Chapter 1 Orders
The Enchanted Forest
As he walked next to her through the forest he couldn't think of any reason why anyone would want her dead. She didn't seem like a bad person or a criminal like the Queen had made her out to be. She was kind, sweet and compassionate; there was a warmth about her that he felt just by being near her. This was going to be his hardest job yet but he had orders and if he wanted to stay alive he would do what the Queen said.
He was so deep in thought he didn't even realize Snow had stopped walking and was asking him a question.
"Stuffy in there?"
He had to admit he hated wearing the stupid guard uniform it made him feel trapped when all he ever wanted was to be free. He slowly removed his helmet and placed it on a rock. As he did that Snow offered him an apple, another action that showed just how good of a person she was.
"No," he said flatly, because he didn't want to owe this woman anything when he was preparing to take her life. She stared at him for a minute like she could see right through him.
"You're not a guard are you?"
"What makes you say that?" She was on to him and he knew it, everything was going bad fast and it had to end but she kept on speaking.
"Without fail every one of my father's men has offered me condolences except you."
He had to think fast, "Please accept my condolences," he knew it was stupid to say the moment it came out of his mouth.
"And they all know how to wear armor." The realization of what was about to happen hit Snow fast. "She picked you to take me. Why?"
"I think you know." He hated himself right now more than ever, who had he become.
"You're going to kill me." He wasn't sure it was a question or a statement but she had figured everything out and he didn't know what would happen next. As if sensing his hesitation Snow White hit him with a branch knocking him off his feet. She immediately took off running, but the Huntsman knew these woods and he knew she wouldn't get far.
He still had his orders and like them or not he was going to finish them. So he got up and jogged after her following her every move with ease.
Storybrooke
Graham
As Graham went on his early morning run he noticed a car outside of Granny's that he didn't recognize. And being the handyman in town he had almost worked on everyone's car but he definitely had never seen a yellow beetle before. Storybrooke rarely got visitors so when it did everyone knew about it, but Graham hadn't heard a word about a new person in town. He didn't know why but he felt a pull towards that car, he couldn't quiet tell if it was curiosity or something else but he noticed himself running over there. He could take a peek inside and ask Granny how her heater was working. Then he would have a reason to meet the new person in town without seeming like a creep.
It was around 8 but he knew Granny would be up by now and he only had to knock on the door twice before she answered.
"Hey Graham, out for a run?"
"As always, how are you this morning?"
"Good and how about yourself?"
"I can't complain, how's the heater working?"
"Well if you ask me I froze my ass off last night."
He looked up the stairs expecting to see Ruby, she always had to add snide sarcastic remarks into every conversation but it wasn't. It was a woman he had never seen before but he was taken aback by how beautiful she was and how he instantly felt a connection to her. He could barely speak and Granny sensed that and spoke up for him.
"Yeah we have been having problems with that lately. This is Graham he is the handyman around town and he has been trying to fix it for a while."
"Well Graham I think you could do a better job. My name is Emma by the way."
She stuck out her hand for him to shake and it took him a few minutes before he took her hand in his.
"Nice to meet you Emma and I will try to work on the heater. I just need to run home and get my tools."
"Okay but can you let my hand go first."
He didn't realize he had been shaking her hand the whole time he was talking to her. What was happening to him, nothing like this had ever happened to him before.
"Sorry…umm bye."
He ran out the door as fast as he could and headed straight home. He had acted like such a moron and she would probably never talk to him again. She probably thought he was the town weirdo. But even though he acted like he had never talked to a beautiful woman before he couldn't get over how he felt when he first saw her or when he first touched her. There was something between them, something he couldn't explain but he was going to find out. Next time he saw her he would keep his composure and try to get to know her.
He would take his moment because he really believed one moment could change everything. It could change it for the good or for the bad.
Emma
The door slammed behind Graham and all Emma could do was stare.
"What the hell was that?"
"Graham is a little shy, he is kind of an outsider but he is really nice once you get to know him. He is one of the most helpful people I have ever met and he does most things for free. I don't even know how he makes a living to be honest. I can't remember the last time he let me pay him."
"He sounds like a nice guy and I can admit he is really cute but he needs to work on his social skills."
"Yeah maybe. Would you like breakfast its eggs?"
"No I'm good thanks. I'm leaving anyway."
Emma headed back upstairs and got ready to go see Henry. She still didn't know why she was here but she did want to get to know Henry and she had to admit she liked the kid and Storybrooke had a homey feeling to it. But there was something else that was keeping her there. It was something she had been feeling ever since she got to Storybrooke. She couldn't explain it and what scared her the most was she felt it at its strongest when she touched Graham.
