SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Emerson Swan was only twenty six years old...he was just barely getting started with his life. He had his bachelors degree in criminal justice, and he was making good money hunting down men and women who were skipping out on court. It made his life fun and he was always on the move, especially when they ran. That was really fun; the chase. It was also good cardio.
And on top of his high life, he also had a pretty hot girlfriend; Jacqueline. They had only been dating a few months but she was practically living with him in two weeks time. She didn't cook though, or clean, or contribute to any bills. And that was an immediate disapproval from Emerson's parents. They never approved of Jacqueline, immediately seeing right through the young woman's smile and fluttering eyes. Ingrid and Mallory Swan were not fooled.
They knew what kind of girl Jacqueline was. And when the condom 'broke' and Jacqueline announced that she was pregnant, Mal had all but skinned her son alive for getting a girl like her pregnant and at such a young age. Of course, being a fool in love—Emerson didn't think Jacqueline was a "leech" as his mothers so kindly put it. His buddies warned him too, but he didn't believe Jacqueline would ever break his heart, they loved each other too much.
Unfortunately for Emerson, he didn't discover that his parents and his friends were right all along until he woke up one morning with a piece of paper stuck to his bare chest nine months later. Jacqueline had slipped off in the middle of the night to god knows where, and left him alone with Elsa, their newborn daughter.
Elsa was barely a week old.
That had been less than a month ago.
Emerson hadn't shaved in days and he wasn't even sure if the shower he took a few days ago could even be considered a real shower. His once bachelor pad had turned into a full blown nursery. Baby bottles were everywhere. Diapers were threatening to rob him blind, and there were stacks of baby books for dummies on his coffee table while his flat screen TV and game consoles collected dust. He hadn't taken another bounty hunting job since Elsa was born, spending a majority of his time doting on his daughter the best he could.
His partying money was no longer spent on alcohol and 'throwing stacks' in strip clubs. The only stacks he threw now were at the cashiers at the local baby store along with the discount card he managed to acquire. As far as he was concerned he was their customer of the month, if there was such a thing.
He was currently sitting on the sofa at his parents house next to his sleeping daughter in her car-seat carrier comfortably.
"Well if it isn't jackass of the year." Emerson was startled out of his thoughts when his least favorite sister, Anastasia, walked into the living room. "And you look like the hobo I passed on the street this morning."
Emerson sighed deeply, scratching his scruffy beard irritably. He was tired. He was hungry and sore. The last thing he wanted to do was hear one of his older sisters harping on his personal life, especially since hers wasn't rainbows and unicorns either.
"What are you doing here, Ana?"
Anastasia gave him a dirty look as she sat down in the chair across the room, "You know, I'm really not surprised that you're here. You're always asking for help when you get in trouble. You're a loser Sonny, and I feel bad for that baby."
Emerson laughed humorlessly and shook his head. "Oh, I guess you forgot about that time when you maxed out your credit card and caught a DUI on the day and you called mom crying like a little—"
"Ahem."
Both siblings jumped slightly and turned to the living room entrance; their mother, Ingrid Swan, stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. Her piercing blue eyes glaring at her two youngest, "I sincerely hope you two weren't bickering in here, and I really hope that you weren't about to call your sister out of her name, Emerson. It's been a month since you last came around but I know you haven't forgotten how to act like a gentleman." She ignored her daughters scoff and fake cough.
He shook his head slowly, trying to smile innocently, but Ingrid knew better than that. "Nope, I was just reminding her that I'm not as bad as she thinks I am. She's worse."
"You're both going to get it if you wake up my granddaughter. Now clean up, dinner's almost ready." She gave them one last warning look before leaving the room.
Emerson stood, picking up Elsa's diaper bag and her carrier. "You should really look in the mirror, Ana, you're not exactly the Virgin Mary. Remember?" He chuckled at the dirty look he received and went into the dining room.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Dinner at the Swan matriarchs' household wasn't awkward, but it was tense. Emerson was entirely focused on feeding his slumbering daughter and himself with one hand. He was actively ignoring Ingrid's attempts to keep the conversation flowing while Mal settled for observing her son with a borderline glare, that was until Anastasia set her fork down snobbishly.
"Okay! So I guess we're just going to ignore that he's been gone for a month and suddenly pops up again looking like the next best homeless reality TV star? Why are you two so okay with this?!"
Ingrid leveled Anastasia with a scathing glare. "Lower your voice, Anastasia, and try to act like a lady, not a jealous stepchild."
Anastasia scoffed, laughing slightly. "Oh please, Mother. I haven't been gallivanting around Boston with a whore and managed to get her pregnant, then dumped, and forced into single parenthood by her."
"Jesus," Emerson set Elsa's empty baby bottle on the table and carefully placed her on his shoulder, patting her back softly. "What is your problem, Ana?"
"My problem is you Sonny. You're a college dropout that has life made for you and you're wasting it by chasing strippers and weirdos for a few dollars. Now you have this baby and you're a mess. You can't possibly be serious about keeping her, you're unfit and—"
"I'm not a drop out!" he defended himself, glaring at her from across the table, "I graduated!"
"After you had to transfer to a different school after dropping out two times God! It's like everything just happens to work out for you and Lily."
Mal slammed her hand down on the table causing everyone at the table to jump. Elsa finally burped. "That's enough Anastasia."
Ingrid quickly rose from the table before her daughter could say anything more to make the situation worse. "Anastasia, sweetheart, help me with the dishes." Although it was posed as a question, the look in Ingrid's eyes dared Anastasia to argue, and the mouthy young woman knew when to pick her battles and this was not one. With one last dirty look at Sonny, Anastasia helped clear the dishes and followed Ingrid into the kitchen.
Emerson placed Elsa in her carrier and looked at his mom, who was sitting there calmly waiting until he made eye contact with her. "We need to talk."
"I know." he sighed.
"Tell me about Jacqueline."
"Nothing to tell. She's not here." He shrugged, not really sure what she wanted him to say about the woman.
"Exactly. What is your next move son? You can't keep...hiding in that apartment and burning money on an infant with no money coming in. You're a grown man, and I'm not going to financially support you on this. It's time for you to make some changes in your life, starting now. This pity party has to stop."
Emerson leaned back, emerald eyes drifting down to his daughter in the chair next to his. "You don't think I can be a good dad? Do you?"
Mal sighed deeply, "You can be. I know you can, but you need to figure out what's important and what's not, now. You're not living for just Emerson Swan anymore, honey. You have a baby that is literally depending on you to care, love, provide for her...to protect her. Your irresponsibility is now a responsibility."
Sonny ran his hands through his shaggy blonde hair, and Mallory tsked in his direction. He knew she wasn't fond of his quarter sleeve lion tattoo or his full sleeve dragon tattoo, Ingrid supported his expression of art but Mal on the other hand swore up and down that he'd regret it when he couldn't find a job or when people judged him for it. So far it hadn't happened...well not the first part but he never regretted it.
"I wasn't gonna bring this up til later but—"
"Bring what up? What have you done? Are you even listening to what I'm trying to tell you, Emery?"
"Yes, mom but...listen, I'm listening...really I am, but do you think you and mom could watch Elsa for a day? I, um, have some...things to do, and she can't come. Not yet."
Mal's eyes narrowed as she took a sip from her wine glass, " 'Things'? What 'things'? You're not going bounty hunting again, are you?"
"No." Emerson wanted to roll his eyes, but he didn't, "I just found a really good opportunity for me and the kid. There's this town called Storybrooke and they're looking for a deputy."
"Hmm," Mal wasn't buying it and he could sense it, but he pushed down his nerves, knowing how his mom operated.
"I figured I'd finally put my degree to better use and...well, I put my application in last week and I have an interview tomorrow afternoon."
"Storybrooke? What the hell is a Storybrooke?" Ingrid asked coming out of the kitchen drying her hands with a dish-towel and thankfully, Anastasia was nowhere in sight.
Emerson shrugged slightly, "I don't know. It's a town in Maine, and before you two say anything!" he interjected quickly, "I know it's far and last minute...but...I need this..this job. It's perfect, you guys. The hours and the pay are decent, and I can not be in danger ya know? Cause small towns aren't dangerous at all right?" He laughed but stopped when he realized that his mother's weren't as amused as he was.
"What about a babysitter? What if something happens to you, Sonny? We're at least five hours away and—" Ingrid stopped when Mal raised her hand calmly, still analyzing her son with a new, but guarded light in her eyes.
"Okay."
"Okay?" Ingrid and Sonny asked (and Ana, from behind the kitchen door)
"We'll watch her for you tomorrow. Good luck on your interview." Emerson looked at Ingrid and grinned. She simply smiled back but couldn't help but worry. Sonny was a runner but she had to trust that he was coming back to clean up his mess. She knew her son had better character but the worry was still ever present.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
After triple checking that Elsa was had absolutely everything she needed for at least forty-eight hours even though he was only going to be gone for less than half that time and giving Ingrid his house key just in case Elsa needed something else—he was in his red Dodge Charger Hellcat and speeding out of Boston in the wee hours of the morning.
Only stopping for gas...and donuts. Emerson didn't have much trouble getting to Storybrooke, but he was more than a little surprised to see that the 'small town' was more than that and was literally surrounded by the forest; thick and green all the way around. It was beautiful and a little intimidating.
Checking his watch, he was about an hour ahead of schedule. Emerson spotted a diner, Granny's Diner, and parked his car across the street. He cut the engine and pulled out his phone, fully intending to call to check on his daughter but Ingrid had already sent him a few photos of Elsa awake and eating and another couple with her fussing, slightly red in the face. He figured he'd call later...Ingrid and Mal probably had their hands full already.
He got out and pulled on his favorite red leather jacket over his white shirt and crossed the street into the diner. It wasn't especially crowded but the patrons that were in there completely stopped what they were doing to stare at the newcomer. Standing at six foot two with an athletic build (from his football and baseball days in college) along with a natural blonde beard that went down to his broad chest, and blonde hair pulled back into a bun—Emerson was a hard man to miss, or forget. He was definitely new—and the next topic of the town's gossip.
Sonny was already uncomfortable and tried his hardest not to fidget as he made his way to the counter feeling the eyes of every customer on his back. Thankfully, they had enough manners to go back to what they were doing in hushed conversations.
"Well, damn, hello there handsome."
Emerson looked up at the tall brunette waitress who was smiling at him almost wickedly as she set a menu in front of him. "Um, hey..." Lucy winked, tapping her name tag with the end of her pen. "Hi. Lucy."
Lucy chuckled, putting her pen and pad in the front pocket of her apron, "Don't pay attention to the staring. We don't get many handsome faces around here. So what brings you to Storybrooke?"
"Oh, uh, I'm just looking to settle. That's all. So..." Sonny trailed off, tapping his fingers on the counter-top nervously.
Lucy nodded, hoping that he would have said more but when it was clear he wasn't the waitress smiled at him again, "Well I hope you find what you're looking for. So what can I get for you?"
He looked down at the menu for a moment before handing it back to her, "Um I'll take one of those and maybe a cup of coffee."
"One bear-claw and a coffee coming right up..." Lucy looked at him expectantly, letting the silent question hang in the air between them.
It took him a second to catch on, "Oh, um, Sonny." Lucy winked at him and walked away.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Sheriff Mulan set Emerson's resume aside with an impressive nod, as if she hadn't gone over it multiple times before, "You're more qualified than I thought you would be and in a town like this, between us, I could use someone like you on payroll. You have the right training with multiple fire arms, surveillance—you know you're shit, and I can appreciate that."
Emerson nodded, but he sensed a 'but' coming on and he was right. The Sheriff rubbed her brow with slight agitation, "Unfortunately the deputy position was filled last week. But it wasn't my decision though, you were my first pick."
"So why did I drive five hundred miles for this interview, Sheriff?" Sonny couldn't allow himself to be upset over this but it was no easy feat leaving his daughter for an entire day in another state and for what? To be turned down? That was a fucking phone call.
"Well about that, I wanted to interview you regardless because the Mayor decided to give us a break and funded an extension to the station. I'm sure you've noticed that this town is surrounded by forest, right?" Sonny nodded, and Mulan continued, "Yeah, Well it's the size of a national park and we do get visitors here in Storybrooke, mostly campers and hunters. It's been putting a strain on my deputies, there just isn't enough of us to watch this town and be out there in the woods."
"Okay, what does this have to do with me though, Sheriff?"
"The new job I'm offering you, Mr. Swan, is for Storybrooke's official Chief Ranger, or Warden, whatever title you like best it's all the same."
"Oh. Wow. Wow." Emerson blinked and leaned back in the chair, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. "I mean I'd love to but...I don't know this area."
Sheriff Mulan chuckled, "Neither do I. I moved here last year. I was the deputy before the last Sheriff had a heart attack and died."
"Oh, I see."
"Listen, I know this is more than what you wanted but the pay comes with a ten thousand dollar bonus compensation for moving out of state along with medical, dental, optical, and life insurance. The Mayor has approved a two week down time period before you start so you can find a home and settle, and get to know the area a little better."
"You're talking as if I already have the job."
"It's yours if you want it." Mulan stood and held out her hand, "So?"
Emerson really wanted to take the job, he really did, but he saw the forest coming into the town—that was too much for a entire Sheriff's department. He was just one dude, "I'm gonna be alone?"
Mulan shook her head, "No, actually—we have other applications that had been put in for the deputies position, but I've gone through the list and eliminated those who are just not up to our standards. Because believe it or not, Storybrooke has it's fair share of crime." Mulan picked up a medium sized stack of folders, "The Rangers station only has three openings, and since you're the most qualified out of everyone you obviously got the better deal; the bonus."
"What's my salary for this position?"
Mulan shrugged, picking up a sheet of paper after a minute of searching, "Since this is a pretty big park...you're looking at eighty thousand even, so that's about six or seven a month."
"Will the other two get bonuses too?" Sonny was truly curious, but he was internally screaming—he didn't know park Rangers could get paid that much. That was twice the pay the deputies made.
"Yeah, just not as great as yours so I wouldn't go around bragging about it—but you're professional, I can tell. You take this job and this stack will be yours to go through—pick which ones you'd think would work best under your supervision. So what do you say, think you can handle this?"
Emerson swallowed harshly. Any other day he would have laughed and said fuck no. Hell, he wouldn't even be in the town, but with the economy the way it was, and now that he had a baby, he couldn't afford to be picky. He stood and shook the Sheriff's hand firmly. "Warden Swan sounds pretty badass, so I'm in."
"I was hoping you would be. I wasn't lying when I said I could use a man of your talents on my roster," Mulan nodded, smirking "Come on, let's get this paperwork out of the way and we're done."
Two hours later...
Sonny didn't think he'd have to sign that much paperwork. He didn't get a chance to meet the deputies since they either had the day off or were out patrolling. Turns out that Storybrooke was a lot bigger than he originally expected. The Sheriff showed him a map of the entire town and there were actually three parts to the town; there was Storybrooke Grove (where he was now). It was full of old shops, the high school, and the Sheriff's station.
Then a mile or so deeper into the woods there was Storybrooke Plaza where (to his great relief) a number of big name stores were located such as Best Buy, Wal-mart, H-E-B, a mini outlet mall, and fast food restaurants as well as sit down restaurants.
And then there was Storybrooke Villa...where the rich residents resided on one side of the massive man-made lake and the middle class stayed on the other side while the lower class was quite literally scattered all around the entire town.
It was like its own little world and Sonny was amazed, quickly finding himself liking this town a lot. More than he thought he would, really.
He had expressed that he didn't want to live in the Villa (way out of his price range), but he didn't exactly want a shack house either. Sheriff Mulan gave him several addresses of houses and apartments for sale in Storybrooke (which weren't many) but so far he hadn't found anything worth his time. They either needed way too much TLC, and he didn't have time for that and a newborn, or they fell short of expectations (he didn't like the area).
He wasn't expecting much of an improvement when he got to the last house on the list. It was a little ways from all three sections of Storybrooke, but he did see the Ranger's office on his way down so he hoped the house was at least promising.
It turned out to be more than promising. It was a two story chalet styled house. The grass was green and cut low. The porch light was on, and it was nothing but open scenery and fresh air. He parked his car on the side of the road and got out to get a flier from the "For Sale" sign. Three bedrooms, two baths, two car garage, a cellar and an attic...
He didn't need all of that space, but this was the best place he's seen so far, and he liked the area. The pictures on the paper showed that the house was more modern than its exterior. It could be his ultimate man cave...but with a baby. Only downfall, the price was too steep and he wasn't sure if he could afford to pay that much money in his current situation. It was only eighty thousand, but he just couldn't afford to put a dent in his savings—
"Excuse me, may I help you?"
Emerson turned around quickly, startled though he tried not to show it. He noticed the ranch—that was more of mansion—across the street but he never expected someone to actually come outside and talk to him. Especially not someone as gorgeous as the woman standing in front of him wearing tan riding pants with knee high brown boots and a powder blue coat. And Emerson wondered if he should have come to Storybrooke sooner. Because damn.
"Hi." She stared at him eyebrow raised , and Sonny smiled nervously. "I'm Sonny Swan... I'm new to town and...well yeah." He held out his hand but she made no move to shake it, instead looking at it suspiciously. He slowly put his hand down and tried not to act as awkward as he was starting to feel.
"Can I help you?" She repeated, her tone was brisk, and her eyes were guarded, and Sonny didn't understand what he did wrong but he simply summed it up to just a rural thing.
He held up the flier. "Um, yeah...do you know the owner of this house? It doesn't have a Realtor listed. And uh, well, I'm kinda interested so if you could just...tell me, I'll be outta your hair. Ma'am."
She crossed her arms and for the first time Sonny noticed the riding crop and his mind went straight to the gutter for a split second, and with the tight Levi jeans he was wearing—that was the last thing that needed to be on his mind. "No one comes down here except the Sheriff, who I will be calling if this is some kind of initiation into Robin Lochlyn's little 'gang'."
Confused, Sonny took a step back, "What? Whoa. Gang? No, I'm...look I don't know who Robin whatever is but I'm not in a gang. I just wanna know who owns this house so I can buy it...or something."
The brunette's gaze shifted to the red muscle car that could be heard half a mile away then back to the tall man in front of—he could honestly pass as a mountain man, so no one could blame her for accusing him of running with Robin's little gang. She sighed heavily, hoping she wasn't going to regret this.
"Regina Mills."
"Regina Mills? She owns this house? Where can I find her? Is she nice?"
Smirking, the woman held out of her hand and Emerson chortled when he realized that she was Regina Mills and shook her hand. "How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?"
"Sure," Emerson nodded. "Got anything to eat too? I'm hungry."
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Emerson sat on a bar-stool in Regina's grand stainless steel and wood kitchen drinking apple cider and eating an avocado turkey sandwich while Regina sat next to him with her own glass—watching him eat, wondering when the last time he ate real food, not that it was any of her concern or that she cared.
"So if you don't mind me asking, but why do you have two houses...across the street from each other? That's kinda weird...I mean you're not weird...just...that's weird."
Regina met his curious green eyes coolly, "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness, dear. If you're finished, let's discuss business shall we?"
Triggered. "Sure, just one thing...wait, don't say anything just hear me out for a second alright?"
Regina closed her mouth and motioned for him to continue, "Right now, I'm financially unavailable to pay for the house in full upfront but I can totally give you, I don't know..thirty grand, now and work the rest of the payment. Ya know? Like an installment plan or something?"
"An installment plan? Hmm, I see. And what's keeping me from saying no to this little bargain of yours, Mr. Swan?"
"I don't know, nothing I guess...but I'm good for it. This place is honestly the best place in this town that's available and I...well, I don't know." he hated that he couldn't come up with a better excuse but he was being honest. He may have made a lot being a bounty Hunter, but he spent a lot of it partying and it was too late for him to regret it, but it didn't mean that he didn't though.
"Well 'I don't know' isn't good enough. My apologies, but no deal."
Emerson surged forward as Regina collected his plate and moved to the sink but he stopped when he saw her tense, and backed off immediately rubbing his blonde facial hairs nervously.
"Sorry, I'm sorry but please..." deep breath. He swallowed his pride and stared down at the counter, "Look, I'm just one guy and I have this kid...my little girl. And I wanna give her the world...her best chance really. And apparently that's gonna be here in Storybrooke and it's an opportunity I can't miss. I just can't and that house across the street? It's not for me, it's for her. So can you at least think about reconsidering? Please?"
Emerson tapped his fingers on the counter top nervously, blushing because he felt as his pride was taking a hit and he's never really had to beg someone for something before and it was humiliating and humbling..
"You have a daughter?" Regina tried to keep her tone and facial expression neutral as she studied him—she wanted to not buy his story but his body language told nothing but the truth. Regina was a hard woman to impress, but she wasn't that cold, "How old is she?"
"A month." he replied softly, still staring down at the counter.
Regina eyed him for a moment, she couldn't fault a man for stepping up...she did take notice that he never mentioned a wife or a girlfriend...or even a 'baby mama', and the brunette wasn't about to ask either. She set the plate down in the sink as it could be taken care of later.
"You can pay me by check or money order by the end of this week and the rest we can work out later."
Emerson's shoulders sagged as he dropped his head into his hands with relief—god he's never felt so emotional, but damn he wanted to cry but he didn't and he quickly pulled himself together and held out his hand, and this time Regina shook it.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ