To remember who you are is to remember who you were. Mr. Gold remembered everything and it was safe to say that he was already changing into the man he was moments before the curse, the man who had been warm and selfless and kind. It pained him to have to hide all of that. He had to try and revert back into the Mr. Gold all the townspeople knew and feared. Even Belinda had to still believe that he remained unchanged.
He sighed as he parked out in front of his home. It was almost five o'clock. The air was brisk in the autumn night. And he just sat there, his eyes staring blankly at the foreboding door. He knew what was behind that door and he both anticipated and dreaded it.
Mr. Gold got out of the car and walked painfully slow towards the house. When he opened the door he was immediately assaulted by the scent of lemon cleaner and his nose wrinkled. His house actually smelled clean. As he walked into his living room he saw just how neat and tidy his maid had made the place. Not a speck of dust was present. The floors were swept. The walls washed of all grime. She had worked hard and a sharp pang filled his chest. He didn't want her to work so hard anymore. That wasn't who she was to him any longer.
"I can see just how punctual you are, Mr. Gold," she smiled as she came out from the living room. "It's five on the dot."
He swallowed hard and then put on a fake smirk. "Well, I think that if you're punctual people see you in a better light. You don't respect someone who's late all the time."
"I wish you would've told that to my ex," Belinda scoffed and Mr. Gold fought back the anger surging within him. How dare that Mr. Stone treat her in such an abominable way! He forced himself to calm and his voice came out tight but reserved.
"Yes, I have to say Mr. Stone does not garner much of my respect."
"Nor mine," she agreed and then grabbed her coat and her purse. Once again, she was surprised when Mr. Gold stepped forward and helped her into it. "Thanks," she smiled and he fought the urge to smile back. She turned away from and walked to the door.
He followed her. "It's bitter cold out there, Miss French. Would you like me to drive you to the diner so you can pick up Rose?"
Her eyebrows raised in more surprise. "I don't want to be any trouble. But thank you anyways, Mr. Gold." She opened the door and immediately shivered. Belinda turned up the collar on her coat and shoved her hands into her pocket. Already she was regretting rejecting his offer. Then, suddenly, she felt a presence beside her and she turned to see that Mr. Gold had put on his coat and gloves and was following her.
"It would be no trouble, Miss French. In fact, I insist. Besides, I'm on my way to Granny's anyway."
"Oh?" She asked as he opened the door to the car for her.
"It's Friday night. I have my dinner there this time every week."
"Oh, yes, that's right!" Belinda remembered. "Then this must be providence." She slid into her seat and watched as Mr. Gold walked around the front of the car and opened his own door. Then, they set off for Granny's Diner, warm and comfortable.
XXxxXXxxXXxx
Belinda slid out of the car before Mr. Gold could help her out. If people saw him acting so courteous, gossip would surely start to spread. That was something she didn't want at all. If he disapproved of her actions, he didn't show it, and she walked towards Granny's Diner.
"I wondered, Miss French-" he began and then abruptly ended. She stopped just short of the door and looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Well, I was reminded of a deal you and I made a while back, and I'm ready to fulfill it."
She chuckled and then teased. "We've made so many deals, Mr. Gold. I think you'll have to remind me of which one you are referring to."
"I said that the next time we shared a meal together, I would pay." He licked his lips. Why on earth was he so nervous?! "Would tonight be suitable?" She hesitated and his heart fell. "Unless you have something else that needs to be done?" That clinched the deal, as he knew it would. He knew she wouldn't have anything planned.
"Alright, then, Mr. Gold. I haven't eaten here in quite awhile, and now that you mention it, I'm craving Granny's meatloaf."
He grinned at her and then opened the door for her. Per usual, the curious men and women dining there looked up to see who had come in. And almost as soon as they looked up, their eyes were once again on their plates. When Mr. Gold was present, it was just best not to make eye contact, so they all had learned.
Belinda immediately left his side to go behind the bar. Within seconds, Rose had been lifted into her arms and the sight made his heart melt. He saw, almost as if it was all in slow-motion, the way Belinda's face moved from side to side as she avoided the sticky fingers of her daughter. He watched as the two smiled at each other, the way Rose's face lit up when she saw her mother. It was the most beautiful thing he believed he had ever seen.
Noticing that he had been staring for too long, he turned away and sat down in his usual booth. Within seconds, Ruby had walked up to him. "The usual, Mr. Gold?" She was already writing his order down on her notepad.
"Yes, Miss Lucas, but I will also need a menu."
"Oh?" She asked curiously.
"For my guest." In that exact moment, Belinda and Rose appeared next to Ruby and took their places in the seat across from him. Belinda placed Rose down on her lap and then looked up at Ruby, who was currently try to wipe the look of shock and confusion off of her face.
Belinda smiled. "Hey, Ruby, how've you been today?"
The woman cleared her throat. Mr. Gold tried not to smirk as he saw the woman look so uncomfortable. "Good, Lindy. I wish I could say the same for your daughter though."
"Why?" Belinda's eyebrows furrowed in concern.
Ruby shrugged. "She's teething."
"Well, she seems fine now."
"I think she misses you," Ruby admitted. "But anyway-" she gave one look at Mr. Gold and then leaned down so that she could whisper something into Belinda's ear. He watched as Belinda just laughed and shook her head furiously. Ruby pulled away even more confused.
"Is Granny's meatloaf still on the menu?" Belinda asked after she had finished laughing. Ruby responded with a nod of her head. "Then, I'll have that, and an iced tea please."
"Coming right up." Ruby shot one last look at Mr. Gold and then walked away.
Belinda looked at Mr. Gold and couldn't keep her lips from turning up into a large grin. "Apparently, Ruby was concerned for my well-being and wanted to make sure I wasn't eating with you under duress."
Mr. Gold chuckled. "Miss Lucas did seem a bit shell-shocked when you sat down." Belinda joined in the laughter but soon grew uncomfortable as she noticed the second-long glances everyone else in the diner was giving them. She cleared her throat and concentrated on Rose. "Is everything alright, Miss French?"
She nodded her head. "Yeah, fine, it's just...people are staring." Mr. Gold looked discreetly around the room and then frowned.
"I'm afraid they're not used to me keeping company when I eat here. They'll return to their meals in a few moments." True to his word, within a few more minutes of confusion, the people went back to their meals, and they were both able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"I think Ruby's right," Belinda said as she frowned, "I think Rose misses me. I wish I could find some way to be able to spend more time with her. Already, one of her front teeth is coming in. I just don't want to miss her growing up, ya know?"
Mr. Gold nodded. "I understand, dearie. And if that's how you feel, then you may bring Rose with you to work if you want." The joy on her face made his heart swell. He quickly cleared his throat and added a bit gruffly, "So long as you can take care of her at the same time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm at my shop most of the day anyway, and there's no need for Rose to come here if she can just come with you."
Belinda couldn't believe it and it showed in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Gold! This will help so much!"
Just then, Ruby came over to their table and served them their meals. Mr. Gold didn't miss the furrow of her brows as she watched Belinda and him converse in the most light-hearted way. In truth, Mr. Gold hadn't felt so light-hearted in twenty-eight years. The whole evening, his lips wanted to turn up into a huge grin, a grin which he had to suppress, lest people start getting suspicious about the overnight change in their cold and ruthless leader.
XxxxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Mr. Gold drove Belinda and Rose home to her apartment. By the time Belinda had pulled Rose out of her car seat, the child was already fast asleep in her mother's arms. Mr. Gold walked Belinda and the sleeping infant to their front door and he was able to see just how poor and dilapidated the building had become. It hadn't been of much importance to him and he hadn't kept up the maintenance. Now, it was really beginning to show. Even in the dark, he could see it.
Belinda didn't seem to care though as she turned to Mr. Gold and thanked him for the evening.
He smiled at her. "It was nothing, dearie. But just answer me this. Was Ruby right? Did you agree to eat with me under duress?"
"There was no duress. You asked and I agreed."
"I thought that maybe..."
"What?" Why did she seem so close all of the sudden? His heart thumped wildly in his chest and he tried to concentrate on anything but her mouth.
"That maybe you agreed just to humor an old man."
She actually laughed then. "Hardly. You're not even close to being an old man, Mr. Gold. I chose to eat with you because I wanted to. And Granny's food is to die for."
"Indeed, Miss French."
"Well, since we've been on our first date-" his chest clenched at those words until he saw her eyes. They were twinkling with amusement, and he realized that she was teasing him. "-I think that perhaps we should be on a first name basis. Do you agree?"
"You're still my employee, Miss French."
"Yes, but can't you consider me a friend too?"
He sighed. "I don't have very many friends, Belinda." She smiled as he chose to use her first name.
"Of course," she then added, "It would help if I knew your first name."
"It's Mr. Gold," he said with a smirk.
She shook her head. "That's not a first name."
"Well, then it's R-" He stopped quickly before he could give away his real name. He plastered on a fake smile and then finished. "It's Robert. But mind you, dearie, no one calls me that. I don't think anyone even knows that's my name. You, and you alone, are given permission to call me that."
"It'll be our secret." Belinda winked at him. "You know..." she tilted her head and looked at him oddly. If it weren't for the smile on her lips, he would've thought something was wrong. "You're not who I thought you were, Robert, and I'm glad." She gave him a quick, chaste peck on the cheek and then she walked up the stairs to her apartment.
You're not who I thought you were, and I'm glad. He nearly burst into sobs right then and there. Those words...she had once said those words in another life and in another time. It seemed like an eternity ago, when he had first begun to love her. He raised his hand to wipe away one of his tears when his fingers brushed across the very spot she had kissed him.
Her lips had felt so warm in the cold evening.