Chapter 9: Distance Doesn't Exist
Roughly four days had passed since Regina had seen Gold. It still bugged her that he had refused to help but that wasn't all that surprising really since he was a constant riddle wrapped in an imp and only helped people when he found it to be of his benefit.
She knew she was taking a risk by coming here but she didn't care. She was used to taking risks. She put on her fake smile.
"Good to see our public defenders hard at work," she said to David and Emma as she walked into the main office.
Emma stood up from her desk placing a hand automatically to her side arm as she walked to her front door. David took a step forward near Regina as the both stood near his desk which was directly out front of Emma's office.
"What are you doing here Regina," David asked as he crossed his arms.
"Stand down David, I have a personal matter I'd like to discuss with the sheriff," said Regina.
"Whatever matter you have you can discuss with me," David replied.
"He's not going anywhere," Emma said.
Regina let out a small smile. This was gonna be better than she thought. "No I suppose he isn't, very well. I've noticed the new visitors in town."
"What about them?" asked Emma.
"How much do you know about those people?"
"Enough," Emma replied. "I don't see how it's any of your business."
"It becomes my business when them and that child of theirs spend more time with my son than he's spent with any other stranger to come into this town."
"Oh because you kept him on such a tight leash before I got here," Emma threw at her.
"I resent that, I was just trying to keep Henry safe."
"Safe? He was miserable Regina. The reason he was a loner was not by choice. He was cursed here as much as the rest of the town. And now my son finally has a friend and you're threatened by that, well too bad. He's happy."
"For now," said Regina, "but what happens when he finds out who the Cullen's really are?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact that Henry finds out his new best friend isn't really his friend but rather his cousin."
"His cousin," Emma said trying not to laugh, "Now that's a bit of a stretch don't you think? I was an only child and so was Neal."
"Biologically that's true but you spent how many years in the foster system?"
The look on Emma's face began to sink. She always hated when her life in the system was brought up.
Regina only continued. "And those first three years in particular: You must remember where you got your last name Miss Swan. You see I did some digging of my own and as it turns out previously Missus Cullen was actually Miss Swan. You really think it's a coincidence that they just showed up here?"
David turned to his daughter, "Emma what's she talking about?"
Regina smiled, "She still hasn't talked to you about that part of her life has she? Well then you'll have loads to talk about. Good day Sheriff Swan, David."
Regina walked away but Emma couldn't focus on her. It wasnt' hard to figure out what Regina was referring to. Her mind went back to her second day with Henry when they were on the beach.
'Oh you wanna know what sucking is: Being left abandon on the side of a free way. My parents didn't even bother to drop me off at a hospital. I ended up in the foster system and then I had a family until I was three but then they had their own kid so they sent me back.'
Emma didn't remember her first two years as an infant, what child did but according to her file she had been taken in within a month of being found. She had been raised by a family with the last name Swan. She did however remember the day her ex-adoptive mother told her she was pregnant. For a second Emma had been happy but that changed when her adoptive parents said that raising two children would be difficult especially this early in their marriage even though they had been married since shortly before adopting Emma so they had to send her back to the system they had gotten her from- sent her back, as if she were nothing but a dog in a pet store that the buyer decided they didn't want anymore.
Emma shook her head. No it couldn't be true could it? But it was. Emma knew it was. She had known the first time she saw Bella at the diner, had known that second time when the Cullen's invited them over. Bella looked so much like them despite her pale features.
"Emma," David said taking her out of her thoughts, "Talk to me, what's going on?"
Emma went to her office and grabbed her jacket.
"There's someplace I have to be," she said.
"Okay well do you want me to come with you?"
"No that's okay this is something I have to do alone," she said as she walked away.
Emma looked around as she stood outside the Cullen's house for a second before she pounded on the door. Not that she needed to check since there was no one around but still.
Bella opened the door. "Emma," she said with a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"You knew I was here why did you wait to open the door?"
"Part of the human charade I guess. Come in."
Emma did so and looked around again. "Where's the rest of your family?"
"Out hunting," Bella answered.
"And you stayed behind?"
"Renesmee doesn't like my cooking so I'm trying to practice. Strange since I used to be good at it before but since I can't taste anymore it makes it that much harder."
"Right."
"You look like you have something on your mind."
"You swear you're not a mind reader too?"
"No that's just Edward's gift. I'm just a shield. He can't read my thoughts unless I let him."
"Lucky," Emma said looking down. She then looked up. "Look I'm just gonna ask this, are your parents Charlie and Renee Swan?"
"How do you know the name of my parents?"
"Because they're my parents too, at least they used to be."
Author's Note: As you may have noticed I changed some of the dynamics slightly and as you may have read you'll understand why (I hope). As it goes on the story also takes a turn to more AU dynamics in regards to character backstory but trust me. I think it will work. It was a gutsy move but this is how the story played out in my mind and I didn't want it to change otherwise it wouldn't have been as powerful.