The Best Tea Cup is Chipped: Book 2

Awakened

Rumplestiltskin or Mr. Gold as he was known to the citizens of Storybrooke strolled across the road to the flower van labeled Game of Thorns. It's owner one Moe French former King Maurice blanched. Rumple couldn't deny since the arrival of the savior and his awakening he did manage to find some small pleasures in aspects of the curse. The demotion of Maurice from King to broke flower seller and tenant of Mr. Gold was one of them.

"I'll have your money next week!" Rumple sneered

"The terms of the loan were fairly specific..." he turned to Mr. Dove, his general man of all jobs and former Mr. Altair of the village below the Dark Castle. "Take the van." Dove nodded and got inside though not before Rumple snagged a roses. Moe began groveling in a delightful manner as Rumple leaned on his cane, unfortunately his bum leg had come back.

"Wait! No! Tomorrow's Valentine's Day! It's the biggest day of—I've got a grand in roses in the back! Stop! You've gotta let me sell them!"

"I'm gonna leave you two to continue this conversation." he said before turning and beginning to walk away. He reached the other side of the side walk to find Pip and Grace watching the affair.

Of course here Pip was in face known as Fae Belle which Rumple suspected was a jab of Regina's given Pip's hatred of fairies the obvious pun aside as well as a rather painful nod towards Belle who incidentally Rumple had not seen anywhere in town. Fae was a mild-mannered music teacher and single mother. To his regret the curse had had him treating her rather terribly something he'd rectified as soon as he'd awoken and now the teacher and landlord had struck up something of an amicable acquaintance.

As for Grace, she went by Paige in this world however it appeared that while the curse may have significantly altered the personalities of the adults of the Enchanted forest, and bar Grace families had been mixed around and split up, the children themselves had not changed much in terms of personality.

Rumple theorized that as he had been forced to put part of himself into a curse, perhaps his soft spot for children had transferred over. Whatever the reason Grace remained as inquisitive, clever, and fearless as she'd been in the Enchanted Forest, and had even struck up a friendship with Henry Mills the son of the savior Emma Swan and adopted son of Regina.

"Hello Mr. Gold!" said Paige cheerfully. Not at all afraid of the town monster.

"Good day to you, and you as well Fae," he said giving them both a rare smile.

"Someone's not happy," said Pip for at least internally Rumple couldn't bring himself to think of her as anything else.

"Well, we all have bad days," he replied dryly. By now Dove had driven off with the van and Moe came storming up to him.

"You son of a!"

"Mind your language French there is a child present," said Rumple sharply even as Pip clapped her hands over Grace's ears.

"You let your child around this monster?" scowled French at Pip who raised an eyebrow in a way that reminded Rumple heavily of his old friend.

"Why not? After all I don't tick off my landlord by not paying my rent after wasting money gambling at the Rabbit Hole." Rumple snickered internally oh the curse was definitely starting to break. That line was all Pip sneaking through.

"You won't get away with this Gold!" said Moe, shaking his fist before storming away. Rumple rolled his eyes and glanced over to find Pip doing the same.

"So, Paige what did we learn?" asked Pip.

"Don't cross Mr. Gold?" said the child with a little smile that was entirely TOO innocent. Gold barked a laugh.