Chapter I
I was walking home late from working at the station when I saw them. Little Henry Mills, he was the mayor's son so we couldn't fraternize much; our parent's hated each other. As much as they worked together they couldn't be in each other's company unless they were striking some sort of deal about something. This wouldn't matter to me, I was a grown woman but many people kept a safe distance from me, I was Mr. Gold's daughter so I must be trouble.
"Henry?" I called out curiously
I was never one to care about society's opinion anyway. "They can't. If they try, bad things happen" he said before turning around to see me "Keira" he smiled, apparently he didn't care about other's opinion's much either
"What are you doing out here in the middle of the night? Something bad can happen, you should go home" I said imploringly
"Relax, I'm fine, I'm with my mother" he said cheerfully
I looked up to see a pale woman with light blonde hair and blue eyes, Henry's eyes. "Well I'll be darned" I said, shocked "Nice to meet you" I smiled and held out my hand for her to shake "Keira Gold, receptionist to the town sheriff at your service"
"Emma Swan, I won't be long" she stated
"Henry, does Regina know that you did this?" I asked
"No" he said almost sheepishly
"….I don't suppose there's any way that you could wait until I'm around before you tell her?" I asked only somewhat sarcastically
"Hey now-"
Poor Emma, truth was she probably didn't even know how much trouble she got herself into just by coming here. Regina won't like the competition. NO one in town liked Regina, hell her own son couldn't stand being around her (the proof being his birth mother standing in front of me). "Henry! What are you doing here? Is everything all right?" Archie asked, walking up to us
Archie and I were friends; he was one of the few people who weren't afraid to be around me. I liked Archie, he was a good therapist. He was really moral though, almost to the point of annoyance the guy was like the Jiminy Cricket of psychologists. "I'm fine Archie" he said before petting his dog Pongo
"Who's this?" he asked Henry
"Emma Swan" I answered for him
"Just someone trying to give him a ride home" she said awkwardly, not wanting to be in this position
"She's my mom, Archie" Henry said proudly
"Oh. I see" he said, looking at me with a clear uh oh on his face
"Either of you know where he lives?" she asked
"Of course" I said, everyone knew where the mayor lived
"Just uh, right up on Misslin Street; the Mayor's house is the biggest one on the block" Archie pointed
"You know your there once you get that chill running up your spin" I added sarcastically "No offence Henry" I added quickly
"None taken" he mumbled
"You're the mayor's kid?" Emma asked, stunned
"Uh, maybe?" I wouldn't want to admit it if I was in his shoes either
"Hey, where were you today Henry, because you missed our session" Archie asked curiously
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I went on a field trip" Henry said, he really needs to work on his poker face
Archie crouched down so he was facing Henry "Henry; what'd I tell you about lying? Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything"
"Anyone ever tell you you're great at parties Archie?" I asked with a raised eyebrow so they would note my sarcasm
"O-kay! Well, I really should be getting him home" Emma said, feeling Awkward
"Yeah, sure. Well, listen—have a good night, and uh, you be good, Henry" Archie said before turning to me "It's dark outside Keira, would you like a walk home?" he asked, ever the gentleman
"That would be great, thanks Archie" I smiled before taking his arm so we could walk off
As we walked off I'm sure I could hear a part of their conversation. "Who's she supposed to be?" Emma asked
"Rose Red"
Lisabeth's point of view-
I sighed as Regina was freaking out. And I was honestly freaking out myself. Henry was missing. How could a ten year old go missing? In a small town like this no one knows. Storybrooke, Maine was tiny with a population of only about 100,000 or so. As Sheriff Graham finished his questioning we walked outside to see Henry, and a beautiful blond woman. She was older than me by a few years at least. With shoulder length gold-blond hair and blue eyes. She was about two inches taller than me, about 5'6.
"Henry!" Regina said in a worried yell and ran towards him. And she engulfed him in a hug. "Are you ok?" She asked him, and then let him go. "Where have you been?" She looked between the unknown women, who I suddenly realized shared a resemblance to Mary Margaret.
Henry glared at Regina. "I found my real mom!" He yelled at her and ran into to me. I was shocked, and it only registered a little bit. I hugged him quickly before he went into the house.
Sheriff Graham shifted. "I better see if the lad is alright." I nodded.
"You're Henry's birth mother?" Regina asked.
"Hi." The woman said a bit sheepishly. "How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you have ever tasted?" She asked the still unknown woman.
"Got anything stronger?"
The three of us went inside from the cold snow. When Regina went to get the glasses the woman and I waited in the foyer. "I'm Lisabeth Hale by the way." I told her, sticking out my pale hand.
"Emma Swan." She replied and shook my hand. "So are you his babysitter or something?" She asked, sticking her hands into his pockets.
I shook my head. "Uh- no, actually I'm Regina Mills' ward." This seemed to shock her more than anything.
"You're her ward?" I nodded, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. She looked like she wanted to ask me another question but Regina came into the room. "So how'd he find me?" Emma asked as Regina poured the drinks.
"I have no idea" which was probably true. I honestly was curious to know how he found out where his birth mother was.
"When I adopted him he was three weeks old, records were sealed." She continued to pour. "I was told the birth mother wanted no contact."
"You were told right." I was a bit surprised at what she said. I looked at her with a shocked and almost disapproving look. Excuse me for not liking the fact that you gave up your child.
"And the father?" Regina asked. "There was one." Emma replied, shifting herself a bit to the left.
"Do I need to be worried about him?"
"Nope" was her immediate response "He doesn't even know."
Regina nodded and came over to us with drinks. "Do I have to be worried about you Ms. Swan?" Now this was getting uncomfortable. I quickly downed my drink and ignored the bitter taste.
"I think I'm going to see if Henry's doing alright." I told them. "Emma it was nice meeting you." Then I headed up to see Henry.
Keira's point of view-
The next morning I had a full day ahead of me, first work and then lunch with my dad, more work and then I'm sure my dad would want me to visit him again at the shop. I got up, looked around my apartment and reveled in the fact that I woke up alone, knowing that no one was around me. I loved my father, more than anyone else in the world but he was over protective to the point of smothering me. I haven't really been on my own long; I only got the chance to break free when the Sheriff gave me my job as his receptionist.
I made myself some instant coffee and went to the sheriff's office to find we already had people in the cell. Now, Leroy I understood, he was a good man but I don't think I've ever seen him smile so much as once. What I didn't understand was why Emma Swan was sleeping there. "Sheriff" I called Graham over
"Yeah?"
"What is Emma Swan doing here?" I asked curiously
"You know her?"
"Met her last night when she was taking Henry back home" I stated
"Do you know how they meet?" he asked almost wearily
"No clue, I know Regina had nothing to do with it though" I said, barely concealing my amusement at that
"Yes, she wasn't exactly happy to find out" he admitted "Hello Marco" he said as he walked in
"Good morning Marc" I said cheerfully
"Good morning Sheriff, Miss. Gold" he said politely
Marco was one of the people who were more wary of me for being my father's daughter. It wasn't like I ever did anything to bother him, or that my father really did either. Power tended to scare people though and my father owned the town. Suddenly though, I saw Emma stir and rub her eyes as she got off the cot. She didn't look like she got a good night's sleep though; then again those cots weren't that comfortable. She looked over to see Leroy looking her way.
"What are you looking at, sister?" he said, irritated
"Hey, Leroy—manners! We have a guest! So you are eh, Henry's mother. How lovely for him to have you back in his life"
I wasn't sure I agreed with that, I wasn't usually one to judge but I can't say I approved of a mother abandoning her child and disappearing without a trace. Then again compared to Regina she may be the Masaya of mothers for all I knew. "Hello Emma" I said politely
"Actually, I was just dropping him off" she stated
"Tih. Don't blame yeh. They're all brats; who needs 'em" Leroy said, ever the charmer
"Well, I'd give anything for one. My wife and I, we tried for many years, but, uh... it was no meant to be" he said sadly
"You never know Marco, it could still happen" I said sympathetically
"Well cry me a river" Leroy said with and eye roll
"Leroy! I'm going to let you out; you need to behave. Put on a smile, and stay out of trouble" Sheriff demanded as he entered the room again
"If that's possible" I added under my breathe as he put on a more smirkish grin
"Seriously?" Emma asked
He looked at her almost sheepishly "Regina's drinks; a little stronger than we thought" he offered her an excuse
"I wasn't drunk" she said defensively "there was a wolf, standing in the middle of the road"
"A wolf, right." He said as I couldn't help but snort a little
There were no wolves in Storybrooke, unless you counted Regina.
"Graham?" speak of the devil "Henry's run away again, we have to- what is she doing here?" she asked, referring to Emma "Do you know where he is?"
"Lady, I haven't seen him since I dropped him at your house, and" she motioned towards the cell bars "pretty good alibi"
"Yeah, well, he wasn't in his room this morning" she said snobbishly
"Have you ever thought that maybe your son just doesn't like you" I muttered
"What?" Regina asked
"I said I'm sure you'll find him as long as you think like he does" I offered with a false smile
"You try his friends?" Emma offered
"He doesn't really have any, kind of a loner" Regina stated "Keira, you spend most of your time alone, where do you go when you run away from your father?" she asked innocently
O no she didn't. "Probably run towards the closest thing to a parental figure that I could find" I stated imploringly with a charming grin
"Every kid has friends" Emma said before Regina could rebuttal, her voice becoming softer "Did you check his computer? If he was close to someone he'd be emailing them"
"And you know this how?" she asked suspiciously"
Finding people's what I do. You know what: you guys let me out, and I'll help you find him"
"Keira, I hate to ask this but could you watch the station while I'm gone?" Graham asked
"Of course" I said
It's not like I'd be doing much anyway, nothing ever happens in Storybrooke.
As I was in mid poor my phone started to ring. I sighed, who was calling me at work? I quickly checked it. It was Regina. "Excuse me for one moment." I told the man and went to answer. "Hello?" I asked.
"Lisabeth it's Regina, is Henry with you?"
"Uh- no, why?" I asked slowly.
"He's gone missing again." Missing again? What was with this boy?
"Ok i'll be right over." I told her. "Hey Ruby!"
I called to the red streaked haired woman. "Yeah?" She asked as she looked away from a customer.
"I hate to do this but Regina need's me, Henry's gone missing." Her eyes went a bit wide. "Go, do what you have to." I nodded and said my thanks and got my apron off.
I ran to the house. "Regina!" I yelled as I spotted them coming down the stairs. "What's going on?" I asked.
"We're going to the school." She told me swiftly, I knew she meant business.
After we drove to Storybrooke Elementary we quickly went inside. As we walked we saw Maia Tanis-Parker who was just walking her kindergarten class back into her classroom when she spotted us.
"Hello Madam Mayor, Lisabeth." She said with a friendly nod and smile. This woman didn't really have a mean bone in her body. But Regina wasn't in the mood to play nice mayor.
"Where's Mary Margaret?" She asked.
Maia raised an eyebrow and looked at her watch. "She should be in class- but it's almost recess." She told us.
We nodded and headed towards her classroom. "It was good seeing you Maia." I called over my shoulder.
As we got to Mary Margaret's classroom they were letting out for recess. "Hello Miss. Mills, Lisabeth." She greeted us with a warm smile. Warmer than any other smile I had ever seen.
"Where's my son?" Regina practically spat.
Mary Margaret looked confused. "Henry?" She questioned. "I assumed he was home sick."
Regina narrowed her eyes. "You think we'd be here if she was?"
Mary Margret shifted a bit, her eyes falling to Emma. "Did you give him your credit card so he could find her?"
"I'm sorry who are you?" Mary Margaret asked politely.
"I'm his- I'm his-" But she couldn't quite get it out.
"This is the woman who gave him up for adoption."
Keira's point of view-
I got lucky; I was just about to call my dad when Sheriff Graham walked in. "Hello Sheriff, did everything go alright?"
"As well as it could have gone considering this is the second time that he ran away" he said, sounding worn out
"Yeah, you would think that that would really tell Regina something" I muttered
"Keira-"
"Sorry, it's easy forget that you're the only one in town besides Archie who can stand Regina"
"Well no offence Keira but it's not like your family name is exactly phrased either but it doesn't stop me from liking you now does it?" he said with an almost flirtatious smile
I couldn't help but smile back a little "Your right, I'm sorry. Do you mind if I go on my lunch break or do you want me to cancel?"
"No, go ahead, you've been stuck in this office doing nothing it's the least I could do"
"Thanks Graham, I don't think my father would've forgiven me if I missed lunch again" I admitted as I gathered my things
"Are you sure you want that lunch break?" he asked sarcastically
"O ha-ha, you're so funny" I said sarcastically as I left, I would've hit him in the arm if he wasn't my boss
When I got to Granny's Diner my father was sitting at one of the booths, drinking coffee. I rushed over there. "You're late" my father stated with a smile
"Sorry, there was an emergency and I had to man the desk all morning" I said before sitting across from my dad
"An emergency?" he asked curiously
"Yeah, Henry ran away…again" I said in a quiet voice "He met his birth mother last night and I guess it all got to be too much for the poor little guy" I said sympathetically
"I see" dad said, not really sounding surprised
"Dad, did you already know about this" I smiled suspiciously
"Of course not" he smiled with false innocence
"Well, whether you knew about this or not, we should keep this on the down low, for Henry's sake" I stated
"I will" he assured me
"I'm glad I can confide in you dad" I smiled "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone to vent to" I said, holding his hand across the table
"You could vent to me all you wanted if you were home more" he said, almost sounding disappointed
I sighed and let his hand go while slouching back into the chair. "Wow, two whole minutes without telling me to move back in, must be a new record"
"You know I'm just worried about my little girl sweetheart" he said, his voice becoming gentle
That made me slightly guilty. "I know, and I'll always be your little girl dad but I was going to have to grow up sometime, I couldn't stay at home forever"
"I know that, I just worry, your apartment is so small" he said
I rolled my eyes "Every place is small compared to our house dad"
"Good point" he stated
"Yell you what" what's life without compromise? "I promise to visit more if you promise to lighten up about me moving out, deal?" I asked holding out my hand for him to shake
"Deal" he chuckled and shook my hand
"Hello Mr. Gold, Keira" Lisabeth said politely
It became awkward all of a sudden. Neither of our parents knew we were really friends, they couldn't know, they'd have an aneurism. As much I couldn't care if that happened to Regina, my father's approval still meant something to me. "Hello Lisabeth" I said, just as politely, avoiding direct eye contact
"Can I get you anything?" she asked, getting out a pen and notepad
"Give me the Tuesday special" dad asked
"That sounds good; I'll have the same and hot chocolate with cinnamon please"
"I'll be right back with that" she said before walking off
I really hoped that one day our parents would get over their feud and it would no longer feel like she was my mistress or something but I couldn't see that happening. We would probably just have to tell them the truth…but that day wasn't today. Today I sat down with my dad and we talked about work and all the other unimportant stuff as we at.
We hadn't been eating long when I heard the bell at the door ring and my dad froze. I looked over to see him, Laron Fairholm. I've never talked to him before; I just knew that he was the hottest guy I have ever laid eyes on. He had black hair and eyes as blue as the ocean, I wasn't really one for facile hair but he made it work. "We need to leave" my dad said darkly
I turned my head back "What, why? We only just started eating" I asked, confused
"Because, I-I realized I have something I have to do at the store" he said uncomfortably before getting up so fast he was almost jumping out of his seat
"O-Ok, just let me get us some to go boxes" I said, wondering what the heck is going on "Lisabeth, two to go boxes please"
"Sure" she said rushing to get us the boxes
After my dad basically shoveled the food into the boxes he grabbed my arm and we were rushing to the door. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you looked at it, Laron was still standing up and we were in such a rush to leave I ran right into him and almost dropped my food. "O, I am so sorry" I apologized sheepishly
"No use crying over milk that wasn't even spilled" he said with a charming smile "I'm Laron by the way"
"Keira" I said, trying not to stutter
Get a hold of yourself; you're not some thirteen year old girl! The rational part of me scolded. "And I'm Mr. Gold, now if you're done harassing my daughter I think it's time we leave Keira" dad said, pulling on my arm
O God, now I was really embarrassed. "My apologizes, I didn't see the leach on your daughter's neck" he said sarcastically
I laughed awkwardly "Well as much fun as this has been" I said sarcastically "I think we should leave now, nice meeting you Laron" I said politely as I all but shoved my dad towards the door
"Likewise Miss. Gold" he said with an almost mischievous smile on his face
I had to resist a small shiver working its way up my back.
Lisabeth's point of view-
As I was continuing to serve customers the bell to the door rang. But I didn't bother looking up. I heard Ruby groan. "Oh looky it's your favorite customer." She said with sarcasm. I craned my neck to see Mr. Gold. I groaned, couldn't I go one day without seeing that man? I was going to try to avoid him as long as possible. As long as possible.
After a few minutes the door rang again. I looked up this time; it was Keira Gold, his daughter. "You're late." He told his daughter with a smile. She replied by saying that Henry had run away again. God that boy was going to give me a heart attack or something and I was only twenty-three.
I began to walk over there. "Hello Mr. Gold, Keira" I said politely as possible. The air was thick with tension all of a sudden. We all knew it. See Keira and I didn't have a problem with each other- it was our parents. They would die if they knew she and I were friendly with each other and then Regina would come back and scold me like a child. "Hello Lisabeth" Keira said politely, avoiding direct eye contact, couldn't be helped.
"Can I get you anything?" I asked, getting my pen and notepad.
"Give me the Tuesday special." Mr. Gold said. I nodded and scribbled it down, and then I turned to Keira.
"That sounds good; I'll have the same and hot chocolate with cinnamon please." I again scribbled down the order.
God that was just weird. She and Mary Margaret loved the same type of hot chocolate. This wasn't the first time I noticed things like this. But what I found odd, above anything else, was that they could pass as sisters. "I'll be right back with that" I said before walking off into the kitchen. I moved my curly honey blond hair to the side. I sighed and gained my composure again, and just in time for their orders.
They hadn't been at Granny's very long when Mr. Gold suddenly went tense, very tense. I looked up to see what the cause was, Laron Fairholm. As if things weren't tense enough. "Lisabeth, two to go boxes please." Keira sudden told me.
"Sure" I replied rushing to get their boxes. Once they got them Mr. Gold practically dumped everything into the boxes and practically pushed his daughter out the door. I watched the two go out the door as quickly as they came in.
What was up with them? And what was up with him giving Laron the evil eyes? I mean yes Fairholm was a flirt but he was like that with most people. But Gold looked like he'd seen a ghost, an unfriendly one. "Hey Laron." I said finally said coming back to reality.
"Hello Lisabeth." He replied with that grin of his. Good god that man was hot.
"Hey Ruby!" I yelled with a grin. "Your favorite customer's here." The black and red haired woman turned around with a grin. Laron gave me a why did you do that look. But I just gave a smile and a wave then, went back to serving other people. As I went to clear the Gold's table away I noticed they left something. I sighed, Keira had left it behind. "Hey Ruby, Keira Gold forgot her wallet. I'm gonna go to the station and give it to her."
"Ok" was Ruby's reply
Maia's Point of View-
After that horrid woman left I got another teacher to watch my classroom and went to Mary Margaret. I saw her and that woman Emma talking. "Look, I gave the book to him because I wanted Henry to have the most important thing anyone can have. Hope" I knew what book she was talking about. It was that old fairytale book. ". Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."
Emma stared her down for a second. "You know where he is, don't you?" She asked him.
She nodded. "You might want to check his castle." And with that the blond woman was off. Mary Margaret watched her for a second before turning.
"Hey." I said with a soft smile. "Is everything ok?" I only asked that because the witchy mayor was looking for her.
She nodded. "I'll be fine." She replied, and we began to walk together.
"So that was her?" I asked as we continued to walk.
She sighed. "That was her." My eyes widened a bit. Henry's birth mother was actually here, in Storybrooke. "I can't believe he actually found her." He always talked about finding his birth-mother; I just never thought he would do it.
Keira's point of view-
When I went back to the station I was answering the phone when Lisabeth came in. "Sheriff Graham's office, what may I help you with?"
"Hello Keira" she said as she walked in
"Hi, one sec'" I held up a finger "No sir, I'm sorry, we don't help with those kinds of problems…..Then maybe your son should watch over his stuff more!"
"Uh, should I come back-?"
"Look it's not my fault, it's God's fault for allowing you to be a parent! Goodbye" I said angrily before slamming down the phone
"Uh, I'm just going to…"
"No, I'm sorry" I let out a huff "I'm not in a very good mood, I lost my wallet and I know I'll have to cancel my credit cards now-"
"Well aren't you lucky were friends" she grinned and waved the wallet in front of her face, gloating
"Lisabeth you're a life saver!" I said enthusiastically, relieved
I threw my arms around her and gave her a hug bear hug "Yes, I am aren't I?" she teased
"By the way…can I ask you something?" I asked sheepishly
"Sure" she said curiously
"What do you know about Laron?" I asked, feeling awkward
She laughed, o him, he caught you too did he?" she asked
"Yes, I can't help he's just so….."
"Hot?" she offered
"Gorgeous!" I exclaimed
"He is yummy isn't he?" she said dreamily
"Yes, so what do you know about him?"
"I don't think you want to go there Keira, for one thing he's a big flirt" she stated, rolling her eyes from experience "And for another, your dad obviously hates him"
"Yeah, something did seem wrong with him but I have no idea what it could be" I said with a confused look on my face
"I don't know, I don't think Laron much likes to fraternize with Mr. Gold" Lisabeth said as though she was admitting something
"Maybe your, right, maybe I shouldn't go there" I said, disappointed
"On the bright side, I think he thought you were cute" she said supportively
I snorted "I doubt it, and even if he did I doubt he'd want to go out with me now that he knows who my father is, you should've seen how over protective he was" I said before slouching back to my chair in defeat
"Hey, if it's meant to be it'll all work out" she assured me
"What will work out?" Graham asked as he walked back in
"My life" I stated
"Ah" he nodded
"Did you find Henry?" Lisabeth asked, concerned
"His birth mother did" Graham said
"O, what a burn on Regina" I resisted a smile, one day and Emma was taking better care of Henry than Regina did in all the years she looked after him
Lisabeth groaned "She's not going to be happy about this"
Moments like this I felt sorry for Lisabeth, on a good week I only had to see Regina a few times a week. Lisabeth had to deal with her every day. Then again I knew she felt the same way about me and my dad. "I'm sure things will be fine, unless Emma changes her mind and stays in Storybrooke" I shrugged
"What if she does?" Lisabeth asked, clearly trying and failing not to judge this woman same as I was
"It wouldn't matter, she gave up her parental rights when Henry was born" I reminded her "And I'll admit, as much as I dislike Regina, at least she's always been there for Henry" I said grudgingly
"Yes, well, either way it's not really our business" Graham reminded me "This is a situation they'll have to handle themselves"
"But what if Emma really loves him?" Lisabeth asked, almost worried
"Well you know what they say about love, it will always find each other" I shrugged
"I don't know what to think about this" Lisabeth said, worried