A Golden Opportunity

A Golden Opportunity

They had just turned a corner.  Nyssa was finding it increasingly exhausting to walk and was constantly leaning in on her new friend.  Recurringly, her head drooped down. Pounding with pain. Her hands were reaching for her brooch. Lingering fingers gingerly stroking her throat.  Trembling with cold and sweating with fear Nyssa kept silent, not wishing to unduly worry this kind man.

“Are you all well, my dear?” Mr Gold turned to look at the woman beside him. Genuinely concerned he placed an arm around her waist, “You look like you need a rest.”

The man gazed deeply into Nyssa’s profile, a little alike. Could be sisters. Well, possibly cousins. The hair was different but they both held the clearest of blue eyes. They both had soft voices that charmed his ears.  A smile that could break his heart whilst repairing his soul. Pale complexion that glows at night. Nyssa was hiding her own secret; that much he could deduce, but other than that Nyssa left Mr Gold nonplussed. Somewhat of a new sensation for him.

“It …” she stammered, Her legs involuntarily collapsed beneath her but he was there already. Already supporting her with his arm around her waist Mr Gold quickly swept her of her feet by lifting Nyssa from the back of her knees as if she weighed nothing! With his ornate gold topped cane resting in the crook of his arm, he managed to hold her firmly against his strong body. It was just like that time when the Doctor helped resuscitate her from that chamber run by those evil frog species! With her legs hanging over his arm, her own arms around his neck Nyssa  took this opportunity to really gaze at his eyes. Such pain behind them. From that moment on, Nyssa realised that if she ever married it would be to someone like him. “Thank you, Mr Gold!” she murmured resting her head against his shoulder as he carried her to some steps outside a shop. Elegantly Mr Gold tenderly placed Nyssa on the step to recuperate. Her arms gently slipped off his shoulders as he bent down to check her forehead. Clammy. Distressed somewhat at the sight of her head from flopping from one side to the other. Mr Gold covered her trembling hands in his. “You are very kind!”

“You poor thing, you’re burning up, dear,” he whispered.

Nyssa looked up at him: “I do not think I can move another step,” she said honestly. Tears were streaming from her eyes and some beads of sweat began forming around her temples.  “How much further is…” she did not get to finish the sentence as her head rolled down to her shoulder one last time as she slipped into a state of unconsciousness.  Mr Gold felt her pulse everywhere he could. Thank goodness but they were racing.  Without thinking about it twice, he picked her up and carried her through town to Snow White’s house. He could not wait until the bombshell fell on that one.  For now, he had best get Nyssa to a place of relative safety.

♥x♥x♥x♥x♥

Mary shook her head in disbelief: “You still should have said no,” she said sipping her hot chocolate. “I mean, it’s Mr Gold, for pity’s sake!”

“I know but he persuaded me to go,” Emma said, “I do not know why, I think he was trying to be neighbourly.”

“Did he pay?”

“Yes,” Emma said, “yes he did.”

“Wow,” Mary breathed out, “then those two strangers turned up. What…” Mary looked at the time on the clock, it was a school night, she had to be in bed, “... were they called again?”

“The Doctor and Nyssa.”

“Yeah,” Mary sipped the last dregs of her beverage and stood up, “strange!” Mary then poured the remains down the sink and rinsed the cup round, “see ya in the morning!”

As she was about to take her weary way up the steps to bed she turned to the sound of  her door.  Bending due to furious unrelenting knocking on the other side: “More punks trying to steal someone’s car I bet!” Emma said, Mary smiled.  It baffled Emma that this beautiful young woman had no one.  The effect of the violent knocking dislodged  a chip of wood sending it  flying straight into Emma’s cup. She never seemed to have much luck with drinks as it splashed over her face and top. With a roll of her eyes she tipped the rest down the plug. With a weary sigh Emma opened the door and was flabbergasted at the sight of a flustered Mr Gold holding a comatose Nyssa in his arms.

“No time to explain, Miss Swan,” Mr Gold said.

“But…”

“Is there or isn’t there anywhere where Nyssa can rest, Emma?” Mr Gold pleaded urgently.  “Please, help her!”

Mary sprang into action and cleared a sofa of the notebooks of all her children’s markings for Mr Gold to lay her there. With the space cleared Mr Gold swiftly laid Nyssa down. Stretching his arms out and bending his back a little Mr Gold glared at Mary. He then shrugged his coat and jacket off throwing them across the coffee table. Closing his eyes muttering something unintelligible under his breath and proceeded to perform CPR. Pumping her heart, breathing into her mouth.  Repeating it over and over. Each time more frantic. “Come on, lass!” He exclaimed with every pump of his fists he uttered: “I am not going to let you die!” Mary and Emma did what they could, Mary daubed Nyssa’s forehead with cold compress and Emma loosened her strange clothing to help the fevered woman breathe. “I am not going to let you die!” his tone signified how deeply anxious he was for his new ‘friend,’ “Nyssa, come on!” Mr Gold urged but was exhausting himself in the process.

“We should get a Dr in, Mr Gold!” Emma said compassionately as she observed Mr Gold’s true concern for this beautiful stranger.  

“NO!” He roared spittle flying from his mouth, his eyes flamed up with indignant anger.  “I can do it! I can help her!”

Mary exchanged looks with Emma: “Mr Gold, Emma is right!”

Mr Gold glared at the pixie like brunnette. Under the inexorable pressure Mr Gold almost called her Your Majesty. Deeply taking in his breath the man pinched the bridge of his nose mentally counting to ten. The time was not right.  

Suddenly,  knocking Mr Gold backwards on his coccyx, Nyssa sat up. Eyes wide open.  Blank. Unblinking. The fey sight terrified Mary. Startled Emma. Mr Gold recovered quickly and sat on the coffee table where he could observe her expression. He kept a hand on the small of her back.

“Danger!” Nyssa said her delicate fingers clutched at her throat. Voice changed beyond recognition. It was the voice of supernatural power. A tone he knew all too well. This young woman was not outwardly scarred by her marvellous inner quality. Now it is my responsibility to make sure there are no inner demons affecting her kind soul. Mr Gold empathised with Nyssa though, she was too young to shoulder the burden. Was she even trained to control her potent gift?

Mary and Emma sat on the arm of the sofa at either end: “What’s happening?” Mary eventually whispered. Emma shrugged her shoulders.

Severely, Mr Gold hushed them. Something awesome was happening. Revelling in Nyssa’s aura Mr Gold inched closer - eager to listen to whatever it was Nyssa was going to say. His arm now completely back around her petite waist.

“Must Not ... “ Nyssa gasped her eyes widened, “Not … Evil … Close … Means … Harm!” Her head flopped down again, her chin resting on her chest. Quickly her head snapped up. Alarming Mary with the uncanny nature of it all. “Harm … End … No … Cannot …” now her eyes were really rolled into the back of her head scaring Emma: “Woman … Boy … All … Can’t!” Now Nyssa’s head bent right back eyes staring at the ceiling.  “Malevolence Spreads…” her voice deepened, harsh, asthmatic almost, “Boy … Harm … THE BOY!” Knuckles turned white as fingers clenched tightly around the cushions on the sofa.  Nyssa’s breathing had rapidly quickened.  Emma made sure she had 911 typed in her phone just in case this strange panic attack took an even more hideous turn: “No… no…no … no ....,” she shook her head with each. “Oh please, oh please, oh please, no!” Mr Gold now showed sympathetic concern rather than morbid curiosity, “Please, not the boy. No, no ... “Suddenly, Nyssa screamed in such eldritch voice that Mary and Emma winced as they had to cover their ears. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Even Mr Gold shuddered at the sound.  “LEAVE THE BOY ALONE!” Emma felt the fear in Nyssa’s voice. What boy? Who was harming? “TAKE ME. TAKE ME, INSTEAD! LEAVE THE BOY ALONE! HE’S JUST A CHILD! YOU TYRANT, LEAVE HIM BE!”

Mr Gold listened attentively, he scowled a little, trying to work things out. The boy was clearly Henry. He was the only child she had met - unless she was reliving a particular nightmare. With one last deep gasp of air Nyssa rolled her head back forward to a normal position, eyes settling back into place and resumed their lovely colour. “Take me…” she shuddered out before collapsing on the sofa - silent and still.

Tentatively Mr Gold reached over to feel her pulses again with his other hand. They were slowing down - her breathing became calm. Shivering visibly though, he almost wanted to take her home with him right now. Carefully he pulled his arm out from under her stiff body. Mr Gold sighed and tenderly kissed Nyssa’s forehead whilst brushing aside her hair: “Father,” she murmured in her fevered dreams.  

Mr Gold smiled a little with tears rimming his eyes. “No, Nyssa,” he sighed, “but he must have been a very special man!” Tenderly, he stroked down Nyssa’s cheek. “You’re freezing!” He muttered as he took his coat off and covered her up. Nodding to the two women Mr Gold stood up and moved towards the kitchen, they followed him there.

“I will stay here, Miss Blanchard. You two have proper jobs to be getting on with in the morning.”

“Master,” they heard Nyssa mutter, “no.”

The young women gazed in disbelief at Mr Gold: “Mr Gold, you look like you need a rest too,” Emma said warmly.

“Ka … Dric,” she muttered causing Mr Gold to turn around briefly to see if Nyssa was alright.

“This is not up for debate, dear,” he said seriously turning back to Miss Swan. Eyes narrowed accentuating the frown. “You both need your beauty sleep - go on,” he walked his fingers in the air, “night night!”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I am too tired to argue,” Mary said to Emma.  “Coffee is over there,” she waved her arm towards a jar of coffee beans and a lovely black coffee machine complete with timer. “I have some blankets.”

“I’ll dress her in a pair of my pajamas,” Emma said, “what about you, Mr Gold?”

“I will find a book to read,” he said.

Of which Mary led him round the corner to her bookshelves. Then ran back round and nodded to Emma. Emma followed her upstairs. Once there they spoke in whispers: “This is unprecedented,” Mary said as she opened an ottoman filled with fleecy blankets.

Emma walked to her own room and found a pair of white cotton pajamas: “I know,” she sighed, “it’s like…”

“Like what, Miss Swan?”

“Can’t you stay in one place?” Emma complained.

“I was hoping to find a bookshelf up here whilst you were dressing the lassie,” Emma arched an eyebrow, “would you rather me watch, Miss Swan?”

Shaking her head, Emma walked past Mr Gold. Mary Margaret glanced at Mr Gold: “How are you?” Mary asked awkwardly.

“Ever heard of the phrase, silence is golden, Miss Blanchard?”

Nodding Mary decided to straighten Emma’s bed sheets. Somehow the woman always left things a little messy. It made Mary want to ground her. Somedays she swore she could be older than she actually was. Others she felt as if she was someone else. These moments were fleeting. If she had seen Mr Gold’s lips twist at the corner of the mouth Mary would have asked what he found so funny about her tidying up after Emma.

“I’ll take the blankets down,” he said when he heard Emma walking up.

Mary handed him the fleece blankets, he smoothed them over his arm: “Sleep well, fair maidens!” He smiled as he walked down the stairs.

“You trust him alone with her?” Mary asked.

“Nope!” Emma sighed. “At least if he does something,” she continued, “we can get to him straight away.”

“Oh no,” Mary furrowed her brow, “I believe he is genuine. Something about that girl has made him … different.”

“She keeps mumbling something in her sleep.”

“Yes?”

Emma sat on the bed and spread her hands wide before clapping them together shaking her head: “Master!” she puffed out.

“Do you think she was some kind of slave?” Mary said concerned.

Gazing up at Mary, Emma knew that dark variants of slavery still existed, and wondered if that was true also: “It suggests something of that sort.”

♥x♥x♥x♥x♥

Downstairs, Mr Gold folded Nyssa’s things properly and laid them on a seat, carefully placing her brooch right in the center of her folded up top, the metal was some kind of gold. He gazed back at the young woman now wearing Emma’s spare pajamas even if they were too big for her. Thick curls of honey gold locks spread over her shoulders as she had calmed considerably down.  Still cold, he felt her forehead. Separating the blankets Mr Gold took his jacket off and picked the least girly coloured one for himself. The others he spread over her body right up to her chin.

A small part of him wanted to take her back to his house and keep her there. Broker a deal with that Doctor to let him keep her. He admired beautiful things. This young woman was beautiful and he wanted to collect her. He heard her somnolent murmurings become temporarily more coherent. “Master!” Nyssa said as if afraid. That would have to be explored he sighed as he slipped off the tie pin, unknotted his tie slipping it from his collar. Slowly Mr Gold unbuttoned his shirt and removed his cufflinks, as he quietly gazed upon the beauteously enigmatic Nyssa as she mumbled incoherently again. Still tossing and turning stuck in her own nightmare. Beads of sweat ran down her cheeks. Mr Gold removed his trousers, fastidiously folding them up. “Why?” she muttered turning her head violently. Mr Gold turned thinking she was talking to him for a moment, “why are you here? No, you leave the boy alone!”

Momentarily, Mr Gold considered taking her to see Dr Whale, but decided against it. Mr Gold knelt down by the sofa to check her temperature, he decided to sit on some cushions from the single chairs in Mary Margaret’s place and sat as next to Nyssa as he possibly could. Though she was no longer shaking - her brow was dry - and she had control of her muscles Mr Gold still felt the need to be near her.

He gazed up at the moon that shone her glorious argent light upon Nyssa, lighting up her purity that glowed within. He took her hand and held it tight.

♥x♥x♥x♥x♥

Without knowing it, he must have fallen asleep for Nyssa finally woke up in a quiet atmosphere with the moon streaming in through the window. Wearing different clothes.  On a soft but rather restrictive sofa. A strange man’s head resting peacefully on her stomach. She tried to move without disturbing him by attempting to move his head as gingerly as she could but it did not work. For he felt her move beneath him anyway.

“You’re awake!” he said with a smile. “Do you know who you are?”

“So it would appear,” she replied blushing. “My name’s Nyssa, you’re the man who refused to see those two women homeless … Mr … Mr Gold!” Nyssa did not want to stop him from smiling at her. The warmth spread deep within her soul to the pit of her stomach. This man did things to her she had only felt one other man do. Tegan often read stories that involved these feelings, “I need some water.”

“I’ll get some for you!” Mr Gold stood up and Nyssa averted her eyes.  “Have you not seen a pair of naked legs before, lassie?”

“Um,” she said, “not really yet, no,” she found her eyes drawn to his underwear and quickly looked away.

“It’s fair to see!”

Yes, she sighed inwardly, but you are little known to me and a slightly too much fare is showing! Nyssa plucked at her pajamas: “Did you … do this?”

“I wish I could take credit,” Mr Gold said winking,  as he tilted his head on his way to the kitchen, “water, you said?”

Smacking her tongue against her gums Nyssa nodded: “So, who was responsible.”

“Our dear Miss Swan.”

“Oh the young woman you had dinner with,” Nyssa sat up but instantly regretted it as she felt her head sway a little and laid back down.

“I am glad we were there,” he said as he found a glass and swirled it in the moonlight to glance at the effect before taking it to the tap. “Are you well?”

“A headache and a sore throat,” she said, “but that is to be expected.”

“You remember your episode, then?”

“Bits,” she said.

Somehow, Mr Gold had found Mary’s first aid kit box and picked out some paracetamol. “You can take pain relief?”

“Yes,” she said.

The monosyllabic answers bothered him but then he was almost as good at that. Sometimes he gave monosyllabic gestures; a smile, wink, turn of the head.  He popped four pills into his hands, put them on the counter, crushed them with the back of the knife and poured the dregs into the water. He brought the water over and placed it on the table. Because Nyssa could barely move he wrapped an arm around her back, placing his other around her waist and lifted her up, swinging her around so she had support for her head.

“You mentioned something about harm, danger,” he sat down next to her, “a boy and putting yourself in his place?”

Nyssa gulped down the water: “They’re always about danger. I can never have one that includes me being with someone lovely, eating a picnic by a sunny stream in an emerald green forest.”

“A particular idyll, Miss…”

“Just Nyssa,” she sighed. “Oh I hope I did not hurt anyone!”

“No, I got here just in time,” he said, “I decided to stay to make sure you were entirely safe.”

Smiling, Nyssa lowered her head. The pale moon haloed her crown. Encircling her in the purest form of light. The effect rather took Mr Gold’s breath away. Genteelly, he swiped some hair from her face. Such wonderful cheekbones, he observed.

“Thank the stars,” she sighed, “I would have hated myself if I harmed anyone.”

“Well, you have not, dear,” Mr Gold said, “you do not need to worry yourself on that score.”

“I feel so embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“You would not understand.”

“Try me.”

“Well, have you ever looked into a mirror and thought - was that me? Really me? Do I really look like that when I…” she looked up at him examining his well aligned features, his thick well groomed, just-need-to-touch it, hair. The way he smiled. “No, you probably do not,” she put the empty glass back down on the table and rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers, “sometimes, I feel like a monster!”

Mr Gold leaned forward to be level with her and turned his head: “Well, you are the prettiest monster I have ever clapped eyes on, my dear.”

“You did watch me?”

“Yes, and it must hurt you. But power is power,” Nyssa turned her gaze, “if it is something to be-gone from your emotional makeup, would you do that?”

“I - I - I don’t know,” she stammered. “I have saved lives with this power.”

“Is that the act of a monster?” Mr Gold murmured.

“No, I know the face and the acts of a monster when I see one,” she hoisted herself up and started to pace around the coffee table. Biting her nails with anxious worry pervading her mind. Mr Gold stood up deliberately placing himself in her path. Just like he hoped she would Nyssa paced right into him. “Um,” she gulped. He was smiling down on her as he proceeded to take Nyssa’s  fingers away from her mouth. “Hello!” Nyssa winced. Was that all she could say?

“What about me?” Mr Gold whispered, tilting her chin up, “am I a monster?”

“No,” Nyssa said, “you may be flawed but if that is the case then we are all beasts.”

“There’s your answer, dear,” he leaned down so their foreheads were touching. Gulping Nyssa’s throat became dry for another reason. “You are not a beastie,” he whispered, as he gently pulled her chin forward rubbing noses with him, “so tell me,” he gulped down, “are you betrothed to the Doctor?”

Nyssa lowered her eyes, they were so close he felt her lashes brush against his skin: “No, we are just friends.”

That was all Mr Gold needed before he kissed the top of her forehead, down to the tip of her nose before brushing his lips against hers: “What are you doing?” She whispered.

“Have you never been kissed before?”

Shaking her head slightly Nyssa found her hands crawling up to his face and her fingers entwining in his hair as his hot breath landed down her neck.  Closing her eyes she felt his lips press gently on hers. My, she melted into his embrace. Mr Gold rubbed his hands down her sides squeezing bits of her flesh with his fingers as their kiss deepened. Nyssa felt her hands move up to his hair wanting to pull his mouth further inside hers as his tangy aromas exalted her.

Breathlessly they parted and gazed into each other’s eyes: “Wow!” Nyssa sighed.

“There’s more where that came from, dear,” Mr Gold smiled and pumped both his eyebrows up  in a cheeky way that made Nyssa laugh.

“I’m sure there is!” she giggled clutching hold of his opened shirt collars, good job there was a vest on otherwise Nyssa may have not said what she did next, “but I really am tired now.”

Mr Gold smiled down at her: “Have you heard of love’s true kiss?”

“Yes, but scientifically impossible, surely?”

“Love is not science, Nyssa,” he led her back to the sofa, “love is the thing that makes us - without love are we not monsters, then?”

What an absolutely fascinating individual, Nyssa thought, as she gazed at him once more. Forgetting he was practically naked. That she was in another’s clothes. In a stranger’s home and apart from the Doctor. Nyssa could almost allow herself to be taken by the moment but she was trained to be disciplined. Not to be a nun, her father never wished for her celibacy, but she was meant to have more self control than to make love to the first man who showed slight interest in her when they barely knew each other.

“That is something my father would have said,” she sighed.

“Here,” he picked her up just so he could lay her back down on the bed, slowly he lowered her down to the sofa, suavely making sure her legs were straight and then covered her over before kissing her on the lips in a light peck, “goodnight, dear.”

“Goodnight, Mr Gold,” Nyssa murmured.  Her head buzzed with anticipation. Dark desires began to open within her heart. This man could turn her into the woman she longed to be. “Thank you for the kiss.”

Mr Gold’s eyes twinkled with kind expressions as Nyssa’s head rolled in the crook of her arm.  Smiling at the serenity of his new love. Mr Gold almost felt his heart beat for the first time in a long awhile. The glorious young woman closed her eyes in silent  slumber. With her fingers curled towards her palm whilst her other hand rested on her stomach, she looked every inch the Enchanted Princess.  This was a woman that belonged in his reality. Once he was certain she was at peace this time, he lifted her hand up and put it under the blankets.

Then he settled back down on the chair he was in before, covering his own body with the single blanket and, with his eyes on her, he too fell asleep.

The moon sailed on into the sky before docking into Dawn Bay then the Golden Sun hoisted her flags - spreading her light - announcing the arrival of the new day.

♥x♥x♥x♥x♥

Blinking out the light Nyssa awoke and saw the man who had given her, her first kiss. Gazing upon him with the golden sun highlighting his smile, Nyssa wished she had managed to snuggle into him so that they awoke in each other’s arms. He was sleeping peacefully and calmly - Nyssa was about to get up but Mary was down the stairs already.

“Another early riser,” Mary whispered, “how did he treat you?”

“Very well,” Nyssa whispered back, “we had a good conversation.”

“I’ll ask him…”

“Don’t disturb him, he looks so happy,” Nyssa said in the tone of voice one uses early in the morning when you do not wish to bother anyone else. “I hope I did not scare you last night?”

“We were a bit worried but you do not look ill now.”

“Mr Gold assured me that no one was hurt.”

“No,” Mary sighed.

Nyssa removed her blankets and quietly knelt towards the sleeping man, she perched on the table and leaned over. The urge to touch his hair could no longer be ignored. Holding her breath she began to stroke aside his hair, down the side of his face - mirroring what he did last night. Now Emma was down the stairs and watched the scene before her.  Nervous but excited Nyssa closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his forehead. That was something she never dared do with the Doctor! The man stirred. Eyelids fluttered.  He shifted in the chair and opened his eyes.

“Morning, dear,” he murmured.

“Morning, Mr Gold,” Nyssa smiled. “Shall I make breakfast?”

“Oh no,” Mary said, “it’s all right,” she walked to the kitchen. “Full traditional? Pancakes?”

“Whatever,” Nyssa sighed,  still entranced by Mr Gold’s eyes. So beautiful. Dark, deep brown! This was the man that had kissed her? Actually kissed her? This man spoke of class, sophistication, money. She was an odd little nobody on Earth. On anywhere! It was only her home where she held some kind of importance. Mr Gold was the sort of man who would make his own importance anywhere he wished to!

“Ahem!” Emma coughed, “come on, Nyssa, you should freshen up whilst we’re getting breakfast.”

“Sure,” Nyssa said slowly, painfully turning her gaze away from his as she slowly began walking. Utterly enchanted! Nyssa bumped into Mary’s coffee table whilst her gaze still rested  on his fair countenance . The pain bought her back to herself.

“Come on!” Emma said wrapping an arm around her new friend’s shoulders physically leading Nyssa the way up the stairs.

Mr Gold stood up as he watched her go and let the blanket slip. Mary’s jaw dropped at the sight of the most feared man in the town standing somewhat almost in flagrante in her house. That was his body? Mary shook her head and blinked in confusion as he just stood there unashamedly in just his white boxers, vest and loose shirt with tousled hair and a cheeky smile. “I guess now there are definitely no secrets between us, eh, Miss Blanchard?”

Blushing Mary shook her head. It was good to know that if he wanted, he could seduce her. Nyssa was first choice though, especially now that she … he did not want to think of that time he had loved and lost in, what seemed like a moment!  

♥x♥x♥x♥x♥

After Mr Gold partook of a good cup of coffee Nyssa walked down the stairs in some of Mary’s clothes. Absolutely stunning in a pale yellow vest top and matching camisole, with a pair of light blue jeans and, he noticed, Emma pinned Nyssa’s hair up so the tendrils curled around her face - framing her cheek bones and highlighting her jaw. It was only now he realised that Nyssa had a heart shaped face.  

Mary had made a wonderful spread - enough to feed at least three other people.

“All right,” Emma said as she bit into some toast, “so tell us more about you!”

Nyssa swallowed down some pancake and looked up: “I have scientific knowledge. A bio-chemical Engineer,” the girls swapped confused glances, surely she was too young to be trained in anything? Let alone such a complicated degree. “But healing is where my heart truly lies. I can make cures for some diseases with the right formula. I have yet to make my own cures though.”

Potion maker too? Mr Gold just thought that science and magic were somewhat alike, at least both were still a highly earned power. Nyssa was increasingly becoming more fascinating by the minute.

“How old are you?” Mary said.

“18,” Nyssa said, gulping down more pancake.

Well, Mr Gold felt doubly pleased with himself. Last night he had started a love affair with an 18 year old beauty who turned out to be extremely clever. “You mentioned someone - a Master?” Emma sipped her coffee, “was he your teacher, In either of your fields?”

“Let the poor woman eat, Miss Swan!” Mr Gold snapped.

“No, it’s all right,” Nyssa said, “No, the Master is an ancient enemy of the Doctor. He is the tyrant that destroyed everything I ever loved,” her voice lowered as she thought of her dear kind father. “He killed my father and took his form to trick me!”

“Took his form?”

“Anything is possible in this infinite Universe Miss Swan, you could have dinner with Merlin and not know!” Mr Gold said. “I could spin straw into gold,” he raised his arm, crooked his elbow and laid

his other hand on the base of the bended arm, whilst moving his head in a fast quirky zigzag type of movement whilst bouncing his eyebrows up and down playfully, “at a price!”

“That’ll be a neat trick!” Emma muttered.

“But how?” Mary asked, “would one spin straw into gold?”

“It was a quip, dear!” Regina really did do a fantastic job on Mary, he sighed, unfortunately.

Nyssa glanced at the two young women and then at Mr Gold. “Devices could be made to change the molecular structure I am sure but - it is scientifically impossible,” everyone glanced at her. “Well, it is!” she said in a small voice.

“So, you were saying about the Master?” Emma said in a ‘anyway’ type of voice.

Prettily, Nyssa lowered her eyes and shifted in her seat: “He possessed the living body of my father - turning him from the most wonderful man in the Universe into a ferocious, destructive, unkind beast!”

Emma shuddered. She thought Henry needed Archie’s help: “The Doctor and The Master’s enmity goes way back - I do not know what started it - I do not know if it will ever be resolved,” Nyssa began shedding tears, Mr Gold noticed and leaned over the counter to brush them aside. “That woman - the one who was harsh with the child?”

“Regina Mills, our most respected Mayor,” Mr Gold said sarcastically.

“Yes, please keep her away from the Doctor!” Nyssa pleaded. “She may want something of his. Something is evil about her.”

“What do you mean?” Mary laughed, “she is harsh and a bit unrelenting but she is not a wicked witch!”

“Depends who you’re talking too,” Emma muttered gulping down some lukewarm coffee.  

“I am somewhat telepathic and an EMPATH - I can sense things that are unusual.”

Now Emma perked up. She could also detect what people were thinking. So, Nyssa was sounding less crazy and a person she could easily be friends with.

“What are you doing today, Nyssa?” Mary asked.

“Whatever the Doctor wants to do, I suppose.”

“You are not tied to the Doctor’s hip, dear,” Mr Gold said to her, “you mentioned last night you did not feel safe and that you needed to be close by someone with a weapon. That’s why I brought you here, due to Miss Swan’s position in our town.”

“Yes, I do,” Nyssa sighed, “and the Doctor hates weaponry!”

“Hang out with me,” Emma said, “you can be a temporary Acting Sergeant or something!”

Nyssa glanced at Emma, there was something dependable about her. Tegan-esque, except for the fact that Emma would actually kill. “All right,” she smiled, “am I dressed all right for such a job?”

“Fine to me,” Emma said with a shrug of her shoulders.

“I have a spare gun, Nyssa,” Mr Gold said with a smile, “if you need it that is!”

Smiling, Nyssa gazed at each of  the three people: “You are the nicest I have met in a long time,” she sighed, “we generally come across people who want to kill us!”

Mr Gold scowled: “That’s INSANE!” He yelled jumping off his seat and glared fiercely at Nyssa: “Who in their idiotic foolishness would want to kill you?”

“You would be surprised about the monsters that are out there in the stars, Mr Gold,” Nyssa sighed.

“Has this Doctor no sense of responsibility to you?” His eyes seemed as if they were aflame, “does he not realise how precious you are as a person?” He thumped his fist on the worktop.

“Actually he does!” Nyssa exclaimed in quick defence of her friend: “He has saved hundreds of civilisations including yours, countless of times, without need of thanks or desire to rule over any of the vanquished. He most certainly does not gloat over the fallen!”

“But not yours?” Mr Gold hissed through his teeth. “Answer me, Nyssa! He did not save yours?”

Emma was shocked at how angry and personal Mr Gold was taking this: “Nyssa, you can…”

“This so called Doctor did. not. save. yours,” Mr Gold said through his teeth. Eyes glared deeply into her soul. She was almost in tears. “This Doctor made sure you were on your own!”

“He saved me!” Nyssa exclaimed. No one had shown that much passion for her - no one! But she was not going to allow anyone accuse the Doctor of being callous. Anger showed in her eyes - they turned icy cold. “He broke some very important laws to do so!”

This calmed Mr Gold down slightly but he still rushed in a limp to her side and wrapped an arm about Nyssa’s shoulders, sniffed in the beautiful coconut and lime scent from the shampoo and kissed the top of her head. Nyssa glanced up into the silent fury still shining in his eyes: “Do not be angry with the Doctor, Mr Gold, he does not want to hurt people. That is why he called himself the Doctor in the first place,” he still was not softening, “why are you taking this so personally?”

“If you were mine to take care of,” he whispered so darkly it almost frightened Nyssa, “I would not let you out of my sight! I would make sure you had protection if I was called away,” he tucked a tendril behind her ear, an action that made Nyssa sigh and tingle with anticipation, “if you were mine, you would have the best kind of security you could possibly imagine,”he murmured. When you are mine, he wanted to say but he did not want to spoil this potential love affair this early. “If you were mine, dear,” he sighed into her ear, the tip of his nose resting on her cheek, “you would not want for anything.”

Quickly, he glanced through the corner of his eyes at the two women staring at him. With a mischievous smile Mr Gold decided to give them something to look at. Gently, he brushed his finger down her nose before following it with his lips. Involuntarily Nyssa raised her fingers to his face and pulled it closer toward her. Slightly parted, dry lips, awaited his. Once their lips met, Mr Gold picked her up from her seat and swung her around whilst kissing her. Slowly lowering her down on the floor. His hands slipping down her back as she slid down his body. Once they finished their moment of intense passion Mr Gold smiled at Mary and Emma winking at them both, cheekily smiling before pecking Nyssa on the nose again.

“I have to go,” he said picking up his coat, “see you later, Nyssa. Have a nice day, Miss Blanchard educate and polish our young” he nodded, Mary had a fork of eggs halfway to her mouth, “Miss Swan, keep out of Regina’s backyard!”

When he reached the door Nyssa rushed to him and turned him around, nervous but with a smile she tiptoed up. Rushed her hands around the back of his head and pulled it down to give him her own kiss. The first kiss she initiated. Mr Gold squeezed her close to his body forgetting where he was. He felt her desire for him growing with each stroke of her sweet tongue inside his mouth. Nyssa did not want to stop it. Revelling in his arms, smiling as she kissed him. Nyssa only stopped when she could not breathe. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

“Well, that was a lovely breakfast,” he said with another playful wink to Mary, “as for you, Nyssa, you listen to everything Miss Swan does,” she nodded, “if you’re a good girl you could get a little present,” he smiled as he left the house adding a parting charming wink to Nyssa as he closed the door.

With a heavy sigh Nyssa spun on her heels and walked back to her breakfast not caring for the following eyes of Mary and Emma until she caught them looking at her rather strangely.

“Is something wrong?” Nyssa asked.

“No!” Mary said, “no, no no no no…”

“You finished?” Emma said with a smile.

“No,” Mary sighed.

The girls laughed together and they finished their breakfasts. Mary glanced at the clock: “Gotta go, otherwise I may be the only teacher in history to apologise to her students for being late.”

“Say hi to Henry for me,” Emma said.

Mary picked up her books and dumped them in her bag, she then flung her coat over her shoulder along with the bag and grabbed her keys: “Goodbye,” she said as she shut the door leaving Emma alone with Nyssa.

“Can you shoot?” Emma asked.

“Yes, but you may need to give me some sort of refresher course, it’s been awhile.”

“No problem,” Emma sighed swinging off the chair and grabbing her own set of coat, bags and keys. Then she slung one of Mary’s spare coats, a bright pink one. Nyssa shrugged it on. “We need to talk about Mr Gold.”

“You mean how wise he is?”

“Wise?”

“Clever, then?”

Shaking her head Emma had to think of a way to tactfully disillusion Nyssa of what she perceived of as his kindness. “Clever yes,” was all Emma said. “Very clever indeed!”

♥x♥x♥x♥x♥

Half an hour later Mr Gold stood at Grannie’s reception. He told her that if she did what he told her to do, she could go one month rent free. Grannie put down the wrapped roll of banknotes and glared at Mr Gold as if a screw had loosened inside his brain: “What would you like me to do, Mr Gold?”

With a smile he leaned his cane on her desk.  Curling his finger he beckoned her forward and he moved closer to so he could whisper in her ear. Ruby chose this time to walk out of the dining room. Puzzled as she watched her grandmother cahooting with the town’s lonesome mafia.

“Right you are, Mr Gold,” she said aloud.

With a smile he gazed back at Ruby. Particularly at the wolf pendant she wore. If only she knew what the wolf really meant to her family, still there will be time for that: “Ruby,” he smiled. Then limped out of the shop.

“Ruby,” her grandmother whispered and urged her over.

“What is it?”

“That Doctor fellow?”

“Yes?”

“Handsome?” Ruby nodded with a sly smile. “Then this is what you must do!”