The Stranger
Vena sat next to henry in Granny's diner as he explained al about Operation Cobra and who he thought everyone was in the fairy tale world, when he suddenly stopped and stared at the book in front of him, showing the story of Pinocchio, as if he did not understand something. "Kid what wrong?" she asked as he frantically searched his bag for something. Pulling out a walkie talkie he met Vena's eyes as he called "Code Red. Code red." Over the talkies frequency. As Emma's voice came through the talkie to question what was wrong vena ordered her a breakfast burger and strawberry shake. Sitting back down by her newly made friend vena took the book from his grasp, after checking that it was okay, to see if she could find a story on her very unusual past. "Hey. What's the emergency?" Emma questioned as h she headed over to the booth that they were sat. "Shh! This is sensitive." Henry reprimanded as his biological mother slid in next to Vena, giving her a small nod in greeting. "If it's sensitive, why are we at Granny's, out in the open?" the blonde questioned looking at her son. "I'm hungry." He replied. "Plus no one believes him." Vena muttered leaning closer to Emma so he did not over hear. "Who else knows that we hid the book at the sheriff's station?" the boy asked as his mother swallowed back a laugh at Vena's words. "No one. Why?" She asked concerned by the urgency she could hear in her son's voice. "Someone changed it. There's a new story in it." He explained as Vena questioned "Pinocchio?" looking at the boy in confusion. "Why would, someone add a new story?" Emma questioned not understanding her son's urgency. "To tell us something we need to know about the curse." He answered as if it should have been obvious "And that would be?" Emma questioned looking at vena from the corner of her eye. "This story isn't finished yet." She muttered to the blonde knowing how hard it was for Emma to believe her son. "Why would someone go to so much trouble to add a new story and not finish it?" the blonde asked herself. "That's what's weird. The story's about Pinocchio. Everyone knows how that ends." Henry muttered as he took the strawberry off Vena's shake and placed it into his mouth. "Well, maybe that's why it was left out." Emma suggested trying to convince henry that it didn't mean anything. "Or maybe there's more to it." He replied seeing the clock knowing he had to leave, as Vena nodded her head in agreement "Not everything is always as it seems." She said cryptically as Emma ushered Henry to the school bus.
…..
Mr Gold was currently leaning against his counter watching as Marco the towns carpenter fiddled with a clock, only to look at eh newcomer that the bell above the door signalled had entered "Oh, Mr Booth. I'll be right with you in a moment. On second thought, tell me – as one admirer of antiques to another – do you think it's worth my while having this clock repaired?" he questioned taunting the male knowing that he would not reveal himself to Marco. When August didn't reply gold continued enjoying the power he had over the young man, his new puppet. "I'll take the silence as a yes, then"
"You know, I'm very busy right now, and eh, I'm just a one man shop – but uh … I'll get to the clock as fast as I can." Marco told Gold in a small voice hoping not to anger the man. "He wouldn't ask for anything more." Sounded Vena's voice as she appeared from the backroom with polish and a rag. "First time seeing your dad since you arrived in Storybrooke?" she questioned after Marco had left as she polished the glass display cabinets. "I'm s-sorry." August stuttered snapping out of his thoughts. "You know, what surprises me is, why a man who claims to be at deaths door can't even bring himself to say hello to his father – what are you afraid off?" gold questioned as he ,moved to place a kiss on the top of Vena's head while she swatted at him with the rag. "That's uh … that's my business." August muttered as she rolled her eyes at the two males.
"Ohh. Fair enough. Let's talk about ours. You claim to be the only person who can make Miss Swan believe. That you could do exactly what she was brought here to do and yet, for a man who's running out of time, you don't seem to be in much of a hurry." Gold summarised, mocking the man. "It's not me slowing us down. It's her. All she can think of right now is getting custody of her kid." August replied insulted that the pawn broker didn't have faith in him. "Looks like Sheriff Swan needs a course correction." The deal maker muttered knowing that august already had a plan that he was part of whether he liked it or not. "She's coming to you for legal advice." August pointed out as if it were obvious. "And you want me to steer her toward you." Gold summarised not taking the youngster seriously. "I can get her there. To believing trust me." He replied knowing that Gold thought he was a joke.
Both Vena and August jumped as Gold burst out laughing for no apparent reason. Turning around from the object she was polishing Vena saw Gold place a hand on his chest as he stopped laughing. "I'm sorry, it's just- knowing who you are, and your nature, trust is a big ask fear not; a gentle nudge I shall provide." He promised before going into the shops back room. Letting out s large sigh Vena turned to August. "The more you push her, the more she'll resist. It's a woman thing." She told him with sympathy shinning in her eye at his predicament.
…..
And hour later found the one and only Sheriff Swan entering the pawn brokers as Vena and Gold sat behind the counter talking while munching on some chocolate chip cookies. "I have to save him; I have to get Henry away from Regina." Were the first words out of the blonde's mouth as the door shut behind her. Letting out an inaudible sigh gold motioned for vena to take the things into the back room and stay there, before turning Emma. "I must admit, your intentions are admirable. However I won't be taking your case." He informed the woman after he saw Vena disappear into the backroom. "What? You know what Regina did?" she said in disbelief as Gold calmly moved a small trinket to the side of his desk. "Yes, but we can't prove it! And given the Mayors sway in this town, any proceedings against her would be long, drawn-out, and futile. The only certainly is Henry would suffer." He explained knowing that the woman's weakness was her son. "Can't do that to your boy." He mocked knowing that she would do anything for the child she originally wanted nothing to do with.
"So we leave him in the same house with that sociopath?" she questioned in disbelief. "I'm sorry, Sheriff, my minds made up." He replied in a dismissive tone. "Well then, change it! The only person I've ever seen go head-to-head with Regina and win is you." Emma both begged and ordered at the same time. "That's because I know how to pick my battles." Gold told her becoming agitated with her determination. "Then pick this one!" She finally cracked as she put her hands on his counter. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm simply not the man to help you beat Mayor Mills." He calmly informed knowing he was wearing down her will. "No. You're not." She growled before exiting the shop not seeing Gold's smirk. "You know that is cruel papa." Vena muttered as she zipped up her jacket and left for the day to spend it with Jefferson, knowing that he needed some laughter to take his mind off grace until the curse is broken by Emma Swan.
