Emma sat under the wooden sand hut waiting for Henry. The painting and Mr Gold's card on her lap, the wind tore through the little hut and she shivered, she must be mad, going along with him like this. The present she'd got him was only going to make things worse but there was something about it. She'd not been able to leave it in the shop and really, what harm was there in giving the boy a painting. The lad had his issues but his heart was in the right place and besides, it really was a beautiful painting.
She looked up as footsteps approached her and smiled as Henry stomped through the sand, "Happy birthday." She said.
"Thanks." He sat beside her, "I don't have long. Regina's throwing a party for me and she'll get mad if I'm late."
"That's okay. I got something for you." She said, handing him the packaged gift and the card. He smiled at her, "Well go on, open it." Henry pulled on the bow string that Mr Gold had so carefully tied, the string sprang away from the paper as though it had a life of its own and was desperate to get away. He pulled open the brown paper and lifted the painting from the wrapping. He flipped it over and Emma was pleased to see his face light up. He examined the painting with intense scrutiny before turning to her and smiling.
"This is lovely, where did you find it?"
Emma handed him the card she'd held back; he took it with a frown. He opened it and gave it a brief look over, "You got this from his shop didn't you?" he asked.
"There was nowhere else." Emma said, "I looked everywhere to find something for you and that was the only thing I could find."
"What did you pay for this?" Henry said.
"I'm not telling you that! It's a gift!"
"You don't want to owe him anything; he has ways of making you do things you don't want to without you realising." Henry said.
"So where are you going to put it?" Emma asked, keen to avoid the subject.
"I don't know. I don't think it'll go well in Regina's house. I can keep it with the book!" he said all of a sudden. "I'll show it to Mary Margaret. I'm sure she'll love to see it." Emma nodded at the boy's enthusiasm; he was a good kid, if a little odd. The thought of her owed favour drifted through her mind and she shivered, Emma knew Henry was right, Mr Gold did have a way of getting people to do things they didn't want to. She pushed the thought aside, resolving to cross that bridge when it appeared. "I have to go, Regina'll go mad if I'm late. We should meet about Operation Cobra soon." He said with a smile.
"Sure Henry," Emma nodded, not sure whether she was helping by going along with it or not.
"Oh, and thanks." He said, throwing his arms around her. Emma patted his back and returned his embrace. He released her, gently placed the painting in his rucksack and scampered off, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts.