A/N: Alright, here it is.

"I do not understand, why are we here?" Snow asked as she and her husband entered the conference room at town hall. There was a steady, and completely uneasy, alliance between them and Regina. Who was already sitting around the table. She sat, David following suit. While Regina held onto their peacefully smiling grandson.

It took every micro molecule of Snow's strength not to lean over and snatch the baby boy from Regina's grasp. She barely managed to tuck her hands into her lap, to keep herself from ripping the obviously happy child from Regina. Something Snow had never seen him. He only ever screamed for anyone and everyone as far as the short-haired woman knew. Snow knew she was already on Emma's bad list, and she didn't want to make their relationship any worse than it already was. They'd already been informed where baby Emmett was, as her daughter had sent them a text early that morning to inform them, also to warn them not to take the boy from her.

"Now that is a very good question. Surprising coming from one such as you" Regina said with a sly smile. Causing Snow to grimace. "I am very interested to learn why we are here as well, the sheriff was supposed to pick up both of her offspring later this evening. So I have no idea why she had that imp call this so called important meeting. Or why she's not yet here herself" Was added in a more neutral tone.

As if magically summoned by the mere mention of his person Gold strode into the room as if he owned the world, he seemed happier than he had in a very long time. His cane marking the only sound in the room as he walked by the four persons in the meeting room, and found himself a seat at the other end of the long table. He rested his hands, and chin, on the very top of his cane. Peering at the people with a creepy, all knowing smirk. His eyes dancing from Ruby, to Regina, and finally settling onto the note so charming couple.

"Where is my daughter?" David demanded angrily. Uneasy with the self-pleasing grin on the Dark One's features. Not liking that his daughter had been hiding off somewhere all morning, and now she was late for this meeting? As stupid as the man was, he knew something was wrong. "Where is Emma?" He snarled.

"Ah. Yes, young Emma. We shall get to that in due time. First, please, keep calm until I have relayed all the information that I have been sent to say. As all of what I am about to speak, on my precious dear departed sons soul, is how Emma wished it to be said just so" Gold's voice was sincere.

With that being said the other four adults in the room knew better than to take anything Rumpelstiltskin said at face value. He always had something up his sleeve. David shared a look and a nod with his wife, then they did the same to Ruby. Eventually all four people had shared that look. That look that said for now they would listen, trust was a completely different story. However, Emma was not here, and, Gold had sworn on the one thing he loved, which was concerning enough within itself.

Turning back to stare at Rumple they steadied their gaze upon him. Wondering just exactly what was going on. Regina juggled Emmett to the other arm, resting him in the crook of her elbow before placing his pacifier back into his mouth and covering his face with the blanket. Hoping that he would continue to sleep through the meeting, despite the tension that was growing larger with every passing second inside the room, not to mention the loud outbursts already spoken. Did no one realize that infants need their sleep?

"Last night I was very rudely awoken from my slumber at just after midnight. The Sheriff was at my door, disheveled and breathing heavily. She'd raced to my place after leaving Regina's. I owed her a favor, and the young Swan demanded payment immediately. We discussed the details in great length, she left me in charge of three letters. The first is for Regina, the second is for Henry, the last is for Snow and her prince" As he spoke he pulled three sealed letter from his briefcase.

Even from the other side of the table everyone there could easily recognize the handwriting. That particular loopy, sloppy chicken scratch was, without a single doubt, the unmistakable handwriting of the one and only Emma Charlotte Swan. Rumple tapped his fingers against the table. Making absolutely no move to actually give the people the letters destined for them. Letting all four get over the initial shock of the fact that Regina herself was getting one. Emma's own best friend wasn't getting one, but the enemy of her mother was? That was a pretty weird thing.

"Why won't my daughter tell us whatever is written in person. Or at the very least, have the common decency to deliver the letters in person" Questioned Snow, the uneasy feeling already in the pit of her stomach growing thrice fold every few seconds. Whatever was held in those letters, she knew she was going to be disappointed or angry over. She could sense it.

"Ah, yes, well. The thing is Emma has decided that she no longer wishes to live in our quaint little town. On this very morning, at just past four, she took her little yellow monstrosity over the town line. Considering she is the only one who can leave since my shawl was destroyed by, well, her. It's up to Emma herself when, or if as the case may very well be, she comes back" Leaning back slightly as he spoke Rumple frowned, as if slightly unhappy with this event.

"WHAT?" Roared David. Spit flying from his mouth. He had stood up abruptly, his chair crashing backwards. His loud, careless, actions causing the baby to let out an angry wail. "How dare you allow my child to do such a stupid selfish thing!" He demanded, pointing his finger angrily into the table. Acting as if he indeed owned his daughter, rather than her being her own person.

Stunned into an angry silence Snow watched as David seethed at Gold, his teeth showing, his nose crinkled in a pissed off grimace. Gold glaring back at him, though his anger was founded. As was Regina's, however she chose to rock the infant quietly. Shushing him, whispering that it would be alright. He ceased his shrieks of anger and fear quickly under her care. When he was once again smiling up at her she turned her own angry glare at David, who huffed at their insolence and picked up his fallen chair. Sitting back next to his steaming wife.

"Trust me when I say I did my best to dissuade your daughter from fleeing with her tail stuck firmly between her legs. However, it is not mine, or anyone else's place, to force her to do something she is not ready or willing to do." Sternly he looked at the Charmings who were constantly trying to control the blonde's life. "Now, Emma has signed several adoption forms. They only need the adopting parties signature" Two stacks of paperwork were taken from the briefcase and placed alongside the letters.

"Hand me the papers" Snarled Snow White. Holding her hand out expectantly. "The sooner I get this done, the sooner I can track down that ungrateful child and find out what in the heavens is going through her selfish mind. Her place is by my and my husband's side!" Was growled from her lips.

With a sigh Ruby covertly moved her chair more towards Regina. She really didn't like Snow's attitude, or David's. Especially concerning their thoughts on Emma. Or their self-righteous royal attitudes. They thought they could control everyone and everything, and were pissed off when they couldn't. Especially when it came to Emma. Ruby hated it. Ruby particularly hated how they thought they could mold a child they tossed away to serve their own needs, rather than the child's. How they simply expected the Sheriff to do everything they told her without question, how they thought she should worship the very fecal matter that passed through their assholes.

Wrongfully Snow had assumed that, should Emma give up a child, that it should rightfully be her and David who would be chosen to adopt the child. After all she was the girl's mother, and a Queen. So, she was not only angry at the laughter that escaped the Dark One's lips, but she couldn't understand it. Or why he wasn't automatically handing over the things she needed to sign, as who else had a right to raise HER grandchild? No one, at least, not in her mind.

"No dearie. These are all filled out, by Emma herself. She made it very, very clear who she wanted to raise her beloved son. Even more clear was who she did not raising Emmett. The adopting party has been listed, and she is the only person who can sign these papers" The death glare that Snow shot at Gold was one Regina herself shrank back from, but he simply shrugged it off.

All of the royals in the room were dumbstruck, not to mention the very confused Ruby. They all wondered who in the hell the blonde would leave her son to in this town? There was only really a small handful of people that she even associated with, let alone truly liked. Regina scowled, she could wring Emma's neck thrice over if she left the innocent, precious, bundle in her arms in the hands of Ruby Lucas. Though, she was a better option than Snow and David. However, the mere thought of anyone but herself or Emma raising the beautiful boy brought a darkness to her soul, she would not stand for it. She just couldn't understand why she felt that way.

"What? How can that possibly be!?" Snow said in an outrage, her voice dripping with venom. Though, she unlike her husband, kept in mind that a baby was not far away, and kept herself from shouting. "I am her mother! The rightful Queen! Who if not I?" She demanded angrily. Clearly perturbed at being passed over. Though, it was more than that. Snow just thought she was the 'good' and 'rightful' ruler of everyone and everything and that everyone and everything should bow to her every whim and fancy.

"The answer is simple" Gold said slowly, his smirk deepening as Snow and David glowered at him. "Regina Elizabeth Mills" The smirk grew into a full-fledged thousand watt shit-eating grin as the couple let out a surprised and gargled gasp. He quite enjoyed the look of pure, unadulterated, disbelief, confusion, and downright anger perfectly displayed on their self-righteous faces. He'd never been fond of either of the true love couple.

While their distraught and livid faces brought him great internal joy, the look on the mayor's face was something that Rumpelstiltskin had never seen before. A look that he desperately wished he could have caught on camera due to it's complete and utter priceless-ness. It actually looked like the nearly jawless woman was mere moments away from fainting. Her jaw so low that it was basically grazing the floor, her eyes quite near flying out of her very skull. Yes, that face was a face Gold would dream of for years and centuries to come. After committing the image to memory he slowly slid the two stacks towards her.

"Are you sure?" She asked slowly, after she had collected her jaw and eyes and surgically attach the missing appendages them to their normal placement. "Why on any earth would she choose me of all people? That simple does not make any logical sense" It confused her, but Regina was also secretly happy. It felt right to have Emmett in her arms, though she still wanted to wring Emma's pretty little neck.

"I was told that the reasoning would be explained in the letters the young sheriff left for all of you" Was spoken with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Now until the Mayor kindly signs these forms I simply can not release the letters. Of course, should Regina not want the child then I have been told that I am to contact Emma, and she shall meet me long enough for me to hand the child over the line, where she will take him and put him up for adoption in another state."

There was no way in hell Regina was going to let Henry's little brother become raised by someone other than herself or Emma. Especially some random people, even if they would undoubtedly do better than a woman who thought throwing her minutes old infant through a magical tree was a good idea. The fact she seemed to care so much about the little boy, even loved him already, was quite concerning for Regina, but she decided she didn't need to dwell on it. He was her son now anyway.

Without a sound Gold slid the papers towards Regina, who raised an eyebrow as she began to carefully read over the forms. The woman wanted to make sure that there were no tiny loopholes or tricks hidden in any of the wording or documents. Gold had pulled enough over her already, and she refused to owe him a favor, her blood, or some other asinine crazy item or bodily function that he could have stipulated inside the documents. And, of course, she was making minor changes of her own here and there. She wasn't about to lie down and just take whatever Emma told her to take. She signed on the dotted lines and initialed at the tabs. Before sliding it back over to Gold.

"They are complete. Feel free to glance them over, after all you are her acting lawyer at the moment." Regina said as she leaned back in her seat. Glancing over at the child that was now officially hers, but had already felt, in some way her own. She loved him so freely, faster than she had even Henry. It was. Scary. Yet. Felt so right. To have two sons rather than one.

After they were carefully back in his own grasp Rumple scanned each page with more scrutiny than Regina herself had. Peering down at the documents his smile deepened with each page that he flipped over. His grin was creepy to begin with, but by the end it was demonically so. He was nothing if not thorough with every contract he had ever performed, legal or magical. One of the few things Regina actually respected him for.

"Congratulations are in order Madam Mayor. It's a beautiful bouncing blonde baby boy with emerald eyes. A second son to add to your growing collection" God, did she hate that smile. The urge to wipe it off of his face grew tenfold inside of her gut. "Though, I am oddly surprised you didn't choose to alter Emmett's name at all" Leaning forward on his elbows, his pearly whites showing as he ignored the three parties to stare directly into Regina's eyes. Seeking answers for questions only he knew. "That, and I noticed your little trick. Joint custody, like a divorced couple. You don't seem the type"

At his choice of words Ruby raised an eyebrow. The way he was staring, the way he looked at Regina. It itched at the back of her neck like a flea that she couldn't quite scratch. Rumple, like usual, knew something that no one else did. Or at least, suspected it. What it was she had no idea, and as she glanced at Snow and David she could tell they were too self-absorbed, also as usual, to see what she was seeing. Even if she didn't quite know what exactly she was indeed seeing at this point.

"Let it be clear to you, and everyone here" Anger dripped from her voice like water from a fall. "I am going to find Sheriff Swan, and when I do, I am going to wrap my fingers around her" Pretty was silently added. "Little neck. Than I am going to revive her worthless hide, and I am going to force her to step up and be a damn human being about things. Both of our damn sons need her, and if they didn't I would grind her bones into the finest of dust" Gold himself leaned back in fear, Regina sounded ready to kill just about anyone who came between her and her goal.

"Trickery aside" He spoke slowly after he was able to move his tongue. "It makes no difference. I can simply forget to mention it to Emma. The fact remains, legally speaking Emmett is your son. Officially adopted, legal custody. Here are your letters, please, all of you have a very pleasant evening" After he was done speaking he stood up, sliding the letters over, and briskly walked away, whistling his own little tune as he disappeared out of the meeting room.

A/N: Hopefully you enjoyed. I will post next friday. Let me know your thoughts.