After walking Henry to the bus, hoping he would actually stay at school, Emma went to the station to get some work done. Storybrooke wasn't exactly a crime center, but the paperwork was never ending. Calls came in and out about random things that had more to do with the mayor's line of work than her own. One lady even made a call about Pongo! The time gave her a lot of space to think, though. Sidney's offer was still fresh in her head. She had accepted, and she had been humiliated. Gold had also made her an offer, because that man never quit. She felt like a piece of meat, and all the dogs in this little town were ready to take a bite of the new blood. The only one she really wanted to know was dead, and now she had his job. That was sick and twisted, even in her mind. Sidney was really the only ally she had at this point. The kid wanted her, maybe even needed her, and she couldn't let him down. Even if she had to put her faith in Regina's old lackey, she would bring the mayor down. One way or another, Regina would fall. But then where did that leave Henry? It was all so confusing, but it all came full circle. Emma would gain full custody. She couldn't do that.

{[(/*\)]}

Emma stayed at the station until late evening when she deemed it okay to go home. Home. Mary Margaret's apartment had become home. When did that happen? She was too tired to think about it any further. So, she went to her. . . friend's apartment. Home, friend, family. She really did need to get out of here. But she needed to take Regina down. But then where would Henry go! Emma let out an audible groan.

"Long day?" asked a sweet voice from across the room.

Emma jumped slightly, second time that day, "Oh, Mary Margaret. You have no idea."

"I might," she sighed, but then smiled again, "Would you like some cookies? I made some when I got home."

"Do they have pink frosting?" Emma teased.

"Oh," Mary Margaret frowned slightly, "No, but I can put some on."

"No, that's okay. Thank you, though," Emma smiled.

In all her life, Emma had never met someone as kind-hearted as the woman who was now mothering her. It was sweet, and a little annoying, but she loved Mary for it. Though, the schoolteacher's taste in partners left a lot to be desired.

"How're you and David?" Emma came and sat down on one of the bar stools.

"Emma, I know you don't approve of it, but. . ." Mary Margaret rushed, "We're doing pretty well now. We've been talking about telling Kathryn."

Emma groaned again. No! They needed to think this through. David wasn't worth all the impending heartbreak. The man would probably back out of a divorce faster than a cheetah. He may be better than Dr. Whale, but almost anyone would be better than him.

"Come on, Emma. She deserves to know," Mary Margaret reasoned.

"But can David actually tell her?" Emma looked sympathetically at her friend.

"Yes! He's going to," she defended with conviction.

"If you say so. You know I'll support you no matter what," the sheriff smiled.

"Thank you, Emma, really," Mary Margaret gave her one of those angelic little smiles, "So, why was your day long and troubling?"

And, back to her problems. Her mountains of problems. Where should she start? 'I'm stuck in one place because the kid I couldn't support came and found me, right when I was getting my life back on track. Now, I have a new job, just another stupid reason to stay. I'm in a war against my child's adoptive mother who just so happens to be mayor. I want to win said war, but if I do, I'll have to keep the child I gave away. That child also thinks fairy tales are better than reality and has decided that they're one and the same. On top of all that, I owe the scariest guy in existence a favor and an answer to a question I don't truly understand. So, my day was troubling because I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do next.'

"No reason. Just a lot of paperwork," the lie fell from Emma's lips more smoothly than the truth would have.

Mary Margaret nodded slowly, though she didn't look like she believed the blonde. That was okay. Emma didn't need people to believe her, she only needed them to leave her alone. Mary Margaret was only trying to help, but she was also practically pushing Emma's walls over. The sheriff had gone too long without someone to trust, she couldn't start now. It had saved her a lot of pain. Now that she was falling for this little town, she had lost a man she might have been falling in love with, she had gotten a job protecting people that saw her as nothing but a mystery to be solved, a gossip well, and she had humiliated herself trying to bring down the almighty mayor. But she just kept going, and going, and going. It was a never ending vortex that was intent on stripping her of her beliefs and thrusting her into a world she knew nothing about. One lost, scared, alone little girl swallowed in the jaws of life all over again. Emma's life would always be like this: at the cruel, demonic, twisted talons of a world that hated everyone who tried to play fair. There are no heroes, there are no villains, just people. These people make good choices and bad choices, but they are just people. There is no black and white world, just a lot of grey. The only moral line is the line the majority, the people who matter, set for everyone. Any decision is the decision of the people leading their sheep. The people in power play around with their pawns while everyone suffers all the more for it. But those are the things you aren't supposed to know. Those are the thoughts, the protests, the realizations that make enemies. There are no truths, just perception. That is how the world works, and she just had to walk to the beat.

Mary Margaret turned as if to move towards her room, but Emma made a decision. She could be lost and lonely and scared for the rest of her life, but just once, maybe she would let someone in. If only for a second, she would forget her walls, her rules, everything, and just give herself. . . a friend. Maybe even a family.

"Mary Margaret, wait," Emma called.

The schoolteacher stopped and stared. What was Mary expecting? Did she. . . did she want to help Emma? Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't. Maybe the worried looks were Emma's imagination. Maybe they weren't. Maybe, just maybe, Emma had finally found someone who cared for her, someone she could trust.

"I'm scared," Emma whispered.

Two words and the sheriff was almost broken. A tear slipped down her cheek. She was alone, she was scared. She didn't know what to do, and now she had someone relying on her. She was lost.

"It's okay, Emma. I'm scared too."

And just like that, she wasn't alone. No, she had arms around her. She had fresh tears joining her own. She had someone to help her pick up the pieces of her broken soul. She had a friend, a family. Mary Margaret and Henry were her family. She wasn't alone.

"Why don't we have some hot chocolate?" Mary Margaret offered.

It wasn't just chocolate, it was the teacher's way of saying "if you want to talk. . ." as subtly as possible. Emma didn't want to talk, but she wanted someone there. Another warm body. Another person who was there for her. Someone who had hope. Someone who wouldn't give up. Someone who was brave, strong, and kind. Someone who loved her.

"With cinnamon?" Emma smiled hopefully.

"Of course with cinnamon, silly girl," Mary Margaret laughed and moved to make the chocolate.

Just for a moment, Emma was happy. Just for a moment, Emma was home. Well and truly where she was supposed to be.