A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry for the super long delay.I thought I would have had time to write during the holidays but boy was I you all had a great holiday, and happy new year to you all. This was a difficult chapter to write, and after "Heroes and Villains" we'll it just became harder. I just wanted to give you guys a happy chapter... but couldn't...

Chapter 9: Severed ties

Today would be the day. They were close to finding Baelfire, they just knew it. Despite the early morning, they made their way to the building with a spring in their steps. Only to find the door locked. After several attempts at knocking, the door swung open, to have a 7ft giant clad in a dark suit emerge.

"Excuse me ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This is private property."

"It's alright, we have permission to be here."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but Mr. Coal told me not to let anyone onto the premises."

"There must be some misunderstanding. Why don't you call your boss, and we can get this sorted."

"No need. Albert you're free to go. I'll deal with them myself. "

The massive man moved to reveal the smaller man standing in the doorway. The towering giant gives his boss a nod, before re-entering the building and closing the door behind them.

Ricky stands between them and the door, his feet firming planted on the ground.

"So you going to let us in?" She asks.

"I'm sorry Ms. Swan, did you not hear Albert. No one is allowed in. So why don't you all run along before I call the police."

It is then they notice the change in Ricky. Gone is the playful smirk, the warm-inviting gaze they come to know over the last few days. It replaced by cold indifference, clad in a dark three piece suit, he is nothing but sharp edges.

"Nico, what's going on? We had a deal." Gold said.

"You're right old man, we did have a deal. I help you find your son and you release me from my life's debt. I've ruled out at least half of the population of New York, I think that's help enough."

"Nico..." Gold starts to say, but is quickly cut off.

"Don't Nico me. The name is Roderick Coal, best you remember that."

" We had a deal. No one breaks a deal with me." The older man growls.

" I just did. Now get off my property." He says as he turns to re-enter the building.

" Why Nicolas?"

The younger man halts at his question, with his back towards them replies, " I could ask you the same question."

" Why the change?" Gold says somberly.

"I realized you're not the hero I thought you were."

"I've told you before I'm no hero, I'm a villain dearie."

" Yes. But you were my hero."

"Nico. You help me find Bae, and you'll never have to see me again." He pleads.

With that, the younger man turns around, his eyes burned with anger." It's always been about your precious Bae. I'm nothing more than a means to an end, a stepping stone on your path to him. Why should I help you, when you didn't help her."

" Her?"

" Her. She told me you would come. But you never did. I watched her wither away under his captivity. She tried to hide the scars but I saw them. She would always say,'Your papa will come.' saying it like a prayer."

"It can't be..."

" It's your fault she's dead. If she never gave birth your child... the son of the dark one...He would have never hurt her.. You could of saved her."

" I didn't know, son."

" You didn't know? The great and powerful dark one didn't know. Couldn't hear the desperate cries of the mother of his child?"

" Nico.."

" Stop calling me that, only she calls me that. I use to wonder what it would be like your son. Now I know, it brings nothing but pain. Baelfire can have you. Go reunite with your precious son, and get out of my life."

He pulls out an envelope from inside his suit jacket, and throws it to the ground, before hastily leaving the three of them.

The harsh slam of the door, frees them from the shocked state. Gold bangs on the door, crying out Nico's name and spurting out apologies as tears mark his face, dropping his cane in the process. After several minutes, the once mighty pawnbroker crumbles to his knees, his hands bruised from his efforts to get his son's attention, his head resting on the door.

" Gold, we should go." She says as she places a hand on his shoulder.

Surprised by the intrusion, he whips his head around," I can't go. I can't lose him too."

"He needs space right now, you'll lose him if you don't give him that."

She helps him up to his feet, handing him his forgotten cane.

Henry picks up to envelope and offers it to the distraught pawnbroker.

He opens the envelope to reveal an address. Seems as those Nico has fulfilled his end of the deal.

AN: Well now that secret is out of the bag. Yes I had to break up the team. How do you guys feel about this revelation?

This is actually the main reason why I started to write this fic. I always wondered how Rumple would react if he found out he had another son. And how that son would deal with being the son of the dark one? And the family dynamics between Rumple, Nico and Baelfire will be something interesting to explore.

Next chapter:

Father and son meet at last