Author's Note : Watching OUAT, I wasn't really happy with how Millah left Rumple. And, in all honesty, it seemed inplausable to me for anyone to act the way she did on the show. She once shared a life with him, she must have loved him at some point. But, that's just what I like to think. Anyway, I decided to add that to her character, so there it is.
Hope you like the second chapter!

Aidan Gold woke up at his usual time. 6 fucking o'clock. The truth is, while this was his normal routine, he liked sleeping in. But, his job didn't allow him that. He had to be in his office by 8, and he enjoyed having some time before going to work. He gave his sleeping wife Millah a light peck on the cheek and went to the kitchen.

His son Neal was sound asleep, so he passed his room quietly, not wanting to wake him up, but he couldn't resist peeking inside. The four-year old was sleeping peacefully and Aidan felt a surge of joy. He had it all. No, not all, but enough. He had a job he adored, a career as a scientist and a smart little boy he adored. He also had a wife and he loved her. At least, he loved her before. They were working on saving that marriage, but it wasn't going so well. He decided not to think about it this early in the morning. Sipping his coffee, he lit up a cigarette and opened up a book. He loved reading and always went back to classics.

Millah came down to the kitchen.
"Good morning, dear", he said and she looked at him, with a look he once loved seeing on her face. He knew what she wanted, namely - him, but his heart just wasn't in it. He also had to take a shower and squeeze into his three-piece suit. Millah came closer, sliding her hands over his chest and kissing his neck. He blocked out the thoughts about not wanting it to be like this, and thought for a split second that if he just pretended everything was fine between them, maybe it will be. That's how Millah ended up sprawled across their dining table, pinned beneath her husband's lean body. He was kissing her with a passion he did not feel, but his lower body decided he also wanted this. And when Millah's hips rolled against his member looking for friction, he hurried to get them both completely undressed. Aidan's hand went between his wife's thighs and he felt just a little spark of manly pride when he felt how hot and wet she was for him. And just as he wanted to enter her, he remembered. He didn't love her anymore, she didn't love him back and this exact thing was why their marriage needed saving in the first place. A month ago, he witnessed the same sight. Only he wasn't the man above her. Aidan tried to forgive her, but even though he could forgive her for giving that man her body, she also gave him her heart. When he confronted her about it, she admitted she loved that guy.
His head started spinning and he muttered, "I can't. I just can't."

He rolled off of her on the table and took her hand in his. He kissed it and whispered softly in her ear: "What are we going to do?".

Millah didn't say a word. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks but felt like she was the guilty one and therefore had no right to cry. Yes, she didn't love him anymore, but that didn't mean she never did. Aidan made her feel safe and they've known each other for most of their lives. She knew it would be wrong to stay in a loveless marriage, but she just couldn't turn her back on the past they shared. Millah also knew he felt the same. The look in his eyes he had when they were truly one was gone, but she could see the affection that was still there and she hated herself for it. She didn't deserve him, she never deserved him! Yet, she hurt him in a way he would never forget. Millah got up and started dressing herself, trying to wipe her tears away so that her husband doesn't see her cry. Aidan has gone up to the bedroom to get dressed and when he came down again, she was there with a broken smile.

"Have a nice day at work", she said and just when he was about to leave, she ran up to him and hugged him from behind.

He felt a lump in his throat and if he hadn't known before this was when he knew - this was tearing her apart as much as him. He turned slowly, carefully, gathering her in his arms and kissed the top of her curly head.

"We'll figure something out", he said, trying to sound as if he believes it.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...", she whispered into the lapel of his suit, more times than he could count.

"I know", he said, hugged her tightly one more time and went out the door. Millah stumbled back to their bedroom, feeling numb because of all the pain and tried to fall back asleep on his side of the bed.

Aidan was sitting in his car. Whenever he wanted to start them, his hands began to shake. Finally he gave up and decided to walk to work, even if that means arriving late. He was trying not to think about this morning, but tears were stinging his eyes all the way to the university.

"For fuck's sake, Gold, get your shit together before any of the students see you", he was repeatedly telling himself. So he straightened his tie, decided to put sunglasses on and pulled out a pack of Luckies out of his pocket.

"Oh, isn't that just lovely?", he thought, realizing he forgot his lighter. Aidan Gold was having a rough morning, and he was suddenly nervous about the class he was supposed to teach. He was always a calm, strict guy with a reputation of being emotionless and ruthless and he preferred his students seeing him like that. He was nice to them sometimes, but never wanted to play friends with them like some other teachers tried. Aidan Gold liked being respected more than he liked being loved.

When he entered his office, he tried to calm himself down. At the very moment it started working, Jefferson barged into his office. While Jefferson was one of the rare people he kinda liked (although he would never admit it), he wanted just a moment for himself.

"Could you ever knock before entering or is that just too much of a trouble for you?", he asked, trying to mask his irritated tone with a laugh.

"Then you, my friend, could pretend not to be here. I couldn't possibly risk a day not talking to your lovely morning persona. Anyway, you look like shit today. Now why is that?", Jefferson demanded to know.

For a second, Gold thought about opening up his soul but he remembered he wasn't much of a soul-opening type of guy.

"The pot calling the cattle black. Or rather, you telling me I look like shit. Isn't that just amusing?", Gold shot back.

"Buddy, I appreciate your mean humor, but if you do need to talk about something, I'm here for you."

"Thanks", Gold responded, genuinely feeling glad Jefferson offered him to talk. "How's Gracie?"

Jefferson's face lit up immediately. His daughter, Grace, was his pride and joy and he loved talking about her.

"Oh, she's just gotten a reward in her school, for a poem she wrote. It's called Spring Tea party and I had no idea she could write like that. Probably took that after her mother". Jefferson's expression suddenly became so sad. Years have gone by, but he missed his late wife just the same. Gold suddenly felt a strange urge to hug his friend, but resisted, realizing it might seem awkward. This day just seemed to make him feel worse as it went by.

"Congratulations, and tell Gracie I'm very proud of her".

"I will. Actually, she wanted to invite you and Neal for tea this weekend."

"We would love that. I bet Neal's going to be impossible of all the joy. You know how he loves Grace", Gold answered.

Jefferson then looked at the clock and realized he was late for class. He said goodbye quickly and rushed to the classroom, leaving Gold alone with his thoughts. Gold sighed and went to get another coffee. His class was about to start soon and he had to prepare some handouts for students.

At that very minute, Regina was running to the university. As she saw she arrived on time, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her bag and lit one up. It was an annoying habit and she was trying to quit, but it wasn't very easy. She lent against the fence and calmly inhaled smoke after smoke.

Gold also went out for a smoke, forgetting that he doesn't have a lighter. Just as he wanted to go back inside, he noticed a black haired woman, holding a fag between her crimson lips. He felt somehow drawn to her and convinced himself he was approaching her just because of a lighter.

"I'm sorry, Miss, may I trouble you for the lighter?", he said, pointing to his cigarette, feeling ridiculously for feeling a tad bit nervous. Regina looked up and saw him and although he probably wasn't blessed with those babyface prince Charming looks, she thought he was intriguingly handsome, having all those strong masculine features that made his face impossible to forget. For the first time in her life, she found herself instantly attracted to someone. Little did she know it was the same person whose books she read over and over again.

"Umm, sure, help yourself", she said, handing him the lighter.

"Thanks", he said and took a nice long drag. Regina couldn't help but notice how sexy he looked, like a fine mix of a gentleman and a rockstar. Then she remembered she had a class. And Aidan Gold and his view of modern astrophysics was still more appealing to her than a handsome stranger.

"I have to go. I have this class I really need to get to and I heard the professor is a great expert, but not a very pleasant person", she explained.

"What's his name?", he wanted to know, genuinely curious.

"Aidan Gold"

He wasn't surprised that he was the one in question. After all, the description did sound like him. He was amused and decided not to reveal himself.

"Oh... better go then, he's a real piece of work and doesn't tolerate people being late".