General Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or any of the public domain entities that are represented by the show.

Quick Authors Note: So I like August, I thought he was an interesting sympathetic character last season and I wish the writers had kept him sympathetic this season rather than using him as a plot device. This is an A/U story, it is up to you the reader to decide if August is just lying to Emma or if he is "improving the truth". As for the age thing. While I had a very hard time thinking that Jennifer Morrison looked anywhere near 17 in "Tallahassee" I also think that she would have only been 17 at the oldest given the time line. Which makes the fact that Neal is Henry's dad a little creepy if he was supposed to be any age over 21. So this is my take of what was in the box and how I would redeem August.

Emma shut her phone in disgust after hearing the automated operator informing her that "The customer you are trying to contact is out of service" for the third time since 9 pm. "Come on where are you."

"Maybe he set you up," A voice from behind her caused Emma to turn around, her eyes widening as she took note that she really did have the unfortunate ability to attract cops.

Emma decided to try to bluff her way out if it, she swallowed around the rising bile and asked, "Is there a problem officer?"
"Yes you're in possession of stolen goods. Set your bag down and come over here, slowly." The officer gestured her over.

Emma did as she was ordered, "What stolen goods?" the officer took a hold of her wrists bringing them behind her and Emma flinched from the cold metal as the handcuffs snapped shut.

"A wa." The cop stopped speaking, as he noticed that Emma wasn't wearing a watch, "Where's the watch."

"What watch?" Emma affected a surprised look, her heart racing.

The crunch of gravel alerted both the cop and Emma of a third person, "Emma what's going on?" A man's voice cut from the dark as a man in motorcycle leathers stepped out.

"Hey buddy stay back this doesn't concern you." The cop said motioning the bystander to stop.

Emma started as she recognized the man. "Auggie." Emma couldn't contain the surprise in her voice.

"Princess what the heck is going on?" 'Auggie' asked "Officer is there a problem."

"This girl's boyfriend called us letting us know she was here in possession of stolen goods." The officer explained as he started to frog march Emma toward the patrol car.

"That's impossible since I'm her boyfriend and we just got into town on the last train." Auggie responded, "She was hoping to get some fresh air and we got separated while I was looking into getting a cab."

"You could be lying, and I've got to take her in for questioning." The officer stopped walking though.

"Hey if I'm lying then she should have whatever stolen goods on her right?" Auggie asked.

"Well yeah," The officer stopped, "Well just because I don't see them on her doesn't mean they aren't there; but I can't search her until I get her to the station. So you both can come down now or you can come down after we get done."

"If you don't see them, and they aren't on her then we are telling the truth and you don't waste your time and effort with bringing in an innocent person" Auggie reasoned.

The cop shook his head as if to clear it. "Fine let me see her bag."

"Sure." Auggie brought the bag over and gave it to him. Emma felt her heart drop, and Auggie's quick wink did nothing to reassure her. Emma knew she was going to be found out. She had put the watch in the bag after she noticed that the watch wouldn't stay put on her wrist.

The officer quickly searched the bag and after coming up empty reluctantly went behind Emma and released the cuffs. "I guess it was a prank call, we've been getting a lot of them. People think it is funny to call in phony tips, hoping to get the reward money. The chief makes us chase down every one of them. Sorry about the mix up." The officer looked apologetic as he got into the car.

Auggie smile as he went over to Emma and put an arm around her, "No problem officer we understand. Have a good night."

"August Booth what the hell." Emma tried to pull away but August had a good grip on her waist.

"Sorry Princess I'll explain as soon as he's gone." He maneuvered them away from the parking structure and toward the street parking where his motorcycle was parked under a streetlamp.

"Don't call me princess."Emma complained, "Where did you come from?"

"I've been looking for you, and you called me Auggie first." August tried dodging but Emma wouldn't allow it.

"No how did you find me. I didn't want to be found." Emma stopped walking and crossed her arms.

"Too bad, you are 16 and I'm still your legal guardian. At least in Kansas. And if you didn't want to be found then you shouldn't have started knocking over gas stations and convenience stores with a wanted felon. Your picture was all over. Congrats you're famous." He handed her a helmet.

"How did you find me if the cops couldn't." Emma asked as she held onto the helmet.

"I've been following you, only a couple steps behind, but after you got made in Oregon, I put two and two together and came here. Let's go." August threw a leg over the motorcycle and kicked the stand.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. Do you know where Neal is?" Emma stood her ground.

"The guy gives you up to the cops and you still want to know where he is?" August asked in disbelief.

"He's my friend," Emma insisted.

"A friend that set you up, great friend there." August responded, "You know he's a real jumpy guy too."

"How would you know, how did you know where to find me." Emma repeated her question.

"I talked to your "friend" and he told me. This was after I followed him while he was talking on his phone telling the other person where to find you. And what you were wearing. Sounds like he was setting you up." August explained.

"No he wouldn't do that. You must have heard wrong." Emma was still protesting but felt her faith wavering.

"Well he seemed pretty happy to hear that someone was warning him off." August said with a shrug.

"You warned him off? August what gives you that right?" Emma whined.

"What part of you being underage and I'm still legally responsible for you do you not understand. All I did was show him your birth certificate." August explained.

"That is stalkerish and just a bit sad." Emma was now pouting

"Hey all the books say that you should allow teenagers to make their own mistakes." August joked.

"The books don't say to stalk your kids." Emma threw back.

"You say stalk, I say keep an eye on. Whichever now come on that cop is going to have second thoughts about letting us go any minute and I'd rather not be here waiting for him." August patted seat again.

"I'm coming under protest." Emma climbed on the bike.

"Under advisement, but keep in mind I have a full tank of gas, and saddle bags full of cocoa and cinnamon. Where you want to go?" August offered as he started the engine.

"I wanted to see the ocean." Emma looked hopeful.

"I was thinking just for the night, how about San Francisco or LA." August said with a shake of his head.

"Not exotic enough. How about Cancun?" She tried puppy dog eyes that had always gotten her extra cinnamon when she had asked for it as a child.

"You have a passport in that purse?" August gave her a "are you kidding me" look.

"Well no." Emma's pouting lip came out again.

"Then how about Galveston, we get passports then Cancun?"August proposed.

"Fine but I want to be older, you can't do anything fun at 16." Emma smiled as August sighed but nodded.

"Only if you think that this will pay for it all." August pulled a familiar watch out of his jacket pocket.

"It might be a little short." Emma said, "How did you get it."

"A little magic" August raised his eye brows, "I bet the rest of what's in the box will cover the rest."

Emma looked confused, "You aren't the only thief Princess."

"Auggie! What about Neal?" Emma asked not quite ready to let the other man go.

"Well I figured if he was going to turn you in for his crime he could pay for something he had done, I reported that yellow bug was stolen and gave them his description." August smirked.

"Well it was stolen." Emma laughed.

"Even better," Augusts smile was even wider, "Hang on Princess, it'll be heck of a ride."