Two days later, Emma sat in her office at the sheriff's station under the pretense of doing work. However, the activity may have been more aptly described as hiding out.
Nothing had been resolved that night she and her parents talked. They all retired to bed with bruised feelings and heavy thoughts. The only reprieve was that Emma had slept as if she were under a sleeping curse, her exhaustion wrapped around her like a warm blanket that helped her sleep straight through until morning. She had risen with the renewed conviction to find Mr. Gold and get some answers and avoid her parents.
Breakfast had been fraught with things left unsaid and wounded gazes over stacks of blueberry pancakes. It was only salvaged by Henry and his never-ending list of questions for Snow White and Prince Charming, He asked innocuous but detailed questions about what life was like in the Enchanted Forest, wanting to know about horseback riding, sword fighting, and if they had ever seen a unicorn; his excitement restored after a good nights sleep. So she slipped away, leaving him with the couple, which he was now experimentally calling Gramps and Gran, and headed to the sheriff's station to meet Graham to strategize on how to approach Mr. Gold.
That plan never came to fruition however. Graham was already there when she arrived and swarmed by townspeople abuzz with questions and demands. After the initial clamor of her arrival, Emma had wrangled the unruly crowd under control. The people who just wanted to whine at her or had grievances about being owed three chickens once upon a time were sent off immediately, which removed a fair amount of the plaintiffs. They prioritized the folks whose property had been damaged in the dragon fight. She helped talk to the insurance company and argued that dragons should be covered under 'natural disasters anomalies'. Then mobilized the construction crew that had contracts with the government; Graham had aided in remembering who to contact for that.
The day stretched long, filled with discussions about where to start repairs, if any buildings suffered too much structural damage and may need to be torn down entirely, and assisting in clearing rubble from the streets. She worked until her bones were sore, the ache driving her into her bed once again to a deep, dreamless sleep.
This morning with her parents had been slightly better, everyone at least seemed to have a wordless agreement to just smile and try their best. Emma couldn't deny the familial atmosphere had been rather pleasant as they grinned politely over bacon and eggs. Still, she dipped out as soon as she could to supervise the construction. Emma watched and ensured everything was running smoothly but they didn't really need her. The outbreak of confusion after the curse broke already had ebbed. The mechanisms of the town clicked back into place and cogs began to grind forward like it always had.
As Emma scratched unnecessary notes about an odd compliant involving a fence and a goat and a garden gnome (a real one apparently), she heard the brisk tapping sound of four clawed paws trotting across linoleum. She looked up and found a white wolf slipping into her office, immediately sniffing around the room with excessive diligence. A moment later Graham appeared in the doorframe. He wore a heather blue sweater under his brown leather jacket and relaxed jeans with worn hiking boots, looking much more casual than he did as sheriff. He'd trimmed his hair and beard back to a tidy length though and smelled faintly like pine as he once had. Emma also noted the army green duffle bag slung over his shoulder. She smiled at him but her eyes were veiled with sadness, "I don't suppose you've come for your job back?"
"Sorry, no. I'm glad to see you took assuming all of my duties so seriously, official and otherwise." He raised his eyebrows conspiringly towards her in reference to her activities with Regina.
She guffawed, "Oh god. Shut up."
"Seriously, Emma, the badge suits you. You've done well here."
"Thank you." Her eyes fell meaningfully on his bag again. "So where are you going?"
"To the woods." Then he added, "Not too far."
But not here Emma thought. "So you're going to live up there?"
"I didn't belong with people in the Enchanted Forest and I don't belong here. I could be happy out there." He said his voice colored with longing.
Emma leaned forward, her head tilted curiously, "What is your happy ending?"
He chuckled ruefully. "I don't know. I wasn't happy back there. For the first time I feel like I have the hope to find it though."
"Your heart? Does Regina still have it?" Emma recalled suddenly.
He patted his chest, "It's here. I think it was restored when the curse broke."
"Good, I'm happy for you." She looked down and fiddled with her pen.
He stepped more fully into the office. "And what about you? What is your happy ending?"
"That is so much more complicated." She exhaled heavily.
"Is it?" Graham queried.
"You do remember who my supposed True Love is right?"
"I do. She had me locked in a cell for some months." He said too casually.
"How could I love someone like that? She held you prisoner." Emma shook her head in disbelief.
"I wasn't happy about it. But if Dr. Hopper had come to us claiming he believed in Henry's curse we probably would have sent him to the mental ward without Regina's help."
"Or we could have broken the curse sooner together."
"There's no point in wonder what could have been."
"You're being awfully zen about this for someone some one who was held against their will." Emma said dubiously.
He chuckled, "I'm just glad to be out and I suppose getting your heart back makes one rather forgiving."
"Still, it's not the only thing she's done to hurt people I care about."
"Regina isn't perfect by any means." He said agreed and then continued thoughtfully. "But I think if you look deeper beneath the surface you'll find she wasn't the only one hurting people. I nearly killed your own mother when I struck a deal with Regina for my own gain… The woman I knew back in the forest didn't have much of a chance to be good."
Emma wanted to know more but instinctively knew Graham wouldn't elaborate. Instead she grimaced at another thought. "My parents, especially Snow, they don't understand. They don't approve."
He rubbed his beard and shrugged. "The way I see it, you were just a babe who had scarcely drawn her first breath when the prince and princess sent you here. You didn't have a choice but to sacrifice your happiness for the chance to save everyone else's. I think that you've earned the right to be happy with whoever you want."
There was a pause and then Emma started quietly, the thought that truly frightened her rising up, "And Regina… what if she doesn't want this?"
"I'm afraid that is just something you will have to talk about with her."
Emma considered his advice. He always had been a voice of reason when he acted as sheriff. It had been one of the things that she had been attracted to; his steadfast and loyalty like a low-burning hearth to keep her warm. The heat from then was still pleasant but nothing in comparison to the blazing sun that was Regina Mills; no matter what state their relationship, it was scorching and vital and alive. The new sheriff felt compelled to explain this to Graham, however she couldn't articulate it, and perhaps he didn't want to hear it. Instead she said. "I missed you. I am going to miss you."
"I'll still be around. Especially if you need me." The wolf had finished inspecting the room and placed her head in Emma's lap. "She'll let me know."
"Hello." Emma cooed slightly to the animal and cautiously moved to place her hand on top of her head. The wolf didn't move, except for the a few lazy swishes of her tail. The blonde took it as permission to proceed as she scratched behind pointed ears; yellow eyes fell shut contently.
"She likes you." Graham said.
"Does she have a name?"
"Eve."
"Hello Eve." Her tail waved quicker in recognition. Emma looked up to Graham with a sudden realization. "What was your name back there?"
"My name was Klaus." She wrinkled her nose a little and Graham laughed. "I don't care for it much either. No one really called me by my name there anyways. It was always Huntsman. Please just call me Graham."
"Oh thank god." She rushed out with relief.
"Well, your coffee is still shite. Want to go grab a cup?" This elicited a laugh from the younger woman. "We could go by Mr. Gold's pawnshop after."
"I stopped by this morning. It's locked up tight." Emma shook her head. "I've got the feeling he doesn't want to be found right now."
"Has that ever stopped you before?"
"No. But I think we have enough on our plate without worrying about him for the time being. And I have an appointment in a bit that I should be getting to."
"Well alright then. I'll leave you to it." He made a little bow to her.
"Later this week though?" Her voice lilted upward hopefully.
He gave her a half-smile. "I'll find you."