Whoo-hoo! New chapter! I've got a test in a couple of hours and to try and calm myself I wrote this. I'm actually pretty happy with it. I have pretty significant plans for Mr. Gold that start getting into motion in this episode- "The Price of Gold," and while the changes may seem minor at first, it's going to snowball into something pretty interesting (if all goes to plan). Hope you all enjoy!


Ada looked up from her crossword puzzle and grinned as Emma walked into Granny's.

"How was your walk with Henry?" she asked, setting her newspaper to the side.

"Good," Emma took the empty seat next to the redhead, "He asked me about codenames," Ruby walked up to the table, "Just a cocoa, Ruby, thanks," Emma said. Ruby nodded and went off to get it.

"Codenames?" Ada prompted.

Emma nodded, "Yeah- he wanted to know what to call me."

"Oh," Ada said with sudden understanding, "What did you say?"

"I told him to call me Emma for now," Ruby came up with Emma's cocoa, "Thank you," the blonde said as Ruby set it down. "And Graham stopped me along the way," Emma added.

"Graham?" Ada asked, "What did he want?"

"He offered me a job," Emma told the redhead, whose eyebrows rose.

"Isn't there some sort of…I don't know…application process or something to go through for that?"

Emma shrugged and sipped her cocoa, "Apparently not. Or maybe things work differently in small towns. He thanked me for the help in finding John Doe- I mean," Emma waved her hand about, searching for the man's name, "David."

"He is the only law enforcer," Ada mused, "Must be desperate for help even in a quiet town. Probably needs someone else to take the night shift once in a while. I think that job would be a good fit for you if you wanted it, actually." Before Emma could reply to that, the Mayor walked in, prompting Ada to roll her eyes and return her attention to her newspaper.

"How was your walk with Henry?" Regina asked, stepping up to the sisters' table. "That's right," she said to Emma, "I know everything."

"Good," Ada interrupted her, eyes still on her newspaper, "Then you can help me with this crossword. What's a five letter word for female dog?"

Regina chose to ignore the redhead and keep her focus on the blonde woman, "Relax, Miss Swan, I don't mind," she sat down across from Emma and Ada rolled her eyes, waiting for the fall out. She knew it would be too much for the Mayor to not have some sort of underhanded insult or jibe.

"You don't?" Emma asked, cautiously.

"No," the Mayor grinned, "Because you no longer worry me, Miss Swan. You see," she continued, her entire face looking relaxed and at ease, "I did a little digging into who you are, and what I found out was quite soothing. It all comes down to the number seven."

Don't ask don't ask don't ask don't give her the satisfaction Ada chanted in her head, but Emma, sadly, was not telepathic and asked anyways, "Seven?"

"It's the number of addresses you've had in the past decade," Regina explained, "Your longest stint anywhere was two years. Really, what did you enjoy so much about Tallahassee?" At the mention of that particular city both girls tensed and Ada's eyes left her crossword in an attempt to burn a hole through Mayor Regina Mills' skull.

"If you were wondering," Emma responded, trying to regain some ground, "I did find a place in town," she subtly reminded Regina of her tactics to kick Emma out of Granny's and trying to prove her stability.

"I know, with Ms. Blanchard," Regina easily replied, "How long is your lease? Oh wait. You don't have one. You see my point?" the Mayor grinned, "In order for something to grow, Miss Swan, it needs roots," she lectured, "And you don't have any. People don't change; they only fool themselves into believing they can."

"You don't know me," Emma practically growled.

"No, I think I do," Regina grinned, "All I ask as you carry on your transient life, you think about Henry and what's best for him. Perhaps consider a clean break. It's going to happen anyway," she shrugged and stood, "Enjoy your cocoa."

"Miss Mills," Ada called out, gripping Emma before she could stand. "If I might point out a flaw in your otherwise impeccable logic?" Regina tried to hide a grimace and waited for Ada to continue, "Emma has lived with me, consistently, for the past seven years- showing that she does have roots. I think we all know, Miss Mills, home is not a place, but a feeling, and if Emma's past decade shows anything, it's that she knows what truly makes roots is relationships, not places." Ada gave a feral grin, "Have a nice day, Madame Mayor."

Refusing to respond, Regina stalked out of the diner. Emma stood abruptly, still incised, and spilled her cocoa all down Ada's borrowed shirt.

Ada sighs, looking at the hot chocolate stain covering the magenta fabric.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing that pink isn't your favorite color," she commented. "Go put it in the laundry and I'll grab another shirt for you to borrow. I think I brought that green one. That'd look good with your blonde," she trailed off, speaking over her shoulder as she walked towards her room upstairs. Emma rolled her eyes and stomped into the laundry room down the hall which Ruby pointed to.

Throwing the shirt into the washer, she set the cycle and waited for Ada to get back, looking over she saw a girl, young, holding pink sheets and crying. "Oh no, no, no, no, no!"

"You okay?" Emma asked her, crossing her arms over her stomach- she hadn't realized anyone else was in here, and, while she wasn't a prude, it was still a bit of a surprise. Hopefully the young girl wasn't feeling uncomfortable or something.

The girl gestured to a sheet she was holding up, "The sheets, they're, uh- pink," she blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears.

"You try bleach?" Emma asked when the girl lowered the sheet to show a very pregnant figure, "Oh," Emma sighed, immediately understanding. Hormones were a bitch.

"Last night I felt contractions," the girl said, absently stroking her stomach. Emma could remember doing the same thing when she was pregnant, before she would catch herself and rip her hand away- trying to make it a clean break, as Regina would say. "And the doctor said that the baby could come any day now."

Not sure of the girl's personal situation, Emma struggled to find the right thing to say, "So…that's great."

"It's just that, um, when the...," she blinked back more tears, "When the baby comes... no one thinks I can do this," she hanged her head, "No one thinks I can do anything. Maybe they're right," she sighed.

"Screw them," Emma said, and heard the same sentiment echoed from behind her. Both the girl and Emma turned to find Ada standing the doorway, green shirt in hand. She gave the shirt to Emma and stepped up to the girl's laundry basket.

"You dry these yet?" she asked, and the girl shook her head, "Well, then, easy fix- cold wash, cup of bleach, and they'll be right as rain. Might have to run it more than once, but," Ada began stuffing the sheets back into the washer, "It's just a few buttons to push."

Ada gave Emma a significant glance as Emma pulled the shirt over her head.

"How old are you?" Emma asked the young girl.

"Nineteen," she responded, watching Ada do the laundry in a bit of a daze, before focusing back on Emma.

"I was eighteen."

"When you-," the girl swallowed, "When you had a kid?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded, feeling a sort of catharsis come over her. Sure, she hadn't been able to back talk Regina (Ada had stood up for her and while Emma loved her sister she needed to also fight her own battles- though Ada would probably say Emma's battles were Ada's battles ), but she could give this girl some strength here- some encouragement. No one deserved to be told what they can and can't do. "I know what it's like. Everyone loves to tell you what you can and can't do especially with a kid, but ultimately whatever you're considering doing... or giving up... the choice is yours."

"It's not exactly what you might think it is," the girl said, smoothing her shirt over her stomach again.

"It never is," Emma shook her head, "People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just gotta punch back and say, "No, this is who I am." You want people to look at you differently? Make them. You want to change things, you are going to have to go out there and change them yourself, because there are no Fairy Godmothers in this world."

Ada jumped up on top of the washing machine, "Listen," she told Ada, "No one has the right to tell you what you can and can't do. Well," she rolled her eyes, "Obviously, as long as you're not hurting anybody- exception to every rule and all that, but Emma's right. You think people haven't told…well, pick a person, any person- me, Emma, probably even Mayor Mills! I guarantee you, at some point in every person's life, someone has tried to tell them what they can and can't do. It's one of the more awful aspects of humanity, but the trick is- not letting that stop you. No one knows what you're capable of, not even you- not until you try it. So you just gotta do what you feel is right, do what is right for you and those you love, and give it 100%. If you are sincere and work for it, you'll find allies suddenly pop up when you least expect them," Ada grinned, "That's how Emma and I found each other."

"Really?" the girl asked, blinking back tears of a different nature.

"Yeah, listen," Ada leaned forward with a grin, "You need anything, you call me or Emma; we'll help. Granny can tell you where my room is, and Emma's staying with Mary Margaret- who is super sweet. You need help? Ask us, we'll help. If you need Emma to punch someone for you? She'll do it. Trust me," Ada winked, "She loves punching people."


Meanwhile, across town at the Mayor's mansion, Regina was preparing to leave for a council meeting. "I know you think otherwise," she told Henry as she put in her earrings, "But I don't enjoy these Saturday city council meetings. Sometimes they're just unavoidable. Now, you know the rules?" she confirmed, looking at her son.

"Yes on homework, no on TV, and stay inside," Henry recited obediently.

"Good boy," the mayor grinned, before sternly adding, "Under no circumstance do you leave this house."

"You mean don't see my mom," Henry back talked, frustration evident in his tone.

"She's not your mother," Regina corrected him, "She's just a woman passing through. Now do as I say or there will be consequences," she gave a point before turning to leave out the door, "I'll be back at 5:00 sharp," she reminded him.

Left alone in the empty house, Henry immediately grabbed his backpack and left.


Ada helped carry the last of Emma's boxes into Mary Margaret's loft.

"I'm so glad my stuff is here," Emma sighed.

"You and me both- now you can stop borrowing all my shirts," Ada grinned. Mary Margaret handed both girls each a plate of food.

"Thanks," they both replied, immediately digging in voraciously.

"So, is that all your stuff?" Mary Margaret asked, looking at the few boxes stacked before them all.

"What do you mean?" Emma asked, looking over at her boxes then back to Mary Margaret.

"She means you're pretty much a vagabond you have so little stuff," Ada replied, stuffing food in her mouth.

"No," Mary Margaret immediately protested, "oh, no, I didn't mean anything like that, I just- I mean- is the rest in storage?" she asked.

"No, this is it," Emma replied defensively, "I'm not sentimental."

Ada snorted into her food.

"Well," Mary Margaret said, "I guess it does make it easier when you have to move."

Before anyone could say anything more, there was a knock on the door. Mary Margaret went to opening it, revealing Mr. Gold standing on the other side, with a small gash on his forehead.

"Ms. Blanchard," he said, nodding at the brunette woman, "Is Ms. Swan here?" Emma got up and moved to the doorway, Gold smiled slightly when he saw her, "Hello, my name is Mr. Gold," he told Emma, "We met briefly on your arrival."

"I remember," Emma nodded, and Ada moved to the door as well.

"And Ms. Ward, nice to see you again," Gold added upon seeing her, "Good, I have a proposition for you, Ms. Swan. I need your help. I'm looking for someone."
"Really?" Emma asked, looking at Mary Margaret uncomfortably, "Um…."

"You know what?" the brunette jumped in, seeing Emma's distress, "I am going to jump in the bath," and she walked away, leaving Emma and Ada with Mr. Gold.

Ada's one eyebrow raised as her prickings acted up. She swallowed reflexively, trying to remain impassive.

"I have a photo," Gold said, handing Emma a picture. Ada peaked over her sister's shoulder and recognized the girl they had met at Granny's earlier that day. "Her name is Ashley Boyd," Gold continued, "And she's taken something quite valuable of mine."

"So why didn't you call the police?" Emma immediately questioned, suspicious.

"Because uh," he shrugged and smiled slightly, "She's a confused young woman. She's pregnant, alone, and scared. I don't want to ruin this young girl's life, but I just want my property returned."

It all sounded very…civilized to Ada, whose prickings were going haywire. She took the picture from Emma, subtly meeting her sister's eyes, trying to communicate her uneasiness. Emma gave a slight nod.

"And what is it?" she asked Gold, referring to the stolen property.

"Well one of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion," Gold smiled again, "Let's just say it's a precious object and leave it at that."

Ada looked askance at that remark- she doubted it was any illegal substances Gold was talking about, and her prickings flared up again.

"Wouldn't it be easier for us to find her if we know what she took?" Ada questioned the man, "Furthermore, Mr. Gold, it seems to me that a girl in Ms. Boyd's position is going to be mightily afraid of you. It might be easier to get your object back if we were to ask for it rather than handing the girl over to you."

"We?" he asked, "Ms. Ward, I'm only asking for Ms. Swan's services, you need not-."

Ada cut him off, "Emma and I work together. You ask for her, you get me as well. Packaged deal."

"When did you see her last?" Emma asked, realizing they wouldn't get anything out of Gold about the object.

"Last night. That's how I got this," he pointed to the gash on his forehead. "It's so unlike her. She was quite wound up," he continued, "Rambling on and on about changing her life. I have no idea what got into her. Ms. Swan, please just help me find her. My only other choice is the police, and I don't think anyone wants to see that baby born in jail, now do they?" Ada tensed and the subtle indication that Mr. Gold might just know more than he was saying about Emma. Ada swallowed in an attempt to keep her stomach down, which was rebelling as her prickings went wild.

The jab, however, obviously got to Emma, who responded, "No, of course not."

"So you'll help me then?" Gold asked.

"I will help her," Emma stated clearly.

"Grand," Gold added with a smile, turning to go, when the door opened again.

"Hey, Emma, I was thinking we-," Henry cut off and went quiet when he saw Mr. Gold.

"Hello, Henry, how are you?" the pawnbroker asked, grinning down at the boy.

Henry answered nervously, "Okay."

"Good," Gold's smiled widened, "Give my regards to your mother, and um," he turned to look at Emma and Ada, "Good luck, Ms. Swan. Ms. Ward."

With that he left.

"Do you know who he is?" Henry asked both women as the continued to stare at the door.

"Yeah, of course I do," Emma responded, her eyes dashing to Henry.

"Who?" he asked excitedly, "Because I'm still trying to figure it out."

"Oh," Emma responded, "I meant in reality."

Henry was already looking at Emma's boxes, "Is that all you brought?" he asked.

"It's all she owns," Ada corrected the boy.

"Henry, what are you doing here?" Emma asked, tired of people picking on her things, or lack thereof.

"My mom's gone till five," Henry told the girls, grinning, "I thought we could hang out."

Emma's shoulders slumped, "Aw, kid, I wish I could. But there's something I gotta do."


They all trooped out to the street, after Ada left Mary Margaret a note that they were on a job,

"Please let me help," Henry begged.

"No," Emma immediately denied, "No, it could be dangerous."

Henry raised an eyebrow and asked skeptically, "The pregnant maid is dangerous?"

"She assaulted Mr. Gold," Emma shot back.

Henry grinned, "Cool."

"This isn't a game. She's desperate," Emma tried to tell Henry.

"How do you know?" Henry asked, still incredulous.

"Because I know," Emma immediately replied, not expanding on that statement.

"Henry," Ada tried to reason with him, "The thing is- she's alone and pregnant, seeing a kid around might just freak her out more. Emma and I met her this morning, so she'll probably feel more comfortable around us. She won't want to talk about her problems in front of a ten year old. She's frightened-,"

"Well, then let's find her," Henry said, marching to Emma's bug. The two sisters followed.

"Oh no, no, no, no," Emma told the boy, "There is no "let's". You cannot come with me."

"Then I'll look for her myself," Henry fired back, arms crossing, knowing he had the upper hand.

"Then I'll find you and I'll bring you back," Emma returned.

"Then you wouldn't be helping the maid," Henry grinned as he verbally checked Emma.

"I am just trying to be responsible here," Emma groaned.

"And I'm just trying to spend time with you," Henry replied, getting into Emma's car. Making both women wince at each other.

Emma muttered, "Oh, that is really not fair," getting into her bug.

"So the maid," Henry cheerfully began, "What's her story?"


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