A/N: Ok so introductions done, next four chapters are gonna involve making headway on the mystery. Massive fiery thanks to all reading and especially to you reviewers, y'all are the cake to my birthday!

CHAPTER 5:

"You ok?"

Emma yelped as a face peeked out from the foliage to her right; pale and disembodied in the morning frost, a single plume of fat smoke seeped from the mouth as if to prove that she hadn't lost her mind and that someone had actually spoken.

"Jesus, don't do that," she said wiping her face awkwardly. As if the track marks marring her cheeks could be so easily erased.

Her doppelganger must have shrugged because the leaves around her rustled idiotically for a moment. "Well, excuse me for having your back."

Emma threw her a sardonic look. "How exactly does hiding in someone else's landscaping count as having my back?"

"It's a thing! Confucius said it about... illusion and disguise going hand in hand with...like, defending your friends...look it's deep and profound and don't mock the Chinese, its racist."

If it hadn't been so goddamn cold and she wasn't feeling quite so empty right now Emma could have laughed at the righteousness pasted across her own face as Sheriff Swan mark II made her way out of the bush.

As it was all Emma could do was throw up her hands in submission.

"Fine! Ok. No-one's picking on the Chinese and we're all believers in your weird-ass Asian-Garden-Philosophy here, ok? Would you chill out."

She sucked in a deep breath remaining where she was splayed out on the stone steps of the porch. Everything inside was still telling her not to leave, to take a stand and force another showdown with Regina if only to earn some semblance of time with the headstrong Mayor but she couldn't ignore the cold settling over her skin like tarpaulin. She was also painfully aware of the cool brittle air sliding along the lining of her lungs and how welcome the brief flash of pain that accompanied it. The spark that reminded her she was being punished for her actions. For her own arrogance.

As she should be.

"She's really mad, huh?"

"...You could say that."

Knowing green eyes stared forlornly up at the top storey of the house before coming back down to rest on the dejected Sheriff. "You know she's not really angry though, right?"

Emma barely moved. "Yeah I know."

Hell, angry would be a cakewalk compared to this.

"She just has a habit of making every other emotion sound a lot like rage. Doesn't matter what it is...Embarrassment. Loss. Betrayal..."

If that was supposed to be comforting, it couldn't have been less so. Each word that came out of the other Emma's mouth felt like a nail being driven into the flesh on her stomach, hammered in with a precision that left her breathless. Because it was all true. Confoundingly, painfully true. Regina may have been one of the smartest women she'd ever met but when it came to emotional maturity, the brunette was a shot glass full of burning liqueur. Incendiary and a sure-fire gateway to destruction. With a side of optional oblivion come daybreak.

"Yeah it's quite a skill she has," mumbled Emma.

"That's right. Like I said, it all comes back illusion and disguise..."

And just like that Emma felt her lips curving upwards of their own accord at the sudden smug look on her counterpart's face. Usually it would have bothered her, the egotism of the remark but she was still fragile and worn out from the events of the last half an hour and the ridiculous waves of satisfaction radiating from her double were...almost, kind of endearing?

God, she was going soft.

"Not gonna let that go anytime soon, are ya?" she drawled.

"Nope." Her companion said smiling. "Philosophy outlives us all."

Emma nodded her head briefly, not even bothering to ask what that meant. The she took another glimpse over her shoulder at the deathly still of the house, punching down the memories of times she had walked right in without even an invitation. "We should probably get out of here."

"Before she calls the cops?"

"Cute. Before she decides chewing my ass out in public is just the appetiser to a main meal." She drew her jacket around her to push some of the frigid cold away and rubbed her arms through the material forcing all thoughts of the earlier exchange out of her mind. Trying. Though it was almost impossible.

Because those hissed, cracked words kept flinging themselves at the walls of her brain like inmates in an asylum.

Another mewling apology.

I hate you.

Everything came so easy to you.

Go celebrate your victory somewhere else.

It was all so twisted.

So unfair.

But was it really? Her mind chipped in. She had waltzed into Storybrooke all those years ago and demanded to be a part of Henry's life without thought for the legal ramifications. For the emotional ones either. She'd questioned whether Regina loved her own son the first night they met.

And who the Hell does that?

Someone who'd never had a second's experience raising a kid or making a home for...

"Hey."

It was just as she was losing herself again that a soft voice cut through the air and Emma felt a hand rest lightly on her shoulder, dragging her back to a world built of stone and frost.

"She was trying to inflict as much pain as possible. She probably doesn't even remember half of what she said."

She couldn't really argue with that. Though she may have wanted to.

The blonde scraped at the marble underneath her palm and allowed the thoughts to recede for a moment as she nodded gratefully at the new Sheriff, aware that the other woman owed her no solace at all, out-of-place as she was in a new world. It was kind though. Unexpectedly kind.

And if it hadn't been for the strange way her neck muscles started to tense nearest those digits on her shoulder she wondered for a brief moment if she was entitled to tilt her head and rest a cheek on the hand that was so achingly familiar.

She'd earned some respite hadn't she? Some kind of consolation for trying to do the right thing...from the only person who might just understand?

A touch meant next to nothing these days, after all...and it wasn't as if she'd ever get to know the sensation of Regina's hand on her skin anymore...

Jerking herself out of her reverie as her brain finally kicked into gear and screamed its disapproval, Emma exhaled wildly, abruptly taking a stumbling step away from her counterpart.

"Right, so we need to sort something out." She said awkwardly.

Her double looked confused.

"As in what we call you?"

"Uh...Emma?"

"I'm Emma." She said forcefully.

The second blonde blinked. "So am I."

"I know that. But things are confusing as it is without us sharing a face and a name. We need a way to differentiate between us especially if we're going to keep leaving the apartment."

"Well we can call me the cute Emma if you want."

"We could do that." said the Sheriff before narrowing her eyes, "Of course, we'd also have to call you PSA Emma because I'll have slapped you so hard, your face'll be one big bruise."

Her doppelganger offered her a look in response that basically asked her to do just that. Then she blew out her cheeks. "So you have any better suggestions Oh wise one?"

Emma thought about it for a minute. "Emma number 2?"

"I don't think so. "

"Did we have any nicknames that you remember?"

"None that are safe to say out loud," grinned the blonde waggling her eyebrows although her eyes shone as something obviously occurred to her. "Ok, how about... you can be Emma..."

"Done!"

She rolled her eyes, "...and for now I'll be Ems?"

Emma shrugged. "Cool. Works for me. And I'm pretty sure I can find a whole bunch of stuff that rhymes with that given some time. Femmes. Lucky Gems. It'll be a fun game."

Ems disgruntled expression suggested she didn't seem to agree.

As it was, with one thing settled and feeling a little bit less bilious Emma took the opportunity to glance around them at the quiet street. "So since Regina's a bust...I guess that leaves one other starting point for our search." Her heart twinged momentarily as she forced herself to take the lead and made her way down off the porch but she pushed past it as Ems followed, the pair of them sneaking down the quiet street keeping to the treeline.

"This amulet thing, you said it was blue right?"

"Pale blue, almost translucent. Gilt edging- expensive looking."

Emma screwed up her nose. "Not the sort of thing anyone would keep lying around then."

"Doubtful."

"I think our best bet's Gold's shop then. Old and powerful things seem to gravitate towards him if you know what I mean."

"Like attracts like," her double agreed bouncing a little on the toes of her sneakers as they walked.

"Really? More philosophy? Isn't it a little early in the day for this?" groaned Emma.

A wink flew back at her. "Basic rules of attraction. Even you should know that."

Emma had to forcibly bite her tongue as she ignored that. "So which one of us should..."

"Oh this one's totally mine," Ems cut in, a manic gleam in her eye. "I'm feeling the need for some good old-fashioned small-town shopping!"

They'd still argued about which one of them should go in for a good half an hour. Emma was convinced that Gold would know immediately that something wasn't right if her double went along but Ems was equally adamant that she needed to do something pro-active or she was going to lose her mind. After much debate Emma had grudgingly acknowledged how tired she was and with reluctance had begun making her way back to the apartment though she couldn't resist leaving a parting shot before she went.

"I can hide in some Japanese shrubbery if that'd help..."

Ems had waved her off with as much sincerity as she could manage and that was how she had found herself here, outside the olde worlde antiques boutique on Main Street.

So familiar and so alien at the same time.

As if she were lost in a dream.

Taking one last sweep of the empty street she decided to go for it and strode confidently into the shop ignoring the loud tinkle of the bell as the door shut behind her. Seeing no-one around, she started wandering along the small aisles, letting her fingers play along the shelves, tasting the dust and worth of each object stacked haphazardly on them- Vanity cases. Love spoons. Engraved woodcarvings and the like.

Pausing as her fingertips ghosted along an antique wooden box, she opened up the lid gently and stared down at the strange hand carved pair of marionettes lying inside, barely touching each other but faces turned together.

"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise? Something I can help you with Sheriff?"

She looked up as the sound of a cane hit the floor a few feet away and a face swung into view.

"Just looking for gift ideas," she replied casually averting her eyes and peering down again at the despondent couple couched inside the box. At the red velvet lining they were effectively buried in.

"I'd venture that Henry might be a little old for those but I can give you a good price if you'd like." Gold offered with a smirk. "Something tells me you'd make quite the puppet-master if you put your mind to it."

Shit.

Ems froze for a second, unsure what the oily undertone in the man's comment might signify but then she chastised herself for her jitteriness and shut the lid as softly as she'd opened it straightening up. "Well I guess you'd know."

"Indeed I would."

They both stared at each other, green eyes on grey neither willing to say anything while the air crackled with a strange intensity. The imp on home turf, Ems so far from her own that it felt like she was stood on shifting sand rather than scuffed floorboards.

The silence stretched between them and It was Ems finally that relented.

"Actually, I was looking for something a bit more adult," she admitted.

Gold raised an eyebrow at her choice of words and she instinctively rolled her eyes. "Not like that. Gross."

"Adult as in..."

"As in trinkets. Charms. Jewellery. That sort of thing."

"Ah, the kind of gift for a situation when flowers don't quite cut it..."

A frown flashed across her face at the insinuation and she couldn't keep from growling underneath her breath. The man, and she used the term loosely, was as infuriatingly oblique as the version in her own world and made her skin crawl in all the same reptile ways. Just being in his presence unsettled her stomach and she had to fight the urge to take a step back towards the door injecting some space between them.

She didn't however. Emma would never have let her live it down for one thing; not after she'd practically begged for this assignment.

"I didn't say who the gift was for," she stated coldly watching him nod as if chastened. Almost believably. Almost human-like.

"Of course not Sheriff and a gentleman would never ask."

A snort broke from her. "A gentleman, right."

He started to move away from her and wandered back behind the dusty oak counter for a moment. Bending down Mr Gold reached underneath the till to retrieve something she couldn't quite make out then limped his way back balancing a square of foam on his upturned palm before placing it gingerly on the shelf to her left. It was a row of rings and necklaces carefully catalogued and arranged covering everything from gold to silver to platinum and everything between. Thick bands. Delicate chains.

Hand-wrought designs that reflected the light in all the right places.

They were beautiful pieces all; stunning some of them but none seemed even remotely familiar to her. Not one pricked at her memories. And not one of matched the right kind of blue she'd been looking for. Her heart sank in an instant.

"Trinkets, charms, jewellery as requested. These are all I have in stock at the moment but you're welcome to any of them that might take your fancy."

Ems caught his dark gaze for a moment and cursed her inability to hide the disappointment seeping through her pores as she saw a flicker of recognition looking back.

"Not what you had your heart set on?" His tongue poked out between thin lips for a second. "Well we're only a little provincial store. I won't take it personally."

"...Thank you anyway," she managed to stutter. "I...I appreciate your time."

"I'm always here to help Miss Swan, now if..."

Ding!

Before he could finish the sentence a familiar chime sounded behind them and the pair turned to see Robin standing in the doorway greeting them with a warm slightly sheepish smile.

"Mr Hood! This is the day for unanticipated visits." Said Gold nodding his head.

Ems for her part was totally prepared to second that but something inside her stopped the greeting from falling from her mouth. Instead every muscle in her body seemed to tighten at the man's appearance in the shop, pulling at her neck uncomfortably.

Something was very wrong. Something she couldn't even begin to put a name to.

As Robin stepped towards them, amiable grin still firmly in place Ems almost felt her frame move of its own accord, blocking his way into the back part of the antiques shop.

"I don't think you'll find anything you're looking for in here." She said plainly.

Jeez, What the hell was she doing?

Robin was clearly a little taken aback as well though he still offered a quizzical smile. "A bold statement Miss Swan, considering you don't know what it is I'm after."

He had a fair point but Ems entire being was screaming as if held in a vice and the screech drowned out any logical thoughts that might have been forming elsewhere.

"Still. I'd take your business elsewhere if I was you."

There was no room for argument in her tone and as the bearded man stared at her, taking in the arms crossed over each other and the hardwood tenor of her voice she inwardly cringed at her own behaviour. But it was like she was watching a movie of herself and had no control over the scene playing out on screen. No remote. No script. Just action and reaction.

Even as she watched her own part, Emma had to give him credit though- for refusing to drop his usual level of courteousness.

He simply ran a hand through his beard with obvious discomfort and looked around the shop for a moment before returning his gaze to her. As if there was something tangible in there that could explain her actions. Christ, she'd have loved that to be true more than he did.

She heard a "Well this is awkward," escape from Gold's mouth behind her and Ems cheeks flushed in response.

She wondered for a moment if the transition from her realm had allowed some beads of insanity to slip inside her brain. A crack in worlds for a crack the mind. Quid pro quo.

Nothing else seemed to make any sense...

"Thing is the shop has a...rat problem." She said suddenly. Apologetically. Words out of nowhere. "There's going to be pest guys here and inspectors within the hour. All the stocks got to be collated and stored before they do their thing so you won't be able to purchase anything for like a week at least. That's why I'm here, everyone knows how much I love signing off council paperwork."

"Oh." His eyes softened a little then. "I see."

What else could she do but go with the charade?

"Yeah it's a hassle but...health and safety you know."

He gave a soft chuckle at that, "And the best part of being Sheriff of a small town I'm sure."

She shrugged self-consciously, "That's why they pay me the big bucks."

Ems practically blew out the entire contents of her lungs as everyone stayed in position for another five then another ten seconds... but then finally, after peering around once more Robin tipped an imaginary hat to her and Gold before turning back to the doorway.

He was leaving.

Christ.

As soon as his grey cotton shirt disappeared from behind the pane of glass in the old door, Emma sagged against the shelves next to her.

Gold evaluated her with undisguised interest. "Should I be taking that personally?"

Waiting for the explanation. Or the next lie to come slip-sliding out.

"Because a small store like this relies on footfall Sheriff..."

Ems didn't turn. Didn't give him the pleasure of seeing the burning hue of her cheeks as she headed towards the door Robin had just exited through with panic in her step; mind rocking and reeling.

"It's complicated...I'll explain later ok?" she threw out with as much conviction as possible.

"I certainly hope so."

She pushed through the faded door before giving him another chance to speak and started sprinting down the street as fast as she could, wanting to get to Emma's, wanting to separate herself from the world ahead of whatever new breakdown might be coming.

The paving slabs were like hardened quicksand but she ran on through the morning cold, trying not to think. Trying not to jump to conclusions; hoping she wouldn't have to stop until she was there at the apartment, taking the chipped stairs two at a time and hammering on the front door. As if the devil himself were on her heels. As if maybe she was the devil and the running did nothing more than keep him from speaking.

She was so focused on her destination that she didn't see a black shape exiting a car parked up at the side of the road until it was too late and she collided with the shadowy figure, both of them grabbing onto the vehicle's side to keep from hitting the ground.

It was only when she looked up and started to apologize that she came face to face with blazing chocolate eyes and realised exactly who she'd run into...

TBC...