Through A Glass Darkly

Chapter Nine: The Caged Bird Freed

A/N: Sorry for the delay, I've had a busy week.

Ruby groaned as she climbed out of bed. She was in her seventh month, and the twins had suddenly kicked into high growth. Tomas had cheekily remarked that it looked like she was carrying Emma's VW Bug inside her stomach, and been 'rewarded' with a very irate wife and a night on the couch. The morning after, Ruby had pretended to still be upset as Gold groveled at her feet, practically begging for her forgiveness as Bianca watched, giggling. Finally, Ruby took pity on her contrite husband. "Well…I suppose I could forgive you. Just don't ever do it again, okay?"

Gold's glum expression immediately changed to a huge and boyish grin. "O' course not, my jewel." Ruby glared at him, and he pulled her close, kissing her softly. "I'm sorry, Ruby love. But I can't believe the time is so close. I can't wait to meet my daughters."

Ruby sighed, settling into a chair. "Tomas, you don't know if we're having daughters, sons, or one of each. After all, didn't you want it to be a surprise?"

"I do, but my intuition says we're having girls." He suddenly grinned. "Maggie."

Ruby blinked, confused by the sudden shift in subjects. "Huh? Who's Maggie?"

Gold sat next to her. "I think that's what we should call one of them. The other….I always liked the name Veronica too. Veronica and Maggie. How does that sound?"

Ruby smiled at his boyish enthusiasm. "Those are lovely names, but I was thinking maybe Rochelle, after my mother. Bianca, do you have any thoughts?"

Bianca looked up from her notebook, grinning. "You really want my input?" Ruby nodded. "Well, I really like the name Diane. But just in case you do have a boy, I've always liked the name Peter."

Gold smiled wickedly. "Peter as in Peter Wolf? You and that lad have become rather close in these last few months."

Bianca went crimson. "Yeah, he's really nice. We've kissed, but nothing else."

Ruby sighed, knowing that what she had to ask might be uncomfortable for Bianca. "Have you and Peter…does he know about your Dad?"

Bianca nodded. "Yeah. I actually told him about a month ago."

Bianca and Peter were sitting together on the old battered couch in Peter's living room, poring over their history books and comparing the notes they had taken in class. Peter stretched, then discreetly draped an arm over the edge of the couch, pulling Bianca closer to him, and she tensed at the contact. He noticed, and looked at her in concern. "You okay, Bianca?"

Bianca gulped, her mind in conflict. She did like being in Peter's embrace quite a lot, but the specter of her father and his touches still haunted her. "I'm okay. It's just, I'm not really used to…" she trailed off, unsure of how to proceed. "I'm not used to friendly touches."

Peter nodded in understanding. "I see. Your Dad's not the affectionate type, I take it?" Much to his shock, Bianca burst into loud sobs. "Hey, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Bianca shook her head, speaking in a choked voice. "No, you didn't say anything wrong. Peter, I really like you. You're smart, sweet, funny, and really handsome. But I have some really dark secrets, and I'm afraid if I tell you, you'll be disgusted and not want to be with me."

Peter smiled softly at her. "I like you a lot too. You're rather pretty, and I love your rather different sense of humor. And I promise that anything you tell me won't go past this room. I'm really good at keeping secrets."

Bianca swiped her hand across her eyes. "You promise you won't tell anyone?" Peter nodded, and Bianca took a deep breath. "My father is affectionate. Too affectionate, actually. You see, I look a lot like my dead mother, and Father…he….ever since I was twelve, he's been making me do things to and with him. Horrible things, and if I did them wrong, he would beat me. He would also tell me that nobody could ever care for me, so I had to stay with him. I finally told Ruby what was going on."

Peter made a disgusted sound. "That's horrible. Is that why you've been living with Ruby and Mr. Gold?" Bianca nodded, and Peter shook his head in disbelief. "That's…your Dad is one fucked up person."

Bianca barked in laughter. "That he is. Peter, do you still want to…be my boyfriend?"

Peter didn't say anything. Instead, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. After a moment, she kissed him back, sighing. After a few moments-or perhaps it was days-they broke apart, grinning at each other.

"Bianca! Bianca!"

"Huh!" Bianca came back to the present, glaring in embarrassment at a very amused Ruby. "Sorry, just thinking of my first kiss."

Ruby grinned. "I thought that must have been it. You looked very moony."

Gold chuckled, and then kissed Ruby. "I'm off to the shop, love. Bianca, you're on break, correct?" Bianca nodded. "Good, you can help Ruby around the house. The linens need to be washed, and after that you can paint the house, feed the cows, and…" he giggled at the twin glares of exasperation. "OK, fine, you don't have to feed the cows."

"We don't have cows, Tomas."

Gold feigned shock at Ruby's statement. "We don't? Huh, then I guess you can skip that chore. And I suppose you don't want to paint either?"

Bianca chuckled. "No, thanks. I kinda like the fact that you live in a pink house. It's a nice contrast."

Gold sighed. "I suppose. Well, farewell, lassies. I'll be home later tonight."

After he left, Ruby turned to Bianca. "So, do you want to do the sheets first, or help me dust?"

Bianca made a face. She hated dusting. "I'll do the sheets." Ruby gave her a look of amusement, then got the polish and rag from the closet, deciding to tackle Gold's large china cabinet first.

The day proceeded, and gradually the house got a bit cleaner. Ruby was still working at the Diner, but had cut back to part time on weekends at her husband's insistence. He had wanted her to stop working all together, but she flatly refused.

Ruby was brought out of her thoughts someone hammering on the front door. "Bianca, see who that is, willya?"

Bianca shut the washer lid and went to the door. "Yes, what…" Her eyes went wide in terror and she tried to slam the door, but her father reached out a hand and stopped it.

"Bianca, I've been looking all over for you." He pushed the door open and stepped inside, his eyes never leaving her face and Bianca could smell the whiskey rolling off him in waves. "You left without a single word. I've been so very worried about you, my darling girl. How could you run away from your daddy like that? You're a very naughty girl, Bianca." He screwed his features into a gross simulation of grief, making his voice crack. "I never would have guessed that my good little girl would become so horribly disobedient. But, I will give you a chance. If you come home right now, I won't punish you too severely. What do you say?"

Bianca shook her head, and Dexter's façade crumpled. "Fine, I'll be direct. Get in the fucking van right now, you worthless shit, or I will beat you so badly you won't be able to sit for a month."

"No."

Dexter gawped at his daughter. "What did you just say to me? !"

Bianca took a deep breath and glared at him. "I said no. I'm not going anywhere with you ever again." Dexter grabbed her arm, yanking it up hard, and Bianca bit back a whimper and gave him a glare that would have split him in half. "Let go of me, or I will scream my head off."

Dexter tightened his grip, shaking with rage. "You goddamn insolent shit! How dare you talk back to your father! I have taken care of you all these years, and this is how you repay me? ! By running away? ! Get. In. the van now, you understand me? !" Bianca shook her head once more, and Dexter growled. "Fine, we'll do this the hard way. I'm sorry, but you leave me no choice."

He started dragging her out of the house, and Bianca planted her feet to the floor, resisting. Dexter tugged harder, and that was when the distinct sound of a double barrel shotgun being cocked reached their ears. Dexter turned, eyes going wide.

Ruby stood in the foyer, a shotgun pointed right at him and a murderous expression on her face. When she spoke, her voice was calm. "Mr. Case, I would suggest that you let go of Bianca and get the fuck out of my house. If you do not, I will blow your fucking head off." She pumped the shotgun, drawing a bead on his head. "If you ever come near Bianca again, I will kill you with my bare hands, am I clear?" Case went white and nodded, and Ruby gave a grin remarkably reminiscent of her husband's. "Excellent, and I don't need to remind you that should Tomas find out, your life won't be worth shit. But if you leave now, he doesn't need to."

Dexter ran out of the house as if all the devils of Hell were on his heels. Ruby turned to Bianca. "Are you okay?"

"I am now. What took you so long?"

Ruby giggled. "I had a bit of trouble loading the shotgun."

Bianca gulped. "Did you mean what you said? Would you really have shot him?" Ruby nodded, and Bianca smiled grimly. "Good. He deserves to die for what he's done to me."

Ruby laughed, and then suddenly yelped in pain, clutching her stomach. "What the?" Another spasm hit, and Ruby cried out in shock and surprise. "Oh fuck!"

Bianca looked at her, eyes wide. "Ruby? What's wrong?"

Ruby stared back, eyes wide with fear. "I'm going into labor."