Every Tale Starts Somewhere
Emma Swan sighed and stared at the still slightly smoking birthday candle. Another year. Number 28. All of them alone.
She looked up as her doorbell rang. When she pulled it open she had to look down to see who was there. A brown haired boy, probably about 10 stood there. “Can I help you kid?”
“Are you Emma Swan?” Emma nodded, “My name is Henry Blanchard, and you’re my Mom.”
Emma stood totally still and utterly stunned.
oOOOOo
“Sheriff— why haven’t you found my son yet?”
Sheriff Ruby Lucas rolled her neck. It had been a long day that had started when she’d gotten up early to beat Belle to the library, and now it was nearly midnight and she was still awake looking for the Mayor’s son. “Everyone’s searching for him Mary Marg… Mayor Blanchard. Even Archie has Pongo out sniffing around.”
Mary Margaret shook her head, “I need you to find him Ruby.”
Ruby nodded, “Of course, of course, and he’s a smart kid. He’ll be okay.”
Mary Margaret looked over Ruby’s shoulder as she heard a car drive up. She frowned, “Who owns a yellow bug in town?”
Ruby turned as the car stopped in front of the Mayor’s house, “I may be the Sheriff, but that doesn’t mean I know what everybody drives.”
A young blonde woman stepped out of the driver’s side door. She came around to the passenger side door and opened the it for something.
Mary Margaret took a step forward, “Henry.”
But Ruby stopped her with a hand before she could go farther. “Let them come to us.”
Mary Margaret knelt down as Henry approached, “Henry—”
The ten year old brushed by Mary Margaret, “I found my real Mom.”
Mary Margaret stood and stared at the blonde, “Is this true?”
“Hell if… Uh, I guess?” She held up a hand with a sheepish look on her face, “Hi. I’m Emma Swan.”
Mary Margaret stared daggers at Emma for a long moment, then a neutral expression fell over her face, “Miss Swan.. May I call you Emma? Henry has most likely already told you my name and all about me.”
Emma shrugged, “Sure. Look, he showed up. I gave him orange juice, no pulp, and then I insisted we drive back here.”
Mary Margaret slowly nodded, “Of course. Come in. Let’s talk.”
“Ah, I should…”
“That wasn’t a suggestion Emma.”
Emma regarded Mary Margaret for a moment, “Alright, sure. Lead the way.”
Ruby gestured towards the house, “I’ll make sure Henry’s okay.” Ruby entered the house without a moment’s hesitation, and took the sweeping stairs two at a time.
Mary Margaret turned back to Emma, “Are you coming inside or will we let out all the heat in my house?”
“Uh— yeah— right behind you.”
oOOOOo
“You okay Henry?” Ruby sat down on the bed, and put an arm over Henry’s shoulders.
“Yeah— I just.” He looked up at Ruby. “She doesn’t care Aunt Ruby.”
Ruby made a pshaw sound, “You just sprung it on her about what, five or six hours ago. Give the woman a little time to get used to the idea of having a kid again.”
Henry shook his head, “Mom’ll scare her away before morning.”
Ruby gave Henry a squeeze. “That’s something to worry about tomorrow. Try and get some sleep after you spy on Mary Margaret and Emma okay?”
“Okay.” Henry smiled just a little.
oOOOOo
Emma made a face, “Whoa— what’s that?”
“Pear Cider.”
Emma put down the glass. “Thought they only made it in Apple. Got anything stronger?”
“I will get right to the point.” Mary Margaret stood in front of a roaring fire with her arms crossed over her chest. “You will leave at first light and go back to… wherever my son found you. Because he is my son, not yours. You signed papers that said that you no longer wanted him— I will hold you to those papers if need be.”
“That’s not—” Emma frowned, “It’s more complicated than that. And you know I didn’t go looking for him. He’s the one who ran away. He’s the one who found me.” She glanced around, “You seem like a good Mom so— yeah, I’ll leave in the morning. Good enough for you?”
“Ah—” Mary Margaret clearly didn’t expect that answer from Emma. “Yes, yes it is.” She paused, “Thank you. I— this entire situation has been unexpected.”
Emma stood, “No problem. I’ll go. Have a good night Mary Margaret.”
Emma left the house and made her way towards the sidewalk. When she got past the hedge she took out her phone. She waved it around like it was a candle. No bars at all.
The soft sound of a throat clearing came from almost right next to Emma, “Shit— you gave me a heart attack.”
The woman the voice belonged to slowly came out from the shadows into the street light. “I apologize. You’re looking for a hotel. Even if you could get reception in Storybrooke, there’s only one inn, and it’s full.”
“Full?” Emma glanced up and down the street, “Uh— why would it be full. This Storybrooke’s Comic Con weekend?”
The woman shook her head, “No. There was a fire at the docks. Approximately fifteen house boats burned.”
Emma looked sheepish, “Oh— I’m sorry, I made a joke and… I didn’t know.”
“If you need a room I can provide one free of charge.”
Emma took a step backwards and put her hands up, “Nah, I can just sleep in my car, I’ve done it before.”
The woman stared at Emma for a moment, “No, you misunderstand. It’s a small suite of rooms over my separated garage. It has its own entrance, it’s own door.”
Emma still frowned, “Why offer it to me?”
“You’re in need and I can provide help.”
Emma was silent for a few moments, then shrugged, “What the hell. Sure. So, how do we get to this place?”
The woman gestured to the next, smaller, house on the street, “We walk.”
“Ah— right. So— I’m Emma Swan. You?”
“Regina Mills.”
oOOOOo
“Hey Archie. Henry’s been found.”
Archie put hand over his heart, “Thank goodness.”
Ruby clapped Archie on the back, “Thanks for helping with the search.” She bent down and gave Pongo a scratch. “And thank you too Pongo buddy.”
Archie shook his head, “It wasn’t a problem Sheriff. Have a good night.” He and Pongo walked down Main Street.
Ruby turned and walked into Granny’s. It was empty, although Granny stood behind the counter as if she’d been waiting for her granddaughter, “You shouldn’t do that Ruby.”
Ruby slid into a stool at the counter, “Do what Granny?”
“Lead that poor boy on.”
Ruby took a long sip from the mug of coffee Granny had placed in front of her, “I’m not. I’ve told him we’re just friends and he’s not stupid. He got the message.”
Granny squinted at Ruby for a moment, then shook her head, “Whatever makes you happy.”
Ruby stood as she finished her coffee, “Not what comes next. Paperwork. Thanks for the coffee booster shot Granny.”
oOOOOo
Mary Margaret stood in the doorway to Henry’s room and watched as he breathed the slow breath of sleep. She shook her head and walked down the stairs and into her study. She picked up the phone and dialed a number from memory, “Sidney I need everything you can find on an Emma Swan. Yes, a good night to you too Sidney.”
Mary Margaret hung up and stared at the study door. “Who are you Emma Swan. I can feel that you’re connected to this town, but why can’t I remember you? I can remember everyone from the Enchanted Forest. And why did of my magical warnings went off when you crossed the town line?”
She opened the right desk drawer and pulled out a framed photo. “Even those no one else on Earth remembers.” She traced the cheek of the man in the photo, “Oh David.”
She held the photo to her chest and closed her eyes.