Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 70 - The Chipped Cup

An ambulance and the sherif's car were parked outside the cabin in the woods. Emma walked towards Mr. Gold who stood by the Sherif's car.
"So, I heard you managed not to break anything he needs." said Emma as they pushed Moe in a trolly bed into the ambulance.
"You're lucky, Mr. Gold."
"You got a funny definition of lucky."
Emma folded his arms. "You have a funny definition of justice. What did he really do?"
"He stole."
"That reaction was about more than taking a few trinkets. You said something about how he hurt her, what happened to her? Who was that? What did he do? If someone needs help, maybe I can help."
"No. I'm sorry, Sherif, I think you heard that wrong."
"You really don't want to cooperate."
"Look, we're done here."
Emma grabbed his arm. "Actually, we're not....... You're under arrest." she held up some handcuffs and she locked them on him.
Mr. Gold stared at her, rage in his eyes.

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Belle sat alone, in deep thoughts in her dark cell.
Suddenly the door opened and Rumplestiltskin walked in. She jerked up.
"So, what are you going to do to me?" asked Belle.
He pointed to the door. "Go." he turned away from her.
"Go?"
"I don't want you anymore, dearie."
Belle stared at Rumplestiltskin's turned back and got to her feet. She then walked briskly to the door but stopped in her tracks and thought. She turned and looked at him. Then walked back into the cell to face him. "You know, you were freeing youself. You could've had happiness if you just believed that someone coups want you. But you couldn't take the chance." she said sternly.
"That's a lie."
She stepped closer to him. "You are a coward, Rumplestiltskin. And no matter how thick you make your skin, that doesn't change."
"I'm not a coward, dearie. It's quit simple, really. My power means more to me than you."
She glared at him and shook her head. "No.......... No, it doesn't. You just don't think I can love you......... Now you've made your choice.......... And you're going to regret it........Forever." he voice broke and her eyes filled with tears. "And all you'll have........is an empty heart........and a chipped cup." she quickly turned on her heal and walked from the cell, leaving Rumplestiltskin staring at the blank, dirty wall. He then slowly shut his eyes in regret.

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Emma sat in the Sherif's office, eating her lunch. Mr. Gold sat in a cell at the other side of the room.
"Pastrami. You want half." said Emma indicating to the sandwich she was eating. "You know, I still owe you that favour. Nice, fatty pastrami,delicious way to clear the books."
"Oh, I don't need a reminder that you owe me a favour." said Mr. Gold. "And when the day comes that I make my request, it'll be for more than half a sandwich."
Emma smiled and Regina walked into the office with Henry.
"Sherif Swan?" said Regina.
Emma got to her feet.
"I'm letting you have thirty minutes with Henry."
Henry smiled happily at Emma as she walked towards them.
"Take him out, buy him ice cream." said Regina and she glanced at Mr. Gold.
"You want me to leave you alone with a prisoner?" Emma asked.
"Twenty nine and a half minutes." she said sternly, glaring at Mr. Gold.
"Hi, Emma." Henry smiled up at her.
Emma smiled down at him. "Hey." her eyes darted between Mr. Gold and Regina suspiciously.
"Bring me back a cone." said Mr. Gold.
"Just this one." said Emma and she grabbed her coat from the hanger. "Come on, let's go." she said to Henry, excitedly and they ran out of the station.
Regina and Mr. Gold stared at once another.
"Well, you really wanted that little chat, didn't you?" said Mr. Gold.
Regina smiled. "Apparently, this is the only way I could do it." she stepped closer to his cell.
"Please, sit." he pointed to the armchair on the other side of the cell.
Regina's face went stern again and see sat down on the arm of the chair, facing Mr. Gold.
"Now, when two people both want something the other has, a deal cab always be struck.......... Do you have what I want?"
Regina smiled. "Yes."
Mr. Gold thought for a moment, shocked. "So, you did put him up to it, then."
"I merely suggested that strong men take what they need."
"Oh, yeah, and you told him just exactly what to take, didn't you?" "We used to know each other si well, Mr. Gold. Has it really come down to this?"
"It seems it has, yeah. But you know what I want. What is it you want?"
"I want you to answer one question. And answer it simply........ What's your name?"
He smiled a little. "It's Mr. Gold."
Regina bent her head stared at him sternly. "You're really name." "Every moment I've on this earth, that's been my name."
"But what about moments spent elsewhere?"
Mr. Gold thought for a moment. "What are you asking me?" he said shaking his head.
"I think you know. If you want me to return what's yours, tell me you're name."
Mr. Gold's face then broke into a broad smile. "Rumplestiltskin."
Regina's face dropped in anger.
Mr. Gold stood up and leaned against the bars of his cell. "Now give me what I want."
"Such hostility......."
"Oh, yeah." he glared at her and she took from her handbag a chipped cup.
She held it up. "Over this?" he held the cup in front of the bars and moved it around so that he couldn't get it. "Such a sentimental little keepsake."
He got the cup and grabbed it from her hands. "Thank you........ Your Majesty."
He sat back down on the hard bed in his cell, staring down at the chipped cup. "So, now that we're being honest with each other, let's remember how things used to be, shall we? And don't let these bars fool you, dear. I'm the one with the power around here. I'm gonna be out if here in no time. And nothing between us will change." he leaned closer to the bars.
Regina stood up and leaned closer too. "We shall see." she then turned and walked from the Sherif's station.
Mr. Gold looked down at the chipped cup in his hands another held it tight, close to him.