A/N: This is one of my MANY OUAT what if scenarios and the one I think I REALLY, REALLY wanted to do for the longest time! The idea was so crazy and cute at the same time and I wanted to desperately try it out, so I am. Anyways, what if Rumpelstiltskin adopted Emma, knowing she would break the Dark Curse, but grew to love her? How would the show be then? Just to let you know, this chapter is set when Emma is nineteen years old, but it's filled with flashbacks of her childhood with Gold. Also, I changed it to be Emma would break the curse at nineteen instead of twenty-eight.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time. Like, at all!

The door to Mr. Gold's pawnshop opened abruptly, signaling the ringing of the small bell, causing the owner himself to look up. He was momentarily surprised, but smiled softly at the sight of the one whom opened the door abruptly in the first place. "What on earth are you running from my little imp?"

Even if his adoptive daughter, Emma Gold, was nineteen years old, Gold still called her his little imp; her nickname from when she was a child. He never knew he could love another child as much as he loved his missing son Baelfire, but his relationship with Emma now proved it.

Emma really had matured, and it made Gold grin at how beautiful and independent his adopted daughter was becoming. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her red lipstick along with her fluffy white long-sleeved sweater and tight black pants made her seem even more adult.

Gold's earlier question towards his daughter was about to be answered, until the door swung open to reveal a very angry Mayor Mills, holding a chainsaw in her clenched hand. She growled as she stepped into the shop and stood in front of the pawnshop owner, glaring at Emma whom was standing back behind her father.

"Gold, I am NOT happy with your…. child" spat Regina, still wondering how the Dark One found it in his dark heart to accept a child's love for nineteen years.

Gold merely smirked at the mayor in front of him. "Now Mayor Mills, I'm sure my little imp did nothing wrong."

"Your little imp chopped down my prized apple tree!" yelled Regina, outraged. So much for Emma's maturity.

"I'm sure she had good reason, why don't you go back to your large estate and let me punish Emma properly…. please" added Gold, knowing Regina couldn't resist that word.

Regina hesitated, glaring back and forth between him and his daughter before finally leaving the pawnshop.

Gold turned back towards his adopted daughter and stared at her for a minute before he burst out into laughter. "You are a trip dearie! You know, Regina wasn't too happy with you. You better be careful for the next few days."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, she can't hurt me. Not when I'm around you." She knew all about the Dark Curse. She has known since she was a little girl and she even got the book, "Once Upon a Time" from her birth mother, Snow White, now known as Mary Margaret. "Besides, she deserved it."

"Can't argue with that dearie."

~Flashback~

Mr. Gold was standing in all his suit and tie glory, holding his cane and looking down at the one who will be his one-way ticket to finding his son. Standing in front of him was a little girl with fair white skin, long blonde curls, and bright blue eyes. She was wearing a puffy white blouse with blue jeans and silver boots. She was holding a soft yellow blanket with the name "Emma" sewn into the blanket, obviously giving away her name. She was no more than four years old and seriously shy, given how she was hiding behind the associate.

"Mr. Gold, I'm sorry, Emma is a little shy" said the associate, carefully pushing the little girl towards the intimidating man.

"No worries, hello dearie" said Gold, giving Emma a small smirk. Emma seemed very apprehensive, but walked forward, knowing she was going to stay with the pawnshop owner no matter what. "You may call me Mr. Gold or papa, if you prefer. Though it seems pretty early to call me that." He chuckled and Emma smiled up at him, a little more relaxed.

The associate smiled at their exchanges. "I think she'll be just fine in your care, Mr. Gold."

~End of Flashback~

"Papa, I'm cooking some spaghetti, it'll be ready in a few minutes" said Emma to her papa, whom just walked into the house after a hard day of being the landlord and managing his pawnshop. Gold smiled at the smell and walked over, kissing his adoptive daughter's forehead.

"Much obliged dearie" said Gold, fixing himself and his daughter a plate. "I assume Savior is not joining us for dinner this evening?" Gold was of course talking about the stuffed, white wolf she was given by her adoptive father as a welcome gift all those years ago.

Emma laughed and shook her head. "I haven't done that since I was around seven years old!" The two laughed and Emma developed a reminisce smile on her face. "Do you remember that day? When I came to Storybrooke?"

Gold nodded his head. "I will never forget it, dearie."

~Flashback~

Emma was surveying her new room while Gold stood in the doorway and watched. He managed to buy all the necessary things a female child at her age would like such as sleek white curtains on her window, a soft bed with silk white sheets, a white, gold, and pink fused blanket, along with fluffy white pillows with gold stitched lining. Of course, Emma had an empty closet and dresser that would, no doubt, be filled with many clothes. There was also a fuzzy, white rug in the center of the room and the walls were white. Emma looked in awe at her new room, not believing she could have something so nice.

Gold knew what she was thinking and chuckled. "It's all your dearie. Of course, we'll have to find you some clothes later on and perhaps a few toys but- "

The pawnshop owner was interrupted by a small figure hugging him from below. He looked down to see Emma hugging him and smiling up at him. "Thank you!"

Gold's heart clenched a bit and he decided that now would be the best time to give the little girl her gift. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a stuffed white wolf that had a light gray color in the inside of his ears and a small pink tongue sticking out.

"A welcome gift for you, dearie" said Gold, carefully handing it to her. Emma squealed and hugged it to her, moving her body side to side as she did so. Gold smiled at the reaction and thought that having the Savior around for nineteen years wouldn't be all that bad. He could get used to being a father again.

~End of Flashback~

"Do you think Regina is on to me?" Emma asked after dinner, out of the blue. She was sitting in the living room beside her papa, whom was just deep in thought.

"Hard to say dearie" said Gold honestly. "Even if she was on to you, she wouldn't be able to stop you from breaking the curse."

Emma sighed exasperatingly. "How DO I break the curse!? I don't have any magic, YOU don't have any magic, and I don't even know where my own birth father is! I have no idea where to start!" She felt a soothing hand on her shoulder as she ranted.

"Calm down dearie, you'll find your answers soon enough" assured Gold. He then developed a familiar smirk on his face. "I overheard Ms. Blanchard saying how she was going to be reading to some comatose patients at the hospital tomorrow morning. Why don't you join her?"

Emma thought about that idea. She usually loved spending time with her birth mother, getting to know her. Maybe she could even find out more information on how to break the curse. If not for her own sake, then for her papa's. She knew why papa wanted to break the curse. He needed to find his biological son, Bae. If the curse breaks, he can go find him and bring him home. His heart would be complete.

Emma finally nodded her head. "Okay, I'll do that then."

Gold smiled and kissed his adoptive daughter's forehead. "I'm sure it'll be worth it."