Managed to write another chapter today. Thank you all for reading the first one!
Chapter 2
The usual morning rituals went smoothly and they were ready to go for breakfast in a few minutes after they got up. Walking to the diner this time was completely different from previous morning. True, silence filled the room again, but the looks of people's faces were more interested and intrigued then judging. They barely slid to their booth when the fancy waitress brought them drinks (cocoa and coffee) and after a while breakfast too.
When Regina finished her coffee, which wasn't that bad, the waitress was there offering her refill. "No, thank you."
"You got coffee for free here." The young girl beamed.
Regina frowned at her. "Excuse me?"
"Not paying for any coffee in this house. Wish you beautiful day."
The waitress got back to her work as stunned Regina returned to her breakfast.
"That's cool, mom." Henry tried to cheer her up.
She offered him a small, grateful smile.
Maybe it wasn't that bad being a hero.
Interview took place at Town Hall 9:00 precisely.
Emma Swan ushered Regina to her office and offered her coffee which the dark haired woman declined politely.
"So…" Emma started, sitting down behind her desk. "You had a good sleep?" She asked, corners of her lips lifted in smile, while shifting some papers around.
Regina didn't answer immediately. "Fine, thank you."
"I uh…" Mayor frowned slightly as she rummaged through the papers apparently looking for something. Actually, her whole desk was one hell of a mess. "Go it!" She held the paper up in triumphantly.
Regina just stared at her dubiously. How can this woman manage the town?
Emma picked a pen and put up her smile again.
"So…What's your name?"
Regina crossed her legs and leaned against the armrest. "Regina Mills."
"Oookay," Mayor Swan stick tongue between her teeth, wrinkle appeared on her forehead as she was writing.
"Why did you apply for the job?"
Disbelief plastered on the brunette's face. "You asked me to take the job."
"Formalities, Mrs. Mills." Mayor tried to explain.
Regina shifted in her seat. "It's Miss Mills. And I'm here to apply for position of sheriff of Storybrooke because…I'm a hero." She said flatly and smiled mischievously.
Mayor sighed and closed the pen but chuckled secretly.
The other woman noticed anyway. "Have I said something wrong?"
The blonde raised her hand to wave it off. "No, no." She intertwined fingers of her hands and put them on the desk before her, leaning against it, her shoulder blades moved to pleasant stretch. She almost closed her eyes and moaned. "Will you take the job?"
She was looking Regina directly to the eye, all serious now.
Regina's tongue wandered to her cheek. "I think I might try," she said finally, reciprocating the gaze.
"Good." Mayor stood up and rounded the desk, hiding something in her hand.
Also Regina rose from her seat. Mayor leaned with her back against the desk and offered Regina the hand balled into fist.
Extending her own hand, Regina could feel the tension in room, she didn't even realized was there, increasing. Metal object landed in her hand. It was war, from the other woman's grip.
She looked down at the star and traced the tree pattern in the middle.
"Welcome on board!" Mayor offered her hand for shake this time.
As they walked in old stale air overwhelmed them.
"No one was here since…the incident."
Henry coughed. Mayor was already opening the window. "Better?"
The boy nodded. Regina made a tour around the station. It was rather small, but not as bad as she expected.
Mayor was already at the door to the office, unlocking it. She exchanged look with Regina, than flicked her head to invite brunette in.
The office wasn't quite tidy too. Piles of papers were at every step, only box full of various things throned in the middle of the desk.
"What's this?" Regina asked when she lifted walkie-talkie peeking from the box by its antenna.
Mayor jumped to desk maybe too vigorously, and grabbed edges of the box. "It was Graham's."
Regina could feel body of Mayor very close to her own. It unsettled her. Moving around the desk she examined filing cabinets, noticing light film of dust.
"Mom? Can we keep it?" Henry was stunned by those walkie-talkies.
"Ask the Mayor, Henry. It was her friend's stuff." She gave Emma a glance, watching if she's right. Sure more than a friend.
Henry's hopeful eyes turned to Mayor. "Please, madam."
Emma didn't want to break eye contact with the woman opposite but eventually looked down to the boy, smiling. "You can call me Emma."
"Cool! Can we keep the walkie-talkies, Emma?"
Regina watched as Emma put a hand on his shoulder and hunkered down to level eyes with him. "We'll see about that, kid."
Look on his face wouldn't be right to describe as disappointed. It was more of an understanding and anticipation.
Emma got up from her position, looking back to Regina who was now fixing the withered potted plant with disgust. "Let's move to your apartment?"
Mayor almost chocked on those words, smiling so widely it must've hurt, her throat tightened. She was sure this was great news for mother and son. She was so excited to be the one who told them.
Regina tried to hide her surprise, but Henry didn't. These two days were really like Christmas.
"Do we look like we need a social help?" Regina asked defiantly.
Emma put a finger to her chin, thinking mockingly. "Well, you are living in Granny's with only one bed, which I think is not that comfortable for two people, without any stuff. So whether you are on a trip or you are running from somewhere." She looked directly at Regina. "As a privilege of the town sheriff you got an apartment with minimal rent. It might become handy in your situation."
The older woman didn't know how to answer to that. Mayor's deduction was quite accurate. And if they offered an apartment to the job she shouldn't reject. "Have you ever considered you taking the job?" She said as she passed by Emma through the door.
Henry and Emma shared sympathetic look.
The apartment wasn't one of the expensive ones. Furniture was old and battered; someone would call it like that. For Regina it was familiar and casual. She wouldn't call it home yet, but it felt like it. This was a dream come true.
Henry was excited too. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and leaned him into her side.
"You want a small detour?" Mayor Swan offered.
The voice disturbed the moment. "Don't you have anything to do, Madam Mayor?" Regina asked, wondering if this was Mayor's everyday work, showing people around. She doubted it. There had to be lot of work in this town. If she was in charge, she would turn this town to kingdom.
"I mean, no thanks, when can we move in?"
Mayor's blood was boiling from the comments of her new sheriff but she knew she made right decision. There was something about the woman that inspired confidence and respect despite her sassy nature.
"Right away if you want. It's yours." She reached to the pocket of her pants and pulled out keys, giving it to Regina.
The brunette gave one last look to the apartment and taking Henry from running inside they walked out, closing the green door behind them.
At stairs someone almost bumped to them, running in hurry.
"Oh I'm sorry! Em!" The person smiled cheerfully, recognizing her friend blocking the stairs. "How are you doing?"
"Mary Margaret! Nice to see you! I'm fine, actually took a little break from work to show our new Sheriff around." She waved her hand to the right.
"Oh! New neighbors then?"
Regina didn't like the woman immediately. Feeling that took over her was more than aversion. One of those sentimental fools crying at every stupid thing.
"Regina..." the older woman glared and Emma. "Sheriff Mills. This is Mary Margaret Blanchard."
The short haired woman extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Sheriff." Regina didn't feel like shaking the other woman's hand but decided to be polite. Yes, that would be the best way. That is always the best way.
"And I'm sure I'm gonna get to know you better, young man!"
"Henry, Regina's son."
"It's nice to meet you Miss Blanchard." He had no problem shaking hand with the woman. She was nice.
"Nice to meet you too, Henry." She looked at Regina. "Regina, it's a beautiful name."
"Thank you." Regina retorted, starting down the stairs, dragging Henry with her.
Two friends watched as they made their way down.
"Are you sure, Em?" Mary Margaret asked doubtfully.
The blonde nodded with sad smile. "Yes. She'll do good."
"Doesn't seem to be best with people."
Emma smiled. "Well, maybe you can teach her some of that." She nudged her friend in ribs.
The brunette laughed and tried to return the attack. "I'll try. Are you sure you're ok?"
"Why?" Emma knew what her friend was asking about.
"You haven't named new sheriff yet and now you decided just like that." She snapped her fingers. "What's more it's a complete stranger."
Emma sighed. "Graham was one hell of a man at his place. He was born for the job." Shadow of sorrow settled on her face. "She can't replace him. But she can do the job."
"So you're using her?"
Emma shot her friend a glare. "I'm not and you know it. Have you seen what she did yesterday?"
Mary Margaret nodded.
"She's got that instinct not many people have. And she might not be best with people but watch her with her son."
She received another worried look from her friend. "Ok, ok, everyone deserves a chance. I just hope it won't backfire at her."
"Don't worry I used my superpower." Emma winked. "You having a break too?" She looked at her watches.
Mary Margaret yelped. "Gosh! I need to run! I just forgot some materials at home and break is now over! See you later, Em!" She hurried to her apartment and left Emma to go her way.
In less than an hour they said goodbye to their room in Granny's and stepped to the apartment again. Regina stopped in the 'kitchen' which consisted of counter with sink, few cupboards and a hundred years old fridge. Henry went upstairs to explore rest of the apartment.
"Mom! Mom! Can I sleep upstairs, please?" He screamed excitedly from somewhere above.
That's when she noticed bed in the back, right under the window.
Henry bounced down the stairs taking his mom by sleeve, dragging her to see the upstairs.
She laughed at that, swinging her son off his feet playfully carrying him up like a flour sack.
"Mom, stop it!" He attempted to extract himself from her grasp but laughed as well. Finally she put him down, his face red.
"Wow!" she breathed out when she looked around the room. The bed and a bedside table, all wooden, something like bear fur on the floor. She supposed that the door opposite the room lead to the bathroom.
That was the only room left. It wasn't a five star hotel standard but it was enough.
After settling in, and putting all their things to the place, they were sitting on the couch, Henry reading from his favorite book.
"Mom?" Regina's head rested on the back of the couch, dark hair covering part of her face. The cup she was holding was tilting up dangerously. He took it from her and put it on the coffee table. Covering his mother with blanket that was at her feet.
Regina woke up few hours later. It was dark outside already. She felt her cheek sore from stiff position she was in on the couch. She went upstairs to check on Henry. He was soundly asleep.
"Good boy." She caressed his hair and put a kiss to his hair.
Next day, they walked nervously the pavement in the direction of school. Or Henry was nervous to be more precise. He was clutching his mom's hand till it went white.
"Henry." They stopped few meters from the entrance. "You'll do well. It's only new milieu." She sighed. That sounded awkward. "You'll do good." She squeezed his shoulders reassuringly. "Come on!" Now with more swing and cheer they entered new life.
Regina couldn't say she had boring morning, although she felt more like a cleaner than sheriff. She doubted that cleaning the dust and sweeping floor was her job description. At least the old sheriff's filing system wasn't that bad.
Eventually just before she wanted to go for lunch, one of the phones rang and she hurried to pick it up. She had a call in the morning but it was only Mayor making sure she's alright in her new place. Polite phone-call. But this could be her first case.
"Re…Sheriff Mills!"
She listened for a while and her face was turning red every second. "I'll be right there."
She wanted to walk to Granny's but now she took keys of her Mercedes and practically ran out of the building.
She pulled to the curb at the great building of school and slammed the door shut, walking resolutely in. She headed right for the principal's office, not bothering to knock.
The old, bald man jumped from his chair. "Ms. Mills!"
"It's Sherriff Mills! What happened here?" She spotted Mary Margaret with the corner of her eye.
Henry was sitting with her back to her in front of the principal's desk, with another boy next to him.
"Your son attacked his classmate. He started the fist fight and then kicked the poor boy few times. "
Regina looked at her ashamed son. "Henry? Did you do what this man says?"
He half turned to them, looking at his hands in his lap. He nodded.
"He had to have a very good reason to do that."
"He said you're not a hero. That you are stupid and should've let the guy in the car," he rasped, obviously done some crying.
Regina blinked a few times. "Henry Mills. You are grounded for a month, no television, no books! Apologize to him!" She put her hands to her hips, looking strictly at her son to do as she told him to.
Mary Margaret took a breath to say something but Regina's glare stopped her.
"I'm sorry." Henry mumbled.
"Henry, I mean it." Regina stated warningly.
Henry cleared his throat. "I'm sorry."
The other boy smiled at him snidely, his lips covered with dry blood.
Regina felt an urge to slap him herself to wipe the smile from his face. Not for what he said but for his arrogance.
Henry even offered his hand in spite of conciliation. As his mother taught him. Mary Margaret smiled at that.
But the boy didn't accept and just glared at his opponent. "Can we go home, please father?" He looked at man standing behind him silently. The boy's father only nodded and offered everyone haughty looks as if they were the poorest trash.
"Henry?" Regina turned on her heel and walked out the office. Henry took his bag and followed her. Mary Margaret touched his shoulder on his way out and smiled at him.
Drive to their new home was silent. They haven't said a word till they were in the safety of their apartment.
Once behind the closed door Henry threw his bag in the corner and ran upstairs to his room. Regina sighed and followed him.
"Henry?"
He was on his bed, lying downwards, his shoulders were shaking. Regina stepped to the bed and sat down on the edge, touching the boys back lightly.
"Henry?" He didn't answer. "Henry, look at me."
He tensed and turned around, sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard and pulling his knees to his chin.
"Henry," Regina repeated. "What happened? And I mean what really happened."
His bottom lip quivered. "They laughed at me."
"For what?" Regina shifted closer, putting her hand on Henry's knee. Her son noticed the worried look not angry one as in the principal's office.
"They…they…" He took a shaky breath. Crying wasn't like him, he usually took everything bravely. "You walked me to school by hand." He said with new rush of tears.
Regina ducked her head. It was their ritual, sign they were with each other, they got each other's backs. He was never ashamed of it. But now he's eleven and maybe this was the moment where he starts to be because of the others.
"I'm…I'm not ashamed of it." Henry whispered.
Did she say it aloud?
Her son crawled to her and pulled her to his small arms in a hug. She hasn't realized she's crying. She didn't want her son to see her like that anymore.
"Mom?" She wiped tears from her eyes with back of her hand and smiled at her son.
"I'm sorry, Henry. It's alright. But," she sighed, "that is not reason to hit someone."
"I know," he mumbled, playing with sleeve of his shirt. "But he also said that you shouldn't have saved the man. That he deserved to die. Or some serious injury."
She felt pride for his son rising in her chest. "Even though he provoked you, Henry, I want no more trouble. It's not the best way to start school year. I'm not denying the fact your motives were good, but this is not acceptable, young man." She waved warning finger at him. But then her lips lifted in smile. "How about lunch at Granny's?"
Henry hugged his mom again.
"But don't forget you're grounded…for a week."
They parted and he nodded, realizing he did wrong fighting the boy.
"That was sooo good." Henry collapsed against the leather back of the booth bench, stuffed.
Regina was still eating when someone's shadow landed on the table.
"Hey! How are you doing?" Mayor Swan greeted them with shiny smile and flushed face caused by wind outside.
"Good! You wanna have lunch with us?" Henry shifted to side, making some space for Emma to sit.
"Thanks." She took the seat and nudged Henry with her elbow. "So, how's school, huh?"
He looked from side to side, wide eyed. "Erm, good. Interesting."
Emma made a face and stole a look at his mother. "Everything alright?"
"Sure." Regina stated shortly.
There was an awkward silence till Emma received a cup of cocoa.
"Hey, you like cocoa too?" Henry cheered.
Emma turned her head to him, holding the cup. "With cinnamon?"
"Yes!"
They high-fived with laugh.
"Yeaaaaaah!"
"What do you want, Madam Mayor?" Regina had enough.
The laughter died down as fast as it started. "Nothing, I've just spotted you here so I came to say hi."
"Well goodbye then." She went back to her lunch.
Emma cleared her throat and stood up. "See you!" she mouthed at Henry. "Goodbye, Sheriff!" She almost burst out to laughter again, sounding so official. But it wasn't really funny. She knew but she tried her best.
"Hey Ruby!" She greeted her friend. "You going out today?"
Ruby winked at her. "You bet, Mayor! The question is: are you?"
"I'd like to. But I got lot of work with those stupid papers."
"Oh come on! Give yourself a break! You need to unwind a little. And take that unsocial employee of educational institutions with you! I haven't seen her at the club for ages."
"Ok, see ya in the evening!"
"Try to behave this time." Regina instructed her son before he got out of the car. "Even if the others aren't."
He nodded and stepped out. "Bye mom!"
She smiled and waved him, driving to the station.
"Stay where you are!" She threatened the person, drawing the gun from its holster, pointing it to the person. "Hands up! Behind your head!" Regina approached the person carefully, pulling out handcuffs from behind her back.
"Don't you dare to move!"
She reached for the guy's hands to encuff them but the guy tried to be smart and elbowed her so the gun flew from her hands and landed few meters away. Regina jumped after the guy and engulfed his legs in a hug so he fell to the ground as well, trying to kick the woman off of himself. But Regina was relentless and held onto him for a dear life. Now she was pissed off. She managed to pull him closer and her fist met the guys face. The cracking sound of breaking bones resonated in empty cold backstreet. The guy was holding his nose, blood trickled between his fingers. Regina didn't care about his pain, she turned him downwards and forced his hands behind his back.
"You bitch!" He yelled.
"You have right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense." She helped him to stand up and dragged the wriggling man to police car, practically throwing him to the back seat.
It was three weeks since they decided to stay there. She locked up more criminals than she'd ever seen people in Granny's at once. It wasn't a bad job. People respected her and felt safe in town. She wasn't sure if they liked her but she didn't care much about that.
When she got home late in the evening, Henry wasn't sleeping yet. She was really tired, barely walking.
"Henry?" She called upstairs.
"Yes mom?"
"I'm going to shower, you had diner?"
"Yes! Miss Blanchard invited me!"
Regina stopped halfway to the fridge. She decided to go upstairs. She peeked around the corner to find Henry in bed with a book. She entered the room and crossed her arms at her chest in question. "Miss Blanchard?"
Henry let the book fall down on his lap to look at his mother. "Yep. It was great! We had something…healthy and…"
"I don't think that's a good idea." She couldn't shake off the bad feeling about the woman. "What is that?" She flicked her head in a direction of the book.
"Miss Blanchard gave it to me."
Regina frowned.
Henry rolled his eyes. "Don't worry mom, it's just some old fairytales. We can read it together sometime if you want."
Thanks for reading. I'd like to know your opinion, so don't be shy to review!
