Chapter 2
A/N: The chapters are going to get longer now that we are past the introductory. Let me know if it's too long. I'll see what I can do. (Not you Jessie! You just take your sweet time LOL)
'But the universe never promised you this would be easy, after all, you are the hero here. And heroes are meant to be forged golden from the blaze.' -Once Upon a Time 11, Nikita Gill
Emma let out a grunt, slamming her laptop shut in hopes of relieving some frustration, not minding the looks of the other diners she received. For the last two hours she had scouted every available site on the internet that might give her any insight to the small town in Maine, and so far she came up with…absolutely nothing. There was no town website promoting events, no establishment date, and every time she tried typing the name into Google, it always corrected itself to storybook. Whatever it was, there was no evidence to suggest that Henry's hometown actually existed.
Except for the fact that you're standing in the middle of it.
Regardless of the fact, it appeared Storybrooke was as fictional as it could get.
Emma knew it was crazy to dwell on the matter. Henry was back home now and whatever his feelings were about his mother, he was safe. It was all that mattered. So she couldn't help but wonder why she was even still there, sitting at Granny's diner, watching the people that came in and out (and maybe wondering who they might be in some fairytale story), and keeping an eye out for Henry in case he came by. It wasn't like she wanted to see him, she just….needed to make sure that he was going to be okay.
Sure, the whole 'everyone in my town is a storybook character and cursed by an evil magic witch' was absolutely crazy, but he was ten. Surely it was something most normal ten year olds thought of. Not her, of course. She was too busy moving from home to home, hoping each one would want to keep her until they kicked her out or she got in trouble (again) and had to leave, again. She never had that opportunity to get to know the people in town and make up crazy story about them. In a way, despite how crazy it all sounded, she envied Henry. So maybe, just a small part of her, wanted to join in.
If anything, maybe she could get Henry to realize the truth and that every person in town was just that. A person. Maybe she could let go of the bubbling guilt for ever giving him away in the first place if she knew he was going to be okay. Regina had mentioned he was in therapy and that Henry was struggling. Emma wondered if it was her fault. Besides, what 'normal' kid ran all the way to Boston to bring home a Savior and break a curse? She understood wanting to find his birth mother, she thought about it herself every day, but the whole fairy tale thing was just too much.
"More coffee?" The red-clad waitress asked.
"Um, yeah." Emma responded, snapping herself out of her thoughts. Normally, she went for cocoa with cinnamon in the morning, but after the world wind she got last night, she definitely needed something stronger.
"I see you stayed."
Emma looked up, excepting it to be the waitress and wondering how she knew anything, but instead found herself face to face with the only other person in town she knew. At least, one who wasn't the son she gave up and his mother who didn't seem too keen of her presence.
"Um…Mary…" Emma struggled.
"Margaret." The woman smiled. "Mary Margaret."
"Right, sorry."
"No worries. I'm surprised to see you here." She offered, taking her own seat in front of Emma.
"Why's that?"
"I expected you to be back home by now. You didn't seem to thrilled to be here last night."
Emma scoffed. "Yeah, well, it was… a lot. I never did thank you for, um, helping me."
The young school smiled, and there was something about it that made Emma feel…safe. She shook her head, breaking her trance.
"You know, I have some time before school starts. If you wanted to talk."
Emma smiled. A part of her wanted to decline, knowing she had to get back home (not that there was much waiting for her), but the other part just couldn't let the whole damn thing go. Even if she tried to persuade herself logically that Henry was going to be just fine, something about her just needed to know. So what the hell?
"Sure, why not."
"How could he be so useless!" The mayor cursed.
Regina's phone was violently abused with multiple slams of the receiver until finally finding its placement. Six months. Six months they had to fix her son and his delusion of fairy tales and curses and this was what it all came down to. A late night sherry drink with a complete stranger whom she and Henry both claim to be his birth mother. Regardless of the actual facts, Fogg proved incompetent. At this point he was no better than Hopper.
Henry was slipping further away from her and now with this spontaneous endeavor, she feared he was gone. Fortunately, she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. What dangers could this Emma Swan possibly bring? The case was closed. The adoption was closed. She had no right to swoop in and-
"Am I interrupting?"
She groaned. As if this day couldn't possibly get worse.
"Gold, what brings you to my office today?" She watched the pawnbroker carefully. He was always harder to pinpoint than Fogg and worse, she had no control over either of them. He tapped his way to her desk and settled himself in the chair across. It was always said Gold held the town's fear while he feared nothing. One of the very few qualities she actually admired about him. The rest was met with begrudging respect.
"Just thought I'd drop in for a visit." He smiled. "Speaking of which, I saw we had a new visitor in town."
"You've met her?" Though it came as more of a bitter respond than an actual annoyance Regina felt with the two men who failed immediately replaced itself with deep concerning fear for the one sitting in front of her. It was one of those few begrudging qualities.
"I may have met her on one of my casual due-ins at the inn. Emma Swan."
The grimace on the mayor's face told him what he already knew. "And you've met her too." He smiled. "Am I to assume, due to your previous phone violations, that Fogg failed to live up to your expectations?"
"He's as useless as Hopper. But it's no matter. I don't think she will be staying."
"And what makes you so certain?"
She bit back a laugh. "I may have a way or two."
Gold leaned forward, placing the weight of words on his cane. "You know, Madam Mayor, if both Hopper and Fogg proved…invaluable, perhaps you require more promising help."
She paused in her shuffling of office documents that she gave no real notice of. She knew this was a bad idea but it was a matter of which outcome was worse. Allowing Miss Swan to take Henry away… or whatever Gold had up his well-tailored sleeves. "What are you suggesting?"
"I understand that Henry is an important matter in your life," He stated, ignoring the mayor's deadpanned retort. "And the arrival of his biological mother may hinder your already strained relationship. Let me do what I do best and perhaps, along the way, I can resolve your little dilemma."
Then Regina laughed, much to Gold's own unfazed reaction. "What are you going do? Sell her your trinkets?"
He smiled. "Maybe I'll just work a little magic."
"How could you?!" Regina shouted. "You let them escape?!"
"Your Majesty-"
"Don't!" She stopped him. Her Father was many things. Tricky, a fanatic, and a tad unsettling; but he was not inadequate. When he wanted something, or someone, he did not fail. And everyone across the land knew not to mess with him. He had placed his name at the table of every family in the Enchanted Forest but it was not out love. People feared him, as they should, because he always got what he wanted. "How difficult is it to grab one baby and a woman who just gave birth?"
Judge Claude Frollo held back a laugh. "You'd be surprised."
Regina ignored him and set her focus on her mirror, demanding the genie trapped within to find Snow White. But nothing showed up.
"I apologize, Your Majesty," the genie spoke. There was no sincerity in his voice, but perhaps he was a bit cocky, arrogant to think he was safe behind the glass despite her being the one who put him there. "But I can't seem to find her. It seems as though she just…disappeared."
"People don't just disappear." Frollo answered for Regina. "Someone, or something, is hiding her."
"Well it can't be Rumplestiltskin." The Evil Queen suggested. He was undeniably tricking when trying to figure out what he really wanted but he wanted the curse cast. That much was true. He's the one who gave her the damned thing!
"We can't be sure of that, Regina."
Regina rolled her eyes. Frollo really was pathetic. One second he tries to deny any fault and then he tries to be sympathetic. Although it had taken years, she eventually learned his game and knew never to trust him again. He was clever. Just like Rumple. But he was also wrong; or at least, that's what she wanted to believe.
He was right. She couldn't be sure it wasn't Rumple who saved Snow and helped steal the baby. Sure, it was a infamous moniker but he never actually did it. Or at least, she didn't think he did. It burned her to accept the idea that she didn't know him like she wanted to. Not like she needed to. Rumple gave her the curse, wanted it cast, so why would he want to save the one person who he told could break it?
Unless….
She let out a curse and marched off. How could she have been so foolish?!
Emma was beginning to question if this woman herself was Henry's real mother and resisted the urge to bang her head on the table. Mary Margaret turned out to be a very nice lady, very sweet, Henry's homeroom teacher…and just as talkative. And speaking to her brought her no closer to answers about the so-called 'curse' and closer to regretting coming to Storybrooke in the first place. Emma couldn't really blame her though. Apparently, she was the only visitor they've had in town in a very long time.
"I guess we're just not on the map." Mary Margaret added, finishing her monologue of the town's mining heritage.
"You're not." Emma replied. "I've checked."
And she did. Google and online maps never once listed Storybrooke as an actual town. She even recalled last night when she took a peek at Henry's map that it had a spot circled in red marker. She assumed it was the town.
"Perhaps we just need to add more tourism attractions. Maybe we could do something with the mining history. Grant it, most of the town doesn't care for it either."
"We?" Emma exclaimed, fearing she was about to be roped into whatever crazy scheme Mary Margaret was beginning to form in her head.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. I guess I just…I don't know. I guess I shouldn't assume you were staying. I'm sure you have your own life back in Boston." Her words trailed off, almost as if to remind Emma that she didn't. No husband, no other kids, no real reason not to stay.
Emma tried to grin. "No, not really. But I couldn't just send him off I guess. How did the kid even make his way to Boston?"
She peered at the teacher. She had already mentioned last night when she helped show her the way to the mayor's house that she knew Henry was coming to find her. Mary Margaret's own casual avoidance of the subject confirmed it.
"You helped him." Emma smiled.
Mary Margaret sighed, partly in regret. "I'm so sorry. I gave him my credit card for this website to help people find their birth parents. It actually wasn't that difficult and he managed it quite well."
Emma laughed. Honestly she was impressed. Mostly that someone like Mary Margaret would even think about helping a kid road trip his way to another state, let alone actually doing it.
"I'm so sorry. A part of me figured he would just turn around and come back. I honestly didn't think he would bring you with him. How did he manage by the way?"
"Unfortunately, it wasn't that hard. Believing in his curse may take a little more faith."
Mary Margaret nodded. "Ah yes, the infamous curse."
"Infamous? Who all knows about it?"
For the first time since they met and during the duration of their conversation, Mary Margaret had grown quiet. "Not a lot of people and I'm sure Madam Mayor would like to keep it like that. She had Henry see someone to, you know, help him not believe. I know because he trusted me to tell me." She took sip of her own coffee, carefully avoiding telling Emma exactly how she found out. "In fact, his exact words were 'I needed to know'. I'm still not sure what that really means."
"Do you think he really believes it? The storybook, the characters, his own mother being an evil witch?"
"Honestly, I can't say. Every kid has imagination. Some just take it to higher levels."
"But they don't all run away to Boston." Emma stated flatly.
"She can't do this. She has no legal right. She signed the papers!"
O'Connell groaned. He could understand Regina's concern. After he had left the mayor's house last night, he had done a search for Emma Swan and sure enough, she was Henry's biological mother. The papers all confirmed it. So with her arrival via Henry, Regina was afraid Miss Swan would use the opportunity to take her son back. It wasn't an implausible idea. There were plenty of state cases where mothers stole back the children they had given up, regretting their decision. But despite his assurance to the Mayor that it was Henry who brought Emma to town and she was probably just as bewildered as the her, it did nothing to calm her fury.
"I don't understand why you aren't arresting her."
Erin laughed. "I can't arrest her, Regina. She hasn't done anything wrong. It was Henry who brought her here and she even brought him back home. So it isn't like she kept him and kidnapped him. The papers only state that she has no legal right to claim him as her son. But…"
"But what?" Regina glared.
"If Henry wants to talk to her, I don't see the harm in it."
She cackled. "Of course you don't! You don't have a child."
Erin returned the glare but it went unnoticed. He knew she didn't care, despite knowing exactly what she said, so he decided he was done trying to appease her. He got up and grabbed his keys, noting the small bluebird key chain.
"I can't tell you what to do, clearly, but I can't do anything without cause. I know this is hard for you and I'm sorry, but just remember. Think about what's best for Henry."
Regina threw daggers. "Your job is to arrest and detain. Not counsel."
The irritation she felt when he simply smirked almost matched her fury to Miss Swan. "You're right. But I thought you fired Archie?"
She watched the sheriff leave, wondering why she even hired him in the first place, and resisted the urge to grab the glass paperweight on her desk and throw it against the wall. Not that it would do any good even if it was thrown at Emma herself.
Emma Swan.
Why did that name feel familiar? Regina couldn't understand it. Why would Henry bring her here? Perhaps a small part of her, a very small part of her, could understand how Henry was feeling. He had been going through a lot lately and despite everything she could do to help him (not that the two baboons did much in return), he just kept asking questions. Wondering where he come from and why his birth mother didn't want him. Regina did everything to try and soothe him, to help him understand that it didn't matter. She was right there and she would never let anyone hurt him again and that he would always be wanted.
But he just kept asking. Over and over.
It only got worst. Soon the questions went from his birth mother to her. Where did you come from? Who are you? That's when the questions about the curse started. One day, Henry had come home from school with a new book in hand. She tried asking what it was and where he got it but he wouldn't say. Of course it wasn't of any consequence back then. It was just a book.
Just a book. Just one book is all it takes to ruin everything?
Regina went over and over it in her head. How did that book have…everything? After Miss Swan had left last night, Regina decided it was time to take a look at it. After all, Henry didn't get the idea that she was evil until he started reading the damn thing, right? Sure, she could be strict at times and probably gave a few more rules than most mothers, but all she wanted was to make him happy. And being happy meant being safe, where no one could hurt you and take everything from you. That was all she wanted for him and he was throwing it in her face.
But when Regina finally took a look and saw all the pictures, it felt like her world had just stopped (even more literally than before). The curse, the Dark One, and even damn Snow White and Charming! It had everything!
Suddenly she had her own questions. Where did Henry get it? Who told him? And why would he think any of it was real?
Emma.
Regina decided throwing the paperweight was a good idea after all and watched it shatter against the wall. She had to be the reason! The reason Henry ran off to Boston and find her. To break the curse.
Emma Swan.
Rumplestiltskin was right. Careful dearie, if you cast this curse, it just come back and bite you. And it was. She finally had everything but Henry had gone and brought the one person who could ruin it. Regina decided she wasn't going to let that happen. Snow White once took everything from her. She was going to repay the favor.
Regina grabbed her phone, absently dialing a number and waited for the other person to answer. When they did, she felt hope rising up in her again. "I need you to do something for me."
Doctor Hopper's head was heavy. His desk was a mess of scattered notes, one glass of scotch, and a notice of his medical practice termination in a month. He didn't understand where it all went wrong. He didn't do anything that any other therapist wouldn't. He encouraged Henry to hold onto his dreams but not to let it root themselves into his life. He tried to help Henry see that they were just stories but he wouldn't break the boy either. Unlike Fogg. Whatever the Madam Mayor chose to throw at him, Archie could handle it. All he was worried about now was Henry's mindset and safety. Fogg was not the most practical man when it came to psychology. Something Archie had tried to persuade the mayor's opinion from for Henry's own good, but she wouldn't see it. He even tried explaining to her that for beliefs as strong as Henry had concerning that book and the stories, it took longer than a few months to let go of.
Nothing worked. Now he had one month to see other medical practices outside of Storybrooke or terminate his license altogether. He groaned, causing Pongo to raise his head from his nap. How did this happen? What could persuade the mayor to suddenly threaten to evict him? Though he knew there was no threat about it. It would be absolute if he didn't figure something out and soon.
Someone knocked on the door, fully waking up Pongo. Archie sighed. If this was the mayor, he would be happy to go and pack. But apparently the angels looked down on him because it wasn't Regina, but Archie now had the full assumption that this was the reason behind the mayor's recent actions.
"You must be Miss Swan."
"I guess news travels fast."
Archie smirked. "Well, it is a small town." He joked, offering her a seat on the couch. "Everybody knows everybody and when someone new comes in…"
Emma nodded. "Yeah, I kind of got that from the warm welcoming."
"I apologize for that." He chuckled. He had heard some faint whispering and gossip on his morning walk as well. Everyone was curious to who the new visitor was. He supposed it was natural. Storybrooke didn't get any visitors. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I could you ask a few questions." She asked.
"About Henry." He guessed.
"I hope you don't mind and I don't want this to get anyone in trouble, but Mary Margaret had told me Henry was seeing you. You know, about the fairy tales?"
"Emma-"
"I know, I know," She interjected. "Patient doctor confidentiality, but…I just wanted to know that he's going to be okay before I…decided to leave."
Archie sighed, "It's complicated."
Emma perched her lips. "It's Regina, isn't it? How many people know about this? About the curse and how he thinks everyone is a fairy tale character?"
"Not many. And I think Madam Mayor would like to keep it that way."
"How long was Henry seeing you?"
"About five months. But then…she felt I wasn't doing a good job so…she sent him to someone else."
"Who?" Emma pushed, but the doctor remained silent. "Archie, if something is happening to Henry, I…I would like to know. Maybe I can help."
"I can assure you, Emma," Archie defended, knowing where she was going. "I wouldn't let any harm come to Henry. But Fogg is…intense."
"Intense? What does that mean? Who's Fogg?" Emma asked.
"He's the town Judge."
Emma's eyes grew big. "The judge? A judge is trying to help Henry not believe in the curse?" Surely he was joking. What did a judge know about therapy? If Regina thought a judge could help Henry better than a licensed doctor, what else did she have in mind in raising Henry?
Archie smirked. "He's also the church pastor."
"O…kay." Emma lagged. "So what makes him so intense? What, does he preach about fire and brimstone and damnation? Because if so, how can Regina think that's okay? I mean, Henry is ten."
"Like I said, it's complicated."
"Surely there is something against that. Some medical law or something? Malpractice?"
Archie walked over to his desk, taking the notice and handing it to Emma. He may not be able to fight against Regina, or have the nerve, but he had to do something. Even if it was just for Henry. "Regina is the mayor. Often what she says goes."
Emma glanced over the notice. "So she's firing you because you couldn't help Henry? Has she always been like this?"
Archie bit his lip. "Not always."
The Dark Castle was as a formidable fortress. A place of dark dealings and darker beings, and equally depressing. Regina supposed she wasn't one to talk. According to Rumple, her castle looked like knives sticking out from the ground. At least she had the proper decency to hire maids to dust and sweep the place. She fiendishly smirked at the thought. She supposed she should have felt a little guilty about that last part, though she did not have a big hand in the matter as some others.
Regina found the Dark One in his usual spot. She also took notice of the new location of his spinning wheel. While on most visits in the last year or so, it was placed neatly by the open draped window, closest to the fireplace, and a young woman reading a book. Now it was placed in the back corner opposite of the outside world and all the drapes were once again nailed shut. Okay, maybe she didn't feel guilty at all, but it was nice to see the tittering imp get knocked down a few pegs. How the beauty ever handled him on a daily basis was beyond her.
"Rumplestiltskin, I have some questions for you."
"Oh? And you've come to visit little old me? Didn't you just cast your curse, dearie? Shouldn't you be off celebrating?" The mad imp giggled, emphasizing some words in his usual manner, but his attention was held on the wheel.
Regina felt his laughter was misplaced, considering the circumstances, but he always was a theatrical man. He never let his real feelings show. She appreciated that about him.
"Yes, well, it appears I may have run into a light snag. Nonetheless, I can cut it off. I'd just figured I would come here, see how you were doing. What with your curse now completed and cast. By the way, that baby you told me about."
"Hm?" Rumple arched his brows, as though it didn't concern him.
"Where is she?"
The pleasant tone Regina had spoken with was now replaced with absolute contempt. She didn't doubt Rumple did have something to do with Snow and the baby's disappearance. What pissed her off was allowing herself to be fooled and by him of all people. She really should have known better.
"What baby?"
"Don't play coy with me!" She yelled. "Snow White and Prince Charming's baby! The one you said would break the curse. The curse we worked so hard on for the last couple of years? Now both Snow and her baby is gone. I know you had something to do with it. What I don't understand…is why?"
Rumple was smiling. Not for any jumped conclusions the queen was having, they were all correct, but because all his work was finally coming to fruition. Soon he would find Bae, set Belle free, and they could be a family. Of course, it was all just a laughable dream still. After all, she couldn't really love him, a beast.
"And what makes you think I have anything to do with it?" He teased, forgoing any other fantasies he was currently having.
Regina scoffed. "Because it's you. You always have your hand in something."
"Unfortunately for you dearie, my hands are in clean in this." He glanced down. "Figuratively speaking."
"Than where is she?"
"Have you tried looking in the mirror? We both know what lack of beauty sleep does to you." He tittered again. Regina really hated that sound.
Regina growled. "Would you just tell me, you insufferable imp!"
Rumple gave a look like he was hurt, but it wasn't the worst thing she ever called him. "Oh very well. But…I want a deal."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. You never want anything else."
"Oh, that's not true. I want to see you win. I want to see you crush Snow White's heart and watch as her truu wuv falls into pieces as her demise." He giggled again. "So, how about this? I will tell you where the baby is if….in this new land, whenever I come to you and ask you a question…you have to tell me."
The Evil Queen blinked, watching the imp carefully in case this was a joke. It wasn't the most odd of his requests but it certainly was…concerning. "What?"
Rumplestiltskin nodded. "Yep. In this new land, if I should ever come to you and I want to know something, anything at all, you have to tell me. And you must always tell the truth." He recited the last part like a guard taking an oath.
"What if I don't want to tell you?"
"Oh, don't worry dearie. It will only be the small things." He grinned.
Regina just stared. This was a very stupid idea but she was running out of time. The curse would be completed shortly and she needed to find that baby now or all they worked for, all she worked for, would be broken. She could not allow that baby to leave the Enchanted Forest.
"Deal. Just tell me already."
"Well, I heard a little rumor. A little birdie told me that Maleficent was looking for a child. Considering, well, you know." He giggled even louder.
Regina could feel the venom building in her mouth. "She wouldn't."
For the last couple of years, all three of them have been working together on the curse. Of course, some worked harder than others. Nonetheless, Maleficent had wanted the curse cast for the same reason Regina did. To see Snow White and Prince Charming suffer. And seeing as they were friends, the Evil Queen didn't see any harm in it.
Until now.
"You know, dearie, you can't never trust the bad eggs."
His laughter erupted into the halls as he watched the Queen march off to the Forbidden Fortress. It only grew louder and louder.
After speaking with both Mary Margaret and Archie, Emma only had more questions than answers. And none of them about Henry's curse. She was starting to think that maybe going back to Boston was the right idea. What good could she possibly do here? Maybe Regina was right. Staying in town would only confuse Henry more. He needed help but it wasn't anything she could give.
She dragged up the steps to her room at Granny's and was surprised to see the reason for her dilemma was sitting on the floor right in front of her door.
"Henry? What are you doing here?"
He shrugged. "I thought maybe we could talk?"
She sighed. "Listen kid-
"I know you don't believe in the curse, but this isn't about that."
Emma groaned. Why did she get the feeling he was about to ask that question? The one question she wanted to avoid more than anything right now.
"Why did you decide to stay?"
Emma blinked. Okay…maybe not. "What do you mean? I haven't decided anything yet." That's wasn't entirely true. She knew she should probably go back to Boston but a part of her was still reluctant. She wanted to go back, so why did she feel like she needed to stay?
"Sure you did. Else, you would already be back in Boston."
Henry was smiling and Emma decided she hated it. It was that knowing smile she could see someone else having, like a little secret only they knew.
"Listen, Henry, I don't know how to help you with this…curse." She motioned a gesture with her hand, hoping to show how crazy this all felt. But Henry only kept on smiling.
"I know you don't believe in the curse. And you don't have to stay for me. I know you don't want me."
Emma's heart broke at his downcast glance. It wasn't entirely true. She did want him, but so many years had passed. She couldn't be a mother back then and she wasn't sure she could try and be a mother now.
Why couldn't they just be friends first?
"Henry-"
"But you have to stay for everyone else. They need you." He pleaded. "You're the Savior. You're going to break the curse. You're going to save everyone."
Emma scoffed. Clearly, there was no convincing him otherwise. "Henry, I don't even know how to begin doing that."
"It's simple." He smiled. "You find your family."
Emma watched Henry fly up the stairs, once again ignoring his mother. She saw the defeated look on the Mayor's face and felt a little bad. She couldn't imagine how Regina must be feeling, thinking her son probably ran away again in less than a day, so she was quick to explain that Henry was waiting for her at Granny's and had wanted to talk to her. Regina only smiled.
"I thought you were headed back to Boston?" Madam Mills blurted.
"I was," Emma stuttered. "It's just..I didn't think it would hurt to-"
"Miss Swan, you do understand what a closed adoption is, correct?"
"Of course."
"It means you have no legal claim to him."
"I wasn't trying to-" Emma interjected, feeling irritated that Regina wouldn't give her a word into the clearly one-sided conversation.
"Henry is confused right now. What he needs is professional help. Not to go on these wild adventures looking for Dark Ones and witches. I was hoping I was being clear last night when I told you it might be confusing for him if you stayed."
"Madam Mills," Emma forced, fully feeling the looming threat this woman clearly presented and was no longer bothering to hide under polite pleasantries. "If I may, seeing the troubles Henry is going through and the so-called help you are providing, I now intend to stay for as long as it takes to ensure he's going to be okay."
Regina blanched. "Excuse me?"
Emma continued to smile. "I know a threat when I hear it. I didn't want to stay but Henry is troubled. I agree, but I'm starting to wonder if you even know what you're doing."
"Excuse me Miss Swan, but I am his mother. Not you. I know what's best for him."
"Like firing the one person who seems to really care about him? Whatever is going on with Henry and this book-"
"Why do I keep hearing about this book?"
"Whatever it is, Henry really believes in this. I think he just needs someone who believes in him also."
Regina scoffed. "And you do?"
"No, I don't believe in the curse. But I do believe that Henry thinks something is wrong in this town and I'm going to figure out what it is."
Regina stepped forward, cementing her authority. "Well, I wish you luck with that. But I assure you, everything is just fine."
Emma smiled. "I don't think it is."
"I think…you know where the door is."
On that final note, the mayor spun on her heels and left to check on Henry. Emma exhaled, not realizing she was holding it in. She supposed that was it. She was staying. She wasn't sure what it was that made her decide. Regina's threat or seeing that maybe the woman really didn't care about Henry and was rather just keeping him like a trophy, to show she had the perfect life or something. Whatever it was, Emma was now determined to get to the bottom of whatever was going on in Storybrooke, Maine.
Gold put away the polish and rag in the cupboard and took one last look at the shop. Spotless. He never received a lot of customers throughout the years and people always wondered how he managed to keep the shop standing. Aside from virtually owning the whole town and the law firm that helped keep it all running. But customers never mattered to Mr. Gold. He often spent his days idling at the house or the shop, occasionally fixing a trinket or two here and there.
But now he was awake and Gold had a suspicion that his was shop was about to get a little bit busier in the next few months. So it was only fitting he took the time to clean it all up, polish the furnishings, and organize the stock. It didn't take long but it did gave him plenty of time for some thinking.
He was finally awake and although there wasn't much he could get started, seeing as there was no magic in this world, he could start making plans. In fact, one of those plans was to bring magic into this world because he was going to need it. And he knew just how to do it.
Back in their old world when he was still Rumplestiltskin and his skin was green and 'sparkly', according to some, he had snuck in a little clause into the curse while Her Majesty wasn't looking.
"What will I be looking for, sir?" Dove replied.
Gold had called his bodyguard late into the night which wasn't surprising for the bald manservant. His boss often instructed him on many duties, regardless of the time of day. Most often it had to do with late rents and payments and other times it was gathering information. Working for Mr. Gold had provided the big man with security and financial stability. People never hassled him because doing so meant hassling Gold in turn and nobody wanted trouble from the old pawnbroker. Fogg would be more preferable, which was saying something. Dove never minded since as it kept his family safe and well cared for. He was perhaps the only person in town who knew a soft spot existed in Gold, especially when it came to children. In fact, Gold never failed to give a gift or pay for a lavish dinner when it came to his family's birthdays or holidays.
"I can't say out loud." Gold replied. Instead, he handed his servant a picture. "Find it. And bring back a report on its exact location and condition."
Dove examined the photo and simply nodded. He never questioned the request Gold made of him, no matter how odd. Gold liked that about him. He watched his old friend leave and went back to tending to the sweeping. It was the only thing left on the list.
The farmer threw the last bale alongside the wall with the others. The price had started going up again. It always went up this time of the year, which he personally found ridiculous. He needed hay all year long and could care less of the fall festivities coming up. It wasn't like the town celebrated much either, so he didn't understand the big demand.
He began unbinding the bales and throwing the straw to the goats, grunting at their bleating for supper.
"Stupid goats. You're always hungry." He grumbled to himself.
He started the nightly duties when he heard a rustling just outside the barn. He peered out but didn't see anyone.
"Hello?" He called out.
When no reply came, he continued on. It was probably Peter stumbling home from The Hole again. The pumpkin farmer liked his parties and loved drinking even more. No doubt he-
The goat farmer fell down into the dirt. If he ever regained consciousness, he would have a serious bump on his head that would require medical attention. Unfortunately, the crowbar bearing into the back of his skull gave up any chance of ever waking up again.
The taller man looked down on the farmer. "Hm, that wasn't too bad."
Up Next: Emma makes a fateful decision and learns a crucial part about the curse. In the Enchanted Forest,David meets his future wife.
A/N: Just wanted to throw this out. If anyone is having trouble telling the difference between Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest, please let me know and I will do better about breaking the two off. It will probably just be labeling The Enchanted Forest parts but I would hate for anyone to get confuse. I am working on the idea that if you have seen the show, you kind of know how the sequence of flashbacks 'operate', but I understand it can be confusing at times when you're reading. Both visual but both very different. Also, each chapter will have a different about of flashbacks. In the show, it was about even with the present moments, about 4 or 5 each. In some cases, like this chapter, there may be only 2. It really depends on just what needs to be told at the time and what backstory I am trying to tell at the time.
And if you follow my stories, you probably know I hate writing Emma, Henry, Snow, and David. I know you can't really have a big story like this without them but they are just sooo boring and dull. I have no problem writing (and love doing so) Regina and Rumple's sassy and snarky comebacks. Those are easy. But trying to get into the mindset of the others is very difficult for me to do. And no amount of reading of others stories to help is doing the trick. But I'm really trying and I really hope this story helps me do better with that. If you have any suggestions for me, feel free. (and please bear with me). Thankfully, we got a long way to go so I've got plenty of learning curve ahead of me.
One thing I wanted different about this story (among everything lol) was Emma's mindset. Personally, I felt it was too easy for Emma to agree to stay in town and 'help' Henry with the curse and take on the deputy and sheriff job and everything. After all, she did have a life back in Boston. How could it have been so easy to just pick up and go, even if she was just a bailsbond person. So I really want to get into her struggle of having Henry back and trying to just adjust to the idea of staying. I also wanted to see more of the realistic idea of taking in the whole curse idea. I don't know, everything just seemed too easy in the show.
And lastly, I'll post the links to the AO3 and Tumblr page in my profile page if you want to take a look at them and post extra reviews as well. There is never too many reviews.
