A/N: Thank you for indulging me with my rant last chapter. I love hearing what people think of the story and their guesses for where it is going. However, I don't ever condone rude private messages about how I have ruined their lives because of a decision I made in a fan fiction story. It is not that serious.

Thank you all for the positive encouragement, constructive criticism, and comments. I do appreciate each of them.

Emma's eyes shot wide when she saw her mother in the hallway at the hospital, surprise ricocheting off of her. There were not that many ways out of the small town hospital, leaving Emma with the conundrum since Mary Margaret stood where the four hallways of the upper level converged. To her right were the elevators and to her left the door to the stairs.

"Is there anything else you needed?" a petite, young nurse asked, holding a cup in one hand and tiny container with a single pill in the other. "I can call in Dr. Whale, but he's been a little preoccupied."

"No, that's fine," Emma said. "I was just trying to remember where I was going." She bit her lip, realizing she sounded quite ditzy. "I should have written it down."

The nursed nodded, already losing interest and catching herself staring toward her next patient. "Understandable. Let me know if you need anything."

Emma stood a moment longer, observing the way that her mother leaned almost imperceptibly in one direction and tried hard to pretend she was not listening to something. She seemed as poised and at the ready as a doe grazing the meadow, ears alert and eyes trying to cast doubt. Whatever she was watching and listening to must have moved away, as even from Emma's position down the hall she could see the teacher's shoulders drop in relief and then the tension re-enter her body.

That was when Emma realized why her mother had been so tense. Regina walked in front of her. Raven haired and statuesque, Regina said something to her step-daughter and walked away with a smug smile tugging at her lips and Katherine right behind her. So much for hiding from Mary Margaret, Emma thought painfully as she walked ahead and came upon the teacher.

"I saw the mayor," Emma said. "Is everything…"

"I'm fine," Mary Margaret almost snapped, then looked at her hands guiltily. "I promise you. I'm fine."

In a way that said she did not believe her but that she would let it pass, Emma held her arm up bent at the elbow and smiled. "I could escort you some place," she said. She had done that as a child, mimicked her father's way of taking her mother about the castle gardens. Snow had always responded with a smile, curling her arm through the crook of David's elbow and leaning her head of his shoulder as he placed his free hand over hers. As Emma grew she had wanted to do that too. Mary Margaret instinctively did the same in a congenial way.

"I left a bag here last night," she explained, willing herself not to look toward David's room. "I was waiting…" The nurse rounded the corner with the bag and passed it to her. "Never mind. I'm not waiting now."

***AAA***

Graham's eyes still appeared glassy and unfocused when Emma entered the sheriff's station. His shoulders slumped forward and his head lolled to the side as he stared without comprehension at the computer screen in front of him.

"You were in that same position when I left," Emma said. "I thought you might try to sleep."

Graham told her that he had been waiting for her to return, his face still drawn and tired, but now mixed with a little excitement. His eyes met hers as she removed her jacket. "I'm sorry," she muttered, assuming that he was angry she had taken too long on her break. "I got tied up."

He flashed her a quick smile, reaching into a pile of documents and pulling out a brown envelope with metal clasps keeping it closed. Holding it against his chest, he sighed. "Regina came by today," he said, his voice hitching on her name, as he usually referred to her by her mayoral title rather than in any familiar way. "She did not give me this of course, but it reminded me that I had promised my assistance on the matter."

Emma nodded, wanting to tell him that she had made the round and was obviously busy. She stayed silent. Her eyes stayed on the brown envelope.

With a shaking hand, he held it out to her. "I found something on the adoption of the child," he said, leaning his own head to the side to try to look her in the eyes. "You can read it here, but it seems that our very own Mr. Gold arranged the whole thing."

Her head snapped up. "Why would he do that?"

"I would hate to speculate," Graham returned. "All the information I could find is in there. I know you don't want to hear this, but I am going to say it. I don't know who this child is or how you seem to have a connection, but Regina is not a woman you want to go up against ill-prepared. She's ruthless and determined."

Emma nodded, staring at the envelope now in her hands as if she could see through the paper. "I'm sure she is. It's just that I don't want to see an innocent child suffer because of her." She pursed her lips in a small frown and flipped the envelope over.

"Whatever the grievance, Regina is a good mother to the baby," he said, his hand nervously stroking at his chin and jaw. "Better than his biological parents who gave him away."

Emma's face flushed with anger. "I don't think you know enough to say that," she declared. "What if there were…"

"Extenuating circumstances? Yes, I know there could be. There most often are in these cases. But the fact remains that they were unwilling or unable to raise a child they brought into this world. Regina has stepped up to do so. Think what you will of her, but she deserves credit there."

The flash of anger from Emma became slow burning, her eyes fiercely regarding him. "Even if Mr. Gold did something in this? Even if it isn't completely legal?"

He shrugged, giving the impression that he was already bored with the conversation. "I think you'll find that it is legal. Read the file, Emma," he said. "I'm going to go check on Belle."

Emma gave him a half nod and sat at her desk slowly, hands trembling as she opened the envelope and began to read. It wasn't detailed or thorough, including a few case notes from a social worker, Regina's application, a letter from Mr. Gold, and a few forms. However, Emma quickly pieced together that the boy had been found by the side of the road and declared by the courts to be abandoned. It did not answer the questions she had of how Mr. Gold knew this was a child with connections to Storybrooke or how he had managed to cross town lines to make sure the details were complete.

She was flipping back to the first page to read again when she heard Graham's heavy steps and unsteady voice. "Emma, we've got a problem," he said. "Belle's gone."

***AAA***

Ruby ran a long finger down the receipt scroll, her foot tapping impatiently as her grandmother stared over her shoulder. "I just don't see it," she said, dropping the roll of white paper down on the counter. "It's 42 cents. Are you really going to make me stay here over 42 cents?"

The older woman adjusted her glasses carefully, eyes sharply focused over the rims at her much taller granddaughter. "It starts with just 42 cents. You have to account for every penny. Don't forget those pennies make dollars." Granny reached forward and tore a page off of the ledger pad. "Try again."

Ruby frowned, reaching her hand into her apron pocket and pulling out a quarter, three nickels and two pennies. "Call it balanced," she declared, backing away from the register. "I need a night off."

The woman called out to her only to receive a blunt wave as the door fell closed behind her. Ruby was clearly in one of her moods, a state that meant bookkeeping and work were not going to satisfy her need for something more. The few customers still left looked after her, shrinking their gazes away from Granny who wore a frown larger than they had seen. Fights between the two women were not unheard of, as some of them had even been epic. Ruby would storm off after each one, usually winding up at the Rabbit Hole or some other place to blow off steam. She'd return the next day with a guilty glint in her eyes and a display of remorse such as taking out the trash or carrying a heavy box inside.

"She's quite frightening when agitated," Liam noted from his spot across from Killian. "Quite."

He hesitated to tell his brother of the woman's identity in the Mist Haven, as that would only serve to taint his brother's impression all the more. "Most women are quite frightening when crossed," he agreed. "I'd estimate that her anger is more directed at Dr. Whale than at her grandmother."

"Either way, the lass could stop a man cold with those eyes. There were flames coming from them." The older brother settled back against his chair, folding his arms as he looked over at his brother's distracted stare. "Are we going to discuss what's going on with you?"

Killian appeared startled, shifting to balance himself in his own chair. "I am not sure what you mean, brother?"

Liam sipped at the drink in front of him and seemed to study Killian carefully. "You went to meet Emma before you came back here. Now you're flustered and not in the normal way. What is the matter?"

Killian shrugged his shoulders and did his best impression of man who had no idea what the issue could be that his brother was talking about. "I'm…"

He did not finish the sentence as Emma's form came into view with hair flying behind her and an animated wave of her hands as she approached Granny. She was clearly on some sort of mission and not faring to well from the agitated sound of her voice as she demanded Ruby's whereabouts and slammed a hand against the counter.

Killian jumped to his feet and rushed to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder that she shook off quickly. "Love, what seems to be bothering you?"

Emma pivoted in his direction, Granny having already departed with mumbled words about not being anyone's keeper. Nostrils flaring and her eyes flashing with anger she practically hissed. "Belle is missing."

Killian's own expression changed to one of surprise and then panic as he looked around to see if anyone might have overheard the woman's name. "What do you…"

"What do I mean?" Emma asked rhetorically, again with her hands moving expressively. "I don't know what I could mean. She is gone. She took off while Graham was taking a nap, drinking or having a dalliance with Regina. It doesn't matter why. It matters that she is gone. I need help from Mr. Gold now more than ever and she's gone. My ticket to him…"

Liam was now next to both of them, motioning for her to lower her voice. "Milady, we shall find her, but you can't come bursting in and give anything away. Now how long has she been missing?"

***AAA***

Ruby left the pharmacy with a package of cookies and a bag of chips in her bag, as well as a dusty bottle of margarita mix that she had found behind several other items on a shelf. Tom had trouble even finding a price for the item, but she had insisted that she needed it after she called Mary Margaret to confirm there was a bottle of tequila at the loft.

"Of course," Mary Margaret had said when Ruby had begged not only for a drink but a place to crash for the night. Normally she would have gone to see Victor, but that seemed a bad idea at the moment.

She was mentally making a list of all the things she could and would tell her grandmother, Victor, and anyone else who happened to make her angry when she heard something in the space between two buildings. Ruby was nothing if not naturally curious and followed the sound until she found a huddled up and barefoot Belle sitting on the cold concrete.

"What are you doing?" Ruby asked, switching her bag to her other arm so she could pull the young woman to her feet. "It's not safe for you to be out here."

The woman, who despite the fact that she was no longer on the sedating medication, looked relatively calm as she brushed herself off. "I needed to see him. Emma said that I know him…"

Ruby considered that information for a mom. "Mr. Gold? You know Mr. Gold? Everyone knows Mr. Gold. He owns everything in this town."

Belle looked over the tall waitress's shoulder toward the pawn shop, squinting to see through the shaded windows. "I just thought if I saw him that maybe…"

Ruby hesitated. "We could go in if you like? I could go with you."

Belle looked fearful as she shook her head no. "I'll go back. I just wanted…"

Ruby tilted her head to the side and finally let a smile break out across her painted lips. "You know. I'm on my way to Mary Margaret's place. Emma lives there too. Why don't you join us? It's just us girls tonight. I'm sure that Emma is wondering where you are at."

Belle nodded reluctantly. "Who is Mary Margaret?"

***AAA***

Emma's frantic mood did not lessen as she ran up the stairs into the loft, leaving her keys in the door that began to shut on Liam's foot and caused him to call out a string of words that were not so good for mixed company. She shot him a look of apology and annoyance before she skidded to a stop in front of her mother, Ruby and Belle.

"I was coming to get Ruby's telephone number that would allow me to call her," Emma hurriedly explained with full knowledge she was probably saying the wrong terms for the phone. "But you're here and so is Belle." She was out of breath and her blonde hair spilled forward as she stared with doubt that everything was in fact fine.

Belle had the decency to seem embarrassed, her skin a bit pink as Ruby held her hand in front of her like a mother slamming on the brakes does with a child. "I found our friend, Belle, outside of Gold's Pawn Shop. I thought it might be a good idea to get her out of sight for a while." Ruby's head bounced a bit with pride for her quick thinking. "Why did you need my number? You don't even have a phone. Does anyone else think it's weird she doesn't have a phone?"

Mary Margaret looked remarkably motherly as she pulled the empty and still damp glass out of Ruby's hand and shook her head. "You've had enough, Ruby," she said gently. "And Emma, I don't know why you are panicking, but everyone's fine. See!" She stood up from her chair, spun in a small circle, and then grinned.

Killian, who had been checking the parking lot to see if Ruby or Mary Margaret's horseless carriages were parked there, burst in through the door, panting just as heavily as Liam and Emma. He shot his brother a terse and quick look to ask what was going on and what he had missed. To which Liam looked just as confused and rubbed his hand down the side of his face.

"Belle's fine," Emma said, sounding as a teenager after her privileges have been taken away. She swept her arms grandly in the direction of the woman sitting next to Ruby. "She's been here. And according to Ruby, she was in from of Mr. Gold's shop this afternoon."

Killian's blue eyes flashed in alarm, taking a step forward and then back into his original stance as he realized he had no reason to do that. "Ruby found her?" he concluded, remembering that Mary Margaret would not have recognized the girl.

Ruby appeared bored with the conversation and rolled her eyes dramatically as she cursed the love seat's low cushion for not allowing her to stand easily. "Ruby found her," she announced in third person. "Belle is fine. Why are we referring to people like they aren't even here? Everything is fine. Now Emma, send the boys home and we'll have girls' night. Mary Margaret has tequila." She placed a fist on each hip and smiled. "I made margaritas, but your roommate only had tumblers. Are they still margaritas in tumblers?"

Emma collapsed onto the barstool that her mother used for convenience in the kitchen, her bag with the book of fairy tales falling to the floor. "I was actually worried about Belle," Emma pouted, unsure who to yell at in the situation. There was a drunk Ruby, a bewildered Mary Margaret, and Belle who was not completely sure why the fuss was so much over her walk to Mr. Gold's.

Following Mary Margaret to the sink Ruby again asked her question about whether or not margaritas were the same in tumbler as they were in an appropriate glass. The teacher tried to explain that it was the portions of alcohol and mix that mattered, not the glass.

"I don't think that's true," Ruby said defiantly. "I think it tasted different. Try it and see."

Emma shook her head and gave up on the two women arguing over the quality of the margaritas versus their serving vessels. Looking both relieved and tired she walked slowly and clumsily toward the two brothers, nodding at them both as they moved toward the door. "Sorry about the panicked and apparently false alarm," she said, her nose wiggling in her embarrassed apology. "I suppose I should speak to Belle about the dangers of running off like this."

Killian sighed heavily, peering over Emma's shoulder at the dark haired woman staring idly at the colorful television screen. "Aye, we have come too far to let someone clumsily reveal our hand to the man. Perhaps we are being foolish to wait so long. It might be prudent to act sooner."

Liam clasped his brother's shoulder with his hand and squeezed. "Later, brother," he said. "We shouldn't discuss these matters here. Let's go and leave Emma to her inebriated friends."

Emma walked them the rest of the way to the door, giving Liam a goodbye nod and Killian a chaste peck on the cheek as they left. Ruby loudly told her she could have given more. Staring at the closed door with a look of regret, Emma turned and faced the three women. "What is the occasion?" she asked. "Birthday? Holiday? Something to celebrate."

"Independence day," Ruby announced gleefully, which earned a laugh from Mary Margaret. Emma, who was not familiar with the American holiday only looked bewildered. "I am officially telling Granny that I quit. I'm telling Victor to shove his stethoscope where the sun don't shine." With no glass provided by Mary Margaret, Ruby turned up the plastic pitcher and drained the rest of the greenish drink with a two gulps.

"I see," Emma said, carefully choosing her words. "And Mary Margaret."

The teacher shrugged, pulling out her folding step stool to climb up to look behind some items in the cupboards. Her hands skimmed over the bottles and bags until she victoriously returned with a half-eaten bag of marshmallows. Smiling triumphantly, she shrugged her shoulders again when nobody cheered. "Fine, you want to know what I'm celebrating. I'm celebrating the end of a classroom unit with no students failing. That's my celebration."

Ruby swirled the almost empty bottle of tequila with gusto. "You're not celebrating," she chastised. "You're binge eating. You have to drink to celebrate and you wouldn't drink any margaritas or whatever they are in the tumblers."

Indignantly, Mary Margaret jutted out a hip. "I'm just not a fan of tequila. When I drink, I drink wine."

"You're the one who bought the tequila!" Ruby challenged, speaking louder than necessary with the four women and a lowly droning television as the only sounds.

"A long time ago," the short haired woman said. "That's why there was dust on the bottle and it was under my sink next to the cleaning supplies."

Emma pivoted again and took Ruby's seat on the love seat next to Belle. "You did have me worried," she said. "But I'm glad you're here now."

The woman chewed her bottom lip as she looked nervously at her own tumbler. No more than a sip or two was gone from the drink. "Would you like this? I do have to agree with the other woman that this is a vile concoction."

"No," Emma said, nudging Belle with her shoulder. "Just don't let Ruby get it. I don't think she can take more of it."

Note: This is not the end of girl's night. I just know the battery is about to go on my computer and I wanted to get this posted. Thanks for your thoughts and reviews!