Chapter 2

It was out there now, like something tossed onto smooth wooden table they were seated around. Emma's hackles were up; she couldn't help it. The last time she had told someone about the situation it had turned into such an utter shit show that she now immediately went to defensive mode. She had told Killian, and his reaction had been so cruel, so revolting to her that the rage she had felt had been overwhelming. She had walked the line between being paralyzed by it or unleashing it in unadulterated violence. In all honesty, she feared if she saw him again she might kill him. The rage was pounding through her veins now at just the memory of it and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

David seemed frozen in place, and Snow had leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful as she directed her gaze toward the ceiling, like she was trying to puzzle out some very challenging crossword puzzle.

"Oookay, sooo...um," the pixie haired woman looked over to her blonde daughter and noticed the firm set of her jaw and wondered why Emma looked like she was ready to punch someone. "Questions..."

Regina held her hand up, forestalling any further words from Snow. "Let's back up, and start at the beginning."

Two Months Ago on a Monday Morning in Storybrooke

Emma, like most intelligent creatures, hated Mondays and everything about them. Most of her life she had never been a Monday through Friday work a day gal, but now as Sheriff it was expected of her to keep something resembling normal office hours. As tempted as she was to use her position to make her own rules, like coming in at noon, she chose to stay on the path of the responsible sheriff and show up on time.

This particular Monday was her first day in the office since winning re-election to the role of Storybrooke's Sheriff. Her father was now deputy sheriff. Since shedding the Dark One she had been a little lost, a bit unsure of where her path led now. The memory of the darkness that had resided in her was always there and sometimes it pulled at her. Regina was the one who suggested she run and take the mantle back from her father. There was little doubt she would win of course, she was running unopposed but that didn't stop Regina from nagging everyone she could to make sure to vote in the special election.

"Don't take anything for granted, Emma, especially in elections." Regina had chastised her from behind her mayoral desk as she pursued the numbers from the quarterly budget report. In that moment Emma had sort of wished Regina had reading glasses because they would have looked cute perched on her nose.

Emma banged through the Sheriff's office front door, Styrofoam coffee cup in one hand and a box of donuts perched awkwardly in the other. A cliché perhaps but what kind of Sheriff would she be if she didn't bring her deputies something on her first day as back as the boss?

The wooden blinds banged against the door and she kicked it closed with her boot. Across the open office area she saw cluttered desks, which were empty save for two: At one sat her father in a blue button up shirt with his leather shoulder holster, dutifully pecking in a report on one of the departments' new laptops and at the other sat Will Scarlet. On Will's desk there were maps laid out of the area in and around Storybrooke. She had asked him to begin creating districts or zones for patrol and responsibility so they could divvy up patrols and tasks easier. He had just started so it seemed like a simple task to get him acclimated to his role.

She held the box up. "Guys! Donuts! It's a cliché I know but I couldn't resist."

Will looked up, a twinkle in his eye. "Sugar? Smashing Swan, I could use a boost. Got in a bit early today." He bounced up from his chair and took a hold of the box, setting it on the desk and wasting no time tearing into it.

"Morning Dad, anything going on?"

He swiveled in his chair. "Just wrestling with this new laptop. It seems like a slower way to enter reports to me."

"No typing lessons in the Enchanted Forest, hunt and pecker?" she smirked, taking off her red knit cap.

"Hunt and peck? Are those dwarves?"

She laughed and gestured at the keyboard. "That's what you are doing: hunting and pecking keys." She slipped out of her blue heavy jacket and tossed it onto the coat rack.

David was now peering down at the keyboard. "I don't understand why these keys are ordered this way at all and the more I think about it, it makes no sense." He turned around to look at his daughter. "There's a package for you on your desk."

The Sheriff had a small private office off of the main open office area, although even during her prior tenure as Sheriff Emma had never really used it. It was really only good for private conversations and its small size felt like she was locked in a closet.

"What is it?"

David shrugged. "Don't know."

Emma turned, her blonde hair flying over her shoulder. "A mysterious package appears for the newly elected Sheriff and you didn't investigate?"

A crooked grin turned up the corner of his mouth. "Okay, I did peek. As your father I can assure you you're safe. But I still don't know who it's from but I have my suspicions."

Emma shot him a full dimpled grin and opened the door to the office.

The room was spotless since it was rarely used and the desk only had a lamp and a leather ink blotter. Sitting on top of the desk was a rather hefty and wide white box. This was going to be something good, she could feel it. She sat down at the desk and did a little excited hop before opening the box lid.

Inside, wrapped in tissue paper, was a brown leather jacket. The smell of leather wafted up and she couldn't help but take a deep breath. She carefully pulled aside the crinkly white paper, took a hold of the jacket by the shoulders and held it up.

It was what would typically be considered a bomber jacket, brown leather with white woolen lining and there on the right breast was 'Sheriff' stitched in black and outlined in gold. She held it close and inhaled its leather scent one more time before slipping it on. Once it was on she noticed the Storybrooke police patch on the right shoulder and on the left arm was a small zippered pocket.

She zipped up the jacket and put her hands in the pockets, spinning around to feel it move across her back. It was gorgeous. She hugged herself for just a moment, luxuriating in the feeling, before stepping out the door into the main office area.

"Dad! Whattya think?" She asked. Her cheeks hurt from grinning but she couldn't help it. It was like a Christmas and birthday present rolled into one, she had to keep herself from bouncing on the balls of her feet she was so excited.

David loved seeing his daughter so flushed and excited. He hadn't seen her this happy in a long time. Of course, he knew it had a lot to do with who sent the gift as much as the gift itself. She looked utterly besotted and it gave him a good ache in his chest, the kind that came with adoration and love.

"It's gorgeous, Emma. You look wonderful in it."

"I do, don't I?" she winked. She unzipped the front to run her hand over the soft wool lining.

"Who sent it?" he asked.

There had been no card, no hint of the sender but Emma had little doubt who it was.

"I think we both know..." she said, and they both said a name, but not the same name.

Emma looked at her father, a bit perplexed by his response. Her brows knitted as she focused on him, like she was examining him for possible head wounds.

"Killain? Come on, Dad. Regina sent this. It has Regina all over it." She let a chuckle and tried to stop looking at him like he was a total idiot, just a bit of one. She turned on her heel and went back into the office. "I'll call her right now, you get donuts tomorrow if I'm wrong."

Regina had not answered her office phone or her cell phone so Emma couldn't wave her victory flag just yet but she knew in her heart it was from Regina. She didn't ponder the fact that it had made her so flushed and excited but she knew it made her feel loved, and in a way she wasn't sure she had ever felt. The fact the Regina had taken the time, made the effort to arrange such a gift pleased every cell in her body. She tried to call her again but had no better luck.

It was close to lunch, the sun was finally out and Emma was ready to go take a walk around town, maybe grab something to eat. She was pretty sure that it counted as patrolling or community policing. She was feeling a strange cramping in her side and thought maybe a walk would help. She was slipping on her new jacket and heading for the door when she heard her father give a shout. She turned back to see him holding up a tan receiver of an office phone.

"Emma! Hospital on the line! Sounds urgent."

She felt her heart jump into her throat and ran back towards him. Don't be about Henry, don't be about Henry. She grabbed the receiver and held it up to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Sheriff Swan?" A female voice asked.

"Yes?"

"This is Doctor Lacey over at Storybrooke General. Mayor Mills is requesting you. She's just coming out of anesthesia."

Emma felt her legs practically give out from under her and she pitched forward to grab onto the desk. She didn't even feel her father's arm wrap around her waist to steady her.

"What! What happened! Tell me what the hell-"

"Emma, please just get over here," the doctor requested, sounding far too emotional for a doctor in this situation which just scared Emma even more.

She hung the phone and bolted for the door.