"He's coming here?" Mary Margaret was appalled to think that Gold would be knocking on her door within minutes. The man always made her a bit nervous.

"Don't worry. We're not staying. He'll only be here for a minute." Emma attempted to calm her roommate. It's not as if Mary Margaret wasn't used to seeing Gold; the man came by every month like clockwork to collect the rent. Maybe it was the prospect of having to have a social exchange with him that had her unnerved.

No sooner did Emma get the words out of her mouth than they heard him knock. Emma gathered her purse and headed to the door. She had every intention of whisking Gold out of there before he could even notice Mary Margaret.

"Good evening, Emma. " His eyes seemed to caress her body even as he held her gaze in his.

"Hi, Gold. I'm all set. No need for us to hang around here."

To Emma's annoyance, Gold moved past her and further into the apartment, evidently in no rush to leave.

"Slow down, Emma. First, let me say that you look ravishing tonight." Emma blushed as Gold took her hand and kissed it, all the while staring intently into her eyes. She could feel Mary Margaret observing them, sure that she was carefully assessing their every move and look.

He then turned to Mary Margaret. "Good evening, Miss Blanchard. I trust you are doing well?"

"Hello, Mr. Gold. Yes, very well. Thanks. And you?"

"Quite well, my dear. After all, I'll be spending my evening in the company of your lovely roommate."

Mary Margaret smiled. "I hope you two enjoy your evening."

"I have no doubt that I will. I can only hope that Emma will enjoy it half as much."

"I'll see you later." Emma interrupted. She linked her arm with Gold's and proceeded to lead him out.

"Have fun!" Mary Margaret got out the last word and smiled contentedly to herself. He was smitten with Emma, she had no doubt. And Emma, no matter how much she wanted to deny it, was just as smitten.

Emma's little surprise for Gold was the fact that she was wearing a form-fitting red dress with no underwear. She couldn't help thinking about how he'd react to this as they made their way to his car. By the time they got there, Emma was aroused and wet and not interested in anything but how Gold's slightest touch made her body react.

"Gold, let's get in the back seat."

"Ah! Is this my surprise?" Gold gave her a look filled with appreciation and undisguised lust.

"I guess you can say that it's part of it. The truth is that I just want you and I can't wait."

Gold smiled knowingly. "Far be it from me to leave a lady waiting. Your wish is my command, my dear."

They slid into the back seat and sat side by side. Gold put his left arm around her and drew her into a slow lingering kiss. Emma threaded both of her hands in his hair and kissed him back passionately in return. Sensing her urgency, Gold slid his hand under her dress and up her thighs. When he reached her center he realized that she had no clothing on under her dress.

"Emma." Gold's voice betrayed his surprise and desire for her. "Lie back and put your legs over my lap." Emma did as he requested. She obviously needed attention and Gold was going to give it to her. He took the hem of her dress in his hands and pulled it up exposing her to him. Emma could feel his arousal pressing against her and she was desperate for him to touch her. "Gold, please."

Gold didn't need an invitation. He slipped two fingers into her and lightly stroked her clit with his thumb. Emma arched her back and moaned in response. "You're so wet, darling. Let's take the edge off a bit. Come for me. I love seeing you come, Emma." She opened her legs for him in response and he felt himself harden even more than he thought possible. He began to slowly thrust both fingers into her while he used the palm of his other hand to stroke her center. He made sure to caress her clit at each pass and she arched her back and gasped every time he touched her most sensitive area.

He loved touching her and feeling her writhe under him and he expertly teased her until she couldn't stand it anymore. She was whimpering, almost crying, so when she arched her back the next time he brought his mouth down on her and began sucking her in a way that he knew would bring her over the edge. Emma moaned as she arched higher and farther into him. "Don't stop, Gold." She could barely get the words out as the sensation of his sucking and thrusting fingers became almost unbearable. She was whimpering and begging him until he finally used his tongue to seek out the one spot that made her whole body shudder as she came into his mouth. She collapsed on his lap and he covered her with his hand until she eased her way back down. "Gold…" Emma reached for his hand and kissed it. "Thank you. I needed that." "My pleasure, love. You're so beautiful when you come. I love watching you."

Emma sat up and pushed Gold back against the door. She found his belt and unbuckled it and then unzipped his pants pulling them and his boxers down below his knees. She helped him remove his shoes and then pulled his pants off completely. Gold was fully aroused and Emma wanted nothing more than to caress him and stroke him and kiss him and suck him until he was begging her for release. She wanted to make him feel the way he made her feel. She took him in her mouth and began sucking him, immensely enjoying the feeling of giving him pleasure. He moaned and arched his back urging her to increase her speed.

"Emma, let me come inside you." She hated to stop, but did as he requested, straddling him and lowering herself onto his engorged member. She gasped a bit as he entered her, once again feeling herself aroused. She began moving up and down on him and he held her hips to help her control her speed. Gold was arching and thrusting to meet her every move. She could hear his breathing becoming erratic and she knew that he was very close. Their movements were in perfect sync and each time his shaft entered her completely, she cried out a little at the building sensations.

Gold increased the speed and depth of his thrusting until Emma cried out and spasmed around him. Gold thrusted several more times until he let go and spilled his seed into her. She collapsed on his chest and he put his arms around her. They lay there in each other's arms breathing heavily for a couple of minutes until Gold started to laugh.

"What's so funny, Gold?"

"I was just thinking about your reaction when I asked you what you thought of our mutual sexual attraction a couple of weeks ago. It certainly didn't prepare me for what happened tonight in the back seat of my car."

Emma laughed. "I think I may have gotten a bit carried away."

"Far be it for me to complain, my dear. You can get carried away anytime you want. I certainly won't object." Gold grinned at her. "I think we've awakened something in each other that's pretty powerful."

"I know. I've never let myself lose control like this before."

"Me neither, but I'm enjoying it immensely." Gold held her closer. "Just don't think about it too much, darling. Let it take us where it takes us."

"I'll try." Emma refused to overthink things for once in her life. It was as though Gold possessed her body and she didn't want to find any reasons to object.

"I don't think we're in any condition to go to Granny's as I had originally planned." Gold looked at her with a smirk on his lips.

"No, I don't think so." Emma couldn't help laughing. "Let's just go to the McBurger's drive-through and get some take-out. We can bring it back to your house and eat there."

"Sounds like a plan." Gold smiled at her. He felt an urge to say more. His had always had feelings for her, but now they were changing. He wanted her near him, he wanted nothing more than to give her pleasure, to ease her worries, to posses her. What he felt was something he didn't dare say lest she panic and flee.

"Do we have enough food?" Gold was amazed by the amount of food that Emma could eat. They had several types of burgers, super-size fries and chocolate milk shakes. Emma was ravenous (must have been from their earlier workout).

"I'm starving, Gold. Aren't you?" They sat at his kitchen counter laughing and talking. "I have the new list for you. Henry did some research on the internet, but he's convinced that he'll find your name in his book."

Gold immediately perked up. "I'm fascinated by this newest development. The boy is quite resourceful."

Emma agreed. "Yeah, but I don't want to encourage him too much. Here. See if your name's on this list."

Gold perused the list. "Radcliff, Ransford, Remington, Rochester, Rowley, Royce, Rumford, Rycroft, Rawlins, Rainbow." "Rainbow?"

Emma laughed. "That one was from me."

"Very funny, but I'm afraid you have yet to guess my name. Perhaps next time will be the charm."

"I haven't given up yet, Gold. There's still time."

They were silent for a couple of minutes and then Emma looked at him. "Can I ask you another personal question?"

"You can ask me whatever you'd like, Emma."

Emma hesitated. "Have you ever been married?" Emma noticed a brief flicker of pain flash across his face.

"A very long time ago." Gold paused. "She left me for another man."

"I'm sorry, Gold. I didn't mean to pry." Emma felt as if she'd crossed a line.

"No matter. You see, my dear, I'm a difficult man to love."

Emma looked him in the eyes. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"Most assuredly." His eyes held hers with a question and a challenge.

Emma rose to meet it. "You're not easy, Gold. That much I can vouch for."

Gold chuckled. She had lightened the mood a bit. "What about you, Emma? What about Henry's father?"

It was now Emma's turn to feel uncomfortable. "It's a long story, Gold. The short version is that I thought we were in love, but he disappeared one day and I never saw him again."

Gold looked appalled. "He left you and abandoned his son?"

"No, he didn't know I was pregnant. I didn't know until after he was gone."

"I'm so sorry, my dear. I can't imagine how any man could leave you. He was either a fool or else there had to be some extenuating circumstance of which you're unaware."

"I've tried to convince myself of that, Gold, but I think I just made a big mistake. The one good thing that came out of it was Henry."

"Yes, your boy is very special. You're very lucky to have him back in your life. What I would give to be so lucky."

Emma didn't know how to react to this. She had never thought of Gold being married before, let alone having children. "Do you have any children, Gold?"

"Yes." He barely whispered it. "I have a son. Unfortunately we've been estranged for quite some time now. I've been trying to reconcile with him."

"I'm sorry to hear that. It must be tough for you. Does he live with his mother?"

Gold's demeanor turned angry for the first time. "When she left me, she also abandoned him. I raised him alone from the time he was 6 years old... he was a remarkable young man and I failed him. I've been trying for a long time to make amends."

Emma was taken aback. This was a side of Gold that she never expected. He had been married, he had a son, he had raised his son alone. Nothing she knew about him had prepared her for this. Not knowing what else to say or do, Emma took his hand. "I hope it all works out for you, Gold."

He squeezed her hand and put his arm around her. They sat there in silence for quite a while. Eventually Gold kissed her forehead. "Will you stay the night, Emma?"

Emma cuddled closer to him. "Yes, I'll stay."

Emma woke up the next morning in Gold's bed with no memory of how she had gotten there. Gold was still sleeping so she raised herself on her elbow to look at him. She could see the lines in his face that betrayed the hardships and pain he had endured. The man was much older than she was, he was mysterious, most definitely difficult, not to be trusted in some ways (but completely trustworthy in others). He was kind, loving, caring and patient with her, but she knew he was quite capable of being the direct opposite. She still felt torn about her feelings for him, but something told her that in spite of all of her misgivings, they were meant to be. Why did it have to be so difficult?

"You look like you're deep in thought." Gold's voice startled her.

"Good morning." She bent down and kissed him on the lips. He returned her kiss and drew her close to him. Emma now realized that they were both completely naked as she felt his arousal pressing against her. Her body responded immediately and she felt a throbbing pressure begin to build between her legs.

Gold's cupped her breasts in his hands and then used his fingers to tease her nipples into hardened peaks of pink. He then stroked the flat of his hands against each peak causing an intense sensation to travel through her body and down to her throbbing center. He continued these caresses for quite a while until Emma cried out.

As if in response, Gold took one of her nipples into his mouth and sucked it very gently. He then moved his mouth to the other nipple to gently suck it while he stroked the wet nipple with his hand. The sensation of his hand on the wet nipple sent shivers down Emma's body. She moaned and gasped and bucked her hips trying to pull Gold's attention to her fully aroused center.

Gold took pity on her. He lowered his hand and Emma opened her legs in response as he slipped two fingers into her. "You're so responsive, my dear… nice and wet and ready." He raised himself over her and she spread her legs to receive him. She wrapped her legs around him as he began to slowly push in and out of her, each time burying himself deep within. The pressure was just right to stimulate her and as he increased speed she started to feel herself building to a peak. Gold suddenly moved one of her legs over his shoulder and started to pull himself almost completely out of her before slamming fast and hard back in. The position and sensation made her gasp and she could feel herself start to contract around him as waves of release wracked her whole body. Gold kept thrusting deeply until he let out a guttural cry and shortened his thrusts until he had completely emptied himself in her. He collapsed over her, but maneuvered himself so that he was still in her but not crushing her under his weight. They lay in each other's arms and eventually they both fell asleep again.

"I was almost starting to get worried about you." Mary Margaret greeted Emma as she finally arrived home at 10:00am.

"I'm sorry. I should have texted you to let you know I'd be later than usual. Gold and I slept in this morning." Emma found the words strange, but true.

"I guess you had a good time. You know that Gold is smitten with you, don't you?"

"I know he likes me… a lot." Emma admitted.

"And you like him… a lot." Mary Margaret interjected.

Emma smiled. "I suppose." She paused. "He told me last night that he was married and he has a son who's estranged from him."

"No!" Mary Margaret was shocked by this piece of news.

"Yes. He's filled with surprises. Every time I think I know him I find out something that I'm not expecting at all."

"I guess we really shouldn't be shocked. There's no reason why he wouldn't have been married before. It's just that I never really pictured him with anyone." Mary Margaret tried to reason.

"Exactly. That's why I'm having so much trouble picturing myself with him."

"Except for you, Emma. When I saw the two of you together last night it just seemed like it was meant to be. It's strange to say it but you seem right for one another."

"I know. I said the same thing to myself last night."

Henry was waiting for Emma at the castle, his favorite place to hide from Regina.

"Emma!" Henry shouted her name and waved when he saw her arrive.

"Hey kid. What's up? I see you have your book with you again. Did you figure out Gold's name?" She didn't want to encourage him, but it was already too late.

"I know who he is." Henry looked very serious as he said it.

Emma had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "Well?"

"He's Rumplestiltskin."

"Huh? You mean that imp who spins straw into gold and takes people's babies?"

"Yes. Think about it, Emma. Rumplestiltskin begins with "R". He spins straw into gold and his name is Mr. Gold and he makes deals to take babies – remember Mr. Gold's deal with Ashley?"

Emma had to admit that the kid's premise made a lot of sense, but once again it was all the same craziness about the book. She couldn't imagine Gold's reaction when she presented the name Rumplestiltskin to him. "OK, kid. I'll ask him the next time I see him."

"He's evil, Emma. You shouldn't see him anymore."

"How evil can he be? If he's this Rumplestiltskin then he's just some weird little elf." Emma was now laughing to herself thinking about Gold.

"He's the Dark One, Emma. Rumplestiltskin became the Dark One. He's much worse than the Evil Queen."

This was getting out of hand again. "Don't worry Henry. Mr. Gold isn't going to do anything to hurt me." She didn't know how she was going to tell the kid that she actually liked the man.

"Just be careful, Emma. Don't trust him."

Emma promised. She wasn't worried about Gold. She was worried about Henry and his obsession with the book.

The gold envelope was on Emma's desk when she arrived at work on Monday morning. Emma smiled to herself as she slowly opened it.

I have no words, Emma.

Please come to my house at 7:30 on Wednesday evening.

There were no words for whatever this was between them. It just was.