Chapter 4
"Take the next right." Henry leaned in and pointed as Emma stopped at the intersection. We were now driving along a street with large very snooty houses sitting back from the street.
"That one." We stopped at a white house with a slate gray tiled roof. Green hedges encircled the place and a little balcony was above the front door. All the lights were on and a cop car was parked along the street. We parked as well and I got out keeping the bag with me. I looked back and saw Henry slipping his book into the back seat of mom's car. Emma approached the door and before she could mount the steps it was flung open and a woman with black hair and blazing brown eyes fixed on mom, then me, and then Henry.
"Henry, where were you? I was worried sick" She looked him over as he responded.
"I was with my real mom." He slipped out of the hug and the swift kid dodged and ran up the stairs. Another man with wavy red brown hair looked at the woman and jerked his head inside.
"I'll go talk to him." He strode to the stairs and quickly walked up them.
"So your Henry's birth mother?" Mom smiled which looked more like a wince.
"HI." I could tell how awkward mom felt and so decided to blunder right it, why not it was already a disaster waiting to happen.
"Hi I'm Harper." I held out my hand and felt a chill as stoney brown eyes looked me over before giving my hand a light shake. I could tell mom was feeling a bit protective as she laid a hand on my shoulder and spoke.
"Harper is my adoptive daughter." I saw a bit of condescension and I knew what she was thinking. What was a woman who had given up her own son doing adopting some kid only a few years later. She had told me that it had been a different set of circumstances back then. She thought that she was giving him his best chance. She also believed she was giving me mine when she adopted me.
"Mom can I go say goodnight to Henry?" I asked because I knew mom would need some time alone with this woman who hadn't even introduced herself yet. Mom looked towards that woman who's jaw tightened but then loosened and nodded.
"Yes you can, by the way I'm Emma Swan." This must have finally gotten to the woman and she extended a hand.
"My name is Regina Mills." They shook and I made my quick way up the stairs where I had watched the man go up after Henry. I found his bedroom easily and made my way in.
"Harper!" He jumped off his bed and hugged me I staggered but managed to stay upright. I smiled and ruffled his hair. I had always wanted a younger brother, even after all that Dudley had done to me I thought it would be fun to have siblings.
"I'll just be downstairs if you need me Henry." The man said, geese were people here so rude as to not introduce themselves? I got side tracked as Henry tugged me over to his bed and sat down upon it. He spoke quietly and I leaned in.
"Are you guys staying?" I nodded and smiled.
"So you believe me?"
"Yes I believe you, I think mom does too but she's more skeptical than me." I smiled letting him know it was okay.
"Why do you believe me?" I thought about it, how could I spin this, I knew that I couldn't tell him the truth.
"Because I've seen some pretty interesting things in my life that lead me to believe that there are things we can't understand. I believe you because when I was your age people wouldn't believe me about something that was true. Only your mom did and acted on it, that's why she adopted me." His eyes were serious and wide, he nodded and smiled hugging me again. I patted his back and felt a lump in my throat I hadn't told many about that. I really didn't have friends mostly because of how much we traveled. It was also because it was hard to open up to people about your past and that is what would happen if I made friends.
"Harp time to go." Mom stood in the doorway smiling at us. I stood and smiled down at Henry who rushed and hugged Emma. I smiled to myself, he reminded me of myself when I was that age starved of affection and wanting so desperately to be with people who understood me.
"See you around kid," Emma let go and turned.
"Remember Henry not kid." He grinned though and waved at us as we made our way down the stairs.
"I hope you both have a safe drive back home." Regina said silk over steel in her voice.
"Actually it's much too late for us to drive home. Harp here is home schooled, and I'm between cases at the mo so we might stay for a week or two maybe go camping, fishing, who knows." I tried not to smirk.
"that sounds like fun, this town however is not very interesting so if your looking for excitement I suggest looking elsewhere." Emma seemed to consider it, now I would jump in.
"But mom there are some new types of pine I saw on our way into town, and there's an actual clock tower like big ben, and the history here must be fascinating, please, please, please can we stay at least a week." I used my puppy eyes, unnecessary as they were to convince her. She seemed to be mulling it over and then sighed gustily.
"Fine a week, but your history essay better be a good one." I jumped up and down and hugged her. All the while Regina was looking on face a blank mask.
"I guess you might be seeing us around a bit. Do you know if there is a place to stay around here?"
"There's an inn of sorts ran by the woman who is the manager of Granny's, that's a cafe in town, I can tell you how to get there." The man who wore a sharif's badge now that I studied him said helpfully. He then explained to mom and she nodded gratefully. Regina butted in a chill in her voice.
"Thank you sheriff." Regina sent a glare the man's way, I was the only one to notice.
"I'm Graham Humbert by the way apologies for not introducing myself earlier." He had an interesting accent partially Irish, partially British.
"Are you from my native country sir?" I asked making sure to lean on my accent lathering it on a little bit.
"No I'm afraid not duckie, me mam was of the Irish persuasion, me pa a brit. They came here before I was born and I picked the accent up from them." He winked and I giggled.
"I think you have duties sheriff, please attend to them." Regina said eyes flashing. Fun sucker is what I thought in my head as Mr. Humbert left. I had loved his reference to pirates and how fun he seemed to be.
"Well now that you know where to go goodnight." She turned on one heel and almost stomped her way up her front porch stairs. We made it to the car and drove away.
"That worked well." I mused looking out the window.
"They all fall for it don't they?" Mom squeezed my shoulder eyes twinkling. It was a ploy we used often by people who are interested in seeing us out of a certain place. We had only used it four times including this one. Now that stick up her ass evil queen knew we would be out and about it wouldn't come off as snooping. Graham's directions were very helpful. I yawned and mom chuckled.
"To bed for you, I know it's only nine but you have had a long day." I nodded yawning again. We parked and made our way inside to hear arguing.
"Out all day and now your going out again, Ruby I need your help." A red haired beauty and an old lady came out to the register.
"I want to go to Boston, not stay here and rot."
"I'm sorry my heart attack prevented you from sleeping your way along the eastern seaboard."
"I didn't mean it like that Grandmother its just ugh you don't understand what it's like." Ruby the red headed girl flung her hands up in frustration.
"Don't I? I was once a pretty young thing like you, I understand perfectly but I need your help and until I die you need to stay here." I coughed trying to get their attention before this went on any longer.
"Oh, I'm sorry can we help you?" They looked at us like they had never seen people before.
"Uh, yes we would like a room fro the night two queens if you have them."
"Yes, square view or forest? I normally would charge more but-" Mom stepped forward.
"Square and we can do the extra for it." The older woman looked grateful and I smiled at her while Emma dug out the amount she named.
"What's the name?" I saw an older man and a younger guy come in as my mom said.
"Emma, Emma Swan."
"Emma that's a lovely name." I turned fully to see the man. He had gray brown hair and cool brown eyes that seemed to have a lot of depth to them. The guy next to him looked around my age with wavy brown hair and gray eyes.
"Thank you, who are you?" The man smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.
"I'm Mr. Gold." He moved towards the old lady and she handed him some money.
"Here it is, all of it." He took it with a nod and turned back to my mom.
"I hope you have a good stay here in Storybrooke Ms. Swan, and." He looked surprised and he also had a Scottish brogue but I didn't think he was very kind. My dream came back to me and I had to hide my fear at realizing who he was.
"My daughter Harper." Mom put a hand on my shoulder.
"Nice to meet you, this is my, son, Bastion." The boy nodded and smiled at me.
"Wonderful to meet you sir, Bastion." I nodded and pushed back a strand of black hair.
"Well again good night." Gold and Bastion turned and headed out the door.
"Sorry about that he owns all of this." Ruby said with a twist to her mouth.
"Owns this?" I asked covering a yawn.
"The whole town more like." The old lady said with the same twist of the mouth.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I said looking away.
"Here's your key, welcome to Storybrooke." I smiled and we headed to our room. It was nice and spacious which was a change from our usual hotel stints. I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth, and took out my contacts. Then I went through my washing up routine for the night. I came out and changed into my , a pair of blue plaid flannel trousers and a white shirt with I heart Star Trek. In the heart was a picture of the Enterprise and stars twinkling behind it. As mom did her thing in the bathroom I braided my long hair and pulled out my glasses, I then drew my potions book closer and studied the newest chapter.
"Kid, kid." A hand shook my shoulder and I looked blearily up since my glasses were a skew. My potions book was opened on the page about love potions.
"Planning on dosing someone?" I blushed and sat up.
"No, it's for the new lesson, I'm going to have to make it tomorrow." I closed the heavy tome and shoved it back into the bottomless backpack.
"Ah so sad I had thought those looks at that boy were more than being polite." I sighed and shook my head.
"You are worse than the match maker in Fiddler on the Roof. I do not nor have I ever needed a man." I spat the last one like a swear word, mom only grinned.
"Fine my young warrior princess you keep that up." She grinned and I huffed.
"Ugh we should not have binge watched all those Xena Warrior Princess tapes." We had done that on the last road trip.
"Alright fine kill joy, now off to bed with you." I sighed mom could change topics so fast it gave me whiplash.
"Ok mom, love you." I leaned up and hugged her, she hugged me back and I remembered that day when she saved me and I squeezed a little tighter grateful for my mom. As I did I looked out the window straight at the clocktower and saw it was eleven thirty. I yelped and pulled away.
"Shit it's late, love you mom goodnight." I dove into my covers and giggled.
"You are the oddest kid, love you too, language by the way and, goodnight kid." She leaned over and kissed my hair. I felt warm and content. Mom climbed into bed and turn out the lamp. Tomorrow would definitely be an interesting day.