Storybrooke, Maine
Three days ago
Jiminy had been just getting used to the life of a minister among his nuns. He lived within the church and was quite active in the town. When the Banshee incident occurred and the Savior and Snow White fell into the portal sending them back to the Enchanted Forest, Jiminy knew who to blame. He stormed out of the church, against the wishes of Mother Superior, and charged right into Mr. Gold's shop.
"What in the hell were you thinking," Jiminy asked Gold, who looked up in mild surprise. "Unleashing a Banshee on the Mayor? Allowing them use poor Jefferson's hat to send it back whence it came and not helping Snow and Emma when they fell in?"
"I'm sorry I don't have all the answers, Merlin," Gold said patiently writing on a pad of paper.
"No," Jiminy said, shaking his head. "No of course not, Rumpel. You never do."
"Are you accusing me of something, brother?" Gold asked, stopping his work and looking up.
"Oh of course not," Jiminy said with a very nasty look on his face. "Just remember, Rumpelstiltskin, your own words: 'All magic comes with a price.'" He turned and stormed off back to the church.
Later that evening the door to Gold's shop opened once more and in walked Jefferson, who looked very unhappy to be in the shop.
"Hello, Jefferson," Mr. Gold said.
"Rumpelstiltskin," Jefferson said, warily.
"Tell me, Jefferson," Gold said, crouched behind the counter. "Can you get this to work?" He dropped the remains of the Mad Hatter's hat on the counter.
"That question," Jefferson muttered. He picked up the hat and turned it around in his hands. "Maybe, but I don't think I should get back into this."
"Oh, of course not," Gold said, shaking his head. "You've got your daughter back, after all. How is dear Grace, hmm?"
"She's good," Jefferson said. "You stay away from her, you toad."
"Oh, of course," Gold said, nodding. "I wouldn't dare lay a finger on her."
"Don't do that," Jefferson said, shaking his head. "Twist words. You and I both know that you don't need to put a finger on her to hurt her."
Gold smiled and said, "Ah, you've gotten smarter in the past twenty eight years."
"I'll do this," Jefferson said. "But you lay a single bit of magic on my daughter and I swear…"
"Don't be mad, Jefferson," Gold said, smiling wickedly. "I wouldn't dream of it." He pointed to the hat and said, "Just. Get it. To work."
Jefferson snatched the hat and stormed out of the shop and Gold's wicked smile faded, he had an image to uphold, but what he was about to do didn't give him any pleasure…