Chapter 1
Emma Swan
I wish I wasn't alone. I thought to myself as I blew out the candle on my cupcake. The flame had no sooner gone out when there was a knock on the door. I glanced towards it suspiciously. Well that was weird. I walked to the door and looked out. And down. It was a little kid. Defiantly not one of the neighbor kids, but this little boy I'd never seen before. "Uhhh," I stuttered awkwardly. "Can I help you?"
"Are you Emma Swan?" He asked, his little voice so cheerful and light. I remembered being that innocent. Twenty years ago. How did this kid know who I was?
"Yeah, who are you?" I asked, my brow furrowed.
"My name's Henry," He started, this adorable little smile peeking on his face. "I'm your son." My WHAT?
Several hours later I found myself driving down a highway towards Maine. The kid was chatting my ear off, trying to get me to stop for snacks, telling me stories about his school and his favorite teacher, Ms. Blanchard. He had thick book with him that he kept checking, as if he was sure the words were about to change. "What's that?" I asked, reading the thick binding. Fairy tales. I smiled a bit to myself. August. Every night before I went to bed he'd tell me this story about how I was a princess in a far off land and I'd been cursed into this non-magical world but that someday I was going to find my parents, the King and Queen and make them remember me and they'd take me back to our castle and we'd live happily ever after. After a while I had realized that he was just trying to make me feel better about having been abandoned on the side of the freeway, giving me hope that one day I would have an amazing life, but especially as a kid, hope is the most powerful thing.
"I'm not sure you're ready." Henry said, looking up at me with those big eyes.
"I'm not ready for some fairy tales?" I asked him. Please. Ever since August and I had been split up I had become obsessed with fairy tales. He had gotten me a book about Snow White for my 14th birthday but just after he'd given it to me our foster parents came in to tell him that he was being adopted. I had thrown myself into fairy tales, trying to convince myself that if I found the King and Queen my parents, they'd help me find August and everything would be fine. I didn't care if they never took me back to the castle or I never saw real magic, I just wanted my parents and August.
"There not fairy tales," the kid began. "There true. Every story in this book actually happened." This boy was acting more and more like my kid every minute. But then he went on, telling me each and every detail. Okay that was creepy. It was the exact same story August had told me every night as a kid. Exactly. Did Henry know August? I subconsciously began to drive a bit faster. If I could ever imagine a town name that fit August perfectly, it was Storybrooke.
"Henry," I cut in cautiously. "Do you know someone named August Booth?" I glanced at his face, hoping for a bit of recognition. Not a bit.
"Nope." He said, continuing on explaining who was who in Storybrooke Maine. It was probably a coincidence. But something ticked at the back of my mind. He called me the Savior. It wasn't some random fairy tale curse he came up with, Snow White and Prince Charming were my parents in both his story and August's. Obviously there wasn't a curse, but something weird was going on, and I was going to stick around this town and find out what.
Somewhere on the coast of Maine a clock that had been still for 28 years began to tick.
I wish I wasn't alone. I thought to myself as I blew out the candle on my cupcake. The flame had no sooner gone out when there was a knock on the door. I glanced towards it suspiciously. Well that was weird. I walked to the door and looked out. And down. It was a little kid. Defiantly not one of the neighbor kids, but this little boy I'd never seen before. "Uhhh," I stuttered awkwardly. "Can I help you?"
"Are you Emma Swan?" He asked, his little voice so cheerful and light. I remembered being that innocent. Twenty years ago. How did this kid know who I was?
"Yeah, who are you?" I asked, my brow furrowed.
"My name's Henry," He started, this adorable little smile peeking on his face. "I'm your son." My WHAT?
Several hours later I found myself driving down a highway towards Maine. The kid was chatting my ear off, trying to get me to stop for snacks, telling me stories about his school and his favorite teacher, Ms. Blanchard. He had thick book with him that he kept checking, as if he was sure the words were about to change. "What's that?" I asked, reading the thick binding. Fairy tales. I smiled a bit to myself. August. Every night before I went to bed he'd tell me this story about how I was a princess in a far off land and I'd been cursed into this non-magical world but that someday I was going to find my parents, the King and Queen and make them remember me and they'd take me back to our castle and we'd live happily ever after. After a while I had realized that he was just trying to make me feel better about having been abandoned on the side of the freeway, giving me hope that one day I would have an amazing life, but especially as a kid, hope is the most powerful thing.
"I'm not sure you're ready." Henry said, looking up at me with those big eyes.
"I'm not ready for some fairy tales?" I asked him. Please. Ever since August and I had been split up I had become obsessed with fairy tales. He had gotten me a book about Snow White for my 14th birthday but just after he'd given it to me our foster parents came in to tell him that he was being adopted. I had thrown myself into fairy tales, trying to convince myself that if I found the King and Queen my parents, they'd help me find August and everything would be fine. I didn't care if they never took me back to the castle or I never saw real magic, I just wanted my parents and August.
"There not fairy tales," the kid began. "There true. Every story in this book actually happened." This boy was acting more and more like my kid every minute. But then he went on, telling me each and every detail. Okay that was creepy. It was the exact same story August had told me every night as a kid. Exactly. Did Henry know August? I subconsciously began to drive a bit faster. If I could ever imagine a town name that fit August perfectly, it was Storybrooke.
"Henry," I cut in cautiously. "Do you know someone named August Booth?" I glanced at his face, hoping for a bit of recognition. Not a bit.
"Nope." He said, continuing on explaining who was who in Storybrooke Maine. It was probably a coincidence. But something ticked at the back of my mind. He called me the Savior. It wasn't some random fairy tale curse he came up with, Snow White and Prince Charming were my parents in both his story and August's. Obviously there wasn't a curse, but something weird was going on, and I was going to stick around this town and find out what.
Somewhere on the coast of Maine a clock that had been still for 28 years began to tick.
Chapter 2
Killian Jones
I walked down Main Street looking at the façade around me. Every day for 28 years I had been forced to endure this monotony. When Cora finally arrived I would kill her. Once she removed her personal curse of course. How could she expect me to do this? Every day I saw him, had to speak to him, and yet it was impossible for me to harm him. That did not simply prevent me from killing him, but if I was about to do something that would cause him harm in the future, it was undone. If I wanted to insult the crocodile, I would find myself saying something completely different than I had set out to. The other day I accidentally knocked a glass off the counter at Granny's and suddenly found myself a few seconds back in time, the glass back in my hand, while everyone around me experienced a little déjà vu. It was torturous.
Even if the crocodile hadn't been here it would have been unbearable. These people did the same thing. Every. Single. Day. The closest thing I had to a best friend here was the same. Graham worked as sheriff every day, even Sundays and then he would go eat at Granny's and get the same thing. Every day. And then he would go home and get all set for bed before leaving his house and meeting the mayor for their badly concealed affair. I was thanking God the lad hadn't found out yet. I was fond of young Henry, if only because he didn't seem as obsessed with repetitiousness as the rest of them. Some days after school I would meet him at his little castle on the beach and take him out for a quick sail around the coast of Storybrooke on my little boat. When I got to this town I was devastated to find that Cora did not have the courtesy to send the Jolly Roger with me and was even further despondent to find that I couldn't leave Storybrooke to find a suitable vessel. I found an old sloop and fixed it up to get in my addiction to the sea.
I worried about the boy. He needed a good role model in his life and when this blasted curse was broken he needed someone to depend on other than the Evil Queen. Whatever Cora thought would happen the heroes in this town were not just going to let Cora and Regina take over and even if the villains did succeed Henry had a pure heart and would not be happy with them. He reminded me so much of another little boy I taught to sail. I wondered whatever happened to Baelfire.
Rumpelstiltskin
Sure I hated him, but it was so much more amusing to taunt him and watch his inability to do a damn thing. He so obviously remembered and I didn't know how but he somehow missed out on the memory part of the curse and got a different curse. He was physically unable to harm me. To be honest I was getting sick of our duel. I would trade every bit of revenge I had taken on him and Milah and everyone else in this town just to have my Belle back. If giving him his hand and bringing Milah back from the dead brought her back I would do it in a heartbeat. If it meant I had to give out favors for free for the rest of forever, if it meant giving up my magic, if it meant giving up my dark abilities, I didn't care. I missed her every day of this consistent hell. I had a chance to get Bae back and I would wait every one of these days for that chance however slim it was but I had no chance to get Belle. No magic could reawaken the dead. I wanted this horror to be over. I wanted my son. And I wanted my love. But I was a villain, and villains didn't get happy endings.
Regina Mills
That little tart was staying. She was going to try to steal Henry from me. And what was it with Graham? He had stared at her the entire time, his eyes following her around like a love sick puppy. Well the joke was on him. I had his heart, he could never love her. And I would make sure Henry never loved her if it was the last thing I did.
August Booth
Yesterday was her 28th birthday. I had less than 365 days to find her and get her to Storybrooke. I had been searching for my little sister since my 18th birthday when I left home. I had driven across this country more times than some people went to the dentist in their lives. And yet I could never find her. I had finally managed to track her down to a foster home in Dundee, Oregon but by the time I got there the foster mom said she had skipped out on her 16th birthday the month before and they had no idea where she went. The trail went cold after that but I tracked down every hospital, hotel, and jail record this side of the Canadian border and nothing. Not a damn thing, until ten years ago, when Emma Swan had ended up in jail for breaking and entering. She wasn't allowed any visitors but I still hounded the jail every day she was there, trying to get in and see my friend. It wasn't until after she was released that I found out she had given birth while in prison and had given the child up for adoption. That broke my heart more than anything else. She knew what the system was like. If she had truly given this child up for adoption that meant a life with her would have been even more miserable. What had I done? I needed to find her and get her to Storybrooke, Maine and then we would go find her son.
Emma Swan
I was staying at the most quaint and nauseatingly cutesy bed and breakfast I had ever come across in my life. By the time I had finished speaking with Madam Mayor I was more convinced than ever that something was going on. There was a possessive note to the way she treated Henry and the way she nearly forced me out of the house? It made me want to stay more than anything. I had found this place, Granny's it was called, with the help of the sheriff, Graham. I was going to stay to figure everything out, but mostly I was staying for Henry. I liked him. He reminded me of, well, me. And his father, but in a good way. Oddly enough he also reminded me of August. Maybe it was just the story but it was good to have a piece of my big brother back.
I walked down Main Street looking at the façade around me. Every day for 28 years I had been forced to endure this monotony. When Cora finally arrived I would kill her. Once she removed her personal curse of course. How could she expect me to do this? Every day I saw him, had to speak to him, and yet it was impossible for me to harm him. That did not simply prevent me from killing him, but if I was about to do something that would cause him harm in the future, it was undone. If I wanted to insult the crocodile, I would find myself saying something completely different than I had set out to. The other day I accidentally knocked a glass off the counter at Granny's and suddenly found myself a few seconds back in time, the glass back in my hand, while everyone around me experienced a little déjà vu. It was torturous.
Even if the crocodile hadn't been here it would have been unbearable. These people did the same thing. Every. Single. Day. The closest thing I had to a best friend here was the same. Graham worked as sheriff every day, even Sundays and then he would go eat at Granny's and get the same thing. Every day. And then he would go home and get all set for bed before leaving his house and meeting the mayor for their badly concealed affair. I was thanking God the lad hadn't found out yet. I was fond of young Henry, if only because he didn't seem as obsessed with repetitiousness as the rest of them. Some days after school I would meet him at his little castle on the beach and take him out for a quick sail around the coast of Storybrooke on my little boat. When I got to this town I was devastated to find that Cora did not have the courtesy to send the Jolly Roger with me and was even further despondent to find that I couldn't leave Storybrooke to find a suitable vessel. I found an old sloop and fixed it up to get in my addiction to the sea.
I worried about the boy. He needed a good role model in his life and when this blasted curse was broken he needed someone to depend on other than the Evil Queen. Whatever Cora thought would happen the heroes in this town were not just going to let Cora and Regina take over and even if the villains did succeed Henry had a pure heart and would not be happy with them. He reminded me so much of another little boy I taught to sail. I wondered whatever happened to Baelfire.
Rumpelstiltskin
Sure I hated him, but it was so much more amusing to taunt him and watch his inability to do a damn thing. He so obviously remembered and I didn't know how but he somehow missed out on the memory part of the curse and got a different curse. He was physically unable to harm me. To be honest I was getting sick of our duel. I would trade every bit of revenge I had taken on him and Milah and everyone else in this town just to have my Belle back. If giving him his hand and bringing Milah back from the dead brought her back I would do it in a heartbeat. If it meant I had to give out favors for free for the rest of forever, if it meant giving up my magic, if it meant giving up my dark abilities, I didn't care. I missed her every day of this consistent hell. I had a chance to get Bae back and I would wait every one of these days for that chance however slim it was but I had no chance to get Belle. No magic could reawaken the dead. I wanted this horror to be over. I wanted my son. And I wanted my love. But I was a villain, and villains didn't get happy endings.
Regina Mills
That little tart was staying. She was going to try to steal Henry from me. And what was it with Graham? He had stared at her the entire time, his eyes following her around like a love sick puppy. Well the joke was on him. I had his heart, he could never love her. And I would make sure Henry never loved her if it was the last thing I did.
August Booth
Yesterday was her 28th birthday. I had less than 365 days to find her and get her to Storybrooke. I had been searching for my little sister since my 18th birthday when I left home. I had driven across this country more times than some people went to the dentist in their lives. And yet I could never find her. I had finally managed to track her down to a foster home in Dundee, Oregon but by the time I got there the foster mom said she had skipped out on her 16th birthday the month before and they had no idea where she went. The trail went cold after that but I tracked down every hospital, hotel, and jail record this side of the Canadian border and nothing. Not a damn thing, until ten years ago, when Emma Swan had ended up in jail for breaking and entering. She wasn't allowed any visitors but I still hounded the jail every day she was there, trying to get in and see my friend. It wasn't until after she was released that I found out she had given birth while in prison and had given the child up for adoption. That broke my heart more than anything else. She knew what the system was like. If she had truly given this child up for adoption that meant a life with her would have been even more miserable. What had I done? I needed to find her and get her to Storybrooke, Maine and then we would go find her son.
Emma Swan
I was staying at the most quaint and nauseatingly cutesy bed and breakfast I had ever come across in my life. By the time I had finished speaking with Madam Mayor I was more convinced than ever that something was going on. There was a possessive note to the way she treated Henry and the way she nearly forced me out of the house? It made me want to stay more than anything. I had found this place, Granny's it was called, with the help of the sheriff, Graham. I was going to stay to figure everything out, but mostly I was staying for Henry. I liked him. He reminded me of, well, me. And his father, but in a good way. Oddly enough he also reminded me of August. Maybe it was just the story but it was good to have a piece of my big brother back.
Chapter 3
Killian Jones
"Killian!" Henry's voice chirped loudly, accompanying a loud pounding on the door. Groaning, I rolled out of bed. I had been out all night looking for Henry. It had been my night off but as soon as Graham told me Henry was missing I had rushed around town and into the woods looking. Finally a little after 11 Graham had texted me saying he had shown up and was fine. I was tempted to walk back downtown to find out where the little devil had been but I was exhausted. It was only 11 and I was a bit embarrassed but I had barely slept the night before and had been working all day. I had returned to my little flat and stripped off my tee shirt, plopping down on my bed and falling asleep. I woke up still in my jeans, my hair sticking up at all ends and my light shining in through the window. I stumbled to the door and opened it to find Henry. "Hey Killian! Ready for breakfast?" He picked up the tee shirt I had dropped on the floor a few days earlier and grabbing my hand dragged me out the door and down the street towards Granny's.
"Hey, lad, what are you doing?" I protested. People on the streets were staring and much as I wanted to believe it was because of my partial nudity I had a feeling that Henry had done something to make these small town, mindless, fools talk. We finally entered Granny's and Ruby looked up grinning at me. Now that was because of my lack of shirt. "Hello lass," I said winking at her. She blushed and turned back to her job, sashaying those long legs down the row between tables.
"Killian Jones, you know my rules!" Granny called out, pretending to be angry. "No shirt, no shoes no service!" I winked at her.
"Apologies good woman," I began with a smirk. "But that lad has stolen my shirt." Henry handed it back and ran off to our favorite booth. I followed him pulling the shirt over my head. When I got to my seat I stopped, staring. There was a beautiful blonde bombshell sitting in my spot. "Well hello," I began softly, giving her my trademark grin. "I don't believe I know you." She rolled her eyes, not having any of it. To my dismay she didn't so much as blush.
"Killian, this is my mom, Emma Swan." Henry said. "Emma this is my best friend, Killian Jones." Emma Swan. Emma. The Savior. Oh God redemption was at hand. All my waiting had been for this woman, and to be honest? Damn. I could have waited a little longer I had known what she looked like.
"Swan," I nodded. "Pleasure I'm sure."
"Mhmm, Henry we should get you to school." Swan said, eyeing me up suspiciously.
"Okay!" he popped out of the booth and pulled his backpack over his shoulders. "Bye Killian! We still on for after school?" I grinned and ruffled his hair.
"Of course, lad. Maybe I'll let you steer by yourself today." He beamed at me.
"Really?" I nodded.
"Just don't tell Regina." I winked at him and he skipped off. "Well Love, it was lovely to meet you. Will you be staying in town long?" she looked at me, sizing me up. I knew that look. That was one of my looks. She was evaluating me, seeing if she could trust me. Apparently she could because she answered honestly.
"For a while. There's something weird going on here and I need to make sure the kid's okay." I chortled to myself as she walked away. Little did she know just how weird this town really was.
"Killian!" Henry's voice chirped loudly, accompanying a loud pounding on the door. Groaning, I rolled out of bed. I had been out all night looking for Henry. It had been my night off but as soon as Graham told me Henry was missing I had rushed around town and into the woods looking. Finally a little after 11 Graham had texted me saying he had shown up and was fine. I was tempted to walk back downtown to find out where the little devil had been but I was exhausted. It was only 11 and I was a bit embarrassed but I had barely slept the night before and had been working all day. I had returned to my little flat and stripped off my tee shirt, plopping down on my bed and falling asleep. I woke up still in my jeans, my hair sticking up at all ends and my light shining in through the window. I stumbled to the door and opened it to find Henry. "Hey Killian! Ready for breakfast?" He picked up the tee shirt I had dropped on the floor a few days earlier and grabbing my hand dragged me out the door and down the street towards Granny's.
"Hey, lad, what are you doing?" I protested. People on the streets were staring and much as I wanted to believe it was because of my partial nudity I had a feeling that Henry had done something to make these small town, mindless, fools talk. We finally entered Granny's and Ruby looked up grinning at me. Now that was because of my lack of shirt. "Hello lass," I said winking at her. She blushed and turned back to her job, sashaying those long legs down the row between tables.
"Killian Jones, you know my rules!" Granny called out, pretending to be angry. "No shirt, no shoes no service!" I winked at her.
"Apologies good woman," I began with a smirk. "But that lad has stolen my shirt." Henry handed it back and ran off to our favorite booth. I followed him pulling the shirt over my head. When I got to my seat I stopped, staring. There was a beautiful blonde bombshell sitting in my spot. "Well hello," I began softly, giving her my trademark grin. "I don't believe I know you." She rolled her eyes, not having any of it. To my dismay she didn't so much as blush.
"Killian, this is my mom, Emma Swan." Henry said. "Emma this is my best friend, Killian Jones." Emma Swan. Emma. The Savior. Oh God redemption was at hand. All my waiting had been for this woman, and to be honest? Damn. I could have waited a little longer I had known what she looked like.
"Swan," I nodded. "Pleasure I'm sure."
"Mhmm, Henry we should get you to school." Swan said, eyeing me up suspiciously.
"Okay!" he popped out of the booth and pulled his backpack over his shoulders. "Bye Killian! We still on for after school?" I grinned and ruffled his hair.
"Of course, lad. Maybe I'll let you steer by yourself today." He beamed at me.
"Really?" I nodded.
"Just don't tell Regina." I winked at him and he skipped off. "Well Love, it was lovely to meet you. Will you be staying in town long?" she looked at me, sizing me up. I knew that look. That was one of my looks. She was evaluating me, seeing if she could trust me. Apparently she could because she answered honestly.
"For a while. There's something weird going on here and I need to make sure the kid's okay." I chortled to myself as she walked away. Little did she know just how weird this town really was.
Chapter 4
Emma Swan
Killian Jones perplexed me. I didn't understand why someone who got on so well with the entire town, was obviously very concerned with his image and could be hanging out with anyone at all choose to spend every spare second with a ten year old. He ate breakfast with Henry almost every morning, and as soon as Henry got out of school he took him sailing around the harbor. This of course made Regina crazy which made the whole idea seem so much better to me. He was in a constant state of flirtation with someone and yet, despite the fact that so many of them returned the favor, he continually sought me out. Perhaps it was simply curiosity. He hadn't known me forever like everyone in this town seemed to know each other, and I was Henry's mother, but something told me it was more than that. Well I wasn't about to let a fast talker with a pretty smile (and a rather incredible body) break into my heart and destroy what was left of it after Neal had has his way with it. I had my walls up and guns pointed, he wasn't getting past that.
I had been right, there was something weird about this town. Henry had told me to ask specific questions, about when people met someone else, when a big event had happened, or the like. So far, no one remembered much of anything before Henry's arrival. Every single person knew exactly what day Henry had shown up and everything about his life since then yet not one person could tell me when Regina had been elected other than to say, 'oh, she's always been mayor'. Something strange was going on, but I didn't know what. I was on my way to meet Henry at the dinner for breakfast. A cat ran into a trash can behind me and I turned to look at the noise, startled as I rounded the corner. Wham! I ran straight into someone, falling to the ground. Well, almost to the ground. A pair of strong arms caught me before I could hit the pavement, Hollywood RomCom style. I stared up at a pair of blue-green eyes.
"Miss Swan. It's a pleasure running into you." Sheriff Graham said, smiled warmly down at me, still holding me tightly in his arms.
"Um, yeah-I'm so sorry I wasn't watching where I was going." I stuttered.
"Believe me, it is not a problem." He returned, his lips were turned up in the slightest hint of a smile. Neither of us said a word for what felt like hours. We just stared into each other's eyes. Until someone cleared their throat loudly.
"I hope I'm not interrupting whatever clearly important thing you two are doing, but your son and I are waiting ever so patiently for you, Swan." Killian Jones broke us out of whatever odd daydream we had been partaking in moments earlier and Graham set me back on my feet. I smiled awkwardly at him before following an oddly irate man inside. I walked over to our regular booth and found both Henry and Mary-Margaret waiting for me cheerfully. I slid in next to my son forcing Killian to sit beside my roomie. If anyone could throw cold water on Killian Jones' advances it was my sweet, soft spoken yet very proper and opinionated friend. I had to admit I was slightly put out when Killian didn't as much as smile in Mary-Margaret's way.
"I found Prince Charming," Henry announced loudly.
"Oh, really?" I asked, wondering who was about to be roped into my son's fantasy.
"He's in a coma, in the hospital. I saw him when we visited with school yesterday." He proceeded to ask Mary-Margaret to read to him, explaining how John Doe would wake up and break the curse. After he made his requests he hoped up and headed towards his school bus.
"Emma, what do you want me to do?" Mary Margaret asked desperately.
"Do it." Killian and I said simultaneously. She looked at us, startled as if that was not what she was expecting.
"Look, you do this and nothing happens, he won't wake up. We can discourage this fantasy without breaking his heart."
"I suppose," She sounded doubtful.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Killian added. "He could wake up and then you would have helped a coma patient. How is that bad?" She was convinced. We would meet tomorrow morning with Henry to tell him what had happened. She got up to go to school and I was left with Killian.
"Well, I'm going to get going. I need to find a job." I said after an awkward pause. I got up to leave the booth but Killian grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. He had stood up as well and we were standing mere inches apart. Those sea blue eyes stared straight into my soul. "What is it?" I asked after the silence grew unbearable.
"I was just going to say, Graham wants to hire an extra deputy."
"A deputy sheriff? I'm not sure I'm cut out for something like that." I said nervously.
"Weren't you a bounty hunter?" he asked.
"Well yes, but-"
"Besides, think of how much it will upset Regina." He smirked with that cocky smile and my heart fluttered a bit. This was ridiculous. I was not about to lose my head and my heart for some small town player who for some reason had befriended my son.
"I'll talk to Graham later." I conceded. He grinned a genuine smile this time and I had no choice but to return it. What was this town doing to me? First Graham with his romantic gestures and now Killian with his blue eyes and beautiful smile-my walls were coming down and I wasn't about to let that happen. Yet later that day I found myself walking into the lion's den and taking a job with the two men who were unlocking feelings inside of me that I hadn't allowed myself to feel since Neal. What was I thinking?
Killian Jones perplexed me. I didn't understand why someone who got on so well with the entire town, was obviously very concerned with his image and could be hanging out with anyone at all choose to spend every spare second with a ten year old. He ate breakfast with Henry almost every morning, and as soon as Henry got out of school he took him sailing around the harbor. This of course made Regina crazy which made the whole idea seem so much better to me. He was in a constant state of flirtation with someone and yet, despite the fact that so many of them returned the favor, he continually sought me out. Perhaps it was simply curiosity. He hadn't known me forever like everyone in this town seemed to know each other, and I was Henry's mother, but something told me it was more than that. Well I wasn't about to let a fast talker with a pretty smile (and a rather incredible body) break into my heart and destroy what was left of it after Neal had has his way with it. I had my walls up and guns pointed, he wasn't getting past that.
I had been right, there was something weird about this town. Henry had told me to ask specific questions, about when people met someone else, when a big event had happened, or the like. So far, no one remembered much of anything before Henry's arrival. Every single person knew exactly what day Henry had shown up and everything about his life since then yet not one person could tell me when Regina had been elected other than to say, 'oh, she's always been mayor'. Something strange was going on, but I didn't know what. I was on my way to meet Henry at the dinner for breakfast. A cat ran into a trash can behind me and I turned to look at the noise, startled as I rounded the corner. Wham! I ran straight into someone, falling to the ground. Well, almost to the ground. A pair of strong arms caught me before I could hit the pavement, Hollywood RomCom style. I stared up at a pair of blue-green eyes.
"Miss Swan. It's a pleasure running into you." Sheriff Graham said, smiled warmly down at me, still holding me tightly in his arms.
"Um, yeah-I'm so sorry I wasn't watching where I was going." I stuttered.
"Believe me, it is not a problem." He returned, his lips were turned up in the slightest hint of a smile. Neither of us said a word for what felt like hours. We just stared into each other's eyes. Until someone cleared their throat loudly.
"I hope I'm not interrupting whatever clearly important thing you two are doing, but your son and I are waiting ever so patiently for you, Swan." Killian Jones broke us out of whatever odd daydream we had been partaking in moments earlier and Graham set me back on my feet. I smiled awkwardly at him before following an oddly irate man inside. I walked over to our regular booth and found both Henry and Mary-Margaret waiting for me cheerfully. I slid in next to my son forcing Killian to sit beside my roomie. If anyone could throw cold water on Killian Jones' advances it was my sweet, soft spoken yet very proper and opinionated friend. I had to admit I was slightly put out when Killian didn't as much as smile in Mary-Margaret's way.
"I found Prince Charming," Henry announced loudly.
"Oh, really?" I asked, wondering who was about to be roped into my son's fantasy.
"He's in a coma, in the hospital. I saw him when we visited with school yesterday." He proceeded to ask Mary-Margaret to read to him, explaining how John Doe would wake up and break the curse. After he made his requests he hoped up and headed towards his school bus.
"Emma, what do you want me to do?" Mary Margaret asked desperately.
"Do it." Killian and I said simultaneously. She looked at us, startled as if that was not what she was expecting.
"Look, you do this and nothing happens, he won't wake up. We can discourage this fantasy without breaking his heart."
"I suppose," She sounded doubtful.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Killian added. "He could wake up and then you would have helped a coma patient. How is that bad?" She was convinced. We would meet tomorrow morning with Henry to tell him what had happened. She got up to go to school and I was left with Killian.
"Well, I'm going to get going. I need to find a job." I said after an awkward pause. I got up to leave the booth but Killian grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. He had stood up as well and we were standing mere inches apart. Those sea blue eyes stared straight into my soul. "What is it?" I asked after the silence grew unbearable.
"I was just going to say, Graham wants to hire an extra deputy."
"A deputy sheriff? I'm not sure I'm cut out for something like that." I said nervously.
"Weren't you a bounty hunter?" he asked.
"Well yes, but-"
"Besides, think of how much it will upset Regina." He smirked with that cocky smile and my heart fluttered a bit. This was ridiculous. I was not about to lose my head and my heart for some small town player who for some reason had befriended my son.
"I'll talk to Graham later." I conceded. He grinned a genuine smile this time and I had no choice but to return it. What was this town doing to me? First Graham with his romantic gestures and now Killian with his blue eyes and beautiful smile-my walls were coming down and I wasn't about to let that happen. Yet later that day I found myself walking into the lion's den and taking a job with the two men who were unlocking feelings inside of me that I hadn't allowed myself to feel since Neal. What was I thinking?
Chapter 5
Sheriff Graham
Thank God for Killian Jones. He'd suggested she work right her with us. I would get to see the fascinating Swan girl every single day. She was going to be here in a few minutes and I was more excited for work than I had ever been before.
"Well, well, well." Killian's voice cut in from behind me. "Looks like someone is dressed up nicely today." I scoffed at that. Sure I had spent a little extra time picking out my outfit and trimming my beard and sure I ran a comb through my hair and put on a little cologne, but Killian looked different today, too. He had styled his hair and was wearing a pale grey vest over his plaid button down and he had traded his sneakers for a pair of suave leather shoes I had never seen him wear before. That bothered me a bit. He had girlfriends in the past but he never really dressed up for them. He must be really into Emma. But so was I. This was about to get interesting.
"I always look nice for work," I returned, grinning at my friend. "You on the other hand, never look this pulled together. Ever. Got a hot date tonight?" I prayed he did and that this had nothing to do with Emma.
"Nah, just woke up early, had some extra time. I figured I'd make a bit of an effort. See what it's like being you." He was lying. It was there in his eyes. We'd been friends for as long as I could remember and I knew his tells. He liked her. Really liked her. Well so did I. I guess it would be a fight to see what she thought about us Irish crazies.
Just then Emma Swan walked in the door and smiled at us. "Hi!" she said cheerfully at me.
"Hey!" Killian and I simultaneously responded just as enthusiastically. Okay, maybe it wasn't quite clear that she was speaking solely to me. There was an awkward pause until I motioned towards the empty desk next to Killian's.
"So, here is your desk, and I'm just going to run and grab the papers you'll need and I can run you through your job description."
"Don't be ridiculous," Killian interjected looking at me. "I can easily do that, as the lead Sheriff you have other more important things to do. I can get Swan here up to date with everything."
"Oh no, it's not at all a problem. And what could be more important than making sure that our newest deputy has all the information and answers to any questions she may have?" I stared down Killian just as intently as he looked into my eyes. "I would be happy to do it."
"Graham, it's really not a problem. If you have work to do you should do that," Emma said, oblivious to the real argument we were having.
"To be quite honest Emma, Storybrooke is a pretty mellow town. It would be a relief to have a bit of change to the repetitiveness of the paperwork I have. I would love to brief you on the job. If you'll follow me into my office?" I responded before Killian could get a word in edgewise. Emma followed me into my office and after holding the door open for her I closed it behind us, looking Killian in the eyes. And he was just as mad as I was.
Thank God for Killian Jones. He'd suggested she work right her with us. I would get to see the fascinating Swan girl every single day. She was going to be here in a few minutes and I was more excited for work than I had ever been before.
"Well, well, well." Killian's voice cut in from behind me. "Looks like someone is dressed up nicely today." I scoffed at that. Sure I had spent a little extra time picking out my outfit and trimming my beard and sure I ran a comb through my hair and put on a little cologne, but Killian looked different today, too. He had styled his hair and was wearing a pale grey vest over his plaid button down and he had traded his sneakers for a pair of suave leather shoes I had never seen him wear before. That bothered me a bit. He had girlfriends in the past but he never really dressed up for them. He must be really into Emma. But so was I. This was about to get interesting.
"I always look nice for work," I returned, grinning at my friend. "You on the other hand, never look this pulled together. Ever. Got a hot date tonight?" I prayed he did and that this had nothing to do with Emma.
"Nah, just woke up early, had some extra time. I figured I'd make a bit of an effort. See what it's like being you." He was lying. It was there in his eyes. We'd been friends for as long as I could remember and I knew his tells. He liked her. Really liked her. Well so did I. I guess it would be a fight to see what she thought about us Irish crazies.
Just then Emma Swan walked in the door and smiled at us. "Hi!" she said cheerfully at me.
"Hey!" Killian and I simultaneously responded just as enthusiastically. Okay, maybe it wasn't quite clear that she was speaking solely to me. There was an awkward pause until I motioned towards the empty desk next to Killian's.
"So, here is your desk, and I'm just going to run and grab the papers you'll need and I can run you through your job description."
"Don't be ridiculous," Killian interjected looking at me. "I can easily do that, as the lead Sheriff you have other more important things to do. I can get Swan here up to date with everything."
"Oh no, it's not at all a problem. And what could be more important than making sure that our newest deputy has all the information and answers to any questions she may have?" I stared down Killian just as intently as he looked into my eyes. "I would be happy to do it."
"Graham, it's really not a problem. If you have work to do you should do that," Emma said, oblivious to the real argument we were having.
"To be quite honest Emma, Storybrooke is a pretty mellow town. It would be a relief to have a bit of change to the repetitiveness of the paperwork I have. I would love to brief you on the job. If you'll follow me into my office?" I responded before Killian could get a word in edgewise. Emma followed me into my office and after holding the door open for her I closed it behind us, looking Killian in the eyes. And he was just as mad as I was.
Chapter 6
Killian Jones
Seriously? She just followed his chivalrous ass through the door without a glance my way? That polite ass knew what he was doing to me, too. I could see it in his eyes as he closed the door behind them. My lip involuntarily twitched upwards in a sneer. I needed a drink. Thank God Swan and I would be going to Granny's after work to meet with Henry and Mary Margaret. Alcohol, Emma and Henry. Three of my favorite things.
Henry knew. And I was so torn between happiness at not being alone, happiness that the boy was smart enough to realize what was going on, and terror that Rumpelstiltskin or the Evil Queen would harm him to protect their secret. Now we just needed to convince the savior. I was hoping Mary Margaret had some success with the whole True Loves Kiss thing but as no one was rushing around town, full memories intact, I wasn't sure how great it had gone. Work went surprisingly slowly. Graham and Emma talked almost all day. The job description and training did not take that long. I had done it in a couple hours and then Graham and I had knocked back a few shots before going home for the day. Lunch time came and I interrupted to ask where we should go for lunch but Graham insisted that I just order in pizza and then the two of them ate together in his office while I sat on my desk throwing balled up sticky notes into the trash can. This was ridiculous. I couldn't take it any longer. I walked up to Graham's office and knocked on the door loudly. Emma looked at me unsuspecting while Graham burned holes in my jacket with his eyes.
"Hey, I was thinking I could take Swan to the shooting range to practice since it's on the way to Granny's and we're both heading there in an hour anyway. Then you could get an early night, Graham. It's been a while since you had some time off." I suggested as innocently as my pirate face could manage. Graham fumbled around for an excuse to go to the shooting range himself but Emma, being the kind person she was kindly insisted he take the night off saying that she was indeed meeting Henry at Granny's in an hour just as I had said. She picked up that red leather jacket from her chair and followed me to a concrete building a bit off the main road. When we got inside I took her coat and hung it up, fetching her the ridiculous protective glasses this world without magic insisted we all use and a gun.
"Acting like a gentleman, I see." Emma said with a slight smile gracing her lips.
"I'm always a gentleman." I assured her, flashing a smile her way. Emma got ready and took aim. I snorted. She turned to look at me, giving me a superior glare, completely worthy of the princess she was.
"What?" I tried not to laugh as I stepped up behind her.
"It's your stance, love. Here, let me help." I put my good hand over her own fingers on the gun and used my prosthetic to position her back. Put your feet shoulder width apart and square off to the target. She responded to my movements silently and I was suddenly aware of how close we were. Her back was brushing against my chest and her sweet smelling hair swept across my cheek. I nudged my own legs ever so slightly forward so that our entire lower bodies were touching electrically. My fake hand pressed her back lightly to give her the right posture and my other arm wrapped around her arm, guiding her hands. She shifted uncomfortably against me and I could feel her heavy breathing against my own chest.
"Calm down love, breath into it." I wrapped my other arm around her until she was entirely wrapped up in my embrace. "Keep both your eyes open love." I could feel her shifting against me but rather than stepping away and making her comfortable I leaned in and tucked my head next to hers, breathing my instructions in her ear. "Take a deep breath, exhale." My breath flicked the wisps of hair next to her ear around in the air. "Now shoot." A loud bang and a slight recoil sent Emma Swan firmly back in my arms. We looked at the poster and saw that she had gotten a clean shot, right through the heart. "Look at that Swan, you can shoot." My arms hadn't left hers and I noticed that she was looking down at my left hand awkwardly. I'd gone this far without her noticing, it wasn't likely that I was going to have gotten much further. I unwrapped myself from Swan and stepped back, pressing the button to bring her poster towards her. "Yes, it's prosthetic, love. Lost my hand in a car accident years ago." Swan looked away, trying to pretend that she hadn't been looking.
"Oh. I'm so sorry-" She began to protest.
"Come on, Swan, it's time we were getting on to Granny's. Mary Margaret was going to read to John Doe after school let out and meet us after. She's had plenty of time to get to Granny's by now." Emma nodded embarrassed and we returned the equipment before walking down the block to Granny's in silence. Damn me for screwing this up. But this hand of mine was a sore spot and I didn't want her pitying me. I just wanted her to break the curse so I could take my vengeance. That's what this little obsession was anyway. Of course I was thinking about Swan every second of the day, I was hoping she would break the curse, nothing more. And of course it bothered me that Graham was flirting with her, she needed to focus on what was important. Operation Cobra, as Henry put it. Save Storybrooke. Skin the crocodile. Avenge Milah. Falling in love with the Swan girl ranked nowhere on that list and I needed to remember that.
Seriously? She just followed his chivalrous ass through the door without a glance my way? That polite ass knew what he was doing to me, too. I could see it in his eyes as he closed the door behind them. My lip involuntarily twitched upwards in a sneer. I needed a drink. Thank God Swan and I would be going to Granny's after work to meet with Henry and Mary Margaret. Alcohol, Emma and Henry. Three of my favorite things.
Henry knew. And I was so torn between happiness at not being alone, happiness that the boy was smart enough to realize what was going on, and terror that Rumpelstiltskin or the Evil Queen would harm him to protect their secret. Now we just needed to convince the savior. I was hoping Mary Margaret had some success with the whole True Loves Kiss thing but as no one was rushing around town, full memories intact, I wasn't sure how great it had gone. Work went surprisingly slowly. Graham and Emma talked almost all day. The job description and training did not take that long. I had done it in a couple hours and then Graham and I had knocked back a few shots before going home for the day. Lunch time came and I interrupted to ask where we should go for lunch but Graham insisted that I just order in pizza and then the two of them ate together in his office while I sat on my desk throwing balled up sticky notes into the trash can. This was ridiculous. I couldn't take it any longer. I walked up to Graham's office and knocked on the door loudly. Emma looked at me unsuspecting while Graham burned holes in my jacket with his eyes.
"Hey, I was thinking I could take Swan to the shooting range to practice since it's on the way to Granny's and we're both heading there in an hour anyway. Then you could get an early night, Graham. It's been a while since you had some time off." I suggested as innocently as my pirate face could manage. Graham fumbled around for an excuse to go to the shooting range himself but Emma, being the kind person she was kindly insisted he take the night off saying that she was indeed meeting Henry at Granny's in an hour just as I had said. She picked up that red leather jacket from her chair and followed me to a concrete building a bit off the main road. When we got inside I took her coat and hung it up, fetching her the ridiculous protective glasses this world without magic insisted we all use and a gun.
"Acting like a gentleman, I see." Emma said with a slight smile gracing her lips.
"I'm always a gentleman." I assured her, flashing a smile her way. Emma got ready and took aim. I snorted. She turned to look at me, giving me a superior glare, completely worthy of the princess she was.
"What?" I tried not to laugh as I stepped up behind her.
"It's your stance, love. Here, let me help." I put my good hand over her own fingers on the gun and used my prosthetic to position her back. Put your feet shoulder width apart and square off to the target. She responded to my movements silently and I was suddenly aware of how close we were. Her back was brushing against my chest and her sweet smelling hair swept across my cheek. I nudged my own legs ever so slightly forward so that our entire lower bodies were touching electrically. My fake hand pressed her back lightly to give her the right posture and my other arm wrapped around her arm, guiding her hands. She shifted uncomfortably against me and I could feel her heavy breathing against my own chest.
"Calm down love, breath into it." I wrapped my other arm around her until she was entirely wrapped up in my embrace. "Keep both your eyes open love." I could feel her shifting against me but rather than stepping away and making her comfortable I leaned in and tucked my head next to hers, breathing my instructions in her ear. "Take a deep breath, exhale." My breath flicked the wisps of hair next to her ear around in the air. "Now shoot." A loud bang and a slight recoil sent Emma Swan firmly back in my arms. We looked at the poster and saw that she had gotten a clean shot, right through the heart. "Look at that Swan, you can shoot." My arms hadn't left hers and I noticed that she was looking down at my left hand awkwardly. I'd gone this far without her noticing, it wasn't likely that I was going to have gotten much further. I unwrapped myself from Swan and stepped back, pressing the button to bring her poster towards her. "Yes, it's prosthetic, love. Lost my hand in a car accident years ago." Swan looked away, trying to pretend that she hadn't been looking.
"Oh. I'm so sorry-" She began to protest.
"Come on, Swan, it's time we were getting on to Granny's. Mary Margaret was going to read to John Doe after school let out and meet us after. She's had plenty of time to get to Granny's by now." Emma nodded embarrassed and we returned the equipment before walking down the block to Granny's in silence. Damn me for screwing this up. But this hand of mine was a sore spot and I didn't want her pitying me. I just wanted her to break the curse so I could take my vengeance. That's what this little obsession was anyway. Of course I was thinking about Swan every second of the day, I was hoping she would break the curse, nothing more. And of course it bothered me that Graham was flirting with her, she needed to focus on what was important. Operation Cobra, as Henry put it. Save Storybrooke. Skin the crocodile. Avenge Milah. Falling in love with the Swan girl ranked nowhere on that list and I needed to remember that.