Synopsis: Retired soldier
and single father Gold works at a coffee shop library. Plagued by nightmares of
the war he’s quiet, only interacting with customers when necessary. His
favorite customer is Belle, who comes in a couple of times a week. Her smile is
as bright as the sun. One day she comes in upset and for a moment he is brave
enough to ask her what is wrong.Note: I’m a bit confused about the posting day for this exchange. I read initially it was September 1st, then there was an updated post that said August 31st, and now I just don’t know. So if I’m early then I apologize but I guess that’s better than being late.
There were no prompts given for this gift exchange. However, I asked @britishkitten27 what they would like
and they said “Rumple is my favorite character on the show, and Mr. Gold,
spinner!Rumple and soldier!Rumple are my favorite iterations of the character.
I like a bit of hurt/comfort, personally, especially if we’re talking Rumbelle.
Anything with Rumple being as woobie as possible and I do love Ruby, Archie and
Doctor Whale.”I took it from there
and came up with this fic. For anyone that follows me, this is the blanket fort fic I’ve mentioned a few times 🙂 I love this fic a crazy stupid amount, so I hope you guys enjoy it!Warning: Deals with loss of a parent.
“All hopes of eternity and all gain from the past
he would have given to have her there, to be wrapped warm with him in one
blanket, and sleep, only sleep. It seemed the sleep with the woman in his arms
was the only necessity.”
– Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. LawrenceJamie Gold
scurried around, in between the tables of the coffee shop at the library where
he worked. Originally it had just been a library, that had survived on
donations and grants from the city. However, all libraries had to double as social
centers these days or they couldn’t survive, hence the addition of the coffee
shop.This library
was small, family owned and had become quite the focal point of the community.
It’s family-first policy was the only reason he got the job. David Nolan, the
manager, had looked past his cane and given him a chance. Gold had sworn at the
time to not cause him to regret it. He’d now been working there two years, the
longest he had kept a job since his discharge from the army.That was beautiful! I loved Neal asking why he can’t have a sleepover with Emma! The quote was beautiful and I loved the ending!
Thanks! Yeah, well Neal is six, so child logic. Maybe in a few months/year or so if Belle and Gold move in together, then Neal can have a sleepover at his house, there would be no argument against it then. I actually found the quotes by doing the exact same thing Gold did. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Beautiful and heart warming. How sweet and how brave to read that quote in public! The Block gave me the eebie jeebies, hope they escape soon.
I think if Gold had thought about it, then he wouldn’t have done it in public but it was a “I have to do it now because otherwise I never will” type leap of faith. Besides, up until the kiss, nobody was really paying them any attention. They were just talking to one another, he was reading – it’s a library.
Yeah The Block isn’t great but it’s the only place Gold can afford on his salary. If things between Belle and Gold work out, then they can move into somewhere else, because there would be two salaries for rent/bills etc. Like how Belle shares with Ruby at the moment and they have a nicer place. So an escape is certainly possible. Thanks for commenting! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I’ve wanted a Jamie Gold for forever; I hope that Belle can make him like his name again. The bit about him biting his own hand to silence his screams was awful, and really conveyed the horribleness of the place he was in mentally. And Neal accusingly demanding why couldn’t he have a sleepover with Emma was adorable. Hopefully in a year’s time they’ll all be in a better place both physically and emotionally.
Yeah I really want to write a follow-up to this, maybe showing what happens in a years time. It would probably be pure fluff unless I made it a longer piece in which case reality would intrude around the happy moment. I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting 🙂