Please send feedback, and I hope you enjoy! For your benefit, I'm going to leave out my opinions on Emma's sudden arrival in Henry's life, but remember that this is their worldview. I'm simply giving you a glimpse of Emma's and Regina's opinions, these are in no way a reflection of mine. Stay safe, I love you all!

Regina

I cast this curse to finally exact my revenge, to be fully in control without anyone giving a second thought, while they played out their miserable lives. So the arrival of Miss Swan was not a pleasant surprise. And with my son, no less.

Graham informed of me of her arrest, and Sydney has been keeping me up to date with her latest endeavours. Game on, Miss Swan, Game. On.

The prospect of a rivalry after twenty eight years of dullness was thrilling, I admitted. Though I'd never say that out loud, there was no doubt in my mind that Miss Swan would hold that over my head. Maybe this called for a Welcome Home but I really hope you leave gift.

I made sure that she was arrested, but not long enough for her to still be in there when I got there, yet still long enough to raise suspicion among the people, maybe even Henry. I snatched up my keys from the clay bowl on the chest near the door and called up the stairs.

"Henry!" No reply.

"Henry, you're gonna be late for school. Get down here!" Still no answer. I growled his name under my breath and stomped up the stairs. Instead of finding the boy I had woken up this morning, there was an empty bed and an empty bowl with the remnants of milk sitting at the bottom, with an open window and a rope made of sheets hanging out of it. A shot of panic and anger spread through me.

I didn't have to drive very far to see Henry, leaving the sheriff's station with a smile on his face, clutching his book tight to his chest. He scurried over to the bus stop and hopped on. I sighed heavily and pulled away from the station. Instead of chewing out the blonde sitting behind bars, I drove to the Town Hall to tend to the neglected paperwork collecting dust on my desk.

Before heading inside, I walked around to the side of the building and plucked an apple from my apple tree's extending limbs. I could feel my face tighten into a fierce grin. I strode inside and into my office. I found my wicker basket on top of the metal filing cabinet against the wall. I grabbed that and plopped the apple from my tree into the basket. I went back outside to pluck more fruits off the tree. If I was good at reading Emma, which I believe I am, she will come storming into my office demanding 'What the hell all that was.'

No sooner than a half hour later, I heard the angry twisting of my doorknob and the furious opening of my door, and it was hard not to smile. It was all too easy to read her angrily attractive face. I knew she would hesitate and spend ten minutes outside the sheriff's station, pacing back and forth figuring out what to say, then ten minutes in her parked car, drumming her fingers on the worn steering wheel wondering why she shouldn't confront me, then something will snap in that little head of hers, that'll make her want to wring my neck. Then she'd drive to the Town Hall, simmer in her anger inside her parked car once more, before storming into my office, frightening my secretary and indulging me in knowing I was correct.

"What the hell was that? You had me framed for stealing some watch of yours? Why? Did you want me to stay? Make the residents of your town cower in fear over the petty thief staying at the inn? Is this some crazy way to make me stay for Henry?" I let a small chuckle float off my lips and looked back down at my work. So predictable.

"You think I would want you here longer than needed? I can tell you many things about myself, my opinions on you and your relationship with my son, but I would never tell you my motives for anything. Now I think you're done here." I dismissed her with a wave of my hand and fought the urge to watch her face twist in confusion, then anger. "Oh, before I forget…" I dipped below my desk and pulled up the basket of apples. I set it on my desk for her to take.

"Here. Consider it a going-away present." She grunted, turned and left. She hoisted the apples off the desk.

"In other words, Miss Swan, that means you aren't wanted in my town." She threw an inappropriate middle finger over her head and slammed my door, making the walls shake and the glass door nearly shatter. I chuckled lightly. I pulled out my phone and scrolled down the contacts list to the person I needed.

"Sydney, I need something from you."

"Anything," his hoarse voice replied.

Emma

I grumbled a goodbye to Regina's receptionist and marched out to my car. I leant my head against the steering wheel and set the basket of apples beside me on the seat. I had thought she tolerated me when I got Henry back for her, but I was apparently very wrong.

I didn't understand her hate for me. I'm Henry's mother too, so that means I should be in his life. I did nothing wrong to her, and she got me framed for stealing her watch, as well as gave me a bucket of apples and sent me away with a grumble and a wave of her hand. I won't budge that easy.

I sped back to the inn to drop off my goodbye gift and go to the diner. It's been a strange morning, and I really need a coffee.

I fumbled my keys out of the pocket of my jeans and looked over at Granny, watching me through her glasses.

"Miss Swan. I'm afraid the inn has a 'no criminals' policy." I grumbled inwardly.

"Technically, I didn't commit any crime. I'm innocent, and I was released this morning. Graham found fingerprints that showed it wasn't me." Granny took off her glasses and cleaned them against her pink floral shirt. "I'm guessing that Mayor Mills is enforcing it," I assumed. She nodded her head and placed her glasses back on the top of her nose.

"I'm afraid so. Sorry." I nodded and ran up the stairs to collect my things. On my bed, I found a note scrawled in horrible handwriting.

"I'm sorry. She goes overboard like this often." I could already tell it was the sheriff who wrote the note. I crumpled it up and tossed the paper into the wastebasket under the bathroom sink. I stormed back to the bed and fished out my grocery bag of belongings from under the bed. I was flicked the light switch off and paused in the doorway. Henry's book.

I turned back and snagged his book from off the desk. I went back out and to my car. This isn't the worst of situations, I suppose. Not for me, anyway.

I put my stuff into the back seat of my bug and climbed back out. I patted my back pocket to make sure my money was still there, or if Regina took that too.

I tramped through the diner and found a seat at a barstool at the counter.

"What can I get you?" A brunette with a lopsided smile and red streaks in her hair asked, coffee pot in hand.

"Can I get a coffee and a grilled cheese?" She nodded and sauntered off, hips swaying lightly in her short red skirt. She came out a few minutes later with my sandwich and a mug of coffee.

"Isn't it a bit early for a grilled cheese?"

"It's never too early. And I think I deserve it." She chuckled

"Emma, right? Granny told me about you." Of course someone else knows about me.

"Yeah. Is the Mayor always so vicious? Am I the only one she's holding a grudge against?"

"Yes, unless she's talking to Henry."

"Well, that's good to hear. I think." She giggled before meandering back out of view in the kitchen. I ate my sandwich and left the ten dollars on the counter before slinking out of the diner and back to my car, where I passed my time by doing the crossword in the town's newspaper. The cover page didn't even catch my eye until now.

Emma Swan, tourist of Storybrooke, steals Mayor Mill's personal effects. The big bold letters jumped at me, as did my photo of me outside Town Hall, pacing.

If I didn't like her before, she'd better watch herself. Regina's red apples still sat on the seat, glistening under the sunlight. My face instantly lit up as bright as the glint shimmering on her apples.

I started up the chainsaw and drew it towards a large branch of her apple tree.

"Miss Swan," I heard Regina growl as she walked hastily toward me. I only smirked as I brought the blade down on the tree, watching a barrage of apples tumble to the ground. I heard a small gasp escape her lips and that only made me grin more.

"I guess we're even," I stated triumphantly. Her nostrils were flaring and her dark eyes were glaring daggers at my own.

"You have no idea who you're messing with," she ground out of clenched teeth.

"Yo have no idea who you're messing with. You cannot tell me when and when I'm not allowed to see my son."

"He is my son, and if you intend on keeping him to yourself, you are sorely mistaken. You signed off any and all legal rights when you gave him away, so he is legally mine. If you were hoping to have custody of him at some point, I can make sure that you don't. Are we clear?"

"Regina, you can't-"

"You don't have the authority to use my name. It's Madame Mayor to you. Now leave, or so help me, I will destroy you."

"You have no idea what I'm capable of." I threw down the chainsaw and stomped back to my bug, pulling away from her fiery glare as fast as I could.

I parked across the street from Granny's, and by now, night has fallen over the small town. I slumped down into my seat and thumped my head against the headrest.

Someone knocked on my window, and I opened my eyes to meet a pair of hopeful green ones watching me.

"Hi, I'm Mary Margaret. I teach Henry at Storybrooke elementary," she said, holding out her hand. I shook it firmly.

"Emma."

"Don't worry, I know who you are. Everyone knows by now. What're you doing out here?"

"I could ask the same from you."

"I had a date."

"I'm assuming it didn't go well?"

"Never does," she sighed dejectedly. Mary Margaret peered further into my car, where my belongings were strewn everywhere.

"Are you living in your car," she asked sincerely. I couldn't think of any excuse, so I sighed and looked ahead at the open road.

"Yep. Don't worry, it's not the worst of situations I've been in." She took pity on me, I could see it. Everyone did when I talked about my past. It wasn't just pity, though. I could tell she understood me.

"If you want, I have a spare bedroom in my loft. I'm sure it beats living in your car." She chuckled slightly, without humour. I've never gotten an offer as kind as hers, and she seemed very nice. I could use a place to stay, but I always did better on my own.

"You want to let a total stranger into your home?"

"I have a good feeling about you."

"I'm good, but thanks for the offer." Mary Margaret was about to protest, but she just closed her mouth and crossed her arms over her chest, walking over to the sidewalk.

She did seem very nice, and it would be better than living in my car, but I never had roommates. A cold air settled in the car, and by now, I've changed my mind. I slowly put my car in first gear and caught up to her figure walking in the dark.

"You know what, I think I'm gonna take you up on your offer, if it still stands."

"Of course it does." I pulled the basket of apples off of the passenger seat.

"Hop in, then."