Henry Mills

Author note: Plot-wise, this is placed before S1E01 "Pilot". Henry has turned 18 and hasn't left the town to find his birth mother.

Henry opened his eyes:

"What a strange dream."

Different from other children, he didn't grow up with fantasy stories. His adoptive mother Regina, for unknown reasons, hated that kind of stuff, especially fairy tales. Since his childhood, Henry has learned a lesson: never talk about supernatural things in front of Regina Mills.

He also didn't have any friend. It's not like Henry was the only child in the town, but he couldn't find any child in the same age. Sometimes he had a strange feeling that people around him didn't grow up or age.

Feeling frustrated, Henry took his coat and went out of the house. He wandered on the streets of Storybrooke. He really wanted to find someone to talk to, but people kept getting away from him. That's not strange either: everyone was afraid of mayor Regina.

Suddenly, a voice sounded:

"Boy, you don't look fine. What's wrong?"

Henry raised his head and found an old man. That's Mr. Gold, owner of a pawnshop called Mr. Gold Pawnbroker and Antiquities Dealer.

"You can't help me."

"You are touching my pride. Everyone who visited my shop would find something helpful for them here. With a reasonable price, of course."

Henry began to get interested: "Even if you can help me, don't you fear what my mother will do when she finds out?"

Mr. Gold laughed: "Oh, I know Regina for a long time. She isn't that fearful. I'm sure that with some polite words, she will forgive these old bones."

Henry usually didn't believe when people said they weren't afraid of his mother, but this time he was convinced and followed the old man into the shop.

Mr.Gold poured him a cup of tea and asked: "What's your problem?"

Henry thought for a while before speaking: "My mother is neglectful to me. I need someone that I can talk to. Someone I can trust and share my emotions."

"I see, you feel like you're lacking motherly love. Have you considered finding it from another source?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you have two mothers, don't you?"

"WHAT? Do you know my birth mother?"

"No need to raise your voice. And no, I know about your mother, but I haven't met her in person."

Mr.Gold poured another cup of tea for himself: "Eighteen years ago, Regina visited my shop and said that she wanted to have a child. As I said, anyone could find help here. So I searched and found that there was a baby in Phoenix who was given up for adoption. You knew the rest of the story."

He placed a folder on the table: "Here is all the information I had about your birth mother."

Henry grabbed it, said "Thank you!" and stood up, but Mr. Gold stopped him: "Not so fast. How do you intend to find her without money?"

He took out a card and pushed towards Henry: "Use this credit card."

This time Henry didn't immediately extend his hand: "Why do you go so far to help me? What's your purpose?"

"As I said, anyone could find help here."

"Then what is 'a reasonable price' I need to pay?"

"Don't worry about that. It has been paid before you were born."

Henry looked at Mr. Gold with suspicion, but in the end, he chose to pick up the card, turned his back, and left the shop.

Looking at Henry's back, the Dark One smiled and murmured to himself: "The wheel of fortune has been set into motion..."