The Author

Blind date

...Three years ago...

It had only been a full year of the Pawn Shop being opened that Henry already found himself with his hands full. The shop no longer had the feeling of foreboding like it once had with Mr. Gold. With Henry running the shop and taking the helm the Pawn Shop's new line of work involved the business of fairly exchanging goods and products for magical services at reasonable prices. Realizing and loving his new career path Henry felt the need to be taken more seriously and decided to make it professional. By taking a page from his grandfather's book, Henry decided to dress up like his grandfather and went to work every day doing just that. Within a reasonable amount of time he was able to see to each appointment from the sign-up sheet and for the most part Storybrooke resumed its near tranquility.

Most people were curious about entering the shop while others just needed help deciding what it was that would make them happy thinking that Henry's magic was the cure. Each case was different and the circumstances involved as to how each item found itself inside the shop had an even more interesting tale of its own. One by one Henry would listen to the tales of his grandfather's dark deeds. Each story he heard was more interesting than the next on how his grandfather had acquired the item of question. Depending on the circumstance, it was Henry's job to decide whether or not to return the item or items of question back to the original owner.

However generous as Henry was, there were also times where even his generosity had its limits. As kind and understanding as he was, he knew as guardian that he had to remain vigilant to his grandfather's more dangerous and mysterious items. Due to those unusual circumstances and out of safety for himself and others not every item left the shop. There were even items from people who felt superstitious, thinking that by taking back their items it would somehow magically undo whatever deal Rumplestiltskin had originally made between them.

Henry did notice and appreciate Belle's contribution in organizing and categorizing every object in his grandfather's shop, but he knew that even with all the labels and information there it was just the curse's attempt at legitimizing Rumplestiltskin's possessions from their world. Seeing that everything was not as it appeared to be, Henry occasionally recruited Regina's help to identify those unknown items.

Rumplestiltskin knew the story of every object in the shop. However, Rumplestiltskin was also a secretive and methodical man which, unfortunately for Henry meant that nothing in the shop was authentically labeled. Due to the curse's magic, everything labeled in the shop was all an illusion. For example, Henry came across a tea set. On the index card of the tea set it said simply, 'China Tea Set: $45'. When Henry asked Regina if she knew of its significance she simply smirked and said that it was his grandfather's prized set and that it held significant memories between Mr. Gold and Belle.

After all that effort of returning the chipped cup to him those many years ago, it was surprising for Regina to see the tea set still there. As significant as she knew the items were to him, she found it curious that Mr. Gold never brought the dishware with him when he moved. As she thought about it some more, she realized that leaving the set behind was Gold's serious attempt at starting a new life with his family and that perhaps his motives for leaving everything behind was so that he'd no longer be reminded of the hideous and cruel person he once was. It was understandable and Regina understood why. Gold was ridding himself of the person he didn't want to be for his daughter. When he moved, he legitimately wanted to forget this life of magic and to start over with his family. So in her mind, Regina dropped the matter and never thought upon the curious subject again.

Eventually Henry did find gaps of time to read his grandfather's magical books to take notes. If he wasn't categorizing the items entering and leaving the shop or dealing with a client, he was studying. Suddenly the door opened and a woman with brilliant red hair walked excitedly up to the counter.