Emma woke early the next morning, August's body warm and firm against her back. She stretched languidly and felt him smile into her hair.
"Good morning beautiful"
Emma wriggled back into his arms. "Morning. What time is it?"
"Well, your phone's been buzzing for the last twenty minutes," August said, kissing her neck. "So I'm guessing past breakfast time."
Emma groaned, rolling over to reach across him for her phone laying on the nightstand. Sure enough, there were several missed calls from Mary - Snow - and quite a few texts. She opened the latest one first.
MM: Emma - I don't want to sound like a worried mom, but you did say breakfast and you're not answering.
Emma smiled, unable to summon up any kind of annoyance. At least Henry wasn't late for school.
Not yet at least.
E: Sorry - overslept. I'll grab Henry and meet you at Granny's in 20?
The confirmation came back immediately, and Emma sat up with another groan. "Okay; I've got to get up and dressed if I'm meeting my … Snow and David. Are you coming?"
"Do you want me to?" August asked.
"Well, I could use someone to distract Henry," Emma said. "And maybe, while I'm getting ready, you can fill me in on what I've missed in the meantime?"
"You missed a lot," August said.
"That's fine," Emma said. "Just give me the short version."
Ever the writer, August managed to summarise the events of the last six weeks fairly succinctly, leaving Emma's head spinning.
"Whale is Frankenstein?!"
"Yeah, goodness knows where he came from," August said.
"And he … he brought back Regina's fiancé?" Emma asked.
"That's what David said," August said with a sigh. "He didn't come back … right. She had to kill him."
"And that was after her mother killed him in the first place," Emma said with a grimace, giving yesterday's shirt a sniff. "No, I can't wear this."
"Are your jeans okay" August asked, rummaging through his own clothes. "And what do you mean her mother killed him?"
"Did you not read the book before you let me find it again?" Emma asked.
"No, why?" August pulled out a shirt and handed it to her. "Will this do?"
It was a little large on her, but not in a 'walk of shame' kind of way. "Thanks. Snow told me the truth while we were over there. Basically the reason Regina hated Snow White was because Snow found out about Regina and Daniel, and told Cora. I mean, she thought that Cora would want her daughter to be happy rather than force her into an unhappy marriage, but Cora responded by killing Daniel."
"So all of this suffering is because Regina blamed a child for being manipulated?" August asked.
Emma sighed. "I think it's probably more that it was safer for Regina to blame Snow than it was to blame Cora. Having met the woman …"
"She didn't hurt you, did she?" August asked, when she trailed off.
Emma hesitated, then took a step closer. "She tried to rip my heart out."
August paled, reaching out to tug her into his arms. "Are you …?"
"It didn't work," Emma whispered, pulling one of his hands from his waist to place it on her chest, so he could feeling the reassuring thuds of her heartbeat. "She couldn't do it. And then there was this pulse of white light and I blasted her away."
"That's magic," August said simply. "You have magic."
"But Snow and David don't," Emma said, resting her head against his chest, letting the rhythm of his own heart soothe her. "So where did mine come from? Gold doesn't know; I thought he'd set the whole thing up, but he was as surprised as I was."
August pressed a kiss to her temple. "Come on. Let's grab the kid and get to the diner before you have to file your own missing person's report."
Henry was at the front dest with Ruby when they got downstairs and he immediately hugged August, giving Emma a chance to speak to her friend.
"I should have thought to lend you a change of clothes," Ruby said with a smirk.
"It's fine," Emma said. "Thanks for watching him."
"Don't mention it," Ruby said, leaning in closer. "Good night?"
"Ruby," Emma hissed.
"Come on," Ruby whispered. "Let me live vicariously. It was good, right?"
Emma glanced over to where August was patiently listening to Henry's chatter about the night before, and allowed herself a smirk of her own. "Mind-blowing."
Ruby grinned, punching her arm lightly. "Good girl. I'm on the late shift. But I have had Snow on the phone already."
"And we're going to be late," Emma added, raising her voice so the boys could hear her.
"Right," Henry said eagerly, taking her hand. "I'm starving."
"I did give him some toast," Ruby said, "but I guessed you'd be having breakfast later; didn't want to spoil is appetite. Or help him con you into a second breakfast."
Emma chuckled. "Thanks, Rubes. Come on, kid."
"Thanks Aunt Ruby," Henry called over his shoulder.
They were halfway to the diner when Emma realised that Henry had taken both of their hands, happily trotting along between them. If anyone unaware of the situation saw them, they would be forgiven for assuming that August was Henry's father.
As if reading her mind, August caught her eye and smiled. "Still with me?" He murmured.
Emma smiled back. "Still here."
As they approached the diner, Regina stepped out, holding a take-out coffee cup.
They all stopped, staring at each other in a kind of quiet face-off.
"Good morning Madam Mayor," Emma said quietly. "Thank you again for yesterday."
Regina managed a shaky smile, her eyes darting to Henry. "You're quite welcome, Miss Swan. Your parents seem concerned about you."
"Well, I overslept," Emma said. "August, do you mind taking Henry inside please?"
"No problem," August said.
Henry nodded, but let go of both of their hands to give Regina a hug. "Morning Mom."
Regina's hands trembled as she hugged him back. "Good morning Henry. I miss you."
"Me too," Henry mumbled, stepping back and allowing August to guide him into the diner.
Regina met Emma's eyes, looking for all the world like she was squaring for a fight, but whatever she saw apparently confused her. "Do you … You're not upset."
"Why would I be upset?" Emma asked. "You're his mom. As you were all too keen on reminding me, you're the one who raised him. Actually I was hoping that you and I could sit down and talk about that at some point. We both love Henry; we both want him to be happy. And I think for that to happen, we're going to need to work together."
Regina pulled a face, but there was something glimmering in her eyes that Emma hadn't really seen before.
Hope.
"I think you're right," she said cautiously. "Perhaps we could meet here for coffee this afternoon? That way we're both on … neutral ground so to speak."
"That would be wonderful," Emma said. "Text me a time; I need to get inside before they send out a search party." She hesitated, unsure if her next words would be a mistake. "I heard about Daniel. I'm so sorry."
Regina's breath caught in her throat. "Thank you."
Emma gave a short nod. "See you later."
The bell over the door rang as she stepped inside, leaving the mayor outside to her thoughts.
"Emma," Snow said, almost breathless with relief. "Are you alright?"
"It was a civil discussion," Emma said, sliding into the booth while the rest of the diner pretended they hadn't been watching the two women outside the window. "I think it might be the first civil discussion I've had with her since the day I arrived. Have you ordered?"
"Not yet," David said.
"Can we talk?" Snow asked. "You … We need to."
"I know we do," Emma said, glancing at August and Henry beside her.
"Hey, Henry, you know how to play pinball?" August asked, apparently reading her mind.
Henry frowned. "No, why?"
"You want to learn?" August asked.
Henry's eyes darted to the old pinball machine in the corner. "M - Regina said it was a game of chance."
August chuckled. "That's because she doesn't know how to play. Is that okay with you, Emma?"
Emma stood up to allow them to get past her. "Of course. I'll order for you."
"Thanks Mom," Henry said brightly.
August kissed her head as he passed, and she slid back on to the bench.
"So what do you want to talk about?"
Snow reached across the table to take her hand. "You and I talked out in the Forest. We both agreed how difficult and … overwhelming this is for all of us. How is this going to work?"
Emma took a deep breath. "Well, I've been thinking about that. I'm not used to having people to … Well, people. So I'll make you a deal. I will try and remember that I have you now and that I can talk to you. I'll try and be open with you, and keep you in the loop as to what's going on. But I need you to try and remember that I'm an adult and that I've been by myself for a long time. I'm used to looking after myself and I've never been very good at opening up to people."
"We can do that," David said. "If there's something you don't want to talk about and we're pushing a bit, can you tell us that rather than …"
"Rather than snapping at you?" Emma finished with a smile. "I can. But I need you to trust that when I say I don't want to talk about it, that I really don't want to talk about it."
"Absolutely," Snow agreed.
"The other thing is," Emma hesitated. "Regina."
Snow and David exchanged a loaded glance.
"What about her?" Snow asked.
"I'm going to be talking to her about Henry at some point," Emma said calmly, smiling as Ella placed a hot cocoa in front of her. "Thanks Ella."
"No problem," Ella said cheerfully. "You all want your usual?"
"Please," Emma said. "Henry will have the pancakes, but can you swap half the bacon for the fruit pot?"
"Sure thing," Ella said.
"And August will have the same as me," Emma added.
"And actually," Snow said, "can I get that as well please? Mary Margaret has a smaller appetite than I do."
"How did that happen?" Emma asked, as Ella went to put the order in.
"Regina's my stepmother," Snow pointed out. "She knows what my tastes are; it doesn't surprise me that she flipped everything for me. Why are you talking to her about Henry?"
"I have to put Henry's well-being first," Emma said. "Keeping him away from Regina is no better than her keeping him away from me. Worse, actually, since she is legally his mother and I'm not."
"Emma …" David began.
"I know what she's done," Emma said. "I've also met Cora; I'm not surprised she snapped. I'm not naive - I know she's dangerous."
David sighed. "Well, as long as you're aware of that. You can look after yourself."
Emma smiled. "Thank you. I am still the Sheriff. Henry," she called as Ella brought the plates over, sliding further along to allow August and Henry to come and sit down. "Please tell me you weren't teaching him how to cheat."
"Would I do that?" August asked innocently.
Emma rolled her eyes, checking her watch. "Best eat up, kid; the bus will be …"
A scream went up across the street, shrill and panicked, and August caught Henry's arm before he could sit down. "Let your mom out."
"Emma …" David began.
"I'll call you if I need you," Emma said, already on her way to the door. "Stay there."
She had barely left the diner when Ruby collided with her, her face as white as a sheet and streaked with tears.
"It's Archie," she sobbed. "Quickly!"
Pongo was dancing around their feet, Emma realised, whining and barking and pawing at her legs in a way that he never did, was too well-trained to.
Her heart in her mouth, she took Ruby's hand and allowed herself to be dragged to Archie's apartment across the street.
The apartment door was unlocked and ajar, and the former cricket was lying on his back beside his coffee table, glasses askew and eyes closed.
Ruby grabbed Pongo's collar to keep him still as Emma dropped to her knees beside him, checking his pulse.
"Tell me I'm wrong," Ruby whispered. "Please tell me I'm wrong."
Emma closed her eyes, breathing deeply and counting to ten in her head. "You're not wrong."
Ruby let out another sob and Emma rose to her feet, wrapping the other woman in a hug before she had really decided to do so.
As Ruby clung to her and began crying in earnest, Emma pulled out her phone and called August, gently urging her and Pongo out of the apartment so she could preserve the scene.
"I'm still only across the street," he greeted.
"Is Henry in earshot?" Emma asked quietly.
"Hang on."
Emma waited for August to make his excuses and move away from her family, realising at the same time that Geppetto and Jiminy were best friends, and that August might not be the best person to turn to.
"Okay, what's up?"
Emma grimaced. "Can you make sure Henry gets to school for me?"
"You couldn't have told me that while I was with him?"
Emma hesitated. "I … There's something I need to tell you. I don't want to do it on the phone, and I don't want Henry to find out until he has to."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. "That was Ruby that screamed. I can still hear her crying. She had an appointment with Archie this morning. What's happened to him?"
"August …"
"Tell me."
Emma closed her eyes, stroking Ruby's hair. "He's dead."