Through A Glass Darkly

Chapter Three: A Glimmer of Hope

"Tomas, that tickles." Ruby opened her eyes, giving her husband (her husband, her mind repeated) a look of tender exasperation. He was stroking her stomach with the tips of his fingers, a soft smile on his face. "I'm only two months along; the kid isn't going to start kicking yet."

Gold kissed her jaw, humming in satisfaction. "I know, my love. It's just that…I've never experienced any of this."

Ruby frowned at him. "I thought you had a son?"

Gold sighed, raking his hands through his hair in a worried gesture. "I did, but he was born while I was away fighting in the Ogre Wars. There were even some less-than-kind people in my village that stated outright that Baelfire wasn't mine."

Ruby looked at him in sympathy. "Was he?"

"In all honesty, I don't know. Carla was one of the prettiest women in the village, and our marriage was, in her part, more to do with her father wanting her to be provided for, and I was the best candidate. I was in love with her, but I don't think she ever felt any great affection for me. Don't get me wrong, we got along quite well at first. But then…I deserted, and she began to hate me. Baelfire was only six months when she left. I never saw her again. After that, I reared him on my own. He was my entire world, and I found myself not giving a good damn whether I was his birth father or not. He was my son, and that's all I cared about."

Gold paused before continuing, the centuries old pain of losing his son making his heart twinge. "Everything I did was for him. He was my world, and I gave away my soul to save him. But it was useless. I ended up becoming a creature so horrifying that my own son ran from me. He finally returned…dead and savaged by ogres." He breathed out a sob. "Ruby, I'm terrified that this child will be as scared of me as he was. What sort of father will I be?"

Ruby kissed him long and lingeringly. "Tomas, you will be a fine father. You are not a horrifying creature, and you have a soul. You are the man that I fell in love in both worlds. You are Rumplestiltskin, imp, trickster, magician, deal-maker, Dark One, and my other half. I have never been horrified by you, and neither will our child."

Gold kissed her. "I love you, Ruby Gold."

"And I love you, but if you don't let me out of this bed Granny will think I've decided to quit work."

Gold frowned. "I don't like the idea of you working there. It's a strenuous job."

Ruby glared at him. "Tomas, if your next words are 'I will provide for you,' I will smother you with the pillow and convince Emma to help me make it look like an accident."

He stuck his tongue out at her, and she smacked his shoulder. "Ow. Violent woman, aren't you? What I was going to suggest was that you help me in the shop. You've got a good head for math, and I could use some help balancing the books."

Ruby gave him a look. "Tomas, we tried that once and ended up having sex in the back room. Several times, if I recall. I never did get around to doing any work. At least at the Diner there's not that distraction."

"True, but being on your feet for that long can't be good for the bairn."

"Tomas, I'm pregnant, not crippled. I'll work at the Diner for as long as I can. Now please, let me up so I can get to work!" She gave him a shove, and Gold reluctantly moved so she could get out of bed. "Thank you."

After she had dressed and left, Gold lay back, staring at the ceiling. 'Bae, I don't know if you can hear me, but I swear to love this child as much as I loved you. I only wish you had stayed with me.' He gave a sigh that made his entire body shake, then dressed and headed for his shop, noticing that someone was sitting by the door, their face hidden by thick red hair and wearing a nondescript outfit of a blue sweater and a long denim skirt. The person was also wearing a green backpack. "Hello?"

The person looked up, revealing a young woman with pale skin and startlingly green eyes. "Are…are you open?"

Gold smiled at her. "I am now. Have you been there long, Miss?" The girl shook her head, and Gold frowned, not believing her, but not wanting to press her. "Well, come on in." He unlocked the shop and she followed him in, her eyes darting back and forth like a caged rat. He flipped on the lights, and then went behind the desk. "Now, how may I help you?"

"Do you buy jewelry?"

Gold nodded. "I do, provided it's in good shape."

Bianca placed her backpack on the counter and opened it, pulling out handfuls of jewelry and placing them in a heap on the counter. Gold blinked and began to sort through the collection, which was made up of mostly necklaces with a few earrings and bracelets thrown into the mix. Some of the stuff was so obviously fake a blind man would be able to tell, but there were one or two pieces that must have set whoever bought them back a pretty penny. "Quite the collection, Miss. Were they your mum's?"

Bianca shook her head. "No sir, my father gave them to me. Will you buy them?"

Gold frowned. "If your father gave them to you, then shouldn't you be keeping them? I thought all pretty girls loved getting jewelry."

Bianca gulped. "Well…sir…I….I'm not really…he only gives them to me to…make me…" she suddenly burst into tears. "Please, I'm begging you. I'll accept any offer you give me. I know most of them are fake. I just want to be rid of them!"

Gold placed his hand on hers in a placating gesture. "Calm down, Miss. I'll buy the lot for two hundred dollars, okay?" The girl nodded, and he smiled. "Good. Now, so that we can make this a proper transaction, what's your name?"

"Bianca, Sir. Bianca Case."

Gold's face darkened. "Is your father the supervisor at the Mill?" Bianca nodded, and Gold 'hmmed'. "I see. Well, Miss Case, if you will give me a moment, I will write you a check. I assume you have a place for it where your father will not be aware of its existence?" Bianca looked at him in confusion, and he sighed. "Do you have a bank account?"

"No sir, I'm only fifteen." She blushed. "My birthday was yesterday."

"Happy Birthday. Tell you what-I'll hold this check, and ask my wife to deposit it in her account after work. That way, your father won't be able to touch it, and when you need the money, ask Ruby and she'll get it for you. Now, hadn't you better get to school?"

Bianca giggled. "It's Saturday."

Gold blinked, then grinned and handed her a receipt for the jewelry. "So it is. Well, Miss Case, if you will kindly sign this receipt, our transaction will be complete and legal." Bianca signed her name hastily, and then stuffed the receipt in her pocket.

"Thank you, Sir." She started to head out the door when something on a nearby shelf caught her eye. She stepped over to the shelf, gasping in delight. "Shakespeare!"

Gold looked over at the book and nodded. "Yes, why? Are you familiar with his works?"

Bianca grinned. "If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended…"

Gold blinked. This girl was good! "That you have but slumbered here, whilst these visions did appear…"

Bianca turned to face him, getting into Puck's speech. It was odd, doing it back and forth, but somehow it worked. "And each weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream. Gentles, do not reprehend, if you pardon…"

"We will mend. Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, we shall make amends ere long."

Bianca giggled. "Else the Puck a liar call. And so…"

The door to the shop banged open, and Dexter Case came storming in. "BIANCA! There you are, you worthless little shit!" He grabbed her arm, yanking her around, and she whimpered as he shook her. "What the blue blazing fuck are you doing in here, anyway? You have no right to leave without asking for my permission! Disobedient little slut!" He slapped her hard, and she cried out. Case reared back his arm to deliver another blow and felt a steel band close around his wrist. He turned his head, face going pale at the sight of a furious Gold.

"Mr. Case, I am going to ask you nicely to take your hands off your daughter and to please leave my shop. If you do not, then I will break your wrist and smile while I do it." He squeezed tighter, and Case whimpered in pain. "Well?"

Case released Bianca, and she fell back, nearly colliding with a book case before she steadied herself. Gold released his wrist, and he rubbed it, and then took a step towards Bianca, his voice low and threatening. "I'll be expecting you home soon, Bianca. You know how Father hates it when his little girl is disobedient. You know what happens to naughty girls, don't you?"

Gold stepped between them, poking his cane hard into Case's ribs. "Get. Out. Or I will call the Sheriff."

Case chuckled. "Okay, I'm going. But that slut of mine can't stay away forever. Can you, Bianca? You sick little bitch, you like what Daddy does to you, don't you?" Bianca was white as a sheet and shaking with revulsion. "Well, no need to broadcast it. It'll be our little secret. See you later, Bianca." He gave her a leering smile before walking out of the shop.

Bianca stood for a moment, swaying, and then began to cry in great, heaving sobs. Gold blinked in alarm, unsure of what to do about this hysterical girl. "Miss Case….umm….would you care for some tea?" Bianca looked at him, her eyes red from crying, and he gave her a hesitant smile. "I was going to head to the Diner anyhow."

"O…Okay."

Ruby was waiting on Archie when they came in. She blinked at the girl, and then grinned. "Bianca? ! Oh my god, is that you? !"

"Ruby!"

Ruby ran over, pulling the younger girl into a bear hug. "Oh my god, I haven't seen you since I graduated! I thought you had moved away or something!"

Bianca shook her head. "No, I…Father decided I needed to stay at home and help maintain order. I really wanted to come to your wedding, but…"

Ruby frowned darkly. "But your dad never did like me, I know. So, what brings you here with my husband?"

Gold smiled. "I offered Miss Case some tea, and since I don't have any at my shop, we came here."

Ruby smiled. "Have a seat anywhere you like, and I'll get the tea." Gold led Bianca over to a table, pulling her chair out for her. Ruby joined them a few moments later with a pot of tea and three cups. "I'm taking a break. So, Bianca, how's everything going? You still into acting?" She looked over at Gold. "I used to babysit her when her Dad was working late, and we'd always end up doing little plays. She was good, even at six."

"Miss Case was reciting Shakespeare from memory earlier, and doing quite well."

Bianca blushed, unused to compliments. "I…I still like acting. I want to try out for the part of Hermia. But my dad…he…he…" she began crying again, and Ruby hastily moved over to sit next to her, pulling her into her arms.

"Bianca, what's the matter? Has your Dad done something to you?" Bianca cried harder, and Ruby frowned. "I'm going to take that as a yes. Listen, why don't we go in the laundry room and talk? That way, we'll have some privacy. Tomas, we'll be back in a moment."

Ruby shut the laundry room door. "Bianca, what's going on?"

"Ru…Ruby…he…he's been…muh…muh…making me…do…things...horrible things…"

Ruby felt bile rise in her throat, and forced herself to ask the next question. "What sort of things?"

"He…makes me touch him…and...other things…he….ruh…ruh…herapesme."

"HE WHAT? !" Ruby's shout made Bianca wince. "Bianca, how long has this been going on? !"

Bianca was sobbing freely. "Since I was twelve. He…he started out by telling me I looked like Mom, but then, he came home drunk one night, and…I tried to fight him, but I couldn't, and…no matter what I do, I can't make him stop! I even tried locking my door! HE KICKED IT IN! He was so mad…and after he was done…I was bleeding…and it hurt so much…I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

Ruby's face was like a thundercloud. "I do. We're going to see Emma."

"I…I'll have to go home at some point, and he's going to be so angry with me."

Ruby snorted. "Bianca, if you think I am going to let you set one foot in that house, you're nuts. We've got an extra room, you can stay with us." Bianca started to protest, and Ruby overrode her. "Hey, I'm going to need an extra hand in the months to come. You'll still be going to school, and we'll work out details for a curfew. But there is no way in hell I am letting you go back to your abuser."

Bianca wiped her eyes. "What about Mr. Gold? Won't he mind?"

Ruby chuckled. "Don't worry; I'll be able to convince him. Hell, when I tell him why you're staying I may have to physically restrain him from going after…Case. Tomas does have morals, you know, and hurting children is guaranteed to set him off." She came forward, hugging Bianca. "Things will get better, I promise."

Bianca hugged her back, feeling for the first time a faint glimmer of hope.