Author's Note: As always thank you to all of you who take the time to read, favorite, put on alert and review to this and my other stories. Reviews, as I explained to my sister today, are like homemade cookies. They feed your inner child, or in this case, my muse. ;-) Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Four
'Welcome to Storybrooke'

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Archie Hooper enjoyed the quietness of Storybrooke. The streets were always empty at this time of night and it was the perfect time for a stroll. It was nice sometimes to be away from people. He liked his times of solitude where it was just him and Pongo walking quietly. He was a psychiatrist. For hours a day he listened to other people talk about their problems and sometimes it was nice to hear nothing but the sounds of nature and his own footsteps on the ground echoing around him.

It was peaceful.

Calming, serene, and he was happy to be out and about tonight. The storm from the day before had kept him cooped up in his apartment so tonight he promised himself and Pongo a bit of a longer walk. Others might think him crazy for being out so early in the morning; it was nearly one A.M after all. He didn't mind the time so much. He was a bit of a night owl, him and Pongo that is.

Holding onto Pongo's leash he strolled down the damp sidewalk, watching as the wind blew wet leaves across the black asphalt of the street. He was walking passed the clock tower when he heard it. The sound of an engine sputtering, the BANG and clack of its parts meshing together in ways he guessed it shouldn't. Looking down the street he saw headlights coming in his direction. Curious, he thought. Anyone still up at this hour was usually on foot, much like him. He waited at the curb of the sidewalk and watched the yellow bug come to a halt in front of him. The engine was cut and the creak of metal against metal hurt his ears as the driver's side door opened.

A tall muscular blonde woman that Archie knew he'd never seen before stepped out and looked at him like he was a bug. He'd been stared at that once already today. The Mayor had come back from the first and only business trip that he'd ever remembered her taking out of Storybrooke. She came back very agitated. It seemed she was even more frustrated and angry than she had been before she left, and he'd thought that was impossible. That is until he'd been leaving his session with Henry and saw the Mayor down the hallway hissing something into her cellphone. She'd turned on him after slapping the phone closed and he'd felt even more like an insect in that moment then he'd ever remembered feeling. He feared she was going to simply lift her foot and step on him. Instead she'd told him he was free to leave, to find his own way out. He found his way out of the house faster than he ever had in the last three years.

That was another reason for his walk. After that encounter he needed a bit of time to collect and center himself. Shaking himself from his thoughts as Pongo barked once at the strange woman before sniffing at her, and wagging his tail, Archie really looked at her. She looked a mess. Her eyes were swollen and tinged pink and she had dark shadows under her eyes. He wondered how long she'd been traveling.

Swallowing, he fixed his glasses and put on his best welcoming smile. It wasn't every day that he met someone new in Storybrooke.

"Well, hello. Uhh…welcome to Storybrooke."

Emma looked at the tweed looking man and grinned, "Uh, hi. You wouldn't know where I could find a place to stay would you?"

"Uhm, well, there isn't any hotels around these parts. We don't get many visitors. But, there is a, a uhm, Bed and Breakfast. Yes, a B&B that you can stay at. If you follow this main road and make a right down the second block you'll find it at the very end of the lane. It's Granny's Inn."

Emma nodded taking in the information. "Thanks,"

"Archie, my name's Archie Hopper. Dr. Archie Hopper." Emma should have known he was a doctor of some sort, he looked the type. Though she would have guessed professor or teacher, hell maybe he was both.

'God I must be tired if I'm debating with myself what kind of profession this stranger has.'

Emma stuffed her hands into her red leather jacket, feeling a bit awkward, "Yeah, well, thanks Dr. Hopper." Emma looks from her watch to the clock tower across the street and squints, looking back and forth between the two. 8:15? Odd, they should probably have someone fix that. Sparing the doctor another look she got back into her car to find the Inn he had mentioned.

The Inn was certainly out of the way. Emma missed it the first time she drove down the block. You would think that the sign would be lit so late at night, like a beacon for visitors to follow. Hmm, maybe this was the only place with a vacancy for a reason. There's a simple sign hanging above the door that reads: Granny's Inn. Across the street is an open parking lot that Emma pulls into. Getting out of the car with her bag in hand she locks the doors and notices that the closed shop she's parked in front of is Granny's Dinner.

Looking back and forth between the two establishments Emma walks across the street, figuring it was normal in a small town like this to have a figure head of the community. Someone that ruled the businesses. Though, why would they name it Granny's? Sure it sounds homey but this late at night it looks…Deserted? Yes, but no. Dead. Eh, not what she was looking for. Creepy. Yes, creepy!

Walking into the Inn Emma was surprised to see three people milling about what appears to be the front desk. The place had looked dead from the outside, looking around Emma realizes it still does.

"Uhm…" Emma clears her throat as the older woman behind the desk hands the man in the black suit jacket and cane a wad of cash. Emma's seen this enough times to keep her mouth shut. Not her place to say anything about illegal activity in a town she's not even sure she's going to be staying in for very long.

"Let's try to keep the money coming in on time from now on, okay deary?" So, the man with the cane had an accent. Emma couldn't place it. It certainly wasn't an American accent of any kind. Odd, since this town seemed too small to gain the attention of foreign investors. Then again, who was she to say anything about foreigner investor's methods? She knew one thing for sure.

She wasn't going to get involved with this man. There was just something about him that rubbed her the wrong way. The hairs on the back of her neck were a bit off putting since they mainly wanted her to get out of doge as fast as possible at the sight of him. Last time she hadn't listened to the little prickly hairs she'd ended up in a LOT of trouble. Too much trouble. She'd learned her lesson and wondered if there was another B&B she could stay at for the night. Dr. Hooper had seemed adamant that this was the only available place for her to stay over-night. Then again, there was always her car. Wasn't like she hadn't slept in her car a few dozen times in her life.

"Hey..!" Emma cringed at that 'mothering' tone. "Where are you going?" The woman behind the counter asked and Emma raised a hand to point at herself before noticing the woman was looking at someone over her shoulder. Behind her was a young woman, maybe a bit younger then herself, with dark brown hair with a dyed red portion. Emma looked at the red shawl covering the woman's head and shoulders and thought of little red riding hood. With the red shawl, hair, and the big purse that might as well be her basket of goodies going to Grandma's house. She certainly wasn't dressed to see Grandma, though, not with those heels and that short skirt.

"Out." And her attitude was a little much for the fairytale character.

"Out where?" Granny asked, and Emma took a step back, letting the two have the conversation not over her shoulders.

"On a date."

"At 1 in the morning? Isn't that a little late to just be going out on a date?"

"No, not for my dates." Emma did her best not to chuckle.

"Excuse me?" Emma stepped between the two of them. There, she was saving Red from undoubtedly a long winded speech from her…Grandmother?

Granny sighed and looked to Emma, surprised that she didn't recognize the woman. "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a room…"

"You're looking to stay?" Red Riding Hood asked somewhere behind Emma.

As she did Emma noticed the cobwebs on the key slots and offered as bright a smile as she could at the sight. The question from the young woman, who apparently wasn't leaving for her date just yet, made her really think about just huffing it in her car.

"Yes…" Emma looked away from the girl wondering why it was so surprising that she was looking to stay. First Dr. Hooper, and now the two that lived/possible ran the only Bed and Breakfast in town. Was business that slow? Then again, the cobwebs spoke for themselves. She just hoped the rooms were kept in better order. "You have any vacancies? If not I can…" find someplace that didn't give her the creeps and actually had other guests staying in it.

The older woman quickly shook her head, "No, we have rooms. Plenty. Hmm…what kind of view would you like? There's the square view where you can see everything in town or the wood view, quieter but not much to look at…"

Emma sighed, "Just a room with a bed and a shower will do." Emma cut the older woman off as she looked at the dozen or so available keys.

"Here, the Swan room will do." Granny handed Emma the key to the swan room, a small figurine on the key in the shape of the bird made Emma laugh.

"What, may I ask, is so amusing?" Emma was surprised to still see the cane man as well as Red standing behind her at the door. The man with the cane stared curiously at Emma as he leaned heavily against his walking stick with both hands.

"Sure you can." Emma grinned at the man before turning back to the older woman, "Granny, right?" Granny nodded, "Which way to the room?"

"Up the stairs, third door to your left. Got a view of the woods instead of the square, but…" She grinned, "Biggest bathroom we have."

Emma offered her a genuine smile, "Thanks. When it's a decent hour I'll give you what it cost for the night."

"Only staying the night?" Emma ignored the man's voice as she took the offered keys and walked up the stairs.

"Hmm, was it something I said?" Mr. Gold asked the two Wolf women.

"Maybe it was what you didn't say." Ruby bit out as she put up her shawl around her head and left the Inn.

Granny didn't bother apologizing for Ruby. If Mr. Gold didn't know Ruby's personality by now then he never would. She didn't have any excuses left for her granddaughter. She also didn't have any excuses for the young woman who'd just arrived either. Looking at the now missing key, Granny watched Mr. Gold leave, realizing she had never gotten the woman's name.

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The next morning before Emma even opened her eyes Storybrooke was alive and abuzz with her arrival. There were stories floating around that she was here to arrest Mr. Gold for smuggling. What exactly he was smuggling varied depending on who you asked. Kind of like Emma's description ranged from bad to worse to impossible.

According to Mike, the owner of the bar in town, Emma was a burly six foot five weight lifter with a buzz cut and a studded leather collar. Rudy laughed at that description and wondered where Mike got six foot five burly buzz cut studded collar from 'five six or seven blonde with a cold shoulder attitude' because really? Even as drunk as Ruby was last night she never mentioned anything that remotely sounded like buzz cut.

While Ruby and Granny fielded questions about whom their mystery guest was Emma took her time getting ready for the day. She'd only gotten five and a half hours of sleep, but she thought it'd be better to get this day over with than wait around. Standing in front of the oval mirror on top of the dresser in the rented room Emma stared at herself.

Normally she wouldn't care to put much of anything like make-up on. The other night for Ryan-what's-his-jackass-face she put on some lipstick and blush to play the part. It had been part of the job. Now she was contemplating dolling herself up to see her son. She wasn't even sure she'd get to see him at all. If Mayor Mills was smart she'd make sure Emma got nowhere NEAR Henry. Just by talking to the Mayor yesterday Emma knew the Mayor had a decent IQ so the chances of actually meeting Henry today were very slim. Still, she couldn't blame the Mayor for what she may or may not do.

So…maybe it would be better just to be herself? That was better than pretending to be something-someone she wasn't. Wasn't it?

Emma pulled on her red leather jacket over her white tank top. With blue jeans and her favorite pair of tennis shoes—no scuff marks—she left her room locking it behind her. Looking at her watch she decided it would be better for everyone involved if she got coffee. Seeing a decent crowd at Granny's Diner Emma pushed her hands into her pockets and strode across the street. Checking Lucy, her yellow bug, she nodded satisfied that Lucy had been left in peace through the morning. No spray paint or tags on her car. Those were a bitch to clean off and occasionally appeared on Lucy while in Boston.

Walking into Granny's Emma knew something was off. It was…quiet. A moment ago there had been ample chatter, almost excited tales being shared but now? You could hear a pin drop.

Have you ever had that feeling that people were talking about you? Rather lively for at least a few minutes and as you walk in the room it goes silent enough to distinguish who just sneezed in a crowd of twenty? Well, for the first time in her 28 years Emma now knows what that was like.

Every pair of eyes in the quaint little diner looked at her, judged her, and after passing their judgment went back to their conversations, which became soft and hushed. Groups of three or more leaned into each other as they whispered, one or two of the group looking at her every few seconds.

So this is what a fish feels like at the aquarium…

Making her way, slowly, to an empty seat at the counter Emma sat down and saw the woman—Red Riding Hood—from last night, in a skimpier version of what appeared to be the uniform here. She was talking to a tall muscular uniformed cop, or what appeared to be one. He had a sleek face and a bit of facial hair that added to his mystique. By the way Red Riding Hood, as Emma was calling her for now, was leaning over the counter smiling and batting her eyelashes she was interested in him. He looked a little old for her, but who was Emma to judge?

"Aww…come on Sherriff not even a short ride in your cruiser?"

"Not unless you've broken the law. And a good girl like you Rubes, wouldn't have broken any of those, have you?"

"Of course she hasn't…" Emma tried not to snicker as Rubes(?) was cock blocked by her grandmother. "There are other people who need to be served Ruby. Not to mean you aren't important to serve as well Sherriff."

The Sherriff laughed, "No, I completely understand ma'am…" He nodded his head and picked up the tray of three coffees and a plain brown bag. Emma wondered who it was that was getting the other two coffees. Maybe his deputies?

I shot the Sheriff but I did not shoot his dep-uuu-ttyy…Emma hums to herself. It's none of her business who the other two cups of coffees are for, but this is what she does when she's bored. She people watches and makes up stories about them. Its something that has helped her pass the time since she was a little girl. The tales she can come up with for complete strangers sometimes even impresses her.

Today she's using the people story telling/watching, it to keep her mind off the whispering that's going on behind her. Speaking of the whispering, she chances to look over her shoulder. She catches at least four people looking at her, who quickly shut up as she glared at them. Maybe she should have gotten dressed up to walk in here. Just to give these brown nosers something a bit juicier to talk about.

A woman sits next to her, "Don't mind them. They're all just big brown nosers."

Just what I was thinking…Emma turned to her right, surprised to see that the slightly shorter brunette with short, raven hair was actually talking to her not about her.

"Oh, yeah that was easy to pick up on when the whole place went quiet the second I walked in."

The woman laughed softly. "You'll have to forgive us, we're not accustomed to strangers passing through."

Emma hummed as she lifted her eyebrows, you don't say. Her only response was to look away from the only person who'd even attempted to talk to her when Ruby—was that what Granny had called her?—came over. Note pad in hand the waitress smiled.

"Well, good morning Stranger. What can I get for you?" Emma didn't know why but Ruby's smile and her—apparently—natural flirtatious personality makes Emma return the smile. Maybe it was because Emma used to be just like her before she grew up. Still, feeling some kind of kindred connection to the waitress she decided to flirt back a bit. She crossed her arms in front of her on the counter and leaned toward the woman showing her own bit of cleavage—not that she was showing as much as Ruby was.

Ruby's smile turned into a Cheshire cat grin.

"I'd worship the ground you walk on if you can get me a good cup of hot coffee with two sugars and cream."

Ruby wiggled her eyebrows at Emma and winked at the woman sitting beside her, who Emma still didn't get a name for. "Well, you'll just have to start calming me Lady Red then won't you?" Ruby chuckled, "Coffee, hot, cream and two lumps coming right up. To go?"

"I'll call you anything you want if you give me good coffee…" Emma teased, before she thought about it for a moment. She looked around the diner before shrugging. "What the hell, to stay. I need some information with that coffee. You good to give that also Lady Red?"

"Well, I don't know. Depends on what you're asking. Might cost you more than a bit of flirting."

"Why don't you take this woman's order and we can discuss the prices I'll have to pay for what I need to know."

"You got it Blondie. –No?" Ruby asked at the flinch, "Yeah, you're right. Stranger suits you much better." Turning to Emma's right Ruby's smile softened. "What can I get for you today Mary Margaret? You're usual?"

Mary Margaret nodded, "Yes, please Ruby, thank you."

"No problem." Ruby walked away with what appeared to be a natural spring to her step.

"So, mind if the Stranger asks what your usual is?" Emma inquired, curious. She'd never stayed in one place or kept her routine the same long enough for someone to know her usual. It didn't pay to be predicable. Not with her jobs or her past.

"Only if the Stranger gives me her name."

"Emma," The second she mentioned her name it was like she'd spoken into a malfunctioning microphone, her name was repeated over and over again behind her. "Is it really so unusual for someone new to come around?" Emma couldn't believe that she was THIS interesting.

Mary Margaret smiled as she looked down the counter to Ruby who was eagerly approaching them. "M&M, your usual." Ruby handed her counter-mate her drink first then a brown bag with something relatively light in it as it didn't sink the bottom of the bag, Emma noticed.

"Thanks Rubes," Mary Margaret handed Ruby exact change down to the three pennies. Standing she took a sip of her drink and smiled. "Mmmm…perfect as always Ruby." The woman takes her things and turns to walk away.

"Hey, wait! You didn't hold up your end of the bargain." Emma turned to watch Mary Margaret leave calling out to her quickly. She didn't reach out for her. She knew from personal experience—on behalf of the people to grab her unexpectedly—you do not do that to strangers. It's a matter of manners.

"Hot chocolate…the only way it's supposed to be." She looked down at the brown bag, "Oh and whole wheat toast with strawberry jam."

"Homemade jam!" Granny called out smiling at Mary Margaret as several patrons laughed at the usual outburst Granny made about her special homemade jam.

Emma couldn't help but chuckle, "Ah, so that makes it worth the four dollars and…thirty eight cents?" The shocked stares from both Mary Margaret and Ruby let Emma know she was right. She's a perceptive person; it's what makes her so good at her job. She notices things most people don't. "Anyway, it can't be the only way hot chocolate should be made unless it has whipped cream and cinnamo"

"..on." Emma and Mary Margaret each look taken aback.

"You take it with cinnamon?" Emma asks, surprised.

"Yes, and it's weird." Ruby insists, "You're both weird then. Ha, well at least I know Mary Margaret isn't the only one that's nuts!" Ruby disappeared to sever someone else leaving Emma her coffee.

"It is nice to realize I'm not the only one who enjoys cinnamon in my hot chocolate."

Yes, Emma realized it is nice to know. Emma turned to Mary Margaret and grinned back at the woman before watching her walk away. Shaking her head at the oddity of this town and its people she waits for the crowd to thin down.

Most leave to make it to their jobs at eight thirty. Emma stays at the counter sipping her coffee, waiting for Ruby to come back. She watches some of the people stare at her back through the reflective surface of the display glass behind the counter. Smiling into her coffee she sighs wistfully wondering how long she'd be the side show of the town if she stays.

"So, tell me Ruby, where can I find Regina Mills at this time a day?" Emma asks as Ruby leans over in front of her, only three people still in the shop besides her.

Ruby's jaw drops at her as Emma raises her brow. "So, Mayor Mills? Where's she at?" Emma asks any playfulness she'd shown gone. This was serious after all.

"Ha..her office?" Ruby stutters, wondering where the playful stranger had gone.

"Wonderful. Where can I find that office?" Putting her empty coffee cup down Emma stands and puts two dollars on the counter.

"North. Up Main Street across from the Sheriff's office. Take a right outside the front doors it's about a fifteen minute walk up. You can't miss 'em."

Emma smiles, and puts a five dollar bill down on the counter next to the two dollars. "Thanks."

Leaving the diner she decides to walk. It's a nice day after all and within ten minutes she can already make out the Sherriff's office to the right of the road and diagonally across from it is what Emma assumes is the Mayor's office. Wonderful, now the day could really begin and she could get her official Welcome to Storybrooke from the Mayor not some sign or Doctor she met on the street.

End Chapter Four

So...what do you think? What kind of welcome is Emma going to get from Mayor Mills?