Once Upon A Time: Dancing With The Devil, Part Nine
By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki
Emma waited outside the school, tapping her fingernails on the steering wheel as she waited for the bell to ring. After helping Mr. Gold with the supplies for the trap, she had went back to the sheriff's office to work on the case. There really wasn't much to work with since there hadn't been any new robberies but she had to be there or face more of Regina's wrath. She really wasn't scared of Madame Mayor but her temper tantrums were annoying and Emma wanted to avoid as many as she could.
Emma looked at her watch just as the bell rang, children spilling forth from the school doors. She watched the kids but saw no sign of Henry. She frowned, knowing he was usually one of the first ones out since he didn't like to hang around. She waited about five more minutes then got out of the car.
She locked the door and walked up to the school just as Ava and Nicholas came out. " Hey, " She said, catching their attention.
" Oh hi, Sheriff Swan, " Ava said. Both of the kids seemed to be adjusting well to their new situation. Emma often saw them out with their father on the weekends, everyone smiling and having a good time. It made Emma glad and sad at the same time, wondering if she would find the same happiness one day.
" Do you know where Henry's at? " Emma asked. The three kids were usually inseparable when circumstances allowed for it. Emma was happy Henry had found some friends.
Ava and Nicholas looked at each other then Ava frowned, " He got picked up really early. "
" Like how early? " Emma furrowed her brow.
" During lunch, " Ava said. " His mom came and picked him up about halfway through. We were out on the playground and she got mad because she couldn't find us at first. "
Emma arched an eyebrow, " Where on the playground? "
" Under the tallest tree, " Ava replied. " He was telling this story about a huge diamond at Mr. Gold's shop and wanted to know if we would come with him after school to see it. "
" Was there anyone else around? " Emma tried not to sound to hopeful.
Ava looked at Nicholas, " Uh... " The boy hesitated. It seemed he was the shyer of the two, Ava being the dominate personality in the pair. It seemed Ava always spoke for both of them, Nicholas usually holding his tongue.
" Was someone there? " Emma asked gently. She didn't want him to clam up if he was going to say something.
Ava looked a little scared " There was someone but we didn't see her until after Henry left. "
" I smelled smoke and I looked up, " Nicholas finally found his courage and voice. " There was a girl up in the tree and she saw us. She told us she was going to beat us up if we told anyone. "
" Would you know her if you saw her again? " Emma was getting tired of hearing how the thief was threatening kids with such aplomb and abandon. If she had every carried out her threats, she would be in a lot more trouble than she was already in. Emma looked around at the children milling around the front of the school, " Do you know if she's still here? "
Ava and Nicholas looked at each other. Ava sighed, " Yeah. We'd know her but I think she leaves as soon as the bell rings. She's kind of a loner so she doesn't hang around. "
" Does she walk home? " Emma asked.
" I don't know, " Ava shrugged. " Today was the first time I ever really paid that much attention to her. I mean, I've seen her in class but she sits in the back and really doesn't talk to anyone at all. She kind of blends in. "
Emma quirked her mouth as she thought about the situation. ~ At least Henry got the story out before Regina got here, ~ She told herself.
" Sheriff Swan, " It was Michael Tillman, Ava and Nicholas' father. He looked like he had come from work since he was wearing his mechanics coveralls. His brow was furrowed with concern, " Is there a problem? "
" Oh no, " Emma her hands up. " I was looking for Henry and I was just asking Ava and Nicholas if they had seen him. "
Mr. Tillman sighed in relief, " Oh good. You scared me for a second. "
Ava looked at Emma, " Do you have any more questions, ma'am? "
Emma shook her head, " No. No, I don't. I guess I'll go look for him somewhere else. Thanks. "
" You're welcome, " Ava smiled.
" Come on, " Mr. Tillman said to the kids. " Let's get going. We're going out to dinner tonight. "
Emma watched as they walked away then shoved her hands in her back pockets, deciding what to do next. She turned to walk away when she saw Mary-Margret walking up to her. " Hey, " Mary-Margret look surprised to see her.
" Hey, " Emma said. Things had been left at an awkward place when Emma had to leave to walk with Henry. After the tense conversation about Mr. Gold, Emma hadn't said another word to Mary-Margret. She didn't even bother to sit down for breakfast, opting to grab a piece of toast and some juice before leaving.
" Regina picked Henry up... " Mary-Margret started.
" I know, " Emma said. " Ava and Nicholas just told me. "
" Oh, " Mary-Margret breathed.
" Can I ask you something? " Emma asked when Mary-Margret didn't say anything else.
Mary-Margret blinked, " Sure. "
" Have you noticed any, I don't know, 'odd' kids around? " Emma couldn't think of a better word.
" 'Odd'? How do you mean? " Mary-Margret looked confused.
Emma sighed, " Henry told me there this weird girl that smokes in that big tree on the playground. She threatened him the other day and I wanted to check it out. "
" Oh. I know that kid, " Mary-Margret said. " Her name is Clarissa Clairemont. "
Emma blinked, " What? "
" I've been keeping an eye on her since she threatened Henry but she hasn't done anything since. Not anything I can prove anyway. From what I understand, she's an excellent student and very bright, " Mary-Margret said.
Emma arched an eyebrow, " What about family? "
Mary-Margret shrugged, " I guess she has one. I looked in her records and every paper that's ever been sent home to be signed has come back with either her mom or dad's signature. She even has a clean behavior record. There must be something going on if she's starting to act up. "
Emma nodded as she thought, ~ Damn. She IS smart. She's got everyone fooled... I just hope we've fooled her. ~
" I can keep a closer eye on her if you want, " Mary-Margret offered.
" Could you? " Emma asked. She wasn't going to tell Mary-Margret that, with any luck, Clarissa would be in jail before sunrise. " I mean, if she's in some kind of trouble then maybe we can help her with it. "
" Maybe, " Mary-Margret said.
Emma's cell phone started to vibrate and she got it out of her pocket to look at it. She frowned when she saw the number for the Mayor's office. " I gotta go. Regina's calling me. "
Mary-Margret grimaced, " I wonder what for? "
Emma sighed, " Me too. "
Emma pulled up to the Mayor's office, wondering why Regina had called her. When she answered, Regina had told her to come to the Mayor's office right away but didn't say anything else. She got out of the police car and headed inside. Once she got to the office, she found Henry there as well as Regina.
Emma looked at Regina, " What's going on? "
" Well, " Regina stood up. " It's nice to see you too, Miss Swan. "
" Care to tell me why you called me? " Emma glanced at Henry, who looked a little worried.
Regina heaved a great sigh, " After much thought and consideration, I have decided to let you take Henry for tonight. "
" Wait. What? " Emma felt like she had been hit with a brick. It was a complete one-eighty from the way she had been at Mr. Gold's shop.
Regina arched an eyebrow, " I said you could take Henry for tonight... Unless you have 'other plans', " The way she said 'other plans' made Emma's skin crawl.
Emma looked at Henry, " Do you want to hang out with me tonight, kid? "
Henry nodded then frowned, " Well, if you aren't doing anything else. "
Emma quirked her mouth. Henry knew that she had something planned for the night but it had been a long time since she had more than a half-hour with the boy. She looked at Regina, " Do you mean for the whole night like spending the night at my place? "
Regina frowned, " That's pushing it, Miss Swan. I want him home no later than ten. He has piano lessons in the morning. "
Emma sighed in relief inwardly. She would still be able to go to Mr. Gold's shop once she dropped Henry off. She smiled at Henry, " I always have time for you. "
Henry brightened, " Really? "
Emma nodded, " So where do you want to go? "
Henry thought for a long moment, " Can we go to Granny's? "
" Sure, " Emma nodded. " You can have anything you want. "
Regina frowned, " Don't feed him too much garbage. You know I don't let him eat junk food. "
Emma rolled her eyes, " Oh alright. Can I at least get him a milkshake? "
Regina quirked her mouth as she thought about it then said, " A small one. "
Henry got up from the couch, grabbing his backpack and slinging it over his shoulder, " Come on, Emma. Let's go before she changes her mind. "
" I'm with you on that, " Emma said as Henry grabbed her hand. She looked at Regina, " See you at ten, Madame Mayor. "
" Don't be late, " Regina said firmly.
" We won't be, " Emma said then headed for the door with Henry in tow. They went downstairs and headed out the front door. Henry stopped suddenly, causing Emma to halt as well. She furrowed her brow, " What's wrong, kid? "
" I thought you were setting that trap tonight, " Henry looked puzzled.
Emma nodded, " I am but not until later. "
" So you can really spend time with me? " Henry asked. " This doesn't mess anything up? "
" Not a single thing, " Emma nodded. She then furrowed her brow, " Do you know what changed your mom's mind? "
Henry shrugged, " I don't know and I didn't ask. "
" Alright then, " Emma said as they started walking towards the car again. That wasn't always the best policy to use with Regina but Emma would take whatever time she could get with Henry. She opened the passenger side door and looked at Henry, " Get in. I'll let you use the siren. "
" Really? " Henry was beyond excited. He jumped in the front seat, smiling broadly. He put on his seat belt as Emma shut the door and walked around to the driver's side. She got in and buckled her seat belt before starting the car.
" Can I do it now? " Henry asked.
Emma smirked, knowing it would annoy the living Hell out of Regina. " Go for it. "
Henry reached over and flipped the switch for the siren, smiling broadly. He let it go for a few seconds before switching it back off. " I always wanted to do that. "
Emma furrowed her brow, " Didn't Graham ever let you do it? "
Henry frowned slightly, " No. He said it would make my mom mad. "
Emma's phone vibrated and she was fairly certain she knew who it was. She got the phone out of her pocket, smirking when she saw she had one new message. She opened it and read it out loud to Henry, " Don't. Do. That. Again. "
Henry smiled and laughed, " I guess we scared her. "
Emma chuckled as she pulled out onto the street, " I guess so. "
They were quiet for a long moment when Henry looked at Emma, " I did what you asked me to do. "
" I heard. I came up to the school to see you, " Emma glanced at him. " I ran into Ava and Nicholas and they told me everything. "
" Oh, " Henry said. " I don't know if that girl was there though. "
Emma snorted, " She was. Ava and Nicholas said they saw her after you left. "
" They did? " Henry sounded surprised.
" Yes, " Emma nodded.
" So she heard? " Henry sounded hopeful.
" I hope so, " Emma replied. " I guess we'll see tonight. "
Emma stopped the beetle along the curb in front of Regina's house. She looked at her watch, finding she still had five minutes with Henry but it didn't matter. He had been asleep in the front seat for a little over thirty minutes. After switching cars at the police station, they ate at Granny's then went driving.
They really didn't go any place in particular and the roads that laced the back woods were excellent for cruising. She had missed ten years of the boy's life and she was determined not to miss any more if she could help it. She reached over and ruffled his hair, " Hey kid? "
Henry stirred but his eyes didn't open. Emma shook his shoulder lightly and that roused him. His eyes fluttered opened and he looked around, blinking a couple of times. " Where are we? " He muttered sleepily.
" Home, " Emma sighed. " You've been asleep for a while. "
Henry frowned, " Is it ten? "
" Close enough, " Emma sighed. " Come on. Let's go. "
" I don't want to go, " Henry shut his eyes as he pulled the blanket tighter. It was the blanket Emma had slept under the night she had to sleep in the car. He inhaled, his eyes opening again. He frowned, " This blanket smells like Mr. Gold. "
Emma went cold, " It does? "
Henry nodded, " Why? "
Emma thought back, then sighed. " He let me borrow a scarf and I had it on under the blanket. "
" Oh, " Henry pushed the blanket off.
Emma looked at the house. She could see the lights in the foyer and living room were still on. She knew Regina was standing at the door, waiting for the clock to strike ten. She looked at Henry, " I think we'd better get you in before your mom comes out. "
" Okay, " Henry sighed and unbuckled his seat belt.
Emma unbuckled her seat belt, " Don't forget your bag. "
Henry reached over the back seat and grabbed his backpack. He then got out on his side of the car as Emma got out on hers. He walked around to her and they stood next to the car. He smiled at her, " I had a really good time today. "
" I did too, " Emma put her arms around him and gave him a hug.
Henry returned the hug, " Thanks. "
" For what? " Emma asked.
" For hanging out with me, " Henry said.
" Any time, kid. Any time, " Emma said. She let him go and smiled at him, " How about you go ahead and go in? I need to get over to the shop and I really don't have time to face Regina. "
" Okay, " Henry said and started to walk towards the house. He stopped after a few feet and turned back around. " Um, Emma? " Henry sounded a bit uneasy.
Emma looked at him, " What is it? "
Henry looked up at her with a pleading expression, " Be safe tonight, okay? "
" I will be, " Emma hoped she would be anyway. However, she wasn't sure if the bigger danger was from the thief or being with Mr. Gold.
