Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story.
Alternate Universe Fan Fiction, T rating may change later.
This story can also be found on Ao3 under username JeSuisLisette
Some people say there is nothing quite like New York City in the fall. Leaves richly tinted with shades of yellow, orange, and red clinging stubbornly to the trees, frantic people in business suits clinging stubbornly to their cell phones, and the eager voices of children getting on the school bus dancing happily on the cooling breeze. This is what Emma Swan thought as she made her way to work one autumn morning. Not to mention, it was the perfect weather for her signature red leather jacket, which Emma rarely left her apartment without.
It was just like any other morning, as Emma turned left to find herself on the familiar street where she had been working for the past 5 years. She smiled to herself when she saw a white sign hanging off the building ahead that read "Painted Heart" in purple calligraphy. Emma worked as a shop assistant in a children's arts and craft store where parents could purchase age-appropriate craft kits and arts supplies as well as art lessons for their kids. Despite their business in retail and education, the shop was primarily known for the pre-made ceramic animals and figurines, which children could paint in the shop. The most popular figurine was a tiny ceramic heart, which held a space in the middle for each child to write his or her name. The store was homely and small, but it had a loyal following within the microcosm that was the Upper West Side.
"Good morning!" greeted Emma as she walked in the door.
"Good morning, Emma," returned Mary Margaret, a pretty older woman with a dark pixie haircut. Mary Margaret Blanchard owned Painted Heart and took Emma in off the streets when she was just a teenager. The woman had become the closest thing to a mother Emma had ever known and sometimes she really didn't know what she would do without her.
"No coffee?" asked a muffled voice with an Australian accent. Behind the counter, Emma found her coworker Belle French with her nose in a book—as usual.
"It's Ruby's turn to get coffee," replied Emma, swinging a purple apron over her neck and tying it around her waist.
"Oh yeah," said Belle just before her attention turned back to her book.
Exchanging a smirk and an eye roll with Mary Margaret, Emma headed off to the supply closet to get a fresh batch of ceramic hearts. She also grabbed an assortment of ceramic kittens, puppies, rabbits, spaceships, and cars, which she set carefully along their designated shelves. Yes, everything was business as usual.
Suddenly, the bell attached to the front door rang, and Emma could hear the familiar click of 3-inch stilettos on the hardwood floor.
"You will not believe what I just found out!" cooed Ruby as she sauntered in with a carrier full of coffee in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other. The tall brunette was always eager to share a fresh bit of gossip.
"What?" asked Belle, without looking up from her book.
"You know the empty building across the street?" continued Ruby, unnecessarily. It was common knowledge that the large brick building across from the Painted Heart had been void of any occupant for several years now.
"Yeah?" chipped in Mary Margaret, as she organized the cash register.
"Someone has bought it!" announced Ruby, with a satisfied smile. She laid the coffee on a brightly colored child-sized table and started taking an assortment of donuts and muffins out of the bag. When no one said anything, she looked up expectantly. "Well?" She urged. "Don't you want to know who has taken it?"
"I'm sure you'll tell us." Said Belle to her book.
Ruby huffed sending the red streak in her hair flying skywards. Still, she couldn't pass up the chance to share her news. "The Storybrooke Art Gallery!" she puffed, clenching her fists to her mouth with an excited shriek.
"Who?" asked Emma, peering around the figurine shelves.
"The Storybrooke Art Gallery," repeated Ruby clearly annoyed. "It's owned by David and Kathryn Nolan! They're only two of the most famous art collectors in the New York City area."
Belle looked up from her book with a confused expression on her face. It was not like Ruby to know about such things as art.
"Not to mention, they have some of the most exclusive parties! Only A-listers are invited," continued Ruby.
Belle returned to her book.
"Well that's nice for them" answered Emma, as she continued to stack ceramic figurines. She had finished the kittens and had now moved on to the puppies.
"Don't you see?" pressed Ruby. "There's going to be a ton of artsy people coming to the neighborhood! Just think what it will do for business!"
"I don't see why a bunch of snooty upper class art connoisseurs would be good for our business," replied Emma.
"Duh," said Ruby, skipping her muffin and taking a sip of coffee. "They like art and they have money. I'm sure they have kids they'd love to spoil with art supplies."
"Maybe" chirped Mary Margaret from behind the counter. "But let's not get our hopes up just yet."
"But that's just it!" said Ruby, tying her apron so it only went around her bottom half. "You could go and talk to them! See if you can work out some kind of partnership."
"Partnership?" repeated Mary Margaret. "Why would the Nolans want a partnership with us?"
"Please," scoffed Ruby. "Rich people love their causes. Just tell them that it would look good to show the community that they care about kids and art education blah blah blah…"
Mary Margaret laughed, but it was clear she was considering Ruby's suggestion. The business had been suffering in recent years, and they could certainly use the help. "I don't know," she said.
"Just think about it, okay?" replied Ruby, giving Mary Margaret a coffee and a smile.
"Okay." Replied Mary Margaret. And just like that, Emma's beloved "business as usual" came to an end.
The Storybrooke Art Gallery wasted no time in taking its place along the Upper West Side. The ratty old brick building that had been across the street since the 1950's promptly became little more than a pile of rubble, as construction on a new structure commenced.
"It's awful," said Emma, scrunching up her nose.
"Nah, I kind of like it," replied Mary Margaret, tilting her head to the side. She and Emma had stopped by the construction site on their way back from lunch to check out the design for the new building. On the giant poster announcing the upcoming art gallery was a detailed sketch of a very modern looking piece of architecture, which was full of sharp angles and glass windows.
"It doesn't fit in with the neighborhood at all," countered Emma, as she motioned across the street to the row of homely brick buildings sporting multicolored awnings. "It's an eye-sore."
"Emma," pleaded Mary Margaret. "Give it a chance, I'm sure it will come out to be a very nice building."
"Why can't you ever say a bad thing about anyone?" remarked Emma in mocked annoyance.
"I just think people deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt," said Mary Margaret as the pair crossed the street back to their shop.
Emma rolled her eyes while Mary Margaret was distracted by the mailbox bolted to the wall. "And I just think most people wouldn't know real art if it slapped them in the face."
"Oh Emma," said Mary Margaret, sifting through the mail. "What am I going to do with-"
"What?" asked Emma, seeing her friend squint at an envelope in her hands. "What is it?"
"It's…an invitation," answered Mary Margaret with knitted eyebrows.
"To what?" pressed Emma, curiosity getting the better of her, as she waited for Mary Margaret to open the envelope.
"The Nolans are hosting a party to meet the local businesses."
"What?" replied Emma, incredulously. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Let's not tell Ruby."
"Emma!"