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BossLady (x4): Looks like you're catching up! I love the quiet little moments between them, too; it really allows for some exploration of their characters. A lot of this story is character study, so you can see why I love it. And Maggie! I'm so glad everyone likes her so much. Both she and Andie are my little children.

Title: Back Up
Summary: It's nice to have someone else have your back.
Note: Post Meetings. Not a specific prompt being used, just an amalgam of people's reaction to Maggie in SB.

"Hey there, stranger."

Graham looked up and smiled tiredly at Maggie. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the few patrons left of the lunch crowd at Granny's were milling out because of the newcomer's presence. He knew the outsider made everyone nervous, and honestly he felt more at ease as the crowd dispersed. One of the many reasons he enjoyed Maggie's presence, as scary as it could be. "Hey. Is Emma back, too?"

She shrugged. "She stayed behind with the Sheriff's wife. Who, by the way, is a real pain."

Graham gave a tight smile and pushed his plate away.

His feelings on Snow were mixed, to say the least. He remembered how much he respected her once, and wondered at how much it had chipped away over the years. It had perhaps begun with the time Regina had come back to the palace with her tail between her legs, when she had punished him and the rest of her slaves in the castle for her troubles. When it became clear that they were expendable in the royal's eyes. At least then he had expected it somewhat, had known for quite some time just how little he meant.

But the way Snow had treated Emma and Henry in the ups and downs since returning … he just couldn't feel that same confidence he'd once had for the young princess.

He couldn't go about explaining all that to Maggie, though, so he settled on, "She's a little overprotective, I suppose," he said noncommittally.

Maggie scoffed. "Overprotective? No, I think she's a little more than that," she contested. "She's got something on Em, for sure."

He leaned back, feeling exhausted with it. "Yeah."

Maggie grabbed a fry from his plate and dipped it in the ketchup. "Where's the kid?"

Graham gestured upwards with his chin. "He wanted to have some time to himself for a bit. He's on a video call with Gia's kids." Of course, he didn't mention the fact that there was a baby monitor at his hip, low enough to keep the kid's privacy but loud enough for his ears to pick up on anything unusual. The two floors separating them was the most distance he'd allow at this point.

She looked to the ceiling, her expression thoughtful. "It's good he's got friends to talk to," she mused. She met his eye pointedly. "He's really confused at this point."

"I know," Graham murmured, feeling pain shoot through him at the reminder. "We talked a little about it today, but I think it's going to take a lot more time before he fully copes with what happened."

"I'm not going to say I don't sympathize; of course I do. I love that kid, and I hate that he had to go through this. But he's better off," Maggie said darkly.

Graham winced. "Henry's lost a lot in his life," he started, and then shook his head. Anything in that sort of explanation wouldn't make sense to her. Slowly, he corrected himself, "I mean, he's missed a lot. I can't say that I'll miss the guy, but Henry deserved a chance to get to know him."

Maggie stubbornly crossed her arms, brow furrowed deeply. "I don't agree."

"Henry deserved to have his questions answered," Graham coaxed.

Finally, Maggie sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Especially with all this shit that's going on."

"Exactly."

Maggie tsked. "I hate to see you all like this. You need to get this midwife kidnapper or whatever she is and get the hell outta dodge."

"Yeah. If only things were that easy," he muttered. It would be a fight even after Zelena was defeated, he was sure. Not only was there still another witch with ill intent, there was Snow and David to compromise with. It wouldn't be simple to leave this town.

She leaned back in her seat. "I'm surprised you came this far. You never talk about Maine. Didn't think you had any ties left over here."

Graham almost laughed, could feel the strange burst of humorless laughter bubble up within him. His chest tightened slightly, and he glanced to the back of the diner, where the dart board used to reside. There were a lot of memories here, and most of them bad. "I didn't think I'd ever want to see this place again," he admitted. "But David and Mary Margaret … well, they needed the help." Emma deserved to see them.

She leaned forward to grab his mug, taking a sip of the tea there. "Good Samaritan?" she asked, a smile in her voice.

He chuckled, knowing that even she knew better. He would do anything for Emma, and that was the main reason he was back in this town. But something else had been fraying on his nerves, a new realization. "This … this woman. If we didn't take the fight here, she would have brought it to us."

She hummed a response, thinking that over. "And you're sure of that?" she asked.

Graham nodded, feeling the truth of it turn his stomach. For some reason, Zelena was targeting Snow's family. He didn't have any illusions that she would have left them safe in New York, especially with the way she had stared at Emma's stomach like their child was her prize. "Yeah, I'm sure. It's all been connected somehow. I just don't know her reasons."

She twisted the small sliver hoop in her ear absently. "Not all criminals have reasons, Graham, no matter how much we'd like to think so."

He let out a low breath, and listened to the steady drone of Henry's garbled conversation as he processed that. He tried not to think of a weight on his chest and a sharp command that would follow. "Yeah, I know," he said darkly.

"You do, don't you?" There was something on Maggie's face, something curiously knowledgeable. It wasn't pitying, but it was similar enough to pull his spine straight.

"We should all have dinner tonight," he said abruptly. "I know Henry'd like that."

She blinked, and then nodded. The look that had set him on edge was gone in an instant, replaced by something more pleased. She smiled over the lip of the mug. "Of course the kid'll like it. He's Emma's, and it's food."

Graham snickered, and gestured to her. "Go ahead and order something. I'll text Em. Her cravings have been all over the place lately."

"Yeah, I remember," she said dryly. "And they're not always for food and they don't always care if other people are around to hear it."

Graham's brow raised. He tried to hide his smile as he began texting. "Your own fault for not planning ahead."

"Why would I get a room when your couch is always available," she said simply. She rose, menu in hand. She swatted him with it before pressing it to her chest. "Doesn't mean I want to hear the result of all those cravings. It's why I got Henry and me a room on the floor up from you."

He grinned, not bothering to look up from his phone. "See, you can be taught!"

"Shut up," she muttered, but then grinned as she turned to the counter. Immediately, she bumped into the person that had covertly imposed.

The dark haired woman looked as poised as ever, sweeping her gaze across the diner before zeroing on him with a scowl. "Well, I see you are still keeping a keen eye on Henry."

The scathing tone was nothing new, and Graham barely lifted his head to acknowledge the woman.

Maggie, however, had gone from laughing to utter fire in barely a second. "Violations of restraining orders equal jail time, you know." Though there was mockery in her words, her voice was thick with anger.

Regina's dark gaze flicked over Maggie, and her lips curled into a hard sneer. "A piece of paper is nothing."

Maggie's expression flashed with challenge. The menu dropped to the floor as she planted her feet in a readied stance. "Oh, really?"

"Maggie," Graham said shortly, stepping up to hold her back by the forearm. Maggie gave him a onceover, looking very much like she wanted to rip away and tear into Regina. As much as he'd like to oblige, Maggie would be no match. After steadying her, he turned his gaze to the other woman. "As you know, you're not welcome, Regina."

She sniffed, the snarled at him. "You need to take better care of Henry. Zelena made it clear that she will go after him."

A sharp touch of fear shot down his spine, but he examined her warily. If this was some scheme to get close to his son …. "And why would that be?"

Her eyes narrowed, and glanced over at Maggie again. Maggie was barely holding herself together, every muscle poised to jump in at any moment. For now, the older woman seemed to be weighing her options, finding the use of her magic a poor choice against the outsider at this time. Regina's lips pursed, and she darted her eyes back to him. "Because she's my sister," she admitted finally.

Graham just held from rolling his eyes at the utter absurdity. "Of course she is. What has this got to do with Henry?"

She raised her chin. "She wants to destroy anything I own."

A growl began in the depths of his stomach, rolling outwards as he took a threatening step closer. "You do not own Henry," he said, and the heat itched through his arms.

Maggie stepped to flank him, hands fisting at her side. "I don't know where you think you get the right to violate the law and try to lay claim over my godson, but you better step back before I end this," she threatened darkly.

Regina almost looked amused, and it chilled something to his very core. Carefully, he moved to cover Maggie. "It was good that you gave us the warning. We can take over from here," he said neutrally.

Her eyes hardened. "I certainly don't trust you to keep him safe. Let me see my son."

"Excuse you?" Maggie demanded, utter shock coloring her tone. "What in the hell is wrong with you, lady?"

Graham ignored her. "You know he doesn't want to see you. If you try, you won't get far," he warned.

Her eyes were glassy but hard as she squared her shoulders. "You think you could stop me? We know what trying did for you before."

Before he could respond, Maggie was in her face. "You do not get to threaten my family, Madame Mayor. And there isn't a chance in hell that you're getting near Henry." She pulled her phone out to show a text on the screen. "Looks like the sheriff's on his way. You had better leave now before I beat you to the ground while we wait for him."

He wished he could revel in Maggie's actions, but fear was the winning factor in this case. He yanked her back, something Maggie had not been prepared for. She ripped out of his grip, stunned. She almost looked appalled. "Not now," he demanded lowly. "Go to Henry."

Maggie shook her head, her eyes hard. "I don't trust this bitch around you, either."

Graham felt panic at her insistence. He didn't want to be near her, either, but he needed to be the one between Regina and the people he cared about. He felt dizzy as he sought the words that would get Maggie far away, preferably helping Henry upstairs and creating another barrier between the witch and him.

Regina huffed as if in indignation. "I don't care about you two. Zelena is after Henry, don't you understand? And she doesn't get him," she hissed.

"And he doesn't need your brand of protection," he shot back.

She sneered. "I will go through you if need be, Huntsman. Like I said, I don't care about you or any of the other peasants you can scrape together to defy me. I will crush you. Your lives mean nothing."

He heard a click to his right. Maggie had pulled her gun out of the holster, aiming at center mass. "Back. Off."

Graham felt the energy change in the air, the stir of magic coming in waves from the dark witch. He knew he needed to stop this from escalating further. He couldn't risk Maggie like this. He took a step between the two women. "If Zelena is after you, then you are the threat to Henry," he said lowly, intoned with hatred he couldn't pretend to hide.

He could see her debating with herself, wanting to use her power to slice through him and Maggie both, then fight her way to Henry. As much as she claimed it was about protecting him, he could see the triumph behind her eye, the idea that this would bring them together. He had no doubt that the gun in Maggie's hand would do nothing against her, and his mind was scrambling.

"We're waiting on the cuffs," Maggie reminded. Her aim was steady, even with the block Graham had tried to create. "If you make any sudden move, I'll put a bullet in your shoulder."

Regina glowered at her, and her palm began to spark ever so slightly. "You are dangerously arrogant, Miss Hodge."

He felt the urgency within him grow, ready to pounce before she could even begin to think of touching his family.

"Regina!"

Graham looked back, internally deflating at the sight of David. His heart was hammering in his chest, adrenaline drumming through him. As much as he loved Maggie here, David was best right now. David knew, and David could defuse this.

The blond was slightly out of breath, hands out as he tried to determine what was going on. The cruiser was still idling in the street, the rush he'd taken clear. His eyes bounced back and forth over the three, worry coloring his countenance.

"Sheriff. Nice to meet you. You're just in time," Maggie said smoothly, and pushed the safety back on her gun. "We have a restraining order violation, and a whole new host of threats from this one."

"Maggie, go to Henry," Graham demanded.

She looked like she was going to protest again, defiance all through her stance. But after a long beat, she glanced back at David and then to the ceiling. She nodded once. "You're up there in five or I'm coming back down."

He knew the chance to check on the lad would win over her wish to protect him, at least now that there was someone else that had his back. He didn't let himself relax, though, and instead pinned Regina with his gaze. "Fine," he said simply.

Maggie took the chance to shoulder check Regina on her way out, to which Regina snarled darkly. His eyes fluttered shut. This would not bode well if that would continue.

"Do you really think I'm going to let you arrest me, Charming?" she asked mockingly once Maggie was gone.

Graham shook his head. "He's going to escort you out of here. Consider this your final warning, Regina. I don't care what you do around me; I've already seen your worst. But you do not get near Henry. I don't care what you think you can do for him, because he does not want you near him."

David stepped to his side, and it looked like steam was escaping from his ears. "We've gone over this, Regina. We won't support you if you try to get near him or Emma." David turned his eyes on Graham for a moment, and there was an uncertainty there. His tone changed to a mutter. "It was supposed to extend to you as well."

Graham ignored it. "Do we understand each other?"

Regina looked between them. "He'll come around," she insisted, but straightened her jacket and strode to the exit. She paused at the door and turned to David. "You better tell your daughter to brush up on her magic, or else Zelena will make quick work of you all." Something seemed to occur to her then, and a small smile touched her lips. "Then Henry will truly only have me." She sauntered out the door before either could reply.

"I don't like how frequently I've had to walk into these things, Graham," David commented.

Graham leaned against the table and nodded, feeling exhaustion begin in the depths of his bones. "Me neither." There was more than a small part of him that wanted to chase Regina down the street, weapon in hand. It was only the newer part of him that tempered that impulse; even the slave that knew exactly what she was capable of wanted to tear her limb from limb for threatening his family. He felt barely held together, but at least he knew he had others on his side.

"It's a good thing she messaged me," David said quietly.

He grimaced, but nodded. "She's sharp like that."

He nodded, and his thumb brushed against his badge. "She's a good friend to have," he declared. "Especially when you've unilaterally decided to place yourself last."

Graham blew out a low breath. "Yeah, well."

David only gave him a look; he didn't bother to reprimand him. "I'll have to thank her one day … for being that kind of friend for you and Emma and Henry."

He glanced away, not sure how to respond. This was that strange bridge, the old and the new not knowing how to mix. He himself felt torn, somewhere between the loving detective and the wild huntsman. It was unsettling to have them try to merge, at least without Emma around.

"Go check on Henry. I'll keep watch down here, make sure Snow and Emma get back safe."

Graham hesitated a beat, and leaned forward to squeeze his arm. "Thank you, David."

He gave a smile, in a way that he never knew matched Emma's so well. "Of course, Graham. You're all part of our family."