When Emma entered the mayor's office during lunch, she knew it was going to be a disaster, but she had promised Ruby she'd help, so she went anyway. Regina sat in her office eating a bowl of salad when Emma came in, and she narrowed her eyes at the intrusion.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Regina asked sarcastically.

Emma pulled up a chair in front of Regina, who continued scowling. The atmosphere of the room gradually cooled as Emma began, "I don't want to be here any more than you want me here, but I promised Ruby I'd talk to you. It's about-"

"My baby?" Regina interrupted, her voice contemptuous, setting aside her lunch, "The one Miss Bao is illogically holding onto? It can't be anything else if Miss Lucas is involved."

Emma decided to cut right to the chase. "Don't you think taking Ashley to court is a little very heavy-handed? Adoptions fall through all the time, and I know it's awful going through the whole adoption process for nothing, but how could you live with yourself knowing you took that child by force?"

"Easily." Regina smirked, "Because I know I'm doing the right thing. Miss Bao is nowhere near ready for the responsibility of raising a baby."

"And that child's gonna be fine growing up and learning what you did to their birth mother? Suing her, ripping her child away?" Emma challenged.

Regina stood furiously, "I'll tell them them truth, that their mother was a weak-willed, empty-headed slut who would have ruined both their lives!" Her face reddened for a moment before she regain her composure.

Emma sneered and stood up as well, "Oh yeah, that's definitely not gonna give the kid an inferiority complex. Is that what you told Henry about his birth mother?" Regina's face morphed into an unreadable expression. "Something along those lines, right? If that's the case, I don't blame him for wanting to believe I was his mom. Better knowing you came from a heroic princess, than a "weak-willed, empty-headed slut"? Who wouldn't prefer the fairy tale to real life?"

"How dare you?!" Regina slapped Emma across the cheek with all her strength, so hard it made Emma stumble backwards. "How fucking dare you blame me for my son's problems?! You're the one who encourages him! You stayed in town and fed his delusions after I told you, over and over again, to leave him alone."

"Henry was having problems way before I showed up, so don't pin this on me!" Emma shouted back, "What the hell have you done to actually help him? All you do is hover over him and tell him he's crazy. At least I'm trying to explain to him what's real without tearing down his self-esteem."

"You don't understand a thing about being a mother, you're not a mother. You're nothing! You don't get to come here and tell me I'm raising my son wrong." Regina raved. "Don't you get it yet, Miss Swan? You don't understand this town, or the people here, or how things are done. You're an utter nuisance."

"How things are done is you get whatever you want, you do whatever you want, and everyone else just grovels to you." Emma barked. "I'm not gonna let you harass that poor girl and steal her baby. Henry told me himself that he doesn't want you take Ashley's child from her. If you go through with this, you're gonna end up hurting him to."

"I don't believe you."

"And I'm not gonna let you get away with bullying your son," Emma continued.

Regina laughed, "What you call bullying, most of us call parenting, but you wouldn't anything about that, would you?"

"Yeah, keep rubbing my dead child in my face," Tears began forming in Emma's eyes and she didn't bother holding them back, "It just proves how much of a heartless asshole you are."

"I'm the heartless asshole?" Regina screeched. "I think I can do whatever I want? You moved here because you felt like it. You got involved in everyone's business because you felt it. You're giving Henry and Miss Bao false hope, but do you go Henry's therapy sessions with him, are you going to change that baby's diapers? You don't even pay your own rent and you think you're in any position to judge me? You think you're such a good person, don't you? Where we would all without Emma Swan showing us the way?"

"I don't think that," Emma protested.

"Then what are you still doing here?" Regina demanded.

"I-" Emma swallowed harshly. Because...because... She had a definitive answer, but it flicked in the back of her mind like a faulty light bulb, something half-forgotten and obscure, but nonetheless important. She knew she was fond of Henry and enjoyed living with Mary, but she felt there was a deeper reason for her choice to stay; one she couldn't articulate to Regina.

"Let's get one thing straight Miss Swan," Regina once more invaded her personal space, "Whatever you're looking for, you won't find it here, and you're going to cause a lot of trouble if you don't learn your place."

"My place." Emma repeated, so angry her voice was hardly above a whisper. She'd heard that more time than she liked as a brown girl in world without enough room for her. "My place is where I say it is. I have nothing else to say you, Madam Mayor."

Emma walked out of the office resolve, though she wasn't sure to what end.


She didn't get paid enough for this.

Aria Johnson kept a tight morning and evening routine to make up for the utter chaos that made up the most of her days, and that included sweeping into Granny's at 7:15 AM sharp for an espresso with extra sugar. The staff knew to have her order ready by the time she walked in and Aria knew to have $3.75 in her hand to pay for her daily fuel, so she could be in and out in less than a minute. As the caffeine buzzed in her system, she'd get to her first client, work, eat her homemade lunch in the car while driving to the second client, work some more, do whatever errands she could before everything closed, and then went home to get ready to do it all again.

This morning, Ruby Lucas forgot to get her order ready on time, probably distracted by the fact that her friend Ashley Bao had an upcoming custody battle with the mayor, and it threw Aria off her rhythm harder than a wreaking ball. She was late in arriving to her first client, a boy who's had been in a car accident 3 years ago, and his parents chewed her head off like lion dining on a gazelle. The rest of her day didn't improve. The kid refused to cooperate with her during his physical therapy exercises, and she nearly lost her patience more than once. On her way to her second client, she spilled her lunch in her lap and dreaded showing up looking like a mess.

"Today can't get any worse," Aria thought to herself as she drove up to Mr. Gold's home, a charming pink house near the water, quiet but not isolated. Her only solace was that Mr. Gold usually wasn't home while she worked, so maybe she could get her job done without running into him today. Her stomach dropped when she noticed Mr. Gold's car sitting in the driveway. "Of fucking course."

She got out of the car in her soiled scrubs and steeled herself to face the rest of a terrible day. Unlike her other clients, Mr. Gold trusted her with a key to his house, so she went in and went to the kitchen first, hoping to clean herself up as much as possible before starting. After she dabbed a wet rag over the stains, and when they were slightly less noticeable, Aria walked down the hall to Belle's room.

"Thing's are finally falling into place, Belle," Mr. Gold soft voice lulled through the empty hallway.

Aria stopped in place. She didn't want to eavesdrop, but she couldn't just get out. Aria stood awkwardly in the hallway as Mr. Gold continued, "I've been planning this for so long, to bring our family back together, to find Bae, and it's all finally coming together. You won't be like this for much long, I promise."

She snapped out her of daze and knocked on the door, "Mr. Gold? Sorry, I just got here," Aria lied.

Mr. Gold had been sitting at Belle's bedside, holding one of her hands, but when he heard Aria, he stood up straight and stiff like someone had jolted him with electricity. "Alright then, do your job."

His abrupt transformation back into the stern landlord and pawnbroker startled her more than it should have, but Aria did her best to brush it off. Still, she liked how he had been with Belle. She'd never seen him in Belle's room before, but in those brief moments he showed a soft spot for that explained why he had bothered to hire a private nurse to care for her at home, instead of leaving her in the hospital.

Was she his wife? She probably was not a relative because she didn't look anything like him. Mr. Gold had distinct sharp features, not bad looking but not handsome either. Belle's face was softer and classically beautiful, olive-toned to Mr. Gold's paper-pale skin, almost angelic with shiny, chestnut-brown tresses framing her plump cheeks, elegant eyelashes, and dark pink lips.

He walked past her without another glance and Aria saw to her comatose patient.


After Emma accepted Graham's job offer, she and Mary fell into a comfortable routine. Every morning one of them made breakfast while the other took care of the birds, and otherwise they met Henry at Granny's. On those mornings Mary took Henry to school. Sometimes Henry would stop by the police station to hang out with Emma, unless she was patrolling the forest looking for stoners or breaking up a fight between crewmen on the docks.

One morning, a classmate of Henry's, a young girl with dark brown skin and amber eyes approached them as they left Granny's. "E-excuse, Deputy Swan?"

Emma looked up and, seeing how the girl averted her eyes and twiddled with her hands, smiled reassuringly at her, "Hey, everything alright?"

"Hi Paige!" Henry beamed at her, and beckoned her to come closer.

Paige did so, and told said to Emma, "My mom and dad told me not to talk to you, but I really, really need your help."

Emma's eyebrows came together as she asked Paige what she meant.

"Well, my mom thinks you cause trouble, but I think you're great at helping. The problem is my friend is gone. I've gone to her house every day for the past week and she wasn't there. She usually loves it when I visit."

"I haven't noticed anyone from school go missing." Henry replied, confused.

"She doesn't go to our school, she's a grown up." Paige explained.

Mary frowned, "Do your parents know about this friend?"

"No..."

"Paige, who are you talking about? I can't help you if I don't know who I'm suppose to be looking for," Emma told her.

"It's Priscilla Jefferson, the woman who lives just outside of town," Paige finally admitted.

Emma's face hardened as she realized she hadn't seen Priscilla in a while. She thought that Priscilla was just leaving her alone, but something darker might have happened. "You're sure she's missing? I can bring you to the station right now and take your statement."

"No!" Paige hissed and looked around to make sure nobody was watching them. "I'll get in so much trouble if my parents known about this."

"Okay, okay," Emma put her hands on the nervous child's shoulders, "I promise I will try to find Priscilla, and I'll say you were an anonymous source, but you have to promise to let me know if anything else comes up."

Paige nodded.

"Come on, I should get you and Henry to school," Mary stated. "Emma, we talk can more at home."

Emma waved the trio goodbye and headed for work, where she heard Graham speaking to someone as she walked in the door and hung her coat. She recognized David Nolan, though now he was shaved and wearing a neat, plain suit, but she didn't know the third man with them. He was a short, though powerfully-built man, with Asian features and nut brown skin that made his white mustache stand out. Wrinkles made canyons in his smiling face and his bald scalp shone until the police station's fluorescent lights.

"Good morning," Emma said to the trio.

Graham clapped her on the shoulder, "Morning. You're early. Emma, this is Mahmud Rahim, Storybrooke's public defender. I believe you've already met David."

David had a odd, misty look in his eye that Emma couldn't understand. "She knows me, but I'm afraid I wasn't in the best state of mind at the time. It's...it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Emma."

His overly-sentimental tone made Emma a little uncomfortable, but she chalked it up to gratitude for helping save his life. "Likewise," she replied simply. "And it's nice to meet you too, Mr. Rahim."

Mr. Rahim shook her hand forcefully, "I remember you caused quite a stir when you first came to Storybrooke, Miss Swan, but it's wonderful to see that you're finding a place here. It's just a shame I'll be retiring before we really get a chance to work together. David, here, is my replacement."

"I was just giving him a tour of the station," Graham explained.

"We have to get going," Mr. Rahim nodded, "but hopefully, we'll see you again soon."

"In a town this small, we don't really have a choice," Emma shrugged. The three men laughed, though Emma hadn't intended it is a joke, and she continued feeling awkward. Mr. Rahim patted her on the back and David gave an enigmatic smile before they told Graham goodbye and left.

As Emma sat down at her desk, Graham tossed a thick folder onto it. "Just a little paperwork you need to catch up on," he grinned playfully.

"Actually," Emma told him, "I got an anonymous tip recently that Priscilla Jefferson's been missing the last couple days and I think we should check it out."

Graham shrugged, "Don't worry about Jefferson, she's a hermit. She prefers being cooped up in the house of hers."

"I still think it's worth looking into," Emma pressed.

"Well, you want to make more work for yourself, I guess I can't stop you," he gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder, "but you still need to get all that paperwork done."


In the week since the police learned that Miss Jefferson, the town weirdo, had vanished without a trace, her fridge still full and laundry still the machine, Ava and Nicholas made up their minds about moving into her home. The building they'd been squatting in since they're mother died had no central air condition, no beds or couch, not even a soft rug to lay on. They'd have to be careful not get caught, or they might be put in foster care and separated (or worse, accused of having something to do with her disappearance), but an empty mansion with no neighbors was too good a chance to pass up.


Graham and Emma searched the mansion from top to bottom, a task that consumed their entire day due to the sheer size of the place, but Priscilla gave no clues as where she might have gone. The place appeared no different than if she went out to get the morning paper. Emma had her suspicions, but they hadn't found any evidence that a crime had taken place. Anyone who knew her would tell you Priscilla Jefferson was prone to odd behavior and leaving her home without explanation fit the bill.

As she and Graham left the mansion and headed to the squad car, Graham told her, "If Miss Jefferson doesn't show up in the next 48 hours, someone can file a missing person's report, but for now there's nothing we can do."

Emma grimaced, but nodded. By now the sun had set, and it was typical evening in Storybrooke. A few stars twinkled in the indigo sky, and the moon hung like a large, white ball near the horizon. Crickets didn't chirp in Storybrooke, but a few owls hooted softly in the trees above.

Graham added, "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure."

"I'm scheduled for an overnight shift tomorrow, but I promised to help out at the animal center. Would you mind covering it for me?"

"You promised no overnights!" Emma whined.

Graham gave a puppy-eyed look, "I know, but this is really important."

Emma wasn't moved. "Can I get the rest of this shift odd?"

"Done." Graham smiled. "Go home, get some rest. We can worry about Miss Jefferson in a few days."

After Graham dropped her at the police station, she waved him goodbye and drove herself home while he got ready to finish the shift alone. As she exited her car, Emma heard a motorcycle come up from the down the street and stared at the single bright light curiously.

The motorcycle stopped in front of her and it's rider removed his helmet. He was a young man near her age, with honey brown skin and hair like black waterfall down to his collar. Bright blue eyes studied her above the stern line of his mouth. She didn't recognize him even though she had lived in Storybrooke for a while now.

"Need something?" Emma crossed her arms.

The stranger shook his head, "Nothing. You just reminded of someone."

"You may have seen me around town."

"I'm new, actually. Killian Jones," he held out his right hand, "Pleased to meet you."

Not wanted to be rude, she shook it. "Emma Swan. Likewise."


Snow walked alone in the moonlight, with Alexander's pendant resting heavily against her chest, as the waves crashed against the craggy black shore and retreated. The last traces of winter were finally giving way to spring, but the air outside remained cold, so she kept a thick cloak fasted at her shoulder with a bronze broach. Underfoot the frozen, muddy earth remained hard and Snow hoped it stayed that way during the battle. Beneath the pale light of the full moon, she could see clear across Pearl Bay.

Her mother waited on the other side, no doubt plotting how best to kill her with King George, and while Snow did not anticipate a meeting with the woman had both created and ruined her life, she knew it was inevitable.

Footsteps approached her and Snow spun around and ripped her sword from it's scabbard, the metallic zip echoing through the night air.

"It's just me!" David cried, holding out his hands to show he meant no harm.

"David," Snow relaxed and re-sheathed her weapon as he approached. "I'm sorry, you startled me."

He smiled faintly at her, "You don't have to apologize. Can't be to careful these days, especially not on a night like this."

When he got near enough, Snow pulled him close by lapels and kissed him. His lips were warm like the smoldering embers of a dying fire and a shiver went down Snow's spine as his breath entered her mouth. She pushed her tongue into his mouth and crushed her lips against his with more force, but instead of letting the kiss intensify, he jerked his head back and gently pushed her away.

Before Snow could express hurt at his apparent rejection, David smiled lopsidedly, looking slightly embarrassed, "Believe me, there are few things I enjoy more than kissing you, but I actually came to talk." His bashful expression turned into a more serious one, though the affection in his eyes didn't diminish.

"What's wrong?" Snow asked, "Are we changing our strategy? Did something happened to Red? Are we under attack?"

"None of that," David assured her. He licked his lips before continuing. "You're the most incredible woman I've ever met, Snow. I've always admired you, starting from the day we met, and you've save my life more times that I dare to count. You're so brave, and determined, and clever, and full of love. When you had to chance to leave Misthaven and start over somewhere else, you didn't take it because you couldn't abandon your people. You're the kind of person I hope to be someday."

"Don't sell yourself short," Snow chuckled as she wrapped her arms around David's neck. "You're someone I want to be like, too. I appreciate the compliments, but where's this coming from?"

David rested his forehead against her, taking a moment to savor the firmness of her body pressed against his. "I love you, Snow White."

"I love too Charming," she whispered back.

"I love you more than I've ever loved someone," David repeated more quietly, "We might die tomorrow,"

Snow looked up at him and hissed, "Don't say that. The moment we start to believe there's no hope, that's when there really won't be any."

"I'm trying to be realistic. We're attacking Regina on her territory and she knows we're coming, so there's a high chance-"

"We've already covered that!" Snow snapped, "I don't care what the odds are, I have to retake my kingdom and bring that woman to justice."

David exhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and rubbed his forehead, "I'm sorry. God, I'm doing this all wrong."

"Doing what all wrong?" Snow demanded. "If it can wait until after the battle, let it wait, because I have to get to ready to fight for my people."

As she began to walk away, David grabbed her and spun back around to face him. "It can't wait. I want to marry you."

Snow's eyes widened, but the rest of her face remained blank and she said nothing.

David continued, anguish coloring his face, "I know this isn't the proposal you deserve, but it's the one I have to give. I can't imagine another day without you in my life. I don't want to picture a world where we come of this alive and then go our separate ways. I'm not a prince, I'm just a shepherd. I can't promise you riches or power or alliances, just myself, but I'm willing to give you all of me if you'll be my wife. Will you do me that honor?"

Another moment crawled past them, the night air silent but for Snow's breathing. At last she responded, "A-are we done talking?"

David hung his head. "Yes."

He moved to get out of her way and nurse his broken heart in private, but Snow grabbed him by lapels and claimed his lips in kiss fiercer and wilder than the one before.

"Yes," she whispered in between kisses, little ripples of laughter escaping her throat every so often as joyful tears ran down her cheeks. "Yes. Yes. Yes."