Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Emma and Gold, nor do I own anything from the show Once Upon a Time. This is purely for entertainment.

A/N: Since I just finished my story Sunshine and Rain, I wanted to continue writing for Golden Swan by doing a one-shot collection specifically for the pairing. My one-shot collection for Rumbelle was popular, so I decided to go ahead with this one. Partly inspired by BundyShoes' "The Stories That Make Us." If anyone is interested in reading Golden Swan, I highly recommend you check it out.

Enjoy!

A Thing of Beauty

Emma Swan had been in Storybrooke for nearly two weeks before she realized she hadn't ever stepped foot inside Gold's pawnshop. Maybe that was because she had little interest in crossing paths with the creepy, manipulative dealmaker after the debacle with Ashley's baby. Every time she got close to him, she felt like a bug squirming in a spider's sticky web, with no escape.

Henry had given her a personal tour of the town soon after her arrival, but he skipped over the pawnshop, his only explanation being that it belonged to Gold. As far as she knew, the entire town belonged to that man. He and Regina constantly fought over it like two children with a shiny new toy. Gold cast a long, daunting shadow over the town and anyone that walked in his presence walked with their head down. No one ever went in or out of that shop except for the owner, though she suspected some might visit once the sun set if they were desperate to make a deal.

The more she passed the shop, the more curious she became.

It might have been because she hadn't lived in Storybrooke as long as anyone else, but Gold did not instill fear in her. Only mild annoyance and curiosity. What she saw was a man that knew he was rich and powerful, flaunting it every chance he got. A man that was a gentleman when he wanted to be, but still had skeletons in his closet. Skillful, charismatic, dangerous.

And that cane? Definitely used for more than just a bad leg.

Finally Emma gave in. One morning, after making sure that Henry boarded his bus, her feet carried her all the way to Gold's door. At the very least, it would satisfy her curiosity about the place, if not the man that owned it.

The large, off-white sign hanging above her head bore the name of the shop in dark gold letters: Mr. Gold's Antiques. The display window was cluttered with a variety of items including furniture, paintings, a windmill, baubles and trinkets alike. It should have lured people in, but the reputation of Storybrooke's most powerful citizen overshadowed any desire to go beyond the stage of window-shopping.

When Emma pushed open the door, with the Open sign slapping over the glass, a bell jingled above her head. She winced, realizing it was there to announce the presence of customers. No turning back now. It was uncomfortably cool inside. Her boots thumped over the floorboards with every step she took. It was silent enough to hear a pin drop; no background music, no noise of activity on the streets, not even a creak to suggest where the owner was.

How could a man with a cane be so silent on his feet?

It could have been a trick of her imagination, but she swore that curtain moved.

Like the shop's window, the inside of the shop was bursting with antiques. Guitars, violins, and artwork she didn't recognize covered the walls. A canoe and a bike were suspended by cords from the ceiling. In the display cases she noticed a tea set, a vintage Mickey Mouse phone, a set of rings, and an old handheld mirror. A case of knives, a globe yellowed with age, and six painted mugs lined the top of the display case.

There was also a macabre pair of dolls, their wooden faces twisted in horror. If anyone dared to enter the shop, it was likely the sight of those dolls would drive them out.

The object that most drew Emma's attention was a baby mobile hovering over one of the display cases. It was crafted entirely out of glass, with delicate unicorns dangling and rocking back and forth. When the sunlight hit it just right, a pattern of rainbows danced over the display case. It seemed like it belonged in a fantasy world instead of a small-town pawnshop.

For some reason, Emma was hit with a sense of deja vu. She got the feeling...this wasn't the first time she had seen the baby mobile. Had it been part of a picture in Henry's storybook? She recalled the pages she had tossed in Archie's fireplace and regretted not being able to check again.

Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the mobile, a finger outstretched to touch one of the unicorns. It swung lightly on its string, galloping through the air.

"Beautiful," a voice shattered the silence, though it was soft in tone. It hadn't come from Emma's lips. She spun around to see Gold standing at the curtain, cane in hand, watching her with a little smirk.

"Excuse me?" Somehow, she didn't think he meant the mobile. For one thing, he barely gave it a second glance, every ounce of his attention devoted to her. The smirk grew. The way his brown eyes scrolled over her from head-to-toe made her feel exposed. It felt like he had the ability to peer beneath her skin, peer straight into her heart.

"The baby mobile, of course. You were admiring it. It's quite a thing of beauty." Sure. That's what you meant. "What else would I be talking about, Em-ma?"

...

As with my Rumbelle one-shot collection, I'd be happy to take any requests for one-shots you want to see. Mostly, my one-shots will end up being light and humorous, but I am open to all requests. I hope everyone will enjoy reading them as much as I will enjoy writing them.

For those who have read my Sunshine story, I mentioned that I may be inclined to do a sequel. I'm still playing around with several ideas for one and this one-shot collection will just be a way for me to continue writing Golden Swan while I think it over. I promise not to take too long, though I don't want to rush into a sequel without some good idea of what I want to do with it. All I ask is for patience and support. (-;