"Yeah, I'm Emma."

"Oh my goodness... you look like you father... assuming you are my Emma, and I do believe you are."

"You gave an Emma up for adoption 26 years ago?"

"I did."

"Why?"

"We were eighteen, Emma. Young and foolish and with no idea what we were doing with our lives. Just married. And Regina, an old nemesis of mine, was out to sue us for everything we were worth. We panicked. We changed our identities and ran, but when you were born, we didn't even have a house. We couldn't handle a baby. We thought it was best for you. For our daughter, who I believe is you."

"And the blanket?"

Mary Margaret nodded. "The blanket, with the word 'Emma' embroidered on it in purple. Yes."

Emma's eyes widened. "You really are my mother..."

"Yes."

"Wow. And my father?"

"At home. If you'd like, you could come over..."

"I'd love to!"

"Great! I'll just... give you the address... and whenever you'd like..."

Emma nodded and smiled. "Sure."

Mary Margaret wrote an address down on a piece of paper and handed it over. "Here you go."

"Thank you."

As she walked out, Emma suddenly thought, Regina? The woman who adopted my son? No... couldn't be the same one.


Emma walked home, address in her pocket. Suddenely a man was in her path.

"Ah! Who are you?"

"Killian Jones, love."

Emma frowned. "I know that name... One of my cases..."

"Yes, yes, remembering? You got me in some pretty big trouble."

"You're a thief."

"Aye, well, now I'd like you to investigate a case for me."

"Why would I help you?"

"It's what you do, isn't it?"

"Fine. What do you want?"

"I'd like you to investigate the case of the murder of Milah Gold."

Emma could feel her jaw drop. "Why?"

"Because her husband did it."

"We're actually already investigating that case for a different client."

"Neal."

"Yeah... you know Neal?"

"Knew him for a bit. He always reminded my of his mother."

"You knew his mother?"

"I loved his mother."

Emma's eyes widened. "You had an affair with her, didn't you?"

"I don't see how that's relevant!"

"It's a motive for him."

"Maybe I'll discuss this over drinks with you?"

"You are not trying to court me right now."

"Oh come on, love-"

"Don't call me love." She handed him a business card. "Call this number. There should be someone on the line every day after 6 'o clock."

"Very well."

"Great. Goodbye, Mr. Jones." She kept walking.


Belle sat down, shaking a bit. She was meeting with a potential murderer! She did have Ruby for backup, though.

Mr. Gold sat at the table. "Hello."

"Hello, Mr. Gold."

"What's your name again?"

"Belle."

"Belle..."

"French."

"Ah. So, Ms. French, what did you want to discuss with me?"

"Well, Mr. Gold, there are rumors about you."

"Yes, many."

"I was wondering how many are true... and how many are lies."

"More truth than I might care to admit, though I won't, of course, say what specifically."

"Yes, of course. How does one such as yourself rise so high in the business world?"

"Ambition, dearie."

"And all that blood you leave in your path." She chuckled.

"Yes, they do make those rumors, don't they?"

"Unfounded, I'm sure."

"Of course."

"Mr. Gold, why did you want to borrow children's stories?"

"Ah, there it is." He smiled. "I read them to children."

"Really?"

"Yes. It reminds me of when I used to read to my son."

"Your son?"

"Neal. He'd be a few years younger than yourself. He's... let's see. He's 27 now. I haven't seen him in many years."

"Why is that?"

"Neal is a complicated man. I'm sure he has many reasons he doesn't wish to speak to me, all justified."

"You seem like a good man."

"A man trying to make up for his past mistakes always seems like a good man to those who do not know his mistakes."

"If you're trying, that ought to be good enough for him."

"And yet it never was."

"Maybe you should try to reach out to him."

Mr. Gold frowned. "This business meeting has gotten quite personal, hasn't it? I know next to nothing about you."

"I'm a nobody, sir, there's nothing to know."

"What is your ambition? Surely it's not to be a librarian forever."

"To do something brave and noble... like in the stories. But for now I'll settle for librarian."

"Solving crimes is pretty brave, is it not?"

She gasped. "You know about that?"

"I have some acquaintances who use your services, and some who have been apprehended by them. You do good work, Ms. French. You and your friends."

"Mr. Gold..." What was she doing? This was an awful idea! "Emma knows your son."