Emma hadn't been far off with her prediction: Ashley gave birth a week and a half after Emma returned to Boston. According to Ruby's email mother and baby were both healthy and Gold hadn't tried to interfere. Mary Margaret had also emailed and Emma found her heart clenching painfully as she looked at a series of pictures of Ashley and Sean staring lovingly down at their daughter. Mary Margaret had passed on various greetings and extended another invitation to visit. The new baby – Alexandra Emma Boyd, which hadn't helped Emma's consternation – was too young to travel and the new parents wanted Emma to meet her namesake. Emma looked at her schedule and promised to come down for the weekend in a month's time.
A few hours later her phone rang.
"A month?" Ruby demanded in lieu of a greeting.
"Hi Ruby," Emma smiled. Despite being several years older than the feisty waitress and Mary Margaret, and more than 15 years older than Ashley, Emma felt a real kinship with them. A tiny voice at the back of her mind warned her against getting attached, but she'd spent years learning when to ignore that voice.
"A month?" Ruby exclaimed again.
"Ruby, I'm sorry, I can't take the time off work. Mike and I just started on this business. We're both working pretty much 24/7 to get it off the ground. A month is the best I can do."
"Okay," Ruby relented grudgingly, before her tone turned teasing. "Mike, huh? I heard you mention him last time. Spill!"
"Ruby, no!" Emma laughed, "He's my business partner, that's all. Besides, he's…" she trailed off. Mike was forty seven, but in good enough shape to pass for younger. She'd always thought of him as being older, but it struck her that those twelve years didn't mean as much as they had when they'd first met, six years previously.
"He's not my type," she finished.
"If you say so," Ruby teased.
Emma changed the subject.
"So what's happening with Mary Margaret and Doctor Fish?"
"Whale," Ruby corrected.
"Whatever, what's happening?"
"Oh, that ended a week ago."
"Why?" Emma asked, surprised to find that she was interested. Gossip had never been her thing, but she cared about her new friend.
"They were out on a date and he tried to hit on me while she was in the bathroom. I told her and she dumped him on the spot."
"What a slimeball," Emma pronounced.
"Yeah," Ruby agreed. "Although I think John has a crush on her."
"John?"
"John Doe, you know, Coma Guy?"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah! She hasn't noticed, but he always seems to have his 'checkups' when she's scheduled to volunteer."
Emma laughed. "I've been meaning to call; I'll have to ask her."
"No!" Ruby urged. "It's much more fun this way!"
Emma laughed again and agreed. "How are Ashley and Sean doing, anyway? Did his dad come around?"
"No," Ruby sounded angry. "He threw Sean out."
"What?! What happened?"
"He's an asshole, that's what happened. It's okay though. They found an empty house on Miller Street that's practically derelict, so it's cheap. Granny's letting them stay at the B&B until Sean can get it in good enough shape for the baby."
"I should kick that guy's ass," Emma muttered.
"Don't bother; Sean already decked him."
"Seriously? How much did I miss in two weeks?"
"Yeah, he came to the hospital after Alex was born and starting hinting that she wasn't Sean's. Sean gave him a black eye and told him not to bother calling."
"Wow. Good for him!"
"Yeah. You should have seen the look on Ashley's face!"
They spent a few more minutes catching up and then said goodbye, but not before Ruby extracted a promise to visit in a month and no later, on pain of Sean's cooking. Ruby's tone had indicated that was a dire threat.
The month before her visit passed slowly. Emma loved her work and they were beginning to build some momentum with the business, but it was hard work. Most nights Emma fell into bed around one and woke at five. She and Mike had developed the habit of sparring in the morning, to wake them up and to keep their skills sharp.
The day before her drive up to Storybrooke, Mike had a close call on an investigation and only Emma's intervention had saved him from a bullet to the head. They drove back to the office and as she pulled out a bottle and a couple of tumblers, Emma's hands began to shake.
"Hey," Mike said softly, "it's okay. I'm feeling pretty rough too." He gave her an appraising look and then carefully hugged her.
"Uh, Mike?" Emma managed, "I'm flattered, but you're really not my type."
Mike laughed. "Me neither, honey. Why do you think I left the Marines?" He drawled.
Emma's eyebrows rose, although since her face was hidden in his shoulder it was a pointless gesture.
"Really? I didn't know."
Mike leaned back against his desk and gestured for her to pour the drinks.
"Well, it ain't something I talk about much, but you saved my sorry hide tonight. Guess I'm feeling chatty."
Emma raised her glass and drained it, suppressing a gasp as the fiery liquor hit her stomach.
"You seeing anyone?"
"Nah." Mike's expression turned grim. He stared into his glass as though the amber liquid within had angered him.
"I had a guy; we were stationed together in Baghdad. He died. That was ten years ago. I ain't looked at another soul since."
Emma didn't know what to say to that.
"I'm sorry," she managed, wishing that Mary Margaret were around. The meek schoolteacher had a talent with people that she sorely lacked.
"I had a guy once too," she offered. Talking her past was the last thing she wanted to do, but Mike was her friend.
"He die?" Mike asked bitterly. Emma's laugh matched his tone.
"I wish. I was crazy about him and he got me pregnant, then got me arrested."
Mike's head shot up.
"I…I knew about the prison thing, but….you were pregnant? Did you have…?"
"No," Emma answered his unspoken question. "I gave him up."
"Damn," Mike breathed. "You tell the dad?"
"I never heard from him again."
Mike whistled softly. "You had the kid in jail?"
"Yeah."
They sat drinking in silence for a few moments until Mike started to laugh. When Emma looked at him, he explained.
"Man, do we know how to set a mood, or what?"
Emma couldn't help it. She laughed too. The hysteria helped to drain the night's tension and when the laughter finally faded, she and Mike were smiling amiably at each other.
"What was his name?" Emma found herself asking.
"Brian," Mike replied. "Want to see him?" He reached for his wallet.
They spent the rest of the night talking. While they'd been friends for a while, it was the first time they'd opened up to each other. She reflected that her visits to Storybrooke were doing more to help her reach out to people than years of therapy had managed. She even managed to talk about Neal and the baby she'd given up. Mike hugged her again when she started to sniffle and promised not to tell a soul.
"I think you did right by that kid, Emma," he told her kindly, "but it seems like you've got some issues about it."
"No, it's just…that creep who was stalking me a few weeks back dug it up somehow and tried to use it. Brought it all back, you know?"
"Ah. I'm surprised you didn't break his jaw."
"I was tempted," Emma confessed. Mike chuckled.
"Anyway," Emma declared, wiping her eyes, "it's late and I have a long drive tomorrow. Can I leave you alone or are you planning on jumping in front of another gun tonight?"
"I'll be okay. Go get some sleep."
"Night, Mike"
"Good night, Princess." He smiled as she shot him a deadly look.
The next morning she jumped in the truck before dawn and pulled in to Storybrooke just the clock on the tower struck eight. Hungry, she went to the diner.
"Morning!" She called to Ruby as she entered. The tall brunette gave a squeal of delight and rushed over to hug her. Emma laughed and extracted herself from her friend's long limbs.
"Hey Ruby, any chance of some breakfast? I'm starving."
Ruby sat with her while she ate, listening to the story of the previous night's adventure.
"Wow," Ruby commented, "the most exciting thing that happened here was Sean upgrading the plumbing in the B&B."
"They're still there?"
"Yeah, the house should be ready in another few weeks."
Emma nodded. "Okay, I'll stop in and say hello. I need a shower anyway. Meet back here for lunch?"
"Definitely." Ruby hugged her again and Emma was pleased to note that none of her defences protested.
She crossed the street and entered the B&B. There was no sign of Granny Lucas, but a note on the counter advised Emma to take the key to her usual room, "and mind your feet. That boy leaves his things everywhere!" Indeed, there was a roll of canvas lying in the doorway that bulged with the outline of various tools and a length of pipe propped precariously against the counter at her feet.
Emma went to her room and unpacked. She didn't bother with the wardrobe, instead stacking her clean clothes and nightwear on the armchair. As she carried her toiletries into the en-suite bathroom, she heard the front door open. The pipe clanged loudly and she heard a masculine voice utter a curse that was muffled by the high wail of a startled infant. Emma chuckled.
"Hey, Sean!" She called, stepping onto the landing and smiling.
"Emma!" He greeted in return, shifting Alexandra onto his shoulder and soothing her absently. Emma came down the stairs and picked up the pipe that was rolling slowly toward the open door, placing it against the wall with the tools while kicking the door shut. Alexandra had fallen into a kind of indignant fussing, but as Sean's broad hand stroked her back she settled down and he shifted her back into a cradle hold to give Emma a one-armed hug.
"Welcome back," Sean smiled at her brightly.
"Thanks for the rescue," he said, nodding toward the door and the pipe, "Ash is at the doctor and I need about three more arms. You're a handful, aren't you little one?"
He looked down at his daughter with absolute love and devotion, and Emma felt the last of her misgivings about their decision to keep the baby melt away.
"I just got in. Is Ashley okay?"
"Oh yeah, it's just a bug, we just want to make sure she's still okay to breastfeed."
They walked toward the kitchen and Emma opened the refrigerator and grabbed two sodas. She popped the tab on one and passed it to Sean, who thanked her.
"I see you're still working on the plumbing around here?" Emma asked as Alex gurgled happily.
"Yeah. We spent pretty much everything on the house and it's a wreck, so Granny's letting us stay. We couldn't afford rent, so I'm working it off instead. I do four days on the house and two days here."
"That's a good deal," Emma observed, privately suspecting that Granny would have let them stay regardless, but was allowing the young couple their dignity.
"How's the house coming? I'd love to see it."
"It's starting to come together. I had to strip it back to the studs in places, but the frame is solid. The kitchen's almost finished and the living area is about half done, but the upstairs is a mess and I haven't even looked at the basement yet, so God knows what's down there."
"Sounds like hard work."
"It is," Sean smiled, "but it's fun too, and worth it." He looked down at his daughter again, and Emma's gaze followed his. She was surprised to find the baby staring intently at her. Sean chuckled.
"It's your hair," he told her, "she's fascinated by blondes." He hesitated, looking at her appraisingly.
"Would you like to hold her?"
Emma's gaze snapped up to meet his and he wore an expression of such compassion that she knew Ashley had told him about her own experiences. She opened her mouth to refuse, but to her horror heard herself say "Sure."
Sean stood and handed the baby over, placing her gently in Emma's arms. Alex fussed a little but settled quickly, sucking vigorously on one tiny fist and gazing up at her with ridiculously large, trusting eyes. Emma took careful stock of herself and was pleased to find her emotions in check. There was the pang of emotion she was expecting, but it was overwhelmed by the amazement and happiness she felt as the baby smiled sloppily and reached out with a wet hand to grasp a lock of Emma's hair tightly.
"She's beautiful, Sean," Emma said, her voice steady.
"That she is," he agreed proudly. "Takes after her mom."
They chatted for a while longer as Alexandra fell asleep in Emma's arms. Emma offered a few hours of her time the following day to help with the house, which Sean happily accepted and, as lunchtime rolled around, Sean dug the stroller out from under a tarp and fastened Alex in carefully. Together they went over to the diner where they were greeted by a delighted Ruby.
"There's my girl!" Ruby immediately shucked her apron and lifted Alex into her arms, cooing nonsense at the infant happily. Emma smiled.
"Hey waitress, how about some service?" She mocked, laughing as Ruby stuck her tongue out.
The bell over the door jingled and Ruby looked up, scowling briefly as she saw who it was.
Mr Gold limped over and peered at Alexandra, seemingly oblivious of how Ruby tightened her grip protectively or Sean stepped up beside her, glaring.
"The little one seems to be doing well," Gold addressed Emma, "It seems you were right, Miss Swan."
"Yeah, thanks," Emma responded flatly.
"Are you staying long? We do so enjoy your visits."
"Just for the weekend," she responded, turning away rudely. Gold seemed unfazed.
"Well, no doubt we'll see you again soon." He limped away to the counter. Ruby passed Alex back to her father and grimaced.
"He never gets any less creepy, does he?" Emma asked. "Has he been bothering you?"
"No, thank God." Sean responded. "He even offered to help with money for the house, but we told him to cram it."
Emma smiled and turned to Ruby. "Speaking of which, I've offered to help out for a few hours tomorrow. Want to join us? Maybe we can make dry-walling fun, who knows?"
"Sure, I'll ask for the afternoon off," Ruby replied, missing the grateful look Sean shot her. "Mary Margaret and John should be here soon, we'll ask them too."
"John, as in Doe?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, they've started having a 'friendly' coffee about once a week." Ruby said, using actual finger-quotes. "He's completely smitten and she's totally oblivious. It's adorable."
As if on cue, the bell jingled again and the tall blond man Emma had last seen lying in a coma held the door open for Mary Margret to enter. Catching sight of Emma, the schoolteacher smiled widely and dragged her companion over.
"Emma!" She let go of his arm and pulled Emma into an enthusiastic hug. Emma laughed and reciprocated. Happiness spread through her in lieu of her usual need for personal space. Mary Margaret finally stepped back and made introductions.
"John, this is my friend Emma. She's the bounty hunter I was telling you about."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, smiling and reaching across to shake her hand. Emma smiled back.
"Likewise," she told him. He was very handsome and his smile stayed in his eyes. Emma approved.
"Should I call you John?" She asked, not entirely sure of the protocol for amnesia.
He laughed softy, apparently at ease with his condition. "It's what I answer to these days. Shall we sit?"
The four of them slid into the booth while Ruby went to fetch a pitcher of lemonade. Mary Margaret reached for Alex and kissed her gently as her companion addressed Sean.
"She must have grown two inches just this week," he said, sharing a smile with the other man. Mary Margaret cradled the infant gently and John peered over her shoulder as they both smiled down at her and Emma suddenly found her heart lurching in her chest at the picture they made.
Lunch was a boisterous affair. Emma found herself liking their amnesiac companion very much; he was polite without being patronising, funny and, while clearly smitten with Mary Margaret, didn't smother her with attention or ignore the others. When Ashley joined them after her appointment an impromptu cheer rang out and Sean smoothly slid out of the booth, handing their daughter over and finding a chair as Ashley slid gratefully into his seat. Ruby obtained permission from her grandmother to take the afternoon off the following day and the group made plans to meet at the house for 11. Sean and Ashley left soon after as Ashley's mild infection left her tired easily and Ruby was chased back to work, leaving Emma alone with Mary Margaret and John Doe. They chatted easily for a while longer before Emma recognised their mutual desire to be alone and made an excuse she suspected was less than subtle.
The next morning Emma allowed herself a late start. She heard Sean leave around eight, no doubt to start the day's work on the house, but Emma was feeling the strain of the last few weeks' hard work and gladly embraced another couple of hours sleep.
She walked up to the house at ten past eleven, answering the mocking comments about her timekeeping by displaying the pastries she'd detoured for. The group divided up their jobs for the morning; Sean would continue the plumbing work in the bathroom, Ruby would apply the primer to the living room walls and Mary Margaret and John would start in the kitchen. Emma, in punishment for her lateness, was assigned the task of braving the basement and clearing out any junk left by the previous owner. Emma accepted this with good grace and traipsed down the creaking stairs, immediately noting that they would need attention if the couple wanted to use them regularly.
The basement was divided into two sections by two pillars of supporting wall with all manner of junk piled between them, but there was potential in the half she could see. There were electrical outlets that probably needed replacing and the pipes overhead seemed to suggest there was at least a sink behind the piles of junk, if not capacity for a washer or dryer. The available half of the basement had not been decorated but the bare brick had been insulated and boarded, as though the last owner had been in the process of creating a usable space. Emma decided to clear out the junk, see if anything was worth salvaging and then inspect the rest of the space. She returned upstairs for some gloves, a mask and some trash bags, warning John that he might be required for the bulkier objects, then returned downstairs and set to work.
There was a lot of junk. It took Emma two hours to clear enough space to reach the other half of the room, which was lit only by the meagre sunlight admitted by a window so grimy it looked like the dirt had been rubbed on it deliberately. Emma took stock and paused.
The room looked like a nest for three-foot rats. In the corner a hole in the wall was covered by an old curtain weighed down with stones and behind it Emma found a gap in the siding large enough for a small body to slip through. More junk had been piled up on the other side as a partition against the draught and there was an old, ratty, stained mattress with two distinct dips in it. Neatly stacked against the wall were several cans of food, a few chocolate bars and a cheap vase containing slightly brackish water. Emma turned and saw how the junk between the supporting walls had been deliberately constructed into a wall, separating this den from the main house. Finally, Emma saw, there was an old, dog-eared comic book peeking out from under the musty, moth-eaten blanket. Emma called the others down.
"Oh my God!" Mary Margaret said.
"Kids were living here," Emma said, gesturing to the comic and the child-sized dips in the mattress. "Do you know of any homeless kids in the area?"
"No."
"Well you've got some, and they're in trouble."
"How do you know?" Ruby asked.
"They're hoarding food here. They sleep here. This was their home. When you started working on the place they had to abandon it and start over. That's not easy."
The implication of first-hand knowledge hung heavy in the air. Emma ignored the shocked looks of her friends.
"It's cold out this time of year. They'll need to be inside. Are there any other abandoned buildings in town?"
"Just the library," Ruby told her.
"You guys keep working," Emma said. "I'm going to find those kids."
"We'll come," Mary Margaret said, but Emma cut her off.
"No. More than one person will feel like a trap." Emma cut off their protests by scooping up the chocolate and the comic and striding out.
She walked to the library quickly and circled the building, looking for the kids' entrance. It was the same door she'd forced to get to August all those weeks ago and she entered silently. She found the kids huddled together over a tin of cold soup.
"Hey," she called softly and the kids jumped and tried to run, but Emma was between them and the only exit.
"Who are you?" The girl demanded, shoving her brother behind her.
"I'm Emma. I'm friends with the people who bought your house. We found your stuff and I wanted to return it." She held out the comic and the candy. The boy peeked around his sister and his eyes widened.
"We're not going with you." The girl insisted, never taking her eyes off Emma.
"Didn't ask you to," Emma agreed easily. "You look like you guys are doing a pretty good job."
"We are," the girl said, her mulish tone making it a challenge rather than agreement.
"Okay, then. I'll leave your stuff here." Emma laid the comic and chocolate on the dusty shelf behind her and turned as if to leave.
"You aren't going to call Social Services?" The girl asked, suspicion pouring from her.
"No," Emma said, turning back. "You want to stay with your brother, right? If they put you in the system, you'll probably get split up."
"Yeah," the girl agreed as her brother edged out from behind her, intent on the things Emma had laid aside. Seeing his gaze, Emma held them out again.
"Nicky, don't!" The girl snapped as her brother made to take them.
Emma shrugged unconcernedly and slid them along the floor to rest at the boy's feet. He snatched them up and retreated back behind his sister.
"Listen, it's getting cold at night. Do you guys want me to bring your blankets over?"
The girl stared at her appraisingly. Emma allowed the scrutiny, knowing she needed to earn this girl's trust if she had any chance of helping them.
"You could get us some food," she said.
Emma smiled sardonically. "I'm not a sucker, kid. You can get your own food. I'm just offering your stuff back."
The girl's gaze sharpened as she re-assessed her opinion of Emma.
"Yeah, we want our stuff back." She said warily.
"Okay, I'll go get it. You guys have a watch?"
The girl nodded. Emma didn't ask if they'd come by it honestly.
"I'll be back in an hour."
Emma left and didn't look back. There was a risk they would bolt, but she thought the promise of getting their supplies back combining with their curiosity would work in her favour. She returned to the house.
"Emma! Did you find them?"
"Yeah," she replied. In her absence her friends had gathered the kids' belongings into a sturdy cardboard box. The mattress was propped against a wall.
"We should call Sheriff Graham," Mary Margaret said.
"No," Emma told her. "If these kids trusted the people in this town they'd have reached out. I need to build their trust, okay? I said I'd bring their stuff. If I show up with a cop they'll bolt."
Ashley could no longer restrain herself. "How do you know this stuff?"
Emma sighed. "I grew up in the system. Sometimes being out on your own was better." She grabbed the box and left before they had time to respond.
It had taken less time than she anticipated collecting the kids' belongings and she was determined to arrive exactly when she promised, so she picked up some more pastries and some hot chocolate and returned to the library with two minutes to spare. She knocked loudly before entering and found the girl in the same place. The boy, Nicky, was nowhere to be seen and there was a badly concealed length of metal pipe within her reach.
"Here you go," Emma said, placing the box on the ground.
"I brought lunch," she informed the girl, who was nearly bristling with suspicion. Emma slid to the ground and opened the bag of pastries.
"I thought we could find our own food." The girl accused.
Emma shrugged. "I was hungry. Figured you could keep me company." She deliberately didn't ask about Nicky.
"What's your name?" the girl demanded. Emma narrowed her eyes as though deciding whether to trust the girl.
"Emma," she answered at last. "What's yours?"
"Becky," the girl replied and Emma laughed. "You can pick any fake name in the world and you pick Becky? Kid, you need to work on your imagination. Here," she offered the bag of pastries, "have a doughnut and we'll come up with something better."
After a long moment the girls hackles seemed to settle and she walked cautiously over to accept the doughnut.
"Nicky, come out here," she called. "I'm Ava," she told Emma as her brother appeared in the stacks.
Emma laughed again. "A name that embarrassing has to be real," she said. Ava flushed but smiled.
The kids sat a little way away from her eating in silence. Emma finished her pastry but made no attempt to move.
"How'd you guys get here?" She asked, seemingly idly. Ava's suspicious gaze returned.
"Why do you care?" She demanded.
"Just passing the time," Emma told her. "I ran from my foster parents when I was twelve, spent three months living in a storage warehouse until they caught me." She looked around, seemingly appraising their surroundings. "This is better. The basement was pretty good, too."
"Why'd you run away?" Ava asked. Emma knew a test when she saw one.
"I didn't like the lady's perfume," she said seriously. Ava cracked a smile for the first time.
The boy spoke for the first time.
"Our dad doesn't want us." Ava shushed him immediately, but the hurt in her eyes told Emma he was telling the truth.
"Your dad's here in town?"
Ava glared at her brother and turned to Emma, looking at her appraisingly for a long time before answering.
"We don't know. We don't know who he is."
"Your mom's gone?" Emma asked. Ava nodded tightly.
"Okay. Have you tried to find your dad?" Nicky nodded this time and spoke up.
"If we found our dad they couldn't make us go away or split us up," he told her earnestly.
"That's smart," Emma told him kindly.
Ava scowled at her brother. "He doesn't want us, Nicky."
"How do you know?" Emma inquired mildly.
"Why would we be here if he did?"
Emma nodded. "But you guys don't know him. What if he doesn't know about you? What if he's looking for you just as hard?"
Ava looked thunderstruck. Emma guessed she'd probably never even considered the idea before.
"I could help," she offered.
"How?" Ava asked, the suspicion returning.
"I'm a bounty hunter. Finding people is my job."
"We don't need any help," Ava insisted.
"I know," Emma assured her. "You're doing great, kid. It just might be easier with another pair of eyes." Ava didn't look convinced so Emma sweetened the pot.
"You could come back to the house while I look," she offered. "Even sleep in a bedroom and not the basement."
"It's your friends' house now."
Emma smiled conspiratorially. "My friends are suckers. You can get a week's food and board out them, easy."
Nicky tugged at his sister's shirt. "Let's do it, Ava. Maybe we'll find our dad!"
Ava wasn't convinced.
"No cops? No Social Services?"
"Just a bed, some food," seeing Ava wavering, she went in for the kill, "and a hot shower."
Ava looked at her for a long time before answering.
"Okay."
They walked to the house in silence. Emma noted they began to swerve off the sidewalk instinctively, heading for their makeshift entrance, before checking themselves and coming to the front door with her nervously. Emma's friends stood outside, watching anxiously.
"Sean, Ashley, I'd like you to meet your previous tenants, Nicky and Ava."
Nicky hid behind his sister. Ava's bravado was gone as she stared at the group of adults waiting for them.
"I promised them room and board while I find their dad," Emma said, giving the group a significant look, "so how about we go inside and get them some lunch."
The adults filed inside obediently. Ava looked up at Emma, her expression suddenly much younger.
"We already had lunch," she reminded Emma.
"They don't know that," Emma said conspiratorially and winked. "I told you, suckers!"
An hour later the kids were fed to bursting and then provided with fresh towels and directed to the newly-installed shower. Mary Margaret had almost protested when the kids had gone in together but a violent shake of Emma's head warned her off. Once the bathroom door closed, Emma explained.
"They made themselves vulnerable coming here. They won't split up for any reason now and if you try and make them, they'll bolt."
"Emma, they can't stay here," Sean said.
"I know Sean, relax. Once they're cleaned up I'll take them along to city hall and check the records. If there's nothing there I'll call Social Services." She changed the subject. "How's the decorating going?"
The adults chatted uneasily until the sound of running water stopped and the kids emerged, freshly scrubbed.
"Okay guys, let's go," Emma said.
"Where?" Ava asked, her confidence restored.
"City Hall."
Again they walked in silence. Emma didn't crowd them or call them back when they wandered away, knowing their boundaries were touchy. She remembered Ruby telling her there was no clerk and fervently hoped the Mayor was out to lunch. Luckily, the office was empty and they reached the records without incident.
"What's your surname?" Emma asked.
"Zimmerman," Ava responded, sounding a little overwhelmed.
"Is that what's on your birth certificate or is that a foster name?"
"I...I don't know."
"That's okay," Emma assured her. "We can start there, at least."
They weren't listed under Zimmerman, so Emma worked backwards until she hit pay dirt.
"Does the name Michael Tillman mean anything to you?" She asked Ava. Nicky was asleep on a chair nearby.
"No, why?"
"Because according to this," she said, waving the file a little, "he's your dad."
Ava's face went white. "You found him?"
"I think so. Listen; let's go back to the house. I'll meet this guy and make sure he's the right guy and if he is, I'll call Ashley and she'll bring you over. Okay?"
"O...okay," Ava agreed. She was beginning to shake. Emma crouched next to her, careful not to touch.
"We can wait, if you want." She murmured. "Until tomorrow, maybe?"
"Yeah," Ava agreed shakily. "We should wait."
"Okay, let's go." With a glance around her, Emma stuffed the file into her jacket and walked over to wake Nicky, pointedly turning her back to allow Ava to gather herself. The three of them returned to the house and Emma spoke to her friends quietly as the kids wolfed down their dinner.
"I found the dad. Ava freaked out so I didn't want to push her, but I'll go see him tonight and hopefully he can be here when they wake up."
She noticed the looks she was getting.
"What?" She asked snippily.
Mary Margaret shook her head. "You're amazing, you know that?" She said as Ruby and John nodded agreement.
"Hey, they're just kids. Anyone would do it," Emma deflected.
Her friends chose not to argue the point. Emma returned to the kids and walked them to the bedroom. The old mattress had gone and been replaced by a large airbed. Nicky crawled under the duvet while Ava looked around, a ritual Emma suspected was so ingrained they didn't realise they did it. Ava slid in after her brother and pulled the cover up around him.
"Emma?" She said as the blonde turned to leave.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." Emma was astonished to feel tears prickle at the back of her eyes. She forced her voice to stay steady, not wanting to scare her exhausted charges.
"You're welcome. Go to sleep."
She left the door ajar and went downstairs.
"Hell of a day, huh?" she asked the room rhetorically. Mary Margaret and John sat together on the couch and Emma smiled as Mary Margaret took his hand unconsciously. Ruby stood holding baby Alex as Ashley sat on an easy chair. Emma could see Sean in the kitchen pouring some coffee.
"I need to go find this Tillman guy," she said, and Ashley spoke up.
"Michael Tillman?" She asked.
"Yeah, you know him?"
"He's a mechanic, he lives on Beaumont Street."
"Thanks. Wish me luck."
The clock tower was striking nine as she rapped on Tillman's door. He answered gruffly.
"Yeah?"
"Michael Tillman?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, what?"
"I'm Emma Swan. I found your kids."
He stared for a moment. "I don't have any kids," he told her and tried to close the door. Emma grabbed his wrist, jumping as a static spark snapped between them.
"Hey, they've been living rough right here, looking for you. You need to deal with your shit and step up."
Tillman stared at her hand on his wrist. Her fingers tingled from the static shock. He spoke slowly, as though waking from a deep sleep.
"Ava...and Nicky?"
"That's right."
"You found them?" His eyes seemed to be clearing. Emma let go and stepped back.
"They were sleeping rough in the basement of the house Sean and Ashley bought."
"Where are they? Take me to them!"
By the time they reached the house Tillman was nearly frantic. Emma left him downstairs and woke the kids alone. Half asleep, they shuffled downstairs to face their father.
The air crackled with static. Tillman and his kids stared at each other for a moment before rushing into each others' arms, weeping happily. The others had already left but Ashley and Sean joined Emma at in the hallway, leaving the family to their reunion.
"Incredible," Ashley murmured, shooting Emma a glance. Emma rolled her eyes.
"I gave them lunch and looked up some records. That's it. It got me out of decorating," she teased, "so I'm happy."
Before the couple could respond, their guests came out to meet them.
"Thank you so much," Tillman gushed, tears still wet on his face. He seemed more vital, more vigorous than he had. The kids clung to his waist. The static in the air seemed to peak, and then recede. Emma attributed it to the work Sean had been doing on the electrics.
The family left, still thanking Emma, who brushed aside the praise. She said her goodbyes to her friends and walked back to the B&B, taking the scenic route to enjoy the balmy evening. Back in her room, she washed up in the en-suite. Catching her own eye in the mirror, she cracked a smile.
"You did good today," she told her reflection, and turned in.
The next morning she paid a visit to the sheriff.
"Did you know you had two kids living rough?" She asked pointedly.
"What?" Graham asked, taken aback. "Where? Who?"
"Relax; they're back with their dad. First an illegal adoption and then homeless children, right under your nose, Sheriff. I gotta say, I'm not too impressed with your performance so far."
Satisfied she'd given him enough to think about, Emma strode out, heading for the house to put in the hours she'd promised.
Three hours of dry-walling later, Emma volunteered to buy lunch. As she was leaving Granny's she was stopped.
"Who are you?" The stranger demanded.
"Excuse me?" Emma said.
"We don't get new people in Storybrooke. What's your name?" He demanded.
"What's yours?" She retorted.
He looked taken aback. "Jefferson," he replied.
"Well Jefferson, you're in my way." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Move."
He moved out of her way and Emma left, aware that he was watching her go.
Jefferson stared at the door for a long while before turning and walking to the back of the restaurant. He slid gracefully into the booth and stared hard at the man opposite.
"Where did she come from?" Jefferson demanded.
Mr Gold smiled at him.
Emma returned to the B&B and packed her bag. Both Granny and Ruby were at the diner and she knew she'd be waylaid into staying another night if she paid her bill in person, so she slipped the cash into an envelope and tucked it under the mail on the reception desk. Behind her, the door opened and Ashley entered, carrying Alex.
"Hey Ash," Emma greeted, "I was just on my way over to the house."
"Why," Ashley teased, "do you have more strays for us to take in?"
Emma gave a short laugh.
"No, I want to give you a gift. I missed the baby shower, so..." Emma held out another envelope.
"Emma, you didn't have to do that," Ashley chided.
"I know."
Ashley smiled, touched. "Do you want to wait for Sean, or...?"
"No, I have to get going. Here, I'll take Alex."
She hoped her voice hadn't betrayed her eagerness to hold the tiny girl, but the look on Ashley's face as she handed her daughter over told her otherwise.
Emma's gaze stayed on the infant as Ashley tore the envelope open, but she looked up and the sound of the other woman's gasp.
"Emma, I can't believe...how much is this?"
"Two thousand dollars. The certificates are for hardware stores as well as baby stores, so you can use it for the house as well."
"Oh, Emma, we can't accept this!"
Emma's face fell. "Oh, well... I understand. I thought gift certificates would be less impersonal than money, but..."
"Emma, it's wonderful, it's just... it's too much!"
Emma gave a relieved smile. "Oh, don't worry about it. I've never really had anyone to give gifts to before, so..." she shrugged abashedly.
"But the business – I mean, you're just starting out, don't you need the money?"
"Not really. I didn't sink all my money into it, just all my time." Emma joked. "Besides, we're starting to pick up steam. We may even need to hire more staff soon."
"This is just..." Ashley stared at the assortment of gift certificates in awe. "Thank you, Emma. We'll never forget this."
Emma flushed and reluctantly handed Alex back.
"Well, invite me to the housewarming when the house is finished and we'll be even."
Ashley smiled. "You got it."
Sean finished dragging the rancid mattress out on to the back porch and shoved it down the steps. A figure walked past the half-finished fence around the garden and raised a hand in greeting.
"Hey Marco," Sean called, "how's it going?"
"Very well, thank you." The older man responded. "I see the house is coming along nicely."
"Yeah, thanks," Sean said proudly. "And thanks for your help. I might have some more work for you soon; there are a couple of jobs too big for just me."
"I'd be glad to help. Where are your beautiful ladies this evening?"
"Back at the B&B. We had an adventure yesterday and they were tired out."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, come have a beer and I'll tell you all about it."
"Oh, I'm sorry Sean; I was just on my way for a walk. May I call on you when I return?"
"Of course. Where are you walking?"
"I thought perhaps the south woods. It's too nice an afternoon to spend indoors."
Sean smiled. "You're right there. When you get back we'll grab a cooler and sit out here."
"I look forward to it," Marco assured him.
He walked down the slope and raised his hand in farewell to Sean before turning a corner and strolling towards a rough track that would take him to the forest. The sun was beginning it's long slide toward the horizon and there was a hint of a breeze in the air. Fifteen minutes walk brought Marco to the edge of the wood. He paused for a moment, then picked a direction at random and set off. He walked quietly and slowly, enjoying the birdsong and the play of light through the treetops, feeling at peace with the world.
There was a sharp crack behind him and a muffled roaring sound seemed to echo around the forest. He turned and went to investigate, and stumbled into a small clearing. The ground was scorched and a faint, purplish mist was evaporating into the treetops. Kneeling on the blackened ground was a young man, panting and gasping as though in pain.
"Are you okay?" Marco asked. The youth's head shot up and as their eyes met, his pained expression was replaced by thin-lipped calm. He stood smoothly, only the sweat beading visibly on his skin any indication that he was still in pain. The young man strode toward him and Marco put out a hand to offer assistance.
His breath left him in a gasp. He looked down to see the hilt of a knife nestled against his chest. He looked up at the other man, seeing no malice on his face, only a calm determination.
"Why...?" He wheezed as the youth withdrew the blade from between his ribs. As he sank to his knees, his assailant pulled a handkerchief from a pocket of his leather tunic and began to clean the blade. Marco continued to gasp for breath, clutching at the crimson stain spreading over his shirt and the boy paused.
He knelt down.
"I'm sorry," he told Marco sincerely, "the journey appears to have affected my aim. Here."
He cradled Marco in his arms and this time the blade found its mark.