The Historian (No 16)

by DeadGirlEtarnal

As a Historian, it is their job to watch over the land and record everything that happens, but unlike the Author, they write facts, not fiction, or manipulate the story. Landon Mills loves to write and begins writing stories, much to his Mother's love and when Storybrooke appears, that doesn't stop even when the Saviour rolls into town in her yellow bug. OCs only.

6. How's it feel, Sheriff

V. "How's it feel, Sheriff?"

Graham is playing darts at Granny's Diner. He throws two darts and hits the deer both times. Ruby is waiting tables, and Sidney sits in one of the booths. "Nice shot, Chief," Sidney comments, "I bet you twenty bucks you can't do it again." Graham throws another dart and hits the deer again.

"Next round's on him," Graham tells Ruby, who nods and moves away. Emma enters through the back door and spots the Sheriff.

"Emma! What can I get you?" Ruby asks her.

"Nothing," Emma replies, walking towards the front exit. Graham throws a dart in her direction, which lands right next to her head. "What the hell? You could've hit me!"

"I never miss," Graham argues. "You've been avoiding me since last night, when you saw me-."

"Leaving the Mayor? And yes, that is a euphemism. I'm not avoiding you, Graham; I just have no interest in having this conversation. It's your life—I really don't care," she replies. She leaves the diner and finds Landon waiting by his car for her. Graham follows her outside.

"If you don't care, then why are you so upset?" He asks her.

"I'm not upset," The blond woman argues.

"If that were true, you'd be at the bar with me, having a drink, and not running away," The Sheriff retorts.

"It's none of my business. Really. And I have plans that aren't with you," Emma snaps.

"Look, can we please talk about this? I need you to understand," Graham tells her.

"Why?" She asks him.

"I don't know. Maybe so I can understand?" He replies.

"You need an analysis, go talk to Archie," The Deputy retorts harshly.

"I want to talk to you," The scruffy-looking man tells her.

"Well, your bad judgement is your problem – not mine," Emma replies.

"You don't know what it's like with her. I don't feel anything! Can you understand that?" Graham questions.

"Bad relationship? Yeah, I understand a bad relationship. I just don't want to talk about yours," She argues.

"Look, I know you and Regina have your own issues and… And I should have told you about that before you took the job," he replies honestly.

"Yeah, why the secrecy? We're all adults. You can do whatever you want," The blond woman asks.

"Because I… I didn't want you to look at me the way you are now," The Sheriff replies.

"Why do you care how I look at you?" Emma questions.

"Because," Graham says.

"What?" she asks, and Graham suddenly kisses her. As soon as he does, he has flashbacks of his life in the Enchanted Forest. He sees a wolf with two differently coloured eyes. "What the hell was that?" She slaps him, and Landon hears her shout and walks over to investigate.

"Did you see that?" He asks, looking around in confusion.

"How much have you been drinking? That was way over the line," The Deputy snaps, and Landon comes around, seeing the two arguing.

"I'm sorry, I just-," The Sheriff mutters.

"What? You what?" Landon snaps, making the scruffy-looking man jump, seeing the tattooed man glare.

"I need to feel something," Graham mutters.

"Listen to me, Graham. You are drunk and full of regret. I get it. But whatever it is you are looking to feel, I can tell you one thing – you're not getting it with me." Emma tells him, loud enough for Landon to hear, and she pulls Landon towards his car and leaves Graham alone.

"What the hell was that?" Landon demands angrily, looking at the blond, who gets into the passenger seat. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I just want to spend my night with you," she replies, looking at him and taking his hand. They intertwine their fingers as he starts his car.

{BLESSING}

Graham knocks on Regina's door, and she answers, looking at him confused. "Graham?"

"Is Henry asleep?" Graham asks.

"Yes. Why?" she questions, and he kisses her, making her hesitate at the sudden kiss. She then kisses him back and shuts the door behind them.

{BLESSING}

The Evil Queen looks over the balcony of her castle. She sees Snow White placing a white rose on a coffin on the lower level. The Historian walks up behind his sister, looking down to see the little Princess at her father's grave. "Goodbye, father," Snow mutters, and Regina moves away towards Snow, touching her stepdaughter's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Snow," Regina mutters, faking sincerity.

"I loved him so much," She replies sadly.

"So did I, dear. So did I. The loss I feel for my husband must be nothing compared to the loss you feel for your father," The Evil Queen comments. "If there is anything I could do, please, let me know. I may only be your mother through marriage, but I'm here for you, dear. Truly and forever." Snow hugs her stepmother, and Landon watches her as she looks at him, rolling her eyes at the Princess.

{BLESSING}

The Evil Queen, the Historian and several guards enter a large castle room. There's a vanity in the corner with a mirror on the wall. "Congratulations. Your revenge is almost complete," The Magic Mirror remarks, looking at the Queen.

"One down, one to go," Regina smirks, walking to the vanity and sitting down.

"She has no idea, does she?" Landon asks her, moving towards his little sister, who he would do anything for.

"That I'm responsible for his passing?" She questions, looking at her older brother. "She sought comfort with me. Sickening. I could've ended her miserable existence right there. Believe me – it was tempting."

"It would have sated your soul," The Mirror argues.

"The kingdom's still loyal to her," The Evil Queen grumbles. "They would turn on me. They don't know the wretchedness inside her as I do. They don't know what she did to me. We must be delicate in this next phase. Her demise must be handled with care." Regina gets up and walks towards the exit, Landon following her.

"Perhaps, one of your knights, Your Majesty?" He suggests, making the twins stop.

"No. I need someone adept at murder. Bereft of mercy," Regina argues.

"Someone with no heart," Landon adds.

"Now you understand," She smiles.

"Well, in that case, you need a huntsman," The Magic Mirror tells her.

{BLESSING}

A deer jumps around in the forest when suddenly hit by an arrow and collapses to the forest floor. The Huntsman walks up to the deer's body and kneels, crying over the lift he's taken. "You have died so that I may live. Forgive me. Your sacrifice is honourable. I thank you," The Huntsman cries, and a wolf with two different-coloured eyes approaches him. "Don't worry, boy. You won't go hungry tonight."

{BLESSING}

Graham bolts upright in bed, sweating and breathing heavily as he wakes from a strange dream. Regina is lying next to him and wakes up from his sudden movement. "What is it?" she asks him.

"I had the most intense dream," Graham tells her. "I was in the woods hunting and I killed a deer. There was a wolf…"

"A wolf?" Regina asks, growing worried.

"Its eyes—one was blood red, and the other was black as night. The funny thing is, I think I've seen the wolf before," he replies.

"Come back to sleep, Graham. It was only a dream," She assures him.

"It didn't feel like a dream. It felt like a memory," The Sheriff argues and gets dressed.

"Graham," The dark-haired woman calls him.

"I need some air. I need to think," Graham replies.

"Graham, please. Come back to bed," Regina pleads with him.

"I left my car anyway. I need to go and get it. Clear my head," He tells her, needing to get away.

"Graham, listen. It's late, you're tired, you're probably still drunk. Don't leave," She argues, trying to get him to stay.

"Since when do you want me to stay, anyway?" The scruffy-looking man asks her, finding it strange.

"You're not well," The Mayor tells him.

"I'm fine," Graham argues, leaving her room.

{BLESSING}

Graham is on the main street, walking up to his squad car with his keys in hand, but drops them. When he kneels down to pick them up, there is a wolf with two differently coloured eyes in front of him. The wolf walks off and into the woods.

{BLESSING}

As Emma walks into Mary Margaret's apartment after her date with Landon, she sees a bouquet of flowers on the table, thinking these are an apology from Graham. "Really?" Emma mutters, taking the flowers and putting them in the trash. Mary Margaret walks into the room and sees what Emma is doing.

"Oh! Hey, wait! What are you doing?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at her roommate.

"If Graham thinks flowers will work on me…" She replies angrily.

"No, those…were mine," The teacher tells her hesitantly.

"Oh. From David?" The blond questions.

"No. Uh… Dr Whale," Mary Margaret corrects her.

"Why would Dr Whale-?" Emma asks but stops when she sees the look her friend is giving her. "Are you serious?"

"I know – it's a disaster," She groans.

"No! That's amazing. You're getting over David," The Deputy argues.

"First of all, there's nothing to get over, and second of all, it's just a one-night stand," the raven-haired woman retorts.

"Not according to those flowers," Emma counters teasingly.

"Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have called him," Mary Margaret grumbles.

"Oh my god. You called him? That is definitely not a one-night stand," she argues, walking towards her friend.

"Well, okay – I'm still learning. I never had one before. I felt guilty," The teacher retorts, upset.

"Why? There's nothing wrong with what you did. Trust me. One-nighters are as far as I ever went," the blond woman tells her.

"Well, yeah. That's because you're-," Mary Margaret argues, making the blond look at her.

"Because I'm what?" Emma questions.

"Never mind," She mutters.

"Yeah? Tell me – what do I do?" The Deputy asks defensively.

"You're just protecting yourself, with that wall you put up," the raven-haired woman tells her.

"Just because I haven't gotten emotional over men before-," Emma argues.

"You didn't get emotional over men before? Uh, the floral abuse tells a different story," Mary Margaret counters, looking at her friend.

"What story is that?" She asks.

"The one that's obvious to everyone except, apparently, you—that you have feelings for Landon," the teacher argues.

"I told you that already!" The blond woman mutters, sitting at the table.

"I know, but what's with the Graham comment?" Mary Margaret asks her.

"Something happened before my date with Landon tonight. It's not important," Emma tells her.

"There's that wall," she exclaims. She removes the flowers from the trash and puts them in a vase.

"That's not a wall," The Deputy argues.

"Really?" The raven-haired woman questions.

"There's nothing wrong with being cautious. I've never felt like this before with someone. And the Graham comment was because of what he did," Emma retorts.

"Oh, true. True. But, Emma, that wall of yours? It may keep out pain but it also may keep out love," Mary Margaret tells her, wanting her friend to be happy.

{BLESSING}

Graham runs through the woods, searching for the wolf. In the background, a wolf howls. He hears a noise in the bushes, but it turns out to be Mr Gold, wearing an apron and boots and carrying a shovel. "Good morning, Sheriff. Sorry if I startled you," Gold says kindly.

"Right. Sorry, I… I thought you were a wolf," Graham replies.

"Did I forget to shave?" He jokes.

"What are you doing out here so early?" The Sheriff asks him.

"A spot of gardening. Yourself?" The shop owner asks.

"I was looking for, um…" Graham replies.

"A wolf. Yeah, I think I'm beginning to catch on," Mr Gold retorts. "You know, to the best of my knowledge, Sheriff, there are no wolves in Storybrooke. Not the literal kind, anyway. Why are you looking?"

"You'll think I'm crazy," He argues.

"Try me," Gold assures him.

"I saw one in my dreams, and then I saw one for real. Just a few hours ago," the scruffy-looking man tells him. "Did you, uh… Did you see anything unusual out there?"

"I'm afraid not. I do wish I could be more helpful. You know, Sheriff, they say that dreams… Dreams are memories. Memories of another life," Mr Gold hints.

"And what do you believe?" Graham asks him.

"I never rule out anything. Good luck, Sheriff. I do hope you find what you're looking for," He replies before walking away.

{BLESSING}

The Huntsman and his wolf come across a tavern in the woods and enter. The man sits at a table with the animal lying on the floor beside him. A man sitting at the next table comments: "They're lettin' animals in here now?" Two men are sitting at the bar.

"This isn't a slaughterhouse," Another man remarks.

"Forget him. He might as well be one, too. I heard he was raised by 'em," His friend retorts.

"He does smell like 'em," He grumbles.

"Pathetic. I heard he cries over his kills. You believe that?" The man questions and approaches the Huntsman. "Tell me, Huntsman. What kind of a man cries over an animal?"

"An honourable one," Huntsman replies calmly, not letting their words get to him.

"What do you know about honour?" The drunk angrily quips.

"I have it, they have it, you don't," He argues firmly.

"Animals have it?" The man asks.

"They're pure of heart. Not selfish and self-serving like people," The Huntsman replies, and the wolf gets up, baring its teeth at the man.

"You tell him to stop threatening me. Does he know what I do to pets who threaten me? I hang 'em on my wall," The drunk warns him, and the Huntsman draws a knife, stabbing the man.

"He's not a pet," He snaps, and another man tries attacking the Huntsman, but he grabs him, smashing him into a mirror. Yet another man draws a knife and approaches the Huntsman, but he quickly picks up a shard of the broken glass, and the man flees.

{BLESSING}

The Evil Queen and Historian watch the Huntsman through the Magic Mirror with her guards behind her. "He's perfect. Bring him to me," She orders, turning to her guards.

{BLESSING}

Graham continues his search for the wolf in the woods and hears more howling in the distance. Eventually, he finds the wolf in a clearing. "What do you want?" He asks, and the wolf starts walking away. "Hey!" Graham whistles, making the wolf stop. It turns around and approaches him. When Graham pets the wolf, he has another flashback to his life in the Enchanted Forest. He sees Snow White, a dagger, and a symbol on a building. When he comes back to the present, the wolf has disappeared.

{BLESSING}

The bell rings, and the children file out of Mary Margaret's classroom. Graham pushes past them and enters the room. "Mary Margaret? Can I talk to you?" he asks her.

"Graham, what's the matter? Are you okay?" Mary Margaret asks him, noticing his dishevelled appearance and that he seems to haven't slept.

"I think we, uh… I think we know each other," Graham replies strangely.

"Of course we do," She says, smiling.

"No, no, no. Not from here. Not from Storybrooke," he argues.

"From where, then?" The teacher asks him.

"Another life," The Sheriff replies.

{BLESSING}

A guard leads the Huntsman to the Evil Queen's castle room. "Do you have a name?" Regina asks him, walking into the room with Landon not far behind. "Or shall we call you 'The Huntsman'? You're a tortured one, aren't you, Huntsman? Is this because your parents abandoned you to the wolves?"

"Those weren't my parents. All they did was give birth to me," The Huntsman argues. "The wolves are my family."

"Wolves, indeed. I always felt there were two kinds of people—wolves and sheep," she retorts. Those who kill and those who get killed. And you, Huntsman, you are most certainly a wolf."

"Why am I here?" He asks her.

"We'd like you to kill someone for us. Can you do that?" Landon requests.

"I kill for me. Why would I do anything for you?" The Huntsman questions.

"Because we have so much to offer. A place at my court. You will become my official Huntsman," Regina tells him.

"I'm not interested in being a pet. This place is a cage," he argues.

"You'd be awash in luxury – wanting for nothing," She retorts.

"You have an army at your disposal. What do you need of me?" Huntsman questions.

"My prey is beloved by all the kingdom. I need someone who won't be blinded by that," The Evil Queen explains. "Someone without compassion, someone who'll have no qualms carving a heart out and bringing it back for my collection."

"That's me," He realises.

"As I suspected, now tell me—what will it take? Hm? What do you want? There must be something," Landon asks.

"Outlaw the hunting of wolves. They are to be left alone. They are to be protected," The Huntsman requests.

"Simple enough," Regina agrees.

"So, who do you want me to kill?" He asks, looking at the Evil Twins.

{BLESSING}

"Mary Margaret, how long have we known each other?" Graham asks her, standing in her classroom, still trying to wrap his head around what he's seeing.

"Um… I don't know. A while," Mary Margaret replies, confused.

"Do you remember when we met?" He asks her another question.

"Um. No," She answers.

"Me neither. I can't remember when I met you, or when I met anyone. Isn't that odd?" The Sheriff questions.

"I don't know. I mean, I suppose. But, I think that's just life. Things get hazy," The teacher replies.

"Have I ever hurt you?" Graham asks her.

"Oh, Graham. No, of course not. What is going on?" Mary Margaret tells him, growing concerned for him.

"Do you believe in other lives?" He asks.

"Mm, like heaven?" She questions.

"I mean like past lives," The Sheriff argues.

"You've been talking to Henry," The raven-haired laughs.

"Henry?" Graham asks, looking at her.

"Well, he has this book of stories," Mary Margaret tells him. "He's been going on about how he thinks we're all characters from them. From another land. We've forgotten who we really are. Which, of course, makes no sense."

"Right. No, of course," He grumbles, frowning.

"Graham," she calls him, growing worried. She leans over, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Ah! You are burning up. Go home and get some rest. I think you'll feel much better after you've had some sleep."

"Right. You're absolutely right. I'm sorry to disturb you. I thank you," The Sheriff mutters, walking away, his head still foggy and confused.

"Of course," The teacher mutters, watching him.

{BLESSING}

Snow White and the Huntsman, dressed as one of the Queen's guards, walk along a path through the forest. "You know, when I was a little girl, the summer palace was my favourite place. The mountains surrounding it felt like a cradle," She tells him. "They always made me feel safe. I look forward to returning to it now." The Huntsman fiddles with the armour around his neck, not used to it. "Stuffy in there? Here," She takes out two apples and tries handing one to the man.

"No," The Huntsman denies her offer.

"You're not a knight, are you?" Snow questions, looking at him.

"What makes you say that?" He asks.

"Without fail, every one of my father's men has offered me condolences. Except you," She tells him.

"Please accept my condolences," The Huntsman parrots.

"And they all know how to wear armour. She picked you to take me. Why?" The Princess asks him.

"I think you know," He replies.

"You're going to kill me," Snow mutters in horror.

"You have good instincts," The Huntsman retorts.

"And you have too much armour," she tells him, picking up a large branch off the ground and hitting him with it. The harsh blow and surprise make him fall to the ground, and she flees.

{BLESSING}

Emma arrives at the station, looking for Graham, as she needs to talk to him about what happened last night. She places a file on his desk and picks up a dart, throwing it at the dartboard but missing it entirely. Emma goes to pick up the dart when Regina walks in. "Our taxes always hard at work, I see," The Mayor remarks sassily.

"Graham isn't here. I assumed he took a sick day – with you," Emma retorts.

"Oh, so you're aware of us? Good – that's why I'm here. Because I'm also aware of your relationship with him," Regina counters.

"I don't have a relationship with him," She argues.

"Oh? So, nothing's ever happened between the two of you?" the dark-haired woman asks, hearing about the kiss. "You forget, Miss Swan—I have eyes everywhere."

"Nothing that meant anything. I can assure you," The Deputy tells her.

"Well, of course not. Because you're incapable of feeling anything for anyone. There's a reason you're alone, isn't there?" Regina argues.

"All due respect, the way I live my life is my business," Emma retorts angrily.

"It is until it infringes on my life. Stay away from Graham," Regina warns her. "You may think you're doing nothing, but you're putting thoughts in his head. Thoughts that are not in his best interest. You are leading him on a path to self-destruction. Stay away."

"I will. I can promise you that," she mutters, watching Regina leave. When her phone rings, she checks the caller ID and smiles, seeing Landon's name. "Hey…"

{BLESSING}

Graham rings the doorbell of the Mayor's house, and Henry answers, surprised to see the man there while his mum is out. "Hey, Sheriff. My mom's not here."

"Actually, uh, I'm here to see you, Henry. I was hoping you could help me," Graham replies.

"Help you with what?" Henry asks him.

"It's about your book. Am I…in it?" He questions.

{BLESSING}

Snow White sits in the forest, writing something on paper as the Huntsman finally catches up to her. "I hunt you, yet you stop to compose a letter? I will never understand your kind," He comments, watching her.

"I don't know these woods. You're obviously a skilled hunter—you'll find me," she argues. No matter what I do, I know how this ends."

"Yes," The Huntsman replies.

"There's one thing that I ask that you do after you kill me. Please deliver this to the Queen," Snow requests, holding out a folded piece of paper.

"Your tricks won't work on me," He snaps.

"It's not a trick. Please, give it to her. Tell her I mean every word," she tells her, and he takes the letter from her and reads it. He ends up in tears. The Huntsman draws his dagger and approaches Snow White, who kneels on the ground. However, instead of stabbing her, he cuts a piece of a narrow plant, carving two holes into it.

"Sign this when you need help," The Huntsman informs her.

"What?" The Princess questions.

"It's a whistle. It will bring you aid—you'll be led to safety. Now go. Run," he warns her.

"I don't understand. You're not going to kill me-?" Snow asks, but he stops her, shouting 'Run!', and she flees quickly.

{BLESSING}

Graham and Henry sit in the boy's room on his bed as they flip through the book, looking at the story in detail. "When did your flashes begin?" Henry asks him.

"Uh, right after I kissed Emma," Graham tells him.

"You kissed my mum? What did you see?" He asks, frowning.

"A wolf. I saw that I had a knife in my hand and I was with Mary Margaret," The Sheriff explains.

"Were you about to hurt her?" The Mills boy asks.

"Yes! How do you know that?" Graham questions.

"Because Mary Margaret is Snow White. Which makes you the Huntsman," Henry tells him.

"So, you really think that I could be another person," The scruffy man wonders.

"Makes total sense. You were raised by wolves – that's why you keep seeing one. It's your friend – your guide. It's trying to help you," The young Mills boy explains.

"I'm remembering this because I kissed your mother? H-How is that possible?" Graham questions.

"Well, you two do have a special connection. She owes you her life," Henry informs him.

"Why?" He asks.

"Snow White's her mother and you spared her. If you hadn't, my mum wouldn't have been born," The Mills boy tells him.

"Wh-What happened after I spared Snow White?" The Sheriff asks him.

"The Queen took your heart. She ripped it out. It's kind of her thing. She never wanted you to be able to feel again," Henry explains, showing him the book.

"Let me see that book," Graham says, taking the book from Henry and turning the pages. He gets to an image of the Evil Queen and Historian and a building with the same symbol he saw in a memory. "What's that? I saw that, too. The wolf was howling at it."

"That's her vault. It's where she put your heart," He tells him.

"The wolf wants me to find it. Thank you, Henry," The Sheriff replies, quickly leaving the boy's room.

{BLESSING}

Emma waits outside the Mayor's house, and when Graham comes out, she decides to confront him. "Hey. Hear you're having a rough day."

"Who says?" Graham asks her.

"Pretty much everyone. I think maybe you need to go home and get some rest," Emma tells him.

"I'm fine," He argues.

"No, Graham, you're not fine. You just went to see a ten-year-old for help," she retorts.

"He's the only one making any sense," The Sheriff replies.

"What's going on? What's really going on?" The blond woman asks him, growing worried about her friend.

"It's my heart, Emma. I need to find it," Graham tells her.

"Okay. So, how are you going to do that?" Emma asks.

"I just need to follow the wolf," He replies.

"What? What wolf?" She questions.

"From my dreams. It's going to help me find my heart," The scruffy man tells her, growing erratic.

"I'm sorry. I thought we were talking in a metaphor here. You really think you don't have a heart?" The Deputy frowns.

"It's the only thing that makes any sense," Graham argues. "It's the only thing that explains why I don't feel anything."

"Listen to me, Graham. You have a heart. I can prove it," Emma replies, putting her hand on Graham's chest. "See? It's beating. It's real." Graham shakes his head, not believing her. Emma grabs his hand and places it where her hand is. "Feel that? That is your heart."

"No. It's the curse," He retorts, shaking his head.

"You can't really believe that's true," She argues and spots something behind him.

"What?" The Sheriff asks and turns; behind them is the wolf with the two differently coloured eyes. It runs away, and the two of them follow it.

{BLESSING}

Emma and Graham follow the wolf to the graveyard. "Graham! Graham, be careful," She calls after him.

"He's my friend. He won't hurt us," he assures her. The wolf stops and howls briefly, then runs farther into the graveyard. They follow but eventually lose sight of the wolf and stop before a crypt. Graham looks up and sees the symbol from his memories.

"What is it?" Emma wonders.

"It's my heart. It's in there," Graham tells her, taking out a flashlight. "I have to look in there."

"Oh, no! Stop. Stop," She shouts.

"I have to get in there, please," He argues.

"Graham, come on! You really think that your heart is in there?" The blond woman questions, and he nods. "Okay. Let's find out." Emma tries opening the crypt doors, but they're locked. "Come on!" She kicks them open, and they enter.

{BLESSING}

One of the Queen's guards escorts the Huntsman into the castle. "Wait here," The guard orders, leaving, and the Queen and her brother enter.

"I see you're still in mourning," the Huntsman comments, looking at the black dress the Queen is wearing.

"The time for mourning is over," Regina replies. "I simply found that black suits me. Now, tell me – is Snow dead?"

"The young girl's heart as you requested," He lies, gesturing to the bag at his side. The Evil Queen goes to take it, but he pulls back. "First there's something I must do." He takes out Snow White's letter.

"What's this?" She asks him, looking at the piece of paper.

"The girl wanted you to have it," The Huntsman tells him.

"Read it to me," The Queen demands.

"Dearest Stepmother – by the time you read this, I will be dead. I understand that you will never have love in your life because of me, so it's only fitting that I'll be denied that same joy as well," He reads the letter. "For the sake of the kingdom, I hope my death satisfies your need for revenge – allowing you to rule my father's subjects as they deserve. With compassion and a gentle hand. I know what you think you're doing is vengeance – I prefer to think of it as sacrifice, for the good of all. With that in mind, I welcome the end. I want you to take my last message to heart. I'm sorry and I forgive you." Regina rips the letter out of his hand and angrily throws it into the fireplace.

"Don't tell me you're becoming a sheep!" Regina snaps, glaring at him.

"She put others before herself, and yet, you hate her. What did she do to you?" He asks her, curious.

"I shared a secret with her and she couldn't keep it," She replies. "And that betrayal cost me dearly. Now, show me her heart!" He gives Landon the bag containing the heart. Regina walks off through a pair of doors leading into a smaller room. Landon follows her, taking the heart out of the bag and placing it into a box on a pedestal. The Huntsman watches nervously as Regina closes the box and walks over to the wall of multiple drawers. She holds the box up to the wall, but nothing happens. "It should open." Landon realises what's happening and moves towards the Huntsman, holding him firmly so he doesn't escape. The Evil Queen takes the heart out of the box and stalks towards the Huntsman and her brother. "This isn't her heart! This isn't a human heart! What did you do?"

{BLESSING}

Emma and Graham enter the crypt to find a sarcophagus in the centre and several urns on shelves lining the walls. "It's got to be in here. Somewhere," Graham mutters, beginning to scan the walls of the crypt. There's got to be a hidden door. A lever." He checks one of the urns. "Something."

"Graham. Hey. Graham, there's nothing in here," Emma tells him, trying to get him to calm down and get out.

"There has to be. If there isn't, then-," He argues frantically.

"It's okay. It's going to be okay," she tells him. Regina, standing outside the entrance, sees them inside.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Regina yells at him, and the pair walk outside.

"What are you doing here?" The blond woman asks her.

"Bringing flowers to my father's grave like I do every Wednesday," She replies, showing the bouquet in her hand.

"Don't blame her. It's my fault. I wanted to look in there," Graham tells her.

"Really? Why? What were you looking for?" The Mayor questions.

"Nothing. It was, uh… It was nothing," He lies.

"You don't look well, dear. Let's take you home," Regina tells him, grabbing his arm and dragging him with her, but he breaks free of her grasp.

"Regina, I… I don't want to go home. Not with you," The Sheriff snaps, moving away from her.

"Oh? But you'll go with her," She questions, glaring at the woman.

"Hey. This is between you two – leave me out of it," Emma argues, holding her hands up, not wanting to get involved.

"She's right – it's between us. And things have to change," Graham tells her.

"And I wonder why that is all of a sudden," Regina snaps, glaring at the blond.

"It has nothing to do with her. You know, I've realised that I don't feel anything, Regina," He replies. "And I know now it's not me – it's you."

"So, you're leaving me for her?" She asks him.

"I'm leaving you for me," The Sheriff argues.

"Graham, you're not thinking straight," The dark-haired woman tells him, trying to help.

"Actually, for the first time, I am. I'd rather have nothing than settle for less. Nothing? Is better than what we have. I need to feel something, Regina, and the only way to do that is to give myself a chance," Graham retorts.

"Graham-," Regina mutters.

"I'm sorry. It's over," he replies.

"I don't know what I ever did to you, Miss Swan, to deserve this—to have you keep coming after everything I hold dear," she snaps, glaring at her.

"I told you – it's not her," The scruffy-looking man repeats.

"None of this happened until she got here," The Mayor argues.

"I'm sorry. Did you ever stop to think that maybe the problem isn't with me, but with you?" Emma asks, getting fed up with being blamed by Regina.

"Excuse me?" Regina questions.

"Henry came and found me. Landon asked me out. Graham kissed me," she tells her, surprising the Mayor, who thinks about her older brother. All three were miserable. Maybe, Madam Mayor, you need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why that is. Why is everyone running away from you?" Regina overcomes with anger and punches Emma across the face, who then falls into Graham.

"Regina!" Graham shouts, and Emma recovers from the attack, punching Regina back. The blond woman grabs the Mayor and pushes her against the side of the crypt. Graham also gets up and tries splitting the women apart. "Stop! Stop! Stop!" He pulls Emma away from Regina.

"Not worth it," Emma growls, walking away, leaving Graham and Regina.

"Graham," Regina mutters, approaching him, but Graham ignores her and follows Emma.

{BLESSING}

Graham and Emma are back at the Sheriff's station. He has the first aid kit out and puts an ice pack on her head. "I'm sorry," He apologises. "I don't know what came over me. I kind of lost my mind."

"It's okay. You were tired and feverish… And heartbroken," Emma replies, getting out her phone and checking her messages.

"I don't know why I let myself get caught up with her," Graham mutters.

"Because it was easy. And safe. Not feeling anything's an attractive option when what you feel sucks," She replies, and Graham goes to wipe off the cut on the side of her head, making her flinch. "Felt that."

{BLESSING}

Regina stands in the graveyard and enters the crypt. The name 'Mills' is etched on one of the walls. On the sarcophagus, there is a plaque that reads 'Henry Mills—beloved father'. She places the flowers on the sarcophagus and pushes it aside. Beneath it is a bluish light and a set of stairs, and she walks down to her secret room.

{BLESSING}

The Evil Queen and the Historian stand with the Huntsman in a smaller room with a wall of drawers. She slams the heart down onto the pedestal. "Did you think you could fool me with the heart of a stag?" She sneers, waving her hand and the doors to the room shut. "You're not going anywhere."

"She doesn't deserve to die," The Huntsman snaps.

"That's not up to you. I wanted a heart, and a heart I shall have," She argues, magically sticking her hand through his chest. When she draws back, she has his heart in her hand.

"What… What are you going to do to me?" He asks, and she kisses him, making Landon turn away.

"You're now mine, my pet," The Evil Queen replies, walking over to the wall of drawers and holding up the heart. A drawer pops out containing a box. "And this is your cage. From this moment forward, you will do everything that I say. And if you ever disobey me, if you ever try to run away, all I have to do is squeeze." She demonstrates, squeezing the heart in her hand, making the Huntsman double over in pain.

"Guards!" Landon shouts, and two guards enter the room, grabbing the Huntsman by the arms.

"Your life is now in my hands – forever. Take him to my bedchamber," Regina orders, and the guards take the Huntsman with them. The Evil Queen puts his heart in the box and closes the drawer.

"Why keep him?" He asks her, moving towards his sister and leaning against the wall.

"Why not?" She retorts, smiling.

{BLESSING}

Regina enters the room under the crypt. It's the same room with the walls of drawers as the one in the Evil Queen's castle. Regina walks over to the wall containing the hearts and pulls out one of the drawers. She removes the box and opens it, revealing Graham's heart inside.

{BLESSING}

Graham is still tending to Emma's cut at the Sheriff's station. "All better," Graham announces.

"Yeah," Emma replies, hearing her phone ping.

"What?" He asks her, and Landon enters the room, seeing how close they are.

"What's going on?" Landon asks them, making Emma run towards him and pull him into a hug, which he returns. The tattooed man glances at Graham suspiciously and pulls away from Emma. "What's going on?"

"I kinda got into a fight with your sister," Emma informs him, making Landon look at her in surprise. "It was a huge misunderstanding. Though she did throw the first punch."

"I see. I'll get an earful later, then," Landon muses.

"Sorry," She cringes, knowing how Regina can be.

"It's okay. I can handle my sister, and it seems so can you," he retorts, brushing his finger along her slip lip. "Why don't we head to the diner and grab something to eat?"

"Yeah, that sounds great," The blond woman agrees, grabbing her jacket, and she turns to Graham, seeing a dazed look on his face as he has flashes of his previous life in the Enchanted Forest. He sees the wolf with two different coloured eyes, the fight at the tavern, the Evil Queen and Historian when they first met, Snow White, the dagger, the whistle, the deer, the symbol, him reading the letter, the Evil Queen with the stag heart, and the Evil Queen putting his heart in the box. Returning to the present, he staggers backwards into her desk. "Graham?"

{BLESSING}

Meanwhile, Regina stands in the secret room under the crypt, taking the heart out of the box and holding it up.

{BLESSING}

Emma moves cautiously toward Graham, seeing him grow paler. "Are you okay?" she asks him.

"I remember," Graham mutters, making Landon stiffen in fear.

"Graham?" She questions.

"I remember," He repeats.

"You remember what?" Landon asks him.

{BLESSING}

Regina stares at the heart in her hand, thinking about what she's about to do next, then smirks, coming up with an idea.

{BLESSING}

Graham holds Emma's face in his hand, smiling softly. "Thank you." His gaze turns harsh as he looks at Landon, who lunges towards him, unaware of what his sister is about to do. As Landon swings at Graham, Regina squeezes the heart. Graham kisses Emma, angering Landon as he pushes the man away, and Emma gasps, stepping back.

"Landon!" Emam shouts as Landon punches Graham and falls to the floor.

"Get up!" Landon snaps angrily, but Graham doesn't move, making them grow worried. Emma yells his name repeatedly, trying to wake him up as Regina crushes Graham's heart to dust. Landon gets his phone out, calling for an ambulance, and Emma starts CPR.

{BLESSING}

A few weeks later, Mr Gold is covering a piece of cloth with lanolin in the back room of his Pawn Shop when Emma enters through the front door and calls out for him. "Gold! In here?"

"Well, it is my shop," Mr Gold replies, and she enters the back room.

"Whoa! What is that?" Emma asks, holding her nose in disgust.

"Oh, this is lanolin – used for waterproofing," He explains.

"It smells like livestock," She gags.

"Well, it is the reason why sheep's wool repels water," The shop owner replies.

"It stinks. Um, if there was a reason you called the Sheriff's Department… If you want to talk about that quickly-," The blond woman says.

"Yes," Mr Gold answers.

"Or outside…" Emma suggests.

"I just wanted to, uh, express my condolences, really. The Sheriff was a good man. You're still wearing the Deputy's badge. Well, he's been gone two weeks now, and I believe that after two weeks of acting as Sheriff, the job becomes yours," he informs her. "You'll have to wear the real badge."

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just not in a hurry. So, um, thank you for the kind words," she replies, going to leave. She exits the central part of the shop with him following her.

"I have his things," The older man tells her.

"What?" The Acting Sheriff asks, and he walks over to a box on the counter.

"The Sheriff. He rented an apartment that I own," Mr Gold explains. "Another reason for my call, really. I wanted to offer you a keepsake."

"I don't need anything," Emma denies the offer.

"As you wish. Well, give them to Mayor Mills. Seems like she was the closest thing he had to family," He comments.

"I'm not sure about that," She scoffs, still on bad terms with the woman.

"No love lost there, I see. Look, I feel that all of this stuff is headed for the trash bin—you really should take something. Look—his jacket," the shop owner suggests.

"No," The blond woman denies.

"Well, look. Your boy might like these, don't you think? You could play together," Mr Gold replies, holding up a pair of walkie-talkies.

"I don't-," Emma argues.

"No, please. They… They grow up so fast," He tells her, and she takes them.

"Thanks," She replies.

"You enjoy these with your boy. Your time together is precious, you know? That's the thing about children – before you know it, you lose them," Mr Gold comments, and she leaves.

{BLESSING}

Emma meets Henry at his playground castle by the marine, bringing the two walkie-talkies with her. She sits down next to him and hands him one. "Brought you something," She says. "Thought we could use them together for Operation Cobra."

"Thanks," He mutters.

"Oh, come on! What's up? You've been ducking me for weeks," Emma replies, moving towards him.

"I think we should stop Cobra stuff for a while. You don't play with The Curse. Look what happened to Graham," Henry tells her.

"Henry, I told you they did an autopsy. It was totally natural causes," she reminds him.

"Okay, whatever. You don't believe—good," he retorts. That should keep you from messing with it and getting killed."

"You're worried about me?" The blond woman asks.

"She killed Graham because he was good – and you're good," The Mills boy tells her.

"Henry…" Emma mutters sadly.

"Good loses – good always loses. Because good has to play fair – evil doesn't," Henry argues. "She's evil. This is probably best. I don't want to upset her anymore." He gives Emma back the walkie-talkie and leaves.

{BLESSING}

Emma throws her keys on her desk at the Sheriff's station, seeing the Sheriff's badge is there. She goes to put it on when Regina enters. "Oh, I'm sorry. That's not for you," Regina announces.

"It's been two weeks – promotion's automatic," Emma argues.

"Unless the Mayor appoints someone else within the time period, which I'm doing today." She counters.

"So, who's it going to be?" The blond woman questions.

"After due reflection – Sidney Glass," The Mayor replies.

"Sidney from the newspaper? How does that even make sense?" Emma questions, frowning.

"Well, he's covered the Sheriff's Office for as long as anyone can remember," Regina retorts.

"And he'll do whatever you want him to," She snaps. "What does Landon think about that? You just cannot stand the fact that things have been getting better around here, can you?"

"Better? Are you referring to Graham's death as 'better'?" The dark-haired woman questions. "And my brother will do what is right for this town."

"No," The Acting Sheriff denies immediately.

"He was a good man, Miss Swan. He made this town safe, and forgive me for saying it, but you have not earned the right to wear his badge," Regina retorts angrily.

"Graham picked me to be Deputy," Emma argues.

"He was wrong," She snaps.

"No. He knew what he was doing. He freed this office from your leash. You're not getting it back," The blond woman argues.

"Actually, I just did. Miss Swan, you're fired," The Mayor replies, taking the Sheriff's badge off the desk and leaving.

{BLESSING}

At Mary Margaret's apartment, Emma tries prying open a toaster with a knife to distract herself from what happened earlier with Regina. She blasts music, and a half bottle of whiskey is on the table. Mary Margaret comes home and sees the mess Emma has made. She turns off the music, gaining her roommate's attention. "Toaster broken?" Mary Margaret asks.

"It wasn't when I started with it. Pretty sure it is now. Just needed to hit something," Emma replies.

"What's going on?" She asks, moving towards her friend.

"Regina fired me so she could put one of her own puppets in as Sheriff. It's my job," The blond woman snaps.

"I never heard you so passionate about it before. What happened?" The teacher remarks.

"I don't know, I just… I know I want it back," Emma replies.

"There must be a reason," Mary Margaret argues, and there's a knock on the door.

"Maybe I just want to beat her," She retorts, getting up and answering the door. It turns out to be Mr Gold with a large binder under his arm.

"Good evening, Miss Swan. Sorry for the intrusion," Mr Gold says. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"I'll let you two talk," The former Deputy counters and Mary Margaret nervously leaves the room. "Come on in."

"Thank you. I, uh… I heard about what happened. Such an injustice," The shop owner remarks, stepping into the apartment.

"Yeah, well, what's done is done," Emma argues.

"Spoken like a true fighter," Mr Gold retorts.

"I don't know what chance I have. She's Mayor and I'm, well, me," She tells him, shrugging.

"Miss Swan, two people with a common goal can accomplish many things," He argues. "Two people with a common enemy can accomplish even more. How would you like a benefactor?"

"A benefactor?" The blond woman questions.

"You mind?" Gold asks, gesturing to the table. Both he and Emma sit down. He puts the binder on the table and opens it. "You know, it really is quite shocking how few people study the town charter."

"The town charter?" Emma frowns, looking at the large binder.

"Well, it's quite comprehensive. And the Mayor's authority? Well, maybe she's not quite as powerful as she seems," Mr Gold retorts, smirking.

{BLESSING}

Regina, Sidney, Landon and several of his news reporters gather in Regina's office. "Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes." Regina says, starting the conference. "That's why Sidney Glass is my choice for post of Sheriff. This man has put the needs of Storybrooke above his own for as long as any of us can remember as the number 1 reporter of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror. Please welcome your new Sheriff!" When Emma enters, she goes to pin the Sheriff's badge on Sidney.

"Hang on a second," Emma announces, making everyone turn to look at her. She looks around and sees Landon looking back at her with a soft smile, making her feel a little stronger and more determined to do this.

"Oh, Miss Swan, this is not appropriate," She argues, glaring at her.

"The only thing not appropriate is this ceremony," The blond woman snaps. "She does not have the power to appoint him."

"The town charter clearly states the Mayor shall appoint-," The Mayor sneers.

"A candidate. You could appoint a candidate. It calls for an election," Emma counters smugly.

"The term 'candidate' is applied loosely," Regina retorts.

"No, it's not. It requires a vote. And guess what, Madam Mayor? I'm running," She announces.

"Fine. So is Sidney," The dark-haired woman tells them.

"I am?" Sidney questions, looking at the Mayor, who turns around and gives him a look. "I am."

"With my full support. I guess we'll learn a little something about the will of the people," Regina retorts.

"I guess we will," Emma replies, and Landon claps.

"Well, this will make some interesting news," Landon remarks, earning looks from everyone in the room.

{BLESSING}

Mr Gold sits in his Pawn Shop, staring at the flame from a lighter. When Regina enters, he puts the flame out. "Regina," He greets her, and she flips the sign on the door to the 'closed' side." Shall I move some things? Make a bit of space for your rage?"

"You found that loophole in the town charter," Regina sneers at him angrily.

"Legal documents – contracts, if you like. Always been a fascination of mine," He retorts.

"Yes, you love to trifle with technicalities," The Mayor snaps.

"I like small weapons, you see. The needle, the pen, the fine point of a deal. Subtlety – not your style, I know," The shop owner replies calmly.

"You're a bastard," Regina growls.

"I think your grief's getting the better of you, Regina," Mr Gold retorts. "Shame what happened to Graham."

"Don't you talk about him. You know nothing," She sneers.

"What is there to know? He died," He argues.

"Are you really going up against me?" The dark-haired woman asks.

"Not directly. We are, after all, both invested in the common good," Gold replies. "We're just picking different sides."

"Well, I think you picked a really slow horse this time. It's not like you to back a loser," Regina argues.

"She hasn't lost yet," Mr Gold counters.

"She will," She retorts firmly.

"Never underestimate someone who's acting for their child," He argues.

"He's not her child. Not legally," The Mayor snaps.

"Oh, now who's trifling with technicalities?" The shop owner questions.

{BLESSING}

Henry sits in a booth at Granny's Diner with Landon, reading the newspaper while Landon is on his laptop, tapping away, when Emma enters, sitting beside her son. "How was school?" Emma asks him.

"Okay," Henry replies glumly.

"You're reading that paper pretty hard," She comments.

"Sidney wrote it," He tells her, passing her the paper. On the front page, there's an article titled 'Ex-Jailbird - Emma Swan birthed babe behind bars'. "Is it a lie?"

"No," The blond woman confirms, looking at Landon, who doesn't look too happy, which she knows means Sidney got it through him when he was at the new Sheriff's announcement.

"I was born in jail?" The Mills boy asks.

"Yes. These records were supposed to be sealed. Tell me you're not scarred for life," Emma pleads.

"I'm not. Well, not by this," Henry retorts.

"Good. Then, let's throw this out and we will get our news from something more reliable. Like the internet," She suggests.

"This is what I've been trying to tell you – good can't be evil, because good doesn't do this kind of thing," He argues. "My mom plays dirty – that's why you can't beat her. Ever."

"I have a new ally. Mr Gold said he's going to help," The former Deputy informs them, making Landon look up from his laptop.

"Mr Gold? He's even worse than she is," The young Mills boy warns her. "You already owe him one favour. You don't want to owe him any more. Don't do this."

"He's right, you know," Landon tells her, making them look at her.

"I don't have a choice," Emma argues. "What are you doing about the news?"

"I'm sorting it," he promises, and the Mills boys' food and something for Emma arrives.

"I didn't order this?" She questions, looking at Ruby.

"Uncle Landon told her," Henry tells her, smiling.

"Trying to get on my good side?" The blond woman questions, looking at the tattooed man. She knows he's trying, especially after Graham died suddenly after Landon punched him.

"Of course," Landon smiles, taking her hand. "If you need any help, let me know."

{BLESSING}

Emma enters Regina's office at the Town Hall with the newspaper. "This was a juvie record. This was sealed by court order," Emma snaps. "I don't know how you got it, but that's abuse of power and illegal."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You didn't want people to know you cut his cord with a shiv?" Regina retorts.

"I don't care what people know, but this hurts Henry," She argues.

"He would've learned eventually. We all lose our heroes at some point," The Mayor remarks, and they exit the office together, walking through the building.

"He doesn't need to lose anything more. He's depressed, Madam Mayor," The blond woman tells her. "He doesn't have any… Any hope. Don't you see that?"

"He's fine," Regina denies, though she has noticed her son's change in mood.

"He's not fine. I mean, think about it. Watching his adoptive mother throw an illegal smear campaign against his birth mother? You don't think that would be upsetting?" Emma questions.

"All I did was expose him to the truth," She argues. "And as for the legality – I did nothing wrong. But you and Sidney will have a chance to get into all that at the debate."

"Debate?" The former Deputy asks.

"Yes, Miss Swan, there's a debate," The dark-haired woman informs her, smirking. "You two can talk about jail time and juvie records and maybe even your new association with Mr. Gold. He's a snake, Miss Swan. You need to be careful who you get into bed with."

"I'm not getting into bed with anyone. I'm just fighting fire with-," Emma argues, and Regina opens the door. An explosion blasts and sets the next room on fire. The explosion throws the women back from the intense blast. Regina's ankle is crushed by a piece of debris, immobilising her, and Emma frees her. "Alright, come on – let's go! We got to get out of here."

"I can't move! You have to get me out. Help me!" Regina shouts, and Emma goes to leave, but Regina grabs her arm, stopping her. "You're going to leave me, aren't you?" Emma breaks free of Regina's grasp and leaves into the next room that's on fire. Regina tries getting up independently, but Emma returns with a fire extinguisher. She gets the fire under control and clears the way toward the exit. Regina puts her arm around Emma's shoulder for balance, and the two women leave the building.

{BLESSING}

Outside Town Hall, a reporter takes a picture of them leaving, and sirens are heard in the background. "Oh, ow, ow! My ankle! Set me down gently!" Regina groans.

"Seriously? You're complaining about how I saved your life?" Emma snaps, glaring at her.

"The firemen are here. It's not like we were really in danger," She retorts.

"Fine. Next time I'll just… I'll just… Ah, you know what? Next time, I'll do the same thing," the blond woman tells her. "And the time after that because that is what decent human beings do. That's what good people do." Emma walks away from Regina, seeing Landon arrive in his car with Henry, who rushes to a firefighter by the fire truck.

"Did Emma really rescue my mum?" Henry asks him. Regina is put onto a stretcher with an oxygen mask, and she overhears Henry and throws off the mask in anger.

"Enough!" Regina snaps.

"Regina," The paramedic says calmly.

"I'm fine," she snaps, and Sidney runs up to Regina with a camera and takes a picture.

"Nice shot of the victim?" Sidney asks, and Landon goes over to his sister to check on her.

"Sidney? What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to hand this election to her?" The Mayor questions.

"But it's news," He argues.

"She's the competition, you fool," Regina snaps and Landon moves over.

"Just calm down," Landon tells her, stroking her hair, and she lies back on the stretcher.

"Okay," she mutters, calming down. Emma and various people from town move away from the building and talk.

"Did you really rescue Regina?" Mary Margaret asks her roommate.

"She did! The fireman said it. They saw it," Henry reports excitedly.

"You are a hero," Ruby beams.

"We should see if they have a picture of the rescue," Mary Margaret suggests.

"We could make campaign posters," Granny adds.

"Oh, people would love that! That's a great idea. Wait, so…" Archie beams, and the group walks away, leaving Emma and Henry alone.

"This is how good wins. You do something good and people see it, and then they want to help you," Emma tells her son.

"Maybe you're right," Henry replies.

"You see, Henry? We don't have to fight dirty," she smirks. Emma notices something in the pile of debris: some fabric similar to what Mr Gold was preparing in his shop when she spoke to him before.

"Emma!" She hears Landon shout and turns to see him jogging towards her. He pulls her into a hug, which she happily accepts.

{BLESSING}

Mr Gold wipes his hands off with a rag when Emma enters the Pawn Shop, holding the fabric from the fire. "Loads of visitors today," Mr Gold comments. "Do hope you're not going to break my little bell."

"You set the fire," Emma announces.

"I've been right here, Miss Swan," He argues.

"Take a whiff. It smells like your sheep crap oil. Turns out it's flammable," She accuses him.

"Oh. Are you sure? There's some construction working on at City Hall at the moment," The shop owner retorts. "There's loads of flammable solvents used in construction."

"Why did you do it?" The blond woman asks him.

"'If' I did it. If I did it, that would be because you cannot win without something big," Mr Gold questions. "Something like, uh… Oh, I don't know. Being the hero in a fire?"

"How could you even know I'd be there at the right time?" Emma wonders.

"Maybe Regina's not the only one with eyes and ears in this town," he replies. "Or maybe… I'm just intuitive – were I involved."

"I could've run and left her there," She argues.

"Not the type," He retorts confidentiality.

"I can't go along with this," The former Deputy tells him.

"You just did. This is just the price of election, Miss Swan," Gold argues.

"A price I'm not willing to pay. Find another sucker," Emma snaps.

"Okay, go ahead – expose me. But if you do, just think about what you'll be exposing and what you'll be walking away from," Mr Gold warns her, and Emma heads for the door. "Oh, yes. And, um… Who you might be disappointing."

{BLESSING}

The next day, there is a large crowd outside of the Town Hall. Above the entrance, there's a banner that reads 'Debate today - Sheriff's election'. Mary Margaret staples posters promoting Emma on the bulletin board. She runs into David, who is also putting up posters. "David! Hi." She exclaims, surprised at seeing him.

"Mary Margaret. Hi," David greets her calmer.

"I was just, uh…" Mary Margaret replies, holding the posters up.

"Yeah, yeah. Me too," He tells her, showing his posters.

"How are things?" She asks him.

"Okay. Oh, I got a job. Yeah, I'm working at the animal shelter," He informs her.

"Really?" The teacher beams.

"Yeah," Nolan replies.

"So. Sidney," Mary Margaret states, nodding to the poster he's holding.

"My wife is friends with Regina, so…" David explains.

"Oh, right. How is Kathryn?" She asks him.

"Good. She's meeting me here later," he tells her.

"That's wonderful. Well, I'm all out of posters. I'm going to go get some more," The raven-haired woman replies, walking away.

{BLESSING}

Behind the scenes of the debate, Sidney is getting ready, and Archie is there practising his opening speech: "Citizens of Storybrooke. Uh, we welcome you to, uh… Welcome, citizens of Storybrooke, uh… Uh, we welcome you, citizens of Storybrooke. Welcome, uh…" Emma waits at the podium when Mary Margaret approaches her and hands her a piece of paper and a water bottle.

"I'm not going to win," Emma announces.

"What are you talking about? Everyone's talking about what you did in the fire," Mary Margaret argues.

"No, Henry's right – I can't beat Regina at this," She replies, giving up. "Not the way she fights. Watch and see."

"Is this really just about beating Regina?" the teacher asks.

"It's just…" The blond woman mutters.

"Henry," Mary Margaret agrees.

"I want to show him that good can actually win," Emma tells her.

"That's why you want to win it for him, but why do you want to win the election for yourself?" She asks.

"That is why. I want to show him that a hero can win," The Sheriff candidate explains. "And if I'm not… If I'm not a hero and I'm not the saviour, then what part do I have in his life? Okay. There it is."

"There it is," The raven-haired woman smiles.

Archie begins his opening speech to the audience as Emma and Sidney sit on either side of him. "Tragedy has brought us here, but we are faced with this decision. And now, we ask only that you listen with an open mind and to please vote your conscience. So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to the candidates – Sidney Glass and Emma Swan. Glass. Swan. Sounds like something that a decorator would make you buy. Wow, crickets. Okay, uh… Uh, Mr Glass – your opening statement." Sidney confidently walks up to the podium.

"I just want to say that if elected, I want to serve as a reflection of the best qualities of Storybrooke: honesty, neighbourliness, and strength. Thank you," Sidney says, sitting back down. Archie calls upon Emma next, and she walks up to the podium.

"You guys all know I have what they call a, uh… Troubled past," Emma starts her speech. "But, you've been able to overlook it because of the, um… Hero thing. But here's the thing – the fire was a setup. Mr Gold agreed to support me in this race, but I didn't know that that meant he was going to set a fire. I don't have definitive evidence, but I'm sure. And the worst part of all this was – the worst part of all this is – I let you all think it was real. And I can't win that way. I'm sorry." Mr Gold gets up from the audience and leaves, making everyone watch in fear.

{BLESSING}

Emma finishes another drink at Granny's Diner, with Ruby behind the counter serving her drinks. "Another?" Ruby asks.

"Oh, hell yes," Emma replies. Ruby goes to get another drink, and Henry and Landon enter the diner, sitting on either side of her. "Hey, Henry, Landon." Henry pulls a walkie-talkie out of his book bag and hands it to Emma. "What's this for?"

"You stood up to Mr Gold. It's pretty amazing," Henry tells her.

"Well, he did something illegal," She argues.

"That's what heroes do—expose stuff like that. I shouldn't have given up on Operation Cobra," he replies, and Regina and Sidney enter the diner.

"I thought I might find you here. With a drink. And my son and brother," Regina remarks.

"Here to card me, officer?" Emma asks, looking at Sidney.

"Well, not at all. In fact, I think I'll join you," Sidney replies.

"Here? I don't know. I think they're setting up a back room for the victory party," She retorts.

"Oh, well, you'll have to tell me what that's like," He argues.

"Congratulations. …Sheriff Swan," Regina announces, pulling out the Sheriff's badge and placing it on the counter.

"Wait, what?" Henry asks, and the people of Storybrooke start filing into the diner.

"It was a very close vote, but people really seem to like the idea of a Sheriff brave enough to stand up to Mr Gold," She explains.

"Are you joking?" He questions.

"She doesn't joke," Landon reminds his nephew.

"You didn't pick a great friend in Mr Gold, Miss Swan, but he does make a superlative enemy. Enjoy that," Regina warns her before leaving.

{BLESSING}

Emma is at the Sheriff's station and enters the Sheriff's office, noticing a jacket hanging on the coat rack. Mr Gold then walks in. "The Sheriff's jacket—I thought you might want it after all," he tells her.

"You do know I'm armed, right?" Emma remarks.

"It's all part of the act, my dear," Mr Gold retorts. "Political theatre in an actual theatre. I knew no one was going to vote for you unless we gave you some kind of extraordinary quality, and I'm afraid saving old Regina's arse from the fire just wasn't going to do that. We had to give you a higher form of bravery. They had to see you defy me – and they did."

"No way. There's no way you planned that," She argues.

"Everyone's afraid of Regina, but they're more afraid of me," He reminds her. "By standing up to me, you won them over. It was the only way."

"You knew I'd agree," The new Sheriff snaps.

"Oh, yeah. I know how to recognise a desperate soul," The shop owner remarks.

"Why did you do this?" Emma asks him.

"We made a deal some time back, Miss Swan. We established that you owed me a favour. I know that can be a bad feeling – owing someone. Now that you're Sheriff, I'm sure we'll find some way for you to pay back what you owe me. Congratulations," Mr Gold tells her before leaving, and he's replaced by Landon, who looks at her.

"How's it feel, Sheriff?" Landon asks, moving towards her.

"It feels good," Emma replies, looking back at him as he moves towards her.

"I'm sorry about Graham," He tells her. "I know I keep saying it, but I still feel guilty about what happened."

"It wasn't your fault," she reminds him, hugging him.

Sorry, it took so long to update, I would have done it yesterday, but my WIFI was out. I finished this bright and early! Enjoy. Sorry, I haven't left a message in a long time. I've been going through a lot with work, but it's getting better. I've just been putting all my efforts into writing to escape. DEADGIRLETERNAL OUT!