Chapter One

The Stranger

I couldn't believe my eyes. Henry stood beside me. "Nobody can come into Storybrooke." He reported. The man took off his helmet, and turned his body to look at us, staring at him in awe. "You mind?" He asked. "Could you please tell me where the nearest hotel is?"

"Granny's." I said, pointing in the direction of the building. He placed his helmet back upon his head, and rode off. "Who was he?" Henry asked. "Don't know." I said. "You need to get home before your Mom kills me, literally." I said. Henry looked at me sternly. "That's not funny." Henry replied.

I just smiled. "It's a joke." I said. I opened my door, and he got in. I drove him to the mayor's house, and stopped. "You're not coming?" He asked. "No, I got business to take care of." I told him. I was now officially the sheriff of this town.

My first job was to see who the curious man was that had arrived here early, and see if he was dangerous or not. I drove to my office, and got settled. I looked through lots of paper. Confused. No visitors had been reported before today.

I called Granny to inform her that if her newest occupant caused any trouble to call me immediately. But, she assured me he was nice and safe. Plus, he was very kind. I thanked her and hung up. I fell asleep on my desk that night.

I woke up to fingers tapping heavily on my desk. "What? How!" I jumped. "Fell asleep, Ms. Swan?" Regina asked. "What do you want, Madame Mayor? I'm kinda busy here." I told her. She smiled. "Yeah, you're busy alright, sleeping!" She shouted. "When you should be protecting this town."

I sighed, giving up the fight with her. "What do you want, Madame Mayor?" I asked. "There's a stranger in town, I want you to check him out…. Make sure he's safe." She said. I smiled. "You met him, did you get more out of him then I did?" I asked. "You mean, you talked to him?" She asked. "Yes, gave him directions to Granny's." I said. She nodded.

"Well, I don't want Henry near him until I know for sure he's safe." With that, she turned to leave. I sighed. Placing my head gently back on my desk. I then, left to Granny's. Granny was sitting behind the desk reading a historical novel, no doubt.

"Hey, is that man that I told you about yesterday still here?" I asked. "Yes, he's in his room. Why?" She asked. "I need to speak with him for a minute." I said. "Mind?" I asked, motioning. "Not at all. Room 323." She said. I left and went to the door. I knocked. "Who is it?" a voice asked. "Emma Swan." I answered. "I'm busy!" He called.

"I'm the sheriff." I threatened. He opened the door. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and sweat pants. "What do you want?" He demanded. "I have a few questions to ask you." I told him. He opened the door wider, and sighed. The room was a mess. "Sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting anyone." He said. Papers were scattered all over the floor.

He began to pick them up in a mess. "Sorry." He apologized again. I just gave him a weak smile, and sat down on the chair I had found by the small window. He sat on the bed, pad and pencil in hand. "May I start?" I asked. "Oh, go ahead. I'm not getting arrested , am I?" He asked. "No, of course not." I replied.

"Mind if I continue?" He asked, motioning towards his work. "Of course not, if it doesn't affect your answers." I said. He smiled, and began to write things down. "What are you doing here?" I asked. He looked up and stared at me. "That's what you want to know?" He asked. "Please answer the question." I replied.

He sighed. "I'm a writer, if you must know." He replied. "If you couldn't tell by all the paper on the floor." I just frowned. He sighed. He set down the pad and pencil beside him. "Look, if you must know, I'm here to write an article for my newspaper." He said. "Oh, so you're a journalist." I said.

"No, not exactly." He replied. There was a long, uncomfortable silence. "I'm a writer, I write little stories in the paper sometimes, sometimes, I'd drive up here to get some inspiration." He said. He smiled. "So, you're only here to write?" I asked. He nodded. I stood, straightened my shirt, and headed out the door. "Can I buy you a drink sometime?" He asked. "Can I get your name?" I asked.

"Come get a drink with me, and we'll see." He replied.

"We'll See." I said, closing the door behind me.