HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone had an enjoyable New Year's Eve and has a safe and healthy New Year!

Chapter Three~

The next morning Darcy woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of hushed voices speaking in the kitchen. Emma wasn't next to her so she crept out of bed and tiptoed over to the door to peek her messy bedhead out the doorway.

"What do we tell her about the Curse though Emma?" Mary was saying so Emma replied,

"I don't know Mary. Henry has to figure that out with his Book I mean after all, that's what told us everything we know up to now right? It must have something in there like a clue or hint or something about this sort of situation."

"But what if it doesn't? If the Evil Queen does find out about her—and she will because she can't hide forever and you know that—what then? We can't protect her and what with her having her Magic back," but it was then Darcy decide to enter the kitchen playing dumb and saying in a chipper voice,

"Morning girlies!" the two froze mid-conversation upon seeing Darcy and forced smiles onto their faces as Emma said,

"Hey, um—David was able to get your car out of the roadway and to the car shop. Though it's going to need a lot of work on it." waving a hand dismissively, Darcy took a seat on one of the barstools and told her,

"That's fine, I have no plans on leaving just yet." she couldn't help but notice the exchange of looks between the two before Mary, dressed for work said,

"Well I have to go—kids can't learn by themselves. Have a good day you two." then she was out the door as Darcy asked,

"Huh?"

"She's a school teacher, she teaches Henry's grade." Emma replied taking a seat next to Darcy who had been able to locate a bowl, spoon, box of cereal and milk. As she ate Emma said as she fiddled with her hands,

"Why don't you come to work with me? To hang out and not get into any trouble?" Darcy snorted at this saying as she gave Emma a sideways glance,

"So that I don't go looking around town and run into the Evil Queen of Storybrook. Listen, Emma, you're the last person on this whole damn planet I'd ever thought to believe in such crap!" Emma only groaned and told her,

"You're coming whether you like it or not. Now come on hurry up and get dressed."

"Yes mom." Darcy muttered putting away her bowl into the sink before quickly going back to their shared bedroom to find a raven sitting outside the window. It just sat there before taking off into flight leaving her to wonder—before she got dressed. Once finished she and Emma left the apartment building and walked through the town to the police station leaving Darcy to ask,

"Wait hold the hell up, you work here?" and Emma grinned proudly saying as they entered,

"Actually, I'm Sheriff of this lovely little strange sort of universe." only once inside they found of all people Henry waiting for them who grinned upon seeing the two and went over to hug Emma who asked,

"Hey, you aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"Regina thinks I'm sick, I played it off by faking a fever and pretending to throw up." Henry explained before pulling out his Book from his backpack saying quickly,

"Anyway, this was an emergency so I figured it was worth it in the end. I think I might have figured out why she was able to come into Storybrook."

"Um yeah hi Darcy still standing here right in front of you." she said waving her hand in front of Henry who giggled and waved it off before setting the Book down on one of the desks and pointed.

"See, you either have had to have come in contact with someone from here before or are from the Enchanted Forest!" Henry told her proudly but Emma hushed her only Henry made a face and scowled out,

"She has to know Emma, Regina is on the hunt to find her. It's best we figure this out—and the faster we do the better for everyone." then he turned to Darcy and said in all seriousness,

"You might want to sit down." Darcy raised an eyebrow and leaned down to his eyelevel saying gently but with a firm warning tone,

"Kid, I've lived on the streets probably half of your life—I don't need to be told to do any damn thing understood?" Henry swallowed and nodded before looking over at Emma for permission to start explaining—but never got a chance when they heard high heels clicking and a voice ringing out,

"Henry?!"

"Shit!" Emma cursed as Henry stuffed his Book back into his backpack and bolted for the exit just as Madame Mayor, Regina, or the Evil Queen entered. Wearing a black knee length skirt and a dark heather gray blazer over a black silk top, she marched into the room only to freeze when she saw the newcomer,

"Well, well, well it is true. Someone new is in Storybrook our happy little town." she smiled sweetly at Darcy who instantly felt a hatred for the woman who almost seemed to be incased in a dark cloud. As she stalked over to them she asked,

"Where is my son?"

"Oh you mean Henry? I have no idea, I never had the honor of meeting him actually." Darcy said shrugging her shoulders but Regina stormed over and pointed a lacquered fingernail into her face and said in a snarl,

"Don't play games with me dear."

"Hey, sweetheart, don't point a finger in my face—I might break it." Darcy said evenly narrowing her eyes so that Regina in surprise pulled back to look over at Emma who was smirking in pride over her friends tenacity and daring move. Regina then composed herself asking,

"If you see my son, which I know you have, return him to me." then she was out the door with her heels clicking off into the distance just as Darcy snorted asking with a chuckle,

"Who shoved a pine tree up her ass?" here Emma couldn't help but laugh out loud and joining in Darcy took a seat on top of one of the desk swinging her legs back and forth. For the next two hours they answered phones and wrote down messages that were either tips or needed to be returned to when the next available officer could attend. It was at lunch time that Darcy offered to get something to eat but Emma was insisting to go with her when a call came in.

"Damn it! I have to take this one, listen, just go to Granny's Diner and eat there but DON'T do anything stupid ok? Regina and Mr. Gold know you're here so that practically means the whole damn town does now too ok? Here's fifty bucks on me to get something for the two of us alright?" she told her giving her directions before Darcy started off. As she walked through the town she noticed that nearly everyone would take a daring glance in her direction; as if they'd never seen anyone else outside of their town before—super weird. Shrugging, she was nearly to Granny's Diner when she noticed a sign down the street—Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer. Intrigued probably far more than she should be, she started down that way and stopped just outside the door. Biting her lower lip, she grabbed the handle of the door and opened the door. Inside she found an amazing collection of all sorts of objects and items and things sorted and scattered about the store front as she let her eyes wander around.

"Can I help you then dear?" a voice called making her jump slightly to see Mr. Gold from behind the counter by the cash register smiling at her. Unnerved by the spark in his eye, she said honestly,

"Just looking around." he nodded watching her with those eyes that seemed to burn any visible flesh as she walked around the shop.

"Looking for anything in particular?" Mr. Gold wondered limping around the counter towards her but she didn't reply as she continued to search about. It was only when she turned to find him far too close to her liking, in her personal bubble that she took a step back to escape and found herself falling backwards. Yet his available hand shot out and grabbed her upper arm, her hands going to grab the lapels of his jacket so that she was now deadly close to him. For a moment nothing moved and she swore that she saw something akin to—happiness?—in his eyes. But then the spell was broken and she pulled away quickly brushing herself off and running a hand through her hair. Licking her lower lip, she turned to flee feeling strange when something caught her eye in a small glass case by the door. But she didn't dwell on it long because she forced herself out the door leaving Mr. Gold standing alone, tasting her scent of pomegranates on his tongue. She had been so amazingly close that a few inches and he could have kissed her. And what was she looking at by the doorway? Limping over towards the case, he gazed down and upon seeing what it was smirked something wicked. Oh yes—now he remembered.