A/N: I'll make this quick, I want to give a big thank you to my reviewers: thedoctorsgirl42 and tigger64. Thanks guys! Now, onto the story.

Chapter Rating: T for a trigger warning of abuse.


"I don't give a damn if he is the only family you have left, he abused you! Get this through your head, I won't let you go!" Mr. Gold said.

"Frankly Mr. Gold, that isn't your choice it's up to lovely Miss. Annabelle," Gaston responded.

"Come with me if you must Mr. Gold, but I'm going to take care of my father!"

Gaston had a look of satisfaction on his face, while Mr. Gold's face looked like he was about to punch someone. Annabelle however, had a look of concern. She didn't want to be hit anymore, but she needed to take care of her father. He apparently had just gotten out of the hospital and she felt terrible that he was there because of her. Mr. Gold only attacked Maurice because of her. Mr. Gold would say that it isn't her fault that it was his own, but she did not believe that for a second.

She ordered Mr. Gold to take her to her father, but he wouldn't. She gave him a decision, either have him take her or have Gaston take her. Mr. Gold ended up taking her there. Her old house was white with chipped paint. The lawn was yellow like draw from not being watered, the windows were dusty and the screen door was halfway unhinged. She looked at with disgust, so many bad memories occurred here. Mr. Gold's hand drifted over hers and squeezed it, trying to give her some support.

"I'm coming in with you," Mr. Gold stated.

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to see the person that put him in the hospital in the first place," Annabelle retorted.

She was instantly in a bad mood arriving here. She didn't know how long she was going to stay, but at least she would always have somewhere else to go.

"Goodbye Mr. Gold."

"No! It's not goodbye, I will pick you up everyday at five and that bastard can take care of himself from there. If you have ANY problems, you call me right away!"

"You don't need to protect me like I'm some child! I can take care of myself."

"I know Belle, but I don't want your bravery to let you down."

She got out and slammed the door. How dare he! Her bravery has nothing to do with this. She loved her papa and she would always be there for him. She trudged to the door with frustration and opened the screen door, it fell of the hinges and crashed on the porch. If almost on cue, her father opened the door and pushed her on the floor.

"The man you supposedly love did this to me!" Maurice said, pointing to his cast and his broken nose.

He kicked her in the stomach and she coughed.

"You stupid bitch! You are just like your bitch mother!" He screamed.

Annabelle stood up and grabbed him by his cast.

"DON'T EVER TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT MY MOTHER AGAIN!" Annabelle screeched at him.

She pushed him down on the floor like he did her and he cowered. She glared at him and smirked. She had finally defeated him at his own sick and twisted game.

"Now here's how it's going to work, I'm going to take care of you whether you like it or not. You WILL be respectful and you WILL never insult me. Do you understand?"

He nodded his head with his eyes full of fear and she couldn't believe her own eyes. For once in her life he was afraid of her and not the other way around.

"Now, I'm leaving at five, so what can I do for you in that time?" Annabelle asked.

"W-well you-you can make me some food. I haven't eaten yet," he told her, his voice quivering.

"Alright, what would you like?"

"I have chicken soup."

"That will do."

Annabelle walked to the dusted and dated kitchen and opened a cracked cupboard. There was not a lot of food in the cupboard, but she did find the chicken soup he had mentioned. There was a pot on the old stove again and she poured the soup out of the can in it. She turned on the flame and waited. She saw her father out of the corner of her eye still trying to get up. She sighed and decided to help him up.

He walked over to him and lifted him up. At first, he looked at her suspiciously She gave him a semi-genuine smile and all his worries disappeared.

"I'm here Papa. I'm going to take care of you."

She walked him to the couch and turned on the television for him. When she returned to the kitchen to soup was boiling she turned of the flame and got out a wooden bowl. She emptied the soup into the bowl and served it to her father. He was watching baseball and cheering for his team. It was like one of the good days in the past, the days where she realized she really did love him.


A few hours after spending time with her father Mr. Gold honked his horn outside the house and she turned to face her father. He looked teary eyed and for a second she didn't want to leave him. She did anyways and walked out the door giving him a goodbye kiss on the cheek.

When she entered Mr. Gold's care, she immediately got interrogated.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine honey. It was nice to finally spend time with my father when he wasn't angry."

"So he was decent?"

"At first he wasn't, but when I showed my back bone and told him I wouldn't be pushed around anymore, he was."

Mr. Gold hugged her tightly and let her go.

"I was so worried."

"I know darling, but I'm really okay," Annabelle said.

He drove them home with his hand intertwined with hers. When they entered the house it was spotless and shiny.

"Did you actually clean?" Annabelle inquired.

"Yes my love and I made dinner. Well sort of, I got Chinese take out and put it on a plate."

"At least your honest."

She faced him and kiss his rough lips with her soft ones. She instantly relaxed and felt right at home. This is where she belonged now, with her love and not with a man who abused her. Just when they were about to sit down and enjoy dinner, the door bell rang.

"Damn it all!" The both said in unison.

They walked to the door together and opened it, showing Gaston with a dozen of roses. He looked like a love stuck boy and she rolled her eyes.

"Scram boy. We are eating and she obviously doesn't want anything to do with you, so get off my property," Mr. Gold exclaimed.

"That's up to the lady, she lives here as well," Gaston replied to him.

"Well I own this land and I'm going to call Miss. Swan for trespassing if you don't leave," Mr. Gold recovered.

Annabelle looked at both the men arguing over her with confusion. She didn't see what the big deal was, Gaston only wanted to give her flowers. It wasn't like she even cared for him in the least, it was a sweet gesture though.

"I think it would be best if you would leave Gaston," Annabelle said, with a sigh.