Title: Look After You
Chapter Three: The Kid
Author: snarkysweetness
Rating: PG-13
Characters: August, Granny, Henry, & Regina
Summary: August takes an interest in Henry with the hope that it will make Emma take an interest in him.
Warnings: None this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: August W. Booth owns my heart.

August took his room key from Granny, smiling as he did so. She couldn't remember him, but he remembered her fondly. She'd made the little red hat he'd worn as a boy, along with Emma's baby blanket. Widow Lucas had been his surrogate grandmother, a dear friend to his father.

August's chest ached. He missed his father. He missed him so much it was painful. He'd missed him for years but the alcohol had hid his feelings. Now he had to feel them all the time.

But he needed to wait.

Emma came first and then his father.

"I don't suppose you know an Emma. Emma Swan?"

All it took was a smile for the old woman to fall for his charm. He knew better than to arouse her suspicion with the mysterious stranger bit. Besides, he had a way with women naturally.

"You mean Sheriff Swan?"

Sher-

August shook his head, smiling. Of course she was the Sheriff. Talk about irony.

"Yes, the Sheriff. I just met her and her when I rode into town. Cute kid."

Granny's face fell for a moment, not long, but long enough for August to realize there was a story to be told. "Right, Henry. Come on then, I'll show you to your room."

It took less than one flight of stairs to get Granny to spill about Henry. Like most small towns, everyone in Storybrooke knew everyone else's business. They also were quick and willing to share it. That would definitely come in handy later.

He thanks Granny with a kiss to the old woman's hand, which made her blush, and retreated to his room to settle in. August set his typewriter down on the desk, tossed his duffle bag aside, and kicked off his shoes, not bothering to undress as he threw himself onto the bed to think.

So, the Evil Queen had adopted the Savior's son. Why did he have a feeling Rumpelstiltskin had been involved in this mess? And if he was…did that mean they remembered? If so, it explained Emma coming back to town. It also raised too many questions about how the kid had been found and why Emma had been purposefully brought here. Did someone want the curse broken?

August buried his face in his hands.

It didn't matter who had brought the kid here or why because it should have been him bringing her to town, not her kid. A kid! He didn't want to, but he couldn't help the scenarios of how horrible Emma's life must have been without him. He wouldn't have been able to stick with her with the way the system worked, but she wouldn't have been alone.

And she'd given up her kid. He couldn't imagine how difficult that decision had been to make, especially since she clearly loved the kid enough to still look out for him.

He poured himself a glass of water, resisting the urge to drink.

The kid could help. From what Granny had spilled, the kid believed they were all fairytale characters based on some book of his. She'd told August the small tidbit with a smile, clearly fond of the boy.

Maybe the book would have some answers. He'd have to find a way to get his hands on it and to talk to the kid. Maybe convincing Emma the curse was real wouldn't be too difficult. Once she believed she could break it, right? The only way August knew how to break a curse was with True Love's kiss, but that seemed too simple in this case.

He decided to stick to his original plan but to help the kid on the side as a back-up.

A few mornings later, August rode off for the Mayor's house, which wasn't hard to find. The town was small and the house stood out. He decided the best way to get Emma to talk to him would be to get her to seek him out. Easiest way to do that would be to get the kid asking questions, so he 'broke down' across the street and pretended to work on his bike as he waited for the kid to leave for school and approach him. The kid was the curious sort; he wouldn't be able to resist asking questions. August knew his type well because he'd been exactly the same way.

"What are you doing here?"

August loved being right.

He looked up and had to admit, the kid was sort of adorable. If he had a kid, he'd want him to be like Emma's kid; smart, curious, and fearless. Ruby was extremely chatty when she came to bring him breakfast each morning in the diner. He knew just about everything about everyone in town at this point.

"Fixing my bike."

"No, I mean in Storybrooke."

August's attention went to putting his bike back together.

"Just visiting."

"What's that?"

"A box."

Granny was right, the kid grew on you; fast.

"What's inside it?"

He was a precocious little thing. August had to resist the urge to smile.

"Just something I need to do what I came here for."

August grabbed his helmet and looked down at the kid. Once he was done with this whole mysterious stranger act, he was going to enjoy actually getting to know the kid. He'd decided to stop feeling guilty and avoided telling himself that if he'd stuck around like he should have, he would already know the kid. He chose to instead focus on the fact that he'd help Emma break this curse and stick with her until the end. It wouldn't repair anything, but at least he'd make a dent in repenting for his sins against her.

"I thought you were just visiting."

And he was a little bit of a smart-ass, August appreciated that trait.

"Doesn't mean I don't have something to do."

He spotted the Ev-no, Mayor, in his peripheral vision and started his bike. He wasn't sure if she remembered who she really was, but August didn't want to risk incurring her wrath. He wasn't a child anymore, but the memories of the horrible things she'd done back in the Enchanted Forest were enough to frighten him just enough to know that pissing her off was a bad idea.

"Henry!"

August revved his bike, preparing to leave.

"Better get to school. Looks like a storm's coming."

August rode off before he there was a risk of encountering Regina.