Just Books.
Today is a simple Sunday, in Storybrooke most residents of Storybrooke are at home with their loved ones. All but Baelfire and Gideon who are at the Library. In the Library there a dozen boxes both on tables and the floor.
"How many boxes are there in pair box?" Baelfire asks.
"From the size of the box fifteen maybe. Twenty books tops." Gideon answers.
"I can't believe how many books Ma ordered," Baelfire said.
"Ma would have ordered more. If we had the money and besides these books are not personal they are for the people of Storybrooke," Gideon replies.
"You and Ma already have more books than the Library of Congress." Baelfire joked. Gideon let out a small laugh as he picked up a few new books out one of the boxes.
"First, we don't have more books than the Library of Congress. But I do like a challenge. And second, there is no such thing as too many books." Gideon spoke.
"There is such a thing as too many books. I'm surprised we haven't moved into a bigger house because of all yours and Ma's books." Baelfire replied.
"A lot of movies and television shows are based off books. And you're telling me, you don't have one favourite childhood story." Gideon responds.
"Yes, but it wasn't from a book. The childhood story I had came from Pa's imagination. Before he was the Dark One, we were still very poor and books and education in the Enchanted Forest was a privilege." Baelfire tells Gideon.
"I forgot, so this childhood story that Pa, told you. What was it about?" Gideon asks.
"It was a story about a time were the Ogres never attacked and children who were thirteen were never taken to fight. And families would have never been broken apart." Baelfire answers.
"Sounds like paradise for you back then," Gideon said.
"It was I was dreading each birthday because I knew no matter how amazing Pa tried to make it. I always knew I was one year closer to being forced to leave my home and fight the Ogres never knowing if I would make it back or not." Baelfire replies.
"It sounds horrible. I'm sorry you had to live that life." Gideon told Baelfire.
"You don't need to apologise you had no part in this. And who knows if that didn't provoke Pa into his journey to try and become the Dark One. Then I might have never met Emma and had Henry," Baelfire spoke.
"I guess that makes sense," Gideon says.
"I remember resenting Pa for years after he didn't follow me into this world. The resentment and pain ate me away almost consumed me whole. But then one day I met Emma when she broke into the yellow bug planning to steal it." Baelfire started.
"But you already stole it." Gideon interrupted.
"How many times has Pa and Henry told you how I and Emma met?" Baelfire questions.
"Enough to recite every word." Gideon answers.
"One of the best moments in my life," Baelfire said.
"I remember when I was little Pa said although letting you go through that portal alone was one of his greatest mistakes. Apart of him was glad that a miracle came from it Henry," Gideon tells Baelfire this comment makes Baelfire smile. He knew his Pa loved Henry loves all of his family but to hear that his Pa refer to his grandson Henry as a miracle was something else. Miracles are something the Gold family rarely ever come across or at least they were for a long time.
"Pa's greatest strength and love was his family he only sought power to protect the ones he loved. But sadly the power became his crutch." Baelfire responds.
"To be honest although Her Handsome Hero is my all time favourite book each one I have read holds a special place in my heart," Gideon says.
"I'm not surprised you and Ma are the definition of bookworms," Baelfire replied.
"Yes, but my love of books only grew more in the early years of school. I don't know how often you looked down on Storybrooke. But for the first few years, I had no friends. Books were like friends ones that wouldn't leave me." Gideon began not particularly wanting to look back on those days. But he knew the two still had years and years to catch up on.
"Wait, but you, Rick and Robin have been friends for years." Baelfire pointed out.
"We have been friends from years but that wasn't until we were nine. The sad truth was that although Pa redeemed himself most people in Storybrooke only saw his past couldn't accept that he truly changed and as his child, I was guilty by association. They all saw me as evil as he was." Gideon confessed.
"Sometimes people find it hard to move on from the past," Baelfire spoke.
"Having the other children and families hate me because of our Pa hurt me. It never hurt me as much as Grandpa Moe walking out of mine and Ma's life because of his stupid pride and hate for Pa," Gideon replied.
"I've said it once and I'll say it again it's his lost one day he will wake up and realise how foolish he has been," Baelfire said.
End of chapter 1.