Enigma

Emma was glad to be outside, in fact (if she dared to admit it), she felt a little relieved to have a bit of freedom again…at least that is how she felt until she heard, "Emma!"

Turning around she saw August running toward her, "What do you want?"

"You are making a huge mistake." He said stepping in front of her.

"I thought you were Pinocchio not Jiminy Cricket." Emma said scoffing.

August narrowed his eyes, "Emma do you not see yourself? The attitude…the facial expressions…hell even the posture!" He took a deep breath and then continued, "Look I do not know what the hell happened all of a sudden, but you cannot do this."

"Too late for that puppet boy, I already have." Emma said staring him down and started to go around him to walk away when she heard him mutter, "God it is like you are seventeen again with that Cassidy."

She stopped and spun to look at him, "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

August looked at her and realized she heard what he had said. The next thing he knew he was down on the ground holding his nose in pain.

In the meantime inside James stood at the podium trying to calm the room down, "Everyone, please…just-" He sighed realizing that there was too much panicking going on. It was not until he heard, "SHUT UP!"

He looked up to see his wife standing and the people in the room gaping at her. Well that is one way of doing it, James thought slightly amused. Snow gave a cough and James was brought back to reality. He tried to open his mouth when he heard muffled shouts coming from outside then the doors to the meeting area flew open and a little girl came running in. Jefferson stood up immediately, "Grace?"

"Papa there is a fight going on outside. I was playing with Ava and Nicholas and we saw the fight." Grace said in a rush pulling on Jefferson' sleeve trying to get him to come with her.

"Sweetie I am sure it is just a few other kids playing-"

"No Papa you do not understand, according to Ava and Nicholas it is Miss. Emma!"

Upon hearing that James jumped down from the stage and ran out of the room followed by Snow and Henry and then the rest of the crowed just in time to see Emma pinning August against the wall with one hand holding one arm up and her forearm against his throat. There was blood coming out of his nose and his two eyes were already black and blue, "Because of you I got sent to prison for eleven god damn months!"

"Theoretically Neal was the one who turned you in," August coughed out but then he felt Emma's forearm apply more pressure on his throat, "Only because I told him that the life you were living was not good for you."

"Once again it was because of you. You fucked with the wrong person at the wrong time." Emma growled out not backing down. This was just the second layer of icing on a seven tier cake that went wrong in her life.

"James aren't you going to do something?" Snow whispered nudging her husband watching the scene while trying to keep Henry from going near the fight. James did not even know where to begin. Sure he knew what he should do, but this was his daughter…what was he supposed to do? Arrest her?

"Gramps?" Henry called quietly. This snapped him out of it and he turned to Snow, "Right take Henry and-"

"But I want to-" Henry started say but was cut off by August saying, "And what is it that you intend on gaining? Face it! It has been eleven years and I can assure you that you will not find him."

Emma narrowed her eyes, "I always find my quarry."

"Do you hear yourself? Emma-"

"No, you do not get a chance to speak anymore. In fact I will be the one talking. Did you know?" Emma asked in a dangerous tone.

"Did I know what?" August asked half knowing what she was implying.

"Did you know I was pregnant?" August did not answer right away and Emma's grip tightened as she repeated the question, "Did you and him know I was pregnant?! Answer me!" Emma yelled.

"I didn't know about that. I honestly didn't and neither did Neal! I swear!" August coughed out, "We had no idea!"

"Either way you probably would not have given two shits; as long as the Savior came to the rescue and free everyone from this hell hole of a town...no matter the cost to her right," Emma dropped him and August fell to the ground, "Let me tell you something: You fucked with not only my life, his life, but you also fucked with Henry's life. I will never forgive you for that. Because of you I spent seventeen years of my life in hell, and then I spent eleven years more of it in purgatory. Because of you he left me. Because of you Henry grew up without his mother and father for eleven years of his life. So you know what screw you I am done!" Emma finished and started to walk away seeing red. She was in fact so out of it, she did not even notice the crowed that had gathered, although they heard everything that was going on.

"Wait, please." Emma stopped and turned back, August took this as a sign to continue, "I saw him after you were sent to Phoenix. I told him that you were sentenced for eleven months with being in possession of stolen goods. He had given me the keys to your car and twenty-eight grand to give to you and he made me promise to contact him when the curse was over. I gave you the keys, but I took the money. And when the curse was lifted I did keep my end of the deal and contacted him."

Emma was standing very still and the atmosphere was so tense that no one was able to move. But then snapping out of her stupor she strode over to August, grabbed him by the collar and pinned him against the wall again and August started talking, "I am sorry I stole the money-"

"I do not give a shit about the money. I just want to know two things: First thing, were did you last see him? And do not lie to me." Emma said slowly and deadly.

"Vancouver." August answered quickly making sure to look Emma in the eyes.

Seeing no lies she then asks, "Where is he now? Where did you send the postcard to?"

"No address, I sent a carrying bird to him. We never kept in touch." August said.

Emma's grip tightened. Seeing this James finally made a decision and stepped forward, "Emma, let him go."

Emma barely heard her father's voice as the information processed in her head, but feeling a familiar touch on her shoulder she felt her grip loosen and August was once again on the ground, "Emma I am going to have to take you in." James said trying to pull his daughter away from August.

"No. I deserved what I got." August answered stopping James, "I did something I shouldn't have and I deserved it." He finished as he eyed Emma cautiously.

Emma looked at her father and James sighed, "Either way I-"

"No. I am not filing anything." August said firmly.

"Emma?" James asked not liking the look in his daughter's eyes.

"I am fine. Just making sure though," She looked at August, "Last time was in Vancouver, you stole the twenty-eight grand that was meant for me, and you sent a postcard via bird to contact him telling him it broke."

"Yes."

There was a pause and the atmosphere was still tense as Emma was piecing the clues together...the money…she realized, "Did he say were the money came from?"

"The last heist you did. The one that got you sent to prison." Emma looked at him and saw no trace of a lie. Nodding she walked away, "Wait Emma!"

Growling in frustration she saw Snow coming toward her and Dr. Whale going over to August now that the confrontation was over, "What?"

"We really need to talk…as a family," Snow gestured to Henry who was looking at her in shock and disbelief.

The feeling of guilt overcame her and she nodded, "Fine, the apartment in one hour." And with that Emma turned her back leaving Henry to watch her retreating figure.

After calming the crowed down and promising that James would deal with the situation, the three of them made their way to the apartment. They saw Emma's bug outside with the trunk open and Emma herself placing a box inside and slamming it shut, "What is going on?" Henry asked running up to her noticing the car filled with stuff, her stuff, he realized.

Seeing her son and her parents she said, "I think it is best we have this conversation inside." Nodding to her parents they led the way into the kitchen.

"What the hell is the big deal?!" Snow immediately asked, "Do you have any idea how worried we been? Just what the hell is going through that head of yours Emma?!"

Emma sat down in the chair and said, "Well based on your tone I can say that you were really worried and I apologize for that. As for what is going through my head...there is not enough hours in the day to go over that one."

"You are pushing it young lady. Do you know that I should have really arrested you for assault?" James asked annoyed, "What were you thinking?"

"Ok you know what, enough with the parental bullshit ok? That is not why I agreed we come in and talk." Emma said narrowing her eyes, "Could I have handled that a bit better? Yes I probably should have I admit it. But you know what," Emma stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, "I just wanted to let you know that there is something going on that needs my full attention and that is why I have temporarily resigned from being sheriff, also to say that I am moving out."

"What?!" James, Snow, and Henry exclaimed gaping at her.

"You cannot be serious." James said taking a step toward her.

"I am. Although I do not plan on leaving Storybrooke anytime soon if I can help it." Emma said as she looked Henry in the eye.

"But why would you move out anyway?" Henry asked also stepping toward her. He flashed to his dreams and this moment that was happening right now is how the nightmare always began.

Emma sighed and knelt down and he came over to her, "Because kid I need space for this. What I am working on I do not want you guys getting involved. So I thought it was best to leave, but I am staying at Granny's so I am close if you need me. Now we have something else that needs discussing." She stood up as Henry stepped away, "If a stranger should enter this town, I want you guys to tell me. You are under no circumstances to approach them." She looked at her parents who were just staring at her having no idea what was happening and then she turned her focus to Henry, "That applies especially to you. Also you are to stay close to town were there are people to watch you. I still have my radio so if you need me you know how to get in touch. Understand?"

Henry nodded and said, "I got it, but promise me that you will not leave me. Not leave us..."

Emma sighed, as much as she wanted to make that promise as a definite she knew she couldn't, "How about if I do have to leave I promise to let you know with a promise that I would come back?"

Henry looked at her knowing that this was the best that he was going to get so he gave her a quick hug and ran upstairs. Emma's heart sank as she heard the door to what use to be her room close. Sighing Emma looked back at her parents she knew that this conversation was far from over, "What?" she asked.

"You think that would have satisfied us?" Snow asked arms crossed.

"What is going on Emma? This is not like you." James said.

Emma rolled her eyes, "Sure it is. I just have been doing a good at suppressing this side of me."

"Bullshit Emma." Snow stated, "This is not who you are. This is not the same woman that I allowed to stay here to begin with or the same person that I was with in the forest"

"My comment before stands," Emma said defiantly.

James looked at his daughter and a memory surfaced as in his mind's eye he saw Snow almost ready to kill Regina back in the forest, "Emma whatever it is you are doing, you have to stop." He said slowly and deliberately.

"I can't and I won't. I have no choice, I need to do this and I would appreciate it if you would back off. None of this concerns you." Emma said just as slowly and firmly.

"The hell it does! It involves you! Therefore we-" Snow started to say but was cutoff.

"Wait," James said holding his hand to stop Snow's tirade and he looked back at his daughter and what he saw in her eyes he knew that she was looking for a fight, "Is this what you want?" He asked.

"Yes." Emma said.

James sighed, "Fine if anyone comes we will inform you. But be careful."

Emma nodded and walked away without another look back. Snow just stared as the door closed and did not speak until they heard Emma's car drive away, "What the hell Charming? There was no way we were finished!"

"If we kept pushing she would push back harder. Besides if she wants help she will come." James said softly.

"No she won't. You heard her; she wants us out of it." Snow said not understanding.

"Yes but who says that we would actually butt out?" James asked smirking a bit.

Snow shook her head, while she knew that James was right; there was unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach that things were going to get worse before it got better.

In the bedroom, Henry heard almost everything that was said between his mother and grandparents. There was no way that Emma really expects him to just stay put and mind his own business. He knew that Emma was involved in something big…the fight with August proves that. Nodding to himself he sat up and dug into his book bag and found his note book where all his secret operations were written. Flipping to a new page he wrote in the header, "Operation: Viper". Then he started his outline.