letter and her fist on the table.

'What the hell do you think you're doing, Gold?'

He tried to answer that, but couldn't think of anything that wouldn't make her even more angry.

'Do you really think that writing to Belle now is a good idea? She works hard to have her life sorted out, to find opportunities to see the world as she always wanted, and now you go and write to her? What for? To tell her about your leg? Do you think she has it too easy? Do you think you can put her under that pressure and win her back by making her feel guilty?'

'Did she see the letter?' Gold managed to ask.

'No. At first, I threw it in the trash can, but then I thought it would be unfair to her to not check what's going on in person. So explain to me why did you think that all of this was such a good idea?'

Gold took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He felt like he supposed their youngest boy, Pete, felt when auntie Marjorie caught him again red handed stealing lollipops from kitchen. Only, Gold's actions were harming Belle.

'Alright,' he rasped. 'Give me the letter back, and let's forget it all.'

Ruby took back her hand from the letter.

'I'm still waiting for your explanation, Gold.'

'There won't be any. It's not your business, Mrs Whale. But you may rest assured, I won't contact Belle again. I believe this conversation is over.'

With that, he snatched the letter from the table and left the room, feeling extremely self-conscious about his lame leg, still in cast. Old widow Lucas told Ruby how she thought it happened. And he was too big, damn coward to ask if they told Belle. He prayed they didn't. There wasn't any way to explain his broken leg without making it sound like an emotional blackmail aimed at Belle.

He stopped in the doorway, turning to Ruby, who also stood up to leave. He put on his best, most powerful persona learned in Regina's speakeasy.

'Don't tell Belle about anything. Including my address, this conversation, and whatever you might know or think about my injury. Do you understand?'

Ruby nodded and left.

Auntie Marjorie found him later in his room, sitting on the bed and sobbing over the stinking envelope.

'Robert?' she asked carefully. 'Can I come in?'

He nodded. He wasn't able to hide his shame and tears from the aunties, he didn't bother anymore.

Auntie Marjorie sat down on his only chair.

'What happened, Robert?'

'Nothing. I'm just stupid and selfish monster.'

'Now, now, no need for calling yourself names. You say you did something stupid and selfish?'

Gold nodded again.

'I sent the letter.'

'To Belle?'

'Yes... I... I explained how it looked like from my side.'

Auntie Marjorie waited patiently. Gold sighed.

'That woman who came, it was Mrs Whale, Belle's best friend. I send the letter on her address, to her husband. She must have seen it first. She came here, she...' he took a deep breath. 'She said it was wrong to send Belle this. That Belle should be able to move on without any interference on my part. Hence the selfishness.'

He hung down his head, waiting for some comments. Instead he felt the bed dipping as the old lady sat next to him and put her arms around him.

'Then I'm sorry we suggested it to you. We truly meant the best, but maybe we thought too much about what's best for you and too little about what's best for her.'

'It helped me,' Gold admitted. 'The writing itself, it helped to make the chaos... less chaotic. I just shouldn't have sent it. I thought that now I could explain to Belle so much more than when we were together. She always wanted me to talk, to share and I was always too afraid she wouldn't like what I'd tell her... But I somehow forgot that that was then, and now she's not the person I should talk to anymore.' The tears started to flow anew. 'I just wanted her to think a bit better of me. I should have known better that to try to force her to make me feel good about myself. There's nothing good about me anyway.'

'There's plenty of good about you, Robert. You're a kind, caring man, and you're a tremendous help for us here. Sometimes I can't even remember how it was to not have you around. The kids love you too. And for me and Natalie you're like a son. I'm so sorry that your marriage didn't work.'

'I destroyed it myself, auntie.'

'I'm sorry anyway. You didn't want it to end like that. You didn't want to hurt anyone.'

'But I did.'

'Yes, I know. And you were hurt too. But I wouldn't try to pin the blame. You can rather think what could you have done better and learn for the future.'

Gold sniffed.

'What future do I have?'

'Well, for once you can live with us for as long as you want. We certainly want you here. And we can work from that point on. You never know what future might bring.'

Gold nodded numbly, resting his head on auntie's arm.

Meanwhile, Ruby came home, huffing. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Now she not only didn't know if it's better for Belle to be told about Gold's idiotic ideas, both about his broken leg and that letter, now she also had to take into account that Gold himself didn't want Belle to know. While it was a very good thing that Gold finally seemed to understand what a divorce is and that after it the marriage ends, Ruby didn't like having secrets she couldn't tell her best friend. It was bad enough that Granny told her about Gold breaking his leg to made Belle feel guilty. Just thinking about that one made Ruby livid. Granny sounded too controlling when she told Ruby that in her opinion it would be best for Belle to not know, but given the circumstances, Ruby was inclined to agree. If not the letter, she probably would tell Belle about Gold's leg, even if Granny had made her hesitate for some time. It hurt Ruby to tell her best friend that her ex-husband did something so awful, so unfair and planned to use it to hurt Belle further. Belle really deserved better than that man. Fine then, if Gold wanted her to keep quiet, she would. And she can always tell Belle later, when Ruby would be sure that it wouldn't hurt Belle too much.