Gold's heart tightened in his chest as he stood before the duplex he'd spent a decade of his life. Painful memories enveloped him and he closed his eyes to push them from his mind. Opening them slowly, he took in his surroundings. The brick building was as he remembered with its iron wrought porch painted white and purple and white striped awning above the windows with flower pots beneath.
As hard as he tried he could not resist feeling a flicker of the joy he experienced when he found the upper level unit in East New York, Brooklyn 25 years ago. Young and in love he was eager to find a home for his young family. His former bachelor studio apartment would not be enough for his son who was set to arrive in a matter of weeks.
He'd checked every listing in the paper, walked the streets of every borough for weeks in search of the perfect home - one his meager salary could afford. Finally, when he had reached the outskirt of the city and all but given up he met Evelyn Potts. He was looking for a unit a few blocks over, the numbers in the address similar, when he knocked on the door to inquire about the upper flat. It was a hot summer day and he looked so tired and dejected that the kind woman invited him in for lemonade.
Evelyn listened to his story - he had a young pregnant wife and needed a home for his new family - and was touched by his sincerity and good intention. She told him that she was recently widowed and decided to rent the upstairs portion of her home. There was no kitchen but she was happy to share her food and her space. There was a bathroom, two bedrooms and a large sitting area that could be used for living and dining or however they chose. Gold was touched by her generosity all the more when she offered the space for what he was currently paying and told him he could use whatever furniture currently there that he liked.
Evelyn Potts had been a blessing to Gold at a time he needed it most. Scared and overwhelmed by his new responsibilities, he was grateful to have the kind support of the older woman. She provided food as promised and watched the baby when asked. She kept to herself but was always available when needed. Motherhood did not come naturally to Milah and Gold was grateful to Evelyn for providing his son a gentle hand.
As time passed Milah grew more unreliable and Gold depended on Evelyn to help him care for his son while he worked. She was the only person he could rely on but he reached a point when that was not enough. Given the opportunity to escape his life and his home he took it and left behind everything but Baelfire.
In the intervening years, Gold could not bring himself to go back; however, he made sure to send Evelyn flowers every Mother's Day as a thank you. This year when he asked Belle to order flowers, she suggested he bring them to her personally.
Belle watched Gold stand before the house and sensed his apprehension. Walking over to him, she gently squeezed his hand before handing him the flowers.
The front door was opened and through the screen he saw that everything was as it had been. Gold rang the doorbell but there was no answer. He opened the screen and cautiously made his way through the house.
"Mrs. Potts," Gold called walking through the hall to the terrace.
"My word!" Evelyn exclaimed catching sight of Gold from the deck. Quickly standing she rushed to greet him. "I don't believe my eyes. How good it is to see you! I have someone you'll love to see, come!"
Gold followed Evelyn outside and gasped at what he found.
"Baelfire."
"Isn't this a lovely surprise. My two Gold men here for a visit," Evelyn said holding out her arms to pull them together. When she looked at Gold she noticed Belle for the first time. "Hello Dear. I'm terribly sorry. I didn't see you. Come in - oh I know you. You're Belle. I saw your picture in the paper from the Met Ball. You looked beautiful. Rumpelstiltskin is this your girlfriend?"
Gold's attention snapped quickly from his son to Evelyn at the word girlfriend. "No, no Belle is my assistant. Belle - this is Evelyn Potts and this is my son Baelfire."
"Don't call me that. You know I hate it."
"It's your name. It's a good name. A strong name."
"All the good it did me," he scoffed before extending his hand to Belle. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Hello. It's nice to finally meet you."
"I brought you these, Evelyn," Gold said holding out the bouquet.
"How sweet of you. Let me put these in water and I'll put on some tea. Do you drink tea Belle?"
"Yes. May I help you?"
"What a marvelous idea. Follow me," Evelyn replied looking encouragingly at both Gold and his son.
Evelyn guided Belle through the house, pointing out particularly meaningful items as they passed them on the way to the kitchen.
"See those marks there?" she asked pointing to the dents in pantry door frame. "Those are for Bae. Ever since he was a wee little baby. He stood there for me again last summer to make up for the lost time." Evelyn stared fondly at the door before opening it in search of supplied. "I hope I can find some coffee. I don't drink it myself but I know Rumple loves it. He went through three pots a night some days working on his research in the attic."
"He doesn't drink coffee, he likes tea," Belle replied picking up a pair of scissors to trim the flowers.
"My word. When did this happen?"
"Oh a few months ago. I'm hopeless in the kitchen but I can boil water."
"How sweet," Evelyn replied with a broad smile. "How long have you known Rumple? Where did you meet?"
Belle blushed at the question and avoided the hostess' glance, sensing a greater undertone to her question.
"My father presented his research to him last summer. Rumple agreed to fund the project in exchange for my service. I'm his personal secretary - arrange his schedule, review reports, return phone calls. Standard things."
"Indeed," Evelyn replied suppressing a grin as she place the tea cup on an empty tray. "What kind of research does your father do?"
"Cancer research. He's a botanist but he - we - believe he can isolate certain plant cells to create a formula that can be used to regenerate white blood cells in cancer patients."
"Very admirable. I certainly hope he is successful. My son Chris passed away as a young boy from leukemia. There have been many advancements since then but we still need that cure. Let's go check on those boys."
On their way back to the patio Belle noticed a picture of a young boy and realized it must be Mrs. Potts son. The picture was old and faded but she see he was a happy boy. Close behind she recognized a picture of Gold. He was young and his hair was shorter but he still looked like himself. Next to him stood a young woman she guessed was his wife. The woman was smiling in the picture but Belle noted that she didn't look happy and she awkwardly held a little boy in her hands.
"Now don't talk at once boys," Evelyn teased setting down a tray. "Belle told me you drink tea now. I could hardly believe it. After all my attempts to turn you."
"We do become wiser with time," Gold concluded taking a cup.
"Indeed. Now before you two got here Bae was telling me about his work in Palestine," Evelyn recapped sitting down. "I'm so proud of the work you're doing - the world could use more people like you."
"What do you do?" Belle asked curiously.
"Humanitarian work. It's a warzone out there. People profiting from the destruction of others. An utter disregard for what's right, only caring about profits and zeros at the end of checks. Right Pop?" Bae asked with a smirk. "It's always interesting to see weapons engraved with your family's name, wondering if it'll get you or someone you love next."
"Now Bae, your father does good work. Belle told me he's financing her father's cancer research."
"He could do a lot more than cure cancer if he wanted, so forgive me if I'm not impressed," Bae replied leaning over to grab a cup of tea. "What are you doing here? You always swore you'd never come back. I use to beg you to take me out here and you never would."
"I know I've made mistakes. I'm sorry. Trust me, there's no greater pain than regret."
"Try growing up without your parents."
"I was there - everyday."
"At the beginning sure. Here at least, not there. Not in Manhattan. There you were something else - The Dark One," Bae chuckled at the term. "Collect power and profit. Anything to keep you from living your life because you didn't like it."
"That's not true. I loved you Baelfire. I love you. Everything I did, it was to give you a better life. To give you the things you deserved."
"I didn't want things. I wanted my family but apparently that was too much to ask for." Bae pushed back his chair and stood up. He took a deep breath to free himself from the confines of a small space and repressed memories. "You're so worried about you. What about Mom? What about all the things you did to her and how you took her from me? I should be sitting out here with her - not you."
"Bae," Mrs. Potts said gently reaching out her hand. "Things were very complicated with your mother."
"I've made mistakes. I know this but I'm a different man - I'm a better man."
"A better man doesn't kill innocent people everyday to make a profit and keep his power!" Bae exploded throwing his hands in the air.
"Hey, hey, hey what's going on in here?"
Bae stopped at the appearance of a tall blonde woman and a young boy.
"Who's this?" Gold asked turning to get a full view of the latest visitors.
"I'm Emma. Who are you?" Emma paused and waved her hands before anyone could speak. "You're Mr. Gold. What are you doing here?"
"Emma take Henry inside. Change in plans," Bae said rubbing his hands over his face.
"You didn't tell me you knew him," Emma said accusingly to Bae. "He's the enemy."
"I don't know him - believe me. We can talk about this later ok?"
"Now, now everyone stay calm," Evelyn instructed forcing herself up from the chair.
"Hello sir. I'm Henry. I'm five. How old are you?" the small boy greeted Gold, walking over and extending his hand.
"You have a son," Gold observed in disbelief, too shaken to take acknowledge Henry. "I have a grandson?"
"Grandson? Neal who is this?"
"Everyone sit down. Emma, Henry this is Neal's father Rumpelstiltskin -"
"Rumpelstiltskin?" Emma repeated in disbelief.
"Cool! Like the fairytales!"
"- and this is his friend Belle," Evelyn continued pointing out a very uncomfortable Belle. "Rumple this is Bae's wife Emma and their son Henry. Bae changed his names a few years ago to Neal. I've been grandfath- grandmothered in with Bae. Henry why don't you go inside and get some cookies."
"I don't believe this. Your father is the Dark One and you never thought to bring this up?" Emma whispered to Bae once Henry was out of sight.
"It's the past. It doesn't matter. Look Mrs. Potts you know I love to see you but this is too much. I'm in town for a few days. We'll stop by another-"
"No-" Gold interrupted recovering from the wealth of information unexpectedly bestowed upon him. "I'll leave. It was nice to see you Evelyn. I'm glad you're well."
Before he finished speaking Gold headed for the gate in a daze. Upon the realization that she was being left, Belle grabbed her purse and nodded a quick goodbye to the hostess before rushing to catch Gold.
"Rumple wait," Belle called out, fumbling inside her purse in search of her phone. "Let me call Jefferson. I doubt he's too far."
Although she was sure he heard her, Gold ignored her and continued to walk.