I DO NOT OWN ANY ONCE UPON TIME CHARACTERS THEY BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL CREATORS

WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE

CHAPTER 1:

"Esme, are you really going to take responsibility of the twins – their father was nothing but a disgrace and married beneath him now his dead and those two have no one who will take them. Yet you are willing to take care of them?" The one woman asked the knee-length light-blond haired woman who was busy getting water from the well, she wore a light green cotton gown and her bangs were tied behind her and braided tied with a brown cloth. She looked at the woman behind her she was no different than the others who had learned about her half-brother's death. She narrowed her eyes and then she smiled.

"Yes, I am, please don't talk bad about my half-brother even though I was sunned out when my father died it doesn't matter I love those two to death." She said taking the bucket of water and walking.

"And is it true you are staying with the Town's Coward: Rumpelstiltskin? Esme, you know what is going around the town aren't you. Many say that you and he are lovers is this true. O, dear please tell me it isn't true just think of your reputation here – leave that coward and stay with that handsome man Felix his very fond of you." The woman said walking behind Esmeralda. Esmeralda stopped abruptly she knew what was going around this town about her relationship with Rumpelstiltskin but she didn't care about what people said for her he was her best friend and someone she could talk to without hiding her true self. She knew he was a coward but even so he cared a lot about his son Bealfire and that part was what she respected, he was a good man. She turned to face the woman by now most of the townspeople were out watching the two woman talk.

"I don't love Felix – I refuse to live with someone I do not love. As for my relationship with Rumpelstiltskin that is none of your concern." Esmeralda said she didn't like Felix even though he was handsome he was just too full of himself and thought that he could have any woman he wanted.

"Then do you love Rumpelstiltskin, is that why you are living with him and his son Esme?" The woman asked and Esmeralda for once looked shocked at the woman, she never thought about it like that – she had agreed to stay with Rumpelstiltskin because she wanted to help him look after his son and because she had known him for a long time now – she just didn't want him to be alone, she had been staying by him for these 6 years and had been there for him when his wife had left him for being a coward. She never questioned her own feelings towards him. Did she love him? She shook her head the thought was ridiculous she had sworn after Kenny's death she would never again fall in love, when she had heard that Rumpelstiltskin's wife had left him because of him being a coward she had been angry because she believed if you love someone you must stick to them no matter what -was that not what true love was? She looked at the woman before her with a small smile.

"I have my reason's why I'm staying by him. He is my best friend and I'll not leave him and his son no matter what the lot of you say." With that she turned and walked into Rumpelstiltskin's house ready to tell him the news about the twins...

"Esme, are you sure you are ready to handle twins?" Ruby asked as she finished her work and went to sit down opposite Esmeralda who was drinking a big mug of coffee, she put the newspaper down she was done packing it had taken three days to unpack, organize and get herself settled into the house, tomorrow she was going to collect the twins by the Majors office where the social worker will be waiting with the documents.

"I am positive I've seen them plenty of times and they were such darlings – they are six years old now and I promised myself that if something should ever happen to them, I'd take care of them as best I can." Esmeralda said she was nervous but also very happy that she will not have to be alone in that house, the news of the twins coming to stay with Esmeralda had spread throughout the town like wildfire thanks to Ruby having told mostly everyone. Ruby sighed she still felt bad of letting it slip about the twins. She leaned on her elbows and watched Esmeralda. She had seen Esmeralda and Mr. Gold walking and talking along the side walk it was still strange how easy she could talk to the man everyone in Storybrooke feared.

"Are you really going to take Mr, Gold with you to collect the twins?" Ruby asked and saw the smile on Esmeralda's face.

"Yes, he agreed he'd join me to meet the twins. Though I owe him a favour now." Esmeralda giggled and then she took another sip of her coffee.

"You seem to spend an awfully lot of time with Mr. Gold. What about Mike, he asked about your relationship with Mr. Gold you know I didn't know what to tell him because I've been wondering the same thing myself." Ruby said curious written all over her face. Esmeralda looked into her cup with a small smile.

"Mr. Gold is my best friend Ruby – I have known him as long as I can remember."

"It that all he is to you Esme? You don't know what many think especially Mike. He saw you and Mr. Gold taking a stroll he believes that you love Mr, Gold that is why you haven't answered his question. Is that true do you love Mr. Gold, Esme?" Ruby said and Esmeralda nearly dropped the cup from shock.

"Don't be silly – you know how I feel about love, I don't need to answer his questions if I don't want to." She said and sat the cup down and stood up. "I have my reasons why I enjoy Mr. Gold's company. I have to go now, see you." Esmeralda said and left Granny's Dinner truly she was sick and tired of people sticking their noses in her business.

"Do you love Mr. Gold, Esme?"

Those words ran along her thoughts as she made her way to the other side of the road she didn't stop until she came to the Pawnshop. She stopped from opening the door she looked in the window at herself her violet eyes watching her, was it true, she had known him for a long time but never once did she think about love.

She shook her head and then without thinking she opened the door to Mr. Gold's pawnshop.