A/N: Since everyone else is honouring "I invited her"/ Swan Queen Sunday I thought I would too. Even though it's already Monday where I am ;).

Massive thanks to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited so far! You guys make my day!

Chapter Four

"What are you doing with my son?" Regina's voice was low and threatening.

Emma gaped in shock as the mayor strode into the room and snatched Henry out of her arms. The little boy didn't like the jostling though and began to whimper.

"Uh, he was crying-" started Emma. "I just thought -"

"No, you don't get to think. Your job is to clean. I told you to stay downstairs."

Emma scoffed and gestured uselessly. "Yeah, but - he was screaming. I figured you were on the phone or something."

The mayor set the boy back in the crib and gave Emma a long hard look as though trying to figure out if she was lying. "I didn't hear him cry."

Emma reached into the crib and retrieved the baby monitor. She tapped it against her palm and inspected it. She knew the mayor kept the other monitor in the study with her at all times. "I think it's out of battery."

"Indeed." Regina stared down at Henry and then spoke to herself. "I still should have heard him."

Seeing that the mayor was contrite softened Emma. The woman was beating herself up over nothing. "Hey it's ok, it's not like he was up here choking on his foot or something. You would've heard him eventually before anything bad happened."

"Clearly you know nothing about children," said Regina unkindly.

"You're right, I don't." Emma's tempered flared but it was quickly damped down by guilt. Feelings of regret over giving him away resurfaced. Her son would obviously have a well-cared for comfortable upbringing here, but the poor little thing was miserable. Was he missing her?

The two women stood side by side at the crib gazing down at the baby.

"Why does he cry so much?" asked Emma quietly.

The mayor sighed heavily at having to explain. "He's a baby. They cry when they want something."

"So what does Henry want?"

The mayor inhaled and looked at her sharply. "I never told you my son's name."

"Ms Swan, what are you doing here? Nobody comes to Storybrooke and nobody leaves. Ever."

Emma was not one to cower under a piercing glare. She rolled her eyes and went to leave the room. "His name is on the nursery door."

"You didn't answer my question, Ms Swan."

"It's after four. I have to go. See you Monday, Madam Mayor."

"No, dear. I won't see you on Monday."

"Er, alright. See you Tuesday then." Emma raised her shoulders in confusion and waved goodbye.

"I meant, don't bother coming back. Ms Swan, you're fired."

Emma gaped angrily for a few seconds before stomping downstairs. If she wasn't afraid of upsetting Henry, she would've slammed the door on her way out.

Insufferable, cold-hearted, prissy, stuck up bitch!

Emma stalked down main street, muttering under her breath. She kicked out her foot at a trashcan hoping to knock it over. Her ankle jarred against the fixed steel frame and she cursed. She wanted to make a mess of this stupid perfect town. Everything was in too much order, as if nothing ever happened here. Just like the mayor's house. It was irritating.

She passed one of the town noticeboards and ripped away a fistful of flyers without stopping and let the scraps float to the ground.

"I do hope your wrath will spare my little shop."

Emma jumped and tried to look innocent. A short slight man leant on his cane in front of a pawnbroker shop smiling at her kindly. She'd better not get caught vandalising or thieving again she realised. Now that she was 18, she had to start being more responsible - or at least, better at not getting caught. Otherwise it'd be big girl prison this time.

"You're the mayor's new girl aren't you?" the man asked, with his accent showing through.

"Not anymore." Emma let her arms flap against her sides and shrugged sarcastically.

The man nodded knowingly and gave a lopsided smirk. "You shouldn't give up so easily, dearie."

"You're Mr Gold. Landlord who owns the town."

Ruby had described the impish man perfectly. Apart from the mayor, he was the other major power in Storybrooke. Another one with eyes and ears everywhere. Emma didn't see what there was to be afraid of though. It's not like she owed him any rent.

"I see my reputation precedes me. And may I ask your name? Don't make me guess," he said when she didn't answer and started to walk to away.

"How's the mayor's boy doing?" Gold called after her.

Emma stopped at the kerb to check the road for cars.

"I take an interest is all. Nobody's seen much of the mayor since I procured the boy for her."

Emma whirled around, not bothering to hide her incredulity. "You organised the adoption?"

"I did. Now, what is your name?" His voice acquired a bit of anxiety.

"See ya." Emma didn't know why she stubbornly refused to tell him as she continued on her way.

"Emma, I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding."

The blonde leant her chin on her hand and looked at Mary Margaret as if to say 'are you serious?' They were both sitting at the bar nursing drinks at Granny's. It was after hours but the two girls had offered to stick around while Ruby closed up shop.

Mary Margaret didn't know that Emma's drink was alcoholic. Ruby had poured it with a wink when the pixie-haired woman wasn't looking. The schoolteacher listened politely to Emma's ranting about losing her job after only a week and how unfair the mayor had been.

"Well, maybe you can apologise. Get your job back."

"Yeah, right. And maybe the mayor will grow a personality."

Mary Margaret pointed out that the mayor had a lot of cares on her mind with keeping the town running smoothly. "It must be hard for her. Especially now that she has a child."

Emma placed her drink on the counter and set her jaw. "Do you think the kid's ok? Is Regina a good mother?"

Mary Margaret smiled and dug into her purse for her phone. She swiped through a few photos before settling on a particular one. "Here, look at this."

Emma almost aaawed aloud at the photo of Regina holding a much smaller Henry wrapped in a blue blanket decorated with the fish from Dr Seuss. It was a beautiful photo. In it Henry looked the same as she remembered him a few months ago. The other person in the photo was caught mid-laugh, pure joy written over her face. If Emma had seen this photo before coming to Storybrooke she might never have come.

"I took that the day she got Henry," said Mary Margaret, remembering the day fondly. "Mr Gold asked me to mind the baby while he handled the paperwork with Regina. He was so tiny. When I placed him in her arms...I've never seen anyone so happy. Like she couldn't quite believe he was finally hers."

So why was Regina no longer happy? Did she regret adopting her son? Emma wondered.

"So what's her deal? Why is she so..." Emma raised her hands in an imaginary stranglehold. "She's so frustrating. It's as if she's above interacting like a normal human being."

"I think she's just lonely. Maybe she's afraid people will judge her. So she puts up a wall to protect herself."

"Dunno what she's afraid of people judging. She's smart, beautiful, got a great life together. It's not like she's-"

It's not like she's me, Emma's mind completed the sentence for her.

"She's a bit like you that way."

Emma almost spat her drink everywhere. "What? I'm nothing like her."

"I meant, about not letting anyone in." Mary Margaret said gently.

"And don't think I didn't see what Ruby put in here." The teacher pointedly moved Emma's glass out of reach. Busted.

"Yeah well, the last time I let someone in it didn't go so well. For more than just me," Emma said darkly.