Chapter 2: Endless list
POV Rose
Rose was thinking about a suitable candidate.
'Emma Swan…they do make quite the team but alas she doesn't trust him any more than the mayor…
Speaking of which: Regina's the one who cursed everybody, so obviously she'd only use Gold for his powers in order to become invincible. Can't love someone when your heart is black, can you? But he was probably her teacher… So forbidden love… naah don't think so. '
"Pff this is harder than I thought… Get a grip Rosebud, you've only just started. Complaining will get you nowhere."
After retrieving a list of all citizens of Storybrook from the city archives and drinking a cup of mocha-flavoured cocoa at Granny's, I felt ready to get back at it. Immediately upon returning home I crossed out all male (yes, he specifically said: find me a woman) and underage names (although there weren't a lot beside Henry) plus the women I had already mentally wiped of the list of possible candidates.
Georgina Valse "Ouch too old" I said, remembering the old lady at the bakery store "besides she has that annoying French dog."
Evelyn Strange "Fitting, modest and cheerful if I'm not mistaken." Happy with the first hit I continued searching.
Silvia Holland.. "Oh the lady in the park, she looked quite… pregnant and… married." I mentally slapped myself before coming to a halt. 'Gold said I have to find a woman able to love him.. that doesn't mean she has to or can… Look at Mary Margret.. she finally found her Prince Charming, literally, although she wasn't aware.'
So deciding to leave the married ones up, I further analyzed Mary Margret. 'There are people like her who get boosebumps from simply hearing Gold's name while others, like myself and Emma, admit having some backbone and being able to look him in the eye.'
Content with the small psycho analysis on Rumpelstiltskin and finding at least some candidates, I prepared myself dinner and called it an early night.
The next day I woke up early and went to Granny's again for my dose of caffeine. "Hey Re..Ruby." I called, trying to cover up my words. It seemed the more Henry let me read his stories, the more I remembered from the other world "Just a piece of that delicious looking pie over there please."
"It's fresh from the oven. You're one of the first customers to taste it."
"Granny's up so early?"
"Nope, still dreaming about Tony Bennet … I baked it myself." She grinned wolfish.
"Really?" I asked taking a piece. My tastebuds had a temporary explosion before wanting to have more. "It's delicious Ruby! You should take some yourself."
"Good idea." She smiled before going over to another table.
'She'd make a fine housewife, save her animalistic tendency to flirt, but mr. Gold would never get on her list of lovers'. Speaking of Gold, my involvement with him and his magic speeded the remembering process up.
No wonder this task is so hard. He practically owns the town, collecting rent and all, taking care of business,… I figured the last place to look for a suitable candidate was the nunnery. For starters those women were married to God, plus they live celibate. Then there was that hint in Gold's eyes whenever the nunnery was mentioned… 'Maybe one day I'll get him drunk or open enough to share his bad memories with me.'
The sky outside looked ominous, with dark clouds looming over Gold's house. "I might as well train out." I mumbled, trying to be positive about the weather. As quick as my feet could carry me- that meant not having stitches in my side- I ran towards the outskirts of town. The boarder of Storybrooke enticed me, to know what lay beyond…. But I knew it was forbidden.
On my way home I bought a newspaper and picked up the gossip that was buzzing. It seemed that Ashley had struck a deal with Gold. In return she needed to give up her baby.
'Poor woman… I really wonder what Gold was up to with her baby. Of course I know Rapunzel's story but that doesn't explain… unless he wanted to attract women by showing his 'fatherly side'. Was he looking for a successor? Or had he really been that lonely? A daughter for a son..' I wondered.
Luckily Emma had opposed and solved the transfer by owing Gold a favor. With that happy thought I took a long refreshing shower and read the rest of the newspaper. Afterwards I made a call and stepped in to my car.