Author's Notes: A special thank you goes out to BizarreBard. She has been helping me by Betaing this story and giving suggestions on where to take things. I'm very appreciative of her help.

Chapter 14: Desperate Souls

A woman is looking over the balcony of the castle. On the lower level, she sees Snow White place a white rose on top of a coffin.

"Goodbye, Father." The Snow White says.

The woman makes her way down to the girl and touches her on the shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Snow."

"I loved him so much." Snow White says.

The woman nods, "So did I, dear. So did I. The loss I feel for my husband must be nothing compared to the loss you feel for your father. The way it was when your half-sisters, my daughters disappeared. If there is anything I could do, please, let me know. I may only be your mother through marriage, but I'm here for you, dear. Truly and forever."

Snow White hugs the woman.

Buffy wakens as once again memories flood into her mind of one person and only one person. She sits up in bed, "I remember, father."

The next day Mr. Gold is covering a piece of cloth with lanolin in the back room of his pawn shop.

Emma enters through the front door and calls out for him. "Gold! In here?"

"Well, it is my shop." Mr. Gold says.

Emma enters the back room. "Whoa! What is that?"

"Oh, this is lanolin – used for waterproofing." Mr. Gold says.

"It smells like livestock." Emma says.

"Well, it is the reason why sheep's wool repels water." Mr. Gold says.

"It stinks. Um, if there was a reason you called the Sheriff's Department… If you want to talk about that quickly-" Emma says.

Mr. Gold nods, "Yes."

"Or outside…" Emma says.

"I just wanted to, uh, express my condolences, really. The Sheriff was a good man. You're still wearing the Deputy's badge. Well, he's been gone two weeks, now, and I believe that after two weeks of acting as Sheriff, the job becomes yours. You'll have to wear the real badge." Mr. Gold says.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just not in a hurry. So, um, thank you for the kind words." Emma says as she goes to leave and exits to the main part of the shop.

Mr. Gold follows her. "I have his things."

"What?" Emma asks.

Mr. Gold walks over to a box on the counter. "The Sheriff. He rented an apartment that I own. Another reason for my call, really. I wanted to offer you a keepsake."

"I don't need anything." Emma says.

"As you wish. Well, give them to Mayor Mills. Seems like she was the closest thing he had to family." Mr. Gold says.

"I'm not sure about that." Emma says.

Mr. Gold smiles, "No love lost there, I see. Look, I feel that all of this stuff is headed for the trash bin – you really should take something. Look – his jacket."

"No." Emma says.

"Well, look. Your boy might like these, don't you think? You could play together." Mr. Gold says as he holds up a pair of walkie talkies.

"I don't-" Emma says.

"No, please. They… They grow up so fast." Mr. Gold says.

Emma smiles, "Thanks." She takes the walkie talkies from Mr. Gold.

"You enjoy these with your boy. Your time together is precious, you know? That's the thing about children – before you know it, you lose them." Mr. Gold says.

Later Emma meets Buffy and Henry at his playground castle, bringing the two walkie talkies with her. She sits down next to them and hands Henry one. "Brought you something. Thought we could use them together for Operation Cobra."

Henry smiles, "Thanks."

"Oh, come on! What's up? You've been ducking me for weeks." Henry says.

"I think we should stop Cobra stuff for a while. You don't play with the curse. Look what happened to Graham." Henry says.

"Henry, I told you they did an autopsy. It was totally natural causes." Emma says.

"Besides." Buffy says. "One thing I learned during my time as a Slayer. War comes with casualties. It's regrettable but it happens. But the fight must continue."

Henry sighs, "Okay, whatever. Emma doesn't believe anyways – good." He looks at Emma. "That should keep you from messing with it. And getting killed."

"You're worried about me?" Emma asks.

"She killed Graham because he was good – and you're good. So are you Aunt Elizabeth." Henry says.

"Henry…" Buffy and Emma says.

"Good loses – good always loses. Because good has to play fair – evil doesn't. She's evil. This is probably best. I don't want to upset her anymore." Henry says as he gives Emma back the walkie talkie and leaves.

"Give him time," Buffy says. "He'll come around. But he's wrong. Good doesn't always lose. Sometimes yes. But if I had let that thinking stop me. I would have given up before the fight with the First Evil."

Emma looks to Buffy, "You're still on about being the Slayer?"

"You want proof?" Buffy asks. "Spar with me. If you manage to beat me then I will admit I have delusions and will seek professional help. But if I beat you, you will believe what I told you is real."

Emma sighs and nods, "Okay."

Two hours later Emma throws her keys on her desk at the station. She had sparred with Buffy and had to admit that the woman was faster and stronger than she appeared, with pretty good reflexes to boot. Was it because as Buffy had stated that she was the Slayer? Or was she just that good. It had given her something to think about. She looks on the desk to see the Sheriff's badge is there. She goes to put it on, when Regina enters.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's not for you." Regina says.

"It's been two weeks – promotion's automatic." Emma says.

"Unless the Mayor appoints someone else within the time period, which I'm doing today." Regina says.

"So, who's it going to be?" Emma asks.

Regina smiles, "After due reflection – Sidney Glass."

"Sidney from the newspaper? How does that even make sense?" Emma says.

"Well, he's covered the Sheriff's Office for as long as anyone can remember." Regina said.

"And he'll do whatever you want him to. You just cannot stand the fact that things have been getting better around here, can you?" Emma said.

"Better? Are you referring to Graham's death as 'better'?" Regina asks.

Emma shakes her head, "No."

Regina nods, "He was a good man, Miss Swan. He made this town safe, and forgive me for saying it, but you have not earned the right to wear his badge."

"Graham picked me to be Deputy." Emma said.

"He was wrong." Regina said.

Emma shakes her head, "No. He knew what he was doing. He freed this office from your leash. You're not getting it back."

"Actually, I just did. Miss Swan, you're fired." Emma said as she takes the Sheriff's badge off the desk and leaves.

Later at Mary Margaret's apartment, Emma is trying to pry open a toaster with a knife. She has the music blaring and there is a half empty bottle of whiskey on the table.

Mary Margaret comes home and sees what Emma is doing. She turns off the music. "Toaster broken?"

"It wasn't when I started with it. Pretty sure it is now. Just needed to hit something." Emma said.

"What's going on?" Mary Margaret asks.

Emma sighs, "Regina fired me so she could put one of her own puppets in as Sheriff. It's my job."

"I never heard you so passionate about it before. What happened?" Mary Margaret says.

"I don't know, I just… I know I want it back." Emma says.

"There must be a reason." Mary Margaret says.

There's a knock on the door.

"Maybe I just want to beat her." Emma says as she answers the door and it turns out to be Mr. Gold. He has a large binder under his arm.

"Good evening, Miss Swan. Sorry for the intrusion. There's something I'd like to discuss with you." Mr. Gold says.

"I'll let you two talk." Mary Margaret says and she leaves the room.

"Come on in." Emma says.

"Thank you. I, uh… I heard about what happened. Such an injustice." Mr. Gold says.

"Yeah, well, what's done is done." Emma says.

"Spoken like a true fighter." Mr. Gold says.

Emma sighs, "I don't know what chance I have. She's Mayor and I'm, well, me."

"Miss Swan, two people with a common goal can accomplish many things. Two people with a common enemy can accomplish even more. How would you like a benefactor?" Mr. Gold says.

"A benefactor?" Emma asks.

Mr. Gold nods, "You mind?" He gestures to the table and both he and Emma sit down. He puts the binder on the table and opens it. "You know, it really is quite shocking how few people study the town charter."

"The town charter?" Emma asks.

Mr. Gold nods, "Well, it's quite comprehensive. And the Mayor's authority? Well, maybe she's not quite as powerful as she seems."

Later Regina, Sidney, and several news reporters are gathered in Regina's office.

"Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes. That's why Sidney Glass is my choice for post of Sheriff. This man has put the needs of Storybrooke above his own for as long as any of us can remember as chief editor of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror. Please welcome your new Sheriff!" Regina says as she goes to pin the Sheriff's badge on Sidney, when Emma enters.)"

"Hang on a second." Emma says.

Regina frowns, "Oh, Miss Swan, this is not appropriate."

"The only thing not appropriate is this ceremony. She does not have the power to appoint him." Emma says.

"The town charter clearly states the Mayor shall appoint-" Regina says.

Emma smiles, "A candidate. You could appoint a candidate. It calls for an election."

"The term 'candidate' is applied loosely." Regina says.

Emma shakes her head, "No, it's not. It requires a vote. And guess what, Madam Mayor? I'm running."

"Fine. So is Sidney." Regina says.

"I am?" Sidney says as Regina turns around and gives him a look. "I am."

"With my full support. I guess we'll learn a little something about the will of the people." Regina says.

Emma nods, "I guess we will."

Later Dawn and Henry are sitting at a booth in Granny's Diner, Henry's reading a newspaper.

Emma enters and sits down next to Henry. "How was school?"

"Okay." Henry says.

"You're reading that paper pretty hard." Emma says.

"He hasn't put it down since we got here." Dawn said.

"Sidney wrote it." Henry says as he passes Emma the paper. On the front page, there's an article titled 'Ex-Jailbird – Emma Swan birthed babe behind bars'. "Is it a lie?"

"No." Emma says.

"I was born in jail?" Henry asks.

"Yes." Emma says.

Dawn frowns, "Emma aren't those records supposed to be sealed?"

Emma sighs and looks at Dawn, "Yes they are supposed to be sealed." She looks back at Henry. "Tell me you're not scarred for life."

Henry shakes his head, "I'm not. Well, not by this."

Emma smiles, "Good. Then, let's throw this out and we will get our news from something more reliable. Like the internet."

"This is what I've been trying to tell you – good can't be evil, because good doesn't do this kind of thing. My mom plays dirty – that's why you can't beat her. Ever." Henry said.

Dawn sighs, "This again?" They look at her. "Buffy told me about this morning. Henry the good guys can and do often win. Buffy is proof of that."

"Besides, I have a new ally. Mr. Gold said he's going to help." Emma says.

"Mr. Gold? He's even worse than she is. You and Aunt Elizabeth already owe him one favor. You don't want to owe him anymore. Don't do this." Henry says.