Leroy meets us in the lobby and we can hear "loud talking" from the next room.
"They've been going at it since she got here,and when their not screaming at each other,their screaming at me for you not being here"Leroy says as we walk to the back room.
"We'll take care of it Leroy,go get some coffee"Regina says as Leroy heads for the front door.
"Don't have to tell me twice those people are crazy"Leroy says leaving the building.
Regina,Neal,and I head into the back room and find my mother and my aunt Chloe talking loudly on their side of the bars,Tamara is sitting on her bed looking very annoyed.
"So the first time I hear from you in eleven years,it's to bail you out of jail,can't say I'm surprised"Aunt Chloe says not noticing us enter the room.
"I didn't do anything wrong"My mom says still not seeing us.
"Really,then what do you call accessory to kidnapping, accessory to assault,and false imprisonment,because that sounds like something wrong to me"Regina says startling my mom and aunt.
"Kidnapping,really Natalie were you that desperate,who did she kidnap"Aunt Chloe asks first to my mom then to Regina.
"That would be us"Neal says and for the first time since we entered my aunt Chloe notices I'm standing there and I can see her recognize me.
"Hi Aunt Chloe"I say adjusting my bag yet again.
"Sarah you look really good"Aunt Chloe says looking me up and down.
"Thanks,you too"I say smiling only slightly at the complement.
"I'm sorry but who are you"Aunt Chloe says turning her attention from me to Regina and Neal.
"I'm Regina Mills I'm the mayor of this town,and this is Neal Cassidy he works with the sheriffs department"Regina says motioning to Neal,that isn't entirely true but it works for this situation.
"Okay,well what is bail set at,since I don't think you'll be bailing her out"Aunt Chloe says digging her purse and pulls out a check book.
"Actually we are willing to offer a deal"Neal says taking off his scarf and coat and laying them on top of Hooks empty desk.
"But you said no deal"My mom says for the first time since we walked in the door.
"Well we talked it over and if you tell us what we want to know we will drop the charges and we can move on with your life"Regina says moving closer to the cage.
"I can't I've told,I can't"My mom says turning away from the bars slightly.
"For goodness sake Natalie take the deal just tell them what ever it is they want to know"Aunt Chloe says looking really pissed at my mom,won't be the last time.
"Don't do it"Tamara says so quietly I can barely hear her.
"Shut up Tamara,is there another place we could put her"Neal says to Tamara and then to Regina.
"We can put her with the others,but not now"Regina says coming back over and whispering it to Neal.
"What do they have on you"Aunt Chloe asks putting her check book away.
"You don't know what they can do"mom says as she is now standing straight ahead.
"We know what they can do,we know better then anyone what they can do,so tell us where they are before they hurt anyone else"I say moving closer to the cage.
"I can't,I want to,but I can't"Mom says as she stops making eye contact.
"Don't know why I even tried"I say setting my bag onto my desk and walking over to the coffee machine and pouring myself a cup.
"Just tell them,this is ridicules Natalie,you know what I'm done,I can't deal with you anymore,is there a hotel in this town"Aunt Chloe says turning away from the bars and to Neal.
"Yeah,Granny's bed and breakfast it's down the street"Neal says motioning to the door.
"Thank you"Aunt Chloe says leaving the room and most likely the building.
We're all quiet for a minute but then my mom speaks up,"I didn't want this Sarah I hope you know that".
I slam my newly filled cup of coffee onto the counter,spilling it all over the place,"Then what did you think would happen".
"I thought things could go back to the way things were"Mom says as I grab some paper towel wipe up the mess I made.
"Can you give us a minute"I say looking at Regina and Neal.
"Of course"Regina says as she walks to the door,"Yell if you need anything"and she heads out.
"Don't try anything"Neal says as he follows Regina,it takes me a minute to realize he was talking to Tamara.
After they leave I walk right over to the bars and stare right at my mother,"I don't know what you thought it was like but here's my version,I had no friends,I had no one,and the one person I should have been able to talk about this stuff to,my mother,I couldn't because I was to scared of you sending me away again,you cared more about what other people thought then what was right in front of you,that's what it was before,and now I'm happy,for the first time in a long time I'm happy,I have people who care about me,I'm in love-"I say getting it all off my chest before she interrupts me.
"Well he doesn't love you because why isn't he here"My mom says,and I think Tamara actually smiles.
I'm taken aback by that,"I know he loves me,because he's excepted all the crap I have to deal with everyday and I with him,and the reason he's not here is because those people you decided to trust,sent him somewhere he can't get back from,so now we're trying to get him back,and It's a struggle to get out have bed each morning,but I'm doing it,because I need to hold onto the hope he'll come back to me, you don't know what it's like to be so in love with someone that when your not with them,it feels like they took a part of you with them"I say wringing my hands as I spoke,why is it now everything is coming out.
"I do Sarah,I know exactly what that's like,when your father left me,I was a wreck but then I had you were born,and I had a new love,but now I've lost you"My mom says with tears in her eyes.
"You have,but not because of what you did it's because of what you didn't do and that's except me for who I am,you loved me more for what I could be not for who I am"I say walking over to my desk and grab my bag.
"What is it going to take"My mom asks as I start to turn to door.
"Where are they"I ask again turning only slightly.
"I can't"my mom says looking at Tamara and then back to me.
"Then goodbye"I says walking out the door and into the the lobby where Regina and Neal are waiting.
"How did it go"Regina asks when I enter the room.
"Not well"I say adjusting by bag.
"So what are we going to do"Neal asks as he stands up from the bench he was sitting on.
"We can put Tamara with the others,hopefully spending a few days without her chirping in her ear she might change her mind about talking to us"Regina says as we all agree.
"So what happened to my Aunt Chloe"I ask looking around slightly as if she might still be here.
"She left,said she was going to Granny's"Neal says sticking his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
I breath a slight sign of relief one less person we need to deal with.
"Can I ask why don't they get along"Regina asks after a slight pause.
"I'm not sure,they were really close when I was little but one day they just stopped talking"I reply.
"I noticed that your Aunt never said she was called,how did she know that your mother was here"Neal asks what I've been wondering since we got here.
"I have no idea"I say for what seems like the millionth time that day.
"I've already spoken to the dwarves and we're moving Tamara to where we keep the others,effective immediately"Regina says changing the subject.
"I'm going to have to find out where that is eventually"I say being serious.
"It's a place you don't want to go"Neal says in a way that makes me think he's joking.
"I'm from Atlanta,trust me there's no place worse then what I've seen already"I say joking only a little bit.
Neal and Regina both smile,I wasn't trying to be funny,I was serious,Atlanta has one of the highest crime rates in the country for good reasons.
"Well maybe one day"Regina says in a tone I've only heard her use with her kids.
"Is there anyway you can say that without talking to me like I'm a child"I say once again serious.
"Possibly"She says thinking it over in the same tone.
"I'm going back to Golds,anyone care to join me"I say after a second.
"Sure,just let me get my coat"Neal says as he heads back into the back room.
"You in"I say to Regina as Neal is out of sight.
"I'll be there I while,I just want to make sure the dwarves can handle Tamara"Regina says as Neal comes back in now wearing his coat.
"Ready to go".
"Yep, see you in awhile"I say to Regina as Neal and I head out the door.
"Are you sure your alright"Neal asks as I unlock the bug.
"I'm fine"I says climbing into the drivers seat.
"I'll take your word for it but just don't run out of town now"Neal says climbing in and putting on his seat belt.
"I won't"I say unsure if that's true.
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