Best Chance
Knock Knock Knock
The sound of someone banging on Emma's car window was what brought her out of sleep. She arose from the back seat and looked up to see the man she seen last night. After leaving Regina's she decided to pull over and rest. She didn't know where there was a place to stay in this quiet town. She slipped into the front sleep and rolled her window down.
"May I help you, Sheriff. " Emma sat up and looked at the handsome guy. She could get a better look of him now that it was daytime. He was tall and slender with the right amount of muscles. Emma actually thought he was her type.
"Sorry, but you can't sleep in your car anymore. I - " his words were cut off a voice was heard coming up from behind him.
"Graham! " Regina called as she ran up. How the women could run in heels today was a mystery to Emma. This was the second time she saw her do it. When Regina noticed Emma her blood boiled. Her eyes narrowed making Emma truly wonder how unhappy Henry was.
"What is she still doing here?"
"She has a name. Is it a crime to stay overnight in a town?"
"No.
" Madam Mayor I believed you were calling me for something. " Graham said turning her attention to him.
"Yes, Henry is missing again. As a matter of fact, Ms. Swan where is my son?"
"I don't know he is your son. I was here all night. But looking for people is my job. I cou"
"No. Graham will find him. You need to leave. " Regina said motioning for Graham to follow. Emma watched the women leave. Something about her made Emma want to challenge her every move. Which was why Emma set off to find him on her own. She didn't have anything to go off of but she had to believe Henry was like her. He was alone. And liked it that way. But he would want a place to truly be alone. Emma grabbed her red leather jacket and got out her car. If she was right her son would be near the sea, it always brought her peace.
"You're mother is worried about you. " Emma called to him. She was right. He was sitting on an old run down castle playground. It was near the sea as she thought. She felt a sense of pride knowing he was more like her than she thought.
"Nothing has changed. I thought when I brought you back, time would start again. And the curse would break. "
"First in all, here you forgot this. " Emma said handing him his storybook. She sat down beside him. "second this isn't some fairytale Henry. This is real life. I'm not here to break some curse. I'm here to make sure"
"I got my best chance. I know. "
Emma took in a sharp breath. She always knew the truth but hearing it from him made it true. It connected them. Because he understands what she did.
"You wanted to give me my best chance just like your parents. Or at least I thought they did. That's what I don't get. Where are your parents? When the curse hit they were brought here. It's in the book and now they aren't here. "
"Henry my parents aren't some fairytale. My mama and dad are in portland raising my siblings. " Emma said a bit louder than she planned. She sighed getting up walking by the water. She turned to him.
"They are in this book! Look. " Henry said holding the book opened to a page. Emma had to take a second look. The crazy thing was the two people in the photo did look like her parents. It was a picture of them standing across from each other with the women, who looked like her mother, holding her hand up. She was looking at what looked like a ring. Emma couldn't really tell.
"Henry, coincidence. These are all stories. Look I got to take you back to her. Because you were right I gave you up to give you, your best chance. You mother loves you. She just wants what is best. " even as she said she knew it was a lie. But she couldn't take him for her.
"Fine but stay a week. Get to know me. I will prove I'm right. And together we can break the curse. "
After a long day at work, all Sam wanted to do but go home to his wife and unborn child. It was all he ever wanted to do. One day he wanted to leave and start a new life. One where Nicole didn't have to work for women like Regina. And he didn't have to fix cars. It wasn't until he ran into someone was he pulled out of his thoughts.
"Oh, sor-" his words caught dead in his throat. He looked the man before him. All of the air in his lungs was sucked out.
"Hello, nephew. Long time no sees. "
"Nicole, be a dear and fetch me my coffee. " Regina said as the women walked in. Regina wished she knew how to get rid of the baby in her belly. It was hard to the women which mean she didn't get anything done for Regina.
"I have no idea where Henry is. " Graham said walking in.
"How hard is it to find a ten-year-old boy? What about Ms. Swan is she gone?"
"No her car still here. "
"That's because I unlike you went out and actually looked for him. " Emma said walking into her office with Henry. Regina stared at the women with such hatred. She motion to Graham to grab Henry.
"Come on. " Graham said walking Henry out.
"And what exactly did you think I was going Ms. Swan? "
"Well, you just ordered that poor woman to get you coffee while you sit in your office waiting for the Sheriff to find him. You're his mother. You raise him. Should you know him better than anyone right? Or do you. " Emma challenged. Regina got up getting close to Emma. She folded her arms.
"I know my son better than you think Swan. Because he is my son. Now leave my town before I make you. I have my ways of planting crimes on people. You don't want to mess with me. "
"Do whatever you want. There is nothing you can do to get me the leave. Actually, there is. Prove to me that I actually gave him his best chance. Because right now you aren't. "
"What are you doing here, Scott!?" Sam might not remember being Simba but he remembers having an uncle who has been nothing but horrible to him. And in this world, Scar was supposed to have taken all of Simba's wealth. But that never happened since Scar was never in storybrooke and never implanted with false memories.
"Uncle Scott to you. " even though he hadn't been placed with false memories he knew about them. He knew what or who he was supposed to be.
"You are no uncle to me. Because of you, I have to struggle by every day. Not able to take care of my family like I should. "
"Because of you, I lost everything. I'm here for my revenge but not yet. I want you to remember who you truly are before that. "Scar walked off leaving Sam with a wide mouth.
"When I say the rent is due today, I mean today not tomorrow. Now, where is my money old lady!" Mr. gold screamed at an older lady. She wasn't scared of him. She crossed her arms and stood there in silence. Suddenly young women with long brown hair and green eyes rushed in. She handed him the money.
"Here. Now getting out of our diner. "
"Ruby you didn't have to do that. I can take care of myself. "
"Granny, why must you act like that. I was helping. "
"You can help by getting to work. "
"Can't you just be grateful!" Ruby stormed out the diner just as Emma walked. She looked a little confused but didn't say anything.
"I was wondering if you had a room available?"
"You want a room? Yes oh yes of course. " Granny was so excited to finally have someone stay here. Strangely enough, no one really visits here. Most of her money came from the diner. She pulled out a dusty bookmaking Emma sneezed. Granny wrote up a few things then Emma handed her money.
"Would you like a forest view or a square view? Normally there's an upgrade fee for the square, but as the rent is due, I'll wave it. "
"Square is fine. "
"What's your name. "
"Emma Swan. "
"Emma... What a lovely name. " Mr. Gold said as he came back in. He handed Granny a ten dollar bill. "I might be cruel but I'm an honest man. Good day, " he said before stopping in front of Emma. "Enjoy your stay Emma. " and just like that, with her name, he remembers.
"Who was that?"
"The owner of this town. Anyways here is your key. I hope you have a great stay. "
"Thanks. " Emma left on that note, heading to her room. When she got there, she dialed a number.
"Emma, so glad to hear tour voice. "
"Mama. "
"What's going on? You coming here soon?"
"It's exactly how I guessed. Mom, she is terrible to him. His adoptive mother. "
"What about his father?"
"There is none. It's only her. I'm staying here for a week. I just don't know what to do. He has this storybook with all kinds of fairy tales and mom he thinks they are real. "
"Honey all kids believe in fairy tales it gives them hope. "
"It's more than that. He really believes it's true. He even thinks I'm a savior that will break this curse that his adoptive mother or aka the evil Queen, put on everyone. You and dad are in it. "
"Who does he think we are. "
"Snow White and Prince Charming. "
"How cute. Okay, listen your dad has vacation time. We can come there. And of course, I'm homeschooling the kids which you already know. So it's easy. Don't worry we can figure this out how we always do things. "
"Together. " Emma finished with a smile.
"So where are you. "
"Storybrooke, Maine"
"Okay, then Storybrooke it is. "
"I love you. "
"I love you too princess. "
Emma hung the phone up feeling better. This whole situation was hard on her. She should have left. That was what legally she supposed to do. Her father always told her to follow her gut and she was. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong here. And Henry's book made her second guess everything. She knew it was just fairy tales but it seemed real. Believe or not it was already night time and Emma figure it was time for bed. Though for some reason she brought herself to the window to look out at the clock tower.
Upstairs of Regina's house was Henry's room. The ten-year-old sat by the window seal watching out over the town. He glazed at the clock tower, the same time as Emma. And together without knowing they watched the clock finally move. After twenty-eight years, the time had started again.
The Next Morning
Regina woke up early that day. She didn't sleep well the night before. She could stop thinking about Emma and who she was. She was afraid this woman was someone important. She only knew of one person who could help find out. She dialed the number.
"We need to talk. Meet me at Granny's. "
Regina threw on her clothes and headed out the door. It was a Saturday so Henry didn't have school. She told him to stay in his room but she doubts he would listen. She heard a loud noise and looked up. It was the sound of the clock moving. Her whole body felt like ice. This couldn't be good. Time was moving. She had to fix it. She couldn't have all her hard work go to waste. She turned around and head for her tree. She needed to get rid of the problem. She needed Emma gone.
After a refreshing sleep, Emma woke up again to a banging noise. She sighed. Why did she always have to be woken up? Usually, her father was the first to call her in the morning. And now it was someone banging. She got up and didn't bother to change. She was in a loose white t-shirt and grey short pajamas. She opened the door to Regina and a basket of apples.
"Did you know the Honeycrisp tree is the most vigorous and hardy of all apple trees? It can survive temperatures as low as forty below and keep growing. It can weather any storm. I have one that I've tended to since I was a little girl. And to this day, I have yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit it offers. " Regina said as the door was opened. Her breath was caught as she took in the scene before her. It was only for a second that her eyes were glued on Emma.
"Thanks. " Emma said as she took the apple. She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling a bit exposed. She got a chill up her spine as Regina seem to be reading Emma with her eyes. This woman just wasn't easy to please.
"I hope you enjoy them on your way home. "
"Actually no. You see Regina I have decided to stay. You aren't going to throw your weight around and magically get me to leave. I know I gave him up. But he came to find me for a reason. I can't ignore that. Plus it isn't a law to stay in a town. Now if you don't mind I will like to get the dress if you are done reading me with your eyes. "
"Be careful with your words, Ms. Swan, you have no idea what I am capable of. Remember this there is the only person who knows what is best for Henry. "
Emma slammed the door. The women just got under her skin. She just didn't show it. She couldn't wait until her parents came. She needed them. And as if they heard her, her phone rang.
"Good morning Princess. "
"Dad! Do you read minds?"
"No?"
"It's funny because I just was thinking about when you guys would get here. " Emma chuckled. She could almost hear his smile. Not that was possible.
"Give us a few days. I have to finish up work here before vacation. Don't worry baby girl we will be there soon. I miss you Em. "
"I miss you too daddy. I can't wait until you meet Henry. Sometimes... I really think about how it would have been if I would have kept him. "
"I know. But things happen for a reason. Just remember that. I got to go through. I love you. Call me later. "
"I will. I love you too. "
Emma finished getting dress. Today would be a new day. She wanted to get to know Henry and find out more about how his life had been.
"I was about to leave. Where have you been?"
"That's for me to know. Why does it matter Sydney? I'm the mayor. Look I need you find out what you can about Emma Swan. "
"Already done. I heard about her yesterday and decided to research. Nothing really on her. She stays with the Swan's until she was ten when her parents find her. They had an accident and couldn't find her. She grew up with them. She got into some trouble in Portland but nothing really there. The records are locked up. Since then she moved to Boston. I wonder how Henry ended up in Maine. "
"Get those records. And find out who her parents are. Oh this women Sydney she is terrible. I need to find a way to get her out of my town. I hate her. She has the nerves to challenge me! No one does that. " Regina said a little too loud. She was still replaying the scene she just left. Something about the women set her off.
"I will find out what I can. But the way you talk about her doesn't seem like hate. " Sydney backed up as she stepped closer to him with narrowed eyes.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Nothing. Forget I said anything. I will get right on it. " He said walking out leaving Regina wondering. What did the mirror mean by that? Of course, she hated the women. She got under her skin. She was the mother of her son and someone that could ruin everything. And someone she couldn't stop thinking about.
"Henry don't even think about it. "
"I just want to go play at the arcade. Please, Ms. Nicole. "
The pregnant women sighed. She was Henry's babysitter for as long as she could remember. She wasn't just Regina's assistant, she cooks, clean and watches Henry for her. It was how she made money.
"Sorry Henry. I can't. I need this job. Now I'll be downstairs cooking if you need me. "
"Fine. " but as soon as she was gone, he got out of the window and down to the ground. Nicole knew what he was up too.
"Yes, he left. " Nicole said to the phone that she had dialed. She hated to do this but Regina threatens her baby. She couldn't risk it.
"Emma!"
"Henry, what are you doing out alone?" Henry walked up to her with a huge grin on his face and the book in his hand. Emma had almost made it in Granny's before she seen him.
"I came to see you. " She could hardly say no to him. He had a charming smile like her father.
"Well come on Kid let's talk in Granny's. " She held the door opened for him. The smell of homemade bread was the first thing she smelled. She loved this little diner.
"Hey, Henry!"
"Hey, Ruby. Two hot cocos, please. With cinnamon!"
"Coming right up. Hello Emma. "
"Hi. Kid how you know I like cinnamon. "
He shrugged his shoulders. "I just guessed because I do., "
"Funny. Your grandma loves it too. Guess it runs in the family. " She messed with his hair. Just then Ruby came over and gave them the cocoa.
"When can I meet them?"
"Soon kid. " just then Graham came in with a frown. He walked over and looked at Emma.
"Emma we need to talk. " Emma walked away from Henry so he was out of hearing range.
"What's wrong. "
"Nicole, his babysitter, said you kidnapped Henry. "
"What? Why would she say something like that!"
"I know I was shocked myself. But here you are with the boy. "
"You know she is setting me up! Regina. "
"And why would she do that? " He then took his cuff out and motion for her to put her hands behind her back.
"She won't get away with this. " Emma said as he cuffed her. Meanwhile, Henry saw it all. He wouldn't let his mother do this. He needed help. And that was what he would get.
