Thank you Fiend89 for editing!
"Henry, who was that?" Regina walks up to her son, looking down the road, eyeing the motorcycle suspiciously.
Henry just shrugs. "I'm going to head to school. See ya!"
Watching her son scramble off, Regina couldn't help think but think who this new stranger was. No one should be able to leave or come into this town. Technically this town doesn't exist, it just happens to be here. It was all about the curse and the little details it created.
The curse! Was the curse weakening? First Emma, now this stranger...
Regina wasn't sure what to make of it but she was sure as hell will find out.
Emma reads the newspaper while eating cereal on the island counter. Laughing to herself as she skims through the comics. Margaret comes scrambling around the apartment, trying to get ready.
"I can't believe I overslept," Margaret curses to herself.
"It's only seven ten. You've got plenty of time to get to school."
"No, I have to be there at seven fifteen – science fair. I'm helping the kids with their project before school," Margaret explains.
"I'm sure if you're five minutes late they'll live," Emma points out. Sure they were 9 and 10 years old but they couldn't do that much harm. This town has a rate of zero when it comes to accidents.
"We're making a volcano," Margaret tells her.
"Then you better hurry. Wouldn't want David to erupt," Emma says right before Margaret turns the knob. She caught on the lie. Margaret should have known better than to lie to her. She is the lying detector for crying out loud.
"I was-" Margaret was caught red handed.
"I get it," Emma sadly smiles at her roomie.
"He comes to the diner every morning at seven fifteen am to get coffee."
"For him and his wife," Emma points out what Margaret left out. Reminding her what she's doing is wrong.
"I know, I know, I know. I just like to…I go to see him," Margaret looks down to her shoes, feeling guilty.
"So you're a stalker?" Emma asks.
"No, not really…" Emma lifts her eyebrows. "Maybe a little bit," Margaret admits. "I mean, it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn, gets coffee, then drives to the animal shelter to start work at seven thirty and then he's home around five.
"Oh, is that all?" Emma questions sarcastically.
Wincing, "Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner." Feeling defeated, "I can't get him out of my head."
"I know. Maybe the first step is not showing up there today."
"Love's the worst. I wish there was a magic cure," Margaret walks over to the counter, pouring herself a cup of coffee. Now that she won't be going to the diner for it.
She loads storm supplies into the trunk of her squad car, getting ready for the storm that'll be coming their way. Regina walks up to the blonde, arms across over her chest, not looking too pleased.
"If you're looking to blame me for the storm, I think you're taking things a bit far now," Emma jokes. Trying to flip that frown upside down.
Regina shakes her head, not amused in the least bit. "I need you to look into something, Sheriff. Someone's in town – someone new."
"Yeah, I know. I gave him directions to Granny's the other night."
"You talked to him? What did he say?" Regina didn't like the idea of Emma meeting him already.
"He asked for directions," Emma shrugs. "What's the big deal? Who is he?"
That's the million dollar question that Regina wants answered. "I don't know. I asked around, but no one seems to know anything," Regina replies. "There's something about him. Something familiar."
She had that feeling since this morning, after seeing him from her window as she walked over to Henry. She couldn't help the feeling of the past. Like she knew him or something. She couldn't quite figure it out.
"He must be one of the untold millions you cursed," Emma points out, laughing at the inside joke she said.
"What?" Regina questions, completely confuse at what Emma just said.
"Oh, you know. The curse. Henry's whole thing," Emma explains. Supposedly Regina is the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen was the reason why every fairy tale was stuck in this town. If what Henry says is true, no one can remember who they are.
She ignores what Emma just said. She didn't have time for that right now. "Sheriff, I need you to find out who he is, what he wants and what he's doing here."
"There is no law against visiting Storybrooke."
Anger flamed in her eyes, "this isn't about the law, Miss Swan. You're going to do this because I asked you to."
"And why is that?" Curiously wondering why Regina was asking her to do this favor.
"Because he was in front of my house. Taking a particular interest in the one thing we both care about," Regina takes a step closer to the blonde, staring into her eyes. "Henry."
Her heart pulse picked up pace as Regina's closeness pumped her blood. Her hazel eyes gazes into the chocolate, deep brown eyes. Seeing the trouble that the thought of something might happen to Henry because of the presence of this new stranger.
"I'll look into him," Emma vowed. Just the look in Regina's eyes made her what to find out. She won't let a stranger sweep under nose and cause damage to those who she held close.
She walks into Granny's Diner to get out of the storm. Her eyes lands on the stranger, sitting at one of the booths by himself. Seeing this is her chance, she walks over, taking the empty seat.
"We need to talk."
"Why?" The stranger questions.
"Because you're suspicious," Emma answers.
"Sitting here, out in the open, drinking coffee. I wonder what kind of hell I would've raised had I ordered a doughnut," the stranger points out, acting sarcastically.
"You were talking to Henry."
"You mean the little kid who came up to me asking me questions?" The stranger figures that's who the blonde referring to. "Is that unusual for him? Being curious and precocious?"
"What were you doing outside his house?" Emma demanded.
"My bike broke down. It happens," the stranger shrugs.
"Your mysterious box – what's in it?" Emma pointedly looks over to box that she seen on his motorcycle when he came into town.
"It's awfully frustrating not knowing, isn't it?" The stranger leans over the counter, playing with Emma's mind.
"Just tell me." Emma didn't like him before just because Regina had a bad feeling of him talking to Henry. Now, she hates him because of his arrogance.
"Why? Is it illegal to carry around a box in these parts?"
"No, of course it's not," Emma replies.
"You really want to know what's inside it, don't you?" The stranger places his hand on the mysterious box.
"No. Well, maybe," Emma wasn't sure anymore. Whoever this stranger was, he was pretty good at reverse physiology.
"I'm going to make you wait. You're going to have to wait a long time and watch me carry it around. Hauling it to strange and mysterious places. And with each passing moment, the mystery will become more tantalizing. Your imagination will inflame, but so will your frustration. Never knowing – only guessing – what could possibly be inside that box?" The stranger tells her, messing with the blonde's mind. Wanting to have her suffer with thinking what his plan is. "Or, you could let me buy you a drink sometime and I'll tell you right now."
Completely lost. "You want to buy me a drink?"
"Yes."
"Okay. A drink it is."
The stranger takes the box from his side, putting it on the table. Unlocking it, slowly opening it, revealing a typewriter.
He got to be kidding with her. "Really?"
Shrugging, "I'm a writer."
"That's why you're here?"
"I find this place provides…inspiration. Don't you?" Closing the box, he locks it back up. He places a bill on the table as he gets up from the booth.
"Wait. Have you been here before?" Regina told her that he seemed familiar. Maybe they knew each other and she can't place the face with a name.
"I didn't say that," he goes to leave.
"What about that drink?" After this conversation, she needs something strong.
"I said sometime," he waves goodbye and leaves the diner.
"He's a writer or at least that's what he said," Emma tells Regina of what she learned. "He might of been here before, not sure. He sure as hell has a lot of mystery working for him."
"What about a name?"
"I didn't get it."
Silence develops between the two females. Regina thinking of the stranger and Emma wondering what the brunette was thinking.
Breaking the silence, "well, we must keep an eye with him. Not until we know if he could be trusted." Something didn't really set well within Regina. Almost the same feeling as not to trust Mr. Gold but this feeling was a little bit different. Mr. Gold only used others just to gain. So she knows that Mr. Gold is planning something that more likely involves backstabbing her in some kind of way. But she's at a lost when it comes to this stranger. A stranger that might open her eyes to her old ways.
Only time will tell her what will happen. She only hopes that it won't lead to her downfall. She will just have to keep a close eye on everyone. Because in the end, not even the curse will be on her side...
"Well, I'm sure we'll find out why he is here," Regina finally voice out her thoughts.
"He's good with words," Emma warns her. Remembering how he choose his words as he spoke. Not giving anything away but at the same time having you wanting to know more.
She's touched by the blonde's worry but she wasn't worry that she couldn't handle the stranger. "My favorite kind of people. Don't worry about me." She is the Evil Queen. They didn't give her that name for no reason. There was a reason, a very good reason why all feared her. Afraid of what she'll do if she ever got her hands on them. She showed no mercy than, and she won't show mercy now.
"Tell me what you are thinking," Emma whispers, not wanting to disturb Regina's thoughts that she seems to be stuck in her head. She can see it in Regina's eyes that something was bothering her. Something more than just the stranger that came into town.
Sighing. "Nothing," Regina gives the blonde all her attention, slowly sipping her apple cider.
"That's a lie."
Shrugging, Regina wasn't sure of what she should word out. It's not like Emma would understand why the gears were moving in her head. She doesn't even understand what Henry has been warning her about herself.
"I'm a good listener," Emma tries, pushing for Regina to be open to her.
"It doesn't matter if you are a good listener. You aren't a good believer so there is no point," Regina snaps.
Emma winces, cursing to herself. She pushed Regina a little bit too much. "Sorry."
Shaking her head. "Don't apologize. I didn't mean to snap. I just have a lot on my mind," it wasn't Emma's fault that her eyes aren't open. She herself has not figure out how the blonde fits into this curse of hers.
Then, it hits her. The stranger is part of the curse in type of way or form. Just like how Emma was able to come into town. The longer Emma stays, the more things change in the town. And by town, she means the curse.
The curse been weakening since Emma arrived, dropping off Henry. It's just seem too much of a coincidence for to be not planned out but she'll wait until she has more proof. The thought of Emma breaking through her walls was setting off red flags in her head. Warning her that Emma is more than she seems, even though Emma doesn't know that. Or believe it.
This stranger is part of that somehow but like she thought earlier. Time will tell. She's just going have to watch her back 24/7.
She reaches for Emma's hands on her lap, gripping them, letting the warmth calm her thoughts and brain down. "One day it will make sense." Hopefully soon.