Chapter Two~
Darcy stared at the three who were talking as if she wasn't there and realized they clearly knew something she didn't.
"Hold on, Evil Queen? Curse and horrible stuff? Emma, want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Darcy asked only Henry said quickly,
"No, you can't know just yet, it's too dangerous." groaning in aggregation, Darcy rolled her eyes and stomped her foot saying,
"Ok so I'm in danger if I leave, danger if I stay, can't know why because it's dangerous too. What isn't dangerous and what am I allowed to do mommy dearest?" Mary, Emma and Henry exchanged looks before Henry looked at the clock and said,
"I'd better get going," then gave Emma a hug along with Mary before heading for the door yet stopped and turned to say over his shoulder,
"I'll see what we can do about this tomorrow Emma." then he was gone leaving the three women to stay in a period of silence. It was Mary who broke it by saying with a heavy sigh,
"Would you like something to drink Darcy?"
"Yeah um, do you have hot chocolate?" at this Mary laughed saying as she started for the kitchen,
"With Emma around, of course we do! With or without whip cream and cinnamon?"
"With neither actually, I have no idea where Emma got that from." Darcy said making Emma glance over at Mary so that Darcy couldn't help but notice. As Mary started making the drinks for the three of them, Darcy moved her stuff into Emma's room since she'd be sharing which Emma who was perfectly happy with. Only once the door was shut the door and they were alone and Darcy demanded sharply in a hush,
"Tell me what's going on Emma, you can't hide the truth from me forever girl." Emma exhaled deeply and ran a hand through her hair before collapsing onto the bed while Darcy just stared down at her,
"I honestly don't think I can tell you yet Darcy, maybe when Henry and I come up with some solution but until then you're best kept in the dark." Emma told her in all honesty but Darcy only groaned taking a seat next to her best friend saying,
"Emma, you're literally my only family in the world—well—not by blood but you know what I mean. Ever since you found me that day you've been the closest thing to a sister I've ever gotten and I wasn't about to lose you just because you disappeared on me." Darcy's tone of voice was what caused Emma to turn to see her violet eyes filled with unshed tears; she had been so worried over Emma's disappearance, so scared of being alone again, so utterly frightened at the thought of being forever by herself again. Emma sighed and hugged her saying to the young woman,
"Don't worry, even though you can't leave I'm going to make sure that nothing—nothing happens to you. Just like you said, you're family to me too Darcy." hearing her sniffle, the two were interrupted when Mary opened the door to find them hugging and when they pulled away she noticed Darcy fighting back hot tears of self-loathing.
"The coco is ready." she said gently watching as Darcy stand and brushed past her without so much as a thanks leaving her to look to Emma for an explanation. As Emma stood she went over saying softly,
"That's just Darcy for you, living on the street since being out of the foster system can make you hard as nails and that can either save you in the end—or do the exact opposite." and leaving it there she moved to enter the kitchen where the two found Darcy already sitting down on the couch with her coco mug staring off into space.
"So—tell me a bit about yourself." Mary said grabbing her own mug and taking a seat near Darcy so the young woman looked up and blinked away whatever she was seeing to say,
"Well, I lost my family at five, went into the foster care system after that, was never adopted and so grew out of the system to live on the streets until I met Emma who took me under her wing so to speak and we've been friends ever since. She got me a job, helped me try to steady myself under my own two feet and even tried to get me my own place. But things don't always work out for the best." here she trailed off staring deeply into her coco mug before saying,
"What's Henry like? If he's anything like Emma I bet he's a handful."
"Ha! And more…..but he's a sweet kid and means well, especially when he says he's worried about what might happen to you." Mary told her so that she gauged the other woman's reaction but noticed she had placed up a façade it seemed.
"And what did he mean 'he had to go'? Go where? He's Emma's kid right?" Darcy asked but Emma told her exhaling deeply and scowling darkly,
"He was adopted by Madame Mayor herself, the High and Mighty Bitch of the town who if she does find out you're here she might try something." here Darcy only snorted saying,
"Yeah? Well I've had worse Emma, you remember when I took on the McBrown gang on my own, and that was five against one."
"No, no this is different she has magic—" but here Mary covered her mouth quickly only Darcy heard and turned her head sharply to give her a look with narrow eyes asking with a raised eyebrow,
"Magic? What like as in Curses and stuff?" Emma glared at Mary who sheepishly stood clearly away the empty mugs saying nothing more but Darcy went to follow except someone knocked on the door so she called,
"I'll get it!"
"No don't!" both Emma and Mary called not knowing who might be on the other side but already Darcy had gone over and swung it open. Standing on the other side of the doorway was a man dressed in an expensive suite of the darkest of blacks with a crimson stripped tie. With shoulder length hair peppered with gray streaks, he had dark amber eyes that flashed with realization and amazement upon seeing her. He leaned heavily to one side so that she noticed he was holding a cane which he gripped with white knuckles as he breathed out almost in a whisper,
"Darcy-dove?"
"Um, can I help you?" Darcy asked the stranger who was forced to swallow his emotions as Emma appeared behind her with a cold glare and snapped,
"What do you want Mr. Gold?" the man glanced at Darcy before saying,
"I overheard from a little birdy that a newcomer had come to town and wanted to introduce myself."
"Yeah well you said hi now leave." Emma snarled trying to shut the door only Mr. Gold put his cane between the door way and said with a tight smile at Emma,
"Ah but I believe I haven't gotten her name—and then I shall be off. I promise." the whole while Darcy stood watching the exchange between the two feeling the tension and seeing the clear expressions of mistrust on Emma's face and annoyance on Mr. Gold's face. Then he turned to her and his face went natural though his eyes held some sort of spark she couldn't quite name.
"And what might your name be my dear?" the words seemed to echo in Darcy's mind before she was slapped back to reality and said evenly,
"Darcy." Mr. Gold smiled calmly telling gently,
"What a lovely name." then turning to look at Emma, then Mary who was standing behind them he nodded his head saying,
"I'll leave you three then, have a goodnight." with that he was gone leaving Emma to slam the door close and groan muttering to herself,
"Great, the town's slim ball found out. Now he'll tattle-tale to Regina and we'll be in major trouble." only for some strange reason Darcy didn't think so as she watched Emma head for the bedroom she'd share with her and following heard Mary say goodnight. Giving the woman a smile in thanks, she also added,
"And thanks for letting me stay here—even if you don't know me."
"You know Emma, and she's your family right? Family always stays together." Mary told her with a motherly smile making Darcy blink at the words before she went to the shared bedroom and changed quickly into sweats and slipped into the bed she was sharing. Emma shifted in the bed and told her,
"Whatever you do, DON'T mess with Mr. Gold Darcy—he's nothing but trouble."