Take me further down the forbidden path.
Starts off slightly different than how the show went then gets progressively more different. Still do enjoy and be mindful it can and will be a dark story at times.
main things you should know but will learn is that Emma is experienced with magic before entering Storybrooke and that this is a Swan Queen story. I will get to the back story but this is just the beginning of a long dark road.
Rain pittered and pattered down quite expectantly and ironically on everyone standing out in the cemetery today. A common theme for occasions such as burying a friend or family member so many people brought their umbrellas. Everyone except the pretty blonde that was so caught up in the grieving emotions that when she left her flat she hadn't even thought about the possibility of rain. Her boss and as close to a best friend as she could get these past years died just a few days ago. She wasn't capable of thinking straight today.
It was a wonder how she managed to even get up this morning but she knew out of old its of pushing her feelings away. The truth was she knew she shouldn't have let herself get attached he was just such a nice guy. He gave her the job as part of a criminal recuperation program. Or so he said but she knew it was because he thought she could be better. All 10 years of working with him she did try to be better. She may have moved around a lot but she was still his girl for any job.
In respects of his kindness to her she took on one last job free of charge much like when she started and he gave her a place to stay on the office couch. The job was simple a mans wife posted bail after he embezzled from his business only to ditch the court date so he could hide and save himself from being tossed into jail. To bad now his wife would be draining whatever he had left for his alimony no doubt.
After a day of doing some serious searching for the man and snooping around to find out more about him she found him online looking for another poor soul to suck money from of this the blonde was sure. Men like him they are so common anymore. It was quite easy to pretend to be interested and get the man to meet her at a restaurant to get to know each other.
The way he arrived could have made her laugh he obviously was worried about spending a lot of money. To save him further torture she made her way to the table. She smooths out her dress as she does so shyly. Inside somewhere she realizes this is her last job for Dennise which make her sad but she keeps it just barely buried beneath the surface.
"Hi Emma." She took his hand an accidentally gripped too hard without noticing.
"Ryan" she stated back as he settled down again. "You look relieved."
"Well it is the Internet I'm glad you look like your picture." They share a laugh. Emma sits an then sniffs he preset wine and decides to let it sit a little more while she prodded this man till he was right where she wanted him. "So Emma tell me about yourself."
"Hmm well today is my birthday." Which was true she was 28 today.
"And you're spending it with me?" He asked slightly surprised at this news. "Not your friends?"
"Ooh I'm kind of a loner."
"I'm guessing you don't like your family." He asks
"no family to like." This was also true as she was an orphan.
"That can't be true everyone has family."
"True but not everyone knows them" Emma stated and just as she suspected it made him let his guard down more with something sad like this. Deciding to change the subject and move along soon she laughed at his flirt about how she was a hot orphan and continued to ask him about himself. "So why don't you tell me more about you?" Ryan swallows nervously, this would have made her feel bad for the guy if she didn't know what kind of man her really was. A slime ball.
"Oh wait let me guess!" She cheered excitedly almost child like. "You are handsome charming..." He plays shy and let's her continue. "Stop me if I'm wrong of course." Emma then goes over his past week as of late. "You embezzled from your job and skipped town so you could avoid being tossed in jail. The worst part is you have a loving wife who posted your bail and you are on a date." Instantly Ryan feels foolish. It's written all over his face as he shakes his head.
"who are you?"
"The chick the paid the rest of your post."
"You're a bailbonds man."
"bailbonds person." Emma said nonchalantly with a shrug only for seconds later the table to flip thankfully not much on it. She sighed at the man attempt to run. She wasn't stupid and expected this so she calmly left since there was no way she was running in high heels. She was lucky to have managed as long as she has seeing how she had never really worn any before. Making it outside she watched as the man tried moving his car oblivious to the reason why it wouldn't budge.
As Emma reached his car his only attempt to bribe her failed as she suggest he save what nonexistent money he might have and that it should be used to take care of his family. With one last bitter comment from him about her having no family she recklessly took him by his collar behind his head and smacked his face directly into the stearring wheel. He fell unconscious not actually the worst thing simply because she could turn him in without listening to him blabbering on the whole time.
No more than an hour later she made it home just in time to kick off her heels and celebrate the last remaining two and a half hours of her birthday alone with one single cupcake. Pretty much the way she had spent her years since leaving the system. The simple way her hand took a match from the box an lit it without the need to strike it brought a smile to her face immediately as she lit the candle with the match.
"Happy birthday to me." She mumbled sadly. She closed her eyes and wished like she did every year to not be alone anymore. Of course every year it always turned out the same, lonely, except this time a second after making this wish she heard her doorbell ring. Emma cursed from surprise then again when the peep hole revealed nothing. Perhaps just a package left for her although it was rather late for a delivery.
She swung the door open only to be extremely surprised at the sight of a little boy on her door step. Seconds felt like eternity because for some reason she felt like she knew this boy. He didn't seem fazed at all as he smiled politely before speaking.
"Are you Emma Swan?" He asked.
"I am...can I help you?" Emma asked even though her gut was telling her to run.
"I'm Henry your son." He stated as if it made everything better. Obviously he had run away thinking she would be a better option. If only she had managed the same thing with her own parents.
"I don't have a son sorry." She tried closing the door only for the kid to stop her with his foot and hand.
"Did you have a kid 10 years ago. That was me." He was grinning again. He could tell there was recognition in her eyes maybe because he knew he'd won. And didn't hesitate entering her small apartment.
"Alright so what about your parents I'm sure they are very worried about where you are right now." She tries and watches as his chin sinks to his chest and his shoulders drop.
"It's just my mom and I but she doesn't miss me."
"I'm sure she does kid she loves you." Without knowing for sure all she could do was say what she hoped was true. It was almost as similar to what people said to her when she ran away which only made the guilt in her stomach churn more. She was close to barfing, she needed air so she ran into the bathroom on the excuse of changing. She needed to but first she gulped down a few deep breaths.
It was clear she had to find away to get him home with out this getting her in trouble but any suggestion she made the boy shot down. If she had to send him home he would have it no other way than her driving him. One hell of a way to spend her birthday but as it went on it seemed her birthday wish was going to come true as the two ended up climbing into her car. she couldn't help wondering if she had willed it so but the last time something big happened from her magic without her trying was when she found her ex girlfriend in bed with a man. That was a few years ago and since then she kept her control. Besides in no way in any certain terms did she ask for her long lost son to come out of no where.
The trip from Boston to Maine took almost right up until the end of the night. All of those few hours she tried make what only turned in awkward small talk with the kid which he told her his name was Henry. Some time just before midnight she drove over the town line of a town she'd never heard of except when Henry had mentioned it. At the time Storybrooke sounded like something straight out of his fairy-tales book that he carried around. unlike when she asked were he lived Henry was most unwilling to share which house was his. probably afraid of getting in trouble now that he was that much closer to facing his mother. This again brought Emma's worry about the boys home life to the front of her mind.
Her frustrations showed as she pulled over abruptly and stepped out off the car Henry choosing to follow quickly not sure what was going to happen. Emma turned on her heels to face him. Though his clever come back of his street name was very good she did not like being played with especially when she could be at her place right now trying to celebrate her birthday alone with a cold beer before passing out either on the couch or the bed eventually.
"look kid I don't like being lied to and I know you're lying okay its like my super power. So you better tell me the truth this time because I can't be keeping you out here all night." Emma said not able to keep the concern from her tone. Henry swallowed hard pretty sure his mom was not kidding. Just as he was about to admit where he lived to her they heard a voice call out.
"Henry? Henry!" The voice came followed by a bark both of which came from behind Henry. Mother and son look back to see a ginger haired man and his Dalmatian dog. "what are you doing out here. we've talked about speaking to strangers Henry. who is this?"
"i'm Emma his... um I just found him outside of town an I'm trying to him home. which is where?" the man looked skeptical and judged his answer to her question based on Henry's openness to the blonde woman.
"We will talk about this next session okay but its best you get home. your mother must be worried by now."
"She's not my mom she is the evil queen." Henry said sounding very frustrated at hearing him say mother.
"These fairy-tales again and we have talked about lying Henry, she is your mother." the man said it more professionally like than friendly before facing Emma and telling her he was the mayor's kid. it was the biggest white house on the block just little further down the main road. "108 Mifflin street, the mayoral mansion." With that the two tucked into the car again where Emma could easily tell the situation had been pretty awkward.
"So who was that? He in your book too?"
"sure he's jimmy cricket."
"Ah the whole lying thing gotcha." out of habit Emma lets her sarcasm slip out making Henry more than a little annoyed as he said.
"That would be Pinocchio." She could have smacked her own head for that but instead she quickly drove off in the direction of the mayor's place. it seemed very likely Henry has been taken care of at least. Unfortunately that didn't mean she paid enough attention to him. as she pulled up the the place she couldn't help but wonder if the woman even knew her son was missing yet. Henry was still unwilling to leave but at a last attempt to make him see her point that his mother was just trying her best he ran from the car just as a beautiful brunette come running outside to pick him up in a hug. She most certainly was concerned about his well being. she got out the car herself just in time to hear him yell at her and tell the woman exactly who she was to him.
"You're Henry's birth mother." she was surprised as well as taken back by the words Henry said to her. in a way Emma felt terrible she was spoken to like that but there had to be a reason right? perhaps she could poke into who she was once she got back home. First she figured it wouldn't hurt to play nice and get a good feel for the woman while she was here.
"hi" Emma nervously said not finding much else come to mind as she opened her mouth. Best part of her mess up was the smile that came as she offered a drink.
"How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted." The brunette invited her in for a drink but all Emma could say after her night was.
"you have anything stronger." the two shared a smile. The authority figure man whom Emma noticed earlier had returned inside to check on Henry after he ran inside was headed out already just as soon as both women entered the house together. As if with perfect timing for the situation though Emma was trying not think about being alone with the beautiful brunette to much. It felt surprisingly nice to be spending time with the one person who raised Henry. The two made their way into a study and took the other in while glasses where being filled. The amber rich color filled only half way before beginning to shift the ice around and then being passed to Emma. Regina openly expressed her concern on if Emma was going to be a problem or even perhaps the father of their son.
fortunately for both of them and Henry said father was not involved in her life nor did he know anything about her ever having a baby. She had no intention of making him apart of this if she even decided to visit again. Emma knew it was up to Regina and she was yet to sure if it was even best to make promises she probably couldn't keep. the way Regina said her name though was making her want to all the more.
"So Miss. Swan what line of work are you in that makes you capable of driving my son all the way out here from..?"
"Boston and I'm a bails bond person." at this the brunette looked flabbergasted by the distance her son had gone then almost disgusted by her line of work.
"You're a bounty hunter."
"Yes ma'am how about you? you have a nice place here. you and your husband must have done a great job together." again disgust crossed her face.
"Its Regina, Mayor Mills, or Madam Mayor but most certainly there is no Mrs. before." within moments her tone of voice changed again to a much softer one. "I've done my best to try taking care of Henry and work his whole life. I've managed and im glad you can see he is safe here. He may be a little misunderstood by his classmates since they see me as the big and bad mayor but not to worry Ms. Swan I have been helping Henry the best I can. He was always really happy with me I don't know what has gotten into him as of late but i assure you it won't happen again."
"Kids will be kids i can see he is so wrapped up in his book but that should pass right."
"What book?" Regina looked lost if nothing else but all this told Emma was that it was probably the one thing Henry would hide from her if he truly believed in all this fantasy stuff.
"Oh nothing I guess just something about fairy-tales. you don't know about it?"
"No but none the less you can return safely to you life in Boston with no worries of my son." The way she said this sent shivers down Emma's back. yes she planned on leaving but the way this woman made her feel despite the underlying threats made her all the more willing to stay. Though she could hardly find a reason right now. so with the slight threat lingering in the air Emma accepted it as her que to leave. as she left she looked one last time at henry whom she could feel watching her through a window of the upper floor. He looked so hurt that she was leaving and had given no promise of staying.
Half way out of the town Emma got to thinking there had to be something she could do to keep her son happy even though she would likely not be welcomed to come back. At the town line nothing had come to mind and she figured she would have plenty of time to think on it on the way home. That was before she was forced to slam on her brakes due to something sitting in the middle of the rode. A wolf that looked fearless even when the loud screech of her tires was followed by an even louder bang of her car hitting a tree. She was disoriented as she looked all over for the wolf and found nothing. She cursed wonder how long she would have to sit waiting for help. Since she had no numbers to call and no way back into to town other than walking an it was best not to leave her car with a wolf on the lose. Thus eventually she sat in the car letting her throbbing head drag her into a slumber.
Next she awoke in a cold cell pretty sure that no one had given her a check up because her head was killing her like a huge hangover. Most likely from the impact. Emma rolled from the cot and let her feet rest on the floor while she stretched out. A throat cleared somewhere in the open area beyond the cell. The fact an officer was there didn't really surprise her but she acknowledged him by walking to the bars an laying eyes on the same man from last night. Sitting behind a desk. Resting on the desk was a name plate that read.
Sheriff : Graham Humbert
Not that Emma cared for his name but she spoke up trying to give a good impression.
"Sheriff Humbert right? When can I get out of here I need to head home."
"Well when Madame Mayor gets her I can let you go but she has some questions for you so I can't yet." Although it made completely no sense she didn't argue pointlessly. Thankfully she didn't have to wait long after she pushed off the bars a little frustrated until rhythm of heels clicking came from the entry hallway. They were Regina's, who's stare made Emma feel the need to stand more dominantly.
"Miss Swan," Regina started with a sneer and disgusted look pouring off her. "Where is Henry."
"You don't know?" Was this woman suddenly incapable of keeping track of her son. Perhaps she was to involved with someone to pay attention anymore. Emma's eyes instinctively started watching how these two interacted. Was Graham dating her? It almost made her pity the mother of her son because she could do so much better than him. "Have you checked with his friends?" She asked trying to be helpful. Regina rolled her eyes of course she had.
"He doesn't have many as I said everyone just sees me as a harsh mayor and he finds it hard to make friends with people that are scared of me." She almost sounds hurt which makes Emma feel bad for bringing it up again instead of remembering.
"If you want I can help you find him. I find people, it's what o do." This was something you was use to saying but here with Regina right there it feels so cliche and almost likely to make her seem to soft. So she quickly toughens up as Regina clenches her jaw at the phrase. "if you let me out I can find him by his personal items at home or his computer." Emma then leans back arms crossed waiting for the inevitable nod from Regina that makes the sheriff unlock the cell door.
"Lead the way then Madam Mayor." She followed the brunette not hiding her falling gaze to woman's backside to Graham. Though clearly he too was eyeing her much more objectively than she was so he didn't notice anyways. So far it was obvious at least one of them liked the other even if it was just physically. At least Emma found the fire in Regina extremely attractive not just the way her rear end swayed as she left the building.
Once they reached the mayoral estate Emma was lead up stairs to Henry's room. She could tell he only ever had everything he could possblewant or need an unintentionally found envy seeping in her chest. Quickly though she pushed it down and sought out his trash, under his mattress, and his computer. The only thing she could find was a few hidden drawings of the supposed evil queen Henry called Regina and his computer though the history was cleared she knew he wasn't that smart to clean it from the hard drive. Graham looked surprised when she explained this and pulled out her personal flash drive with special software to help with this.
"I'm guessing this is how he found me," she noted pulling up multiple files that showed a find your mom website it was filled in with a credit card and name. "Do you know who.. Mary-Margret Blanchard is?"
"She's Henry's teacher, she helped him?"
"Guess there is only one way to find out." She said collecting her flash drive and leaving a way to impressed sheriff behind. He scampered behind them until Regina grabbed her keys at which point she scolded him for his lack of ability to find this yesterday and told him to return to work and she would let him know when they had found Henry. Emma smirked as she climbed in the mayors Mercedes seeing how her car had been damaged in last nights incident.
Pulling up to the school it appeared the kids were out for a break giving them enough private time with to ask her questions without the kids. She looked slightly surprised to see Regina and even more to see Emma fooling just behind her. Emma waited actually slightly interested to see Regina snap like a mama bear searching for her cub. The chipper woman simply smiled and welcomed them both in.
"Mayor Mills and..."
"I'm-"
"She's his birth mother now Where is Henry?" Regina cut in thankfully because Emma was still not sure how to label herself or even if she wanted to label herself just yet,
"I thought he was off today sick..birth mother? He actually found you..wow"
"No you idoit he is not." Emma decided to step in before the poor woman had her head chewed off.
"So you did help Henry find me." The woman frowned not sure what the blonde meant.
"What do you mean? Of course not."
"Right so you didn't give Henry your credit card to use on a find your mom website."
"No! Oh my goodness." She sprinted off to her purse and found of course her card was gone. She frowned at this but looked up ready to assure them she didn't know. Emma couldn't step in even if she wanted to to stop Regina from closing in on the shorter woman.
"You Miss Blanchard best hope I find him. I should have your head let alone your job. You are to close to your students." She stormed off barely touching a pile of books that fell moments after she pasted them.
As politely as she could Emma stooped down to help. The lady quickly thanked her and tried ever so slightly to make her feel as if Regina was not normally like this and was much kinder than most gave her credit for. Of course she was Emma would have been just as harsh if not more.
"Look lady she's not wrong you should be more careful." Emma glared handing her the last book. She was about to turn when the teacher said something else.
"Try the old beach playground, the castle." Emma looked at her like she should explain further and she did. "It's his favorite place." As if it was a side note not really meant for her she mutter "I should never have given him that book."
"You.. You gave him that book. Why?"
"It was harmless fairytale they are meant to give hope and he had so many questions about himself and his real parents. I thought it would help since he didn't have a lot of friends and he struggled with the one question all foster kids struggle with.. Why would his parents not want him." Then as if suddenly realizing her words she fumbled to apologize. Emma though she had to bit her tongue mostly said it was whatever and left the room as quickly as possible.
Far down the shore line sat a small castle just as Mary Blanchard had said. Though Regina left without her so wrapped up in her mood Emma promised herself shed find Henry and bring him home. Sure enough as she sat next to Henry the silence was heavy between them.
"Look kid.. Henry, do you know why I gave you up?" She asked not able to get the teachers word out of her mind. He shook his head. "I didn't no.. I could give you everything you needed or wanted. I couldn't raise you by myself and I wanted to give you your best chance. You have that. Your mom she loves you."
"No she doesn't she hates me and she is evil."
"She isn't evil kid. Has she ever hit you, has she not fed you, clothed you, kept you from a place to sleep and shower. Made you not go to school and learn. No kid she hasn't. Evil is being hit, being left for dead on the side of the road as an infant, evil is not being fed for days and having to fight to keep living." As quickly as her anger slipped she silenced herself as soon as she could but the damage was done. He looked at her shocked and saddened. She had shot down his feelings and told him he could have it worse. She hadn't let him feel as if his feelings meant something.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. It's just i see a good home for you and you don't seem to care about how much she has done for you. I wanted to give your best chance and I thought maybe you just didn't know that if I had raised you it wouldn't have been this good."
"Maybe but I would have still had you." And damn did that not tear her heart up a lot hearing this. Eventually the two climbed down and made their way to Regina's not really talking to much as they did. Henry opened up a little more about the book and how he was sure she was the savior come to break a curse on the town. The town had been frozen in time for 28 years. She didn't tell him this was impossible simply because she had crushed enough of his spirit once today. Plus did she really know if it was impossible no. Heck she lit her own match the night before. That was not really something you do if you didn't believe magic was possible.
Maybe Regina was like her. What if Henry was right and she tried to impress her with her magic a little the two might find themselves finally having someone else like themselves. Emma didn't have much time to think about what to do as they approached the house and Henry hugged his mom feeling overcome by what Emma said even for just a moment. She was surprised but smiled feeling her son hug her for the first time since he had found out he was adopted.
Emma of course was happy to see this until she thought maybe she had really over done it on the guilt tripping. She looked Regina in the eye as she hugged Henry. Her eyes slipped closed as she enjoyed the moment. Though it was quick as Henry decided he wasn't that forgiving and ran off again. As Regina opened her eyes Emma held her gaze and waited until the other woman was ready to speak before walking closer up the walkway to the door.
"thank you again for bringing my son home."
"No problem Regina I just want to say sorry I may have gone to far trying to explain to him he has it good here. I had it much worse growing up and you have taken such good care of him I can tell. It made me mad that he sees you like everyone else here does."
"oh?" Her lips parted in a curious expression.
"Evil, you're not evil though. You're like a damage rose Busch." An so with a flick of her hand a rose appeared. Like magic well it was magic but to anyone that doesn't know magic very well it looked like a very good illusion. "It grows back stronger with a few thorns to protect itself." Regina took the rose that was handed to her without looking down at it to see there truly was thorns on it. She gave a slight wince just before the brunette pulled her finger into her mouth to suck the fresh cut still lost in Emma's emerald green eyes. Emma knew she knew and the two shared that moment before it was shattered by a cell phone ringtone.
"Yes sheriff." Regina answer her phone with pop of her finger from between her lips. Emma blinked free of her daze quickly and blushed as the brunette's back was to her. "Oh yes Miss Swan did an excellent job finding him and brought him home again just moments ago... Yes. Of course.. No! Now have a good day mr. Humbert." She sighs as she clicks the phone closed and faces Emma once more.
"Uh right so I should go."
"Oh.. Are you leaving town tonight." Honestly Emma hadn't thought much about staying but Henry did beg her just for a week and Emma really did want tot get to know Henry and and Regina more. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea.
"well I have to look and see how long car repairs will take so not tonight but I will be soon maybe."
"maybe?" Regina repeated questioningly.
"Well the kids wanted me to stay for a week I didn't see the harm plus we cou-"
"Let me make this clear I'm thankful you brought Henry home to me but that is not an ivintation into his life. I have cared for him all his life. Changed his diapers, soothed every fever, was here for every tantrum and every good day while you were where? Not here. I expect you to leave my town as soon as your car is able Ms. Swan no later." Emma gulped and backed away not ready to fight with the woman that just crushed the stem of her rose full of thorns without even flinching. Clearly Emma had stepped over a line.
it took her an hour before she found the bed and breakfast and rented a room for the night. As awkward as the welcome was between Ruby (a rebellious granddaughter) granny (clearly a typical loving grandmother type) and gold (the real shady landlord) she was just glad to be crawling into bed for a real nights sleep after such a long day. Her last thoughts were of how she may really stay that week just to see what would happen between her and Regina and she slumbered wondering if Regina truly knew Emma's secret like she suspected she might. Did Regina know she could do magic.
reviews please!
I'm so excited to see what you all think. I'm really only getting at least two chapters written before posting this story but it's going to to be a long one I hope.