CHOICES OF THE SWAN HEART

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. That right goes to the awesome Adam and Eddie along with ABC. Will determine if I should continue this story based on reviews. If you want more then let me know and constructive criticism is welcomed as well.

CHAPTER 1: THE STRANGER

A woman arrived in town late last night and Henry was a little more than curious especially given that the only town newbie he could remember was Emma. The stranger was sitting alone in a booth across the diner from where he sat with Emma and Mary Margaret, but he couldn't stop stealing glances her way.

"Kid, it's not polite to stare." Emma scolded him.

"I'm telling you she's important. I don't know how, but I know she is." Henry was determined to find out more about this stranger.

"What makes you think that?" Mary Margaret quizzed him.

"She just appeared in town. No one knows who she is, not even my mom and that's unheard of. So she has to be important."

Emma steals a glance across the room and secures her first good look at the woman and there is an odd familiarity about her that she couldn't place. She shakes away the chill that passes through her and turns her attention back to her breakfast companions. Just then Ruby arrived with a tray of four hot chocolates with a healthy topping of cinnamon on all of them. That temporarily took Henry's attention away from the stranger as he sipped at his mug. Emma warmed her hands on her mug and then noticed the fourth mug on the tray.

"Hey Ruby, we only ordered three hot chocolates."

"I know, the new girl ordered this one. I will never understand this whole cinnamon on hot chocolate thing." Ruby replied before taking the tray and delivering the mug to the mystery woman.

Emma and Mary Margaret exchanged bewildered looks. It had only been a few days since Emma dropped the bombshell on Mary Margaret that Henry thought they were mother and daughter. That had certainly been an awkward conversation, but it had definitely brought them closer together. Now they shared an identical look on their faces as they each began to calculate all of the odd coincidences. Surely cinnamon lovers can't be that rare, could they?

The specific hot chocolate order of the stranger wasn't lost on Henry and his imagination was working in full force now. There were only four people in Storybrooke that liked cinnamon on their hot chocolate and they were all related to him.

"Come on, you can't tell me that's not weird," Henry protested.

"Henry, a lot of people like cinnamon. It doesn't mean anything." Emma replied with a slight waiver in her confidence.

"Really? Can you think of anyone not related to us that likes cinnamon in their hot chocolate?" Henry challenged his real mom with a stubbornness that mirrored her own.

Emma thought long and hard, but she had to admit that in all her travels she'd never come across another hot chocolate and cinnamon lover. She frowned and turned to Mary Margaret for some back up, but all she got in return was a shrug.

"Okay kid, point made, but it doesn't mean anything."

"May I suggest that instead of speculating we just introduce ourselves to her?" Mary Margaret suggested and couldn't help but laugh at the "why didn't we think of that" look she got from her companions.

Henry turned to his real mom. "You're the Sheriff now, it's like your duty to go welcome her to town."

"How'd I get nominated for this?" Emma protested.

"Simple math, you're outnumbered." Mary Margaret laughed again.

"Not funny," Emma grumbled.

"Go, come on, we have to know why she's here." Henry was growing more insistent and determined by the minute.

"Fine," Emma grumbled and made her way over to the strangers table. The stranger didn't give Emma a chance to have to figure out how to awkwardly introduce herself. She simply motioned to the seat across the table.

"Please, Sheriff Swan, have a seat."

Emma paused for a moment before taking the seat. "How'd you know who I was?"

The stranger pointed at Emma's badge. "Kind of a giveaway."

"Well you know who I am…"

"You can call me Alex."

"Okay, let's try this, let me start and finish my thoughts before responding."

"I'll keep that in mind Sheriff. Now, what can I do for you?"

Alex sat back in her chair and sipped on her hot chocolate.

"What makes you think you can do anything for me?"

"Well you, Ms. Blanchard and young Henry have been watching me since I came in. Either you want something, want to know something, or are a strange gang of stalkers. My money is on one of the first two," Alex responded with confidence.

Emma was taken aback by this woman. She reminded Emma so much of herself that it was scary, but she wasn't going to let Alex know she was getting to her.

"I get how you knew who I was, but how do you know them?" Emma couldn't deny that she had become very protective of her friend and son and she didn't like a complete stranger knowing anything about them.

"It's a small town Sheriff. All you have to do is sit here for ten minutes and you can hear a little gossip about everyone."

Emma watched Alex closely and she finally figured out what wasn't sitting right. This woman wasn't what she seemed. She leaned across the table and made eye contact with Alex.

"What are you hiding?"

"What makes you think I'm hiding something? You've known me for all of two minutes." Alex replied with that confident tone again and it was starting to annoy Emma.

"Call it my superpower, I can always tell when someone is lying and you are most certainly lying about something. Better you just tell me now, because I will figure it out."

"Wow, Sheriff, I've been in town for less than twelve hours and you already think you have me figured out. Trust me you're not ready to know the truth." Alex's tone had changed and that had Emma even more curious. She didn't like the ominous tone to her voice that came with that last sentence.

"What truth would that be?" Emma inquired.

Alex smiled before standing and pulling on her jacket.

"Watch yourself. Burning those final pages won't protect your secret from her for long," Alex replied cryptically.

Alex turned and started to walk away, but Emma quickly shook off the shock and jumped to her feet. Only three people were in the room during the burning and even if she was still skeptical about this whole fairytale thing she didn't like the idea of a complete stranger knowing about the pages. She grabbed Alex's arm before she made it to the door.

"How'd you know about that?"

Alex pulled her arm free and stepped closer to Emma.

"There are things you aren't ready to know yet. For now, just know I'm not your enemy." Alex took Emma's hand and slid something into it. "Good day Sheriff Swan."

With that Alex turned and disappeared out the door. In her wake she left a stunned Emma staring at the door. Emma finally opened her hand and looked down to see a shocking sight. In her hand was an aged pendant with a swan crafted into it, but it wasn't just any pendant, it was hers. Her hand immediately went to her neck and she confirmed its place still around her neck. If it was just any pendant it wouldn't have been surprising, but Emma's had been specially crafted to her specifications and paid for with the money from her first successful capture of a bail jumper.

Forgetting Henry and Mary Margaret were waiting for her to return to their table she took off out the door and ran to the street. She looked every direction but couldn't find Alex. Her fist closed around the pendant again.

"Wherever you go I will find you," Emma declared.