A/N be aware of refrencex/implied SA beginning in the flashback
Crisp spring air hugged the residents of Storybrooke as they awoke to retrieve the papers on their doorstep. One such resident was Mr. MIlls. The man had a routine he stuck to, so coffee in hand he opened the front door to find the paper in its usual spot on the porch. Bending to retrieve the paper he stops short as a picture of Emmett looks back at him. Frowning Henry grabs the thick stack of pages reading the morning's headline. His stomach drops before looking around his neighbors as they too seem to be stuck on their porches reading the publication. Quickly making way back inside, the senior Mills locks the door, goes to the kitchen, and sits at the island table.
Skimming over the article he scrutinizes the page and words defaming the boy he's come to care for as if he were his own. Phrases were tossed around carelessly, and accusatory statements bled through the ink. So engrossed in the article he didn't hear his wife enter the room, "Henry?"
It was only when his wife came closer that did he register her presence, "We need to speak with Regina before she reads the paper," the man is up out of his chair walking towards the door, "We should also contact the Tweeds, and get Emmett out of school for some time," he sighed.
Brow furrowed, the woman went to ask what he meant when their youngest came rushing in tears streaming down her face, "How could he?" she cried, "This can't be real!"
"Darling-" Cora approached Regina taking her child in her arms, she was at a loss, her morning filled with whiplash of emotions and worry, "What is going on?"
As Regina sobbed and heaved in her mothers arms Henry simply showed Cora the headline that went out not just on the physical copy, but the digital version of the paper as well. The older woman hugged her child closer, softly stroking her hair while whispering "It'll be okay." Even then she wasn't sure what this would mean for the young man, his family, and all others involved.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Emmett shouted in panic pacing the living room as Vixy tries to calm him and Todd begins making calls, "They were closed! Expunged even!" the teen heaves as tears streak down his face and collapses onto the couch.
Both Pan and Vixy sit beside him, one on each side. The woman's hand rubs his back soothingly even as his body convulses under the weight of his sobs, "We'll find who did this, she whispers, it'll be alright."
He looks up with red rimmed eyes, snot leaking from his nose, and breathing deeply from his mouth, "But what do I tell her?"
Both Vixy and Pan embrace him then. Having heard the hurt, defeat, and fear in his voice. Emmett clings to them like a liferaft adrift in the open ocean with no help in sight. He starts sobbing again and they hold him even tighter even when the tears have stopped they hold him. As he's coming down from his emotions Pan hugs him harder, "You need to tell her the truth."
Pan can feel his brother nod even as he faces their foster mother, "I know," the reply comes a faint whisper. Allowing himself to be a little longer, the teen eventually removes himself from the plush couch and makes his way to the kitchen where Todd is seething.
Cell Phone to ear the redhead angrily growls, "I'll have your head for this Mrs. Fitzooth, and your little lackeys too!" he exclaims angrily hanging up, or as angrily as one can look when using a cell. Leaning on the counter Todd looks up to find Emmett in the doorway, "It's gonna be okay son," he assures and Emmett can for once feel a sliver of hope.
"I need to go to the Mills'" the blonde then says whipping at his eyes and nose, "They need to know."
Nodding Todd grabs his keys from the counter, "I'm driving," Emmett goes to protest but gets shut down, "I'd feel safer knowing I was with you."
Knowing he wouldn't be leaving without the Sheriff, Emmett agrees, "Fine."
The two make their way back over to the living room Pan and Vixy both waiting patiently, "We'll be back," Todd begins to explain when his phone rings, seeing the name of the mayor he holds up a finger and answers the call, "Hello? Yes- Yes, we're on our way now," he answers unheard questions, "Are you sure?" He then asks, "Okay, we'll all be there."
When the call ended he looked to his family, "The mayor requests we all go over this morning," he informs the group.
Rising from her seat Vixy ruffles Pan's hair, "Alright best we get ready then."
It's only fifteen minutes later when the family finds themselves on the doorstep of the MIlls' home. Even as Cora smiles and opens the door for them to enter the home Emmett can't help but feel the urge to run. To run as far away as possible and to hide until no one remembers his name. So wrapped up in his feelings he was only shaken from them when Cora touched his shoulder. Looking into her eyes he expected to see hatred, suspicion, maybe even murder. However all he saw was sympathy. Finally crossing the threshold to the home the teen allowed himself a small moment to relax.
Having removed his shoes and jacket both Cora and Emmett made their way to the living room where everyone was seated including the Mills' family. As he looked around the room the families were sitting opposite each other, Mr. Mills takes up one of the sitting chairs, Zelena on an arm rest, and Regina trying to sink into the couch so as to not be seen. Not even willing to meet his eyes. Taking the young man and guiding him to an empty seat Cora then situates herself by her daughter taking her hand.
Once settled Cora clears her throat, "Now, i was recently made aware of an article that is shedding a very scathing light on Mr. Swan here," she says not mincing any words, "What needs to be made very clear is that as Mayor of this town and in needing to keep my town safe I was already aware of these false allegations."
Head hung Emmett was not expecting to hear this, "Wha-t'"
"That being said we need to head this off," she continues, "But it will mean rehashing the truth dear boy," she looks at him then.
"You knew?" the teen questions, "But they were closed, and expunged."
Nodding the mayor sighs, "It was part of the placement with Mr. Tweed," she explains, "We knew about you before you came here, and I knew a small town very far from your previous home would work best."
"But, how'd Pan get here with me?" he then questioned as they'd been in the same foster homes for the past seven years.
"Well, it helps to have connections," she smiles, "And if you feel your privacy has been breached know I did it because no child should have to carry around the weight that you did."
"It'll take me some time to get used to this," Emmett admits and Pan echoes the sentiment though neither complain, "But can I talk to Regina about this?" Though he addresses the older Mills woman his eyes fall to her daughter.
Cora looks to her daughter who gives the slightest nod, "Of course, we'll be in the kitchen and dining room if you need us," she excuses her family and the Tweeds.
Once left alone Emmett remains seated where he is not wanting to scare the brunette, "So…"
He trails off not knowing where to start.
"Is this the reason you never had a girlfriend?" Regina asks, arms crossed defensively.
"Yes," he admits, "This isn't how I wanted you to find out, but I was going to tell you. Tonight as I'd promised."
Deep down she knows Emmett wasn't someone who could have done the things the article claimed, but it was still a reminder that anyone could, "What happened?" she looked at him then. Eyes boring into his looking for any sign of a lie.
"It was my junior year," he began, "And I'd been at the school since freshman year, so everything was going fine." He had to take a breath even just to get through the beginning, "That's when I met her."
FLASHBACK
Emmett stood at the field smiling as he and his team finished up practice. It was the same routine for the past few weeks. However every day for the past four days a voyeur sat in the bleachers. At first it was weird but as time went on the team figured she was just a fan of the team which helped with morale.
It was on this day that Emmett decided to put a name to the face who'd been showing up to support them. Making his way over to where she was packing up the young man cleared his throat, "Hello," he smiled as she turned to him, "I'm Emmett."
"I know who you are," she replied, "Everyone does."
He took this time to examine her. She was dressed modestly in a yellow summer skirt and white blouse, her hair dark black almost blue in the glinting sunlight , "I didn't get your name," he said.
"Angelica," she replied, hefting her side bag onto her shoulders, "Great practice but I have to go."
Watching her run down the metal bleachers all Emmett could think was how strange the encounter had been. Not because of how short their conversation had been, but rather a feeling in the pit of his gut that he couldn't shake.
For weeks Angelica would show up to the practises, even ones that the team wasn't aware of until the day of. At first everyone wrote her off as one of the kids with nothing better to do but hang out with the jocks. Soon Angelica was showing up to every game as well. But things slowly began to escalate. She would talk to Emmett before, during and after the practice no one else. She made sure to always find him even outside of practises, and would even go as far as leaving him little gifts outside of his foster family's house. It got to the point during one of Emmett and Angelica's conversations that he'd asked her to stop, and that what she was doing was making him uncomfortable. She simply giggled as if it were a joke and claimed she never caught him in time to give him the gifts but that she had a special one for him after their big game. He didn't hesitate to report her to the principal and coach. However everyone wrote it off as a phase that she'd surely tire of. Oh how wrong they were.
It was after their last game of the season when Emmett and the team were invited to a party hosted by Angelica's family. As it turns out her parents were high ranking members of the school board, and her little brother would be attending their highschool next year and to "warm" the team up to the possibility of their son getting a permanent spot on the team they went all out. They had won after all and a celebration was in order.
"I don't want to go, Pan," Emmett grumbled even as he put on his nicest button up and tie.
Coming out of the closet Pan sat on his bed to tie his shoes, "I know man, none of us do, but it's not everyday we win the state championship and get a free party out of it." The young man reasoned, but he also knew Emmett had other reservations in regards to the party, "Listen 'Mett if it helps I'll make sure to keep by you all night ok?"
Having talked to Pan extensively throughout the weeks Emmett knew his brother would be there for him, "Thank you," a breath of relief allowing him to relax.
"Always," his brother smiled standing and squeezed his brother's shoulders, "Now let's go, maybe there'll be more people aside from our team there."
When they arrived at the house most of the ball team had already shown up. The home was massive at least three stories with an open window concept. The family really was one of the wealthier ones in the area, and it showed. Walking up the flight of stone steps just to reach the front door both Emmett and Pan were greeted by the butler.
"Gentlemen," a balding man greeted, allowing them entry into the area, "Your jackets."
Discarding their jackets the teens took in the entryway. A crystal glass chandelier hung high from the ground lit up the long hallway. Pan looked to Emmett and shrugged before following the sound of laughter and ruckus. Finding the team in the entertainment room the group of boys were all drinking out of flutes and joking around.
"Oh, dears," a woman's voice greeted them, "So lovely you could make it, I'm Mrs. Sterling, Angelica's mother, but you can call me Eve," she held out her hand for the boys to shake.
Pan was the first to take her hand, "Thank you for having us Mrs. Sterling." The older woman smiled.
"And you must be Emmett," Eve turned to the teen, her smile wider and hand outstretched, "I've heard so much about you," she chuckled.
The blonde shook her hand politely but the way her eyes drank him in, and the grin that graced her lips felt sinister, "I'm sure you've gotten to hear lots about the team," he tries to diffuse the feeling he's having.
"Yes, well, don't let me keep you two," she shoos them off to mingle with the rest of the crowd.
True to his word Pan never leaves Emmett's side for any longer than five minutes tops. A guy's gotta pee. Aside from the formal schmoozing things are going well at the celebration for the team's victory. At least it had been. Finishing up his second flute of cider Mrs. Silverman comes by and hands him another. "Drink up dear, my poor husband ordered too much," she smiles, taking her leave to hand out other drinks and talk with guests.
It was after dinner but before dessert that all things went tits up. You see as the dining area was being cleaned the team and some other important guests, who just so happened to be college recruiters, were talking scholarships and such that Mrs. Silverman popped in to play hostess once more. As Emmett was sipping on the sparkling cider in his flute he felt delicate fingers slide up his arm, "Mr. Swan," the woman's words were soft and he could feel her breath on his ear, "I have something for you," the teen's gut dropped and suddenly he felt trapped.
"As much as I'd love to chat Mrs. Silverman I am in the middle of a conversation," He nodded to the recruiter whom she'd interrupted, "And it would be rude of me to be pulled away at this time." Emmett reasoned and hoped it worked.
The woman looked to the man who indeed had been mid sentence when she arrived, "Oh I do apologize but this cannot wait," she feigned apologetically.
Emmett knew she was lying but hoped still the recruiter would see through it, or at least want to talk more, add to the fact Pan still wasn't back from the bathroom, "Oh it's fine Evelyn, I'm sure we'll catch up after the party."
"Oh why thank you, and perhaps schedule something for tomorrow?" she recommended, "I'm sure Mr. Swan will be indisposed the rest of the night." she trailed off taking the young man with her.
In truth had Emmett not been in shock, or whatever state he was in he would have thought to pull away. To tear his arm from her hands and bolt as fast as he could from her, her daughter, and her home. But even as she led him further from the party his feet felt like lead and his head bagan to swim. "I see the way my daughter looks at you," Mrs. Silverman muses walking them down a maze of hallways, "She is always bragging about you and how kind you are to her which I deeply appreciate. So when she told me she wanted to do something special for you, how could I say no?"
The way she said 'something special' had the young man's blood run cold. As though she was going to help her daughter in whatever vile way they thought up. It was then as he was deep in his thoughts Emmett felt her stop outside of a door, "Now we're going to go in here and have a great time," she chuckled once again allowing her hands to run down his arm and her lips caressed his ear this time around. She opened the door to reveal Angelica sitting on her bed surrounded by a lace canopy. Ushering the young man into the room the older woman locked the door behind herself.
Present Day
"It was only after the two started to try and remove my shirt and pants that something in me snapped," he admitted, "I fought so hard to get out of the room but i couldn't," a sob from his own throat escaped as he jerked from his seat landing in front of Regina on his knees, "I'm sorry…I'm so so sorry," he cried.
Tears streaming down her own face Regina gently took his head in her hands and lifted so their eyes met, "You have nothing to be sorry for," she whispered leaning her forehead down to his, "Nothing at all."
The two stayed like this for minutes until Emmett's knees cramped and Regina's back ached from the angle. Sitting up right the brunette tapped the spot next to her where the blonde happily occupied curling into her side.
"Where was Pan?" she asked.
"He came for me," his voice soft and distant, "It was bad, but he came for me."
In the Mills' dining room Pan and Todd finish explaining to the others the situation of what happened, "I came looking for him, and thankfully one of my teammates saw where they went, but they'd already done things to him," Pan looked away still blaming himself for leaving his brother longer than he wanted to.
Sensing the boy's distress Cora came over to him, "You did more than some would," her hand rested upon his shoulder then looked to Todd, "But if it was he who was assaulted why do the files say otherwise?"
The Sheriff took a drink of his coffee letting the warm liquid wash away the gunk buildup in his throat from the tears, "Because both Mrs. and Ms. Silverman claimed it was his idea and when they didn't cooperate he threatened Ms. Silverman so of course Mrs. Silverman had to do what he said." He took another drink of his coffee before adding, "It would have been more believable had Emmett not been roofied."
Everyone in the room scoffed, "Outrageous!" both Cora and Henry proclaimed while Zelena looked to be seething at her phone.
"What's worse is Mrs. Fitzooth is related to Mrs. Silverman," she informed the group. She held up a picture from nine years ago of Mrs. Fitzooth and her sister Evelyn Silverman on the front page of Storybrooke's Daily Mirror welcoming the new editor in chief.