Part 11
'No Alternatives'

The sun was shining brightly as Emma made her way from the Wolf Lodge Inn towards Granny's Diner. The bright sun did nothing to warm the chill in the morning air. The short walk was enough to bring a red flush on Emma's cheeks. The wind blew against her, her hair billowing behind her. The dying and dead leaves scratched against the surface of the sidewalk as she walked briskly, ignoring the eyes that followed her.

She really hated small towns.

Pulling her leather jacket tighter around her Emma kept her head bowed and her left hand in her pocket. She nearly ran right into Mary Margaret as the school teacher was hurriedly leaving the diner, a Styrofoam cup—probably with her hot chocolate with cinnamon—and her small brown bag held protectively in two gloved hands.

"Oh, Emma. Good morning. I-I'm sorry." Emma did her best not to think about how squeaky and mouse like the woman's voice was. She hadn't had her morning coffee yet and hadn't been able to eat anything last night. She was cranky. The moment she thought ill of the woman though she immediately thought of how she had been willing to help save Henry, had donated a part of her liver to him. It made her sound like an angel rather than nails against a chalk board, with or without coffee and food in her system.

"No, it was my fault. Here…" Emma held the door open for the woman, her shoulders tense as the wind crashed against her back like waves in a winter storm.

"Thank you." Mary Margaret smiled, ducked her head, and was off down the street, apparently still in a hurry.

Emma watched the raven haired woman until she couldn't see her any longer. Shaking her head at herself she stepped into the warmth of the diner, immediately sighing as the heat of the establishment chased away the chill.

Just like the day before, her entrance into the diner caused a plague of silence to descend on the patrons. Thankfully, it only lasted for a few short minutes before everyone went back to their own business.

Seeing an empty stool at the counter Emma took it, smiling when Ruby bounced over, a cup of steaming coffee in her hands.

Emma was surprised to see the coffee was made just how she'd asked for it yesterday. She wasted little time in picking up the cup and enjoying the first taste of caffeine.

"You really are a god send Lady Red." Emma said over the rim of her coffee, watching as Ruby grinned mischievously at her.

"Surprised to see you here again, Stranger."

"You do know my name now." After all, she'd had to give Granny at least her first name to put on the docket, even if she was paying with cash.

"Of course, but Stranger sounds better." Ruby winked, Emma couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't like my name?"

"No, it's a fine name. Your parents did right by you with it." Ruby pretended not to notice the slight crease around Emma's eyes, the smallest of cringes, "I just have a thing for nicknames, and besides, Stranger is…"

"Mysterious. As you said yesterday." Emma hid behind her cup of coffee again, sighing as the burning liquid slid down her throat and warmed the parts of her that the heat of the diner hadn't yet been able to.

"Ruby…" Granny warned, and Ruby rolled her eyes, gave a slight jerk of her head to Emma in apology, before she disappeared to schmooze with some of the other patrons at her matriarch's insistence.

Emma didn't mind. She just enjoyed her cup of coffee and did her best to listen in to the patron's conversations all while appearing as if she was in her own little world. People felt more comfortable divulging information when they thought you weren't interested, at least that's what she'd learned.

There was some talk about the Sherriff and a local woman being seen together last night at dinner, something that apparently didn't happen often. There was also mention of Connor Whale being seen out of his office before midnight, something as equally unheard of. It appeared that the good doctor was a workaholic, which Emma could appreciate since one of his top priorities was Henry.

Thinking about Henry, Emma remembered to pull out the old shoe box in the back of her trunk that housed her comic book collection. She kept it in the car, hidden underneath the spare tire for the long nights she was on stake outs. It looked like they'd come in handy when connecting with her…with Henry…or so the Mayor had her inclined to believe.

The Mayor…Emma had spent a good portion of last night wondering just what the Mayor was like behind closed doors, with Henry. She had seen the photograph of the two of them, Regina kneeling beside Henry as he sat in a wheelchair. The adoration and love that shone clearly in Regina's expression as she stared at Henry and Henry smiled at the camera. It had touched her. Reached right into her chest and yanked metaphysically at her heart. Emma wanted to see that for herself. She didn't want to gaze upon a frozen documented moment in time. She wanted to see the good Mayor with Henry in person.

Did they have snowball fights during the winter before he got sick? Did they have movie nights? Have a special day where they only spent time with each other? What were their routines before…and after? What were their inside jokes? When had Henry started crawling, walking, talking? What was their favorite memory together, apart? What was Henry's favorite ice cream? Did he like cinnamon in his hot chocolate too? There were so many things that Emma wanted to know, had thought about a billion times before, but never thought she'd get the chance to have answered. She had that chance now, and it made her a bit anxious. Nervous. It made it imperative that she see Henry.

She wasn't sure why, not fully anyway. A part of her was aware that seeing Regina and Henry together would make this more real for her. Henry wasn't her son. He was Regina's. Emma knew that. Mentally and emotionally she knew that. What she needed now was to see them together. See the easy way they communicated, the easy way Regina touched Henry to calm him, or make him smile, or the looks she sent him to scold him.

There was just a small part of her that needed to see him. She needed that minute connection to him to finally put the last puzzle piece together. It was about reassurement maybe, inspiration, justification for why she was doing this? It was just something inside her that needed to click, and she was sure it would come when she stood in front of her son.

Seeing Henry in person, hearing his voice and being close enough to touch him, smell his hair—like she'd done when he was only an infant that one time she'd held him—would make this real. It would cement everything—being here in bumblefuck Maine and introducing herself to her ten year old son who was dying and in need of her liver.

Not that she wasn't already cemented here. Her feet were officially stuck in dry cement for all she cared. Screw whatever pair of shoes she'd been wearing when she got stuck. She wasn't leaving. Not even God himself was going to pull her away from Storybrooke before she had time to save her…the kid, Henry.

Emma felt her cellphone vibrate in her pocket. She looked down at the display case and saw the name Ashlynn light up. She shook her head and put the phone back into her pocket letting the call go to voicemail.

"How'd the meeting with the Mayor go?" Ruby leaned on the counter, eager to hear the gossip.

Emma snapped her eyes up, watching as Ruby slid a new cup of coffee with cream and two sugars in front of her while subtly taking her empty cup.

"I'm sorry, what?" Emma blinked, surprised that she had really tuned out while trying to listen to the patrons' conversations.

Behind her Emma heard several conversations halt, the noise level almost dead. Chancing a look over her shoulder she realized the morning rush was already gone. Emma chanced a look down at her watch and realized it was already eight thirty.

"Wow, this town works like clockwork."

"Funny, isn't it? The clock tower only just recently started working again too."

Yeah, that was kind of funny, or ironic, in Emma's opinion.

Ruby disappeared for a minute leaving Emma to sip at her second cup of coffee. The waitress popped up again, sans the empty coffee cup she'd taken, a few moments later, pen and pad in hand. Not that Emma had seen her use it yet. Maybe it was just a habit to carry it around.

Or, as Emma peeked over the edge of the pad, something to keep Ruby busy as the blonde noticed several doddles scattered over the page.

"So, how was that meeting with the Mayor yesterday?" Ruby asked, again.

Emma put her cup down and smiled. "Ah, that's not how our relationship works, is it?" Ruby cocked an eyebrow, intrigued and curious. "I'll tell you something in return for something."

Ruby's eyes sparkled, "I already gave you your coffee, don't you owe me something for that?" She pouted a bit, and Emma found it adorable.

Chuckling, Emma shook her head, because Ruby was right, in a way. "It went well."

"What can I get you then? The directions of someone else in town?" Ruby seemed to appreciate their little game; the girl was practically vibrating with energy, kind of reminded Emma of a puppy.

"Actually, yes, but first maybe you could get me something to eat." Ruby's eyes widened, surprised that she hadn't already offered to take Emma's order. "Recommend anything for breakfast?"

"Well the breakfast special today is two eggs however you like them and a side of ham and toast. But the waffles are really good to."

Emma considered it. "I'll take the breakfast special, over easy on the eggs and whole wheat toast, maybe with that homemade jam your Grandmother is so fond of yelling about."

Ruby laughed a bit too loud, causing Granny to stare at the two of them from the other side of the diner where she was doing some paperwork. Emma ducked her head as Ruby offered a sheepish smile.

"Coming right up. Then I'll be back to give you the directions you're looking for."

"Wonderful." Emma shook her head in amusement as Granny started whispering with Ruby when the younger woman made it to the end of the counter. Shaking her head, Emma looked around her and saw someone had left the morning paper. Shrugging her shoulders she pulled the paper over to her and started to browse through it, sipping at her coffee as she waited for her breakfast.

Emma was immersed in the Wanted section of the Storybrooke Mirror when Ruby put down a plate with steaming food that made Emma's stomach growl aggressively.

"Wow…" Ruby's eyes widened at the sound, "…you'd think some kind of animal was living in your stomach."

"Oh you have no idea…" Emma teased as she took a deep breath, humming in pleasure at the aromas coming off her plate. "Thank you."

"No problem. Enjoy. If you need anything else, let me know."

"Actually, can I get a cup of orange juice?"

"Sure thing." Ruby disappeared after she put down silverware rolled up inside of a napkin.

Unraveling the silverware Emma tucked into her meal.

When she was finished Ruby was back at her side to take her plate immediately. The waitress was apparently bored, as there were only two other patrons in the diner and they seemed content to just read their papers and drink their coffee's.

"Bored?"

"You have no….idea." Ruby whined as she cupped her chin and leaned onto the counter. "So, what adventure are you going on today?"

"I don't know if I'd call it an adventure…" Emma stopped, thinking about it for a moment. Maybe it was an 'adventure' since she was going to see Cane Man, a.k.a Mr. Gold, the only other lawyer in this town besides Regina. "Maybe it is. I don't know, we'll see. Dealing with snakes comes easily for me, for the most part."

"Ohh….a snake huh? Big snake?"

"Anaconda type big."

Ruby's eyes sparkled again like they seemed to do when she was entertained or happy. Yep, Emma thought nodding internally. Just like a puppy.

Emma finished her coffee and put the cup down on the counter, piling her mess together to make it easier for Ruby to take away. "The Pawn Shop? How does one get there from here?"

The sparkle that was in Ruby's eyes disappeared at the mention of the Pawn shop. Emma had to admit, she'd been expecting that reaction. There was something fishy about Mr. Gold, and her suspicions centered around his interaction with Granny Wolf and Ruby from the night before.

"It's the opposite way you went yesterday. South down the main road, at the very end of the avenue where Trickster lane starts."

"Trickster lane?" Emma had to ask.

Ruby merely shrugged her shoulders. "I just live here, I didn't name the streets."

"No, you wouldn't have. Alright, so ten minute walk again?" For such a 'small' town, Emma realized she was doing a lot of walking around. "How many people live here anyway?"

Ruby still seemed a bit uneasy but was smiling again. "Oh, we may seem like small town but the population is actually relatively large, last time I heard the count, we were at about 65 thousand."

Emma's eyes widened and her jaw went slack. "Wow…" She whistled, that was a hell of a lot larger than she thought the town actually was.

"Yeah…" Ruby breathed a laugh, her hands nervously picking up Emma's dishes. "Just, be careful today." Ruby lowered her voice. "He really is a snake."

Emma inclined her head twice, taking the serious note of Ruby's voice to heart. She already had planned on it, but this just put her on further edge when it came to Mr. Gold.

"What exactly did I walk in on the other night, Ruby?" Emma asked, apologetic the moment she watched Ruby struggle to keep her grip on the dishes she'd just collected.

"Rent."

"You pay Mr. Gold rent? Why?" Emma asked, believing Ruby, she wasn't lying, it just seemed unbelievable.

"He owns the land."

Emma raised a brow, "What land?"

Ruby chuckled. "All of it."

"All of it, as in…"

Ruby nodded. "The whole town, some deal that was made before I can even remember, before we were born for sure. He owns the land and when you want to build something you make a contract with him, he's the land lord."

"Of the whole town."

"Well…" Here Ruby paused, thinking about it for a moment. "Mostly just the businesses actually. Not the residential area. That land the Mayor inherited and she doesn't tax anyone for it."

"Jeez…" Emma ran her hand through her hair. "Weird."

Ruby shrugged. "I guess it would seem like that, but that's just the way it's always been around here." And seeing as Ruby hadn't ever been anywhere else she could only imagine how it seemed to an outsider.

"Right, in a not-so-small-town in the middle of nowhere." Emma had been in small towns before and she'd even worked on farms where the farmers that worked and lived on the land didn't own the land. It was similar to that, but it seemed unheard of for someone to own the whole town. That was just some 1860s western politics.

"Something like that." Ruby smirked, sparing Emma a wink as she left to get rid of Emma's dishes.

Shaking her head, Emma stood from her seat and pulled out her wallet, unsurprised to see that Ruby had left the check underneath the sugar dispenser on the counter in front of her. Seeing the damage breakfast had done she pulled out a twenty and left it on the counter, leaving Ruby a nice tip again.

Zipping up her jacket Emma made her way out of the diner, offering a short wave to Ruby as she left, and walked into the morning's chill. She had a meeting to get to after all.

-.-.-.-.-.-

Emma found the Pawn shop right at the end of Main Street. Low and behold the crossing block was in fact Trickster lane. Rolling her eyes at the oddity of this place Emma stepped into the shop, noting the open sign on the door.

The shop was empty. Still, the shop felt full as if there were too many people in the area, stifling the very air around her. It didn't surprise Emma that the shop was as unappealing and creepy as the smarmy man who owned it.

There was no sign of Mr. Gold anywhere, but there were the oddest of collectables scattered around. The windmill lawn ornament was interesting, as were some of the knick knacks inside the display case. The puppets in the corner freaked Emma out; she felt as if their eyes were following her as she moved further into the shop. There were ruby slippers on a pedestal next to glass slippers and a collection of what looked like wands.

Emma noticed a shining object on top of the display case on the right wall. It was a conch shell, small enough to be a decorative hair clip. Emma reached out and her fingers brushed over the surface of it. The moment she touched it she pulled her hand back, a shock traveling up from her fingertips. Static electricity, had to be.

Shaking out her hand Emma dropped her hand away from the clip.

"How can I help you?" Emma turned at the sound of Mr. Gold's voice. "Oh, Ms. Swan…" He seemed surprised to see her, even though he had been the one to arrange for them to meet this early in the morning.

"Morning…" She croaked. Her throat felt a bit raw. She cleared her throat and swallowed, the dust of the shop must be getting to her. "Sorry." Rubbing her hand against her throat she stepped into the midst of the shop, to stand in front of Mr. Gold. "Nice place you've got here." She glanced around at the controlled mess. "Hobby?"

"One of many." He stepped around from behind the counter. "Not many people need a lawyer in these parts, mostly property disputes, but our lovely Mayor handles most of those."

"Ah, and you handle the…adoptions?"

Mr. Gold's lips thinned but there was something about the way he stood and tilted his head to the side that made Emma think he wanted to be smiling. "You could say that." He did, after all, handle Henry's.

"So, is that what you're here for? A consultation about young Henry's adoption?"

Emma bit the inside of her cheek. "You could say that."

"I'm sure I just did." This time Mr. Gold did grin and it was as eerie as he was.

Emma forced a smile as she slipped her hands into her pockets. "I'm just here to see what it would take for the closed adoption to be…overturned amicably."

Mr. Gold stared at Emma. She felt his gaze like a physical touch and was disgusted by it. She shivered and pulled her jacket around her tighter. This shop, unlike Granny's, seemed to hold the chill of the morning even if the heat was on.

"Amicably." Mr. Gold nodded his head as he turned and walked around the counter towards a door covered only by hanging beads. He stopped as he made it to the entrance way. "Follow me."

Emma looked around the shop once more before slowly following Mr. Gold into the back of his shop. She was lead past what must have been his workshop into another room behind an actual door. It was an office, decent sized and actually appearing to be fitting for a lawyer for a small town. It didn't hold a candle to the Mayor's office of course, but Emma hadn't seen many offices that did.

"Take a seat." He gestured towards the chair in front the desk as he made his way to sit behind his desk.

Emma thought the controlled chaos of the shop was in stark opposition to the practically empty office and its cleanliness and orderly fashion.

Emma felt incredibly out of place sitting here inquiring about adoption loopholes. Especially since she had yet to discuss any of this with Regina. There might not even be need for a lawyer if Regina was willing to allow her times to see Henry.

Hell, she was really jumping the gun and she knew it. It was why the guilt didn't seem out of place. She hadn't even yet met Henry and she was here talking about getting visitation rights. Without talking to Regina about it. That more than anything was going to backfire on her and she knew it.

Regina didn't seem the type to take well to being blindsided. But neither was Emma. She needed to know what she was getting herself into here.

She needed a lawyer, someone she could—somewhat—count on to be on her side if things began to get ugly. Situations with women in Emma's life tended to get ugly, and fast, so although she felt the guilt and acknowledged it, she was also compelled to do this. Besides, this was just a consultation. There were no definites about this particular course of action.

"Amicable amendments to a closed adoption require both parties to agree to the amendments. They are relatively simple, if and when the terms have been discussed and agreed upon beforehand." Mr. Gold pulled out a file and was looking over it as he spoke, looking to Emma every few moments to make sure she was following. "You signed away all parental rights to Henry when he was born." Emma nodded. "As you know the six months you were legally granted have long since passed." Emma nodded stiffly again. "So, have you discussed this desire with the Mayor?" Mr. Gold crossed his fingers and leaned his hands on the desk as he stared at her.

"No. But she can't be looking to arrest me for breaking the closed adoption contract I signed, she's the one that invited me here and thought having lunch with the kid would be good for us. All of us."

"Yes, well these are extraordinary circumstances. If she does feel the need to press charges you have the legal standing to fight the charges as she was the one to break the contract first in finding you and then contacting you."

Emma nodded, she knew that already. She'd known that the moment Regina walked into her apartment and told her who she was and what she wanted.

"I'm not here to make anything now."

"Make?"

"A contract or anything."

"Ah," Mr. Gold nodded his head slowly, his gaze telling Emma he thought her to be a bit slow.

Emma didn't try and contradict him. It was better to be the one underestimated. It tended to work in her favor later if people thought she was just some 'dumb blonde'. That still didn't make the looks any less bothersome. She stiffened in her seat and sat up just a bit straighter.

"I just wanted to know if I'd have a case to like, see Henry on weekends and maybe go to the kid's birthday parties. You know. Just, normal stuff."

Normal stuff that Emma wasn't sure Henry had been able to have since finding out he was sick but knew he would get to experience after the transplant. There were no alternatives. Not now that Emma was invested, no matter how long it had taken her to reach this place in herself.

"After donating your kidney…"

"Liver."

Mr. Gold waved off the correction, "…organ, you will have a substantial claim. Not only to visitation rights but to benefits, living expenses, and health coverage."

"Benefits, living expenses and coverage?"

"Oh yes, our diligent Mayor would, if you so wish, be obligated to cover your health expenses now and anytime in the future should complications arise over time, and also be responsible for comping any of the pay you would be missing while you are recovering."

Emma knew about the possible complications, knew that this operation might mean she was out of her job. Would be a long while before she was able to get back out there and feel confident enough to drop slam someone twice her size after this operation, Dr. Whale and the internet told her so. So she was doing her best to be prepared.

"She's already agreed to pay for home care."

"Yes, well that is the least she should be willing to do." Mr. Gold mumbled, sounding as miffed as Dr. Whale had yesterday afternoon.

"I don't exactly make a steady income."

"If you would bring in some of your W2s I'd be able to give the Mayor an approximate amount for…" he flipped a page in the file, "the next three to six months."

Emma winced a bit at that time table. It would be the longest she had gone without a job since she was twelve. Even while she was in the detention center she had a job, 'forced' on her during the rehabilitation process, but it was still a job. Even after she was knocked upside the head with a tire iron she had only been off her feet for two months.

"I'll see if I can get some of them faxed over." Emma offhandedly mentioned, already thinking how this was going to be a pain in the ass. She hadn't come here to get the Mayor to give her money. She didn't want or need the money. She had a nice nest egg of cash in savings she could use while she wasn't working.

"You seem uncomfortable with this."

No shit Sherlock. "That would be because I am."

Mr. Gold studied her over the rim of glasses she hadn't even seen him put on. It made her feel dirty and penetrated in a way that was unpleasant. It was like he could see right through her, read her very thoughts and desires. It was unnerving. Especially from someone she'd already decided was the villain of this town. Or it could be because he was a lawyer. She really hated lawyers.

"I'm not here to take the Mayor's money. Or her son. I'm just looking to do what's best for him, help them both. I don't want to be…that…person. Okay? I'm already the most interesting person in this town. Last thing I need is for people to think I'm taking advantage of the mayor, who happens to be the mother of a sick kid. Because that's not who I am. I'm not the bad guy."

"No. You're the white knight."

Emma startled at the title, her eyes narrowing at the man across from her. It was the way he said it. The tone of voice and the look in his eyes, the momentary flash of…something…Emma couldn't place. It set her off.

He merely shrugged, "I'm fond of fairytales."

"Right…" Emma whispered the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight and tall and setting off her own spidey sense. "You understand what I'm saying?"

"You are not taking advantage of Mayor Mills. If she does not offer to compensate you for this act of kindness…or responsibility as you may see it…she is the one taking advantage of you. But, as I am not your lawyer and this is only a consultation the decision is yours. But, should you find you need my assistance, I would be more than willing to take you on as a client."

With that, Emma realized the meeting was over and she couldn't be happier about it. "Yeah, thanks." She stood from her seat and took a hold of Mr. Gold's hand, shaking it. "I'll call you."

She still had his card, the same card Dr. Whale had given her. Why the doctor had the card on him hadn't bothered Emma. Until now, as the very man whose business card it was didn't even offer one or have any readily available on his desk. Nor did he have one available around the shop. She made sure to look as he showed her out. She was observant and anything and everything about this man set her instincts on alert making her more aware of her surroundings. He just, he irked her.

Almost as much as…

No!

Emma shook her head, physically trying to wipe away that thought. She wouldn't go there.

Leaving the shop through the door she had entered Emma looked over her shoulder and noticed Mr. Gold watching her walk away. Shaking off the feeling of being watched, since that's all people in this town seemed willing to do, she made her way back to the Inn.

Regina would be there to pick her up within the next half hour. She clearly remembered telling Regina she could drive to the hospital on her own, but she had received a call this morning before leaving for breakfast from Regina calling to confirm the pick up at ten.

Emma had been too tired to argue and had just agreed. She figured she would be caving a lot when it came to Regina and her stubbornness, especially since she would be here in Storybrooke for the next three to six months. It might have been presumptuous of her to think that all the tests would come back positive or however they needed to come back for her to be the perfect transplant candidate but she knew they would.

They already knew she was a good match, they were just waiting for the lasts of the tests to confirm that so they could take the next step. What that next step was, Emma wasn't exactly sure. She assumed it was setting a date for the transplant and having her eat and drink the right way for the next few days or week to make her liver grade A for the procedure.

There were no other alternatives.

End Part Eleven

Author's Note: A tremendous THANK YOU to mooglesmuse who betad this chapter. It's been a LONG while since I've written anything for This is How it Ends, but I'm back with this update and will hopefully have a better grasp on updating (at least for a while) this particular story. Sadly I can't promise anything more for my others ones though I have not abandoned them and work on them when I can. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Thank you to all those who have been patient.