In Maine, of a small town called Storybrooke, lived a older gentleman named Mr Gold. A widower and lonely man in the small village. He use to have everything, but lost it all a month ago. All his friends in the village supported him. Emma Swan his daughter-in-law, Henry Mills his grandson, Regina the mayor and good friend, David the sheriff, David's wife Mary Margret, Geppetto the carpenter, Granny and her granddaughter Ruby.

Being alone and coming home to no one, hurt the old man, and Regina could see it. He even wasn't himself anymore. Mr Gold use to be happy and loving and caring, until he lost his everything. That's when she called him to her office in city hall.

"You wanted to see me, Miss Mills?" Gold asked.

"Yes. Mr Gold, you have changed since...you know, and I think the only best thing to do to make you happy again is to foster a child."

Mr Gold was surprised. Foster a child!? He wasn't a fatherly type. Not that he didn't like children, but his past was really bad that made him feel he wasn't fatherly material.

"Regina? You sure? I'm not the..."

"Yes I know, but it will do you some good. Besides all the women here are taken or too young like Ruby."

"You didn't have to say that." Mr Gold frowned.

"Anyway, I just think raising a boy or girl will do you some good. The town even agrees. It's the best thing to do to move on since-"

"Alright alright, I will do it," Mr Gold sighed. He didn't want to be reminded of what happened a month ago. The day...she...

Mr Gold signed up for Foster Care, but it didn't help. Every child he raised he was nice and kind, but it still didn't help him. He was just waiting for it to be over. But one day it would change with one child.

One Year Later

Sarah was alone now in the play room. All the other kids were afraid of her because of her face. She even had bruises and scars from the other families. Until she saw a man walked in the room with a cane. She quickly looked down sadly once he noticed her.

Sarah quickly looked down, but one of the kids came to the head lady of the staff, "Miss Roberts, the scar girl was picking on me and the other kids."

That was a lie. Sarah never talked or even hang out with the other kids all because they were afraid of her. She looked away and had a sad expression. She had remained silent since her last foster family. She had been through so much pain and didn't want any more. She lost trust again.

"She doesn't look like a bully," the man suddenly said, "she looks more like the victim of bullying."

"Uh, yes, but Sarah has had many problems," Miss Roberts said.

The man looked thoughtful, "so have I. Maybe we'd get along well together."

"Yes but, Mr Gold-"

Mr Gold ignored her and walked over to Sarah, "You might not be real happy if you come to live with me, but I'm sure you'd be happier than living here."

Sarah looked up at him shyly. She wanted to go to him, but she was scared to. He held his hand out to her to take. She hesitated to take it, but then did take it.

Hours later, they came to a small town called Storybrooke in Maine. He then pulled out to a mansion little out of the town. He lived here? He must be rich.

Once they got inside he showed her around. The mansion was huge. As he led her upstairs, carrying her case he gestured to all the doors.

"There's five bedrooms so you can choose whichever one you want. I work through the day a shop I own in town. So you'll have the place all to yourself."

"...," she then nodded.

He then sighed setting her bag down. She wanted to speak, but still afraid to. So she kept quiet. He led her upstairs to the bedrooms in the hallway. She noticed at the end of the hallway a master bedroom which she assumed was his. So she picked the bedroom across. She opened it and saw it was a big bedroom. It was definitely bigger than her old rooms. Hers back at her real home. The Joker's warehouse...the foster homes (mainly they forced her to sleep in a shed or the garage) this...this was perfect.

Mr Gold went back downstairs and began making dinner for them both. Sarah grabbed a notebook and her pencils and set them on the desk. She then wrote her full name to him and all the things she liked and even her birthday.

My name is Sarah Thomas

I'm 15 years old and my birthday is April 6th 1997

My favorite food is, spaghetti, Chinese food, French fries, cheese curds, lemonade

I love going to the fair or carnival, I haven't been to one since I was 13 years old with my mom.

I don't know how, but I know I lost my parents, and I think I know who did it. The police won't tell me how they left...

She then hid the note in a locked journal she had since her 10th birthday given by her mother. She then went to her Joker doll and held him close. She missed Joker. She walked to the window and looked out the nice green courtyard sadly.

"Ahem," Gold coughed slightly, as he was stood in the doorway and it was open, "sorry to interrupt...I see you like your doll."

"...," she then nodded turning to him. She squeezed the Joker doll tightly.

"It looks familiar...he used to be...a bit of a celebrity before he vanished. Are you a fan?"

"....," it was more than that, but she nodded again.

"I'm guessing you saw him on tv. I've heard teenagers have crushes on bad boys," he chuckled, "did you make the doll yourself?"

She shook her head. She tried to speak instead she pointed the doll and then to her trying to tell him Joker gave it to her.

"Oh, somebody made him for you," Gold smiled "that's nice. Sorry for talking so much about a doll. I suppose I'm just trying to get to know you."

Sarah shrugged saying she didn't mind. She grabbed paper and one of her pencils and wrote telling him she met Joker and he gave her the doll.

Gold raised his eyebrows reading this, "you met him. Gosh that must've been scary for you. Him being a clown. But he must be nice if he gave you a gift."

She then wrote, "he saved me."

"...ah" Gold felt bad for her because she'd been through a lot of trauma, but he smiled slightly, "so he's your hero in a way."

She nodded. She gripped the doll more. She then looked down at the floor remembering the unspeakable things, the beating. She instantly covered her scar on her cheek shaking and tearing up.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry," he handed her his hanky, "maybe we can make some new memories. Better ones. The pain is all in the past now."

She took it and wiped her tears away. She then nodded, that's when he noticed the huge scar on her cheek forming a half smile.

(Can't show the image. Even if it's fake Wattpad will make this chapter unpublished, but you can imagine it. Just look up Heath Ledger's scar makeup and there you go)

He felt even more bad for her now, but he acted like he hadn't noticed, "well, dinner is ready. I hope you like it. I'm not much of a cook."

She nodded and followed him setting her doll on the bed. Dinner was quiet, but it was good, she hadn't eaten anything for a long time that tasted good. Most of the time in the warehouse she barley ate for a week. At the foster homes she was only allowed to eat once a day.

Once it was bedtime, Sarah finished taking a shower and got into her pajamas. She wrote in her journal until she heard a knock on the door. She quickly hid the journal under her pillow and knocked on her nightstand saying it was ok to come in.

"I just wanted to say goodnight," Gold said as he opened the door, "I hope you sleep well,"

Sarah then nodded her head. He really seemed nice. Maybe...she could trust him. It's only been one day. Most of the foster homes were like this. She just nodded again trying to smile. He then shut the door. Of course...no hug...no goodnight kiss. Some what she was expecting those things, but what she expect? She wasn't living here. She wouldn't be loved.

Sarah laid her head on the pillow holding her joker doll and tried to sleep, but...she couldn't. She was afraid to. What if she had more nightmares and scream making him mad? She didn't want Mr Gold mad...

She dozed off unaware of it, but instantly she woke up panicking and shaking. She must've screamed also because she heard footsteps rushing into her bedroom. She whimpered shaking afraid she was gonna be yelled at, but that didn't happen.

Mr Gold came in the room and came to her. She was shaking and scared he would yell now. But he didn't. He sat on the side of the bed. She then felt his hand on her head brushed her hair back. She looked up at him surprised. He then spoke, "You ok? Was it a nightmare?"

She nodded tearing up more.

Mr Gold picked up the doll and handed it to her. "It's ok, I won't let anything happen to you. It was just a nightmare." He then tucked Sarah into bed. Sarah really wanted to hug him badly, or have him hug her. She wanted someone to really comfort her.

After he tucked her in, he got up and walked out of the room. Sarah held the doll close to her and stay up the rest of the night, afraid to fall asleep again.

Morning came and Sarah got dressed sleepily. She made her bed and set the Joker doll on the pillow. She then came out once she was dressed and her bed made. Mr Gold was making breakfast and smiled seeing her, but his smile dropped seeing Sarah was sleepy. He never noticed before, but he could see the bags under her eyes more grayer now. She must've never sleep because of her nightmares.

Sarah rubbed her eyes to make herself awake.

"Didn't sleep well?"

She shook her head sadly.

He guessed why, but didn't bother. "Well I made you breakfast. I have to go to work now. If you're bored you can watch tv. There is frozen food you can make like French fries, nuggets, make a sandwich there's lunch meat in the fridge. That pork loin in the fridge is for supper tonight. I will be home at 5." He patted her head as he grabbed his cane and walked out the door.

Sarah finished and washed the dishes. She decided to clean the house and once that was done it was 12 pm. She decided to have potatoes ready for tonight so she peeled, and chopped them and soaked them in the water. She went to his den to clean up. She then stopped coming to his desk and saw a picture frame of him and a woman. She seemed younger than him. Like 30 and they looked so happy.

She quickly put it back and continued to clean.

Around 5pm Mr Gold came in, "Sarah I'm...," he stopped and smelled something good. He came into the dinning room and found supper set. And the house was clean. Sarah had everything set for them.

"Wow...I didn't expect this. You didn't have to do anything here you know. But I appreciate it."

Sarah tried to smile and nodded. She pulled a chair for him, but he chuckled.

"You don't have to do that," he then pulled her chair. She blushed, but came and sat down. He pushed her in and then sat down. He then sat beside her and they started to eat. He was shocked how well of a cook she was. Sarah was worried by his expression.

"You really made this all? It's delicious."

She then smiled. Her smile was different than how she always smiled. He was glad he made her happy.

After dinner Sarah washed the dishes and got ready for bed again. Once she was in her pajamas, she went to Mr Gold. He was in his den and she knocked on the door.

Gold heard her and turned around. He noticed her glance at the picture again on his desk. He then picked it up.

"That's Belle, she was my wife, but also...the love of my life. She...she's gone now," he said sadly.

Sarah felt bad for him. She wanted to hug him, but afraid to. She took off her heart locket and hand it to him showing her parents inside. David her father looked like he wasn't a good loving father in the picture, but Emilia her mother looked loving and caring and sweet woman.

Mr Gold smiled slightly looking at the picture, "your mother looks like she cared for you very much. I'm sorry...for your loss."

He felt awkward, but he then gave her a hug. Sarah was surprised, but she wanted this so she hugged him back gripping on his jacket. Soon he let go and walked with her upstairs to her bedroom.

"Well...goodnight, Sarah. I hope you sleep well. If you have a nightmare, call out and I'll come," he said as he tucked her in. He then shyly placed a kiss on the top of her forehead.

Sarah blushed, but slightly smiled. She then nodded. But before he walked out, she grabbed his jacket. He then turned. She got up and hugged him.

Gold was surprised, but it made him smile. He was glad she felt more comfortable around him now. He then picked her up and laid her in bed. She then kissed his cheek which made him smile again.

"Alright. You sleep now ok? If you need me...I'm just across the hall, ok?"

She nodded. Mr Gold then smiled and tucked her in and kissed her ontop of her head again. He took his cane and walked out of the room. He even closed the door after he shut the light off.

Sarah sighed holding her doll. She then rolled over to face the window. She was missing Joker. Where was he?

Sarah didn't know it, but Joker, real name Arthur Fleck, had been locked up in Arkham. He hated it. The days dragged on, he was mostly kept in solitary confinement on the secure ward. He never had visitors. Who would visit? Jackson at least, but they kept denying his requests to visit because they suspected he was a former member of Joker's gang.

As he lay in his cot, he gazed up at the high barred window of his cell. He could see the stars, and it made him miss the outside world. He felt like he was going to really go crazy if he stayed here for another 30 years.

Just then he heard a rustling sound and looked up. He noticed a small piece of paper had been slipped beneath his door. Quickly he got up and unfolded it. He then blinked and read it again. It said:

"I love you.  HQ xxx"

HQ.....? Wait. It couldn't be....Harleen Quinzel! She was a fellow inmate who had been giving him strange looks whenever he was allowed in the social room. The note had to be a joke.