Handle With Care

Not much slipped passed Emma Swan. Her eye caught the faint, pale stripe on Mr. Gold's left ring finger instantly the day he appeared at her door holding a thick, white binder and encouraging her to run for sheriff. She had only glanced down at the book, but her eyes were drawn to his hand. Not in the two months since she had arrived had she heard anything about Mr. Gold being married, present or past.

"Were you married?" Emma blurted before she could think to be polite and not ask.

Mr. Gold's eyes narrowed, pausing at the turn of a page in that monstrous binder. "Excuse me, Ms. Swan?"

Emma motioned at his hand, fidgeting. "Your left ring finger. It looked like you wear a ring or wore a ring on it, which would indict that you were married."

Mr. Gold sat back in the chair, his usual business demeanor suddenly threatening to reform. Emma watched him, steely blue eyes waiting. "I was married" Mr. Gold started with a dull, pained voice. "My wife disappeared while I was away on business. I was delayed longer than I thought, and when I returned she was gone."

"Did she leave you?"

"No." His eyes flashed. "I fear someone abducted her. She was 7-months pregnant with our first child."

Emma's curiosity switched to rescue mode at those words. She could tell Mr. Gold was trying to keep his composure, he had to for the sake of who he was to everyone, but the trembling in his left hand gave him away. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Gold. Was there an investigation? Did Graham call in for assistance to help search for her?"

"There was a search, but she and our unborn child were never found" Mr. Gold answered, his clipped tone indicating the discussion was over, but Emma didn't take the hint.

"What was your wife's name?"

Mr. Gold's gaze bore into hers, and she finally knew she had pushed too far, opening such a deep wound. "Her name was Belle."

Emma remembered details. Knowing the small, simple things could be a big help somewhere along the way and she was glad she had asked Gold for his missing wife's name.

The call from the hospital came around 7 p.m. one night a couple weeks after she was elected the new sheriff. Strange things happened in Storybrooke, and this was one to add to the growing list. A woman had been found locked away in the basement of the hospital.

A pregnant woman.

By the time Emma reached the hospital, the woman was in labor. Sister Astrid was there comforting the poor girl. She turned worried and frightful eyes on Emma. "A nurse heard her screaming. I saw her bring brought up from the basement. The poor dear, I couldn't leave here, she was so scared."

Emma nodded, stepping into the room. The woman was pale, her chestnut hair a rat's nest, and her cheeks puffy and streaked with tears. "Ma'am, I'm Sheriff Swan."

"Where's my husband?" the woman cried, her knuckled white as paper as she clung to the bedrails. "I need my husband!"

"I'll do what I can" Emma reassured. "What's your name?"

Her pleading gaze broke Emma's heart. "Belle."

"Belle?" Emma repeated, shock overcoming her for a moment.

"Yes!" Another contraction hit her, and Sister Astrid was at the woman's side soothing her.

Emma hurried out the delivery room, dodging an incoming nurse on the way. She fumbled for her cell phone, finding the contact list with a shaky finger. "Hi, Mr. Gold? You need to get down here to the hospital. Now."