Warning: some strong language is used in this chapter...just FYI. Also, women be batshit crazy up in here!

Chapter 14: Bloody

It was like a bad movie. The entire room was still, even Pongo stopped in his tracks after knocking a plate from the dining room table.

In fact it was only the plate wobbling from the fall to the floor that showed any movement or that made any sound.

The Hoppers were frozen mid action, the Nolans were statues in the pass through to the kitchen, mouths in wide O's. Neal and Emma ramrod straight sitting on the sofa, eyebrows to the ceiling.

Mr. Gold was standing in front of the chair he had been moments before occupying and he was shade of white Belle had never seen before.

And if Gold was white Milah was an opposing shade of red, standing 3 feet from the Hoppers and next to Belle. She looked horrified, scandalized and totally baffled.

Belle, feeling very similarly to Milah did in fact gain her, if not bearings, voice first.

"This can't be happening...this is so not happening... You," she pointed to Milah, "and him..." she turned her finger to Gold, "...Right? Oh my god...this is happening...I saw this movie, I read this book... This is a bad, bad, paperback novel right here..." Belle shook her head, then walked three steps, took the bottle of scotch from the bar cabinet and sat on the floor right where she had been standing.

The others that were still in a state of shock and confusion were shaken from it as they watched Belle French have a mental breakdown on the entryway floor.

"I mean, this is your ex-wife isn't it Gold?" Belle gestured flippantly, the rest of the room still floundering for voices, she took a direct swig from the bottle of scotch and made a face, it was rather cheap scotch.

Mr. Gold had regained his physical composure and now appeared nothing but stoic and cool, spoke through gritted teeth, his brogue strong and menacing, "Indeed, this wench is Milah Brown, though last I heard it was Jones? What happened harpy, didn't work out with dear Killian? Now it's Cassidy? My, you do get around don't you dearie."

"Why you little sniveling, snide, son of a bitch...how dare you stand there and..." Milah reared charging toward Gold.

Belle swigged another swallow of scotch and leaned against the cabinet, legs stretched out in front of her. Now seemed like the perfect time to lose it completely and just mentally check out.

Really, if she went down the list, it had been a long time coming...her father was an alcoholic and had practically abandoned her.

Her ex-fiance Rupert had turned out to be gay and left her for a French model named Pierre...she wondered if he had told his family about that yet? She didn't even like thinking about it, hell half...well more than half the time, she pretended like that part of the relationship hadn't happened. She blocked it out. It was much nicer, for both of them. Rupert had convinced her that they should both just part ways and never speak of it. She never spoke of it and tried really hard not to think about it.

Until now. How could she not, really?

She took another swig and watched Gold and Milah start a shouting match.

She was losing her store, her entire life...oh and her home, couldn't forget that.

She took another swig.

She was in love with a man she had known...2 weeks? Had it even been that long? Well, no matter, the man bought up her town - including her shop, and now was having a quaint tete-a-tete with his ex-wife he hadn't seen in...17 years.

"Snow White and the Seven Hairy Dwarves!" Belle cried out, over the top of the warring ex's.

The room, which had rather completely forgotten about her all stopped and stared.

Again.

That wasn't a curse they had ever heard before.

"Who is Neal's father?" Belle scrambled to her feet, still clutching the scotch, "And you need better scotch David...this is..." she made a scrunchy face and clucked her tongue like she was trying to rid the taste from her mouth.

"Anyway...father...who?" Belle gestured between Milah and the still silent Neal.

Milah turned to stone and squared her shoulders; she didn't look like she was going to answer.

Mr. Gold usually was a step ahead of everyone else when it came to these kinds of things, or really no matter the game that was being played, but today however, he most certainly was not. He was staring dumbfounded at Belle; he had no idea where she was going with this.

"Knock, knock," Belle directed at Neal.

Neal blinked not expecting to be addressed and he started a bit. He fumbled and finally stuttered, "Who's there?" hesitantly.

"No, you're supposed to say 'who's my daddy'..." Belle pouted and drank another gulp of scotch.

It was very obvious to everyone in the room that whatever thin string and hold on sanity Belle had been clutching to during these past few exceedingly stressful months had broken quite spectacularly.

"Don't look so confused Gold... Neal here is seventeen...aren't you Neal? ...Stand up, let's have a look at you, strapping young lad," Belle motioned for Neal to stand.

Neal figured as long as he did what was asked she was mostly harmless...mostly.

"I babysat you...I mean are all you all putting this together? Your birthday is in December right?" Belle was breathing heavy.

"I think it's time we leave, come on Neal!" Milah made to grab her son's arm.

"No, I want to know...what is she saying mom? Who is this...who is this really? He's your ex husband? When? I thought there was just my dad...and you said that he died..." Neal pulled away from her.

Poor Mr. Gold had to sit down; it apparently was all catching up with him.

"Neal..." Mr. Gold seemed to test the name, saying it quietly, reverently, like he had never said it before.

Milah looked like she was protesting and not going to speak or leave without her son.

An eerie silence descended on the room. Whatever was to be spoken next was going to irrevocably change the lives of three people.

As such David, Mary Margaret, Archie and Ruby were feeling highly uncomfortable. They quietly disappeared into the kitchen.

Belle, though not directly affected by what was going to be said didn't feel any such compulsion to leave. She had planted herself firmly in the middle and that was where she was going to stay, unless it came to choosing sides, then she was on Neal's.

Milah still was refusing to speak but she hadn't left either.

"I was married to your mother a great many years ago...we were divorced nearly 18 years ago. We had been separated nearly nine months when we signed the papers; she was, unknown to me until that moment, very pregnant. I believed it was with my child, but she wouldn't tell me."

"There was an accident outside of the law offices where we signed the papers...there was a lorry - a truck, and it was a runaway, I pulled your mother out of the way...we rolled through the ditch, I injured my leg..." Mr. Gold quietly indicated his cane, "We were both taken to the hospital... I was no longer legally her husband, I had no right to information...I was finally told third hand by an unknown that she had lost the baby...I didn't even know if I was the father or if it was a boy or girl...it would have been 18 years ago this December..."

Neal was having a hard time breathing and he sat heavily on the sofa. He was smart kid, and the math wasn't that hard, however the idea...the very idea that he could now be sitting across from the man that was his father was earth shattering to him. It didn't even seem possible.

"Mom?" Neal's voice was hardly audible.

At this point Belle knew that Milah was going to have a hard time wiggling out of this. Perhaps at one point but not now.

It was already obvious without knowing the history; the physical resemblance had been unusual and simply dismissed as coincidence. Now though, when put in undeniable context...

Neal was taller than his father but he had his lithe build. He had his mother's dark hair but his father's eyes. Belle knew now what had seemed so familiar in the boy's quirked smile.

It was his father's smile.

Well Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum...Mr. Gold went and had son... Belle sat down on the ottoman near Gold.

Milah was left standing staring at them.

"You might as well admit it dearie, its all kind obvious at this point," Belle toasted Milah with another drink of bad scotch, she offered the bottle to Gold but he turned it down.

Milah stiffened, "So what? Yes, he's your son! Do I wish he weren't? Bloody hell yes! He should have been Killian's! That was the only reason I was off birth control in the first place! Do you think I wanted to have your son Dougal? I wanted Killian's, you were just bad timing. One stupid, fucking drunk night and I end up with your kid! I never loved you, I never wanted to married to you...I was sleeping with Killian the whole time, you should have known that!"

"And I wanted you to suffer, that's why I never told anything. I hated being married to you! You didn't want to do anything but work and die in the country! You were boring and old... I only married you for your money and so I could be part of the city life...I got fucking jipped on that you conceited old git! Neal was never supposed to be yours; he was just supposed to get your money... Then Killian went and died on that stupid submarine…"

Belle really didn't know what came over her but before she had any inkling of what it was she was planning she had already stood up and curled back her fist and slammed it into Milah's face.

"Don't you dare talk about your son's father that way you bitch!" Belle growled as Milah tottered back on her sky-high heels, landing on her arse.
Milah had been caught very clearly by surprise and she looked at the blood that was starting to pour from her nose with detached astonishment. Her severely fractured nose, busted lip and swelling eye wouldn't be nearly as obvious until later.

Belle was advancing on her, "You high and mighty, self-indulgent twatface! …" Belle stopped her movement to look at Neal, "I'm sorry Neal, I'm not doing any better than her...but I'm not your parent...and I might be slightly drunk. I think maybe you should take Emma and go out to the backyard..."

"Belle, that's enough, come sit down," Gold was standing obvious concern on his face, "And I do think perhaps taking Emma outside is a good idea Neal," he added.

Neal truthfully wasn't sure what to say or think or do. Emma, quiet shell-shocked Emma intervened then and stood up taking Neal by the hand and lead him toward the backyard.

"As for you...you terrible excuse for a mother and woman!" Belle began nearly bellowing. She was advancing quickly on Milah who was scrambling backwards on her butt.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Belle saw Milah take her cellphone from her bra, presumably calling 911.

"You keep your phone in your bra? Seriously? That is so gross..." Belle made a face.

"Belle, enough, sit down...let me look at your hand," Mr. Gold had moved next to Belle lifting her right hand. The knuckles were split where they had connected with Milah's teeth.

Belle pulled her hand away forcefully; making Gold sans cane, nearly lose his balance.

"This a family deal, you don't need to call the cops," Belle kicked the phone from Milah's hand just as she was giving the address.

"Then why in hell are you even speaking? Aren't you the real whore here? You aren't married to him, you aren't Neal's mother...why are you even speaking you little...?" Milah spit out a hateful word as she made it back to her feet.

"Oh no you did not just call my best friend what I think you did!" Mary Margaret gasped horrified from the entrance to the kitchen.
Belle had wondered what had been taking the others so long to show back up.

Mary Margaret came in swinging, taking full advantage of the element of surprise when Milah turned to see who had shouted at her, and slapped her fully across the face, "A lady does not use that word!"

"Ladies, really...we need to calm down..." David rushed forward to draw back his wife that had done her best to escape his subduing hold.

"You don't come in here, into my friends home and disrespect it and her dinner guests!" Belle added though she was being pulled back by Gold to safer distance from Milah.

"Bitch I am a dinner guest!" Milah screamed throwing her arms open.

"Where are the kids? ...do I hear sirens? Where did Archie and Ruby go?" David asked, fully occupied with keeping his kicking and screaming wife from tackling Milah.

"You are a has been, gold-digging shrew!" Belle cried, also doing her best to break free from Mr. Gold.

"You better reign in your whore of the month Dougal, I think I got slut on my hand," Milah somehow, even with blood all down the front of her and rubbed across her face, smirked and gave a high handed twittering laugh.

Ruby had been in the backyard with Archie and the kids, Archie had thought perhaps his professional expertise might be of help to young Neal, she was just now returning Archie in tow. Ruby was in time to catch Milah's last comment.

"Archie that woman did not just say what I think she said, did she?" Ruby wasn't actually addressing her husband and sadly Archie wasn't quick enough to grab a hold and stop his advancing wife. The sleeve of Ruby's red dress just slipped out of his fingers.

And it was at that moment the other two men lost any grip they had on their women and all hell broke loose.

Pongo didn't mind though, he helped himself to another plate of chicken Marsala.

Well, it wasn't like anyone else was going to eat it.

Five hours later Milah was at the Storybrooke ER getting looked over by Dr. Whale and the 3 Little Furies, as the town was calling Belle, Mary Margaret and Ruby were sitting in the holding cell of the Storybrooke Sheriff's office, Sheriff Robin Loxely looking them over and shaking his head.

They certainly looked like they had been through a fight. Dresses were torn, hair was sticking out and ratted, skin was scratched and bloodied. Eyes were swelling, lips were swelling and turning all kinds of shades of purple and blue.

There were broken nails, for the love of humanity!

"Tell me again, how is it all three of you gentle ladies got into a fight while your three men," Sheriff Loxely stopped handing out the ice packs and pointed to 2 of the male counterparts sitting along the wall, "just stood by?"

"Robin, come on now...you know..." David interjected offended at the implication.

"Hush now Nolan, I'm talking to your wife and her cohorts right now..." Robin lifted a hand to silence David.

David and Robin had gone to school together, there was no true animosity there, plenty of ribbing and teasing, but no actual dislike.

"It's my fault," Belle raised her head from the bed. She had a pounding headache and she was starting to hurt everywhere.

"Miss Belle...now I'm most surprised to see you in here, I'll be honest..." Mr. Gold coming through the door interrupted Sheriff Loxely.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you Sheriff, I'm Mr. Gold, council for Ms. French, Mrs. Hopper and Mrs. Nolan..." Mr. Gold extended his hand with a menacing, meant to be welcoming, smile. The fluorescent lighting glinted off his gold tooth.

"Council? That's going a bit far isn't? These ladies aren't actually formally charged yet...and aren't you part of this whole clusterfuuu..." Loxely caught himself, tipped his Stetson, "Begging your pardon ladies."

The ladies waved him off, "We're in the slammer for roughing up a broad...hardly matters now if we starting hearing and talking like sailors," Mary Margaret grumbled dramatically leaning against the bars.

David had to cover a laugh with a cough. He loved his wife, but hardened criminal she could never be.

"It's true Sheriff, I am a part of this, but I think you'll find I'm a very fair and reasonable man... I have also talked with Milah Cassidy, she has agreed to not file charges," Gold opened his briefcase and took out several affidavits and forms.

"I believe, unless there is something else, you can let these ladies go..." Gold smiled folding his hands over his cane and waited.

Loxely looked over the papers a bit suspicious but found them in order.

"Fine. This seems a little fishy, but everything seems in order..." he grumbled taking the key to the cell door, "Looks like your Knight in Shining Jaguar has sprung you...you're all free to go."

Mary Margaret and Ruby rushed to the arms of their respective spouses, very glad to be out of the dank cell.

Belle approached Gold worriedly, "What did you do? What did she make you give up to make this deal?"

Mr. Gold smiled a bit sadly at her, "Come along, not here," he said softly, guiding her out of the office with a hand on her back.

"She better not be using Neal as a pawn! She's already..." Belle's upset was starting to escalate again.

"No, she's too clever for that. Neal is 18 next month, she loses any control of him then... It was a matter of money, it's always a matter of money with Milah."

Belle stopped walking, "What?"

"Money...this goes away, she goes away, it's really a simple matter really."

"You paid her off? I would have rather this went to court than that woman receive a single red penny!"

Mr. Gold tried to calm her down, "Belle...trust me, this is for best...let's go to the shop, or the Inn or Nolan's...somewhere we can talk... Belle I just got a call, all the paperwork has been signed on my property purchases..."

Belle blinked at him. She was tired, she hurt, and she was covered in blood and bruises. She had a headache to end all headaches and he was acting like the drycleaners had merely lost his pants. Not that his ex-wife had appeared from nowhere and he had a nearly fully-grown son spring up seemingly from the bowels of earth.

No, Mr. Gold was the epitome of professional, so cool and detached.

She bloody hated it.

"I'm going home...or your home since you own it now all official and stuff, whoever it belongs to, I'm going there...call me in the morning. I can't think or talk to you right now..."

And she then she walked away.

She wished she had remembered to bring the scotch.

Hey all :) So, firstly DUDE WE BROKE 100 REVIEWS! WAHHOOOO! Now, I know it's vain to get all giddy over quantity but ya know...sometimes it just really really does mean a whole freakin' lot to see SO much love...know what would be kind of secretly awesome? Breaking 200, I've never done that before. Gotten close, but never quite... That would kind of rock my world, I'll be honest. This is going to end up being one of my longest stories I've ever written so ya know...it'd be an awesome set of firsts... If I mean my writing warrants your review I'd surely appreciate it :)

okay, enough review begging lol I feel like I need a sign 'will write for reviews & strokes to the ego!'! Seriously though, I love guys so much for loving this story!

Secondly... The BLOG is OFFICIALLY UP! I'm rocking the Tumblr now, just me and my bad self (no really, it's just me...I NEED YOU), so please, please, please see the link in my profile and come join the fun. There is one post...once we're all rocking and rolling you can expect lots of stuff from me...like story art and thoughts of all my fav shows... I'm kind of an improv gal, I need your feedback and input! So head on over to My Random Fandom and let's indulge our nerdness together!

Lastly, I really don't like Milah. I don't feel sorry for her, I don't think 'woe is me'...dude, she abandoned her kid, no matter how "crappy" she thought Rumplestiltskin was as a husband...never should left her kid, so I showed no mercy on her in this chapter. 3 on 1...a little much, I know...but as I said, I really don't like her and Belle was drunk as hell acting all tough and shit... I went with it. Blame the scotch. Or the wine. Wine makes people go cray-cray (help me! I've started saying this and I can't stop!).

And who all is ready for new OUaT Sunday?! GAH! Can't wait! *happy dance*!

Lots and lots of love! -RA (now to go finish the next chapter of Burn the Kingdom Down...and All These Lovely Scattered Pieces...and think about what I'm doing with I Am...*sigh lol)