Chapter 4

"You can't bring your backpack to Dave and Busters," Emma said.

"It's my backpack."

"And it will be here when we get back," Emma replied. And so would Mia if her backpack was back at Emma's apartment. Otherwise Emma had a feeling she'd be leaving her apartment with two kids and going home with one.

"It's mine. If I want to bring it, I will," Mia said coldly.

"Then you aren't going," Emma told her calmly.

Mia rolled her eyes. "I'm not the one that wanted to go."

They had a stare down that lasted several seconds and would have lasted several more if Henry hadn't intervened in the silent battle of wills.

Henry turned to Mia. "But…if you aren't going, my mom will stay here with you instead of taking me. I don't understand…why are you being like this?"

Henry was right...there was no way Emma was leaving Mia alone in the apartment. She didn't trust the girl not to run off any more than the girl trusted her not to call the cops.

"Me? Ask her." Mia glared at Emma. "She's the one that doesn't want me to bring my backpack for some unknown reason."

Now Emma wanted to roll her eyes. She and Mia both knew why she didn't want the girl to bring her backpack. Mia wasn't stupid, and neither was Emma. "Henry, go to your room for a few minutes."

Henry looked like he might argue for a second, but decided against it and went to his room grudgingly.

Emma took a deep breath and turned to Mia. "You don't trust me."

Mia watched Henry's bedroom door shut and let out a frustrated sigh. Now Henry and Emma were pissed at her…and she was alone with a pissed off Emma.

This was so stupid. It was her backpack!

And she didn't even want to go to the arcade in the first place. She had about sixty dollars, but it was for food and maybe a bus ticket if her waste of space of a social worker found her. It wasn't for stupid games like Space Invaders.

"You don't trust me." Emma didn't sound angry. Maybe she wasn't as pissed off as Mia thought.

"Trust has to be earned," Mia said flatly.

"You're right. It does."

Mia gaped at the woman. She had expected some bullshit line about trusting her because she was an adult.

"It's okay…I get it. You haven't known a lot of adults that have earned your trust," Emma said matter-of-factly…like she knew, or at least understood.

"Try zero," Mia muttered under her breath.

"Well, if you would give me half a chance, I might make the shortlist."

Mia crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Why should I trust you when you don't trust me?"

"What have you done to earn my trust?"

Mia was caught off guard by the question and didn't have an answer. "Um…I don't know."

"You eavesdropped on my conversation yesterday," Emma reminded her.

"You said you weren't mad!"

"I'm not mad. But that doesn't mean I trust you," Emma said evenly.

Mia bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry."

Emma smirked slightly. "You said that a few times already. It doesn't change the fact that I don't trust you any more than you trust me. I do trust that you won't run away without your backpack…"

Mia stared at her. "Run away? I'm not even supposed to be here."

Emma narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, well, I don't think you were supposed to be alone in an abandoned house either. I'm just trying to be responsible here."

That choice of words set off little alarm bells in Mia's head. She knew she was technically a runaway. Maybe she hadn't actually run away from the Gilberts' house, but she had been ducking her social worker…and she knew a responsible adult would call the cops or Social Services to report a runaway. Emma hadn't done that yet or Mia would be gone already, but Mia couldn't just stay there…it was a two-bedroom apartment…there was no room for her…Emma wouldn't give up her bed forever. No, Emma's apartment wasn't Mia's home, and Mia didn't think of leaving as running away…just leaving before the woman got tired of sleeping on the couch.

Mia eyed her wearily. "Wouldn't responsible be calling Social Services?"

Emma scoffed. "Yeah, maybe for someone who didn't spend sixteen years in the system."

The woman's distrust of the system rang true in her words…just like it had the first time they talked. Mia studied her face. "I'm actually starting to believe you won't call Social Services or the cops."

"I won't."

"Not even on Monday?"

"I'm going to find your parents first…and then we'll go from there," Emma hedged. It was a half-answer, but it was better than the answer Mia thought she would get.

"I'll leave my backpack here," Mia said quietly. She was a little embarrassed after making such a big deal about it, but it was her backpack and everything she owned was in it…and she hadn't known if she would have another chance to leave before Monday. Now she wouldn't have to.

Dave and Busters was crowded. It would be hard to keep track of Mia in the crowd.

Emma was glad she had told the girl that she couldn't bring her backpack. That might just be the one thing that would stop the girl from slipping away while she had a chance.

Emma guided the girl and her son over to a high top table in the bar area with a hand on each of their shoulders. When Mia told the waitress that she wasn't really hungry and just wanted water, Emma ordered two appetizers to share so that she would eat something.

"Mom, can I go play a game while we wait?" Henry asked.

Emma hesitated. "Not now."

Henry sighed. "Fine. I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

Emma watched Henry walk over to the bathroom, look over his shoulder, and then make a beeline for the game area. She shook her head and stifled a chuckle. She and Neal were his parents…he came by it honestly.

Emma had only said no because she couldn't tell Henry yes and Mia no, and she didn't really want to let the girl out of her sight. If her son wanted to use his allowance to play a quick game, Emma wasn't going to stop him.

When she turned her attention back to Mia, the girl was staring off to the side. Emma followed her gaze to a designer handbag that was casually hung on the back of a chair. The owner of the handbag was turned away from the bag and seemed completely preoccupied with a toddler. The woman was an easy target for a pickpocket…something Emma had a feeling Mia recognized.

Emma surveyed the area until she spotted what she was looking for…security cameras. If she told the girl not to do what she was thinking of doing, it would only make her want to do it more. If she pointed the security cameras out to the girl, Mia would have a real reason to listen.

"Hey," Emma said.

Mia turned to her. "Yeah?"

"If you were thinking of picking any pockets today, don't," Emma said bluntly.

Mia looked shocked.

Emma nodded toward a security camera. "See that? I won't call the cops, but someone else might."

Mia looked at her with wide eyes. "How'd you know?"

Emma laughed. "I'm not as stupid as you and Henry think I am."

"Henry?" Mia questioned.

"He's not in the bathroom. He's playing a game. Speak of the devil." Emma turned to look at her son. "Did you win?"

Henry blinked. "Win?"

Emma arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, whatever game you were playing."

Henry groaned. "How do you always know?"

"You're my son," Emma said with a smile.

Henry gave her a small, knowing smile. "And it's what you would have done...isn't it?"

"Maybe," Emma hedged.

"You'll be happy to know I still have the high score on Space Invaders," Henry told her.

"I'm so proud."

"You should be."

Emma got two cards and loaded each of them with twenty dollars for games. She tried to give one of the little plastic cards to Mia, but the girl wouldn't take it.

Mia shook her head. "That's yours."

Emma shrugged. "We can all share."

And they did. She guided her son and the girl toward games they could all play together - or at least at the same time. They raced cars, threw balls at clowns, and played Skee-Ball.

The only way Mia would play was if Emma swiped her card for her. It was strange that the girl had no qualms about stealing from strangers, and yet she didn't want to take anything from Emma. In spite of her reluctance to play on Emma's dime, Mia actually seemed to be having fun. The girl did an annoying little victory dance when she beat Henry at Dance Dance Revolution.

And then Henry challenged Emma to air hockey. They were pretty evenly matched. Henry scored the final game winning point on her and when Emma looked up, Mia was gone. She'd been watching them for at least part of the game because she laughed when Henry called Emma old and slow the first time she failed to block the puck. Damn it, Emma didn't even know when Mia had slipped away or how much of a head start the girl would have on her…

Emma really didn't think the girl would leave without her backpack…but she couldn't see the girl anywhere in the sea of kids…and that was just in the arcade. It would be even harder to find Mia if she was out in Times Square.

Emma didn't like the idea of the girl out there on the streets. She knew what it was like to be a kid and be alone in the world…she knew how dangerous it was.

Emma was a little disappointed…she thought they had an understanding, but she wasn't really surprised...Mia had only known adults that she couldn't trust for twelve years. She was more worried than anything else.

"What's wrong?" Henry asked.

"I don't see Mia." Emma tried to keep her voice calm.

"I'll help you look for her," Henry offered.

"Thanks, kid."

Emma started striding toward the entrance. Henry was right next to her, but he stopped suddenly.

"Mom!" Henry nodded toward the pool tables. "Isn't that Mia?"

Emma followed her son's gaze. Mia was playing pool with a teenage boy.

Emma exhaled. "That's her alright."

They made their way over to the pool tables. Mia was leaning down over the pool table to take a shot and didn't notice them right away. The girl sank a striped ball in the opposite corner pocket. It had been an easy shot. She was lined up perfectly.

Emma counted the balls still left on the table. There was only one more striped ball and there were three solid balls…four including the eight-ball.

Mia moved around the table to line up her next shot without ever looking up. The look of intense concentration on her face reminded Emma of Henry when he was playing Diablo on PlayStation.

Mia took her shot and sank the last striped ball. It hadn't been an easy shot…it was a bank shot and would have required a certain amount of skill.

"She's really good at this," Henry murmured.

Mia must have recognized his voice because she glanced up and nodded at him. It was a friendly nod of recognition. The half-smile the girl gave her son faded when she met Emma's gaze.

Emma could tell the girl didn't really know what to make of her. She wasn't angry…she had never really been angry. She was a little annoyed, but she was more relieved than annoyed. It was actually a good thing that the girl had a chance to leave and hadn't...Mia chose to stay instead.

Mia looked away from Emma and went back to studying the table. "Eight-ball, left side pocket."

No one was surprised when the black eight-ball sailed right into the left side pocket.

The teenage boy shoved a crumpled dollar bill toward Mia. Emma couldn't make out the dollar amount.

Mia stuffed the bill in the back pocket of her jeans. She shifted uncomfortably under Emma's gaze. "What?"

"You know what," Emma told her.

"I didn't steal. I won fair and square," Mia said defensively.

Henry looked a little shocked at how casually Mia talked about stealing.

Emma gave her a knowing look. She tried not to sound as amused as she was. "Let me guess…you told him you'd never played before and he bought it."

"I didn't say never…"

"Right. Why don't you play someone who can give you a run for your money?" Emma challenged.

"Who? You?" It looked like Mia was sizing her up.

Emma shrugged casually. "Unless you're scared…"

"If you guys are going to play another game, can I go play Space Invaders?" Henry asked…he'd never really had the patience for pool…it didn't help that he never won, at least not against her.

"Go ahead," Emma told him.

Henry headed off in the direction of his favorite game.

"How much do you want to bet?" Mia asked.

"I don't want your money," Emma said with a smirk.

Mia eyed her warily. "You don't? What do you want?"

Emma took a deep breath. "I want answers about what Trey did to you…real ones. I want you to give me a chance…a real chance. And I want you to promise me that you won't run away."

"Oh, is that all?" Mia said sarcastically.

"If you win," Emma continued undeterred, "I won't ask you about Trey again. And if I can't find your birth parents, I'll let you go. I'll teach you some of the stuff I learned when I ran away…stuff that'll help you. Hell, I'll even buy you a bus ticket to wherever you want to go."

"If I win, you won't ask me about Trey again. And if you can't find my parents or if you find them and they still don't want me, you'll let me go. You'll teach me everything you learned when you ran away that could help me. And you'll give me money for a bus ticket," Mia countered.

Emma stifled a smile...the girl was good. "Okay then. We have a deal. Do you want to break or should I?"

"I'll do it," Mia said quickly.

The girl racked the balls and then took her place. She sent the white cue ball toward the other balls in one smooth movement that appeared practiced and easy. It hit the triangle of balls at an angle with enough force to send the other balls spiraling in various directions. The striped purple twelve-ball was the only one that actually ended up in a pocket though. Mia managed to sink two more striped balls, but she scratched on the last one. To be fair, it had been a difficult shot.

"Damn it," Mia muttered under her breath.

"My turn," Emma said as she retrieved the cue ball.

Emma took an easy shot to start with…it helped that she got to put the cue ball where she wanted it…and she saw no reason to let Mia see how outmatched she was this early in the game. She sank three balls in a row, tying the game up, before she had to make a more difficult shot if she wanted to keep control of the table - and she did. She aimed the cue ball at Mia's striped red fifteen-ball. The fifteen-ball hit her own solid blue two-ball at the exact right angle to propel it straight into the right corner pocket.

"Shit!" Mia exclaimed with awe in her voice.

Emma smirked. "You underestimated me. You have a habit of doing that."

Mia looked a little sheepish. "Where'd you learn to play?"

Emma glanced up at her as she lined up her next shot. "Henry's dad taught me. You?"

"In my last foster home in Boston. My foster brother was supposed to watch me after school. He was sixteen and he was a busboy in this bar grill place that had pool tables." Mia shrugged. "I spent a lot of time there."

"You're good," Emma told her. "But I'm good, too. You had no idea what you were up against when you agreed to play me. You were at a disadvantage since I saw you play."

"You played me," Mia accused…but she didn't sound mad. She had actually adopted a grudgingly respectful tone.

"What? Like you played that boy?"

Apparently Mia didn't have anything to say to that because she got quiet. It looked like she was resigning herself to losing…and honoring the bet they made.

Emma cleared her remaining solid balls easily…it was just the eight-ball left. "Eight-ball, left corner pocket."

There wasn't a clear path for the cue ball to the eight-ball. The only way to make the shot was to use one of Mia's balls again. Emma took her time aiming carefully. She did not want to lose control of the table…Mia was good…and this wasn't a bet Emma was willing to lose. It wasn't just money…it was the girl's life on the line.

Emma took a deep breath and took the shot. She didn't exhale until the eight-ball was safely in the left corner pocket.

Emma looked Mia straight in the eye. "Now we talk."

Mia looked like she wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. "Okay, fine…just…not here?"

Emma nodded. "When we get home. Let's go find Henry."

"Was Henry's dad a hustler?" Mia asked curiously.

"Yeah, he was."

"And you…were you a hustler?"

"I think I still am…or did I not just beat you?"

Henry was parked in front of Space Invaders, staring intently at the screen. It struck Emma again how much Mia looked like Henry…they had nearly identical facial expressions when they were concentrating hard.

Henry finally acknowledged them when his game ended. "Who won?"

Emma gave him a look. "Really? You have to ask?"

"My mom always wins at pool," Henry explained to Mia.

"Thanks for the warning," Mia said sarcastically.

"Sorry…I thought you might actually win. You're really good."

Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. In answer to a question, there will be at least 2, maybe 3 more chapters before Emma learns the truth. Someone had asked for them to have more time to get acquainted before going to Storybrooke. Emma learning the truth is going to be connected to her getting her memories back so…what do you guys want to see…more time in New York or are you ready for them to go to Storybrooke?