AUTHORS NOTE: Sorry for the wait guys! This chapter should clear up most, if not all the confusion character wise. If it doesn't, please let me know, and maybe I'll make a character list or something. This and the next chapter (mostly the next chapter) will touch on abandonment issues, so if you are easily triggered, please be careful while reading.
At the Diner
Elizabeth stumbled into Granny's searching frantically for Daniel. She caught sight of his floppy mop of dark curls poking up over the top of their favorite booth. She flopped down across from him with a loud harrumph, and laid her head back on the top of her seat. She took in the sight of him, his curly brown hair, his dark blue eyes, focused on what appeared to be the AP World History homework spread across the table in front of him. She knew his mannerisms inside and out, the way his chiseled jaw clenched when he was frustrated, the way he tended to tap his foot when he was especially nervous, and the way he air drummed to whatever music was playing when he thought nobody was watching. She especially loved the blush that blossomed across his face when he finally realized that she had seen his solo out of the corner of her eye. She knew Daniel Mills better than she knew herself, and she liked it that way. She liked him. But he didn't know it, and he definitely didn't need to know, especially now. Come to think of it, he didn't really need to know, ever.
"Are you actually doing the extra credit?" she asked, watching him closely.
"Yep," He replied.
"All of it?" she pressed.
"Yep," he said again.
"Nerd," she chuckled a little bit, leaning closer to him, placing her hands flat on the table. He didn't respond to her jab, continuing to answer the comprehension questions from the reading that they didn't even have to do. She stayed quiet, letting him work. It was her first mistake. He set the pencil down.
"What's wrong?" he inquired, also leaning back in his seat.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she shot back, crossing her arms. He raised his eyebrow at her.
"The hell you don't," he said plainly.
"Oh such vulgar language. I thought you were a gentleman and a scholar Daniel," she quipped, trying to deflect his attention to anything else.
"Oh cut the crap Liz. Something's wrong. Tell me," he ordered. And damn her, she almost did. But not quite.
"Nothing is wrong," she stated firmly. She whipped a deck of cards out of her pocket, and started shuffling. "Wanna play gin?"
"I know you Liz. You left me alone while I was doing homework, clue number one. You crossed your arms when I broached the subject, clue two, and then you broke out your cards when I pressed you, which was clue number three. Now tell me." He said in a rather regal fashion, something he probably inherited from his mother. There was something in his voice though that was different, especially on the last three words. It was miniscule, unnoticeable to the untrained ear, but she picked up on it right away. She glared at him, real anger dancing in her eyes.
"You promised you wouldn't do that," she growled.
"Do what?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"The charm speak!" her voice rose in volume, which would've alerted other customers, if there had been any. They were all at the rabbit hole, probably gossiping about the man at the border. "We both swore, no using our powers on each other!"
Daniel could see that she was upset. He raced to calm the storm before it started. Being able to contain hurricane Elizabeth was a special skill he alone possessed.
"Lizzie please. I'm sorry," he tried, his eyes pleading. But Elizabeth was having none of his sweet talk.
"Don't call me that," she spat, getting up to leave, because screw Regina and her instructions.
"Elizabeth please I didn't mean it!" he called after her. She turned back to him, and if looks could kill, he would've been dead right then and there.
"Then why'd you do it?" she demanded. He looked at her, really looked at her, and sighed.
"Because I'm tired of secrets, okay? All my life has just been whispers behind closed doors, then more whispers, and then more closed doors. I just, I don't wanna be kept in the dark anymore," he said. Elizabeth's glare softened, and she walked back over to him.
"Can we please play gin first?" she asked quietly. Daniel laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
"Ya, Lizzie we can play gin first," he chuckled.
"I said don't call me that!" she socked him in the arm, but she was laughing too.
Outside of Town
"Where's the queen?" the man demanded. Now that Henry was closer, he could see that he was barely more than a boy. He was 18, 19 at the most.
"It's been a while Roland. Do you even remember me?" Henry asked. Roland paused his pacing, and looked at the man in front of him. He had the same hair and the same look in his eyes that he possessed when he was younger. Roland's lips turned up at one corner, in a small smile.
"It's good to see you Henry. Fifteen years is a long time," he said softly. Henry nodded his head, his face serious.
"You're right it is. So why come back now? Why stir up something that settled a long time ago?" he questioned.
"Because I have more questions than I have answers. And I also think I have a serious problem," Roland answered.
"There's no way he can remember Henry, he wasn't even four when they left!" Emma exclaimed. Regina just smiled.
"He's a product of what once was true love Swan. You should know, better than anyone, that they're capable of great feats," she clarified. "Now do shut up, I'm trying to listen."
"Let's start with your serious problem," Henry suggested.
"Henry, don't take this the wrong way, but you're not the person I came here to see," Roland stated matter of factly.
"Well I'm the only person you're going to get to see for the time being, so I suggest you tell me," Henry shot back. On the other side of the force field, both Emma and Regina smirked. Roland wasn't easily shaken though.
"I can see you holding down the button of the walkie talkie. I know that there are people on the other side listening. Regina would've sent everybody away, but I'm willing to wager that since you're here, Emma is on the other side with her. So why don't they let us both into town, and we can sit down, and have a little chat hm?" Roland deadpanned.