A/N: This takes place during 1.2 "The Thing You Love Most"

The Storybrooke library, like the town itself, is small and a little behind the times. A large wooden card catalog sits near the circulation desk and there is no bank of computers, no DVD section and, from what Emma can tell, no librarian on duty. She shifts the large file Dr. Hopper gave her and considers trying to find a copy machine somewhere else but then she hears a squeaky wheel and shuffling footsteps coming from the shelves. She follows the sounds deeper into the library. When they stop she pauses and hears the faint sound of books being re-shelved. A few more steps brings her to a sun drenched aisle and the only other person in the library.

A man stands half-way down the row his back to Emma as he picks up books from the cart beside him.

"Hey."

She doesn't mean to be loud but the silence amplifies the single word. He starts, turns and bangs his left hand into the cart. The books go tumbling.

"Blast!" He crouches down to pick them up and Emma steps forward to help. Then he seems to remember the reason the books are on the floor and stands back up. He is just shy of six feet with black hair, broad shoulders, and a defined jawline that looks freshly shaved. His eyes are framed by tortoise shell glasses that are similar to Dr. Hopper's and Emma thinks he and the therapist also share a stylist because the librarian is dressed in a grey cardigan, blue button down and red bow tie.

"Sorry. I–The books." He looks her full in the face and blushes. He ducks his head and pushes up his glasses. Emma is used to having an effect on men and she knows she looks good today– her tight jeans and red leather jacket doing her many favors– but it's still flattering to see him flummoxed. It's a nice ego boost after the disaster with the Sheriff in the diner this morning.

"No, look, I should apologize for startling you." Emma gives him a smile that he shyly returns. He has a nice smile and Emma thinks that if he wasn't so boyish and awkward he might be attractive. "Let me help pick those up."

Simultaneously they bend down and start picking up books.

"It's not your fault I tend to get lost in my work." She detects a British accent in the longer sentence and wonders why a tiny town in Maine attracts so many foreigners.

"I get that. Guess that explains why you weren't at the front desk and didn't hear me come in." She straightens with an armful of books and he stands with her.

"My apologies."

Emma goes to hand him the books and it's only then that she realizes that his left hand is not a hand at all but a prosthetic. He catches her looking and she looks away. She steps around him to place the books atop the stack on the cart.

"So what can I help you with?"

"I just needed to make a few copies." She retrieves Henry's file from where she left it on the floor. His eyes flick to it.

"Of course. The machine is a bit temperamental. If you don't mind it might be easier if you just let me do it."

Emma hugs the file closer to her chest. "Actually it's kind of sensitive and confidential information."

"About Henry?"

Emma furrows her brow as little alarm bells ring in her head. "How did you know that?"

He pushes at his glasses and clears his throat. "It's not difficult to work out. Henry has been talking for months about finding his birth mother and then the mysterious Emma Swan shows up the same day he disappears." He turns to the cart and picks up the newspaper plastered with her mug shot. Emma grimaces; it was a horrible photo. "I know Henry is in therapy and I recognize Archie's files. It makes sense that you would be concerned for your son and want to get a look at what Dr. Hopper says. Also the label says 'Henry Mills'." He points to the file and shrugs.

Emma is annoyed at his detective work but more frustrated that the entire town knows her business.

"Who are you? Sherlock Holmes?"

He grins and shakes his head. "That is flattering but my name is James, James St–"

He is cut off by the bang of a door and the angry click of high-heels.

"Stuart!" The strident voice of Regina rings out.

Emma sees him wince.

"That's the Mayor. I'll be right back." He shuffles past her in the narrow space and though his tone had implied Emma should stay put she follows him after a few seconds. If he had pissed off Regina Emma wants to know why. She stays hidden but gets close enough to hear them as she leans against a shelf.

"Ah, James! There you are. Would you mind explaining why you gave this to my son?" Emma hears a thump.

"I–I didn't give Henry this storybook Madam Mayor." There is a waver in his voice that Emma suspects is fear. Mary-Margaret had said most people in the town feared Regina. She grits her teeth.

"Really? Mr. Stuart I find it hard to believe that the town librarian is not the one responsible for giving Henry the gigantic storybook that sent him into a delusional spiral. He ran away to Boston to find that woman because of this book." Emma hears the same low malice in the mayor's voice that she had used in her doorway that morning.

Emma peeks from her hiding place to see Regina leaning across the circulation desk and into the librarian's space. James backs away and scratches behind his ear.

"Henry didn't get the book from me but–" He pauses and shifts his gaze. He sees Emma before she can duck behind the shelf and she curses herself for not staying out of sight.

"But he is a clever lad it's possible he picked it up in the used book pile." Emma feels a slight twist in her gut; he is lying.

"The used book pile?"

"We have all sorts of people leave books there and I rarely go through them. He probably just found it in the box."

Luckily Regina doesn't have her super power and believes him.

"Well in the future I want you to monitor those books. It's your responsibility to make sure the young minds of this town aren't sullied by strange ideas."

Emma rolls her eyes. Is this woman for real?

"Of course Madam Mayor, absolutely." His tone is subservient and it grates on Emma's nerves. Why does nobody stand up to her?

"Thank you James. I know I can count on you in this. Now that unpleasantness is out of the way I am hoping you are free to watch Henry on Wednesday while I am in my meeting? With the Swan girl about I don't dare leave him alone." Regina's voice is so sweet it turns Emma's stomach.

"I would love to watch the lad."

"Then I will tell him to come straight here after school."

They say their goodbyes and Emma hears Regina's high-heels clicking and then the door shuts. In the silence she hears James let out a deep breath.

Emma emerges from her hiding place and walks to the circulation desk. She slaps Henry's file on the worn wood.

"Why did you lie, Stuart?"

"Pardon?" He doesn't meet her eyes.

"About the book. You know Henry didn't get it from the used book pile."

"Oh. Well." He shifts his feet and stares at his hand as his right thumb rubs at his bare ring finger. "Perhaps I thought it best to keep a friend out of Regina's war path just this once?"

"She is going to be pissed when she finds out you lied."

He clenches his jaw and Emma can tell just how unpleasant he finds the prospect

"There is a brief silence and then he speaks with a firm voice "She is a formidable woman. A woman that you would be wise not to cross."

Emma stands up straighter and folds her arms over her chest "Meaning?"

"You should tread carefully Ms. Swan. Nobody has ever taken on Regina and won."

Emma rolls her eyes. "Maybe someone should change that."

She meets his eye defiantly and this time he doesn't blush or look away; his gaze lingers as if he is weighing and measuring her. She stares back wondering just what he sees. There is a strange tickling at her spine as he cocks an eyebrow.

"Perhaps they should."

And it's not really a vote of confidence or a ringing endorsement but somehow it fills her with a bit of hope.

A/N: As first meetings go I kinda love this one. What about you?