A/N: No beta for this story so all mistakes and missing punctuation is mine. Hope you guys have fun. Also nothing said in this story is meant to be offensive. Let me know what you think. Your opinions are much appreciated.
The next morning finds the sheriff and her deputies gathered around a table in the sheriff's office.
"Ok. So boss, you can have 1, David you get 1 too and Mulan you get 2." Tink announced in a very confident voice as if what she says it's the law. Mulan eyes the box suspiciously.
"Why do I get 2?"
"Cause they're cute."
"No way"
"Yes way. People look up to you. Be an example Mulan, take one for the team" Tink says patting Mulan's back. Mulan just growls at her.
"Tink I can't take 1. I have a small kid to think about. Can't expose him to germs like this."
"It will be fine. Studies show that exposing children to germs builds their immune system"
"Doubt it's the case here."
"It's totally the case. Don't argue with science, David."
"Emma!" David looks at her in a do something way.
"I can't take it, Tink. You know who I'm married with. She'll divorce me."
"Traitor." David mutters.
"Gotta look out for myself. Sorry dad." Emma has this sheepish look but everyone knows she's not really that sorry.
"Doubt she'll divorce you for this. Don't be so dramatic."
"I'm not risking it. I love my wife too much. So no."
"She'll be fine. Trust me. I've been her friend for ages." Emma just raises an eyebrow at that.
"Might have to fight Maleficent for that one".
Tink just rolls her eyes.
"Say Tink. Why are you not grabbing any?" Mulan just asks arms crossed.
"My lease says I'm not allowed".
David sees the opportunity and latches unto it.
"Well neither can we. Same landlord. So either you take one or neither of us do"
Tink just looks at the box in question. She sighs.
"Ok I'll have one."
"Cool you can have mine" David announces.
"No, David, she's taking one from Mulan" Emma steps in. She might have argued against it, but now the idea grows on her.
"Fine." David says defeated. He knows Snow will kill him for it. Maybe. Or maybe not. Probably not. She'll probably be excited. He was just trying to… he doesn't know what he was trying.
"So then it's decided. We have 1 each" Emma looks around the group and gets nods of approval.
"Ok now that it's settled you're all dismissed. Grab one and off you go."
Emma's once again alone in the sheriff station. Now that she has time to think about it she's pretty sure Regina will kill her. Maybe. But she couldn't say no. It was a spur of the moment but she couldn't say no.
She's so lost in thought she doesn't notice someone's in the station until they clear their throat.
It's Regina.
"Oh hi"
Regina just looks at Emma.
"I see our tax payer money are being wisely used and the Sheriff is working hard for the community."
"Yeah." they both look at what Emma's playing with.
"Emma get it off the desk you don't know where it came from. You're spreading germs all over and then you'll just put your food there"
"It's fine. He's clean. We got it from the animal shelter. They don't have any spaces left so we are taking care of it. "
Regina just narrows her eyes.
"By we I assume the sheriff department right? Or that one of your deputies will take it home"
"Umm, well you see..."
"Spill"
"There were 4 in a box and the animal shelter is currently small so they couldn't take care of them. So they were brought here since they didn't know what to do with them and thought we could find them a forever home. I got 1, so do David, Tink and Mulan."
"And you decided this without consulting me? Emma!"
"What was I about to do? This little fellow was abandoned and needed a home and the animal shelter couldn't take him in. I couldn't let it on the streets." Oh she was playing the card and she knew it. But it was also the truth. That's why she didn't object much and gave in so fast. She did get the one no one wanted and she doesn't mind one bit. She's actually proud.
"I just wish you told me about this, Emma."
"I know. I just... I didn't have time"
"You do know Henry will want a dog now and we can't say no right?"
"I know. I know. At least this one takes himself to the bathroom. Right Skipper?" Emma asks as she pets the tiny grey kitten.
"Did you just name the cat Skipper?"
"Yes" but Emma looks unconvinced. She's not the most creative when it comes to names.
Regina just waves her hand and the cat glows a light pink for a few seconds.
"First, Skipper is a she, and second the name is unsuitable. Don't you think so?" Regina asks the kitten as she picks it up. The kitten meows in response. "Yes I agree." she turns to Emma "The cat hates it too. Pick a better name, Sheriff"
"You pick one then" Emma says crossing her arms, and damn that fairy, Regina's ok with the new addition.
"Hmm, how about Misty?"
"How about boring? Nope. Generic. Don't name a cat after her fur color. Unless you really want to."
"All right then. How about Cleo?"
"Oh I like that. Classy. What do you say Skipper shall we name you Cleo?"
The tiny gray cat meows again in response.
"Oh she likes it" and Regina nods in agreement and looks so proud.
"What are you guys on about?". Both women turn to the sound of their son's voice.
"Cleo, meet Henry. Henry this is Cleo. The animal shelter is at full capacity and couldn't take care her or her siblings so they brought it to the Sheriff station. Your mom and her deputies then decided to each grab a kitten and take care of it. Your grandparents have one as well. Hopefully better named than Emma's first attempt."
"Hey!" Emma protests, but she knows it's in vain. She won't live that down easily.
"Did you call dibs on the cutest, Ma?"
Emma looks uncomfortable at that. She didn't in fact. She got what the others didn't pick and she finds that she doesn't mind that at all. Not even when scrutinized by her son. This kitten also needs a forever family and she got the best.
"No, Henry. She didn't pick the cutest. She's a tiny kitten in desperate need of a loving family. We don't care if she's the cutest, or anything really. She's just a kitten that needs help and your mother decided to help by adopting her when no one else wanted her. So no we didn't pick her, and she didn't pick us, but she seems quite happy, and you mom and I are happy with her." Regina must have sensed Emma's discomfort, because the speech to Henry was a not so subtle don't be insensitive.
"Sorry, Ma. Sorry Cleo." Henry is a smart kid and instantly realized what this was about and that yes he was insensitive to both Emma and Cleo. He goes and pets Cleo as an apology.
"So not to sound mean or anything, but can we also get a dog?"
"No." Regina warned Emma, Henry wanted a dog for a long time. "Not now. We first need to get Cleo used to us. I'll also see how you 2 are around Cleo, before I allow you to have a dog. Dogs are a require greater responsibilities than cats."
"Oh cool. I'll walk her, or brush her and play with her. Can we go buy toys for her?"
"Of course. But first we should take her to the vet, have her checked and registered, then we need to buy a cat carrier and food. While there we can look at some toys."
"Yes. Let's go. Emma, you're driving. And give me your jacket to carry Cleo in it."
Emma complies. She won't say no. Regina really got invested in this kitten. Did someone kidnap her wife?
"Also, Henry, you don't walk cats. They can take care of that themselves."
Where is her wife and what have they done with her? Since when is Regina so animal friendly? Then she remembers that Regina's really good with horses, she sent a bird to Henry with a message and she's best friends with a dragon. She should not be that surprised. Damn fairy. Good thing she didn't bet on it. She would have lost the bet.
"I'm telling you Emma, your mother almost had my head. You'd think that for all the birds I had to endure she would appreciate the cat. She's upset now that having a cat means her birds will have to go away."
Emma just listens to David rant.
"I tried to explain it to her that it's better for Neal to play with a proper pet like a cat or a dog and she just went at me. I'm glad though Neal took to the cat so she calmed down. For now. She's not happy with me."
Leave it to her mom to not get it and be insensitive. She kind of gets where her mother is coming from but at the same time she's quite upset with her reaction. She should know better. Maybe she's overreacting herself to her mother's attitude.
"How did Regina react?"
"Good. Amazingly good. She quickly became super invested in offering Cleo the best home."
"Cleo? That's a beautiful name. You chose a good name. Better than me"
"What did you name it?"
"Umm, don't laugh ok?"
"Ok?"
"Buster."
Emma snorts at that. She'll tell Regina. Or maybe not. She won't live the Skipper down for much longer since she'll blame it on the charming genes. She'll just give Regina ammunition for teasing. No way.
"And mom was ok with that?"
"Yeah."
Oh, Regina will find out about this one way or another. So much for good luck.
"Who's Buster" Tink asks from the doorway.
"Oh that's David's cat"
"Oh, cool name." but she bursts out laughing.
"Hey now"
"Sorry I made no promises"
"Ok. What did you name yours?" and David is challenging Tink.
"After much thought I named mine, Garfield."
"You did not think that one at all. You just named it after the cartoon." Emma's rolling her eyes.
"Well, whatever. I bet Regina picked the name for your cat."
"No she…" but she doesn't manage to finish the phrase because Tink gives her this look of Really Emma, really?
"Ok. How did you…"
Tink just rolls her eyes and interrupts Emma. "Regina's my best friend. I know she would not let anyone name stuff if she can help it. So what did she name it?"
"Cleo."
"Aww that's so cute. Wish I thought of it."
Emma just snorts. Yeah no way Tink would think of something that nice. She wonders what Mulan named her cat.
"Hey we should ask Mulan what she named hers"
"Oh I know already. She named it Po."
"Po?"
"Yes. Had to google it. It means a soul and it's also a variant for lunar phase.
"Ahh. Wow she put a lot of thought into that." David is nothing but amazed. Probably embarrassed by how little thought he put into naming his own pet.
"Hey Tink. Random question. Do cats in the Enchanted Forest talk, or you know are smarter than your average cat here?" Emma's just curious. Cleo does meow when they talk to her. She should ask Regina but it's fine, Tink is a fairy, she would probably know a lot too.
"Talk? As in human speech?
"Yes. That."
"Why you want Cleo to give you a magical pen to so you can transform in a warrior for love and justice?"
"Tink!"
"Sorry, but first the cat has the wrong name, and second, sorry to burst your bubble but no, there are no talking cats that give magical pens like that. If there were you would have to get in line, behind me."
"Ha as if. I would totally be the Princess. I even have the Prince, well the Queen, but you get the point."
"Emma, I don't care who I get to be as long as I get a magic pen."
"Yeah. I'm just calling dibs to be safe. I need Regina and Henry and Cleo, so I call dibs on the Princess."
"That's perfectly fine by me."
"Yes" Emma pumps a fist.
"Emma, they're cartoons. They're not real."
"David first of all that's not just a cartoon, it's a manga that became an anime and musicals and a live action. Secondly, that cartoon as you call it is revolutionary ok? So show some respect for one of the greatest shows. Third, you live in a town where everyone is a fairytale character, or a character owned by Disney." Tink then makes a dramatic turn "and with that, your Honor, I rest my case "