Summary: He writes his name on the inside of her arm with a sharpie and she doesn't ask why. She doesn't need to. It's her secret as much as it is his now, and she's floored he trusts her so much. She presses her lips to the elegant curve of the capital R and it's enough.

Yes, it's another OTHAFA snippet, and it may or may not deviate from that story's canon. It's a bit OOC, and they're a bit more romantic around each other. Also, no, I don't think I'll stop writing these, even with the Lacey storyline.

Also, sorry; I didn't manage to get to reply to everyone's reviews last time—I honestly meant to, but I kinda forgot. Heheh, whoopsie? Hopefully another one of these babies will make up for it.

Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT, unfortunately.

Namesake

maybe we're meant to lose the ones we love,

but i'll fight for you till then.

and if they stole you from me,

on my arm there's a tattoo of your name. – "Million Dollar Houses", Pierce the Veil

He tells her his name three days after her episode at the pawnshop.

Whispers it in her ear when she's locking up the register for the night. She pauses when it slides through the air and washes over her, closing her eyes against the honey smoothness of his voice. His name, caressed by his Scottish brogue, rolls off his tongue and hovers in the air for a moment before it clicks and she sucks in a breath.

She doesn't mention it, and neither does he. He leaves early to brush the snow off the windshield on his Cadillac, and she takes her time locking up for the night. He's already gone by the time she leaves the shop, and locks the door with shaky hands.

She can't help but feel like he just gave her something very important.

She asks Ruby, after, if anyone knows his name.

"I don't think anyone does," the waitress says with a dumbfounded look in her eye, like she hadn't quite thought that one through. "I don't even know it!" she says it as though it's a great discourtesy, that Mr. Gold never divulged his first name to her.

Gabbe sighs, knowing she's probably just brought a new "quest" for her best friend to venture on as soon as she gets the chance. Still, she can't help the warm surge in the pit of her belly at knowing she might be the only one who knows this… whatever it is.

This secret.

She calls him his first name when no one's around to hear it.

The first time he uses it, he nearly jumps out of his skin. Then, he looks at her with eyes so wide she's almost afraid they'll pop out of his skull. And then he gives her the biggest, truest smile she's ever seen. So she says it again, the word falling from her lips reverently, like a prayer. With every inch his smile grows, she keeps saying his name, until eventually he cuts her off with his own,

"Gabbe."

And she thinks that maybe that would've been a perfect time for him to kiss her. If life was a movie and he was a prince, maybe he would have. But as it turned out, life wasn't a movie and Mr. Gold had a very bad sense of timing.

The bell jingles, signaling a customer, along with a high-pitched screech of, "GOLD!" signaling the mayor.

He shuts his eyes and reels in his patience, before edging his way around her and to the front.

He writes his name on the inside of her arm with a sharpie and she doesn't ask why. She doesn't need to.

It's her secret as much as it is his now, and she's floored he trusts her so much.

She presses her lips to the elegant curve of the capital R and it's enough.

When her father drags her to the psyche ward, she thanks all the gods that might be listening for long-sleeved sweaters and the creator of permanent markers.

When they lock her away and hide away the key, she presses her lips to the curve of his capital R, like she had three nights before.

Somehow, it isn't quite enough this time around.

When the marker finally fades away, she traces the outlines of his calligraphic letters with her fingertips and wishes for a needle and ink.

(wants to make this a not-dream

wants a reminder that no he wasn't a dream

that he was real

at least for a little while)

Days and weeks and months and years later, when they're finally reunited, he rewrites it on the white underflesh of her right arm, in that same loping script.

"It's not even my real name," he says with a laugh as he recreates the capital R she loves so much.

"It was, for a bit," she counters with a cheeky smile, before she loops her arms around his neck and pulls him in for a kiss.

What's in a name?

Forever, apparently.

I'm actually really proud of this one. Review, please, if you can (:

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Thanks!