Storybrooke, Maine. Perfect suburban town. Filled with the best environment for people who desire peace and quiet or a good place to raise their children.

I beg to differ, since when a place full of stereotypes and judgment is good for a family?

I want to start first by saying who I am, that's the main thing I hate about journals. My name is Natalie Richie, I'm 29 years old, I live in Storybrooke, Maine for as long as I can remember, I work in my art community center.

As I was saying, most people in this town like to pretend they live a perfect life. As the first example I'd like to talk about Regina Mills, our hated mayor, perfect mom, perfect woman or not? Well, her son hates her, believes her to be an evil queen, well who doesn't?

Now, Granny and Ruby, you could say they're my friends but when they're not fighting, they're gossiping about everyone in this town. EVERYONE.

I believe even Mary Blanchard is suspicious about me. What do I hide supposedly? An illicit relationship with Mr. Gold, Storybrooke's wealthiest citizen and pawn-shop owner.

Just because he's older than me and I like to spend my time doesn't mean it's illicit, I mean it's not like I'm slee…

As I heard the familiar sound of a cane, I closed my journal. Journals are meant to be private and that's how I need things to remain, specially my feelings for him. Mr. Gold.

Things have changed since I first met him but still there's nothing keeping us together, apart from our close friendship.

"Well, my dear, it seems whatever you're writing must be pretty special." Mr. Gold said as he smirked at me. I did my best at keeping my emotions down to avoid blushing.

"Why do you say so, Mr. Gold?" I asked, my voice sound much more relaxed than I was. "Because, unless it's something private, one does not hide it" he responded, perfectly serene and maybe oblivious to my thoughts.

"Well, I didn't know you wanted to know much about me" I told him teasingly, that's what started my feelings, how we could so open with each other.

"As if there was something I didn't know of you, Natalie" he said while stroking my cheek. I wanted nothing more than to shiver from the feeling he caused in me but I had to remain cool, I wouldn't be the first one to confess, he would have to be. "I'll see you around, Miss Richie" and with that he departed.

I sighed, my blush finally showing, my heartbeat elevating, if only he had...

"Who caused you that smile, Nat?" An awfully cheerful voice with a teasing in its sound disturbed my thoughts. Why did they have to do this every single time?

"Who said I was smiling, Ruby?" I answered very proudly, my cool surface showing again. "Natalie, you were really smiling a few seconds ago. You looked so happy" Mary told me, as it was something so beautiful.

"It doesn't matter" I said. "Well, where were you? We were waiting for you at the diner and you didn't show up" Ruby said, obviously annoyed. Crap! I had forgotten. Again.

"I, I, I was talking to someone" God, did I have to sound so nervous? "What, again "busy talking" with Mr. Gold?" I knew what she meant but I had to be the bigger girl.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked her defiantly, if she was gonna keep insinuating things, she might as well do it in my face. "Nothing, nothing, Natalie" as always Mary stopped conflicts, bless her soul.

I walked away but I could hear Ruby complaining to Mary why she had stopped the argument because she wanted me to "finally admit my affair with Mr. Gold". Mary cut her off saying that whatever was my relationship was my business and I would tell them in time.

But how could tell them what I felt? Yeah sure, they were my friends, both of them and Ashley but to trust them with that, a secret like that was only worth of Mr. Gold but of course I couldn't tell him.

That was why the only person who knew it was Graham, my confident, although I'm pretty sure Dr. Archie Hopper knows about it, damn his psychological skills.

"My lord, don't you think she must find someone who can control her powers?" Jiminy Cricket asked the prince about his allied princess's safety."But who could be capable" Prince Charming questioned the council, fear but concern shown in his features

"Don't know but the more she keeps doing those things, the more she'll scare her people away" The Blue Fairy finally answered, only a true powerful wizard could control magic of such an odd form. "Can we at least inform her?" Charming asked her, knowing she at least deserved that.

"I already know" a cold yet sad voice announced her presence in the room. "Rapunzel, we didn't know you had arrived" Charming said with an apologetic look in his face, knowing Rapunzel's suffering.

"You summoned me after all, Charming" she answered looking at all of them. "Very well, since I'm such a concern, I shall inform I've already chosen the wizard that will train me" Rapunzel proudly announced.

"Who is it?" Jiminy asked, truly excited to know about the princess's decision. "Oh, I don't think you'll like him, after all people don't trust him because of his deals" she answered with a sweet smile on her lips.

"Are you serious, Rapunzel? Your big hope is cheap, lying deal-maker?" Grumpy finally spoke, furious about the fact of another one of Rapunzel's insane desires. "I believe, dear dwarf, it's my decision after all as a princess" she answered with now an arrogant look on her face.

"Rapunzel, we're truly worried about you, would he at least listen to you? Can you trust him? Charming asked, over the years as allies, he had learned to love her as a sister, although his father once considered her to marry either him or his brother James.

"Charming, don't worry yourself a lot over this, he will listen to me. It's not like he can resist making a deal".

I walked over to the police station; I needed an immediate source of comfort, the comfort only Graham could give me. He is the family I never had, the old brother I always wished.

"Hey, girl. What's going on? You look worried" Graham asked as soon as I entered his office. "I am worried. I started the journal you told me and Mr. Gold almost saw what I was writing" I told him and he made me sit down.

"What were you writing about?" he questioned me truly worried about what I would say. "About how everyone in this town rumors about us" I said, all my anger coming in my words.

"Hey, they don't always "rumor" about you. What about Regina?" He said trying to make me feel better. "She doesn't count, she's evil" I answered while I finally smiled when I realized he said it on purpose.

"See, that's what I wanted, to see you smile. Sister, you worry too much about this. People don't like it, who cares? Just gather courage and tell him you love him" Graham smiled at me, seeing my obvious blush on my face.

"Love is a big word, I wouldn't say I love him, I, li.., well I lo.., well" I started stuttering, I wouldn't tell Graham I did love Mr. Gold, no matter how much I trust him.

"Okay, kid. Why don't you relax a little bit at home and then I'll see you at lunch? Cool?" that's what I loved about Graham, many people feared him for being the sheriff but in reality he's just such a nice person.

"Cool" I felt something different, something big was coming towards Storybrooke, it could be felt in the air. "Graham, something's different about the air, what do you think it is?

"Maybe the weather will change, who knows."

Princess Rapunzel had been experiencing unusual magic forces and she couldn't control them. She knew she needed a wizard to train but she didn't want any wizard, she needed someone powerful.

When she heard of him, she knew that was the one she needed. She would get him no matter what its costs. People said he was scary-looking, that she cheated on his deals, that dealing him was like dealing with Death itself.

She knew she should be afraid, yet she was in the middle of the forest, in the place the guards told her he had been last seen by a huntsman.

"I know you're around here. I know you know I'm looking for you. Show yourself, Rumpelstiltskin." She called loudly at the air, wanting to believe he'd hear her.

"What do you need, dearie?"

She turned around and she saw him. His skin seemed gray or perhaps a light shade of green but with golden touches in it, he was very thin but tall, his curly hair looked wild as a golden tornado but what really impressed Rapunzel were his eyes, a strange shade of amber, that looked gold.

"People said you spoke high-pitched, they also mentioned you'd looked old but I see you young and you talk normally, do you often lie to people?" Rapunzel questioned him, defiant on the outside yet scared on the inside.

"I'll answer you in time, dear Rapunzel" her eyes widened, she hadn't told him her name but she knew he was powerful and that he could know many things at the very instant of meeting her.

"I hope you're indeed ready to pay with anything I ask, all magic comes with a price"