Disclaimer: I do not own the Once Upon a Time franchise.
Chapter Nine
Emma was nervous as the three of them walked down to Granny's. It was a nice night so they'd opted to walk instead of drive. It also gave Emma a chance to hopefully shake off some of the nerves she was having over being social for the first time in so long. Henry darted slightly ahead of them, excited to see his friends, so August grabbed Emma's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as they walked behind him. It was nice to see Henry so carefree and happy. He looked like a normal seven-year old now, not like he'd been through the chaos and fear they'd been living in.
"It's okay, Ems." August murmured softly so Henry couldn't hear.
Emma nodded, giving August a grateful smile, "I know, it's just been so long since I've had a social life that I'm nervous." She admitted, "Which sounds stupid since we're adults, but. . ."
August understood. He was less nervous than Emma, but still hesitant nonetheless. They were still testing the waters with their new IDs and since they grew up in the foster system they'd both experienced a lot of heartache and broken friendships. "Let's just say it's dinner with some people and that we don't have to commit to anything else with them after that." He proposed. "And if we're uncomfortable we can just talk to each other."
Tucking her hand in the crook of August's elbow, she leaned her head against his shoulder and agreed, "I like it." She chuckled as Henry threw open the door and blew into the diner like a human hurricane.
Emma and August were passed around the group as soon as they entered the diner, meeting the people they hadn't yet. Henry already knew all of the kids and didn't seem that interested in meeting all of the adults. He was seated between a little girl named Grace and Leo. They had three storybooks laid out on the table already, pouring over them. Emma liked to think that Henry had developed his love for fairytales when he was still in her belly. She used to read to him all the time while she was pregnant and in jail. She wasn't sure if that was true, but she chose to believe it anyhow.
Grace's dad, a man named Jefferson Henderson who owned the local grocery store, shook his head, "Henry is all Grace has talked about for the last two days." He finally told Emma. The two had yet to meet, but Emma found she liked the man. He was a quiet widower. A bit odd, but in a good way. And he clearly loved his daughter more than life itself. Emma could relate to that feeling and that connection with a child.
Emma's eyes connected with his before turning and looking over at Grace and Henry. "Henry's mentioned her quite a bit too." She admitted. "I think she's the first girl he's noticed. And I think I hate it." She laughed. Jefferson had the same knowing look in his eyes.
"I think I do too." He agreed. "I think I liked it better when Grace just talked about Alexandra and Elena."
August, who was seated next to Emma, but had been talking to Robin Locksley, teased them both, "Who knows, maybe one day the two of you will be related."
"August!" Jefferson and Emma both protested. Instead of replying to their shock, he left them with that and turned back to his conversation with the local gun range owner, Robin Locksley.
Robin just shook his head at August's words, "That wasn't very nice." He pointed out, grateful that his own son was in the back playing on a pinball machine with Killian.
August shrugged and took a sip of his beer, "Emma's feathers have always been a bit easy to ruffle." He admitted, "And that's what big brothers do."
Robin looked between Emma and August, "So that's all there is to your relationship?" Robin's wife, Mayor Regina Mills, had been interested in what was going on between the two newcomers. In fact, everyone was interested in the dynamic, but no one seemed to know much. It had only taken Robin a minute to realize he'd get more information from August than Emma.
August nodded and swirled a fry through the ketchup on his plate, "That's all there is to it. We were in the same foster home when we were kids. We got separated, but I refused to let her go. She's never been one to make friends super easily, so I made sure to stick with her. Even if she didn't like it all the time."
Robin chuckled at August's words, "She sounds a bit like my Regina."
August eyed the mayor. She was seated at the bar with a few of the other women. The mayor seemed hard and suspicious, and that did make August a bit nervous. It made him nervous that she'd start to delve into their pasts on her own. And he was still worried their IDs wouldn't hold up to too much scrutiny. And, even though he hadn't told Emma this, he was continuously afraid Walsh would find them. According to August's contacts, Walsh was still looking for them. And his father was now helping him too. Though Robin was correct, Emma was similar in the suspicious manner, but Emma was soft, there was nothing hard about her at all. No matter how Emma tried to hide it.
Once the dishes from dinner had been cleared, the group had shifted around, some leaving the long table Granny and Ruby had set up, and choosing to sit at different booths or at the bar.
That was how Emma found herself talking quietly one-on-one with Killian, seated at the corner of the bar with fresh drinks. "So, lass," Killian began, "what did you think of your first outing with our little group?"
Emma glanced around the diner, "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." She finally admitted. "I thought it would be more intimidating or that I'd be questioned more."
"Oh, Regina and Tink want to do that." Killian cut in. "We told them not to. Didn't want to scare you off and all of that."
Emma looked over where Regina and Tink sat with Ruby at the opposite end of the bar top, "I don't scare that easily." She protested weakly, though she could hear the lie in her own voice. The fact was, it was probably good she hadn't been thrown head first into the group, she probably would've high-tailed it to Chicago or something if that were the case. Ignoring Killian's look of disbelief at her words, Emma rose and moved to the other side of the bar where the women sat. She should try to make friends. It would be good for Henry to see her settling in more so as well. Plus, she was never one to back down from a challenge. And it felt like Killian had challenged her a bit.
"Emma!" Ruby grinned widely in greeting when Emma came over to them. "Come sit! I'll get you another beer." Ruby was moving before Emma could even say anything.
Taking a seat next to Tink, Emma gave the women a hesitant smile, "Hey." She finally greeted, nodding a thanks as Ruby filled up her glass.
"Emma!" Tink's Australian accent wrapped around her name nicely. Emma found she was still getting used to all of the foreign accents. She wasn't sure how so many people from all over the world wound up in Storybrooke, Maine of all places. "Now that you all have been here for about week, how have you settled in?"
Emma took a sip of the beer and thought about Tink's question for a moment. "You know, I think it's been good. We all like Storybrooke. And you guys have been so nice to welcome us into town and look after Henry." She admitted.
Regina gave Emma the first real smile Emma had seen from the woman. Emma thought Regina had a nice smile that made her whole face light up. "Well, we always take care of our children." Regina glanced over to where her stepson, Roland, sat with all of the other kids at a big booth. "Always." She repeated.
Emma found she liked that the most. This group of adults seemed centered around the children. It made Emma feel like she and Henry may have found a real community. "That's how my life has been. About Henry. And August's too. At least to a certain extent. He's always been a good support system for us."
Tink and Regina shared an uncertain look before Tink finally asked, "But he's not Henry's father?"
That made Emma almost look a bit sad. It would be nice for Henry to have a good man as a father, "No, he's not. August and I have been friends since we were kids. I don't even know where Henry's father is. And it's a lot better that way."
Reaching around Tink, Regina patted Emma's hand lightly, "Well, now Henry has a lot of people to look out for him. He's already fit in perfectly with the rest of the kids."
Blinking back tears, Emma cleared her throat, "He's a pretty incredible boy, if I do say so myself. That heart of his draws everyone in." She glanced over to where Granny was doting over the kids and pouring more lemonade. Henry was practically beaming up at the older woman.
Regina rolled her eyes, "Granny isn't as tough as she likes to pretend she is too. Those kids have her wrapped around their fingers. She only had to pretend to be tough because raising Ruby was such a pain in the ass."
Ruby looked indignant at Regina's words, "I'm not a pain in the ass!"
Snorting, Regina replied, "Yes, you are, Ruby. But we love you anyhow."
Standing, Ruby glared at Regina, "I'm going to go sit with Vic. He's nice to me."
"She's so melodramatic." Tink rolled her eyes, "And it's more like she's going to sit on Vic."
When Emma looked over, Ruby had indeed chosen to sit on the lap of Dr. Victor Whale rather than in the vacant chair next to him. Looking away from Ruby, Emma let herself fall into an easy conversation with Regina and Tink. She'd found out that Tink owned a local clothing boutique, and she already knew Regina was the mayor. Tink was married to the sheriff and Regina was married to Robin Locksley, who owned the local gun range. Tink was actually Belle's sister. When Belle came over married to Mr. Gold, Tink decided to follow. She met Graham her first day in town and they'd been married just over a year now. Emma determined she liked the two women and found herself agreeing to lunch the next day.
Later that night, after tucking Henry into bed, Emma sat on August's bed with him discussing the evening. "You had fun tonight." August noted.
Turning to face him, Emma crossed her legs and couldn't help but smile at that. "I did. In fact, I'm having lunch tomorrow with Tink and Regina. Did you know Tink and Belle are sisters?" She asked. August shook his head at that. "I know, they seem so different. Tink followed Belle over here once Belle married Gold. I can't wait to learn more about that marriage to be honest. It seems weirder than most."
August pulled on a stray thread on the pillowcase next to him. "Yeah, I'm not sure what it is about Gold." He admitted, "There's just something off about him. And yet there's also something familiar."
"You feel that too?" Emma asked. "It's like I've met him, but I know I haven't met him before. It's weird, right?"
August nodded in agreement, "It is. Oh well, we won't figure that out tonight." He nudged Emma off of his bed. "I'm tired. Go to bed, Ems. We can decide if we want to worry about Gold another day. Although I think it would be a waste of time. Instead, I think you should worry about the women you're having lunch with. Something tells me they scheme. And we all saw you sitting alone with Jones tonight." He wiggled his brows suggestively at Emma.
Shaking her head, Emma shoved him back hard, "Nothing is going to happen with Jones." She stated sternly. "I'm swearing off men. Besides, I'm technically still married." Her voice was quiet as she said that.
"Hey," August tugged her into a hug, "don't worry about Walsh. And I didn't necessarily mean date Killian. I meant he could be a friend. Everyone in that diner tonight could be a good friend." Emma seemed to consider his words for a moment, so August continued, "Besides, if you're going to worry about anyone dating, I'd worry about Henry and Grace."
"Stop it!" Emma protested, pulling herself out of his arms. "That's it, I'm going to be now. I'm going to go have nightmares about being a grandma because of you."
"Good night, Ems!" August called out playfully, ducking as she tossed the pillow on the chair in the corner of his room at him.