It had been about two weeks since the ice skating rink. Emma still talked about how much fun she had that day. Emma talked about how she wanted to play sports and make a whole bunch of friends. Regina smiled and agreed to let Emma pick a sport.
Henry convinced her to play soccer. Regina watched as Henry and Emma practiced in the backyard almost every day. Regina couldn't be happier. The only thing threatening her happiness was Avery Gold, and what would happen if he tried to take Emma away from her.
Regina has been keeping an eye on Avery. He seems to be doing ok, he stopped working for his father and started working for Marco and helping with construction around the town.
He even leased a studio apartment. Avery was doing everything he could to show Regina that he was serious about being in Emma's life. He wanted nothing to do with his father and didn't want to go back to his old life.
Avery had his 2014 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 shipped to him out of storage, so that then he didn't have an excuse for not showing up to work.
Regina noticed all of Avery's efforts and rewarded him with another meeting.
Regina was thinking about what she was about to offer Avery, and was wondering if she was crazy or not.
Regina was thinking about it and realized that if she was able to control when and how often Avery saw Emma it would eliminate Avery trying to sneak around and it would keep Rumple away.
In the long run allowing Avery to be in Emma's life could be a positive.
Regina's assistant Amanda rang alerting Regina that Avery was here. Regina took a breath and told her to send him in.
Avery knocked and opened the door. Regina was sitting in her chair waiting, "Mr. Gold. Please sit."
Avery nodded and sat down in the chair across from Regina's desk. Avery wiped his hands on his jeans and looked at Regina, "You um, you wanted to talk to me.. about Emma?"
Regina nodded and said, "Yes. Like I told you before I would be watching you, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at what you have accomplished in a short amount of time."
Avery smiled and nodded again, "Thank you Madam Mayor. I wanna be better, for Emma."
Regina nodded, "I wanted to give you a chance to spend some time with Emma. Emma has been taking soccer lessons for the past couple of weeks and this weekend is her first soccer game. I am inviting you to join Henry and myself in cheering her on."
Avery opened his mouth to say something but closed it and put his head down. Originally Regina thought that Avery was upset about the offer but after a few seconds she could hear that he was sniffling. "Mr. Gold is there something wrong?"
Avery shook his head, wiped his eyes and looked back at Regina, "No, it's nothing. I just.. thank you. Usually no matter how hard I try nothing ever works, but this time I really am trying. I just want to know her."
Regina nodded and realized she was having a hard time disliking Avery, he was much different than his father. Regina smiled and said, "Yes well keep showing me progress and I will hold up my end of the deal. Remember this though, Emma isn't a toy that you can forget about when you get bored. If you are going to be in her life you are going to need to be in her life unless she or I tell you otherwise."
Avery nods and says, "Of course, I want to be in her life. I do."
Regina nodded and stood up saying, "Well then, I look forward to seeing you this weekend."
Avery stood up as well and shook Regina's hand, "Defiantly. I'll be there."
Avery turned and left the mayor's office. When he got outside he fist pumped the air and yelled, "YES!"
Regina couldn't help but smile, as she got back to work.
Avery rode his bike straight over to Rumple's to share the good news. Avery walked into the shop smiling as the bell above the door rang.
Rumple exited the back room and smiled at Avery, "Avery my boy, what brings you here?"
Avery ran a hand through his hair and said, "I'm going to see Emma this weekend."
Rumple's smile dropped a little, "I thought Regina told you to keep away?"
Avery shrugged his shoulders, "She did, but a few weeks ago I went to her office to talk with her. She said that she wasn't going to let Emma near me if I didn't show her that I planned on sticking around in Storybrooke. So I got my act together. Seems she noticed, she invited me to join her and Henry to Emma's first soccer game this weekend."
Rumple gave a fake smiled and said, "Well. I am happy for you Avery."
Rumple went to turn around and walk back towards the back room when Avery stopped him, "No you're not dad. So what? What is it? What has you so upset?"
Rumple turned and said, "What ever do you mean?"
Avery groaned and stepped towards Rumple, "Cut the bull. If you have something to say just say it. Stop with the fake smiles and happy father routine, its getting old."
Rumple snarled and said, "Watch who you are talking to boy. You think because you moved out of my house and got yourself some mediocre job, that you are someone? You think the mayor respects you? HA. You are naive. You want her respect you need to do something worth respecting."
Avery fumed, "You know what forget it. You're right maybe I should take a page out of your book; use and abuse people, forget about my family, make deals that cost people everything. Yeah that seems respectable. You think everything I've done has been to gain Regina's respect? I've done this to gain Emma's! She is the one I need to impress, she is the one that matters! I don't give a damn what Regina, or you for that matter, thinks about me! I just need my kid to know that she wasn't unwanted, that she matters, and that her dad is doing everything possible to make up for the past where I wasn't there to protect her. You know what, I am done! Don't come near me or Emma!"
With that Avery stormed out of the shop.
Rumple watched as Avery got on his bike and rode away. When Avery was out of sight he slammed his hand against the wall causing a few trinkets to fall.
Rumple knew that if he didn't do something then he would probably never see Avery again.
Rumple went into the back room and sat as the desk. He thought about how best to get back on Avery's good side. He needed something that would make Avery seem heroic, but he also needed to make sure that he wasn't the bad guy. Rumple needed Avery to come to him for help.
Rumple couldn't stand being in the shop any longer, so he decided to close early and head home.
When Rumple arrived home he sat in his study and continued think. When he felt the beginnings of a headache coming on he went upstairs to the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet only to realize that there was no aspirin in the cabinet. He went to the bathroom that had been Avery's hoping that he had left some behind.
What he found in the aspirin bottle most defiantly wasn't aspirin.
When Gold opened the bottle he noticed that instead of pills the bottle contained a white power. Thinking it was the remnants of the aspirin Gold dumped it into his hand. Something just seemed off about the powder though.
Gold tasted a little and realized what the power really was. Gold looked back in the bottle noticing that only a very little was left.
Gold took the bottle, closed it, and put it into his pocket. Gold washed his hands and left the bathroom smirking, knowing that he now has a plan.
Avery went straight home and slammed his front door closed. He walked into his tiny studio apartment and looked around. He was angry and frustrated. Avery knew his father was right in some ways, which only seemed to make him angrier. Avery walked into the kitchen and threw a glass that was sitting on the counter at the wall, watching it shatter into a million different pieces.
Avery walked over to his mattress and laid down. He was staring at his ceiling looking up at the chipped paint and the cracked ceiling. Avery turned his head and looked at his dresser, he knew that in the top drawer there was a hidden vial tucked into a pair of socks. He knew that the vial would make him feel better, it would stop him from thinking about what his father said, It would calm him. Avery got up and opened the drawer, he grabbed the sock and took the vial out. Avery sat back on his mattress and held the vial in his hands contemplating what he wanted to do. When he was about to open the vial and he got a phone call. Avery groaned and closed the vial hiding the white powdered substance.
Avery didn't look at the caller ID and answered, "Hello?"
"Mr. Gold, this is mayor Mills. Is this a bad time?"
Avery blinked, Regina sighed and said, "Mr. Gold."
Avery coughed and said, "No. No it's not a bad time. What's up?"
Regina rolled her eyes at the childish saying and said, "I have an unexpected meeting this afternoon and am treating Henry and Emma to Granny's tonight for dinner. If you would like you can join us."
Avery smiled into the phone and said, "Really?"
Regina sighed and said, "Yes Really, Mr. Gold. I'm not making this phone call, inviting you to dinner for my health. Meet us at Granny's at 6:15PM."
Avery nodded and said, "Totally. I'll be there."
Regina cleared her throat, "Let me make something clear though Mr. Gold, this is a special occurrence. Don't think that you are going to be in Emma's everyday life. Don't make me regret extending this olive branch. This is a test Mr. Gold you pass and we will discuss how involved you are to be in Emma's life. Good day ."
Avery gulped and said, "I understand. Thank you madam mayor. I will see you tonight. Bye."
Avery smiled and placed the vial back into his drawer. He couldn't get high, he was seeing his daughter.
A/N: Hey, sorry for the wait. I know a lot of people don't like Avery but I want Emma to have someone that can slightly understand her past. Hope after this your thoughts on Avery change a little. Please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!