Oh my gosh, I feel like I've been away from this story for forever, when it's actually only been about a week. I'm sorry that this is such a late update, and such a short chapter, but the inspiration juices have been kinda slow the last couple of weeks for this story. Don't worry though. I think that's all about to change!

Also, I wanted to personally thank all of you who showed your support by participating in the petition funnygirl00 and I have been heading for the last five or six months. Many of you asked us to write you down on our petition, while others of you volunteered to get the word out to your followers. We couldn't have reached 100 names without you. We are preparing the petition this week, and will hopefully be sending it out as well. Let us hope and pray that Fanfiction will actually pay attention this time!

And finally, thank you to all of my loyal reviewers (you know who you are) who take the time out of your week to write a review of encouragement every single time I update this story. You bring such joy into my life. Many of you have been here from the beginning, way back when I started 'Almost Lover' over a year ago, and it amazes me that you are still paying attention and loving this story! I feel like we've grown to be a family, and I know each of my reviewers by name! I love every single one of ya!

XxxxXXxxXXxxXXxx

Belinda's POV:

"Mr. Gold, you're here!" In retrospect, that sentence probably took first place for the stupidest thing that had ever come out of her mouth. For one, the man lived here, for God's sake! And two, it shouldn't really surprise her whether he was home or not. Belinda mentally rolled her eyes at herself and then walked over to the chair where she normally deposited all of her things.

"I thought we agreed on a first name basis, dearie," he smirked as he followed her. His eyes watched as she placed Rose's carrier on the floor. The baby was wide awake. Then, the diaper bag came off of her shoulder, followed by her purse.

"Of course, Robert. Sorry."

"No need to apologize, Belinda." He reached out to help her with her coat and she smiled appreciatively at him. It had become somewhat of a habit of his, and whereas she had found it strange at first – after all Mr. Gold didn't seem to be the kind who was chivalrous, he just continued to surprise her – Belinda had grown accustomed to it. "If it doesn't bother you," he continued as she knelt to unbuckle Rose from the constraints of the carrier, "I'm going to be staying here today. I have a giant pile of paperwork that I've been neglecting."

After divesting Rose of her winter coat, hat, and gloves, Belinda stood up and smirked. "I can't blame you. Paperwork is mankind's silent demise."

He chuckled and she found that she quite liked the sound. Whenever he did, it made his eyes crinkle and he looked nothing like the oppressive and malicious pawn-shop owner she had been taught to fear. "I'll remember that, Belinda." His eyes seemed to become sad, almost mournful, but the moment Belinda blinked, it was gone, and she found herself wondering if it had even been there to begin with., and if it had, then what could have made him so sad so fast.

She cleared her throat. "Well, Rose has been fed and changed, so you shouldn't hear a peep out of her. I have just a bit to do in this room and then I'm going to be moving upstairs, if that's alright?"

"Fine. I'm going to be doing my work in the dining room, should you need me." She watched as he used his cane to limp into the dining room where, true to his word, a great stack of papers was waiting for him. Belinda afforded a soft smile towards him and then went to work.

True to her word, Rose barely made a sound. Anytime a coo would escape her daughter, Belinda would quickly turn on her heels to first look at Mr. Gold and then at her daughter. If he did hear Rose, he never showed it, although there was one time when Rose emitted a comparably louder screech and when she looked up at him to see if he was angry, she saw his lips quirk up into a faint smile.

Belinda knew she was being foolish. After all, baby's made sounds and there was nothing anyone could do about it. And deep down she knew that Mr. Gold – Robert – wouldn't get angry at the interruptance. But old habits die hard, and better safe than sorry. To her relief, Rose fell asleep at long last, and just as Belinda was about to go upstairs and start on one of the bedrooms.

She tiptoed past her daughter and to the dining room. "Mr. Gold?" Why in the world was she whispering? She shook her head and spoke louder. "Robert, I'm going upstairs now."

"Alright, dear, and a good thing too. I haven't cleaned up there in an eternity."

She smirked at him. "Thanks a lot." And then she motioned to her sleeping daughter, still in her carrier. "Rose just fell asleep and I don't want to wake her. Do you mind watching her?" His eyes flashed with surprise and she quickly explained. "I mean, I doubt she'll wake up, but just in case, well, you can come get me if she does."

"It's alright, Belinda. Go upstairs. I'll keep an eye on her."

She sighed in obvious relief and thanked him before heading upstairs.

Mr. Gold's POV:

The moment she left, his head fell into his hands and he sighed. He rubbed at his eyes and then blinked. To see her so nervous around him, as if the smallest thing would offend him and get her kicked out onto the street, hurt worse than anything else ever had. His Belle had never once been afraid of him, not really. And now look at her. This was torture. Pure and simple. And he hated it. For the first time, he actually found himself regretting creating this damned curse, even just a little bit.

It would seem it was time to try and speed things up a bit. He needed Belle to remember. He needed her to be Belle and not Belinda.

A visit to Emma Swan was growing necessary. He would need to drop some subtle hints, at least to push her in the right direction. The woman had been here for nearly two weeks now. Sheriff Graham had died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Of course, Mr. Gold didn't believe the autopsy, even if everyone else did. He had seen Regina at the funeral; the smallest curl of her lips hidden behind fake tears. She had killed him, either out of a jealous rage or because the Sheriff had begun to remember. It was impossible for Gold to know, but if he could guess, he would pick the second option. The Sheriff and Emma had grown close, it would only make sense that the curse's effects would begin to weaken around Graham. It was really only a matter of time, then, before Regina finished him off.

But now that Graham was gone, it would push Emma to assume the position of Sheriff. Which would be good for two reasons: it would assure that she would stay here, and it might just help her to remember. But Gold still knew that Regina wouldn't let Emma gain that position without a fight. That is exactly how he could be of help.

His brooding thoughts were broken as he heard the faintest of whimpers, but it was a whimper all the same. His head shot up and he looked at the carrier. It was facing away from him, and so he couldn't see Rose.

Taking his cane, he stood up with a groan as his knee stretched itself out. He began to limp into the living room, then Mr. Gold looked in the direction of the stairs. Belinda was nowhere in sight, and so he ignored the protests in his bad leg and knelt down on the hard floor in front of Rose's carrier. The child must have been dreaming because her eyes were still closed. A small smile crept onto his face as he stretched out a finger and touched her pink cheek with a feather-light touch.

"Rose," he breathed out her name, and his heart leaped when she began to stir, and then she opened her eyes and just stared at him. Her big, china-blue orbs never blinked as she watched him. She remained neutral. She didn't smile or frown and he removed his finger from her cheek. "Do you remember me?" He whispered, so afraid that his words would somehow float up through the floorboards and reach Belinda's ears. "Hmm? Do you?" Rose gave no sign that she did, and she just continued to stare all the more. "I love you, sweetheart. I'm so glad I found you." Mr. Gold leaned down and laid a sweet kiss on top of her forehead. Then, and only then, did she finally smile up at him, and he found himself wondering what she was thinking about inside that little brain of hers. He supposed he would never know.

Ever so carefully, he lifted her up out of her carrier and cradled her in his arms. She was still so small, but of course, definitely bigger than when she had first been born. He couldn't believe she was already five months old, almost half a year had come and gone in her life. He felt guilty that he had missed the first several months of her life. And he found himself feeling angry when he thought about Mr. Stone. In this world it was believed that he was this baby's "father". The thought made him grind his teeth. No matter what he had done in the past life, there was no worse fate than to have that imbecile as a father. And then Mr. Gold felt scared because he knew that Garrett Stone may not be a part of their lives now, but he would be back. A father will stop at nothing to have his child, and that knowledge frightened him to the core. The only question was what lengths would Mr. Stone go through, and how long would it be before he finally did?

It would seem that Mr. Stone had also just made his list of people whom he needed to visit. Right behind Emma. And Regina. Oh, yes. The Evil Queen was also on his list.

But for now, he just concentrated on the breathing of baby Rose in his arms, and the way it felt to just be able to hold her after 28 long years of being separated from her.