Chapter 26: Presents of love and fear

Taylor grabbed the key out of her working bag. She didn't bring it with her to Granny's, so she needed to walk back home first. But she didn't mind, as her thoughts were somewhere else, someone else to be honest.

After standing in front of the mayor's office for a bit, she finally stuck the key in the lock and opened up the big white door leading towards the long hallway. The lights were all off, except for the office room itself. How could the front door be locked then? The brunette grabbed one of the tall candle holders next to her, slowly walking up to the light which came out of the office. Taylor came closer to the door, trying not to make any sound.

"What the heck are you trying to do?" Regina stood in the middle of her office, with a pile of papers to work on clamping in her hands.

"Regina… Well, it was quite strange how the front door was locked but your office lights were on. I thought you weren't going to be here today."

"So you decided to attack me with a candle holder and your black pumps?"

"Forget about it…" Taylor dropped her bag on a side table and took her place on the white desk in one of the corners. She used to have her own little office, but Regina kind of admitted how she needed some company after the whole broken curse drama.

"What's the problem run away?" It kind of became the nickname Regina gave her, Taylor never felt proud to be one though, but it did her good afterwards. Regina meant it well, somehow.

Taylor sighed and placed one hand under her chin, "I can use a drink right now."

"Too bad you're not twenty one yet." Regina said as she placed a tiny silver box in front of the young lady, "Happy 18th birthday Miss. A." she gave her a wink and walked over to the coffee machine.

"How did you know?"

"Just open it."

She did what she was asked to do, and unwrapped the white ribbon which closed the box. She removed the lid, and saw this shiny silver bracelet connected by a blue gemstone in the middle. "Oh my… thank you Regina."

"It's a sapphire, you're birthstone. But you probably already knew that anyway, so forget what I said. Now tell me what's going on." Miss Mills suggested as she looked through her books on the shelves.

"It's Killian." Taylor sighed as she pulled her laptop out of her bag, and connected it to her work server.

"You were quote close to the drunk pirate weren't you?" Regina picked a few books out of the collection and placed them on her own main desk.

"Excuse me, he is more than a drunk pirate."

"He might have been around you. Anyway, you should keep an eye on Rumplestilskin if I were you. He didn't come along with my mother for nothing."

Taylor stood up from her chair, "Wow wait, Cora is your mother?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Regina said, rolling her eyes and fading the dust from the books she just picked out. Taylor was wondering what they were about, but she didn't ask her. Regina would probably want to keep that to herself.

"What about you coming back tomorrow and celebrating your birthday now."

"You don't need me?" Taylor said as she still stood behind her desk.

"Oh I do, but you deserve a good day too. I already took to many of you back in… You know what I mean."

Taylor packed her laptop back in her bag and walked over to Regina, "You gave me the most precious gift someone could ever give me. Trust." And she pointed at the bracelet around her wrist, which the mayor just gave her.

Regina smiled for a brief moment, "Now.. Go! Just come back tomorrow and you'll be fine."

"Thank you Regina!" Taylor yelled as she walked out to the hallway, on her way to the Pawn Shop.

The bells of the shop rang as soon as Taylor opened the door. There wasn't any sound, nor light. "Rumple?"

Taylor walked passed the counter and entered the backroom behind the counter, "Rumple…" she repeated, now hearing her heals click on the wooden floor.

"Where were you this morning?" she heard a voice from behind her.

"Bloody… you almost scared me to death. I thought you were in the backroom."

"I was, but I needed to pick something up for you." Rumple waved his hand and in a purple mist a dress appeared.

"Is that…"

"I found it in a vintage clothing store, they didn't keep it in the store because of reasons."

Taylor stared at a red ball gown, her red ball gown. It was just the same as 28 years ago, and it was the one material thing she loved most, "Thank you Rumple…" and she wrapped her arms around her neck as she jumped into a hug.

"Happy birthday…" she heard him whispering. Rumple took a moment and then threw his gaze at the silver bracelet around Taylor's wrist, "Where did you get that?"

"Regina gave it to me, for my birthday. I went to her office today and…"

But she got interrupted, "Taylor, I don't want you to go to her office anymore."

"You what?"

"You heard me."

"I did yes, unfortunately it's my work. And I love to go there to be honest." Taylor swallowed and bit her lip as she looked right through Rumple's eyes.

"Well we can find you some other work, like in the Pawn Shop." He turned around, wanting to walk into the shop again.

"You don't understand it do you? What am I supposed to do, wandering around here every day? Reading all the books I've already read? Or maybe even go to Granny's, oh wait I already do that every day." She took a shot break.

"Taylor."

"No, you cannot take this away from me Rumple, please."

"It's because it's your birthday, but we'll talk about it later."

Suddenly the door opened. Rumple and Taylor stood behind the counter, Killian in the doorway. Taylor watched Killian walk in with frightened eyes, afraid he would call her name or do anything which would turn out stupid.

"Taylor I want you to go the backroom please."

"Yes Rumple." The brunette walked over to the curtains, trying to tell Killian to cut it off with the look on her face. It wasn't going to end well if Rumple knew about them, even if Killian would mention her name. She would be in trouble for a life time, and he would try to kill Hook.

"Hook."

"Crocodile."