One sunny afternoon, Henry was at the Dark Star Pharmacy reading over some comic books after school. As he did, a girl his age came over, looking over his shoulder. She was in the same uniform as him, with blonde hair in two pigtails.
"Whatcha reading?" she asked, causing him to turn around.
"The Hulk versus Wolverine," he answered. "You like comics?"
"Sometimes," the girl answered. "I'm Ava, Ava Zimmer. I think I've seen you around school. You're in Miss Blanchard's class, right?"
Henry nodded as a boy came over. He too was in a school uniform, but had dark brown hair cut short.
"Almost ready, Ava?" he asked
Ava nodded, then wrapped an arm around the boy.
"This is my brother Nicholas."
"Hi," Nicholas greeted before turning to his sister. "Come on, let's go."
"Sure," Ava told him, perking slightly before turning to Henry. "Hey, want to hang out with us?"
"Sure," Henry agreed.
He picked up his backpack and started following the two out the door. Before they could leave, the owner, Mr. Clark, quickly put his hand on the door, keeping it closed.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" he asked before sneezing, then pointing at Henry. "Open up your bag."
"Wait, what?" Henry questioned. "Why?"
"Don't think I didn't see you rob me," Mr. Clark accused, causing Ava and Nicholas to exchange looks. "Open your bag."
"But I didn't take anything."
Mr. Clark, exasperated at this point, grabbed Henry's bag from him and opened it. He rummaged through it, revealing several candy bars. He pulled them out, glaring at the three kids.
"Not only a thief, but a liar as well," he accused. "I'm so disappointed in you, Henry."
Henry was confused for a moment, then it dawned on him and he turned to Ava.
"You were distracting me," he realized. "You were keeping me occupied while your brother stuffed these things in my bag."
"I'm sorry Henry, but I'm calling your mother," Mr. Clark warned. "And you two, just who do you think you are?"
…
Meanwhile at Granny's, Eve was sitting at one of the booths, going through some various papers and bills. Many were covered in red stamps, and many more seemed to be notices and bills. Eve looked them over, then just let out a long groan and face planted on the table. Ruby came over, sliding her a cup of coffee.
"I feel like I should be getting you something stronger than coffee," she remarked.
"I don't drink..." Eve mumbled, not lifting her head.
"Well, just let me know if you need anything."
"What I need, I'm afraid you can't provide," Eve lamented, finally lifting her head. "Still, tell Granny I said thanks for the room."
"Hey, we get it," Ruby told her, heading off to tend to other tables. "You can stay as long as you need until you get your feet back under you."
"You mean if I ever get them back under me..." Eve mumbled before faceplanting again.
Emma, who was sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee, looked over at Eve with a note of empathy.
"Financial trouble?" she asked.
"Among other various problems," Eve answered. "I'm trying to get my shop rebuilt, along with my home, but I swear that Regina is pulling out every foot of red tape she can find to keep me homeless..."
"Sounds like she has as many issues with you as she does with me."
"Trust me, she does. She's hated me for many years, long before you came to be. And sadly, I think she's won this battle."
Emma came over, sitting down across from Eve.
"Why do you say that?" she asked.
"Because I'm living off charity, I have no job, and, sadly, no true friends."
"Hey, neither did I a few weeks ago, remember?"
Eve lifted her head.
"You're special, Emma," Eve insisted. "Me? I'm nobody here."
Emma didn't know what to say, then her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, seeing an alert.
"Sorry, just got a call from the pharmacy. Apparently, Tom Clark caught some kids shoplifting."
"You best go," Eve told her, turning back to her mountain of papers.
Emma started to get up, but then a thought came to mind.
"Hey, you wanna come along?"
That made Eve actually pause for a moment. She looked up, confused.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Well, at the moment, I'm running the department by myself since it's just me, and you've been a big help in the past."
Eve thought about it, then gathered her papers and stood up.
"Sure," she decided. "I'll come along."
"Great," Emma said with a small smile before gesturing to the door. "Come on, let's get moving."
…
At the pharmacy, Regina was listening to Mr. Clark relay Henry's supposed actions.
"I'm sorry Madame Mayor," he told her. "But your son was shoplifting."
"Were you?" Regina questioned her son.
"No," Henry insisted. "They tricked me and stuffed all that stuff in my bag."
"... well, alright then." She turned to Mr. Clark. "You heard my son. He knows better than to steal, and he doesn't need to do it to get candy. It was clearly those two. We're going."
Regina and Henry started out the door just as Emma and Eve entered. Upon seeing the two, Regina scowled, which Eve returned in kind. Emma, however, immediately turned her attention to Henry.
"Henry, what happened?" she asked.
"Miss Swan, must I remind you that genetics mean nothing?" Regina told her. "You are not his mother and it's all taken care of."
"I'm here because I'm the sheriff."
"Oh, that's right. And what about her?" she turned to Eve.
"I'm-" Eve began.
"She's my new Deputy," Emma interjected.
"I'm sorry, what?" Regina questioned.
"I am?" Eve asked.
"As Sheriff, I have the authority, and I trust Eve wholeheartedly," Emma declared. "So yes, she is."
Regina gave them both a look of suspicion before relenting.
"Well then… I'll leave you to it."
She walked out with Henry in tow, leaving Emma and Eve with Mr. Clark and the two kids. Once she was gone, Emma got right to business.
"Did you call their parents?" she asked.
"Uh, the number they gave me was disconnected," he told them.
"So it was fake?" Eve questioned, turning to the two kids, who just shook their heads. "Then why was it disconnected?"
"Cause our parents couldn't pay the bill," Ava told her.
Emma heard that, then took a better look at the things that had been pulled from henry's bag. Along with the candybars, there were also some rolls of toilet paper, toothpaste, and some toothbrushes. Emma picked up the toothpaste, realizing what was going on.
"You guys are just trying to help out, huh?"
Ava nodded in response.
"Please, please don't arrest us. It will just make things worse for our parents."
Emma and Eve exchanged looks, as if contemplating their next move.
…
Sometime later, Emma was driving through one of the Storybrooke neighborhoods with Eve in her passenger seat and the two kids in the back.
"Left up here," Eve instructed. "Their house should be the one on the right with the green door."
Emma rounded the corner, slowing to a stop as they approached the house.
"This it?" Emma asked.
Ava nodded, prompting the two adults to unfasten their seatbelts.
"Please, no," Ava pleaded. "If our parents see you, they'll be so embarrassed."
"Well, you did commit a crime," Eve pointed out. "I'd say a little embarrassment is well-"
Emma held up a hand, cutting Eve off. She then turned to look back at the kids with a knowing look. Eve, unsure of what was going on, backed off and let Emma take the lead.
"Did Henry tell you about my superpower?" she asked.
"No," Ava replied. "We just met him."
"I have the ability to tell when anybody is lying. Tell me the truth, money problems aside, is everything okay at home?"
Weirded out, both Ava and Nicholas nodded their heads.
"Yeah, we're great," Nicholas insisted.
"What he said," Ava agreed. "Can we go now? Please?"
"... alright," Emma allowed.
The two kids quickly piled out of the car and went to the door. Eve watched them, eyebrows furrowing.
"What are you thinking, Emma?"
"I'm thinking I've used that excuse myself once or twice before, back when I was in between homes."
"What do you want to do?"
"Just hang tight. I'm gonna pull around back."
She put the car in gear, disappearing around the corner. Once they were out of sight, Ava turned to her brother.
"They're gone. We're good."
The two quickly made their way down the steps of the porch and towards the back fence. They climbed over it and made their way to the back of the house, which seemed more run down and falling apart than it initially appeared. They slipped into the house's storeroom, where they had clearly been living. There was various supplies, a simple bed, and some scattered books clearly for school. As Ava unloaded some food she'd managed to hold onto, the two heard a noise coming from the house above. Curious as to what it could be, Ava climbed up the steps and slowly raised the trapdoor to take a look. She and Nicholas climbed out to check around, seeing that there was no one there.
"Why did you lie to me?" Emma asked from behind, causing them to jump.
They turned around to see her and Eve standing behind them, both looking a little judgemental at the moment.
"Alright, time for the truth," Eve insisted. "Where are your parents?"
Both Ava and Nicholas looked for an escape, but found none. Knowing they were trapped, Ava relented.
"We don't have any..."
…
Later, Eve and Emma brought the kids back to Mary Margaret's loft. Mary Margaret set out some grilled cheese sandwiches for them, which the kids began devouring hungrily. She stepped away and the three women watched them, all with sympathetic expressions.
"I wonder if this is the first hot meal they've had in awhile," Eve said softly.
"Their uniforms are to your school," Emma spoke up, glancing at her roommate. "Do you know them?"
"I've seen them around," Mary Margaret told her. "But I had no idea. None of us did."
Emma pulled a file out from under her arm, glancing at profiles from the school's attendance sheet.
"Ava and Nicholas Zimmer… According to this, their mother was named Dory Zimmer, who died a few years ago. Unfortunately, no one seems to know her or remember her."
"I'm afraid I'm of little help in that regard," Eve admitted. "Their story is one even I'm not privy to."
"What about their father?" Mary Margaret asked.
"There isn't one," Emma answered. "At least, not one that they know of."
"What did social services say?" Eve asked.
Emma paused for a moment, nervous silence overtaking her. Eve went wide-eyed upon realizing what that meant.
"You didn't report them, did you?" she asked.
"I report them, they go into the system," Emma whispered.
"The system that's supposed to help," Mary Margaret argued quietly.
"Says the woman who wasn't in it for sixteen years," Emma retorted. "You know what happens? They get thrown into homes where they are a meal ticket, nothing more. These families get paid for these kids and as soon as they're too much work, they get tossed out and it all starts over again.
"Surely not all of them are like that," Mary Margaret insisted.
"All the ones I was in," Emma replied.
"Alright, we get it," Eve stepped in. "However, even if we don't report them, our options are severely limited. It's not as if any of us are in a position to adopt them."
"Maybe not, but they do have a father," Emma pointed out. "They don't know him, so maybe he doesn't know they exist."
"And you think if he does, he'll want them?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I don't know," Emma admitted. "But what I do know is that it's hard enough to find foster families to take one kid that isn't theirs, let alone two. It's their best shot, or…"
"We're gonna be separated?"
All three women jumped, turning to see a sobbing Ava standing right behind them. Nicholas was just watching from his seat, looking scared. Almost immediately, Emma bent down so she was eye level with Ava, gently wiping the tears from her eyes.
"No," she swore. "That's not gonna happen."
"Please, don't let it," Ava begged. "I can't lose my brother… he's all I have..."
"Don't worry. It won't."
…
Later, Eve and Emma were walking down the street to the Hall of Records.
"Do you really think it was a good idea to promise them they'd stay together?" Eve finally asked.
"Why not?" Emma replied. "It's what I intend to do."
"But what if you can't? What if their father doesn't want them? I just don't think it's a good idea to give them false hope."
"Sometimes that's better than no hope at all. Trust me."
They made their way inside, approaching the counter were a middle aged man was working.
"Excuse me, Mr…" Emma glanced at the nameplace, squinting slightly at the very interesting name on it, "Ku-sas-ki?"
"It's Krzyszkowski," the man corrected, turning around to face the women. "Everyone calls me 'K'."
"Mr. K, I am Sheriff Swan and this is Eve Fleming. We're hoping to look at the birth certificates of Ava and Nicholas Zimmer."
K nodded, then grabbed some forms out of a drawer, setting them out on the desk in front of him.
"Well, just fill out these forms, in triplicate," he instructed before grabbing a massive stamp and stamping all three forms loudly.
"Okay," Emma let out, cautiously taking the forms before whispering to Eve. "Is he always like that?"
"Pretty much, yes," Eve answered with a nod.
"I am so sorry," Mr. K replied after searching the drawer. "Those documents have been recently removied.
"By who?" Emma questioned.
Eve's face fell.
"Who do you think?"
...
"Don't worry, Miss Swan," Regina reassured as she sat at her desk. "You both can relax. I've contacted social services. Turns out, these kids are on their own. They need help."
"Which is exactly what we're trying to do," Emma insisted. "We're trying to find their father."
"Well, he doesn't exist," Regina announced.
"That's impossible," Eve declared. "Their father has to-"
"Well of course he does, biologically," Regina cut off, handing them the file, "but there's not record of him."
Emma took the file and flipped through it, finding no information on the father whatsoever. His name wasn't even on the birth certificate for the twins.
"These children need a home. So, they will be put into the foster system."
"Storybrooke has a foster system?" Emma questioned.
"No, we don't," Eve replied, feeling her heart drop into her stomach.
"That's why I contacted the state," Regina interjected. "Maine's group homes unfortunately are filled, but they put me in touch with two homes in Boston. Boy's home and a girl's home."
"You're separating them?" Emma realized.
"I don't like it either, but we've got no choice. You need to have them in Boston tonight."
"Me?" Emma exclaimed.
"Why does it have to be her?" Eve questioned. "You're the one who called social services, so why does Emma have to be the one to separate them?"
"Because, Miss Flemming, she's the sheriff," Regina snapped. "She wanted the job, and this is part of that job. She's taking them."
"No, I promised them they wouldn't be separated," Ema insisted.
"Well, then you should stop making promises you can't keep," Regina retorted. "These children need a home. I'm just trying to find the best one."
…
At the Sheriff's Station, both Emma and Eve were hard at work, trying to find any information they could on Ava and Nicholas' father. As they worked, Henry came walking in, his storybook under his arm. He gave Eve a small wave before turning to his mom.
"What's Miss Flemming doing here?" he asked.
"She's my new Deputy," Emma explained as Eve held up the new deputy badge that was sitting next to her. "And right now, we're trying to find the father of the two kids who tried to use you as a pack mule."
"Well, I know who they are," Henry relayed, opening his storybook. "Brother and sister, lost, no parents. They have to be Hansel and Gretal."
He spared a glance at Eve, who just gave a small nod.
"It certainly fits," she remarked. "Sadly, that story is one I'm not very familiar with."
"Well, do you know anything about their dad, Henry?" Emma asked.
"Just that he abandoned them," Henry lamented.
"Right," Emma remarked. "Sounds like a familiar story. Whoever this guy is, he could be in Laos by now."
"No, he's in town," Eve insisted. "Of that, I'm certain."
"How can you be sure?" Emma asked.
"Because no one leaves Storybrooke," Henry reminded her. "No one comes here, no one goes. It's just the way it is."
"I came here," Emma reminded them.
"Like I said before, Emma," Eve piped up. "You're special. You're also the first 'outsider' here ever."
She performed air quotes around the word outsider as Emma just gave an exaggerated nod.
"Right… Well, if Ava and Nicholas' father is around here anywhere, we will find him."
The two women got back to their search, Henry watching them for a minute. He then sat down in a chair next to Emma's desk, seemingly working up the nerve to ask something.
"Can... you tell me about him?" he finally asked.
"I don't know anything yet," Emma replied.
"Not their father, mine."
That made both women look up. After a second, Eve rose to her feet.
"I'm going to step out to get some coffee," she decided.
Eve then walked out of the office and around the corner, giving the two some much needed privacy. Once she was gone, Henry turned back to his mom.
"I told you about your parents, now you're even living with your mum," he reminded her.
"Mary Margaret isn't…" Emma tried to correct. "she's... never mind."
"Please…" Henry pleaded.
Emma tried to resist, but she eventually caved. She set her work aside, facing her son and beginning her story.
"I was pretty young. I'd just gotten out of the foster system and the only job I could get was at this 24-hour diner, just off the interstate. And um... your dad was training to be a fireman. He always got the worst shifts, so he'd come in and order coffee and pie. He'd always sit at the counter and he'd always complain that we didn't sell pumpkin pie." That got a chuckle out of Henry, one Emma reciprocated before continuing. "But he always came back the next day anyway."
"Did you get married?" Henry asked.
"No, nothing like that. We just... we hung out a few times outside of work, and life happened. His got better and mine... got worse. I got into some trouble."
"And went to jail," Henry recalled.
"Yeah. And before I went, I found out I was pregnant with you." Henry smiled in response. "And, I tried to contact him. And I found out… that he died saving a family from a burning apartment building. So, you think I am the savior, Henry? He was. Your father was a real hero."
Henry looked a bit sad at the news that his dad was dead, but let out a breath to settle himself. From where she was hiding around the corner, Eve too felt her heart go out for the boy.
"Do you have anything of his?" Henry finally spoke up "Something you can remember him by. Something I can see."
"I-" Emma stopped, realizing something. "I don't... Henry, I'm sorry. I gotta go. I may know how to find this guy."
She stood up, turning to the hall.
"Eve, quit lurking and hurry up," she called. "We may be able to save those kids after all."
Eve jolted, blushing at being caught, then quickly followed Emma out of the station.
…
Later, Emma and Eve returned to the loft, Emma immediately going for a box of her things so she could bring it out to Nicholas and Ava.
"I want to show you guys something, she told them, setting the box down and taking out a blanket.
Eve stared at the blanket in Emma's hands, having to cover her mouth to hide her reaction. She recognized it immediately, and was shocked that Emma still had it. The kids, not understanding the significance of the blanket, just stared at it.
"What's that?" Nicholas asked.
"It's my baby blanket," Emma explained. "Something I've held onto my whole life. It's the only thing that I have from my parents. I've spent a lot of time with a lot of kids in your situation, and all of them… all of us, we hold onto stuff. I want to find your father, but I need your help. Is there anything of his you've held onto?"
There was a long pause, then Ava let out a long breath.
"I might have something," she said, making both Emma and Eve perk. "But if I give it to you, you'll make sure we stay together?"
"We will do everything in our power," Eve promised.
Ava then fished into her pocket and pulled out a cracked compass on a long chain. She held it out for Emma, who took it gently.
"A compass?" she asked.
"It was our dad's, at least, according to our mom," Ava explained. "She said that it would always lead us back to our family."
"Thank you," Emma replied as she and Eve prepared to leave.
"Did you find them?" Ava asked.
"who?
"Your family."
Emma paused, then shook her head.
"Not yet. But I'm going to find yours."
...
Their next stop was Gold's pawnshop, where Mr. Gold was polishing up some of the items on display. He looked up at the sound of his door bell, smiling at the pair.
"Ah, Miss Swan," Gold greeted. "And Miss Flemming. Glad to see you out and about. How are the burns?"
"Almost gone," she answered. "I doubt they'll even leave much of a scar after awhile."
"Glad to hear, but I get the feeling this isn't a social visit. What can I do for you?"
Emma reached into her pocket and pulled out the compass, laying it on the counter in front of her.
"I'm looking for information on this old compass," she explained. "Any idea where it came from?"
Gold glanced down at the compass and looked it over.
"Well, well, well," he let out, picking up the compass. "Look at the detail on this beauty. You know, this is crystal. Despite the rather unfortunate condition it's in, this actually quite an unusual piece. The person who owned it obviously had great taste."
"And I'm assuming it once passed through your shop," Eve spoke up. "There's not a chance in Hell that something this valuable didn't end up in your hands at some point."
"You are quite right in that regard," Gold nodded, setting the compass back down. "In fact, I'm pretty sure I still have records of the purchaser in my archives."
"Can you tell us who bought it?" Emma questioned.
"Well, I could," Gold replied, putting special emphasis on the word 'could', "however, I'm afraid my services aren't free."
"I think this time, they will be," Eve declared, a small bit of her confidence returning as she stepped forward.
"And why would that be, dearie?"
Eve smiled a bit, leaning on the counter.
"Because this compass is going to help us reunite a father with his children," she answered, watching as a moment of recognition flickered across Gold's face. "And you of all people know how important family is."
Gold paused for a moment, finally retreating back behind the counter.
"Fortunately for you two," he told them. "I happen to keep quite extensive records of who enters my shop."
He reached into a drawer and found a certain card inside.
"Here we are. The compass was purchased by a Mr. Michael Tillman."
"Anything else?" Emma inquired.
"Just a name," Gold told her. "But I generally find that's all one needs."
"Thank you, Gold," Eve told him.
"Good luck with the investigation," he told them as they left.
He then placed the card on the counter, revealing it to be blank.
…
Later, Emma and Eve tracked Michael down to an auto repair shop. Eve stayed in the car this time as Emma went to talk with Michael. She showed him the file on Ava and Nicholas, then shook his head in disbelief.
"Not possible," he declared, handing it back.
"Actually, it is," Emma pressed.
"Sorry, but Dory, she wasn't my… it was just once."
"Sometimes, that's all it takes," Emma remarked as he turned back to the car.
"I met her when I was camping, and we um..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "No, it's not possible. I don't have twins."
"Yes, you do," Emma persisted, causing Michael to turn back to her. "You have twins that have been homeless ever since their mother passed away. Your twins have been living in an abandoned house because they don't want to be separated from each other. Your twins are about to be shipped to Boston, unless you step up and take some responsibility."
This made Michael grunt a bit, slamming a wrench down on the side of the car.
"I can barely manage this garage. I can't manage two kids," he insisted, walking over to a work table. "Why are you so sure they're mine?"
"Besides the timing?" Emma then held out the compass. "Have you seen this?"
Seeing the compass, Michael was shocked. He reached out, hands shaking as he took it.
"I- I lost this..."
"Let me guess, twelve years and nine months ago?" Emma said, causing Michael to look up. "I know it's a lot, believe me, I know. A month ago, a kid showed up on my doorstep, I gave up for adoption, asking for help with... something, I ended up moving here for him."
"I heard about that. It's the Mayor's son. But staying in town is a lot different from taking him in."
"I don't have my kid because I don't have a choice. You do. Those kids did not ask to be brought into this world. You brought them into this world, you and their mother. And they need you. If you choose not to take them, you are going to have to answer that every day of your life. And soon or later, when they find you, because believe me, they will find you, you are going to have to answer to them.
Michael seemed to think on that for a minute, then just turned away in shameful silence.
"I'm really sorry..." he said in almost a whisper as he returned the compass. "Truly, I am, but… but I don't know anything about being a dad. If it's a good home you're looking for, it's not with me."
With that, he turned and walked deeper into the garage. Defeated, Emma returned to the car, practically slamming the door behind her. Seeing her expression, Eve winced.
"What happened?"
"He doesn't want the kids..."
"That's awful..." Eve let out. "What are we going to tell Ava and Nicholas?"
"I don't know… if I tell them the truth, then the false hope I gave them is just that."
"Maybe so, but they deserve to know the truth, no matter how painful it is. I mean, isn't that why you came clean to Henry? It hurt to know his father was dead, but at least he-"
"I lied," Emma cut off
Eve blinked.
"What?"
"Henry's father was no hero, and trust me, he does not need to know the real story."
Eve was shocked to say the least, but quickly realized that this was not the time for that story
"So, what do we do?" she asked.
"I- I don't know… Maybe we can hide the kids? Just until we can find a family for them, someone to take care of them."
"Emma, we can't just hide two twelve year olds," Eve pointed out.
"You have a better idea?"
"No, I don't," Eve sighed, just looking defeated. "Maybe… maybe there is no idea. Sometimes… we lose. And I'm afraid this is one of those times."
Emma went to argue, but that's when someone began knocking on her window. She looked out, her eyes growing cold when she saw Regina standing just outside the car. Reluctantly, Emma rolled down her window.
"Regina," she let out.
"Sheriff," Regina replied. "Shouldn't you be on the interstate?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Making sure you're doing your job."
"You don't need to check up on us," Eve insisted, her voice sounding dull and defeated. "We know what we have to do."
Regina couldn't help the smirk on her face at Eve's tone.
"Good, because those kids are supposed to be in Boston tonight."
…
That night, Ava and Nicholas approached Emma's car, forlornly climbing into the backseat. Eve handed Ava back the compass, running a gentle hand over her hair.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, climbing into the passenger seat. "We did all that we could."
Ava said nothing, just climbing into the back with her brother. Emma watched them get situated, then all but slammed the door shut in anger. Off to the side, Regina and Henry watched, the former smug and the latter worried.
"Let's go home, Henry," Regina told him.
Henry however, brushed past Regina and ran up to the car.
"You can't take them," Henry insisted as he ran up to Emma's window. "They can't leave Storybrooke, Emma. something bad will happen."
"Something bad has already happened," Emma lamented, starting the engine and beginning to drive off.
Regina watched as Emma drove away, a mischievous smile gracing her face.
…
The four continued driving towards the edge of town, Emma glancing back at Ava and Nicholas in the back. Neither were talking, just holding one another for however long they had left. Eve was sitting in her seat, nervously playing with the strap of her messenger bag. Suddenly, the car started shaking, before the engine began to sputter out and the car slowed to a crawl.
"You gotta be kidding me," Emma let out.
"What's happening?" Ava asked. "What's wrong?"
"It would seem that there's something's wrong with the engine," Eve spoke up, holding out a phone for Emma. "Perhaps we should call a tow truck."
Emma paused for a moment, before slowly taking the phone and dialing.
"Good idea…"
...
Sometime later, Emma and Eve were outside the car, waiting for the tow truck. Ava and Nicholas waited inside as the former looked down at the compass, seeing the needle move backwards.
"Nicholas, look!"
They see the needle spin around, pointing out the back window. This prompted the two to turn around and see the tow truck pulling up. The truck stopped, allowing Michael to get out and walk up to the two women. As he did, he saw Ava and Nicholas in the back window.
"Those are them?" he asked.
"Those are them," Emma confirmed.
"And the car? It's fine?"
"I'm starting to think so," Emma replied, turning to Eve.
"The distributor cap might need to be tightened, but other than that, it's in perfect working order," Eve said with a small shrug. "Right now though, you need to tend to your children."
Michael looked incredibly nervous at the idea, then Emma gently nudged him.
"I didn't think I could do it either. I gave up Henry 'cause I wanted to give him his best chance. When I saw that he didn't have it, I couldn't leave. I was just as scared, more, probably. But once I saw him, got to know him, I couldn't go back."
He walked closer to the car before turning back to them.
"You're taking them to Boston?"
"We don't have to," Emma insisted.
Michael looked at the two kids in the back, straightening a little as he came to a decision.
"No, you don't have to..."
Emma and Eve smiled as Michael walked up to his children.
…
Later that night, Emma returned to the loft as Mary Margaret was folding some clothes.
"Hey," she greeted. "What happened?"
"Their dad," Emma shared. "He showed up, changed his mind."
"Changed his mind? Just like that?"
Emma chuckled a bit.
"It might have been a little nudge, courtesy of a friend, but he did."
"They found their father. That's great."
Emma nodded, looking up wistfully.
"I wonder what that would be like…" she wondered.
"Maybe you'll find out," Mary Margaret told her. "You can't give up."
"I don't know. I kinda think giving up might be the best plan. I think I need to let go."
"No, you don't."
"Really?" Emma sat up on the bed. "If they wanted to know me, they wouldn't make it so hard to look."
"Maybe," Mary Margaret admitted, "but maybe there's other reasons, maybe there's an explanation."
"Well, there's always Henry's theory."
"What's Henry's theory?"
Emma couldn't help but laugh as she rolled onto her stomach.
"Well, that my parents put me in a magical wardrobe, and sent me to this world to save them."
"Ohhh," Mary Margaret replied, chuckling. "and who does he think they are?"
"Well, for one, you."
That threw Mary Margaret for a loop. She blinked, stunned by this revelation.
"Me?" she questioned.
"Well, Snow White," Emma amended.
"Snow White has a kid?
"Apparently that book you gave him, not exactly the stories in the most traditional sense.
"I'm pretty sure I'd remember having a kid," Mary Margaret told her. "And if I did have one, I would never abandon them." She then squinted, looking at Emma with an inquisitive eye. "You do kind of have my chin though."
The two both smiled in response to that.
"I think I need to go get some air," Emma decided, getting off the bed and walking off. "I'm gonna go think."
She grabbed a manila envelope from the box that held her baby blanket as she went.
"If you're gonna be back late, I can wait to eat with you?" Mary Margaret offered.
"No, don't do that."
"I'll leave you leftovers then.
Emma nodded, grabbing her keys and heading for the door. As she watched her roommate leave, Mary Margaret noticed Emma's baby blanket poking out of the box.
"What a pretty blanket!" she let out.
"Thanks," Emma replied, pausing for a moment. "Goodnight."
Finally, Emma went out the door, leaving Mary Margaret alone in the apartment. She kept looking at the blanket, feeling as though she were drawn to it. She slowly walked over, peeking into the box before pulling the blanket out. She held it in her hands, feeling it before giving it a sniff. She then blinked, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her before she ditched the blanket back in the box.
…
Outside, Emma was sitting in her car, looking over a news cut out of her being found as a baby. She looked up when she heard a gentle knock on the passenger window. She saw it was Eve and opened the door. Eve slipped in, closing it behind her.
"Sorry for tampering with your car," Eve began.
"Don't sweat it," Emma told her. "If anything, I should thank you for it. It got those kids back with their dad."
"I'll be honest… I'd almost given up. But… But seeing you continue to fight, even after all seemed lost, it reminded me that there's always hope, so long as we never stop looking."
"I just… couldn't bear the idea of those kids going through what I did."
"Still, thank you." Eve then reached onto her belt, holding out the deputy badge. "And here. I'm guessing that with the case over, you'll be wanting this back."
"Actually… why don't you hang onto that."
Eve was taken aback by that.
"Really?"
"Well, we work well together. Besides, if memory serves, you do need the job. And I need someone I can trust."
Eve smiled, then slid the badge back onto her belt.
"Thank you, Emma."
"Hey, what are friends for?"
That made Eve's smile grow even larger. Just then, Henry approached the car with a white box in hand and knocked on the window, causing them to turn and see him.
"Henry," Eve greeted.
"Hi Miss Fleming," Henry greeted. "I'm not interrupting, am I?"
"No, not at all," Emma promised as the two women moved to get out. "What's in the box?"
"Pumpkin pie. I thought you'd like some. It was pumpkin, right?"
"Right," Emma confirmed, stepping out of the car.
Henry walked around to meet her as Eve got out as well, staying put as she let mother and son talk.
"Henry," Emma spoke up. "About your father…"
"Yeah?" Henry asked.
Emma just paused for a moment before smiling.
"I'm glad I told you."
"Me too," Henry replied, moving forward to hug her.
The two hugged, and Eve made a show of glancing at the box.
"There enough pie in there to share?" she asked.
"Sure," Emma offered. "Come on."
All three of them gathered around the box of pie, plastic forks digging into the pastry. As they ate. Henry couldn't help but smile.
"What you did, with Ava and Nicholas," he said, "you really are changing things."
"Indeed she is, Henry," Eve nodded.
Emma just rolled her eyes in response. Before another word could be said though, the sound of a motorcycle cut though the silence of the night. The three of them looked down the street to see a man on a bike riding up to them. He came to a stop right in front of Emma's car, pulling off his helmet to reveal a man none of them had ever seen before.
"Hey," the stranger greeted, giving a wave.
"...hey," Emma replied.
"Is this Storybrooke?"
"Yes..." Eve replied hesitantly.
"Any place to get a room around here?"
"Uh, you're staying?" Henry asked.
"That's the plan. I'm just looking for a bed."
"Granny's Bed and Breakfast is just up the road," Eve answered, pointing down the street. "Another two blocks."
"Thanks," the man replied, walking back to his bike.
"Hey, I didn't catch your name!" Emma called out.
"That's 'cause I didn't give it!" the man called back, getting on his bike and driving off.
All three watched the man ride off, disappearing around the corner.
"I thought strangers don't come to Storybrooke," Emma recalled.
"They don't," Eve answered, just as confused as Emma.