Once Upon a Time...

Elias Gold was not…normal. He knew that. He had four therapists in his life who told him so in ways that ranged from comforting to blunt

Now what actually was wrong with him, they didn't know. For the amount he paid, they all had a theory

For some, they believed it to be his injury that crippled his leg and rendered him unable to walk on it for more than a few steps without his cane. It made him physically weak. It had him a target to all those around him. He made everyone underestimate him and that clashed with the belief that Elias had that stated he was entitled to be just like them. Better even.

For some, it was the father that tried several times to abandon him. At first it was to governesses and to tutors and to boarding schools but when the time came for him to be old enough, his father abandoned him to the world and then ran off to some land he owned in Maine. Elias worked two jobs to get himself through university, he refused to let his father pay for anything (Not that he would). He was a lawyer now; a high class one. He wore expensive suits and dined with people he did not like. He complimented their spoiled babies and smirked at their lewd unfunny jokes because it meant more money. He watched the corruption of these people around him and allowed it because that's how he made his livelihood.

His third one said his craving for security and power was because even though he had a rich father, he never had any sort of security.

His fourth one just thought he was a sociopath. He personally liked this one. She was blunt and to the point and she said what the other three refused to say.

But at the end of the day, he craved power. Why did he crave it? Well, everyone had a theory. Maybe it was all those reasons. Or a combination of the four. He didn't know. All he knew was that he fought every day for more power and wealth even though he had more than enough.

And every day, he lost a little more of his humanity…or whatever humanity he had left.

He had security.

But he was not happy.

When he was happy; he was complacent. He was laid back and relaxed. He didn't go around…smiling or clicking his heals together in the air or whatever it was that happy people did…he was just…softer.

When he was not happy, he was harsh and more vicious. He searched for something…anything to make him happy, even for a time. Not…alcohol or drugs, he would never waste his health or his resources like that, but he was always on the hunt for something.

So, he went...to places lower than his society. Not the lowest scummiest places in Boston, but more middle class. He watched the relaxed people…he wondered how they could just be content with what they had when anything could take it away.

But they had loved ones. They had families. They were happy.

Perhaps he could…

No, that was out of the question. He would not give his power and wealth up in the HOPES that he could be happy. He didn't even know how to love! Everyone he was surrounded with had shown him how NOT to love, but he had never learned how to actually do it.

So, for many years, his search to find happiness went in vain.

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There was a diner he preferred. It was close to a university campus but was never too busy. No one bothered them there and he really enjoyed their pie.

When he arrived, it was busy. He knew the drill. There were chairs in the back were those that were waiting for a booth. He would have to go and wait there.

He scanned everyone as they passed. None of them ever looked like they could afford him, but he liked to keep his eye out.

He passed a dark headed girl with a large text book in her hands. As he passed, he saw that it was hiding another book that no one could see.

He stopped to look at the strange sight. She looked up and saw that she'd been caught. A small blush crept to her cheeks when she saw his confused look, "My professor is three booths down and I have an exam tomorrow. If he thinks I'm not studying then he's going to call me out on the lecture we have before the exam…and I don't like being called up to answer a question."

"Ah," he looked down the way were the waiting area was already crowded. A plan surfaced and he gave her a smile, "Well, your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you."

"As long as you share your booth."

She went pale and blinked, "Are you…blackmailing me?"

"Of course not. I think of it more as a compromise. You don't want to be humiliated in front of your class and I would like to eat before I have to go back to my office. And to enjoy the company of a lovely young lady would not hurt."

She blushed again. He thought she was going to refuse. It was well within her right to just stand up and walk out but she did not. Instead, she cleared away her books so that he could sit across from her.

"Well, I'm sure your professor will just love you chatting instead of reading."

"You're older," she shrugged, "I'll just tell him that you're an expert on that period."

"Oh my, but that'd be lying."

"Then I hope he doesn't ask," she smiled and took a drink of her hot cocoa…he was certain that he smelled some cinnamon when she lifted it up.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

"Oh, Anna Karenina."

"Tough book," he signaled for the waitress, "Do you have to read it?"

"Well, I sort of choose to," she shoved the books in her bag, "I…I like classics. I don't read much but when I do get to read I like them best."

"Yes well, a lot can be learned through classical things more than contemporary literature, there's a reason it still exists. It still speaks to someone somehow," the waitress gave him a dirty look, like she knew what he had done to cut in front of the line, "Or…maybe they don't speak to us. Maybe they're classics because someone has decided they will be and those people say the classics will be classics and we just accept it. Maybe they say nothing at all"

"Well, that's depressing."

"Forgive me," he apologized, "It was not my intent to sadden the lady in my presence."

She blushed again, but cleared her throat and extended her hand, "I'm Mary Blanchard."

He shook her hand, "Elias Gold."

She smiled in a way that touched him, "Nice to meet you."

He saw something in her eyes and smile then that he hadn't seen in a very long time.

Sincerity.

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There was something about this Ms. Blanchard that felt real. Something that made him feel drawn to her in a way that he didn't feel drawn to anyone else. He liked her smile, it was bright and beaming. He liked her tender attitude. She was soft spoken and pleasant but at the same time she wasn't afraid to voice her beliefs. There was spunk hidden there…she was a fighter in her own right but she had a way with words too.

He couldn't understand it but she had his attention.

They met twice a week in that diner after they met. Then it was movies (as friends) the dinner (as more than friends) and before he knew it, he was making a trip to the jeweler.

The day after her graduation from the university, she stood beside him at the altar in a garden 3 hours away from Boston. They were married quietly. Neither one wanted a big fuss. Mary had some friends but none that she was close with. Elias wouldn't think to invite anyone from his law office to his wedding and neither had family. Mary's parents had both been murdered, leaving her an orphan at 17.

Elias had disowned his father and didn't see fit to tell him he was married. Mary had been quiet when he told her but she didn't challenge him for it. She never pushed him to make it right with his father. As far as he was concerned the old codger could die up in the woods where he belonged.

He didn't rent an expensive hotel for them; he took her for a weekend by the lake. She lit up when he told her. He had never had much use for the country…but his new wife had grown up surrounded by woods…so he did it for her.

So, that night in the cabin, with his new wife sleeping beside him, he felt…laid back and relaxed.

And he decided he was happy.

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Mary was not from the world he was from. Sometimes he really hated that because he didn't know how to connect with her. She didn't like expensive gifts. She didn't like lavish parties thrown in her honor (she didn't complain but he could tell she didn't like it) and she didn't like being a trophy wife. She liked working as a teacher. She liked simple things; she liked cheap jeans and fuzzy sweaters and little knit caps. Mary was Mary, and she didn't let the opinions of other people and fashion magazines tell her that she was too fat, too skinny, or her own personality didn't meet his society's standards. She didn't want to be a carbon cutout of everyone else that Elias had surrounded herself with.

She was comfortable in her own skin and he loved her for it. He just…didn't know what to do with that sometimes. He wasn't a roses and chocolates man. He hated Valentine's Day with the passion of a thousand suns. Mary wanted to keep it simple but he didn't know how to be simple, he thought the more expensive gifts were the best. Mary didn't complain. She accepted them with a kiss and gave him gifts of her own. He liked expensive clothes…he believed the suit made the man. Mary gave him ties and cufflinks and shirts. Some men might be offended and think it was a lack of creativity, but Mary knew how he thought.

It was just his work…where the marriage became frayed. When he and Mary turned serious and were thinking about marriage, he had cleaned up his act. He had taken on several more reputable clients and ended relations with the more reckless ones. He believed that he and Mary should focus on building something together and so he moved on from just power and wealth now that he had someone who also relied on him.

But he still attended parties and business dinners. These were not Mary's sort of people…but she attended with him. She always wore one of the expensive dresses that he bought her because she wanted to make a good impression for him. They made their jokes about people, they made their lewd comments…and Mary endured it.

But it was when one of the clients pulled out a napkin with that familiar white powder in the crease that Mary left the table. When he went to get her, she gave him the ultimatum. It was either a lot of changes were going to be made or she was going to leave. She had been unhappy with these people for a while now…she didn't like the way he stayed with these people because she saw how it influenced his attitude.

So, he obliged. He and Mary took a small vacation to work on their marriage. They entered a small counseling group and talked their problems out. They agreed on a new start somewhere. He certainly had enough money, they could set up somewhere.

So, it seemed like fate when they got back home and he received a letter stating his father died and the land of Storybrooke went to him.

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Elias Gold was a city man, through and through. He did not like small towns. The big fish/small pond mentality made him feel like he was being scrutinized. His instincts told him to sell the land and do his own thing but he supposed this was as good a place as any to start over.

Mary adored the town as soon as they drove in. Her eyes lit up when she saw the unmoving clock. He saw the wheels turning in her mind as soon as she saw the house with the unfortunate salmon paint and green trim. She was already making plans. She had spoken of children when they married but it had never been the right time. There was plenty of room in this house and this place had a yard with it. Mary fell in love immediately.

She even liked the color. Elias made a note to take her to the doctor and ask if she was colorblind.

But…this small town and its unfortunate colors were all his now.

He set to work as soon as their things were moved into his father's old house. Mary secured herself a job as a teacher for fourth grade. She was very happy as this town gave her more freedom to be creative with her lessons.

He opened a pawn shop, structured better rental agreements at a moderately fair price, and secured an authoritative position on every board he could so he could know what was going on on his property at all times.

After all, he came from a respectable family…he should make sure to continue that in case he and Mary might have children to pass all this down to.

But the children never came…and Elias grew slightly disappointed.

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There was no nightlife in Storybrooke. Elias did his best with what he had. He had grown….to be content here. He wasn't….completely happy. He wasn't sure he would ever be no matter where he was at but Mary was and that made him feel like the move had been worth something. She was beaming when he came home for dinner every day and she always had a story for something one of her kids did.

Her enthusiasm and his more legal dealings brought a new light on the marriage and he felt more relaxed. He didn't need more power. He had it. The only thing that came close to challenging it was that hateful mayor that hated his wife for some reason…but she was still a bug compared to him. She had power, she didn't know what to do with it or how to use it and it showed.

So, no, he wasn't threatened by her.

Mary even took up volunteering at the hospital two or three nights a week to pass the evening. Sometimes when he went up there to pick her up, he found her standing over the comatose John Doe that the mayor had found several years ago.

He felt jealous, but he didn't show it. Why should he be jealous of someone that wasn't even awake?

Anyway, she was just fascinated. It didn't mean anything. She always assured him that she loved him as they walked hand and hand home every week.

Storybrooke was a quiet content town that he wasn't sure if he either liked or hated.

But then the woman in the yellow bug pulled up and changed everything.