The meeting

Mayor Mills entered the meeting room, at Town Hall that morning, her clock striking 7. The round table had its seats all taken, all but one, the one that normally hosted Sheriff Swan. Regina was a bit disappointed but took her seat nonetheless trying not to give anything away to the people contentedly chatting quietly around her. As she posed her pen with a soft 'thud' on the table everyone stopped talking all at once, like that was some type of signal to begin the meeting.

Regina cleared her voice, Shall we begin? Everyone agreed and shook their heads approvingly, readying themselves on their chairs. Good. Started the Mayor, looking down at a fold full of paper, at that exact moment the door to the meeting room swung open. Sorry I'm late! The Sheriff got in in a hurry, her hair still messed up from the night of sleep and her badge hanging loosely from her jeans pocket.

Please, take a seat. Commanded the Mayor placing a hand on her face like she didn't want to assist at all with what was happening. Forgive me. It got late yesterday evening, as you know... Emma started to explain herself, in front of everyone; Regina's head snapped up, and her eyes got instantly wide, flames raging wild in them. Her voice trembled a bit, with rage as she speaks, Miss Swan! I'm absolutely in No way interested in your personal life! So, Sheriff Swan, please take a seat. and shut up! Added Regina in her mind. Talking through sharp teeth. Her face was motionless, if not for a vein on her forehead that bulged as if it was on the verge of exploding.

Emma looked like she'd just snapped out of a dream, frozen midair to her chair, Uh, sure...I'm sorry. She said, finally sitting down. Please, go ahead Madame Mayor. The blonde gestured to the Mayor to go on and after that remained quiet.

So, that's why the situation remains critical. We can't let our guard down now, we owe this to our families. We have to keep our children safe. As the rather young man made his speech everyone around the table looked at him nodding now and then in agreement, meanwhile the Mayor noted down everything and was pleasantly surprised to see Sheriff Swan do the same. After a moment of amazement Regina resumed her writing, focusing her attention back to David, the man speaking.

Emma was still feeling tired and already bored as hell, so she took out a pen, took a piece of paper from the stack at the center of the table and started to write down. At first, she started with the shopping list, then she began listing her favorite horror movies from best to least favorite. After some time she had run out of things to write so she just started doodling on the still-free spot on the paper, she had always looked so focused while drawing, since age 3 when the only color she would use was red.

Very well. The Mayor put down her pen placing it perfectly perpendicular to her papers.

Let's listen to all board's guardians, in order from west to south. She stated, Graham, Please, go ahead. She invited him to talk with a hand gesture. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Everything was quiet and still in the woods during these last two weeks. I have nothing else to report for now. He was fast to take back his seat. Alright. Regina nodded writing everything down, Thank you, Graham. North guardian, please. The Brunette set her eyes on an old woman with grey hair that standard up fiercely. There wasn't any intrusion from the North as well for the past two weeks, Mayor. Started firmly the older woman, sitting down again on her chair. What about the Est? Asked then, Mayor Mills, a flash of red curls got up from one seat, Same as above, Regina. The Mayor shot a glance at the young woman that had the nerve of calling her by her first name and then bowed her head a bit, in knowledge. South guardian? Asked Regina, an old man with a grey beard stood up, I got nothing to report, Madame Mayor. Everything has been motionless as in the other areas in two weeks till now. Thank you, Marco. The Mayor remained quiet for a moment, thinking about all that had just been said. What do you think about it Sheriff Swan, do you have anything to add? She noticed that the Sheriff was still writing on her paper. Emma's head got up so quickly that her hair almost knocked down the poor guy sitting beside her. Uh!?...about what?

The room got quiet, everyone was staring at the blonde Sheriff, the Mayor grumbled, About not having recorded any intrusion in the past two weeks... She said, sounding like a teacher talking to some kid. Right. Emma's face enlightened, Well there's clearly something more behind all of this. It can't be a coincidence. Even I haven't noticed anything out of order, lately. So, we have to keep our eyes open even more than before, 'cause evidently, something bad is about to happen soon and we got to be ready for it. We can't let our guard down now.

Everyone agreed instantly with the Sheriff, Yeah! Said Graham, Sheriff Swan is right. Said David, Exactly, we got to be ready! Exclaimed Granny, We have to protect our people. Added a pixy-haired brunette. Regina had always admired this quality in Emma, no matter what she will always be supported by everyone, the young Mayor was certain that it should be some kind of strange magic, because everyone just loved Emma, and it couldn't be just that.

So, it looks like we all agree on one thing. We have to keep working hard to keep this town safe. concluded the Mayor Very well, then in order to do so, we'll intensify the guards to all the perimeter of the border, and the Sheriff will take two people with her for help. Who would you propose for this, Sheriff Swan? The Mayor looked straight into those green eyes of Emma, that replied, David Nolan? The blonde man shot her a smile, Alright and...Hopper will be your new deputy with Nolan. Emma blinked in disbelief, Archie Hopper, seriously? No offense mate. The red-hired man smiled at the Sheriff politely, No offense taken. Regina looked at her trying to remain calm and posed, Yes, Hopper. He could come out useful to talk with possible witnesses or to calm down the citizen about future eventual intrusions and Pongo could be useful too, to look for clues or to finally find your long lost box of bear claws. Retorted Regina raising her brows with amazement. At that, everyone tried to stiffen back a laugh. ...Sure... Replied Emma a bit irritated but decided to let go, for now. Regina, on the other hand, was trying her best to mask her smile and remain impassive, until she was able to speak again, Good. Miss Blanchard, you will help Marco if that's okay. Asked the Mayor, Sure thing, Madame Mayor, I will take my bow and arrows with me. Asserted the pixy-haired brunette, with a confident expression. Perfect. Mayor Mills wrote down the new plan while she speak. And the seven dwarves would be a great help for the border on the North. Am I right Granny? Asked Regina at the elder woman sitting at the table. Yes, Madame Mayor. We'll be the perfect match. answered the woman grinning and winking at the dwarves, that looked a bit worried. Very well, I think that this meeting could be considered over with. Concluded the Mayor. Uhm.. A red-haired woman scoffed, What about me? She asked then like it was obvious. Regina blinked, then asked back, what about it? The other woman gaped disbelievingly for a second, You've talked about every border's guardian except for me, you've dispensed backups to everyone apart for me! She stated offended, emphasizing the last 'me'. Well, Zelena, dear sister of mine... Began Regina, I thought that you would be still capable of creating flying monkeys and that it wouldn't have been too much of a problem to keep doing so. Said the Mayor

Oh! Of course, I am perfectly capable of doing such things! Exclaimed, irritated, the guardian. I just wanted some credit for it. Added Zelena crossing her arms and playing offended.

Regina made a face, one brow raising on her forehead and then freed a puff of air, Thank you Zelena, for your precious support. The Mayor accentuated in an exaggerated way the word 'precious '. Zelena noticed it but decided to ignore it and bowed her head in a thanking way, her arms still crossed on her chest.

Everyone left the meeting room talking energetically, the Sheriff was still sporting an annoyed expression and exited the room rapidly with her hands in her jeans' pockets. Hopper and Nolan were chatting contentedly and Zelena was whispering under her breath First of all, she left the west border in the hand of a flea-ridden wolf and then she doesn't even support me... She kept grumbling under her breath till she was out of the building.

When the only one left in the room was Regina, Granny approached her, while she was reorganizing her stuff. Morning Madame Mayor. It was a proficient meeting, wasn't it? Regina looked up into those piercing eyes of hers, Good morning Granny. Indeed it was. Granny cut off with chats, I've seen how do you look at Sheriff Swan. Said suddenly the old guardian. I..!? What...? I don't look at Miss Swan in ANY way, Miss Lucas! Answered Mayor Mills horrified. Granny raised her brows, Sure...Miss Lucas me how much you want, but I'm not blind. Stated the Guardian, then paused, gazing deeply into Regina's eyes, But maybe, you are... Added her in amazement. The Mayor remained silent, not knowing what else to say. It was all so… absurd! 'What on earth is this woman talking about!?' Thought the young woman. You are talking nonsense, Miss Lucas. If you could excuse me now. And with that Regina took up all of her papers and left, the feverish sound of her clicking high heels leaving the room.