The Sheriff
Gold is just doing a bit of tidying up when he hears someone knock on his door. He frowns. The door is clearly marked 'Closed', and has for a few hours. No one should be calling on him at this late hour. Curious now, he limps to the door.
Henry stands outside, bundle up against the snow flurries, and by his side is Emma. He's pretty sure the woman doesn't even realize where she is. He quickly unlocks the door and lets them in. "What's going on?" he asks, taking Henry's coat and helping Emma shed her own. She doesn't acknowledge him, her gaze on the ground and her face pale.
The boy is frightened. "I don't know! Regina went down to the station really late, so I went to see what was going on, and before I got there, I found Emma in the park. She wouldn't even look at me! I don't know what to do, so I brought her here. She couldn't stay out there." He's practically bouncing on his heels, worrying his lip between his teeth.
Gold can't say he blames the boy. He's never seen Emma so dejected that she's ignored her own son. He crouches down as best as he can to see the young woman's face.
This is shock. Something happened, and she shut down to process it. That he knows how to handle. "Henry, I need you to go into the back and get me a blanket." he says softly. "Let's get her warmed up." Henry nods and hurries off. Gold guides Emma to the seat behind the counter, where he sits when the pain in his leg gets too much. Her shoulders are starting to shake.
Henry returns with the blanket. Gold takes it from him and wraps it around her shoulders, rubbing her arms a bit to warm her up. "I'm gonna make some hot chocolate." the boy says and returns to the back room. Gold chuckles.
"I swear, that boy of yours knows his way around my shop better than I do." he says lightly. Beneath his hands, Emma stirs.
"He spends enough time in here." she says, her voice so quiet that he almost thinks he's imagining it. "He has a way of making himself at home anywhere."
"That he does." He gently tips Emma's head back so he can look at her properly. There's only so much crouching he can stand. "There you are. Gave us quite a fright."
Her lips quirk up in a small, weak smile. "Sorry."
"What happened, dearie?"
If Emma is surprised by the endearment, it doesn't show. Henry stays hidden, a warm mug of hot chocolate with a melting cinnamon stick in his hands. He wants to know what's going on, and he has a feeling Emma won't say anything if he's in the room.
"Graham's dead."
The Huntsman? Henry suddenly feels cold.
Gold's voice doesn't change. He keeps it low and even, even though he feels the same shock Henry does. He hadn't realized Regina would kill her only toy in this world. "What happened?"
"Heart attack, I think. Maybe. He – he stood up to Regina, told her he wasn't gonna be used anymore." Now that the words are coming she can't stop. "He kissed me – said he was remembering – and then he just collapsed." The tears that started in the station are now falling freely.
Henry scowls. That's not right. Graham was not Emma's true love.
Gold continues rubbing her arms. "Maybe it was true love's kiss, breaking his curse." he says, forcing a lightness into his voice. He doesn't like that idea, but it makes sense, in a way.
Emma laughs harshly. "I didn't love him. Not like that, anyway. He was just my friend."
That makes both Gold and Henry relax. Who knew that unrequited true love could be that powerful, to allow someone a glimpse through the curse? Henry decides to come deliver the chocolate before it gets cold. He hands it to his mother, who takes it with shaking hands. The boy hugs her tightly, tucking his head under her arm, and Emma clings to him.
Gold starts to take a step back, but suddenly finds himself trapped. Henry's gaze has him pinned. "Stay." he whispers. "Please. I can't hold her together on my own."
He already knows how impossible it is to refuse the boy. With a small sigh, he sets his cane aside and approaches them. He stands behind Emma, one hand on her shoulder, the other on Henry's back.
They stay that way. Gold does not move, not even for the screaming pain in his leg, begging him to sit. He will stand here and endure the discomfort until Emma and Henry no longer need him
He knows what's happening. He's powerless to stop it. All he can do is silently swear that he will not – cannot – fail again.
