CHAPTER 10

There were perhaps eight feet from Snow's front door before a rather exuberant Henry Mills accosted them on the street.

"Mom!" The human child came catapulting through the street towards the blonde woman beside her. His smile was vibrant and understandably familiar. As he drew closer, Etain's mouth thinned into a hard, worried line. Henry was a Halfling. He reeked of elfish blood and the faint traces of otherworldly magic. His human mother had ensured his limit in magic and human looks, but the elf felt the pull of one of her subjects. She could easily dip into what little power he possessed, and his mind, to take and command him.

The Queen filed that little tidbit away for later.

The dark haired boy threw himself around Emma's midsection, crushing her happily. After several seconds, he peeked out from behind the blonde shyly. Emma brushed away the long locks that dangled in front of his eyes, smiling softly as his nose wrinkled as the hair tickled his eyelashes. Motherly love and magic spun between them, invisible to human eyes. A strange sense of homesickness tugged at the elf's heart.

Emma turned to cast a mischievous look at the disguised elf. "Henry, I'd like you to meet an old friend of your grandmother's. This is the Fairy Queen, and she's here to help us." Etain felt a little self-conscious as his green eyes took her in quizzically.

"Hi." Curiosity tugged at his expression. "Can you really help us?"

The small woman pulled her coat in tighter against her shoulders under the close scrutiny. Instead of answering, she glowered at the woman next to her.

"Is there a reason I dressed up like some hipster reject if you're going to mouth off to everyone who I happen to be?"

The blonde smiled impishly. "I wouldn't call you a hipster, more like unable to find a single genre of fashion." Etain looked down at her outfit, brow wrinkling in confusion. "But this is deemed fashionable in the lands referred to as Europe."

"My point exactly."

Scowling, the fairy made a beeline for Granny's diner. At least this realm offered something vaguely redeeming, coffee and Danish pastries. Breezing through the old metal doors, the elf's nose wrinkled with the sudden stench of werewolf. Even in their human forms, the generally unkempt creatures reeked of matted dog hair. As she got closer to the fifties style counter, the smell grew stronger.

Ruby sidled along the counter's curves, her hips dragging along its bright edges. The slim brunette expected to see the stirrings of desire in the stranger, but was instead met with vague disgust.

"Since when did wolves become so domesticated?" Etain had meant it as an honestly curious question, but the emphasis had come across as snarky.

The classic pinup's face tightened in anger before slowly easing into a sexy smile. "I don't know, around the same time that elfish royalty started looking like some Doctor Who reject." Leaning over the counter, the smaller woman grinned up toothily. "I like you mutt. You've got balls." Eyes gleaming softly, Ruby inched closer still, snapping her overly sharp teeth at the air. "I've got a whole lot more you might like." Etain felt her toes curl with mischievous delight. "Would any of those things involve coffee and…cream?"

Emma entered the diner seconds later, curiously eyeing the two flirting women. Her mother's friend had mostly climbed onto the chrome-accented counter, legs dangling as her booted feet swung happily. The Sheriff couldn't help but smirk. Red would always be able to ensnare even the most unwilling of prey.

As she stood watching, Emma felt more than saw Regina Mills enter Storybrooke's breakfast destination. Her scent filled the air with spiced cinnamon and freshly starched clothes. The blonde breathed in deeply, her lungs filling with the warm, intoxicating aroma.

"It looks like the town flirt has found a new friend." Mayor Mills' husky tones filled the doorway before bleeding out into the surrounding space. The elf's feet stopped swinging as she froze mid-sentence.

Etain turned slowly to catch sight of the darkly colored queen. Half forgotten memories exploded in her mind's eye of flushed skin and empty promises. The elf turned away quickly, feeling the skin above her heart prickle painfully. She felt magic pull her fake human form tighter around her, using it to armor her from the mayor's gaze. Taking the steaming cup Red was offering, Etain turned to meet Regina and her Savior. The sight that welcomed the small queen made her stomach drop.

Regina's dark eyes were locked on the blonde in complete, rapt attention. A ghost of smile tugged at her darkly stained lips. The elf watched in sickened fascination as Emma sidled closer, running the tips of her fingers slowly down the length of Regina's trench coat. Something that tasted vaguely like blood and bile filled Etain's throat.

Of course the Evil Queen would reach for the one truly innocent thing in this entire town. Regina had latched onto Snow's daughter, and she couldn't help but wonder if this wasn't some new form of torture the Evil Queen had devised for her once mortal enemy. What better way to piss off a parent then to bed their only child?

The brunette slid closer to Emma's warmth and touch. All thoughts of deceit vanished. Their touches were sincere and gentle. And it made Etain's heart ache to see it. And ultimately, it made her feel small. She should have known that no matter what Regina had meant to her, the Evil Queen would move on to something better. Truer. Still watching, she sees that the stark chiseled lines of Regina's face have softened, and something of the young girl she must have been can be seen peeking through.

For a brief moment, she is happy for them both.

Emma finally turned to smile brilliantly at the small woman moving towards them. Etain smiled back stiffly, unnaturally trying to convey a gentle reassurance. The Sheriff gestured with her chin towards the far back of the diner, shooing her family forward. Etain kept several feet between herself and Regina. Any contact would alert the Mayor of the magical guise.

They crowded into a booth, limbs crushing. James' and Emma sat on the ends, their long legs sticking out onto the checkered floor. Etain tried not to notice as Henry folded himself between Emma and Regina, their bodies curving together to cradle him absently, protectively. The Mayor's lips dipped swiftly to plant a soft kiss on his dark hair, as if afraid someone might spot the random act of affection.

Etain couldn't help but picture that same moment, but with her daughter who mirrored Regina so closely. Her heart ached for that alternate world, a world where their dysfunctional family could have been.

Snow cleared her throat, shifting uncomfortably as she watched adopted mother and child. A part of her hated the easy familiarity, "Perhaps this isn't the best conversation to have in front of a certain audience…"

Henry looked mildly offended, his genetic need for adventure making him obstinate. Regina had hoped she could quell that side of him, but alas.

"What if Henry and I do some sword practice? A knight can never be too prepared." James' smile was smitten and Emma wondered how close they had become while her and Snow had been trapped.

Henry crawled over the sheriff who chuckled good-naturedly at the misplaced elbows and feet. His darkly colored mother, on the other hand, sternly reminded him of his need for manners. Sneakers squeaking, he dodged James' playful antics as they tumbled noisily out of Granny's diner.

Rolling her eyes heavenward, Snow beckoned Granny's granddaughter over. She had a feeling that filling the Mayor's hands with a good, hard drink would keep her from strangling any patrons. Regina had never had the patience for talking or debate. Actions were oddly black or white to her stepmother.

Brows wrinkling, Regina turned to look over her shoulder at Ruby's approaching figure. Something wasn't quite right and tugged at the witch's innate sense of dark power. As the lanky brunette moved closer, an almost invisible gray mist clung to her shoulders, growing darker before the Mayor's astonished eyes. Reaching under the table, Regina's fingers tightened around the blonde's knee.

"We have a problem."

Emma's eyes sharpened, her hand dropping instinctively to the holstered nine millimeter at her belt. The motion made Snow's eyes snap to the approaching brunette, worry creasing her forehead. Regina felt the world narrow and focus sharply, adrenaline spiking pleasantly.

Ruby came to stop at the leading edge of the table. Tensed, the group looked up slowly and into the yellowed canine eyes of their waitress. In a blur of movement, the vixen's hand clamped down on Etain's right arm. Surprise made the lot jump several inches out of chair as the elf yelped in pain and surprise.

"What the actual fuck?"

Ruby's hand tightened painfully. Etain blinked rapidly as her eyes watered at the sudden sensation of her wrist breaking. With a shout, Emma jumped forward and over the table to claw at Ruby's steely grip. The tall beauty leaned closer, unnoticing, her apple red lips parting as she whispered against a pale cheek.

"You don't belong here little one. This is your only warning. Leave now and your life will be spared."

Etain's chin jutted out stubbornly as several tears slipped away unnoticed. The fairy twisted sharply to grab a handful of the werewolf's beautifully long hair. She slammed the woman's face brutally into the table with a jerk of her shoulder; the resulting crunch was wonderfully satisfying. The waitress went limp with a whimper, finally releasing the elf's ruined forearm.

The diner exploded in sound and motion, the patrons rushing forward towards the fallen waitress and the still-stunned Charmings. Pain was making the fay cold and clammy, her unharmed hand slipping against the mirrored surface as Etain tried to stand. Snow White was cradling Ruby as Granny pressed damp towels to her bloodied face.

Emma sidled closer, subtly helping the now panting elf stand from the sweat and blood streaked table. The smaller woman leaned heavily against the blonde, who slipped strong arms around Etain's thin, muscled waist. A rogue part of her noted that the elf smelled wonderful; of autumn leaves and warm grass.

Regina's eyes were dark, concerned, and breathtaking. Etain stared for several long seconds, far longer than was polite. The Evil Queen drew closer, magic bubbling forth, obviously eager to heal the now misshapen arm. The elf flinched away, turning away from the Mayor's now curious look. She pulled away from the now offended looking Sheriff to curl in on her injured arm.

"I can fix this up myself, thanks."