Chapter Eight~

A week passed rather slowly for Darcy; she would have daily visits from Emma, Mary, David and Henry but she could tell they were hiding something from her. The day she was scheduled to be checked out no one could signed for her so she stayed in her hospital room until Dr. Whale appeared saying,

"Ok you're ready to go Darcy."

"Is Emma here?" the man only shook his head and side-stepped to reveal Mr. Gold smiling so that Darcy was surprised, but at this point she just wanted to see Emma. As they were leaving the hospital and stepping out into the sunlight Darcy stopped to take a deep breath and smile, this was her first time since she had been in that room for a whole damned week. She hated been closed in, it made her feel like she was suffocating! Mr. Gold had been on the way to his car when he noticed she wasn't beside him and turned over his shoulder to see that she was relishing in the freedom; her scarlet hair seeming to glow and eyes closed to savor the sun caressing her peach skin.

"Come on then." he called softly so that she opened her eyes and met his, blinking at some unnamed emotion she found in them. Carefully she followed before he opened the passenger side door for her and then got into the car, starting it up. As they started off down the street Darcy said softly,

"Thank you, for signing me out of the hospital I mean."

"Not a problem dear, dear Sheriff Swan and the others are a bit—busy at the moment it would seem." he said noticing the sagging shoulders at the words, she was most likely wondering why they hadn't come to get her themselves. When they arrived at Mary's apartment building and he stopped she turned to him and said,

"Thank you Mr. Gold, really." hearing the honesty in her voice made him turn to her only to see she was already getting out of the car as if in regret. Gripping the steering wheel tight enough to cause white knuckles, he watched her enter the building before driving off. As Darcy entered Mary's apartment she discovered Emma, Mary and David in the kitchen with papers spread out all around them and in stacks and piles.

"Uh, hello?" she called making them look up and it was Emma who smiled the widest and scrambled to embrace her in a tight hug.

"Oh goodness you're ok! Wait, I thought you needed to be checked out?" she asked but Darcy only rolled her eyes saying,

"And I was thanks to Mr. Gold, seeing as if you three are too damn busy." waving a hand indicating the paperwork on the kitchen counters with David and Mary were trying to put away so that she snapped,

"What is all of that anyway?"

"Nothing, just some work that's all." Emma said but Darcy didn't believe her, she was start to disbelieve a lot of what her friend was telling her, so instead told her,

"Yeah well Mr. Gold checked me out of the hospital and paid off the bills so I'm scot free."

"Don't think of it that way Darcy, he'll probably want something in return—like a deal." Mary said evenly thought she was ringing her hands in worry while David wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. Darcy only snorted and glancing at the clock realized how late it actually was.

"I'm going lie down for a bit before heading back out ok?" she said heading for the shared bedroom leaving Emma to raise an eyebrow an ask,

"Out? Out where?"

"Like you care at all Emma." Darcy said shutting the door behind her leaving Emma to stare at it with wide amazed eyes and turn to David and Mary with hurt filled eyes before saying in a tight voice,

"I think we best put the papers away for now." as they did that, Darcy went through her wardrobe to find something nice looking and realized the only thing she had was a single dark navy knee length dress with wedges for shoes. Groaning, she changed quickly and peeked her head out of the bedroom to find the three—gone? Shrugging, she stepped out of the bedroom and quickly exited before starting off to Mr. Gold's house. It was only halfway through town she realizes—she had no clue how to get there!

"Are you lost ma'am?" a voice asked and turning, Darcy noticed it was Dr. Hopper with Pongo who was wagging his tail and so she asked with a smile,

"Yeah sorry, I need to return something to Mr. Gold and I know his shop is closed so—" the man's face became one of understanding, and utter concern as he gave her instructions on how to get to his house. Thanking him, Darcy noticed that Pongo was now whimpering as if he too noticed the danger of going there. Finally she arrived and stopped to stare at the mansion type house in the middle of nowhere. Swallowing, she stepped up to the front door and rang the bell waiting and trying not to chew her lower lip as the door opened and he appeared on the other side dressed in a navy blue suite with no tie. In fact, he looked rather—normal looking.

"Um, am I late for the dinner? I know its last minute but—" the surprise on his face was apparent, but so was the happiness.

"No, no—come right in Darcy." he said waving an arm so that she stepped inside brushing past him as she entered the foyer.

"I'm sorry I have nothing special planned but perhaps we can figure something out." Mr. Gold said as he moved towards the parlor so that she followed looking around at the house in slight awe. Just then a woman appeared from what Darcy had to guess was the kitchen making her jump slightly.

"Could you be so kind as to prepare the stakes along with those vegetables from the market please? Oh, and get the wine from the cellar would you?" Mr. Gold asked the woman who nodded and disappeared leaving him to turn to Darcy and say,

"She's my maid." nodding, Darcy took a seat on the plush parlor leather sofa across from Mr. Gold and said,

"I figured I should come, as a thank you and since we did make that deal after all."

"And you're keeping it, how very noble of you." Darcy gave him a half-smile before looking away unable to notice the spark in his eyes. About twenty minutes later they were eating in a well decorated dining room and Darcy couldn't help but notice how well prepared the food was and how tasty it was. Even the wine was well selected. After two and a half glasses though she was starting to feel light headed and Mr. Gold couldn't help but notices as he said,

"Perhaps you should sit down."

"Yeah," Darcy said lamely as he stood from his chair and moved to help her stand, taking her elbow and leading her back to the parlor where the two of them found themselves sitting next to one another. Putting a hand on her forehead, Darcy closed her eyes and breathed in deeply licking her lips as Mr. Gold simply watched. Unable to stop his wandering hand, he found himself running a hand through her hair before cupping the back of her neck. Here Darcy let out a tiny moan as he turned her head to his and before she could open her eyes he was kissing her. The kiss was passionate, years of pent up lust for someone out of reach finally able to be released as she moaned into his mouth. Cradling her neck, he lowered her to the sofa and moved to be on top of her, somehow finding a comfortable position as he let go so she could breathe and he could lavish her neck with kisses.

"Oh my little Darcy-dove." he cooed as he kissed her pulse point before feeling her arch up into him, her hand grabbing his head in a sort of desperation. Finally he pulled back to look down at her; lips swollen with his kisses, eyes glazes from the alcohol and chest heaving from lack of air. Gently, he bent down and kissed the tip of her nose breathing out,

"My dearest Darcy-dove." before kissing both her cheeks as Darcy's mind tried to find some rational part to fight him off. This shouldn't be happening she internally screamed—but for some reason she couldn't stop herself as the warmth from his body spread into her chilled body. And she craved that warmth as this time he tenderly kissed her, as if to show that he was sorry—but for what?

"Mr. Gold—please," Darcy tried as she fisted her hands against his jacket to try in vain to push him off but she suddenly felt so weak and tired.

"Please, Mr. Gold I have to go." she tried again licking her lips and tasting him on them as he had gone to attacking her neck with kisses so that at one point he found a spot that made her hips buck. Here he looked up at her again and noticed the fight, the utter struggle inside her as she panted for air and fought in vain against the liquor making her brain fuzzy. Leaning down so that his lips brushed hers he said,

"You don't have to do anything dearie." as he spoke he trailed two fingers along her neck so that he felt goose bumps appear before he unwillingly pinched a nerve in her neck, watching as her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she went limp underneath him. Exhaling deeply, he regrettably stood up from the sofa and straighten himself before collecting her in his arms and carried her to an upstairs bedroom. Lying her down in the bed under the sheets and blanket, he snarled when realization hit him like a million tons of bricks. Belle had tried to have him find Love and he had been able to force it away; but Darcy wasn't event trying—but she was successfully winning—and he hated every damn minute of it. And with that thought he shut the door—and locked it behind him.