Prologue

A/N: This was my first OUAT fan fiction, and I deleted it awhile back, but I decided to republish it with a new plot in the mind. The first few chapters will be relatively the same but it will be different as it goes along. If you're a new reader to this story then it will be all brand new to you anyway.

He stared at the brass doorknocker, fidgeting slightly. The suit he was wearing clung to him like a second skin. He wiped beads of sweat from his brow as he clasped the brass handle, allowing it to slip through his fingers swiftly. The noise it made wasn't subtle but not overly obnoxious either. He could hear footfalls coming closer and then the door was being opened for him.

"We weren't expecting you for at least another week Mr-" the maid clucked with the rest of his name still caught in her throat like an incomplete thought.

"Gold…" he nodded politely yet slightly annoyed by her reaction as she studied him like an offensive smudge of wallpaper.

"Yes well come inside then." she complied opening the door for him. He carried a lone suitcase in his left hand while balancing his cane with his right. He walked into a dimly lit study. The maid paused staring at the occupant sitting in the chair, feet propped up, watching a muted baseball game.

"Mr. French I'm sorry to interrupt you, but Mr. Gold has arrived." she clipped staring at him offhandedly. He hoped the rest of Mr. French's household didn't treat him like an eyesore. He knew he wasn't pleasant to look at but must people remind him of his defect daily?

"Mr. Gold I thought you weren't arriving until the seventeenth?" Mr. French interjected as he spun his chair around to study him. He expected him to gasp in horror at his scarred face, but he seemed unmoved.

"I thought I'd come a week early and settle in. My apartment lease ran out two days ago, so I thought it would be foolish to waste money on a hotel." Mr. Gold shrugged leaving out the part where he'd be sleeping in a cardboard box if he had waited another week.

"Well since you're here I guess there's no point to keep you waiting." Mr. French shrugged clamoring out of the chair. He studied Mr. French carefully surmising he wasn't a picture of health from his smoker's cough and loud wheezing. He led him down another dimly lit hallway with intricately decorated doors on each side. The mansion looked ghastly from the outside but was a thing of beauty inside.

"Your room and board are included in the job. You'll work five days a week from 11:00 am-4:00 pm. The rest of the time you may do as you see fit. You'll get three square meals a day, and I'll expect you in the dining hall on time. Breakfast is at seven, lunch is at twelve, and dinner is at five. You may skip meals if you like but don't expect any leftovers or midnight snacks. You'll have to pay for those out of your own pocket with your monthly salary." Mr. French informed as they continued down the hall.

"I understand everything Mr. French…I read the contract thoroughly." he supplied mildly annoyed by his mannerisms.

"Call me Maurice." he snapped but before Mr. Gold could retort, they'd stopped moving.

He stopped near a doorway, clearly out of breath, rapping lightly on the door. Mr. Gold heard light footsteps, then the door creaked open revealing a young woman around thirty. She sported a pixie cut, smiling at Maurice with her catlike gaze.

"Ms. Nolan has Isabelle finished her lesson yet?" He idled waiting for her response.

"Yes we just finished five minutes ago…I was just about to leave." the black haired woman smiled warmly, opening the door for them.

"Mr. Gold wait outside a moment." he commanded sliding beside her into the room. The green eyed woman smiled warmly at Mr. Gold, holding out her hand.

"I'm Mary Margret, Isabelle's linguistics teacher." the woman responded kindly firmly shaking his suitcase free hand.

"I'm Richard Gold, and I'm to be Ms. French's History teacher." he greeted her politely until a small smirk crept across her face.

"Isabelle is one of a kind Mr. Gold, and she's definitely not shy about anything, but I'm sure you'll figure that out sooner or later." she grinned making her way down the hall. He stiffened at Mary Margret's comment. He was sure Isabelle would be anything but open with him.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Mr. French opened the door. He made a flourishing motion with his hand obliging him to enter. Richard followed him inside the room which turned out to be an expansive library.

"Isabelle this is Mr. Gold, he will be your new history teacher." Maurice stated moving out of the way of a large red velvet armchair. Mr. Gold felt his breath hitch in his throat and couldn't help but gape at the woman in front of him. She was thin but not in an unattractive way. She had her feet curled up beside her comfortably. Chestnut curls framed her face beautifully. She looked up at him. He found something peculiar about her eyes and that's when he realized she was blind.

"Mr. Gold can you please come a bit closer?" Isabelle inquired, and he was sure he would've kissed the carpet if that's what she'd commanded him in her beautiful rich accent.

"Yes of course." he inhaled sharply standing in front of her.

"A bit closer." she told him until he was just inches from her face. He wasn't prepared for what happened next. She cupped his face in her hands allowing her fingers to roam freely over his features. He shuddered with delight at the feel of her nimble fingers exploring his face, running them through his dirty brown hair.

"What's your first name Mr. Gold?" she spoke carefully setting his nerves on fire from her soft touch.

"Richard." he managed to sputter, and he felt her smile.

"Richard…" she rolled her tongue tasting his name like a new wine, "Is it a family name?" she continued.

"Nothing like that." he whispered feeling himself come undone as she dusted a finger along his cheek until she found that wretched scar. He knew she must be repulsed by her discovery. He was thankful she couldn't see him, or she would demand he leave.

"What a deep scar…What happened?" the sound of her voice so soft and fragile, he thought she might break.

"It's a burn wound…" he lied quickly unwilling to delve into his past.

"I see…" she said allowing her fingers to fall past his face. He could still feel her warmth lingering upon his features.

"Isabelle, Mr. Gold is going to be staying here with us…He'll be continuing your studies with you after Ms. Blanchard leaves." Maurice cut in, relieving the heavy tension in the air.

"What sort of subjects will we be studying Richard?" she inquired curiously with big blue eyes boring into him as if she were searching his soul.

"History, Literature, and science if you wish." he replied afraid to breathe in such close proximity of her.

"I would like that…I look forward to our lessons, and I hope you'll enjoy your stay here." she returned politely, curling her feet back under herself. She picked up a worn paperback, sliding her fingers over the raised print.

"The pleasure is all mine Ms. French." Mr. Gold smiled even though she couldn't see it. He couldn't help but smile at this curious girl in front of him, he was sure would be his undoing.

A/AN: Yeah I know it's short but in the next chapter I'll reveal Maurice's intentions behind bringing Mr. Gold to his estate. I'll also delve more into Mr. Gold's past. This story AU which means no curse or savior. More characters will show up in the story as it continues. Please review!