Chapter Three~
Once back at the pet shelter having returned the black lab to his dog pen, Aria walked all the other dogs before cleaning the cat cages and even helping move a bird from a trap into a cage. By the time it was closing Dr. Thatcher handed her something that made her smile as he told her,
"For all your help, and to help out the orphanage. Even if it was only your first day I figured you all need the money more than everyone else knows."
"Thank you Dr. Thatcher, so much." Aria told him before pocketing the check and starting off for the orphanage as quick as she could with a skip to her step. As she was heading towards Main Street she caught sight of Mr. Gold and frowned as she tried to cross the street before she saw him.
"Ah, Ms. North you seem chipper compared to this morning." Mr. Gold says coming over towards her with a smirk as she nods telling him,
"I was able to find a job at the pet shelter and managed to get my first check. It should be enough to help cover the rent due tomorrow." seeing his smirk widen at her, Aria gave him a friendly but curt nod as if to leave only he said,
"Splendid, I hope you don't mind however coming to the shop. I have something Mrs. Lorewood was meant to pick up." chewing her inner cheek at this and weighing her options she nodded before following him to his shop. When they reached the front of the shop he opened the door so that when she entered Aria looked around at all the items, objects and things on display. As her eyes wandered over the endless display Mr. Gold went into the back of the shop leaving her alone. Walking around a bit, Aria spotted something hanging from a hook. It was a dreamcatcher with blue-jay feathers hanging from it so that as she touched a feather she—for a moment—saw inside her mind a small glen. Shaking her head she heard Mr. Gold say from behind her,
"See something you like?" so that she turned around to find him behind her with a book in hand watching her. Frowning at him she slapped his shoulder in annoyance as she said,
"Don't do that or you'll give someone a heart attack!" putting a hand to his shoulder he made a hurt face saying,
"You wound me dearie, here," then he handed her the book which she took from him as she asked,
"That's an interesting dreamcatcher."
"Aye it is, thinking of buying it?" Mr. Gold wondered so that Aria laughed as she told him shaking her head,
"No I don't have whatever the price is for it. Besides it will probably cost me an arm and a leg."
"Or you're first born." Mr. Gold winked making Aria roll her eyes so that he laughed not at her, but because of her. When she looked back at the dreamcatcher with a far-away glance Mr. Gold said softly,
"You can have it." causing her to turn back around to stare at him in shock before saying,
"For how much?" only he waved a finger at her before saying as he picked up the dreamcatcher from the hook,
"For free, besides I have no real reason for a dreamcatcher since I have no dreams to have come true." something about his voice was so—sad—that Aria watched him longingly hold the item as if it was extremely dear to him. Seeing this she shook her head telling him,
"No thank you, it seems you have some attachment to it anyway." glancing up at her with darkened eyes, Mr. Gold extended his hand for her to take the dreamcatcher saying honestly,
"No dearie, this is meant for someone to have their dreams come true. Not for some old man like me." making a face at him as she took the item from his hand, Aria said without thinking,
"Everyone deserves to have a happy ending Mr. Gold." when she realized what she had said, Aria blushed before she quickly turned around mentally slapping herself. Just before she exited the door however Mr. Gold called out to her saying,
"If everyone deserves a happy ending, then everyone deserves to have their wish come true." which caused her to spin around on her heel to stare at him in utter shock and wide eyes as he gave her a small nod before adding,
"Have a goodnight Ms. North." stunned, Aria exited the shop leaving Mr. Gold standing with a smile on his face as he watched her figure disappear down the street. Finally reaching the orphanage after her long day, Aria entered to find dinner going on so walked into the dining room. A choir of happy voices greeted her as she smiled brightly saying hello to everyone. Seeing Mrs. Lorewood's questioning gaze, she asked to see her in the kitchen before pulling out her check.
"Where did you get this?" she asked Aria who told her,
"I got a job at the pet shelter, and Mr. Gold wanted you to have this." here she handed the book to Mrs. Lorewood who nodded before she noticed the dreamcatcher. Quickly Aria made up a story that she was given it by Henry who made it in school, which Mrs. Lorewood believed before handing her a plate of dinner. Reentering the dining room, Aria sat down and talked with the kids about her new job helping the animals. They were all happy to hear about it and excited to learn more before Mrs. Lorewood told them it was time for bed. When they moaned and begged for more time up she had Aria round them upstairs which she did, helping each of them into their own bedrooms. Upon entering her own bedroom, Aria hung the dreamcatcher up on her window before going from bedroom to bedroom tucking in all the kids in bed. After each kid was in bed and the doors shut for the night, Aria went downstairs to help clean up. Finding Mrs. Lorewood in the kitchen counting the money for tomorrow's rent, Aria asked,
"Do we have enough?"
"We're off by one hundred dollars." Mrs. Lorewood said with a heavy sigh so that Aria frowned before heading upstairs quickly and coming back down handed the woman a box she kept under the bed. Opening it, Mrs. Lorewood found exactly one hundred dollars—all of which Aria had saved up.
"No Aria I can't take this!"
"Yes you can and you will. We can pay the rent with it and I won't accept it back anyway." Aria told her strongly so that the woman stood and hugged her tightly which Aria accepted and smiled. When she pulled back Aria told Mrs. Lorewood she was going to bed so that once back up in her bedroom she changed into pajamas. Getting into bed and curling up into a ball, Aria turned to look at the dreamcatcher and smiled despite the fact it had come from Mr. Gold. Rolling her eyes, Aria soon fell asleep so that when she woke next it was to someone shaking her. Hazy from sleep and blinking herself awake, Aria saw it was one of the older boys who told her,
"Mr. Gold is here for the rent and Mrs. Lorewood wants to see you." then he dashed out of the room leaving Aria to quickly dress though she stumbled a few times in her haste. When she was making her way down the stairs she heard Mrs. Lorewood's voice saying from the kitchen,
"I can't believe you Gold! Sometimes I wonder if you have a heart at all!"
"Only one that allows blood to keep me alive my dear." Mr. Gold replied so that when Aria appeared in the doorway they both turned to see her as she asked,
"What's going on?"
"Seems that our rent has gone up because of Mr. Gold here." Mrs. Lorewood spat causing the man dressed as always in black only this time with a dark crimson colored tie to reply back in a tight voice,
"It wasn't me dearie you can blame this one on our beloved Madam Mayor."
"How much is the rent now?" Aria wondered so that Mr. Gold turned towards her handing her the new slip for the rent causing Aria to nearly faint—four hundred dollars! It had been only two hundred but now at four hundred there was no way they could pay it! Looking back up at the man who seemed cool about the whole thing, Aria said,
"We have half now."
"I know that's what dear Mrs. Lorewood was saying, problem is that Madam Mayor is having the towns book keeping for the rent done today. In other words the whole rent is due—today." he said to her making Aria stifle a gasp as she glanced over at Mrs. Lorewood who was near tears. Seeing her so upset, Aria thought fast and said,
"Is that job offering still open Mr. Gold?" seeing him smirk at her it was Mrs. Lorewood who told Aria,
"You can't be serious!" only when Mr. Gold nodded his head Aria told him the three words he wanted to hear—'it's a deal'.