Dawn handed some hot chocolate to her husband and sat next to him on the couch, "You've got that look, darling."
"What look?" he muttered and tore his gaze from the fireplace.
"Like you're planning something," she said and took a sip.
He looked into the mirror, "It's only my face."
"I know that glint in your eye darling I've been looking at it forever."
He sighed and rubbed his temples; he might as well talk about it. She'd find out soon enough anyway and it'd been two days since they'd come here and he was just BORED, "I need to get Emma that position as Sheriff."
Dawn raised her eyebrow and wrapped the blanket around herself, "I thought that position went to her automatically."
"Not if Regina has anything to say about it."
"Well that figures," Dawn muttered, "If you're so concerned about it then maybe we should head back home."
"No, she'll do it on the last possible day because she wants to be as dramatic as possible."
"Right," Dawn said, "So what are you thinking?"
"I think Regina will put someone she can control in charge."
"So, she's considering most of the town then?"
"I think it might be Mr. Glass"
She looked at him and burst out laughing, "Are you serious? Because honey, if you're not…don't be offended but sometimes I can't tell when you joke."
"I'm being absolutely serious."
She tried to suppress the giggles, "What would HE know about being sheriff? The-the only reason the newspaper isn't bankrupt from lawsuits is because no one took us seriously enough to even bother."
"And he's one of her more loyal….friends," he grimaced at the word, "and he will do everything she wants without question."
"Last thing we need is one of those again," she said and took another sip.
"Yes well Graham was in a bit of a more difficult position," he muttered and looked back at the fire.
"How so?"
"It doesn't matter," he dismissed it.
"Right," she said doubtfully, "So how are you going to get Emma that position?"
"Well it's not going to be done the wholesome proper way. Regina's going to pull out all the stops to make sure Emma doesn't get elected and Emma refusing to fight back on nearly the same level isn't going to do her any favors. She's still a stranger in this town and no one knows her as well as they know Sidney."
"But Emma's contributed far more. She led the rescue on Dr. Hopper and her son from that mine collapse and she actually has some experience from her stay as a bounty hunter, which should count for something."
"Everyone's still under Regina's reign."
"Well then you support her. It's been a highlight of your life here that people are far more scared of you."
"It's still going to take a lot more than that darling, I think I would prefer to remain in the shadows as much as possible on this one."
"So then how are you going to do it?"
He laughed, "It's going to sound insane."
"When has that ever stopped you?"
"We need to paint her as a hero. If she's going to get the respect of people then she's going to have to stand up to me and Regina. Everyone's seen her stand up to Regina multiple times so the shock effects on that have worn off so they need to have her stand up to me in a very public way."
"Just for the record…am I going to like where you're going with how you're going to get her to stand up to you?"
"I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet," he told her. Really he still had a few variables that he needed to work out, "But if you're completely comfortable with what I do, it'll be a surprise."
"Well thank you for letting me know ahead of time," she muttered and set the empty mug down, "Honey?"
"What?" he said and stood up to put out the fire.
"We're definitely going home tomorrow, right? I mean I like spending a couple of days out here for the romantic value but four days is a little much. I'm bored."
"Yes," he helped her off the couch, "We're definitely going home tomorrow."
She sighed and rolled her head back, "Thank you!"
"You know, if you were bored I imagine I could've thought of something to entertain you."
She laughed, "I'll be you would have.
