The morning came quickly, probably too quick since Emma didn't want to get up and leave. She didn't have the energy, especially after all the alcohol she had consumed last night. The blonde had completely forgotten where she was and what she had done. That was until she felt someone shift next to her, making her eyes widen, remembering what she had done, more specifically who she had done.

Emma glanced over at the dark haired girl sleeping peacefully, debating whether to wake her or not. She didn't want to leave without waking her, making the woman think she had regretted what happened between the two. Surprisingly enough she didn't regret it, probably because they're friends and Ruby wasn't just a one night stand that she'd leave the day after. She actually cared for the girl and thought she deserved more than to be left alone after a hookup.

Slowly sneaking out of the bed, the blonde picked up her top quickly shoving it over her head. Groaning as she noticed the brown stain on her top. Waves of nausea had hit her like a ton of bricks all at once. As the room swayed almost causing her to lose balance. Her brain felt like it would swell beyond the capacity of her skull and now her dehydration was too obvious to ignore.

From the pounding head, vomit taste in her mouth and dehydrated feeling she figured she must have been drinking heavily last night. It was something she was used to - something she did a lot back in Boston. Since she had no family, Emma resorted to alcohol, she'd drink it most nights drowning herself out. She felt as though she had nothing/no one to look forward to. That was until her son appeared at her doorstep the night of her birthday, just as she had wished to not be alone this birthday. It felt like fate, well that was if you believed in fate, as for Emma she didn't - she didn't really believe in anything.

Emma's stomach lurched and growled, and from it came the not-so-subtle undertone of pain. She was in desperate need of some greasy food, for her it always worked like a charm when she was hungover - and she knew exactly where to go to get the breakfast her stomach needed. Granny's café.

The blonde haired girl shoved on her famous red leather jacket, praying that it covered the nasty stain on her top. She didn't even bother to check herself over, she flew out the door hoping not to wake Ruby. Since she had planned on coming back with breakfast for the girl. It wasn't something she'd usually do, but Ruby was her friend and she had managed to cheer the blonde up last night.

Once she made it to granny's café she avoided any contact with everyone that was sat in there. Hoping that no one would try and make a conversation with her, she didn't have the patience for it. She just wanted to get her breakfast along with Ruby's and leave. Granny had told the blonde that the two grilled cheeses she ordered are on the house. Only because she knew that one of them would be for her granddaughter. The older woman thought that it was a kind gesture for Emma to take her food, rather than leaving her without a word.

The smell of the food being cooked made Emma's mouth water, licking her lips hungrily as she watched food being brought out. She sat eagerly waiting for her food. As soon as granny shouted the girl over, she was over there within a flash. Instantly regretting how fast she had moved, being hit with a sense of nausea again.

Emma grinned at the wrapped up food in front of her, "Thanks for- "

"You better have looked after my Ruby." Granny interrupted, giving the blonde a knowing look, making her know she's aware of the night they had spent together. She hated that her granddaughter would go out partying, leading to her having one night stands with men. Ruby would always get a mouth full from her grandmother because of it, the older woman hadn't planned on giving her one today though. She thought she'd make an exception to the fact that her daughter had slept with Emma. Considering she liked the girl, and knowing that she's been a good friend to Ruby ever since she arrived at Storybrooke. Granny just wished that one day her granddaughter would find love.

"She was definitely satisfied," The green eyed girl said smirking carelessly, forgetting who she was talking to. Mumbling a quick "sorry" as she leaves.

Feeling her stomach growl again, Emma had raced back to the bed and breakfast. Running up the stairs and into Ruby's place, hoping the girl hadn't woken up. She didn't want her friend waking up thinking that Emma had left because of their hookup. Ruby didn't deserve that. Much to her surprise the girl had woken and Emma stood in front of her, out of breath. Feeling the room spin, instantly regretting rushing yet again.

"Jesus christ. I feel like I'm on a fucking carousel."

Ruby laughed, "Oh. I thought you had left."

"I did leave. I got us some breakfast," The blonde said holding up her bag, handing her the food. "I may have also told Granny that you were definitely satisfied last night."

"I would've loved to see the look on her face."

After the blonde had left Ruby, she had gone back to her apartment that she shares with Mary-Margaret, hoping to sleep the day off. She had managed to sleep until the next day, going back to work as the deputy as if nothing had changed. She kept herself busy with her work, drowning everyone else out around her. Until two weeks had gone by and she had gotten an alert on her phone, telling her that Mr Gold had tried to contact the Sheriff's station.

The deputy had decided to pay the man a visit, wondering what he had called the station for. She immediately regretted being in his shop due to the rancid smell that was lingering in the air. It had taken her by surprise when he had suggested she take over and become Sheriff, since she had been doing so for the past 2 weeks, without the sheriff badge. Emma didn't really know what to say, she didn't know if she wanted such a big responsibility. When she wasn't actually sure if she wanted to stay in the small town. The man started rummaging through a box of Graham's belongings, holding up two walkie talkies. Insisting that Emma take them to her boy, as they grow up too quick, and before you know it… you lose them. The woman wondered if he had been speaking from experience, she was confused as to why he would randomly bring that up.

Taking his advice, Emma walked towards the beach noticing her son sitting on the castle, looking rather sad.

"Brought you something." She said, taking a seat next to Henry letting her feet dangle. Handing him a walkie talkie while keeping the other one.

"Thought we could use them together for operation cobra."

"Thanks."

"Oh, come on." The blonde said, nudging her son a little, "What's up? You've been ducking me for weeks."

The little boy seemed conflicted, thinking hard about what he was going to say to his birth mother.

"I think we should stop cobra stuff for a while." He states, looking at the sand below him. "You don't play with a curse, look what happened to Graham."

Emma sighed, she didn't want her son to keep beating himself up thinking about Graham.

"Henry, I told you. They did an autopsy. It's totally natural causes."

"Okay, whatever. You don't believe. Good. That should keep you from messing with it." He paused making eye contact with his mother, "And getting killed."

The boy was smart, he had an idea what had happened to Graham. Suspecting that it was his other mother.

Hearing them words made Emma's face drop, she hadn't known her son for that long, but he clearly cared for her as he would a mother. Even though she is his birth mother, she hadn't been the one to raise him.

She looked at him sympathetically, "You're worried about me?"

"She killed Graham because he was good. And you're good."

"Henry-"

"Good loses. Good always loses. Because good has to play fair. Evil doesn't. She's evil. This is probably best. I don't want to upset her anymore." The small boy interrupted, not letting his mother speak. Already knowing what she was going to say. She didn't believe, and he wanted to prove her wrong. But for now he knew they had to stop operation cobra because he couldn't risk his mother getting hurt. Not so soon after he just got her into his life.

Watching her son give her back the walkie talkie made her heart sink. She didn't understand why her son was so hell bent on the idea of the storybook being real. So real that he would stop spending time with his mother, because he believed his adoptive

mother was the evil queen. Emma didn't get it, but she sure as hell didn't want to stop seeing her son.