Xxx
Mr. Gold walked up to his house and froze. He stared at the open door for a few seconds before walking forward. He slipped in quietly and went to grab his gun in the drawer.
"Stephan?" he called. "Stephan, are you there?"
He walked forward, his heart hammering in his chest. Oh god, he'd better be okay! He swung his gun around at the sound of footsteps.
"Ms. Swan!"
"Mr. Gold," Emma responded.
"It appears I've been robbed."
"Strange how that keeps happening to you," Emma said.
"Well," Mr. Gold put his gun down. "I'm a difficult man to like."
They're attention was drawn towards the sound of footsteps. Emma turned her gun towards the sound, but Gold put his hand on the gun.
"Daddy!"
Gold knelt down as the child ran into his arms.
"Are you alright? Where's Anita?" Gold asked.
"She-she told me to h-hide in the c-closet and disappeared!" he sniffed. Mr. Gold fought the growl in his throat.
"Are you hurt?"
The boy shook his head.
"Whose this?" Emma asked suspiciously.
The boy looked up at Emma with sky blue eyes, all but hidden behind his black curls. He looked up to Gold expectantly. Gold smiled and nodded. Emma found herself caught off guard by the softness in his eyes. The boy took a step away from his father.
"My name is Stephen, and I'm three!" he said.
Emma looked up at Gold.
"Yours?"
Gold nodded and stood. Stephen began to cling to his daddy's pants. Gold placed a hand on his head.
"Stephen, do you know the man who came in here?"
He shook his head.
"Did you see him?"
He shook his head again.
Emma sighed.
"Come on Stephen," Gold said softly. "How about you lay down for the name while I talk to the sheriff?"
"Nooo!" he cried. "I wanna stay with daddy!"
The boy clung to his daddy and cried hysterically.
"How about you go with him while I look around," Swan suggested.
Gold nodded and lifted the child with his free arm. Stephen clung to his father's neck as he took him upstairs and to his room. Emma decided hell froze over.