TemperanceTales: I do not own Once Upon a Time in anyway shape or form and I give full credit to the creators.
Chapter Three: Operation Cobra
"Hey you."
Autumn looked up from her stool at Granny's diner to see Emma standing there. Autumn gave a terse smile before looking back down at her breakfast. Emma noticed the look and said, "Hey kid, I'm sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I know," Autumn said, "Just don't call the book crap again."
"I promise," Emma said with a grin and sat next to her, "So have you lived in Storybrooke long?"
"About three years," Autumn said after swallowing her eggs. She stared up into Emma's hazel eyes and said, "Where do you live?"
"Boston," Emma said and Autumn said, "Cool, I lived there for a bit."
"Really?" Emma said and Autumn nodded, "How long?"
"A few weeks," Autumn said and Emma said, "Sounds more like a vacation than living."
"Blame that on my former foster family," Autumn said and Emma stared down at Autumn in surprise.
"Oh," Emma said, "You're adopted?"
"Mhm," Autumn said smoothly and Emma immediately frowned. She then leaned in close and said, "Did Henry tell you about my superpower?"
"Noo…" Autumn said, looking at Emma unsurely.
"I can tell when someone is lying," Emma said gently, "And while you have to be the best one so far, I know you're lying."
Autumn looked away and Emma said, "Hey, I'm not going to tell anyone. In fact I'll tell you a secret. I was in the foster system too."
Autumn looked at Emma with surprise. Emma then said, "Why did you lie though?"
"Because I don't like to tell people that," Autumn said, quietly. It wasn't sad sounding, just shy sounding. Emma nodded slowly. She was being honest with that answer. So Emma let it drop. Autumn didn't say anything more but continued eating her eggs. Emma watched her for a few moments and then felt someone brush up behind her. She looked back to see Henry there dressed in a school uniform. Emma smiled and said, "Hey, Kiddo. Shouldn't you be at school?"
"Oh, I was going to head out to the bus," Henry said, "Wanna come?"
"Umm, sure," Emma said and looked at Autumn. Autumn seemed unfazed as she kept eating her breakfast. Emma then frowned and said, "Shouldn't you be getting off to school too?"
Autumn glanced at Emma and said, "I will be going in a bit. I usually don't leave till later anyway."
Emma nodded and said, "Alright, See you later Kid."
Autumn watched Emma leave. She then sighed, taking another mouthful of food. Kicking her legs back and forth gently, she debated on whether she should stop by the school. Emma seemed really savvy about knowing a lie when she saw one, which wasn't good for Autumn. If she was going to be hanging around Henry today, it wouldn't be a good idea. Wiping her mouth with the napkin, Granny came over and said, "Done with your breakfast?"
"Yes. Thanks," Autumn said and Granny gave her a warm smile. Granny then asked, "How are things at home?"
"Things are fine at home," Autumn said with a smile, "Mom's working late tonight, so I'm going to go see if I can spend the night with Paige."
" I see," Granny said, "Well tell your mother I say hello when you see her."
"Kay," Autumn said, hopping off the stool and grabbing her bag. She then said, "Have a good day, Granny!"
"You too, Autumn," Granny said as Autumn opened the door. She walked down the street, the autumn breeze blowing her long hair back. The skies were blue intermitted with white fluffy clouds. Her bright blue eyes were sparkling in the sun light. She was in deep thought when someone tapped her shoulder sharply. She suddenly looked up and saw Mr. Gold. Autumn didn't stop walking as he said, "Well this is a surprise. I never see you in the mornings. Aren't you going to school?"
Damn Autumn thought as she let out reluctantly, "I don't go to school."
"Oh?" Mr. Gold said and Autumn nodded tersely. He looked down at her and he said, "All this time of knowing you and I never knew that. Why is it you keep to yourself?"
"I just like my privacy," Autumn said honestly, staring up with her blue eyes, "Surely you can understand that."
"Fair enough," Mr. Gold said, looking back up, "So tell me. If you don't go to school what is it that you do all day in town?"
"I sell my fruits and vegetables, visit some friends," Autumn said smoothly, "And I spend a lot of time at the beach."
"Don't spend much time at home?" Mr. Gold said and Autumn shook her head. She then said, "Only to tend the garden really. I mean, when Mom says I need to come home, I have to."
"Obviously," Mr. Gold said and Autumn continued, "I like being in town. It's fun."
"Fun," he repeated as they stopped at the corner. Autumn looked up at him as he asked, "So where is it you're heading now?"
"I don't know," Autumn said shrugging, "I'm probably just going to hang around town till lunch. Then I have to go ask a friend something."
"Well, I am heading to my shop. You can tag along if you like," Mr. Gold said and Autumn smiled. She didn't say anything in response but merely followed him. They walked in silence for a while before Autumn asked, "Do you have any family here in Storybrooke?"
"No," Mr. Gold said, looking down at her briefly, "I don't."
"Oh," Autumn said, "Is that why you're always in shop?"
"What does me not having family have to do with me being in the shop all the time?" Mr. Gold asked and Autumn gave him a knowing smile. She then walked a little ahead saying, "People who work a lot usually don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't have family close to them."
"Now that's not true," Mr. Gold said and Autumn said, "Maybe, but I've never seen otherwise."
Mr. Gold looked down at Autumn with a questioning glance but didn't ask the question on his mind. Autumn looked up at the sky as the wind blew her hair around. Leaves were falling off the tree as they walked, littering the ground. Autumn was looking around when Mr. Gold asked, "So how did your little trip to the lion's den go?"
"Surprisingly well," Autumn said and Mr. Gold said, "Do you trust her?"
"Nope," Autumn said, "I don't."
"Smart girl," Mr. Gold said as they made it to his shop. Autumn looked across the street briefly and almost did a double take. There was Emma standing there, staring right at her. Mr. Gold noticed and said, "I see you've met Henry's mother."
"How did you-?" Autumn started and Mr. Gold said, "There is little in this town that I don't know. Go on, dearie, she looks likes she wants to talk to you."
"I noticed," Autumn mumbled as Mr. Gold patted her back saying, "I'll be in the shop if you need me."
"Workaholic," Autumn stuck her tongue out and Mr. Gold leaned down saying, "Careful, or I'll steal that silver tongue of yours."
"Why? You have one of your own," Autumn taunted playfully before going across the street. Emma watched Autumn come closer and Autumn said, "Hi."
"Hey kid, why aren't you in school?" Emma asked and Autumn said, "I don't go to school."
"Oh?" Emma said, looking somewhat surprised. She was telling the truth. "So why tell me you were leaving?"
"I was," Autumn said with an innocent smile, "Just not to school. In fact, I've been debating on what I'm going to do till lunch."
"I see," Emma said, crossing her arms. She really didn't want to be asking a kid this, but she really didn't have much of a choice. "So you're close to him?"
"Hm?" Autumn looked at her curiously.
"Mr. Gold," Emma said and Autumn said, "More close than others, I suppose."
"Has he always been such a sketch ball?" Emma asked and Autumn shrugged saying, "He's a business man, what do you expect?"
Emma snorted at that and said, "True, very true."
"Why do you ask?" Autumn said and Emma said, "He asked me to look into something for him and he's not being straight with me."
"Ah," Autumn said, "Well there is one way around that."
"And what's that?" Emma asked.
"Give him something he can't refuse," Autumn said simply, "Now if you shall excuse me, I have to go entertain myself till lunch."
Autumn walked away promptly before Emma could say anything else. Emma watched her leave and shook her head. She was getting soft; it was none of her business what Henry's friends were up to. Turning on her heel, Emma walked away to figure out where Ashley was.
Mr. Gold looked up as Autumn walked back into the store. He smiled and said, "Done explaining me to Miss. Swan?"
"Yep," Autumn said walking over and sitting up on one of the stools near his desk. He was writing things down in his books as she watched him. "Why did you hire her anyway?"
"Because," Mr. Gold said, "She is looking for someone that took property from me."
"You mean Ashley," Autumn said, "And her baby."
"Well aren't you being Miss. Smarty Pants today," Mr. Gold said, putting down his pen and looking at her, "Would you mind telling me how it is you know that?"
"She's the maid at Granny's," Autumn said, staring at him casually, "It's not hard to put two and two together when she's in the back crying about it. Why do you want her baby anyway?"
"That is between me and myself," Mr. Gold said and Autumn said slightly amused, "Touchy, Touchy today."
"Well considering I had a pregnant woman break into my shop and attack me, yes," He said, staring at her with an annoyed yet somewhat amused looked, "I am touchy today."
Autumn shook her head and said, "You did say you were a difficult guy to love."
"And yet you are still here," Mr. Gold said and Autumn teased, "Till you kick me out of your shop anyway."
"Hm," Mr. Gold said, "So Mr. Henry went off with his mother today."
"He did?" Autumn said, "With Regina? "
"Not Regina," Mr. Gold said, walking around the desk. The sound of his cane clicked, filling the silence as he came around near her. It was closer than she ever remembered him getting, close enough to where there was only a foot or so of breathing space. He didn't do anything else, however, leaving her a bit bewildered. He merely looked at Autumn and continued, "Miss Swan."
"Is there a reason you're invading my personal space?" Autumn asked, her face becoming unsure. Mr. Gold said, "So what is this Operation Cobra that you and Henry have developed?"
"Huh?" Autumn looked at him confused and he said, "The Fairytale theory."
"Oh," Autumn said, "That. Why do you want to know?"
"Because I'm curious as to what brought around this little theory," Mr. Gold said, and Autumn replied, "We think everyone from Storybrooke has a counterpart, from the land of fairy tales."
"Oh? And who would you be?" Mr. Gold asked and Autumn gave him a sly smile saying, "Nice try. I'm not in the book, I'm not from Storybrooke."
"You're not?" Mr. Gold asked curiously and Autumn shook her head saying, "I only came here three years ago."
"Did you now?" Mr. Gold asked, "However did you find this lovely town?"
"I don't know," Autumn said carelessly, "My mother was looking for a town away from the big city and we came here."
"I see," Mr. Gold said, finally backing away. He glanced at her and said, "So how come I've never met this mother of yours?"
"I don't know," Autumn said with a shrug, "Maybe cause she works a lot."
Mr. Gold nodded and pulled a book off the shelf. Opening it, he walked back around to the desk saying, "So Madame Mayor hasn't given you anymore problems?"
"No, but I doubt she's done trying to find out about me," Autumn said casually. Mr. Gold smirked and said, "Good, so I would keep on your toes if I were you. You wouldn't want Madame Mayor to uncover the mystery that is you."
"Indeed not," Autumn said, slipping down from the stool. Mr. Gold finally looked at her and said, "Leaving already?"
"There is something I have to do," Autumn said, "And then I have to go home for a bit."
"I see," Mr. Gold said, "Good day to you then."
"Bye, Mr. Gold," Autumn said, hurrying out of the shop. Mr. Gold watched her for a moment and shook his head. She was an interesting one.
S.C.
"So Henry isn't here?" Autumn asked Paige as they by the usual tree. Paige was standing next to her, the wind blowing their hair around. Shaking her head, Autumn's stomach dropped a bit.
"No," Paige said, "He didn't come in today."
"Oh," Autumn said, kicking a stone near her foot. She really had wanted to tell Henry about her conversation with Mr. Gold. She was alarmed that he knew about it since she wasn't quite sure what he would do. Paige watched her friend and asked, "Do you need to stay over again tonight?"
"Yeah," Autumn said, "I do."
"Dad will be happy to have you," Paige said, happily, "He missed you."
Autumn smiled weakly and said, "Good, because it will be the last time I will be able to stay in a while."
"Why?" Paige said and Autumn said, "I have serious work to do with the garden and I need to get it done before it starts snowing. I will be here all of tomorrow but that's it."
"Oh," Paige said and Autumn said, "Don't worry about it, you'll see me sooner than you know it."
"I know," Paige said, "But you know, I'll miss you. It's been fun hanging out with you and Henry."
"It is fun," Autumn said with a smile, "And I'll be back soon."
"True," Paige said, "If we don't see Henry tomorrow, do you want me to tell him you won't be here."
"Yeah," Autumn said, as the bell rang, "Do that."
Blinking, she stared around at her surroundings that she was not familiar with. The sky was swirling with blue and white while the plants were as tall a she was. Walking down the brick path, she stared around trying to figure out how in the world she got there. There was no wind but the weather wasn't unpleasant.
"Are you lost?"
The girl looked behind her as she saw what she felt to be a peculiar sight. A cat was relaxing on a tree branch with the biggest smile she had ever seen. The cat was larger than she and was staring at her with curious feline eyes. She walked back towards him and said, "I suppose so, I don't remember where I am."
"I see," the cat said kindly. He disappeared in a puff of smoke, making the girl looked around in confusion. Why would he disappear if she had told him she was lost? Tears almost sprung into her eyes and she turned to walk away when he appeared before her in a similar fashion to leaving. She jumped in shock as he floated in mid air around her saying, "I see, it such a terrible thing to be alone and lost. What do you call yourself?"
"I-," the girl frowned in concentration, "I don't know."
"Hm," the cat purred and said, "Well I'll take you to the Hare and the Hatter, and that's the end of it."
He disappeared and she blinked in confusion. He appeared quite a distance before her and said, "Coming?"
