Regina reluctantly signed up to let Henry's birth mother help find him. She did not sign up for Newt Scamander and Queenie Goldstein.

***

White noise had never bothered Emma in the past. If Queenie wasn't humming or playing music as she worked around the bakery, Newt was whistling as he worked with his creatures at the reserve. Emma had grown used to her surrogate brother and sister's sounds as they worked.

Whoever was whistling nearby was definitely not Newt, and her green eyes shot open. Pain seared through her skull at the sunlight that filled the room, and she seethed and winced, trying to focus on evening her breathing. Once the pain in her head had settled to a dull thud, she carefully opened her eyes again and turned her head to find the whistling.

She met the grumpy face of a bald man with a dark beard, his grey jumpsuit with the name Leroy stitched on it. He stopped whistling at once and narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you looking at, sister?"

"Hey, Leroy, manners!" The thick Italian accent made Emma sit up and look around, and an older man with the name Marco on his jumpsuit set down a screwdriver and walked to a thermos on the desk. "We have a guest!" Leroy rolled his eyes with a quiet huff, but he stopped his whistling. Emma carefully stood and reached for her forehead, wishing she had a pain reliever handy. "So you are Henry's mother?" Marco smiled kindly at her. "How lovely for him to have you back in his life."

"Actually, I was just dropping him off," Emma muttered.

Leroy snorted. "Don't blame ya. They're all brats. Who needs 'em?"

"Mine isn't," Emma muttered, and ice flooded her body. "Harry?" she whipped around, searching for her son, only to groan and flop back on her cot when her head screamed at her.

"Is that the name of your other boy?" Marco tilted his head. "Ah, not to worry. Sheriff Humbert didn't want him in a cell."

"Well, where is he?" Emma narrowed her eyes.

Whatever Marco was about to say was cut off when the man from the previous night - Sheriff Humbert, according to Marco - walked towards Leroy's cell while twirling a key ring around his finger. "Leroy!" he narrowed his eyes at the man, but his tone was light and playful. "If I'm going to let you out, you need to behave. Put on a smile and stay out of trouble."

He unlocked the cell door and swung it open, and Leroy leaned in the doorway and plastered a wide, very fake smile on his face. The sheriff snorted and nodded his head to the exit, and Leroy's smile disappeared as he left the station. Emma rested her arms against the bars of her cell and frowned at the sheriff. "Seriously?" she asked, gesturing to the cell.

The sheriff grimaced sympathetically. "Regina's drinks. A little stronger than we thought."

"I wasn't drunk!" Emma growled. "There was a wolf, standing in the middle of the road."

"A wolf," the sheriff repeated dubiously. "Right."

"And I would never drive intoxicated with my son in the car with me," Emma continued; the sheriff appeared to consider that. "Harry's been through enough in his life already. There's no way I would risk his safety like that. And speaking of . . . where is my son?"

"Graham!" the faint voice of Regina Mills echoed, and Emma's eyes sharpened as the woman all but ran into the station in a sleek black dress and grey suit coat. "Henry's run away again. We have to - " She stopped in her tracks when she saw Emma, and her eyes narrowed to slits. "What is she doing here?" she demanded as she stormed forward. "Do you know where he is?"

"Lady, I haven't seen him since I dropped him at your house," Emma shook her head and dramatically gestured to her surroundings. "And pretty good alibi."

"Yeah, well, he wasn't in his room this morning," Regina scowled.

"Did you try his friends?"

"He doesn't really have any," Regina shook her head with pursed lips. "He's kind of a loner."

Emma frowned. "Every kid has friends," she mumbled, thinking of how Harry had brightened when he saw Draco and Hermione. "Did you check his computer? If he was close to someone, he'd be emailing them."

Regina narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "And you know this how?" she asked.

"Finding people is part of what I do," Emma smirked. "Here's an idea . . . how about you guys let me out and let me find my son, and I'll help you find yours."

Regina didn't look happy, but she looked considerate. "You know where he is, Graham?" she asked.

"I do indeed," Graham nodded. "I asked to be contacted when he woke up."

"Very well," Regina folded her arms and looked sternly at Emma. "You help find Henry, and when Graham knows that your son is awake, you will be taken straight to him."

Emma frowned. She wanted to see Harry right away, but given how difficult it had been for her to wake up . . . she wanted Harry to sleep off as much of whatever pain he had as possible. "Deal," she nodded.

***

Emma clicked her tongue as she checked Henry's computer. "Smart kid," she remarked. "Cleared his inbox. I'm smart, too." She held up her key ring with a smirk then inserted a drive into the computer. "A little hard disk recovery utility I like to use."

"I'm a bit more old-fashioned in my techniques," Graham told her. "Pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, that sort of thing."

"You're on salary, I got paid for delivery," Emma pointed out. "Pounding pavement was not a luxury that I got." Her eyebrows raised as she watched emails load on the computer. "Huh . . . there's a receipt for a website: whosyourmomma.org." She snorted at the name, then tilted her head when she saw the receipt: $265.50. "It's expensive. He has a credit card?"

Regina stared at her. "He's ten."

Emma shrugged. "Well, he used one. Let's pull up a transaction record . . . " She trailed off as she looked at the receipt. "Mary Margaret Blanchard," she read in a whisper, and she gulped. "Who's Mary Margaret Blanchard?" she asked as a phone rang.

Regina huffed, obviously irritated, and Graham stepped away to answer his phone. "Henry's teacher."

"Thank you," Graham suddenly said, and Emma blinked out of her stupor and looked expectantly at Graham as he hung up his phone. "That was the bed and breakfast. Harry is awake."

Emma rocketed from her chair, green eyes flashing like fire. "Where's the bed and breakfast?"

***

"Where have you been?" a grey-haired woman scoffed as Graham opened the door to the quaint bed and breakfast, dust across various surfaces. "You ask me to house the boy, but when he wakes up and goes ballistic - hey!"

Emma bolted past Graham, not at all caring that she didn't know where she was going. "Harry?" she called, blonde hair almost smacking Graham in the face as she looked around. "Harry!"

"Mum!" her son's voice echoed faintly from up the stairs, and Emma raced up them two at a time, ignoring Graham's shouts for her to wait. "I'm up here!"

Emma reached the top landing, and at the end of the hall, a dark-haired young woman with vivid red highlights stepped out of one of the rooms. "He's in here," she gestured.

"Thank you," Emma exhaled heavily and hurried into the doorway. Harry was shying away from a man in a doctor's coat, and his terrified eyes immediately found hers. "Oh, Harry," she sighed in relief and crossed the room in quick strides, climbing onto the bed. As soon as her knees hit the mattress, Harry slammed into her chest, and Emma pulled him into a tight hug, burying her nose into his messy hair. "Thank God. Are you OK?"

"Head hurts," Harry mumbled, his voice muffled by her shirt. "I didn't know where you were."

"We crashed into the Storybrooke sign, kid," Emma sighed, running her fingers through Harry's hair. His trembles started to cease, and Emma adjusted her position on the bed so she could comfortably sit and hold Harry at the same time. "The sheriff was just being cautious."

"It was the rain that made us slide," Harry sniffed. "You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't want to hit the wolf."

"A wolf?" the young woman's eyebrows rose. "Seriously?"

"We're in Maine, with forests," Emma pointed out. "How's that so hard to believe?"

"Because in all my memories of Storybrooke, I don't remember ever seeing or hearing wolves," the man in the doctor's coat answered, his pale eyes critically scanning Harry.

"Dr. Whale's right, Ms. Swan," Graham nodded. "There's never been any sightings of wolves in Storybrooke."

"Well, first time for everything," Emma sighed and looked at the doctor. "Dr. Whale?"

"Victor Whale, yes," he nodded. "You must be the boy's mother?"

"His name is Harry," she frowned. "I'm Emma Swan."

"I was attempting to check him over before you came in, but he was . . . " Whale weighed his words before bluntly saying, "uncooperative."

"Harry has had very good reasons to not trust strangers in his life," Emma retorted just as bluntly. "Especially since they have often pretended to care for him only to mean him harm."

"I apologize, Ms. Swan," Graham sighed. "It was my call. I didn't know - "

"Then think differently next time," Emma snapped. She felt Harry flinch in her arms, and she mentally cursed herself for beginning to lose her temper. "I'm sorry, kid," she whispered, kissing the top of Harry's head. "Sorry."

"It's OK, Mum," Harry whispered.

"Ms. Swan?" Regina's neutral voice caused Harry to stiffen again, and Emma raised her head and narrowed her eyes at the mayor. "As you can see, your son is safe. Now, will you help find mine as you promised?"

"Henry?" Harry sat up straight, his green eyes wide. "He's missing?"

"Yeah, looks like it," Emma nodded. "Look, he was just about to be checked over - "

"And every second we waste is another second Henry could be in danger," Regina interrupted.

Emma's fingers curled into fists. "You're asking me to leave my son to people I don't know - "

"Ms. Swan, right?" The dark-haired young woman stepped further into the room, and as Emma swung challenging green eyes to her, she licked her red-painted lips nervously. "If you have a phone number I can use, I'll let you know when Dr. Whale is finished looking over Harry. I can stay here and look after him. I don't start my shift at the diner for another hour."

Emma hesitated, but nothing about the young woman set off red flags in her head. "What do you think, kid?" she looked down at Harry. "Is that OK with you?"

Harry peered past Emma to look at the young woman, who gave him a small smile. "OK," he finally nodded, then he looked at Dr. Whale. "But I don't like surprises."

"I'll tell you everything I'm going to do," Whale promised.

"And I'll rip out his throat if he doesn't," the woman added with a smirk.

For some reason, Regina shot her a look at the words, but Harry giggled at them. "Alright, kid," Emma patted the mattress, and Harry shifted off her lap. "I'll be back when I've found Henry, OK?" Harry nodded, and Emma stood from the bed and walked over to the woman, extending her hand. "I'm really grateful for this, Ms. . . . "

She trailed off, not knowing the woman's name, but she smiled and shook Emma's hand. "Lucas," she said. "Ruby Lucas. You can call me Ruby."

Emma's smile froze as she automatically shook the woman's hand, and she heard a small gasp from Harry behind her. "Ruby," she repeated faintly. "I like the name."

"Ms. Swan."

"I'm coming!" Emma snapped at Regina, and Ruby blinked in surprise at the bite in her voice. Emma took a deep breath, then she gave Ruby a pleasant smile. "Do you have a pen?"

"Here, Ms. Swan," Whale searched through his bag and pulled out a notepad, removing a pen from his coat as he did.

"Thank you." Emma quickly scribbled down her phone number, then she paused and looked at Graham. "You did recover my phone, right?"

"I have it right here," Graham pulled it out of his jacket.

"Perfect," Emma sighed in relief as she gave the page to Ruby. "Thank you again, Ruby."

"You're welcome," Ruby nodded. "Good luck finding Henry."

"Thanks," Emma nodded and headed for the door, her warmth disappearing as she coolly regarded Regina. "So . . . Henry's teacher?"

Regina turned on her heel without a word and headed for the staircase. "Forgive her," Graham murmured as they followed. "She's just very concerned about Henry's behavior."

Emma hummed, acknowledging the words, but her brain was in too much tumult to respond. All she could think about were the names of the women . . . names that shouldn't have meant anything to her but did.

Mary Margaret Blanchard. Ruby Lucas.

According to her inheritance test from Gringotts . . . those were the names of her mother and godmother respectively.

***

Emma barely caught up to Regina through the throng of kids that poured out of one classroom, and when she made it through the doorway, she found Regina storming up to a woman in white and grey, her black hair in a pixie cut. "Ms. Mills," Mary Margaret gulped, visibly thrown by the appearance of the mayor. "What are you doing here?"

"Where's my son?" Regina demanded.

"Henry?" Mary Margaret blinked. "I assumed he was home with you."

"You think I'd be here if he was?" Regina snarled. "Did you give him your credit card so he can find her?"

She pointed accusingly at Emma, and Mary Margaret turned to examine Emma. The blonde fidgeted in place under the curious look, her tongue glued in place. She had been told time and time again that inheritance tests did not lie . . . so how could this woman, who appeared her own age, be her mother? "I'm sorry, who are you?" Mary Margaret finally asked.

Emma loosened her tongue and swallowed. "I'm . . . I'm his - "

"The woman who gave him up for adoption," Regina interrupted coldly.

Mary Margaret opened and closed her mouth, then she slung her purse off her shoulder and searched through it. "You don't know anything about this, do you?" Emma realized.

"No, unfortunately not," Mary Margaret shook her head as she pulled out her wallet. She flipped it open and searched its contents, and she sighed when she found one of its slots empty. "Clever boy." She shut her wallet again and returned it to her purse. "I should never have given him that book."

"What in the hell is this book I keep hearing about?" Regina demanded.

"Just some old stories I gave him," Mary Margaret shrugged. "As you well know, Henry is a special boy." Emma saw the ghost of a smile on Regina's face. "So smart, so creative . . . and as you might be aware, lonely." The smile vanished, but Mary Margaret continued. "He needed it."

"What he needs is a dose of reality," Regina snarled and backed away. "This is a waste of time." She gave a curt nod to Emma as she walked past her. "Have a nice trip back to New York."

As she walked past Mary Margaret's desk, her purse knocked over a stack of books, sending them all over the floor. Regina continued without a care, and Emma crouched down to pick up the mess. Mary Margaret joined her, and Emma looked at her apologetically. "Sorry to bother you."

"No," Mary Margaret shook her head. "It's . . . it's OK. I fear this is partially my fault."

Emma frowned. "How's a book supposed to help?"

"What do you think stories are for?" Mary Margaret smiled. "These stories? The classics? There's a reason we all know them." She placed the books on a nearby desk and beckoned for Emma to follow her down the hall. "They're a way for us to deal with our world, a world that doesn't always make sense. See, Henry hasn't had the easiest life."

"Yeah," Emma scoffed quietly. "She's kind of a hard-ass."

"No, it's more than her," Mary Margaret shook her head. "He's like any adopted child. He wrestles with that most basic question they all inevitably face: why would anyone give me away?" Emma's stomach churned uncomfortably, and she winced at the unintended barb. Mary Margaret's face drained of color when she realized what she said, and she stumbled over her words as she turned to Emma. "I am so sorry! I'm so sorry . . . I didn't mean in any way to judge you - "

"It's OK," Emma shook her head, cutting her off before she could say more.

Mary Margaret's shoulders slumped, and she sighed. "Look . . . I gave the book to him because I wanted Henry to have the most important thing anyone can have: hope. Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."

Emma nodded, understanding Mary Margaret's words very clearly. Harry's hope in finding happiness with her had been a powerful thing to see, and it had motivated her to be the best mother she could be. Newt had been forced to live across the world from his brother for over eight decades now, and Emma was certain that any other man would be driven to insanity. But Newt kept believing he would see Theseus again, and after finally meeting the Auror at the end of Harry's first year, she knew that belief was mirrored by Theseus. That belief was what kept the men going strong.

As she considered Mary Margaret's words again, she was struck by a realization, and she gave her a thoughtful look. "You know where he is, don't you?"

Mary Margaret gave her a secretive smile. "You might want to check his castle."

***

Henry's castle, according to Mary Margaret, was part of the old playground that was by the shoreline. She had given her clear directions, and sure enough, Emma found the boy sitting with his feet dangling over the edge. She hopped up onto the platform and walked to join Henry, dropping to sit next to him. "You left this in my car," she said, handing him the storybook. Henry took back the book without a word, and she followed his gaze to the clock tower. "Still hasn't moved, huh?"

Henry shook his head glumly. "I was hoping that when I brought you back, things would change here. That the final battle will begin."

Emma shook her head. "I'm not fighting any battles, kid."

"Yes, you are!" Henry insisted. "You're here because it's your destiny! You're going to bring back the happy endings!"

Emma pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling her patience wear thin. After hearing the names Mary Margaret Blanchard and Ruby Lucas, this was not what she needed. "Can you cut it with the book crap?" she asked tiredly.

"You don't have to be hostile," Henry sniffed. "I know you like me. I can tell. You're just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty. It's OK. I know why you gave me away. You wanted to give me my best chance."

Emma looked at him in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"The same reason Snow White gave you away."

Emma sighed in resignation. "Listen to me, kid . . . I am not in any book. I'm a real person. And I'm no savior. You were right about one thing, though . . . I wanted you to have your best chance. But it's not with me. Come on," she hopped down from the castle. "Let's go."

Henry balked and ran after her. "Please, don't take me back there!" he cried. "Just stay with me for one week! That's all I ask! One week, and you'll see I'm not crazy!"

Emma shook her head. "I have to get you back to your mom."

"You say the best chance isn't with you?" Henry folded his arms. "Then what are you to Harry? Does that mean you aren't his best chance?" Emma's magic surged in her, and she clenched her hands into fists, her anger boiling her blood at the jab. "Anything's better than my life with her," Henry told her. "My life sucks."

"Oh, you wanna know what sucking is?" Emma snarled, her patience gone. "Being left abandoned on the side of a freeway! My parents didn't even bother to drop me off at a hospital! I ended up in a foster system, and I had a family until I was three, but then they had their own kid so they sent me back!" She took a deep breath, trying to rein in her emotions. Henry was a child, he didn't deserve her lashing out at him. "And sucking is what happened to Harry before, yes, he found his best chance with me . . . because there was no other option for him," she said quietly, crouching down to Henry's level. "Your mom is trying her best. I know it's hard, it took me a long time to figure out how to juggle everything. Where Harry's at now . . . I still don't know how we made it this far together. I know sometimes you think your mom doesn't love you . . . but at least she wants you."

Henry frowned at her, but the next words out of his mouth surprised her. "Your parents didn't leave you on the side of the freeway. That's just where you came through."

Emma blinked. "What?" she asked dumbly.

"The wardrobe," Henry answered. "When you went through the wardrobe, you appeared on the side of the street. Your parents were trying to save you from the curse."

Emma stared at Henry, then she did all she could do with all the emotions running rampant in her. She laughed. "Sure, they were." Henry's face fell, and Emma held out her hand. "Come on, Henry." Henry reluctantly took her hand, and as they carefully made their way back to the road, Emma's phone trilled in her back pocket. She took out her phone and checked the Caller ID; when she didn't recognize the number, she frowned and answered. "Emma Swan."

"Ms. Swan?" a faintly familiar voice said. "It's Ruby Lucas, from the bed and breakfast. Dr. Whale stayed to make sure Harry was OK with eating. He says Harry is just fine. I have him at the diner next door."

Emma sighed in relief. "Thank you, Ruby. I'll be right there."

"Is Harry okay?" Henry questioned as they began walking on the sidewalk.

"He's fine, Henry. Dr. Whale checked him over. Now come on," she told him.

Henry walked alongside her with a smile. "Dr. Whale is Victor Frankenstein!" he proudly told her, and Emma sighed with a shake of her head.

"When you realize the people in this town are ordinary people, Henry, you'll be very disappointed, kid," she muttered as they approached the diner.

Henry made a noise in the back of his throat when he noticed the sheriff there, and he looked up at Emma. "Do I have to leave you and Harry so soon?" he whined.

Emma hesitated, recalling Regina's coldness towards Mary Margaret, then she shook her head. "You can see Harry, but then you need to go home, kid," she decided. "Your mom is worried about you, and I'm going to assume you're in trouble because you stole your teacher's credit card."

Henry frowned but nodded anyway, and he took off at a run when he caught sight of his brother in the window. He stopped short, however, when he noticed the two other people sitting at the bar with him. "Emma? Why is Ms. Queenie here? And who is she with?" he asked.

Graham looked toward the trio, a small frown on his face as they approached. "They're here for you," he explained, and Emma's eyes widened when she saw what Henry meant. "Said they were your siblings?" He looked toward Emma, only to jump out of her way when she took off running as soon as she noticed Queenie and Newt with Harry.

Queenie looked up as soon as she heard Emma's thoughts, and after she nudged Newt, both stood up, ready for her incoming hug. Emma barreled into them, and Newt hugged her tightly as Queenie wound herself around her back. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you, Em. We knew something was wrong after you didn't pick up the phone, even though we called quite a bit. Are you okay?" Newt asked quietly.

Emma nodded into his neck, feeling her heartbeat start to settle as she clung to her brother in all but blood. "I am now that you're here," she mumbled as Harry hugged her side.

Newt smirked. "Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."

Emma burst into hysterical laughter as she pulled away, and Henry giggled from where he was standing behind them with a cross-looking Granny, a smiling Ruby, and a curious Graham. "Did you really just quote Lilo and Stitch at me?" she questioned playfully, and Newt smiled innocently at her. "No, it doesn't even matter. How'd you find us? I didn't call, and neither did Harry."

Queenie leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Newt tracked Harry's bracelet" as Newt loudly said "GPS!" to cover up her words.

Emma nodded, figuring she should have seen that coming. "I'm glad you're he - "

She was interrupted by Granny, who huffed and folded her arms. "Are you four done?" she asked. "If you need rooms, Ruby can check you four in, but I need to start on dinner."

She walked behind the counter, giving Ruby a hard look, and Emma narrowed her eyes at the hostility displayed. "Come on, guys," Ruby told them, the obviously fake smile on her face indicating she was used to the treatment from her grandmother. "I can get you guys settled into some rooms next door."

"Can we do that after we take Henry home? I don't want the mayor on my ass about keeping him with me," Emma asked quietly.

Ruby nodded, her smile much more genuine this time. "Of course," she nodded. "Go ahead. Just come get me if nobody is at the register. I'll be behind the counter," she gestured to the hostess station.

Emma nodded with a smile of thanks, then she turned to Queenie and Newt. "I need to take Henry home. Can you stay here for half an hour?"

Queenie smiled as Newt nodded. "Of course, Em. We are capable adults, you know."

Emma shook her head, grinning. "Sometimes I wonder, Newt. Sometimes I wonder." Newt squawked indignantly, and Emma laughed as she grabbed Harry's hand. "You coming with us, kid?"

Harry nodded. "I want to say bye to my brother," he mumbled sadly.

Henry walked over and grabbed his other hand. "I'm not going anywhere as long as I can help it," he told him, and Harry smiled.

***

They arrived at the mayor's house, and Regina opened her door just as Emma went to knock. "Thank you, Ms. Swan," Regina nodded.

Emma nodded in return. "No problem."

Henry hugged Harry tightly before hugging Emma quickly and running past Regina, who watched him with narrowed eyes and a frown. "He seems to have taken quite a shine to you both, Ms. Swan," she remarked, cold brown eyes turning back towards the mother-son duo.

Emma nodded in agreement. "I can't help but notice that he's very lonely," she told Regina. "It's no surprise he found me, to be honest. All kids who are adopted go through thinking that their parents don't want them. I know I did. But now he knows the only reason I gave him up was because I wanted him to have his best life. His best chance. I can tell that he's - "

She was interrupted by Regina's throat clearing. "I hope there's no misunderstanding here," the mayor told her coldly.

Emma paused, then frowned. "I'm sorry?"

"Don't mistake all of this as an invitation back into his life," Regina told her, an air of finality to her voice.

"Oh, no," Emma hastily shook her head, holding up her hands defensively. "I wasn't - "

Regina cut across her again, causing Harry to press into Emma's side. "Ms. Swan, you made a decision ten years ago. And in the last decade, while you've been . . . well, who knows what you've been doing. I've changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him, but he is my son."

Emma frowned angrily, bristling at Regina's unsaid accusations. "I wasn't trying to - "

Regina interrupted her for the third time, apparently not wanting Emma to even have a chance to explain herself. "No. You don't get to speak! You don't get to do anything. You gave up that right when you tossed him away. Do you know what a closed adoption is? It's what you asked for. You have no legal right to Henry, and you're gonna be held to that. So I suggest you get in your car, and you leave this town. Because if you don't, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do. Goodbye, Ms. Swan." She turned but stopped when Emma and Harry spoke up at the same time.

"Do you love him?"

Regina turned, narrowing her eyes angrily. "Excuse me?"

Harry frowned at her and took a step forward, holding his head high. "Henry," he said slowly, as if he was speaking to Ron Weasley. "Do you love him?"

Regina scoffed. "Of course I love him," she growled and turned on her heel, walking back inside and slamming the door in their faces.

Harry scowled deeply at the door and folded his arms. "I don't like her," he declared.

"I'm not too sure I do either, kid," Emma turned with Harry and walked back the way they came, going back to the diner.

Ruby noticed them and walked to them when they came in. "Ready for your rooms?" At Emma's nod, she smiled. "How many?" she asked as Newt and Queenie stood from their places at a table by the windows.

Emma, Newt, Queenie, and Harry followed her into the bed part of the bed and breakfast. "Two please," Newt answered, making Emma look at him in surprise. "Emma, do you think we can stay here a while? I kind of like it," Newt remarked as he looked around.

Emma smiled and nodded. "You sure you're not a mind reader?"

"I'm certain," Newt grinned and pointed over his shoulder. "That's her job."

He yelped when the palm of Queenie's hand connected with the back of his head. "And don't you forget it the next time you try to sneak one of my cinnamon buns," she warned.

"Uncle Newt!" Harry guffawed. "You didn't!"

"What?" Newt asked defensively. "Like Emma hasn't tried to sneak a few to Achilles!"

Ruby gave Emma a look of confusion, but just as Emma opened her mouth to defend herself, the thump of a cane hit the wood floor behind her. Harry yelped and spun around, and as Emma instinctively turned to place herself between her son and whatever could be a potential threat, she came face to face with an older man with a cane and grey hair with streaks of ginger.

"Emma," he gave a thin smile, his Scottish accent clear in his voice. "What a lovely name."

"Um . . . " Emma stared in bewilderment at the newcomer, then she coughed awkwardly. "Thanks?"

Ruby hurried behind the register and grabbed a wad of cash, handing it to him. "It's all there," she told him as she grabbed a dusty book from the table behind the register.

"Yes, of course it is, dear. Thank you." He nodded at the group and hobbled out of the door, not counting the money he was handed.

As soon as the door shut, Ruby blew out her breath in a rush and hesitantly pulled aside the curtains. "Who was that?" Emma asked, watching the woman stare as the man departed.

"That's Mr. Gold," she answered, not taking her eyes off the man until he disappeared from view. "He owns this place."

"The Inn?" Queenie asked, looking around appraisingly.

Ruby shook her head. "Not just the Inn. The town."

Harry blinked. "Really?"

Ruby nodded, then cleared her throat and clapped her hands, pasting a smile on her face. "So!" she walked back to the desk and flipped open the book. "How long will you be here? It's been a long time since we had some guests!"

Emma shrugged. "A week," she decided, thinking of Henry's words that afternoon. "Just a week."

Ruby nodded and wrote in the book, then she plucked two old-fashioned, worn keys from the board behind her. She handed one to Emma; the second was deposited in Queenie's hand. "Well, then . . . welcome to Storybrooke. Enjoy your stay."

"Thanks, Ruby," Emma nodded and led the way up the stairs.

"A week?" Newt asked quietly as they reached the next floor.

"Henry asked me to stay a week," Emma shrugged. "So . . . we're staying a week." She turned to Queenie with a frown. "What about the bakery?"

"It's easy to Apparate back now that we know where we are," Queenie shook her head. "Don't worry about it, hon."

"So," Newt rubbed his hands together. "What's this about a curse?"

Emma sighed. "Look, it's really just - "

"Mum!"

Harry's gasp made her spin around, and she found Harry gawking out the window at the end of the hallway. "What?" she jogged over. "What is it, kid?"

"You know how Henry said the clock doesn't work? That he thought it would when you came to town?" When Emma nodded, Harry grinned and pointed. "Look!"

Emma squinted out the window and looked in the direction of the clock tower, and her green eyes widened when she saw the hands. "Well, well," Queenie smiled. "It looks like we may have some work to do."

Emma could only swallow and nod numbly as she stared at the hands of the clock. One had remained stationary, but the face was no longer frozen. It no longer read 8:15.

Now, it read 8:16.

***

I think Regina's going to have an interesting time now that Newt and Queenie are in town, don't you think?

Well, here's part two of "Pilot!" Our tentative plan for now is to write two chapters per episode, but that's subject to change depending on an episode's contents, especially once we throw in original content . . . because let's face it, with all the changes we've made to the story thus far, that's going to happen.

Regina tries to make Emma's life miserable next time in "The Thing You Love Most" . . . a few people aren't going to take too kindly to that. ;)

~ Miss Moffat

***

I'm so happy we're officially onto the second episode in S1, mostly because that means we are one step closer to my favorite Once Upon A Time Character coming into the picture permanently. Who wants to take a crack at who it is? XD (And one of my favorite plot twists we're adding to Season 1!)

Anyway, how'd we like the changes to dialogue and plot points in this chapter?

As always, stay safe, stay sane, and stay reading xx

~Miss Singer <3 <3

P.S. Who's ready for us to get to Prince Charming? ;D (*raises hand* Me! XD)