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Some days Mr. Gold didn't feel like getting up. Unlike Belle, he'd never been a morning person. That woman was always up early would leave him to sleep while she made breakfast. When she finished, she'd come back upstairs and wake him up. Today, he really didn't want to get up. With a groan, he rolled away from Belle and pulled the covers over his head.

"Go away."

She moved to the other side of the bed."You have to get up, Rum. It's the third Sunday remember."

"I'll collect tomorrow."

Now, she knew something was wrong. Nothing ever stopped him from collecting rent. After peeling back the covers, Belle found that he looked horrible."You're sick."

"What? I never get sick."He was proven wrong when he let out two large sneezes."Damn."

"Well, you are today,"she said with a laugh before pressing her hand to his forehead. As she suspected, he was burning up."Go back to sleep. I'll bring you some tissues and stuff in a minute."

Gold nodded tiredly as she smoothed his hair back before pulling the covers back around him. Belle smiled when he closed his eyes. It was strange seeing him so helpless but cute none the less. Once she knew he was asleep, she silently left the room and headed downstairs. Draco lifted his head when she came into the kitchen without Gold. Belle gave him a quick scratch between the ears.

"He's sick, boy. Go keep upstairs and him company while I get him some soup but don't wake him."

The former dragon barked softly before heading upstairs.

After forcing her husband to eat and take the cough medicine(with help from Draco who held hm down while she shoved the spoon in his mouth), Belle left him to sleep once again. She was curled up on the couch reading when she heard a knock and rushed to answer it before it woke the sleeping man upstairs. She was surprised to find that it was Emma looking slightly worried but let her in.

"Hey. Emma. Something wrong?"

"Yeah. Some of the people in town are getting worried. They say that Mr. Gold didn't come around to collect money from them this morning,"the sheriff said."The main rumor is that you finally killed him."

"Their concern is touching, but he's fine. He's upstairs sick."

This shocked the blond woman."Gold is sick?"

"He was just as shocked when I made him stay in bed this morning."Then she remembered something."Damn. He used up all the tissue this morning. Emma, can you do me a huge favor and stay here while I get them? I'll be really quick"

"Annie, he's not a kid. He can handle being left alone."

"But he acts like one. Trust me. If that stubborn idiot thinks he's alone when he wakes up, he'll try and get out of bed again, and I'm not picking his dumb ass up when he falls. Hopefully, the medicine will keep him out for a few more hours."

Surprisingly, Emma shrugs off her coat with a laugh."Alright, but how much did you give him?"

"Enough to keep hm out of my hair for a while I hope,"Belle replied with a not-so-innocent smile.

Emma couldn't help but laugh again at this. And the people of Storybrook thought that Mr. Gold was the conniving one. He had nothing on Mrs. Gold.

Ten minutes later, Emma was in the same position Belle had been on the couch. She had to admit, Belle had a pretty good library in the house. She was reading a worn copy of Jean Eyre when she heard a thump from upstairs. So, Belle was right about Gold being a stubborn idiot. She headed upstairs and is nearly ran over be a fleeing Draco. Gold looked out the door at her with a tired smile. He really was sick.

"Ah, Sheriff Swan. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"Your wife. She said you'd try something stupid if you were by yourself while she went to the store. I can see that she was right"

He mumbled something that sounded like 'she's gotten smarter' before falling back on the bed."It wasn't anything too foolish, I assure you. The dog and I simply had a disagreement."

Emma knew that Gold was at least slightly crazy, but this was a whole new level."You argued...with a dog?"

"He's not as stupid as you think. He had sense enough to hold me down while Belle force fed me that horrible liquid she calls medicine. The little traitor."

"So much for man's best friend."

"Quite."He was silent for a moment before speaking."I am curious as to why she chose you to be my jailer."

"Other than the fact that I've done it before? I came over about ten minutes ago. The town was worried when you didn't come by to collect rent."

"You can tell everyone that I was held hostage by my wife and her hellhound."

Emma chuckled at his blunt sense of humor."I doubt they'll believe me."

"True. She has them all fooled."

"The feared Mr. Gold can be restrained by his wife. Wow."Gold looked over and saw Emma shake her head.

"What's so amusing about that, Miss Swan?"

"It's just that I never pegged you for the kind of guy that settled down and take orders from anyone."

He turned his head straight and stared up at the ceiling."A lot of people were shocked when I took Belle as my wife, but I don't think anyone was as shocked as I was when she said yes."

"You didn't expect her to expect her to accept your proposal?"

"Not one bit."

"Why?"

"Look at me, Miss Swan. Half of the town hates me and the other half fears me. By marrying me, she's not able to even walk down the street without people whispering behind her back. Her own father won't even speak to her now. She lost all chance of living a quiet life in this town when she said 'I do'."He paused to cough."Then there's me."

"What about you? She loves you."

"I know, but I truly have no idea why. I'm not the bravest, strongest, or the nicest person, but for some insane reason she stays with me. That's why for her, I'd try and be all of those things. Even if it killed me."

"You say that as if something bad is going to happen."

Gold smiled knowingly. Despite all of Henry attempts, Emma still didn't believe in the curse. She'd probably listen if it came from an adult. He could convince her right now. No. Best let her figure it out by herself. She'd learn one day. He heard the door slam followed by Draco's barking, and Emma was awoken from her trance-like state.

"I'd better go help Annie with the bags and get going."

"Of course."He coughed again."It's been a pleasure, Miss Swan. And if you don't mind, don't tell Belle I'm awake. She'll try and put me out again."

Emma laughed."Sure thing."

TBC