Emma entered the laundry room and peeled off her chocolate soaked top. She tossed it into an available washer and searched around for some detergent.
"Oh no, no, no, no!" Emma was startled by a young girl she hadn't noticed previously. They young girl was frowning as she pulled a pair of pink sheets from a different washing machine.
"You okay?" Emma tried to ask casually, but she was standing in a laundry room half-naked.
"The sheets!" The girl exclaimed frantically. "They're pink!" Emma took a second look at the sheets and guessed that the sheets were not pink before they were washed.
"You try bleach?" Emma suggested as she spotted a shirt to borrow temporarily. There was a slopping sound as the sheets were tossed down. Emma turned back to see the girl had an enormous midsection. She's pregnant.
"Oh." Emma replied awkwardly. Well at least I found some detergent. She sprinkled some powder detergent into the washing machine and the girl continued to explain herself.
"Last night, I felt contractions and the doctor said that the baby could come any day now."
"Well, that's great!" Emma replied awkwardly. It was great. Everything was great in the Storybrooke land of rainbows and glitter.
"It's just that um, when the...when the baby comes, no one thinks that I can do this. No one thinks I can do anything. Maybe they're right."
"Screw them!" Emma said slamming the washing machine lid down. Emma had no idea what had caused her to say that. The girl couldn't have been a day over twenty. She wasn't ready to take care of a kid, just like Emma hadn't been ready. Just like Emma hadn't been ready.
"What?" The girl blinked her eyes in surprise.
"I said, screw them!" She did know what had made her say that. She had been so convinced that she wouldn't be about to take care of her own kids that she'd put them up for adoption. Look where that landed them! "How old are you?"
"Nineteen." The girl answered shyly.
"I was eighteen." Emma said leaning on the now running washing machine.
"When...when you had a kid?" the girl asked hopefully.
"Yeah. I know what it's like. Everyone loves to tell you what you can and can't do, especially with a kid. But ultimately, whatever you're considering doing or giving up, the choice is yours."
"It's not exactly what you might think it is." The girl whispered.
"It never is." Emma shook her head. "People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just got to push back and say 'no, this is who I am.' You want people to look at you differently? Make them. If you want to change things, You're going to have to go out there and change them yourself. because there are no fairy godmothers in this world."
Henry and Sarah were sitting in the living room. Henry was doodling something on a notebook and Sarah was reading a book for one of her classes. Regina entered the room wearing a crimson pout.
"I know you think otherwise, but I don't enjoy these Saturday city council meetings. Sometimes they're just unavoidable. Now you know the rules."
"Yes on homework," Sarah said waving her book.
"No on TV," Henry said not looking up from his drawing.
"And stay inside!" The kids answered in unison.
"Good. And under no circumstance do you leave this house." Regina turned to exit the room, but Henry called after her.
"You mean don't see our mom?" Sarah rolled her eyes, wishing that for just once Henry would not provoke Regina.
"She's not your mother." Regina rounded on the kids. "She's just a woman passing through. Now do as I say, or there will be consequences. I'll be back at five sharp."
"I'm so glad my stuff is here!" Emma said as she opened a box that was laying on the floor. She was just about to start unpacking and Mary Margaret was making breakfast.
"So that's all your stuff?" Mary Margaret asked.
"What do you mean?" Emma questioned while pulling a few things out.
"Is the rest in storage?"
"No, this is all of it. I'm not sentimental." She assured the other woman.
"Well it must make things easier when you have to move." Emma was about to ask Mary Margaret if she'd spent the day listening to Regina when there was a knock at the door. Emma rose from the floor and answered the door. Emma barley recognized the old guy who was standing on the other side of the door. Luckily he introduced himself with a handshake.
"Hi, my name is Mr. Gold. We met briefly on your arrival." Now she remembered. When Emma first checked in to Granny's Ruby had said Mr. Gold owned the town.
"I remember." Emma assured him.
"Good. I have proposition for you, Miss Swan, I uh I need your help. I'm looking for someone."
"Really?"
"I have a photo." Mr. Gold said, immediately digging in his pocket and producing a photograph. "Her name is Ashley Boyd. And she's taken something quite valuable of mine."
"So why not go to the police." Emma said, taking the photo from Gold. She noticed with slight shock that the girl, Ashley, was the same girl from the laundry room yesterday morning.
"Because, she's a confused young woman." Gold answered. "She's pregnant. Alone and scared. I don't want to ruin this young girl's life. But I just want my property returned."
What is it?" Emma asked handing the photograph back to Gold.
"Well one of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion. Let's just say it's a precious object and leave it at that."
"When'd you see her last?" Emma asked crossing her arms.
"Last night. That's how I got this." Gold moved a portion of his hair to reveal a cut on the side of his head. "It's so unlike her. She was quite wound up. Rambling on and on about changing her life. I have no idea what got into her. Miss Swan please help me find her. My only other choice is the police and I don't think anyone wants to see that baby born in jail now do they?"
"No, of course not." Emma said sternly . She got the feeling Mr. Gold knew something he shouldn't.
"So you'll help me then?" Mr. Gold asked.
"I will help Her." Emma assured him.
"Grand." Gold smiled. Their conversation was interrupted as Henry and Sarah came romping down the hall. "Hello Henry, Sarah. How are you?'
"Okay."
"Good." The kids answered.
"Good." Gold answered. "Give my regards to your mother. And, good luck Miss Swan." Mr. Gold left without another word.
"Do you know who that is?" Henry asked staring after the old man.
"Yeah of course I do." Emma nodded.
"Who? Because we're still trying to figure it out." Sarah looked up and the blonde woman.
"Oh, I meant in reality." Emma rolled her eyes.
"Is that all you brought?" Sarah frowned when she looked into Emma's new apartment. Maybe she doesn't want to stay after all.
"What are you kids doing here?"
"Regina's gone until five." Sarah explained. "We thought it would be fun to hang out."
"I wish I could, but there's something I got to do."