Pov: Mary Margaret

I made sure I was up earlier than normal so I could get everything ready for Emma's first day of school. We had already pick out the clothes she wanted to were last night, but I wanted to make sure every thing was ready. As I finished making breakfast, I noticed Emma walking downstairs, she was rubbing her eye with one hand while the other was around the book I had given her.

"Good morning Emma, how did you sleep."

"I sleep ok, what's for breakfast."

"Pancakes." I love that all I have to do is say pancakes to get her to smile. Im always tempted to tell her, that she looks adorable when she smiles, but she would stop so I don't. "So are you ready for your first day school?"

"I guess."

I could tell she wasn't very excited about going, and I was trying to think of a way to get her excited. "Well, I'm sure you will love it, your teacher is really nice, and if you need anything I'm just a few doors away." she just gave me a small smile before she went back to eating. "Emma, what's wrong?"

"it's always the same, I start a new school, make friends, And then I have to move again."

I hadn't thought about what it was like for her, always going to new schools having to make new friends. "I'm sorry, but you don't have to worry, this will be the last time you have to do this."

She didn't look at me she just nodded her head and said she needed to finish getting ready. I couldn't blame her for not believing me, she must have heard the same thing so many times before. But as I started cleaning everything up I decided I would just prove to her that this wasn't just a stop, and that she wasn't going to be sent away again. As I finished cleaning, I saw her coming down the stares, and went to meet her. She was wearing the dress we had picked out last night, and she looked so cute that I couldn't help but stare at her, but when she gave me a funny look I stopped.

"Um cane you help me with my hair." she asked so quietly I could barely hear her.

"Of course I can, I love playing with your hair."

She rolled her eyes and followed me into the bathroom, I then brush it and pulled it into a ponytail, which made her look even cuter. With that, I grabbed my things and we were about to leave when she stopped and said she forgot something. She then ran upstairs and when she came back down she was wearing the jacket ruby and picked out for her. It didn't really fit her look, but it made her happy so I didn't say anything. When we got to the school, I decided to walk Emma to class. The school wasn't very big and there weren't a lot of classes, but I wanted to make sure she knew where it was. But as we walked threw the school, I noticed Emma looking around. I could tell she was nervous, and it probably didn't help that every one here already knew who she was.

"Here we are, do you want me to go in with you?"

"No, im ok." I was about to say something when she turned to face me, she squeezed my hand and smiled at me. "I'm a big girl, ill be fine."

With that, she walked in and shut the door behind her, so I made my way to my class. The rest of the day I was distracted all during school, lucky for me kids don't notice or care. When school came to an end, I started to get my things so I could go and find Emma, when she walked into my class.

"Emma I was about to come and find you."

"I found you first."

I couldn't help but laugh, and was glad to see she was happy. And I hoped that meant she had a good day. "How was your first day."

"It was ok, everyone was nice."

"im glad, well I need to do a couple of thing before we go, so if you want you go out side and play."

"Ok." with that she was out of my class in a flash.

I started getting all of my papers ready to go when I noticed Emma's teacher walk in. and I wondered if every thing was ok.

"Is everything ok, did something happen to Emma today?"

"Easy Mary Margaret you will give yourself a heart attack if you worry all the time. Emma was an angle, that's not why I'm here."

I was glad to hear nothing had happened, but then why was she here. "But there is something."

"Yes, but nothing bad, it seems Emma is further along than the rest of the class. She finished her work before everyone and spent most of the day at her desk being bored. So I was just wondering if you had helped her study before she came in."

"We spent most of our time getting everything she needed for school."

"I see..." I was happy Emma was doing good, but I worried it might make school seem boring. "Don't worry, I have a few ideas of how to keep her both busy and happy."

"Thank you."

"It's not a problem, but If I can ask, aren't you going to be late?"

"What?"

"Don't you normally volunteer at the hospital after school?"

I had forgotten all about that, so after we said our good byes, I grabbed my phone and called ruby. "Ruby I need a favor."

Pov: Ruby

When Mary Margaret called and asked if I would watch Emma for a wile I was more than happy to. I didn't know what it was about this kid, but spending time with her was fun. And when I pulled up to the school and saw she was wearing the jacket we fond yesterday It made me smile.

"Hey kid, love the jacket."

"Of course you do, you helped her pick it out." Mary Margaret seemed to be in a hurry, but she wasn't about to just leave her with me without knowing what my plan was. What did she think I was going to do, take Emma clubbing, or use her to find guys, well maybe the guy thing. "So what are you two going to do."

Knew she was going to ask that, and I was so tempted to roll my eyes. "I thought we would hang out at the park until I need to go to work."

"Will granny be..."

I cut her off before she got a chance to finish. "Granny Will love it, she thinks Emma is a good influence on me, for some reason." she just nodded her head and looked at Emma for what felt like three minutes. So I decided she needed a push so I pointed her to her care. "Ok, that's enough of the overprotective mother hen, she is fine, I won't let anything happen to her, now go."

"I'm going, I'm going, you can stop pushing me"

With that we got in my car and drove back to town. I parked at the dinner and we walked to the park. It was nice to see Emma run around like a little kid, since I met her, she has been vary quiet. It was nice to see her open up.

"Having fun kid?"

"Yeah, are you?"

"All ways, so how was school?" when I asked, she stopped what she was doing for a second before she told me it was nice. She then went back to playing. "Ok freeze, whats going on you know you can tell me anything, and it will stay between us."

She then walked over and sat down next to me. "It was nice, it was. But that's the problem, my teacher and the kids were all really nice, I even made lots of friends."

"And that's a problem?"

she was silent for a couple of seconds, and she lookedd sad. "any time i start to make friends, or start to feel safe, that's always when im sent away."

When she said that I understood why she was upset, she was afraid of having to leave every one. "That's never going to happen, Mary Margaret loves you and she wouldn't let any one take you away."

"But what if she decides she doesn't want me."

"If that's happens, and I mean if, then I'll take you, that's if granny doesn't beat me to it." as I said that she started smiling. "Speaking of granny if we don't get to the dinner soon she will kill me, one fore being late and the other for not bring you there sooner."

We then started making our way to the dinner, but as we were passing golds pawn shop, Emma stopped and when in side. I knew gold to well and didn't like the thought of Emma being any where near him, so I hurried in behind her hoping to get out before he saw us. But it didn't work he was standing behind his counter, and saw her as soon as she walked threw the door.

"Hello Emma, how are you today?"

"I'm ok." Emma was looking at things in the case's when I noticed gold looking at me, I wanted to grab Emma and just go but something stopped me. "That's pretty." when Emma said that I noticed she was looking at a necklace with a swan on it. When gold walked around and got it out so Emma could see it, I was surprised, this wasn't the gold I knew he was being nice. When she gave it back and thanked him, I was still in shock about what I had just seen.

"Going so soon, Emma."

"Ruby needs to get to work, I just saw that from the window and wanted to see it."

"You saw that from all the way outside, impressive. Well, you are welcome here any time Emma."

With that I got behind Emma and walked her outside. "Emma how do you know Mr, gold."

"I meet him the day I moved here, and he gave me a snow globe."

"He what?" now I had heard everything gold never gave anything away, so why was he being so nice.

"Yeah, at first I thought he was strange, but now I don't know he might be nice." he might act nice, hearing that made me want to laugh. I know Gold he has a black heart, I need to make sure I keep an eye on him, I don't know what he is up to, but I don't like it.

Pov: Regina

I was finally able to get information about Emma, and have been going through it, trying to find any connection to someone in town. I needed to know who was behind bringing her here. I had been going through it all morning and hadn't fond anything, so I decided to take a break, and get something to eat at granny's. And Like always as soon as I walked throw the doors everyone made sure to look away, they were afraid to look me in the eyes, but not everyone did. This time granny wasn't afraid to meet my gaze.

"Madam Mayer, what can I get you?"

"My usual."

"Ill have it in one second."

"I'll be in a booth, I have work I need to do."

"What ever."

This wasn't good she was starting to act like her old self, a good sine the curse was starting to weaken. As I sat down I wondered what else might have changed. Emma had only been here a few days, and yet things were already changing. Whats even stranger is ever since she got here, she is the only thing I have been able to think about. I knew I need to find a way to send here away, but when Im around her, all I want is to spend time with her, I even find my self worrying about her, like some over protective parent. And I don't know why, she has only been here for just a few days, and its makes no seance. I decide to focus on my real problem, finding who was behind bringing her to town. As I got out the papers I brought with me, I noted granny walking over with my food, I mad sure to cover the papers she she wouldn't see what I was doing. As soon as she waled away, i start to look threw them. They were mostly about Emma's previous foster homes, I was hoping to find my connection in here. But what I fond surprised me, as I looked throw the lists of foster homes, I fond myself wondering why there were so many. As I read threw them they all said the same thing, she was a very good kid, well behaved and vary smart. Witch made me wonder why no one keep her vary long, but as I read more I realized it wasn't her it was the places she had been sent to. Most of her homes were ok but a few, weren't and some of the things I read made me angry. I was so lost in my what I was doing, that I didn't realize what time it was, until I herd granny say something from behind the counter.

"It's about time you got here."

"What do you mean, I'm early for once, I thought you would be happy."

"I am, I was talking about you keep are young Emma all to yourself." when I heard her say Emma's name I turned around and saw her standing next to ruby.

"You know I'm beginning to think you like Emma more than me."

"are you hungry Emma." she smiled at granny and nodded her head as ruby rolled her eyes.

"Emma why don't you find a seat while I make you something, and ruby you should get to work."

"You really do like her more then me." granny just smiled at ruby, witch made Emma laugh, she then started making Emma something to eat wile ruby got ready for work. I noticed Emma looking around the room, there weren't a lot of people here, but I could tell she didn't no any of them and was nerves about siting with them. But when she saw me, she smiled and walked over to me.

"Hi, may I sit with you Regina."

"of course you can Emma." I made sure to gather the papers up, so she wouldn't see what I was looking at. "So how are you today."

"I'm ok, it was my first day of school."

"really, how was it."

"It was nice, but the work was easy."

She then told me all about her day, about her teacher and all of the kids in her class. As she told me about her day, I noticed how happy I was that it had been good. And that I was worried that she might have had a bad day. But why was i so worried, and why dose knowing that she was happy, make me happy. Why do I care so much about this child, the child of the person I hated most in this world. I was so lost in my thought that i didn't notice Emma had stopped talking. And when I did I saw that she looked upset.

"Is everything ok?"

"That's my name." it was then that I noticed she was looking at the papers. As she looked at me, I tried to think of what to say. "Did I do something wrong."

"What... No, I was just working on something and your name came up, that's all." That seemed to help, but I could tell she was still worried. "in fact all the papers said was that you were a good and smart little girl." I wanted to tell her she didn't have anything to worry about, but I couldn't. When she stated to smile I felt better, I then noticed granny walking over to us with her food. And by the look granny was giving me, I could tell she wasn't happy that Emma was sitting with me, which me me smile.

"Here you go, I hope you like it?"

"Thank you."

"So Emma ruby told me that you stopped at Mr golds on your way here." I could tell that the thought of her being anywhere near gold had her upset, not that I can blame her. The thought of Emma spending time with gold mad my stomach turn in knots.

"I saw something thrown the window, so I went in to see it."

"I see, but you should be careful, he isn't very nice."

"I thought he was scary when I first met him, but then he gave me a snow globe." I didn't know who was more surprised, me or granny, he never gave anything for free, not in this world or the other. But as I thought about it, things started making sense, out of everyone here he was the only one who could bring Emma to town without me knowing. But if he did, that would mean he remembered everything, even the curse. I started gather up my thing my things so I could go, I had questions that I needed answered.

"It was nice talking with you Emma, but I have some things I need to take care of."

As I left I heard granny ask her why she she wanted to sit with me, and was surprised at her answer. "She is nice, and I like talking to her." nice if you asked any one it town about me no one would say that. Once I was outside, I made my way over to golds shop. As soon as I walked in, I made sure to lock the door behind me.

"You seem upset deary."

"Cut it, I know it was you, you're the only one that could bring Emma to town."

"I might have heard Mary Margaret wanted to be a foster parent, and put a good word in for her. "

"nice try, but we both know this is about Emma, you wanted her here."

"And why would I want that?"

"Don't play games with me, we both know that everything comes with a price. You never help anyone for free."

"is that so."

"Enough games, Just tell me one thing, what is your name?"

"Mr gold."

"Your real name."

"all the time I have spent on the world my name has been Mr gold."

"and what about ether worlds?"

as I said that he started to smile. "what is your name?"

"Rumpelstiltskin."

I was right, he knew, which meant everything that had been going on, was his idea. "I don't get it, why are you doing this, haven't you noticed that she is starting to break the curse. So tell me, why did you bring her here?"

"Not telling."

What was he doing, none of this made sense. "Fine, but you should know, I will keep the curse from braking, you won't take my happy ending."

I turned to leave, but as I did he stopped me."Please stay." as soon as he said pleas my whole body stopped and turned around on its own."Im sure you're already thinking of ways to stop me, but we both know that every way leads to the same place, Emma. Which means the only way you can win, is to hurt her. And as much as you don't want to admit it, you care what happens to Emma."

"Your wrong, I barely know her, she is nothing to me." even as i said that, the though of her being sad, started to make me upset.

"Is that so, then tell me why do you look so upset."

"Because you're trying to destroy the curse."

"That's not why your upset, its because you don't want to hurt Emma. Now lets see, the curse gave you everything you wanted, but can you say you're happy." As I though about my life seance I cast the curse, I started to notice how everything in this town annoyed me. I had everything I wanted, but I still wasn't happy. "It's like something is missing, you can feel it cant you, but you don't know what it is." he was right, I had felt like something was missing from the moment I arrived in this world. But I chose to ignore it, because I finally had what I wanted. "But tell me, since you meet Emma haven't you noticed, that the feeling is gone." when he said that it I remembered every time I was with Emma, the feeling was gone. But why, he had to be behind this.

"That's because you did something to me, you cast a spell."

"How could I have done that, as you know magic doesn't work here."

"then you did it before i cast the curse."

"you mean wile I was locked in a dungeon." he had to be behind this its the only thing that made seance. "Think about how happy you are when you're with Emma, and what it would be like if she was no longer here, or what it would be like if she was your daughter?"

as I thought about the time I spent with Emma, and how happy I felt, and what it would be like if she was gone, I notice the thought of her being sent away hurt. "I don't understand, why do I care so much about her?" I didn't relies I had said that out loud until he answered my question.

"That's easy, it called love, dearly." was he right, was that why i card so much about her. When I would think about what would make me happy, It was always this. But seance Emma got here, every time I can think about what makes me happy, I remember the times i spent with her.

"So tell me, do you really want things to stay the way they are, or do you want something more." as I thought about what I wanted, I imagined what it would be like if Emma was mine. I thought about what it would be like be her mom, making her breakfast and taking her to school. I was surprised at how happy that mad me, and how much I wanted it.

"We can both get what we want, we don't need to be enemies. But to get what we want, we both need Emma." I thought about it, what it would be like if everything when back to before Emma came. And I knew I didn't want that any more, all I wanted was Emma. But the real questions was, to get Emma, am I willing to let everything come crashing down.

"Your right, I won't deny it, I don't want this anymore, all I want is for Emma to be mine." as I said that I could see him start to smile. "But don't think I'm giving up, I will do everything I can to keep the curse from breaking. But if it dose, know this, I will burn this town to ash before I give up my happy ending. Because it's like you said, I only need one thing to be happy, and that is Emma."