Year One: With Henry

Mr. Gold had not been planning on bring home a child. So, naturally, he had nothing in the way of baby items, save some diapers and formula Whale had given him.

So he was reduced to calling Dove, firstly, to come pick him up and secondly to go a purchase a list of the things Gold was relatively certain he'd need for a child.

He was fairly certain that he had a cradle or two stashed about and so , as Dove drove off looking rather perplexed but willing to do anything for his boss, Gold set about locating them.

Fortunately he did have three, one in one of the many spare bedrooms and the other two in the attic. He found himself grateful that he walked about Storybrooke so much as opposed to driving as that meant his leg was more forgiving the clambering about, baby swaddled on the safest surface he could fine.

After two hours of hunting and cleaning, Gold had both cradles polished to a shine and ready for an inhabitant. One he placed in his bedroom upstairs and the other was settled into the living room, he decided that one more for the shop would be perfect and resolved to have Dove set the third cradle up in the shop after he returned with the bulk of the shopping.

Having gathered what he could for the moment, he settled in his armchair in the living room to wait, little Henry tucked against his chest, sleeping peacefully.

The cessation of movement allowed his mind to fully grasp what it was he'd done. He'd begun the adoption process for a child. He had a son. A swell of emotion filled him, as he looked down into the sleeping babies face. Joy and terror in equal parts and found himself hoping he was equal to the task of raising this boy.

Twenty minutes later and Dove arrived with the necessary baby paraphernalia, bottles, wipes, diapers, car seat, stroller, a few soft toys, and a host of other things. More toys and clothes Gold would buy later, as he felt that the more personal items were better picked by the parent, but the basics at least were simple enough.

Henry woke not long after and Gold faced his first diaper change. Well, he was a tough old bastard and he'd faced worse things. The diaper change went fairly well, though he did have to wash his hands rather harshly afterwards.

Then came the feeding and the burping and he blessed the burping clothes as he realized he would need to keep a spare change of clothes at the shop since the boy seemed determined to coat him one unpleasant substance or another.

That night he found himself grateful that three months olds apparently slept better than newborns and got fairly uninterrupted sleep. The morning felt a tad harried with getting both a baby and himself ready for the day but soon all was accomplished, Henry tucked into the stroller that Dove had thankfully put together for him and they were out the back door, which had no steps, and off to the shop only a bit later than usual.

He had more gawkers and curious peruser's that day than he'd had in a month, all looking at the cradle behind the counter in looks ranging from curious, to amused, to horrified.

It was quite amusing. Deciding to really give the town a stir, he went into Granny's for lunch, baby and the least offensive diaper bag Dove could find in tow.

Granny surprised him and it was almost pleasant, as she kept people from crowding too much while having the scantily clad Ruby serve everyone else while she brought his food herself. After he soothed Henry out of a fit of whimpers when the noise level got a bit much, she even laid a hand briefly on his shoulder.

He thought as he left, that he might have an ally in town, at least so far as the probable baby questions he'd come up with.

Dove had bought him a baby book for 'Baby's First Year" but sometimes a real person was better than a book.

After that his world came to revolve around this tiny miracle he'd been given. The townsfolk mostly forgot about Henry, as his presence had not really softened Gold at all on the subject of rent and debts owed.

For Gold his whole world had changed. His house, formerly stuffed full of antiques was now astonishingly clear of a good deal of it, most of it moved out the cabin, but a great deal either gotten rid of or properly stored away to make room for baby toys and in anticipation of very curious little fingers as the boy grew.

He learned to laugh that year, when Henry soaked him every time he gave the boy a bath, when he got formula and later baby food liberally spread in his hair. He mastered diaper changing only getting peed on a couple of times and through it all, her learned to laugh at it.

The first time little Henry crawled Gold grinned so hard he thought his face might spilt.

The first came rapidly after crawling; Henry quickly got into the whole movement thing and stood for the first time, though walking remained beyond him for now.

His first word was 'Papa' and Gold was glad he lived alone as he's fairly certain he cried.

There were trips to the park where Henry cooed at everything, nearly giving his tiny neck whiplash he was so eager to take in everything. At night he'd settle into the rocking chair he'd placed in his room and sing old lullaby's he knew to his precious little boy, marveling at the wonder of this little person in his life.

Henry had a personality that was already quite evident. He liked to see things, examine them and then seemed even now to think on whatever it was, burbling in quiet conversation with himself. He had people he liked, Archie, Granny, Ruby, and Marco, and people he didn't like, such as Regina, he shrieked every time she came near him, he wasn't terribly fond of the Mother Superior or Dr, Whale either. He liked one of the nun's though, a young woman named Astrid and she became Gold's go to person for babysitting.

Soon the year was coming to an end and Gold got the court date that would declare him Henry's father once and for all. That morning he dressed little Henry up in a nice little suit, forgoing any kind of tie, knowing the boy would have it off in moments anyway. He carefully placed the baby in the car seat and headed to the courthouse. He'd simply meet the judge in the judge's office, and this would be quick and simple, but he still worried. He spotted Regina standing near town hall, but she quickly moved off and Gold was able to get inside without incident.

Just a few words, a few more signatures and Henry was his.