Chapter 2

Emma sat in the booth at Granny's diner, sipping from her hot chocolate and rereading the last chapter of the book Henry had left in her bug on Saturday night.

It was a lucky thing she had caught Ruby at the diner before the latter got off work otherwise she would not have gotten the brunette to lead her to Granny's Bed and Breakfast to check in. At least a place to stay for the next one week was settled, and so was the damn blouse. Emma had spent the whole of Sunday cooped up in her adequately furnished inn room, reading Henry's book and drawing a timeline for the events that happened before and after her birth according to the book, right up till the curse happened. Some of the stories in the book had been told by her parents as bedtime stories; like how the Evil Queen had gatecrashed their wedding, or how her parents had sought help from the Dark One when her mother was pregnant with her.

"Hey!"

She looked from the book to see Henry sliding into the seat opposite her and she immediately scanned her surroundings for the Mayor. God knows she was in no mood to entertain the woman and her attitude today.

"Kid, what're you doing here?" Emma frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be in school? Where's your mom?"

"I told her I'd take the bus to school today."

"And you're here, in front of me."

Henry grinned up at her before noticing the book. "Did you finish reading the book?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded watching the boy closely as he rummaged about his backpack and fished out two walkie-talkies.

"Here," Henry handed her one. "I know how my mom is strict about me leaving the house so this can be a form of communication between us!"

Emma smiled as she received the black device. Just then, Ruby came up to them and handed Emma the sandwiches she had ordered. As the tall brunette turned to strike conversation with Henry, Emma studied Ruby closely.

Now that she had a grasp on the characters in Henry's book, it was no doubt Ruby was Red Riding Hood back in the Enchanted Forest. As a child, Emma had remembered all the stories her mother had told about her Aunt Red during the time Snow White was still running from the clutches of the Evil Queen.

"You Aunt Red was a strong woman," her mother had said. "She helped me when I was at my weakest despite knowing I was running away from the Queen. She risked her life for me, and so I did, for her."

Back then, Emma had not known what her mother meant when she 'risked her life' for Aunt Red but now with the book, everything was clear.

"Why haven't I seen Aunt Red before?" Emma remembered asking her mother.

"You did, once. But you were too young to remember," Snow had smiled. "Don't worry, Emma. She will be present for your fifth birthday celebration."

But her Aunt Red never did and although curiosity ate at her, Emma had just brushed it off lightly, focusing on the party like all five year olds would. And now twenty three years later, it just occurred to Emma that back then during her fifth birthday celebrations, she had been wishing her birthday wish upon the bright full moon hanging in the ominous sky.

"Hello, Earth to Emma?"

Emma snapped out of her reverie as she came crashing back to reality to see Henry and Ruby grinning at her.

"What're you thinking about?" Henry asked and Ruby smirked.

"Yeah, share those fantasies."

Emma laughed and slapped Ruby lightly on the arm. "Hey! Keep it PG rating, kid's here!"

Even though she had only been here two days, Ruby and her had begun to warm up to each other with the blonde's frequent trips to the diner to settle all her three meals (and snacks). It she was honest, Emma would say she enjoyed Ruby's company and that somewhere in between the brunette's flirtatious teases and strong sex appeal, there was a hint of Aunt Red in her.

Ruby merely laughed and returned to work, leaving the two to their business.

"Walk me to school?" Henry grinned.

And despite herself, Emma found herself eagerly agreeing.

[-]

"Well? Are you going to stand there like a twig on display?" Regina snapped as she leaned back in her chair, eyes burning holes into the reporter who was shuffling on his feet nervously in front of her desk.

Sidney Glass snapped at attention at the Mayor's voice and handed her a brown envelope.

"M-Madame Mayor," he cleared his throat. "These are some photographs I have taken since Saturday and with it, some documents about her history too."

Regina said nothing as she flipped through the documents before browsing the photographs, ire boiling as Sidney's lenses captured how Emma had been the one to walk Henry to school today.

"She's currently staying at Granny's B&B," Sidney added. "It seems she has booked a room for a week."

Clenching her first, Regina glared at the contents spilled on her desk. This insolent woman must be stopped.

"Sidney," Regina calmly intoned in a voice so sultry it brought a chill of pleasure down the man's spine. "Since our dear Ms. Swan is so adamant on staying, we make her stay."

Sidney nodded slowly, trying to get the gist of what the woman was saying as Regina leaned forward, revealing ample cleavage.

"Elsewhere, do you understand?"

"Y-y-yes, Madame Mayor," Sidney stammered, quickly gathering his bearings. "I'll see to it immediately."

As Regina watched the flustered man exit her office, she smiled satisfyingly. No one can stop her from getting what she wants.

[-]

Emma flopped on the bed and closed her eyes. After all that talk with Henry on the way to his school about Operation Cobra, she still had no idea where to start or how to go about breaking the curse. But she did have a lead.

Holding up the postcard in front of her, Emma studied the picture of Storybooke's clock tower and the words in fancy font "Welcome to Storybrooke". When she had shown the postcard to Henry earlier before after he asked how she knew about the existence of Storybrooke (since it wasn't down on any map), he had only furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Where'd you get this?" He had asked, examining it in the same fashion she was going now.

Emma had shrugged. "Believe it or not, a pigeon sent it to my windowsill."

"I don't doubt that," He grinned before turning his attention back to the postcard. "There is only one place in this town where you can get this postcard."

"Where?"

"Mr. Gold's pawnshop."

Recalling the conversation, Emma wondered who this Mr. Gold is. And most importantly, who is he in the book? She decided that if she wanted answers, she had to see this man for herself. Quickly, Emma sprung out of the bed and grabbed her red jacket before heading to Granny's, intent on asking Ruby where this pawnshop was and grab a donut as lunch on the way.

"Ruby," Emma asked the brunette once she placed the order. "Do you happen to know where Mr. Gold's pawnshop is?

Ruby gave her a look. "What business do you have with him?"

"Just curious."

Leaning in and dropping her voice to a whisper, Ruby said, "You don't wanna mess with that guy. He owns this place."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "The diner?"

"No, the town."

[-]

Clutching her donut bag and following the directions that Ruby gave her (which was just one street down), Emma found the pawnshop and peered in. To her disappointment, it was dark and seemed empty.

Strange, Emma thought as she ran her eyes through the glass among the vast variety of objects the pawnshop has. Who was this man that possessed so many weird items and kept them in a shop? Instinctively, she brought a hand to the door handle and tried. To her surprise, it wasn't locked. Looking around, Emma observed how the street was relatively empty.

Dare I…?

It was a huge risk because: one, she does not know who the man was, a friend or a fiend? And two, she had no idea what she was looking for. But this was her only lead and maybe there was a clue of some sort hidden somewhere in this musty shop. Besides, what is success without failure? Throwing caution to the wind, Emma pushed the door handle down and entered.

Just as she took a step in, a voice from behind startled her.

"And what do you think you are doing?"

Jumping, she turned swiftly around and cursed her luck when she saw a brunet man standing behind her, the Sheriff's badge well clipped on his belt.

"Jesus, you scared the hell out of me."

"Guilty conscience?" The accented man asked, face stoic.

"What should I be guilty for?" Emma retorted, remembering a lesson from long time ago. First rule after getting caught, never admit you were wrong in the first place.

"For breaking into a shop."

"Breaking in? Sheriff, this shop was open."

The Sheriff took a step forward and pointed to the large sign hanging behind the glass door, the words "CLOSED" obvious to anyone who walked past. "You're not fooling anyone, Miss."

Emma feigned shock. "But I thought it was open!"

The Sheriff shook his head. "I'm sorry but you're under arrest for trespassing."

"What?" Emma protested, outraged. "You can't do that!"

"I can and I will, it is the law," the Sheriff replied. "Now do you want to do this the hard or easy way?"

[-]

The bed was hard underneath her skin as Emma sat in the cell, staring at the Sheriff whose name she learned was Graham. She knew it was a big risk and honestly had not expected to fail, but to be in jail for such a minor offence was ridiculous. She had not even been caught rummaging through the shop, for goodness sake.

"Aren't you guys a little harsh on the rules here?"

Graham looked up from his paperwork at her, his emotionless eyes boring into her hazel ones and sighed.

"We don't make the rules here."

Emma frowned. "Aren't you in the sheriff's department? If it's not you guys, then who does?"

"I do."

The sultry voice floated from the doorway and both pairs of heads turned to see Regina posing there, her gaze solely focused on the blonde. Heels making repetitive clicks on the floor, she made a beeline straight to the cell.

"Leave us, Sheriff," Regina instructed and Emma watched as Graham obeyed, leaving the two of them alone.

Walking to the bars, Emma tried to control her anger. Of course it was the Mayor. No wonder everything about the arrest seemed so fishy.

"Enjoying your stay, Ms. Swan?" Regina grinned evilly. "If the colours of the sheets aren't to your taste, just inform Graham. I'm sure he can bring you a variety of sheets to choose from different shades of grey."

She laughed at her own joke and Emma gripped the bars tightly.

"I should have known it was you all along," Emma snarled.

"Well, if not me, who else?" Regina replied, stalking over to stand by the bars till they were practically breathing in each other's faces. "Someone needs to stop your little antics."

Emma glared at the brunette woman, feeling nothing but hate.

"You are fucking crazy."

"And I'm so glad yet another side of you comes out: uncouth and peasantry. Enjoy your stay Ms. Swan." Regina leaned forward, spitting the words into Emma's face before turning and preparing to leave the station.

"You're not the Queen, you know."

Emma smirked as she watched the Mayor freeze in her steps, knowing her words will have effect. It took a moment before Regina slowly turned around and glared.

"Trust my words Ms. Swan, if I was, you wouldn't be standing there and talking to me right now."

With that, stalked out of the station, leaving Emma fuming after her.

[-]

She spent a night in that goddamned cell and by the afternoon of the second day, Emma was exhausted and famished. Graham had only given her 2 miserable packets of crackers that made up for dinner and breakfast and Emma had finished both packets in fifteen minutes. Glancing around the empty sheriff station, Emma lay back on the bed and gave a loud groan. Regina Mills is going to die, she grudgingly thought just as the door to the station opened and Graham stepped in. He was not alone.

"Emma!"

Henry came running through the entrance toward the cell and Emma bolted up to meet him by the bars.

"Kid! What're you doing here?"

"I asked Ms. Blanchard bailed you out!"

That was when Emma noticed the pixie haired brunette standing behind Henry and smiling gently at her. Taken aback, both by emotions and shock, Emma stuttered.

"Y-you shouldn't have, Mary Margaret, you hardly know me."

"But I know that you are Henry's birth mother," Mary Margaret only smiled wider. "I trust you."

For the first time since she came to Storybrooke, Emma let genuine emotion manifest on her face as she broke into a huge smile, eyes filled with gratitude. But that lasted only a fraction of a second as she turned toward the Sheriff and smirked.

"Well, Sheriff?"

Graham reached for his keys and stepped toward the cell, unlocking its door. "Rules are rules."

"There is also one more thing," Henry spoke, low as Emma stepped out of the cell, grinning.

"What?"

Henry flushed and looked away, unable to meet his birth mother's eyes. "You see… I overheard my mom talking on the phone last night and she terminated your stay at the Granny's B&B."

"Yes," Mary Margaret nodded. "We passed by the diner before arriving here and Granny's asking for you. Said something about a 'no felons' rule."

Just like that, the smile was dissolved from Emma's face and she clenched her fists in silent anger. That bitch. She would take care of the Mayor later, Emma decided. For now, she had a bigger problem at hand. As if reading her mind, Mary Margaret opened her mouth to speak.

"There is a spare bedroom in my apartment," The brunette smiled. "If you don't mind."

Emma nervously glanced back and forward between Mary Margaret's hopeful gaze and Henry's wide grin, who no doubt is prompting her to accept.

"You're too generous, you already bailed me out," Emma replied, fixing her gaze on the floor and not wanting to meet what is sure to be a crestfallen face. "I don't want to be a freeloader or anything."

"Trust me, you won't," the playful tone in Mary Margaret's voice took Emma by surprise and she looked back up at the woman. "I'll make sure you do the dishes."

She watched as Henry laughed and Mary Margaret winked, breaking out into a smile.

"Oh great, because Iabsolutely adore washing dishes," Emma returned the wink as the trio headed out of the station.

As Henry slipped his hand into hers and grinned widely at her, Emma cannot help but feel her heart swell and that maybe, just maybe, she made the right choice after all.

[-]

Emma unpacked the last of her things as she looked around and took in the state of the neat and pretty apartment.

"I'm sorry if it's a little small…" Mary Margaret gestured around hesitantly.

"Oh no, please," Emma laid a reassuring hand on the other woman's arm. "I cannot thank you enough for your offer and trust me, I've lived places not even the size of half of this apartment."

Mary Margaret laughed and watched the blonde unpack. It had shocked and surprised even herself when she made that offer to the blonde back at the sheriff's station. Sure, helping people had always been a passion for her but somehow or somewhere in between the short conversations she had with Emma at the laundry room back at Granny's or when she blonde walked Henry to school, Mary Margaret cannot help but feel a pull towards the other woman.

Being of curious nature, she had tried to explore it and she found that it was neither romantic nor platonic. It was almost as if there was a connection, like the kind Henry had said of his book. But fairytales aren't real and Mary Margaret shook her head to clear her thoughts. That was when she noticed the blanket Emma had fished out of her luggage and perched on a chair.

Quickly stalking over and picking it up, Mary Margaret held it in her hands, overwhelmed by an unknown emotion.

"Where did you get this?"

The sudden near proximity of her roommate's voice startled her and Emma jerked up, before noticing what the brunette was holding.

"Uh, that's my baby blanket. I had it since young."

Emma studied Mary Margaret as the brunette ran her fingers over the white yarn and embroidered name "EMMA" on it. Then to her shock, Mary Margaret brought it to her nose and closed her eyes, gently inhaling. All at once, Emma's heart rate picked up and she wondered if this was enough to break the curse, to make her mother remember her again.

"It smells like… home."

The soft voice of Mary Margaret's reply washed a mild disappointment over her and Emma let out a breath she had not known she was holding. Receiving the baby blanket from Mary Margaret, Emma just smiled and turned away, not wanting the pixie haired brunette to see the tears that had involuntarily gathered there.

[-]

Regina sat in her study and gazed absentmindedly at the cackling fire in front of her, sipping from a glass of her cider. Dinner had been a silent affair with Henry, like all the other dinners. Where did all those times go, she wondered, swirling her drink. The times where Henry would shyly go up to her and ask if he could help with dinner and when she agreed, would then excitedly bob up and down helping in any way he could. Usually he would make a mess and they would end up calling pizza instead. Even as Henry got older, dinners between the two of them had always consisted of his incessant chatter about school and Regina just basking in his energy.

But recently he had closed himself off and concerned, Regina had sent him to Archie for therapy. It got progressively worst when that darn Snow White gave him the stupid book, and now there was even a birth mother in the picture. Closing her eyes and leaning back into the couch, Regina sighed. It was only rare times like these when she was sure no one was watching that she allowed her stoic façade to break down, allowing her troubles to manifest themselves on her. Just then, heavy and continuous pounding on her front door startled Regina and she cursed, almost spilling her drink.

Glancing at the clock, she fumed. Whoever the hell that is for deciding to come over this late is dead, Regina thought storming toward the door. Flinging it open, she was shocked to see Emma Swan but masked it in time.

"Well, what do we have here? Looks like someone left their humble abode didn't she, Ms. Swan?" Regina mocked.

Emma glared at the brunette and snarled, "Cut the crap, Madame Mayor. We're going to settle this once and for all."

Regina folded her arms. "Settle what?"

"Your attempt, which is useless I must add, to drive me out of this town."

"Just because you have found a place under the rickety roof of Ms. Blanchard's does not mean I have other ways."

"How did you know?"

At Emma's look of shock, Regina cannot help but smirk. "You forget Ms. Swan, I have eyes everywhere. Nothing escapes my knowledge."

She turned to slam the door but a firm hand stopped her and Regina looked up into fiery hazel eyes with rage.

"Get your hands off my door, Ms. Swan!"

"Don't think that by slamming this door, I'm gonna let you get away with it," Emma growled, sick and tired of the attitude and tricks the Mayor had been pulling on her.

"Mark my words," Regina said, stepping up close to the blonde until their faces were only mere inches apart. "I am the last person to back down from a fight and the only person to win it. So I suggest you get off my porch and make your merry way back to wherever you came from. This town does not welcome strangers, especially strangers like you. Good night, Ms. Swan."

With that, Emma was faced with the closed door and a lock turned. Stepping off, she made her way back to her bug.

Rage the war, Madame Mayor.

[-]

Emma found herself sitting at the counter of Granny's again three days later, exasperated and sighing. She had conveniently avoided the Mayor's way and only communicated with Henry via the walkie-talkie, thinking that if she had some space, maybe there would be a way she could handle this mess without Regina finding any fault in her actions. But so far, Emma had come up with nothing and she was close to the brink of insanity. What was worst, and mysteriously so, was that this Mr. Gold had yet to show his face at his pawnshop and Emma wondered what was this guy's deal and if he was a major character back in the Enchanted Forest or not.

"A box of donuts, please," an accented voice spoke up and Emma turned to see the Sheriff.

"No lunch?" She asked, glancing at the clock which showed a half hour after one in the afternoon.

The Sheriff shook his head and gave a hint of a smile, a first Emma had seen. "I like donuts."

"So do I," Emma replied, making idle patterns on the plate with the crumbs of the bear claw she had finished what seemed like years ago.

The Sheriff eyed her for a long time and Emma felt herself growing self-conscious. "What?"

Graham did not answer immediately, only stroking his stubble. "I thought you'd have gone by now."

Rolling her eyes, Emma scoffed, "Because everyone is brainwashed by the Mayor that strangers cannot stay."

Emma had expected the Sheriff to turn hostile (he was her loyal employee after all, seeing what he did to her before), but to her surprise, Graham only gave a hum.

"I've never thought about that possibility before, but yes, our Mayor does value high security against newcomers to our town. We hardly get strangers, after all."

"More like high 'get the hell out of my stupid town'," Emma muttered under her breath then sighed loudly. "Whatever she's doing, I honestly don't give a shit. I've got bigger problems on my hands right now."

"Like?"

Emma shrugged. "Like, my finances. My savings from the previous job I had in Boston are running out and if I don't find a job soon, I will really become a freeloader."

Graham nodded and thanked Ruby when the waitress came over to hand him his donuts before turning back to Emma.

"Say," Graham started. "I just happen to have a vacancy at the station. It's only me there."

Emma raised an eyebrow, suspicious of his motives. "Isn't being the sheriff of a small town a one man job? Low crime and all."

"Paperwork's piling. I need the help, you need the money, fair trade?" Graham smiled.

Emma considered her choices: if she accepted the job, she would have a better reason to stay and be around Henry and continue with her mission. Although she was not sure whose side Graham's side was on (was he one of the Evil Queen's head guards?), she really did need the money.

Returning the smile, Emma stood.

"So, when can I start?"

[-]

"Wow, this place needs cleaning."

Emma commented as they stepped into Graham's office at the sheriff's station and Graham grinned sheepishly.

"Tidiness is not my forte," he replied setting his donuts on the desk. "Would you like a tour?"

And as Graham pointed out the locations of where different documents and objects are placed, along with a brief outline of her job, Emma tried her best to familiarize herself with the place and its operations.

"So I'll just be an assistant in here?" She asked.

Graham stared back at her blankly. "What're you expecting?"

Emma gave a casual smile and leaned back in the chair at her new desk.

"Well, I've been a bail bondsperson, I could help you out with police business."

"So you want to participate in fighting crime?" Graham raised an eyebrow and Emma cannot help but laugh.

"Hmm, 'Deputy' would be a fancier name than 'assistant'."

Before Graham could reply, the phone to the sheriff's station rang and Graham left Emma to her own ministrations as he went to answer. Moments later he came back out from his office and gestured for Emma to follow him as he grabbed his coat.

"Where are we going?" Emma asked.

"Looks like you got your first case already," Graham smiled. "Deputy Swan."

A/N: Okay I know it's quite a slow burn but I need a little build up before I can carry out with the dynamics of their relationship. Bear with me and thank you for all who have read, F&F and reviewed! All mistakes are mine.