Third chapter and I cannot thank you enough for the amazing response to the story! I am aware of how fast-paced my writing is, but while I enjoy reading long, poetic descriptions, I just haven't got the patience to write them, so thank you for just rolling with it.
This chapter is pretty bizarre but please just bear with. A sense of normalcy will return once our beloved characters are back in Storybrooke and I wanted to introduce the new, less aggressive dynamic into the Mayor-Sheriff relationship.
Enjoy!
Regina's eyes drooped as she struggled to stay awake.
It was just after ten and Charming, Snow and Ruby were all fast asleep. Hook had gone to buy food three hours ago and she had no doubt he'd decided to visit a bar and spend all of the money there.
Her head fell onto the barrel she was now leaning against and she was jolted from her light sleep. The quarter was placed in the middle of the barrel and she was meant to be listening until the Swan-Mills household fell asleep.
She had listened to their morning conversation before Emma dropped Henry at school and went to work herself. Regina smiled upon finding out that Emma had found herself a place in the local force.
The quarter lay silent until four o'clock when Henry came home from school. He was talking on his mobile and she could hear the smile in his voice while he spoke to his friend. At six a woman Henry called 'Tabitha' came round. From what Regina heard, it appeared that Emma would be stuck at work until quite late and her elderly downstairs neighbour was tasked with looking after Henry for the evening.
Henry had of course grumbled about being too old for a baby sitter, but the protests were weak and short. She could tell he had a fondness for the woman and instantly felt her liking for the unknown lady grow.
Henry had only just got to bed when she heard the front door click open and Emma's awkward shuffle enter.
"Thank you so much for this Tabs." The familiarity of the blonde's voice made Regina smile, "There was a hit and run just outside the city, I had to track down the guys who did it."
"It was nothing." Tabitha replied, "You know I like spending time with him. He's grown into such a mature young man."
Regina's chest swelled at the praise. Henry might not remember it, but it was still her care for him that turned him into such a gentleman.
"I'll see you around Emma." Tabitha continued and her footsteps neared the door.
"Actually Tabs," Emma's called after her, "do you think we could talk for a moment? I… I need to ask you something."
The footsteps grew fainter and it appeared the older woman had moved back into the apartment.
"Certainly darling." Couch springs groaned, "What's troubling you?"
"Uh… well it's Henry." Emma said as the couch cried out again. "I'm not happy with his school. He doesn't seem to be learning well at all and this neighbourhood… it's started going downhill. I'm worried."
"You're thinking of moving again." Tabitha stated, with no room for discussion. "Where to?"
"I don't know." Emma sighed, "I'm not saying I definitely will, I'm just saying that if I hear of somewhere that looks really good I'll consider it."
"Do what you think is right by your son." Tabitha replied.
"No chance you'd come with us?" Emma asked hopefully, Tabitha laughed.
"I'm afraid I'm too set in my ways here dear. But I'd come and visit if you want."
"Thank you." Emma's voice was full of gratitude.
"But to be honest darling, it sounds like you've already decided you want to move and are just looking for the right place now."
With that, Tabitha stood and left. Regina grinned as she formulated the perfect plan.
It was a Saturday. Emma had just dropped Henry at soccer practise and was looking forward to relaxing. She climbed the steps up to their apartment building and punched in the code.
As she entered the lobby, she saw Tabitha getting her mail. She decided she should do the same and offered the woman a smile as she got out her key and opened her letterbox.
She riffled through the various letters.
Bill, bill, bank statement, bill, pizza coupon, catalogue, bill, leaflet.
She frowned at the leaflet. There were no pictures on it, just writing, it said:
Storybrooke, Maine
A picturesque little town set just south of Boston.
Numerous homes of varying sizes need to be bought.
Excellent school system and a close-knit community.
To find out more go to ' . '
Type in password 'charming'
Emma's eyebrows raised and she turned to Tabitha, "Did you get one of these?"
"I did." Tabitha pulled out hers and looked at it, "If I believed in all that 'fate' nonsense, I'd tell you it's a sign from the universe." She jested, smiling, "You should look at the website."
"Yeah, I should." Emma raced up to her apartment, thoroughly excited.
She got the website up and inputted the password.
She gasped.
The webpage was intricately detailed and showed pictures of the beautiful town. She quickly read through all the documents- there were many. They detailed events, homes, business, jobs, projects, officials, the Sheriff's department, the schools… basically anything Emma could have wanted to know about.
If interested in moving to this lovely little town, please contact the Mayor on ' '
Emma bit her lip, thinking. It was perfect. The crime-rate was the lowest in the state, the schools were superb and there was a lovely house she'd seen that she could easily afford if she dipped into her savings.
She took a deep breath and opened her emails.
Regina had rushed to the nearest library early that morning. She quickly accessed her citrix and set up a mock website using her files. She then designed a basic leaflet, she posted leaflets in all the letterboxes but only two had the correct password needed for the website: Emma's and Tabitha's.
After delivering the leaflets she rushed back to the library and logged back onto her account. Then, she waited. It had been just over two hours when her inbox flashed up.
She took a deep breath and opened her emails.
'Dear Madame Mayor,
I saw an advertisement for your charming town and am very much interested in joining the community. I have a son aged thirteen and am currently unhappy with the area in which we live.
I have attached my credentials so you may decide if we are acceptable.
I was extremely impressed by everything Storybrooke has to offer and am particularly interested in the house '107 Mifflin Street'.
Please get back to me as soon as you can.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Swan'
Regina's eyebrows raised slightly about the array of vocabulary the former Sheriff has displayed and concluded that she must really want to move to Storybrooke. She gasped however when she saw the house Emma had picked –it was directly opposite her own.
She only hesitated momentarily before tapping out a reply.
'Miss Swan,
I have glanced over you credentials and while I noticed you had faced some time in a juvenile detention centre, you seem to have your life perfectly ordered now and I am pleased to inform you that should you want it and can pay a deposit on the house, '107 Mifflin Street' is yours.
I have attached the town's details so you may make the deposit. Once you have paid it, I will see that the house is fit for you to move into when you please.
After making the deposit, please email me informing you have done so and when you plan on moving to Storybrooke.
Yours sincerely,
Regina Mills'
Regain breathed as she finished and decided to wait a moment to appear as though the mayor of the town had better things to do than immediately reply to emails from strangers.
She could however, only wait for five minutes before hitting send and hoped the blonde would reply as quickly as she had.
She didn't have to wait long. Not three minutes later, she received a reply.
'Madame Mayor,
Thank you so much. I've paid the deposit and would like to move in as soon as possible.
Henry and I will be there by next Friday. I cannot give an exact date as packing may take some time.
Thank you,
Emma Swan'
Regina grinned and tapped a quick.
'Thank you for telling me Miss Swan. Storybrooke shall be awaiting your arrival.'
She had disposed of the formalities in her desperation to get back to the ship and tell the others of what she'd done. If Snow tried to hug her, memory loss or not, she was pushing her out of the boat.
"Kid. Sit down, I need to talk to you." Emma said as soon as Henry entered the apartment.
He deposited his bag on the floor by the door and moved to sit on the couch.
Emma sat down on the coffee table in front of him.
"How would you feel about moving?" She asked, trying to gage his reaction.
Henry kept his features blank (something she was sure he hadn't learnt to do from her) as he said, "Where to?"
She passed him the laptop, it was still on the Storybrooke town page.
He flicked through the gallery, then the various different pages and smiled up at his mother.
"You already bought a house didn't you?" He asked and Emma chuckled nervously.
"Uh, yeah. So… what d'you think?" She looked at him hopefully.
"Don't get me wrong ma, I love the city and all… but school's pretty shit-"
"Language."
"Right, sorry. Basically, it looks really cool." He finished, grinning at his mother.
"What about your friends, aren't you sad to be leaving them behind?" She bit the inside of her cheek, she wanted to be certain he wouldn't regret the move and blame her.
"Well, they're my friends I guess, but none of us are like super-good mates." He replied, frowning slightly. "So," he recovered, "when do we move?"
"I told the Mayor we'd be there by Friday." She breathed, elated at his positive reaction.
"Awesome!" He jumped up from the couch and ran to his room yelling over his shoulder, "I'll pack!"
Emma's grin widened. It was all happening so fast. It was crazy. I felt like a sign.
Somehow, it felt right.