Chapter 5: I love it when a plan comes together

I stayed home, only going outside to clean the windows, empty the mailbox,... I cooked dinner as good as possible and treated myself to ice cream. After taking a short but satisfactory shower I seated myself on the carpet, in front of the fire to watch the dying embers. It was time to go to bed. I tried to relax but my eyes refused to close so I downed a glass of strong brandy. But even that didn't work. There were just too many thoughts in my head. So I started working on my propaganda newspaper. I scribbled down some concrete items regarding:

Subject: Regina, mayor of Storybrooke Crimes: -keeping Henry away from his real mother
The opposition: Emma Swan, police officer of Storybrooke, savior?

I was planning to write several articles, and if possible make pictures, signed anonymous because I was convinced Regina's minions wouldn't be pleased with me as competition. On that note I turned on the TV to watch a repeat performance of the mayor's speech.

Somewhere halfway through the night I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I saw was sunlight pouring through the curtains.

Monday morning I dropped by the office to see if my boss had any work for me but he wasn't there. On my desk was a hastily scribbled note about his absence and a small stack of articles to edit. Steadily I worked through the drafts, stopping only to sip from my coffee, when suddenly the door opened. "Oh, it's only you." I sighed, seeing my colleague.
"Sorry Langly, I should have knocked first."
"No, it's alright Elliot. So, anything interesting in the mail?"
"Only a bill and a fanletter."
"Thanks, see you again!"
"Bye!"

My boss wouldn't be back for a while which left me plenty of time to go through the database of articles and get more information on Regina. The first ones dated back a couple of years, later ones were co-edited by myself. I jolted down some interesting questions, like the hospital fundraising (organized by Mary Margaret) and the rebuilding of the nunnery after it had partially burned down. Then I wrote down the recent issues like the nunnery's debt, how no one had ever left town,… I knew Gold wasn't a saint, but I didn't want to obstruct our deal by making him look bad. Then again people already believed him to be the villain.

Suddenly my alarm clock struck 4. P.M.. "Shit." I cursed and quickly put the paper files back in their original boxes, I saved everything on a hard drive so no one could find anything on my computer.

"Sorry I'm late John. Got caught up with my other work."
"You're right on time." He replied "Come in, the pups have missed you."
"Where's the guppy fish?" I asked worriedly , noticing it was gone.
"Rose, you've shown wonderful progress last week, you're a quick learner. That's why I trust you to tend to the shop on your own while I deliver the fish to Evelyn." "
Thank you so much!" I squealed, making the dogs bark "Sorry, you won't regret it."
"I don't think a lot will happen but most likely Archie will drop by to buy some dogfood for Pongo. He does that every two weeks."
"Okay got it, now off you go."
"Yes ma'am." He saluted, trying to sound Texan.

When the wind chime rang I thought Archie had come in but when I turned around with a smile I was sorely mistaken. I made sure the smile didn't falter one bit. "Afternoon mayor, what can I do for you?" She returned my fake smile and looked around. "I'm sorry but Jonathan is making a special delivery at the moment. Feel free to ask me anything."
At first I thought she was going to leave and come back another time but then she smiled genuinely, realizing I wasn't posing a threat- yet.
"Miss Langly, is it? I am looking for a pet. I'd like to give Henry a friend to keep him company."
"I see, I presume you want something small, not too hairy?"
"Well thought."
"Over here we have Veela, a sweet water turtle and the tanks in the front contain various fish, not bigger than your hand. Of course, with a big garden you could take a rabbit, they're very popular and only need basic food besides leftovers. They're more liked and they're great lawn mowers too."
"My son would rather have a dog but he's barely home, even when I tell him too not leave the house." Regina said in a moment of revelation "How much for a rabbit?"
"15$. You could come back to let Henry pick one." I suggested.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, tight schedule. Besides I want to surprise him. I'll pick that one."
"Excellent choice, females are always smaller. Anything else I can offer: toy, vitamins, perhaps a bell?"
"That won't be necessary, but thank you for asking."
"No problem… Miss mayor if I may be so bold… seeing as you have a tight schedule, why not let someone watch over Henry?"
"I tried a babysit once. She thought he was in his room all the time, but he had snuck out the window..."
"With your permissions, I'd like to try."
"Isn't that cutting it a bit close with your editing job and this one?"
"If Sidney could send me his part of the articles through e-mail I could work from over here or at home, seeing as there aren't a lot of customers. I could pick him up from school, cook dinner and wait till you arrive. I'm available during the weekends as well."
"You make a point. Drop by my office tomorrow at nine."
"Miss mayor, at your service."

I put the money away and went to the back to clean out the storage. When I returned to the shop there was another customer.

"God Archie, you scared me."
"Sorry Rose" he stuttered "Didn't mean to sneak up on you like that."
"Don't worry, I'm still shaking from the devil's visit."
"Regina's known to leave that impression on someone."
"Got that right, tough I'm sure there's something good under her façade, one of the reasons why I suggested babysitting Henry."
"Henry's getting into trouble lately, then again the boy wants to spend time with his mother."
"As long as I can keep Regina at bay, Emma is free to come and go, unnoticed of course."
"That's very noble of you."
"Thanks, say Archie, how much do you actually believe of Henry's theory about Storybrook? I know your profession has a confidentially key but.."
"I try not to crush his imagination, because it's the only thing he's got besides Emma, but sometimes he needs a push towards reality."
"Unfortunately no one's conscience is clean but yours looks almost spotless."
"Being a therapist can be a burden sometimes, keeping everyone's secrets, but it's what I love."
"Of course. Perhaps I'll drop by some time too. The usual dogbiscuits and cans of food?"
"Certainly."
"Here you go."
Archie paid and left.

Sometime in the afternoon, after giving a treat to the dogs and playing with the kittens to stimulate their senses, yet another customer entered the shop. The man bought a new toy for his feline and a periwinkle blue leash. After seeing him out it was near closing time. I was just checking the register when the doorbell rang.

"Rose! I'm…I'm so sorry." Jonathan kept repeating even though I assured him the time had flown and the shop was still there.
"Jonathan, listen to me, did you have a good time?"
"Well it was… yes!"
"Then don't regret it, embrace the opportunity and treat her well."
"You've foreseen this, haven't you?"
"I might have given you both a verbal push towards one another, don't make me regret it though."
"Thank you for your support. It seems I'll have to leave the shop more often.. You sell more than me.."
"Keep dreaming, but I'll start on that article later. I just took on a 3rd job, not sure I can keep doing this one. I'm sure there are other animal lovers in town looking for a job."
"Splendid idea, I'll design a picture to accompany it. I'll be sad to see you go though."
"Let me know when it's finished." I smiled, feeling happy with yet another project, and threw the keys at him.