Emma woke up that morning wondering what the fuck she was doing in that little hotel room in this town that no one knew about.
She knew the answer, she needed to make sure Henry was okay and something inside her told her no. She would stay long enough.
She was in the bathroom when she heard the knock on the door. When she opened it she was surprised to see Audrey in front of her so beautiful and elegant.
_Good morning I thought I would come to give you this beautiful bouquet of roses_ I enter the room without waiting for an invitation. Emma ignored that rude act. The mayor kept talking
_I'm sure they will look beautiful in your apartment in Boston. You must miss your home, surely you have many things to do_she said with the same threatening tone as yesterday.
_In fact I will stay but thanks for the flowers right now I will put them in water_
Are you sure this is a good idea? Henry is with so much _
_ 2 threats in less than 24 hours is what makes me stay_
_ Are roses threats? _
_I know how to read between the lines. I'll leave when I'm sure Henry will be okay_
_Did you also read the book? Do you think I'm the villain? He's fine. His problems are being dealt with_
_What do you mean? _
_Therapy. You will soon realize that reality is much more important than fantasy_
The audacity and courage of this woman surprised him. How could she come and threaten her into her room? Audrey stepped closer and inches from her face and with a clear smile she spoke
_I better leave this town_
_ Or what? _ Emma said with her arms crossed.
Audrey stepped forward and in a cold tone said
_Don't underestimate me Miss Thorne, you have no idea what I'm capable of_
Later that morning Emma decided to go for coffee. After such a bitter awakening she needed some caffeine. Audrey seemed hell-bent on getting her out of the way and she was going to find out why. STORYBROOKE was a strange place there was something in the energy of the place, in the people of her that Emma could not decipher.
A horrible sense of strangeness and concern washed over her. When she saw the front page of the Dialy Mirror.
She sat down and began to read the note. Had Glass was the author, whoever this man was, he had done a lot of investigative work and journalism. She knew that Henry was born in Phoenix. All the cities he had lived in. His problems with the law. Not in its entirety but he had dug very deep. Emma flinched. She hadn't spent a day here and she was already on the front page of the newspaper. Surely everyone had already. It was the bad thing about small towns.
Here you go_ the waitress of the place left a cup of hot chocolate
_Sorry you got the wrong table. I did not order this_
_You have an admirer_
Emma turned to look across the cafeteria and saw a well-groomed blond man dressed in a white sweater and light blue jeans in what looked like a selfie section.
She stood up and walked over to her table.
_Look, I appreciate the chocolate, the touch of cinnamon was a good one_
_You are Emma? The stranger. What brings you here to this small town? _
_How do you know my name?_
_Everyone knows your name. You were in the newspaper _ pointed to the newspaper next to her set.
He was right surely everyone already knew his name.
_However, I don't know yours_
_oh my apologies I am Chad Glass, a pleasure Miss Emma_
Now it all made sense.
_I see that the cinnamon was not true. Did you get it out of your research? Do they do this with all the tourists who arrive? _
_You are the first person to come from outside. Unless I remember_
_Thanks for the chocolate _
I did not send that_
_It was me_said a voice.
Henry was a few tables back.
_I also like cinnamon. By the way I'm glad you stayed_
_He Henry? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school? _
_I am on my way. Are you accompanying me? _
Emma walked out along with Henry. If not before shaking hands with the reporter. It was more than likely that she worked for the mayor but she had her own personality and there was something Emma liked.
You stayed. This is going to work, Henry said. He sounded so excited and hopeful.
_Your mother would have preferred not_
_That is because she is the villain of the story _
She just scowled. This boy was someone very imaginative but she couldn't help but think about what Audrey had said in her room. She was seeing a psychiatrist, for crying out loud. What if he really did happen to her? Was it the right thing to just accept it? She did not know.
_Explain_ she maybe she could get something. And scolding him for imagining didn't seem like the right thing to do.
_The curse?_
_If what is she about? _
"Okay," Henry said, excited as he talked more about it. -So you and I have to break it. That's our job. And the first step in the operation is "identification." He looked at her knowingly. "The whole operation is called Operation Dragon."
Emma listened carefully as Henry explained the curse. All the people of Storybrooke, "Everyone!", Came from another land. Auradon They had been happy there and lived with different identities.
_And who cast the curse? _
_The daughter of the Sleeping beauty _
Another important thing is that they were all children of the legendary villains and heroes of fairy tales.
_Isn't Aurora supposed to be good?
Why would her daughter cast a curse? _
_To get revenge on your parents. Your father King Ben was "engaged" to Audrey until your mother showed up. The guilt of ruining her chance to be queen and with that her happy ending ._
_And according to you? Who is my mother? _
_Mal daughter of Maleficent_
It was quite an interesting story, a story to catch you Emma thought but the problem was that for some reason Henry was convinced that everything was real and he would not stop and that really worried him.
The boy took out a set of sheets and handed them over, he had ripped them out of the book. He showed her an illustration of a baby wrapped in a blanket with the name "Emma"
_There are many Emmas in the world. Why are you so sure it's me? _
She went through the pages looking for a clue: author, publisher, year of publication, copyright ... nothing. The blanket was very much like one she had. It was the only thing they found with as a baby. But it was surely coincidence.
In these pages is your story, I know that now you do not believe me but please for what you want the most in the world. Don't let me see them_
Emma looked at the book.
Actually she_she said, looking at a photo of a sorceress her She looked a bit like Audrey she could see how Henry could have convinced himself of all this.
Emma and Henry soon arrived at school. Before leaving, she looked up, smiled and said:
Thanks for believing me about the curse. I knew you would do it _
Just listen_
Henry entered school happily. This whole "Operation Dragon" adventure seemed to excite and thrill him.
It's good to see him smile_
It was Miss Mal.
_Did you stay that's great? Audrey knows you're here? _
_She visited me this morning. She was really a bitch._
_I imagine _
_ How is it possible that she is mayor? Who voted for her? _
_ It was always like that, I think people scare them and now I think everything is worse because I gave them that book_
_ Where did you get it? _
_Evie my roommate. I'm not sure where she got it. I'll ask her when she sees it_
_And who do you think you are, by the way? _ Emma asked.
Me? It's silly. She smiled and looked down. _He really thinks that I am ... that I am the daughter of Maleficent_
"Wow," Emma said and nodded, impressed.
And who are you?_
Realizing who he was supposed to be in the book. And the relationship he had with the woman in front of her decided to lie.He had dreamed of finding her mother, the scenarios that he had imagined were vast and crazy. But when Emma was a child the simple illusion that her mother would appear explaining why she had left and telling her that this was the past and that they would be together. Those false scenarios she had created in her mind were very comforting in many situations in her life. Returning to the present, she was a 28-year-old woman facing another woman of almost the same age, who according to a book was the daughter of an evil fairy and also her mother. Ridiculous and impossible.
_I'm not in the book _
Later Emma was in Dr. Hopper's office, Henry's psychiatrist, Mal had given her where to find him.
She showed up at her office.
_Good morning, can I help you? _ The man sitting at a desk had said while he was reading some papers.
_Mr. Hopper surely you do not know who I am. But I need to talk about Henry_
_Technically I can not. Doctor-patient pact_
_I get it. Just a question, what causes it? Why is he confused about what is real? Is he crazy? Or is it just his imagination? I guess I need to know if he's sick or sick, or just ... I don't know. What is the actual diagnosis? _
_I hope you don't use the word "crazy" in front of him. Mira is his language, his way of communicating, a way to face his problems _
_Problems? Audrey she has something _
The mayor can be somewhat complicated and severe with him but she is his mother and she really loves him. A fairly complex mother and child relationship? If she knows what I'm talking about? _
_No. I was also adopted. I never met my mother_
_I'm so sorry I didn't know_
_I see you haven't read today's newspaper_
I see. Good. You get the point. Relationships with mothers are always complicated. He smiled. Parents too_
Something tells me that things are even more complicated when it comes to Audrey_
He tries, but he's pushing too hard," she continued. Seemingly struggling with something else now, she sighed, then opened a filing cabinet. _You should take the file from him, review it_
Emma frowned skeptically. The doctor was acting strange; something was wrong. Why would you do that?_
Because he cares about you_Archie said, handing him the file. _And I worry about him_
Only a few hours later, the sheriff was "mysteriously" at her door, staring at her gravely.
_I'm sorry, Mrs. Thorne_Lonnie said, showing her the handcuffs. _But you are under arrest_
Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was at her bedroom door, she had just showered and changed. The sheriff looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. She had opened the door expecting a pile of clean bedding. Instead, Lonnie had informed her that he had accused her of arguing with Hopper and stealing Henry's file from her office.
Already at the police station.
Are you aware that it is a trap? Audrey sure she's behind this_
She is the mayor, she is behind everything, and you have just arrived for everyone. She has been here for decades. It is not a fight you want to start_
_You don't know what I want_
She sat in the cell, fuming, before hearing a familiar voice and stood up.
Stop! You have to let her out of it! _
It was Henry. He walked into the room along with another woman. Lonnie, surprised, looked up from his desk.
Henry, what are you doing here?_he said. He turned to Henry's best , confused. _Miss Evie? _
We're here to get her out_ Henry said. Then, after looking at Emma, he smiled and said, _Well, it is. I don't have any money_
Why would you do that?_ Emma asked.
Evie looked embarrassed and began to search her purse.
_I don't know. Mal told me about you and it sounds strange but I trust you_
-Okay, so if you have the money for the bail, everything will be arranged, she said.
Sherif from across the room, holding up a piece of paper. Evie smiled and nodded.
_Yes, of course _
After completing the paperwork and now free
_ Thank you very much_
Evie a very beautiful young woman but at the same time very simple. She wore a blue blouse with a pair of pants of the same tone, red heels that matched her makeup.
_We could go and have something for sure you had a bad time and I would love to know more about you_
_I would love to but it will have to be at another time. I must do shopping_
This was already the last straw. If he wanted war, he would have war. Emma was good at reading people it was a gift that she had served him throughout her life. She knew how to find the weaknesses and strengths of each person. What they hated and what they loved. And that's right where she would attack. Leaving the police station, she headed for a hardware store.
She chose a chainsaw with a two-stroke engine, asked an employee to remove it from the box and load it, and paid with her credit card.
Who the hell did that woman think she was? Take something precious from me, she thought. Emma's anger kept her from going much further as she walked down Main Street. She squeezed the choke and pulled the cord as she walked into the backyard, staring at Audrey's rose bush. Roses meant something to this woman, she knew it.
She started the action short enough not enough to hurt the plant but to anger the mayor.
She didn't need to look out the window, she had felt Regina there, watching it happen.
After a moment of silence, with the smell of gasoline and oil in the air, the wounded tree without complaint at all, Regina shot out.
What are you doing?_ she yelled, walking over to Emma, who raised the chainsaw like a weapon. She wasn't running, and it wasn't like she was going to cut Audey in half. She hadn't reached that point yet.
Picking flowers _ she said coldly.
Excuse?! Who do you think you are?_
Emma stepped forward and found her facing the broken rose bush.
_ Do you think she is just a threat? I have more_
She turned and walked away from her, leaving Audrey beside the branch, speechless.
Emma said over her shoulder:
_Your turn_
After a long walk to de-stress and calm her fury a bit, she decided to go back to the hotel, much to her surprise and bad luck.
I'm sorry, dear. But we have a no-criminal policy here I'm going to have to ask you to go _
This day was surely the worst of her life or at least she entered the top 5.
He pulled her things out of her room and she headed to her car. It was not the first time that she slept in her car. After a while she rang her cell phone. She did not recognize the number.
However, she recognized her voice.
It was Audrey, she wanted to make a deal.
Emma left her car and walked the half mile to the mayor's office. Emma and Regina greeted each other tensely, and Regina motioned for Emma to sit down.
Thanks for coming. I wish this was civilized. I think we can make it work _
Make it work?_
You guys. Here. I have the feeling that you are more determined than ever to stay in the city. And I am not blind. I know that getting in the way of my son will only make him want something more than he already wants _
Emma relaxed, a little, and sank into her chair.
Okay. I'm listening._
I accept that you are here to take my son from me_
That's not what I'm doing here_
Then, why are you here? _Asked Audrey
She herself wasn't entirely sure; she had been grappling with the same question all day.
I'm worried about Henry. He thinks that everyone in this city is characters from a magical world. That's not a great sign _
Audrey nodded. _And you don't, do you believe him? _
Of course not. I don't think my mother is the daughter of Maleficent and I don't think you are the evil daughter of Sleeping Beauty. Henry is having a hard time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. Everything is crazy_
Emma frowned at Audrey's smile her eyes had moved to the right and Emma turned to look at the office door. Henry, with a sad expression on his face, stared.
Do you think I'm crazy? _
She could see the disappointment and sadness in her eyes. Before she could explain the boy had already come.
_DID YOU KNOW I WAS HERE? You never wanted to talk_
_What if he knew that Henry is here every Thursday at 5:00 p.m. to take him to his section? Of course. My son is a mother knows about those things_
_You are a bitch without a heart _
And she with that she ran off to find Henry.
He was in therapy, in Archie Hopper's office. Emma watched them through the window as she hurried toward the building. Her quick look told him everything she needed to know. Henry, inside her, sat in her chair, hunched over and deflated, and it broke her heart. She couldn't bear to see him sad, and she was happy to see him happy. Perhaps that was the simple compass that she could guide her.
She burst into the office without knocking, and both Henry and Archie looked up in surprise.
I need to talk with you_
Archie stood up.
_Miss Swan, this is very irregular. She glared at him and he withered a bit. He started fiddling with his glasses.
_Sorry about the file. She told me_
Okay, Archie. I'm not here for
that _ she turned to Henry. _ I need you to know that I stayed for you. I don't think you're crazy. I think this city is crazy and this curse is crazy, but that doesn't mean I think you're crazy_
Henry seemed skeptical at the beginning of this speech, but his posture improved as he progressed.
Encouraged, Emma took the sheaf of papers out of her pocket and said:
_I read the pages. You were right: they are dangerous. And there is only one way to prevent her from knowing my story _
She walked over to the fire and threw the papers