CHAPTER 4

Emma ran and gathered her things. She quickly put on her shoes. She checked her hair and makeup in the vanity. Then she quickly made her way over to Granny's.

She stood at the door and looked around. She saw Regina and Henry in a booth in the back. They were sitting with another little girl that had to be his sister. She was the spitting image of her Mom.

Emma walked over to the booth. "Hi," she stood shyly.

Henry's head snapped up, "What are you doing here?"

"I invited her."

Henry looked surprised to hear this. He barely registered Emma sliding in the seat beside him. He glared over at Regina, "What are you up to?"

Regina blinked at him rapidly. "What could I be up to dear? You wanted to speak to Emma, well here she is."

Henry didn't know what else to say so he became silent.

"We've already ordered," Regina handed her menu over to Emma.

"Oh, I already know what I'm having."

Regina nodded. She turned to Luka, "I'm not sure if you've met my daughter, Luka. Luka, this is Henry's birth Mother, Emma."

Luka was sipping on her orange juice. She just nodded at Emma.

Emma smiled over at her. "You're the spitting image of your Mom here."

Luka loudly puffed her straw out of her mouth. Regina grimaced at her display of bad manners. "Henry doesn't look like you at all," the child said.

Henry's glare transferred from his mother to his sister.

Regina scoffed at her bad manners. But Emma took it in stride. "Well, I guess not so much."

They were thankfully interrupted by a dark haired waitress. She had long red streaks in her black hair. "Hi, haven't seen you around here."

"I'm –," Emma's eyes slid over to Regina. "I'm just visiting."

"It's been a while since we've had visitors. In fact, I can't quite remember the last time," Ruby scrunched her face in thought.

"Just get on with it," Regina said impatiently. At Emma's raised eyebrows she decided to soften the blow. "I do have to get my kids to school."

Emma smiled at the young waitress who just seemed to be trying to be friendly. "I'll have the grilled cheese. And a hot chocolate with cinnamon please."

Henry perked up, "That's what I'm having. We are alike," he directed this part over to his little sister who just rolled her eyes at him.

Emma smiled at him. "Well genetics is weird."

Ruby brought out their order and the table quieted down as everyone ate.

"You're here from Boston right? What is it that you do there?"

Emma nodded at Regina. She swallowed the bite she'd just taken, "I'm a bounty hunter."

Luka's jaw dropped. "You? But you're not that big. Do you have a gun?"

Emma feigned hurt, "I'll have you know that you don't have to be big to be tough. I can still take down almost anyone. But yes I do carry a gun."

Henry beamed proudly. He looked directly at his Mom while he said, "That's because you're good. Good always wins. Evil loses."

"Can I see your gun?" Luka seemed really excited. Nothing ever happened in this tiny town. The only time she got near any action was watching television.

"Umm… well…. Um…," Emma stuttered. She looked over to Regina to help bail her out.

"You're not allowed near guns. And Henry's going to be grounded for quite some time so he's not going near anything outside of the house for a while."

Henry stopped eating since this was news to him. I mean, he should've seen it coming but he thought that once the Savior got here his Mom would back down. Instead she seemed completely unfazed. "Emma's my Mom. You can't punish me for being with my Mom."

"I'm not your Mom, kid," Emma told him. She wanted to take it back as soon as she said it but then again it was the truth. She only met him yesterday and hadn't really processed through everything yet. She wasn't even sure if the information he'd given her was correct. She guessed a small part of her wanted it to be true but she wasn't going to get carried away without actual proof.

Henry looked as if he'd been slapped. "Yes you are! You just don't know what she's done to you and our family. She cursed you and your parents. She cursed this entire town! She's evil. And you're the Savior. You have to break the curse and wake everyone up!"

"That's enough Henry!" Regina looked around to everyone in the diner. They'd stopped eating and were staring at the small family. She smiled at them then said, "You all can go back to what you were doing. This is nothing but a family incident." She had thrown down her napkin as she spoke. She stood and looked over at Henry, "we're going to finish this conversation later. Right now, you're going to school."

Henry looked at Emma for help.

She shrugged at him, "Sorry kid. I can't help you with that. School comes first," she rose and let him out of the booth.

Regina threw some money down on the table to cover breakfast. "Ms. Swan, I hope you have a safe return home."

She ushered the kids before her. Then they walked out and went on their way.

Emma looked after her a little sad to see her go. But she knew she'd see her again soon.

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When they got to the school Luka jumped out. "Love you, bye Mom," she called out as she ran over to her friends. She blew a kiss over her shoulder and waved to her Mom as she greeted her friends.

Henry who had no friends moved slower.

Regina looked at him through her driving mirror, "You're seeing Dr. Hopper today and every other day until we get this situation under control." She turned her body around so that she could face him. "I have no idea why you insist on holding onto all this nonsense but we will get it straightened out. Your punishment starts with you being grounded for the next six weeks. You're also going to do extra chores to make up for the money you stole. Also make sure that you apologize to Ms. Blanchard when you see her."

Henry gathered his things. He stood outside and glared at his Mom, "I hate you," he growled before slamming the door shut.

Regina shook her head at his retreating figure. She had no idea that Henry was having problems this serious until yesterday. She'd been completely blindsided by the entire incident. She knew that he had become distant lately but this was just on another level. She put the car in gear and headed toward her office.